A Phlebotomy Resume That Hits All Marks

The global health industry is enormous, and perhaps millions of people get their blood drawn professionally every day.

What else is there an enormous amount of ? ... Competition !

So it's time to start writing a winning phlebotomy resume worth putting on top of the pile.

If you feel like your resume writing game is off-course, this step-by-step guide will get you on track.

Take inspiration from a phlebotomist resume sample from this page for a quick refresher.

A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the number of phlebotomist jobs is expected to grow by seventeen percent in the next ten years, well exceeding the occupational average of four percent. There are plenty of places to work: hospitals, blood donation centers, diagnostic labs, medical research facilities, and many more. While Payscale reports an average hourly rate of around $15, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics registers a better figure at $17 per hour.

Career phlebotomists can potentially make up to 17% percent more than this number. Job outlook seems optimistic, too, as demand is expected to balloon faster than most occupations. Hospitals are the number one employers with a 38% share of phlebotomist jobs. Medical and diagnostic laboratories follow at 32%. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website has more information on this.

Examples of Phlebotomy Resumes

A professional phlebotomy resume should resemble the example above.

Let this resume builder serve as a guide to writing a phlebotomist resume for the win.

How to Formulate a Phlebotomist Resume

Recruiters pore over both substance and form before they make a judgment call, and your resume is your first chance to make a pitch. Create one that will blow hiring managers away with the following pointers in mind:

• Accentuate relevant work experiences and specify initiatives that resulted in positive outcomes
• Play up valuable statistics, especially indicators of above-average performance
• Include your educational background, all job-specific technical training, medical instruction, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized certifications
• Center attention on accolades, distinctions, and key achievements
• Mention your arsenal of technical and soft skills but choose the best ones for the job only.
• Declare any teaching or training experience to showcase your leadership and mentoring potential

These phlebotomy resumes are great examples.

How to Layout A Phlebotomist Resume

Content usually outweighs structure, but a trained eye reviewing hundreds of profiles a day will hone in on a well-crafted and mindfully laid out resume.

Before you start writing, read these tips to help improve your layout :

• Set a limit of one to two pages. Compressing your entire work history is a skill that may require much revising, so be patient.
• Maintain consistency to show thoughtfulness and attention to detail.
• Keep the spacing between headings, paragraphs, sentences, and words uniform. Margins on all sides should be no more than one inch.
• Make details stand out by positioning them at the top of a list instead of underlining them or using loud, distracting colors.
• Choose one professional typeface for the entire document.
• Lastly, mark the sections of your resume well with bold headers after deciding on the best format.

For a visual anchor, look at any phlebotomy resume from this page.

The Structure of the Phlebotomy Resume

Factor in the following details when choosing the best format for your profile :

• How long have you worked as a phlebotomist?
• Do you have the skills employers require?
• Does your skillset have a good balance of technical and soft skills?
• Do you have the proper educational background or medical training to excel in the job?

Also, know that :

• Efficiently collecting blood specimens takes practice and careful study.
• Knowledge of human anatomy, medical terminology, and best clinical practices are required.

Recruiters will be interested in your work experience, medical training, educational background, and mastery of phlebotomy procedures before hiring you, so choose a format that highlights these best.

The reverse-chronological format is recommended for candidates with extensive experience. It paints a clear picture of your present capabilities and career trajectory.

Choose this to highlight how your experience and knowledge have expanded or if you were promoted several times.

The functional format highlights skills and leaves out work experience.

This format suits qualified candidates with expertise but have inconsistent work experience, employment gaps, or zero experience like new graduates.

Begin by itemizing your hard and soft skills, and right beside each, provide a detailed description of when you showcased them at work or while in training.

The hybrid or combination format mixes the classic elements of the reverse-chronological and functional formats.

It usually begins with a roster of your hard and soft skills, followed by your work experience, starting with the most recent.

This format works best if you have both the expertise and experience to boast.

Professional Header of the Phlebotomist Resume

The purpose of a resume header is so recruiters can easily find your contact details. For a small section, it can help your resume stand out if you do it right.

It should include the following information:

• Full name
• Position
• Professional email address
• Contact number (preferably a mobile phone number)
• Professional social media page (LinkedIn, etc.)

The details should be complete and presented professionally without any flaws in spelling and formatting.

Do not overlook the advantage of having a separate email address for professional purposes. The convention is using your first and last names in your username.

The Ideal Phlebotomy Resume Header

Keep things professional by following the example below:

It is a no-frills format befitting a business document with all the necessary information.

A Flawed Phlebotomy Resume Header

Here is a sample of a bad resume header:

You would not want to greet the recruiter with missing contact information, formatting inconsistencies, and a casual email address. That will create a terrible impression moving forward.

Is a photo required in the Phlebotomist Resume?

Resume photos reveal certain qualities that might be important to certain employers.

They show your ability to maintain a professional image with your choice of clothing, jewelry, accessories, makeup, and hairstyle.

