First impressions are important. A good one can open doors to new opportunities, and a bad one can lead to being overlooked.
For most people seeking a new job or applying for a graduate program, the initial introduction comes in the form of a resume. If you’re a health care executive — or a mid-level career professional interested in becoming one — you need to make that first impression count.
Making your health care resume as effective as possible provides prospective employers or graduate programs with an accurate, detailed insight into your skills, qualifications and accomplishments.
How to Create a Health Care Resume
Here are six tips to help create an effective resume for health care. The objective is to maximize your qualities and position you as a candidate worthy of serious consideration for career advancement or an advanced health care degree.
1. Lead Strong
If your resume serves as your formal introduction, the top of the first page is the opening handshake. As with the first few pages of a novel or screenplay, you need to grab the reader’s attention and hook them immediately. The information that leads your resume should project confidence in your skills and accomplishments while avoiding irrelevancies.
First, consider your audience. A human resources employee or admission officer will typically encounter your resume first. As such, design and write your resume to give them the information they need — and the information you want them to know — quickly and clearly. Highlight your most impressive capabilities, key professional experiences and top accomplishments up front. Many health professionals choose to include an opening section titled “Areas of Expertise” or something similar on their health care resume.
Second, be descriptive. Give yourself a proper title to distinguish yourself at a glance, such as “Senior Director, R&D and Product Development” or “Business Development and Strategic Marketing Executive.” Putting this in the lead will set the table for using descriptive phrases throughout the resume, which can help you summarize your profile and reflect your personality.
2. Formatting a Health Care Resume
A resume that’s difficult to follow is easy to ignore. Make sure your resume presents information clearly and logically, looks distinctive and is easy to read. There are a few basic rules to follow to ensure your resume achieves the right balance.
First, you can study templates and sample resumes for resume formatting ideas. However, sample CVs will only get you so far. To distinguish your resume from the rest, find ways to improve on the design and format of a resume template. Try to express your strengths through the design.
Once you’ve finalized the formatting, the next step is to craft your resume according to its purpose. If it’s for a job opportunity, carefully review the description of the position and its responsibilities and qualifications. Make sure your resume reflects what the health provider is seeking in their own terms.
If you’re applying to a graduate program, comb through the institution’s admission page and program overview so you know what types of candidates the university is looking for. Then, provide that information in your resume.
When your goal is to transition from a mid-level position to the senior level or even the C-suite, you will be evaluated first and foremost by your experience and aptitude as it relates to the particular opportunity. In this instance, it’s crucial to demonstrate your value where possible. This value could pertain to a specific project or key strategic decisions you influenced. You should also highlight what impact you made in your last position when describing your professional work experience and performance.
Follow the lead information on your resume with a chronological listing of your work experience. All things being equal, the more recent roles and achievements are considered most applicable and noteworthy — and should therefore be allotted a little more space. When building out your work experience, you should begin each segment of your executive work history with a description of your responsibilities, followed by several bullet points highlighting your contributions.
Download the How to Write a Resume Like a Healthcare Executive Guide
3. Choose the Best Resume Length
You should always strive to make your CV or resume two pages in length. Three pages can be acceptable, but only if you feel that detailing your experience and telling your best story can’t be accomplished in two pages. Conversely, condensing your resume down to one page may feel like the right move, but doing so would likely require you to omit notable details or achievements that would differentiate you from other candidates.
You should be concise with your information as you build your resume, but don’t omit anything pertinent. When reviewing your resume, delete superfluous information and only keep details that are relevant to the job description or graduate program you’re applying to.
4. Quantify Your Accomplishments
Health care, in some ways, is a numbers game. This is particularly true in health care administration, where questions regarding the cost effectiveness of everything from quality care to pharmacy expenses falls under consideration.
If your existing job role is on the numbers side of health care in the form of accounting, billing, management or human resources, then using numbers to quantify your accomplishments will present a strong case to the person reviewing your resume.
If quantifying your impact is challenging, or you work directly with patients, clearly describe what you have accomplished, the outcomes you have achieved and any tangible benefits you brought to your position.
5. Choose the Best Words for Your Health Care Resume
A candidate’s professional experience is the most important factor in determining the success of an application. Yet how you write a resume — specifically the words you choose to convey why you’re qualified — also plays a crucial role. Therefore, you should be mindful of a few elements when you sit down and compose your health care resume.
The first strategy is to use action verbs whenever possible. Write descriptive resume phrases beneath your current or past work experience, and begin sentences with action verbs to make your resume come alive. These will give depth to your experiences and characteristics. Words such as motivated, optimized, pioneered, negotiated, and delegated imply leadership qualities. Words like supported, prompted, and trained imply teamwork-driven characteristics.
