As a professional in the medical industry, you likely see every day how the world of healthcare is rapidly evolving. Demand for medical professionals is high and there are more opportunities than ever before for those who want to embrace a life of adventure while advancing their careers. 

What’s more, travel medicine is a phenomenal way to take advantage of above-average pay, top-notch benefits, and enriching learning experiences.

If you’re a CT tech ready to step into the rewarding travel allied career you’ve been dreaming about, crafting a compelling CT technologist resume is your first step—and we’re here to help. Read on to learn the 7 key elements of a compelling travel CT tech resume.

What Employers Look for in a Travel CT Technologist

Hiring managers look to alleviate staffing shortages by adding skilled, experienced team players to their roster. While there’s no definitive set of criteria for every travel position, all prospective employers will want to see:

  • Associate degree and certification – Most jobs require an associate degree and a certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRP).
  • Experience – Desired experience varies by employer, but ideally, you should be able to demonstrate a minimum of 1-2 years experience working as a CT tech.
  • State license (if necessary) – Over 75% of states have licensing requirements for CT techs. Your exact certification steps will depend on the state where you wish to work.

If you meet these core qualifications, congrats! Now, you’re ready to focus on the CT technologist resume skills that will help you stand out. 

#1 Diverse Clinical Experiences in Different Healthcare Settings

Because travel medicine involves dropping into unfamiliar healthcare surroundings and working alongside a brand new team, hiring managers want to feel confident that you’ll be able to jump in and thrive quickly. 

To put employers at ease, highlight a variety of past clinical experiences. You should:

  • Cover all facets of your past experience, as well as the skills you learned
  • Include both formal positions and clinical rotations during your studies
  • Emphasize any aspects of your experience that required high adaptability

If any of your prior positions called on you to interact with a diverse patient population, make sure to draw attention to this, too. 

#2 Advanced Certifications and Specialized Training

High-level certifications aren’t necessary to begin your journey as a travel CT tech. However, if you’ve received specialized training or earned advanced certifications, you should absolutely include them on your resume.

Pursuing these credentials can also improve your chances of landing a job if you have your eye on traveling in the future. So, think about becoming certified in one or more of these sought-after areas (if you’re not already):

  • Radiation Therapy
  • Radiology Administration
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Putting in the work to further your education demonstrates drive and commitment to your field, which many employers find valuable. 

#3 Proficiency with Cutting-Edge CT Technology and Techniques

Not all medical facilities feature the same equipment, so showcasing mastery of a variety of machines and techniques will certainly work in your favor. 

Even if the equipment you’ve operated isn’t identical to that used in your target facility, wide technical proficiency indicates that you’re a quick learner who’s unafraid to step outside of their comfort zone to grow in their field.

To help an employer quickly grasp your abilities, you should:

  • Quantify your experience – Use specific metrics like the number of CT scans you perform each rotation or how many distinct CT approaches you’re proficient in.
  • Add detailed descriptions – Spell out the imaging techniques you’ve practiced. Describe how you’ve mastered unfamiliar equipment or overcome technological challenges.

In short, you want to give the impression that you’re a quick study who’s in step with the latest tech developments.

#4 Adaptability to Various Hospital Protocols and Environments

No two hospitals are identical: Each comes with its own set of regulations, procedures, and personalities, so adaptability and a flexible temperament are huge pluses on a travel resume. 

When listing prior positions, make sure to emphasize the differences between them. Draw attention to any dramatic changes in hospital policy you’ve had to navigate. It’s also a good idea to offer examples of “soft skills” you’ve developed, such as being:

  • Willing to learn
  • Open to constructive criticism
  • Attuned to detail

Because the hiring manager can’t predict how you’ll fit into their hospital environment ahead of time, it’s important that your resume reassures them that you’re an adaptable, communicative team player.

#5 A Professional Summary that Captures Your Travel Experience

Every CT tech resume should include a compelling professional summary. This summary provides a chance for you to put your top traits front and center and clarify exactly why you’re the best fit for the role.

When applying to travel jobs in particular, you’ll also want to spotlight any prior travel experience. If you don’t have prior experience, make sure to highlight your adaptability.

Here are some other tips for crafting an effective professional summary:

  • Radiate confidence – Articulate your story clearly and directly. A self-assured professional statement will earn the hiring manager’s trust.
  • Keep it simple – There’s no need to get bogged down in detail—aim to emphasize your top qualifications and experience in 2-5 sentences.
  • Tailor to the position – Identify the particular traits and experience sought by each position and tweak your statement to demonstrate how you have what they need.

