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Dear Cindy – Need Experience to Get a Job/Need a Job to Get Experience
By Cynthia M. Piccolo (Career Questions)
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Dear Cindy: 
I just graduated as a certified medical assistant in New Jersey. It is ridiculously difficult to get a job without experience. What can I do? I have a vast amount of office experience behind me, which can transfer over. I was going to go on to become an LPN to RN, but now I am worried. How will I get my first job? I have such a desire to utilize my new education!

Sincerely,

MJ

Dear MJ: 
The can't-get-a-job-without-experience and can't-get-experience-without-a-job catch-22 situation is one of the most frustrating things a person will experience as they launch their career, but the good news is that generally it means it just takes longer to find a job, not that you won't find a job.

Here are some tips:

  • Network with your program instructors and, if you did one, practicum placement supervisors. Do they know of any openings amongst their colleagues/friends/association members? When someone who knows you (your training, work ethic, study ethic, etc.) will recommend you to one of their friends/colleagues, it's a great help to a job search, because employers are much more likely to give you a chance.
  • Concentrate on jobs that say "experience preferred" rather than "experience required," or those that say "will accept new grads."
  • Consider contacting temp agencies.
  • Consider using a combination style résumé, that is, one in which you foreground your skills/credentials by putting them in a bullet list before you list work experience.
  • Make sure that your cover letter is strong – stress your skills (including transferable skills from previous jobs, e.g., keyboarding speed, reception, software packages), your GPA from your medical assistant program (if it's strong), any experience (including volunteer experience) in a healthcare setting, and the fact that you are certified.
  • Since medical assistants' job descriptions involve some administrative office work (e.g., correspondence, completing forms), make sure that your cover letter and résumé have been carefully proofread.
  • If you can get a strong reference from a program instructor or practicum supervisor, include it with your cover letter and résumé.
  • And perhaps the most difficult thing – stay positive.

    • Good luck!
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