Whether you are just starting out in the world of work or you are looking to change professions, the healthcare industry is a great option. Many people assume that the healthcare industry runs on the backs of doctors, nurses, and surgeons. While these professions, of course, play a vital role within the health industry, they only represent a small portion of the jobs available. In fact, the healthcare industry is a major employer and is only able to function because of the hard work of a wide range of employees.
This guide is here to help you learn more about the types of jobs that are available in the health care industry, as well as top tips for helping you get your new career off the ground today.
Is The Healthcare Industry Right for You?
While, of course, you can change careers paths at any time in your life, it is still worth making sure you are making the right decision when you are choosing your career. Before focusing on any particular role, it is a good idea to spend a little time finding out if the healthcare industry is right for you.
Healthcare is a buzzing and innovative industry that can be busy and fast-paced. It is a great choice for people who gain value from helping others and working within a team. Within the healthcare field, it is possible to work in a range of different working environments and working hours. Healthcare also has a great potential for career progression. If this type of field is appealing to you, then it is time to focus on finding the right role in the healthcare industry.
Finding The Right Role for You
The first step, when it comes to starting a career in healthcare, is to find the right role for your needs, skills, and preferences. To do this, it is a good idea to spend some time thinking about what you want from your job.
You should consider what you value, how you enjoy spending your time, what type of salary you want, and where your skills and talents lie. This will help you to better understand if you are looking to work more on the business side or directly with patients. As well as identifying your personal skills, you should take some time to consider what type of working environment and hours you wish to work. You should also think about if you would be happy to do some further studying before you begin your new career or if you would prefer to get straight into work.
Once you have spent some time thinking about what you wish to get out of your new job, it can then be useful to learn more about the type of roles there are available in the healthcare industry. The list below is by no means exhaustive but has been designed to give you some idea of just how varied a job in the healthcare field can be.
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A Medical Assistant
If you want to get straight into the world of work and you enjoy the idea of working within a team of others, then you might want to consider becoming a medical assistant. The main tasks of medicate assistant will involve competing for administrative tasks and supporting medical staff. While it is possible to get a job as a medical assistant without any former training, you will likely earn more and gain more responsibility if you are able to complete a relevant training course.
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A Nursing Assistant
If you like the sound of working as a medical assistant but want to have a little bit more hands-on responsibility, then you might want to consider working as a nursing assistant. It is the role of a nursing assistant to help a registered nurse. This can involve obtaining vital signs, speeding, and helping patients to wash or organize medical equipment. It is common for a nursing assistant to work in a hospital, doctors’ surgery, or retirement home. It is possible to begin work as a nursing assistant without any formal training, or you can get ahead by attending a relevant training course.
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A Therapist
A therapist or a counselor works directly with patients to help them deal with mental health problems and disorders. To work as a licensed therapist, you will need to have obtained a degree in psychology. Many therapists and counselors choose to specialize in a certain practice, whether that be child psychology, helping people deal with trauma, or certain mental health disorders. If you enjoy listening and helping people with their mental health and are ready to study before entering the world of work, then you might want to consider becoming a therapist.
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A Pharmacist
A pharmacist plays a vital role within the healthcare industry, as they are responsible for making sure that a patient gets their necessary prescription. A pharmacist needs to have an in-depth knowledge of medicine, pharmacist, and patient care as they play an important role in healthcare, as a pharmacist will need to be sure that a patent’s medications are all safe to take together. A pharmacist usually works in a pharmacy or a hospital.
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A Pharmacy Technician
If you are interested in working with medication and patient care but don’t want to invest the necessary studying time in order to become a pharmacist, then you might want to consider becoming a pharmacy technician. A pharmacy technician is responsible for helping the pharmacist assist patients. A pharmacy technician does not need to have the necessary education for drug prospection, but they will need to learn about drug names, drug uses how to dispense and dose medications correctly to ensure safety.
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A Physical Therapist
A physical therapist works directly with patients to help them to recover after the event of injury or illness. A physical therapist works in a hands-on style, using tools and exercises to help patients to build up strength and motion to help their patients to regain independence and quality of life. In order to work as a licensed physical therapist, you will need to have taken the relevant necessary course. Most physical therapists work in hospitals, dedicated treatment, or rehabilitation centers.
