How to Write a Healthcare Resume
The healthcare sector comprises many job levels and specialties. But whether you’re looking to be a CNA or CMO, you can write a great healthcare resume by showing how you help people overcome illness and achieve better physical or mental wellbeing. The tips below will help you develop this core theme in each section of your resume, allowing you to generate more interviews for your next healthcare job.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
A strong Profile lets you impress hiring managers from the moment they start reading your resume. Use this section to outline the top reasons you excel at supporting people’s physical or behavioral health. Your Profile length should depend on your healthcare vocation and employment level. For instance, if you’re a doctor with 10+ years of experience, you’ll probably need more space to list your core skills, awards, and board certifications. But if you’re applying for entry-level jobs, you may want to focus on transferable and soft skills, such as patient relations or documentation.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Reliable licensed dental hygiene professional with 6+ years of experience. Expertise working with diverse populations, including seniors, adolescents, and medically compromised patients. Skilled in soft tissue management, whitening procedures, periodontal charting, and sonic and ultrasonic instrumentation. Certified in Basic Life Support and Nitrous Oxide Monitoring. Productive working both independently and with dentist and office staff.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with entry-level experience in patient transport, pre-hospital care, and ambulance operation. Expertly coordinate with medical teams to deliver emergency treatment to patients in crisis.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Working in healthcare means that patients’ wellbeing, and sometimes their lives, are in your hands. Your resume Experience section must show you’ve excelled in past jobs and understand the seriousness of working in healthcare. Try to give detailed examples of your success driving positive health outcomes for clients or patients. When listing your job duties, include both technical and soft skills. For instance, if you’re applying for a nursing job, you could include both IV installation and teaching newly diagnosed patients how to monitor and treat diabetes.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Dental Hygienist
Bismarck Dental Services, Bismarck, ND | May 2014-Present
- Review patients’ health and oral health history prior to dental hygiene procedures
- Manage patient anxiety using pleasant demeanor, education, and empathy
- Examine patients’ teeth, removing plaque and calculus and performing debridement and root planing as needed
- Operate digital X-ray machine to provide intraoral radiographs
- Counsel patients on the importance of proper oral hygiene
- Introduced a cleaning approach that reduced patient discomfort and anxiety
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Southwest Medical, Nashville, TN | June 2021-Present
- Deliver first aid, basic life support, and emergency treatment to 50+ patients per week in various medical emergencies
- Ensure safe transport of patients and administer appropriate medical treatment on-scene and en route to hospitals, including CPR and pharmaceutical interventions
- Maintain ambulatory vehicles and inspect equipment for defects
- Communicate with patients and families on-site to obtain medical histories and determine best treatment based on symptoms
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Include your degree and any certifications to show you have a strong healthcare knowledge base. If you have a license or other credential that has to be renewed, include both the completion and expiration dates. The education section is usually short, with just one or two bullet points. But feel free to give more detail if needed, as more credentials generally make you a stronger candidate in the medical field.
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Board Certified, Medical Board of California, 2010
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Year]
Example:
Doctor of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles, CA – 2004
4. List pertinent key skills and proficiencies
If you can’t fit all your healthcare skills in your Experience section, a Key Skills list lets you cover any extras or must-haves from the job posting. What you list in this section will depend on your target job, but it’s a good idea to list any required technical skills in your field, such as X-ray or EKG proficiency, as well as general soft skills. The following list can help you brainstorm items for this section.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Active Listening Methods | Behavioral Health |
| Clinical Operations | Complex Problem-Solving |
| Cross-Discipline Collaboration | Cultural Sensitivity |
| Data Gathering & Analysis | Disease Prevention & Treatment |
| Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems | Emergency Response |
| Health Evaluation | Infection Control |
| Medical Charting & Documentation | Medical Coding & Billing |
| Organizational Development | Patient & Family Education |
| Patient Assessment | Patient Care Coordination |
| Patient Communications | Patient-Centered Care |
| Policy Development | Process Streamlining |
| Regulatory Compliance | Task Prioritization |
| Team Collaboration | Vital Signs Monitoring |
How to Pick the Best Healthcare Resume Template
Resume templates help you organize your skills and experience, but how do you know which one is best? A good resume template will be clean and straightforward, with sections separated by distinct borders and headings. Stick with conservative colors and traditional resume fonts to avoid distracting the reader and keep the overall focus on your relevant career details.
Healthcare Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Madeline Wentworth
(289) 384-2944
[email protected]
342 Walnut Street, Bismarck, ND 58503
Profile
Reliable licensed dental hygiene professional with 6+ years of experience in innovative, modern dental practice. Expertise working with diverse populations, including adolescents, medically compromised, and geriatrics. Experience in soft tissue management, whitening procedures, periodontal charting, sonic and ultrasonic instrumentation. Certified in Basic Life Support and Nitrous Oxide Monitoring. Able to work independently and collaboratively with dentist and office staff and provide mentoring and training to new staff members. Competent in dental laboratory skills and familiar with electronic health recording systems.
