Respiratory Therapist Resume Examples (+ Expert Tips on Resume & Cover Letter)

respiratory therapist resume
Created by CakeResume

As a respiratory therapist (RT), you will need to provide treatment for people with breathing or cardiopulmonary problems. They can be premature infants whose lungs are underdeveloped and children and/or adults with lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Respiratory therapy treatments can be administered by performing bronchopulmonary drainage, assisting with breathing exercises, and monitoring physiological responses to therapy. 

In 2019, the employment of respiratory therapists was predicted to grow 19% in the next 10 years, much faster than the average for all occupations. If you are looking to be an RT, prepare yourself with a powerful respiratory therapist resume that fully showcases the necessary clinical experience, educational requirements, and skills. 

In this article, we’re more than happy to show you how to build a respiratory therapist resume.

5 Simple Steps for Building a Respiratory Therapist Resume

Step 1: Understand the major differences between a resume and a CV.

To begin with, learn how to distinguish a CV from a resume in terms of length, content, purpose, and design.

A respiratory therapist CV is commonly longer than a resume and offers comprehensive professional coverage and broader life experience (e.g., academic activities, personal projects). Meanwhile, a respiratory therapist resume concisely lists out the educational background, professional experience, and accomplishments relevant to the job.

Step 2: Adopt the right respiratory therapist resume format.

4 common types of resume formats include chronological, functional, combination (hybrid), and target. When determining which respiratory therapist resume format to go for, consider your professional level and the position you’re targeting. 

A chronological or a combination resume format would be suitable for those with plenty of work experience and career progression in the field. On the other hand, the functional format is suitable for a new grad respiratory therapist resume or an entry-level respiratory therapist resume as you can focus on demonstrating your skills instead of employment history.

Step 3: Refer to online respiratory therapist resume examples.

By going over professional respiratory therapist resume examples, and following useful writing tips, you will be able to create a great one on your own. Also, online resume builders, like CakeResume, provide you with thousands of built-in resume templates that allow you to make your own resume in minutes.

Step 4: Tailor the respiratory therapist resume for the opening job.

To show recruiters that you're the right fit, customize your resume to meet the requirements of the opening position instead of writing a generic document.

The key tip is to insert keywords from the respiratory therapist job description into your resume and remove irrelevant information. For a respiratory therapist resume with no experience, you may lack professional experience in the field, but try to match what you possess with the requirements shown in the job ad.

Step 5: Compile a powerful respiratory therapist cover letter.

Resume experts suggest that the applicants submitting both a cover letter and a resume will have a higher chance of landing an interview. 

A sincere respiratory therapist cover letter allows you to express your enthusiasm and determination to get the job, so employers can be impressed and convinced to dive into your resume. Moreover, you get a chance to state what impact you can bring to the organization in detail, which can’t be covered in a resume.

Basic Sections in a Respiratory Therapist Resume

1. Personal Information

To make sure the potential employer can contact you, you need to provide them with sufficient and accurate information, including:

  • Full name
  • Address (can be either your current address or desired job location) 
  • Phone number 
  • Email address

🔎 Check out: this list of not-to-include personal information to avoid in the resume profile.

2. Resume Headline

A resume headline is a concise statement at the top of the page, briefly introducing who you are as a candidate for the opening position. 

To craft a well-branded resume headline, also known as a resume title, you can highlight your professional level, key skills, or outstanding achievements.

Example of a headline for a registered respiratory therapist resume:

“Patient-oriented Respiratory Therapist who successfully weaned 30+ patients off mechanical ventilation.”

3. Resume Summary

Employers spend an average of 6 seconds on a job application. Hence, it’s important to pique their interest right from the start with a strong resume summary.

A summary statement for a respiratory therapist resume should present your core competencies in 2-4 sentences, including key skills, work experience, and outstanding achievements in former jobs.

Example of a summary statement for a certified respiratory therapist resume:

“Certified Respiratory Therapist with 6 years of experience providing intensive care and monitoring for the Pediatric unit ventilators. Adept at collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to design efficient care plans for hospitalized patients while educating patients and their families on breathing equipment and techniques.”

4. Resume Objective

Keep in mind that a resume objective and a resume summary are different. 

An objective statement for a respiratory therapist resume helps clarify your goal and state your potential contribution to the potential employer. It is highly recommended for an entry-level respiratory therapist resume or a new graduate respiratory therapist resume.

Respiratory therapist resume objective examples:

  • Looking to leverage my broad knowledge of Ventilation Equipment, Optimal Patient Care Practices, and Oxygen Therapy skills to provide optimal care in Calhoun Hospital.
  • Dedicated RT Graduate from NYU pursuing a career in Victoria Medical Center to educate and treat patients with respiratory issues.

5. Skills

Highlighting skills needed for an RT is a great way to prove that you’re qualified for the vacancy.

Here’s how to get it right?

  • Include both soft and hard (technical skills) with about 3-6 items for each category
  • Tailor the respiratory therapist skills on your resume to the specific job
  • Make it concise and easy to read with bulleted lists

Check the table below for respiratory therapist skills for resumes:

Soft SkillsHard Skills
Communication Skills
Attention to Detail
Problem-solving
Patience
Analytical Skills
Optimal Patient Care Practices
Cardiopulmonary Therapies
Oxygen Therapy
Ventilation Equipment
Patient Education

6. Work Experience

The work experience section is a critical part of the resume where hiring managers can take a deeper look at your abilities and qualifications. Hence, see it as an elevator pitch to make or break your job application.

