Phlebotomist Resume Objective & Skills

Phlebotomy is an exciting, reliable field that provides career options in a variety of medical settings. While it's simple to get a phlebotomy certification, scoring a job in a hospital or outpatient care setting can take some work. Here, we'll explore the tips and tricks that you'll need to help you land a job in phlebotomy, including how to write a phlebotomist resume and cover letter as well as how to prepare for your interview.

How to Craft a Resume for Phlebotomy Positions

It's sad but true: many resumes submitted for medical positions go straight to the trash.

It's important that you make your phlebotomist resume stand out and give the hiring director a good reason to call you for an interview. Be sure your resume is in a clean, easy-to-read format and is free of typos. If you can, ask a fellow phlebotomist to take a look at your resume and make suggestions.

As far as phlebotomist cover letters go, it may be annoying to take the time to write a new one for each job, but it's important. Take a few minutes to check out the website for the hospital, blood bank, or outpatient clinic, and mention something specific about the organization in your cover letter. Make it clear that you're taking the time to learn about them — not just copying and pasting a form letter.

Don't forget to utilize your personal network. Letters of recommendation can be an important part of scoring a job. If you know someone within the organization, ask them to send a letter of recommendation to the hiring director along with your resume.

What To Include on a Phlebotomy Resume

Your phlebotomist resume should open with a short summary paragraph that briefly states your experience, education, and the type of position you are applying to. You'll want your certification to be positioned front and center on your resume so the hiring manager will see it right away. If requested, submit a (digital or paper) copy of your certification with your resume. This is also why attending a quality phlebotomy program is so important; hiring managers will be checking out this area to find out what your educational training was like.

Highlighting specific parts of your phlebotomy training, such as how many venipunctures and skin punctures you've performed, what type of equipment you've used, and any applicable courses you completed will all make for a strong resume.

Today's phlebotomist resumes are typically scanned by Application Tracking Systems or ATS that look for specific job-related keywords. As such, it's a good idea to include a skills or core competencies section in the resume. Keywords that might be good to incorporate include:

• Specimen Collection
• Medical Terminology
• Laboratory Analysis
• Diagnosis

You'll want your phlebotomist resume to show off your prior experience if you have any. For many people, phlebotomy is an entry-level field. If you haven't formally worked as a phlebotomist before, that's okay. Be sure to list your practical training through internships and externships. In addition, you can still talk up your other prior positions (paid, volunteer, and educational) to make it clear that you're up to the job. More than performing blood draws, highlight your so-called soft skills such as providing customer service, keeping track of supplies, or organizing a schedule. Be sure to mention if you've worked in a position in which you've interacted with the public and had to comfort people who were nervous.

Phlebotomy Job Interviews

Deep breath: if you make it to the interview stage, you're almost through the door of your new job as a phlebotomist.

Check out these tips for acing your interview for a phlebotomist position:

• Stay calm. In addition to technical requirements, a calming presence can be a valuable attribute for a phlebotomist. You'll want to be confident, cool, and collected in your interview. It may help to practice some standard interview questions with a friend or a family member before you start the interview process.
• Know the lingo. If it's been a while since you completed your certification, you may want to take a quick brush-up class online to ensure that you're up to date with the latest techniques and terminology in phlebotomy.
• Ask questions. When you come to the interview with interesting questions about the company, it's clear that you've done your research. You don't need to memorize these questions — it's ok to have them written down. Feel free to take notes as your interviewer answers your questions.
• Follow up. After your interview, wait a day or two, then call your interviewer to thank them again for their time. Often, this small act of consideration can push you to the top of the short list as a candidate for the phlebotomy position.