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Step Out of Your Job Search Comfort Zone

Phil Rosenberg | President, ReCareered — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:44:00 -0800

Job seekers are notoriously afraid to embrace change even though their entire goal is based on change (though sometimes the change is thrust upon us).

Some candidates are afraid to approach new career paths, others are afraid to change industry or function, and almost all are afraid to change their approach.

I spoke to a candidate today, whose job search strategy was “the same thing I did seven years ago.” When I asked him why he felt what worked seven years ago would still work today, he listed the following reasons:

1. It’s what has always worked for him

2. A CEO complimented him on his resume

3. Of his friends, he was considered the expert in how to search for a job

This illustrates an interesting phenomena. While many job seekers realize the job market has drastically changed, most still won’t change their strategies. This unfortunate fellow fought change, tooth and nail, even after discussing how much the job market has changed and how much more competitive it is, especially in his field, pharmaceuticals.

A rational person would react to a changed environment with changed strategies and tactics to match the new market realities. This individual was well-educated, intelligent, and had a couple dozen patents — in scientific knowledge, he was in the stratosphere.

Yet, his resume was terrible (unclear goals, didn’t differentiate, didn’t give reasons why he should be hired, poorly structured, didn’t demonstrate subject matter expertise, didn’t demonstrate value he provided to past employers, and I could keep going on).

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So why was this very educated and intelligent individual fighting change?

People fight change when it brings them outside their comfort zone. In everything — new policies/procedures at work, in our personal lives — we are creatures of habit. But why?

A. J. Schuler, Psy. D of SchulerSolutions.com lists “Top 10 Reasons for Change Resistance:”

1. The risk of change is seen as greater than the risk of standing still

2. People feel connected to others who are identified with the old way

3. People fear they lack the confidence to change

4. People feel they lack the competence to change

5. People feel overloaded and overwhelmed

6. People have a healthy skepticism and want to make sure new ideas are sound

7. People fear a hidden agenda among would-be reformers

8. People fear that proposed change threatens their notions of themselves

9. People anticipate a loss of status or quality of life

10. People genuinely perceive that the proposed change is a bad idea

Interestingly, #10 didn’t enter into the equation, as this candidate generally agreed with my comments on his resume. Yet he still fought the idea of changing his strategies. So why would a candidate feel “you’re right, but I’m still not going to change”?

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In this candidate’s case, he didn’t lack the competence (#4-People feel they lack the competence to change), and certainly not the confidence to change (#3-People fear they lack the confidence to change). Admittedly, I implement resume and career strategy change, so I’m not without bias.

He may have perceived an agenda, yet this was a free analysis where I usually don’t discuss services I offer (#6-People have a healthy skepticism and want to make sure new ideas are sound & #7-People fear a hidden agenda among would-be reformers).

Notice that we’ve ruled out Schuler’s “rational” reasons to resist change. That’s because this gentleman’s reasons were emotional.

If you look at this candidate’s rationale above, his third point rings out. His friends look to him for help, and he acts as an amateur career coach. He must get a certain amount of satisfaction and even pride from this status. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned it.

Changing his strategy would be in conflict with the following Schuler’s reasons:

#2-People feel connected to others who are identified with the old way: His friends connect to him, are grateful to him, and identify in the old way;

# 8-People fear that proposed change threatens their notions of themselves: Changing would threaten his notion that he’s an expert at finding a new position

#9-People anticipate a loss of status or quality of life: Changing would risk him loosing status among his friends.

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The candidate’s second point that a CEO complimented his resume adds validation to the candidate’s emotional needs as an amateur career coach. While the CEO offered compliments, it’s important to note that the CEO didn’t offer him a job. Hiring managers often will compliment someone’s resume out of empathy to the job seeker and to soften the uncomfortable feeling of telling a candidate “no” (remember, this was a brilliant guy with an awful resume).

Having 100 CEOs compliment you on your resume doesn’t get you a job. You get a job because you solve a company's specific problem or because you fit in with the company’s culture better than your competitors. Skills and fit get you a job, not resume compliments.

Yet this compliment was a source of pride to the candidate (#8-People fear that proposed change threatens their notions of themselves and #9-People anticipate a loss of status or quality of life) because it validated the candidate's self-view of being a job search expert and advisor to his friends (#2-People feel connected to others who are identified with the old way).

So how can candidates break free from the vicious cycle of fear of change? Doug Howardell of Inventory Performance offers some great suggestions in his article “Overcoming People’s Fear of Change”, as he describes The Third Position. Doug suggests that the Third Position involves the following three steps:

Step 1: Come face to face with the threat, understand the reaction and the fear.

Step 2: Seek to find the opportunity in the change, focus on the opportunities and not the threat.

Step 3: Do what must be done to take advantage of the opportunity. Step three is deceptively simple. Do what must be done. "BUT I’M SCARED!" So, do it anyway. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Acknowledge that you’re afraid and act in spite of your fear. The fear won’t go way but you can move on in the face of it.

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I’ll add steps 4 & 5:

Step 4: Take baby steps. Don’t try to radically change overnight. It’s much tougher to muster up the courage to make drastic changes all at once. The fear of failure is too great, so try smaller changes at first to build confidence that your changes are on track.

Step 5: Learn from failure rather than fearing it. Failure is a great teacher and the basis of most scientific theory. As humans, we learn from trying something new and gaining knowledge from what we’ve tried, whether they work or not.

Step out of your comfort zone today, and try something new in your job search. Maybe it’s using a new strategy, maybe it’s a new industry, maybe it’s an entirely new career path. Regardless of whether your efforts result in success or failure, I guarantee you’ll learn from it. Change is good. Embrace it.

More Job Search Resources

• Healthcare Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts

• 7 Job Search Time Wasters and How to Avoid Them

• The 10 Worst Job-Hunting Mistakes

• How to Revamp Your Resume

• Four Factors that Can Ruin Your Job Search

• Seven Things You Must Do in an Interview

• Essential Resume Tips for Healthcare Professionals

• The 10 Worst Job-Search Tips Ever

• Top 10 Interview Questions for Healthcare Job-Seekers

10 Body Language Blunders

AllHealthcare — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:58:00 -0800

1. A Closed Body

Whether sitting or standing, your body should be loose and open. Do not cross your arms. Do not cross your legs. While you may think it conveys a sense of ease, studies have shown that a people read a closed body differently: they subconsciously think you have something to hide.

What's more, you're missing a golden opportunity to send a positive signal. In keeping your body open and your arms spread a little more widely than your torso, you offer your counterpart a "mock hug". You don't want to actually hug them (that could be mistake #11!), but this visual cue of a hug antecedent sends the right signal.

NEXT MISTAKE

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2. Clenched Fists

Clenching your fists can create two problems.

First, the closed body issue (#1): closed hands are just like closed bodies.

Second, you could make some people think that you're short-tempered and ready for a fight. You don't want your interviewer or client to think you're about to hit them.

While clenching for many is just a nervous habit, it's one well worth training yourself to avoid. Force your hands open to send positive signals and convey a sense of being at ease with yourself and the conversation.

NEXT MISTAKE

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3. The Handshake

The handshake is your first chance to make a non-verbal impression. To begin with, you should endeavor to be the first to offer the handshake. You don't want your arm flying up wildly in a desperate attempt to be first. However, when someone new comes in and says your name (usually as a question) extend your hand and reply.

When the handshake begins, make sure you extend your arm without fear. If there is any hesitation on your part, you'll end up shaking fingers.

Aim for two pumps. Many more than that and your handshake partner will see you as exceedingly nervous (or that you're trying to rip off their arm).

Keep your hands dry. No one likes to reach out and touch someone if they've got clamy palms. Step 1: Don't clench your fists. This will make your hands warm and build up sweat. If that's not enough, wash your hands regularly (drying well) or keep a kleenex in your pocket.

NEXT MISTAKE

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4. Posture

Unfortunately, teachers no longer make students walk around with books on their heads. While this may be great for students now, most of them will have poor posture a few years down the road.

Bad posture gives off an air of timidity or sloth. A person sitting in a chair, slouching, does not project confidence and determination. It's like your body saying, "Whatever," in response to every question.

Put your shoulders back, suck your stomach in. Try to find a more upright way of sitting that still feels somewhat comfortable.

NEXT MISTAKE

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5. Brow Furrowing

You hear something interesting. You think hard about something. What do most people do with their face? Furrow their brows. Unfortunately, this is also the facial expression for scorn or bewilderment. While their may be subtle distinctions, no one will pick up on them in a thirty-minute encounter.

To avoid this tic, try opening your eyes a little wider each time someone says something interesting or asks a question that makes you think. A positive action in response to a habit reduces the tic's occurrence more than just trying not to do anything does. In addition, opening your face up subconsciously invites people into your thinking, rather than scaring them away.

NEXT MISTAKE

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6. Shifty Eyes

Though it may be a myth of history, many people believe that Richard Nixon was defeated by John F. Kennedy in the first televised presidential debates because of Nixon's eyes. Kennedy had a natural television presence. Nixon, according to many viewers at the time, had eyes that seemed shift and unfocused. The lesson: make eye contact and rarely break it.

This doesn't mean you can't blink (it would be even worse if you didn't) and you can glance down from time to time. But looking your interlocutor directly in the eyes says, whether fairly or not, "I'm honest and have nothing to hide."

