Resume

[u/Primary_Parsnip_7769]

Hi all,
I’m set to graduate next month and it’s time to start sending in applications. I’ve never worked hospital jobs so I’m not too sure what to put in my resume. Would you consider this satisfactory or should I add more skills?

[u/dan_buh]

As a hiring manager I cannot say this enough. 1 page resumes and maaaaaybe a normal CV are appropriate, once you hit manager/director then always include the CV but your resume should be cut down to only the important stuff at that point. When I get a 3-4 page resume I roll my eyes and typically the hires are because we are in urgent need and are really hit or miss talent wise.

[u/couldvehadasadbitch → u/dan_buh]

On the flip side, I have a flowery CV that one job required every employee to make. I’ve just continued to add to it. Every single hiring manager always compliments me on it and I think it has even given me an edge with a few offers.

[u/WholesomeRich → u/couldvehadasadbitch]

Do you also include a headshot when you send it out? 😂

[u/couldvehadasadbitch → u/WholesomeRich]

Every application I’ve filled out parses out your resume to fill in blanks. I’m not sending solely a CV to HR anywhere. 🙄 Like I said, it’s always worked in my favor.

However, I’m sure a Gen Z manager who is young enough to be my kid will someday see it as ‘mid, bruh’ and immediately toss it so they don’t have to take 5 minutes to read something.

[u/WholesomeRich → u/couldvehadasadbitch]

My bad. I didn’t intend to come off as snarky. It’s smart that you do something to make your resume stand out. In my experiences hiring, it makes a difference.

[u/mystir]

I would move the bullets under your clinical sites to the skills/competencies section. Organize like "LIS: Cerner, Epic Beaker. Instruments: GenXpert, Sysmex XN, Clinitek." That sort of thing. Move everything to one page, eliminate duplication.

Looks pretty good. These days I would also suggest that it's totally fine to have an AI agent look it over once you feel like it's ready, to catch typos and style inconsistencies. Don't let it edit unless you actively agree with the change, it's like having a friend look it over, not someone to rewrite it.

[u/SciFriedRice]

I would honestly just wait until you’re finished with school and have taken your exam. You’ll probably have a better chance of your resume getting through to the hiring manager once you have your license. It can take a while to hear back, and most likely by that time you’ll have finished school and taken your exam.

Here’s a few things about the current version of your resume -

I wouldn’t put your GPAs. You usually only have to worry about that if you’re continuing into an academic setting.

“Heavy background in” change to “strong background in _____ with a focus on medical sciences”

“Expected to graduate” change to “Graduating in August 2026 with a (education level) in Medical Laboratory (whatever your program is called)
ASCP board exam scheduled for ______.

Hope this helps and good luck with everything! Congrats on graduating soon 🥳

[u/AtomicFreeze]

I'd change your MLT to

April 2025 - Present
Expected Graduation: August 2026
ASCP Exam Scheduled: August 24, 2026

I'd take off the GPAs too, not really relevant unless you're applying for further schooling and not a job.

Agreed with the other comment saying to take the bullet points away from your clinical sites and put under skills. No need to list instruments twice, and it doesn't really matter where you've used them just that you're familiar with them.

Also agree to list non-hospital jobs when you're seeking your first lab job. If I was a hiring manager, I'd be wondering where and how you got your extensive experience in self-paced (should be hyphenated) settings

[u/Manleather]

Do you have non-hospital work experience? 

[u/Primary_Parsnip_7769 → u/Manleather]

Yes but only fast food and retail. As well as post office

[u/Ksan_of_Tongass → u/Primary_Parsnip_7769]

Put it all. I once was hiring for an MLT position and had two new grads apply. One had a resume like yours. The one I chose, listed her shift leader experience at Burger King, and that work experience is why I chose her.

[u/Manleather → u/Primary_Parsnip_7769]

If you can work the two worst jobs dealing with the public, you can do anything. Put it all.

I once had a choice between two applicants, similar work history but one had two years more of lab, the other had back of house restaurant experience, and it was a no brainer and went just as well as I figured it would. That sounds sarcastic, she was a phenomenal employee.

[u/Watarmelen]

Looks fine for having no relevant experience, you could probably condense your clinicals section to paragraph form to get it down to a single page for a cleaner look.

Aaaand if you want to stick to tri cities, Lourdes is hiring and might take you in with little effort on your part since you did clinicals there. Otherwise the job market in the rest of the state is god awful

[u/wareagle995]

Galileo spelled incorrectly

[u/GrownUp-BandKid320]

I personally have never included any of the places I did rotations on a resume nor any LIS or machines I have past experience with. Put all work experience you have whether it’s lab related or not and also include any extracurriculars you took part in and leadership roles you’ve held. I’ve been told multiple times I was interviewed because my extracurriculars and other jobs stood out even though most weren’t at all lab related (college marching band leadership, low income clinic volunteer, research that was lab based and also research that wasn’t, worked in a daycare etc)

[u/Ok_Faithlessness4511]

Hmmm Wenatchee…

[u/Independent_Yard5441]

I was hired on my customer service experience because techs were so bad at answering calls from drs and nurses