People who are willing and able to work in the health
industry will always be in demand. In fact, healthcare has
long been one of the biggest industries in the nation, and
now, because of the aging population of the United States and
advances in medical technology, the need for qualified
workers is only going to increase. Your ideal job is within
your grasp as long as you have the appropriate background and
inside information.
As an industry, healthcare offers a diverse range of jobs for
many different types of people. You can work in the
traditional health provision sector as a doctor or nurse, or
in a wide variety of medical fields. Preventative medicine
and recovery is getting increasing attention from insurance
companies looking to keep their costs down: dietitians,
counselors, and physical therapists all play key roles in
keeping people healthy. Research in academic medicine and
biotechnology provides opportunities for professionals
interested in discovering the next generation of treatment.
The people- and paperwork-oriented are needed to run the
business and administrative side of the industry.
Today, pharmaceutical manufacturing is one of the fastest
growing (and highest paying) fields. Despite great advances
in understanding the biochemical basis of disease, there
still remains much work in translating these advances into
new drugs.
In all of these jobs, the most important attributes that
prospective workers can have is a strong work ethic and
desire to help others. Many professionals in healthcare,
particularly those who work in hospitals, have long, odd
hours and are almost always under a great deal of stress --
new challenges constantly arise that need to be dealt with as
efficiently as possible. What goes along with the long hours
and high stress, however, is the satisfaction of knowing that
you have helped others.
When it comes down to it, most people who work in healthcare
are not in it for the money, the successful career, or the
glory - they just want to make a useful contribution to
society in a very tangible way.
You need the right background to break in. Most careers in
the industry require at least introductory courses in biology
and organic chemistry, with pre-med and pharmaceutical tracts
requiring extensive science coursework and lab experience.
After college, doctors need four years of medical school and
then one to seven years of residency. Administrative jobs
value candidates with both academic and professional
managerial skills, and interest or experience in medicine is
a big plus.
