What you guys put on Resume when applying for jobs

[deleted421268]

What specific things you guys put on your resume when applying for hospital jobs or nursing home jobs? Mine has an education section, job shadowing section, activities and leadership section, volunteer and community service section, skills section, related courses section, and research skill section. Don't have employment section because as of now have never worked a paid job before.

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[Lollygag]

It sounds like you have a lot of sections, you're keeping it to one page right? Unless you have several years of work experience then it should not be any longer than that.

If you can fit all that into one page plus descriptions then great, but I sure couldn't fit all of that on mine.

 

[stickgirl390]

It sounds like you have a lot of sections, you're keeping it to one page right? Unless you have several years of work experience then it should not be any longer than that.

If you can fit all that into one page plus descriptions then great, but I sure couldn't fit all of that on mine.

I strongly disagree with this rule of thumb. The first page should be the strongest, but if you have important, relevant information that you want a future employer to know, you should include it, regardless of if the resume goes on to two or three pages. What you want to avoid is filling your resume with "fluff" just too make yourself appear more desirable. But don't censor your accomplishments just to keep the length to one page.

 

[getfat]

Mine has an education section, job shadowing section, activities and leadership section, volunteer and community service section, skills section, related courses section, and research skill section. Don't have employment section because as of now have never worked a paid job before.

For non-trads with extensive work experience that are applying to a real job its understandable to have multiple pages like @stickgirl390 mentioned but for common college students like yourself at best you could get 1 page of real experience.

If you are applying for a hospital job, you are want to focus on talking points for an interview.

• Job Shadowing = Definitely if its health care related
• Education section = Definitely. If you have a competitive GPA > 3.5 I would put in there to highlight your work ethic.
• Volunteer/Community service = List positions,responsibilities, money raised, specific events you were in would be low yield and depend on what else you bring to the table. Hospital Volunteering definitely list with hours.
• Skills section = this is iffy, focus on measurable skills or certifications. Things like WPM not subjective skills like "time-savvy", "hard-working".
• Related courses = Definitely for someone with zero job experience. Anatomy courses, Medical terminology. These will help a lot with mention of the grade you got.
• Research skills = Definitely but should just be merged with your related courses section. Unless you have had formal training in a lab or specific amount of time with Dr. Z it might be better to merge with previous section.
• Other suggestions = Mini paragraph at top with a basic "Tell me about yourself" introduction. ~ 5 sentences long with your career aspirations, hobbies, what make your application personal.

 

[Lollygag]

I strongly disagree with this rule of thumb. The first page should be the strongest, but if you have important, relevant information that you want a future employer to know, you should include it, regardless of if the resume goes on to two or three pages. What you want to avoid is filling your resume with "fluff" just too make yourself appear more desirable. But don't censor your accomplishments just to keep the length to one page.

For people who have been in a field for 5-10+ years, of course their resume will exceed one page. It's nearly impossible to limit it to a page with that much job experience. For an undergrad student who has never held an actual job as the OP stated, going over one page is unnecessary. Some of my colleagues even view it as naive and a bit annoying (for the lower level positions) but I'm only at one hiring agency at one hospital in the U.S. so n = 1, surely isn't representative of everywhere but I know it happens enough that it'd be wise to avoid if possible.

 

[aldol16]

I strongly disagree with this rule of thumb. The first page should be the strongest, but if you have important, relevant information that you want a future employer to know, you should include it, regardless of if the resume goes on to two or three pages. What you want to avoid is filling your resume with "fluff" just too make yourself appear more desirable. But don't censor your accomplishments just to keep the length to one page.

Anybody at the undergrad or immediate post-undergrad level should not have more than one page of "important, relevant" information. The chances are, that "important, relevant" information is neither important nor relevant. Oh and newsflash, employers don't really care about your GPA, honors, courses taken, "Big Man on Campus" awards. If they want that, they would ask for a transcript.

For people who have been in a field for 5-10+ years, of course their resume will exceed one page. It's nearly impossible to limit it to a page with that much job experience. For an undergrad student who has never held an actual job as the OP stated, going over one page is unnecessary. Some of my colleagues even view it as naive and a bit annoying (for the lower level positions) but I'm only at one hiring agency at one hospital in the U.S. so n = 1, surely isn't representative of everywhere but I know it happens enough that it'd be wise to avoid if possible.

This would depend on the person. If that person has been at two or three companies in well-defined roles in that time period, they could likely have two pages (or even one) of concise, relevant information. If a person has been in a field for 5-10 years and has five pages worth of job experience, then it's more likely they moved a lot between jobs. Which, of course, invites the question of why they moved between jobs.

 

[deleted421268]

It sounds like you have a lot of sections, you're keeping it to one page right? Unless you have several years of work experience then it should not be any longer than that.