NEXT MISTAKE

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7. Aggressive Nodding

When you agree with someone a natural reaction is to nod. When you're a little nervous, people tend to exaggerate that. But when you answer yes to a simple question, you shouldn't look like you're having a seizure.

A fast, repetitive nod says that you're nervous. A slow, short nod utilizes body language to emphasize something important, the point of agreement. It also shows that you're not eager to please, you just happen to please (and happen to be the right match).

Points of agreement are magic moments, you don't want to ruin them by creating a hurricane with your head.

NEXT MISTAKE

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8. Fidgeting

If you think a good strategy is to seemed bored, fidgeting is the way to go. If, on the other hand, you want to be perceived as engaged and interested, stop.

The best way to avoid this is to know yourself and how you fidget.

Don't:

Tap your foot

Twirl your pen

Doodle

Pick at your nails or cuticles

Twirl your hair

Rub your hands together incessantly

Tap your fingers on a table

NEXT MISTAKE

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9. Wild Gestures

It's natural to try to communicate with your hands and arms when speaking. Just don't get carried away. Only use your body language for emphasis when you really want to accentuate a point.

One of the worst gestures you can make is to point. No one likes being pointed at or having a finger wagged in their face.

Better ways to use your hands?

The Karate Chop. Hand flattened with one or two gentle downward movements.

The Bill Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton was a master of communication. Clinton often emphasized his points with his hands, but he seldom pointed. Instead, he made a fist then moved his thumb over his index finger. He was still pointing, but with just the nub of his thumb extended, it was not aggressive like a full index finger is.

NEXT MISTAKE

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10. Distraction

Of course you don't want to seem distracted in an interview or client meeting. But not coming out behind isn't the same as coming out ahead. Potential distractions should be seen as an opportunity to convey your professionalism and focus.

Someone accidentally comes into the meeting room? Continue looking at your target and stop speaking until the person excuses himself then resume speaking like nothing happened. Don't even mention it. You are so focused on what's important, nothing can distract you.

More Interview Resources

• Interviewers' 7 Biggest Pet Peeves

• 10 Worst Answers to Healthcare Interview Questions

• Seven Things You Must Do in an Interview

• Interview Take-Along Checklist

• Six Answers Interviewers Need to Hire You

• Top Ten Interview Fashion Blunders

• Six Must-Ask Interview Questions

• Want to practice? Check out AllHealthcare's Virtual Healthcare Job Interview

• 100 Potential Interview Questions

• Nonverbal Communications: Escape the Pitfalls

• Informative Quiz: Are You Prepared For Your Interview?

>>> Visit AllHealthcare's Resume and Interview Center <<<

Is Job Search “Trick or Treating” Hurting Your Chances?

Phil Rosenberg | President, ReCareered — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:04:00 -0700

How often do candidates treat their job search like it’s Halloween?

Do you dress up your resume to appear like you are someone other than you?

Not only is it unethical, it’s impractical. It wastes the employers’ time, but even worse, it wastes your time as a candidate. Take your kids trick or treating, there’s a more effective way for you to stand out.

I can’t begin to count the number of times a candidate has asked me if they should hide their age, change their experience, or try to adopt a different personality, so they can appear to be someone other than themselves. To make it worse, many recruiters either turn a blind eye, or actually encourage this.

It wastes your time because hiring managers aren’t stupid. They read many resumes after they are pre-screened by HR staff and recruiters who read thousands of resumes. So whatever trick you’re trying to pull to mask the truth... they’ve seen it.

The easiest example is age. So many candidates blame a poorly thought out job strategy on age – complaining, “I’m too old” or “Hiring managers want someone with more experience." Guess what? It’s not your age. It’s how you’ve branded yourself, the perception you give, the skills you choose to highlight, and how you describe your skills.

It’s so easy to play the age game, pass the blame to your gray hair, and devise ways to mask your experience. I see it in over half the resumes I look at, and the easiest giveaways are missing dates. Does it take a rocket scientist to realize that if you leave your college graduation dates off your resume, you’re probably hiding your age? Duh!

But what if you get lucky, trick the reader to think you’re interview-worthy, and land the interview? If you’ve given the impression that you’re a hip 30-year-old gel-head, what impression will you make when you meet in person, with your thinning gray hair? At best, you’ll make a first impression of disappointment…at worst one of deceit. Either way, at that point, your skills and talents won’t matter, you’ve wasted your time and set yourself up for disappointment.

Why play that game when there’s a better way?

Instead of trying to play "trick or treat" with your resume, why not look for jobs that want someone like you? There are plenty of companies that want gray hair and plenty of other companies that want younger talent. There are companies that want someone who’s extroverted and others that want a quieter, serious employee. Instead of dressing yourself up for Halloween, look for companies that value someone like you!

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How can I find which companies want someone like me?

Information Rules! Talk to your friends who work at target companies. They are your best resource to understand what type of person and what type of personality succeeds within a particular job environment. Every company has its own unwritten rules or culture. When employers look at culture, they look for someone who can easily communicate and fit in with 80% of the workforce who have a similar style.

So if everyone at a target company is 40+, been there 20 years, and wears pocket protectors, it might not be a such a good fit for a 26-year-old, tattooed and pierced woman. If it’s a jeans and t-shirt environment, this company might not be such a good fit for someone who’s experience has been working at a large, corporate hospital.

But what if you don’t know anyone at your target company? This is where Linkedin and Facebook can provide such a huge edge. Use your social network to gain introductions to employees at your target companies. But don’t waste the introduction to ask for a job or to pass a resume – there’s a much more valuable use.

Instead, do some espionage. Gain critical information about a company’s culture and style. Ask what type of person succeeds and what type of person fails within a target company and department. Ask what the hiring manager is like. Is she a team player or a maverick? Ask how he dresses. Casually or formally? Ask about the hiring manager’s communication style. Is it open door, or do you have to wait a week to get an appointment?

If you really want some great insight into a company’s style, use guerrilla tactics. Find a nearby bar, and head there at 5:00pm on a Friday. That’s right, use Happy Hour. Talk to a few people, including the bartender, you’ll find people who work for your target company. At a bar, information is so inexpensive... just a round or two of drinks. But think of the wealth of information you can pick up. Plus, you might even get a referral for your offer of drinks. You’ll see how they dress and act and probably pick up some great scoop.

Armed with all this information, could you figure out if your personality is a likely fit, or if your time is better spent somewhere else? There are so many uses for this information, such as insight as to a company’s challenges and opportunities. This way, you can show how you’ve already solved these problems and leveraged these same opportunities in your past company.

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When you can clearly demonstrate you’ve already solved an employers’ problems, or maximized the same opportunities, limiters like age, dress, or personality stop being such relevant factors. These are the “20 percent-ers” — the employees whose skills and experiences are so important that fit, culture, and style take a back seat. Now the ball’s in your court to decide for which companies you'd really want to work.

Instead of trying to trick your prospective employer, doesn’t it seem like a better tactic to treat some employees to a drink – and pick their brains?

More Job Search Resources

• Healthcare Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts

• 7 Job Search Time Wasters and How to Avoid Them

• The 10 Worst Job-Hunting Mistakes

• How to Revamp Your Resume

• Four Factors that Can Ruin Your Job Search

• Seven Things You Must Do in an Interview

• Essential Resume Tips for Healthcare Professionals

• The 10 Worst Job-Search Tips Ever

• Top 10 Interview Questions for Healthcare Job-Seekers

reCareered: Are You Buying the Mac & Cheese of Job Search?

Phil Rosenberg — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:51:00 -0700

So much of today’s job search advice is like Mac & Cheese. It’s comfort food. It’s not very good for you, but it’s comfortable…it makes you feel good.

Like Mac & Cheese, this advice is very popular – you see it everywhere. Just as Mac & Cheese isn’t an efficient food source, this advice won’t make your job search efficient. But it WILL make you feel good, like you’re doing the right thing, because you see this advice everywhere.

So how can you tell what advice is Mac & Cheese? Examples of job search comfort food are cover letters. Think of how many articles you see, and how much advice a candidate receives about how to write a perfect cover letter. It’s comfortable advice that we’ve heard since we were originally taught to type them…on typewriters.

But cover letters just don’t work today. At best, cover letters are an obsolete tradition. But cover letters can work against a candidate, providing much more of a disadvantage over any potential advantage.

Here’s why cover letters are like Mac & Cheese:

1) Hiring Managers usually don’t get cover letters. I talk to 60 executives per month, and each one tells me how they hire candidates. About 75% of the time, hiring managers tell me they don’t even get cover letters from HR departments or recruiters. Recruiters and HR departments often don’t see cover letters, even though they are asked for within the ads they place.

2) Hiring Managers only see about a dozen resumes per position, out of thousands of applicants. HR departments and recruiters use databases to pre-screen resumes. These systems, called Applicant Tracking Systems, search resumes by keywords, allowing the HR screener or recruiter to pick the resumes that best match the keywords being searched…just like we do every day on Google. Most Applicant Tracking Systems don’t keyword search cover letters, only resumes.

Most candidates sent the same static resume to the jobs they apply to, hoping that the words in their resume happen to magically match the words being searched for. The odds are lousy.

