5 Top Job Skills That Lead To A Bigger Paycheque It goes without saying that advancing in a successful career requires one to possess the requisite skills that will help to position them as valuable assets for employers and organizations. For healthcare professionals, possessing certain in-demand skills often translates into a salary jump, particularly in the face of the rising demand and rapidly changing healthcare industry. Here are 5 job skills that may set you up for a more lucrative and fulfilling employment in the healthcare sector: 1. Advanced and Specialized Skills There is no question that formal certification and academic qualification are important determinants in career advancement. After all, healthcare professionals are expected to have a certain level of competency in order to be promoted in a specialized disciplines. Medical practitioners for instance, embark on various fellowship programs to specialize in a particular division of medicine. Pharmacists in Singapore who aspire to excel in the clinical division are going through the same path by acquiring specialist accreditation through residency programs. Nurses on the other hand, can pursue post-graduate qualification either in the clinical, management or educational track. 2. Management Skills Moving up the career ladder in the healthcare industry often signifies the fading boundaries between administrative and medical management. Being in touch with clinical roles aside, senior positions require one to possess skills in managing people, budgets, and projects. Truth is, the healthcare industry is akin to a business. As such, employers treasure personnel who can increase organisational effectiveness, improve cost control, and maximise resources utilisation. Management skills however, are not entirely intuitive. For many healthcare professionals, an MBA or management trainings are often considered the ticket to stay ahead of the game. 3. Network, Influence and Interpersonal Skills Opportunities will not come knocking if one merely takes a back seat and waits to get noticed. Effective healthcare leaders stay engaged with key stakeholders from different levels of their institutions and they strive to understand the people within the healthcare business. Outside work institutions, being part of a professional organization for instance, serves as an excellent way to build network with people in related fields and gain influence. Finally, mastering the art of self-promotion, albeit in a subtle and humble manner, is as important in creating opportunities for oneself as it is in negotiating a pay rise! 4. IT Skills Healthcare systems around the world have experienced robust evolution with the advent of technology. Healthcare professionals with advanced IT skills in niche areas such as medical informatics are highly sought after in some countries. In America for instance, clinical informatics is now a recognized subspecialty for doctors. IT skills are also a prerequisite for many healthcare professionals involved in research projects and system development. 5. Entrepreneurial Skills Finally, for those who want to write a big paycheque for themselves, entrepreneurial skills are almost indispensable. Healthcare professionals with dreams of setting up their own practices would need to leverage on their business acumen to ensure that they stay at the forefront in the competitive market. Aspiring entrepreneurs in the healthcare industry need to be able to make things happen by seeking opportunities and forging strategy in risk management and decision making. Regardless of your line of work, identifying in-demand skills and mastering them is the first stepping stone to earning a pay rise. Of course, if you are already an expert in those skills, don’t forget to let your employers know about them! Source
