Ultrasound Tech Resume Example
Working as an ultrasound tech can provide a rewarding career, involving operating ultrasound equipment and capturing diagnostic images. For a successful ultrasound tech application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for ultrasound tech applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating an ultrasound tech resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to ensure your resume gives a clear image of your skills—no need for a second scan. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Read on to learn how to write a perfect ultrasound tech resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in an ultrasound technician resume
A successful ultrasound tech resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. If you're an entry-level candidate without much work experience, that section may be less prominent in your resume. You may focus instead on sections that showcase your skill set, such as education, projects, hobbies and hard and soft skills lists.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header with Contact Details
Your ultrasound tech resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make your resume header clear, concise and as brief and compact as possible. Consider different layouts that spread the information horizontally across the page rather than using a different line for each piece of information.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
Willie Lewis
willie.lewis@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
221B Baker Street, Chicago, IL
linkedin․com/in/willie–lewis123
Resume Profile
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in ultrasound tech roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for ultrasound tech roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your ultrasound tech resume summary.
Good example:
Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography with extensive experience as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Proficient in performing and interpreting a wide range of ultrasound examinations, including abdominal, obstetric, gynecologic, and vascular studies. Demonstrated expertise in utilizing advanced ultrasound equipment, maintaining patient care standards, and collaborating with healthcare professionals to provide accurate diagnostic information. Recognized for strong technical skills, attention to detail, and commitment to patient safety and comfort
Bad example:
Worked in medical imaging with a science degree. Have experience using machines to look at different parts of the body. Worked with others to get information needed for health checks. Known for being good with machines and paying attention to details. Focused on making sure people are comfortable and safe during procedures
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your ultrasound tech resume summary
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to ultrasound tech positions. Consider adding OB/GYN ultrasound procedures, effective communication skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for ultrasound tech positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
How to list hard skills on your ultrasound tech resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in an ultrasound tech resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for an ultrasound technician resume, see below.
- Abdominal ultrasound imaging
- Vascular sonography techniques
- OB/GYN ultrasound procedures
How to list soft skills on your ultrasound tech resume
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to ultrasound tech roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
An effective ultrasound tech resume soft skills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skills.
- Effective communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Emotional intelligence (EQ)
Education and Qualifications
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for ultrasound tech roles.
Typically, working as an ultrasound tech requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your abdominal ultrasound imaging or vascular sonography techniques.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 2017 - 2020
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Licenses and Certifications
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional ultrasound tech certifications, licenses or qualifications. You could list accreditations for certain professional roles or licenses for certain activities that help to make you a strong candidate. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for an ultrasound tech resume:
- ARDMS Registered Diagnostic, 2022
- CCI Cardiac Sonographer, 2022
- ARRT Sonography Certification, 2022
Employment History
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your ultrasound tech skills. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to ultrasound tech roles.
A good work experience section pulls the reader in with clear examples of where you've put the skills necessary for the job into good use in your career to date. This typically includes evidence of how your skills and activities contributed to positive outcomes for the organization. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, January 2022 - Present
EchoWave Imaging Solutions, Atlanta
- Performed over 1,000 diagnostic ultrasound exams with 98% accuracy in detecting abnormalities and conditions
- Implemented a new ultrasound protocol, reducing patient wait times by 30% and increasing department efficiency
- Trained 15 junior sonographers on advanced imaging techniques, enhancing overall team competency and patient care quality
Bad example:
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, January 2022 - Present
EchoWave Imaging Solutions, Atlanta
- Conducted numerous ultrasound exams to assist in patient diagnosis and care
- Improved department processes to enhance workflow and efficiency
- Provided training and support to team members for skill development
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. A bad resume work experience section might fail to address skills and achievements that relate directly to the job description. Falling back on clichés, vague descriptions and basic responsibilities, rather than showing the impact you made, is likely to disengage the reader.
Expert Tip:
If you have limited formal experience, highlight other achievements, like completing training programs, certifications, or successful personal projects. (1) Present this information in a clear and concise format with easy-to-read sections and plenty of white space. (2)
Optional Resume Sections
As well as the main sections of an ultrasound technician resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world ultrasound tech experience. Just make sure any hobbies and interests you include in your resume add genuine insight into your personality, in ways other sections of the resume can't.
Volunteer Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for ultrasound tech roles. List your volunteer job title, the organization you volunteered for, its location and the dates of your involvement, alongside a brief explanation of your responsibilities in the role.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard ultrasound tech resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your ultrasound tech resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Operate
- Perform
- Assess
- Document
- Analyze
- Adjust
- Communicate
- Collaborate
- Interpret
- Maintain
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Sample resume for ultrasound tech positions
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your ultrasound tech resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
221B Baker Street, Chicago, IL
•
willie.lewis@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/willie–lewis123
Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography with extensive experience as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Proficient in conducting and interpreting a variety of ultrasound examinations, maintaining high standards of patient care, and collaborating effectively with healthcare teams. Demonstrates strong technical skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
2020
-2022
EchoWave Diagnostics Inc (Plano)
- Successfully conducted over 5,000 diagnostic ultrasound examinations with a 98% accuracy rate in detecting abnormalities
- Trained and mentored 15 junior sonographers, enhancing department efficiency by 30% through improved techniques and protocols
- Implemented a new ultrasound protocol that reduced patient wait times by 25% and increased diagnostic throughput by 20%
Abdominal ultrasound imaging
Vascular sonography techniques
OB/GYN ultrasound procedures
Effective communication skills
Attention to detail
Emotional intelligence (EQ)
ARDMS Registered Diagnostic
CCI Cardiac Sonographer
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Best practices for an ultrasound tech resume
Simple tips for creating a winning resume
- Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by consulting the job description and using keywords throughout your document.
- Use a well-structured resume layout that optimizes headings, structure, margins, fonts and line spacing to make your document as accessible as possible to the reader.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful ultrasound tech resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Keep your ultrasound tech resume as brief as possible. Aim for one page for an entry-level role, and two pages for more senior jobs.
- Quantify your achievements and show evidence of how you've used your skills to bring positive outcomes in your career to date.
Things to avoid on your resume
- Don't add any hobbies or interests unless they directly showcase a skill or experience that's relevant to the job.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your ultrasound tech resume more difficult to read.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your ultrasound tech resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't use old contact information and always review your resume header to make sure it contains the latest information.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, opt for a simple email address based on your name.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. There are several things you can do when writing your ultrasound tech resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Create an ATS-optimized resume by following these quick tips:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Adopt simple, professional language to keep your resume as concise as possible. This tends to make your document more readable, and easier for ATS software to scan.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about an ultrasound technician resume
As well as writing a professional ultrasound tech resume, you'll need a cover letter to introduce yourself and emphasize your credentials.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the ultrasound tech role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
If you're an experienced ultrasound tech, your resume should focus on your extensive work experience and the achievements in your career to date. You may wish to include a longer-than-average work experience section in your ultrasound tech resume, to emphasize your career experience to date and showcase relevant achievements in work. In your ultrasound tech resume, think about any optional sections you could add to help prove your standing and reputation in your industry. Sections such as awards, achievements and projects can build a picture of your career successes to date.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your ultrasound tech applications. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Take the time to draft a concise, eye-catching headline which includes the job title, one or two key skills and reference to either your experience level or track record.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Junior Ultrasound Technician
- Certified Ultrasound Technologist with Expertise
- Expert Senior Ultrasound Technologist
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key takeaways for your ultrasound tech resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
