4 Caregiver Resume Examples & Templates (2024)

Caregivers are essential in supporting and assisting individuals with daily activities, ensuring their well-being, and improving their quality of life. They offer a compassionate presence and practical help with tasks ranging from personal care to household chores. Highlighting your caregiving skills and experience on a resume is crucial to demonstrate your ability to potential employers and convey your dedication to the role. 

A well-crafted resume can help you stand out and secure a rewarding position in this fulfilling field.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Use this resume template

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Caregiver Resume Example

Create your resume now

Entry-Level / Junior Caregiver Resume Example

An entry-level or junior caregiver is typically new to the field and is gaining experience in providing care and support to clients. They’re eager to learn and contribute to the team while developing their skills. Here's a resume sample for an entry-level caregiver.

Create your resume now

Middle Caregiver Resume Example

A middle-level caregiver has a few years of experience in the field and is proficient in providing comprehensive care and support to clients. They have developed a good understanding of caregiving practices and can handle more complex caregiving tasks. Here's a resume sample for a middle-level caregiver.

Create your resume now

Experienced / Senior Caregiver Resume Example

A senior caregiver has extensive experience in the field and is highly skilled in managing comprehensive care plans, supervising other caregivers, and providing advanced support to clients. They are capable of leading teams and ensuring high-quality care for clients. Here's a resume sample for a senior caregiver.

Create your resume now

Resume Templates for Caregivers

After analyzing 11 million resumes using the Zety Resume Builder, these are the top 3 choices of caregivers for their resumes.

Cascade

Use this resume template

I recommend the Cascade resume template for caregivers because of its clean, dual-column layout. This design efficiently highlights personal information and professional experience, making it easy for hiring managers to find key details quickly. The minimalistic style of this template is perfect for showcasing your caregiving skills and compassionate nature in a clear, professional format.

Concept

Use this resume template

In my opinion, the Concept resume template is ideal for caregivers who want a modern yet practical design. The single-column format ensures a clear presentation, with a sidebar that neatly organizes contact details and key skills. This polished layout helps recruiters focus on your caregiving experience and abilities. Exemplifying an elegant resume style, this visual resume template provides a detailed and professional showcase of your career in caregiving.

Diamond

Use this resume template

From my perspective, the Diamond resume template offers a sophisticated and clear presentation for caregivers. Its two-column design effectively separates personal information and a professional summary from detailed sections on experience, education, and skills. The structured layout, enhanced by visually appealing bullet points, ensures easy navigation. As a great example of a modern resume style, this template is perfect for organizing and professionally presenting your caregiving credentials, making it easy for recruiters to understand your qualifications.

How to Write a Caregiver Resume:

1. Pick the Best Format for a Caregiver Resume

Does the resume format really matter for a caregiver's resume? You bet it does. Caregivers need to demonstrate attention to detail. If your caregiver's resume is sloppy, the hiring manager will hit delete faster than you can dust a coffee table.

• Start with the reverse-chronological format. It puts your best achievements first. 
• Use clear, legible resume fonts and headings. Make good use of white space so as not to overwhelm the reader. 
• Last, save your caregiver's resume as a PDF. Those translate well between computers.

But—remember to check the job listing to make sure PDFs are OK. Some Applicant Tracking Systems stumble on caregiver resumes saved as PDFs.

To add contact info to your resume, you usually add:

• Full Name
• Updated Phone Number
• Professional Email Address

But. Don't use that fun email address from back in college. Add your LinkedIn profile if you have one. You can also include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social handles. Why? Adding social media to your home health aide resume can give your next employer a sense of you as a person. Sanitize your social media profiles for the best results. That photo from your Cancun trip five years ago can send your caregiver resume into cardiac arrest.

Need a reverse chronological resume template? Want to see some other formats for your caregiver resume? Check out our guide: "3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]."

2. Describe Your Caregiver's Experience

How important is experience in a resume for caregiver jobs? Only as important as reliable transportation to your client's house. Without it, you're not going anywhere. Now let me show you how to make a caregiver job description for a resume that'll wake up the hiring manager like an epi-pen.

The key point? Match the job description to the resume for caregiver jobs. Like this:

First, make a list of all the jobs you've had. Jot down every achievement, win, and kudo you can think of. Save your list of wins. You'll use it to custom-fit future caregiver resume templates to each job. Then, for this job opening, show your most recent work experience first.

Here's the part that gets you hired:

From your master list, pick "wins" that match the current caregiver job description. 

But what if yo’re writing a resume with no experience? It's true you need experience for a caregiver resume. But you don't need years of it. In fact, you can get enough experience for a PCA resume in just a few days.

Volunteer. Take on short-term work. Help out with relatives or friends. Or offer to assist at a local nursing home or other healthcare facility.