Second, avoid repetition. Take care not to repeat any words too often or else they’ll lose their impact. However, this doesn’t mean any synonym will work. If you’re having a difficult time finding descriptive, action-oriented words, consider other projects you contributed to, decisions you fought for or roles you held.
Additionally, take care to use the proper tense throughout your resume. When you’re describing your role, responsibilities and contributions from your current job, write in the present tense. When you’re tailoring previous work experiences on your resume to reflect the responsibilities of the opportunity you’re currently applying for, write in the past tense.
6. Proofread Before Submitting
Potential employers and master’s programs are looking for candidates who are well spoken and well written. Making grammatical mistakes in your resume will significantly dampen your chances of being accepted.
When you proofread, make sure fonts and formatting are consistent, and check for spelling and grammar. Read your resume aloud, which may help you identify errors your eyes have missed. Finally, ask colleagues, family members or friends to proofread your resume.
Elevate Your Career
A powerful, well-crafted, professional resume can help you stand out among other candidates and get you through to the next round of consideration. A strong resume could be the crucial element that leads you to the next phase of your professional career.
With a curriculum that focuses on disciplines including economics and finance, health care regulation, organizational design and information management, USC’s Executive Master of Health Administration (MHA) program offers the knowledge and skills to help you stand out among the crowd.
Discover how USC’s MHA can help you become one of tomorrow’s health care leaders.
Recommended Readings
Executive Master of Health Administration Online: Program Overview and Student Spotlight
Leadership in Health Care: How to Advance Into the Hospital C-Suite
6 Examples of Health Disparities and Potential Solutions
Sources:
American College of Healthcare Executives, Career Resource Center
Indeed, The Healthcare Resume: Definition, How-to and Examples
Indeed, 25 Leadership Words to Use on Your Resume
LinkedIn, How to Develop a Strong Healthcare Executive Resume
My Perfect Resume, Hospital Administrator CV Example & Writing Tips, Questions, and Salaries
Resume Now, Healthcare Management Resume Example
University of Southern California, How to Write a Resume Like a Health Care Executive
FAQs
What is the best resume format for healthcare? ›
Most professionals — including those in healthcare — use what is known as a hybrid or combination resume format because it's easy for employers to review your work experience, it's easily analyzed by the ATS, and it gives you the opportunity to use specific positions within your work history to support your ...
How do you write a resume for healthcare? ›- Start with your education and training. ...
- Include your clinical experience, residencies or fellowships. ...
- List your work history and related experience. ...
- Highlight your skills section with examples. ...
- Write your summary or objective. ...
- Format and proofread your resume.
- Empathy. In health care, it's important that you can empathize with patients and the difficult situations that others are facing. ...
- Communication Skills. ...
- Teamwork. ...
- Work Ethic. ...
- Stress Management. ...
- Positive Attitude. ...
- Flexibility. ...
- Time Management.
Summary statement tip
Mention key skills that showcase your qualifications and accomplishments. For example: “Hard-working coordinator capable of handling patient administration accurately and efficiently” or “accountable and responsible healthcare coordinator with a strong focus on patient wellness.”
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don't go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you're applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
As long as it needs to be — Your CV should give the reader enough information for them to explore relevant points during the interview. Most are able to manage this in 4 pages but remember that quality is much more important than quantity.
How do you write an executive resume? ›- List your contact information. At the top of your CV, include your first and last name. ...
- Create a professional summary. ...
- Describe your work experience. ...
- Add education and qualifications. ...
- Highlight your board involvement. ...
- Identify key skills.
You can keep your answer professional yet personable by: Focusing on your passion for healthcare. Highlighting specific reasons why you're interested in the healthcare industry. Using examples of how you have demonstrated healthcare-related skills.
What 5 key communication skills are critical in the healthcare field? ›- #1: Listen. Listening is the most important part of communication. ...
- #2: Take Responsibility. ...
- #3: Be Honest. ...
- #4: When in Doubt, Say it: ...
- #5: Be Objective.
The skills needed by healthcare professionals were determined by a collaborative effort of healthcare leaders organized under the Healthcare Leadership Alliance. The skills are grouped under five core competencies: communication, leadership, professionalism, knowledge, and business skills.
How do you write a professional summary for a resume? ›
Here's how to write a resume summary:
Describe your strong character traits in just a couple of words. Mention your current job title and professional experience. Say how you want to help the employer achieve their goals. Add info on your key achievements to prove you can deliver results when hired.