3) It’s a published statistic that most hiring managers make an interview/non interview decision in an average 15 seconds. In 15 seconds you can’t read both a resume and cover letter. Which do you think most hiring managers read first?

I’m running a poll currently on Linkedin, asking hiring managers which they read first…75% read the resume first. Anecdotal evidence I hear each month puts that percentage at 90% who read the resume first.

I’m currently running another poll on Linkedin, asking candidates if they send a cover letter, or include a customized resume…over 85% send a cover letter and most customize the cover letter. Just 6% send a customized resume.

Isn’t that gap eye opening? 85% put their customization into a document that’s rarely seen.

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4) I hear anecdotal evidence from hiring managers about the impact of cover letters if they get them and if they read them. I’ve rarely heard of an instance that a cover letter will talk a hiring manager into an interview, if the resume doesn’t first clearly demonstrate they meet the key hiring criteria. On the other hand, I hear stories all the time from hiring managers who recall times that a cover letter that gave additional information talked the candidate out of an interview…because they revealed information that was inconsistent with the hiring manager’s needs, or made mistakes on the cover letter.

As digital resumes exploded the competition that candidates face, and flooded HR departments/recruiters, these groups developed process improvements that reward candidates who heavily customize their resumes…and penalize candidates who don’t or who customize a different document.

Other Mac & Cheese examples are generalist resumes, broad opening summaries, lack of clarity of what a candidate is looking for and why they’re the best choice.

So what are you buying in your job search? Mac & Cheese? Or Smart Food?

Trackback: http://www.recareered.blogspot.com/2009/10/are-you-buying-mac-cheese-of-job-search.html

How to Address Your Layoff in Your Job Search

Suzanne Lucas — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:37:00 -0700

I was recently economically separated from my former employer. Should that information be included on a resume or cover letter? Should it wait for the interview?

Your resume is what you use to market yourself. Think of it as advertising. Everything you put on your resume must be true. Under no circumstances should you lie on your resume. If you do, you'll get caught and it will be much worse for you.

However, you don't have to put everything on your resume. If you look at my resume you will notice that there is no reference to Burger King. I worked there in high school and college and was even named an employee of the month. (They gave me a plaque and everything!) And even though nearly 20 years later I could probably make a Whopper with Cheese in my sleep, I don't mention it on my resume. Why? Because it doesn't matter.

Now, if I was applying for a job that required a security clearance, they might be interested in my entire work history. In that case, I'd include that information. (I wonder if I still have the plaque and can prove I was employee of the month?) The difference is, if I am asked to list all jobs and I exclude my fast food experience, I am being dishonest. If someone asks for my resume, they want to know what I have done that is relevant to the job at hand. They don't care about the things that are irrelevant.

You were "economically separated" which (I'm guessing) is your fancy way of saying you were laid off. Drop the fancy jargon. On your resume put job title, company, and the dates you worked there. If a company has you fill out an application and the application asks for a "reason for leaving," write: "Laid off." If it was part of a group layoff, you might add that you were laid off along with 250 other employees.

You don't need to mention it in you cover letter. You don't need to bring it up in the interview. The interviewer will ask if she is interested in why you left. Give an honest answer. (We check up on these things, you know.)

Don't panic about how it looks to be laid off. In the current economy, you're in good company. Don't make it harder on yourself by writing that on your resume. Stick to the dates and your accomplishments at the job.

Seven High-Paying Nursing Jobs

Megan Malugani | Monster Contributing Writer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:50:00 -0700

Nursing may be a labor of love, but it is also a profession in which some additional education and training can go a long way toward taking your job title -- and salary -- to the next level.

Here are seven top-paying jobs in the profession, covering a range of positions and requiring various degrees and certifications, with salary data from the Salary Wizard:

Head of Nursing

Median Salary: $178,884

Typical Requirements: Master’s degree in area of specialty and at least 15 years of experience

Combining strong nursing experience with the overall planning, personnel oversight and policy-making duties of a top executive, one of nursing’s top big-picture positions is also one that brings home the biggest bucks. While the position leans strongly toward the executive end (most hospitals require a master’s degree in nursing and many are hoping for an MBA as well), hands-on nursing experience is also important for conveying the nursing staff’s needs to top management. The head of nursing -- also called chief nursing officer or chief nursing executive -- reflects the senior nurse management position in an organization.

Find head of nursing jobs.

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Nurse Anesthetist

Median Salary: $146,349

Typical Requirements: Master’s degree plus certification

The highest paid of all nursing specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) also require the most education and training. In addition to a four-year nursing or science degree, CRNAs must be licensed RNs with at least a year of experience in an acute-care setting. Then it’s another two-plus years in an anesthesia education program before passing the certification exam. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the nation’s 39,000 CRNAs administer 30 million anesthetics to patients annually. And they practice everywhere anesthesia is administered, such as surgical suites, dentist offices and plastic surgery centers. Chief nurse anesthetists, who are also responsible for managing, scheduling and training staff anesthetists, earn an additional $10,000 to $20,000 annually.

Find nurse anesthetist jobs.

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Nursing Director

Median Salary: $109,669

Typical Requirements: RN, advanced degree in nursing

From budgeting to policy setting to scheduling, the nursing director oversees all aspects of a department’s nursing staff and often serves as a liaison between the staff and hospital administrators. Like any direct supervisory role, the nursing director -- also called the nursing supervisor in some organizations -- usually rises through the ranks with people skills, project-management ability and leadership aspirations. The nursing director often serves as the nursing program administrator, setting policies and performance standards and directly supervising nursing staff.

Find nursing director jobs.

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Certified Nurse Midwife

Median Salary: $89,975

Typical Requirements: RN program followed by midwifery program for either certification or a master’s degree

Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) attend an estimated 300,000 births per year in settings ranging from hospitals to homes, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. But CNMs do more than deliver babies. They also provide a wide range of care to female patients, including family-planning education, gynecological exams, and prenatal and postnatal care. In hospitals, CNMs often work closely with OB/GYNs. While the educational requirements vary by state, all CNMs will be required to hold a master’s degree (such as a master of science in nursing) by 2010.

Find certified nurse midwife jobs.

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Head Nurse

Median Salary: $87,322, higher in certain departments

Typical Requirements: RN with at least five years of direct experience

Whether it’s in an ICU, CCU, OR, ER or obstetrics department, if there’s more than one nurse, there’s usually a head nurse. While still dealing directly with patients, the head nurse is also responsible for patient records, performance reports, inventory levels and the day-to-day duties important to every nursing department.

Find head nurse jobs.

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Nurse Practitioner

Median Salary: $83,194

Typical Requirements: Master’s degree and certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) in specialty area

Most states require nurse practitioners (NPs) to work collaboratively with physicians; however, roughly a dozen states allow NPs to open their own clinics, while a dozen or so others require NPs to work under the supervision of a physician. Regardless of the physician relationship, nurse practitioners provide a wide range of health services, usually specializing in areas such as family practice, women’s health or pediatrics in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and private practice. (Emergency room and pediatric NPs tend to earn the highest salaries.) Depending on the state, NPs often diagnose and treat acute illnesses, injuries and infections.

Find nurse practitioner jobs.

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Clinical Nurse Specialist

Median Salary: $81,489

Typical Requirements: Master’s degree and at least five years of experience

If you like your nursing infused with some scholarly research, number crunching and data evaluation, the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) job might be for you. In addition to treating and diagnosing patients, CNSes also focus on assessing a hospital’s procedures, processes and personnel. The job of a CNS is often broken down into three spheres of influence as defined by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists: patient/family, nursing personnel/practice and system/network organization.

Find clinical nurse specialist jobs.

This article originally appeared on Monster Career Advice.

Nursing Interview Cheat Sheet

Megan Malugani / Monster Contributing Writer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:06:00 -0700

If you're a trained nursing professional, you can afford to be a discriminating job seeker, thanks to the nursing shortage. But you still need to prepare thoroughly for every job interview.

Part of the process of getting ready for an interview is knowing the questions you want to ask a potential employer. These questions should demonstrate your interest in the opportunity while helping you gauge whether the position is the right match for your skills, goals, personality and lifestyle.

Your inquiries should cover three main areas: orientation and training, the working environment, and the employer's management and administration. Here's an interview cheat sheet:

[widget:interview_quiz_widget]

Orientation and Training

• What is the level and depth of orientation?

• Will more orientation time be granted if I feel I need it?

• Will my orientation take place during the shift I will be working?

• Is there a mentorship program?

• What are your expectations of new hires during their first six months on the job?

• Describe typical first-year assignments.

• What qualities do your most successful nurses possess?

Working Environment

• What is the nurse-to-patient ratio?

• How long are your shifts -- eight, 10 or 12 hours?

• How do you go about scheduling? Is self-scheduling an option, or does someone else dictate the schedule?

• How long have most nurses been on the unit?

• Why did the last person in this position leave?

• How long has this position been vacant?

• Will I be on call if I accept this position? If so, what are the conditions/requirements of on-call duty?

Management and Administration

• How would you describe your management style?

• How do you motivate employees?

• How do you demonstrate that you value your nursing staff?

• How much autonomy do you give your nurses to make decisions regarding patient care?

• How often do you conduct performance reviews?

• Is the administration open to suggestions that would improve patient care?

• What challenges is this facility facing?

