Decide What Kind of Job
Before you start looking for one of these healthcare jobs, you have to decide what kind of position you want to work. In the dental field, there are a wide variety of options, and different school requirements for each position. It is important to understand the responsibilities for each of these positions before you plunge, so research the specific requirements for the healthcare jobs available.
Some of the choices include dental assistant, hygienist, lab tech, or even jobs in healthcare administration such as working in the office, or managing a practice. Once you have decided your area of specialty, find schools in your area that offer the appropriate course..
Prior Knowledge
For working in the dental healthcare field, knowledge of medicine is essential. Even as a dental assistant, you are going to be exposed to surgical tools and procedures, as well as comprehending an x-ray. While you will not be responsible for the procedures, having the base knowledge will definitely help you function well in this technical position.
Genuine Interest
Working inside mouths is not a job for the faint heart; if you are looking for healthcare jobs because you feel it will provide a steady income, or because of job security, think again. This is a highly specialized profession, and if you don‘t have a genuine interest in learning and helping people keep their smiles healthy, you will not survive the stresses of this job. Working in healthcare jobs takes a special person that really loves helping others. If this is you, you may be ready for the next step.
School
When you have decided on your specific area within healthcare jobs, it is time to find out where you want to go to school. For dental assistant jobs, often you can go to technical school part time at night, and once you get your certification you can begin working in a dental office. Hygienists have stricter requirements, but in most offices, you are required to have the appropriate certification before you can practice in the healthcare field.
If you are entering the dental profession to work your way through dental school, you have a busy schedule ahead of you. The healthcare jobs field for dentists is very competitive. Once you have made it through dental school, however, you can expect to earn a national average or $174K/ annually. A dental assistant or a hygienist will give you an excellent start to having the knowledge base for school.Professionalism
Working in the healthcare field means that you will be working with people that are having confidential work done. Often they may be sensitive to the problems they face when you are fixing something in their mouths, so it is imperative that you develop people skills. When looking for a job within the medical community, it is important to exude that aura. You want to dress clean and crisp, and talk with confidence about what you want to do. This is how you will have to deal with your patients, and being able to make it through an interview is a good indicator to the hiring director of how you will treat the patients.
Resume
No matter what field you are going into, healthcare jobs are highly competitive. Make sure your resume highlights all of your skills; not just your technical experience or job history. You must stress your people skills when describing work history and in your cover letter. Make your technical certificates easy to find. List your relevant skills in bullet form on the resume. No one wants to read through a resume to find information; they want to be able to glance at it and find the candidates for the job. Make yours stand out from the rest by making it neat and orderly. Have someone experienced with resumes help you go through your resume.
Once you have decided what you want to do, figure out how to do it, and acquire the necessary skills. Use every resource you can; the school’s placement agency, online, news ads, and more. Take your stellar resume and send it out to your prospective employers. Make sure you know how to present yourself at the interview. Once you have made it this far, you do not forget to send a thank you note to your interviewer. This step is often overlooked by candidates, but having a card ready to send as soon as you leave will make a lasting impression.
You can get one of the healthcare jobs you want. It just takes a little planning. Once you have your direction, the jobs are there. With our aging population, this is one of the best career paths you can find.
