What does a Physicians, Pathologist do?

Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Day to day that includes work like examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities and Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.

What skills should a Physicians, Pathologist put on a resume?

O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Learning, and Active Listening among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.

What software should a Physicians, Pathologist list?

Software recorded for this occupation includes Accounts receivables system software, Anatomic pathology software, Antek HealthWare LabDAQ, Aspyra CyberLAB, and Aspyra CyberPATH. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.

What other job titles cover Physicians, Pathologist work?

O*NET records 25 titles for this occupation, including Anatomic Pathologist, Dermatopathologist, Forensic Pathologist, and Pathologist. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

What qualifications does a Physicians, Pathologist need?

In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 62% reported their level of education as "Post-Doctoral Training". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

Will this resume pass an ATS for a Physicians, Pathologist role?

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Physicians, Pathologist resume example

A resume for a Physicians, Pathologist needs to show the work itself: diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Day to day that means work like this: examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities; diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems both read for the tasks and tools this role actually involves, so the strongest resume names them in your own experience rather than describing the job in the abstract. Below are the tasks O*NET records for this occupation, the software and tools it uses, the titles it is advertised under, and the skills worth naming if they are genuinely yours.

Also advertised as

The same job is posted under many titles. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

Anatomic Pathologist
Dermatopathologist
Forensic Pathologist
Pathologist
Cytopathologist
Hematopathologist
Neuropathologist
Oral Pathologist
Surgical Pathologist
Animal Pathologist
Autopsy Pathologist
Chemical Pathologist
Clinical Pathologist
Cytologist
Histopathologist
Immunopathologist
Medical Pathologist
Molecular Genetic Pathologist

O*NET records 25 titles for this occupation in total.

What this work actually involves

Tasks recorded for this occupation, in O*NET's words. If your experience covers one of these, it belongs on your resume in your own words.

Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
Manage medical laboratories.
Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.

19 tasks are recorded in total; these are the most central.

Example bullets for this role

Built from this occupation's own tasks. The brackets stay empty on purpose: we will not invent a number for you, and a fabricated metric is the fastest way to lose an interview you had already won.

Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].

Software used in this role

Recorded for this occupation by O*NET. An applicant tracking system matches the exact product name, so write the tool the way the posting writes it.

Accounts receivables system software
Anatomic pathology software
Antek HealthWare LabDAQ
Aspyra CyberLAB
Aspyra CyberPATH
Blood Bank Computer Systems Blood Bank Control System
Blood bank information systems
Cerner CoPathPlus
Cerner Millennium PathNet
Cerner Millennium PathNet Blood Bank Transfusion
Cerner Millennium ProFit
Clinical Information Systems CISLab CPS
Clinical Software Solutions CLIN1 Suite
ClinLab LIS

102 software entries are recorded in total.

Tools and equipment

The physical equipment this occupation is recorded as using. Worth naming when a posting asks for it by name.

Albuminometers
Anaerobic specimen transport systems
Analytical balances
Automated immunoassay analyzers
Automated pipettes
Automated slide stainers
Biopsy needles
Blood agar plates
Blood culture incubators
Blood gas analyzers
Blood irradiators
Bone marrow puncture needles

What this job rates as most important

O*NET rates every skill for importance to this occupation. These are the highest rated, in order.

01Reading Comprehension
02Critical Thinking
03Writing
04Active Learning
05Active Listening
06Complex Problem Solving
07Science
08Judgment and Decision Making
09Speaking
10Monitoring

Knowledge areas

The subject knowledge this occupation draws on, rated by importance.

Medicine and Dentistry
Biology
English Language
Education and Training
Customer and Personal Service
Chemistry
Administration and Management
Computers and Electronics

What qualifications people in this job have

From O*NET's survey of people doing this work. This is what postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

62%Post-Doctoral Training
29%Doctoral Degree
6%Master's Degree

What level this role is pitched at

O*NET places this occupation in “Extensive Preparation Needed”. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Common questions

What does a Physicians, Pathologist do?: Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Day to day that includes work like examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities and Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
What skills should a Physicians, Pathologist put on a resume?: O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Learning, and Active Listening among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.
What software should a Physicians, Pathologist list?: Software recorded for this occupation includes Accounts receivables system software, Anatomic pathology software, Antek HealthWare LabDAQ, Aspyra CyberLAB, and Aspyra CyberPATH. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.
What other job titles cover Physicians, Pathologist work?: O*NET records 25 titles for this occupation, including Anatomic Pathologist, Dermatopathologist, Forensic Pathologist, and Pathologist. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.
What qualifications does a Physicians, Pathologist need?: In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 62% reported their level of education as "Post-Doctoral Training". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.
Will this resume pass an ATS for a Physicians, Pathologist role?: No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Related roles

Occupations O*NET records as closest to this one, and worth looking at if this search is not moving.

What this page cannot tell you

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer’s ATS is configured, including ours.
This page makes no claim about pay, demand or how many people hold this job. O*NET does not publish that here and we will not estimate it.
Keyword overlap is one input to a resume’s score, not a verdict on you. A resume that names skills you do not have is worse than one that names fewer.

If this is the job you are aiming at, the guide to tailoring a resume covers how to aim one posting properly, and building and exporting a resume here is free.

Occupation data from the O*NET 29.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. SpartanResume is not endorsed by USDOL/ETA.