Whether
you have worked in the same healthcare job for years, or have just
started this month, there are many ways to enhance your career path.
Here are five great ways to step up your career: 1. Become a Member.
Professional associations are a fantastic way to stay up-to-date with
the latest trends and developments specific to your field. Moreover,
professional associations not only keep you informed, but they also
provide great networking opportunities (which leads us to number 2). 2. Always Make an Effort to Network.
Networking is one of the best ways to advance your career. By keeping
in touch with colleagues, contacts, and other acquaintances, you can
discover great opportunities. So, make an effort to stay in
touch--whether it be a professional networking site or an after-hours
work function--it can open up doors you never knew existed! 3. Examine Your Career Goals.
If you have been working towards that Associates Degree in Medical
Technology, or Masters of Science in Nursing, but cannot quite get to
the finish line, (or across the starting line) why not set some
smaller, more manageable goals or checkpoints to help to get you there?
Or if you are not making any progress towards your goal, or it has
become a major source of stress, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate
whether or not this particular goal makes sense for you. Whatever your
career aspirations may be, it is important to stay focused on the
career direction that makes the most sense and take the appropriate
steps. 4. Find a Mentor or Become One. If you
are new to the healthcare industry, identify a successful healthcare
professional, and get to know them. This could be a co-worker, or it
could be someone who works elsewhere in the healthcare field. A mentor
may help introduce you to valuable contacts, or assist you in
understanding aspects of your job which are not explained in school or
in books, such as the politics of your organization, and how to
navigate the system. If you are a tenured healthcare
professional, mentoring may fulfill your needs too. Staying in touch
with the younger generation of healthcare workers can help you to
understand what motivates the emerging workforce, as well as new
methodologies. Plus, the best way to truly learn is to teach someone
else! 5. Engage in Continuous Education.
Receiving and reading this newsletter is a sign that you’re already
on the right track! Take it a step further by perusing medical journals
or subscribing to medical magazines. Buy a book about your profession.
Take advantage of all the free resources on the Web that allow you to
participate in forums and online communities. Bottom line: If you stay focused and committed to your healthcare career, success is sure to follow! "Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love."
--David McCullough |