How to Create a Healthcare Career Roadmap

Forging your own healthcare career path can be exciting, but with the many career possibilities in healthcare, it can also be difficult to narrow down specific job options and create a blueprint for career progress. This article is designed to provide tips and strategies for those seeking career clarity and how to build their ideal healthcare career roadmap. 

Defining Your Healthcare Career Goals

The first step to creating a roadmap for your healthcare career is to define your career goals. Evaluate yourself in terms of your interests, strengths, and any professional training or education you have. This will help you to identify specific career paths that are closely aligned with your skills and aspirations. It’s also important to think long-term and to examine the potential growth opportunities that a particular career path may present.

Some healthcare workers know exactly what they want to do with their careers, but many do not – or they discover later that they want to change their healthcare career path. In order to define your ideal healthcare career path, it’s essential to dig deep into your overall career goals. The following questions will help you get started:

• What do you want to accomplish in your healthcare career?
• Do you have a specific timeline for these goals?
• What skills and experience do you have that can help you meet those goals?
• How will pursuing this career path fit into your lifestyle (or how are you willing to adjust your lifestyle to pursue it)?
• Are there any unique opportunities in the field that you’d like to explore?
• What resources do you have available to help you reach your goals?

Once you’ve spent time answering these questions, start researching the healthcare career paths that best fit your answers.

Researching Resources to Help You Pick a Career Path

Once you’ve identified a few potential healthcare career paths, it’s important to conduct research. This means looking at the educational and licensing requirements, any necessary certifications or professional development opportunities, and the average salary associated with the job. Doing this research will provide you with a better understanding of the healthcare field and help you decide which path is the best fit for you.

If you are still not exactly sure which healthcare career path is right for you, there are many things that you can do to help determine your best fit. Talking to family and friends with experience in the field is a great first step. You can also:

• Participate in online discussions and forums
• Read industry magazines or books
• Attend conferences
• Shadow professionals in various roles
• Request informational interviews

You may even spend some time in your career trying out different positions by leveraging temporary, travel, or PRN positions. All of these strategies can help you find out more information and gain a better understanding of your ideal healthcare career path.

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Types of Healthcare Career Paths

In healthcare, there are many different paths you can take. Traditionally, healthcare workers may choose to specialize within their discipline, move into a management role, or return to academia for research and/or teaching. Additionally, there are many non-traditional healthcare career paths, including consulting, innovation, and even public policy or service.

Specializing for Career Fulfillment Within One Discipline

For some healthcare workers, their passion is for their discipline. They have found a home among their fellow clinicians and enjoy having a defined role. If this sounds like you, specializing may be the best healthcare career path. Specializing gives you the opportunity to become an expert in your field and can open up exciting opportunities for research or teaching.

In order to specialize in most disciplines, you will need additional education. For some, this may mean enrolling in a degree program, while for others it may require specialized courses and training. Depending on the field, specialized certifications may also be necessary.

Though specializing may mean more schooling, it can pay off in terms of career advancement and job satisfaction. Specializing will give you deeper insight into your chosen discipline and will make you much more valuable to employers or those who rely on your healthcare services. Additionally, a specialization in a field can lead to more interesting projects and the chance to work with other professionals from different backgrounds.

Finally, specializing gives you the opportunity to develop a unique set of skills that are tailored specifically to your area of expertise. In addition to honing your knowledge, this will help you differentiate yourself as an expert in your field and increase your chances of finding career fulfillment. Ultimately, specializing can open up a wealth of both professional and personal opportunities.

Moving Into Management for Career Clarity

Some healthcare workers find they seek structured promotional opportunities and expectations. If this sounds like you, a healthcare management career path may be the best fit for you.

In many healthcare disciplines, leadership skills are integrated into the curriculum you take prior to obtaining a license. If you are finding that leadership skills are a strong suit of yours, then you may want to consider specializing in healthcare management. Working in this field can open up a variety of career opportunities, such as C-suite positions at leading hospitals and health systems or roles in outpatient facilities.

No matter how far along your career you are, there are many educational avenues that can help you obtain the qualifications necessary to qualify for advanced healthcare management positions. From certifications to advanced degrees, you can develop the skills and knowledge needed to become a well-rounded leader in the industry.

For those who are just starting out on their career path, there are many entry-level roles available that provide an introduction to the management side of healthcare while also providing invaluable experience in the field. You can also invest in yourself by exploring internships and volunteer opportunities that offer a practical look into healthcare management.

