A great sonographer resume is like a properly-done scan: It shows a clear, informative image. When hiring managers see your resume, they want to be able to get a sense of who you are and how you have progressed in your healthcare career.
You know you’re good at what you do – now you have to show that to recruiters. How can you convey your professionalism and compassion in a 1-2 page formatted document? Leave it in the hands of the experts. With 300+ writing guides and resume examples for all careers and experience levels, Resume.io is here to help you express your style and experience in a way that will impress employers and patients alike.
This resume guide, along with the corresponding sonographer resume example, will cover the following topics:
- What does a sonographer do?
- How to write a sonographer resume (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a sonographer resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints.
What does a sonographer do?
Sonographers, also known as ultrasound technicians, are people who use ultrasound machines to view and interpret images for medical purposes. These ultrasound tests are typically done on a specific area of the body, where the sonographer views images for analysis and diagnostic purposes. One of the most common uses of ultrasounds is for viewing the developing fetus during pregnancy. Sonographers set up the equipment and ensure that the patient is in position to get the best possible image.
Sonographers are trained to properly analyze images and look for any warning signs that arise. They analyze the images captured in ultrasounds, perform calculations and measurements, and present them to physicians. They are required to prepare rooms and equipment for patients, maintain patient logs, and consult with physicians and supervisors often. Sonographers also talk directly with patients to explain the procedure and answer any questions.
How healthy is the job market for sonographers?
Sonographers should not have much trouble finding jobs in the coming decade (especially if they have a great resume to start their hunt). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a need for 19,100 more technicians by 2030. That’s a 14% jump over 2020.
The median annual income for diagnostic medical sonographers was $75,920 with the lowest 10% of workers earning $53,790 and highest at $105,340. Most ultrasound technicians work in hospitals, while others work in doctors’ offices, medical and diagnostic labs, outpatient care clinics or at colleges, universities or professional training schools.
How to write a sonographer resume
Before you begin to put your sonographer resume together, you need to know what elements it contains. Create the following components for your CV:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Writing a resume that resounds means matching the tone and expectations of your future employer. Research the hospital or clinic before you begin to get an idea of the types of procedures they perform, the demographics of the patients and the general work environment. That information will help you target your message.
Overcome the Applicant Tracking System
Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, are software programs that scan, sort and assess resumes for human resources departments. These systems are looking for keywords and phrases the employer has pegged to the job.
The best way to ensure that your resume won’t get filtered out is to understand what your prospective employer wants. Analyze the job listing, carefully highlighting keywords and phrases within it that you can then use in your resume.
Use the phrase as it appears exactly. Spell out and use any acronyms just in case.
Choosing the best resume format for a sonographer
The reverse chronological order resume format is most popular for a couple of reasons: listing your jobs from your most recent on back makes it easy for recruiters to see what you have done lately. This format is also favored by the ATS, so if you are applying online you will have less reorganizing to do once your resume has been scanned. Unless you have a compelling reason, you should organize your resume this way because both recruiters and the ATS prefer it.
If you have changed careers, are just starting out or are a seasoned professional, you may consider the other resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids. The functional resume style is typically reserved for niche technologists or scientists because it highlights skills over work experience.
Ultrasound is non-invasion and is used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostic tests can show images of internal organs, blood flow and characteristics of body tissue.
Therapeutic sonography is used to move, push or heat tissue, dissolve blood clots or deliver medication to a specific part of the body, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Resume summary example: sound impressions
What do you do best and how do you do it? A well-composed summary for your sonographer resume will describe just that and add a healthy view of your personality. This 3-4 lines is the only place in this rather formatted document where you can express yourself.
Choose the career highlight that best illustrates how you will enhance patient care or fill the gap the hiring manager now has open. Don’t be shy about using strong, positive descriptions of yourself and your work ethic.
Consider adding a sentence about why you chose the field, why you want this job in particular or your style of patient care.
This freeform section of your resume may be the most difficult to compile. If you need more inspiration, check out our other medical category resume samples. Try our healthcare resume example for a general idea. We also offer a clinic coordinator resume sample, a physician assistant resume sample or a nurse resume sample.
