In many instances health care students can graduate from school and go to work for the same place where they did much of their clinical studies. Nurses, for example, frequently do this. Not only have you had an opportunity to observe firsthand the function of a particular setting, but the facility has had an opportunity to get to know you as well. Often it is the facility that does the recruiting of students.

Look Close to Home

In some instances you might not have the choice of whether or not to work in a hospital. In other instances there may be many options. And sometimes a year's experience working in a hospital setting first may be required or highly recommended. For many health care professions the hands-on clinical training takes place in a hospital setting. Should you not be recruited or not have had an opportunity for clinical practice, there are many places to job search.

Locate facilities near your home or where you want to work, and contact the Career Center or Human Resources Department to determine openings. You may be able to find a website for the facility and learn about job openings online. You may also wish to send a cover letter and copy of your resume for them to consider and keep on file for future openings.

Professional Publications

Professional journals usually have listings from at least some of the major players in your field. If they don't list an opportunity for someone with your qualifications, there will be contact information listed and you can call or send a letter of inquiry. You can find copies of professional journals in your school library or in medical school libraries. Most are also accessible online. There may be a fee involved, or they may send you a sample issue to consider for subscription.

Locate more information on professional associations, many of which publish the professional journals or will have references to them. You can also find information about trade journals from your local library. Ask the librarian to help you locate the Magazine Industry Market Place. This reference book is updated yearly and available in libraries.

Additional Resources

Other sources for locating jobs in the medical field include employment agencies and executive recruiters, through networking, and your professional organization.

There are several major health care job search companies online. These include:

• CareerBuilder Health Jobs
• Health Care Jobs
• Hospital Jobs Online
• J. Allen and Associates (physician job search)
• MedCAREERS
• Medzilla
• Monster Health Care
• Yahoo! Hot Jobs/Health Care

Resumes and Cover Letters

Once you have located the job opportunities you wish to pursue, you will need to build and write your resume and a cover letter, which introduces you and explains your interest in the available position(s). These are very important documents. You should keep copies and update your resume on an ongoing basis. This is particularly important so that you keep a record and documentation of professional experiences as well as ongoing education.

Your educational accomplishments are important as well. Where did you rank in your graduating class? Did you score especially high marks on professional boards? Did you earn honors or other accolades?

Your resume needs to be brief. It should be no more than two pages. You should use action words, and be positive. Remember, you are marketing yourself. However, don't embellish, and if you are still awaiting licensure or certification information, say so. Don't list credentials you don't yet have. Some of the important items your resume should include are:

• Contact information: Include your full name (including credentials you have earned) and complete contact information.

• Education: List the most recent, and list degrees by date.

• Objective or current career goal: Gear the goals you list toward the job you're seeking.

• Work experience: Include your job title, major accomplishments, and employment dates.

• Qualifications and skills: Try to identify the ones that match the job description. Include your computer and software skills.

• Other accomplishments: This can include volunteer positions you have held, and athletics, clubs, and service or religious organizations. (Think back to your college applications.)

• Honors, awards, or recognitions: List any you have received through work experiences, school, and extracurricular activities.

Think seriously about your e-mail address. It should be included, but is it something silly? It may be incredibly clever and creative. You may dearly love the cartoon character you've chosen to include in your name, but does it sound professional? Carefully consider signing up for a new e-mail account with a professional-sounding address just for your job search. Free e-mail accounts are available from sources such as Yahoo!, Google, and Hotmail. Your ISP may also allow you to create another identity.

The cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself and to try to entice the employer to call or e-mail you for an interview. It should be concise and to the point, but also express your interest in the position and in becoming part of their team. Be aware that if this is a large corporation, your letter may be separated out and never seen, but take the time to compose it carefully. Again, proofread and don't embellish. Integrity and honesty are vital characteristics in the health care field.