Medical technologist Resume Example & Writing Guide

Patients and doctors rely on your testing and analysis to identify and help determine the treatment of many diseases. Medical technologists are a key part of any diagnostic medical system. When it’s time to look for your next position, a medical technologist resume that focuses on showing that you have the knowledge and skills to help save lives.

The right job can make all the difference in your life, and that starts with a great application. Start with this resume guide and the corresponding medical technologist resume example to learn about the following topics:

• What does a medical technologist do?
• Organizing and structuring a medical technologist resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a medical technologist resume
• Making the most of each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

If you want more guidance, Resume.io’s resources include resume guides and resume examples for 300+ professions, plus an intuitive resume builder.

Let’s get started by exploring your role.

What does a medical technologist do?

Medical technologists, also called medical laboratory technologists or clinical laboratory technicians, are healthcare professionals who have expertise in testing and analyzing blood, tissue, and cells using microscopes, cell counters, and other lab equipment that requires a high degree of precision. They must adhere to strict quality assurance practices.

Medical technologists report their findings in a timely manner to physicians, who use the results they receive from medical technologists to help determine courses of treatment for their patients. This role differs from medical laboratory scientists, who have more training and can complete more complicated testing and analysis.

Common work environments are hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, research institutes, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and veterinary clinics.

Medical technologist job market and outlook

This behind-the-scenes job may not be glamorous, but it does have an unemployment rate of only 3 percent, and the market for medical technologists is expected to grow nearly 7 percent by 2031, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts. That’s an increase of 21,800 positions.

The national median salary for a medical technologist is $57,800 a year, or $27.79 an hour, but location matters. If you are looking to earn a median of more than $70,000, head to the Northeast, where Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island lead the pack in the highest salaries.

If you’re just starting out, you may earn about $30,000 a year, but the top 10 percent of medical technologists earn upwards of $80,000 and in those high-income states, that’s closer to $100,000.

How to write a medical technologist resume

Precision is a key component of your job. You need to display your organizational skills in your  medical technologist resume from the start. That means using standard sections and standard titles for those sections.

Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The education section
• The resume skills section

Choosing the best resume format for a medical technologist

Our advice is to stick with the reverse chronological format for your medical technologist resume unless you have a compelling reason not to. This organization affects mostly your work history and education sections, which will have your most recent experience at the top and work backward from there.

A few situations in which a hybrid resume format may be a better choice are if you:

• Are new to the job market and don’t have a long employment history
• Have changed careers and your previous experience is not relevant
• Want to highlight a host of technological skills
• Have decades of experience

Barring these situations, stick with reverse chronological order since your goal is to get an interview and making it easy for recruiters to scan your medical technologist resume is the first step.

Resume summary example

Just as there’s more to patients than an up-close look at their cells, there’s more to your career than a detailed listing of your skills and responsibilities. Your medical technologist resume summary takes a broad view of not just what you do, but how you do it.

Of course, you want to highlight your proudest career moment, but you also want to describe to your prospective employer how you will improve the lab’s efficiency and environment with your professional demeanor. Remember that an employer’s main concern is what you can do for them. Focus on how your expertise meshes with their needs in these 3 to 4 lines of freeform writing. 

Employment history sample

The employment history section of your medical technologist resume puts the microscope on your career. This is where you go into detail about each position you have held. Especially since your job is one based on error-free work and attention, you should use examples that prove you have those qualities. 

Gather any data you have that shows how many tests you have processed accurately and quickly. If you have streamlined any procedures or established a more efficient quality assurance program, highlight those achievements. Focus on your accuracy. Imagine getting incorrect medical results!

Medical technologist resume education example

The vast majority of medical technologists have earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or a related field such as chemistry or biology. Medical technicians may opt for an associate’s degree. List all your degrees in the education section of your medical technologist resume.

Some professionals also earn certification through the American Medical Technologists association. If you are among them, you may list this qualification in your education section, or create a separate certification section if you have space. 

If you have taken any relevant courses, are working toward a higher degree, or have earned any other certifications, list those here as well. If you are working toward a degree, include your projected date of graduation.

CV skills example

The skills section of your medical technologist resume may seem like a cinch to develop, but it’s not. This section can make or break your candidacy since it is likely the first a recruiter will scan. If you don’t highlight the qualities they need, they won’t look further.

Your first task here is to analyze (a skill you should be great at!) the job listing, taking note of all skills, knowledge, and attributes your prospective employer desires. You may be tempted to heavily skew your section toward hard skills because you’re in a scientific field, but did you know that employers highly value soft, or people, skills?

Consider including attributes such as problem solving, active listening, grace under pressure, and leadership in your roster of abilities to present a well-rounded picture of your professional personality. Choose 5-7 skills that match those listed in the job description. 

Resume layout and design

The layout of your medical technologist resume serves as the first visual impression of you. Consider what you want to convey as your professional personality. Then, recognize that you don’t need an overly fussy design, especially in your field. Instead, aim for straightforward, neat, and legible. 

Any mistake in your field can be disastrous, and any mistake in your resume could be disastrous for your job search. That means spellcheck, grammar check, and maybe even a second set of eyes on your application before you send it.

The main job of your layout is to make it easy for recruiters to find what they seek. Here are some tips to help you achieve that goal:

• Leave margins of at least ¾-inch all the way around.
• Choose easy-to-read fonts at 11-12 points.
• Some color offers an accent; too much color is distracting
• Keep the lines clean by using flush left for your type.
• Include white space by varying your line lengths – big blocks of text are off-putting.
• Choose from among our expertly-designed and HR-tested templates to avoid the hassle of designing and formatting on your own.

Key takeaways for a medical technologist resume

1. Yours is a field that requires precision, timeliness, and accuracy so highlight those skills. Incorrect medical results can be a disaster
2. If you’re looking to maximize your income, head to the Northeast, where you could earn close to $100,000
3. Use your summary to explain to your prospective employer exactly what you can do for them and how your professional personality is a good fit for the team
4. Project a great first impression with a medical technologist layout that is organized, neat, and legible
5. Use a resume builder with spellcheck such as ours to avoid typos and proofread before you hit send.