At a time when the global economy is reeling under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry is one of the few sectors where there’s still a great demand for new employees. That’s the good news. The bad news is there’s a lot of competition for those precious jobs and you need to be well prepared ahead of the job interview if you want to get the desired position. Here are a few tricks to help you increase your chances.
Polish your resume
Human Resources are flooded with resumes every time they post a vacancy in the Australian healthcare industry so make sure yours stands out. Look for online templates and understand what you need to include (and whatnot) in your CV. Be concise and when you get to the part where you talk about yourself better use the third person, as in ‘John Smith is a dedicated…’ That’s a trick to get the HR guys to remember your name.
If there are any gaps in your work history, be prepared to explain why you didn’t work for six months between jobs and you’d better have a good reason for it.
Acquire new skills
You probably have a degree in your chosen field, but it’s always a good thing to show HR managers that you’re interested in learning more. Enrol for a postgraduate course that would make you a more valuable employee.
Computer literacy is also important for many jobs in the healthcare system so a course in data management or something similar would look great on your resume.
Showcase your soft skills
Healthcare is one of the domains that require a lot of interaction with the general public and in many cases you’ll be under a lot of pressure. Show the HR managers that you’re good at problem-solving and can keep your calm in a critical situation. Use examples from your previous employment or your personal life to show you know how to handle people in distress, who are often needy, irritable and confused. It’s only the patients, but also their anxious relatives you’ll have to deal with so you must exude competence and calm at all times.
Get ready for a background check
The healthcare sector is a very sensitive one and you cannot hope to work in a hospital or nursing home without undergoing a background check. Even if you’re not a doctor or nurse, you’ll still need to submit to a background check as healthcare institutions are places where people have easy access to drugs. It’s understandable that managers will want to make certain you don’t have a drug problem.
It would be a great idea if you got a background check done on yourself before applying for a job. They’ll want one anyway so you’re saving HR some time getting it done yourself. Plus you can show them you understand the nature of the job, that should give you bonus points.
An efficient way to obtain a police check is by applying through an accredited service like the Australian National Character Check, where everything is done online. In just a few minutes you can upload all the required information and you get the results back via email in 2-3 business days.
Keep in mind that if you’re going to be working directly with children or vulnerable older people you might be required to get a special permit.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
