There are many great reasons for choosing a career in healthcare. Now is an excellent time to consider the right career path for you and take advantage of growing job demand.
Healthcare offers numerous options depending on your interests and skill set. That being said, there are a lot of methods for gaining new skills and exploring different options in the world of healthcare.
One good way to consider what positions and paths are the best fit for you is to list the skills you already have and then those that you do not.
Important skills for a career in healthcare
Here are some of the skills that are desirable no matter what area of healthcare you plan on working in.
Spoken and written communication
A career in healthcare means working with people from many different backgrounds and skill sets. You need to be great at talking to others and articulating exactly what you mean as simply as possible.
A large part of communications within departments or throughout a medical facility may be done using the written word. Taking some writing classes is a great way to learn how to write easy-to-understand memos, emails and letters. Good spoken and written communication skills help hospitals and other medical facilities avoid frustrating miscommunications and mistakes that impact the quality of care offered.
Those working in healthcare administration will need to gain public speaking skills if they do not already feel confident speaking in front of crowds. There are classes and groups such as the Toastmasters that can help people build their public speaking skills and confidence when addressing crowds of all sizes.
Cultural awareness
As areas become more diverse, the need for increased cultural awareness has become apparent. People from different cultural and social backgrounds may have customs and concerns that influence how they need to be cared for at a medical facility. For example, some religious customs may prohibit a patient from accepting a blood transfusion. While doctors may not think this is in the best interest of the person receiving the care, they must respect the wishes of the patient.
Some hospitals have started requiring staff to take cultural awareness classes or arrange for community leaders to come and teach staff about their cultures.
A great bedside manner and patience
People receiving any type of care or treatment can be under a lot of stress. The stress level depends on the individual and the seriousness of the issues they are facing. Great healthcare professionals know how to talk calmly and express great empathy when dealing with patients and their families.
Patients and loved ones may lash out with unkind words and blame while coming to terms with tough healthcare news. It is important to prepare yourself for these situations. You must never say anything unkind in return. It is critical to realize that those speaking are undergoing emotional pain and that you are the closest person for them to lash out at. It is not anything personal.
Mentoring and training
Many medical facilities are learning the importance of good mentorship and training when they recruit and hire new employees. If you are in a position where you can take on a mentorship or training role, then it is a great idea to express interest and volunteer for these opportunities as they arise.
If there are no opportunities at your workplace, then you can gain mentorship skills by volunteering with various non-profit organizations. For example, Big Brothers and Big Sisters can help people build skills in this area.
Organization and attention to detail
There is not a lot of room for mistakes in healthcare. While it’s true that everyone makes mistakes, it is important to take steps to avoid them when possible. Being well organized plays a major difference in how many mistakes are made on the job. In addition, good organization allows medical facilities to offer a higher level of care to more people.
Healthcare workers need to have a very good eye for detail. It is important to be observant of everything that is going on around you and any details that may be relevant to the care of a patient or department that you are responsible for.
Determination and fortitude
There are bound to be some challenges when it comes to working in any sector in healthcare. There will be times when no matter what you do, the outcome is not what you would like it to be. In these moments, you need to admit that some things are beyond your control while at the same time analyzing the situation to see if there are some things you can do in the future to reduce the odds of a negative outcome in a similar situation.
Challenges come and go. Healthcare workers, particularly administrators, need to be able to meet challenges head-on and persevere to overcome them even when they take longer to overcome than anyone expects. Small steps often lead to big rewards, and that is something that can be applied to practically any of life’s challenges.
Good coping skills and mental health
Healthcare workers must develop methods for coping with difficult situations and emotions. There will likely be times when you need to work long hours or shifts that make for a challenging work and home-life balance. Therefore, it’s essential to take care of your mental health. This means finding ways to achieve as good a work life balance as possible. The importance of taking even a brief period of time for yourself each day is immeasurable.
That being said, some mental health issues go beyond what someone may be able to deal with on their own. In this case, it is important to be proactive in getting help to improve your mental health outlook. You’ll need a positive mindset to offer patients and employees the care they need for the best outcome at the end of the day.
