Perhaps you’ve long desired to work in the medical field but haven’t quite gotten into it.
Now may be the time to pursue your dream.
You’ll want to make sure, though, that you end up in the right medical career, one that works for you and your family. Read on to learn about how to find the perfect niche.
Learn Your Options
Your first step is to learn your options for medical careers.
You might automatically think about becoming a doctor or nurse, but these are just the tip of the iceberg.
You could also consider lab technician, radiologist, home health aide, therapist, dietician or medical transcriptionist.
Take a look at a list of medical careers, and read about some of them. You may be surprised by what appeals to you.
Evaluate Your Skills
As you’re thinking about the right medical career, take some time to evaluate your skills and talents.
Make a list of everything you do well and enjoy. Don’t leave anything out even if it doesn’t seem appropriate. Perhaps you’ve always loved music and are an excellent musician, for instance.
This might not seem to fit into the medical field, but there is one good option: music therapist. Try a healthcare career aptitude test online to give you more ideas.
Consider Your Education
Think about your education, too. If you don’t have a degree or have one that doesn’t correspond to a medical career, you may have to go back to school.
Be practical here, especially if you work and have other obligations. You might not have the time or money to go back to school for several years, but you could study to become a medical assistant in about six weeks.
Think about what works for your life right now, and pursue it. You can always take more training later.
Talk to People in the Field
If you’re serious about a medical career, then talk to people already working in the field. Make some connections with individuals who have jobs in your areas of interest, and send them emails.
If you’re considering pursuing a career as a dietician, for example, reach out to someone who has that role in a hospital, nursing home or assisted living community.
Ask questions about what the person does and what the job entails. Start small, for you don’t want to overwhelm the person. You can always continue the conversation over time.
Job Shadow
When you think you’ve narrowed down your career choices to one or two options that seem perfect for you and you’ve established communication with people working in the fields, ask if it would be possible to job shadow for a day.
This will give you a better sense about the daily grind, so to speak, of the career.
You’ll have a chance to witness tasks and responsibilities firsthand and then reevaluate your skills and education accordingly so that you can know if the job is really right for you.
A career in the medical field can be fulfilling and enjoyable, but you must find the right one so that you can also find success.
