Enhancing Your Career

Individual career paths are as unique as the people who choose them, so what defines career satisfaction and success will be different for different people. Similarly, how go to about career enhancement will be different for different people.

The first thing to determine is what is most important to you. We all want things like recognition for our work, financial security, job satisfaction, and some work-life balance, but what item tops your list? Not sure? Then first see our article, What Cranks Your Career?, and check out our self-assessment articles.

Advancement

Are your eyes fixed on "the corner office"? Want to reach the pinnacle of your career as quickly as possible? Then be prepared to work hard and distinguish yourself. In addition to excelling at your job, you'll need to develop a thorough understanding of how your workplace operates, have excellent networking skills, and demonstrate innovative thinking and leadership potential. Additional education may be needed before you can qualify for a higher position. Be prepared to make sacrifices, since rapid career advancement often requires long hours and can take a toll on your personal life. And you may have to relocate or change jobs locally if your current workplace doesn't offer sufficient opportunities for advancement.

Looking for guidance in your climb up the mountain of success? A mentor can provide you with help and advice as you navigate your career path. For more advice, see Moving On Up! and Moving on Up! (Part 2).

Money

Does your idea of the best possible work life mean earning the best possible money? There are many high-paying positions within the healthcare field. Websites like the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and JobFutures.ca can give you a general idea of the earning potential and future prospects for different careers. Once you've narrowed your options down, find someone who already works in that field or contact the relevant professional association for more detailed information.

In general, the more specialized and in demand your skills are, the higher your compensation will be. And normally wages will increase along with higher educational qualifications, increased work experience, and seniority. Many professionals, such as nurses, can also increase earnings by taking advantage of shift differentials or overtime, by working in a specialty area (since specialties sometimes offer increased income), or by holding down more than one job. If you run a medical practice, you'll need some business and financial savvy to promote and expand your practice.

And are you prepared to relocate? This may boost your salary, since the average income for a profession will vary in different regions, and some employers offer lucrative sign-on bonuses for hard-to-fill positions. Of course, if money is important, make sure that all of the added income isn't lost in added living expense! For an overview of salaries in different areas, look at sites such as salary.com or payscale.com.

And remember: Even if money is extremely important to you, it can't buy satisfaction forever, and you don't want to spend years in a job – or career – that you hate.

Variety

Variety is the spice of life, and some people constantly crave new experiences and challenges. The Road Less Traveled gives an overview of lesser-known careers for nurses, while Beyond the Hospital discusses options for doctors. Also check out our Emerging Careers section for profiles of new or lesser known jobs in healthcare.

But perhaps your idea of variety is synonymous with adventure? Many healthcare professionals have opportunities for travel within their home country and abroad. For more information, see The Lure of Foreign Lands and Worldwide Adventure Awaits.

And if your idea of variety includes humanitarian work, healthcare professionals are in luck! Many types of healthcare professionals can find opportunities with international organizations, such as Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. On the clinical end, MSF recruits physicians/surgeons, nurses and nurse practitioners, midwives, mental health specialists, laboratory specialists, and dieticians/nutritionists. They also hire administrators, logisticians, financial controllers, and water/sanitation specialists. Other groups take dentists, paramedics, pharmacists, physical therapists, and more. For more information, see Want to Volunteer?

But you don't even need to change jobs to gain variety in your work. People may find the diversity they crave by taking on new roles at their current job, such as by participating in committee work, teaching inservices, mentoring new staff members, or taking on charge or preceptor duties. Other options include taking an upgrading course, cross-training into a different unit, or working with a different patient population.

Work-Life Balance

Is finding the perfect balance between work, family, and personal pursuits the most important thing in your life? Then look for an employer who is responsive to their employees' needs, and which offers incentives like flexible schedules and workplace wellness programs. Getting the flexibility you want may require some negotiation. Fortunately, there's a large body of research you can show to your boss to demonstrate that having happier employees reduces losses caused by burnout, sick days, and high staff turnover.

For many, holding down a job and simultaneously raising a family is one of their biggest challenges. Investigate whether your workplace offers onsite childcare, top-ups for parental leave benefits, paternity leave, or other programs to accommodate new parents – or whether a workplace that offers these is currently hiring.

Doctors who work in an independent practice may have a lot of leeway in setting their hours and schedules. Certain healthcare careers also offer the option of working from home.

And there are three things that you can do for yourself: don't overextend yourself at work, leave your work at work, and use your vacation days.

For more views on work-life balance, see Overworked in NA, Stop Struggling to Achieve Balance, and Yes! Say No!

Workday Blues

Unhappy with your job, but not sure why? Again, it's time for some serious self-evaluation.

Often the problem isn't with the work itself, but with your work environment. It could be something tangible, such as outdated equipment, staffing shortages, or a lack of funds. Interpersonal relationships can also create workplace tension, with the source of your distress being an impossible boss, difficult coworker, or a workplace culture that doesn't fit your values or needs. Once you've identified the problem, do your best to change it or to adapt to it. Maybe you could try to be more outgoing or could avoid certain coworkers who drain you. Perhaps you could switch shifts or units to be away from the nightmare supervisor. Maybe you could speak up with that idea you have to improve workflow and make everyone's job easier. If things cannot or do not improve, it may be time to look for a new job and quit.

Perhaps it's a case of "I like my boss, my coworkers, and the money, and the job's OK, but I'm bored" – and maybe for family or other reasons, you're not free to look for something new. Instead, consider finding other ways energize yourself – perhaps by becoming active in your association or union, asking for new responsibilities, or taking an upgrading course. Consider learning a second (or third, or fourth) language – maybe one that many of your patients speak, but you don't. Why not develop your life outside of work, and start a new fitness program, sport, hobby, or volunteer activity.

Sometimes conditions such as shift work and long hours can sap your enthusiasm for a job that you once enjoyed. In that case, you can often find a similar job in a different setting. For example, nurses who want to escape the irregular hours and physical demands of the hospital can investigate opportunities in home care, community health centers, or other settings. Doctors who want greater variety than what a typical practice offers may consider doing occasional locums in different communities, or aboard cruise ships or in seasonal resort areas.

But if you do not enjoy the majority of your job duties, then it may be time to switch careers. First, take stock of all your transferable and soft skills, and think about how they might be put to use in a new line of work. You may also need additional education and training to prepare you for a new career. A background in healthcare can be a valuable asset in many fields, including research, medical/pharmaceutical sales, teaching, writing, legal work, advocacy, and consulting.

For additional advice, see Battling Boredom and Going Nowhere?

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Your priorities may change over the course of your working life, and you'll need to periodically reassess your career goals and strategy. Remember that you're the one in charge, and that there will always be opportunities for those willing to pursue them.

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