And if you still need some inspiration to craft a caregiver job description for your resume, here are some examples of responsibilities:

Caregiver Keywords for a Resume

• Assist clients with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
• Administer medications and monitor vital signs, ensuring adherence to medical instructions.
• Prepare and serve nutritious meals, accommodating dietary restrictions and preferences.
• Provide companionship and emotional support to enhance clients’ well-being.
• Perform light housekeeping tasks, including laundry, cleaning, and organizing.
• Assist with mobility and physical therapy exercises to maintain or improve clients’ physical health.
• Maintain detailed records of clients’ health, progress, and any changes in condition.
• Coordinate with healthcare professionals and family members to ensure comprehensive care.
• Respond to emergencies and provide first aid or CPR as needed.
• Transport clients to medical appointments, social activities, and other outings.

Plus, don’t forget to use action verbs that convey your responsibilities and achievements effectively. Here are some action verbs for caregiver resumes:

Caregiver Resume Action Verbs

• Assisted
• Administered
• Prepared
• Provided
• Performed
• Maintained
• Coordinated
• Responded
• Transported
• Monitored

Pro Tip: To give your PCA resume that glow of health, note the requirements listed highest on the job description. Feature them first in your experience section too.

3. Craft an Education Section for Your Caregiver's Resume

The good news: caregivers don't need a formal education. Even better news: Some have it anyway, and they can use it to get attention. Don't let them put your caregiver's resume on managed care. Below, I'll show you how to use your resume education section to prove you're perfect for the job.

Start by listing:

• School Name and Location. 
• Years in School.
• Degree.

Pro Tip: Did your CNA training take four weeks or eight? Eight is better. If you did the time, take credit in your caregiver's resume.

4. Showcase Certifications on Your Caregiver Resume

If you're a CNA, display your certification in several places:

• Put it high up on your caregiver resume. 
• Add it near your name and in your resume summary. 
• Add a separate resume certifications section. For extra credit, put your CNA program in your education section. 
• Finally, add "CNA" to the caregiver job descriptions in your resume's experience section.

Need an example? See the sample caregiver resume at the top of this guide.

Remember that The Red Cross offers respected training for CNAs. They provide hands-on classroom time and valuable instructor feedback. Looks great on a home health care resume.

Read more: How to Showcase Certifications on Your Resume

5. Highlight Your Skills on a Resume for a Caregiver

How to add skills to your caregiver resume? First, read the job description and highlight the caregiver's skills in it. Then, use them in your caregiver resume. Finally, sprinkle them throughout the experience and education sections of your HHA resume.

Need inspiration for your caregiver resume skills list? Start with the sample hard skills vs soft skills below.

Caregiver Skills for Resumes

Hard Skills:

• Safe Patient Handling
• CPR
• First Aid
• Housekeeping
• Meal Preparation/Cooking
• Sanitation Standards
• Clean Driving Record
• Alzheimer's Care
• Emergency Response
• Documenting Daily Activities

Soft Skills:

• Compassion
• Communication
• Observation
• Time Management
• Organization
• Following the Plan of Care
• Patience
• Problem-Solving
• Positive Outlook
• Physical Stamina

You can follow up with our complete list of nursing skills!

Read more: The Best Skills for Your Resume

6. Incorporate Other Sections for an Effective Resume

Here's your challenge: You need to convince a jaded resume reader that you're different. To do it, prove you can handle the duties of a caregiver. How? With hobbies, interests, and other sections.

Also, if you have done any volunteer work in the past, do include it, as it shows compassion. "Compassion" is almost literally what “caregiver” means. 

If you need resume candy even faster, search your past for "other" outstanding achievements. Those can be courses, conferences, publications, or references. They would look great on a resume for a caregiver, as do association memberships.

Pro Tip: Want more advice on how to write a professional caregiver resume? See this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

7. Write a Resume Summary or Resume Objective

An average HR manager spends just seven seconds looking at each resume. You must use that time to prove you're worth a closer look. Do it with a caregiver resume profile that stands out like a Nobel Peace Prize at a yard sale.

• Use a resume summary if you've got mountains of experience.
• Use a resume objective if you just starting off climbing your career path.

Pro Tip: Your caregiver resume's summary or objective is the frosting on your job search cake. Write them after you write the rest of your resume.

8. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Caregiver's Resume

"Employers won't read your cover letter." That's absolutely false. 60% of hiring managers won't. The rest definitely consider them essential.

I'm about to show you how to write an excellent cover letter.

Make it personal. Start with the manager's name. Show your passion. Pick a detail or two you like about the job description. Display your value. Do it with a couple of high points from your caregiver resume.

End it with a call to action. "I'd love to discuss your needs" and even propose a date for a meeting.

Pro Tip: A few days after you send in your caregiver cover letter and resume, follow up. A well-timed thank you note can remind the employer who you are in just the nick of time.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

To see resume samples and expert tips for other professions in the medical and healthcare industries, see:

For nursing and healthcare:

• Nursing Resume
• Nursing Student Resume
• CNA Resume
• LPN Resume
• Patient Care Technician Resume
• Home Health Aide Resume

For other medical staff:

• Doctor Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Health Coach Resume
• Social Work Resume

Still haven't found the sample you are looking for? Check our selection here: Best Example Resumes for Any Job

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.theladders.com/static/images/basicSite/pdfs/TheLadders-EyeTracking-StudyC2.pdf
• http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cna/cna-training/cna-online