Why do you think it is important to follow steps in making a health career plan

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects health care to be the fastest growing employment industry between 2014 and 2024. This projection is good news for you as it means increased job security as more and more fulfilling, lucrative positions are being created for people driven to make a difference in their communities.

ExploreHealthCareers.org strives to highlight the opportunities health careers offer and serve as your expert resource as you navigate your career path. With content authored by those already working in the field themselves, we’ll connect you to the knowledge you need to choose the right health career and apply and pay for school.

Together, we can make caring your career.

10 Reasons to Pursue a Health Career

A career is more than a paycheck. It’s something you’ll be doing 40 hours a week for 40 years or more. That’s why you should carefully consider the reasons you are choosing your career. And while a good salary and interesting work are at the top of the list, there are even more reasons to consider a health care career.

1. You’ll enjoy job security:

   Unlike many industries that are losing workers, the health care field is growing rapidly. The U.S. Department of Labor expects health care will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry.  Dozens of health careers have good or excellent job prospects, meaning you’ll never have trouble finding a job.

2. You will do work that interests you:

   A career in health can lead in many directions. You can treat patients in an office or study cells under a microscope. You can work in a small doctor’s office or run a hospital. You can examine eyes, mend bones, clean teeth or deliver babies. The range of skills and experiences is limited only to your imagination.

3. You can live and work anywhere you want:

   Almost every region of the United States has a strong demand for health care professionals in a wide range of fields. As a trained health worker, you can choose where you want to live and the setting you want to work in.

4. You can find a health career that fits your educational plans:

   There are health careers that require eight, 10, even 13 years of specialized education after high school, and there are health careers you can train for in 18 to 24 months at your local community college. Search for health careers that fit your educational plans.

5. You can learn by reading and doing:

   Many health career training programs involve both classroom lectures and hands-on learning opportunities. You may spend time in a lab, do a summer internship in a community clinic or do a clinical rotation in a bustling hospital to hone your technical and patient care skills. There are even hands-on learning programs for high school and college students who haven’t decided on a career.

6. You can get help to pay for school:

   Hundreds of scholarships, financial aid programs, grants and student loans are available to help aspiring health care workers pay for school.

7. You’ll have a clear path to advancement:

   It costs employers less to promote a trusted worker than to hire someone new. Many employers will reimburse educational expenses and even give you time off to go to school so you can qualify for a higher-paying position.

8. You’ll earn a good salary:

   Health care workers make good money. The average entry-level health worker earns from $15 to $50 per hour. The more experience and training you get in your field, the more money you can make.

9. You can work with people (or not):

   Do you prefer to work alone or on a team?  Are you more comfortable working with people or with information? Whatever your preference, you can find a health career that matches your skills and interests.

10. You’ll make a difference in people’s lives

    Perhaps the biggest benefit of being a health care professional is that you will make a difference in people’s lives.  Whether you work as a nurse’s aide, an acupuncturist, a health services administrator or a veterinarian, to name just a few careers, you will be helping to make our world a little healthier, a little safer and a little better.

    If you’re asked where you want to be in the next 5, 10 or 15 years in your career, would you have a ready answer, or would you stutter?

    If you have a career plan, the answers won’t be farfetched. But if you don’t, you will definitely stutter and this article is for you. Having a career plan is as important as having a career itself. There’s a need to plan for the future and not just go to work every day with no direction, hence, repeating the same process. 

    According to Schermerborn, Hunt, and Osborn, “Career planning is a process of systematically matching career goals and individual capabilities with opportunities for their fulfilment.”

    It is more about preparing oneself for the future and having the necessary tools needed to navigate this journey. The main purpose is to provide you with a roadmap for your future that’ll help you make well informed decisions about your career, and also future career moves. A solid career plan will help you stay focused and motivated. 

    
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    If you have the desire to excel and move on to higher heights of your career, you should consider having a career plan. Interested in creating one now? Here are six benefits of having a career plan:

    1. Knowledge

    The process of career planning helps the individual to be aware of various career opportunities. Life as we see every day has become fast paced and highly competitive, having a career plan will give you clarity when selecting the right profession for you and also help you set your priorities right.

    2. Self awareness

    Now that you are aware of the choices around you, the knowledge you’ve gained will help you not to struggle through selecting careers. You will be able to select one that matches your skills and competencies and not be caught up muddled in the midst of many career options.

    Tom Blackburn, the chief technical officer at 2Checkout.com who started his career wearing a number of hats at a small technology company says, “At a certain point, I started identifying positions that included opportunities in both technology and in management and leadership,” he says. “I started targeting companies where I could grow in more areas than just technology.”

     3. Self development

    You’ll need discipline, focus, strong-will, strength, and training to be able to pick a career path and stick to it. These traits in the long run will definitely pay off and will be of immense advantage to you in the future.

    You also need to measure your progress as you grow, “Every six months you have to re-evaluate your short-term and long-term professional objectives,” Aretakis says. 

    4. Career contentment

    Nowadays, it’s hard to find employees who are satisfied with their career path, and this reflects on the output of their work and also on their physical and mental well-being. Being in a career of your choice will boost your morale, help you stay motivated, give your life a meaning, and keep you committed to your workplace.

    5. Visibility

    In a chosen workplace where you derive job satisfaction, you’ll find it easier to work and leave your colleagues and bosses with good impressions of you. This will raise your visibility at work and ensures the senior management is aware of your capacity. It is necessary to set yourself up for growth and promotion.

    According to mindtools “If key people aren’t aware of you, you’ll likely miss out on opportunities to improve your skills and take on interesting assignments, despite your hard work and good performance.”

    6. Retirement plan

    Working in your dream job shouldn’t be the ultimate goal of your career plan. It isn’t just about work; it is also about your future, except if you plan to work for the rest of your life which is not possible.

    
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    A career plan backed with investments allocations and savings will make your retirement life easy. You’ll be able to look back with smiles and enjoy the rewards of your labour. 

    The journey of a dream career isn’t a smooth one. You’ll encounter obstacles or hitches here and there, but with a career plan, you can be assured of a smooth passage that’ll land you your dream job and bring you the fulfilment and career happiness you long for. You can never go wrong by having a career plan that helps you know who you are, what you want and how to get there. 

    Why is it important to follow the steps in making health career plan?

    Taking time to understand options and trends that can affect future job opportunities as well as personal needs and goals will lead to more possibilities to build a rewarding healthcare career, not just find a short-term job.

    Why is career planning important to me as a student?

    Career planning enables students to identify their strengths, skills, and interests that help them to determine the best career path for their future. In every grade, high schoolers are asked what they wish to do when you grow up. It is one of the common questions every student comes across in the early days.

    What is career planning and its importance?

    Career planning refers to the active management of your career and the structured planning of its future. To effectively plan your career, you should take into consideration your personality, your skillset and your desired role alongside the changing needs of the job market.

    Why is it important to plan a health?

    Health planning represents the first step in an orderly process to accomplish the things necessary to improve the health status of individuals and populations. The planning and evaluation cycle, however it is structured, allows us to be successful in identifying and solving health problems.