How to enhance your CV when applying for healthcare jobs
Your resume is very important when applying for any position, and there are ways to make your resume stand out from others regardless of your experience or education. In fact, a standout resume can make the difference for employers when deciding between two very similar candidates.
Include all your technical skills
Technical skills worth mentioning will vary based on if you are applying for a clinical or non-clinical position. For jobs where you know employers are looking for a person with both clinical and non-clinical skills, it is wise to list all of them.
Examples of technical skills for clinical positions might include diagnosing and administering patient treatments, performing first aid and CPR, consulting with patients and explaining treatment programs, and monitoring patients. For administrative or managerial positions, you might include any office-related skills such as data entry, writing and communications, and the ability to multi-task effectively.
Only include skills and achievements relevant to the position
You should tailor your CV to the exact position that you are applying for each and every time. While the changes may be small, it is important to make every word count and not make your CV so long that anyone reading it gets bogged down and fails to read enough to know just how qualified you really are for the position.
When updating your CV for a specific job, take the time to carefully read over all the fine print in the job description. It is a good idea to have a copy of the job ad in front of you at all times when updating your CV. Make sure that your achievements are highlighted to emphasize how they fulfill the requirements your potential employer set forth.
Take your cover letter seriously
Your cover letter is your chance to shine. In fact, this is the letter that is going to get your potential employer to read on and take your CV into consideration. Think of your cover letter as your chance to talk about yourself and show how you are a perfect fit for the job you are applying for. You need to highlight the skills and professional achievements that show off the height of your expertise and dedication to your profession. The cover letter is a great time to elaborate more on specific professional accomplishments that, while in your CV, may not be discussed in great detail.
Cover letters should never be more than a single page unless potential employers have asked for any specific information that necessitates a longer length.
Consider how you want to handle references
Many employers ask for references. You may want to include references in a separate document from your CV and cover letter. This gives you more room to show the actual skills you have and list more past employers and achievements that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Only include references that are capable of highlighting the skills requested in the job description. Make sure that you are only using people for references who actually have great knowledge of your skill set and are likely to remember you well enough to provide detailed information when questioned by potential employers. Including a reference from too far in your past can result in poor recall of your accomplishments, so it’s best to include more recent references.
Include all relevant education and certifications from over the course of your career
Your level of education and certifications can make a big difference in how your resume is received by a potential employer. Additional training can also make your resume stand out, so it is important to highlight any training sessions you have attended that are relevant to the job you are trying to acquire.
Employers may look more favorably on those who are taking steps to obtain an advanced degree while continuing to work. For example, you may want to consider a health care management course that leads to an Executive Master of Health Administration. The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa offers an excellent online degree program for those who want to take their healthcare career to the next level. The program includes a capstone experience, which is a single one-week residency that allows soon-to-be graduates to network with their peers, alumni, faculty and program sponsors.
Always double check your CV and cover letter for mistakes
It is amazing how many resumes and cover letters contain mistakes. Typos and grammatical errors look unprofessional and sloppy. How can an employer be expected to believe that you have a good eye for detail and accuracy when it doesn’t look like you can be bothered to use a grammar or spell checker when applying for a job?
Look over your CV and cover letter carefully. It can be very helpful to print it out, read it over and make any corrections of additions on your paper copy. Your corrected proof can then be used to make final adjustments to your application before you send it out.
Always use a good grammar and spell check program such as Grammarly after you make any major additions or adjustments. At the same time, never just allow your checker to make all the suggested corrections. This is a time when you need to physically review suggestions and make sure they are accurate. No program is perfect.
Conclusion
Improving your skills and gaining a degree in a healthcare-related field will improve your job security over the coming decade. There is remarkable demand for healthcare workers of all skill sets, but there is a particular demand for healthcare administrators as senior-level workers retire in record numbers.
Being involved with healthcare administration offers the opportunity for professionals to set the standard for modern medical care facilities throughout the globe. As an administrator, you have the opportunity to improve the quality of patient care and find ways that allow your staff to offer care to more people in a given amount of time.
