There are so many meaningful ways to grow and succeed in a field as dynamic as radiologic technology. For a radiology technologist, career success might mean stepping into a lead or manager role, teaching the next generation of technologists, specializing in higher-paying modalities, or simply taking pride in producing clear images and providing excellent patient care.

Whatever success looks like to you, here’s how you can build a rewarding radiology technologist career with us.

Stay flexible, both mentally and physically

Working in medical imaging is fast-paced and dynamic. No two days are exactly alike. “The job is always changing, it’s never stagnant,” says Radiology Tech Andrew. He believes the most successful techs are those who are ready to pivot when needed, whether that’s creative problem-solving or safely positioning patients in difficult situations.

“You have to have the ability to walk into scenarios where stuff is not by the book,” he says. “All bodies are different. You may know how you’re supposed to position and what’s going to make that perfect picture, but in trauma, there’s an imperfect problem. If a bone’s poking out, you’re not going to get them to be able to bend certain ways, so you have to find a way to bend physics around them.”

He jokes that oftentimes, it requires “finding an abstract, creative way to get exactly the image you need in a weird scenario, which can look like doing acrobatics.” But he’s serious when he advises techs who want a long and stable career to take care themselves physically, too. 

“Definitely hit the gym,” he says. “The last thing you want is to have joints blowing on you, which, as we get older, becomes a reality, so you definitely need to be taking care of yourself as much as your patients.”

Go big on whatever piques your interest—and take advantage of opportunities

No two radiology careers follow the same path. What a “successful” career looks like depends on how much each individual tech pursues their specific interests. At Providence, we help techs do that with a variety of support systems.

• Techs interested in learning can take advantage of the Providence Education Benefit Program, continuing education benefits, structured cross-training opportunities and personalized career mapping to help them transition into specialized modalities like MRI, CT, or Ultrasound.
• Techs interested in teaching can support X-ray students during their clinical rotations and, over time, pursue opportunities to mentor caregivers, serve as a preceptor, or contribute to education and training programs within Providence.
• Techs interested in leading can not only champion ideas for improving care, but also map out advancement pathways for long-term career goals through the Providence Leadership Academy and during development check-ins.

Build real relationships with your colleagues

Radiology technologists may perform scans independently, but they’re never working alone. Every day, they collaborate with a team of radiologists, nurses, surgeons and other techs. And it’s the people, and the relationships, that can turn a good job into a phenomenal career.

About his team, Andrew says, “There’s a great dynamic between all of us that works both socially and professionally. Our team has fostered an environment where we can laugh together and walk through life together. It’s created a strong bond and a working environment where we share the load and help each other when needed. I’ve never seen a moment where someone asked for help, and there was no one to give it.”

For Andrew, that sense of camaraderie with his Providence team is rare—and it’s what keeps him at the organization. “I’ve been a part of so many different teams in my life, and I’ve never had a team that was this focused on the mission together. That’s certainly not something to take for granted. As long as I’ve got that, I’m going to be trucking along for a long time.”

Start or continue your successful radiology technologist career here

If you’re looking for a dynamic career where you can define success on your own terms, we’d love to meet you. Browse our diagnostic imaging jobs to find your next role. Or, if you’re not ready to apply yet, join our Talent Network to keep in touch and hear stories from the technologists who serve our communities across our seven-state footprint.