Job Seeker Guide: How to Prepare a Strong Medical Resume

The average recruiter will spend 5 minutes or less looking over your medical resume before deciding whether to move you ahead or send a polite rejection note. To increase your likelihood of landing a job interview and getting hired, you need a strong resume and cover letter. Carrington College has put together the following infographic to help health care job seekers learn how to make a medical resume extra sharp.

What Hiring Organizations Want to See in a Resume

Recruiters are scanning dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes to assemble a pool of interview candidates. Make it easy for them to give you the green light by including the type of information they want to see. Include you:

• Education – Demonstrate that you have the education necessary for the position you seek by placing your education information at the top of your resume.
• Personal Statement – In this section, list your goals, your experience, and what makes you a good fit for the position. If there is anything a recruiter must know, highlight it here.
• Experience (Organized Chronologically) – 66 percent of employers expressed a preference for experience organized chronologically. 43 percent of employers wanted information presented in bullet points. Don’t make employers search for the information they need to decide on your candidacy. Give it to them in the way they want (and expect) that information presented.
• Relevant Skills – Skills build out your resume and showcase talent that can help you succeed in the position. Skills to list on a resume include language, computer, customer service, licensure, and independent coursework.

Writing a Great Resume

When writing a great resume, you’re a bit like Goldilocks: You don’t want your resume to stick out too much, but neither can it be too cookie-cutter. Avoid using colored ink, scented paper, personal fonts, or anything else that can appear gimmicky. Additionally, steer clear of templates and generic language. A strong resume should use active language and industry keywords to describe your education and experience.

When you finish drafting your resume, read it over for grammatical errors and typos, which indicates that you possess attention to detail and strong communication skills, Salary.com notes. Polish any mistakes until your resume looks great. Before you apply to a position, tailor your resume to the specific job, something that 87 percent of employers feel is either important or very important.

Final Tips

The resume is only half your battle. Employers expect to see a cover letter and assume that it is a mistake if you send only a resume when applying for a position.

74 percent of employers want candidates to bring their resumes to the interview. This demonstrates follow-through. When you dress for your interview (hint: forego the scrubs for professional clothing) tuck a clean copy of your resume and cover letter in your bag.

While it can seem like creating a strong medical resume is hard work, rest assured that the work you put into your resume will pay off by helping you land your next position.

 

Category: Career and Employment Advice