Medical Assistants ARE being hired, but…
The reason many new medical assistants aren’t hired is NOT due to lack of knowledge, or MA skills, but because of poor skills in areas like resume writing and interview techniques.
So, if you are trying to find a medical assistant job, then it is important to brush up on your interview techniques, your resume writing skills and practice your interview survival skills. Simply completing a medical assisting program without putting any effort into your resume isn’t enough in today’s competitive job market.
Believe it or not! There are jobs for all Medical Assistants; they ARE in high demand.
Reasons why the MA can’t find a job
Perhaps it is best to first understand the reasons you can’t find a medical assisting job. With this information, you can then find a solution to finding the MA job you want.
Following is a list of some of the main reasons why new MA graduates are not getting hired:
- Poor communication skills during the interview
- Inappropriate dress for the interview
- Not being on time for the interview
- Not showing any drive, motivation, and a willingness to make big sacrifices for the clinic with which you are interviewing
- Asking the wrong questions (e.g. “How many holidays do I get”).
Remember: The interview is a two way process. Half of the interview is for the employer to ask questions, and the other half is for you to ask questions.
It might be a good idea to review the role of a medical assistant before your first interview.
Know Whom and When to Call!
Who to Call
Go through the telephone book and write down some doctor’s phone numbers to make research calls.
This way, you will instantly learn a bit about the office (e.g. was the call helpful or did they seem stressed out and put you on hold?).
Introduce yourself, tell them you’re a Medical Assistant graduate looking for an opportunity to gain experience and ask if you could chat a moment with the office manager.
When to Call
When exactly is the best time to make this type of call? Early in the day and early in the week!!
Avoid Mondays as this is usually the busiest day in the medical office. Tuesday or Wednesday is better.
Once Thursday comes around, people are usually trying to tie up loose ends of the week and on Fridays, they are focused on finishing up so they can leave the office and enjoy the weekend.
Likewise, early in the day between 10am – 2pm is better than later, however, remember that most offices are closed for lunch (not a good time!).
When Asked “What is your 5 year goal”
Five years is a long time, so it is best to break them down into two types of goals: short term goals and long term goals.
Short term goal examples:
- Apply my skills in all areas of the medical office (front and back)
- Sit for the national certification examination in (month/date)
- Work closely with the doctor and medical office staff to gain valuable experience
Long term goal examples:
- Stay current through professional memberships, workshops, and seminars
- Look for an opportunity to move up in the organization
- Learn all I can about the profession to eventually go back to college (to become an RN, etc. in healthcare).
And Remember
Don’t get discouraged during the interview process.
If you struggle to land interviews, review your resume for opportunities to improve it.
You can use our free resume template for medical assistants.
Look at each interview as a learning opportunity to help you sharpen your skills and look for areas to improve on.
Stay positive and persistent and you will find a medical assisting job.
