The medical professional’s resume is unlike your typical, every-day resume. There are certain areas that require special emphasis that may not be the norm of other resumes. And, this should be expected! Consider that many of those who make it into the medical profession have gone through extra years of education, training, and certification. There’s a reason for such requirements and that is also why writing the medical professional’s resume is not like that of writing a resume for other professions.

Here are some of the special areas of emphasis to writing a medical professional’s resume:

Education is highlighted
While Work Experience is typically brought up higher on the resume, in the case of the medical professional resume, the Education section may also take as much priority. Details of education are extremely important to employers filling medical jobs. There may be specific degree and/or certification requirements. Also, say you are apply for a job in cancer research and you attended a school that is well regarded for its work in that area, it can be a huge selling point on the resume. Bringing the Education section up on the medical resume is advised in most cases.

Soft skills add value
It is particularly desirable in the medical field to have soft skills. Recruiters going over resumes will see plenty of candidates with similar background experience, but it’s the soft skills that can help you stand out from the rest. While it may seem harder to demonstrate soft skills on the resume, it’s simply a matter of comparing what you accomplished against goals of the job or making note of awards or acknowledgements received. Demonstrate to employers how you’ve applied soft skills to make a difference on the job. And in some instances, you may have been assigned to lead the training of nurses or medical staff. These are instances worthy of highlight on the resume that will help to demonstrate your people and communications skills on the job.

Experience and accomplishments matter more than a list of duties
Unfortunately, many who write their own resume make the mistake of providing information on duties of the job instead of the experience and accomplishments achieved on the job. Recruiters know what each job generally entails, presenting duties doesn’t say much. Tailor your resume to the needs of the employer – think about specific experiences and accomplishments that showcase your abilities and talent to excel on the job. Showcase how well you’ve performed in your previous jobs. To help you further, read: “Writing Your Resume; Use the “So What?” Method.”

Specialized skills help you stand out
Having the right skillset for the job is key to attracting the attention of employers. In the medical field, this can give you a lead over other job candidates who have similar background experience. If the job relates to pediatric cancer and you have clinical experience in the field, that is something you need to highlight on the resume to come off as the more qualified candidate. If you’re applying for a medical billing assistant job, it’s important to highlight your skills in billing and coding. Adding the right specialized skills on the resume helps you complete the package of presenting selling points employers can’t resist.

Clearly, the medical industry is vast and there are many specialties. The medical professional’s resume requires careful crafting with details and specifics that are tailored to each employer’s needs. Take the time to properly assess what information your resume will need to paint a full picture of your experiences, skills and qualities relevant to the job. You can find additional resume writing tips, reading: “General Resume Tips for the Healthcare Professional.”