One of the questions I was asked for this blog post is “what do employers look for when hiring new grads?” To answer this, I asked my lab’s technical director Aaron Ebert, BS RVT and my clinical externship coordinator and technical director Will Farmer, BS RVT about their thoughts on the question. While technical skills of course rank high for dream candidates, it was consistent for both directors that they are looking for someone with a good personality that would work well within their team. A few other traits that they look for are:
- Applicants who enjoy working with patients, which will show through during the interview
- A willingness to work hard and with integrity
- An understanding that education is an ongoing process
- Applicants who are continually seeking out knowledge that will make them a better technologist
Lastly, the directors stated that they do look at whether or not the applicant is a registered vascular technologist. Typically, your lab will make you obtain your RVT within a certain time frame of being hired so make sure that you state when you will be taking your RVT. If you are having a difficult time finding a job then getting your RVT before you apply could give you the edge against someone with a similar education that has yet to take the SPI/RVT.
Pamela Pinkston, BS RVT
Lake Washington Vascular, LLC
pamp@lkwv.com
