It’s hard to find a job in a tough economy. By being creative, you can find hidden jobs in healthcare.
Most healthcare jobs are not advertised, but they pay very well; so, it is worth your time to try networking or you can use job search tools in order to find hidden jobs. Don’t rule yourself out just because you don’t have any experience for a healthcare job. Some positions will offer on-the-job training.
Most healthcare jobs are hidden. Instead of advertising available jobs, many hospitals and health care companies work with recruiters. In addition, they post their job openings internally; so, their own employees can apply for a promotion or do a lateral transfer into a job they prefer.
This hiring strategy saves hospitals and healthcare companies a lot of money; they can avoid spending a lot of money hiring and training a new employee. Instead of losing a current employee to another company, they can promote or transfer him/her to another position that can offer more income and/or job satisfaction.
Another hiring strategy that healthcare companies use is that they pay current employees financial incentives or bonuses for referring job candidates. This strategy allows companies to get pre-screened job applicants.
Even with financial incentives, most employees will only refer candidates that they know well and they think will be a good employee for the company. Why? They know they might end up working with a job applicant and they’re going to be careful choosing their potential co-worker.
So, why should you even bother applying for a job in healthcare if you don’t know anyone who is already working there? One solution is to try working with a recruiter.
Especially if you think you will be a good candidate for a job that’s hard to fill, it’s a very good idea to work with a recruiter. You can use these job search tools to find a recruiter for your target position. Some of the jobs are posted by recruiters and you can get their contact information by using search tools.
Two Job Search Tools Than Can Help You Find Hidden Jobs In Health Care
#1. Indeed.com
Indeed is a search engine for jobs in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other countries. This tool helps job seekers find employment posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards. Many recruiters also post jobs here.
- You can search for available jobs near your area by using keywords.
- You can get information about employment in your zip code, city or state of interest.
- You can get information about government positions and internships.
- You can get information about remote or telecommuting positions. Click “Remote” or search for “telecommute ______ (name of position).”
- You can get job search tools that can help make your search easier.
- You can get job and industry trends. This is useful in finding out if jobs are increasing or decreasing in your industry of interest.
- You can search and compare salaries of over 600 million jobs.
#2. CraigsList.com
Craigslist is a very useful tool for finding hard-to-find positions in your city or country. Many companies post their job openings using this site because it’s very inexpensive and cost-effective.
- Choose the city, state or country where you want to find employment.
- You can search for available jobs near your area by using keywords.
- You can search for part-time, contract, telecommuting and non-profit jobs as well as internships.
- You can also search for healthcare jobs offered by individuals or families needing someone to help care for a disabled or sick family member. Click Medical/Health under the Jobs category and you can search for people needing a “caregiver” near your area.
What Else Can You Do to Find Hidden Hobs In Healthcare?
You can call a hospital or healthcare company in your area and talk to Human Resources (HR) about any available jobs related to your background. You can visit their website to check for any available jobs that they may not be advertising, but they have posted online. You can also visit the company and apply directly.
Click here to find a hospital or healthcare company in your area. You can input your city or zip code and use the keywords: “health care”, “healthcare”, “hospital”, “nursing center”, “nursing facility”, “convalescent”, “home health”, “home care”, “private duty” or “senior care”.
If you’re feeling gutsy, you can also do some “networking” onsite. Talk to some nurses, therapists and other healthcare employees; you can try to get some information about any available jobs or soon-to-be-available jobs that they know about. You can also try to get some advice about getting hired for their company.
It’s a good idea to wear office attire when you do this; so, people will be less afraid and more willing to talk to you. You do not want anyone to call security just because you look scary. Besides, you want to be able to go to HR and apply right away if there is a job opportunity available.
Try to approach and have your “networking” discussion with someone who doesn’t look busy or in a rush. Otherwise, you might not get a positive response.
Unless you’re very unlucky or your timing is just poor, you should not have any problems getting help from one of the employees for that healthcare company. Remember, healthcare employees are in a helping profession. So, it’s very likely that they will help you if you ask for it. Just like any other networking event, you have to be courteous and respectful of your potential network.
Additional Hints for Finding Hidden Jobs In Health Care
- Don’t rule yourself out just because you don’t have any experience for a healthcare job. Some positions will offer on-the-job training.
- If you apply for a job in a convalescent hospital, nursing center or nursing facility, ask HR if they offer on-the-job training and certification. You can use the certificate to get an easier or better-paying job in the future.
- If possible, try to work for multiple healthcare agencies especially if you’re going to work for smaller, private companies. Why? If the patient census is low and you end up not working for one agency, you can accept an assignment (a patient) from another agency. What if you already have a patient from one agency and another one wants to give you a patient? Just tell the truth. Just say, you’re already working and can’t take another patient… but you’re available for other assignments in the future. For large hospitals like Kaiser, low patient census is usually not an issue; so, you shouldn’t need more than one job if you get hired there.
Most healthcare jobs are hidden. Many jobs pay very well; so, it is worth your time to try networking or you can use job search tools in order to find these non-advertised jobs.