How do I get hired without experience?

This week’s blog is a bit of sound advice and reality for all the “next generation” HTM service professionals seeking employment upon graduation. Like many of you the past weeks, I have been attending a few high school graduation parties for those who have completed this course of study. As these graduates move onto the next stops in their life journey towards undergraduate studies, one topic very rarely discussed or at the least made known to students as they prepare in developing a career is the power of internship. I’m not sure if many academic counselors are just not aware or maybe it’s been that long since they have been in the active job market of current times.As a long time recruiter and hiring manager of both entry level and experienced biomedical technicians, imaging engineers and other healthcare industry professionals, performing the first read of any resume a key decision is generally made – qualified or not qualified. As the eyes navigate through the applicants resume, key indicators are sought and when the recruited position of interest is an entry level role an overwhelmingly separation from the rest of the pile is – you guessed it INTERNSHIP!

Completion of an internship in the student applicants field of desire is worth gold when competing against hundreds of other candidates seeking that precious opportunity and that phone call telling them they are being offered the job and asking – when can you start!

Finding and being awarded an internship is a goal every student needs to have in their curriculum of studies. Yes, some times the education institution will have a “resource pool” of internship relationships but most times it is up to the student to seek out and be awarded this most valuable of outside the classroom experience. For those seeking career in the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) field inquiring through either the many Biomedical/ Clinical Engineering Associations or perhaps some of AAMI (www.aami.org) related resources can be a link towards learning of available internship opportunities. Postings on social media sites such as LinkedIn can also provide leads and information as to hospitals or vendor service providers seeking interns as well.

So getting back to my original blurb about providing some “old school” sound advice. When seeking employment – networking connections are huge in landing that desired role and experience is “king”. The more value one can show on that first resume read is the key to the next door. If you’re coming fresh out of school into the job market or still very new in the HTM career field the percentages are high that having had an internship will tip the job offer scale in your favor.