Direct Support Professional Resume Examples & Templates

Kellie Hanna, CPRW
By Kellie Hanna, CPRW, Career Advice Expert Last Updated: August 25, 2022
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direct support professional resume example

Job Summary & Responsibilities

A direct support professional resume would have responsibilities such as assisting handicapped persons to live fulfilling lives and assisting in the rehabilitation of people with long-term injuries or illnesses. A direct support professional resume needs to also show that you can help patients to acquire the necessary interpersonal skills to function within society as well. A direct support professional resume also includes duties such as motor skills therapy, assistance with logical thinking, and helping to gain employable skills.

A direct support resume showcases skills that could be the most important elements of a patient’s life. That’s why it is important to develop a direct support professional resume that outlines all of your skills and all of your significant accomplishments.

Education & Training

A direct support professional resume must include at least a four-year degree in a therapeutic discipline such as occupational or physical therapy. But the scope of a direct support professional resume is so wide that it’s usually necessary to have several college degrees in varying types of therapy to be considered for a position by a hiring manager.

Along with a strong educational foundation, a direct support professional resume should also include a list of training sessions for the latest techniques and methods. The field of direct support is very dynamic and your direct support professional resume should show that you’re keeping up with all of the changes.

Pay Range & direct support professional resume examples

The pay range for a good direct support professional resume begins at approximately $32,000 and goes up to around $72,000 per year. If your direct support professional resume includes extensive training in pertinent areas, then your salary could be higher. We invite you to utilize our library of direct support professional resume samples to help construct an effective direct support professional resume of your own. We will help you impress hiring managers and get the job you want to further your career.

Direct Support Professional Resume Questions

1. How do you format a direct support professional resume?

If you have years of experience in the industry, a chronological format is typically the best one to use for your resume. This standard layout focuses on your work history and accomplishments. In this format, give your professional summary first below the header, and then your work history. Follow these sections with a skills section and then an education section.

If you are a recent graduate, you may choose a functional format, which focuses on your relevant skills and places the work experience section towards the end. For help on the personalized formatting for your document, consult our resume builder, which walks you step-by-step through the process.

2. How many skills should you put on a direct support professional resume?

When applying for most jobs, the skills section should have between six and eight abilities. You can categorize your aptitudes to point out more of them. For example, you may have a separate section for technical skills in addition to your regular skills section. Use bullet points to list each skill. This helps the hiring manager focus in on this section.

3. How long should a direct support professional resume be?

In most cases, your resume should be one page long. This is especially true if you have 10 years or fewer of experience. If you have an extensive work history and your past jobs are highly relevant, your resume can expand to two pages. Because recruiters typically do not spend much time on each resume, it is usually better to condense your information so there is only one page for them to read. Our direct support professional resume sample is a good example of a single-page resume.

4. How can you highlight team experience on a direct support professional resume?

One of the best places to demonstrate you are a good team player is in the work experience section. In it, you can point out specific examples of how you worked well in a team. Use numbers and figures to clearly show how you can bring value, and use strong verbs such as planned, delegated, generated, and analyzed.   You can also list this under the skills section, but it has more of an effect when you point out specific achievements. Use the direct support professional resume sample as a guide when you write the experience section.

5. What can you do to make your direct support professional resume stand out?

There is a lot of competition in the job market, and it is important your resume stands out over other candidates’. Begin with a strong summary statement that points out accomplishments and relevant skills. Use bullet points so the document is easy to read, and focus on achievements as opposed to duties in the work history section. Our direct support professional resume sample is a good example of a document that gets noticed.

Now that you understand what to do when it comes to Direct Support Professional resumes, study our Direct Support Professional cover letter sample to grasp what’s needed for that other crucial job application document.

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Show Resume Text

Resume Text

Luis Snyder

123 Fake Street
City, State, Zip Code
Cell: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com

Professional Summary

Hardworking Direct Support Professional skilled at wound care, mobility assistance, and charting. Highly flexible and willing to work all shifts. Empathetic, patient-focused caregiver with experience in home and hospital settings.

Certifications

CPR, First Aid, and BLS Certifications

Skill Highlights

Medication management
Doctor’s appointments
Personal care assistance
Respiratory equipment training
Documentation procedures expert

Trained in catheter change and preparation
General housekeeping ability
Medical terminology knowledge
Valid California driver’s license
Medical terminology knowledge

Professional Experience

November 2010 to Current
Company Name City, State
Direct Support Professional

Provide in-home patient care for developmentally disabled and geriatric patients.
Bathe, groom, and assist patients with daily living activities.
Accompany patients to doctor’s appointment and bring necessary documents or medication.
Administer medication per instructions and develop systems to ensure patients continue regime when alone.
Keep homes neat and clean with light housekeeping duties.
Cook meals for patients and clean up dishes.

March 2007 to October 2010
IRC Company Name City, State
Direct Support Professional

Documented patient behaviors and assisted with treatment modalities.
Drove patients to doctor’s appointments to run routine errands.
Trained patients on simple care activities such as housekeeping and grooming.
Protected patients from harm through vigilant care and home training.
Assisted patients in carrying out basic daily activities.
Kept patient environment safe and hazard-free.

January 2004 to February 2007
Company Name City, State
Food Service Specialist

Cooked over 1,000 meals/day in large county hospital.
Followed recipes closely and/or adapted as needed to accommodate patient dietary needs.
Prepared service carts to deliver meals to patient rooms and serving containers for cafeteria meals.