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By Cynthia M. Piccolo (Career Questions)
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Dear Cindy: 

I recently (August 2008) graduated from community college with AAS degree in radiography, and I went to radiation therapy school right after my graduation. Now I'm full-time student.

My concern is I really want to work as an x-ray tech, and since I'm full-time student who goes to school from Monday to Friday, I want to work only on weekends. I've applied to about seven different hospitals since September, but I haven't had any calls for an interview yet.

Is it because they don't want to hire a part-time or per diem employee, or because I don't have experience?

Can you give me some advice on getting a job as per diem or part-time tech?

Should I hand in my application and résumé in person who is in charge of the Radiation Department?

Sincerely,

M

Dear M: 

First, I'll assume that you did your ARRT certifying exam in radiography, because if not, there's the most significant problem right there.

Otherwise, there's no way to be 100% sure about what the problem is; it could be one, some, or all of the fact that you're a new grad, you can only do weekend hours, you haven't applied to enough places, you aren't selling yourself well enough, or something related to the tight economy.

Some suggestions:

  • Ensure that your cover letter and résumé are as strong as possible: if you had a high GPA, mention it; if you have a strong written reference from an instructor or internship/externship placement site, include a copy; mention any transferable skills you gained from your previous jobs, volunteer work, etc.
  • If you are now studying at the same school, or are at a school in the same community or near to the community in which you did your AAS in radiography, network with your former instructors and internship/externship placements. You are a known quantity to them – and, presumably, they liked you – so they could be your foot in the door for a part-time job, whether with them or with someone they know in their professional network.
  • Do a search online and/or in the yellow pages for freestanding clinics or radiologists' offices and send in your cover letter and résumé.
  • Consider contacting local temporary staffing agencies.
  • As for contacting the person in charge of the department, it may help, and even if it doesn't help, it won't hurt. (I would recommend doing this by appointment, rather than showing up unannounced.) It is a chance to sell yourself to a potential employer, and at the very least, a way to practice interview skills. But keep in mind that hospitals usually handle hiring through HR departments (though the relevant department head makes the actual hiring decision), which have applicant tracking systems (ATS) that store applicants' files. So if you have already sent in an application to a hospital, it should be on file and accessible to the manager if s/he does a search.

    Good luck.

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