• What have been this unit's most notable successes and failures over the year?

• What are nurses' biggest challenges at this facility?

• What makes this facility unique among others in this region?

• What steps do you take to ensure safe working conditions?

• What are your plans for future growth?

• Why should I want to work here?

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An Offer in Hand

Once you have the job offer - and not before - ask the standard questions about salary and benefits, such as:

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• What is the salary?

• Is special compensation awarded for overtime? What is the differential for second-shift, third-shift and weekend work?

• What is the benefits package?

• Do you offer other incentives, such as paid journal subscriptions or scholarships for dependents?

• Do you provide financial support for continuing education?

• Are grants available for ongoing education?

• Are there special incentives for bilingual nurses?

• Is there room for advancement? What is the career path?

• How do you reward employees for exceptional work?

A couple of interview caveats: Never ask about the number of ethnic employees, and never ask the interviewer any questions that could be construed as personal.

Think of the interview as a conversation, not an interrogation. While the meeting is the interviewer's chance to find out about you, it's also your chance to ask about the issues that can significantly affect your short- and long-term job satisfaction.

7 Best Resume Tips for Nurses

Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

The US Department of Labor projects much faster-than-average job growth for nurses through 2014. That means as employers seek to recruit and retain talented nursing staff, nurses will enjoy improved salaries, benefits and working conditions.

You might be thinking: "Oh good, since employers will be clamoring to hire me, I don't have to worry about my resume."

Wrong.

A winning resume will you get noticed for the best positions and can facilitate a promotion from your current position. A strong resume can also help you command and negotiate a higher salary. Always put your best foot forward on your resume to attract the most desirable job offers. Follow these tips to make your nursing resume shine and review this sample resume for an entry-level nurse.

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Present Your Value Proposition in a Qualifications Summary

Lead your resume with a qualifications summary that provides an overview of the value you bring to the table. Paint a picture of what you have to offer by including a narrative statement of your goal, specialty area, level of experience and any other top credentials. In the Monster Resume Builder, use the Career Objective field to present your summary.

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Add an Expertise Section

A bulleted list of your proficiency areas incorporates important keywords into your resume (so you're found in an electronic search) and gives hiring managers a snapshot of your capabilities. Your expertise (or Key Skills if you're an entry-level candidate and haven't yet developed expertise) could be nursing specialty areas (e.g., pediatrics, obstetrics) or skills (JCAHO standards/compliance, medication administration, case management). On your Monster resume, use the Skills section to present your areas of expertise.

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Detail Your Nursing Experience

Hiring managers want to understand the scope of your experience so they can see if you're a good match for the job opening. When describing your nursing experience, write about the type of facility (such as acute care, outpatient, rehabilitation), your caseload and area of specialization. Entry-level nurses with limited work experience should provide details of their unpaid work/clinical rotations/practicums.

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Demonstrate You're a Top Performer

Your experience will be stronger if you include your contributions to each of your employers. Think about how you went above and beyond your job duties to make a positive contribution to your employer, patients, families and the community. Did you serve on any boards or committees? Did you help reorganize or launch new facilities or services? Did you provide training for patients and their families? Did you promote health and well-being by providing free community healthcare seminars? Were you known for your strong patient-advocacy skills? Did you help your employer pass an audit or achieve accreditation? Did you train and orient new employees? By providing details about your accomplishments, you're showing potential employers that you would be a valuable asset to their team.

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Focus on Your Related Experience If You're Returning to Nursing

If you are returning to the field after an absence, target your resume to nursing while deemphasizing unrelated work. One way to handle this dilemma is to divide your experience into two sections. Call the first Nursing Experience and the second Additional Work Experience. This strategy allows you to bring your older, related work to the forefront of your resume. In the Monster Resume Builder, use the regular Work Experience section for your nursing experience and the Additional Information section to briefly mention your other positions.

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Pick the Right Format If You're Changing Careers

If you're a career changer and your previous experience is completely unrelated to nursing, you might require a functional resume format. This style allows you to emphasize your related skills and training, while downplaying your work history.

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Highlight Academic Achievements and Nursing Licenses

In your Education section, mention any academic honors, scholarships and fellowships. New grads should consider including their GPA (if impressive) and related courses. Experienced nurses may decide to briefly mention their clinical rotations in the Education section. Licensure fits nicely in the Education section -- include the state where you are licensed and the date achieved. For privacy reasons, avoid including the actual number; employers will ask for a copy of your license later in the hiring process.

11 Writing Mistakes that Make You Look Dumb

AllHealthcare — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:48:00 -0700

Professional writers often worry that their work is unnecessary. After all, can't anyone with even a basic education write? The answer: no, they can't. Even college graduates don't seem to be learning composition basics.

Of course not everyone is going to be the next Mark Twain, but career success does depend on not looking stupid. Sure, some clients, coworkers, or resume readers might make some of these mistakes themselves. But it takes just one person to see just one mistake for you to be discounted.

Avoid these 11 mistakes, write better, and get the job!

FIRST MISTAKE

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Constipated Clauses

Reporting on the feats and foibles of the Red Sox, a writer for South Coast Today notes: "It goes without saying that these exploits take a tremendous amount of skill."

If it "goes without saying" then don't say it. If it doesn't, in fact, go without saying, then don't say it does.

"Obviously, the sky is blue." Putting the "obviously" doesn't suddenly make the statement insightful.

NEXT MISTAKE

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Comma Vomit

True or false: a comma must precede any use of the word "and"? FALSE. Commas should only precede and, but, for, or, nor, so, or yet when they introduce an independent clause. For example, "We laid out our music and snacks, and began to study." Placing a comma after "snacks" is incorrect. The subject of the sentence has not changed, "we" still "began to study."

An example of correct comma use: "The game was over, and the crowd began to leave." The game and the crowd are different subjects and the clauses are independent. The crowd could still be leaving regardless of what is happening with the game.

A comma can also precede "and" when it is used in a list of three or more items. However, in a list it is entirely optional and called an "oxford comma".

While that is probably the most common overuse, others are prevalent. Just because you think you would pause at a certain point when speaking, it does not mean you need a comma. For a complete guide to using and misusing commas, check out this guide!

NEXT MISTAKE

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The Death of Adverbs

Once upon a time, the English language had a way to modify both nouns and verbs. Adjectives did the trick on the former and adverbs on the latter. You didn't just have to walk, you could walk quickly!

Adverbs modify verbs. For example, you accomplish a task with ease. What do you say?

WRONG: I can do that easy!

RIGHT: I can do that easily!

You accomplish a task with more ease than your colleagues. What do you say?

WRONG: I can do that easier than they can.

RIGHT: I can do that more easily than they can.

NEXT MISTAKE

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Less vs. Fewer

A healthcare professional's skills are not on par with yours. How would you describe that: "He has less skill than I" or "He has fewer skills than I do"? You could use both! Less describes something that is not finite, like a trait. In the first case, "skill" does not refer to any particular skill, it denotes skill like "talent" or "intelligence."

Fewer describes finite, listable items. In the second case, you have a larger skill set than the other healthcare professional. You could list those skills that you have and the ones he doesn't.

Too often, people over- and mis-use "less." They'll say something like, "He has less skills than I do." Say that and you've shown you have less intelligence and fewer brains than your competitors.

NEXT MISTAKE

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Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Et cetera: a useful Latin-derived tool for shortening lists. However, unless you are a lawyer, using it (and especially overusing it) can make you sound unprofessional.

If you must, use it once. A second or third occurrence in the same document essentially says, "I really don't know what I'm talking about, so I'll just jam etc. on the end and try to pretend I do!"

Another et cetera mistake is using it when you should use "et al." Listing a set of objects? Use etc. Listing a group of people? Use et al. It also is derived from Latin and means "and others."

NEXT MISTAKE

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Prevarication Junction

"I think that I would be an ideal candidate for this position."

"I think that my product would do wonders for your company."

"Studies show that people like this product more."

Draw a line through each of those sentences. As a teacher told me in high school once, "Don't tell me what you think. Tell me what you know." Similarly, don't talk about studies. If you think a study is reliable—and you probably do if you rely on its results—just say what those reliable results were. If someone asks, you can always point them to the study in question.

These phrases ultimately end up making your writing much longer than it needs to be. What's worse, they make you appear afraid: not assertive enough to express your own opinion and unsure of what you are writing about.

If you really don't know what you're talking about…don’t talk about it.

NEXT MISTAKE

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The Affect-Effect Divide

His affect had an effect on me and affected me so much that I had to effect a change in my work environment.

WRONG USAGE: "Our products will positively effect your business;" or "My skills will substantially effect your company."

Affect and effect can both be nouns and verbs.

Rule of thumb for the most common uses: use affect as a verb and effect as a noun.

An affect (noun) is an artificial air that someone puts on. Do you pretend to have a British accent? That's an affect.

To affect something (verb) is to change it.

An effect (noun) is the result of someone or something affecting something.

To effect (verb) means to accomplish or make something happen.

NEXT MISTAKE

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Then≠Than

When one event follows another, we use thEn. For instance, "The clouds appeared, then it rained."

When two things are being compared, we use thAn. "Grandma is shorter than Grandpa."

Although most people learned this in elementary school, they seem to forget more thAn anyone would like. Just this month a news site in Santa Clara, California published a review of "WALL-E". The critic said, "The film was shorter then I would've liked."

