If you have chosen to pursue a career as a phlebotomist, it is important that you are aware of the requirements and demands involved in the process. In addition to successfully completing high school and earning your diploma, you must complete an accredited phlebotomist training program, which typically lasts between one semester and one year. You will be required to successfully complete a mix of classroom and hands-on training work, which usually exceeds 240 hours. Clearly, you must pass through a lengthy and rigorous process in order to ultimately become a phlebotomist, but the benefits are numerous. In this article, we will take a look at some of the benefits that a phlebotomist career provides.

One of most rewarding aspects of being a phlebotomist is that you are providing a tremendous service to a patient in need. When you take and analyze blood samples, you are providing a direct and immediate medical service to patients. Phlebotomists enjoy a worthwhile benefits package because they are an important group of the healthcare industry. Professions that are embedded in the healthcare industry generally receive great benefits packages. While specific benefits will vary depending on the employer, a full-time phlebotomist can expect paid holidays and vacations, paid sick leave, premium health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan. Another major benefit of working in the healthcare industry is that employees are often reimbursed for education tuition, which means that phlebotomists can develop more skills while they gain job experience. Another important benefit of working as a phlebotomist is that there is substantial job security, as it is part of the medical field. Job prospects are expected to be strong throughout the decade as the population of older people is rapidly expanding.

The process involved in becoming a phlebotomist is lengthy and challenging. Once you do become a full-time phlebotomist, you can expect both a rewarding experience as well as direct benefits. Providing medical services to patients is a highly satisfying and rewarding job. Additionally, you can expect to receive benefits such as paid holidays and vacations, paid sick leave, premium health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan. The fact that the profession is part of the healthcare industry makes the career choice of becoming a phlebotomist very worthwhile.

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a phlebotomist? If you enjoy conducting scientific analyses, are able to work well under pressure and possess sound dexterity, you would make a strong phlebotomist. Phlebotomists are responsible for taking, analyzing and storing blood samples from patients. We do face an incredibly challenging economy as well as high unemployment. We must also deal with an incredibly fierce and hyper-competitive job market as well. As such, it is vital to examine the career prospects and expected phlebotomist salary. This article will take a look at the details.

Career prospects for phlebotomists are strong and the market for this profession is anticipated to expand between 10 and 20 percent. The US Bureau of Labor predicted 14 percent growth between 2006 and 2016. What is fueling this surge in demand for phlebotomists? The rapidly expanding population of older people is very much responsible for the strong job prospects for phlebotomy jobs. This portion of the population requires significant medical attention, which means that there will be a greater need for phlebotomists to take and analyze blood samples. Independent medical laboratories are expected to have very high demand for phlebotomists because hospitals now tend to send a greater portion of their work to independent outside laboratories.

Now that we have established that career prospects look to be strong for phlebotomists throughout the next decade, it is important to look at the earning potential for this profession. As with most professions, experience, employer type and geographic location all play a role in determining salary. In 2009, the average hourly and annual salary for a phlebotomist was $12.84 and $26,710, respectively. These numbers change fairly significantly in some cases when you take experience, employer and location into consideration.

If you believe you possess the characteristics necessary to become a phlebotomy tech and ultimately choose to do so, feel confident knowing that job prospects are expected to be strong for this profession. The fact that the population of older people is rapidly expanding means that there will be greater demand for phlebotomists to take and analyze blood samples. If you are interest in learning about salary information for this profession, you need to research the average pay for phlebotomists in the location you wish to work.

There is no doubt that we live in challenging economic times with high unemployment and a job market that is incredibly competitive. Upon completion of your phlebotomy training, it is critical to acquire any competitive edge you can in order to impress prospective phlebotomy employers and land that coveted job you have your heart set on. One excellent option you have is to enroll in a job search class. Do some research to determine job search training courses in your local community. There are also online job search training courses you can enroll in. Investing in a course like this can really assist you in your phlebotomist job hunting and add a professional touch to your job candidacy.

Job search training courses will generally assist you in a number of ways. One of the most important items you will learn from such a course is how to consistently maintain a positive attitude throughout the phlebotomy job search process. This is the single most important factor in determining whether you will land a job of your choosing. Many aspiring phlebotomist job hunters find themselves to have a very positive attitude early in the process only to see it wane after some bad news. Job search training courses can prepare you mentally if you do face initial rejections. A job search training course that is taught by a quality instructor can help you craft an eye-catching resume and cover letter. Prospective employers and hiring managers are busy people who do not have much time to invest in analyzing every single resume they receive. Resumes and cover letters must be well-crafted in order to instantly catch the reader’s attention. A course can help you with this as well as teach you how to really sell yourself and distinguish yourself from the competition. Another critical phase of any job hunting process that this type of course can help you with is the job interview. Many job candidates have serious nightmares about having to face a high-stakes interview. A well-regarded job search training course can teach you important job interview strategies so that you are confident before having to ever face a real interview. A course will conduct simulated job interviews in order to help you develop interviewing skills which can lead to a rewarding phlebotomist salary.

