Resume Tip Sheet for Cardiac Sonography
As a cardiac sonography graduate, you can create a CHRONOLOGICAL resume if you have completed at least one clinical experience or have other work experience in a medical setting. (See the article Easy Steps for a Chronological Resume)
Or you can create a COMBINATION resume if you would rather emphasize your categories of skills, along with your education and the required clinical experience. (See the article Easy Steps for a Combination Resume)
Tips for creating key sections of a cardiac sonographer’s resume:
A. Heading
List your credentials like this:
Dallas Campbell*
Street Address, City, MI 00000
(000) 000-0000
dcampbellemail@gmail.com LinkedIn Profile/Customized URL
*List these credentials after your name when you have passed both the SPI and Adult Echocardiography registry exams: Dallas Campbell, RDCS
B. Professional Qualifications
Begin your resume with a summary of your professional qualifications. To write the bulleted statements in this section, be sure to use keywords, requirements and preferences mentioned in the job posting. (For more information see the following articles: Developing Your Qualifications Summary and Beating the ATS.)
Key Terms: compassion, emotional stability, physical stamina, recognize pathology, tailor the study, investigate abnormalities, Pedoff probe, detail oriented, empathy, flexibility, professionalism, independent, self-motivated
Below is an example:
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Proficient in performing adult echocardiograms efficiently in a fast-paced environment while meeting the needs of the individual patient
• Possess necessary technical ability for acquiring diagnostic images with attention to detail
• Display an empathetic, reassuring attitude when dealing with patients who are experiencing pain or anxiety
• Knowledgeable and flexible in using GE, Philips and Siemens ultrasound equipment
C. Licenses/Certifications
List licenses or certifications granted by a governing body. Look at requirements listed in job posting and choose optimum placement on the resume for this information. Below is an example:
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential, ARDMS approved Scheduled for 00/0000
*Adult Echocardiography (AE) examination, ARDMS approved Obtained 00/0000
*Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination, ARDMS approved Passed 00/0000
Basic Life Support (BLS) with AED/CPR certification, Expires 00/2024
American Heart Association approved
* NOTE: When you have passed both the AE and SPI exams, remove them from this list and use the RDCS credential only.
D. Clinical Experience
A cardiac sonographer’s clinical experiences are important examples of professional experience. List your THREE clinical experiences in reverse chronological order using the following format:
CLINICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
ABC Hospital City, MI Summer 2023/Hours: 150
Cardiac Sonographer Student
• Completed full studies and calculated data to present to medical staff for interpretation
• Experienced with performing advanced procedures 3D, strain, contrast, and TEE
LMN Hospital City, MI Spring 2023/Hours: 355
Cardiac Sonographer Student
• Performed echocardiograms and preliminary reports with consistency at a high technical level requiring
limited supervision
• Maintained a neat and organized work area, kept supplies well stocked, ensured machines were kept clean
and disinfected after each procedure
XYZ Hospital City, MI Fall 2022/Hours: 224
Cardiac Sonographer Student
• Prepared patients properly for stress testing and echocardiograms by carefully explaining procedure,
obtaining blood pressure readings, positioning patients, attaching electrodes and leads
• Performed 2D echocardiograms with professionalism and care for the individual patient
E. Education
Place your education information directly after CLINICAL EDUCATION. You may include any colleges at which you have completed courses or from which you have obtained a degree. See the example below which shows how to list your degree:
EDUCATION
Baker College City, MI Program Completion 00/2022
Associate of Applied Science Expected graduation 08/2023
Cardiac Sonography Honors: Dean’s List, GPA: 3.76
IMPORTANT: If applying to jobs before graduation, you can state that all your requirements were completed in July. Include this information in the cover letter or mention it in the interview.
If you had a relevant major or a specific education track, you may list them below your degree. Other optional information: honors and GPA if 3.5+
F. Work Experience
List non-medical work experience with two to three bullets which highlight soft skills. Also, be sure to list related medical experience outside of your clinical education and experience which would be desirable to the employer (e.g., medical assistant, exercise physiologist, CNA) and highlight transferable skills.
G. Optional Sections
Affiliations/Volunteer Activities
List professional organizations you are a member of, as well as community affiliations and involvement that would be relevant to your field. See the example below:
AFFILIATIONS/VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 0000
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS) 0000
Michigan Society of Echocardiography (MSE) 0000
Blood Services Team Member, American Red Cross 0000
• Depending on the length of your resume and your goals, the volunteer activities can simply be a list of the organizations and your titles or can include duties/achievements as in the CLINICAL EXPERIENCE section.
Relevant Coursework
This section may be placed after your education section and should only mention specific coursework required for or desirable for the position. Highlight courses that may not be part of a typical cardiac sonographer’s degree if these courses show important skills for the job. Example: Completed 200 hours of instructional labs, IV
Seminar, Introduction to Pediatric Imaging
Revised 29 June 2022
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