Career Exploration in the Healthcare Industry

Entering the workforce is a rite of passage that comes with adulthood. Once we take that plunge, most of us want a meaningful career that aligns with our personal beliefs and passions. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to tap into our potential and do work that positively impacts humanity.

The pursuit of a professional healthcare career may be the opportunity you’re looking for. Whether you hope to enter the field of alternative medicine or a more traditional field in the industry, you can make a difference in the world while earning decent pay. Further, the healthcare industry is rapidly growing, which equates career longevity.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare jobs are projected to make a greater contribution to the job market over the next decade than all other occupational groups. Healthcare employment is expected to grow by 18% between 2016 and 2026, with the addition of about 2.4 million new jobs.

That growth is primarily fueled by the aging baby boomer population, with increasing healthcare needs. Today’s job seeker wants more worthwhile, in-depth opportunities, and healthcare is an ideal industry for that.

Understanding The Modern Jobseeker

No matter if you’re looking to reinvent your career or are a recent graduate ready to make a difference, the first step is securing the right job for your needs. It may be much easier than you think — labor experts claim that thanks to a prospering economy and a record stretch of low unemployment, it’s a candidates’ job market. But what does that mean for you?

Well, it could equate a higher salary and more lucrative job offers, allowing you to reach for better opportunities, on top of new opportunities to relocate to different cities if you’re interested in working in an exciting and unfamiliar place.

Rather than settling for whatever low-ball offers come your way, the modern job seeker has the chance to compare job offers and turn down those that aren’t a good fit.

Today’s new breed of jobseeker wants more than just a competitive salary and generous benefits, however. If you’re looking for a career with continuing education opportunities and meaningful advancement possibilities, you’re likely to find that healthcare provides both.

Plus, you’ll help make a positive impact on the lives of others, whether you find a job in healthcare administration, health-related information technology, or one in which you have direct contact with patients.

Alternative Careers in Healthcare

The term “healthcare” typically brings to mind conventional doctors, nurses, and similar professionals, yet the industry is vast and diverse. As such, you’re likely to find a viable job opportunity in the field, whatever your skill set.

And if you’re passionate about alternative medicine, from homeopathy to mind and body remedies such as yoga and acupuncture, you can easily go that route during your job search.

Alternative medicine is more popular than ever, in fact. As of 2007, about 38% of U.S. adults report that they use some form of complementary or alternative medicine on a regular basis. Those numbers translate to plenty of employment opportunities in the realm of alternative medicine.

Even if you’re squeamish when it comes to blood or bodily fluids, you can still work in the healthcare field. You may want to start by researching what can you do with a bachelor’s degree in public health? Keep in mind that direct patient care is only a small aspect of the industry as a whole: skilled administrators work tirelessly to manage the business aspects of healthcare.

Health administration jobs involve a number of critical services that keep healthcare facilities functioning. Healthcare administrators must be willing to embrace change, especially where new technology is concerned, and seamlessly integrate those changes into their facility.

Educating the Next Generation

For most people, personal growth is an integral part of the journey of both your personal and professional life. Within your career, a lack of growth opportunities could lead to stagnation, unhappiness, and lowered productivity. The good news is that today’s employers are beginning to recognize just how important personal growth is to job retention and keeping workers engaged.

A key reason for employee turnover is a lack of growth opportunities. As such, many modern organizations are amending their business model to include more career-growth benefits.

In fact, Forbes reports that 43% of employers offer executive or leadership coaching within their organization. And career growth is directly linked to personal growth, as they both can result in a similar sense of fulfillment and a feeling of accomplishment.

But career growth and continued education go both ways. You can’t have students or trainees without teachers and mentors. Thus, one way that you can get involved in career growth opportunities in the healthcare industry is by taking the training reins yourself.

Nurse educators are especially crucial within healthcare, as nurses make up the country’s largest professional workforce, numbering more than 2.7 million as of 2014.

It’s important to note that becoming a nurse educator is one of the most time-intensive career choices in the healthcare industry. Those interested in the job already work in nursing and have a passion for cultivating others’ careers. Nurse educators must also typically hold a doctorate level degree in order to effectively educate, mentor, and supervise aspiring nurses.

Final Thoughts

Adequate healthcare is essential to modern life, and the industry offers job seekers a unique opportunity to make a difference. Your career options in healthcare run the gamut from Reiki healer to administrative professional, nurse educator, and beyond. No matter your level of education and experience, there’s a healthcare job out there for you, if you have the passion and drive to succeed.