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3 Things Healthcare Job Seekers Should Not Include on Their Resumes

Written by: Dr. Nisha Cooch
Published on: Jul 9, 2020
Category:

3 Things to Leave Off Your Resume

Recruiters, human resources professionals, and other professionals whose jobs relate to hiring often have tricks and tips for how to build an effective resume. However, it is important to recognize that while some of these ideas will apply across industries and job positions, specific industries may have standards that differ from those for other industries. Healthcare is unique in its requirements and arguably its culture, so to be successful, healthcare professionals need to develop resumes that are appropriate to this industry.

It is fairly intuitive what you should include in your resume - for instance, your education, relevant work and volunteer experience, and honors and awards. Healthcare professionals are more likely to make errors in building their resumes by including too much information rather than by including too little.

 Here are 3 things healthcare professionals should not include in their resumes:

  1. Hobbies. Many, many people include hobbies in their resumes. For some jobs, hobbies are relevant, but your fit for a healthcare position is unlikely to be better understood through your hobbies. Many people believe that including hobbies is beneficial because it provides a flavor for the person’s personality. While this notion may be true, a healthcare resume simply does not have space for this type of information that does not convey credentials that help a potential employer understand your competence for the position at hand. Save hobbies to discuss when you meet in person.

 

  1. Clichés. People in hiring and admissions in healthcare see perhaps more clichés in resumes than those in other industries. While it is tempting to discuss your passion for medicine or claim that this career was your calling, it will likely not do you any favors in landing a job. Instead, demonstrate your dedication to the field through the work you have done.

 

  1. Sensitive Personal Information. While some people suggest that you do not include a photo or information on your age, sex, or marital status on your resume, it is even more important to refrain from providing personal information that could identify you as someone who differs significantly from someone reading the resume or your potential colleagues. These items include things like your religious affiliations and political preferences. Unless some aspect of these pieces of information is directly relevant to your medical experience, it is best to leave these personal facts out of your resume.

Resume

Takeaway: When applying to healthcare jobs, make sure your resume focuses as much as possible on your credentials and what will make you successful in the types of positions you are interested in filling. While unique information can be valuable, any unique information included on your resume should pertain to your training or experience rather than your personal characteristics.