Medical Assistant Resume Example & Writing Guide
- What is a medical assistant’s job?
- Why use this medical assistant resume example?
- How to write a great medical assistant resume
- Which key skills are relevant for a medical assistant resume?
Your medical assistant’s resume needs to be the perfect prescription for that wonderful healthcare job you’re applying for. We’ll give you an excellent example to use, as well as some guidance on what to include to make your resume stand out.
What is a medical assistant’s job?
A medical assistant is a healthcare professional that aids doctors and other healthcare providers with administrative and clinical tasks such as scheduling, preparing patients, administering medications, drawing samples, and performing lab tests.
Why use this medical assistant resume example?
Our example resume is a great medical assistant resume because it is concise and showcases the skills and experiences that make this person an outstanding candidate. The key qualifications section includes a wonderful list of capabilities and expertise that are all very relevant for a medical assistant. This section is formatted as a bulleted list to make it stand out and draw the reader’s attention.
The professional experience section on the example resume is in the classic reverse chronological format. Each experience does a good job of succinctly describing the most important functions of the role. They also have a bullet-pointed item to call out a specific, important function and expertise that was gained.
The last section is the educational background. This is crucial for anyone in the medical field because education and training are required to excel. Make sure that you list all your relevant education, degrees, training, certifications, and licenses.
How to write a great medical assistant resume
The format of your resume is the first thing that the reader will notice. It sets the overall appearance and can make it easier to read. The most popular resume format is the reverse chronological. This puts your most recent experience and accomplishments first. There are other formats that you can use. Two other popular resume formats are functional and combination.
A functional resume places an emphasis on skills and training. This is a good format to use for someone that has less experience or is straight out of school. If you’re just starting out as a trained medical assistant, then this may be a good format for you. A combination resume mixes the functional and reverse chronological formats. It focuses on both skills and work experience. It puts skills up front, but still has a large portion of the resume dedicated to work experience, in reverse chronological order. This is a great format for a healthcare professional that has a lot of education and training, but also has some years of work experience. The example resume we provided is in a combination format.
Once you have decided on your format, the next and most important part of your resume is the content. Your medical assistant resume must have the following sections: contact information, work experience, skills, and education. Some additional information you can include are certifications, awards, volunteer experience, languages, interests, and hobbies. Just remember, your resume needs to be short (1 or 2 pages) and everything on your resume must be relevant to the position that you’re applying for.
Which key skills are relevant for a medical assistant resume?
Medical assistants work in fast-paced and challenging environments. You must have a good set of both soft (people) and hard (technical) skills. Make sure your resume showcases both types and has the skills that match the job you are seeking.
The list below has some examples of great skills for a medical assistant resume:
Administration
Attention to detail
Communication
Customer service
Documentation
Medical knowledge
Organization
Problem-solving
Technology
Time management
Summary example
Highly skillful and dedicated administrative professional able to provide superior patient assistance and care.
Employment history example
Medical Assistant at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Kenosha, Wisconsin
2014 - 2015
Prepared medical exam rooms by ensuring cleanliness, safety, and adequate supplies prior to patient visits. Gathered patient medical histories and recorded vital statistics prior to seeing the medical provider. Received and uploaded x-rays, CT scans, and lab reports.
Gained experience in wound care, including removal of staples and sutures from wound sites.
Medical Assistant at Kenosha Allergy and Asthma, Kenosha, Wisconsin
2013 - 2014
Supported efficient patient care by prepping medical exam rooms and ensuring cleanliness, safety, and adequate supplies before patient arrival. Documented patient medical histories and recorded vital signs.
Completed allergy skin tests and administered allergy shots.
Medical Assistant at North Shore Allergy and Asthma, Milwaukee, Minnesota
2012 - 2013
Ascertained the reason for appointment prior to the doctor’s arrival. Educated patients post-exam on treatments, procedures, medications, and physician instructions. Prepped exam rooms and obtained medical histories/vital statistics.
Prepared/administered medications as directed by practitioners.
Medical Receptionist at Dr. Rodrigo Mata, Racine, Wisconsin
2007 -2011
Served as liaison between patients and the doctor; communicated with patients on the phone and in person to schedule tests/appointments, discuss laboratory results, and to gather or disseminate information. Ensured proper payments prior to appointments; completed insurance claim forms.
Reviewed/organized patient charts to ensure accuracy and improve accessibility.
Education example
Medical Assistant Program at Gateway Technical College, Racine, Wisconsin
Skills example
health/safety guidelines
HIPAA
Patient-centric healthcare
medical office reception
customer service
physician support
exam room preparations
coordinating schedules
phlebotomy tasks
electrocardiograms
