Landing your dream travel healthcare assignment starts with a strong resume. Whether you’re a seasoned travel nurse or new to the healthcare travel industry, a well-polished and curated resume can make all the difference.
Read on to discover TotalMed’s resume tips for healthcare travelers—and download the guide to take it on the go!
Qualities Hiring Managers Look for in a Traveler
- Flexibility: Able to adapt to change and shifts
- Assertiveness: Ability to identify and ask for what needs to be done
- Interpersonal skills: Outgoing, open-minded, excellent communication skills
- Willingness: To float, work different shifts, and help where needed
- Organizational skills: Traveling requires excellent time management skills
Resume Guide for Healthcare Travelers
Creating a standout resume is crucial in securing the travel healthcare assignments you dream of—and there are some key differences between traveler and staff resumes. Your resume must highlight your skills, experience, and adaptability to show recruiters and hiring managers why they should hire you!
At TotalMed, our recruiters use your resume to create a submission-ready traveler profile. Keeping your resume up-to-date and polished can help make the process of finding your next assignment smoother by providing your recruiter with the information they need.
Here’s how to craft a resume to help you land the contracts you want.
Contact Information
It might seem obvious, but make sure your contact details are at the top, bold, and easy to find:
- Name and Credentials
- Address: Use your tax home address
- Phone Number: Provide a reliable number where you can be easily reached
Professional Summary
Your professional summary should be a concise paragraph that highlights your qualifications and appeals to hiring managers:
- Specialties and years of experience
- Focus on your current specialty for travel assignments
- Memberships in relevant professional organizations
Licenses & Certifications
Be sure to showcase your qualifications:
- Active state licenses and relevant certifications (e.g., ACLS, BLS, PALS)
- Specialized training and advanced certifications
- List instructor roles if applicable
Clinical Experience
Focus on the past seven years’ experience list in reverse chronological order:
- Highlight expertise and diverse experiences
- For travel roles, list the agency as the employer, followed by facilities:
- Agency Name:
- Facility #7, Dates, EM R used, etc.
- Facility #2, Dates, EMR used, etc.
- Agency Name:
Pro Tip: Having worked with multiple agencies is perfectly fine!
Education
List completed degrees, certifications, and ongoing education.
Achievements
This is the place to brag a little! Include:
- Quantifiable patient outcomes
- Committees or process improvements
- Awards (e.g., DAISY Award)
- Preceptor or mentorship roles
Skills
Highlight relevant skills, such as:
- EMR systems (e.g., Epic, Cerner)
- Specialized equipment experience
References
Provide 2-3 professional references, with their permission. Examples of ideal references include:
- Managers or supervisors
- Charge nurses or senior team members
Proofread Your Resume Multiple Times
As with any resume, use spell check and simple fonts. It’s easy to overlook your own errors, so it helps to have someone else proofread your resume. If you don’t have a second pair of eyes, print it out and read it out loud, slowly. You’ll increase your chances of catching mistakes you previously didn’t see.
Go Deeper With TotalMed’s Resume Webinar
Want to dive deeper into crafting the perfect traveler resume? Watch our on-demand webinar where seasoned travel nurse and travel mentor Brandy Pinkerton of Travel Nurse 101 breaks down her tried-and-true tips for resume success!
Watch on-demand in your own time!
Travel With TotalMed
Ready to travel with an award-winning travel nurse agency that has your back every step of the way? Come experience travel healthcare as it should be: traveler-centric and fully supported!
Check out our available jobs and apply today!
