Medical assistants are the glue that hold a hospital floor or physician's office together. Medical assistants juggle their dual responsibilities of making patients feel comfortable and keeping doctors organized. You can start medical assistant jobs right out of high school and enjoy a rewarding career with education and advancement opportunities.
If you're highly organized and like working with people, you'll be the ideal candidate for medical assistant jobs. You'll be the first face a patient sees, checking them in, taking their blood pressure and other vitals, and making sure their medical history is complete before the physician comes in. Behind the scenes, you'll work with medical records, schedule appointments and procedures, and keep supplies stocked. And your skills will be in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the medical assisting field will grow by 19% over the next 10 years.
If this kind of healthcare support job is appealing to you, you may also want to consider broadening your search to include these similar positions:
Before becoming a medical assistant, it's a good idea to hone your organizational and communication skills. You can complete a one-year certificate course or pursue an associate degree to expand your job opportunities. Continuing your education can lead to increased responsibility and higher pay as you take classes and become credentialed as an RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) or a CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant).
Get more insight into what it takes to become a medical assistant. Then, take a look at this Monster job description to see what employers are looking for in candidates.
Highlighting your education, experience, and skills in an organized resume and cover letter will grab employers' attention. We've put together a sample medical assistant resume and cover letter to inspire you and give you simple writing instructions that will help you put your best foot forward.
Wouldn't you love to know what potential employers will ask when they interview you? We've got some ideas. Check out this list of potential questions for a typical medical assistant job interview that include:
Go into that interview with a good idea of what a medical assistant position pays. According to Monster, the median pay for a medical assistant is $15.63 per hour. Salaries may vary in different parts of the country. Find out what you can expect to earn in your area with our Monster Salary Tool. You'll also learn about potential next steps in your medical assisting career.
Are you ready to start your search? Take a look at the medical assistant jobs on this page. And be sure to create a profile on Monster—you'll get custom job alerts, career advice sent right to your inbox, and much more.