Why a good resume is essential when applying for a new surgical tech job

    A well-crafted and effective resume is important for securing a position as a surgical tech. Your resume serves as your first introduction to an employer and should be used as a tool to showcase your professional qualifications, skills, and experience. A compelling resume is your initial point of contact with a new employer, and it should be written to make a lasting impression.

    Your resume should be detailed, yet concise, and should highlight your associates degree in surgical technology and any specialized training or certification. It is used to effectively communicate your proficiency in surgical care and to differentiate you from a field of competitive candidates.

    We will provide a few important tips and an example of a template resume to help improve your resume/CV and secure a surgical tech job interview.

    How long should the surgical tech job resume be and what information should be included?

      A surgical tech’s resume should be comprehensive but concise. You should provide enough information to showcase your qualifications, skills, and experience. Generally, a resume should be around two to three pages in length, but it’s important to prioritize your content over the length.

      The following information should be included in your resume: contact information, resume summary or objective, education, certification, clinical experience, skills, professional membership, continuing education, and any honors and awards.

      Points that need to be included in a resume

      Contact Information: Include your full name, professional title, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

      Pro Tip:

      Your name should be highlighted with the biggest text on the page and listed near the top. Your address should only include city and state. The provided email should be a professional email, but not an employer email. (Never use your current job email for a resume.)

      Resume Summary or Objective: Provide a brief, targeted statement summarizing your expertise, career goals, and what you offer as a surgical technician.

      Education: Include your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree earned, and graduation date. List your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent and highest degrees first. List your associate’s degree and certification.

      Pro Tip:

      If you are a new graduate, you may want to place the education section above the experience section. As you gain work experience, your education section should be shortened. If you have not graduated, you can add “expected graduation date” to the school.

      Certifications and Licenses: Specify any relevant certifications.

      Clinical Experience: Include your work history in reverse chronological order. For each position, include the name of the hospital or clinic, location, and dates of employment. Highlight any specialized procedure or technique you have experience with.

      This is the most important section as a surgical tech. Your professional experience should be presented in bullet points and a separate section should be created for each relevant previous job. The headline for each previous job experience section should be in bold with the addition of the time you were employed. Beneath the company name, the position should be mentioned, and the bulleted points should list the job responsibilities.


      Pro Tip:

       It is important to mention not only the job responsibilities but also the achieved results at that job.

      Skills: Outline both your technical and interpersonal skills that are relevant to surgery. Include your proficiencies in relevant technology or subspecialties.

      Professional Memberships: List any associations you are a part of.

      Awards and Honors: Highlight any special recognition or awards you have received for your contributions to the profession.

      Professional Development: Showcase ongoing education and training that you have attended to stay current in the field.

      Note: If applicable, mention any languages that you proficient in. 

      A surgical tech’s resume should highlight a combination of medical, technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Here are some important and relevant skills to include:

      • Medical Skills
        • Ensuring infection control by maintaining sterile conditions
        • Expertise in setting up the OR with necessary instruments, sterile drapes, and solutionsAssisting surgeons with suturing and wound closure
      • Medical Equipment Proficiency:
        • Familiarity with a wide range of surgical instruments and how to use them
        • Knowledge of sterilization procedures for instruments and operating room equipment
      • Technical Skills:
        • Familiarity with EMR systems
        • Knowledge of emergency protocols and the ability to react in emergency situations
      • Teamwork and Communication Skills:
        • Collaboration with colleagues including doctors, nurses, and staff
        • Communicate clear and effectively with the surgical team
      • Leadership:
        • Assign and delegate tasks during multi-stage surgeries
        • Mentorship and training new surgical technicians
      • Communication Skills:
        • Effective communication with colleagues, patients, and their families
        • Detailed documentation of patient records as needed
      • Time Management: Efficient time management of workflow during surgery
      • Quality Assurance: Monitoring and ensuring safety during surgical procedures

      Pro tip

      It is common for each job post to receive hundreds of applications and a resume checking system is often in place for recruiters to filter through relevant applications. You should customize your resume to each specific surgical tech job you are applying for. Be sure to emphasize your relevant skills and experience to demonstrate to the employer you understand the requirements of the job and are the best candidate. You will be more successful if you identify the key phrases in the job description and incorporate them into your resume. 

      Resume example-template

      Here is a template resume for a surgical technician courtesy of LiveCareer.com. You can also build, view other similar resumes, and customize your resume on their site.