Patient Care Technician Jobs Overview
Do you enjoy helping people in challenging situations? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of people as they face health issues? If so, patient care technician jobs are for you.
PCTs have opportunities to make patient experiences more positive by providing excellent care. They're often the first people to see patients in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. Some of their duties include providing hygiene assistance, measuring vital signs, and reporting.
These technicians provide compassionate support and direct care at all hours. While some work business hours in medical clinics, others may work overnight in hospitals.
Patient Care Technician Salary
Salaries for nursing assistants, a related role that can include patient care technicians, range from $28,030 to $45,940 annually. Cities that pay the highest salaries for PCTs include the metro areas of New York City, Sacramento, and San Francisco.
In some cases, PCTs are certified nursing assistants with additional training. Some states have other training requirements for people to obtain PCT certification. In general, the more certified training you have, the higher your earning potential.
To better understand what to expect, research your city's PCT salary with our Monster salary calculator. Keep in mind that jobs may pay more in urban areas and less in rural areas. Also, positions that require specialized experience may offer higher pay.
Find the Right PCT Job for You
Start by determining what you want from your patient care technician career. Do you want to further your education and move on to higher positions? If so, look for jobs that offer tuition reimbursement or other advancement opportunities.
Do you have kids or social obligations? Perhaps you're more interested in a healthy work-life balance. Look for a job with manageable hours. The following are some other helpful considerations.
Carefully Examine the Job Description
Are you an experienced or aspiring PCT? The good news is that some positions offer on-the-job training. However, other PCT jobs may require several years of experience.
Some patient care technician jobs may also require additional training, travel, or capabilities such as being able to lift up to 30 pounds. Consider any extra responsibilities listed in the PCT job description to determine if they fit with your abilities. If you rely on public transportation, check to see if the facility is easy to access during work hours.
If the requirements in the job description are unclear this may suggest unreasonable expectations. But don’t worry, you can always reach out to the company for clarification or move on to other listings that better suit your needs.
Introduce Yourself to the Facility's Culture
The next step is to research the facility. Spend some time analyzing the website. Be sure to read its values, mission, and vision.
Do you prefer a large hospital or a small clinic? Look for information about the health facility's size, management style, and work environment.
Search for recent news about the medical facility. You may find information about awards or achievements that you can mention during an interview.
Gauge Your Growth Opportunities
If you want to advance, look for patient care technician jobs that promote growth. Some facilities offer additional training and internal advancement opportunities.
Do you want to pursue a degree for a more advanced role? Talk to the hiring manager to see if the facility offers financial assistance with pursuing higher education while working.
How to Apply for Patient Care Technician Jobs
When you're ready to apply for a job, take your time to be thorough. Follow these steps to make the experience smoother.
Prepare for the Application Process
Start by reading the application instructions. Read the information requirements carefully. Gather any certificates, transcripts or other documents you need.
Polish Your Resume
Did you know that software programs read about 75% of resumes submitted online? When clinics use software to scan resumes, hiring managers only read the top-ranking ones.
Although popular word processors offer resume templates, some of the most attractive designs may be detrimental. Instead of using templates, choose a simpler format. That also makes your patient care technician resume easier for a software program to scan.
Customize your resume to include your relevant skills. For instance, imagine that you want to apply for a medical-surgical PCT job and have relevant experience. Be sure to include resume keywords from the job description's skill section, such as the following:
- teamwork
- patient safety
- computer documentation
- supply ordering and management
Verify that phone numbers, employment dates, and other details are correct. And don’t forget to check for grammatical or spelling errors.
Do you need help creating an effective resume before you apply for patient care technician jobs? Get high-quality results with Monster's Professional Resume Writing Services.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter
A good cover letter shows your interest and what makes you special. Keep it concise; it should not exceed one page. As you write, use specific examples of your accomplishments to make your letter more engaging.
What drove you to become a PCT? Explain why that makes you a good fit for the position. Use specific skills, duties or keywords from the job description in your letter to emphasize your suitability.
Check out our EMT cover letter example to see how it's formatted and prioritizes experience. While referring to an existing letter for inspiration is a good idea, be sure to tailor yours to the specific position and company.
Submit Your Application
First, sign up for a Monster account. You can start, complete, and send applications for free on Monster. With an account, you’ll receive notifications about job openings in your industry and get a free professional resume review. Additionally, recruiters can find you and reach out to you about potential job possibilities.
Follow Up With the Employer
Following up with employers is a good way to demonstrate your interest. These are some helpful tips to consider.
Timing
Wait one to two weeks after your interview before contacting a hiring manager or recruiter. That period usually provides enough time to review applications.