Example of a professional work experience section:

Respiratory Therapist
Rotech Healthcare Inc., MS
Dec 2017 - Jul 2021

  • Responsible for nebulizer treatments, overall respiratory health, and patient recovery.
  • Analyzed breath sounds, x-rays, and blood work.

7. Education

Respiratory therapists are generally required an Associate’s degree with a major in Respiratory Therapy or Respiratory Care. Besides, you may need 6 months of experience within the last two years or completion of a clinical rotation within the last year in a critical care/intensive care environment. 

Educational background is a key assessment criterion for hiring managers, so make sure you write it properly and professionally.

Education example on a respiratory therapist resume:

Crafton Hills College, CA
Associate’s Degree in Respiratory Care 
2018 - 2020

8. Additional Information

Want to stand out from other candidates? 

An extra section can help, such as: 

  • Achievements/Awards
  • Personal projects
  • Certifications/Licenses
    e.g., Valid state Respiratory Therapist license, Registered Respiratory Therapist - RRT, Certified Neonatal Resuscitation Program, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification

Expert Tips for the Best Respiratory Therapist Resume

#Tip 1: Craft an ATS-compliant resume to beat the bot.  

Due to an increasing tendency to apply ATS (Applicant Tracking System) on the hiring process, it’s important to create an ATS-friendly resume to successfully reach employers. 

You should integrate keywords from the job ad in your resume, stick to a text-based format and avoid graphs. 

#Tip 2: Adopt action words/verbs.

The best respiratory therapist resume is polished with compelling powerful verbs such as provide, administer, handle, perform, manage, monitor, respond, evaluate, etc. 

You can also find relevant action words from the job description. 

#Tip 3: Beef up your resume with numbers. 

Bring numbers to the table so employers will be convinced and impressed by your job performance. You not only can quantify your accomplishments but also use numbers to specify your job duties.

Example for a respiratory therapist resume:

“Collaborated with physicians to manage respiratory rehabilitation and following plan-of-care for 200+ patients.”

#Tip 4: Adopt respiratory therapist resume templates from online resume builders.

Online resume builders, like CakeResume, allow you to build your own resume from a built-in template in just 5 minutes. You no longer have to worry about format, design, or layout. 

#Tip 5: Proofread your resume. 

Many of you often skip this step before submitting your application documents. 

A poorly-written resume with bad grammar and typos can be a deal-breaker. Thus, make sure your respiratory therapist resume is error-free and flawless.

How to craft a professional respiratory therapist cover letter?

By referring to cover letter examples for respiratory therapists, you can learn what to include, such as:   

  • Personal info: Name, phone number, email, and address.
  • Self-introduction: Professional level and the desired position. 
  • Motivation: What motivates you to apply for the respiratory therapist job. 
  • Qualifications: What you possess to be qualified for this job (e.g., expertise, abilities, skills, etc.)
  • Closing: Express your appreciation to the potential employer.

CakeResume provides the best respiratory therapist resume templates & examples for talents to demonstrate abilities. Let us help you land the dream as a respiratory therapist with a strong resume (free download)!

Physician Assistant Resume Sample

Sherine Huston

Therapist with a demonstrated history of optimal patient care with a 95% satisfaction rate

[email protected]
(+366)-005-0990

Professional Objective

Dedicated Respiratory Therapist with 7+ years of experience aiding patients with breathing problems, including chronic sinusitis, allergies, and asthma, while improving their health against cardiopulmonary disorders. Adept at life support equipment monitoring and management. Active listener with strong interpersonal skills.

Work Experience

Respiratory Therapist
UC Health, CO

May 2017 - Apr 2021

  • Monitored the life support system and managed respiratory rehabilitation. 
  • Conducted lung capacity assessments on patients and reviewed detailed information to assess their condition.
  • Conducted appropriate therapies for each patient while educating them and their families on breathing techniques. 
  • Developed the following plan of care for 120+ patients, attaining a 75% success rate for a full recovery.

Agency Respiratory Therapist
San Francisco, CA

Oct 2014 - Mar 2017

  • Provided optimal care for various health care facilities (e.g., California Correctional Health Care Services, Sutter Health, Sequoia Hospital, and Alameda Health System.)
  • Responsible for the O2 and nebulizer therapy, analysis and interpretation, and ventilator care. 
  • Designed educational programs for in-house staff, patients, and their families on asthma, smoking, and relevant topics.

Skills

Soft Skills: 

  • Collaboration
  • Communication Skills
  • Stress Management
  • Problem-solving
  • Attention to Detail

Hard Skills:

  • Life Support
  • Equipment Management
  • Patient Education
  • Rehabilitation
  • Following plan-of-care

Education

Associate’s Degree in Respiratory Care with RRT Certification
San Francisco State University, CA 
2012 - 2014

Certification

Registered Respiratory Therapist

--- Originally written by May Luong ---

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