Are you ready to begin applying for the senior living job that will match your preferences and passions? One of the most effective tools you can use is a well-written and polished resume.
The challenge is how to make yours stand out among all the others that will be received.
Following these resume tips can help you rise to the top and land the perfect senior living job.
Importance of your resume
It’s been estimated that recruiters and hiring managers spend on average only six to seven seconds when initially deciding which resumes to read or discard. So the first resume tip is to make a great first impression.
Your resume is key to getting the interview. Until you meet in person, everything they know about you will be on that one piece of paper. The information you share will help them decide whether they want to learn more – or eliminate you from consideration.
Create a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd. Remember, there will be several applications submitted for each job opening. You’ll want to ensure yours is distinctive.
Resume tips for your senior living job
Consider the following resume tips to create the type of document that will successfully introduce you to the hiring team before you meet them in person:
1. Review industry resume samples
If possible, locate examples of resumes in your industry and study to see what others are producing. This resume tip provides an opportunity to become familiar with the standard and the foundation from which you can build. Study well-written resume samples to help you understand the key elements to include.
2. Keep it short and direct
Unless absolutely necessary, keep your resume to one page. Only include key information and experience that would be relevant to the prospective employer when applying for a senior living job, typically from the last 10 years only.
Including every job you’ve held can actually weaken your resume by diluting your experience and taking the focus away from your relevant qualifications.
3. Create an original resume template
You can begin with a guide to help get you started but another valuable resume tip is to always customize it to highlight your unique qualifications and accomplishments. You won’t need to use every subhead from a template. If you’re short on experience, consider combining similar sections.
4. Choose the right amount of white space
Uninterrupted paragraphs of text are difficult to read but leaving too much white space may make the resume appear lacking in experience. Use a 12-point font size and include an additional section such as “Skills” if you don’t have enough past work descriptions.
5. Use powerful and active language
Make sure your resume uses power words such as “achieved” or “accomplished” when applying for a senior living job. Another great resume tip is to keep your sentences short and consider bullet points to list achievements if that would help deliver the most concise message.
6. Incorporate keywords from the job description
Pay careful attention to the language used in the job post. What characteristics, skills or education are they looking for? Tie in your background to highlight these keywords.
You’ll also likely meet the qualifications of any automated resume scanners a company might use.
You may not like to brag but this is the time to highlight yourself. Talk about your relevant accomplishments and the impact you’ve made. Use statistics and numbers where possible.
7. Proofread and polish your resume
Carefully re-read your resume several times and ask others to review it as well to make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. Consider this resume tip – ask them to read your resume as a prospective employer would and encourage their advice for ways to improve.
8. Customize your resume for each job application
You won’t necessarily need to make major changes but for each senior living job opening you are asking to be considered for, you’ll want your resume to directly demonstrate why you’re the best candidate. Never create one resume and mail it out “as is” to every job application. Personalize it.
9. Don’t forget the basics
While trying to create the perfect resume, applicants often overlook the obvious, such as forgetting to add their contact information including their full name and email address.
You’ll also want to use a professional email address. If you don’t have one, create a simple address that is preferably a combination of your first and last name.
A final resume tip – make sure you convert your resume into a PDF file to preserve your formatting. Your resume can become lost or jumbled during the digital journey if you save it only as a Word doc.
Joining the team at Sinceri Senior Living
Sinceri Senior Living specializes in independent living, assisted living and memory care, fostering deep bonds between those who live and work in our communities – just like families.
We extend our commitment in creating this welcoming environment to our employees who form strong relationships with the residents and their coworkers. In fact, many of our team members think of the community they work in as their second home because of such strong connections.
The caregiver’s role is to first make our residents feel safe and secure. We strive to ensure everyone we hire is generous, compassionate and as committed as we are to provide excellent service at every opportunity.
We understand the stress that caregivers can experience and the challenge in trying to stay one step ahead of what a resident or family member might need or desire. We fully support their efforts as it truly takes a team to provide quality senior care.
If you’re interested in becoming a care partner with Sinceri Senior Living as we strive together to exceed expectations, we hope you’ll be in touch.
We also invite you to download our complimentary guide, Simple Self-Care for Caregivers and CNAs: 6 Ways to Take Care of Yourself so You can Care for Others, which includes helpful tips and steps you might try.