It is incredibly difficult to land a quality phlebotomy job of your choosing given the current economic climate and ultra competitive job market. Enrolling in a quality job search training course after completing your phlebotomy training can really allow you to gain a competitive edge, which can make all the difference.

If you’re serious about beginning a career in phlebotomy in today’s competitive job environment, you will almost certainly want to consider enrolling in an accredited phlebotomy training program. These courses can make you a much more attractive candidate to potential labs and clinics than basing your credentials strictly through on the job training. However, to be a leading candidate for phlebotomy jobs, there are a few “soft skills” that can make you more employable which you won’t find being taught in any phlebotomy certification course.

Be a Team Player

One of the top “soft skills” that can make you an attractive candidate is the ability to work well as a team member of a larger group. Most clinics and labs employee a staff of phlebotomists who work alongside other medical professionals such as physicians and nursing professionals. Having the ability to work well with other members of the staff can go a long way in adding value to an organization.

Effective Communication

As with any job, effective communication skills are key as well. As a practicing phlebotomist, you will be working with patients and other lab personnel on a daily basis. The ability to communicate procedures and results with clarity and the right tone can help you shine as a candidate for phlebotomy jobs.

Ability to Multi-Task

In many clinic and lab settings, employees are required to manage several unique projects at one. And for the phlebotomist, there are various job duties that must be managed simultaneously. By building good multi-tasking skills, your potential value to an employer increases exponentially as you will very likely help to reduce the need for support staff.

Leadership Skills

In the phlebotomy industry, there are numerous opportunities for advancement. There are often multiple supervisory positions within a lab, clinic, or blood bank and there are also opportunities to work as an instructor in various phlebotomy training programs. By working to develop leadership skills early on in your career, you can begin to prepare yourself to assume one of these advanced positions.

Be Fun to Work With

Perhaps the most overlooked “soft skill” which employers seek in a job candidate is the ability to maintain an easy going and light hearted attitude in the work place. While jobs in the health care field demand precise attention to detail and a sharp skill set, it’s also important to be someone who managers and staff members get along with and enjoy having in the workplace.

By honing some of these “soft skills” early in your career, you can prepare to make yourself an attractive candidate for phlebotomy jobs and set yourself up for success.

If you’ve been offered a phlebotomy job, the next step will be discussing the phlebotomist salary associated with the position. As we discussed in a prior article on interview tips, the interview process is not the proper time to discuss the phlebotomist salary. However, if you have been offered a position as a phlebotomist, then this is generally the time to begin salary negotiations and in this article, we’ll present six tips for successfully negotiating the best phlebotomist salary possible.

Be the First to Bring Up Salary

Many successful recruiting coaches point to the fact that the first salary figure which is presented by either side during salary negotiations tends to be the range around which all subsequent discussions revolve. If you have a specific number in mind that you believe will be slightly higher that the offer which will be presented by the hiring manager for a position, it never hurts to mention the number which you have in mind first before salary discussions begin.

Don’t Jump at the First Offer

Generally, hiring managers for phlebotomy jobs have a pay range to work with and in most cases, they will begin on the lower end of that range. When a hiring manager does present a phlebotomist salary to you, it’s always a good practice to at least attempt at negotiating upward, even slightly.

Leverage Your Offer

If you have been interviewing for multiple phlebotomy jobs and you are presented an offer, it is usually common courtesy to inform other hiring managers of your offer. This can work in your favor as if you have been a leading candidate for other positions, informing these hiring managers of your offer will often lead to a faster interview process for those jobs as well as a possible increase in the phlebotomist salary offered for those positions.

Communicate Your Expectations

One of the most important factors in phlebotomist salary and job negotiations is to be clear as to what you are looking for. You should be open and honest with the hiring manager in terms of the pay, benefits, and time off which you wish to receive. These issues can be difficult to negotiate after the offer is signed, so be sure to be upfront.

Benefits Beyond the Phlebotomist Salary

In some cases, the hiring manager may not be able to negotiate the phlebotomist salary being offered. If this is the case for a position which you are offered, you may also want to inquire as to what other benefits can be included to enhance the offer such as additional paid time off or richer health benefits.

Communicate Your Value

If you do plan to negotiate salary for phlebotomy jobs which are offered to you, there is one word of wisdom which you need to be sure to follow. Any time you plan to ask for an increase in pay, whether during the job offer process or later down the road as a raise, you should be able to back up your request with valid assessments of the value which you will bring to the job. If you have certain personal attributes or an employment track record which may merit additional pay, you should have these examples prepared and on hand prior to asking for an increase in the phlebotomist salary.

