How to Switch Careers to the Medical Field
The medical field is often a good choice for those looking to switch careers because people consider it recession-proof. (See References 1) However, many medical positions require extensive training before you can even get an interview. If you want to switch careers to the medical field, you'll have to plan ahead, and it's likely that you'll need to do some studying. Once you do that, though, you could have a fairly steady job.
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Instructions
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Decide which job in the medical field you want. Look for medical careers that fit with your interests. You may be interested in prenatal care or elder care, for example. Remember that each type of job will come with its own educational requirements. Becoming a doctor requires many years of study, but you could become a nurse in just a few years.
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Research training opportunities and certification requirements. See what types of job training centers are in your area or whether you can complete requirements online. You'll also need to see what type of certification is required in order to get a job in your particular field of interest. For example, you need a nursing degree to become a nurse or a certification to become an Emergency Medical Technician.
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Attend training classes while in your current position. You'll want to look for classes that will work around your schedule. Since these are career training schools, you can often find classes outside of normal business hours, such as evening and weekend classes. Community colleges often offer programs to prepare you for jobs in nursing, or you can look for a privately-funded school that specializes in medical training.
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Apply for jobs in the medical field. Once you have fulfilled the educational requirements for the position you want, start applying for jobs. Be sure to stress how your experience in other positions could help you during the career transition. For example, your customer service skills can help you empathize with patients, and project management skills can help you keep patient files organized.
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Take a lower paying job to get your foot in the door. Remember that this is a new career for you, so you will have to take an entry level position. Prepare to do some of the dirty work--entry level jobs may entail tasks such as changing bed pans or giving patients a sponge bath. Be sure that you express your desire to move up as quickly as possible.
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