Write a Resume for a Medical Assistant Job

A medical assistant is a member of a health care team that undertakes administrative and clinical job duties. A health care resume must emphasize skills as well as education and job experience. Learn how to write a resume for a medical assistant job and you're on your way to a job in health care.

Steps

  1. Make your name and contact information easy to find at the top of your resume. Include your address, phone number and e-mail address.
  2. Tailor your medical assisting resume to a specific job or company.
    • Research the company that for which you want to write a resume.
    • Study the job description and match your knowledge and experiences to it.
    • Use keywords from company research and the job description to show a prospective employer what a good match you are for their organization.
  3. Start a health care resume with a strong objective that demonstrates your knowledge of a medical assistant job.
    • What do you aspire to or what role do you want to play within an organization?
  4. Stress administrative skills that you are experienced with in a medical assistant resume. Some of these may include:
    • General secretarial skills, including typing and transcription.
    • Answering telephones and making appointments.
    • Bookkeeping.
    • Computer expertise, particularly with medical office applications.
    • Medical coding, billing and insurance knowledge.
  5. Include clinical skills in a health care resume. Those that apply to a medical assistant job may be:
    • Preparing patients, including taking of medical histories.
    • The ability to take vital signs.
    • Preparing medication and treatments.
    • Basic first aid, CPR and infection control knowledge.
    • Assisting physicians with exams.
  6. Write a resume to include paid and volunteer health care experience.
    • Provide a job title and a concise summary of job responsibilities and achievements. Include employer name and contact information.
  7. Specify the type of medical facilities you are experienced with in a health care resume.
    • Doctor's offices employ the largest number of medical assistants.
    • Medical assistants are also used in clinics, hospitals and ambulatory care centers.
    • There's a difference between working in small practices and large ones. Add this information if it's applicable to the job.
  8. Add educational program information to a medical assistant resume.
    • Medical assistant programs are available in technical schools, community colleges and colleges.
    • Include school dates and school honors.
  9. Provide 2 or 3 professional references.
    • These can be past employers, teachers or people you've met through volunteer work.
    • References from health care facilities are best.
  10. Update your medical assisting resume on a regular basis.
    • Add information such as completed internships or other job experience to a medical assistant resume.
    • Don't forget honors and recognitions.
    • Professional license, certification and professional affiliations look good on a health care resume.
    • The American Association of Medical Assistants is viewed as a valuable organization by many health care providers. Therefore, recognition as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the association is also valued.

Tips

  • Keep your resume at 1 or 2 pages.
  • Ask for assistance with a health care resume from a career counselor. Most schools have a department or designated personnel to help students write a resume and refine job seeking skills.

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References