Medical Assistants Searching for Jobs

Creating Your "Job Magnet"

Check out industry profile and national estimates for medical assistants occupied! Major cities to rural areas, recruiters and employers are in constant need for qualified front and back medical office staff-and this will likely not change any time soon. Medical assistants searching for jobs fare better when they follow certain steps. Opportunities in allied health, medical office support and other healthcare occupations are not limited by location, gender, race, religion, or even disabilities. Where there are people there is a need for medical services and care; and medical office managers and recruiters are ready to hire.

The challenge many unemployed and job seeking medical assistants face, although it is not really such a big problem, is knowing WHERE to look for a job and meaningful employment. Actually finding work is easier than you might think once you get the right idea where to look and how to apply. You will be surprised with how many ways to locate available medical assistant job opportunities you will come up with.

If you have a current resume and can show that you know medical terminology, clinical procedures and administrative tasks, including basic medical coding and billing, medical insurance claims processing, or that you have done data entry jobs and medical transcriptions, then chances are you have what it takes to land a good job! Good clinical and clerical skills, along with good listening and organizational skills go a long way in the medical office. They are the "job magnet" for those seeking a medical assistant job.

How to Look For a Medical Assistant Job

Building a solid job search plan can be a challenge because of the vast landscape in terms of availability of jobs, talents, tastes, demographics and age, and the rapidly changing trends in the job market. Job seekers have constantly stay abreast with changing trends and employer's expectations:

• Which employers are ready to hire, or hire soon?
• Does a long wait for the right opportunity mean better pay?
• What are potential employers expectations (certifications, experience)?

Therefore, medical assistants seeking employment, especially new medical assistant school graduates, must clearly set their goals. On a sheet of paper they can describe their ideal work place or field of interest (such as specialties in the medical field) and include such things as duties they would and would not want to do.

1. Set your goals
2. Analyze yourself
3. Search for job opening in newspapers, on job websites, and lists
4. Network
5. Make sure your medical assistant extern ship goes over smooth and successfully
6. Create a professional resume
7. Prepare for the interview
8. Be creative, observant and persistent

When searching for available medical assistants positions on online job banks remember that there are multiple titles used for a medical assisting position, so you will want to vary your search terms and use medical assistant, medical office assistant, clinical medical assistant, medical office clerk, front desk receptionist, or certified medical assistant. See listings of available medical assistant jobs everywhere.
 

Be Open to Suggestions and Learn

• Know what your local job market demands
• How to discover hidden (vertical) job markets
• What is the average pay scale in your area
• What do employers expect (experience?, certifications?, CPR?)

Advertise on Job Sites and Craigs List

• Read and advertise in your local newspaper wanted ads
• Place your resume and information on well known job sites on the Internet

We recently came across a very creative way for medical assistants to get the word out on Craigs List. Surprise, surprise! But Craigs List is making an emergence when it comes to finding a job. This medical assistant student, who placed an ad does a good job showing that she is energized and eager to get to work... Her ad also shows, very discretely, that she is looking to gain job-related experience and is willing to start at the front desk. Great move.

Network Profusely

• Tell friends, family members, former colleagues, and people you meet at functions, or church that you are looking for a job
• When you have your own medical appointments, talk to the MAs there
• Stay in touch with your MA school and former instructors
• Participate on Medical Assistant Web Forums and post your concerns

Do the Leg Work

• See job offers posted through local employment offices
• Register for the national certification exam Search

Surf the Internet

Find a medical assistant job online. There are MANY medical assistant job opportunities listed on the Internet:

• Use search engines and search for "medical assistant job + your location"
• Read blogs that give specific tips and advice on where to go next

 

Understand the Career Development Cycle

Stony Brook University has developed the career development cycle model to help students better understand the process of career development. Stony Brook feels that students should touch upon each part of this cycle throughout their entire college experience to determine the career path to pursue after graduation. Most medical assistants who land the job, whether full-time permanent, or part-time per diem, can expect excellent benefits packages, competitive salaries and growth opportunities.

• Choosing a Medical Assisting Career
  
  Often it is not you who chooses a career, it is the career that chooses YOU. It was a deep inner calling that drove you to pursue a certain path and there you are.
• New Medical Assistants Without Experience
  
  Not enough experience can be a BIG dilemma for new medical assistants who apply for medical assistant jobs however prior related experience should be highlighted.
• Post a Job!
  
  Place your job vacancy for skilled medical assistants with us. We reach thousands of medical assistants in any given month.