If you’re worried about having a job long-term, a job in healthcare is a good bet. It’s an industry that won’t be easily automated, and there is never a shortage of sick people. If you want to break into healthcare, you can do a few things to get your resume read by the right people.
If you want to get a job in healthcare, start your search on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is one of the top job sites and it’s free to use. You can apply for jobs with just one click!
What Is A Healthcare Job?
When you think about a healthcare job, you may think of doctors, nurses, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). These, of course, are the backbone of healthcare jobs, but they do not make up the whole body. Consider some of these other jobs.
Dentists, Hygienists, and Everyone Involved In Dental Care
Teeth are an essential part of healthcare, and one of the advantages of this field is it can be mostly 9:00 to 5:00. Sure, someone needs to be on call for emergencies, but it’s generally a healthcare field with bankers' hours.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists are the true experts on medication–they don’t just count up pills and hand them out. Hospital pharmacists manage complex cases and work closely with doctors and nurses to help patients.
Therapists Of All Types
Having mental health problems? You need a psychotherapist. Are you having knee problems? You need a physical therapist. Breathing problems? A respiratory therapist. The list goes on. These healthcare workers generally have direct patient care.
Aides and Techs Of All Types
If you don’t want to go to four, eight, or even more years of school, you can get into healthcare in these entry-level roles. You can be a certified nursing assistant, certified pharmacy tech, or a dental tech. These roles require licensing and training but less than professional ones, and some companies will train you.
Healthcare Adjacent Roles
Every medical facility needs IT people, repair technicians, housekeeping services, culinary services, and social workers. You can’t perform life-saving surgery if there is no one to clean the operating room. Without food, patients can’t get better, and registered nutritionists plan those meals.
Public Health
Remember all that contact tracing for Covid-19? That’s just one of the jobs public health officials do. They plan, protect, and prepare for the worst. They look at data and figure out the best approach to make things better. They give classes on pregnancy, drug usage, and how to manage your diabetes.
How To Get A Job In Healthcare
While healthcare jobs are generally abundant, you need to know some very important things about healthcare jobs. If you’re an employer looking to fill a healthcare job, or any other position, check out our list of the best free job posting sites.
1. Determine What Type Of Healthcare Job You Want
The first step is figuring out what type of healthcare job that you want. We listed a variety of options above for you to consider.
If you are struggling to figure out which direction you want to take, you may consider shadowing a few individuals who work in healthcare. This would give you an idea of what their day-to-day responsibilities are and if the role would be a good fit for you.
Related: How To Become A Nurse
2. Figure Out What Type Of Education Is Needed
Now that you know what type of healthcare job you want, it’s time to determine the education needed for that role. Some healthcare jobs, like medical transcriptionists, usually only require a high school diploma. Other healthcare jobs require certifications, licenses, associate’s degrees, four-year degrees or even post-graduate training.
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The level of education varies greatly depending on what type of healthcare position you are interested in. Once you determine the type of education or training that is needed, you can get started on tackling those education requirements.
3. Get Experience
Doctors, of course, have to go through internships and nurses need practicum hours. But, if you want to show your commitment to healthcare, getting an internship in a hospital or volunteering in a nursing home can help you stand out.
4. Polish Your Resume
Now that you have some experience under your belt and you’re working on your education requirements, it’s time to polish your resume. You want to make sure that your resume reflects your new education, new skills and is right for the healthcare job you are interested in.
If you need help with your healthcare resume, we recommend working with a resume writing service. Resume writing services are very affordable and are a great way to get expert help with your resume. After all of your hard work, you don’t want your resume being the thing holding you back from your dream healthcare job!
Check our our guide to the best resume writing services to learn more.
5. Apply For Jobs
It’s time to apply for jobs! We recommend applying for healthcare jobs on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is free for jobseekers and you can apply for jobs with a single click!
You can also upload your healthcare resume to ZipRecruiter’s resume database so that your resume is searchable for the thousands of recruiters and employers who use ZipRecruiter.
For more information, check out our ZipRecruiter review.
6. Network
Network, network, network. Just like all jobs, knowing the right people can really help you succeed. Healthcare is the same way. Work to meet people in your field, and you’ll find out when jobs open up before they hit the hospital’s job board.
7. Be Prepared for your interview
Interviews are your time to shine and prove to your possible future employer that you’re the best choice for the job. Don’t go into your interview unprepared. Learn how to prepare for, and nail an interview, with this personal branding and interview guide.
Additional Tips For Getting A Job In Healthcare
Be Prepared For A Background Check
Background checks are serious. As a healthcare worker, you’ll have contact with vulnerable people and their personal information. Expect a background check.
Make Sure Your Vaccinations Are Up-To-Date
Your vaccinations need to be up to date. The hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare facilities will most likely require you to be up to date on all vaccinations–not just Covid 19. If you haven’t had your tetanus shots updated recently, it might be time to do so!
With these basic things taken care of, some other things can help you get a job in healthcare. Consider these things to make you a more attractive candidate.
Be Willing To Work Nights And Weekends
Be willing to work nights and weekends. While healthcare jobs will always be abundant, the day shift fills up first. To get your foot in the door, you may want to volunteer to work the shifts fewer people wish to. People get sick 24 hours a day and need care of all types at 2:00 am.
Highlight Your Language Skills
Not every patient will speak English, and healthcare workers who know more than one language can benefit patient care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-paying healthcare job?
Physicians, surgeons, and dentists are at the top. This makes sense–they have the most training. Hospital administrators can also make a great deal of money.
What is the easiest job in healthcare?
That is a matter of opinion, based on what you like the most. But, the jobs that require the least amount of training are housekeeping and some cafeteria jobs. Many healthcare tech jobs require minimal training and can provide a secure job.
Is healthcare a good career?
Yes. People will always need healthcare, and hospitals cannot outsource it to cheaper places.
What is the quickest medical degree?
You can obtain tech and assistant degrees in one year or less. If you want to be a surgical tech, nursing assistant, pharmacy tech, or ultrasound technician, you can get your certification quickly with some hard work.
The Bottom Line
Healthcare is a great place to launch a career–especially if you like working with people. Medical facilities need all sorts of people to run smoothly. So, if you feel like healthcare might be the place for you, take a look at ZipRecruiter to find which jobs are available in your area.
