Created by CakeYou'll learn:
Step 1: Pick the best layout for your
surgical tech resumeStep 2: Choose the right format for your
surgical technician
resumeStep 3: Start with contact information and basic personal detailsStep 4: Create an intriguing
surgical technician
resume titleStep 5: Craft a professional
surgical tech resume statementStep 6: Include skills and abilities relevant to the jobStep 7: Highlight your best experience and accomplishmentsStep 8: List educational qualifications and backgroundStep 9: Include an additional information section to stand outStep 10:Write a cover letter for the
surgical tech job
Surgical tech resume sampleSurgeries tend to be very high-paced and critical. For this reason, surgeons usually have a team to assist them in these crucial procedures. One of the
surgical team members is the
surgical tech (also called a
surgical technologist or
surgical technician).📝
Surgical Technologist Job DescriptionThe management of the
surgical equipmentPreparation of the operating roomPreparation and transportation of patients to and from surgery.
Surgical tech differs from
surgical assistants; although both are there to assist with the surgery procedures, the latter is more focused on assisting the surgeon with the surgery, such as suturing and treating operating wounds.
A great
surgical tech resume will not simply focus on skills or experience alone, many other factors make up a professional
surgical technologist
resume.Step 1: Pick the best layout for your
surgical tech resumeHow long should a
surgical tech resume be?Keep your
surgical technician
resume within one to two pages long. Recruiters tend to have to go through a lot of
resumes, they might be put off by those that are too long.
What is the best font for a
surgical technologist
resume?Instead, opt to use professional yet classic fonts such as Calibri, Cambria, Helvetica, Garamond, and Palatino.
You want to avoid using generic and overused fonts as they won’t make your
surgical technologist
resume memorable. What is thestandard margin for a
surgical technologist
resume?A one-inch margin is a safe margin size to use for your
surgical technologist
resume; it balances the
resume’s contents and the remaining white spacing.What spacing should a
surgical technician
resume be in?For your
surgical technician
resume to look professional, opt for a 1.15 spacing. This amount ensures that your
resume is not too spaced out or compressed.
Whatfile format should a
surgical technologist
resume be in, Word or PDF?
Choose to submit a
surgical technologist
resume in PDF (unless specified otherwise), this format ensures that everything in your
resume remains the same as the one you made on your computer.❌ Note: A
surgical technologist
resume in a Word format might not work well in every device it’s opened in; the content and template might shift around due to the difference in Word version.Step 2: Choose the right format for your
surgical technician
resume
Implementing the wrong format for your
surgical tech resume can affect your chances of moving on to the next step of the hiring process. There are three formats that you can choose from, they are:🏷️Chronological
resume formatPuts the focus on your past working experiences. To use this format, you would want to start with your latest experience and end with your earliest employment history. This is one of the most generic
resume formats, it may not make you stand out as much but it is a safe choice to choose from if you’re unsure on which format to use.🏷️Functional
resume formatHere, the main focus would be the
surgical tech skills in your
resume; you can also include relevant achievements that can further highlight your skills. Although very skill-oriented, this format may be ideal for an entry-level
surgical tech resume, a
surgical tech student
resume, or a
surgical technician
resume with gaps in between jobs.🏷️ Combinational
resume formatThe combinational format merges the functional format and the chronological format. To effectively use this format, you would want to start with your skills in your
surgical tech resume, followed by your working experiences listed in a reverse-chronological format. This format is a great way to show proof of your skills with your previous working experiences.Step 3: Start with contact information and basic personal detailsYour
surgical technician
resume must not only contain your qualifications but also your basic personal information. For this, you…
✅ Must include basic personal and contact details such as:- Full name-Email address- Phone number👍 May include further details such as:- Address- LinkedIn URL- Personal website❌ Avoid including unnecessary personal details such as:-Date of birth- Sexual orientation- Religion or belief- Marital status and dependency- Expected/Current salary
🙅Reminder: Putting out a number too early lessens your bargaining power when negotiating for your future salary.Step 4: Create an intriguing
surgical technician
resume titleA
surgical technician
resume title can serve as an attention-grabber for recruiters when reading your
resume. A proper
resume title should give readers an idea of who you are as a candidate, all condensed into one sentence. To do this, your
resume title needs to showcase your relevant achievements, strengths, or skills.
