Position Yourself for Success on the Healthcare Job Market
If you’re on the job market, you want to stand out. You don’t want to be another face in the crowd when an employer is reviewing your application.
This is especially true if you’re seeking the best nursing jobs and caregiver roles available today. You want to show your potential employer that you’re ready to lend your talents and skills, so you can land a rewarding role that meets your professional needs.
The following tips will help you get the attention of healthcare employers that currently have openings for RNs, LPNs, CNAs, caregivers, aides, and other roles.
Refresh Your Resume for a Caregiver or Nursing Job
Most healthcare jobs require a resume. If it’s been a while since you’ve last created a resume, it may be time to work on this document. A resume is the primary way that employers determine whether you are qualified for the role and that they want to interview you. This is your chance to communicate who you are and what experience you have in one place.
Commit to refreshing your resume by taking the following steps:
- Make your resume standout by using a resume template on Word or any other word processing software. Many options are free online.
- Include your most recent work experience.
- Add skills and certifications that are relevant to the nursing or caregiver job you’re looking for.
- Ask a friend or family member to proofread your resume and ensure it is error-free.
Your resume has the potential to make a great first impression. Although there’s more to you as a candidate than just a first impression, you don’t want to miss your chance to stand out.
Update Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is a social media platform that helps professionals to connect, share and view job postings, learn about companies and their employees, and more.
LinkedIn allows you to make a profile that shares who you are professionally for potential employers. You can also apply for healthcare jobs, including nursing and caregiver jobs, right on this platform.
Use these four tips to make your LinkedIn profile stand out:
- Include a good, clear profile picture of yourself.
- Update your “headline” and “about” sections to describe who you are professionally.
- You can use LinkedIn’s AI tool to help you write these sections, if you need help.
- Fill in as many sections as you can related to past experiences, skills, and more; this information helps employers find you and get to know you.
Although not everyone needs a LinkedIn to find a job, it’s also a great way to do research on people who work for the employer you’re interested in. You can view employee profiles to see what kind of experiences they’ve had and even message them to ask questions you might have.
If you do decide to message someone, remember to do so formally – you never know whether they’re involved in hiring.
Polish Up Your Social Media Accounts
After you’ve taken care of your professional profile, it’s time to ensure your social media accounts are as professional as possible. The Harris Poll cites that up to 70 percent of employers review a candidate’s social media profiles to help make a hiring decision.
On certain platforms, you can set your profile or posts to private.
On platforms that do not have a privacy feature, you may want to remove the following kinds of posts or pictures:
- Offensive images or language.
- Images or language that would present you in an unprofessional light.
- Complaints about former employers or workers.
You can also use social media to your advantage. Keep posts or images that speak to your dedication to health care and helping others. The best nursing jobs and other healthcare roles are looking for candidates who are truly committed to values like compassion and patience, and you can communicate this through what you choose to post.
Practice Your Interview Skills
After applying for a caregiver job or another healthcare role online, you should start practicing for a potential interview. You can search online for common questions related to your role, and practice answering them.
At a minimum, you should be able to have a thorough answer for each of these four requests:
- Tell us about yourself.
- Tell us about what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about your past job in nursing (or as a CNA, caregiver, or aide).
- Can you share about a time when you creatively solved a problem at work?
- Tell us about why you chose to apply here.
Have a family member or friend ask you these questions in a non-judgmental space. You will notice that your answers get better the more you practice. Remember, using specific examples always helps make your answers more thoughtful.
Know What You’re Looking for In a Nursing Job or Any Other Healthcare Role
An interview is your chance to ask your employer questions. Many people seeking a new healthcare job are looking to find a new role that exceeds what they’ve experienced in the past in terms of benefits, schedules, and how the employer treats their team. Ask questions about your own requirements, so you know whether the role will be a good fit for you.
Here are a few questions you can ask, depending on your needs:
- Do you offer a flexible schedule?
- Do you have full- and part-time roles?
- Do you offer major medical plans for full- and part-time employees?
- Can I receive spousal insurance through your medical plans?
- Is your compensation competitive?
- What kind of paid time off do you offer?
- Are there bonus opportunities?
- Do you offer paid professional development or training?
Only the best nursing jobs and roles for caregivers offer excellent perks like these, so you want to ensure the team you’ve applied with can offer them.
Learn more about a home care and hospice team that provides the flexibility, benefits, and perks you’re looking for.
