Job Descriptions Decoded: Healthcare Analytics Analyst Position

In this week's "Job Descriptions Decoded," I analyze a healthcare analytics position. This is the fourth in a series where I break down job descriptions and highlight items listed that you'll want to consider if you apply for the job. Don't miss previous features. Last week, I wrote about a sales/customer service position and other outlines included a senior-level finance position and a tire maintenance job listing. One thing you'll notice: no matter the job title, when you apply, you'll still want to break down the job description and be sure to make direct connections between what the organization seeks and what you offer.

This headline provides the perfect clue as to what the headline for your resume should be! (Yes, resumes have headlines today.) If you are still using an objective instead, swap it out in favor of including a job title and some keywords at the top of your resume, directly under your name and contact information. For this job, it might say:

Senior Financial Medical Analyst or Medical Actuarial Analyst. Or, you can use the job title as your headline: Senior Healthcare Analytics Analyst

If it's applicable, you can even include some additional keywords in bullet points as a sub-head to your headline. Look to the next paragraph of the job description for inspiration:

For example, if you chose "Senior Healthcare Analytics Analyst" as your headline, you may add the following as a descriptive bullet point at the top of your resume:

Evaluate and analyze healthcare financial claims; use business intelligence tools such as _________ and _________ to design and develop clinical data, statistical and actuarial reports.

Additional information from the featured part of the job description can inspire a few more bullet points. Include specifics that relate to your experiences and personalize these targeted bullet points.

Use this information to create a few more bullet items under your headline drawn from the job description. Usually, groups of odd numbers of bulleted points look complete. You wouldn't want only two bullet points, but three would suffice. Try for either three or five bullet points to specifically note how your skills match the job. Additional points may read:

Collaborate with ______ and _______ to use SAS software to design research to analyze program performance using matching techniques that deliver ROI for organization.

Leverage opportunities to support colleagues in sales and product development, resulting in expansion of product offering by __________.

This appears to be the obligatory inclusion in many job descriptions. They want to hire a proactive thinking, self-starter who wants to be challenged working in a fast-paced environment, not unlike most employers. Many resume advice articles try to persuade you to avoid using these trite and tired phrases in your resume, but employers insist on including them in their descriptions. Your best bet is to find a way to incorporate this information in your resume without it looking like a cliché list of boring words.

Instead of just saying you work well in the proverbial fast-paced environment, describe a success or accomplishment. For example:

Responded to emergency request from upper-level management to create and analyze brand-new analytics report detailing key data needed to ___________.

Be sure to feature all of the items in "job requirements" in your resume. This job description is packed with keywords. Incorporate them meaningfully. Don't just list them in your resume, describe how and why you are well qualified to fulfill this organization's need regarding all of these items.

In general, it's best to avoid starting any bullet point with "assist." It's vague, and doesn't tell the reader what you're capable of doing. Use more specific words, such as "collaborate" or "lead team to..."

This job involves supervising staff, so be sure to feature experience you have managing people. You may even include something featuring what opinion people have of your supervisory skills. For example, "Highly regarded by peers and supervisors as supportive mentor and effective manager." It will be even better if you can incorporate specifics, such as how many of your mentees were promoted or won awards, for example.

As with many jobs, communication skills – in-writing, verbal and presentation abilities – are important. If you frequently present your findings, make sure to include details. Don't forget to mention the results of those presentations. For example, do high-level managers make decisions based on your recommendations? Be specific about your contributions.

Be sure your resume lists all of these qualifications. Do not assume they will know you have SAS experience if you do not mention it.

All of these items should be incorporated into your resume in the sections where you describe your jobs. Remember: don't just list that you have "strong organizational and time management skills." Note exactly when and where you used those skills and what results you provided. For example: "Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills as leader of XYZ project. Coordinated teams from three states to finish quick turnaround project ahead of schedule, resulting in _______."