May means spring cleaning and graduation to many. June is prime job hunting season with new biomeds entering the field and others looking for a fresh start. TechNation magazine reached out to its expert sources to find out more about employment in the healthcare technology field, specifically when it comes to biomeds, clinical engineers and field service engineers.
Participants sharing their expert insights in the June roundtable article on employment are:
- Radiological Service Training Institute (RSTI) CEO Todd Boyland, CEO, CRES, CPSM
- Multi-Medical Systems Director of Talent Acquisitions Chris Duplissis
- College of Biomedical Equipment Technology President Dr. Richard L. “Monty” Gonzales
- Stephens International Recruiting Executive Recruiter Tim Hopkins
- HTM Jobs duo Kristen Register and Sydney Krieg.
Q: What are important factors to consider when starting an HTM career?
Boyland: For those starting HTM careers, I feel important factors include continuing opportunities for growth and understanding what those paths might be, opportunities to confront new challenges for personal and professional growth, as well as trust in your leadership and trust in the coworkers on your team.
Duplissis: When considering a career in the HTM arena. I would encourage anyone to ask themself this short list of questions:
- Do I enjoy working with people and technology?
- Do I enjoy challenging situations with regards to people using technology?
- Do I enjoy troubleshooting vague or difficult situations related to the above questions?
- Do I enjoy disassembling and reassembling mechanical and electronic devices, to include networking computers?
- Do I enjoy working under pressure and in stressful situations regularly?
- Can I remain politely calm, composed, and focused when working with timelines, and people?
- Can I communicate with people outside of my workspace; that are intelligent, educated, and inquisitive about technology on regular professional basis.
Gonzales: Prior to embarking on a career in healthcare technology management (HTM), possessing the required education and training is crucial. Additionally, it is imperative that both novice and experienced technicians maintain a clear perspective on the importance of seeking ongoing education and training to stay abreast of the rapidly evolving industry. In any field, professional development is a vital aspect of advancing one’s career. While technical expertise is undoubtedly crucial, professional growth should encompass enhancements in communication, interpersonal skills, ethics training and other areas often overlooked.
Hopkins: It depends on the role we are working on. Generally, for technician level candidates, military training or an associates in biomed or electronics are desired. Any additional OEM or third-party training on specialty equipment, such as imaging, anesthesia, ventilators, networking and IT certification, is a big plus. For management positions, a bachelor’s degree in business is great but not always required. Employers will often consider a candidate’s experience in lieu of a degree. Candidates with an MBA certainly put themselves above the competition.
HTM Jobs: Everyone’s career path looks different, especially in the HTM industry. The career path for a biomedical professional isn’t linear which means there are a lot of different avenues HTM professionals can explore. This allows for much more flexibility when it comes to job searching and figuring out your next move in the industry.
Q: How often should biomeds update their resume?
Boyland: I feel that annually is reasonable. Potential employers likely will not want to see job hopping or recycling, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep up to date with new certifications, CEUs, etc. … as they are accomplished.
Duplissis: My recommendation is that BMETs should be updating their CVs/resumes each time you progress in your career to a new position. This way your resume stays current and better reflects the details of what you are actually doing, responsible for and have accomplished during your employment. I have and continue to read, and rewrite resumes for individuals that have missed the mark on the importance of presenting yourself as capable, motivated and a team player too numerous to count. Hiring managers want to see and read details of your accomplishments. When they do not see them on your resume, well I can assure you that they lose interest quickly, and move on to the next applicant. Please keep this one fact in mind, your resume is your life’s work, and should represent you as a dedicated professional willing to add and bring your skills, abilities, and talents to the team.
Also, I would highly recommend keeping a personal career diary of sorts as well. Updating it each month with accomplishments that have brought value to your current position with the clinical staff, teammates and employer.
My personal reasons for doing this are simply to better recall what I have accomplished over the months and years in my positional roles.
In turn, this allows me to better reflect upon my worth, importance, and provide better input with regards to annual evaluations.
Which just may lead to a better position or promotion within a healthcare system, hospital, OEM/ISO company.
