Posted 4:39 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2026
Tips from UWL career development coordinator, program director to help your resume shine
Carolyn Moe, UWL career development coordinator, and Emily Whitney, academic director for UWL’s Master’s in Healthcare Administration, share advice on writing a resume for graduate studies.
1. Highlight relevant experience
Include work experience, research and academic projects, lab work, teaching assistantships or capstone projects. Whitney notes that for healthcare programs, certifications and relevant healthcare specific coursework are particularly valuable.
2. Emphasize transferable skills
Skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are highly valued and translate across fields, advises Moe. For example, a barista explaining drink options uses communication skills that could apply to explaining a care plan in a healthcare setting. “Understanding how your past experiences transfer to your future goals is essential,” says Moe.
Whitney adds that additional transferable skills like experience working across different departments or teams; leadership; supervision; project management; and problem-solving with measurable outcomes stand out even if not directly connected to the healthcare field. She also sees value in communicating community involvement or volunteer leadership experience.
3. Match the program’s focus
Tailor your document to the program you are applying to. For example, for research-focused degrees, stress publications and presentations, explains Moe. For health professions, industry experience in any capacity is important – clinical, administrative, support roles or even patient-facing positions, says Whitney.
4. Be clear and consistent
Formatting matters. Use consistent fonts, spacing and verb tenses. Use action verbs and use first-person, present tense for current positions and past tense for previous jobs/experiences, adds Whitney. Keep bullet points achievement-oriented, answering the “5 Ws and How”: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.
5. Use AI to tighten wording — not invent content
Ask AI to simplify, clarify or shorten text, but never to fabricate. The substance of the resume must come from personal experiences, advises Moe.