If you can fit all that into one page plus descriptions then great, but I sure couldn't fit all of that on mine.

I have it all on one page plus like 2 lines into another page. I just have the main things I listed though and no descriptions for anything.

 

[libertyyne]

I have it all on one page plus like 2 lines into another page. I just have the main things I listed though and no descriptions for anything.

Change the font to make it fit or the spacing.

 

[deleted421268]

Change the font to make it fit or the spacing.

Okay will do!

 

[deleted421268]

Also to add I have a reference section with two professors listed as references with their contact number

 

[deleted421268]

For non-trads with extensive work experience that are applying to a real job its understandable to have multiple pages like @stickgirl390 mentioned but for common college students like yourself at best you could get 1 page of real experience.

If you are applying for a hospital job, you are want to focus on talking points for an interview.

• Volunteer/Community service = List positions,responsibilities, money raised, specific events you were in would be low yield and depend on what else you bring to the table. Hospital Volunteering definitely list with hours.

I basically have all my volunteer and community service listed with dates but no description or anything along those lines should I go back and do that?

 

[getfat]

I basically have all my volunteer and community service listed with dates but no description or anything along those lines should I go back and do that?

Honestly you should go see your career services department at your university. They can give a clear, objective analysis with suggestions. Something a lot of us pre-meds are really bad at.

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

I can count to 100 really fast.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

For people who have been in a field for 5-10+ years, of course their resume will exceed one page. It's nearly impossible to limit it to a page with that much job experience. For an undergrad student who has never held an actual job as the OP stated, going over one page is unnecessary. Some of my colleagues even view it as naive and a bit annoying (for the lower level positions) but I'm only at one hiring agency at one hospital in the U.S. so n = 1, surely isn't representative of everywhere but I know it happens enough that it'd be wise to avoid if possible.

I have 15 years of employment history with three entries in my employment section that--aside from one job that I only had for two years--have eight and five years of experience each. I also have education, a pubs section, and an honors/awards section (with actual awards, not just things like the Dean's List). I am still able to make my resume a single page. Unless you are in a field where you are doing significant research for years and have a dozen plus publications, there's no reason you need more than a page. At that point it's an academic CV, and you aren't using it to find a gap year job.

 

[Shirafune]

For using your "real estate" efficiently, consider using narrow margins and subdividing sections with columns. Get rid of fluff and use charged verbs. If you are really pressed for space, don't include reference contact information. You can always include "References available upon request" at the bottom. IMO, if your resume itself doesn't make an employer slightly interested already, then they probably won't call your references.

 

[wb100]

I've removed shadowing for employment apps unless it's scribing or clinical research positions.

My CV is 2 pages and includes education, professional experience/employment, research, leadership, and volunteer work.

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[Lollygag]

I have 15 years of employment history with three entries in my employment section that--aside from one job that I only had for two years--have eight and five years of experience each. I also have education, a pubs section, and an honors/awards section (with actual awards, not just things like the Dean's List). I am still able to make my resume a single page. Unless you are in a field where you are doing significant research for years and have a dozen plus publications, there's no reason you need more than a page. At that point it's an academic CV, and you aren't using it to find a gap year job.

Yea I probably should have clarified, the people with 5-10 years experience I was referring to are the PhD guys for the research positions. So in reality what they are giving are CV's not regular resumes like the entry level position guys.

I understand people have a lot of experiences but there's always the option of reducing the font size and widening the margins. I roll my eyes all day at work getting resumes 3 pages long from undergrad students with 1 year of job experience. It's probably just a pet peeve of mine, but if the MD guy who has been working for 8 years can keep theirs at one page then it's mind baffling to me that the undergrad guy is sending me 3 pages.

 

[Lawpy]

I have 15 years of employment history with three entries in my employment section that--aside from one job that I only had for two years--have eight and five years of experience each. I also have education, a pubs section, and an honors/awards section (with actual awards, not just things like the Dean's List). I am still able to make my resume a single page. Unless you are in a field where you are doing significant research for years and have a dozen plus publications, there's no reason you need more than a page. At that point it's an academic CV, and you aren't using it to find a gap year job.

Yea I probably should have clarified, the people with 5-10 years experience I was referring to are the PhD guys for the research positions. So in reality what they are giving are CV's not regular resumes like the entry level position guys.

I understand people have a lot of experiences but there's always the option of reducing the font size and widening the margins. I roll my eyes all day at work getting resumes 3 pages long from undergrad students with 1 year of job experience. It's probably just a pet peeve of mine, but if the MD guy who has been working for 8 years can keep theirs at one page then it's mind baffling to me that the undergrad guy is sending me 3 pages.

yes a 1-page resume is usually the best. the idea is to present your experiences concisely and thoroughly, so having more pages can become a burden.

although @Matthew9Thirtyfive i'm curious how you're able to put a publications section into the 1-page resume, since that section can be lengthy. for privacy reasons though, PMs are always welcome.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

yes a 1-page resume is usually the best. the idea is to present your experiences concisely and thoroughly, so having more pages can become a burden.

although @Matthew9Thirtyfive i'm curious how you're able to put a publications section into the 1-page resume, since that section can be lengthy. for privacy reasons though, PMs are always welcome.

