As a healthcare professional, you can benefit immensely from building your professional network. Since healthcare is an ever-evolving field, it’s important to keep up with new trends, and you can do this through networking and building your skill set. Your network will also provide you support – both professionally and personally – since healthcare can be a demanding field. Given all the benefits of professional networking, how can you get started?

To build your web of professional contacts, just follow these tips:

Join a professional organization in your industry. Groups such as the AAPC or American Nurses Association offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to attend conferences and other events. Membership provides online access to scholarly articles, career services and more.

Do: Search for a professional organization that offers adequate opportunities for networking, as well as other membership perks.

Don’t: Join without checking with your employer. Depending on the practice, your employer may already have a membership you can utilize at no charge.

Reach out on social media. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn give you the chance to establish yourself as an expert in your field while you interact with healthcare professionals and recruiters all over the world.

Do: Join industry-related groups on LinkedIn, and post your own authored articles. This will give you the chance to show the world what you know.

Don’t: Post personal information on LinkedIn or act anything other than professional on any social media site. Remember—the world is watching!

Attend local healthcare job fairs and college-sponsored events. Check your local chamber of commerce and area colleges to learn about job fairs in your area. These can be a great opportunity to meet hiring managers and get your name out there.

Do: Bring multiple copies of your resume and attend ready to talk about yourself.

Don’t: Arrive underdressed. It’s always smart to wear business attire; plus when you look good, it can help boost your confidence.

Get chatty with your colleagues. You never know who may know someone who’s hiring or of an open position that’s perfect for you. Maintain good relations with your co-workers and members of other departments. Ask for recommendations for reputable recruiters to work with, or facilities to consider working for.

Do: Keep in touch with co-workers even after you leave a position.

Don’t: Burn bridges. Even if you didn’t get along great with someone, always try to keep it professional. You never know when you might meet up with them down the road.

Contact your alma mater. Your college may offer career services you can take advantage of. It can’t hurt to contact the career development office and find out how they help past graduates.

Do: Contact a few departments if you can’t immediately find what you’re looking for.

Don’t: Get discouraged. Sometimes it takes a few phone transfers to reach the right person.

It’s worth your effort

Networking is an endeavor you drive yourself—no one will do it for you. But by establishing multiple professional contacts in your industry, you’ll increase your chances of finding a position you find both rewarding and exciting, helping you strengthen your healthcare resume.

Find your next placement with Team1Medical

We work with healthcare professionals for looking for great healthcare job opportunities in the Gulf Coast region. To learn more about our medical staffing services, contact one of our experienced recruiters today.