People choose a career in medicine because they find it rewarding and challenging at the same time. Some people choose this path early on and start their career right out of college. Others may get this calling later in life. If you are in the latter group and are considering a career change into the world of medicine, read on for some tips that will guide you into this transition.
Consider Your Decision Carefully
Changing to another career is a major life decision. Be sure you give careful thought to all of your options before you decide to move forward and start your search for oncology jobs in the US.
A helpful way to organize your thoughts is to write down the advantages and disadvantages of changing careers. Discuss this with your trusted family members and friends whose opinions you respect, and take their perspective into consideration.
If you have been thinking about a major career change into medicine, know that this career demands a significant amount of commitment of your time and resources. Be sure you are basing your decision on accurate information from your research. You should gather as much information as you can on what it takes to apply to medical school and how much your previous education and experience will affect the process.
Determine What Attracts You To Medicine
Assess your knowledge about different careers in the healthcare industry, and ask yourself what aspects of this field attract you to it. What aspects of medicine appeal to you? Also, think about what personal qualities are required for someone to succeed in this field.
When you are planning to change careers, you should be aware of the realities of what it takes to practice medicine everyday.
To get a meaningful perspective and a better understanding of the career, you can seek out those who are already practicing medicine. You can interview and even do some shadowing of healthcare professionals in various types of environments and specialties to get a real feel of the career.
Take advantage of the various professional networking and social media platforms on the web to connect to professionals in medicine. Not only will you build your network, but it will allow you to be apprised of the latest trends in the healthcare industry.
Evaluate Your Education Background and Previous Experience
Evaluate your previous education and determine if your academic record will impact this new direction. Do a self-assessment on the experience and skills that you currently have and see what would be transferrable or relevant to your new career.
If you have previous job experience and you are changing to a career in medicine, there is usually some experience that would be valuable to your new career. Think about how your knowledge and skills that you had acquired from your other job can be applied to a job in healthcare.
A lot of students might wonder if it is too late for them to study medicine. The fact is, medical schools are seeing more applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. They often admit students who are not coming directly from another college. Many applicants in this diverse pool are in their late 20’s all the way to even their 50’s. Age is not relevant. What is more important is the real-life experience you bring to it. These experiences and skills can often be transferred to enrich your new career in medicine.
Enjoy the Journey
The path to a career in medicine will have a lot of twists and turns. Medical school has many challenges, and it is not for the faint of heart. However, if you have the determination to succeed, you will reap rewards that are ten times more than the hard work you put into it.
And don’t forget, as you navigate through coursework, fieldwork, and exams, make the most of the experience and enjoy the journey.