Under federal regulations, a "health care provider" is defined as: a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, podiatrist, dentist, chiropractor, clinical psychologist, optometrist, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, or a clinical social worker who is authorized to practice by the State and performing within the scope of their ...
What is your general state of health? ›“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In 1986, the WHO made further clarifications: “A resource for everyday life, not the objective of living.
What is a resume title examples? ›Resume Title Examples. Resourceful project manager with 10 years of experience. Engaging high school teacher skilled in ESL and IEPS. Administrative assistant with 2+ years of experience in real estate.
What is catchy headline? ›A catchy title is the headline of a content article that contains elements to persuade readers to read it. Writing an effective headline can be an essential element of your content. A catchy title can bring a customer to your article by explaining what's in it or what value the reader can get from clicking on it.
How long should your resume be? ›Most resumes should be two pages long. Two pages are the standard length in 2021 to fit all your keywords, work history, experience, and skills on your resume.
What is your best skills answer? ›Sample Answer: “I have very good organizational and time management skills, but my greatest strength is my ability to effectively handle multiple projects and deadlines.” Sample Answer: “My strength is my flexibility to handle change.
Why are you interested in this position? ›“I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by/with my …” “I feel my skills are particularly well-suited to this position because …” “I believe I have the type of knowledge to succeed in this role and at the company because …”
What are your top 3 skills? ›- Communication skills. Communication skills are needed in virtually any job. ...
- Leadership skills. ...
- Teamwork skills. ...
- Interpersonal skills. ...
- Learning/adaptability skills. ...
- Self-management skills. ...
- Organizational skills. ...
- Computer skills.
I would be the perfect candidate for this role because I am patient, understanding, polite and caring and pride myself on my work ethic and practicality. I understand the importance of confidentiality, and keeping patient dignity in-tact, whatever stage if their illness.
How is computer vision useful in healthcare? ›
Health care is a field for which computer vision is providing significant benefits: 90% of all medical data is image-based. What had to be done by people's eyes looking at MRI images or X-rays in years past can now be analyzed by machines in a faster and more accurate way.
How many skills should you put on a resume? ›You should list 4 to 10 skills on a resume. The number of hard and soft skills you include on your resume depends on the job you want, but 4 to 10 is enough for most candidates.
Which of the following things should you not write in your resume? ›- Too much information. ...
- A solid wall of text. ...
- Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. ...
- Inaccuracies about your qualifications or experience. ...
- Unnecessary personal information. ...
- Your age. ...
- Negative comments about a former employer. ...
- Too many details about your hobbies and interests.
- Does this person understand what we need? ...
- Does this person have the skills we need? ...
- Has this person produced results in the past? ...
- Is this person committed to this career? ...
- Is this person responsible? ...
- Can this person meet deadlines and handle high-pressure situations?
Be Concise and Relevant
A resume/CV should be focused, which often means two pages is the ideal length. In some cases, a three-page resume/CV is appropriate for senior-level executives that have a number of patents, publications, speaking engagements, board positions, etc.
...
What Are the Best Resume Fonts?
- Arial.
- Cambria.
- Calibri.
- Garamond.
- Georgia.
- Helvetica.
- Times New Roman.
- Verdana.
Your executive summary should include: The name, location, and mission of your company. A description of your company, including management, advisors, and brief history. Your product or service, where your product fits in the market, and how your product differs from competitors in the industry.
Why should we hire you answer best? ›Show that you have skills and experience to do the job and deliver great results. You never know what other candidates offer to the company. But you know you: emphasize your key skills, strengths, talents, work experience, and professional achievements that are fundamental to getting great things done on this position.
What is your weakness best answer healthcare? ›What's your biggest weakness? Advice: Be cautious but honest and let them know how you're trying to improve. Don't answer this question with a cop out answer such as “I'm a bit of a perfectionist.” Example Answer: I am uncomfortable with confrontation.
What are your strengths healthcare? ›- Self-confidence. In the high stress environment of a hospital, making a diagnosis and figuring out what treatment a patient needs as quickly as possible can be a matter of life and death. ...
- Flexibility. ...
- Great communication skills. ...
- Empathy.
How do you communicate with difficult patients? ›
- Listen intently. ...
- Show them you're listening. ...
- Stay calm. ...
- Validate the patient's emotions. ...
- Ask the patient questions. ...
- Apologize only when you've come up short. ...
- Be politely powerful with patients in error. ...
- Deliver a solution.
Speak softly to them, announce your presence, describe procedures, explain unusual noises, volunteer to turn on more lights, use bigger body gestures. How can health care workers communicate more efficiently with someone who has speech challenges? Be patient and speak clearly, encourage the patients to speak slowly.