Surgical technologist
resume title examples:Patient and Detail-Oriented
Surgical Technician with 7+ Years of Experience in Assisting General Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Nurses.Certified
Surgical Technologist with Proven Effective Patient Interaction Skill.Experienced and Skilled
Surgical Tech Proficient in Providing Support in a Variety of
Surgical Procedures.
💡Tip:You can increase its effectiveness by using strong and catchy words and including keywords from the
surgical tech job description for your
resume.Step 5: Craft a professional
surgical tech resume statementYour
surgical tech resume statement should elaborate further on your
resume title. Your
resume statement should describe yourself, your previous experience, and the relevant skills you possess. It should be within one to two sentences as you don’t want it to take up a lot of space. 🔎Note: A
resume statement differs from a
surgical tech resume objective; the latter focuses more on your career goals as a
surgical tech, making it more suitable for an entry-level
surgical tech resume.
Surgical technologist
resume statement examples:Responsible
surgical technologist with more than 7 years of experience in the ER. Trained and led a group of 8 junior
surgical techs.NCCT certified
surgical technician with experience in pediatrics. Proven skills of effective communication between patients and staff.Detail-oriented
surgical tech able to remain calm under pressure. Suggested changes in equipment maintenance procedure, which increased patient safety score by 13%.
Cake provides the right
surgical techresume templates formats for you to showcase your skills and experiences. Sign up to create and download the best
surgical techresume now for FREE!Free DownloadStep 6: Include skills and abilities relevant to the jobYour
surgical tech skills in your
resume will be incredibly important because of how crucial your job will be in the operating room. There are four ways you can showcase your
surgical tech skills in your
resume:Simple bullet listsExpanded bullet listExamples of using the listed skills attach to a bullet list.Integrating with work experienceYou need to have extensive work experience to complement the skills you possess. Thus, this might not be suitable for an entry-level
surgical tech resume.Categorized skills sectionThis ways of listing skills requires you to possess a set of various skills. It may not suitable for an entry-level
surgical tech resume or a
surgical tech student
resume, though it can be adjusted accordingly if you’ve gained some related skills from your previous internships or part-time jobs.Before committing to a format, make sure that you thoroughly go over your background and skillset.
Surgical tech skills for
resume examples:Hard skillsDraping, operating equipment troubleshooting, medical supply inventory, CPR, HIPAA, Medical Laws Ethics, operating equipment sterilization, operating room preparation, monitoring patients, patient transport, and set-upSoft skillsCritical thinking, time management, decision-making, communication, teamwork, staying calm under pressure, detail-oriented, collaboration, compassion, open-mindedness, flexibilityOther skillsPhysical fitness, patient interaction, Microsoft Office, research, presenting, e-mail, spreadsheets, writing, eClinicalWorks software, EMR/EHR softwareStep 7: Highlight your best experience and accomplishmentsYour previous working experience section in your
surgical technologist
resume will most likely be thoroughly examined by recruiters. This is mainly because they can be very telling on how likely you would fit in the job position. For this section, you should include:Organizations or employers namesLocation of the organizationsTitles you’ve previously heldEmployment periodBrief description of your responsibilities and achievements
👍Pro tips:Tailor your previous
surgical technician job descriptions in your
surgical tech resume to exclude irrelevant ones. Quantify the results or achievements in your
resume as it can make them look more apparent and convincing than simply describing them with words.Use action verbs to provide more information for recruiters of your personality.
Surgical tech work experience examples:
Surgical technician XYZ Hospital Mar. 2017 – PresentOrganized and prepared operating rooms according to the
surgical cases.Key achievements: trained and directed an average of 15 junior
surgical technicians every year.
