5 benefits of starting a healthcare career

There has never been a better time to consider a career in healthcare. The industry is experiencing one of the largest talent gaps in history, which means there is plenty of opportunity for those who are passionate about helping others.

The healthcare industry is home to jobs for every skill set, background, experience, and career goal. There are many benefits to having a healthcare career. Here are the top 5:

1) Career Stability

The first benefit of starting a healthcare career is career stability. If the recent economic difficulties have taught us anything, it’s that we need a career that allows us to have stability when things get tough.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the healthcare industry will grow by 1.5 million jobs over the next 10 years. Other industries face flat or negative growth, but healthcare will grow at a record pace as baby boomers phase out of the workforce and increasingly need care in levels never seen before.

The great thing about working in healthcare is that there will always be a need for qualified professionals because there will always be people who get ill and need care. Take out the uncertainty in your life and consider a career in an industry that rarely sees layoffs.

2) High Earning Potential

Since healthcare is facing such a talent shortage, demand for qualified professionals has never been higher. When demand is high, healthcare facilities and hospitals will offer extensive benefits and competitive pay to attract the best talent. 

You can usually go from working in a different industry to healthcare and instantly increase your salary and benefits.

The high earnings potential doesn’t just stop with your first position. In many cases, hospitals and healthcare facilities will subsidize additional education and certifications as a way to provide more value to the hospital and patients. They will also compensate you in salary and benefits based on your new levels of education or training. And because the healthcare talent gap is so severe, hospitals and healthcare facilities will usually pay well when you make a lateral move within the industry. 

Take advantage of the healthcare talent shortage and seize the high earning potential that comes with hospital jobs or healthcare jobs.

3) Competitive Benefits

The healthcare industry is doing all that it can to attract top talent. That's why they now go above and beyond to provide the most comprehensive and competitive benefits. Typically, qualified professionals can negotiate for flex time, signing bonuses, comprehensive healthcare coverage, insurance, company vehicles, and more.

Previously, employers would have most of the negotiating power when onboarding a new hire. Today, the healthcare industry has largely given the power to employees. The reason? If a hospital or healthcare facility doesn’t provide the most competitive benefits, qualified talent can easily go elsewhere.

As a new healthcare professional, you can expect health insurance, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, vacation time, and paid sick leave. And that’s just the baseline. They will frequently offer additional negotiations as part of the contract negotiation process. Other industries would be lucky to offer half of those benefits and often restrict the amount of room you have to negotiate.

4) Positions For Every Background

Another thing that separates healthcare from other industries is that you can find a position regardless of your background. It's a myth that when in healthcare, you’re automatically required to work with patients. That’s simply not true. There are many other types of jobs available.

Plus, you’re not relegated to the same role indefinitely. You can explore options and transition to different roles more easily than other industries. Perhaps you can work as a programmer developing cutting-edge technology to reduce barriers to treating patients, or as a researcher who analyzes treatment methods to find a more efficient solution. You don’t have to be exclusively confined to being a nurse or a physician - there are plenty of other positions to consider.

Another fantastic thing about working in the healthcare industry is that you don't always have to have a degree or healthcare background. While the healthcare industry does ask for certain degree qualifications or experience for some roles, it’s not required for all of them. This means that you can transition from another industry to healthcare with ease.

You can also transition your healthcare career after you have gained experience. For instance, you can start as a Secretary or Medical Coder and ask your employer for the opportunity to take on additional training or continuing education classes to become a Medical Assistant.

5) Make A Difference

Another great benefit of being in healthcare is that you can make a difference daily even if you don't directly interact with patients. For example, you can develop software that can allow physicians to check in on their patients remotely instead of the patients having to travel to be seen.

In other words, there is no limit to how you can improve the lives of others and make a difference within the healthcare industry.

Conclusion

There are so many fantastic benefits of starting a healthcare career that you should consider if you’re looking to switch gears or transition into a new role. 

If you’re looking for a career where you can work in a variety of locations and in a variety of roles with competitive benefits and career stability, then consider starting your healthcare career today.

About the Author

Ryan Bucci is a Content Strategist with HospitalCareers. 

HospitalCareers is the leading recruitment platform for hospital job seekers with more than 28,000+ hospital jobs, career advice, and career insights.

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