Résumé Writing

Chances are, if you’re enrolled at IHE, you’re invested in your career goals.  The Career Services Department is here to help you land a great job.  They can share strategies with you in person and post job openings on their Facebook page.  When you log into Facebook www.facebook.com, you can search for “Ihe Csd” to find the page.  (Also, you can enjoy pictures of yourself and your classmates and connect with them.)

IHE Library also has resources for job hunters, including workshops on using computers, résumé-writing, and job hunting (available by appointment if you ask your librarian in person or online at agerber@ihe.edu).  I already wrote a blog entry about books on résumés, job searches, and networking in the IHE Library.

I also wrote about how you can get a Jersey City Free Public Library card.  This will allow you to use their online resources, including the Job & Career Accelerator.  As the library’s website describes it, “This all-in-one online resource will guide you through the entire job search process and provide personalized, step-by-step instructions” (retrieved January 30, 2012, from http://www.jclibrary.org/resources/online-resources).

What should you include in your résumé?

Remember that your résumé (or resume) should stand out and show what is unique about you.  However, there are some basic parts of a résumé to include:

1.    Name and contact information:  This is the most important part of a résumé.  After all, no one can offer you a job if no one can call you, write to you, or email you.  If you do not have an email address, you can get a free one at www.aim.com (from AOL), www.fastmail.fm,  www.gmail.com (from Google), www.gmx.com, www.hotmail.com (from Microsoft), www.icloud.com (from Apple), www.yahoo.com, www.zoho.com, and other websites.  (You can take your pick—any of them should work fine—but if you want to compare free email services first, you can read the article Top 18 Free Email Services.)  Remember, you can always ask your librarian for help with this.

2.    Objective:  Who are you?  What type of job do you want?  This part should be brief and to the point.

3.    Education:  Where did you go to school?  (Include the names of the schools, cities, and states.)  When did you attend?  If you are still enrolled, when do you expect to complete the program?  What was your program?  What did you learn?  What certificates did you receive?  Usually, this section is in reverse chronological order, meaning that you probably will begin with your most recent school (probably IHE) and end with the earliest school that you want to include (perhaps high school).  If you earned a high grade point average or participated in extracurricular activities, you may want to include that information here.

4.    Employment history:  What jobs did you have in the past?  (Include the names of the companies, cities, states, and dates of employment.)  Do you have any now?  What were your duties?  Highlight those parts of the job that you think are relevant to the job that you are applying for—even if you have never worked in the field that you want to work in.  For example, if you had a job taking orders at a fast food restaurant, you can point out that you have experience working with customers and handling money, two things you’ll have to do if you work as a medical biller.  Also, do not forget to include your externship.  Sometimes this section is titled Work history, Professional experience, or something similar. Most résumés’ employment sections are in reverse chronological order. 

5.    Skills:  What specifically have you learned how to do?  Include the skills that would be relevant for the job that you are applying for.

6.    Honors and awards:  Some résumés have separate sections for these; others include honors and awards in the other sections.  Did you have perfect attendance at IHE?  Were you on the Director’s List?  Did you get an Employee of the Month award at your job?  All these things can show that you would make a dependable employee. 

Here is a sample résumé by a nonexistent student who does not have any work experience but is currently enrolled at IHE.   What is good about this résumé?  What could make it better? 

 

Zena Ferras

45 East 18^th St.  Apt114,

Bayonne, NJ 07002

201-xxx-xxxx

zferras@hahoo.com

OBJECTIVE

Medical Assistant with EKG, Phlebotomy and CPR experience. Seeking employment in a medical facility where my knowledge and practical skill can be fully utilized. 

EDUCATION

02/2010 – Present           Institute For Health Education, New Jersey, NJ

Medical Assistant/EKG/Phlebotomy/CPR

Phlebotomy

EKG

Medical Terminology

Anatomy and Physiology I

Administrative Medical Asst. 1

Medical Law and Ethics

Human Relations

Anatomy and Physiology II

CPR

Basic First-Aid

Clinical Medical Asst. I

Pharmacology

Administrative Medical Asst. II

Clinical Medical Asst. II

2005-2009            Bayonne High school, Bayonne NJ

Diploma

SKILLS

Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills. Effective EKG/Phlebotomy, CPR, client charting, taking vitals and interpreting medical terminology effectively. Microsoft word (25wpm).

References available upon request.

Zena Farras has never had a job, so she makes certain to be very specific when describing her education.  She mentions all of the classes that she took at IHE, so that anyone reading the résumé will know what some of Zena’s skills are. 

Unfortunately, Zena made a few mistakes (such as not capitalizing the “s” in “Bayonne High school” and listing IHE's address as "New Jersey, NJ" instead of "Jersey City, NJ").  Even small mistakes can make a difference.  Think about a doctor looking for a new medical assistant.  Dozens of people might send her their résumés.  She would not have to time to interview every person who applies for the job, so the doctor might decide to save time by throwing out all the résumés that have errors.  After all, if someone makes a mistake on her own résumé, she might make lots of mistakes on the job, too.  Proofread your résumé carefully.  Do not be afraid to ask someone else to proofread it, too.

