"Lack Of Experience" Dilemma

Not Enough Medical Assistant Experience?

New medical assistant graduates can get stuck in a dilemma, or catch 22 when they apply for jobs that specify so-and-so many years job experience which they do not yet have, and therefore employers won't hire them because of the lack of experience. I can be hard to compete for medical assistant positions with more experienced medical assistants; however skills gained from previous jobs, volunteer work, related course work, vocational training and extracurricular activities can be just as impressive and beneficial and therefore, should always be listed in the medical assistant resume and highlighted during the interview as related experience. Even personal and professional traits, such as determination and special efforts, when presented in the right light can convince a potential employer that you are the best candidate for the job.

Lexi, a successful Certified Medical Assistant tells us:

"Did you do an internship? If so, put every bit down on your resume and applications. Make it look awesome, e.g. I live in a very rural area and traveled an hour and a half each way to school! I used this on my resume when I first got out to show how motivated I was to future employers."

YES - You Have Experience!

Remember, as a medical assistant student you did spend a considerable amount of time practicing important hands-on skills under the supervision of your MA instructor. For example:

• Basic concepts of EKG, ESR, Hematocrit
• Urinalysis, stool samples, throat cultures
• Drawing up exact amounts of medications from vials
• Injections: intradermal, subcutaneous, deltoid, and Z-track
• Basic wound care
• Vision screening, Snellen eye chart
• Venipuncture/Phlebotomy
• Collecting and organizing data for research and patient care
• Dataentry and safe keeping of records

Prior experience in the healthcare field, such as a nurse's assistant, or home health aide is very helpful and should not be forgotten either.

Determination Wins the Job

We recently came across a very creative way where a new medical assistant gets the word out on Craigs List. This medical assistant student shows that she is determined, confident, energized and eager to get to work... Her ad also shows, very discretely, that she is looking for work to gain experience and is willing to start at the front desk as a receptionist, which not every medical assistant wants to do! Great move.

Special Prerequisites and Employer's Expectations

Don't be surprised if a potential employer asks you during the interview whether you have certified medical assistant credentials and whether you have current CPR certification, or other credentials. Doctors will often stipulate that you obtain it within 3 months of hire. Furthermore, potential employers might also ask you to take a pre-employment physical, and sometimes a breath alcohol and DOT drug screening test before or within 6 months of hire. Yes, they do have the right to do that.