Psychologist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Psychologist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Psychologists are highly trained professionals who help people identify and work through their mental health issues. They’re skilled at listening and asking the right questions to get to the root of a problem. And they have a deep understanding of the human psyche.
If you’re ready to join this growing field or if you’re looking for a career change, here are some tips and an example resume to help you write a fantastic psychologist resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write a Psychologist Resume
Here’s how to write a psychologist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can make your resume more interesting by using bullet points to describe the results of your work.
For example, rather than saying you “conducted psychological evaluations,” you could say you “conducted psychological evaluations and provided recommendations for treatment based on findings.”
The second bullet point is more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did. It also provides a clear outcome—a recommendation for treatment. That’s much more interesting and compelling than just saying you did something!
Related: What Is a Psychologist? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job online, your resume is usually scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for specific terms related to the position, like “psychology” or “counseling” in order to determine whether your skills and experience are a match. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, it’s important to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your resume. Here are some of the most common psychology keywords:
- Psychology
- Mental Health
- Psychotherapy
- Crisis Intervention
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mental Health Counseling
- Psychological Assessment
- Mental Health Promotion
- Mental Health Care
- Group Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychological Testing
- Counseling Psychology
- Family Therapy
- Program Development
- Research
- Teaching
- Community Outreach
- Social Work
- Wellness
- Behavior Modification
- Individual Counselling
- Clinical Supervision
- Healthcare
- Working with Adolescents
- Psychometrics
- Qualitative Research
- Personality Assessment
- Program Evaluation
- Trauma Therapy
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a psychologist, you are likely familiar with a variety of programs and systems used in your field. Recruiters are looking for psychologists who are proficient in programs like SPSS, R, and MATLAB, and who have experience with data mining, machine learning, and modeling. Additionally, psychologists need to be familiar with big data concepts and platforms like Hadoop, Hive, and Spark.
So if you have experience with any of these programs or platforms, be sure to list them on your resume. And if you’re not familiar with them, now is the time to learn them!
Related: How Much Does a Psychologist Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind.
Create Scannable Sections
There are a few things you can do to your resume to make it easier to read and understand. First, left-align your text and keep the font size consistent. You should also try to keep your bullets under 2 lines each and use digits for numbers. Finally, leave some white space on the page to break up the text and make it easier to scan.
Be Concise
When writing your resume, you want to be succinct and get your point across quickly. This means that a one-page resume is typically the best option, especially if you are a recent graduate or have less than five to eight years of professional experience. If you have more experience than that, a two-page resume is more appropriate. However, be selective about the information you include. Remember, less is more.
Check Your Work
When proofreading your resume, it is important to look for common mistakes such as incorrect punctuation, incorrect verb tense, and common misspellings. Spell-checking your resume is a good way to catch mistakes, but it is not enough. You should also have a friend proofread your resume for you.
Consider Including a Summary
When it comes to writing a resume, a well-crafted summary statement can be a great way to show off your skills and experiences in a way that stands out from the rest of your document. By highlighting your best traits and skills, as well as stating your intentions, you can show potential employers that you’re a great fit for the role you’re applying for. Additionally, a well-written summary can help to bridge the gap between your past experience and future goals, giving recruiters a better understanding of how your skills might be put to use in a new role.
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