As job seekers, we’re often so intent on finding employment that we neglect to really assess a potential employer to see if it’s a good fit for us and this can certainly be the case when searching for phlebotomy jobs. However, by asking a few basic questions, you can get a better understanding of what type of working environment an employer might provide for you as a phlebotomist, the type of role you would play in the organization, and the prospects for an increase in the phlebotomist salary and advancement opportunities.

“Can you tell me the primary three tasks for which I will be responsible?”

As a phlebotomist, you will very often have a standard set of daily responsibilities for your shift. However, these can vary quite a bit between phlebotomy jobs. By asking the employer what specific duties you will be expected to do day in and day out, you can get a better understanding as to whether or not it will be a good fit for you and keep you challenged and stimulated throughout the day.

“Why did you choose to work here?”

This can be a great question to ask when evaluating various phlebotomy jobs. By asking the interviewer or other personnel within the lab, clinic, or hospital why they chose the organization as an employer, you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses associated with the company. If there are particular benefits to working with the organization, it can be helpful to find out what people enjoy about the employer.

“Will I have opportunities for growth?”

If you are interested in finding phlebotomy jobs that will allow you to move up in your career and accept positions of increased responsibility, it’s important to ask this question before being hired. You will need to find out if you will be expected to remain in a position as a staff phlebotomist or if the prospects for advancement and an increased phlebotomist salary will be present.

“To whom will I be reporting?”

This can be a great question to find out a little more about the structure of the organization when evaluating phlebotomy jobs. It can give you good insight into the company culture, as well as provide a clear understanding of what you can expect if and when you report to work.

“Can you tell me about the culture of the organization?”

It becomes very difficult to go to work each day if you don’t enjoy the environment you work in and the people you work with. Phlebotomy jobs tend to span such a wide range of employment settings that it’s a good idea to ask about the general culture within the organization to see if it’s a  good fit for you.

By asking the right questions before accepting potential phlebotomy jobs, you can ensure that you understand enough about the position, the culture, and the phlebotomist salary associated with an opening to make a sound decisions as to whether or not it’s right for you.

Obviously, there are several steps involved in beginning a career in phlebotomy and working toward a phlebotomist salary. However, after you finish your training program, the next hurdle will be to get out and start interviewing for phlebotomy jobs in your area. In an effort to help you begin your hunt for a satisfying phlebotomy job and set you on your way to a phlebotomist salary, we’re going to explore a few basic interview tips in this article.

Know the Employer

One of the most important preparation factors when you’re beginning to interview for various phlebotomy jobs is to do thorough research on the company or health care provider you’re going to interview with. By taking some time to find out about the organization, such as their history, practices, and the patients they serve, you’re showing that you have taken a true interest in the organization. This signals to a prospective employer that you are looking for more than just a phlebotomist salary, but an employer that will be rewarding and satisfying to work with.

Practice Interviewing

As with any type of performance or activity that you want to do well at, you should practice interviewing for phlebotomy jobs. There are quite a few ways to do this, but the first step is to put together a list of potential interview questions and think through your answers to each one of them. To compile a list, you may want to search online for interview questionnaires. This will help you to begin thinking through sound responses to the questions which you may face in the interview. If you have a video camera, you might want to even record yourself responding to some of the questions to help you work on other non-verbal signals such as your body language and hand movements while you are speaking.

Work on Behavioral-Based Interview Questions

Many employers are beginning to move toward an interview practice which involves asking behavioral-based interview questions. The basic premise of this practice is that past performance is the best indicator of future performance. And with this in mind, employers are beginning to rephrase questions to ask things like “Tell me about a time when you worked through a conflict with a co-worker” as opposed to asking “How would you handle a conflict with a co-worker”. Obviously, the latter can be answered with any type of fluffed-up hypothetical positivity, whereas the former forces the interviewee to discuss how they have actually handled a situation based on past facts. However, these types of questions can be difficult to answer if you haven’t taken the time to think through past scenarios and how you dealt with them successfully. Take some time to think about how you can use your past work experiences to convince an employer of your competencies.

Be Prepared

Prior to actually interviewing for any of the phlebotomy jobs that you are looking into, be sure to work through the details of the interview beforehand. For example, be sure that you know the location of the interview, who you will be meeting with and their role in the organization, as well as how long it will take you to get there so that you can arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Be sure to take along several copies of your resume to provide to the employer and any other staff members that may decide to sit in on the interview at the last minute.

By preparing to interview for phlebotomy jobs, you can ensure that you have the best chances of successfully landing the position you want and you’ll be on your way to a phlebotomist salary.