How to Gain Experience as a New Medical Assistant

If you’re a new medical assistant who recently completed your training and are ready to dive head first into your new career but don’t know where to begin, we’ve got some tips to help get you started:

Excelling at your externship can greatly improve your chances of finding a job quickly after graduation. Many students are actually hired by their externship site, and for those who aren’t, they are given a glowing recommendation which can greatly help them find work elsewhere. Your externship colleagues will be a valuable reference when you do apply for jobs, so it’s crucial to be professional and always do your best.

Get Certified

After completing your medical assisting training program, it’s important to take the next step which is passing the certification exam to become a certified medical assistant. This is an important step in order to increase your chances of getting a job. While not all employers or states may require you to become certified in order to work as a medical assistant, choosing to become certified shows how serious and committed you are to your new profession. It will also stand out on your resume and give you an advantage over those job applicants who aren’t certified. Most healthcare employers will be looking for certified medical assistants, so it’s important for your marketability.

Volunteer

If you weren’t able to get hired at your externship, consider finding volunteer opportunities that could lead to potential employment. For example, volunteer at a hospital or long-term care facility as a way to gain experience, but also to connect with people who could write you a recommendation letter that may help you get a job.

Strengthen Your Skills

When applying for jobs and reviewing the medical assistant job requirement section, it’s important to identify the skills you succeed at, as well as identify those skills that maybe need a little strengthening or further development prior to becoming a medical assistant.

After completing a medical assisting program, you should have a wealth of new skills to take stock of, including a strong grasp of medical terminology, patient etiquette, how to use electronic health records, as well as how to perform a multitude of administrative and clinical skills. In addition to technical skills, don’t forget to accentuate your soft skills too, which can be equally valuable to a potential employer.

For example, listing qualities such as empathy in demonstrating how you can help make a patient feel more comfortable. Having the ability to multitask shows how you can be a team player and can fill in wherever needed, and strong communication skills are a positive trait in any career field but can be especially vital when it comes to jobs in healthcare where you are dealing with critical and sensitive information.

What to Look for in Your First Job

Once you do get hired for your first job, you may be excited to jump in and get started right away, but it’s important to slow down and learn the ropes first. On the job training is a must when it comes to gaining experience and being successful at becoming a medical assistant.

Patience and Perseverance

You worked hard to get to where you are today, and it didn’t happen overnight, so don’t get frustrated and give up if you don’t get hired right away. Be patient and remain positive that the right opportunity will come your way.

Interested in Becoming a Medical Assistant?

If you’re interested in starting training to become a medical assistant, contact Athena Career Academy to see how you can obtain the necessary training and skills to land the job of your dreams. We offer flexible class schedules and there’s no waitlist! Call our admissions team today.