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By Cynthia M. Piccolo (Career Questions)
dearCPPctJobSearchProblems image

Dear Cindy: 

I am a certified patient care technician. It has been really hard to find employment in my field. I am still working in the job I held before I started school. Now that I am certified, it seems hard to get a call back from employers I sent to my résumés to. I am hardworking, looking to learn new things, and get along with others. My passion is to care for patients that need caring people in their lives when no one else cares. How can I improve my search and make my résumé stand out?

Sincerely,

S

Dear S: 

There are a couple of things that may be the problem in your job search, but which have nothing directly to do with you, for example, maybe there is a surplus of PCTs in the location(s) in which you have been applying, or the economy is resulting in slower hiring processes.

Some suggestions for your application:

  • Ensure that your résumé and cover letter are as strong as possible, e.g., note any transferrable skills (e.g., communication skills, interpersonal skills, ADL-related assistance skills, etc.) and experience gained in employment or internship/externship/volunteer settings, and if your GPA was high, mention it. Don't forget to mention that you hold your national certification. Also, let the enthusiasm for your new career that you showed in your email show in your cover letter, too.
  • If you have a strong written reference from an instructor or internship/externship/volunteer placement, include a copy with your résumé and cover letter.
  • See if you can get job placement assistance from the school at which you did your PCT program.
  • Network with former instructors, internship/externship/volunteer sites, and fellow students to see if anyone knows of any vacancies. It's a huge help in a job search when you have someone who knows you and knows an employer, and who will recommend you for a job with that employer.
  • Look for jobs on as many job boards as possible. No one board has all the jobs.
  • Continue to look for places in your area to send out your résumé and cover – practices, clinics, hospitals, long-term care centers, skilled nursing facilities, etc. Not all jobs are advertised. For hospital contact details, you can use an online tool like the American Hospital Directory (click on "Free Hospital Information" and search by locations); also check the yellow pages or online for other facilities.
  • If you are free to relocate, look and apply beyond your local area.

    • Good luck in your job search.
    Comment from Ayk Antinyan
    Dear Cindy.. I am a certicied x-ray tecnichian looking for a job for a few months..if u can help me thank you..
    Comment from Linda Mincey
    I went to a Technical College for 18 months to get a certificate in Healthcare Assistant-Medical Coding Specialist. Now, I have this piece of paper and NO job. I have applied for jobs with the same result: I have no experience in the medical field. Where are you suppose to get experience if nobody wants to help you? I worked at my last job before going to school for almost 14 years. I am getting very frustrated. I would appreciate any advie you could give me. Thank You, Linda Mincey
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