Employment opportunities for Healthcare professionals in Alberta are getting better all the time. Statistics Canada reported a 6.5 percent growth in the sector within the last year, with 16,600 new jobs created. 2016 has seen the healthcare career trend continue, with a 1.9 percent increase in employment in January alone.
So how can students pursuing a healthcare career make the most of these opportunities? While the practical experience and job-ready skills you’ll learn in your healthcare program will put you in a great position to find work once you graduate, there are a number of other ways you can improve your career prospects as you complete your course.
Read on for a few small things current students can do to get ahead in the healthcare sector.
1. Network for a Better Healthcare Career With LinkedIn
Building a strong LinkedIn profile can be vital to advancing your career in the healthcare sector, and can help students make new connections, find out about job postings, and stay up to date on all the latest industry news.
Students can use the site to amass a personal network of healthcare connections, including classmates, instructors, and professionals they work with during clinical placements. Having an active professional presence online shows employers that you are serious about your new career.
2. Volunteer to Gain Experience
Healthcare professionals dedicate themselves to people’s wellbeing, and volunteering during your healthcare training can be a great way of showing employers that you’re passionate about helping people, while also helping you develop valuable skills for your future career.
For instance, students enrolled in health care aide programs might opt to do volunteer work in local retirement homes or other community care facilities. And students taking a medical assistant program with a veterinary specialty, meanwhile, could get experience being around animals by volunteering at a shelter.
3. Student Support Services Help Grads Kick-Start Their Healthcare Career
To get the most out of your time studying, you should look to use every possible resource at your disposal, including the career services offered by your college. The Student Support Service at Academy of Learning Career College (AOLCC), for example, works tirelessly to connect students with new employment opportunities through recruitment events and job boards, and connections with local employers. They also meet with students regularly, offering assistance in job searches, resume writing, and anything else they might need.
Many healthcare facilities have regular seminars and workshops to improve staff skills.
4. Learning Does Not Stop When You Finish Your Healthcare Career
Once you start your healthcare career and begin to work in the sector, you should still be looking for ways to improve your knowledge and develop your skills. If you come across procedures, medications, or ailments you’re not familiar with, ask your colleagues about them, or take some time to research them on your own. Your employers will be impressed by your initiative and eagerness to learn.
Many healthcare workplaces also offer a number of options for continued professional development, such as seminars and short courses, and you should look to take as many of these opportunities as possible.
Contact AOLCC for more information or to speak to an advisor.
