A Self-Assessment to Help Grow Your Phlebotomy Career

Looking to advance your phlebotomy career? Your best bet is to look within.

A phlebotomy career is an exciting and rewarding experience, but climbing the corporate ladder requires a bit of self-reflection and understanding to see if you have what it takes to excel in your career. Fortunately, this self-assessment can help you identify your weaknesses and how to overcome them to get the most out of your career.

Read through the questions below to see if you have any obstacles standing in your way as you climb the ladder in your phlebotomy career.

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What type of work environment do you create?

We all want to work in an environment that is drama free, supportive, and uplifting. So, ask yourself: Am I contributing towards creating workplace harmony or adding to the chaos? Finding the answer might take some serious self-reflection, but the answer is vital towards advancing your career.

Does your manager see you as an asset or a burden? Would your manager be pleased if you quit tomorrow, or would he/she be begging to have you back the very next day? These are the types of questions you need to ask yourself and if the answer is not to your liking, then it may be time to address these issues.

It can be helpful to view employment as a privilege, not a right. If you strive to make your manager’s job easier, he/she be more likely to invite you up the career ladder when opportunities and positions arise. Don’t consider it “sucking up to the boss” if you’re sincere in your attempt to create a positive work environment and advance your career.

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Do you deal with difficult people with grace or distaste?

Every patient is unique, but isn’t that the beauty of healthcare? Everyday is an opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life. While we like to believe every patient experience will be pleasant, some will be more difficult than others. The same applies to managers; you may encounter a supervisor who can only be described as a jerk (or worse).

The fact of the matter is, a career in phlebotomy is a long road, equally paved with excellent interactions and unpleasant encounters. How you choose to navigate this road is entirely up to you - will you choose the high road, or choose distaste over grace?

If you remain focused on your job and delivering a world class experience then the path up the career ladder is yours for the taking. View each difficult patient not as a problem, but an opportunity to learn. Similarly, difficult bosses can be an opportunity to focus on your responsibilities and let your work ethic and job performance shine. By handling difficult people with grace, you’ve chosen the path to success, rather than the road to nowhere.

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Are you a problem or problem solver?

If life is a garden, then problems are like weeds. Are you letting your garden become overrun with weeds, or is your solution to pluck them out of the ground as they spring up?

Becoming a problem solver is one of best ways you can position yourself for a successful career in phlebotomy. Right now, part of your manager’s job is to help solve problems, but that doesn’t mean you can’t step up and help, too. After all, if your career ambitions are to eventually be a problem solver, then you need to present yourself as one first.

Rather than only bringing problems to your manager, take the initiative to bring solutions to problems. Not only will it make life easier for your manager, but it will demonstrate that you are capable of solving problems independently and are a valuable asset to the team. If there comes a time to cut staff, team players are the last to be considered.

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Do you take on extra work or pass the buck?

Job descriptions only capture a small fraction of the overall responsibilities of your position. However, if you’re one of those people who constantly say, “That’s not my job,” when asked to take on additional work, then we have some unfortunate news for you: Your job might become someone else’s if layoffs occur.

A career in phlebotomy is much more than just drawing blood. There’s cleaning your work area, stocking trays and draw stations, organizing supplies in advance, and performing tasks that everyone else might avoid. If you’re one of those people who tackle these jobs rather than wasting time on the internet or gossiping around the water cooler, then you’re missing an opportunity to stand out and position yourself for the next step in your career.

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Are you the gossip hub or do you keep it professional?

Speaking of the water cooler, have you heard the latest workplace gossip? If not, that’s a good thing! Nothing erodes morale in the workplace like gossip and hearsay. It might seem innocent enough, but simply by listening to gossip you’re contributing to that erosion.

Not sure if what you’re hearing is gossip? Here’s a good test: If the information you hear paints someone else in a negative light, then it’s gossip. The best advice is to simply walk away. If you’re brave enough, respond to the gossip by calling it what it is - inappropriate for the workplace.

Creating a positive work environment is a team effort. If you’re leading that effort then it will help you stand out as a team player who wants to create an inclusive and positive workplace for everyone.

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Do you embody the mission statement?

A company’s mission statement provides a framework for the rest of the organization and team to build upon and grow. If you’re not embodying the mission statement, then you’re not only hurting yourself, but the entire organization. After all, if your company is looking to promote someone, they likely want someone who encompasses their values and mission.

Getlabs’ mission statement is to save lives by delivering outstanding healthcare to everyone. That means our expectation is that everyone on the team is working towards providing an outstanding experience for every patient. If this mission statement sounds appealing to you, then Getlabs is an excellent place to grow your career.

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Getlabs is growing!

If you did well in this assessment, then chances are you’re positioning yourself nicely to climb the phlebotomy career ladder! Even if management isn’t your goal, using these questions to help guide your performance will help you stand out as a team player and a valuable member of the organization.

If you’re considering a career as a phlebotomist or curious to learn more, consider working for a mobile phlebotomy service like Getlabs. We hire talented, passionate people from diverse backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger as a whole.

If you share our values and our enthusiasm for helping our patients have the best experience, we have a home for you at Getlabs.

Check out our careers page and find out if we’re hiring in your area!