Career Seasons and the Modern Nurse Job Search With Indeed’s Head of Job Search Academy, Matt Berndt

If you are a nurse or nursing student navigating today’s job market, chances are you have felt overwhelmed by resumes, interviews, career transitions, and the pressure to get it right the first time. The truth is that careers are rarely linear, especially in healthcare. In this conversation, I sat down with Matt Berndt, Head of Indeed’s Job Search Academy, to unpack what the modern job search really looks like and how nurses can approach their careers with clarity, confidence, and intention.

Matt brings nearly thirty years of experience helping people navigate work across industries. He also has a personal connection to nursing. His daughter is an oncology nurse and supervisor in a rural hospital, which gives him a deep respect for the realities nurses face on the job. That blend of professional expertise and real world insight made this conversation especially meaningful for nurses at any stage of their career.

This post breaks down the biggest takeaways from our conversation in a way that is practical, easy to understand, and immediately useful.

Why Nursing Careers Are Rarely Linear

One of the most important themes we discussed is the idea that careers are not meant to be straight lines. Many nurses feel pressure to find the perfect job immediately after graduation and stay there for years. When that does not happen, they worry they have failed or made the wrong choice.

Matt shared that the average person holds more than twelve jobs throughout their working life. Early career transitions are especially common, and they tend to slow down over time. This is not a sign of instability. It is a normal part of learning who you are, where you thrive, and what kind of environment supports you best.

In nursing, this is even more true. Different units, hospitals, schedules, and patient populations require very different skills and energy. Not everyone thrives in high intensity environments like the emergency department. Others may find their passion in oncology, outpatient care, education, or leadership. Discovering this often takes experience.

Reframing Job Hopping in Nursing

Job hopping is one of the most misunderstood concepts in career conversations. Matt encouraged nurses to throw the term away entirely unless it truly applies.

Short stints are not automatically red flags. Travel nursing, contract roles, and early career exploration are all valid forms of experience. What matters most is your ability to explain your choices clearly and honestly.

If you left a role because it was not the right fit, that does not mean you failed. It means you learned something important about yourself. The key is being able to articulate what you learned and how it informs your next move.

For example, saying that you realized you do not thrive in high-pressure environments and are now intentionally seeking a role aligned with your strengths is not a weakness. It shows self awareness and maturity.

The Resume Is a Marketing Document

One of the most valuable insights from this conversation was how to think about your resume. Matt emphasized that a resume is not an employment application. It is a marketing document.

Its purpose is simple. Get you the interview.

That means your resume should include what is relevant to the role you want and leave out what does not serve that goal. Just because you did something does not mean it needs to live on your resume forever.

Matt shared a guiding principle that nurses often find freeing. A resume should be as long as it needs to be, but no longer.

Older experience that does not support your current goals can often be removed, especially if it is more than ten years old. The goal is clarity, not completeness.

Why Objective Statements Are Out and “Summary” Statements Are In 

One common question nurses ask is whether they should include an objective statement at the top of their resume. Matt was very clear on this.

Objective statements waste space.

Your objective is obvious. You are applying for the job.

Instead, that valuable space should be used for a strong summary or profile statement. This short section at the top of your resume should clearly communicate what you offer and why someone should keep reading.

Hiring teams often decide whether to continue reading within the first few seconds. A strong summary gives them a reason to stay.

Branding Yourself at the Top of the Resume

Matt shared a strategy that aligns beautifully with how digital profiles work today. At the very top of your resume, your name can be paired with a professional title that reflects what you do or what you are seeking.

For example, Registered Nurse with oncology experience and certifications.

This immediately tells the reader who you are and how to think about you. It mirrors how profiles work on platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn and helps create consistency across your job search materials.

How to Handle Short Nursing Roles on Your Resume

Many new graduate nurses worry about what to do if their first job lasted only a few months. This situation is more common than people realize.

Matt’s advice was simple. If it is experience, put it on your resume.

Leaving it off can raise more questions than including it. Employers will often discover employment history through background checks or interviews. Transparency builds trust.

The key is preparation. Anything on your resume is fair game in an interview. You should be ready to explain what happened, what you learned, and why you are making a different choice moving forward.

Handled well, these experiences can actually strengthen your story rather than weaken it.

Interview Preparation Matters More Than You Think

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make in interviews is underpreparing. Many people assume they can simply talk about themselves naturally. In reality, nerves often cause rambling and unclear answers.

Preparation helps you stay focused and confident.

Matt recommended preparing answers to both the questions you expect and the questions you hope they will not ask. These are often the most important ones.

He also emphasized that interviews are two way conversations. You are evaluating the employer just as much as they are evaluating you.

The Power of Asking the Right Questions

When candidates are asked if they have questions at the end of an interview, saying no can unintentionally signal a lack of interest. Preparation matters here too.

Even if your questions were answered during the conversation, you can acknowledge that and reinforce what matters to you. This shows engagement and intention.

Asking questions about team culture, leadership support, and work environment can reveal important insights. Matt suggested asking each interviewer what they enjoy most and what they find most challenging about working there.

Patterns in these answers often speak volumes.

Reading the Interview Experience Itself

Another powerful takeaway was that the way an organization interviews often reflects how it operates day to day.

If the process feels disorganized, dismissive, or uncomfortable, that may be a preview of the work environment. Trusting your instincts is important.

Stressful environments are not inherently bad. Some nurses thrive in them. The key is knowing yourself and choosing environments that align with your strengths.

Career Seasons and the Four Types of Jobs

One of the most impactful frameworks Matt shared is the idea that there are four types of jobs people hold throughout their lives.

The first is the dream or career job. This is work that feels aligned with purpose and passion.

The second is a bridge job. This role pays the bills while helping you move toward something else.

The third is a compensation and benefits job. Work is work, and that is okay. It supports life outside of work.

The fourth is a job of necessity. These roles keep life running during difficult or transitional periods.

Each of these jobs can be meaningful when you understand why you are in them. Careers shift as life changes. Parenthood, health, burnout, and evolving priorities all influence what we need from work.

Nursing offers flexibility that allows careers to adapt across seasons of life.

Why Relationship Building Beats Networking

When it comes to networking, Matt prefers the term relationship-building. The goal is not to ask for jobs. It is to build trust over time.

Asking for help too early can put others in an uncomfortable position. People are more likely to advocate for you once they know you and respect your work.

Strong professional relationships are built by being curious, supportive, and reliable. Over time, opportunities often follow naturally.

Confidence and Career Ownership

One of the most important reminders from this conversation is that you are responsible for managing your career.

Keeping your resume and online profiles updated regularly ensures you are ready when opportunities arise. Waiting until you are stressed or desperate makes the process harder.

Confidence also matters. There will be times when your work is not recognized. That does not diminish its value. Trust in your skills and your worth.

Final Thoughts for Nurses

Nursing is a demanding profession, but it offers incredible flexibility and opportunity. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to prioritize your life. You are allowed to seek work that fits your current season.

Careers are not about perfection. They are about growth.

When nurses understand that, the job search becomes less about fear and more about possibility.

As always — I have one hand for me, and the other for you. 🤍

Signing Off…

Caroline

PS. Want more on this topic? Listen to Life After Nursing School    Podcast  Ep 52