Healthcare Resume: Examples, Template & Skills

How to write a resume for a healthcare role

Start by learning how to create a resume that catches the attention of hiring managers.

First things first, let’s break down what goes into a good resume:

1. Your contact information should be at the top, where it’s easy to find.
2. Include a brief profile that showcases what makes you unique.
3. Add sections that highlight your skills and expertise.
4. List your job history, beginning with your most recent position.
5. Mention the schools you attended and any degrees you’ve obtained.
6. You can also include a few extra sections to make your resume stand out.

Now, let’s go through each part step by step in a way that’s simple and straightforward.

Think of your resume as your professional introduction — like a business card. If you want hiring managers to contact you easily, your contact details should be the first thing they see. So, place them prominently at the top of your resume.

Include in your resume header:

• Your full name
• Your phone number
• A professional email address
• The city and state where you reside

Keep the header simple and clean. You can express a bit of your personality, but the focus should remain on your professional achievements.

Now, let’s move on to your professional summary.

Your resume starts with a summary that acts as your introduction, where you lay out your most relevant key skills and experiences. Use this section to explain why you are the right candidate for the job and capture the recruiter’s attention.

If you have extensive experience in healthcare, opt for a professional summary. Here, in a few sentences, emphasize your key skills and notable achievements.

If you are newer to the field or shifting to a different area within healthcare, consider using a resume objective. This should outline your career goals and describe how you intend to contribute to the organization, showing your commitment.

Your aim here is to show how well-suited you are for the job.

Imagine your skills as tools in a first aid kit. Just as you need different tools for different medical situations, you utilize a diverse set of skills in healthcare every day. The key is to highlight these skills on your resume in a way that catches an employer’s eye.

You rely on hard skills, like patient diagnostics or administering treatments, for your technical tasks. Your soft skills, such as empathy and communication, are crucial when interacting with patients and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.

Think of your hard and soft skills as the two halves of a stethoscope: both are vital to diagnosing and treating patients effectively.

Soft and hard skills on your healthcare resume

Your career in healthcare is like a marathon filled with unique challenges and rewarding milestones. Whether you’re administering lifesaving treatments or conducting health assessments, each role you’ve held adds to your professional journey.

However, to make your resume truly stand out, you need to do more than list your daily tasks. Think of your work history as stories of successful treatments: each one should have a clear outcome that shows your impact.

Here’s how to make your career history resonate:

Your educational background is an important part of your story. In fact, for most healthcare positions, you’re only eligible for a role if you have the proper degrees and certifications.

Here’s the order in which you should list your education:

• Start with your most advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctorate, if you have one.
• Next, include your undergraduate degree.
• Only mention your high school diploma if you haven’t pursued higher education.

If you have relevant certifications, list them together with your education details. Also, if you received any awards or honors during your studies, this section is a perfect place to highlight them.

Your healthcare resume can reflect more than just your work and academic history. Consider adding sections that showcase your broader interests and contributions to the field.

Ideas for special sections:

• Publications: If you’ve authored or co-authored medical articles or research papers, include them. It demonstrates your commitment to advancing medical knowledge.
• Volunteer work: Involvement in volunteer work like health drives or community outreach programs illustrates your dedication to applying medical skills outside of traditional settings.
• Conferences: Participation in medical conferences, whether attending or speaking, shows you are engaged with the medical community and stay updated on industry trends.

Finally, selecting the right template for your resume is essential. Although there are many creative options available, for a healthcare resume, it’s best to use a simple, plain template. This ensures that your resume remains professional and easy to read, focusing on your qualifications rather than design elements.

By the way, you don’t need to spend time searching for a template. There are plenty of free and simple options available on platforms like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The most important thing is that your resume is organized and showcases your qualifications clearly.