Top Tips For Pursuing A Career In Healthcare

When it comes to choosing their career, very few people get it right the first time. There are many reasons for this. For example, we’re often forced to choose career paths when we’re relatively young, meaning we don’t always have the strongest grasp of what we want to do in the long term. Alternatively, it could be that over time, you realize a certain career isn’t always what it's cracked up to be.

  
However, the truth is that doing what you love can transform your life. This is because it can provide you with a genuine sense of meaning and purpose, especially if you’re making a positive difference in the lives of others. If this is something that you’re passionate about, you might want to consider pursuing a career in healthcare.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Read on for some top tips on doing exactly what!

Decide to make a change. The first step to pursuing a healthcare career is deciding to make the change, as opposed to continuing to sit on the idea for years to come. This will provide you with a sense of direction and purpose, both of which are necessary as you navigate this change in direction.

You should also do plenty of research into the different healthcare roles available so you have a better understanding of the positions you’d like to apply for. This is an industry with a variety of roles and niches to explore, so it's important you weigh out all of your options. For example, you could work as a carer in a residential home for the elderly or with children as a pediatrician’s assistant. 

Retrain and learn something new. If you’ve not worked in a healthcare setting before, you’ll most likely have to retrain before you can start applying for jobs. While this can seem a little off-putting, education is always a worthwhile investment, and it will increase both your skillset and earning potential. In addition to degree-level education, keep an eye out for courses that will enhance your capabilities and readiness for the job. For example, anybody working within healthcare can benefit from obtaining a CPR Certification.

If you’re not able to study full-time, don’t worry. Plenty of courses operate part-time, which means that you can continue to earn money while studying, which can help to reduce some of the stress or anxiety you may be dealing with during this time. 

Highlight transferable or soft skills. When applying for roles, make sure that you highlight any transferable skills you’ve developed over the course of your career, as they will once again help to demonstrate your readiness for the job. Skills that transfer well into healthcare settings include: 

Communication and active listening skills

The ability to work as part of a team

Problem-solving abilities and adaptability 

The ability to remain calm under pressure

Emotional intelligence and empathy 

Try to provide tangible evidence for times in which you’ve put these skills to use, too. This gives hiring managers more of a reason to take a chance on you, even if you’ve not worked in a healthcare setting before. 

Ask plenty of questions. Whether you’re shadowing another team member at the start of your tenure or studying at university, don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is one of the easiest (and quickest) ways to learn and get your skills to where they need to be. Furthermore, there’s really no such thing as a stupid question! It's better to ask them sooner, rather than later, as it will increase both your confidence and your competency. 

Prepare for bad days. It goes without saying that working in healthcare can be challenging. There will be days when things don’t go your way, or when you feel as though the work you do is entirely thankless. This is something that you need to mentally prepare yourself for ahead of time, so that bad days are just bad days, and don’t derail you entirely.

You should also make sure that you take good care of yourself on days when things aren’t panning out the way you’d like them to. For example, this could include practicing self-care, spending time on your hobbies, or simply talking to someone about how you are feeling. Working in healthcare often requires you to put the needs of other people before your own, but this does not mean you can neglect your well-being entirely.

You may also find it useful to remind yourself why you pursued this career to begin with and the joy that it (usually) brings you. This can often provide you with a fresh perspective as it helps you to see the bigger picture.

Believe in yourself. Navigating any kind of career change can be daunting, which is why you need to be able to back yourself absolutely. Doing so will not only help you to overcome any challenges that come your way, from grueling exams to difficult interviews, but it will also show those around you that you are worth taking a chance on. 

If self-confidence is something that you tend to struggle with, now is the time to start working on it. The healthcare industry is not a space for doubt and anxiety, especially when you’re often required to make decisions quickly and calmly. Remember, you’ve got what it takes to succeed, especially when you put your mind to it.

Final thoughts. If you’ve been considering pursuing a career in healthcare but have always found a reason to delay taking the leap of faith and changing careers, use this as your sign to finally get started. After all, doing so will allow you to pursue a career that you genuinely care about. This will bring you a greater sense of fulfilment, as you’ll feel as though you’re spending your time and energy wisely.

Furthermore, there are plenty of steps that you can take to make bridging this transition a little easier, from retraining and studying a healthcare-related topic to simply reminding yourself that you’ve got what it takes to succeed.

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