How to Find the Best Job as a New Medical Assistant

The average salary for medical assistants in America is about $26,269.

Medical assistance careers are one of the most varied professions, with duties ranging from administrative work and file-keeping, to caring for patients, drawing blood, and taking vitals. The medical field is constantly growing and changing, and many new graduates will find themselves overwhelmed when entering the job market for the first time. By following a few simple steps you can speed up the employment process and find your dream job in a fraction of the time.

Things You'll Need

• Skills resume

Instructions

1. Create a skills resume that outlines your education, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and if applicable, previous employers. Skill based resumes work best for those with little work experience, and are made to emphasize good grades, school awards, and non-career experience. Skills resumes are often the best choice for new graduates.

2. Contact the university or institution you received your medical assistant training from. Many schools offer career placement and assistance preparing for and finding a job. If your school has a career counselor ask her to look over your resume or run through a mock interview and give you tips for improvement.

3. Create profiles on LinkedIn, Monster.com, CareerBuilder, and any other networking or job search sites you desire. These sites help get your name out in the professional world with little effort on your part. The greater the presence you make for yourself online the more likely an employer is to contact you with a job offering.

4. Attend local networking gatherings and job fairs in the medical field. Potential employers will often attend these functions and meet face to face with new graduates and job seekers. A good impression on the right person could mean your ticket into a medical assistant job.

5. Contact hospitals and offices you have an interest in working with, and ask if they will keep a copy of your resume on file even if they're not hiring. Make sure the cover letter of the resume you hand them is tailored to that specific position and company. If you gain experience or qualifications beyond those listed on your resume bring in an updated copy to subtly remind them of your interest in the company.

References

• Salary: Medical Assistant Salaries
• Career Builder: Skills Resume
• Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections; Ivan Misner; 2010

Resources

• Find Local Networking Events