Did you know that most hiring managers spend only an average of six seconds skimming a resume before deciding if the candidate is worth a second look? If you are going to land your dream job, you need to know how to earn that second look.
In this article, we will share five helpful tips for creating the most effective healthcare resume so you can feel confident submitting your name for exciting new positions.
1. Tailor Your Healthcare Resume Objective
With such competition in the job market, it is very important that your resume is tailored to the job for which you are applying by adding keywords from the description into your objective.
Since your objective takes up prime real estate at the top of your resume, it needs to be easily skimmable and include specific things a hiring manager wants to see, such as your goals, experience, and skills.
A sample healthcare resume objective looks like this:
Detail-oriented Registered Nurse with an MBA and +2 years of experience in the NICU. Seeking to leverage my professional expertise and a strong passion for wellness to grow in the new role of NICU RN at (company name).
Remember, this is only a sample objective and you should tailor yours to include keywords found in the job description.
2. Healthcare Resume: Feature Your Education
Feature your scholastic achievements in a descending order so it’s easy for the hiring manager to digest at a glance.
You should also include all certifications and licensures in addition to your formal schooling, even if they seem irrelevant to the position.
Use our mini checklist to make sure you don’t leave anything out:
- Include the title of your license or certification.
- Include the full name of the certifying body.
- Show the license or certification number when applicable.
- List the date you obtained the license or certification.
- List the expiration date if applicable.
In this case, more is more! Show off everything you have learned in this section.
3. Detail Specific Healthcare Skills
The next step for creating an effective healthcare resume is to showcase specific skills.
Describing duties and responsibilities you have handled in previous jobs helps a hiring manager envision you working at their company. And even though some skills may not seem healthcare related, they can still be beneficial to include.
4. Proofread Your Healthcare Resume
According to CareerBuilder.com, more than half of hiring managers will dismiss a resume immediately if they notice it includes spelling or grammar errors. Pay close attention to spelling, grammar, and formatting!
If you are seeking even more assistance in polishing your resume, consider working with a staffing agency. Not only do these agencies work to place you in your ideal position, but they are well-equipped to review your resume before sending it to potential employers.
5. Include a Cover Letter with your Healthcare Resume
Although a cover letter will not be required on every job listing, it is best practice to include one every time because it allows you to tailor the application process to the individual job for which you are applying.
A cover letter should be a single page and include a few elements:
- The same header found on your resume stating your full name, address, phone number and email.
- The date of submission
- The hiring manager’s name
- The address of the company
- A formal introduction (such as Dear Mrs. Smith)
- The body of your letter
- A formal sign off (such as Sincerely, your name)
The body of your letter should be used to specifically detail why you are the right fit for the job and include keywords.
Make Your Resume Stand Out
A healthcare professional resume can make or break your chances of earning an interview. Making sure it is in top form is crucial – and fortunately, following these tips will help you get there.
If you are interested in working with a staffing agency to make your resume even better, get in touch with us for more information.
