3 Ways to Land a Job in Healthcare as a Recent College Graduate

The constant studying, internships, and hard work are coming to an end, and now it’s time to find your first job in healthcare. Although the search for your first healthcare job can be exhilarating, it can also be an overwhelming experience. If you’re a fresh college graduate searching for your first healthcare opportunity, these three tips might help you.

Write a Job-Specific Resume and Cover Letter

It is vital that you have a consistent resume that highlights your skills and demonstrates to a possible employer that you will be an asset to their healthcare organization. Find relevant job descriptions and highlight the key skills in your resume for that application. For instance, medical recruiters typically look for candidates with excellent attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills.

Target your resume for each prospective employer by basing it on the job description. If you are a student with little or no healthcare experience, try to include the following on your resume:

  • Statement of career goals: Construct a master statement of your career goals that directly relate to the position for which you are applying.
  • Highlight key skills: Include a list of skills that directly relate to the available position. Include software competencies, research, and foreign languages.
  • Educational accomplishments: No career-related experience? Cite your academic achievements and your grade-point average if it is a high score.
  • Career-related pursuits: Be sure to include your practical experience, internships, volunteering, and leadership positions.

Present a tailored cover letter with each resume and job application to express your enthusiasm, showcase your unique talents, and share why you’re the right person for their job posting.

Use Your Network

Networking can provide you with numerous opportunities to help you launch your healthcare career. Connect with others in your field, and you might learn about job openings before anyone else. Up to 70% of jobs aren’t posted publicly, and networking helps people find about 85% of available jobs.

Now that you’re a graduate of a medical program, it’s essential that you build relationships with peers, recruiters, and other people who work in your field. A fantastic way to network is to join a professional organization. Get connected by attending conferences, programs, and events. Most health care organizations have an association you can join, sometimes with benefits beyond a professional network, such as articles and forums.

Search for Jobs Daily

Health care jobs are always in demand, there’s no doubting this fact. However, healthcare is also a competitive job market, and single employers might receive thousands of applications a year. Approach your search like you would a full-time job and search for opportunities every day. Online resources for health care job opportunities include:

Of course, there are also general job search sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, and Monster, that can help you too. Check employer websites and job boards of professional organizations in your desired healthcare specialty. Apply for as many jobs as possible each day but avoid wasting valuable time on positions that do not hold your interest.

Bonus: Connect with a Staffing Agency

If you want to gain experience in different care settings, or find flexible work that fits your schedule, try reaching out to a staffing agency. Depending on your specialty, you might find that it’s a great fit for your lifestyle and wants. If there are many staffing agencies in your area, reach out to your network and see which ones your colleagues recommend.

 

The professional healthcare recruiters here at Arbor Associates can help you find work while also providing you with the encouragement you need to become a better healthcare provider. We offer competitive pay and benefits, to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your work. Check us out today!