The same attention and care that you put into your profession should also be applied when doing a curriculum for elderly caregivers. Every detail is extremely important to impress the recruiter, which is no longer enough simply to deliver a black and white sheet with a list of your previous jobs.
Start with the Format of your Elder Caregiver Resume
If your elder carer’s resume does not look good, there is little chance that a recruiter will read it. Therefore, try to have a design that reflects the organization and effort you put into your work.
Here are a few tips:
- Use an A4 size sheet.
- Opt for margins of 2.5 centimeters.
- Use a font for your resume that is modern and attractive.
- Set a font size between 10 and 12 points.
- Leave enough space between each section.
- Save your resume in PDF format to avoid changes in your layout.
Add an Objective or a Professional Profile
Just as each elder has a special prescription, so also each resume has a particular opening paragraph appropriate to your level of experience.
If you have been working in the area for many years, it is best if your first paragraph, also called “personal description” or “extract”, focuses on your professional profile. That is, emphasize your previous jobs and your most outstanding (and preferably quantifiable) achievements.
However, if you are just starting your career, you should opt for a professional objective for a resume where you focus on your most outstanding skills and the goals you want to achieve with the company.
Do not leave aside your Work Experience
Work experience is as important to your resume as diet and medical care are to an elderly person.
Therefore, you should pay close attention and make sure that this section of your CV for elderly caregivers contains the following:
- Name of the position.
- Name of the company.
- Start and end date.
- Between 4 and 6 points explaining your main responsibilities and achievements.
Don’t forget that your achievements must be measurable and outstanding. Also, try to match the content of this section with the requirements of the job offer.
Pro tip: Use action verbs to CV to describe your achievements and tasks. A study by Sue Howell says that you should grab attention with these words and avoid being modest.
Emphasize Your Education
One of the secrets of how to make a nursing home resume is in the education section. There is no doubt that this section can “rehabilitate” a weak CV and give it the necessary support so that it stands out from the competition.
To correctly describe your education, you will need to include the following points:
- Name of the degree or title.
- Name of the academic institution.
- Start and graduation date.
If you haven’t graduated yet, you can include the expected graduation date. Similarly, if you don’t have a lot of experience, but your education is outstanding, including a few academic achievements in this section and move it above the professional experience section.
Write a Few Skills
It is well known that not everyone can carry out the tasks of an elderly caregiver, so the skills section of your CV should clearly reflect that you have what it takes to get the job done.
The key to how to make a good curriculum for elderly caregivers is to adapt your skills to the requirements of the company, so read the description of the job offer, identify the skills you are looking for and add to your CV the ones that match your profile.
Here are a few skills ideas you can include:
- Interpersonal communication.
- Administration of medications.
- Empathy.
- Support in personal hygiene.
- Purchase of food.
- Kindness.
- Domestic cleaning.
- Don of people.
- Risk prevention.
- Mobility support.
If you want more examples, check out our guide on the most wanted skills in a CV.
Supplement With Additional Sections
Why settle for the basic sections of the nursing home resume and give the recruiter a very tepid impression if you can impress him with a few additional sections?
Adding extra sections will help you communicate your dedication and your passion for the position, as well as reveal a bit of your personality. There are many data of interest for CVs that you can choose from, but here is a list of the most common:
- Additional courses.
- Certificates.
- Languages.
- Hobbies and interests.
- Availability to travel.
- Driving license.
- Availability to relocate.
Elevate your Elderly Caregiver CV with a Cover Letter
If you want to go one step further and create a connection with the recruiter like the one you create with the elderly, then it is good to include a cover letter. Since you learned how to do a nursing home resume, you must learn how to write a cover letter.
Here are a few basic notions:
- Add a heading with your data and the company’s contact information.
- Greet the recruiter by name.
- Start with an engaging paragraph that captures your best achievements.
- Mention why you are the best fit for the company.
- Mention why the company is the best option for you.
- Invite the recruiter to meet with you in person.
- Say goodbye and add your signature.