Anonymous asked: Hi, I'm a first year medlabsci student and I'm just curious how you got the job you did? Did you get hired on after clinicals or did you have to apply for lots of jobs? Do you work in Ontario?

Hello!

I did get my job after clinicals (not in ON), but it was kind of a mad scramble because you have to remember there are a ton of other people in your class applying for the same jobs as you. It will, of course, depend on the timing (2 years before me, managers from around the province were practically tripping over themselves trying to give you their business card and begging you to work for them because there was such a huge job vacuum, for instance) and where you want to work. I just applied for about 13 jobs before I got a call back, but it would have been a lot easier if I had also applied for all the temporary positions that were floating around. There’s something in the water or something because there are always pregnant people in the lab and chances are your first job will be covering somebody’s maternity leave.

Just keep in mind that your first job will probably not be the one you stay at, but never scoff at an opportunity because people in the field tend to stay more or less in the field and gathering experience is very important. Also, take the international licensing exams even if you don’t feel like you want to work in the states or wherever because you never know where you will be in five years and it is way easier than studying all over again. 

(A hint: The US has a little more leeway in their employment and several positions were made specifically for my classmates who coldcalled them when there were no positions posted)