If your dream is to work in hospital administration, you should consider an internship while you are in college. Internships can provide you with important networking connections and show you the realities of working in a hospital. By getting practical experience, you may be able to find a job easier later on.
Growing Opportunities in Hospital Administration
If you are interested in a career that involves hospital administration, starting with an internship can help. Internships show you the real demand for a future job and connect you with potential employers. They are a crucial networking opportunity that can shape your career. The demand for interns is on the rise as more employers look for workers. The U.S. Department of Labor has made changes to internship compensation rules, so more companies are looking for help.
Overall, the entire health industry is growing because of an aging population that needs more medical services. According to Maryville University, non-clinical roles, like administration, are also on the rise and may grow by 16 to 20 percent.
Internship Tasks and Duties
When most people think of internships, they may imagine bringing a boss coffee or filing paperwork. Although these may be some of your duties in a hospital administration office, you will also have other opportunities. You may join meetings to take notes and learn from others. You may organize calls, learn how to use different software programs and interact with staff.
Although your duties may vary, many internships include clerical tasks, such as managing records or updating information online. Customer service is another important part that involves working with others. Hospital administrators have to be able to talk to both patients and clinicians.
Some internships give you the opportunity to do more advanced tasks, such as studying workflows, managing timelines and developing processes. You may be able to attend conferences, review financial reports, compile data and meet with senior leadership. Often, there are specific projects that you can work on that will help the hospital.
Where to Find the Right Hospital Administration Internship
When you are looking for a hospital administration internship, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. However, you should start the search while you are still in college. Reach out to your career development office or professors and ask them for recommendations. Many career departments on college campuses keep an updated list of current internships. They also have career counselors who can help you.
You can also look at popular websites like Internships.com that specialise in connecting people with the right internships. Other sites to explore include Idealist, which features many nonprofit and health jobs, and Health Jobs Start Here, which has a section for internships.
Another option is to look at local hospitals, clinics and other health centers that may need interns. Reach out to their administrative offices and ask about potential opportunities. In addition, consider talking to someone who you know and admire with a job in hospital administration. A personal connection can be one of the easiest ways to find an internship.
How to Get the Internship
Once you have found the perfect hospital administration internship, getting it becomes the next step. Many internships have specific guidelines you must follow to apply, so make sure you read them carefully. In general, you will need to fill out an application and may need to submit a resume and cover letter.
Putting together an internship resume can be tricky since you probably do not have a lot of work experience. Nevertheless, it is possible to create a good document that highlights your talents, experience and skills. First, list your college, major and the courses you are taking that relate to hospital administration. Second, show any volunteer or work experiences you had in the past. Include special skills, like coding or programming, and other talents that show you are valuable.
A cover letter can also be challenging for an internship. You do not want it to be boring, but it has to include important information about you. In general, you want to follow the standard business letter format. First, look at the internship job ad and pick out keywords you can use in the letter. Second, emphasize why you want the internship and how you would excel in it. Third, highlight your talents, skills and experience without going into too much detail because they will see the resume.
The key to both the resume and cover letter is to be specific. You want to give information that is relevant and related to your abilities. Proofreading both documents is crucial, and you may want to get help from the career office at your college. Finally, remember to follow up after sending the paperwork. Some internships notice the follow ups and view them as eager people who they should hire.
