Getting your start in a new career often carries a unique obstacle – experience. Employers want someone with experience, and seeing as you're only getting started, you obviously don't have any. But how are you even expected to get it without someone hiring you without it in the first place?
Quite a pickle, and the healthcare industry is often the same. However, there are some entry-level hospital jobs that can serve as your foot in the door and help you take that first step. Read on to learn about some of them.
Patient transporter
Some hospital patients obviously can't get from point A to point B in the hospital on their own. This is where patient transporters come in. As a patient transporter, you will be helping them to get around the hospital safely and efficiently. The ideal person for the job would have good people skills and good stamina. Experience? Not a requirement. Such a position will also allow you to work in a healthcare-oriented environment and organically understand the ins and outs of it.
Environmental Services technician
Sure, some people may think that the job title is just a fancy name for 'cleaner' (which obviously should never be looked down upon), but in a hospital setting, there is so much more to it. Hospitals and other healthcare environments simply must maintain a certain standard of cleanliness in order to ensure the safety and sterility of the staff and patients. A good candidate for such a position would be a person who is thorough, takes pride in their friendship with bleach, and has a good eye for detail. No official experience is required, though most people usually have it from tending to and maintaining their own homes.
Medical receptionist
Good organizational skills? Good people skills? Fantastic! Being a medical receptionist might just be the thing for you. This role means you will be interacting with both patients and staff on an administrative level, which bears the fast-paced dynamics of the healthcare industry but none of the pressure of performing an actual medical procedure. While the medical receptionist might need to have common computer knowledge, official experience isn't always needed, as most hospitals will provide the necessary training before you start working.
Food service worker
People may have their prejudices about hospital food (usually bland, pale, and unappealing), but there is so much more to it than plain white rice and neon-colored jelly. A food service worker in a hospital needs to work closely with dietitians and nutritionists to learn about the different patients' dietary requirements and what they need to heal. They prepare and deliver meals to patients according to the patients' treatment plans, playing a key role in their health journey. A good eye for detail, a willingness to learn, and obviously a passion for cooking are the ideal qualities for someone in that position, but experience is usually unnecessary.
Pharmacy Aide
While pharmacists learn and train for years to be able to practice, one doesn't need any special knowledge or training to help them out. A pharmacy aide would help prepare and distribute medications according to a pharmacist's orders. You will need to have good organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to meticulously follow orders, and with time, who knows? You might even discover you’re halfway to becoming a pharmacist yourself!
How to apply
To find live applications for positions as the ones we just mentioned, start by researching your local hospitals. Each of them is likely to have a website with a way to contact the facility’s human resource department or a career section. Browse through the available opportunities, carefully read the descriptions and requirements, and find the one you think best suits you. Next, prepare your CV. Since you don't have experience in healthcare, make sure the document highlights your relevant skills and qualities that the job description details. Any references you can include to support those skills are welcome. There will usually be an online form to complete or a ‘submit’ button through which you can attach your file.
Another way to find such an entry-level position would be to look for it in relevant job search websites such as Glassdoor or Indeed. Remember to also check temporary, per diem, part-time, or even volunteering positions, as they can often serve as an opportunity for something bigger later on.