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A Phlebotomist
If you have good people skills and want to work in a hands-on environment to provide an invaluable service, then you might want to consider becoming a phlebotomist. A phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood that will then be used for donations, tests, transfusions, and research. You do not need to study at a university in order to do this work, but you will be required to attend a short training course.
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A Medical Transcriptionist
The main role of a medical transcriptionist is to listen to recordings from medicate professionals and transcribe what they hear. If you are a good listener and a strong typist that wants to work in the healthcare industry without having to obtain further education or training, then this might be the perfect role for you.
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Healthcare Administration
If you are practical and business-minded, then you might want to consider working in the field of healthcare administration. Healthcare administration, otherwise known as healthcare management or hospital management, is a vital leadership role without which hospitals and surgeries would not be able to continue running safely or effectively. While they do not have a direct relationship with patients, healthcare administrators can have a big impact, as they can determine the overall success of the organization. If you are interested in this type of role, you should look into studying an online MHA.
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A Dietician
A dietician, otherwise known as a nutritionist, works directly with patients to educate and help them to create a specialized dietary plan. There are many reasons why a patient might choose to work with a dietician. The patient might be trying to lose weight for health reasons. Alternatively, they might be looking to deal with a new diagnosis such as diabetes or a form of food intolerance. In order to work as a dietician, you will need to study to learn more about how different foods affect the human body, how the body breaks down food, and how health, fitness, and nutrient interact with each other. A dietician might work in a hospital, a doctor’s surgery, or a private clinic.
The list above provides only a limited number of examples of possible positions in the healthcare industry. While the above list is by no means exhaustive, it should help you to better understand how varied potential jobs roles in the healthcare industry can be.
Getting Starting in The World of Healthcare
Now that you know a little bit more about potential roles in the healthcare industry, it is time to focus on getting started.
Identify Your Transferable Skills
Just because you have no direct experience in the healthcare industry, this does not mean to say you don’t have any relevant skills. For example, if you are looking to work directly with patients, then people skills and experience working directly with the public will be useful. Whereas, if you are looking to work more on the administrative side, then computer literacy and organizational skills will be invaluable.
Read Up on Relevant Roles
Once you have identified which roles within the healthcare industry interest you and suit your strengths, it is a good idea to spend some time reading up on these positions. You should look into earning potential, working hours, working environment, and potential career progression. Learning this type of information early on will help you to ensure that you are choosing the right career for you today, but to support your long-term goals too.
Get Some Experience
Whether you are looking to go straight into the working world or you would be going back to school for further study before starting work, it is a good idea to get some experience in your chosen healthcare role early on. Getting some experience, even if you are only shadowing someone for a week, can be hugely useful. This is because getting hands-on experience will help you to better understand what a day’s work looks like and how you feel in this working environment.
You don’t need to have contacts in the industry in order to get some experience. In fact, you can just try contacting your local healthcare provider and explaining who you are, what your aims are, and why you wish to gain some experience volunteering with them.
Find Someone to Talk To
Another great way to learn more about your chosen profession and to gain some more practical, personalized advice is to find someone to speak to directly. This could be a professor, your doctor, or another medical professional. It is common to be nervous when it comes to reaching out to people and asking for advice, but there is no need to be. Everyone was at the start of their career at some point, and you will usually find people who are more than happy to help you and answer your questions.
Choose the Right Course
If your chosen career path does require you to gain some extra qualifications, then it is important that you spend time finding the right course for you. There are so many different options available when it comes to studying. You can study full-time, part-time, in person, or online. You should carefully consider your current lifestyle and living arrangements to ensure you can choose a course in which you are able to dedicate the necessary time and energy to gain the most value. It is also a good idea to look into the reputation of the course and the institution you are studying with to ensure you are getting the most value out of your studies. It is also possible to look into past student reviews to find out more about the learning experience at different institutions.
Choosing to study is an investment in your future, so it is important that you take the time to find the right solution for your needs, preferences, and potential.