NEXT MISTAKE

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None is.

It's an easy trap in which to fall.

"While I am certain there were many applicants for this job, none of them are as experienced as me." WRONG!

We hope you wouldn't actually write a sentence like that even without the grammatical error, but making none plural makes it even worse. None is singular. None is always singular.

While the "them" toward the end may make you think, "A ha! Multiples!", the subject is still none, which (did we mention?) is singular. "None of them is" may sound a little off to some, but it is correct English.

NEXT MISTAKE

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i.e. is not e.g. is not i.e.

Some people seem to think that throwing an "i.e." into a paragraph makes them look smarter. Unfortunately, most of those people are using i.e. to mean "for example."

WRONG: "I have sold many products, i.e. washing machines." This doesn't make any sense.

i.e. is an abbreviation of the Latin words id est, literally translated as "that is." In English, i.e. is used synonymously with "namely." It specifies and limits.

e.g. is also a Latin abbreviation but of the words exempli gratia, meaning "for example." E.g. implies, "This is one of several possible options."

NEXT MISTAKE

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Could of

When speaking, certain contractions can sound like other words. "Could've" rolls off the tongue like "could of." You have to be careful that does not slip into your writing.

In the past tense, could, would and should must never be followed by "of." If you use contractions in your writing, the words are "could've, would've, should've." If you don't, they are "could have, would have, should have."

It's an easy mistake to make. Scan any document or business e-mail you write and make sure it's correct.

Now that your writing's in order, time to work on your speaking!

Live Your Dreams: Volunteering Abroad

AllHealthcare — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:19:00 -0700

Ever had dreams of leaving it all behind to volunteer your skills in another country? More importantly, have you thought of all the lives you could improve with your nursing skills?

Whether you’re clearing debris from a storm or volunteering in a medical clinic, the actions that you take while volunteering can make a big difference. So why not explore it?

Some websites to check out:

Hands On Disaster Response

Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that provides hands-on assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world, with maximum impact and minimum bureaucracy. You get yourself to the project, and in return we provide shelter, food, and a rewarding and unique volunteer experience. You are welcome to volunteer with us even if you choose to stay elsewhere.

Doctors without Borders

You definitely don’t have to be an MD to provide medical care to people in developing countries. They’re currently seeking doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, technicians, logisticians, and others. Anesthesiologists/Nurse-Anesthetists, Operating Room Nurses, and Nurse-Midwives or Certified Midwives are urgently needed. A salary of $1404 is provided monthly in addition to room and board, transportation, insurance, a letter of support for student loan deferment, payment of interest after first field assignment and for six months thereafter, and an employee assistance program. Click the “Work with MSF” link.

CrossCulturalSolutions.org

With small health clinics and understaffed hospitals serving low-income communities, volunteers support the over-worked staff, adding to their efficiency and allowing more people in need to be served. Volunteers provide moral support and reduce anxiety for patients and/or residents in communities where many people still view doctor’s visits as a last resort.

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VolunteerAbroad.com

This link is a listing of all their nursing volunteer opportunities all over the world. You can specify which country you want to go to, or just browse all the nursing opportunities. VolunteerAbroad also has a Jobs Abroad channel for those interested in making a career move, too. Here’s the nursing jobs link: http://www.jobsabroad.com/listings.cfm/interntypeID/76

Project Hope

Since 1958, Project HOPE has worked to make health care available for people around the globe – especially children. It’s in the name: Health Opportunities for People Everywhere.

RI.org

Relief International is a humanitarian non-profit agency that provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, development assistance, and program services to vulnerable communities worldwide. RI is solely dedicated to reducing human suffering and is non-political and non-sectarian in its mission.

6 Sloppy Speech Habits to Avoid

Diane Diresta | Monster — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:15:00 -0700

1. Non-words

Filler words such as "um," "ah," "you know," "OK" or "like" tell the interviewer you're not prepared and make you sound like a Valley Girl (or Boy). A better strategy is to think before you speak, taking pauses and breaths when you lose your train of thought. Everybody utters an occasional "um," but don't let it start every sentence.

2: Up Talk

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2. "Up-Talk"

A singsong or rising inflection at the end of every sentence creates a tentative impression and makes it sound as though you're asking a question instead of making a definitive statement. You need to speak with conviction when selling yourself in an meeting. Bring your intonation down when ending a sentence to avoid talking up.

3: Grammar

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3. Grammatical Errors

The interviewer may question your education when you use incorrect grammar or slang. Expressions such as "ain't" "she don't," "me and my friend" and "so I goes to him" aren't appropriate. Be sure you speak in complete sentences and that tenses agree. The interview is not the venue for regional expressions or informality.

4: Sloppy Speech

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4. Sloppy Speech

Slurring words together or dropping their endings impairs the clarity of your message. To avoid slurring and increase understanding, speak slowly during an interview.

Make a list of commonly mispronounced words, and practice saying them into a tape recorder before the interview. Some common incorrect pronunciations include "aks" for "ask," "ath a lete" for "athlete," "wif" for "with" and "dree" for "three."

5: Speed Talking

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5. Speed Talking

While everybody is a bit anxious during an interview, you don't want your information to fly by like a speeding bullet. A rapid speaking rate is difficult to follow, and speed talkers are seen as nervous. Slow down your racing heart by doing some breathing exercises before the interview.

To avoid rushing, listen to the question, and then count two beats in your head before answering. When you finish a sentence, count two beats again before continuing. Don't be afraid of silence. Pausing is an effective communication technique. The interviewer needs a few seconds to process what you just said anyway.

6: Weak Speak

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6. Weak Speak

Wimpy words modify or water down your conviction and in the end your position.

When you pepper a conversation with "hopefully," "perhaps," "I feel," "kind of" and "sort of," the message you convey is a lack of confidence. Use power words such as "I'm confident that," "my track record shows," "I take the position that," "I recommend" or "my goal is." The language you use gives the listener an impression about your level of confidence and conviction.

This article originally appeared on Monster Career Advice.

More Interview Resources

• Interviewers' 7 Biggest Pet Peeves

• 10 Worst Answers to Healthcare Interview Questions

• Seven Things You Must Do in an Interview

• Interview Take-Along Checklist

• Six Answers Interviewers Need to Hire You

• Top Ten Interview Fashion Blunders

• Six Must-Ask Interview Questions

• 100 Potential Interview Questions

• Nonverbal Communications: Escape the Pitfalls

• Informative Quiz: Are You Prepared For Your Interview?

>>> Visit AllHealthcare's Interview Center <<<

Common Resume Blunders to Avoid

Kim Isaacs | Monster Resume Expert — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:51:00 -0700

The job search process can certainly be daunting. From writing cover letters to stressing about what you're going to wear to your next interview, it's easy for some details to fall through the cracks. That's why our experts came up with the 10 most common resume blunders and how to avoid them. Make sure your resume is in top-notch shape by avoiding these mistakes!

First Blunder >>

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1. Being Too Focused on Job Duties

Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. One of the most basic resume tips is to go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself:

• How did you perform the job better than others?

• What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the company benefit from your performance?

• Did you receive any awards, special recognitions or promotions as a result?

Next Blunder >>

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2. Using Flowery or General Objective Statement

Many candidates lose their readers in the beginning. Statements such as "a challenging position enabling me to contribute to organizational goals while offering an opportunity for growth and advancement" are overused, too general and waste valuable space. If you're on a career track, replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

Next Blunder >>

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3. Making Your Resume Too Short or Too Long

Many people try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, because they've heard resumes shouldn't be longer. By doing this, job seekers may delete impressive achievements. Other candidates ramble on about irrelevant or redundant experiences. There is no rule about appropriate resume length. When writing your resume, ask yourself, "Will this statement help me land an interview?" Every word should sell you, so include only the information that elicits a "yes."

Next Blunder >>

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4. Using Personal Pronouns and Articles

A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be concise and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mentions of "I" or "me," and only minimal use of articles. For example:

I developed a new product that added $2 million in sales and increased the market segment's gross margin by 12%.

Should be changed to:

Developed new product that added $2 million in sales and increased market segment's gross margin by 12%.

Next Blunder >>

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5. Listing Irrelevant Information

Many people include their interests, but they should include only those relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a home health aide, he should list cross-country volunteering at a nursing home as a hobby.

Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the resume unless you're an entertainment professional or job seeker outside the US.

Next Blunder >>

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6. Using a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History

It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and impact you made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional resume format.

The modified chronological format, or combination resume, is often the most effective. Here's the basic layout:

• Header (name, address, email address, phone number).

• Lead with a strong profile section detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency.

• Reverse chronological employment history emphasizing achievements over the past 10 to 15 years.

• Education (new grads may put this at the top).

Next Blunder >>

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7. Not Including a Summary Section That Makes an Initial Hard Sell

This is one of the job seeker's greatest tools. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.

As part of your resume preparation, peruse job openings to determine what's important to employers. Next, write a list of your matching skills, experience and education. Incorporate these points into your summary.

Next Blunder >>

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8. Not Including Keywords

With so many companies using technology to store resumes, the only hope a job seeker has of being found is to sprinkle relevant keywords throughout the resume. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your resume.

