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Not Being Hired Because of Lack of Experience?

Here is The Lack of Experience Dilemma So Many Face:

Most employers want one to two years of experience when they hire new staff; call it a catch-22! It's like a hamster running round and round in its wheel getting nowhere. Many face this dilemma right after graduating from vocational training school and wind up asking us: how can I get hired if employers are asking for 1-2 years of experience, but won't give me a chance.

"I've been looking for a job for months without luck!"
  No one wants to give me a chance without prior experience, or certification.

There are plenty of medical coding and medical billing jobs are out there! Some come and close quickly, however, most employers want someone with experience. Why? Because hiring someone without experience can cost them lots of money. They want to make sure you have the training and qualifications required for the position and also want to know what you can do for their business before they are ready to "do" for you.

Here is the answer:
When you are applying for a position and are asked about your prior work experience, don't automoatically assume that this pertains to ONLY medical coding and billing experience. Don't forget that the skills you have from any other previous jobs, volunteer work, related course work, vocational training and extracurricular activities can be just as impressive and also counts as experience. Your vocational training, interests, volunteer work and prior related skills should be your top focus and highlighted in the resume and during interview. These related skills are your "ace in the hole", especially when this is going to be your first medical coding and billing job and you need a foot in the door.

Overcoming the Lack of Experience Trap

Finding work requires skills! Employers that offer medical coding positions expect medical coding job experience. This means, you MUST highlighted all related experience in the resume.  Employers want to hire the right people for their needs. It is not lack of work but lack of experience that holds people back. The moment you have achieved your medical coding diploma, you need to plan your career goals and carefully plot out your resume.

As Linda Walker of PMRNC puts it so well:
"What you lack in experience MUST be made up with knowledge!"

Inform yourself about...

• lack of experience
• lack of work
• experienced coder
• professional certification
• top jobs
• professional jobs

Remember: best qualified for the job doesn't always mean top skills, experience, and education alone! Employers are also looking for professionalism, motivation, a passion for excellence, and a dedication to continuous learning. To most employers good grades, certification, and professional memberships indicate that the applicant is searious, motivated, and goal-oriented.

Getting Your Foot into the Door

You need to get your foot in the door of your 1st job somehow, even if it means starting at a lower level than originally hoped! This does not mean you have to start at the very bottom and sweep floors, but you shouldn't automatically reject a job other than what you went to school, or applied for. This could be a position in records, the front desk as a billing clerk, or coding assistant to expose yourself to the medical coding environment. When a better position opens, you are more likely to get hired, not only in-house, but also elsewhere, especially if the present employer gives you a letter of recommendation.

Writing Your Resume

Critically examine your resume! Is it written in a way that it speaks to the employer? If you don't have the experience that you need right now, then be innovative in your approach. Employers want to know what YOU can bring to the table. So, emphasize related experiences, who you have worked for, in what capacity, and stress your professionalism, dependability, good ethics, and passion for the profession.

As the Career Mag Staff Editor put it so well:

Posted by: Staff Editor

For those business professionals looking to enter a new career, this article has some helpful tips.  Keep in mind that you may not be right out of college but have been in the workplace for several years and are now going in a different direction, so when you go out to interview or apply for a job in an industry you have little experience in be prepared to face some set backs (ie. lower salary and less benefits).  When you write your resume be sure to state a clear objective of what skills you bring to the particular position.  Try changing your objective on your resume for each job you apply to.  Match your skills with the required skills of the position you're applying to and employers will see you as the perfect fit.  

Career Mag Article: 3 Steps for Overcoming Lack of Experience