College is over and now is the time to find a new job. As a new college grad, knowing how and where to apply for a job in the medical field can feel overwhelming. Taking the right steps to know how to apply as a new grad will make all the difference in the world. The right application will get seen by the right people and you will have a better chance of landing that dream job in the medical field. Here are some tips for putting your best face out there with your application:

1. Customize your resume. A job in the medical field requires a great deal of skill and training and simply relying on the odds when submitting your resume isn’t a smart plan. Look at the job description and tailor your resume to that position. Many times the job requirements will be the same as the skills you currently possess but it could be stated differently. Look for keywords within the job advertisement and match them to your skill set.
2. Capitalize on your experience. While you may not have actual hospital experience, you may have worked as an intern or volunteer in a variety of capacities. Much of your job experience can be linked to you chosen career as you learn about time management, role delegation, teamwork, and other valuable traits.
3. Create a flawless resume and cover letter. Whatever you submit to a company, make sure there are no errors. Take your time when applying and ensure everything is as perfect as can be.
4. Follow up on the application. Submitting resumes to various HR departments and medical personnel, it can start to feel like you are just taking chances with your information. Do what you can to follow-up with the process. Email or call to ensure your resume was received and inquire about the next steps in the hiring process.
5. Network and apply before graduation. Even before you’ve graduated, feel out the job market. You may not be able to apply for the jobs until after graduation but network with the companies ahead of time to have an “in” with the right people. It will be beneficial to have email addresses and information about the company for an interview down the road.

Take advantage of every opportunity to grow and increase your knowledge. Not only will this help to land you your dream job but you will find the field and company where you can do the most good. Even as a new grad, your skills will be valued and called upon to help others.

You learned the right way to study through nursing school. You learned the right way to take your nursing school entrance exams. Finally, you learned the right way to succeed in your nursing certifications but did you learn the right way to find a nursing job?  Finding a good fit both you and your future employer is critical. Too many times, job seekers feel as though the only party that matters is the employee but in reality, you, as a job seeker, should feel comfortable in your new job as well. While there is always a learning and adjustment curve, it should be a good fit from the start. There is right way and a wrong way to look for nursing jobs after you finish school.

Right Way: Submit your resume to open positions. Follow up within several days to ensure they received the resume and have your correct contact information.  Be selective with the companies you submit your resume and apply to jobs for which you are qualified.

Wrong Way: Applying to every medical job within twenty miles of your zip code. This not only frustrates employers when they are sorting through piles of resumes, it can present you in a negative light for a future open position for which you are qualified. Always follow-up with an email or call to the hiring manager.

Right Way: State the truth on your resume. Use appropriate verbiage as well as correct statistics for the success you’ve experienced and the goals you’ve reached. Don’t be modest about what you’ve done in your life so far. Many candidates don’t want to sound boasting but you should boast on your resume. That’s how potential employers know what you can do for their organization.

Wrong Way: Fudge your credentials. In any field it is wrong but in the medical field, your dishonesty can cost people their lives. This is not a field where you can stretch the truth or misrepresent your skills. Lying on your resume will get you nowhere, fast.

Right Way: Be persistent. Once you’ve found a medical facility that you really like, visit it and get to know the staff. Ask about job openings and humbly share your qualifications. The network you create with the team members in this casual setting can be beneficial to you when the time comes for an interview.

Wrong Way: Submit your resume online and never interact with the hiring manager or other team members. Giving up when you aren’t hired for the first position that comes along. Even if you are qualified, there could be other candidates who are a better fit and employers want to find the best possible team member to join them.

Submitting your resume will take time and effort but when you find that company where you fit in well and can provide quality care, you will be glad you did. Employers and employees alike should be pleased with the fit within the team and then overall as a company.

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There has been a lot of buzz lately about the need for college degrees for various fields. Those in certain fields feel they aren’t necessary and rather job training and experience more than make up for the lack of a college degree. In the medical field, however, there are still plenty of factors that go into the reasons a degree is preferred. The majority of medical employees need a college degree and here are some reasons why:

• Medicine is a standardized field. It’s not a field where the results are subject to interpretation. Those who practice medicine need to have a high level of understanding and the ability to follow a method to obtain results. Results are either positive or negative and patients either recover or they don’t. A college degree helps to ensure everyone practicing a form of medicine has at least learned the basics and will approach a specialty field with a strong foundation.
• Medicine requires discipline. Finishing a college degree or even a certification plan within a technical school shows a higher level of determination and drive. The time and effort it takes to finish a program is commendable and medical professionals prefer to see that dedication over someone else who hasn’t completed a training program of any kind.
• Medicine is an evolving field. If a medical employee has been successful with a degree plan and juggling life, chances are they will be able to the medical field. In any given shift, a medical professional will have unknown variables presented to them and if they are unable to handle it, lives could be lost or recovery efforts compromised. When a medical employee has the ability to think critically, they are also able to comprehend changes to procedures and adapt to new methods.

Whether or not you agree that medical employees need to have degrees, there is no denying the fact that they should have proper training. For some, this may mean a technical degree or other sort of certification. On the job training is one of the best ways to ensure your staff knows exactly what to do but it doesn’t make up for the structure and learning that is done in an educational setting. Do what you can as an employee to help your team further their education whether by offering classes online or monthly seminars held at your offices. Even if this type of training doesn’t produce a degree, it can advance the knowledge of your employees and they can provide a higher level of care within your facility.

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Some fields require little to no experience in any related field. Medicine is not one of those fields. Every aspect of the medical community requires training and some positions require work experience. As an employer, it is your duty to understand the importance of education and training for the candidates you interview and make the final determination based on their background. The question remains, should you hire an overqualified person or go with the one with less experience? The final decision will remain at the discretion of each organization.

Experience is a Great Teacher
There is a school of thought that subscribes to the idea of real life training being the best experience. Others believe that a formal education will prepare you for the variables thrown at medical professionals on a daily basis. Finally, there is a theory that both, experience and book knowledge will get you far in the medical community. When it comes time to hire, it is a wise decision to look at the role first and foremost and create defining criteria. Some positions are perfect for a new graduate to gain experience while other openings will require experience and education. Prior to the interview, know what each position is looking for to fill the opening.

Skill versus Education
No amount of reading or test taking can prepare a medical professional for some of the variables thrown at them on a daily basis. The education and skill set possessed by a qualified candidate is ideal for your organization but if they are overqualified, will they being to cause dissension with other team members or will they help to spur the others on to improve. These overqualified team members can be a huge asset but also a liability when they begin to question the routine and ways of doing things from their first day.

Hiring the Overqualified or the Inexperienced
For the overqualified employee, a less than stimulating job can be a stepping stone to something better and they can be a negative or positive asset, depending on how they are used. Both the overqualified and the inexperienced bring a wide range of positives and negatives to the hiring process and eventually to the workplace. Inexperience can be dangerous within the medical community but the overqualified employees can also be a threat as they can have too much confidence in their own abilities rather than work with the team. Each position will dictate the type of person you want to attract.

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