Medical Coder Resume Example
If you're hoping to start a career as a medical coder, you'll need experience in assigning ICD codes and ensuring coding accuracy. A professional resume for medical coder applications will showcase your relevant skills and career achievements, to help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional medical coder resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft a medical coder resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning medical coder resume.
What to include in a medical coder resume
The key sections to include in a medical coder resume are similar to those for any role or profession.
A functional or skills-based resume format might be best for applications where you have little or no relevant medical coder experience. This layout prioritizes your skills and education sections above your work experience. Furthermore, a junior resume is more likely to focus on soft and transferable skills, as well as relevant training, internships and volunteer roles.
For those with some prior experience as a medical coder work experience is the most important element of a resume. Use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format to emphasize your career timeline and achievements. Use your work experience section to highlight your career achievements and show how you meet the job description. Offer evidence of the impact you had on successful outcomes for the company.
For senior medical coder roles, you're likely to be competing against highly experienced candidates. Use a reverse-chronological resume format and focus on adding additional information that shows your credentials beyond your work experience. Senior resumes are often longer than resumes for junior roles. This is because you may choose to include extra sections, such as awards, professional memberships, publications, conferences or certifications on your resume.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header and Personal Information
A medical coder resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Gregory Robinson
gregory.robinson@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
linkedin․com/in/gregory–robinson123
Resume Objective
In your resume summary, write a short paragraph that highlights two or three of your key achievements and skills for medical coder roles. You could also call this section 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. A resume summary covers your career experience to date, while a resume objective focuses more on your ambitions for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why medical coder roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for medical coder roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a medical coder resume summary in the graphic below.
Good example:
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management with extensive experience as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC). Proficient in medical coding, health data management, and regulatory compliance. Demonstrates strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a thorough understanding of medical terminologies and coding guidelines. Proven ability to accurately code medical records and ensure data integrity in compliance with industry standards
Bad example:
Worked in health information with a degree and some coding certification. Know a bit about coding and managing health data. Pay attention to details and have some understanding of medical words and rules. Can code records and keep data correct according to some standards
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Work Experience
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your medical coder skills. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to medical coder roles.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. See below for some good examples of what to include in your resume work experience section.
Good example:
Certified Professional Coder (CPC), January 2022 - Present
MedCert Solutions, Seattle
- Achieved 98% accuracy in medical coding audits, ensuring optimal reimbursement and compliance with healthcare regulations
- Streamlined coding processes, reducing claim denials by 45% and improving revenue cycle efficiency
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 junior coders, enhancing overall department productivity by 30%
Bad example:
Certified Professional Coder (CPC), January 2022 - Present
MedCert Solutions, Seattle
- Assisted with coding tasks to support department goals and objectives
- Contributed to team efforts to improve coding accuracy
- Participated in training sessions for professional development
In the graphic above you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. A bad resume work experience section might fail to address skills and achievements that relate directly to the job description. Falling back on clichés, vague descriptions and basic responsibilities, rather than showing the impact you made, is likely to disengage the reader.
Educational Achievements
In your education section, include details of your most relevant medical coder qualifications and educational achievements.
Opportunities as a medical coder and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your ehr documentation or icd-10 coding.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
If you organized or participated in any clubs or societies while at university, or you took part in any voluntary work, you could also mention these here.
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, 2017 - 2020
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for medical coder jobs. These could be medical terminology, effective communication abilities or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a medical coder.
How to list hard skills on your medical coder resume
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as a medical coder. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your medical coder job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the medical coder role. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a medical coder resume, see below.
- Icd-10 coding
- Cpt coding
- Hcpcs coding
Adding soft skills to your medical coder resume
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for a medical coder position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a medical coder resume.
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking skills
- HIPAA compliance awareness
Certifications and Training
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional medical coder certifications, licenses or qualifications. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a medical coder. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a medical coder resume:
- CPC, 2022
- CCS, 2022
- CCA, 2022
Expert Tip:
Additional Information
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to a medical coder resume. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world medical coder experience. If you're thinking about adding hobbies and interests, just make sure they add something unique to your application, and showcase your personality and interests in unique and interesting ways.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your medical coder resume. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
Standard medical coder resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your medical coder resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Reviewed
- Analyzed
- Documented
- Verified
- Coded
- Interpreted
- Audited
- Updated
- Maintained
- Ensured
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Sample resume for medical coder positions
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your medical coder resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
•
gregory.robinson@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/gregory–robinson123
Detail-oriented and experienced medical coder with a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification. Proficient in accurately coding medical records and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Skilled in utilizing coding software and maintaining patient confidentiality. Strong analytical abilities and a commitment to quality and efficiency in healthcare documentation
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
2020
-2022
CodeCraft Solutions, Inc (Omaha)
- Successfully passed the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam on first attempt, demonstrating proficiency in medical coding standards
- Achieved over 95% accuracy rate in coding audits, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations and optimizing reimbursement processes
- Implemented streamlined coding procedures that reduced claim denials by 30%, enhancing revenue cycle management for the healthcare facility
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
2017
-2020
University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
Icd-10 coding
Cpt coding
Hcpcs coding
Attention to detail
Critical thinking skills
HIPAA compliance awareness
CPC
CCS
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a medical coder resume
Key tips to help you craft a strong resume
- Include any relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role, for maximum readability.
- Include key skills throughout your resume that reflect the job description, and include a dedicated skills section.
- Write a compelling resume summary or objective to introduce yourself and your key medical coder skills.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Reference your key qualifications and educational achievements, including grades if these help you stand out from other candidates.
Steer clear of these common resume writing errors
- Don't clutter your medical coder resume with too much information. Keep everything focused on showcasing your relevant skills and achievements.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't lie or exaggerate about your medical coder experience or achievements as it can harm your chances in the long term.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your medical coder resume more difficult to read.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, create a simple email address based on your name.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your medical coder resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
FAQs for a medical coder resume
Now that you know how to write a professional medical coder resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the medical coder role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your medical coder resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a skills-based resume format to highlight your relevant skills and education. This is more suitable for junior or entry-level roles where you might not have much work experience to showcase. Optional sections at the end of your resume can play a stronger role if you're lacking relevant work experience. Use certifications and training, hobbies and interests, volunteer roles and internships to show you've got the necessary skills for the job.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your medical coder applications. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
Below you can see a resume headline example:
- Junior Medical Coding Specialist
- Expert Medical Coding Specialist
- Senior Medical Coding Specialist Expert
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Takeaways for your medical coder resume
The best resumes focus on your skills and the value you've added to previous roles, rather than focusing on your duties and responsibilities. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
Impress potential employers with your resume
Follow step-by-step professional guidance to create a polished resume in minutes.
