Nowadays, career progression comes down to more than just good academic results; you need to show that you are willing to undertake tasks that others aren’t keen to do. It’s also worth investigating ways to learn new skills that allow you to compete with more advanced staff members. However you decide to proceed, it’s simply not enough to rest on your laurels and rely solely on your qualifications; you also need experience.
It’s important you seize every opportunity to improve your understanding of healthcare, in order to give yourself an edge over those competing for similar jobs.
Look For Further Training
The learning process shouldn’t end at the beginning of your career. Throughout your time as a healthcare professional, you will have plenty of chances to expand your knowledge and, ultimately, advance into a more specialist role, whether in care homes, hospitals or other healthcare facilities.
Find a mentor
Finding a mentor in any industry isn’t always easy; you need to ensure you are approaching the right person for the job. Shadowing them as they go through their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities is a sure way to discover what the job entails and whether you are suitable for it. It can throw up a number of questions you may have and resolve them with a mentor.
Get yourself out there
The simple fact of the matter is that you need to be known to your seniors in order to be selected for progression. Whether this is an internal promotion or an offer from another facility, the right kind of exposure can help you get ahead.
Many people in healthcare roles don’t apply themselves beyond the specifications of their job, which doesn’t give them many opportunities to stand out from the crowd. You should never be afraid to offer your insight or advice to colleagues, as these qualities can set you aside from the rest of the group. When it comes to job applications, it’s also useful to know exactly where the top employers are looking. In recent years, many doctors and nurses have taken to job sites such as LinkedIn and recruitment agencies like Cucumber Recruitment to find jobs with better pay and better working conditions, in the hope that they will be headhunted by major healthcare providers.
Help out where you can
Current staffing issues have forced healthcare facilities to offer unsociable overtime to their teams. But rather than seeing this as a setback, you should view the opportunity for extra work as an advantage. Taking on extra responsibilities shows a desire to adapt and grow, making you a prime candidate when job vacancies crop up further down the line.
If the work allows you to fill in for a more senior member of the team, then all the better. Always grab opportunities to learn new skills and roles when they arise, so you can add them to your CV.
Make connections
There are plenty of opportunities to network with like-minded professionals throughout the year, from small talk with fellow doctors and nurses to company events where you have the chance to chat with esteemed consultants in a less formal atmosphere. Every connection you make is a potential gateway to a new job, as you never know whom these people are connected with themselves.
