Employers, I need to hear from you! I interact with a number of job seekers, many of whom are new to healthcare, and I hear the same thing over and over again: “I earned a degree [or certificate], but no one wants to hire me because I don’t have healthcare experience.”

 

Their work experience and education should account from something, yet countless job seekers are left rejected and frustrated. Then I receive phone calls from recruiters and employers who can’t fill their positions. I’m left scratching my head and wondering, “What is the problem?”

 

From an unbiased perspective, it seems that the logical solution would be to embrace the job seekers who are entering the workforce with recently earned Informatics degrees or related certifications. Not only are they eager to work, but they’re eager to learn. If someone has experience from another field, they could be the next healthcare genius as they can lend expertise, but from a different perspective.

 

What is it about working in a healthcare environment that causes employers to be so selective? Is it HIPAA, privacy concerns and patient safety? Does it have to do with specific software experience needs?

 

It’s important to remember that we’ve all been there. We all started out with little to no experience until someone gave us a chance. When that chance was given, we had to work hard and prove ourselves worthy of the job.

 

With federal deadlines looming, healthcare organizations need to get moving and there are a lot of job seekers out there ready for the challenge. Are there organizations or companies willing to extend opportunities to these candidates? Is there a training or job-shadowing program that can be used as a best practice for other organizations to implement? Who are the champions already doing this or willing to lead the charge? I’m going to sit here, refreshing the screen, until I get some answers.