Is your career in healthcare not advancing as fast as you would like?
Maybe you feel stuck in a rut and do not know how to reignite your passion for the industry?
Or perhaps, you want to earn more money.
Whatever it is that you are unhappy about in your career in healthcare, the below blog is exactly what you need to boost your career and get the role you have always dreamed of.
1. Carry out a self-assessment
The first thing that you need to do, if you want to find out why you are not progressing in your career as fast as you would like, is to carry out a self-assessment.
Not as daunting as it sounds, a self-assessment will enable you to see what skills and experiences you have and which ones you still need to obtain.
When you conduct a self-assessment, you need to make sure that you evaluate both where you are at professionally and personally, then look for valuable resources like Locumstory to guide you in achieving your goals. For example, you need to assess not only your skills, qualifications, and experiences but also your current responsibilities.
It can be beneficial to ask yourself the below questions:
- Are you passionate about your job?
- Are you satisfied with your career right now?
- Do you want to transition to a new career within the healthcare industry?
All of the above will help you to gain a better understanding of what you want, and in turn, what you need to do.
2. Pursue further education
One of the most effective ways to progress in your career is to arm yourself with more qualifications. As a general rule, healthcare organizations expect their staff to take responsibility for their own education, so there is no point in waiting for someone to point you in the right direction.
Instead, take the initiative to develop your own skills and choose an education program or degree that will actively help you to achieve your goals.
For example, if you are interested in health administration or healthcare management, an Executive Masters in Health Administration (EMHA) is a great choice as this degree will help to ensure you are up to date with the latest trends and give you an edge of other candidates.
Or, if you are a nurse, you might want to consider pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which can open many doors and allow you to command a higher salary and take on more responsibility.
3. Act like a leader
As well as taking the time to obtain further qualifications, it can also be a good idea to showcase your soft skills at your place of work. Healthcare organizations are increasingly looking for candidates with skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, the ability to work as a team, and, of course, leadership qualities.
So, how can you act like a leader?
You can ask for extra responsibilities. You can openly share credit and be accountable for any errors. You can mentor new employees.
It can be a good idea to show your passion for your job. Even though the day-to-day grind may sometimes feel overwhelming, if you want to be seen as a leader, you need to remain motivated and driven at all times.
4. Widen your network
Another highly effective way to get ahead, if you haven’t spent a lot of time networking recently, now is the time to start. Networking, both traditionally (face-to-face) and digitally, can not only help you to meet new people but it can also enable you to stay informed about any upcoming promotion opportunities.
If you are not a natural networker, then you might want to start simply talking to your work colleagues more and then gradually work up to introducing yourself at industry events or on online forums.
Remember, it’s not just what you know, but also who you know!
5. Seek out a mentor
If you are struggling to get a particular promotion, for example, you keep being passed over in favor of external candidates, it might be a good idea to look for a mentor.
You will find most people are happy to share their wisdom and experience, so do not be afraid to reach out to someone within your organization.
Alternatively, if you are currently pursuing further education, you could ask your tutor for advice or even a fellow student who has experience in the field you wish to work in.
Don’t forget that mentoring works both ways, so if anyone asks you for help, try to find the time to accommodate them.
6. Embrace training opportunities
When your healthcare organization offers you a training opportunity, make sure that you take it. Even if it does not seem entirely relevant to your career goals, by saying yes, you are showing your willingness to learn and improve upon your skills.
Vocational courses are particularly useful for learning specific skills as these are designed to help get you ready for clinical activities you have not encountered before. When it comes to pediatric nursing jobs, vocational courses can make a huge difference.
Plus, you never know what you might learn or who you might meet! A short course may be just the stepping stone you need to get that longed-for promotion. They are also many opportunities for healthcare and nursing in USA for foreigners on sponsorship.
7. Become an expert
Think about your department and the people within it. Is there one person that everyone always turns to for advice?
If yes and it’s not you, then now is the time to change this.
Becoming an expert in your field or the person that others seek out for help is one of the most sure-fire ways to get noticed by management.
So, how can you showcase yourself as an expert?
If you don’t mind writing and are keen to share your knowledge, then why not create content for an industry publication? Not only will this give you some much-needed exposure in your field, but it can also improve your reputation as an expert in your field.
Alternatively, if you are technology-minded, you could create your own YouTube channel or podcast series and talk about the latest research, findings, and techniques in the healthcare industry.