How To Apply For Hospital Jobs

Hospitals hire a variety of workers, from doctors and nurses to gift shop cashiers, custodians, office workers and security personnel. As America's health care needs expand, so do employment opportunities in hospitals. In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 6.6 million workers in the United States were employed by hospitals.

Because of the wide range of jobs available in hospitals, you can apply for positions whether you are entry-level, midcareer or nearing retirement. You can even find jobs in a hospital without a degree.

Consider Volunteering

Becoming a hospital volunteer can you learn more about a hospital in your area before applying for a job. Although volunteering at a hospital does not guarantee future employment, you can network and find out valuable information about a hospital's workplace culture, technology, patient care practices and key leadership, which may help you decide which hospitals to consider in pursuing a career.

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Update Your Resume

Prepare your resume. You may be required to attach it to your hospital application, depending on the position for which you apply. Your resume should include your relevant degree or certificate information, health care experience and education. If you are applying for a licensed position, such as an allied health position, nurse or doctor, include your license number, the state in which you earned it and the license's expiration date.

Search for Job Openings

Browse hospital human resource websites for job openings. To increase your chances of being called for an interview, read job opening descriptions closely to ensure that you meet the criteria, especially if you are applying for a job as a licensed health care worker. For example, job qualification criteria for a hospital department administrative assistant may be more flexible than the criteria for a licensed physical therapist position.

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You also may wish to call the hospital human resources office to confirm a position's availability before applying. Browse Veterans Administration and other government run hospital vacancies on USAjobs.gov, the federal government's official job website.

Submit Online Application

Complete the online hospital job application form. Hospitals use a variety of job application software types, so expect to spend time learning the particulars of each system as you apply. Some applications may allow you to attach a resume, and its contents may auto-populate into the job application fields, depending on the software.

Although a less common approach, you may apply for hospital jobs in person at the hospital's human resources office if permitted. Many hospitals have employment portals that you can access for periodic updates on the status of your application in the hiring process.

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Attend a Job Fair

Alternately, drop off your resume or fill out applications at hospital job fairs. Hospitals sometimes have large recruitment events on site or at off-site locations such as hotels and convention centers. Take multiple copies of your resume and be prepared to interview with hospital human resources staffers on the spot if requested.

Dress professionally and put your best foot forward. One of the easiest ways to to get a job in a hospital is to make a great impression at a job fair when the hospital is experiencing a staffing shortage. Information on free virtual career fairs can be found on the Health Workforce Connector website.

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