I never imagined that I would work in healthcare. It was not on my radar in college or in grad school as I pursued my master’s in education. Yet, I now work at a large Oregon healthcare institution, and it is not just me: my partner works at a healthcare company in Oregon, and both my mother and brother are in health-related fields in other states. And of the four of us, only one is currently a healthcare practitioner. I have to say, I was astounded when I realized this family trend. Though it is really not all that surprising considering that healthcare is a booming industry, adding 200,000 new jobs in 2013 (Forbes, 2014).
Have a liberal arts background? There’s room for that in the healthcare industry.
It was not until I started conducting my most recent job search that I realized that a healthcare company might be a viable employer. With my expertise and training in adult education, I did not make the connection that healthcare organizations would be recruiting professionals in this area. Nevertheless, in 2013 I was hired as a learning and development specialist to design, implement, and manage leadership development programs for an Oregon healthcare institution. Crazy, right?
But this is not unique. When I first joined my organization, I was struck by the sheer variety of jobs and the diverse professional experience of my colleagues. From human resources and payroll, to lab work and research studies, the work that is done here is incredibly diverse. Likewise, my job allows me to meet people from across the institution, and I am constantly learning about new departments and offices that do the most interesting work; some of it is esoteric and highly specialized, but a lot of it is work that one could do just about anywhere, like food services, concierge, or parking enforcement.
Make an entry-level position work for you.
My position is housed in Human Resources, so I get to hear about a lot of different kinds of opportunities, and I also know that applicants often apply for entry-level positions in order to get a foot in the door, which is true for any industry. In my experience, it is a lot easier to get hired or promoted from within than it is to submit an application when know one knows you or can vouch for you. Temporary employment is also a great option for gaining experience and connections with the aim of getting a future position in your chosen field. My partner was hired into his current healthcare position, in part, because he had been a temp employee for the same organization a few years earlier and still had excellent, internal references.
So, if one wants to work, say, as a medical assistant but is not having a lot of success in the job search process, why not consider an office job as a potential entry point? Oftentimes, we get so focused on our specific job goal as applicants that we do not think outside the box about other opportunities that can get us closer to where we want to be. My advice is to start looking at a variety of positions, pick a few that are interesting and for which you are qualified, and start applying more broadly. If nothing else, it is good practice for when that dream job becomes available.
Come visit Health Hires here. Take a look at all of our current opportunities including: This week our featured employer, ZOOM+, is looking for a Product Manager. Southwest Oregon IPA, Inc. has two featured positions: Utilization Review RN and Associate Medical Director. ATRIO Health Plans is hiring for two positions: Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Customer Operations
Donate Life Northwest is seeking a Program Director.
Catholic Community Services wishes to add a Family Therapist/Clinician II to their team.
For inquiries concerning Health Hires please contact Rian Sands at [email protected].