Professional Experience
Dental Hygienist, Bismarck Dental Services, Bismarck, ND
May 2014 — Present
- Review patients’ health and oral health history prior to dental hygiene procedures
- Manage patient anxiety using pleasant demeanor, education, and empathy
- Examine patients’ teeth, removing plaque and calculus, performing debridement and root planing as needed
- Operate digital X-ray machine to provide intraoral radiographs
- Counsel patients on the importance of proper oral hygiene
- Introduced innovative cleaning approach to reduce patient discomfort and anxiety
Digital Orthodontic Lab Tech, ACME Orthodontics, Lincoln, ND
January 2011 — April 2013
- Prepared digital models for 3D printing
- Scanned existing plaster models into digital files
- Prepared models and aligners for moving teeth
- Cleaned and prepped printed models for appliance fabrication
- Operated lab equipment
- Followed lab operations policies and procedures
Education
Dental Hygiene Program
North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND, September 2011 — May 2013
Key Skills
- Provide diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and minimally invasive restorative services
- Help patients develop and maintain good oral health
- Educate patients on the relationship between diet and oral health
- Guide patients’ selection of oral care devices
- Document patient care and treatment plans
Certifications
- Basic Life Support
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring
Prisha Ali
[email protected]
(111) 121-2121
3031 Brannon Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Profile
Board-certified physician with 10+ years of experience in both hospital and private practice settings. Specialize in internal and family medicine, with a focus on treating non-life-threatening conditions and illnesses. Maintained an 85% patient success rate over the course of a 10-year career based on patient surveys. Dedicated to providing quality care services with utmost confidentiality.
Professional Experience
Physician, Hope Health, Los Angeles, CA
November 2015 – Present
- Counsel patients on specialist referrals
- Train teams of 6 residents for internal medicine program, reviewing the quality of their care and compliance with healthcare regulations
- Analyze data X-rays and other laboratory tests for patient diagnosis, treatment, and referral
Physician, Johnson Family Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
July 2011 – February 2015
- Managed healthcare records for 50+ patients using Microsoft Excel
- Prescribed medications and set treatment plans for patients with non-life-threatening conditions
- Consulted with medical sales reps to discuss cost-effective treatments and medical products
Internal Medicine Resident, UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA
July 2011 – February 2015
- Provided healthcare to internal medicine patients under supervision of senior physicians
- Helped examine and diagnose patients upon intake
- Conducted patient interviews and thoroughly documented information to maintain accurate health records
Education
Doctor of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles, CA, June 2004
Bachelor of Science in Biology
University of California, Los Angeles, CA, June 2000
Key Skills
- Family Practice
- Intake Processing
- Leadership
- Patient Care
- Patient Confidentiality
Certifications
- Board Certified, Medical Board of California, 2010
James Corbin
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Nashville, TN 12345
Profile
A certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with entry-level experience, specializing in patient transport, pre-hospital care, communication, and ambulance operation. Adept at coordinating with medical teams to deliver emergency treatment to patients in crisis situations.
Professional Experience
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Southwest Medical, Nashville, TN
June 2021 – Present
- Deliver first aid, basic life support, and emergency medical treatment to 50+ patients per week in a wide range of emergency medical situations
- Ensure the safe transport of patients and administer appropriate medical treatment on-scene and in route to hospitals, including CPR and pharmaceutical interventions
- Conduct preventative maintenance on ambulatory vehicles and perform equipment inspections to identify potential defects
- Communicate with patients and families on-site to obtain medical histories and identify appropriate treatments based on symptoms
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer, Southwest Medical, Nashville, TN
June 2020 – June 2021
- Provided patient transport support to a 200-bed hospital as a volunteer, which included transporting patients in wheelchairs to and from appointments within the facility
- Interfaced with a diverse patient population, communicated with empathy and professionalism, and ensured safe transport of patients
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
University of Nashville, Nashville, TN, September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Patient Care
- Vital Sign Monitoring
- Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
- Communication
- Patient Transport
Certifications
- EMT-Basic Certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (Active), June 2021
- Advanced Life Support (ALS), American Heart Association, June 2021
Frequently Asked Questions: Healthcare Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for healthcare resumes?+
If you’re struggling to write your resume Experience section, you’re not alone. Many find it hard to think of unique action verbs for each past job, but the list below can help you brainstorm. Look for verbs that are as specific as possible. It’s also a good idea to include action verbs that appear in the job posting to tailor your resume further.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapted | Administered |
| Advocated | Analyzed |
| Assisted | Collaborated |
| Conducted | Counseled |
| Determined | Diagnosed |
| Discerned | Documented |
| Educated | Empathized |
| Evaluated | Facilitated |
| Identified | Interpreted |
| Isolated | Listened |
| Monitored | Observed |
| Prioritized | Provided |
| Relayed | Reported |
| Researched | Resolved |
| Responded | Reviewed |
| Supported | Trained |
| Treated | |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?+
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that healthcare jobs will increase by about 13 percent (or two million) between 2021 and 2031. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all US occupations.
When you find a healthcare job posting that interests you, look closely at the required skills and qualifications. Are there any you possess but haven’t featured on your resume yet? For instance, have you worked with the same types of medical procedures or patient groups? If so, consider mentioning that experience in your resume Profile or Key Skills section. Often, you can simply add it to the end of your intro line. Taking this extra step will make your resume that much more relevant to each job opportunity and prone to catch hiring managers’ interest.
What is the best healthcare resume format?+
Generally, the best healthcare resume formats are reverse-chronological or combination.
The reverse-chronological format lets you show a detailed work history and your primary duties in each job, which can highlight your career growth and investment in the medical community over time.
The combination format works well if you’re changing departments or roles and want to show past healthcare experience, even if it doesn’t precisely match the position.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
Including a cover letter with your healthcare resume can help you stand out among many applicants. Your healthcare cover letter doesn’t have to be extensive and, in most cases, shouldn’t be longer than a few paragraphs. Use this space to show your interest in the facility’s mission and elaborate on some of the top points from your resume.
