Over the past several weeks, I have received more LinkedIn notifications from people changing roles/organizations than ever before. Last Monday, for example, I received 10 such notices! I have also heard from numerous company leaders who would love an introduction to anyone that I know who might be looking for a new healthcare role – clinical and non-clinical alike.
This is clear evidence that it’s job candidate’s market out there!
I thought this week it would be interesting to discuss the current state of the healthcare job market, share tips/strategies for finding new work and what the future might look like for healthcare roles.
Healthcare Experience is Precious
I have always believed that healthcare experience is precious. I would often prefer to hire a candidate who had fewer years of experience yet had worked in healthcare over someone more qualified from a different industry. Why? Because:
- The learning curve in healthcare is steep (think of all the players in the ecosystem and the acronyms that we use!)
- People who have been in healthcare for a while, usually have a high empathy and compassionate streak
Right now, anyone with healthcare experience is being snapped up by providers, payers, government agencies, and private companies. If you have Revenue Cycle Management, AI, patient engagement, marketing, imaging, or any specialization you are a hot commodity right now. (and if you are looking, please contact me because I know dozens of companies who are looking!)
Healthcare’s Reputation
To completely honest, however, healthcare has never been a hot destination for talented people. Traditionally, non-clinical roles in healthcare have not paid as much vs other industries like banking or high-tech. Healthcare also has the reputation of being quite demanding (long hours) and not a fantastic track record of recognizing staff (nurses anyone?).
The stories about frontline staff burning out and suffering from 2 long years of COVID (which rightfully should be in the spotlight) have not helped healthcare’s reputation as a place to work.
Still, there is little doubt that healthcare is one of the industries that will see increased investment and innovation over the next several years.
Innovation = New Skills
When I say “innovation”, I am definitely referring to the advancement of technology in healthcare – like artificial intelligence, robotics, 5G, etc. But also, the infusion of new thinking like consumer-like conveniences around appointment booking, easy payments, and retail health. As well, new entrants into healthcare like Amazon, Apple, and Walmart will push our industry in exciting ways.
Being adaptable, resourceful, and situationally aware (ie: understanding the healthcare landscape) will be important skills to have. If I was hiring today, I would definitely prioritize resourcefulness. The next few years look to be as tumultuous as the past two as COVID casts its long shadow over the industry.
I also think that data analytics and customer service skills will become even more valuable in the next couple of years.
Your Opinion
I’m really curious to hear from the HCLDR community on this topic. Have you seen the same level of people changing roles/companies? What skills do you believe will be needed in the future? What tips do you have for those that are looking right now?
Join the community Tuesday April 12th at 8:30pm ET (for your local time click here) when we will be discussing:
- T1 What would you look for in a new role/organization in terms of job characteristics, culture, and work environment?
- T2 If you were a hiring manager in healthcare, what skills would you prioritize right now? What about in the future?
- T3 Do you think that healthcare is a destination for job seekers right now? Or has the pandemic scared people away?
- T4 What tips or strategies for job seekers can you share? (ie: where to look, how to find unposted jobs, resume writing tips, LinkedIn strategies)
References
Smith, Morgan. “These are the 11 most in-demand health-care jobs of the next decade”, CNBC, 15 October 2021, https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/15/the-11-fastest-growing-jobs-in-health-care-over-the-next-decade-.html, accessed 12 April 2022
Hou, Feng and Schimmele, Christoph. “Adults with a health education but not working in health occupations”, Statistics Canada, 29 April 2020, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00004-eng.htm, accessed 12 April 2022
Hannon, Kerry. “5 Health Care Jobs on the Rise”, New York Times, 14 April 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/health/health-care-jobs.html, accessed 12 April 2022
Yong, Ed. “Why Health-care Workers are Quitting in Droves”, The Atlantic, 16 November 2021, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/11/the-mass-exodus-of-americas-health-care-workers/620713/, accessed 12 April 2022
Image Credit
Photo by Anna Shvets: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-woman-office-writing-4225927/
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