Employers look for key traits in allied health candidates
The field of health care is growing in leaps and bounds. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care occupations are projected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
That’s great news for those in allied health care professions who are looking to grow their career.
While opportunities are readily available, health care professionals still need to market their skills in an effective manner. Even though more than one million new jobs are predicated to occur, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll land the one you want.
The allied health care field covers a variety of occupations, ranging from keeping medical records to assisting patients, but there are certain traits that will make you more desirable. The key to landing a good job is understanding what traits are most in demand and how to present them when talking with employers.
Employers look for three main traits in allied health care candidates, and each one plays a significant role in distinguishing you from others — communication, desire to learn and problem solving.
Communication skills are a must when working with patients and other health care colleagues. Your ability to communicate effectively under pressure as well as working on teams are critical to your success, and is the No. 1way to market your skills.
Many times, candidates take for granted that basic communication skills are important but miss the broader view that true communication involves both nonverbal and verbal ways of interacting. When you consider that over 90% of communication is non-verbal, the way you respond to patients’ needs, report data to a team and build rapport during a job interview become more significant.
While you might not be in the spotlight of assessing a patient’s diagnosis, you are on the frontlines gathering needed information that is often observed by others.
A desire to learn new techniques and grow your skills in the health care field is an attractive trait that employers look for in candidates as well. Health care is now a data-driven process that supports business operations as well as patient’s well-being and as the industry changes, it requires constant training.
Curiosity is a big component of learning — it’s the motivation behind seeking knowledge without being asked. When you are curious about something, chances are you want to continue to learn more about it.
Employers look for allied health professionals who can be problem solvers; it’s the trait that will separate you from others. Being a problem solver builds your value in an organization by making it more efficient, stronger and more productive.
Problem solving is directly related to an attitude of concern, and contributing solutions to help make your employer thrive is an attractive trait for hiring decision makers.
The goal when moving your career forward is to form your accomplishments around these three attributes that employers seek in allied health professionals.
Make sure you give solid examples of how well you communicate, have a desire to learn, and how you add value to an organization through problem solving.