Next Blunder >>

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9. Referring to Your References

Employers know you have professional references. Use this statement only to signal the end of a long resume or to round out the resume layout.

Next Blunder >>

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10. Typos

One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Proofread and show your resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect.

More Resources >>

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Get More Resume Help:

• Essential Resume Tips for Healthcare Professionals

• Get Your Resume Ready for the Recession

• How to Revamp Your Resume

• Put Your Education to Work

• Leverage Volunteer Work on Your Resume

• Accessorize Your Healthcare Resume

• Five Resume Tips for College Students

• 5 Signs Your Resumé is Passé

• Informative Quiz: Is Your Resume in Shape?

>>> Visit AllHealthcare's Resume Center <<<

Resume Tips for Pharmacy Technicians

Jennifer LeClaire | Monster Contributing Writer — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:29:00 -0700

With US doctors writing about 3.5 billion prescriptions yearly, according to IMS Health, pharmacy personnel, including pharmacy technicians, are in great demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts pharmacy technician job growth of nearly 32 percent between 2006 and 2016.

But don't assume that just because jobs are plentiful, you'll be able to land a pharm tech position effortlessly. To help you get your job of choice, be sure to submit a compelling resume.

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"Many people understand the basic components of a resume," says Mike Johnston, CPhT, founder and chairman of the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) and author of Rx for Success: A Career Enhancement Guide for Pharmacy Technicians. "But items that are specific to pharmacy technicians should also be included."

Here are some tips on writing the perfect pharmacy technician resume:

Tailor Your Objective

Susan Jeffery, CPhT, a past president of the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT), says your resume objective should demonstrate your willingness to learn.

"Pharmacy technicians should add a sentence to their professional objectives that lets the hiring manager know they are interested in opportunities for further specialization or professional growth," she says. For example:

Career Objective: To obtain a pharmacy technician position with an expanding company. Strong interest in pursuing professional development opportunities, including specialized training and licensure in the organization's growth areas.

Expand on Your Education and Skills

List education, training, licensure and academic honors to help you stand out. In addition, include special skills, such as fluency in another language, dispensing or dealing with billing and reimbursement for insurance, workers' compensation or Medicaid. These terms will act as keywords when potential employers search the Monster resume database.

"Listing specialty certifications, like intravenous drugs, compounding or diabetes home management, can help you get noticed and get higher salaries," Johnston says. However, he suggests listing continuing-education (CE) credits only if the courses you took were on special, advanced topics, such as quality control or preparing radioactive elements. CE in and of itself "isn't a differentiator," he says. "It's expected."

Elaborate on Your Work History

When it comes to the chronologically ordered employment history, hiring managers prefer a rich description of what you do day-to-day rather than a generic list of your duties.

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For example, instead of saying:

Responsibilities included assisting the pharmacist, prescription intake and insurance billing.

Say this:

Responsibilities included counting the prescribed number of tablets, entering prescription information into the computer to produce labels and overseeing workers' compensation reimbursements.

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If you're a recent graduate, include internships, externships, clinical rotations and preceptorships. List nonpharmacy work experience to demonstrate job stability. Unless you worked at a national chain or well-known hospital, describe your past employers to give the hiring manager some context of your previous work environment. For example:

Gained in-depth knowledge of geriatric drugs from daily interaction with elderly patients and drug dispensing at 100-bed nursing home.

"Be honest," Jeffery says. "Never lie about your knowledge or experience. Everything you do impacts someone's life. Always include all workplaces and all schooling and classes."

Flaunt Your Associations

Belonging to a professional organization, such as the NPTA or the AAPT, and attending seminars and conventions telegraphs your dedication to the field. On your Monster resume, call out your memberships in the Affiliations section.

Resume Dos and Don'ts

Finally, heed some standard resume advice:

Make Sure Your Resume Is Free of Spelling Errors: In pharmacy practice, a misspelled word could lead to a fatal error. Proof, review and proof again. Then have someone else do the same thing.

Keep Your Resume to One Page: A two-page resume is acceptable if you've earned specialized CE credits or have some other form of specialized training, such as compounding, that's relevant to the employer's needs, Johnston says.

Don't Include Hobbies and Personal Interests: Hiring managers can ask about these during the interview if they want to know.

"These are the little things that people don't think about, but they can make a big impact on a hiring manager," Johnston says.

Three Steps to a Winning Pharmacist Resume

By Kim Isaacs | Monster Resume Expert — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:02:00 -0700

As an increasing number of job seekers enter the pharmacy field, competition for the most desirable jobs will heat up. While resume writing is not typically taught in pharmacy programs, it's a skill worth developing. If you follow these three steps, you will be on your way to creating a resume that will maximize your calls for job interviews.

Step 1: Research

The first step in preparing a winning resume is research. After all, you're selling a product (you) to a buyer (the employer), so find out what the buyer wants. You probably have enough information about yourself to write a novella, but given the limited space on a resume, you must highlight your strongest, most relevant qualifications.

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If you're preparing your resume for a specific employer, visit its Web site to learn about its services, goals, mission and corporate culture. Take notes about how you would fit in and add value to the operation. If you're not targeting a specific opportunity, search for pharmacist jobs on Monster and study ads that interest you. Review the job descriptions and requirements to find out what's important to hiring managers. Once you have a clear idea of what employers want, you can start developing a compelling resume. (See our sample resume for a pharmacist.)

Step 2: Write

Pretend you're a director of marketing writing a dynamic description of a new product just hitting the market. You've done your research, so you know what your buyer wants. Here's how you can organize your credentials:

Resume Headline: Create a brief headline that encapsulates your career goal and one or two of your top qualifications. For example: NY-Licensed Pharmacist -- 5 Years' Experience and PharmD Degree.

Qualifications Summary: Present your value proposition -- a narrative statement of the main reasons you should be called for an interview. In the Monster Profile & Resume Builder, use the Objective section to present your summary. Here's an example:

NY- and NJ-licensed clinical pharmacist offers a PharmD degree and 10 years of acute-care/hospital experience. Thorough knowledge of computerized drug-distribution systems, drug-utilization evaluation, complex equipment and delivery systems, emerging medications, inventory management and regulations governing pharmacy services. Serves as an effective liaison between the healthcare team and the community to improve drug usage and therapeutic outcomes. Completed clinical pharmacy residency at the renowned ABC Medical Center.

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Employment History: In the Experience section of the Resume Builder, provide a reverse-chronological work history. Recent grads should include internships, externships, clinical rotations and preceptorships. Experienced workers may move these to the Education section. Describe your job duties as well as accomplishments, showing how you went above and beyond your responsibilities to help your employer or department. Think about how you improved workflow, enhanced patient/customer satisfaction, saved money or time, generated revenue, managed inventory levels, trained employees and built positive relationships.

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Education: List education, training and licensure, as well as academic honors, scholarships and extracurricular activities. New grads should place the Education section before the Experience section. In the Resume Builder, new grads can mention their degree in the Objective section to move that credential to the top of the page.

Key Skills: Use the Resume Builder's Skills section to create a list of your most relevant skills. This is a great way to add important keywords so your resume is found in an electronic applicant search. Include specialty areas (e.g., acute/critical care, ICU, retail, nuclear pharmaceuticals) and important skills (e.g., pharmacology, dispensing/compounding, medication therapy, pharmaceutical research, MedE America Pharmacy System).

Miscellaneous Headings: Other headings depend on your background, but in the Additional Information section of the Resume Builder, you might include published articles, public-speaking engagements, technical skills, community activities and language skills.

Step 3: Refine

Think of your resume as a work in progress. Before distributing it, solicit feedback from colleagues and hiring managers to learn ways to improve your presentation. Keep in mind that everyone will have suggestions for improving your resume, so decide what will work for you and make appropriate changes.

When you're finished modifying your document, set it free into the job marketplace. After taking the time to research, write and refine, you should have a resume that generates calls for interviews.

Your Resume’s Audience – Cheers or Silence

Phil Rosenberg — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:24:00 -0700

What does the content of your resume say about you? Is it an autobiography, or a solution to your readers' problems?

IF your resume gets seen by human eyes (remember, 97% get pre-screened by a database search), you have an average 15 seconds to capture the reader's attention. That's the average time spent reviewing a resume. In 15 seconds an interview/no interview decision is made. Just 15 seconds - That fast.

So how do you grab your reader's attention? Write about what is important to them. Don't write about what is important to your own ego.

Do you realize the majority of today's resumes don't address an employers' problems? Most are written for the job seekers own pride.

Do you think it matters much to your audience what you are most proud of? Will your reader care enough to read your resume in detail to get an idea of who you are and what you can do? Or does your audience care more about rapid solutions to their problems?

A common resume improvement is WRITING FOR YOUR AUDIENCE. A resume is very personal…especially if you're a professional, manager, executive, or have had a long career - your resume describes your life. Most people write resumes listing accomplishments they are most proud of. I can recall numerous recruiting candidates I worked with who fiercely defended wording that made them feel good about themselves, while sacrificing opportunities to make statements that would interest their audience – the hiring manager.

So what's important to hiring managers? Hiring managers today hire people who can solve their problems without much ramp-up time or training. Today's hiring decisions are made efficiently. And the quickest way a hiring manager can find someone who can solve specific problems is to SEARCH FOR SOMEONE WHO'S ALREADY SOLVED THOSE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS.

