No matter if you have already finished your phlebotomy training or you are thinking about attending it, it is important to know that phlebotomy is a booming industry, and the need for qualified phlebotomists is huge.
Phlebotomy is an entry-level job, but you should not think that this is not an important position within a medical facility and that it does not pay well.
Quite contrary, when compared to other entry-level positions, there are many professional places for an entry-level phlebotomist to find employment and the salary is decent.
Furthermore, not so long educational period is required, being that a phlebotomy training course typically takes less than a year to complete.
Those who want to become certified should devote a few more weeks but will increase their chances of getting employed as certification will give them an advantage among other candidates and a chance to start out with a higher salary.
We need to mention that many different organizations are looking for good phlebotomists.
There are employment options for both certified and uncertified professionals.
Not only medical facilities are in need of phlebotomists, so future phlebotomists should also think about other places that need these professionals as well.
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What Does an Entry Level Phlebotomist Do?
Phlebotomy training teaches people how to perform venipuncture, the procedure of drawing blood, but this is not the only activity that a phlebotomist does during the course f the day.
He/she can work in a variety of locations drawing blood, but many other components that go along with venipuncture should not be ignored and underestimated.
No matter if they are certified or not, a phlebotomist has to work with many types of people.
This means that various patients can come to have their blood drawn and usually phlebotomists are members of a team.
Their daily duty is to label blood samples and take them to a lab for testing.
The most important thing is to follow safety rules and procedures while doing this.
Furthermore, being that they start working with patients right after getting employment, phlebotomists should be successful in their training program.
Even though it is an entry-level job, it is a very important profession in the medical field, and focus and attention to detail are obligatory.
How busy you will be during the day depends on the job location.
Some of them may have a faster pace than others, but at the same time pay more than others.
These factors can determine which is a good place of employment for you.
However, our suggestion for a phlebotomist with no experience is to find employment wherever he/she can so as to gain some experience.
Once you have a proper education in combination with experience, you can afford to choose your job location.
Where Can I Find a Phlebotomy Job Quickly?
Some of the advantages of phlebotomy, which is definitely considered a great career option, make it so attractive to almost anyone.
The first reason is that training does not take you a lot of time.
Also, it does not require a huge sum of money, which is perfect for young people who have finished high school and want to find their first job.
Phlebotomy is a great option for people who wish to make a career change but do cannot afford long and expensive schooling.
It is up to you whether phlebotomy will be your lifelong profession or just a stepping stone toward another medical job.
If you choose to be a phlebotomist for your entire career, with experience, you can reach advancements and promotions, as well.
We would like to help novice phlebotomists by listing some of the places where they can find a job as a phlebotomist.
They should know that there are always medical facilities that are looking for phlebotomists to join their team.
But, you should know more about each of these employers and facilities so as to be able to decide which place would be the best fit for you.
Volunteer
If you have just finished your training and you are looking for a job, but employers prefer hiring phlebotomists with experience, the best way to build up your resume is to volunteer.
Experience will not only help you find a job, but you will be able to get a better job at a high-paying facility.
Those who cannot find a job after training are suggested to volunteer as much as possible, even though they are not going to get paid for these services.
That way you will build a more impressive resume.
Places which are in need of volunteer phlebotomists are numerous, starting from community blood drives to the Red Cross.
Places that are in need of volunteer phlebotomists include:
- Veteran hospitals
- Drug treatment centers
- Assisted living communities
- Prisons
- Community health centers
You could notice that volunteer phlebotomists are mostly needed in community facilities, as sometimes it is not possible for individuals to get to a hospital for a blood draw.
It is worth mentioning that phlebotomy is not restricted to medical facilities, being that regular blood drawing is needed in prisons and drug treatment centers as well.
Volunteer phlebotomists who start at the organization large enough to later hire some staff may be able to get an actual job there.
Nursing homes and other centers hire phlebotomists and they are ideal for people who want immediate work that would not be in a hospital or medical center.
