Rheumatologists enjoy some of the highest salaries in the medical field. Because the field is so heavily specialized, you’ll gain the ability to search for quality jobs far and wide, after finishing your needed schooling. As you prepare to enter into the field, however, knowing how to prepare your resume, and skillset, to make yourself hireable is key. To assist you on your journey, here are nine skills every rheumatologist needs on their resume: 

1. Patient Care 

To be skilled at patient care, you need to have experience with the diagnosis of patients, their recoveries, and the ability to control and treat their illnesses. If you’ve provided services such as physical therapy, patient analysis, direct patient care, chart preparation, managing patient care, and other similar patient care services, you will be much more hireable as a rheumatologist. 

2. Flexibility 

Being flexible is a key skill and personality trait that every medical worker needs to have to be hireable. Flexibility is needed due to the frequency in which you may need to cover shifts, suddenly change responsibilities/duties, or learn new skills on the job under the supervision of your co-workers. Thankfully, with how highly skilled you are as a rheumatologist, you’ll have tons of flexibility in finding rheumatology work as well. 

3. Medical Research 

Rheumatologists are often on the front lines of medical research, so having demonstrable experience in this aspect of the field is critical. Understanding Federal Review Standards for medical research will help you gain this experience quickly, and many rheumatologists even make a full-on career out of doing solely medical research. Doing so can get you access to salaries from $150,000 to $280,000 (with the correct level of previous experience). 

4. Internal Medicine 

Without a strong knowledge of internal medicine practices, getting hired as a rheumatologist becomes incredibly difficult. You will need a board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine, and clear experience with the equipment used in internal medicine practices to thrive. Additionally, proving that you’ve diagnosed previous patients with internal medicine conditions is crucial to being hireable as a rheumatologist.

5. Front Office Work 

When you’re working as a rheumatologist, there are plenty of moments where you’ll have downtime. If you’re just getting into an office environment, you may start off your shifts doing front office work, file management, medical transcription services, and customer relations. Being able to demonstrate that you’ve got experience with billing, receptionist duties, phone calls, and other front office-centric skills will make you a much more attractive, qualified rheumatologist candidate. 

6. Clinical Expertise 

Rheumatologists need to have a strong degree of clinical expertise to succeed in this highly specified field of medicine. From heart failure management to other diagnoses-centric skills, showcasing your clinical expertise in the field of rheumatology will make you stand out amongst other candidates. If you’re just starting, your lack of experience in this area will be your biggest obstacle in getting the job over other rheumatologist candidates aiming for the same job. 

7. Vital Signs

Knowing how to read vital signs appropriately, and with an eye toward diagnoses that you’re concerned with as a rheumatologist, becomes another critical skill every hireable rheumatologist must have. If you can demonstrate that you’ve handled vital sign management in the past, getting an in to a quality rheumatologist practice will become much easier, and will help you gain an impressive, comfortable salary. 

8. IV Skills

While one of the more minor skills needed to have an impressive, hireable resume as a rheumatologist, knowing how to use IVs appropriately is a core skill. Knowing how to safely apply them, remove them, and maintain them will be critical for successfully performing every other aspect of your job as a rheumatologist. Thankfully, nearly anyone who went through medical school or pre-med programs should have plenty of experience with IVs. 

9. Communication Skills

Communication skills allow rheumatologists to appropriately diagnose, treat and manage their patients. Poor communication skills can lead to serious, even deadly complications in the medical field, after all. Beyond putting communication skills on your resume, your interview will be a key time where you can demonstrate your excellent communication skills to whoever is (considering) hiring you. 

The Perfect Rheumatologist Job is Waiting for You 

Now that you’re ready to craft the perfect resume, your dream job as a rheumatologist is finally within your reach. With the right preparation, communication skills, and desire to stand out amongst other candidates, you’ll quickly convince hiring staff that you’re right for the rheumatologist position that they’re looking to fill.