Gonzales: A significant trend in resume development is shifting towards experiential resumes, placing emphasis on the value of practical experience as crucial, if not more so, than the formal education typically highlighted in resumes. Effectively capturing one’s experiences necessitates taking a portfolio-based approach and remaining vigilant to ensure that invaluable experiences are documented and included in one’s resume. Rather than fixating on rigid timelines, I recommend that professionals consistently update their resumes and meticulously document significant work experiences that are frequently underrated or overlooked. By showcasing recent accomplishments and roles, individuals can illustrate their career advancement and development to both current and prospective employers.
Hopkins: As often as possible. Anytime training is offered to biomeds in the field, they usually jump on the opportunity. I always advise candidates to save any formal training documents and list them on their resume. Companies often are looking for ways to reduce contracts. If they do not see the training listed on a resume, the opportunity may be missed for everyone.
HTM Jobs: Biomeds should keep their resumes as up to date as possible. When applying for jobs, it’s important to make sure your resume accurately describes your current and past experiences. You can even tailor your resume to each job you apply for to highlight the skills and qualifications that will make you a strong candidate for the role. If you are not actively searching for a job, it’s still a good idea to periodically update your resume as you gain more experience … you never know when you’ll need to have it accessible!
Q: How important are certifications?
Boyland: I feel they are important. Certifications demonstrate a commitment to your craft, as well as demonstrating continuing education and a willingness to keep learning and improving.
Duplissis: In my humble observations, spanning almost 25 years as a HTM professional, certifications add value to an individual’s sense of confidence and history of professional achievement, to include affording one a regulated requirement to stay current with continuing education. I have also noticed a trend over the past 10 years that health care systems and hospitals prefer to use HTM certifications to better align staffing requirements with their accreditation standards. So, with all this in mind, the bottom line is best stated as follows: Certification is an individual choice that may add value to the individual’s career goals, and may also, with regards promotions, better allow you to distinguish yourself from your peers.
Gonzales: Certifications are increasingly vital in the rapidly evolving HTM industry, as the alignment between IT and HTM grows stronger. For IT professionals seeking career advancement, obtaining advanced certifications from organizations like CompTIA and HIMSS has become a critical step in career progression. The trend towards recognizing the importance of certifications, micro-credentialing, and on-demand training is expected to continue to rise in importance. Certifications not only showcase competency, but also signify membership in a community of practice. At the College of Biomedical Equipment Technology, we encourage all technicians to pursue professional certification as part of their continuing professional development.
Hopkins: It’s important but not a deal breaker in most cases. Certification will put you a notch above the competition. A couple of clients have required CBET certification to qualify for a higher-level position. Other clients incentivize their employees by offering a raise once the certification is completed.
HTM Jobs: Certifications will always set you apart as a candidate. They prove your dedication and interest in expanding your knowledge and skill set within the HTM profession. However, a lack of certifications will not necessarily make you less qualified as a candidate. Employers have become more flexible in their requirements for certain positions and are most interested in biomeds who are skilled and willing to learn.
Q: What are some hiring trends in the HTM industry?
Boyland: I feel a reduced importance is being placed on electronics (while still necessary), and an increased importance is being placed on computer skills.
Duplissis: The trend that I have noticed is simply stated as such, the current work force in HTM world is nearing retirement age or has already retired. With this said, most health care systems and hospitals have not properly prepared for the departure of 30 to 40 years of industry knowledge leaving their facility. So again, with this said, your resume details matter if you really desire the opportunity to advance into a new career position. Of course, experience matters, and the more experience you can catalog on that resume the better.
Gonzales: There is a tremendous demand for qualified technicians, across the spectrum from entry-level to seasoned technician. One of the more exciting trends is the increasing interest in apprenticeship programs with large health care organizations. Driven largely by necessity, we are working with an increasing number of health care organizations to support their unique apprenticeship programs and requirements. Another interesting trend is the continued strengthening of the relationship between IT and HTM departments. Consequently, we have seen a handful of health care organizations innovatively approaching expectations attached to new hire roles and responsibilities.
Hopkins: I’m noticing companies training biomeds from other fields. Most candidates have an electronics background in some capacity. Companies will train candidates with a good understanding of basic electronics especially if the potential employee has good communication skills.
HTM Jobs: There are currently more open positions than there are candidates to fill at this point in time. We are seeing employers adapting by hiring either non-traditional talent and/or entry level candidates and focusing on training in the facility to fill their needs.
Q: How important is the ability to relocate when seeking an HTM job?
