Generally speaking, the type of resume that you should prepare and submit for a job as a CNA does not need to be that different than those prepared for any other job. There are some things you can do however, that will make you stand out as an applicant. Here you will find lots of tips and instructions including all that you need to know for making a polished and professional CNA resume. We will discuss pertinent information to include in your CNA resume as well as a sample CNA resume and sample CNA cover letter that will help you get started in making your own and helping you get first choice from the best CNA jobs out there!

Writing a CNA Resume (see sample here)

It is best to keep your resume as brief as possible, but at the same time state the necessary information. Having a resume down to about two pages is acceptable. A cover letter will be added on as well and this will make your submission three pages.

A CNA resume should include all of the following: Contact Information, Objectives, Skills & Qualifications, Education, Work History, Volunteer Work, and References. We will delve a little more fully into each of these sub-areas below.

Contact Information

At the header of your resume, put in your full name, address, telephone number and email address. This is very necessary so that the person reading your resume will be able to contact you if they would like to book an interview.

Objectives

Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. You must make your resume relevant for it to stand out as something that is worthy of consideration. When writing your objective, don’t be pretentious, but make sure you honestly state your strengths and skills that you think will be advantageous to promote for a job as a CNA.

Here are some examples of objectives that can be used in a CNA resume:

1. “Objective: To use my experience and learned skills in caring for elderly patients requiring quality health care.” Notice, this objective is tailored for someone who is applying for a job at a nursing home.

2. “Objective: To put my positive strengths and abilities to good use in caring for individuals who are in need of an empathetic and skilled caregiver.”

3. “Objective: To be a part of a team of skilled nursing caregivers which care for individuals who are in need of competent healthcare.”

4. “Objective: Qualified CNA looking for fulfilling healthcare work that will best utilize my proactive and efficient nursing skills.

Skills & Qualifications

In this area, you will want to state your skills and qualifications for a CNA job. They can be both acquired and learned skills as well as those that personality strengths that you may come by naturally.

Here are some examples of skills and qualifications that you may wish to build upon:

- honors student with recognized talents in performing and recording patient vitals

- optimum bedside manner skills and rapport in dealing with co-workers and patients

- demonstrated knack for learning new skills quickly and easily

- strong ability in multi-tasking

- able to excel in a team environment

- registered and certified nursing assistant with the college of….

Education

In this area of the CNA resume, you will include details of your educational history. List the location and name of school where you studied as well as the degree or certification you received upon completion. Also, don’t forget to list all pertinent computer courses or any other smaller workshops that you’ve completed in the hopes of furthering your qualifications as a CNA. List all your professional designations that you have earned.

Work History

There are some things that a CNA should put on their resume and some things that are better left off. When writing a resume, you will want to include your past employment history, but at the same time you will need to keep your resume relevant for the CNA job you are seeking. For that reason, if you have a large number of jobs that you have had in the past, just include the last 3 or so in the work history section. It is not necessary to include your life work history. If you did, your resume would become too lengthy and no one would want to read it.

Keep record of all your work history in a personal summary that you will keep in a file so that you still have this information for future needs if it is required. Or, if you decide to write a biography or something! Interviewers for CNA jobs, as with others job types, are not interested in reading through lengthy job history records. Nor does it reflect well on you as an applicant. You will need to show that you are stable and reliable and not prone to switching around from job to job. So leave off the old ones, unless they are truly relevant to your current application. If asked in an interview about a particular time in your life that is not mentioned on your resume, be prepared to answer honestly and at the same time you can explain that for brevity you had to stop somewhere.

Volunteer Work

If you do not have any volunteer work to mention on your resume, it may be worth beginning now. Volunteering shows a potential employer that you are a caring individual and that you go the extra mile. This will show them what kind of a person you are and for that it may translate into what kind of a work performer you would be as well. Not only that, but volunteering can you give you some added skills that you may not already have on your resume. There is also a personal fulfillment involved with volunteering. It feels good to help others for the sake of doing so. List any related volunteer work that you are currently or have participated in. Even if it doesn’t seem related to a CNA job, it may be worth mentioning just for the strength of character that will be portrayed.

References

References are people who can verify your strengths and skills as a person. They can be personal references or people that you have worked for. Most places of employment will request two or three references.

Before putting someone down as a reference, it is important to contact them for permission first. You don’t want anyone to be caught off guard by a phone call. They will want to think about their answers in advance. Give your references some idea as to the type of jobs you are looking for and the qualifications that the jobs state in their ad. Tell them why you are suited to the job. Tell them your skills. Even give them a copy of your resume so they can see it for themselves.

When listing references, put down the person’s full name, their contact information (including mailing address, telephone number and email address), and what your relationship is to that person i.e. how they know you.

The Cover Letter (see sample here)

A cover letter should be written to coincide with the job that you are applying for. You must tailor the resume for the specific job. Address it to the attention of the person mentioned in the ad or the Human Resources Department. List the title of the job being applied for. In the letter, you will want to mention the skills and qualifications that you have for this particular job and why you would be a suitable candidate. Invite the reader to contact you and provide your contact information. A cover letter should be sent along with your resume when applying for each job.

When printing out your resume and cover letter, it is advisable to stick to plain good quality paper. Printing on cutesy themed paper may not give you the professional edge you are looking for.

Another thing that you may want to consider to set yourself apart from the pack is to create a resume package. These are not required of course, but if you are doing cold calls at a variety of hospitals and you may not be responding to a particular ad, it may be worth the effort in getting noticed. To set yourself apart and get noticed, create a package of information about yourself. Purchase folders at an office supply store. Inside, include a cover letter introducing yourself, your resume and references, a wallet-sized professional photo of yourself, a calling card with your contact information listed and a copy of your relevant certificates and diplomas. These business folders often have a couple of little slots inside that you can slip your photo and calling card into. If possible, visit the HR department of a hospital in person to hand in your package, or if this is not possible, mail it.

Following these steps in CNA resume preparation should help you gain success in finding a job as a CNA. Present yourself well and you should be successful!

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some more samples:

http://medicalcareersite.com/cna/free-cna-resume-sample-certified-nursing-assistant-resume

edwinkelleys, Thank you for the information and posting on the forum.. Teresa

myCNAjobs, Thank you for the information and  posting on the forum.. Teresa

Hiya, Thank you for the info..I posted my comment on your last statement that you gave.. Teresa