From front desk receptionist to medical assistant, the biggest struggle is to land a job in the medical field. What do you do when you finish school and the only experience you have is the internship - or you don’t have any experience at all?

That question is what prompted me to interview the hiring staff at one of the top hospitals in Boston - and now I’m passing on their wisdom to other Jobcasers!

Getting a Medical Assistant Job

I first interviewed a lead medical assistant from one of the top teaching hospitals in Boston, MA. He shed some light on this matter: “Applying to a job without any experience is not the problem. It’s the fact that the employer doesn’t know who you are, so they are really taking risk to hire a potential candidate.”

Medical Assistant and CNA programs are designed to help you find a job. After the program, career services should be your main resource; however, that is not always the case. One way to enter the medical field is through temp agencies. Most hospitals are affiliated with at least one temp agency to cover their employees when they are on maternity leave, sick, or for other reasons. True, it is not permanent; but it can get you the experience you need and get supervisors to notice you.

Think about it this way: Hospitals are currently cutting a lot of their budget, so they would rather promote or even hire someone that knows the department and the people, because it’s less time consuming and more budget-friendly. If you’re already working for that hospital - even as a temp - you’re much more likely to get hired for a full-time job.

A Few Nursing Insider Tips

Nursing is a high demand field with a wide range of departments in which to begin your career. If you are looking to work in a specialized department, employers will look for work experience in that area, especially in the OB/GYN or Pediatrics section.

However, for those who have no experience except for clinical experience, it is suggested to work as a floor nurse first because there will be more than one nurse there to help you with any questions or concerns. Normally, nurses get their schedule one to two months in advance and have 12-hour shifts for two to three days at a time. So an option for first-time nurses who want to work in a specialty can be to work for an temp agency while also working as a floor nurse, so you can get hands on experience in the department of interest.

The interview process for nurses usually takes longer than other medical positions because it’s a two-part process. The first round of interviews begins with the management team or human resources department. Most of the time, management will interview 10 to 20 candidates. The strongest five candidates go onto to the second round of interviews, which includes meeting with physicians or the head of that department. Questions can range from “Why do want to work in this department?” to a case scenario on a patient.

Word of advice: Though you have a degree, your past work experience still does count, as do your references. Make sure you’re getting references from the employers and people who know you best. If you don’t have work history as a nurse, you can still ask your past professors and teachers to be your references.

Does Your Retail Experience Count?

One of the many challenges of entering in the medical field is the little experience that is obtained either through school or an internship. Sometimes I myself have wondered how can I stand out from the crowd. Little did I know that my past work experience in other fields actually counts.

It’s all about perspective, not perception!

For example, you work at Macy’s, and you have to provide amazing customer service. You need to have a great personality, be able to multitask, and be able to handle a fast-paced environment around the holidays. All these skills translate to the healthcare field, especially when dealing with patients who may be upset, emotional, or difficult.

Word of advice: Take the skills you already have and use them to your advantage. Remember, every experience and skill you have can be useful to an employer. Think outside the box - whether you’re a great communicator or you know how to diffuse a difficult situation, you have something special that makes you worth hiring!

How To Find a Job as a Nurse In a Specialty Department

If you’re a new nursing grad or a nurse with less than three years of experience, you probably have your heart set on working within a specific department at a hospital. Now you work on the floor, but unfortunately this is not the area you want to work. So that leaves you with a burning question…

How do you transition from working on the floor to Pediatrics or OB/GYN?

The answer is surprisingly simple: while working on the floor during the day, you should go to temp agency and work in the specialty departments during the evening. This allows you to get the experience you need while still be financially stable. It’s definitely not a schedule for the fainthearted, but it’s definitely going to get you in that specialty department faster.

Word of advice: Don’t keep all your hard work to yourself, especially while you’re on interviews. If you’ve worked days and trained during nights, this shows employers that you’re committed to achieving your goals. Be proud of your hard work - you deserve a big pat on the back!

What’s the HR Process Like?

At first glance applying for a job in the medical field might feel like one gigantic obstacle. But don’t worry - we can help you create the kind of application that helps your resume jump out at recruiters.

Ready?

Here’s the secret: When you apply to a position in the medical field, it goes through a filtering system and picks up the keywords that matches the job description and qualifications. So the more you tailor your resume to match the job description, the more likely it is that you’ll get picked for an interview. So next time you are applying to a job, make sure to keep in mind the job description and tailor your resume according to that job.

But what happens if you have a gap in your work experience?

First of all, don’t panic. The best way to fill in that gap is to do some volunteer work at an after-school program, hospital, or non-profit organization. This allows employers to see that you were keeping yourself occupied, as well as enhancing your skills. If, for some reason, you couldn’t find the time to interview, make sure to point that out during your interview. That way, employers can keep this in mind when mulling over your application.

Word of advice: Most companies - especially hospitals - are looking for a candidate that is flexible. Why do you ask? It helps the transition in the department when one person is absent. By pointing out your flexibility, you’re essentially telling a potential employer that they can count on you when they need you the most.

We hope you use these tips to land the healthcare job you’ve been eyeing. Just do us one favor - make sure you come back to Jobcase to share your success story!