Writing a resume for a health care job is a lot like writing one for any other professional job: you have to highlight the primary areas of education, experience, and employment goals.

However, because the health care industry is such a specialized field, it’s important to remember that there are certain key areas of focus that might give you an advantage over other recent health care graduates seeking employment.

Education

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve recently received your diploma from a medical transcription vocational school or your Bachelor of Nursing from an accredited university – your potential new employer wants to know where you went to health care school and what you learned there.

Health care education is an integral part of working in the field, and most professionals with a degree or recognized certification are more likely to land the job than someone who hasn’t been formally trained. Highlight what you learned and how it applies to your ability to do the job. Be sure to include all relevant certifications, licenses, and accreditations, as well as any continuing education credits you’ve picked up along the way.

Experience

Some health care professionals place experience above education; others do the exact reverse. The truth is, it’s the fine balance of both these qualities that make excellent nurses, medical assistants, occupational therapists, and others who work in the medical field.

The most important step here is to be sure and include strong descriptions of the skills you’ve learned along the way. Although many employers will have a general idea of your tasks as an X-ray technician, emphasizing the range of your skills and how they contributed to the success of your previous employer can go a long way in giving you an edge.

Employment Goals

Working in the medical field is often a benefit all unto itself. After all, most students go to health care school because they want to help others.

However, it’s also a good idea to set out your goals on paper where your employer can see them – especially when they relate to the job you’re applying for. Do you want to expand your knowledge of physical therapy to include massage? Are you hoping to use your new nursing position as a way to complete an RN-to-Bachelor degree?

These types of long-term goals demonstrate that you are serious about your health care career, and that you will continue to contribute to the company for the long term. At the end of the day, that’s really what health care organizations are after – someone who is willing to grow and learn with them to provide the best care every day.

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