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ADVANCE for Medical Laboratory Professionals • February/March 2016

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016 accomplishments. On the other hand, if you’re applying to a position in a different field, a skill-based resume that highlights the relevant experience you obtained from education, employment and hobbies is ideal. Are you seeking a high-level position in academia or a research field? Then a curriculum vitae (CV) would be the best fit. 2.Write a professional profile instead of an objective statement. Most employers prefer a professional profile as it illustrates the value you’ll bring to the organization. It also gives you the perfect platform to summarize your experience and areas of expertise. 3.Match your resume to the job description. Focus on relevant accomplishments in your resume that pertain to the specific position you’re looking at and remove ones that aren’t applicable. Reorganize your lists so the most relevant items appear at the top. That’s where recruiters will be looking first and what they’re most likely to remember later on. 4.Target your accomplishments rather than duties. Numbers are excellent ways to showcase achievements. Instead of writing “brought testing in-house” on your resume, get more specific. Put something like “implemented in-house BRAF testing, resulting in 95% ROI.” 5.Write a keyword-friendly resume. As agencies and human resources receive so many resumes, they often rely on software that searches for keywords to find qualified candidates. Placing the right keywords can make your resume jump to the top of the pile. Look at the job description to identify terms and phrases that appear most frequently. Then, use spelled-out and abbreviated versions of each one. For example, if you’re applying to a medical laboratory technologist position, you want to use both “medical laboratory technologist” and “MT” in your resume. 6.Add professional achievements and special skills. Set yourself apart by listing the career-related highlights that have made your journey unique, such as awards, associations, publications, honors, committees, foreign languages, computer expertise, etc. This section is even more important if you’re building a CV. 7. Make your resume the appropriate length. The size of your resume should be based on your experience. If you’re a new grad, your resume should only be one page. A seasoned professional can have up to two full pages. A CV can easily be four or more pages as it offers a more detailed synopsis. 8.Proofread multiple times. Review your resume for grammatical errors and typos. Then slowly read through it again to double-check that everything is correct. It’s also a good idea to ask one of your trusted colleagues to look over your resume for mistakes. 9.Update your LinkedIn account. Take the accomplishments you listed on your resume, add them to your LinkedIn account and expand on them however you see fit now that you aren’t limited by a page count. Employers will also be checking out the professionals in your network, so don’t forget to add people you currently work with, as well as those you’ve worked with in the past. 10.Send your resume to the right people. If you saw a posting on a job board like ADVANCE Healthcare Jobs, you should apply directly to that position through that job board. It’s the easiest way to do it, and it also ensures that your resume is going to the appropriate contact. However, if you find an opportunity some other way, you should send your resume directly to the company. Most ads include specific instructions on who to contact, but you can also track down the right email address by going to the company’s website or LinkedIn page. By following these tips, your resume will get noticed and you’ll shine among rival job seekers. Good luck in finding your next opportunity! 26 ADVANCE FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS CAREER ADVANCEMENT


ADVANCE for Medical Laboratory Professionals • February/March 2016
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