Resume guide · Job Zone 3

Surgical Technologistsresume guide.

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. A strong Surgical Technologists resume shows monitoring, active listening and operations monitoring, and names the tools you have worked with, such as Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Excel.

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01Also called

O*NET
Central Supply Technician (Central Supply Tech)Certified Scrub Technician (Certified Scrub Tech)CST (Certified Surgical Technologist)OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician)OR Technologist (Operating Room Technologist)OR Tech (Operating Room Technician)Scrub Technician (Scrub Tech)Scrub Technologist (Scrub Tech)Surgical Scrub Technician (Surgical Scrub Tech)Surgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech)

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
MonitoringHighIntermediate
Active ListeningHighIntermediate
Operations MonitoringHighIntermediate
Reading ComprehensionHighIntermediate
Service OrientationHighIntermediate
SpeakingHighIntermediate
Time ManagementHighIntermediate
Active LearningHighIntermediate
Complex Problem SolvingHighIntermediate
CoordinationHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Production and Processing
  • Psychology
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Biology
  • Mechanical
  • Administration and Management

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  2. Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
  3. Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
  4. Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
  5. Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
  6. Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
  7. Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
  8. Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
  9. Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
  10. Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.

05Software and tools

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15 tools across 9 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Medical software7
  • MEDITECH softwareHot
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Patient tracking software
  • Nursing documentation software
  • Patient scheduling software
  • Supply documentation software
  • Surgery workflow communication software
+ 2 more
Cloud-based data access and sharing software1
  • Google Drive
Data base user interface and query software1
Electronic mail software1
Graphics or photo imaging software1
  • Graphics software
Office suite software1
Operating system software1
Spreadsheet software1
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
41% of surveyed workers. Others report Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (35%) and High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (14%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 3 · Medium preparation
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or a few years of related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with the credential and the record. Job Zone 3 roles usually ask for training, a license or a few years of related experience. Put those on the first screen, then show what you did with them.

List the software you have actually used. Employers scan for Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Excel. Put the ones you know in a skills line, spelled the way the vendor spells them.

Show active listening and operations monitoring, not just monitoring. Active listening and operations monitoring rank close to monitoring for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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