-
Top Tips for CRNA Resume Success
Applying to CRNA school is competitive enough; you don’t need your resume working against you. Here’s a quick guide to make your application shine without the fluff.
1. Keep It to One Page
One clean page is plenty. Admissions committees want a sharp, easy-to-scan snapshot of you.
2. Skip the Goal Statement
Hot take: you’re applying to CRNA school. We know your goal already. That paragraph space is prime real estate, save it and use it for more important details.
3. Organize for Flow
· Education first – because you’re applying to a graduate program.
· Work experience next – in reverse chronological order (newest first). This applies to ALL sections.
· Licenses & Certifications – its own section, with license numbers and expiration dates.
· Key tip: Right-align all dates so the page looks polished and consistent.
4. Add Professional Enrichment
Set yourself apart with anesthesia-related extras:
· Shadowing experience (list total hours; if you’ve got space, add what you learned).
· Conferences attended. AANA Annual Congress, Western Summit, your state’s anesthesia association meetings, etc.
· Professional memberships. I called this Professional Enrichment – sounds fancier than “miscellaneous.”
5. Volunteer, Research, and Awards
· Volunteer work (within the last 5 years—doesn’t have to be healthcare).
· Research, projects, or publications (also last 5 years).
· Awards & scholarships – high GPA, Dean’s List, academic scholarships? Include them here.
6. Only List What You Can Defend
If it’s on your resume, be prepared to talk about it in detail during your interview. Listing CRRT after a single training session or writing out every vasopressor you’ve titrated? Skip it. Use broader terms like “vasopressors” and keep it honest.
Your resume is your first impression, so make it sharp, relevant, and professional. Admissions are looking for clarity, competence, and commitment. A solid, well-formatted resume can make alllllll the difference. Good luck!!
-
1 Reply
-
Hey, Ashley!
Good advice!! When building my resume, I also constructed it in an MS Word table. Using a table made it easier to have the text justified where needed and helped me avoid a lot of weird formatting issues. I forgot where I heard that tip from, but I figured I’d pass it on!
Log in to reply.
