The job market for radiology techs has been pretty bleak across the country over the past few years, and many technologists are looking for ways to move into other areas of the industry, either for more opportunities, or just a change of pace. The hard thing we find as radiology professionals, holding degrees with titles like “BS in Radiological Sciences,” is many medical and science related fields view our experience as too narrow to take on positions in writing or marketing, or maybe our patient care and imaging experience doesn’t seem to fit with their management or communications positions. As we all know, the experience we gain working in a hospital department on biomedical equipment supplies us with experience in a plethora of areas, but nothing tangible to present at a job interview. Job listings require experience in certain fields, but with no companies offering entry level positions in communications, writing, marketing, and management, how will you gain the experience?
If you’re serious about changing gears in your career, here is some advice on how to gain “real” experience and give you an edge when searching for a promotion, or your next job.
Ways to gain experience you didn’t know were there, at your current job
Depending on your work environment, you may be able to create opportunities to gain experience, that aren’t currently there.
- Offer to create a Facebook/Twitter page, and manage it for your organization (social media and communications experience).
- Offer to create a patient satisfaction committee. You can organize members, create surveys, track progress, hold meetings, give presentations and measure success of the program (management experience).
- Would an employee information or employee safety committee benefit your team? (management experience, employee relations experience)
- What about organizing a volunteer group in your work department? Recruit members, decide on volunteer projects, chose organizations to work with, create schedules, and motivate your team (teamwork and management experience).
- Start a company newsletter for employees, or a customer newsletter for clients. Write articles and recruit writers (writing experience, communications experience).
- Does the employee handbook need rewritten or updated? Is there an employee handbook? Do your medical protocols need rewritten or updated? Would a training manual for new employees be helpful? You can volunteer to create customer information packets, brochures, or press releases. These may be things on your boss’s “to-do” list, and they would welcome your offer to assist with them. Not only does your boss appreciate the help, now you have more experience in writing and communications.
On top of all of that, you can add your role of creating the whole program for your organization to your achievements at the company.
Remember, when offering to do these projects, you don’t want to ask to be compensated for them. The opportunity to gain this experience is the value of the project, and your co-workers will appreciate your motivation and initiative.
Organizations that will give you an opportunity
Non-profit organizations: Yes, volunteering. You would be amazed at how many opportunities for real experience in so many skilled professions, are being given away! Just for your time and willingness to contribute. These are excellent ways to not only build a portfolio, or gain real-world experience, but also add quality, character, and a voice to your resume. Most communities have a volunteer-search page or a city volunteer website. But, if not, search for non-profits and charities in your area that interest you.
A local non-profit in your neighborhood may need:
- writing of public service information to distribute at community outreach activities, writing press releases = professional writing experience, communications experience
- organization of a community outreach activity = project management experience, event planning experience
- design of a new logo, a new website, or an internet application for their cause = website design experience, graphic design experience, computer application development experience
- bookkeeping and funds allocation for their donations = accounting experience, finance experience
- management of local chapter/volunteers to organize and lead, delegate activities, track progress, measure success of initiatives = management experience
- hosting/MC of a local fundraising event = public relations experience
- fundraising and finding sponsors = sales experience
I did a quick search, just in my local area, and here are some examples of volunteer postings I found, perfect for people looking to gain experience or build a portfolio:
- Grant Writer (environmental education and awareness organization) Required Qualifications: “Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise and compelling narrative and numeric text, computer-literate, self-directed with a talent for collaboration and an ability to produce under deadline.”
- Development Coordinator (community assistance and outreach) Description: “provide support for fundraising strategies that generate revenue (including special events), work closely with the Executive Director to coordinate a work plan which helps to ensure the success of the agency’s activities, work with individuals, businesses and charitable foundations to raise awareness of United Ministries, needs and goals, increase the contributions of those individuals and groups by building relationships and exploring new fundraising ideas.” Imagine those skills and achievements on a resume.
- Website Designer (youth education and empowerment organization) Requesting a “creative person to design an innovative website for an innovative project!”
- Business Services Intern (volunteer management organization) This opportunity offers a little bit of everything in terms of experience: “provide administration support for our Business Relations department, gain experience in marketing, communications, customer service, and database management, assist in the creation of marketing collateral for general BVU services and specific programs for the business community and helping to create an external communications plan for business members (including writing articles for a monthly newsletter and other communications material).”
- Public Relations and/or Fundraising (charter school for at-risk youth) “We can use help from addressing envelopes to writing grants or taking pictures or planning fundraisers, the position can be as creative as the volunteer wants- as we have opportunities to help with websites, brochures, fundraising, and more.”
