Veterinary Technician Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for veterinary technicians in 2020 was $36,260. These positions are expected to experience 12% growth over the next decade, a much higher rate than average for other industries. Capitalizing on these opportunities requires building a strong resume that showcases your professional achievements in a compelling manner. Below you’ll find three resume examples for entry-level job seekers and those with hands-on experience in the field to help you as you begin your job search.

Downloadable Resume Examples

Entry-level
Veterinary-Technician_Entry-level.pdf

Example #1 Entry-level

Mid-career
Veterinary-Technician_Mid-career.pdf

Example #2 Mid-career

Senior-level
Veterinary-Technician_Senior-level.pdf

Example #3 Senior-level

Veterinary Technician Resume Examples

Years of Experience
  • Entry-level Entry-level
  • Mid-career Mid-career
  • Senior-level Senior-level

Alfred Chang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Pittsburgh, PA

Profile

A Veterinary Technician with entry-level experience specializing in veterinary medicine, vaccine administration, empathetic care, and communication. A proven track record of providing quality care for large and small-sized breeds. Adept at collaborating with medical teams to identify appropriate treatments for patients based on symptoms.

Professional Experience

Veterinary Technician, Pittsburgh Animal Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
May 2021 – Present

  • Gather patient medical history, create documentation, monitor symptoms, administer anesthesia, and support the development of treatment plans
  • Insert catheters and IVs, monitor patient vitals, and administer medication based on direction from the veterinary doctor
  • Perform dental cleanings, phlebotomy, and radiographs for patients
  • Conduct pre and post-surgical monitoring of patients and evaluate reaction to treatment plans, anesthesia, and medication

Volunteerism Experience

Volunteer, Pittsburgh Animal Shelter, Pittsburgh, PA
May 2019 – May 2021

  • Provided volunteer services to a local animal shelter with over 40 dogs and cats, which included monitoring and transporting animals, providing grooming services, and communicating with visitors to answer questions on animal history prior to adoption
  • Created documentation for the shelter on neutering status and surgery schedules

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Veterinary Technology
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA September 2017 – May 2021

Key Skills

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Animal Welfare
  • Patient Management
  • Surgical Monitoring
  • Communication

Certifications

  • Licensed Veterinary Technician, State of Pennsylvania, 2021

Lori Johnson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Chicago, IL 12345

Profile

A veterinary technician with five years of professional experience specializing in animal welfare, patient care, treatment planning, and medical triage. A strong history of managing and optimizing hospital operations to enhance patient outcomes and treatment. Adept at communicating with owners and providing support during critical medical situations.

Professional Experience

Veterinary Technician, Animal Hospital of North Chicago, Chicago, IL
May 2018 – Present

  • Provide support to veterinary teams for the delivery of high-quality patient care, identify opportunities to improve hospital operations and patient flow, resulting in a 15% increase in operational efficiency for a 24/7 emergency animal hospital with 50+ patients
  • Educate clients on patient treatments, medical conditions, and healthcare risks and provide emotional and medical support
  • Assist veterinarians during surgical procedures, including neutering, wound care, anesthesia administration, and post-surgical monitoring

Veterinary Technician, Center City Animal Hospital, Chicago, IL
May 2016 – May 2018

  • Administered vaccines and medications to patients in accordance with veterinarian treatment plans and created documentation on reactions and symptoms
  • Gathered urine, stool, and specimens, performed laboratory testing on samples, and delivered findings to the veterinarian to support treatment identification
  • Maintained medical and laboratory equipment, sanitized and organized operating rooms, and ensured compliance with OSHA safety regulations

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Veterinary Technology
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL September 2012 – May 2016

Key Skills

  • Veterinary Care
  • Process Improvement
  • Surgical Support
  • Patient Triage
  • Treatment Plans

Certifications

  • Licensed Veterinary Technician, State of Illinois, 2016

Joseph McGarvey
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Austin, TX 12345

Profile

A veterinary technician with 10+ years of professional experience delivering quality care to patients in high-volume animal hospitals. A proven track record of supporting surgical procedures and driving process improvement initiatives to improve outcomes. Adept at providing education to pet owners on treatments and medical outlook to enhance the quality of life for patients.

Professional Experience

Veterinary Technician, Austin Animal Hospital, Austin, TX
May 2016 – Present

  • Support veterinarians during a variety of complex surgical procedures, including ACL repairs, sterilizations, abscess removals, stomach surgeries, and dental procedures
  • Educate pet owners on long-term medical outlook, treatment risks, and patient quality of life to aid clients in making difficult medical decisions
  • Manage electronic medical records (EHR), create documentation of patient medical history, and record weight and vital signs for new patients
  • Provide training to seven veterinary technicians on hospital operations, procedures, equipment maintenance, and patient care standards during onboarding

Veterinary Technician, Southwest Animal Medical Center, Austin, TX
May 2011 – May 2016

  • Oversaw patient intake and discharge, gathered medical records and history from owners, and delivered empathetic care to patients throughout treatment
  • Conduct surgical preparations for patients, including administering anesthesia and monitoring vitals prior to the procedure
  • Managed pharmaceutical supplies and medical equipment inventory and performed routine maintenance on equipment

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Veterinary Technology
Austin University, Austin, TX September 2007 – May 2011

Key Skills

  • Surgical Prep
  • Animal Welfare
  • Inventory Management
  • Communication
  • Empathetic Care

Certifications

  • Licensed Veterinary Technician, State of Texas, 2011

Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Veterinary Technician Resumes

