Technology has significantly impacted every aspect of the job search and hiring process, from searching and applying for jobs to creating resumes and conducting interviews. In some cases, AI recruiters are replacing humans in the interview process. The next time you think you’re speaking with a human during an interview, consider that it might be AI.

There’s no doubt about it – we’re in a highly competitive job market where companies of all sizes, including healthcare organizations, are implementing AI to streamline the hiring process. They’re using AI algorithms to screen candidates, which means job seekers must do everything possible to make themselves stand out and get noticed. AI technology can benefit job seekers, too, beginning with creating the perfect resume.

In healthcare, experience, credentials and reputation matter. Healthcare professionals are expected to have a well-crafted resume and references from previous employers. Presenting your qualifications in a compelling and structured manner can positively impact how potential employers perceive you. With the help of AI, there are ways to highlight your skills and use keywords to ensure your resume gets selected from the applicant pool.

The power of a strong resume

Even if you’re well-versed in all the skills required for the role you’re trying to get, you need to have a complete, well-written and visually appealing resume. Your resume is the first impression the hiring manager will have of you as a person and a potential employee. It’s essential to get your resume right, because, on average, employers take less than ten seconds to look at a resume, and that’s after it’s been scanned by software.

Organizations hiring job seekers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), a software that screens resumes for the skills and qualifications needed to fill a role. Studies show that 75% of the resumes don’t make it through the ATS for various reasons. Typically, this is because the system fails to identify the relevant keywords. Strong resumes are packed with keywords, skills, licenses, and clearly outline your past experience with even more keywords and short phrases that will be picked up by tracking software and catch the eye of a human.

The must-haves in a resume

Your resume should have a clearly written profile, previous and/or current work experience, certifications, licenses and academic details. Before moving towards tips to elevate your resume using AI, let’s have a look at the must-haves for a resume:

• Previous Work Experience: Include previous employer’s location, role, dates of employment and a brief description of your role while working there. This area should be rich with keywords from the job description you’re applying for. For example, if you’re looking for a new role as a PRN, make sure you’re highlighting your ability to work in different settings.
• Core Skills and Specializations: Highlight your core skills and specialties. Examples include pediatrics, geriatrics and home health, among others. Healthcare organizations look for professionals with something beyond their clinical experience. It can be gained through experience with specialty software systems, patient charting tools or even fluency in multiple languages.
• Achievements: Showcase any significant accomplishments that you have. It can be related to a specific case where you handled an emergency or even a Daisy Award.
• Education, Licenses and Certifications: List all degrees, diplomas, certifications and licenses you hold, along with the institution’s name and the date you earned your degree or license.

Write, edit, rewrite and publish

Creating an impressive resume takes time, but you can do it in less time with AI. Start with a draft of your resume and what you think should be included. Then find a resume creation tool online. Add your draft to the tool and begin to populate the sections of your resume with details specific to you. Here are some common resume writing tools:

• Resume Now [$5.85/month]
• TopResume [$179]
• TopStack Resume [$189]
• Zety [$5.95/month]
• MyPerfectResume [$7.95/month]

Once your AI-generated resume is written, you’ll need to personalize the content. Review phrases to give them context and a human touch. Don’t rely solely on AI for the way your resume sounds. Review and revise words and phrases to ensure your resume accurately reflects your personality.

Here’s an example of an AI-generated phrase and human revision:

AI: Demonstrates proficiency in comprehensive patient assessment, formulation of individualized care plans and coordination with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Human: Skilled in inpatient assessment, developing care plans and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality patient care.

Keywords count  

Every job description includes keywords and a list of skills required to do the role. These keywords are important because they act as a bridge between your qualifications and experience and the role you’re applying for. First, the ATS scans your resume to see if these keywords are included. If so, the resume is then passed along to a hiring manager who will review (or briefly glance) at your resume to ensure you have the professional skills and background they believe would be beneficial for success at their organization.

Not sure what keywords to use? The first step is to add the job description to your AI tool of choice and have AI write your experience to match the description. Again, this needs to be edited by you – AI won’t know your personal style and how you’re most comfortable phrasing sentences, but it can help you determine the right keywords to include.

Professional summary – your elevator pitch

A professional summary in your resume is a brief section that helps recruiters understand your professional experience. It must be compelling enough to get you shortlisted for the next round, and you can ensure the same with an AI tool by your side. Using AI tools, you can draft a professional summary describing your professional journey clearly, concisely and captivatingly, helping your resume move ahead. When applicable, add metrics that demonstrate your contributions to previous jobs. Examples of metrics would be “achieved a 20% improvement in wound healing rates” or “maintained a 95% patient satisfaction rating over 12 months.”

AI-assisted, human-approved

AI tools can do a lot when it comes to creating a resume. It can write, add keywords, improve grammar, check for errors and format a resume, but it’s not a replacement for you. The human touch still matters.

Once you’re done with your resume, save it in an ATS-accepted file format, like a Word document or a PDF. Then ask trusted professionals in your industry, recruiters you work with, mentors, friends and family to read your resume. Take their feedback and advice to help refine your resume, as AI may overlook the nuances of your unique background and experience.

Now that your AI-powered resume is finalized, it’s time to start applying to jobs. If you’re in healthcare and looking for travel, perm, per diem, or locum tenens positions nationwide, start with StaffDNA. You can search thousands of open jobs, updated in real-time, and see pay packages and full job details. Don’t have a resume? StaffDNA has a tool that can build one for you instantly! StaffDNA can help you find a job you love…today!