You can find a sonography resume example summary below.
Experienced sonographer with over six years of experience performing ultrasounds in the obstetrics department of Roosevelt Hospital. Bringing forth expertise, an understanding of all aspects of the ultrasound process, and a commitment to superior patient care. Adept in performing measurements and calculations, and preparing reports for physicians. Extremely focused and skilled in performing professional and in-depth diagnostic imaging procedures.
Employment history CV sample: make it gel
The employment history section of your sonographer CV offers the highlights of your career. Don’t think of this as a disjointed listing of your responsibilities, instead create a compelling, linked story of your career success.
Make sure you use examples that illustrate the skills your prospective employer is looking for. Target each bullet point directly at a requirement for your new position. If you want a new challenge, relate how your previous experience transfers to the job you want.
Start each bullet item with an action word and follow it with the success you achieved. Below you will find an example of a strong bullet item and one that needs improvement.
- Answered any and all questions in layman’s terms to put patients at ease
- Answered patient questions
You can find a sonographer employment history resume sample below.
- Performed ultrasounds for pregnant women and fetuses with professionalism and care.
- Carefully observed fetuses, interpreted images, and presented findings to physicians.
- Utilized equipment expertise, excellent communication skills, and compassion to ensure a positive experience for patients.
- Worked to differentiate between normal and abnormal sonographic image findings.
- Referred to clinical history in regards to ultrasound findings to advance my understanding of images.
- Worked to provide a high level of patient care and reduce any anxieties or concerns in patients.
Sonography skills section example: your image at a glance
As a sonographer, you need expertise in your equipment and what to look for in the scans, but you also need the ability to explain what you know to patients and to communicate well with other medical staff.
The skills section of your sonography resume may seem redundant, but it’s actually quite important. Recruiters are busy and receive more resumes than they have time to read. The skills section gives them an overview and tells them whether to read on. It also gives them an idea of what you think are the most important attributes to get the job done well.
Consider three factors here:
- Optimizing for the ATS. This is a perfect section to swap in keywords and phrases from the job listing.
- Technical and medical knowledge.
- Soft skills such as communication, compassion and organization.
Find a balance among those three items and choose 5-7 of your top skills for this section.
You can find a skills resume sample below.
- Diagnostic Medical Ultrasounds
- Knowledge of Ultrasound Equipment
- Analysis of Images
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Proper Medical Etiquette
- Strong Organizational Skills
Sonography resume education example
Your education section is a simple listing of your degrees and certificates. If you have earned any honors or distinctions should be noted here as well. There is no need to list your GPA unless you are fresh out of school and it is above a 3.0. You may include any training sessions or related certifications you have earned.
An associate’s degree is the most common path to a sonography career with 47% of professionals holding this degree. Nineteen percent hold a post-secondary certification and 17% have earned bachelor’s degrees, O*Net reports.
See resume example for an education section below.
- 2005-2009 Nyack High School, High School Diploma Nyack, NY
- 2001-2005 Nyack College, Bachelor of Biology Boston, MA
Resume layout and design: picture perfect
You cannot neglect the look of your sonographer resume. Why? First impressions matter, sometimes enough to be the deciding factor on whether or not you will get that interview. So when a recruiter glances at your resume, what impression do you want to leave? Professional, detail-oriented, organized?
Here are some pointers for accomplishing that:
- Keep it neat by aligning text and leaving ample margins.
- Avoid using all but a small splash of color (if you must use color)
- Create contrast by using different fonts for your body text and section headings
- Use your contact information as a graphic element
- Consider using a professionally-designed resume template to avoid formatting errors and make a great first visual impression.
Key takeaways for a sonographer resume
- Sonographers must be able to relate to patients, but they also need a wealth of technical knowledge, so show off both.
- Target each CV to the job you seek. Not all employers or environments are the same, so your resume shouldn’t be either.
- Think of your employment history as a success story.
- Check out our sonographer resume sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.
