How to Find a Job in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has some of the highest demand for labor in America. The reality is, people will always have health requirements and therefore a need for healthcare workers. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.6 million jobs will be added to the industry by 2031.

Careers in Healthcare include:

• Nurse
• Doctor
• Medical biller
• Home health aide
• Physician’s assistant
• Physical therapist
• Pharmacy technician

The industry gained a newfound respect due to the pandemic. Everyone was frantically relying on the tiresome efforts of healthcare workers. Now, there are more jobs than ever in the industry. If you’re thinking of getting a job in healthcare, here are some things to consider.

Do Your Research

While becoming a doctor sounds like the ultimate achievement, you must be prepared to work around the clock and accept that you may struggle to find a work-life balance. If you’re interested in mental health, do you dream to work with patients directly, like a therapist, or are you more intent on collecting data to create intervention plans? The point is, you need to know what you’re getting into and how to achieve it before doing anything drastic like signing up for a four-year degree.

Healthcare is broad and has opportunities in more fields than you may realize. It’s important to understand the line of work you’d like to get into. Volunteering at a local nursing home or non-profit organization is a great way to get an idea of a regular day on the job. This is also great work experience to add to your resume. It’s a good idea to build your network in healthcare with whom you can discuss pros, cons, advice, and opportunities.

Training and Education

Work in healthcare is often thought to be limited to those who have studied for years at university. There are actually positions in the industry that only require high school diplomas or college certificates. For example, a medical transcriptionist may only require a high school diploma, while a dental hygienist needs a certificate from a valid college, and a physical therapist will need a university degree.

Many employers will even hire candidates without experience and do on-the-spot training to upskill their staff the way they’d like. These include:

• Certified nurse assistance
• Food service worker
• Medical transcriptions
• Patient care technician
• Psychiatric aide

Once you’ve done your research and know the field you’d like to be in, figure out the requirements and proceed to gain the experience and skills you need. It’s worth already getting an idea of potential employers. You could work for them in a part-time position while you study. Not only will this gain you experience in the field, and credit with the company, but they may even pay for your education costs. If they don’t already offer to do so, pitch the idea of working for them post-qualification in exchange for tuition compensation.

Know Where to Look

Scrolling through listings on general job boards is a good start, but job seeking in a more targeted space will be more effective. There are numerous healthcare-specific job boards. If an employer is aiming to fill vacancies with qualified, serious candidates, they’re more likely to be posting it one of these:

• Healthcare Job Site
• JAMA Career Center
• Medicaljobs.org
• Health eCareers
• CareerBuilder
• MedJobsCafe.com
• HealthJobsNationwide.com
• HospitalCareers
• Health Career Center

Ensure your resume is up to date with any relevant experience and skills. Don’t forget your soft skills! Healthcare requires strong people skills like communication, compassion, and empathy. If you haven’t had the opportunity to gain much work experience yet, focus on your transferable skills. A job in retail or reception, for example, has relevant people skills required in healthcare.

Chances are, you know someone working in healthcare. Chat to people you know and make it obvious that you’re looking for work. Tell them what you’re already studying or fields you’re considering but need more information on. Attend networking events and job fairs. Reach out to alumni or classmates who have entered the industry and learn how they did so. You never know who will have your missing piece of the workforce puzzle.

Choose Where to Work

Once you’ve done your research, gained the skills, and updated your resume, you need to decide where you’d like to work. It may even be worth considering relocating for a job in healthcare. Here are some state rankings that could impact your decision.

• By Job Openings in Healthcare Top states with the highest demand for healthcare professionals in 2022 (comphealth.com)
  1. California
  2. New York
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. Illinois
  5. Wisconsin
• By Average Salary in Healthcare USA Healthcare Salaries: Average USA Healthcare Salary By Location, Job Title, and Department (zippia.com)
  1. Pennsylvania
  2. Minnesota
  3. Texas
  4. Wisconsin
  5. Missouri
  6. Iowa
• By Cost of Living (Lowest) Cheapest States To Live In For 2022 – Forbes Home
  1. Mississippi
  2. Kansas
  3. Alabama
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Georgia

You need to decide where you’d like to work depending on what your priorities are.

It’s also important to choose a company that prioritizes your happiness and well-being. Healthcare can be a tough gig with its long working hours and emotionally-tolling nature. You don’t want to start a job somewhere that lacks a support system and uses you as a band-aid for their labor shortage. Finally, ensure you’re offered the salary and benefits you require to not only pay the bills but also be satisfied in your job.