For instance, do you list detail of accomplishments that are important? Who are they important to? To the hiring manager for the job you're applying for? Or just to you?

If you are a manager or executive, do you write about general leadership, or about detailed accomplishments? Do you write about general things that should be important to every hiring manager, or write about accomplishments that are important to that specific hiring manager?

Think of it this way - if the vast majority of resumes are written for the job seekers' own ego, and just a small percentage address what an employer wants to see, isn't it far easier to stand out in the crowd? Could this help you gain an Unfair Advantage over other candidates, if you are one of the few?

So write your resume to solve an employer's problems, and you'll get interviews. Discuss how you can an solve employer's problems in an interview, and you'll get offers

Be the solution => get an Unfair Advantage => get the interview => and get the job.

Trackback: http://www.recareered.blogspot.com/2008/02/your-resumes-audience-cheers-or-silence.html

Stalk Your Way to a New Job

Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:06:00 -0700

The internet has made stalkers out of all of us. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

But instead of stalking your ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, consider using your newfound detective skills for more productive (i.e. less emotionally jarring) purposes, like snagging the job of your dreams.

Interested in a company and need to find a person to contact? Google away. Trying to suss out the guy who’s interviewing you next week? Facebook him!

Within minutes, you can find out where he's from, how to reach him, where he's worked in the past, and – perhaps most importantly – what his favorite movie is. The more you know about him, the better your ability to sell yourself.

We’re not suggesting you cultivate an entirely false personality to match your interviewer -- that would be disingenuous and would surely come back to bite you.

But knowing a bit more about someone can help you find points of commonality you might otherwise have missed. If you find out they went to your alma mater, you can ever-so-subtly work that into the conversation in an interview. Or maybe you share the same taste in music? Find an appropriate way to bring it up. We all know that getting hired has a lot to do with likeability. And fair or not, people generally like other people who are similar to them. Why miss out on an opportunity to highlight these similarities?

Are you ready to do some in-depth detective work? Luckily, you've got an extremely powerful investigative tool right at your fingertips. Abuse it wisely!

Next Page: Start with Google Stalking →

*Disclaimer: These tips were designed to help you stalk in the most legal, non-creepy way. We do not encourage or condone harassment, obsessive behavior or any kind of physical stalking.

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Google

What did people do before Google? They used encyclopedias. And fold-out maps.

They also had a lot less information on potential employers.

Embrace this search engine giant. For jobseekers, it's an absolute godsend.

Maybe you already know the name of the person who’ll be interviewing you and you just want to know a little more about them before the face-to-face interrogation. Or perhaps you want to send someone your resume and cover letter but need to track down contact details and some background information.

If Googling your person of interest is limited to a simple full name search, you’re missing out on lots of prime stalking potential. Try adding other relevant keywords to maximize your results. Where did they go to college? Where do they live? Where have they worked? By adding these items to the search terms, you’ll likely get more relevant results.

Here are some other Google tips:

“John Doe”

johnnydoeeyes

site:apple.com “john doe”.

“john doe” email, @apple.com.

Next Page: Facebook Stalking Is Such Fun! →

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Facebook

While it can be an incredibly useful tool for tracking people down, Facebook can also be incredibly useless – it all depends on a person’s privacy settings.

The first step is to search the person in question's name. Make sure you try any nicknames, in addition to their full name.

You may get several people with the same name (and you may or may not know what they actually should look like). Try narrowing it down using networks. If you know they live in Los Angeles, set the network appropriately and see what comes up.

Other tips for optimizing your Facebook search:

new Facebook application

Next Page: Tweet Stalk Your Prey →

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Twitter

Twitter may not reveal the information you’re looking for in the most organized, upfront way (a la Facebook), but following someone over time can give you a very intimate glimpse into their daily life and personal character.

If you know how to use it, Twitter can be a very fruitful stalking tool.

One of Twitter's greatest assets is that it has made it perfectly acceptable to "follow" strangers without seeming creepy –- especially if they are visibly part of your industry. (For more on how to use Twitter, go here).

[widget:twitterglossary]

Once you're following your person of interest, you can "retweet" their tweets, or reply to their tweets if they are of interest to you. An appropriate retweet would be responding to an article in your industry. An inappropriate retweet would be responding to that person’s tweet on how much they love their wife or what they had for breakfast. Keep it professional or you’ll earn a reputation for being creepy.

Someone I know scored a writing gig by following the editor of the target publication for a few months. From time to time, and where appropriate, she would reply to the editor’s tweets with links to her own articles. She was simultaneously emailing the editor, pitching story ideas and requesting an interview. Eventually, the editor agreed to meet her and she got the job. Not bad for a few tweets.

Twitter is also helpful because, unlike Facebook, it allows you to follow people without their consent or reciprocation. And now, thanks to the new app Tweet Stalk, you can follow people without them even knowing.

Finally, Twitter can be used to track down leads. You can search for the name of the company you’re interested in to see if anyone in the Twitterverse is affiliated with it. Once you find them, begin following and ask if they have contacts. They may ignore you altogether, but they might just help you out. Either way, there’s no risk in trying.

Next Page: Two More Stalking Tools →

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This professional networking tool can be a fantastic stalking tool. For example, you’re looking for a contact at XYZ company. You search that company on LinkedIn and find names of relevant hiring managers.

Using the tools we showed you in the Google section of the article, you may be able to find said hiring manager’s email address. Now you can email them directly regarding the position — which means that instead of getting lost in the internet abyss, your resume might actually be seen.

You may also be able to use your own LinkedIn network to track down leads. Check to see who your connections’ connections are. If you see anything interesting, ask for an introduction. Too shy? Nonsense! There's no room for shame in a job hunt.

Jigsaw.com

Got some money to spend? For $250 a year, you can get access to up to 250 business cards (out of 14 million) on Jigsaw.com. How does it work? Members share data from business cards they’ve collected. Once you join, you gain access to the growing database. If you’re serious about your stalking, are desperate for a lead and have some disposable income, this site might be the way to go.

In this day and age, there's just no excuse for not having an arsenal of information on your job leads. At the very least, you should be scouring the company's website for inside information. But if you really want an edge on the competition (and I'm pretty sure you do!), you should be doing some more in-depth detective work.

Now leave your ex-boyfriend alone and get to work!

*Disclaimer: These tips were designed to help you stalk in the most legal, non-creepy way. We do not encourage or condone harassment, obsessive behavior or any kind of physical stalking.

More Job Search Resources

• Healthcare Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts

• 7 Job Search Time Wasters and How to Avoid Them

• The 10 Worst Job-Hunting Mistakes

• How to Revamp Your Resume

• Four Factors that Can Ruin Your Job Search

• Seven Things You Must Do in an Interview

• Essential Resume Tips for Healthcare Professionals

How to start your Job Search 2.0 - Linkedin

Phil Rosenberg — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:42:00 -0700

OK, so you've written your resume, you've done 3 versions for specific job criteria, and you're drinking the Koolaid of sending fewer, but more targeted resumes. You're on the right path to searching for a new job.

Today's post talks about the first tool a job seeker should consider...Linkedin. Many readers may already be on Linkedin, but I'm consistently amazed at the number of managers and professionals who aren’t (including IT professionals!). Your employees are on social networks, which are second nature to Millenniums, but seem foreign to Boomers and even many Gen-Xers.

TIP #1: A high page rank on Google Searches is a simple reason why Linkedin is a must for any job seeker today.

Your resume will help you reply to job listings, but it doesn't help employers FIND YOU very well. Job Search 2.0 is about getting found, and getting noticed. It's more than just creating a brand...it's creating Subject Matter Expertise (SME), then publicizing your SME, amplifying your SME, and virally marketing your SME.

Wouldn't it be nice if your job search consisted of evaluating numerous job offers, consulting gigs, and overtures for your help? Who wouldn't enjoy the attention and the validation of your life's work? When you've successfully virally marketed your subject matter expertise, is gives you such an unfair advantage...because employers seek YOU to solve their specific problems.

Fortunately, there are LOTS of tools that can help you. And fortunately, your good-hearted reCareered coach wants to show you how to make them work for you....to give you an unfair advantage.

A good Linkedin strategy can get you front page on Google Searches. Even if your name isn't unique, a good Linkedin strategy may get you a #1 ranking.

Tip #2: If Linkedin holds your resume, that markets your Subject Matter Expertise, and allows you to turn up on Google searches. If you have a REALLY unique Subject Matter Expertise, this alone is enough to get you on Google’s first page. Most of us don’t have such rarity in our careers.

Anyways, get busy and set up your Linkedin account.

Tip #3: Use a separate email address (mine is phil.linkedin@gmail.com) for Linkedin. Why? As you become successful, in virally marketing your SME, your email could blow up. I like to time block my Linkedin correspondence all at once, and using a separate email address allows easy organization (a trick from Getting Things Done). Get your new email account before signing up, because it will be more difficult to redirect the email later.

Tip #4: Put your top SME resume (the one for the job you want MOST) into Linkedin. Just cut and paste. No spellchecker on Linkedin, so make sure there are no typos.

Tip #5: Draft using word for spell checking. Cut and past spell checked text into Linkedin. Save your text so you’ll have a base profile that you can change as you need it.

