Your resume is the most important document when it comes to job searching! So it’s vital that you provide information in a way that appeals to prospective employers. Here we explore the top 7 mistakes often made by health care professionals in regards to writing their resume.
1. Too much information!
It’s tempting to include a lot of information in your resume, hoping that an employer will be impressed by your lengthy experience. The opposite is usually true. Employers have very little time to read through lengthy CVs and if your main qualifications are hard to find, they’ll likely just toss your resume aside in favor of one that is brief and to the point. Instead of a long and convoluted resume, use brief lists and bullet points. Keep your sentences short and make the most of headings.
2. Not prioritizing the information!
Place the most pertinent statements at the top of your resume. First, very clearly record your contact information, full name, address, email and phone number. An employer may want to contact you easily and quickly, so make yourself easy to contact!
It’s a good idea to include a link to your personal page from a professional website, like LinkedIn.
After your contact information, state your accreditations, work experience and last of all, a short simple item of interest, for example, that you volunteer at a lost dog shelter.
3. Including unnecessary accreditations and information!
List your most pertinent accreditations and qualifications. This is the most important information for prospective employers. Remember to include all the associated dates and places you have studied. Make sure you tailor your resume to each job. If you have unrelated qualifications, leave them out. Put your work experience in a clear chronological list. Provide a very brief statement about your past responsibilities. Tailor this to suit the job you are applying for. If you are applying to work in a surgical ward, for example, put a little more information in your resume about any relevant experience. Avoid making a habit of leaving these statements broad. You may feel it is expedient to apply to a lot of job openings using the same resume, but your potential employer does not have the time or inclination to weed out what is pertinent to them, and what is not.
4. Not clearly listing your work experience!
Employers are interested in seeing how you have progressed in your career. Clearly document your experience in chronological order.
If you decide to include a not entirely related item of interest. Like if you are proud of something else you have done and want to include this. It is best to leave the item until the very end of your resume, as a personal interest item. Do not go into any length regarding personal interest items, but state anything pertinent to the job. For example, working with a team, or leading a group of people etc. This information is called a “soft skill”.
5. Ambiguous language, jokes or derogatory statements!
Not only does the use of ambiguous language, jokes and denigration take up valuable space on your resume, it also projects the idea that you are a negative person. A resume is never the place to ventilate emotionally based information.
6. Not using key terms!
The original advertisement that you are responding to has key terms that the employer will be looking for in your resume. Make sure these terms stand out. For example, if the advertisement states a need for attention to detail, provide clear examples and use the words, “attention to detail”.
7. Deciding not to edit your resume!
Re-read your resume a few times, and if you can, ask a friend to look over it too. Sometimes we can be blind to our own spelling mistakes and errors, so a fresh set of eyes is invaluable. Nurses need to be accurate with their records and with the delivery of prescribed medications. There is no room for carelessness when a patient’s life is at risk. A potential employer will not look favorably on sloppy applications filled with errors.
RCM has over 45 years of experience matching the finest U.S. healthcare institutions with the most qualified and dedicated candidates from all around the World.
If you are a nurse or another health care professional interested in working for RCM send your updated resume to : jobopenings@rcmt.com
Or visit the RCM website: www.rcmhealthcare.com