In this economy, it is the best of times and the worst of times to be looking for a job in the medical field. It all depends on what type of job you’re looking for. New opportunities are arising, while some traditional roles are limited and even in decline.
Although there is a lot of talk about a nursing shortage in the U.S., Rob Claxton, Director of Marketing at MedJobsPost.com, notices that there are many new graduates who are not getting hired. He doesn’t think it’s a shortage so much as it is that healthcare organizations want to mitigate risk by hiring more tenured professionals who have earned their stripes, and have a solid work history. Nevertheless, as more hospitals are seeking to cut staff rather than hire, new jobs in the medical field are trending away from traditional settings and into the growing fields of home health and long-term care facilities. As such, Claxton advises those seeking employment in the medical field to look at those more active fields first. With an aging population and with businesses- including hospitals- trying to save money in every area, home health care is growing as other, more traditional settings struggle.
According to Claxton, there seems to be more demand in the medical field for those who work for hourly wages (medical assistants, clerical positions etc.) versus salaried, more credentialed jobseekers who are more apt to stay put when they’ve got a position in which they are happy, or at least stable. For experienced professionals who are interested in making a move, Claxton recommends they too seek opportunities in the home health sector, in addition to more traditional employment settings.
“Above all- be flexible”, Claxton says. “If you can move around and relocate for a job, that helps. Broaden your experience as much as possible, rather than sticking with one specialty. Work your network. Nurses know nurses. If you cannot find a job, either out of college or as an experienced professional, consider volunteer work; it can only enhance your resume.”
If you find that you need further education, there are all sorts of for-profit nursing/medical trade schools, along with traditional colleges and universities, that can help you to obtain the certifications and degrees necessary. Don’t just decide without investigation, however. Balance opportunities and commitments in order to reach a decision that fits your lifestyle.
While the market is tougher, there are also many new opportunities out there. Claxton encourages jobseekers in the medical field to keep building experience, and to take advantage of growing trends. Where one opportunity ends, another is created. The more experience you can gain, the better chance you have of landing a great job in the medical field.
Rob Claxton is the Director of Marketing at MedJobsPost.com. MedJobsPost.com is a premier online job board catering to healthcare providers and support staff exclusively. With the exception of the physicians themselves, from clinical to clerical, you can find it there.
