An article by contributor Eileen O’Shanassy.
Advancing in your career often requires meeting people along the way, and connections you make in the medical field can help you learn about new job opportunities. Building connections with others in the area ensures you’re able learn about new openings and you’re more likely to land a job if you have a referral. Here are a few ways to make more career connections in the medical field.
Charity Events
It’s common for medical organizations to hold charity events. By attending these, you can meet others in the field and potentially make career connections. These events provide a pleasant atmosphere, and mingling always plays a large role in meeting new faces. Many events also place attendees together around tables, so you’ll interact with people you may not have approached otherwise.
Networking Events
While networking is more common among business professionals, people in the medical field can benefit as well. Although you might not meet many other medical professionals as local networking events, others who attend might have connections to local medical practices, potentially providing you with access. Print out business cards before attending these events to make sure those you meet can contact you if they learn about an opportunity.
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities are common in the medical field, and most regions offer several outlets for medical professionals to spend their time. Volunteering is great for meeting other people in your field, and it also helps you hone your skills. Volunteer work also looks great on a resume as it shows that you enjoy helping others and applying your skills. Try to volunteer on different days and time slots meet a wider range of volunteers.
Education
Even if you don’t plan to earn a new degree or certificate, continuing your education can improve your resume and help you meet people who can help you find new job opportunities. Campuses are great environments for meeting professionals, and your instructors might have ways to connect you to opportunities. If you’re earning a degree online with something like an online bachelor’s degree programs from WGU, stay in contact with your teachers and fellow students. You might even want to launch a study group to build relationships.
Demand for medical professionals is expected to continue skyrocketing as the baby boomer population ages. While there will be plenty of job opportunities coming online, competition in the medical field can be strong. A strong resume can take you far in the medical field, but making career connections can be invaluable for landing your dream job. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available for networking in the medical field.
Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy
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