When it comes to deciding the correct path to take on your journey to a career in healthcare, I often hear students asking, “what do I need to do, to be prepared?”
While many times, the path you take – along with the path others take – may appear as a concrete, or linear path, with objective steps, guiding you perfectly into your destination of choice. The reality is, this is often not the case.
What helps us arrive at our final destination is perhaps not the objective steps, but the experiences we chose to be a part of, shaping our lens for the path ahead of us.
Sure, there are necessary steps to take:
Register for required courses for admission into a specific graduate program.
Obtain shadowing experiences or patient contact hours if you hope to work in a clinical setting.
Boost your resume with volunteer and leadership opportunities to highlight your flexibility.
However, you are not limited to so-called ‘traditional pathways.’ If anything, pair the necessary steps with new and exciting opportunities that challenge the way you think about the world!
Suggestions for Exploring:
Try something you may not think is tailored to a career in healthcare like: Story +
Investigating something new may reinvigorate an old passion or spark your interest in a new opportunity.
Enjoy one of the many opportunities made available to you as a Duke student through Duke Summer Experiences
Meet Blue Devils who have come before you and are currently where you hope to go:
Conduct informational interviews with professionals in careers you are exploring using the Duke Alumni Directory, LinkedIn, the Networking Guide, DEMAN. Connecting with others and learning their story can sometimes provide insight into your own path.
For more resources and info about the “Explore Options” part of the Career Development Process, visit the Explore Options landing page.
