Resumes: A Vehicle to Utilize for Your Career Journey
By Kristie McCaffery, Manager of Recruitment and Amber Mauro, Director of Recruitment
Employment opportunities for therapy professionals are seemingly endless. Physical and occupational therapists can find work in a variety of different settings, including private practices and clinics, hospitals, schools, nursing and assisted living facilities, universities, and the armed forces. In addition to the types of possible settings, therapists can also specialize in a wide range of fields, like sports medicine, geriatrics, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, and women’s health.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that occupational therapy jobs are predicted to grow at a rate of 24 percent from 2016 to 2026, nearly 20 percent greater than the national average. Employment of physical therapists is also projected to grow 22 percent from 2018 to 2028 — much faster than the average for all occupations. This is exciting news if you are currently in the field or looking for your first career in this profession.
Without direction and with so many options, applying to jobs can quickly become overwhelming and time-consuming. A purposeful and well-thought resume is your ticket to navigating toward opportunities best suited for you and your career goals.
Not sure where to start?
FIRST, CONSIDER THE BASICS OF BUILDING YOUR RESUME
You need to decide what resume format you would like to use. There are three basic types of formats:
- Reverse chronological
- Skills-based
- Combination resume
The most common format is the reverse chronological resume as it is the one that best fits most therapy professionals. This type of format lists your relevant experience, beginning with your most recent position and proceeding backward. Most hiring managers are looking for your most recent skills and relevant experience, and therefore it most advantageous to use this type of format and list your most recent experience at the top.
For the layout, you should keep it to one page, unless you believe two pages will provide significant value. A two-page resume is recommended for anyone with 10+ years of experience or lots of relevant professional achievements.
Keep your resume’s font simple and easy to read. Stick with fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Garamond or Times New Roman. Avoid fonts such as Comic Sans and Century Gothic. These types of fonts are unprofessional and can be difficult to read. Your font should be between 10-12 points with section titles between 14-16 points. Section titles include your header, summary, work history, education, certifications, etc. Margins are also very important and should be ½ to 1 inch in width.
Proofread and spellcheck your resume a few times. Have someone you trust also look it over. A spelling or grammatical error can be detrimental to your job application. It’s not so much the error itself, but the fact that it demonstrates a lack of attention to detail. Remember your resume is often the first impression you make on a potential employer.
RESEARCH POTENTIAL WORKPLACES AND THEN TARGET
Figure out what organizations and settings interest you. Investigate the culture of each and make sure your philosophies and interests are similar to theirs. Analyze the language and words these companies use in their job postings.
Then, align your resume with keyword-rich content to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experience requirements you bring relative to that organization or job. You can do this in the summary section at the top of your resume and customize it for the position you are applying to.
MAKE THE TOP OF YOUR RESUME TRULY COUNT
Hiring managers and recruiters generally spend about six seconds, at most, “reading” a resume.
Throw out “objective.” Leading with that section title at the top of your resume portrays a one-way relationship between you and the potential employer.
Instead, add a profile or summary section at the top that can easily be tailored for each of the jobs you target. Your summary should showcase your value proposition and consist of a short, catchy statement that highlights relevant attributes in 15 to 20 words or less. Use powerful action verbs and highlight your accomplishments. Be concise with a purpose!
A hiring manager is quickly scanning for education for therapy professionals that don’t have job experience. If you’re a new grad or have less than three years’ experience, put your education toward the top and consider adding your GPA if it’s 3.0 or higher. If you have three or more years’ experience, putting your education at the bottom and highlighting your work experience first is preferred.
THE CRUX OF THE RESUME
After listing your summary and education, you will want to detail your experience. If you are just graduating and don’t have work experience to add, you can list your Level I and Level II fieldwork assignments.
Hiring managers want to know not only what you’ve done but also how well you have performed. Include metrics and numbers when possible to demonstrate accomplishments. Use this section to highlight how you add value to the workplace. Take the time to thoughtfully consider how you want to market your unique skills.
Add skills or exposure you gained in electronic documentation and specific EHR systems. Back your experience with patient success stories whenever possible. This is your chance to advertise your brand!
You should also include professional organizations and volunteer work, particularly if it pertains to the job and/or organization of interest. Placement is best if it follows work history.
You do not need to list references on your resume. It is understood that these will be given at another time or upon request.
YOUR RESUME HELPS YOU TO GET YOU FROM POINT A TO POINT B
Remember the heart of what matters. With preparation, a carefully constructed resume will undoubtedly present more options suited for your strengths and goals. As such, you will be best positioned to deliver optimal clinical care and rehabilitate the lives of others.
Your resume is merely a vehicle for your journey!
This article was originally published on October 24, 2017. It has been updated with current recommendations.