Surgical technician ABC Hospital Mar. 2010 – Feb. 2017Supported the diagnostic and
surgical procedures.Set up charts for new patients.Key achievements: recommended changes regarding safe patient care, increasing patient safety and satisfaction scores by 12%.Step 8: List educational qualifications and backgroundFor an entry-level
surgical tech resume or a
surgical tech student
resume, your educational qualifications and background are particularly important as it is definitive and formal proof of your skills and knowledge. For this section, you should include:Educational institutionDegree(s)Major(s)Year of graduationHonors, awards, and extracurricular activities (if applicable)
An entry-level
surgical tech resume or a
surgical tech student
resume should have this section placed after the
surgical tech resume objective or the
resume summary. ✅Reminder:For those with more experience, it’s recommended to place their educational qualifications after the working history section; the skills and qualifications showcased in your employment history are more crucial.
Surgical technologist educational qualifications examples:High school (can be omitted if you have a higher education degree)Carnegie Vanguard High School (TX, USA) 2012-2016GPA: 3.89/4.3Extracurricular activities:President of the Science ClubClass President (2015-2016)In progressM.D. in General Surgery (in progress) | NYU Grossman School of MedicineIncompleteNYU Grossman School of Medicine2017-2019: Completed 45 credits towards M.D. in Acute Care SurgeryStep 9: Include an additional information section to stand outAdding an extra section in your
surgical tech resume can help further highlight your personal traits and achievements especially if they align with the job context. For this section, you should include:Hobbies and interestsVolunteer work experienceCertifications and awards:
Surgical tech is a very specialized job. If you have any certifications or accreditations from an accredited institute (e.g., NCCT, BLS, CAAHEP, etc.), it can boost your credibility.ProjectsReferencesYou may consider your previous employers (if you’ve had any work experience) or teachers/professors to be your reference and write you a recommendation letter to strengthen your position or if recruiters would want to verify your qualifications in your
surgical technologist
resume.Step 10: Write a cover letter for the
surgical tech jobAfter completing your
surgical technician
resume, the final step in the process is to craft a convincing
surgical tech cover letter to accompany your
resume. Due to the limited space available in your
surgical technologist
resume, a cover letter is where you can elaborate further on your relevant qualifications, background, why you are fit for the position, and your motivation to apply. Your
surgical tech cover letter should be one page long and should include your contact details. Don’t forget to close your cover letter with a polite tone, thanking the recruiters for their time.Further reading:The Cover Letter to Land Your Dream Job
Surgical tech resume sampleSandra Kerrigan
Detail-Oriented
Surgical Technician with 6+ Years of Experience in Assisting General Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Nurses
+1- 415-674-5643
[email protected]California, USAlinkedin.com/in/sandrakerrigan
Professional Summary
NCCT certified and detail-oriented
surgical technician with more than 6 years of experience in assisting general surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. Trained, managed, and led a group of 8 junior
surgical techs and increased team efficiency by 20%.
Work Experience
Surgical Technician Caduceus Hospital Jan. 2019 – Present
Assist general surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses.Transport patients to and from surgeries.Suggested changes in the maintenance of operating equipment and increased patient satisfaction and safety score by 15%.
Surgical Technician Cornerstone Hospital Jan. 2014 – Dec. 2018
Organized and prepared operating rooms for various
surgical cases.Trained, managed, and directed a team of 8 junior
surgical technicians and increased team efficiency by 20%.Education
Carnegie Vanguard High School2009 – 2013
NYU Langone Health
Surgical Technology Program2013 – 2014
Skills
DrapingOperating Equipment Troubleshooting and MaintenanceMedical Supply InventoryCPRPatient Transport and Set-UpCommunicationDetail-OrientedFlexibilityPatienceStaying Calm Under Pressure
--- Originally written byPatricia Rosita ---