Certified Nursing Aide jobs or C.N.A. jobs, are in high demand. Nursing homes and Assisted Living communities providing senior caregiving services must maintain a minimum staffing level of C.N.A.’s to meet licensing requirements. Usually a minimum number of nursing assistants are required for each “wing” of a building or for a certain number of residents. Back-up C.N.A.’s are also required because even if 1 C.N.A. calls off sick, they must be replaced to keep up with patient care needs.
C.N.A.’s complete a training program through a school sanctioned by the state’s Department of Health and then must pass the state C.N.A. exam to become a “certified” nursing aide.
As a C.N.A. certificate provides documentation that you have met the basic criteria for working as a Certified Nursing Assitant, do you also need a C.N.A. resume?
The answer is yes, if you are applying for a competitive position at a preferred nursing home, assisted living community, hospital or senior home care agency. Top C.N.A. positions are always desired by many because of the desirable benefits and working conditions. Some of the newer Assisted Living communities are beautiful luxury buildings and you will not be the only C.N.A. who wants to work for them.
Flexible C.N.A. positions also are competitive as many others will desire the flexible schedules to meet their lifestyle demands. The good news is that at least half of C.N.A.’s do not customize a professional resume. Follow our C.N.A. resume tips and use our FREE Resume builder tool to set yourself apart from the competition when you apply for a C.N.A. job.
C.N.A. Resume Tips
- Organize your work history: just write out the names, addresses and dates of your prior jobs.
- Organize your education history: list the high school and nursing assistant school you attended along with dates of graduation
- Organize your contact information: write out your name, address, telephone and email address – be sure to create a professional email address if you do not have one (go to gmail and create a new one if your current email address is your nickname or sassy in any fashion – you want to have an email address that includes your first and last name and just add a “number” such as 1, 2, 3, etc., if your name is taken).
- References: Usually 3 references are required for a job and can be both professional and personal references. Think of 3 people who were either co-workers, neighbors or long-time friends who can vouch for your character.
- Mission Statement: Why do you want to work as a C.N.A.? Try to really think of the reasons and events in your life which lead you to work in the industry of caregiving and feel free to add your own personal flair here – this is what will separate you from all the competition.
- Volunteer: If you have performed volunteer work, be sure to add this as it will demonstrate you have an interest in working in senior care or with the disabled that goes beyond just making money to pay the bills. Although the fulfillment of caregiving is great, the work can be challenging and employers want to see that you are attracted to working as a C.N.A. for more than just a job. If you do not have volunteer experience, ask around to find a volunteer opportunity at a nursing home or with a community organization as this will also help your application stand out from others.
- Proof your information: double-check the dates, names and addresses to make sure your information and especially telephone numbers and email addresses of your references and former employers are correct. Run spell-check but remember that spell-check cannot capture everything so have a friend or family member also read your information and provide feedback.
- Build your C.N.A. Resume with FREE Online Tool: you may access Caregiverlist’s FREE Caregiver and C.N.A. resume builder tool to fashion a professional resume to attach to your C.N.A. job application.
Once you have a resume, you are ready to apply for a C.N.A. job. As seniors are living longer, they also are preferring to age-in-place in areas where there is a nice climate or where they have children and grandchildren. Caregiverlist’s proprietary hiring tools are used by top senior care companies nationwide and while every city and town in the U.S.A. with nursing homes and hospitals need C.N.A.’s these are the most popular cities for C.N.A. jobs.
Top Cities for Employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant
Chicago, IL: Apply for a Chicago C.N.A. job
Phoenix, AZ: Apply for a Phoenix C.N.A. job
Miami, FL: Apply for a Miami C.N.A. Job
Orlando, FL: Apply for an Orlando C.N.A. Job
Houston, TX: Apply for a Houston C.N.A. Job
San Diego, CA: Apply for a San Diego C.N.A. Job
Los Angeles, CA: Apply for a Los Angeles C.N.A. Job
San Francisco, CA: Apply for a San Francisco C.N.A. Job
Portland, OR: Apply for a Portland C.N.A. Job
Seattle, WA: Apply for a Seattle C.N.A. Job
You may also take a sample C.N.A. test or a practice C.N.A. test if you would like to explore becoming a C.N.A. Companion caregivers may not be required to have formal experience and is an easy way to test the waters of working in the senior care field. You may apply for a companion caregiver job in your area on Caregiverlist. You may also research C.N.A. schools in your area in Caregiverlist’s Career Center.
