Are you considering a new job opportunity in the medical field? If so, it can be an exciting yet stressful as you craft your resume to reveal how great you would be for the healthcare organization listing the position.

Your resume is the first impression a hiring manager will get of you. And a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work well anymore. So how can you stand out among other candidates for each available opportunity?

Medical job applicants only have around one to three minutes to make a positive impression on prospective employers through their resume. To help elevate your chances, here are a few steps you can take.

Six Resume Building Tips for Healthcare Professionals

1. Look for Resume Samples: The first thing to do is look for sample resumes (or actual ones) that are relevant to your desired position. Sample resumes will give you an idea of what should be effective and can help you avoid including unnecessary information.

2. Format for ATS Scanning: Often, recruiters and hiring managers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan and classify resumes. An ATS eases the burden on hiring managers, allowing them to make initial reviews quickly by scanning and sorting resumes. So it’s important to use a template and formatting that is easily readable by both human and digital reviewers.

3. Mimic Job Post Language: When job posts are written, certain terms are used that indicate what the organization is looking for in an ideal candidate. So it’s important to use those same terms within your resume, where applicable. Carefully read the job post and insert relevant terms so the ATS algorithm can select your resume for review.

4. Include Both Hard and Soft Skills: To be successful in most jobs, you need to have a combination of hard and soft skills. Accordingly, both skill types should be included in your resume. You should emphasize only your most relevant hard and soft skills and use specific examples and/or data to support your claim.

5. Add a Resume Summary: Hiring managers will often do a “quick pass” to check initial matches. So a resume summary is helpful in gaining their attention and providing a good first impression. The resume summary should be a short paragraph or bulleted list at the top of your resume which summarizes your best selling points. Again, use hard numbers or brief mentions of examples to prove each selling point you highlight. A good resume summary condenses your pivotal professional skills while highlighting how well you qualify.

6. Tell a Story Though a Timeline: Lastly, make your resume interesting. Don’t simply list your qualifications. Instead, have your resume tell a story of your career in medicine by providing information in chronological order, starting with your most recent accomplishments then bringing the hiring manager back through your history.

Your primary goal is to build a medical resume that impresses the hiring manager and meets key requirements for the position. To really stand out, express your individuality throughout and show how you will be the perfect addition to fulfill the organization’s need.