Putting Power Into Your Resume

Is your resume packing enough punch? Do you use “power words” and outline your accomplishments to showcase your skills? To make your resume stand out, avoid overused clichés. A vague resume, or one that looks like all the rest, will likely get passed up by the hiring manager or the recruiter. What sets you apart? Be clear, brief, and specific.

Here are four ways to pack more power into your resume.

1. Use Power Words. What words would make your resume more attention-grabbing? Action verbs that demonstrate transformation and leadership top the list. For example, the words redesign or modernized show that the applicant has problem-solving skills and big-picture thinking. Other attractive action verbs include launched, optimized, solved, and transformed. HR also scans resumes for words like value or valuable, orchestrated, created, led, and managed.

2. Quantify. Another way to boost your resume is by using specific numbers when describing your background. For example, prove it by sharing actual results rather than saying you excel at managing a team.

“I lead a team of 12 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to deliver care to 120+ patients.”

3. Be Specific. Avoid buzzwords while favoring short explanations. For example, instead of saying you’re hard-working, outline how you broke down a complex task to meet a deadline.

4. Give Examples. Instead of listing your skills, share how you used those skills at work. Describing concrete projects and accomplishments demonstrates your mastery of crucial skills.

Here are some ideas of what to include on your resume if you work in a clinical hospital setting. Use specific examples or numbers to help your resume shine.

Surgical Services/Operating Room (OR)

• Turnover times within the OR
• Surgical site infection rates that went to the OR
• On-time case starts
• Employee engagement scores

Emergency Services

• Door-to-door times
• Door-to-EKG times
• Infection prevention rates
• Discharges without being seen
• Trauma designation
• Team education and certifications
• Employee engagement scores

Critical Care

• Nurse-to-patient ratio
• Hand washing rates
• Patient rounding (Q4 or Q2 checks)
• Infection Rates (sepsis, CLABSI)
• Days to discharge
• Readmission rates

Successful Joint Commission/Survey Readiness

• Wound assessment and management
• Strategies for staying survey ready
• Employee engagement scores

Punching your resume with power words, specific examples, and quantifying numbers will give you a better chance of rising to the top of the application stack.