What I can put on my resume...?

Question

I have spent the last 10 years telecommuting from home as a medical editor/transcriptionist. I would like to get out of the house now and look for work in a medical environment (office, hospital, etc.) as a secretary/receptionist. I have an excellent background in medical terminology/pharmacology and very good computer skills , but I don't necessarily have much experience in office skills.

I bought several current textbooks and CDs that teach medical office skills, such as filing insurance claims, scheduling, coding, etc. (These are textbooks that are used by colleges for the medical office specialist program.) I did these courses thoroughly and feel I have a good understanding of the processes involved.

What I'm wondering is if there is some way I can include these on my resume? I feel as if I know just as much as if I had actually taken these courses in school, and I feel they are crucial to at least getting my foot in the door for an interview. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Answer 1

I use the following layout for my resume.

Objective

Formal Education (you can leave off high school if you have college experience or degrees

Reverse Chronological Order of Jobs (pay extra attention to gaps & missing work history, keep them to the bare minimum).

Special Skills (this is where I would list the office machines, courses, and other skills not covered under the formal education or work history.

References Available Upon Request (always the last line in my resume).

I was a professional headhunter for a number of years and that is the format we used when re-doing our candidates resumes. It is also the format I use when looking for work.

My last hint is pay special attention to the words/skills/industry language/other requirements in the ads you respond to. If you have the skill in your background, make sure it is listed under that company's work history. Sadly, many people make one resume and send it out to every ad, your resume should be customized to the job you are applying to.

Good luck in your pursuit!

Answer 2

Most people include a "skills and abilities" segment in their resume for specific situations like yours. Underneath it, include your WPM, scheduling, coding, etc. If you do not feel comfortable devoting an entire section to it, or if you feel it will lengthen your resume too much, you can also include that information in your cover letter. Not only will the cover letter speak of your abilities then, but it will also be specific for the types of jobs you're looking for.

Answer 3

Of course you should include them, put them under special training. By doing these on the computer you look that more computer literate!