HHA Resume Skills That Land Private Duty Jobs

Ever feel like your caregiving skills don't translate well on paper? You're not alone. Most home health aides list the same basic duties—but private duty families want to see what makes you different.

Quick Answer: Your HHA resume needs 5-7 specific skills like "Dementia Communication" or "Mobility Transfer Expertise" plus real-life examples showing how you improved someone's daily life. Generic duty lists get ignored.

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What Private Duty Families Actually Care About

Private duty work is personal. Your resume should show:

• Relationship skills: "Built trust with resistant dementia client through validation techniques"
• Specialized care: "Managed insulin administration for diabetic client"
• Daily life impact: "Created meal plans addressing Parkinson's swallowing difficulties"

Skip vague phrases like "excellent caregiver." Show instead of tell.

The Skills Section That Gets Calls Back

Your skills list should look like this:

• Wound care documentation
• Hoyer lift operation
• Medication reminder systems
• End-of-life emotional support
• Adaptive dressing techniques

Not like this:

• Compassionate
• Hardworking
• Good communicator

See the difference? One shows concrete abilities, the other sounds like every other resume. Use our free AI resume builder to generate skill suggestions tailored to home health.

How to Turn Duties Into Stories

Bad example: "Assisted with daily living activities"

Good example: "Helped stroke survivor regain independence through guided dressing practice 5x/week (client achieved buttoning shirts within 3 months)"

3 Common HHA Resume Mistakes

1. Using the same resume for agencies and private jobs: Families care more about personality fit. Include a "Personal Approach" section with 2-3 sentences about your care philosophy.
2. Ignoring "soft" skills: Things like "calm during crisis" matter. Prove it with: "Managed seizure episodes using trained protocols while reassuring family members"
3. No certification highlights: List BLS/CPR, First Aid, or specialized training like Alzheimer's care certificates upfront.

What To Do Today

1. Grab a notebook and jot down 3 situations where you solved a tricky care problem
2. Pick 5 skills from our HHA skills guide↗ that match your experience
3. Try phrasing one duty as a result: "[Action] that led to [Outcome]"

❓FAQ

Q:Do I need a different resume for dementia care jobs?

Absolutely. Highlight skills like redirection techniques, sundowning management, and family communication. Include phrases from the job description—many families search for specific terms.

Q:How long should my resume be?

One page unless you have 10+ years specializing in complex cases. Use our resume optimization tips↗ to trim fluff.

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