Tip #6: Invite your job references, and ask them to write a reference for you on Linkedin. You'll want at least 4, but you don't really need 100 (who has time to read that many). If you've been working as a consultant, use clients who will say great things about you.

Tip #7: Control the reference process, and don't leave it up to chance. Tell your references what you'd like them to comment about. Make it specific...projects are best. Commenting about leadership skills, dedication, teamwork, getting to work on time, etc, are references that make you look average. Definitely, don't have your references comment about your ethics (Nothing wrong with ethics, but it's how references are written when there's nothing else nice to say). More on references in a later blog entry.

Tip #8: Spell check again. And again.

Future posts will talk about ways to build your Linkedin database, how to use it for job networking, what type of a database you want, Linkedin references, and advanced Linkedin topics.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-to-start-your-job-search-20.html

The First Interview Question - How to Win the Job Interview

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:33:00 -0700

5 Signs Your Resumé is Passé

Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:48:00 -0700

The workplace is not what it was five years ago. Neither is the job hunt.

The most successful candidates are those who are ready and willing to adapt to a changing landscape. But it doesn’t matter how ready you are for the modern workplace if your resumé’s straight out of 1994.

And sometimes, it's the most minute details that make all the difference.

Does your resumé speak to the modern hiring manager? Or does it need a serious makeover? Your resumé might be passé if…

First Sign: You’ve forced it to fit onto one page →

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#1: You’ve forced it to fit onto one page

You’ve reduced your font size to eight, eliminated margins altogether and left out key information about yourself, all to conform to that age-old “one page resumé” rule. Big mistake. After all, would a recent college grad really need the same amount of resumé real estate as someone who’s been in the workforce for 20 years? Of course not.

Don’t get me wrong: Your resumé should be concise. Recruiters are busy people – they don’t have time or the patience for long-winded career chronologies. But if your experience warrants two pages, by all means, don’t limit yourself to one.

Next Sign: You list an objective →

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#2: You list an objective

Of course you’re looking to gain more experience in the field/sector/type of company to which you’re applying. Your interest in the job implies that. Do you really need to say it at the very top of your resumé?

At this point in the selection process, hiring managers are far more interested in what you can do for them than what they can do for you.

If you want to explain why you’re applying for the job, say so in your cover letter. Resumé space is far too valuable to waste on information that is both redundant and inconsequential.

Next Sign: You write “References available upon request” at the bottom →

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#3: You write “References available upon request” at the bottom

Once again, a waste of valuable space. Do you really need to say so? The hiring manager can only assume that if they ask you for references, you’ll provide them. What, are you going to say “no?”

Instead, prepare a list of references with contact details and your relationship to each. Hold onto it until you’re further along in the selection process — you don’t want to annoy your referees with repeated contact by employers who are less than serious about you. Most respectable employers wouldn’t bother to contact a reference until they are fully ready to make you an offer.

Next Sign: You attach it to your email as a Word document →

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#4: You attach it to your email as a Word document

While you’re unlikely to be penalized for emailing a Word document, there’s a lot to be said for converting it to a PDF before sending.

A PDF document just looks neater. And even if you’ve gone crazy with the formatting, it will show up correctly on the hiring manager’s computer no matter what their settings, Word version, or font inventory. Besides, do you really want those squiggly red lines showing up under your former company’s name?

Stick to PDF. It’s the only surefire way to display your resumé exactly as you intended it.

Next Sign: You list every job you’ve ever had in chronological order →

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#5: You list every job you’ve ever had in chronological order

In the olden days, the person with the most experience got the job.

Nowadays, the person who’s most talented, has the most relevant skill set, and has proven to be most valuable to his or her former employers gets the job.

If you want to be that person, make sure your resumé says so. Don’t list jobs that are irrelevant to the one you’re applying for just to fill up space. Instead, expand on the jobs that are relevant. Focus on measurable achievements in each role as opposed to a play-by-play of your daily responsibilities.

More Resume Resources →

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Get More Resume Help:

• Essential Resume Tips for Healthcare Professionals

• Get Your Resume Ready for the Recession

• How to Revamp Your Resume

• Put Your Education to Work

• Accessorize Your Healthcare Resume

• Leverage Volunteer Work on Your Resume

• Five Resume Tips for College Students

• Informative Quiz: Is Your Resume in Shape?

>>> Visit AllHealthcare's Resume Center <<<

Six California Cities: Which Healthcare Economies Are Thriving?

Business Wire — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:45:00 -0700

California's sprawling size and the diversity of its regional health care systems result in care that is organized, delivered, and financed differently throughout the state.

As part of its continuing effort to explore this variation, the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) published six regional market reports, providing a first-time, in-depth analysis of six distinct California health care economies. The goal is to better understand the market dynamics for each region studied (the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside/San Bernardino, and San Diego). Topics include the supply and organization of hospitals, physicians, and other providers; and the accessibility of services for low-income residents -- of particular importance during the economic downturn.

"This project provides a detailed picture of each local health care system and identifies common themes and emerging issues that influence how Californians receive health care now and in the future," said Marian Mulkey, M.P.H., M.P.P., CHCF senior program officer.

The reports are the result of a 15-month partnership with the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). HSC research teams conducted site visits, interviewing nearly 50 health care leaders in each region, including health plan, hospital, and medical group representatives, major employers, benefit consultants, insurance brokers, community clinic administrators, consumer advocates, and state and local policymakers.

"The contrasts in how local health systems are organized and their responses to challenges, especially caring for uninsured people, are quite striking," said Debra A. Draper, Ph.D., an HSC senior fellow who coordinated the project.

Some of the regional findings are highlighted in the slideshow.

Start Here: San Francisco Bay Area >>

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San Francisco Bay Area

The health care safety net in the Bay Area is relatively strong but faces growing challenges from the economic downturn. Safety-net providers see growing demand for services, yet some face eroding funding support.

Pressured by low reimbursement and recruitment difficulties, Bay Area physicians are increasingly finding independent practice untenable and are moving into medical groups or affiliating with hospital systems.

Next Page: Sacramento >>

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Sacramento

Sacramento is dominated by powerful hospital systems with significant bargaining leverage over health plans. While they compete vigorously, the degree to which they also cooperate -- in areas such as community benefits and research funding -- contrasts sharply with many other communities. Most of Sacramento's physicians practice in large groups that are exclusively aligned with one of the hospital systems.

Sacramento's stable delivery system for insured residents is in stark contrast to its weak and fragmented health care safety net. Sacramento County clinics and private nonprofit clinics are relatively small and financially fragile. Most area clinics have gone without direct federal funding because they lack federally qualified status. There is no designated county hospital.

Next Page: Fresno >>

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Fresno

Greater Fresno's population has grown rapidly in the past decade. Area residents have lower income, education, and health insurance levels, and worse health status than average for California. The economic downturn is intensifying an already bleak situation.

Fresno's physician workforce is aging and there aren't enough physicians to meet demand. Access to care for the low-income population is hampered by the shortages of health care professionals”nurses and dentists are also in short supply.

HMOs have a limited and shrinking market presence. As in many other parts of California, PPO enrollment is growing.

Next Page: Los Angeles >>

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Los Angeles

Among the Los Angeles market's hospitals, the gap is growing between the financially advantaged "haves" and the disadvantaged "have-nots." The "haves" serve a predominantly affluent and insured population and enjoy leverage with health plans, while the "have-nots" serve largely Medi-Cal and uninsured patients. Some hospitals are operating in the red and their continued viability is uncertain.

The Los Angeles health care safety net is well developed and relatively stable. The county operates three acute-care hospitals and many more health centers and clinics. The network of 42 independent community health centers plays a key role in providing care to lower-income residents.

Next Page: Riverside/San Bernardino >>

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Riverside/San Bernardino

The Riverside/San Bernardino region encompasses a vast geographic area, creating significant health care access challenges for residents. Most of the region's hospitals are concentrated near the major population centers. Hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino are viewed as competitive, but some collaborate in an effort to keep patients from seeking their care in neighboring Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties.

The region's health care safety net is anchored by two county hospitals. Both counties maintain their own hospitals, which are major tertiary care centers as well as mainstays for the safety net, but differ in the way outpatient care is provided. In Riverside, the county is the key provider of primary care for low-income residents, but in San Bernardino primary care is mostly delivered by private organizations.

Next Page: San Diego >>

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San Diego

San Diego's market is dominated by four large hospital systems. The area's hospitals are moving to tighten affiliations with physicians -- a move that strengthens already significant negotiating leverage with health plans. Historically, capitation -- or fixed per-patient, per-month payments -- has been the dominant payment method in San Diego, but some hospital systems have pushed to shift from capitation to fee-for-service payment.

San Diego's safety net is fragmented, and the county is widely perceived as having a weak commitment to health care for the low-income and uninsured. San Diego County operates the County Medical Services Program as part of its state-mandated responsibilities to provide indigent care, but restrictive eligibility requirements have held down enrollment.

More City Guide Resources:

• 10 Best States for Healthcare Jobs

• Top 25 Cities for Your Healthcare Career

• AHC's Hottest Health Employers

• Big Cities, Big Bucks: Biggest Employers in America's Top Ten Cities

• Fun Quiz: What's Your Signature City?

(Image sources: Creative Commons, Associated Press)