However most companies aim to eliminate physical appearance biases by not accepting resumes with a photo included. So we recommend you do not include a photo in your resume.

Choosing a Winning Phlebotomist Title

Unique titles are becoming the norm, but there is a proper time and place.

What does your research into the company tell you about their culture?

Look at how they market themselves. Does the company sound serious or casual? Are they authoritative or friendly? Refined or relaxed?

Get them interested by crafting a unique title that emanates confidence and competence while keeping their culture in mind.

Here is an example:

Guide to Writing a Phlebotomy Resume Summary or Resume Objective

Recruiters will scrutinize this section to save themselves time.

This portion is where you pack your skills, experiences, and achievements into one compact paragraph with only three to four statements. Include the best aspects of your profile and your most impressive career highlights.

Integrate numbers, awards, and commendations for more substantial impact.

Lastly, write down your specific career goal. Include the company and position you aim for.

Below are examples of both a terrific and a poorly-written resume summary:

CORRECT

Customer-oriented junior phlebotomist with 2+ years of experience performing a gamut of phlebotomy procedures, including but not limited to collecting blood samples. Certified to draw blood from young infants in the NICU.

INCORRECT

Customer-centric resource with two and a half years of hospital experience catering to blood bank donors and beneficiaries. Attended to different age groups. Part of a mobile team sent to transport samples to remote destinations. Maintained inventory of blood collecting equipment. Seeking higher pay at St. Hilde Hospital.

CORRECT

Robust background in medical testing, safekeeping of blood specimens, and employing methods that minimize patient discomfort. Rookie Phlebotomist of the Year awardee. Processed an average of 60 patients a day with an accumulated error rate of only 0.3%. Aiming to upgrade my technical skills as a junior phlebotomist in St. Hilde Hospital.

The first resume summary thoroughly details the candidate’s strengths and achievements, including relevant statistics and essential items on the job roster. The hiring manager will have many points to bring up in the job interview.

The second one is bereft of writing finesse and reads like a job description in paragraph form. No emphasis is given to key strengths, and there is nothing that sets it apart.

New graduates and trainees may write a phlebotomy resume objective in place of a resume summary as illustrated below:

CORRECT

Adept and steady-handed nursing graduate trained to perform daily phlebotomy functions. Proficient in measuring patient vital signs, accurate data entry of patient medical history, and adhering to clinical safety procedures. Graduated with a 3.8 GPA and holds a school record for mastering capillary puncture techniques. Aiming for an entry-level post at Lifeline Blood Donor Center to learn more about phlebotomy procedures.

In contrast, below is a sample of a poorly-written phlebotomy resume objective.

INCORRECT

Recently graduated blood donor center intern with adequate skills. Knows enough bedside manners to ease patient discomfort. Kept medical records after patient intake and performed various phlebotomy functions in my internship. Trained to draw blood samples and blood pressure. Great attention to detail.

The second phlebotomy resume objective is less professional and has a bit of a casual tone. It also does not include anything that sets the candidate apart.

Writing a Comprehensive Work Experience Section in a Phlebotomy Resume

The work experience section is the centerpiece of your phlebotomist resume and should be more than just a job description list.

Include all crucial details such as the names of the companies you worked for, the start and end dates of your employment, your duties, and significant accomplishments.

Since phlebotomy jobs require specific training, writing this section will be challenging for candidates without proper training or experience.

Describe your Professional Experience in your Phlebotomy Resume

Your hiring manager will appreciate a well-thought-out professional experience section.

Make reading this part a pleasant experience by following these simple rules:

Spell the company name and job title correctly. Write the start and end dates of your employment below.

Avoid writing blocks of texts and repetitive task descriptions. Use three to five bullet points and start each item with an active verb.

Inject relevant statistics and achievements and zero in on above-average performance scores.

To avoid sounding repetitive, consult a thesaurus or observe the construction of this phlebotomy resume sample.

How A Junior’s Work Experience Section Should Look

Model your professional resume on this phlebotomist resume sample if you have little to a few years of experience:

This phlebotomist resume sample can give you ideas if you come short.

What To Put In The Education Section of Your Phlebotomy Resume

Experience and education are essential in the medical field.

You would not entrust your veins to someone who did not have proper training or understanding of blood collection, medical testing, or basic anatomy.

Recruiters will want to know where you received your education or training and if you got certified.

Look at these sample resumes.

Should You Start With Work Experience or Education in a Phlebotomist Resume?

New graduates without any experience should put the education part first, then list down their relevant skills.

Without work experience, recruiters will sift through your resume and transcript for signs that you did well in school.

If you are a candidate with experience, always put the work experience section first.

How to Correctly Format The Education Section of Your Phlebotomy Resume

Make sure your education portion has the following details:

• Degree program completed
• Name of the medical institution you graduated from
• Location of said institution
• Years of study

Only mention your GPA if it is 3.5 or higher.

