Working in the healthcare industry is an incredible opportunity and a well-respected career path. Whichever role you enter into, you will be contributing to the advancement of healthcare and giving back to society in a very important way. For these reasons and more, people are attracted to a career in this field, and there are many, many roles within healthcare, so finding one that suits you is certainly possible. If you think you’d like to pursue healthcare jobs, below you’ll find the top tips to help you start planning this career journey.
What Career Path Do You Want?
As mentioned above, there are a lot of different paths you can pursue within the healthcare industry. Before you take any steps forward, you should carefully consider these various options and which path would be right for you. To do this, you should take the time to carry out a very thorough research into the roles you are most interested in. This will help you get a better idea of what to expect when you start your journey and what your future career options might be as you work your way up the ladder. Looking into other roles that at first you might not have thought you’d be interested in is worth it as well because you might be surprised to find that they are more suited to you. Speaking to professionals who are in the roles you’re interested in is a good way to get a realistic view of how the job will be, so look on professional healthcare forums or ask someone you know if that’s possible.
Education
Once you know which path you want to follow in healthcare industry, the next step is to make sure you have the correct qualifications to get into an entry-level role. For the majority of healthcare jobs, you will need a college degree in a relevant subject, which is usually science-based disciplines such as biology, biochemistry, etc. However, different roles will want different degrees, and you should be able to find out which one is right for you during your research phase.
If you’re concerned about how you’re going to fit in a college degree around your current job or other lifestyle commitments, consider looking at online learning options instead. These degree programs tend to be more flexible and, most of the time, more cost-effective as well, so you can continue to work while you learn if that is a necessity. You can see an example of these kinds of healthcare degrees with this nursing program at Marymount University.
Work Experience
Some college courses will provide you with work experience opportunities, but if they don’t, this is something you should look into organizing for yourself. While degrees are necessary for many roles, additional work experience will increase your chances of employment and sometimes be necessary to get entry-level positions as part of the application requirements. See if you can get a part-time job at a healthcare industry center or take some time to volunteer there or for a similar healthcare organization. If your healthcare career choice is something more lab-based and research, see if you can do the same at a relevant institution near you.
Related: The Benefits Associated with a Healthcare Career
Further Training
Another thing you should be looking at if you want to further your healthcare career is if there is any additional training you can do for this role. While a degree and work experience will do a lot to improve your resume, taking on further training will show how dedicated you are to your career and highlight your ambition. This is something your managers or potential employers will see. It will make you a far more interesting and attractive candidate when it comes to getting a promotion or applying for healthcare jobs in different organizations. You can ask your manager about further training opportunities once you have established yourself as a healthcare professional.
Mentorship
Getting a mentor when you start your healthcare career is also something you should look into. Whether you get a mentor during work experience or when you start a new role in your career, they can help to guide you through and offer insights on where you can improve as a healthcare employee. They will be able to give you advice based on their experiences in the role and could even provide you with a reference when it comes to applying for more senior positions to further your career.
Getting a License to Practice Medicine
If you are going to focus on a patient-facing role such as a nurse, doctor, physiotherapist, etc., you will need to get a medical license to practice legally. The requirements to get your license will differ depending on the state you live in, but generally, you will need a college degree in your practice area. You will also need to take exams to get your license, and these will test your scientific knowledge, clinical knowledge, and your ability to apply these things in a real-world clinical setting. Employers will want to know that you have your license, so make sure you complete these exams and get licensed before you start applying for healthcare roles.
Related: 10 Low Stress but High Paying Jobs
Willingness to Relocate
One of the best things about pursuing a job in healthcare is that these roles will always be in demand. This means that finding a job near you shouldn’t be too difficult; however, you should also think about whether you are willing to relocate for the sake of your career. There will be areas where you will have better opportunities for your career to progress and better financial incentives. Although you might not have to do this, it’s important to think about if you would be open to moving to a different town, city, state, or even country to continue moving up the career ladder and making the most of these opportunities.
The healthcare industry has a lot to offer, and if you believe you have what it takes to become part of this incredible role remember these tips to help you begin your journey to becoming a healthcare professional.
