The Healthcare Careerist

How to Write a Cover Letter

2013-05-17T12:37:00Z

A cover letter is like an opening act. It introduces and sets the tone of your résumé, and it provides you with the ability to communicate directly to a hiring manager in a personal, yet professional, way. Its purpose is to capture the hiring manager’s interest. With many open positions, the manager can become overwhelmed easily by stacks of applications. A well-written cover letter will motivate the manager to learn more about you and keep your résumé at the top of the pile. Length of the Letter...(read more)

Questions You Should Ask Your Interviewer

2013-05-07T17:33:00Z

Although an interview can inspire some nervousness, it’s important to project your confidence by coming to your interview equipped with knowledge about the company along with a few strategic questions designed to demonstrate your interest in the organization. Here is what you need to know about the questions that you should ask and those that you should avoid when speaking with your interviewer. General Questions About the Work Environment Every company or organization has a specific work environment...(read more)

LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers

2013-04-29T17:42:00Z

LinkedIn has become an established resource for finding prospective employees within the healthcare field. The influence of LinkedIn is so important that anyone who is currently looking for a job should know that their profile will be searched for on this social networking site. While many people have a LinkedIn profile, they often fail to update it or successfully highlight their accomplishments. Additionally, LinkedIn has included a few recent changes that can be utilized to draw prospective employers’...(read more)

Résumé Writing Tips for Changing Careers

2013-04-25T18:08:00Z

When applying for a position in a new career, you will be up against others who may already have experience in healthcare; therefore, it’s essential for career changers to take advantage of these tips for writing a résumé that will impress potential employers. Analyze Past Work Experience Before beginning to write your résumé, analyze your past work experience, according to San Jose State University . Determine what types of skills you have demonstrated that are relevant to your new career. For example,...(read more)

Returning to Work After Caring for Family

2013-04-17T15:43:00Z

Returning to work after caring for children often can be accompanied by mixed emotions. While many parents look forward to reestablishing their identity in their healthcare career, they also may be nervous about how they will handle the responsibilities of both caring for a family and working. Although it may take some time for everyone to adjust to a parent going back to work, this transition can be smoothed by making a few simple preparations. Here are several ways to catch up on any changes in...(read more)

Choose Professional References Wisely

2013-04-01T14:01:00Z

When selecting applicants for a healthcare position, an employer will use many tools to screen job candidates. Along with interviews and resumes, providing professional references is an essential part of applying for a position in the healthcare field. The responses received from an applicant’s references will play an important role in the decision to hire that particular candidate, due to the serious nature of the responsibilities that a person in a healthcare position will be required to fulfill....(read more)

How to Become a Traveling Nurse

2013-03-13T14:47:00Z

Nursing is an exciting career choice that can lead to a lifetime of fulfilling work. The old image of a hospital nurse patiently dispensing pills in a white cap is gone; today’s nurses are vibrant, active, and constantly challenged. In fact, these days a number of nurses are taking their job on the road. Travel nurses work either full-time or part-time for a period of a few weeks or months at different hospitals across the country. Travel nurses may choose to work in an operating room, a neonatal...(read more)

Not All Healthcare Jobs On the Rise Require Going to Medical School

2013-02-12T18:06:00Z

Many people looking for jobs who have neither the time nor the inclination to spend years working for a medical degree can get started in some of the most in-demand careers in the healthcare industry with just a certificate or an associate’s degree. Here are a few to explore: Medical Secretaries Medical secretaries earn about $15 an hour, or between $31,000 and $45,000 annually , depending largely on their location and whether they are working in an office environment or a hospital. A medical secretary...(read more)

Be Prepared for the Dreaded Interview Question: Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?

2013-01-31T20:25:00Z

Of all the questions a job interviewer can ask, “Why did you leave your last job?” is one that most people would rather not hear. In the healthcare industry, this question can be especially difficult to answer. Many valid reasons exist for leaving a good healthcare job, but those reasons may not sound rational to someone who doesn’t understand the situation. Here are three scenarios and how you can explain each to a future employer if you’re asked the dreaded question in a job interview. Scenario...(read more)

Five Nursing Careers to Consider

2013-01-15T15:22:00Z

Making the decision to become a nurse takes personal inner strength and a commitment to help out other human beings. After all, nurses spend every day taking care of people who are far from their best. Nurses are almost always truly compassionate individuals, and this level of compassion for others is what drives them to seek out a career in the medical field. Although doctors have plenty of perks, and will generally receive a larger salary, nurses are the ones who often have the ability to have...(read more)

New Year's Resolutions for Your Career

2012-12-18T14:19:00Z

The promises you make to yourself as 2012 draws to a close and 2013 dawns can help you strengthen patient relationships, build your leadership abilities, and help you develop essential skills for taking your career to the next level. Here are five New Year’s resolutions that can help you enjoy greater success in the workplace: Keep the Focus on Your Patients Effective communication with your patients and their families forms the backbone of quality health care. How you communicate with your patients...(read more)

Emerging Career Opportunities in Healthcare

2012-12-12T17:55:00Z

Healthcare continues to be one of the fastest growing job markets in the nation, and studying for a career in healthcare makes sense for those who want job security and growth opportunities. Here are several “hot” jobs in healthcare that are currently promising good salaries for those who are trained to take these positions. Physical Therapist Physical therapists design and implement strategic plans to help patients regain mobility and use of body parts after strokes, injuries, or other traumas....(read more)

Searching for Jobs over the Holidays

2012-11-29T15:01:00Z

Many healthcare professionals insist that searching for a job between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is a fool's errand, yet the holiday season is a surprisingly busy time for healthcare recruiters. Despite the fact that many non-essential employees use the vacation hours that they've accumulated over the course of the year to take trips or cook meals, the raw reality of this demanding industry forecloses any possibility of a complete pause in hiring and recruiting activities. While it’s not the...(read more)

How to Quit a Job Tactfully

2012-11-12T19:00:00Z

As one of the few industries that has seen substantial expansion in this sub-par economy, the healthcare sector has recently experienced tremendous amounts of labor-force churn. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over the past year employment in healthcare has increased 295,000 ; however, this figure tells only part of the story. As one of the few industries that has seen substantial expansion in this sub-par economy. Although the industry has experienced a net jobs gain in recent years,...(read more)

How to Impress on Your First Day on the Job

2012-10-31T18:14:00Z

An estimated 13 percent of all jobs will be in the health care industry by 2020 — from patient care and support positions to jobs in administration. If you are joining this vibrant, growing field, you will need to be ready to impress on your first day on the job. Be Prepared Even if you have achieved a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or beyond in your chosen field, you will still need to pay your dues and prepare to work your way up the ladder. On your first day, you will most likely not be expected...(read more)