Here is another résumé by another fake IHE student.  This student, Debra Boodie, wants to start her career as a medical assistant (MA).  Unlike Zena, Debra has held a few jobs, but none in the medical field.  Look closely at the duties she mentions in the Professional Experience section.  Even though she never worked as a medical assistant, she had duties in her jobs that are similar to ones that she would have as an MA.

Debra Boodie

14 King Street, Apt. C5

North Bergen, NJ 07304

(201) xxx-xxxx

dboodie@hoza.com

Objective

Medical Assistant with knowledge in EKG, Phlebotomy and CPR.  Seeking an opportunity in a medical office where I can gain confidence and practical experience in the medical field.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

12/2005 - 01/2009   Start Advertising Inc.                                               Bayonne, NJ

                                    Switchboard Operator

•       Coordinated all incoming calls and directed them to the relevant authorities.

•       Maintained fifteen phone lines with approximately one hundred calls daily.

11/1999 -12/2005     Adecco Staffing,                                                       Lyndhurst, NJ

                                     Receptionist, Typist

•       Interviewed and set up appointments for prospective employees.

•       Managed lease agreement paperwork for tenants at apartment complex.

•       Tracked and processed shipment with pro numbers and bill of lading.

10/1989-10/1999      Metro Telecommunications,                               Secaucus, NJ

                                      Sr. Customer Service Representative

•       Provided telephone numbers to callers, compiled and organized paperwork for meetings.

•       Supervised and trained employees in office procedures and equipments.

EDUCATION                        

09/2011                       The Institute for Health Education,                   Jersey City, NJ

                                       Certificate - Medical Billing & Coding

06/2000                        East Orange High,                                                    East Orange, NJ

                                        High School Diploma            

SKILLS

 Microsoft office suite, telemarketing experience, Insurance verification, data entry, customer services representative, CMS1500, HCPS, ICD-9, Lytec, UB-04, UB-92, Medisoft14, Fusion 2.0. CPR and First Ai

Look at the very end of her résumé above.  At the end of an excellent résumé, Debra Boodie left a careless error:  she wrote "First Ai" instead of "First Aid."  How do you think that would affect the impression she wants to make?

 

Here is a third sample résumé.  Notice that it looks slightly different from the others.  What do you like about this résumé?  How could it be better?

Alan Smithee
123 Fake Street, Apartment 1A, Higgledydiggleby, NJ 08783
(201) 555-1234
alansmithee51@yahoo.com

Objective

To use my knowledge and experience in a position as a health care assistant to help patients achieve health.

Education

Institute for Health Education, Jersey City
Medical assistant certification program (2011-2012)
Phlebotomy Certification Program (2011)
EKG Certification Program (2011)
Perfect attendance

·         Phlebotomy

·         EKG

·         Medical Terminology

·         Anatomy and Physiology I-II

·         Administrative Medical Assisting I-II

·         Medical  Law and Ethics

·         Human Relations

·         CPR

·         Basic First-Aid

·         Clinical Medical Assisting I-II

·         Pharmacology

Lowe High School, Sometown, New Jersey
High school diploma (2001-2005)
GPA 3.4 on 4.0 scale

Employment

Cesar Rehabilitation           Dietary Aid
2010-2011                           Preparing, distributing food to the residents

Gordon’s Groceries            Cashier and customer service

2005-2010                           Greeting, assisting customers; operating cash register

 

Tips

1.    Remember that you can always get feedback from your librarian.

2.    Look at other résumés for ideas.

3.    To read detailed discussions on effective résumés, read “Résumés, Cover Letters, and Follow Up Letters” at http://careers.sdsmt.edu/resources/resumes/ and Chapter 2 of Career Development for Health Professionals by Lee Haroun (ISBN 9781437706734).  In the IHE Library, this book has the call number R690 .H377 2011.

4.    You can adjust your résumé, especially your objective, when you apply for different jobs.  Stress the skills that would come in handy in the specific job that you want.

5.    You might have heard that your résumé should fit on one page.  You also might have heard that your résumé should fit on two pages.  In my opinion, the best length depends on your experience.  If you do not have a lot, one page should do nicely.  On the other hand, if you have worked in the field for many years, you might want a second page in order to show people reading your résumé how qualified you are.  I do not recommend making your résumé one complete page and only two or three lines on the second page.  Someone reading your résumé would wonder why you couldn’t fit it all on one page.

6.    Neatness counts.  Use a computer.  

7.    As mentioned earlier, proofread your résumé very carefully; then, have someone else proofread it.

8.    Do not lie on your résumé.  Do not say you graduated top of your class from Harvard Medical School unless you actually graduated top of your class from Harvard Medical School.  Even if you get hired, there is a good chance that someone will investigate and find out the truth, and you will lose the job you had fought so hard to get.

9.    The people who look at your résumé could be looking at many others, so include what stands out about you.  How are you unique?  What are you most proud of?  Don’t be afraid to show off a little.