- Website Editing and Computer Networking (charitable farm) If you already know website editing from your own experience, and need outside experience for resume and skills-building, this 100% donation-based farm needs someone “who is proficient in website editing and/or someone who is able to assist us in networking our computers.”
- Project Advisor (youth hostel) Key Responsibilities: “establish and maintain relationships with community youth groups and organizations, facilitate meetings with participating organizations.” Initial Impact: “help foster relationships throughout local community, provide opportunity for cultural exchange.” Benefits: “attend unveiling reception, resume/portfolio building experience, letter of reference upon completion, networking with local community members.”
- Member of Speakers Bureau (food bank) “responsibilities include going out into the community to promote, educate, and spread information about the organization.”
- Communications Outreach Volunteer (after-school and summer programs for youth education) Skills building in: Communications, Social Media, Graphic Design. Required Qualifications: “Enjoy being creative, knowledge of social media, including Facebook, familiarity with the various methods of electronic communication, ability to design invitations, flyers, and other materials.” Main Duties” Assess our current outreach effort and advise on ways to improve outreach, including modifying our Facebook page, designing e-blasts and newsletters, help with project specific efforts, including designing invitations to special events.”
Needless to say, there were countless other postings from organizations eager to find motivated volunteers to help with their efforts. Some organizations prefer some experience in certain areas, but do not require it. Overall, they all state that the most important qualification is a passion for helping the organization.
It’s important to search for an organization you are interested in. Having an invested interest in the goal of the organization will not only enhance your experience, but it will also come across quite positively when you are able to genuinely and enthusiastically describe to your potential employer, the key roles you played and positive changes you made in the organization during your time there.
- Try searching Google for a directory of volunteer postings (www.volunteermatch.org, www.serve.gov, www.dosomething.org).
- Look for local chapters of national organizations, such as the United Way or Red Cross (I searched the Red Cross New York chapter as an examples, look at all the opportunities here)
- Look for professional societies and associations in your area. They are often times looking for volunteers to help with meetings, press releases, social media, fundraising and more. It may not be posted on their site, but there is usually an email or phone contact to inquire about how you can help (your local chapter of SNM, ARRT, ASNC, RAPS, AMWA…).
So will serving as an MC at a fundraising event land you a job as a marketing director at a radiopharm company? No, of course not. Will you get a job in sales because of a six-week stint in fundraising? I don’t think so. But these opportunities do add valuable skills and experience to your resume, and they are there for the taking. If you invest time in making true contributions to these organizations by utilizing valuable skills, that experience will be recognized on your CV. You will also gain valuable references from the organizations you work with. Additionally, you can use work you have created for your professional portfolio.
I used the local Baltimore website for the examples listed above: http://www.volunteercentral.net/index.htm
“A great way to gain skills in an industry is to volunteer. Many employers are looking for employees who have volunteered to gain work experience. Social advocacy, civic and social associations are especially likely to provide “would be” employees with opportunities to volunteer to gain experience.”
Other companies, associations and networking
Offering your work for free to other companies and associations:
Find businesses or professional societies that are in your industry, or an industry of interest. Introduce yourself, let them know what you’re interested in, your current qualifications, and offer ideas of what you may be able to do for them, for free. They may have a company blog that you could write articles for. They may need someone to author an instructional manual for their new product, or someone to assist in a trade show. Be honest, tell them you are looking to build a portfolio or gain experience in a certain field, and be sure to give them the (true) reasons for them to have confidence in your work. Maybe your boss or a colleague can serve as a reference to your work. With a good company and a good worker, it is a win-win situation. Again, you can gain great references, as well as industry contacts (always valuable to have). LinkedIn is a great place to network in this way.
Certification
If you would like to invest the money, adding certifications to your experience is always helpful. Post-graduate degrees, diplomas and certifications are available online from reputable schools. There are also many professional societies that certify members who take a self-study course and then pass a test. Some societies hold 1-3 day workshops yearly that can result in certifications: Project Management, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, specialty exams in your modality (cardiology/PET tests). Many community colleges and extension schools also offer classes that you can take, without enrolling in a diploma or degree program. Just taking a few classes in Marketing or Management can strengthen your resume and exhibit your dedication and motivation in the field. Just be sure to do your research on the organization offering the program/certification. You want to spend your money wisely and be sure you are earning a certification that adds real value to your resume and skill set.
By Jennifer Lilly, CNMT, RT(N)(CT)
Related posts on our blog: Fearing a professional rut, Survey on Radiology Technologist job market blames schools over economy
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Excellent blog, with suggestions and strategies relevant to any field. Thank you.