Creating a comprehensive resume that showcases both your experience and credentials not only helps you get noticed by lab leaders — but it can also help you command attention from leading lab staffing recruiters. Most importantly, an updated and cohesive account of your lab experience can help pathologists’ assistant recruiters better identify the right open job opportunities based on your work background, unique skill sets, and other location preferences.
At Nicklas Medical Staffing, our laboratory staffing recruiters recognize that many PAs and HTs/HTLs feel overwhelmed trying to source their next lab opportunity. However, it’s important to know that no matter what the current job economy, there are always ways to develop a resume that gets noticed, from both pathologists’ assistant staffing recruiters and the online tools they are using to source candidates.
When putting together or updating your pathologists’ assistant or histotech resume, consider these six tips to make the best possible impact with viewers and search tools:
Don’t be modest about your experience and accomplishments. Pathologists’ assistants and histotechs should list all certifications, memberships, and state licensing, if applicable, that are pertinent to the type of lab position you’re pursuing. Put the letters after your name at the top of the resume.
Pro Tip: Recent grads should write “ASCP test scheduled for month/day/year” under their name.
A PA or HT/HTL resume should always include educational information, such as:
Here’s where lab professionals should also include any noteworthy accomplishments, honors, and achievements accrued while obtaining a particular degree.
The medical/healthcare industry is always leveraging the power of cutting-edge technology and innovation. Demonstrating proficiency with a particular platform on your resume can be a major differentiator from other applicants. Include a technology/computer skills section on your resume, listing industry-specific innovations, systems, platforms, and applications you’ve used as well as any system training you’ve received throughout your career.
Lab leaders and lab staffing recruiters want to review all relevant work experience, including:
When outlining actual duties and responsibilities, bullet points can help make it easy to quickly absorb the most important information. Also, in addition to listing responsibilities, you can also list results, such as:
Lab staffing recruiters are looking for well-rounded candidates, so never be afraid to (honestly and accurately) draw attention to your differentiators and pinpoint ways you went above and beyond what was expected.
Software programs prioritize formatting when scanning your resume for key skill sets. Always keep your formatting neat, easy to read, and (most importantly) professional. Large blocks of copy can quickly get overlooked, so break up text blocks whenever possible.
Pro Tip: Using a simple final format now makes it easier to include new resume information every time you finish an assignment.
Typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors can instantly put even the most qualified candidates at the bottom of the applicant pile. Worse yet, misspelling skills may even get you overlooked by software platforms. Once you’ve put together your final document, you’ll want to give it a final proof. Additionally, you’ll want to run it through an online proofing site, such as Grammarly, for reassurance that your PA or HT/HTL resume is ready to submit to a pathologists’ assistant and histotech recruiter.
Nicklas Medical Staffing can help you find your next travel, local, temp, or permanent opportunity. Contact us today to learn more.
Check out this article on tips for interviewing: How to Ace the Interview and Land the Lab Job You Want