Why Go For Jobs in the Healthcare Industry
There remains a very bright spot amidst the news of job loss - the healthcare industry. In fact, the numbers for health jobs are very impressive even without the recession to lend it a helping hand. For one thing, it is one of the largest industries in terms of employment with 14.3 million wage and salary workers in 2008. And it is still growing, thanks largely to an aging population of Baby Boomers. In the next 10 years, jobs in healthcare are expected to grow by more than 3 million jobs, one of the fastest in the country.
For another thing, the variety of healthcare jobs span the range from high school graduates to multiple degree holders. This means that there are plenty of opportunities to be hired even without advanced degrees although it must be noted that advancement opportunities are also abundant with each certification, degree and experience accumulated.
And with the variety of jobs available come the range of salaries provided by the employers. As can be expected, the general rule is that the physicians and nurses as well as managers and professionals of healthcare facilities are the most highly paid personnel with the housekeeping staff on the lower end of the spectrum. But still, the median pay for individuals with health jobs is still higher than those found in other sectors.
For example, registered nurses are paid an average of $30 per hour, medical assistants are on a $13.60 hourly rate and housekeeping cleaners get paid at $10 an hour in hospitals. These hourly salary increases with seniority, advanced education and training as well as excellent work performance.
But beyond the money, jobs in healthcare have their psychic income. Indeed, the satisfaction from knowing that one is part of saving lives from the many diseases that afflict mankind is sufficient motivation to apply for jobs in the healthcare industry. Think of being paid to do your share in making life better for your fellowmen.
How to Go for Healthcare Jobs
As previously mentioned, the healthcare industry requires a wide variety of individuals with various educational backgrounds and work experience. On one hand, there are the physicians and nurses as well as professionals and managers with at least a four-year bachelor's degree, appropriate licenses and extensive experience. In short, these are highly-educated professionals with the vast work experience to back up their advanced degrees.
On the other hand, there are the nursing aides, orderlies and attendants as well as the housekeeping staff with their high school diplomas and appropriate work experience. Although these are the lowest-paid health jobs, it does not take away the fact that these individuals are important in the effective and efficient functioning of the healthcare facility.
And so, the question remains: How can one become competitive for jobs in healthcare? Well, there are a variety of ways, of which the following are the most notable:
* Ask about the educational and training requirements for the job being targeted. Physicians and other professionals require bachelor's degrees, government licenses and extensive experience while most non-medical jobs only require a high school diploma with the appropriate training.
* Inquire about the possible training opportunities in the various healthcare facilities. In fact, many workers are provided on-the-job training that can be used in employment and then, later on, in advancement.
* Acquire the necessary training and work experience for the job being targeted especially after graduation. It may take years to gain the competitive edge but the benefits are well worth the sacrifices.
It is also necessary to acquire the personality traits that are necessary to thrive in the medical field. You should have a strong desire to be of help to your fellowmen, a genuine sense of concern for the patients' and their families' welfare while in the health care facility, and the ability to deal with all kinds of people even in the most stressful of circumstances. Indeed, health jobs pay in so many ways from the financial to the psychic income. Find your place under the sun with jobs in healthcare today.
