Chapter 14: Career Readiness
Kristen Hosey
Online Searches
For many people, the job search starts online. Sometimes, individuals search to get an idea of opportunities and pay out there; other times, it is for serious searches. There are many ways to review online job resources beyond a simple Google search.
The most common websites for looking for jobs include:
- Indeed: A free website that includes salary information and company reviews, but sometimes has outdated resources.
- Monster Jobs: A free website that doesn’t require you to make an account, but possibly fewer search filters and options since employers cannot post jobs for free.
- Glassdoor: A free website that includes salary information and reviews, but the reviews can be biased.
While the above websites are for more general jobs, individuals may have better luck looking at healthcare professional websites. Doing this will help them find the right job that fits their interests, skills, and training. Here are some options for free job search websites:
- HospitalCareers: Adisplays jobs by healthcare category that also provides information like career advice and career insights, in addition to posting jobs.
- Health eCareers: A includes search engines by profession, speciality or location, with fewer categories than HospitalCareers.
- iHirePharmacy: iHirePharmacy focuses on jobs in pharmacy, including pharmacy technicians, sales representatives and pharmacy consultants.
- Nurse.com: One of the best sites for nursing jobs, but also provides articles and information on career advancement, nursing schools and degrees. There are more nursing job sites out there, but this one is one of the largest ones.
- HealthJobsNationwide: A site for healthcare professionals all over the country that also allows you to upload and boost your resume (with an account).
- CareerVitals: A site that does not require an account. They say they have the largest number of healthcare jobs available.
Many individuals also utilize LinkedIn or other professional portfolio websites, such as Portfolium, to create accounts, showcase their portfolios, and find jobs. LinkedIn allows individuals to make a free account and upload their resume, similar to other social media platforms like Facebook. Individuals can also get endorsements from friends. Through LinkedIn, companies can review applicant information and recruit for a position. However, for those who need a job right away, it may be better to be proactive and utilize the websites above or the tips in this chapter.
Many professional associations, such as nursing and radiology, provide job postings in their professional journals. These may be viewed online by members of that professional association. These professional associations are also a place where individuals may find continuing education events and networking with potential employers.
Some individuals looking for employment choose to look at job market trends through websites such as the U.S. Department of Labor, or even the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both websites provide information on the economic trends in the job market by searching for a desired job. These trends can be helpful when searching for a job and knowing what a competitive salary is for that position. Still, they are also helpful in determining if training costs are worth the employment salary range and growth. Employment data may be found online at the state level as well. For instance, the Washington State Employment Security Department can also get wage and employment data that is searchable by county.
Finally, some professional organizations, unions, hospitals, clinics, and academic institutions may also have information on job opportunities. For those who want to work at a hospital, there are often local, state, and national hospital organizations with job postings that can be worth reviewing.
As part of the job-seeking process, it is always wise to research the company to determine if the organization will be a good fit. This may include researching their vision and mission statement, available benefits, or provider profiles. There are many websites where consumers post reviews of healthcare organizations. These are an excellent place to research what patients and employees have to say about an organization.
Networking Opportunities
Columbia University defines networking as the process of making connections and building relationships, and those connections can lead to job opportunities or career advice. Many individuals use social media platforms, a type of social networking, such as LinkedIn, to get connected virtually to employers. However, in-person opportunities like professional conferences and job fairs are also a great way to learn more about job opportunities and network.
High schools, colleges, and universities often host job fairs for students and alumni. These can take place in a gym, foyer, or atrium at a school and often include posters and tables with recruiters and organizations that have open or soon-to-be open positions. Individuals may also see colleges or universities that have tables for advancing careers through education at these same fairs. If an individual is still determining the career or organization individuals may want to work with, attending a career fair could be an excellent opportunity to get questions answered. Some recruiters may also be able to share information about sign-on bonuses, on-the-job training opportunities, or scholarship and loan repayment options that are not visible online. It is a good practice to come to these fairs ready to learn, well dressed and groomed, and ready to ask questions of the recruiters.
Professional conferences are another way to network, although sometimes these can be expensive if there is a registration fee. Checking online to see the registration costs is essential when planning to attend. Many are cost-prohibitive and can be in the hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. However, they often have career expos, as well, and typically include presentations by practitioners or researchers in the field.
Job Shadows
If you are still determining whether a healthcare industry job is a good fit, a great way to start is to do a job shadow. A job shadow is the opportunity to gain valuable experience and observe an individual in a healthcare career that sounds interesting. For instance, an individual may be interested in nursing but need to learn more about the career or how they would handle blood if they saw it in real life (instead of on television). It is an excellent opportunity to see how to work with a nurse or a CNA and shadow them for a day. The same is true for a dentist’s office, laboratory, or even a classroom with a teacher or in the field with ride-a-longs with EMT, search and rescue, or paramedicine. Participating in a ride-along or spending a day shadowing will help get an idea of whether the job is the right fit. Some high schools will help set up job shadowing opportunities, but often, outside of school, it will take some individual creativity and work to shadow in the hospital. It might only be an option to volunteer instead, based on security protocols, space, or available healthcare opportunities.
A group of individuals in a specific industry or field working together to promote collaboration, networking, and professional development.
The process of making connections and building relationships.
An event where employers and job seekers convene to facilitate recruitment, providing an opportunity for companies to showcase job opportunities and for individuals to explore potential career options.
A career exploration activity in which an individual observes and learns about a specific job or profession by spending time with a professional in that field.