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Industry insider: what it takes to get a good job in healthcare

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The healthcare industry is one of the largest and most saturated job markets today. After all, the industry’s average wage continues to increase at a relatively faster pace and the demand for different healthcare professions remains strong and vibrant, despite less than stable economic conditions. To find a good job in the healthcare field and find out more about the industry, use the following five tips.

Get a good education

This does not necessarily mean you have to bury yourself in student loans just to get a master’s degree in the most expensive school in the country. Getting a bachelor’s in health information management is sometimes all you need and will help you land a decent IT job at a healthcare center or primary care facility. A bachelor’s degree will definitely take time and money to finance, but it significantly boosts your potential annual salary and makes you a more valuable asset to potential employers.

Be involved

Work on projects outside your curriculum or volunteer in local healthcare centers during your free time, working in any available position they have. Apply for summer internships in laboratory settings if you are interested in working at the back-end of healthcare operations. Don’t just rely on your school’s program to give you field experience. Proactively find ways to apply your skills and interest in the healthcare industry.

Scout online

A vast majority of healthcare employers will turn down in-person applications. Nowadays, most management settings are geared towards assessing candidacy via the web first since it makes the process more streamlined for them. If they like your credentials, only then will you be invited for an onsite interview. Scout all the trusted websites you can find that list healthcare jobs. Filter your search to increase the efficiency of vetting job listings and sort by relevant filters, such as date posted, company name, relevance, and contract type, be it full-time, part-time, or per-diem.

Network nonstop

Contact friends, distant relatives, former classmates, professors, and anyone else you can think of. Spend time attending healthcare conferences and seminars, posting in job boards and forums, and adding people on social media. These connections can provide in-depth information about the industry, feedback and insight about specific employers, and heads-ups on exclusive job positions you cannot find elsewhere.

Nail the interview

Dress smart and act professional any time you meet with healthcare professionals. Practice your social skills, as this is an earmark of any good healthcare professional. How you portray yourself in an interview will play a significant role in whether or not you land the job.

Finding a good healthcare job doesn’t require the most brains or the deepest pockets. Simply stay with the fundamental principles of looking for a job and you’ll end up doing better than most.

Do you have what it takes to get a good job in healthcare? Tell us below.

Photo: Evan Blaser / Flickr

Brooke ChaplanIndustry insider: what it takes to get a good job in healthcare

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