The need for job experience in order to enjoy a lucrative career is a bit of a paradox that most people bump up against at some point. You know the deal. Most major employers want to hire people with experience, but how are you supposed to get it when no one is willing to take a chance on an up-and-comer like yourself?
There are many answers to this question, but your time in school is a uniquely good opportunity to get your first taste of professional life. In this article, we take a look at a few tips that will help you gain healthcare industry experience early into your college degree.
Identify Relevant Skills
What job skills are most relevant to what you are eventually interested in doing? Do you like the data side of healthcare? Patient interactions? Nursing? Maybe you are interested in administration or leadership? Pinpointing what technical aspects of the work you enjoy will allow you to shape a persona that most spotlights those skills.
Once you figure out what aspect of the work blows your hair back, you can start looking for opportunities that highlight that specific skill. This may make it easier to find a job that you enjoy upon graduation.
Speak with Your Teachers
Many of your teachers will still be dialed into the local healthcare industry. Some may still be working within it. They will have excellent information on how you can acquire a little work experience while still working on your degree. They may even be able to give you an inside scoop on what local employers look for in a new hire.
Be as specific as possible. Talk to them about what aspects of healthcare interest you and what sort of career goals you have. Many people are so eager to take the first job offer they get out of college that they wind up working somewhere they don’t like.
That doesn’t need to be you. You’re thinking about this early enough that you have the potential to build toward something that excites you.
Look for Internships
Internships are a classic way for students to get work experience while they are still in college. They can be a bit of a drag. Most are unpaid and will need to be completed while you also work on your school assignments. For students that also need to work a paid job during school, the unpaid aspect of school internships can be restrictive.
Still, if you have the opportunity to get an internship, you should go for it. Not only does this give you work experience, but it is also an excellent networking opportunity. Unpaid gigs often transition into legitimate job offers after graduation.
Volunteer
Volunteering at a local clinic can also help you to gain valuable experience. Obviously, being a volunteer is no more lucrative than being an intern but it does look good on your resume, and one also can’t discount the fact that it is simply a nice thing to do.
Volunteering may also introduce you to aspects of the healthcare industry you hadn’t previously considered, shaping your future interests. And, like some of the other considerations on our list, it can potentially turn into a networking opportunity.
You never know who you will meet at the clinic or blood drive, so go in prepared to make a strong impression.
Consider Joining a School Club
No, not the chess team. Well, maybe. If you have time. What we really mean is that you should look for clubs and student-led organizations that are relevant to your field. Most likely, your department will have at least one relevant student-led organization. There may even be a fraternity/sorority that is specifically focused on healthcare or volunteering, or community outreach, or—well. You name it.
Not only might this help you find new opportunities to flex some of your healthcare muscles but it’s also—
A great opportunity for networking?
Hey. There’s an idea.
Think About it From the Employer’s Perspective
As you work on making yourself career ready, it’s a good idea to put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Think about what they want— a skilled, dependable, stable employee. Yes, they want someone with work experience. We’ve covered that. But how else can you make yourself into the sort of person they want to hire?
HR departments working on recruitment look into:
- Social media: If you’re in college chances are you know people who post absurd things about their life on social media. It’s so easy to publish your thoughts and behaviors now that not everyone takes the time to self-edit. But you aren’t like all of those other people, right? You understand that part of landing a job out of college is to develop a desirable persona. Social media is a good place to do that. Figure out how to make tasteful posts that explain exactly how you are the person a recruiter wants you to be. If you can’t do that, it’s usually better not to post at all.
- Job fairs: Job fairs are also still alive and well on college campuses. Arrive dressed to impress and fully prepared to hand out resumes and have productive conversations. Many of the recruiters will be happy to hear from an ambitious college student looking to hit the ground running after graduation, so don’t be shy.
- Word of mouth: We used the word “networking,” with great frequency for a reason. Recruiters take great stock in recommendations from people they trust. Anyone willing to put in the effort can scrape together a good resume and social media presence that makes them look like the ideal candidate. But recruiters want to know what it’s like to actually work with you. Establishing connections and relationships now will help you make a good name for yourself in the healthcare industry after graduation.
It is worth noting that now is a good time to enter the healthcare industry. You are hitting the scene at a time when almost every hospital is at least a little understaffed, and some of them are dangerously so. Work hard. Make relationships. Put yourself out there. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a great job in the healthcare industry.