Effectiveness
When you follow up, carefully plan your communication. An ideal inquiry is simple and concise, expressing your interest in the position.
You may follow up by email or phone. For some patient care technician jobs, recruiters or managers may specify how you should inquire. However you follow up, use professional language.
Do you want to learn more about the right way to follow up? Monster offers helpful tips to create effective follow-up messages.
Contact Person
Does the job listing specify who to contact? If not, you may need to do a little research. You can call the facility or look for the information online.
Find out if the person who makes PCT hiring decisions is the director of a department, an HR manager, or someone else. It also helps to find out the hours that person is available if you’re going to phone.
Interviewing Tips for Patient Care Technician Jobs
Read through the job description and duties again before your interview. Learn a little about the medical facility or the department where you may work. Remember key details about the entity's culture, mission, and values.
The Interview Process
Some facilities may conduct multiple interviews for patient care technician jobs. However, some only conduct one interview.
The interview questions may test your competence, focus on your behavior, or both! For instance, an interviewer may ask you how you would handle certain scenarios with patients. Other questions may address ethical issues.
Here are a few sample questions you might be asked in an interview for a patient care technician job:
- What is your process from the moment you enter a patient's room?
- How do you handle a difficult patient?
- What are your goals in the healthcare field?
- What certifications and training do you have as a patient care technician?
Interview Tips
To remain confident during your interview, remember that you're a valuable and fitting candidate. Although it's important to act professionally, try to be yourself.
Don't embellish your skills or fabricate any details. Instead, craft clear and detailed answers that highlight your strengths, experience, and skills. If you have limited experience, express your eagerness for an opportunity to learn and grow.
If an interviewer asks behavioral questions, use the STAR method to answer them. It helps you give specific examples that emphasize your skills.
A common interview obstacle for many people is sharing personal weaknesses. Plan to give thoughtful answers. One solution is to put a positive spin on any weaknesses and emphasize your strengths.
It also helps if you come prepared to ask certain questions of the interviewer yourself. Check out these nine questions to ask during your interview.
Follow Up
After the interview, send a simple note to thank the interviewer. Sending a note is a professional and polite gesture. Aim for one or two paragraphs.
What happens if you don't hear back from the facility? Since it can take time to interview all applicants, wait about two weeks. Contact the hiring manager to follow up at that point.
If they choose someone else, keep applying for other jobs. Your skills are valuable and necessary!
What to Do When You Get an Offer
Nothing is more exciting than getting an offer for a job you want. Always respond promptly to offers for patient care technician jobs. However, you don't have to make an immediate decision.
Start by thanking the hiring manager for the offer and consideration. If you need time to decide, communicate a specific period to the manager.
As you consider the offer, it helps to compare the salary. Is it reasonable in comparison to the average patient care technician's salary in your state? Is it appropriate for your experience and the required responsibilities?
Review the facility's culture and values again to ensure that they align with your needs. Also, review the schedule demands to see if you can meet them or if they conflict with other obligations.
Is the benefits package acceptable? If it needs improvement, communicate your needs to the hiring manager.
You may need to negotiate before you accept an offer. This may apply to schedule, salary, or benefits.
What happens if you have other offers or expect more? Let the hiring manager know you're considering other offers for patient care technician jobs.
If you ultimately decline the offer, politely let the facility know. Be sure to thank the hiring manager again for considering you.
Patient Care Technician Career Paths
PCTs often work toward the jobs they want after their initial training. For instance, a PCT may aspire to work with infants in a hospital. After gaining experience and any required training, you may qualify for such a job.
Some PCTs seek additional certification or training. For experienced PCTs who qualify, the National Healthcare Workers Association certification is a useful credential to earn. Joining associations and networking can also help with advancement goals.
PCTs may also advance through education. You may become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN).
Certain LPN or LVN programs offer PCTs and certified nursing assistants credit for their training. In addition to shortening the time it takes to finish, these programs help reduce costs. The great news is that some medical facilities help employees pay for training or provide it.
PCTs who become practical or vocational nurses may become registered nurses as well. Several RN bridge programs allow LVNs or LPNs to become RNs faster.
Being a nurse is a lucrative choice, and there are many career paths within nursing. The projected growth for RN jobs is 6% - higher than the average.
Consider your talents and what you enjoy doing as you think about advancing. There are other options beyond nursing.
Patient care technician jobs provide you with valuable experience that you can apply to many career fields. Also, you gain opportunities to network with other medical professionals and organizations.
Similar Occupations
There are plenty of exciting opportunities in other medical specialties. These are just a few examples of roles that are similar to patient care technician jobs: