3 Crucial Job Search Tips for NP Students

Nurse Practitioner students need to start their career search early, well ahead of their graduation date. While NPs are high in demand, the industry is so fragmented that it’s hard to find the right opportunities that best suit your qualifications, skills, and career goals. A headstart on the job hunt helps aspiring NPs secure more job offers without having to desperately scramble come graduation time. Students can network, learn more about different career tracks, and position themselves for a more fulfilling career. 

To help NPs at each stage of their career (from student to graduate and beyond), we spoke with Clincepts’ founder Josie Tate, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C. Tate is a preceptor, nurse practitioner, and career coach who has supported hundreds of nurses throughout her nearly 20-year career. 

Below, we discuss her three biggest job search tips for NP students. 

1. Redesign Your Resume

An easy mistake NP students make is drafting their resume like a Registered Nurse. While their previous experience is important and relevant, the typical best practices of an RN resume don’t align with the things NP employers look for. 

Instead, start from scratch: 

• List your credentials (full name, highest degree earned, state designation, board certification)
• Highlight your related experiences (rotations completed, nursing leadership roles, and impactful projects/initiatives)
• Emphasize strengths and specialized skills (since some skills may be in high-demand)

Give yourself a competitive advantage with a properly designed NP resume.

2. Prepare Interview Scripts

List key talking points and practice them. Job seekers frequently fumble simple answers because they aren’t well-rehearsed. Ahead of any interview, outline your interview script with topics that hiring managers want to hear and items that highlight your unique qualities. 

Be critical about what to include, too. Nix anything that’s irrelevant, lacks substance, or is too personal. The best interviewees focus on things that relate to the job, stories about their clinical experience, and emphasize their competitive advantage.  

Also, great candidates prepare questions to ask potential employers. This is an opportunity to spot green – or red – flags about the job site and work details. You should be selective about the NP job you take and you shouldn’t accept the first offer that comes your way either. More on this in the next NP job search tip.

3. Negotiate A Better Contract

In almost all cases, your job offer and contract are negotiable. Don’t be apprehensive about any attempts at getting better terms and don’t simply sign what’s offered. There’s so much more to your employment contract. 

If you are courteous, prepared, and strategic with your approach, you can easily open up the door for discussion on things like: 

• Base salary
• Work-life balance
• Continuing education
• Bonuses
• Benefits
• Scheduling
• Career growth

Leading into any negotiation, make sure to conduct market research and to prioritize the things that are most important to you. Leave some wiggle room and flexibility, since the negotiation process will be a give-and-take. 

Closing Thoughts

From application to interview and offer letter, there are a lot of things for NP students to consider in optimizing their job search, with one key being starting the job search early. 

For further reading, here are resources we recommend: 

• 4-Step Strategy to Landing Your Ideal Nurse Practitioner Job
• 10 Do's and Don’ts of Contract Negotiation (PDF)
• How to Get Your First Job as a Nurse Practitioner