Become a Mobile Phlebotomist
Phlebotomy offers flexibility, which is considered ideal for people who do not want to find a full-time job.
If working in a specific facility is not the best fit for you, you have the option of becoming a mobile or traveling phlebotomist.
A mobile phlebotomist works on an as-needed basis and is paid for phlebotomy services.
This is the case of organizations that do need a phlebotomist on their staff at all times but hire traveling phlebotomists when needed.
Moblie phlebotomists have quite a lot of work in metropolitan areas and busy cities.
On the other hand, those who work in a rural environment must be ready for extended travel.
The main advantage of this type of job is that you can work as often as you wish, while the only problem can be to get a client base built up.
When finding work as a mobile phlebotomist is in question, it is good to know that those places listed for volunteer opportunities may also pay for your work.
Insurance companies also hire phlebotomists.
If you choose to be a mobile phlebotomist, you have to be able to market yourself well.
You need to present at those places that hire phlebotomists on a regular basis.
These phlebotomists need to have some business/marketing skills, so as to be able to build up a group of clients.
Even those who already have part-time or full-time work choose to do contract work with the aim to make extra money.
Phlebotomists can always make more money if they choose to work overtime.
Not only will they earn more, but will also help more people.
Phlebotomy Internships at a Hospital
Those who have not already started to train to be a phlebotomist are suggested to check local hospitals that are in need of phlebotomists and sometimes offer training programs.
Not only will you get the chance to learn the basics of phlebotomy and the right techniques for venipuncture, but also to find employment there.
Plus, if you train in a hospital where you will work later on, you will learn general safety rules and regulations of that particular facility which will make your work easier, and you will be experienced enough to get a job in some other similar facilities as well.
Many hospitals offer training programs with the aim to teach their future phlebotomists their rules and regulations before hiring them.
Those who have already completed the training have the chance of finding an internship at hospitals and medical clinics.
Phlebotomy internships are available even at private practices.
You should not expect to be paid huge sums of money while attending these internships.
The main benefit is that you will work directly with an experienced phlebotomist and reach experience that can be added to your own resume.
The more experience you achieve, the greater are the chances of getting hired somewhere or even by the medical facility you are interning with.
Recruitment During Training
As we have already mentioned, the high demand for phlebotomists makes recruiters come to training sites and look for phlebotomists.
Those are people from hospitals or private organizations whose job is to get young phlebotomists to come work for their facility.
They will leave pamphlets, or post on a bulletin board information about their facility and possible employment.
A recruiter who comes to your training course will provide you with information about what to expect on the job and you will get a chance to ask them questions.
During their visit, they explain what it is like working in a hospital and it is up to you to take advantage of that occasion and ask as many questions as you have.
That way you will get rid of all the doubts you might be having during training.
People who are attending the training may not be thinking much about where they are going to work, as they have not finished it yet,
But, knowing that a certain organization is looking for people will be your advantage, as you can start applying for jobs upon finishing the training.
You should always mention the fact that their recruiters came to your training course which will give you some advantage over other candidates.
Checking Online Job Boards
Just like with any other profession, phlebotomy employment options are available on the Internet.
The best resources for phlebotomists looking for work can be found on online job boards or simple online searches.
You will get a list of all the possibilities, and you will be able to filter through jobs that are interested in hiring a person with experience or without experience.
Some job sites will even allow you to set up notifications, meaning that you will get informed if a job that you might be interested in shows up.
Searching online is the best way to find a job in your neighborhood.
Furthermore, it allows you to search for jobs all over the country if you plan to move or just want to find the one that fits your needs.
Hospitals
As you probably already know, hospitals are one of the most common places where phlebotomists can find employment.
This is especially true for busy hospitals that are in constant need of phlebotomists.
Due to the fact that so many health conditions can be determined through a simple blood draw, more and more phlebotomists are needed to satisfy the demand.
