EMT Skills to Enter the Industry [entry-level, medium, senior]

Emergency medical technicians or EMTs shortly are life-savers and everyday heroes who make the world a better place. You need to complete a postsecondary education program to attain a license and apply your EMT skills. But the process of becoming an EMT does not end here. One must craft a winning resume to mention their accomplishments or skills as a professional or a newbie. 

This article will tell you which skills you need to win an EMT job, how to develop and later organize them in your resume.

What is EMT?

So, who are the EMTS and what do emts do?

An emergency medical technician is a medical professional who performs medical services in situations of emergency. 

Modern employers, specifically clinics and hospitals, require an EMT specialist to suit different roles and exercise a variety of responsibilities.

  • Assessing the patient’s condition;
  • Taking vital signs;
  • Providing first aid and basic life support;
  • Checking the condition of medical supplies;
  • Participating in the patient’s transportation to the hospital;
  • Cleaning the medical equipment;
  • Attending refresher programs;
  • Constantly raising their professional qualification in the medical field.

EMT Technical Skills

The hard skills of an EMT professional match the healthcare responsibilities and require extensive medical training. 

The first-rate emt technical skills rarely change in job descriptions. In the nearest future of work, the core skills on demand for an EMT specialist would be as follows:

  • Critical thinking skills to provide an effective assessment of the patient’s condition;
  • Medical skills which include administering oxygen and over-the-counter medications;
  • Teamwork skills to cooperate with other paramedics;
  • Problem-solving skills in order to provide the most effective treatment and timely help.

EMT Non-Technical Skills

Soft skills are additional qualities that are preferred in EMT employees. 

Among soft skills needed for emt are: 

  • Listening skills to give emotional support and comfort to the relatives of the victim;
  • Organization skills, since taking efficient measures in a life-threatening situation is a must;
  • Time management for providing timely help;
  • Basic office skills to fill in the paperwork and keep the documentation in order.
  • Staying focused under pressure is another vital skill for an EMT.


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First-Rate Skills to Suit the EMT Position

To apply your emt skills set in healthcare settings, you must complete your medical certification first. Getting professional training in the medical field will be especially helpful for performing the EMT duties effectively. 

Meanwhile, the top hard and soft skills you need to enter the field as an EMT specialist are:

  • Interpersonal and teamwork skills;
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills;
  • Verbal and written communication skills;
  • Stress tolerance skills;
  • Listening and empathy skills.

Interpersonal Skill

One of the core skills required for emt, since these specialists work with people. As an EMT specialist, you must provide person-centered care in your medical services. You must also be compassionate and empathetic to understand a patient’s mental distress and comfort their relatives. Among all professions, being in healthcare requires incredible teamwork. In the majority of cases, one’s health depends on the cooperation of team members. Hence, people skills save lives. 

Problem-Solving Skill

One of the crucial skills for emt, since most of the stressful situations the paramedics deal with require a quick response. Medical professionals like EMTs must be able to analyze the situation, identify the problem, and predict the outcomes of actions. In the course of an emergency situation, an EMT specialist must be able to assess the patient’s condition by taking vital signs. Later, they must critically analyze the whole situation and make a quick decision on treatment. 

Communication Skill

Holding an EMT occupation means that an individual must have flawless communication skills apart from technical ones. If your skills of emt do not include superb verbal and written communication, your daily work will be non-productive. Because to ensure high-quality medical services, you must be able to communicate the patient’s condition to other paramedics and ensure that they understand your message and follow the instructions to save one’s life. Otherwise, the patient’s life is in danger.

Stress Tolerance

In one of the most stressful jobs, being resistant to circumstances that cause stress is a necessary emt skill. Whether it is overwork, long shifts, or on-work conflicts, an EMT specialist must deal with pressure effectively. For instance, attending refresher programs is a way to deal with long-term stress. Otherwise, you won’t be able to assess a situation, provide safety to your patients and find the most effective solution. Yet knowing how to handle daily stress is an important skill for an EMT professional.

Listening Skills

One of the basic skills in the emt skill set, an ability to listen to the interlocutor, is crucial. By using your listening skills, you will determine the patient’s needs. You will also show compassion both to the patient and their relatives. While listening attentively to the patient or your colleagues, you will show respect on an individual level. In turn, your behavior would contribute to your interpersonal skills development. 

How to Improve EMT Skills

Still, wondering how to improve EMT skills? The answer is simple: get a job in a desired field and practice your EMT skills for resume right at the workplace. But before you get a job, you must write an ATS-beating resume to show your credentials and ability to learn new things fast. 

Our Skillhub writers will gladly and effortlessly craft a flawless ATS-beating resume. Contact us and get your dream job!

Communicate With Doctors About Patients

One of emt requirements is staying in constant touch with doctors. Which does not come as a surprise since doctors are specialists who treat a patient after EMTs transport them to the hospital settings. One must interact with a doctor to discuss and assess the patient’s diagnosis yet choose the best treatment. Additionally, keeping close communication with doctors, especially at the earliest stages of work, will bring your emt qualification to a new level. 

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Sample for EMT Resume Skills section

Your Skills section is a part of your EMT resume, which will persuade the employer to give you a job opportunity or not. 

  • To beat the applicant tracking system, use professional keywords;
  • Mention only job-relevant skills to win the fight with ATS bots;
  • Use the most efficient skills. For instance, the ‘quick learner’ skill would tell your recruiter that you meet the emt continuing education requirements.

EMT Skills In a Resume Skills Section [Example]

If done correctly, the Skills section will let you complete the emt skills testing which an employer has prepared for you. A masterfully crafted Skills section will prove that you are a qualified candidate for the job.

Check the approximate example of an EMT skills section below:

Skills

Hard Skills

  • Superb critical thinking skills;
  • Top-rate medical skills;
  • Teamwork skills;
  • Problem-solving skills;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
  • Excellent stress tolerance.

Soft Skills

  • Listening skills;
  • Empathy;
  • Strong organization skills;
  • Excellent time management skills;
  • Basic office skills;
  • Staying focused under pressure.

Putting EMT Skills Into Experience Section

Your Experience section must contain your emt basic skills at the core. The section must also mention your professional abilities to improve your skills and grow as a healthcare specialist. 

Experience

Emergency Medical Technician 

San Francisco Hospital

May 2013 - December 2018

  • Used my observation skills to assess patient’s condition and provided compassion to a patient and their relatives;
  • Used my interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with the emergency services personnel to provide top-rate urgent medical help;
  • Applied medical skills to stabilize patients from serious conditions;
  • Attended communication courses to improve verbal and written communication skills. 

To Sum Up

Getting EMT skills is a long process. After graduating from a medical college, you must engage with other medical specialists to deepen your knowledge. Because you must ensure that your professional experiences contribute to one’s recovery. Later, you are supposed to write an ATS-beating resume to get more interviews and win your dream job.

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