Photo Courtesy: Yuya Tamai
One of the best career planning steps in an unstable economy is considering a job in the medical profession. Healthcare is such a broad field that individuals can choose from many different types of careers.
However, if you are looking for a career in this profession, you should realize that there are tactics that you should use to increase your chances of landing a job. Many people will be competing for the same jobs; therefore, it is important to know about the different qualifications, where to look, and how to stand out from other candidates.
Home Health Aides
A career as a home health aide can be an exciting career. Many people who are currently in the medical profession began their careers as home health aides. One benefit of this job is that people do not have to go to a community college or technical college to get a degree or certification. Home health aides can be trained on the job.
Within the next few years, hundreds of thousands of home health aides will be needed; therefore, the job outlook for this profession is great. The best places to look for careers as a home health aide will be in health homes and hospice settings. Potential home health aides can increase their chances of acquiring the position by showing that they are capable of being independent, can handle emergencies, and are compassionate.
Certified Nursing Assistants
A career as a certified nursing assistant is a great career, especially if people desire to become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses. Certified nursing assistants are special assistants that help licensed practical nurses and registered nurses daily. They perform tasks such as feeding or bathing patients.
Being certified in this career is not always required; however, one way to increase your chances of getting the job is to become certified. Many community colleges and technical colleges offer one semester training programs for certified nursing assistants. Certified nursing assistants are needed in a lot of organizations; therefore, candidates should look for jobs in hospital settings, home health settings, and retirement homes.
Physical Therapist Assistants
If you would like to have a lot of contact with other people, then you should look into becoming a physical therapist assistant. The job outlook for physical therapist assistants is great, with a projected outlook of tens of thousands of available jobs in the next few years.
In order to become a physical therapist assistant, people will need to complete an associate’s degree in physical therapy. Once the degree is completed, they can begin to look for jobs in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, and schools. If you can acquire some type of internship before finishing your degree, your odds of landing a job will increase. Employers like to hire physical therapist assistants who already have some type of experience.
Dental Assistant
If you decide to become a dental assistant, you will have the opportunity to work with dentists and dental hygienists. You get to assist the dentist and dental hygienists with different dental procedures, including having direct contact with the patient. Most dentists prefer candidates to have degrees or certifications in dental assisting; these certifications and degrees can be acquired at two-year colleges or trade schools. The best place to look for these jobs is at dental offices. Potential candidates can look for internships to gain experience to increase their chances of getting the job.
Healthcare is a great area to begin a career. By getting the necessary qualifications and knowing where to look, you can greatly increase your odds of getting a job that fits your skills and interests.
Dunya Carter is a HR and marketing specialist who enjoys writing articles on topics related to career development and marketing for a variety of websites and blogs. She is currently working as a consultant for Ochre Medical Recruitment (http://ochrerecruitment.com/), a recruitment agency specializing in permanent and locum medical jobs.
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