RESUME

THE RESUME Your effort to acquire an interview with the physician or organization with which you desire to work.

Resume Pitfalls Sloppy and hastily written look Vague and confusing content Failure to stress skills and accomplishments An excess of irrelevant information that obscures important points A writing style that is unclear and hard to follow Lack of visual appeal

Developing the Personal Biography Education Memberships Skills Awards & Recognition Hobbies Work History References

Education College experience PA education –Program certification / completion date NCCPA –Certification / Plan date to sit Graduate –Courses, Degrees, Postgraduate training Prior training

Membership Membership in professional and other organizations and the extent of involvement can not only demonstrate commitment to the profession but also provide insight into civic, social, political, and cultural orientation.

Skills Additional skills along with PA training can be used to address potential employer’s personnel needs may be favored

Awards & Recognition

Hobbies & Interests The nonprofessional aspect of a graduate’s life can facilitate a better understanding of how you might fit into the position and integrate with the clinic or hospital staff

Work History Begin with the most recent and work backwards –Don’t exceed ten years Explain gaps Descriptions / Information –Duties –Supervisors –Organizations (address & phone #) Prior work experiences of value to a potential employer should be described

References Choose references wisely and have complete confidence in what might be disclosed to a potential employer

From Biography to Resume Compiling a personal biography is an introspective process. Transforming the personal biography into a functional resume is the next step.

Editing a Resume Anything that does not contribute to getting the interview should be eliminated Try to be informative yet brief Describe skills and functions Tailor the resume to the job at hand

Resume Organization Chronological Functional Combination

Resume Layout Single-spaced lines One-two pages White space Short paragraphs Short sentences or phrases “Quick find” Avoid unnecessary & obvious captions

Other Resources: Resumes Research examples of effective resumes Learn from critical analysis Review and edit the document

PA Employment Resources Specific web sites that may offer some assistance

Finally ….. Encourage constructive criticism Constantly update and add new skills

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