What are the important skills to develop in Healthcare?

By Monster Contributor

Chances are that you didn’t just so happen to stumble into your career; you were probably making plans for it for some time before you started. Indeed given the fact that 1 in 4 health and social care professionals hold a degree that is relevant to the job they are doing suggests that most of you are dedicated to your profession and the future direction it will take. So in a profession with equally motivated and ambitious people you need all the tools at your disposal to help you along the way.

Most careers experts will tell you that the Skills section is the most read part of your CV. And there is good reason for that. Employers want to see evidence that you are not only proficient at doing your current job but also gain an insight into the skills and abilities you may be able to bring to your new role.

But to really stand out among your fellow candidates – especially within the competitive health and social care sectors – you need to work at enhancing the skills you already have and aim to acquire as many elements of the ones needed for the job that you want to be doing.

Many of these skills will be learned on the job and most people will wait until they are actually in that role before acquiring these skills. But speak to any employer and they will tell you that they would prefer a candidate who can hit the ground running sooner rather than someone who needs a honeymoon period to find their feet.

So if you are erring towards a management position, for instance, you can boost your chances of success by developing your management skills by offering to assist your immediate superior, helping with staff training or acting as cover while they are away.

Similarly, the ability to make firm decisions and being active in the decision making process are core requirements for senior positions, as is your knowledge of the latest trends and developments affecting your sector. And if you are not clear what skills your next role will require, look at the job advert or better still, get a copy of the full job description from the human resources department.

Once you have identified the important skills find out what staff development opportunities are provided by your employer and look into any further education courses that are accredited by your relevant professional association that may help you gain the skills you need – many of which can be studied around your existing work commitments.

Wondering what to do now? Check out our expert career advice, find out more about the Healthcare industry or search for the latest Healthcare jobs.