by Mariah Sparacio, Senior Recruiter at Epic Special Education Staffing
With your formal studies coming to an end, it is now time to prepare for the next step: a clinical fellowship. As a speech-language pathology clinical fellow, you get to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting, further refining your skills as an SLP. It’s important to put your best foot forward and land a job that will open up many learning opportunities to align with your long-term career goals.
By crafting a standout SLP resume, you can catch the attention of potential employers and make a lasting impression. In this blog, we will provide you with valuable SLP resume tips as you begin applying for clinical fellowship opportunities.
Tip #1: Start with a Strong and Specific Objective Statement
The first words of a resume are the most crucial. When hiring managers review resumes, they want to quickly assess whether a candidate is a good fit for the role. That’s why it’s important to start with a strong and specific objective statement so that you get your point across right away.
In your objective statement, you should highlight your desired clinical fellowship setting. This will help employers quickly understand your career aspirations and the direction you hope your clinical fellowship will take.
The objective statement is also a great way for a clinical fellow to showcase areas of interest or experiences they may have gained through graduate school rotations and research. Examples of this include being fluent in another language, being well-versed in ACC, or experience you may have in working with medically fragile populations. Highlighting this information can really make your resume stand out.
Tip #2: Highlight Continuing Education and Research Projects
Once you’ve got your objective statement, supplement it by highlighting your continuing education and research projects. If you have worked on any noteworthy clinical or research projects during your graduate studies, be sure to include them on your resume. You can also include any workshops, conferences, or seminars you have attended. This can help you make a positive impression and increase your chances of being selected for an interview among other CF applicants.
Tip #3: Align with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Lastly, make sure to align your SLP resume with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). An ATS is a computer software that companies utilize to streamline their recruiting and hiring process. Applicant Tracking Systems help HR departments manage the overwhelming number of resumes they receive by filtering through them.
The most important thing clinical fellows need to know about an ATS, is that it often scans resumes to find relevant keywords related to the job description. Thus, by incorporating buzzwords that align with the job posting, you increase your chances of getting past ATS guidelines and connecting with the hiring manager.
Land Your Dream Job with the Right SLP Resume
Starting your clinical fellowship is quite exciting as you get the chance to use your theoretical knowledge in the real world. But before anything else, you have to make sure you’re starting your career as an SLP on the right foot. Keep these SLP resume tips in mind and you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Find rewarding work as an SLP-CF with the help of Epic Special Education Staffing. We offer school SLP positions nationwide including local and travel, short-term or full school year, and full or part-time. We have opportunities that align with your lifestyle and help you feel fulfilled, while providing unsurpassed care and support every step of the way. Get in touch with us today to learn more about your options!
About the Author
Mariah Sparacio is a National School Recruiter at Epic Special Education Staffing. With over five years of recruiting experience, Mariah is responsible for staffing school-based clinicians across the United States. She is passionate about building relationships with candidates and prides herself on active communication and transparency. She credits her success to identifying what a candidate is looking for in their next career and valuing what makes them truly happy and motivated to show up to work each day! Mariah enjoys estate sale hunting, DIY home décor projects, & afternoon walks. Mariah earned her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and resides in Texas with her husband, David, and tabby cat.