How do you talk to a patient? ›Introduce yourself and explain your role in your patient's care. Review their medical record and ask basic get-to-know-you questions. Establish a rapport. Make eye contact when appropriate and help your patient feel comfortable with you.
What are two essential characteristics of a successful healthcare professional? ›- Professionals in Healthcare Careers Have Strong Communication Skills. ...
- Healthcare Professionals Are Emotionally Stable. ...
- The Ability to Be Flexible. ...
- Healthcare Workers Pay Attention to Detail. ...
- They're Passionate About the Work They Do.
- Reduction in medication-related adverse events.
- Optimization of sepsis care.
- Decreased number of urinary catheter infections.
- Reduced hospital readmissions.
- Decreased medication administration errors.
- Improved electronic medical record documentation.
- Industry Knowledge. The healthcare industry can be extremely competitive, and receiving a master's degree can further your career. ...
- Leadership. ...
- Critical Thinking. ...
- Relationship Building. ...
- Ethical Judgment. ...
- Adaptability. ...
- Quick Thinking.
...
Different parts of the CV
- A header.
- The objective/ Profile.
- Your educational qualifications.
- Any training courses/certifications.
- Medical experience/jobs held.
- Research/ Audit/ Clinical governance done.
- Teaching experience.
- Management/leadership experience.
Resume Now's free builder makes creating a professional resume easy. Our recruiter-approved resume examples and templates are tailored to the job you want. And our expert writing tips make customizing your resume quick.
How do I write a CV for a care assistant with no experience? ›- Always begin with your contact details.
- Keep your personal profile, concise and to the point.
- Include key skills related to the healthcare sector.
- Make sure you mention what you achieved in each role.
- Emphasise qualifications and skills if you lack experience.
- I am able to handle multiple tasks on a daily basis.
- I use a creative approach to problem solve.
- I am a dependable person who is great at time management.
- I am always energetic and eager to learn new skills.
- I have experience working as part of a team and individually.
What is the best resume format for 2022? ›
What is the best resume format for 2022? For most people, the reverse-chronological resume format is the best option. This means listing your work experience and education in reverse-chronological order, i.e. starting with the most recent position and working backwards through previous jobs or degrees.
What does a good resume look like in 2022? ›In 99% of the cases, we'd recommend going with a reverse-chronological resume format. In 2022, it's the most common and useful format: Applicant tracking systems can read it without any problems. All recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with this format.
How many pages should CV be? ›The average length of a CV should be around two to three pages. Employers do not have strict requirements on a CV's length, but making the length of your CV two to three pages helps the hiring manager digest your experience for the position they're hiring for.
What type of resume is best for nurses? ›So nurses need to make sure their resumes are formatted properly. In 2022, the most common resume format remains the “reverse-chronological” format. So this is your best bet.
What is a clinical resume? ›A clinical experience resume is a resume commonly used by nursing school graduates and nursing professionals to show potential employers they have experience working in clinical settings.
How many jobs should you list on a resume? ›How Many Jobs Should You List on a Resume? You should list as many jobs on your resume as you can assuming they are all relevant and you're not going beyond the 10-15 year limit. The number of jobs typically varies between 7 and 3. As long as each job or position is relevant, you shouldn't worry about the exact number.
Which resume sites are actually free? ›- Jobscan's Resume Builder. Simplicity rating: Extremely Easy. ...
- CakeResume. Simplicity rating: Extremely Easy. ...
- Resume Genius. Simplicity Rating: Extremely Easy. ...
- My Perfect Resume. Simplicity Rating: Medium. ...
- Indeed. Simplicity Rating: Medium. ...
- Zety. Simplicity Rating: Easy. ...
- Resume.com. ...
- Novoresume.
You should list 4 to 10 skills on a resume. The number of hard and soft skills you include on your resume depends on the job you want, but 4 to 10 is enough for most candidates.
How do I sell myself as a carer? ›PROFILE 1: “I am kind, hardworking and a good communicator.” PROFILE 2: “I am patient, a good listener and enjoy working closely with others - especially older people.” PROFILE 3: “I am friendly, chatty and hard working.” Three word phrases are a good introduction for a carer profile - but they don't work on their own.
What do you say when applying for a care job? ›You need to be empathetic, a team worker and have a sense of humour too. Provide evidence of how you are right for the role – perhaps mentioning the satisfaction you get out of team work, or how you feel inspired by patients who have struggled through adversity.
What is the job description of a health care assistant? ›
observing, monitoring and recording patients' conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight. communication with patients, relatives and carers. assisting with clinical duties. personal care including infection prevention and control, food, personal hygiene and overall reassurance, comfort and safety.