Formal education is also an option. An advanced degree in healthcare management may be a great route to pursue. A master's degree in healthcare administration (MHA) or a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) will provide the skills and knowledge needed to become successful in the industry. At many larger hospital systems, you may be able to leverage a tuition assistance program to help finance your education.

Talk with your current manager or supervisor if you are considering a healthcare management career path. They can help you develop a plan for career clarity and growth, as well as provide guidance on how to reach your goals.

Picking a Career Path in Academia

The world of higher education and academia is unique compared to other healthcare environments. The skills of being a healthcare worker may not directly transfer to the ability to teach others, but you may find that you have a passion for learning, researching, or teaching that can be applied in an academic setting.

In academia, you may find yourself lecturing, teaching classes, leading research projects, or writing for a journal. Often doctoral degrees are needed to become a professor at a university, but other roles – such as research assistants, adjunct faculty, and teaching instructors – may not require additional education.

For this healthcare career path, it’s important that you have a strong love of writing and teaching, as these skills will be essential in any role you take on. You should also have a passion for exploring new topics and staying informed about advances in your field. Additionally, strong communication skills are key to becoming successful in this type of job. However, many of these soft skills overlap with what draws people to healthcare roles in the first place.

Non-traditional Healthcare Career Paths: When There’s No Career Roadmap

For healthcare professionals wanting to break free from the typical healthcare career path, there are many options available. Going down these uncharted roads may require additional technical and soft skills in order to differentiate your background and experience. Additionally, healthcare innovators must possess a creative mindset that can address unmet needs within the healthcare system in order to develop successful implementations.

Navigating healthcare career paths outside of a traditional career roadmap can be both exciting and challenging. Today, healthcare professionals are finding new opportunities to leverage their expertise through consulting, innovation projects, and public service roles. It requires going beyond mastering one specialized healthcare field to develop an understanding of changes in healthcare policy, keeping up to date with technology trends, and cultivating relationships with healthcare stakeholders.

While there may be some uncertainty when forging a non-traditional healthcare career path, it is possible to carve out a successful career roadmap – as long as you have been resolute in your commitment and willing to acquire any necessary skills. Ultimately, seeking out new healthcare career paths is about recognizing possibilities and being willing to invest the time and effort necessary for success. With that mindset in place, non-traditional healthcare professionals can find a way forward and thrive.

Taking Action to Answer the Question: What Healthcare Job Should I Do?

Finally, it’s time to take action. Even though self-exploration and research are the fun phases of picking your healthcare career path, taking action is what gets you started.

However, it is easy to get stuck by resistance to change, imposter syndrome, and logistical barriers. Therefore, break your goal down into smaller steps and focus on taking small, achievable actions. Here are a few actionable steps you can take to get started:

1. Write It Out. Write out your long-term plan for your healthcare career path. Whether you plan to get a license, certification, or higher education degree, make sure to map out the steps required for each step and put a timeline in place.
2. Get Training. If there are any educational or certification requirements for your chosen career path, it’s important to begin the process of gaining the necessary qualifications. This could include applying for specific courses or programs, seeking professional mentors, and developing your knowledge and experience in the field.
3. Build Your Network. Reach out to contacts or professionals already working within the field you are looking into. Identify people who can provide you with advice and information that can help you in your career journey. The best people to connect with are the people already working in the roles you aspire to hold.
4. Prep for Interviews. Research common interview questions to understand the kind of answers employers are looking for and practice answering them in a confident manner. Additionally, prepare a portfolio of your previous work and any relevant awards or accomplishments to showcase your abilities.
5. Find Job Openings. Look for job openings that fit your goals. Don’t be afraid to apply to entry-level positions in order to gain experience and get your foot in the door.
6. Revisit Your Plan. Your healthcare career path may change over time and as you gain more insight into what you enjoy and excel at. Make sure to review your plan regularly, incorporating any changes in your goals or interests into your next steps.

Finding Career Fulfillment With a Healthcare Career Roadmap

Creating a roadmap for your healthcare career can help to give you clarity and confidence about your job prospects and professional development. By defining your career goals, researching available resources, and taking action, you can begin to build a comprehensive career path that will set you up for success.

And don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Every step of the development of your healthcare career path is important and should be celebrated as a victory. It can take time to find the perfect fit, but with perseverance and dedication, you can get there.

Explore the Career Development section of our Resource Center for more advice on how to take ownership of your healthcare career and meet your goals.