Phlebotomist Resume Writing Advice

Your resume should highlight your skills, experience, and education in the phlebotomy field. It is also important to create a phlebotomist resume that contains specific keywords, as some employers use screening software to narrow down a pool of applicants.

Use these tips and the sample resume below to create your own professional document.

Resume Heading

The very first section should include your contact information. At minimum, put your first and last name, address, and telephone number at the top of the page. If you have an e-mail address, include it below your telephone number. Some recruiters use e-mail to send information about electronic applications, so having a professional e-mail address is important. Avoid using a personal e-mail address like “pookybear18@ymail.com” for your resume. Something like “jane.smith@ymail.com” is much more professional.

Employment Objective

The objective section is optional, but it helps potential employers determine if you are a good fit for their organizations. An example of a good employment objective for a phlebotomy resume would be as follows: “To obtain a challenging position as a phlebotomy technician and use my knowledge and skills to serve patients.”

Resume Format

The format you use for your resume will depend on your level of education and work experience. If you have a lot of work experience, but you have not completed a formal training program, you should put your work experience at the top of the resume. If you have completed a training course, but you have little or no work experience, put your education at the top.

In the education section, list the name of the school you attended, the dates you attended, and the diploma, certificate, or degree you received. If you received any relevant awards, include them in this section.

The work experience section should include the name of each past employer, the dates you were employed, the job titles you held, and the duties you performed at each job. Do not include irrelevant information in this section. Focus on experience specific to phlebotomy.

Certifications

If you successfully passed a certification exam, list the certification in a separate section. Do not include your exam score unless you achieved a near-perfect or perfect score.

Sample Phlebotomist Resume

Formatting Tips

Your resume should be typed on white or off-white paper. Use a font that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana. Use bulleted lists to break up the text and make it easier to read. Even if you have extensive work experience, your resume should be no more than two typed pages long. Omitting irrelevant information can help you shorten it if necessary. If you are mailing your resume to a potential employer, fold it in thirds before placing it in the envelope.

Resume Screening Software

Some recruiters use certain keywords to screen resumes and select the best potential candidates for a job opening. If the selected keywords do not appear in your resume, you may not be selected for a job interview. Instead of stuffing your resume with keywords, use them naturally within the text. Words such as phlebotomist, phlebotomy technician, specimen handling, and specimen processing could be used naturally in the sections covering work experience and education. “Certified phlebotomist” or “PBT(ASCP)” should be included in the section addressing your professional certifications. If you do not have a certification, do not include these keywords. They may get picked up by the screening software, but a recruiter will review your resume and realize that you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the job.

The most important step in creating a phlebotomy resume is following the instructions provided by the recruiter. Always include requested information and follow the format described in the job posting. This will improve your chances of being contacted for a job interview.