I'm not an academic powerhouse lol. I have a presentation at a national conference and three pubs. I sometimes include a couple of my fiction pieces I've sold for publication if the situation warrants it (e.g., my last letter writer wanted a resume and was really interested in my fiction, so I included the 5 shorts I've published under the research).

I also use size 10 font for the stuff under each heading, so that saves some space.

 

[leonardoson]

I usually put that I'm a Pre-Med. People instantly know I'm important.

 

[getfat]

I usually put that I'm a Pre-Med. People instantly know I'm important.

I know you are joking but just an FYI for OP.

If you are applying to any hospital job DO NOT MENTION MEDICAL SCHOOL. Just say you are interested in a health care career but have decided yet.

 

[Turkishking]

Should I include I type 115 WPM on average?

My fastest was 138 WPM

 

[Lollygag]

Should I include I type 115 WPM on average?

Wow, 115 WPM is pretty impressive, I do 90 and thought that was really good, feel like a chump now haha

If it's a data entry position, or even just something administrative or clerical that requires typing then it'd be worth mentioning somewhere.




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[aldol16]

Yea I probably should have clarified, the people with 5-10 years experience I was referring to are the PhD guys for the research positions. So in reality what they are giving are CV's not regular resumes like the entry level position guys.

Yes, you are referring to CVs in this instance. We as PhDs don't send resumes for jobs related to our field of study or science jobs in general - we send our CVs. And the stuff that takes up the most space on the CVs isn't employment or job experience but rather publications and presentations/abstracts that are en route to being made into publications.

 

[Turkishking]

Wow, 115 WPM is pretty impressive, I do 90 and thought that was really good, feel like a chump now haha

If it's a data entry position, or even just something administrative or clerical that requires typing then it'd be worth mentioning somewhere.




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Took years to practice actually. I started off at 45 WPM when I took my first keyboarding class in HS. Over the years it gradually increased.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Took years to practice actually. I started off at 45 WPM when I took my first keyboarding class in HS. Over the years it gradually increased.

Yeah, takes practice. I started out around 70 wpm, then after writing a lot over the years, I was able to get it up to 132. I'm at about 120 right now because I write by hand more often at work.

 

[deleted421268]

Had to change font to 9 size for it all to fit on one page. If I include descriptions for volunteer/community service it most likely will go over one page

 

[kraskadva]

For a resume (as opposed to a CV) you should only have things that are relevant to the job you're applying for and irrelevant things only so far as is necessary to fill in time gaps.

Research, for instance, is irrelevant to a hospital or nursing home job and is not needed to fill in time gaps, since presumably you were in school for that period, which covers that time gap.
Volunteering - you should only include healthcare related, and perhaps one other long term commitment (>6 mo) to show you're a nice person. Anything else is a waste of space as far as the person reading your resume will care. Ditto for Activities and Leadership.
Skills and Coursework should also be directly related - i.e. if you have to explain why they're related, they're probably not. So don't just list everything you can think of. And I second the poster above about skills being quantifiable. So, for instance, if you're applying somewhere that would require you to log info in an EMR, then WPM is good to have. Telling them how good you are with PPT is not.

Also, don't be cruel to your reader. Size 9 font is going to force a lot of people to whip out their reading glasses. Don't annoy them before they've seen more than your name. If you can't fit it all on 1 page at size 10-12 font, then tastefully massage your spacings and margins so it's 1.5-2 pages, with the most important/relevant stuff on the first page. Nobody will ding you for 2 pages. It's the 6 page fluff-filled resumes that get trashed.

 

[Doctor Dream]

What specific things you guys put on your resume when applying for hospital jobs or nursing home jobs? Mine has an education section, job shadowing section, activities and leadership section, volunteer and community service section, skills section, related courses section, and research skill section. Don't have employment section because as of now have never worked a paid job before.

I'll offer my thoughts since I've landed some healthcare jobs as a lowly pre-med.
I'd axe the shadowing, related courses, and research sections and put any of your relevant research skills in your "skills" section. Those sections are fluff you don't need. Combine your leadership and volunteering sections, and only include one or two of the most meaningful/relevant volunteer gigs you've had, in addition to your leadership things. You can then add more relevant info about the activities you have left.

Some postions get so many apps that employers will literally only spend 10-20 seconds looking over your resume before they decide interview or trashcan. Gotta make that time count.