The interdisciplinary field of health informatics offers many career opportunities for technology-savvy people interested in data and technology and how it’s used to impact healthcare experiences. A polished and professional resume can help you make a strong impression with potential employers and stand out from other candidates.
At first, creating your resume may seem simple. After all, data says that most resumes should only be one page long, and you’re writing about the subject that you know best: yourself. But it can be challenging to craft a compelling resume that showcases your knowledge of health informatics as well as what qualifies you for the health informatics role you are applying for.
Read on for practical tips for how to create an effective health informatics resume.
Elements of a Successful Health Informatics Resume
Most employers look at the resume first when evaluating a job candidate’s suitability for a position. A great resume can entice employers to take a closer look at an application and cover letter, while a second-rate resume can cause readers to overlook even the best-qualified candidate. But what makes a great health informatics resume?
The best resumes are concise yet detailed, have a clear structure and provide relevant information. Here are a few essential elements to keep in mind when writing your resume:
- Layout: In general, people have short attention spans and data from Indeed notes that on average, hiring managers spend only six to seven seconds reviewing each resume. Because of this, your resume should be easy to skim and well-organized. Use visual features like bold font, bullet points, headings and white space to arrange your text on the page and divide your content into distinct sections. Make sure to use a consistent layout throughout the resume.
- Length: Most candidates should have a one-page resume unless the job posting specifically asks for a two-page document. Since you have limited space to work with, your resume should be concise and provide only the most relevant information for the job. For instance, if you’re applying for a healthcare analytics position, you should omit information about your college fast food job.
- Font: Use a plain 10- or 12-point font that won’t distract the reader.
- Keywords: Take a close look at health informatics job postings and identify popular keywords. Including some of these terms in your resume can help your application get approved by AI-assisted resume scanning software.
- Contact information: Include your address, email and phone number at the top of your resume so that prospective employers can reach you. You may also include links to your professional social media accounts, like a LinkedIn or Twitter profile.
Once you’ve decided on a format and selected keywords to include in your resume, start writing the content.
Write a Professional Executive Summary
Include a three-to four-sentence paragraph at the top of your resume demonstrating how your credentials, experience, strengths and skills qualify you for the specific position. Customize the executive statement for every job application.
Highlight Your Health Informatics Education
After the executive summary, the next section of your resume should list your education, starting with your most recent degree.
Many entry-level health informatics jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree. You can make your application stand out by pursuing a master’s degree in health informatics or healthcare analytics. These programs allow you to develop advanced knowledge and skills, potentially attracting employers.
You can also pursue a concentration or graduate certificate in healthcare analytics. For example, earning a Tier 3 SAS Academic Specialization in healthcare analytics demonstrates your expertise in statistical analysis programs commonly used in healthcare.
Detail Your Work Experience in Health Informatics
The next section should detail your relevant work experience in health informatics. For each job, include the following:
- Job title
- Employer name and location
- Dates of employment
- Several bullet points that briefly describe your achievements and duties
This section allows you to highlight transferable skills related to your target position. Whenever possible, provide quantifiable and specific examples. For instance, “analyzed and interpreted data from 75 sources and reported findings to clients, leading to a 30% increase in patient satisfaction” sounds much more compelling and persuasive than “analyzed and interpreted data and wrote reports.”
You can also showcase your technical skills by mentioning coding languages and software programs that you’ve used to execute tasks.
Spotlight Health Informatics Certifications
Certifications in healthcare analytics and health informatics can strengthen your resume. Employers often seek candidates with these prestigious certifications:
- Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS). A CAHIMS certification verifies your mastery of health information management systems. To sit for the CAHIMS certification exam, you must complete either 45 hours of relevant continuing education or have 150 hours of experience in a healthcare information technology (IT) setting.
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS). The CPHIMS exam tests your knowledge of developments in healthcare technology. Only individuals with advanced qualifications can take the certification exam. You must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and five years of work experience, or a graduate degree and three years of work experience. If you don’t have a degree, you must have at least ten years of relevant work experience to take the exam.
USF Health is a member of the HIMSS Approved Education Partner (AEP) and an Academic Organizational Affiliate (AOA) Program member. Through these memberships, students enrolled in USF Health’s health informatics graduate programs gain access to a complimentary HIMSS membership and can save on the CAHIMS and CPHIMS exams. HIMSS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare in quality, safety, cost-effectiveness and access through the best use of information technology and management systems.
Listing a health informatics certification on your resume can help catch the attention of prospective employers.
Provide Examples of Your Areas of Expertise in Health Informatics
At the bottom of your resume, you can list your areas of expertise and skills. Only include abilities directly related to your target health informatics position.
Here are a few skills that you may want to feature, if applicable:
- Data analytics
- Data visualization
- Electronic health record expertise
- Health data systems you’ve mastered
- Interpersonal skills, like collaboration and conflict resolution
- Predictive analysis
- Programming knowledge
This section is a great place to incorporate popular keywords from job postings.
Polishing Your Health Informatics Resume
Once you’ve written your resume, it’s a good idea to ask a trusted friend or mentor to review the document for clarity, grammar and readability. You should also carefully proofread the document several times before submitting your job application.
If you want to upgrade your skills and make your resume more competitive, consider pursuing additional health informatics education. USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine offers online master’s degrees and graduate certificates in health informatics and healthcare analytics.
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