Stop Vet Tech Resume Mistakes From Holding You Back
Identify and correct the most common errors to get noticed by clinics and animal hospitals.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
- Objective statements are often vague and donât highlight your specific veterinary expertise
- ATS algorithms prioritize summaries with keywords over generic objectives
- Replace the objective with a 2âsentence professional summary
- Include key certifications (CVT, LVT) and core animalâcare skills
- Insert relevant keywords such as 'patient handling' and 'diagnostic testing'
Objective: Seeking a position where I can utilize my skills and grow professionally.
Professional Summary: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) with 3 years of experience providing highâquality animal care, performing diagnostic tests, and supporting veterinary surgeons in fastâpaced clinic environments.
- Employers want to see results, not just responsibilities
- ATS scores higher when achievements contain quantifiable metrics
- Start each bullet with an action verb
- Add numbers, percentages, or time frames to illustrate impact
- Focus on outcomes like improved patient throughput or reduced anesthesia complications
- Assisted veterinarians with surgeries - Performed routine lab tests - Managed inventory
- Assisted in 150+ surgeries, reducing prep time by 20% through streamlined instrument setup - Conducted over 300 diagnostic tests with 98% accuracy, expediting treatment decisions - Optimized inventory management, cutting supply costs by $2,500 annually
- Certifications like CVT, LVT, or state licenses are essential screening criteria
- ATS may filter out candidates lacking these keywords
- Create a dedicated 'Education & Certifications' section
- List each certification with issuing organization and date
- Add license numbers if requested by employers
Education: Associate Degree in Animal Science, 2020
Education & Certifications: - Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), American Veterinary Medical Association, 2021 - Licensed Veterinary Technician, State of Texas, License #TX123456, 2022 - Associate of Science in Animal Science, Texas A&M University, 2020
- ATS may misinterpret dates, causing timeline gaps
- Hiring managers can view inconsistent dates as a lack of attention to detail
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Align start and end dates on the same line as the role
- Use 'Present' for current positions
Veterinary Assistant Animal Hospital June 2019 â March 2021
Veterinary Assistant, Animal Hospital 06/2019 â 03/2021
- ATS look for common headings to map content correctly
- Unusual headings can cause important information to be missed
- Replace custom headings with standard ones: 'Professional Experience', 'Education & Certifications', 'Core Competencies'
- Keep heading font size and style uniform
Work History - ...
Professional Experience - ...
- Use a professional email address
- Include a headline with key veterinary keywords
- Add a concise 2âsentence summary
- List certifications with dates
- Show achievements with numbers
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Use standard section headings
- Limit resume to 1â2 pages
- Save as PDF for submission
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Convert objective to summary
- Add quantifiable achievements
- Standardize dates
- Insert relevant certifications
- Optimize headings for ATS
