Cytotechnologists
Overview
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience
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.
Education
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).
Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.
Demand
Core Tasks
Document specimens by verifying patients' and specimens' information.
Examine cell samples to detect abnormalities in the color, shape, or size of cellular components and patterns.
Submit slides with abnormal cell structures to pathologists for further examination.
Prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions.
Examine specimens, using microscopes, to evaluate specimen quality.
Maintain effective laboratory operations by adhering to standards of specimen collection, preparation, or laboratory safety.
Provide patient clinical data or microscopic findings to assist pathologists in the preparation of pathology reports.
Assist pathologists or other physicians to collect cell samples by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy or other method.
Prepare cell samples by applying special staining techniques, such as chromosomal staining, to differentiate cells or cell components.
Adjust, maintain, or repair laboratory equipment, such as microscopes.
Assign tasks or coordinate task assignments to ensure adequate performance of laboratory activities.
Attend continuing education programs that address laboratory issues.
Examine specimens to detect abnormal hormone conditions.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Biology
85%
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Medicine and Dentistry
78%
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
65%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
61%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Chemistry
55%
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Customer and Personal Service
53%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Computers and Electronics
51%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training
49%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mathematics
49%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Law and Government
44%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Top 10 Skills
Reading Comprehension
78%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
75%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
75%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
65%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
63%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking
63%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
60%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring
60%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness
60%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management
60%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Top 10 Abilities
Near Vision
80%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
80%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning
75%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem Sensitivity
75%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
73%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Finger Dexterity
73%
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Flexibility of Closure
73%
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Visual Color Discrimination
68%
The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Top 10 Work Activities
Documenting/Recording Information
89%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Getting Information
84%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With Computers
84%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
79%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
79%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
78%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
71%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
69%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Processing Information
68%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Analyzing Data or Information
67%
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Detailed Work Activities
Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.
Verify accuracy of patient information.
Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.
Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
Maintain medical laboratory equipment.
Repair medical facility equipment.
Supervise technical medical personnel.
Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
Work Context
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
Education
Majors based on the broader career Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Major
Interests
Investigative
96%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic
72%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
48%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Artistic
24%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising
24%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social
24%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
99%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
94%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
94%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Independence
88%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking
83%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Cooperation
77%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Persistence
76%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance
74%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Achievement/Effort
73%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Concern for Others
72%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Work Values
Achievement
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Working Conditions
65%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Support
62%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
