How to make networking work for you

Healthcare is one of those career fields that has always been deemed recession-proof, but the amount of education and training required in order to garner a position in this industry often leads people to wonder, “How can I get a job using the skills and experience that I currently have?” For me, networking played a large role in securing an internship at the Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation in summer of 2006. I was going for a check-up and was talking to the nurse about my interest in research and medicine and she passed my name on to the director of the center. He asked me to submit a cover letter and resume describing my experiences and eventually I was hired. However, my networking did not stop there. By working in conjunction with this research center, I had the opportunity to meet other doctors who then set me up with shadowing opportunities in the operating room. I made a lot of great contacts that summer and it proved to be an invaluable experience.

How can networking work for you?

1. Talk with your family physician about shadowing. Shadowing can open up many doors to potential internships.
2. If you live near a university with a hospital, see if your parents know anyone that works there and contact them.
3. If you are interested in a research position in healthcare, talk to your advisors and see if they know anyone who is looking for a research assistant. If not, they might hear about an open position.
4. Check postings in your major department or in a science department to see if any schools are offering summer medical school prep programs.