| There are more than 200 healthcare career | | | | After you’ve asked yourself the right |
| occupations in the industry today and your | | | | questions to know what job will fit you and have |
| responsibility as a job seeker is to identify which | | | | gained a general understanding of the healthcare |
| of these will fit you best. Your ability to know the | | | | sector, it’s time to seek qualified advice from |
| career that’s in-line with your competencies, | | | | experts and industry insiders. If you’re a |
| desired work environment and ideal income is vital | | | | student, inquire at your Career Services Office or |
| because your satisfaction and interest in excelling | | | | any department that deals with student affairs. |
| on the job depends on these. | | | | They would be the best source to help you with |
| Like in all decisions we make, having the right | | | | your search as they have in-depth profiles of jobs |
| information is necessary. You need to do your | | | | available and even connections with companies |
| homework, so to speak, and understand the pros | | | | that have them. Giving you the information and |
| and cons of pursuing a certain goal or idea. In this | | | | assistance you need to find the best job based |
| case, it’s a career path. Your choice will | | | | on your profile and education is the reason why |
| practically determine what your future will look | | | | they’re there. |
| like. So to help you in choosing a healthcare career | | | | If you have your own contacts, reach out to |
| that’s perfect for you, below are four steps | | | | them, particularly those who hold jobs that you |
| you can follow. | | | | aspire to, someday, have. Ask them questions |
| 1. ASK YOURSELF THE RIGHT QUESTIONS | | | | about their day-to-day duties, satisfaction level on |
| What do you really want to do? Where do you | | | | their work, challenges in their workplace and skill |
| want to work? What skills do you have? Do you | | | | sets that they have used or acquired to be |
| want to be hands-on, dealing directly with the | | | | effective in what they do. Get information on |
| patients? Or do you want to be in the support | | | | growth opportunities in their field and specific |
| staff that helps doctors and nurses deal with | | | | advice on how to get and keep a job like theirs. If |
| them? How much would you like to earn as a | | | | possible and when appropriate, politely ask if they |
| starting salary? How much will you need to earn | | | | have any failures or regrets and how you can |
| five years from now to accomplish your financial | | | | avoid them as well as their current income and |
| objectives? What kind of task will interest you to | | | | how they’re able to sustain themselves with |
| do it long enough for eight hours or more a day | | | | their salary. This is all priceless information that no |
| for the next 10 years of your life? Asking these | | | | book, course or school can give you. Seize |
| questions will give you an idea of what type of | | | | them! |
| job will best fit your skills, goals and interests. | | | | 4. DIVE INTO THE OPPORTUNITIES WITH A |
| Every duty and specialization in the healthcare | | | | GAME PLAN |
| industry demands a different set of skills and | | | | Now that you know what’s out there and |
| personality traits. Your goal is to find the right | | | | have done your research as well as sought out |
| position that’s consistent with your interests, | | | | first- hand advice on prospective jobs you want |
| goals and personal preferences. Some healthcare | | | | to have, it’s time to take action on the |
| jobs may seem more interesting for you but | | | | opportunities available. Making sure that you have |
| could be totally far off from your current training | | | | your resume, license(s) and other preliminary |
| or even target income. As soon as you’re | | | | requirements that a healthcare facility or company |
| able to have a more detailed introspective look on | | | | requires from applicants is your first priority |
| yourself, it’s time for you to match your | | | | before you start applying. |
| profile to the jobs available. Learning about the | | | | Take note of the tactics you will use, whether |
| industry as a whole will show you what jobs are | | | | it’s phone, fax, email or the web. Most |
| present and in demand these days. | | | | careers in the industry have healthcare staffing |
| 2. GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE | | | | firms that help applicants get jobs. Apply to them |
| HEALTHCARE NDUSTRY | | | | as they have a vested interest in your success |
| Having an overview of the industry will give you | | | | and will assist you professionally until you get to |
| the big picture of what health careers are | | | | the facility or company that you want to work |
| available and in-demand. Begin your research by | | | | for. These firms have established relationships |
| getting to know the trends, events and key | | | | with facilities and healthcare companies and usually |
| players in the industry. Your local newspaper’s | | | | receive vacancy announcements from them |
| business section and specialized publications like | | | | earlier than everybody else. This would also be |
| BusinessWeek and the Wall Street Journal will give | | | | the time to once again get in touch with the |
| you valuable information on the general situation | | | | professionals you’ve sought advice from |
| of the companies and facilities in the sector. | | | | about the job you want. Ask about any openings |
| Industry websites such as FierceHealthcare.com, | | | | or at least request for their critique of any |
| and the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN.com) | | | | resume or material you may be using when |
| provides up-to-date news and developments on | | | | applying. |
| specific healthcare industry segments and careers, | | | | Part of your strategy should be to utilize all |
| as well as outlook and analysis on related matters. | | | | channels possible to get your resume and name |
| Some of this news and information updates | | | | out there. Online tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook |
| involve specific healthcare careers and forecasts | | | | and healthcare career-focused social networks like |
| on their demand. | | | | Medical Mingle ( can open doors for you. Have |
| There are also content available online that’s | | | | your letters ready and practice mock interviews |
| solely focused on healthcare career development. | | | | with a friend or family. When you start reaching |
| Websites like MedHunter.com, About.com’s | | | | out to companies, take note of those you’ve |
| Health Career site ( and the Career Resources | | | | applied to and follow-up if necessary. Exhaust all |
| section of Healthcare Jobsite ( provides a suite of | | | | options that you have to get the job that |
| information, tools and even free electronic | | | | you’ve worked so hard to be able to get. |
| publications for job seekers. | | | | When you find the right career path, you discover |
| These websites and resources should give you an | | | | an important part of your life. Your search for a |
| idea of the current and future state of the | | | | career will result to some long-term benefits when |
| industry. If, along the way, you want to narrow | | | | you do it diligently. Your job directly impacts your |
| down your search to a specific company, location | | | | life since it’s what you will do for most of |
| or issue related to the health career path you plan | | | | your waking hours. By putting the effort and time |
| to take, company and government websites will | | | | needed in preparing and executing a well-planned |
| be of great use for further research. | | | | job search, you increase the possibility of finding |
| 3. SEEK ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONAL | | | | that healthcare career that will perfectly fit you. |
| COUNSELORS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS | | | | Good luck! |