Implementing the appropriate keywords and action verbs into your resume will help you meet the requirements of the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS). If your document fails to hit specific benchmarks, the software algorithm will automatically reject it, and your resume will not make it into the hiring manager’s hands. Below, you’ll find a list of action verbs and key skills you may encounter during your job search as you pursue veterinary technician roles.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Animal Welfare Animal Hospital
Anesthesia Animal Care
Catheter Placement Clinical
Communication Dental Procedures
Empathy Electronic Medical Records (EHR)
Hospital Operations Inventory Management
IVs Laboratory Testing
Medication Medical Triage
Patient Care Patient Intake
Patient Discharge Phlebotomy
Process Improvement Radiology
Surgical Preparation Surgical Support
Symptoms Monitoring Treatment Plans
Vaccine Administration Veterinary Medicine
Action Verbs
Administered Analyzed
Communicated Conducted
Coordinated Collaborated
Delivered Developed
Diagnosed Drove
Enhanced Executed
Identified Interfaced
Implemented Improved
Led Managed
Oversaw Partnered
Performed Provided
Resolved Supported

Tips for Writing a Better Veterinary Technician Resume

Create an eye-catching professional profile

One of the best ways to grab the hiring manager’s attention is by featuring a strong summary at the top of your resume. Employers are looking for specific skill sets and areas of expertise. By featuring precisely what the company is looking for in the first sentence of your profile, you’ll be sending a clear message that you have the qualifications the organization is looking for. Hiring managers often have limited time to read every application they receive thoroughly, so making a positive impression as early as possible is critical. Below, we’ve provided some examples to help you craft your professional profile.

Example #1

Good


An empathetic Veterinary Technician with four years of experience, specializing in radiology, phlebotomy, hospital operations, and laboratory procedures. A proven track record of providing surgical support to veterinarians in critical medical situations.

Bad


A hardworking veterinary tech with years of experience who is looking for a high paying job at your animal hospital. Works well in team environments and enjoys helping animals.

Example #2

Good


A licensed Veterinary Technician with six years of professional experience, specializing in delivering quality patient care in high volume hospital settings. Adept at monitoring symptoms and performing complex laboratory testing to develop treatment plans.

Bad


An enthusiastic veterinary tech seeking a lucrative position with your organization. Excited to continue to grow as a professional and work towards becoming a veterinarian.

Feature your leadership abilities

To succeed in high-volume hospital settings, you need strong leadership capabilities. Employers want to see that you can excel working in diverse team-based environments. Highlight specific instances from your career where you collaborated with veterinarians and other veterinary technicians to enhance hospital operations and deliver patient care. You should also demonstrate your ability to communicate with pet owners and educate them on treatments and medical diagnoses. Below, you’ll find examples showing how to correctly feature your leadership abilities on your resume.

Example #1

Good


  • Coordinated with diverse medical teams and veterinarians to manage patients, administer medications, develop treatment plans, and perform surgical procedures

Bad


  • Worked well with other team members, performed tasks under the direction of veterinarian, and maintained positive working relationships with coworkers

Example #2

Good


  • Interfaced with pet owners to obtain patient medical history, provided education on treatment plans, and communicated diagnosis and medical risk factors with empathy and integrity

Bad


  • Spoke with owners as needed to create patient documentation and was kind when providing medical information on patients

How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description

Aligning your resume with the job description is the surest way to obtain results during your job search. Companies want candidates who have specific qualifications that fit their organizational needs. By tailoring your document to specific job postings, you’ll be accomplishing two important things. First, you’ll be ensuring that your resume passes the initial scan of the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS). Second, you’ll demonstrate to the hiring manager that you have all the skill sets they’re looking for.

When determining what skills to prioritize on your document, you should refer to the job posting as you craft your resume. Keywords that appear more than once should be placed either in your professional profile or one of your top bullet points in your work experience. Visibility is an important factor here, as you won’t make a strong impression if you only feature these key terms in the skills section at the back of your document. Below you’ll find an example to guide you as you align your resume with the job description.

Veterinary Technician Job Description Example


XYZ Medical Center is a leading animal hospital named one of the best places to work in New York. We’re looking for a veterinary technician who excels in identifying process improvement opportunities to optimize hospital operations. We pride ourselves on our commitment to fostering animal welfare with empathy and quality affordable care.

Responsibilities:

  • Manage patient intake and patient discharge procedures, oversee electronic medical records (EHR), and create documentation
  • Administer medication and anesthesia, provide surgical support, dispense vaccines, and monitor patient reactions and vital signs
  • Collect lab specimens in accordance with safety protocols and perform laboratory testing to aid diagnosis and treatment planning

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology required
  • Licensed Veterinary Technician certification required
  • Three years of experience working in clinical environments preferred
  • Strong team leadership and patient management skills

According to the job description, the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and/or experience:

  • Veterinary Technician
  • Process Improvement
  • Hospital Operations
  • Animal Welfare
  • Patient Intake
  • Patient Discharge
  • Electronic Medical Records (EHR)
  • Clinical
  • Team Leadership
  • Patient Management
  • Surgical Support
  • Anesthesia
  • Laboratory Testing

Next, take what you highlighted from the job description and include your experience and skills that match. Below is an example of how to incorporate them in your resume to your advantage:

Veterinary Technician Work Experience Example


Veterinary Technician

Brooklyn Animal Hospital, New York, NY November 2018 – Present

  • Collaborate with team members to support hospital operations and identify process improvement opportunities, resulting in a 10% reduction in hospital stays by reorganizing patient intake and patient discharge procedures
  • Support the transition from paper records to electronic medical records (EHR)
  • Oversee patient management, administer anesthesia, and deliver surgical support for a variety of procedures in a fast-paced clinical environment

 

Key Skills

  • Team Leadership
  • Laboratory Testing
  • Animal Welfare
  • Empathy
  • Process Improvement