4 Medical Assistant Resume Examples & Templates [2024]

A medical assistant is integral to the healthcare team, handling both administrative and clinical tasks to ensure efficient medical operations. They support physicians by preparing patients for exams, taking medical histories, and performing routine clinical procedures. Medical assistants also manage patient records, schedule appointments, and handle billing. 

To get the job you’re after, you must prepare a great medical assistant resume. Here’s a complete guide on how to do it right.

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 Medical Assistant Resume Example

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 Entry-Level / Junior Medical Assistant Resume Example

An entry-level/junior medical assistant is a starting position in the field of healthcare support. Their primary role is to assist healthcare professionals with basic patient care and administrative tasks, ensuring smooth and efficient clinic operations. They perform duties such as taking vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, and maintaining patient records. Here’s a sample for an entry-level medical assistant resume:

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 Mid-Level Medical Assistant Resume Example

A mid-level medical assistant, often referred to as an experienced or intermediate medical assistant, occupies a role between entry-level and senior positions within the healthcare support hierarchy. This position typically involves more complex tasks and greater responsibility than a junior role, including conducting more advanced patient care procedures, managing patient flow, and overseeing administrative duties. Here’s a sample resume for mid-level medical assistants:

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 Experienced / Senior Medical Assistant Resume Example

A senior medical assistant, often known as a lead medical assistant or senior healthcare support specialist, holds a high-level position within the healthcare support hierarchy. This role involves significant responsibility, advanced clinical expertise, and leadership in managing patient care processes and training junior staff. Senior medical assistants play a key role in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of clinic operations. Here’s a sample for an experienced medical assistant resume:

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Resume Templates for Medical Assistants

We’ve analyzed 11 million resumes made in the Zety Resume Builder. Here are the top three picks of medical assistants for their resumes.

Cascade

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A pretty resume template that’s also very professional-looking? Cascade is a great example of how you can really have the best of both words. With its two-column format and smart colors to choose from, it’s really a job-winning resume template.

Concept

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A creative resume template such as Concept is always a great choice for attracting recruiters' attention. Professional resume icons allow readers to move through your document with ease, which is another great aspect of this template. 

Crisp

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A simple resume template can be just as effective as a more flashy one. Crisp is often chosen by medical assistants due to its highly professional design. Who said you need a highly creative resume template when you can choose something that smart instead?

How to Write a Medical Assistant Resume

1. Structure Your Medical Assistant Resume Template Properly

Here’s a universal truth—regardless of what job you’re pursuing, your resume must always be formatted professionally.

The guidelines below will help you format your medical assistant resume just right:

• Pick the trusted chronological resume format, i.e. put your most recent experience up top.
• Divide your medical assistant resume into sections marked with appropriate headings.
• Go with professional resume fonts that aren’t too fancy. It’s readability that counts most.
• Don’t make the font look tiny. Sizes between 11 and 12 are a great choice. The headings can be 2–4pts larger.
• The safest choice for resume margins is 1 inch all around. It’s always within a printer’s range and adds some nice-looking white space that makes your document lighter.
• Go for single-line spacing.
• Export your resume as a PDF unless the job offer states otherwise.

See to it that yours consists of the following sections:

• At the top of your document, there should be a resume header in which you place your contact details.
• The next section is the so-called resume profile. Most often in the form of a short paragraph.
• A professional experience section that details your past relevant responsibilities.
• An education section that gives a glimpse into your academic background.
• List of skills where you highlight your most relevant retail skills.
• Additional sections that show off your extra skills, e.g. languages, awards, licenses, etc.

Looking for more detailed information on formatting a resume? This guide has all the information you need: How to Select the Best Resume Format.

2. Start With a Medical Assistant Experience Resume Section

Let’s kick off with the work section that matters most to recruiters. The one that shows what you’re really capable of doing: Your medical assistant job description for a resume.

This is how to nail it in a few simple steps:

• Put your latest or current job at the top of the section and follow it up with the previous ones.
• Ensure that each entry is formatted consistently and includes your job titles, the name of the company, and dates.
• Keep it short and relevant—don’t add more than six bullet points per position. 
• Add numbers to your professional achievements and responsibilities. Numbers reflect your real-life impact. 
• Make good use of resume action verbs throughout your medical assistant resume. This way, you’ll go past the ATS scan and impress the reader, too.
• Tailor your resume to the job offer you’re replying to. A generic resume will have no impact whatsoever.

Here are some good keywords to use on your medical assistant resume: 

Medical Assistant Keywords for a Resume

• Administer treatments, take vital signs, and assist in patient assessments.
• Perform EKGs, phlebotomy, administer injections, and wound care.
• Manage patient records, schedule appointments, and handle billing.
• Update and maintain electronic health records accurately.
• Prepare patients for examinations, treatments, and procedures.
• Ensure adherence to HIPAA and OSHA regulations.
• Order and restock medical supplies and equipment.
• Effectively interact with patients, families, and healthcare providers.
• Handle multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Work closely with physicians, nurses, and other medical staff.
• Provide excellent service to patients and ensure their comfort.
• Educate patients on treatment plans and preventive care.
• Coordinate laboratory tests and communicate results to patients.
• Efficiently manage patient schedules and reduce wait times.
• Assist in training new medical assistants and staff.

And here are some great action verbs to implement on your resume:

Medical Assistant Resume Action Verbs

• Administered
• Assisted
• Conducted
• Coordinated
• Documented
• Educated
• Ensured
• Implemented
• Managed
• Monitored
• Performed
• Prepared
• Recorded
• Scheduled
• Trained

Pro Tip: How to write a medical assistant resume with no experience? Make sure your experience section includes relevant experience, such as internships, volunteering, or other gigs. The key to getting any job is to prove you’re qualified and skilled enough—even if you’ve never been paid for your work so far. 