Our advice is to start looking at the websites of local hospitals near you.
Even if they do not state the need for a phlebotomist on their website, it does not mean they are not in need.
So, you can try going to a hospital in person to ask about a career.
Maybe a phlebotomist is not needed right away, but this is a great chance to leave your resume or fill out a job application and they may decide to call you if a job opens up.
Private Practices
If you belong to those phlebotomists who would rather work in a quieter and slow-paced environment, we consider a private practice or small clinic a great place to look for a job.
Even though these smaller practices sometimes hire phlebotomists on a freelance basis, they also need one on staff either part-time or full-time.
Those private practices that are looking for on-staff phlebotomists will post on a job board.
The main advantage of working as a phlebotomist in a smaller place is that you will have more time to spend with your patients, giving you a chance to develop stronger relationships with the people.
You should know that your duties will be the same, but you will not see as many people a day as in a busy hospital.
Emergency Centers
Emergency centers are good only for those who like helping people, while at the same time do not mind working strange hours and seeing serious wounds.
If you decide to apply for a job as a phlebotomist at a 24-hour emergency clinic, you have to be ready for every kind of situation.
Your patients will not come in on their own, but with the aid of an ambulance and their conditions may be life-threatening or severe to need instantaneous attention.
So, phlebotomists have to work quickly as they take the first step towards diagnosing a condition.
A fast pace is necessary so as to get your patients’ answers as quickly as possible.
How to Improve a Phlebotomy Resume
We would like to inform you about the things you can do to improve your resume and get a job with little phlebotomy experience.
In order to create an impressive resume after having the proper training, we suggest that you include the following:
- A list of your strengths and skills which match the job you are looking for. You can mention how many blood draws you have done so far, your knowledge of medical terminology, or your experience with patients. If you are bilingual, you should include this strength as well, being that employers prefer people who can speak more than one language.
- Your past work experiences. Any experience related to phlebotomy should be included in your resume. If you do not have any experience, it is always suggested to volunteer, as it will help you boost this section of your resume. The duties you had to perform should be mentioned in this part.
- Include where you received your training. Most employers would rather hire a phlebotomist who trained at an accredited school. Plus, extra certifications from your training program should also be included.
Our advice is not to over-complicate a resume but keep it simple.
It is always better to use language that is easy to understand.
Your resume should be short and you should be honest with the information included.
A human resources director for a hospital that is hiring could have hundreds of resumes to go through, so it is necessary that your resume somehow stands out from the other and get his/her attention.
Skills You Need as an Entry Level Phlebotomist
Experience is definitely the most important thing you can put on a resume, but there are some personal characteristics that are significant for a person who wants to work in a phlebotomy field.
Only a particular type of person can become a great phlebotomist and employers might look for these skills and traits.
These are some of the most common characteristics of a good phlebotomist:
- Kindness
- Compassion
- Highly-organized
- Able to be on feet for long periods of time
- Works well as a teammate
- Pays attention to detail
What should be included in your resume are your skills and characteristics that you have shown doing your previous job even though it is in a different industry.
For example, if you mention your excellent organizational skills, these are also important to have if you wish to work as a phlebotomist.
If you do not have experience, but still looking for a job, you are supposed to take a look at the skills you possess when you are looking at different job postings as they might specifically state some of the desired skills they are looking for in a candidate.
Is it Easy to Find Work as a Phlebotomist?
We have already mentioned all places where people can find work as a phlebotomist.
Even those that do not have much experience will be able to get employed, due to the fact that within the medical field, phlebotomy is a much-needed profession.
The development of the new technology will lead to an even greater need for these professionals and now is the right time to start your way towards this career.
According to the statistics, it easier than ever to find work as a phlebotomist, as they do not have to be working in a hospital or medical center.
There are several location opportunities for phlebotomists and it is up to an individual to decide what kind of environment will be a good fit for him/her.
