When searching for a job, your resume is your face, your first impression and your hello. In a competitive market such as healthcare, it’s critical to make sure your resume is formatted in such a way that hiring managers can quickly and easily digest the critical information they are looking for.
Typically a hiring manager will spend roughly 45 seconds reviewing a resume before deciding whether or not they are interested in the applicant. This small window of time is your opportunity to show them you have the skills and expertise they are looking for.
Each year, InSearch Medical reviews over 50,000 job seeker resumes on behalf of our clients. Working with, and representing hundreds of healthcare facilities across the country, we know what hiring managers look for. To help our applicants ensure they are doing all the right things, we have compiled a short list of 5 things to consider when writing your resume.
1. Word and PDF files only
Your resume should never be an image. Images are hard to read, come across in low resolution and do not print correctly.
2. Use clean, and easy to read fonts
Sometimes applicants think using unique fonts can help them stand out. However, these hard to read fonts make it difficult to quickly absorb information. Additionally, if a non-standard font isn’t installed it on the hiring manager’s computer, word will convert the font to a standard font, which always results in formatting issues. So remember, keep it simple and choose a standard font that is easy to read.
3. Highlight your skills
Objectives have always been a standard in resume templates, however it’s not necessary. Instead, use this space to briefly highlight your skills or experience in a short one or two sentence elevator pitch. This sentence should answer the questions, why you?
Beneath your very brief summary, include a few bullets to for any unique skills or certifications you may have. For example, if you are a Occupational Therapist that has a Hand Certification, this is the perfect place to highlight that skill.
4. Promote experience that matches the job your are seeking
If you are looking for an outpatient opportunity, and you have skilled nursing and outpatient experience, put emphasis on the outpatient experience and include that in your skills.
5. Include all state licenses, including any pending
This is especially important if you are looking to relocate to another state. Licensing time differs from state to state, and it’s important for employers to know whether or not you have already started the licensing process.