Boyland: I feel this varies by engineer and can go either way. I feel there are positions available that require talented candidates, within proximity to just about anywhere. On the same token, there are opportunities to move just about anywhere in the U.S. to fill the demand for skilled engineers.
Duplissis: This is an individual choice that could make or break the beginning of a new BMET’s career, with regards to geographical opportunities. I would personally recommend that new BMET’s and even mid-career BMET’s be open about their career goals and desires to learn more outside of college or their current positional role. Yes, moving one’s life halfway or totally across the country can be stressful, however, with the end game in mind you are starting the next chapter in your professional career. No one says you have to stay somewhere forever. Remember just as the seasons change four times a year, our career has seasons as well. Learn to enjoy them and appreciate the change that each season brings you too.
Gonzales: I was once advised to prioritize location, job opportunity, or salary when embarking on a career path, because achieving all three goals at once could be a nearly impossible task. When pursuing a career, it’s crucial to recognize that priorities need to be balanced, while maintaining flexibility, embracing risks, and tackling challenges, even if it requires accepting a role in a less desirable location to secure the ideal job. In the field of HTM, relocating should be carefully considered when exploring job prospects and career development, taking into consideration job availability, opportunities for advancement, personal circumstances, and the willingness to adapt and make necessary changes in life for career advancement.
Hopkins: Candidates willing to relocate will have a much better chance of landing their first position out of school. If they attend a local community college the market in their general area can be saturated. I advise getting out of their comfort zone and relocating to get a start. After gaining a few years of experience doors will be easier to open back home. Experienced professions often need to relocate for advancement as well. Within any organization there are limited numbers of opportunities in the local market. Many ISOs and large hospital systems provide excellent advancement opportunities for employees willing to move.
HTM Jobs: As we have mentioned, since there are more positions available than people to fill them, the ability to relocate is extremely important. Many employers offer relocation assistance to candidates that are willing to relocate. We always encourage candidates to look at all opportunities and broaden their search.
Q: What else do you think TechNation readers need to know about employment?
Boyland: In my opinion, the leadership team will likely make the biggest impact to the happiness and success of HTM employees. Really get to know who your leadership team could be and talk with potential coworkers to get feedback from those who have been there. Working with a great team who wants to make each other better can have a huge impact on the quality of your work/life balance.
Duplissis: Great question and in today’s world we need to consider outside distractions that slow or disable our ability to focus on the responsibilities and tasks at hand. Technology is a double-edged sword and if not used correctly, it can cut unexpectedly. Managing our distractions can be difficult, but not impossible. Please consider the short list of personal disciplines throughout your workday to keep you engaged and on the ball during your participation at work.
- Keep all personal electronic media devices in airplane mode when you start your day.
- Provide your significant other or spouse with your supervisors work number for emergency contact needs.
- Only use your personal media devices on your breaks or lunch if you are expecting a message from someone you consider a very important person.
- Do not check your personal email address at work for the obvious reason of distracting yourself from the duties of your employment.
- Stay engaged throughout the day with your teammates and manager. If all your physical work is accomplished, shift gears and refocus your energy on the administrative duties/paperwork. No one enjoys admin work, however, as we quickly learn. If we do not document a service event, it technically has not happened.
- If everything assigned to you is accomplished, do not be afraid or hesitant to ask if you can assist or help someone. This will lead to new learning opportunities and build a sense of community within your team.
- Do not consider yourself an expert in all things, without first considering another person’s question. Easily stated, communication is very important. It is not what we say, but how we say it. Practice humility and kindness every day. By doing this, you will be seen as approachable and a team player within your health care system, hospital or OEM/ISO company.
Gonzales: The future of healthcare technology management (HTM) presents a challenging landscape shaped by rapid technological advancements and constant innovation. As medical innovations break new ground, HTM professionals will face an expanding array of responsibilities, placing them at the forefront of the field. While it is crucial to focus on the horizon, it is equally important to uphold core values and non-technical skills that are now in high demand by employers nationwide.
Hopkins: Always take advantage of any training opportunities. It’s not aways an immediate return, but in the long run it will benefit you and any organization.
HTM Jobs: It is a candidate’s market! If you are thinking about advancing in your career, now is a great time to consider. You can register for free at HTMjobs.com and browse over 400 opportunities nationwide.