Education Section of a Phlebotomy Resume

Follow this format when writing your education section:

Some laboratories hire high school graduates. Here is a suitable format:

Follow the format below if you underwent phlebotomy training from an accredited institution:

Skills to Put in Your Phlebotomy Resume

Recruiters will not entertain applicants without proper phlebotomy training, so make sure you are qualified before you even begin writing your resume.

You might have soft skills, but most of the hard skill requirements are non-negotiable.

Those with ample experience will have an easier time but mention only skills you can corroborate with true stories.

The Most Common Phlebotomy Skills for Your Job-Winning Resume

Your array of skills and the degree to which you have mastered each will be a significant deciding factor.

Look at the list of requisite hard skills below:

• Knowledge of basic phlebotomy procedures
• Proficiency in venipuncture or capillary puncture techniques
• Basic life support
• Maintenance of blood collecting equipment
• IV therapy
• Familiarity with HIPAA
• Capillary blood collection
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Infection control
• Laboratory sterilization and sanitation
• Proficiency in essential laboratory diagnostic tools
• Familiarity with CLIA, COA & CAP
• COVID-19 screening
• Records and database management

Phlebotomy requires plenty of soft skills, too. The following will help you thrive:

• Customer service skills
• Attention to detail
• Analytical skills
• Coordination
• Organizational skills
• Self-discipline
• Interpersonal skills
• Stress management
• Honesty
• Counseling

You need skills in both categories to be considered competent for the job.

Here is a sample resume with a list of relevant skills.

Junior Phlebotomy Skills

Here are some elementary phlebotomy skills for juniors to mention:

• Basic life support
• Sterilization and sanitation techniques
• Data entry
• Patient intake skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Customer service
• Stress management
• Patience
• Coordination

Critical Skills Phlebotomy Seniors Should Highlight

Hiring managers expect seniors’ skills to be more sophisticated than juniors'.

Advanced Technical Skills:

• Phlebotomy Technician Certification
• Specimen processing
• Advanced phlebotomy procedures
• Familiarity with HIPAA
• Familiarity with CLIA, COA & CAP
• Mastery of infection control protocols
• Advanced statistical analysis
• Proficiency in advanced laboratory diagnostic tools
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Knowledge of standard blood tests
• Patient flow management

Advanced Soft Skills:

• Strong clinical judgment
• Sound decision-making
• Superior organization skills
• Leadership skills
• Mental stamina
• Flexibility
• Critical thinking
• Evidence-based problem-solving
• Keen attention to detail

Write the Ideal Resume Hook for a Phlebotomy Resume

Resume hooks and taglines spark interest when done well.

Maintain professionalism but make it exciting and unique at the same time. Please limit the number of words to around ten if possible.

A Standout Junior Level Employee Tagline

Junior phlebotomists who are green on the technical side can start with soft skills:

Taglines for Senior Level Employees That Make an Impact

Senior-level taglines should be more sophisticated:

Additional Headings for Your Phlebotomy Resume

If you have additional information to add, do not hesitate to include new headings. Below are some typical headings people fortify their resume with after the usual sections.

Computer Skills and Certifications for Phlebotomy Resume

Aside from standard office software, medical lab workers such as phlebotomists might need to know industry-standard applications and programs.

Research which ones are required for the job and include certifications you already possess. Bring the actual certificate if they ask you to.

Interests for Phlebotomy Resume

Another way for the hiring manager to get to know you is by learning your interests. This way, they can tell whether you are a good fit for the team.

Write something you are genuinely passionate about.

Languages in a Phlebotomy Resume

If you work in a culturally diverse area, proficiency in another language is a clear advantage.

Let the hiring manager know by specifying your proficiency level in both writing and speaking.

State that you are comfortable translating to and from this foreign language when the need arises.

Memberships and Affiliations for Phlebotomy Resume

Medical affiliations lend credibility to any medical job. Mention any that you think are relevant.

If you are not affiliated with any industry organization but are interested, ask someone experienced.

Summary: Key Points for Writing the Best Phlebotomy Resume

Keep these simple pointers in mind when building your phlebotomy resume:

• Ensure your resume's readability by choosing the typeface, tone, and format wisely.
• Mention robust statistics and numbers
• Make a list of job-related technical and soft skills
• Add more information such as computer and technical skills, languages, and affiliations

This page contains a sample resume for your convenience.

Attach a Winning Phlebotomy Cover Letter

Cover letters are a way to get ahead of the competition. Chances are, only a tiny percentage of applicants bother to create one.

Habitually submitting cover letters when applying leaves a good impression and shows recruiters that you go the extra mile to achieve your goals.

Begin with a warm, professional greeting.

In the first paragraph, talk about your current role and how you came across the job listing. Your excitement about the role should be apparent.

In the body, give an overview of your education, experience, skills, and achievements. Do not go overboard and overwhelm them with a very long paragraph. Save some details for the interview.

Close by saying how much you look forward to the next steps and envision positive things for the company.

Thank the reader for reaching the end of your cover letter.

Frequently Asked Questions for a Phlebotomy Resume