If you’ve pursued (or plan to pursue) continuing education, you should also mention this briefly in your professional statement. 

#6 Testimonials from Previous Travel Assignments

While confidently using your unique voice to share your experience is critical, adding additional voices to your resume can be a game-changer.

If you’re interested in learning how to become a travel CT tech and really want to make your resume stand out with social proof, including a few brief testimonials from previous travel assignment managers (if possible) can help cement a positive image of your personality and talents in the hiring manager’s mind. It allows them to better envision your ability to relieve staffing pressure and elevate the patient experience.

#7 Optimized Formatting

In all likelihood, your resume will make its way through an automated system before a hiring manager lays eyes on it. 

The last thing you want is for an automated system to reject your resume due to jumbled formatting or unclear information. You’ve put in the work to become a top-notch CT tech—make sure your resume structure helps your achievements shine.

Sail through automated systems by avoiding these formatting issues:

  • Using unusual fonts – Computers may struggle to read them. Opt for standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri.
  • Including images, charts, or columns – These are a nightmare for automated systems to understand—they may ignore precious information as a result.
  • Underlining words – While it’s tempting to emphasize important points, underlining only confuses computers and earns you no special points.

It’s also an excellent idea to include the official abbreviations for any credentials or medical terminology you mention. An automated scanner will have an easy time picking these up and raising your resume score.

After optimizing for the computerized screening process, you’ll want to layout your CT technologist resume travel qualifications in the following order:

  1. Professional Summary
  2. Specializations
  3. Licenses and Certificates
  4. Professional Experience
  5. Computer Proficiency
  6. Education

This structure allows a busy hiring manager to rapidly assess your fit. Placing the most critical information at the top ensures it’s the first element that catches their eye.

Finally, since depth of travel experience is so crucial, it’s okay if your resume is a bit longer than one page, even though many professionals recommend single-page resumes. Include all prior travel assignments.

Common Pitfalls in Crafting a Travel CT Tech Resume

Now that you have an idea of what goes into a compelling travel CT tech resume, let’s take a look at a few common missteps to avoid:

  • Being modest – There’s no need to get braggy, but when it comes to your resume, modesty isn’t the best policy. Don’t be shy about making clear how you’ll be an asset to the organization. Highlight anything that renders your experience unique or demonstrates outstanding value.
  • Embellishing your qualifications – Don’t hold back when describing your accomplishments, but don’t get too carried away either. Only include experience that you can back up if asked for further detail.
  • Stating your objective — Conventional resume guidance says you should include an “objective” section where you state your purpose. Because your purpose is to get hired, there’s no need to use up space on this. Instead, emphasize how you’re the ideal fit.
  • Including excessive information – The goal of a travel CT tech resume is to demonstrate that you’ll deliver positivity, experience, and adaptability to the hiring hospital. All of the information you incorporate should serve that purpose—adding too much will only muddy the waters.

Host Healthcare: We Care for Caregivers

New places, fresh faces, and endless opportunities to expand your skill set: the life of a travel CT tech is a rich and rewarding one. At Host Healthcare, our mission is to pave the way to that life, wherever the road takes you.

We offer a wide array of highly paid travel CT technologist jobs located across the country. If you’re ready to apply, all you have to do is submit your information and we’ll assign you a dedicated recruiter who’ll identify the perfect opportunities for you and make logistics a breeze. Plus, with ongoing support, day-one medical benefits, housing assistance, and more, you can rest assured that we’ll have your back every step of the way.

Discover what lies ahead in your healthcare career—we’d be honored to host you. Apply today.

 

Sources: 

“How to Become a CT Tech & Advance Your Career.” MTMI. https://www.mtmi.net/blog/how-to-become-ct-tech. 8/30/24.

“State Licensing.” ARRT. https://www.arrt.org/pages/about-the-profession/state-licensing. 8/30/24.

“How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement.” Columbia University Center for Career Education. https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/how-write-resume-profile-or-summary-statement#:~:text=General%20guidelines%20to%20keep%20in,skills%2C%20accomplishments%2C%20and%20knowledge. 8/30/24.

“How Many Pages Should a Resume Be? Guide + Tips.” Coursera, 11/29/23.

https://www.coursera.org/articles/how-many-pages-should-a-resume-be. 8/30/24.