According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, America lost 1.5 million jobs in the healthcare sector at the highest point of the COVID-19 crisis. That’s how seriously the virus impacted the healthcare job market.
The American Medical Resources Institute highlighted some of the hardest jobs to fill nationwide. One of them is a pulmonologist. Indeed reported that 66% of pulmonologist postings on their job board were still unfilled 60 days after posting the open requisition. Rheumatologists, Nurse Practitioners, and Agency Nurses are also among some of the hardest-to-fill healthcare jobs.
Now that you know the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare jobs, let’s discuss some tips for navigating the market now that the virus has died down in prominence. Ultimately, administering a healthcare hiring solution is the best way to keep up with modern recruitment trends to expedite time-to-fill and time-to-hire metrics.
1. Stay Informed About Market Trends
The healthcare market continuously evolves. Hence, staying updated on the industry’s recruitment trends and the highest-paying positions to hold. With the growing demand for telehealth and mental health services, you can evaluate which healthcare sectors are thriving the most. Especially if you want to change sectors, evaluating these trends is important for continued success in the industry.
You can utilize a resource like the Bureau of Labor Statistics to evaluate which healthcare positions currently pay more. For example, Registered Nurses make a median pay of about $86,070 per year with an entry-level education of a Bachelor’s degree.
On the other hand, Physicians and Surgeons can make more at $239,200 median pay annually. However, the credentials for this position involve doing an internship and/or residency period to gather experience before official onboarding.
The best resources for remaining informed on market trends are attending networking events, participating in online webinars, and reading the most recent entries in scholarly journals. Ask your healthcare organization’s board to join the best networking events to learn more about trends. Research the highest quality healthcare webinars and podcasts to discover more about the healthcare industry when outside of work.
2. Enhance Your Skills
Look for ways to enhance your skills to transition into new post-pandemic healthcare careers. Depending on the sector you are currently in, the ways you go about enhancing your skills could be different. If you are transitioning from a completely different industry, you may have to return to college or take certification courses to become a Registered Nurse. This position has lower barriers to entry than becoming a doctor, which requires more credentials.
Seek additional certifications in other sectors throughout the healthcare industry. This is a great tactic to keep your career opportunities open in case a job that pays higher opens up nearby. Consider a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) to remain more competitive in the job market. Critical care and geriatrics are also popular sectors that you could consider studying for certifications to provide you with more opportunities.
3. Network Strategically
Form a strategy to network with other healthcare professionals in the industry. Besides attending networking events as we discussed earlier, join a healthcare member organization to gain access to their premium online resources to learn more about the industry. Organizations like this also have forums where professionals can ask each other questions about challenges in the field. This option would be a great way to interact and network with healthcare professionals nationally and globally.
4. Tailor Your Resume
Your resume could use a bit of tailoring as you change jobs and learn new skills in the field. Review the wording for each position on your resume to ensure it highlights the key skills you learned and administered during your tenure.
The best way to attract employers’ attention is to utilize keywords that showcase what positive impact you made on your patients at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some keywords you can use include “pandemic response”, “healthcare coordination”, and “patient education”.
5. Be Open To New Opportunities
Staying open-minded to new opportunities in the healthcare market is best for broadening your horizons. Hence, you will not only learn new information about how to help patients in healthcare, but also increase your financial opportunities by entering higher-paying positions. Sectors like telehealth and healthcare administration are constantly growing, which can be a new opportunity for expanding your healthcare industry know-how while improving your financial status.
6. Prepare for Virtual Interviews
Video interviewing platforms have modernized talent acquisition solutions. Cadient’s video interviewing solutions are in partnership with SparkHire to improve the candidate experience and streamline the recruitment process for client companies.
Ensure you have a quiet and professional environment to engage in your scheduled interviews for new healthcare positions. If you do not have a quiet place in your home, go to your local library and rent a study room. This way, you can listen attentively to the interview and showcase professionalism to the interviewer.
The best way to prepare for your interviews is to review the job posting and be ready to discuss your experience. Look up possible situational judgment test (SJT) questions related to the healthcare industry. Have a trusted friend or family member ask you these questions so that you can answer them verbally on the spot. Even if the interviewer does not ask you those specific questions, you will be better prepared just in case they do.
7. Understand the Challenges of the Healthcare Job Market
Recognize the challenges in the healthcare job market so that you know how you can contribute to reducing these issues. Staffing shortages, changes in healthcare regulations, and evolving patient needs all contribute to alterations in the industry’s market.
Bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues and has caused burnout amongst healthcare professionals. Understanding these challenges can ensure that you are refining your skills and expertise to meet the needs of your affiliated healthcare organization and its patients.
