In a job search, your resume can be considered as your first job interview. Beyond the basics of a properly formatted and truthful resume, it’s especially important to stand out in the marketplace. ACHE’s Resume Review consultants presented complimentary webinars for executives at various career stages. Below are some of the key takeaways that you can use when crafting your resume.
Introduce Yourself
It seems simple, but your resume is a written representation of who you are. Think of is as a sales brochure—you are the product you are selling to potential employers. State your brand and value proposition in a way that’s intriguing, engaging and responds to the needs of employers. Highlight your accomplishments and “stories” without giving away too much information—leave your potential interviewer wanting to know more.
Characteristics
Your resume should be a genuine representation of your skills, abilities, job history and education. It should also reflect your understanding of the marketplace and the needs of today’s healthcare organizations
There are three types of resume formats you can use:
- Chronological—contains a timeline of work history; considered the preferred format.
- Functional—focuses on skills instead of job timeline.
- Hybrid—used to highlight the candidate’s skillset; consists of a combination of chronological and functional.
Key Elements
Your potential employer shouldn’t have to go searching for fundamental information, so be sure you include a heading, summary, education history and experience. In the summary, highlight your skills, values and key projects you’ve managed. Include the value you bring to an organization and note your strengths and successes with complex projects. Education information should appear within the first third of the first page.
When you list your job experience, go back no more than 15 years. Clearly list organization information in reverse chronological order: city and state, years of employment, job title and role description. Use key words and relevant metrics from your roles.
Include a bulleted list of your accomplishments that answer the question of why the employer should hire you. Illustrate strengths, leadership experience and value you bring—for instance, how you improved organizational efficiency, created new processes and identified new opportunities. Try to style the accomplishments as Situation—Action—Result: The action that led to the result; the result of the action taken; and tangible impact. Avoid clichés. Remember to mention how successful you are at building relationships!
Enlist help
When your resume is complete, have a peer or a mentor review for typos or incomplete information.
Don’t forget—ACHE is here to support your search. If you need help crafting your resume with a current template or developing a career plan, ACHE’s Career Resource Center is your trusted partner.
Before you meet with your potential employer, check out our tips from our recent post “3 Ways to Ace an Interview.”