I currently am a cytogenetics tech and given todays job market, I want to diversify my skills. We live in a mid sized Midwestern town and my lab is the only one in town that does what I do - in the event we downsize, relocation for my job is not an option because of all the family ties.

I am not an MLT/MT(I have a BS in Biology) but I do have ASCP BOC certification. I am trying to find a way to use my lab skills and maybe get some further education so I can make myself more marketable. There are MT/MLT programs in town - but all during regular working  hours. I have seen online programs where you do all your education online and then partner with a clinical mentor in town - don't know how to go about getting a clinical mentor and if it worth the thousands of dollars to get another credential(I am thinking of maybe molecular biology or histology). I have a lot of different skills I can put on a resume, but given todays market is it good enough to say you are a muli-tasking team player with great organizational skills? I am trying to decide if I should expand and diversify my lab skills, or get training in another field like HIM,nursing or health management. I do enjoy working in a lab setting but family comes before any job - and if I need to change career to continue living in this town and support my family, then I'll do what I need to.

Is anyone else out there doing further education, like MBA's or geting another certification?

What skills do you look for in your search for new lab employees - are you looking specificallyf for categorical skills( like blood bank or hematology) or do you look at the other expereinces of the applicants?

What are you doing to expand your skill set- training classes, continuing education or classes/training outside your field?

I am interested in seeing what experiences people have had in moving around the lab field and around in the healthcare settings.

Thank you for sharing your opinions and experiences!

:)

Over the years, I’ve had several jobs in and out of the lab. I think most employers want employees who will get along with their coworkers and who can adapt to the daily routine and corporate culture in their workplace. In the lab, you’d only be competing with 2-5 properly credentialed applicants, not 20-50, so getting your MT/MLT could be a plus.

However, many labs are now reducing their need for techs. Robots have taken over many repetitive tasks. Lab assistants perform many routine tasks and do low complexity testing. Is your local hospital following this trend? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to request an informational interview with the lab manager and learn about the lab’s projected staffing needs and how you might fit into the picture.

Also, why not talk with the director or the career counselor at the local and online schools you’re considering? They may have helpful answers to your questions about classroom schedules and lining up a clinical mentor. One of my coworkers is an MLT taking online classes to get her MT. Her mentor is one of our pathologists.

Check out your local business directory. Think about what you like and dislike about your current job, and how each of the local employers might need someone with your talents and skills.

When I was selecting a major, I thought about how much I hated waiting tables, and how much fun I had working in the restaurant’s kitchen, where I made salads, fried bacon, and assembled sandwiches. I still see the similarities between a restaurant kitchen and a hospital lab, and I still think I’m happier as an MT than I would have been as an RN.

I spend a few hours a week working as office manager for my husband’s small business. I took courses in Microsoft Office, and I’ve learned my way around QuickBooks. If I should need, or want, to transition, the groundwork is there. Do a little research, and you’ll develop your own plan.