3. Enter Your Education (It’s Not That Straightforward!)

Education is important and you can’t just skip this section on your resume. That being said, if you’re a seasoned pro, the education section can be limited to the name of the school you finished, the dates attended, and the degree earned. 

However, you can consider adding more things to this section, such as:

• Type of Degree
• Major/minor
• GPA on a resume (if it’s equal to or higher than 3.5)
• Latin honors
• Study abroad
• Relevant coursework
• Dean’s List

If you decide to include some of those things on your medical assistant resume, just make sure they’re relevant. Don’t add them to fill up space on your resume.

If you’re looking for more information on including education on your medical assistant resume, this guide will help you: How to Put Your Education on a Resume.

4. List Medical Assistant Resume Skills Relevant to the Position You’re After

Your resume must show that you can get the job done better than the other candidates.

How can you do this? By exposing the right medical assistant skills on a resume. 

This is how to pick the relevant ones:

• Go back to the job offer and note down all the skills listed there.
• Put all the soft skills and the hard skills you can offer the employer on a separate list.
• Compare both lists and pick out the skills you see on both of them. The skills you’ve identified this way are the ones you should put on your resume.
• Don’t go overboard, though. Limit your list to 5 or 10 points.

The medical assistant skills checklist below can help you pinpoint which skills you have and serve as a source of inspiration to you.

Medical Assistant Skills for Resume

• Patient Assessment
• Taking Vital Signs
• Patient Care
• Recording Patient Medical History
• Phlebotomy Certificate
• Administering Injections
• Patient Care
• Appointment Scheduling
• Patient Preparation
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• TB Test Clearance
• Documentation
• Office Skills
• Medical Administrative Skills
• Multitasking
• Customer Skills
• EHR Software
• ICD 10 Codes
• Phone Skills
• Equipment Sterilization
• Medical Supply Inventory
• Insurance Billing
• Clinical Research
• HIPAA Compliance Training
• Computer Skills
• Clean Driving Record
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Compassion
• Critical thinking
• Customer Service
• Decision-Making Sills
• Details Oriented
• Foreign Language
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Patient Interaction
• Physically Fit
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Teamwork
• Time Management
• Nursing Skills

Pro Tip: Put some of the skills in your medical assistant resume objective, education, and experience sections. This way there your resume will be consistent, coherent, and full of relevant skills for medical assistants. And don’t lie on your resume. Only put the skills you really have and can prove.

5. Add “Extra” Sections to Your Medical Assistant Resume

One good way to stand out from the crowd is to add extra sections to your resume for a medical assistant position.

1. Certifications and Licenses: Enhance your medical assistant resume by adding relevant certifications. Highly regarded certifications include Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and Basic Life Support (BLS).

2. Volunteer Work: Strengthen your resume with volunteer experience in healthcare settings. This showcases your commitment and hands-on experience in the medical field.

3. Language Skills: Proficiency in languages such as Spanish or French can set you apart, particularly if you will be working with diverse patient populations.

4. Relevant Publications: Include any articles or research papers you’ve published on medical topics. This demonstrates your knowledge and positions you as a credible professional.

5. Hobbies and Interests: Adding hobbies and interests related to healthcare, such as volunteering, health advocacy, or fitness, can highlight your passion for the field and make you a more attractive candidate.

Considering what else you can include on your medical assistant resume? Here’s an article that explains it all: What to Put on a Resume.

6. Compile the Best Bits Into a Medical Assistant Resume Objective or Summary

To write the most compelling resume profile, you should write it at the very end, once your entire resume is ready. This way you won’t have to struggle for the material to summarize.

There are two types of resume profiles:

• The medical assistant resume objective is suitable for entry-level candidates. It’s focused on skills and aims to show how they make you a great employee.
• The medical assistant resume summary is suitable for experienced candidates. It provides a rundown of your previous work experience and professional achievements.

Here’s how to write them both:

1. Begin with an adjective like "dedicated" or "entry-level."

2. State your title (e.g., Medical Assistant).

3. Mention your years of experience (e.g., 1 year, 1+, 5 years).

4. Highlight your goal (e.g., enhance patient care at Sunshine Clinic).

5. Share your top school or work accomplishment.

6. Proofread to eliminate any typos.

Looking for more detailed advice and inspiration on how to start your resume in the most powerful way? This guide will surely help you out: Resume Opening Paragraph Examples.

7. Write a Medical Assistant Cover Letter

If you’re still unsure whether or not you need a cover letter, the short answer is yes. 83% of recruiters believe a cover letter is important. In addition, more than 50% of applicants still decide to send a cover letter along with their resume.

These five simple steps will give you a basic idea of how to write a cover letter:

• Start with writing a captivating cover letter first paragraph that hooks the reader and introduces you to them. 
• Say why you’ve chosen to apply to this particular company and how you can help it achieve its goals.
• Plug in a couple of achievements of yours to give them some proof.
• End your cover letter with a call to action.
• Format your cover letter to give it a professional look.

If you’re on the lookout for a pre-written sample that only requires minor tweaks and personalization, go to our guide: Medical Assistant Cover Letter.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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Looking for an assistant job in healthcare? Check other relevant guides here:

• Lab Assistant Resume
• Dental Hygiene Resume
• Dental Assistant Resume
• Medical Administrative Assistant Resume
• Physician Assistant Resume
• Patient Service Representative Resume
• Patient Care Assistant Resume
• Pharmacy Assistant Resume
• Certified Nursing Assistant Resume
• Caregiver Resume

Haven't found what you are looking for? Check:

• Best Resume Examples for All Professions

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/are-cover-letters-important-83-of-recruiters-say-yes
• http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1080569909334015