How to get your foot in the door of the health industry

**This is an updated post**

It's a booming industry full of diverse and varied career paths. But how do you get started in the health industry? Professional wellness expert, Renée Leonard-Stainton, explores 5 ways to get your foot in the door of this growing industry.

While doing your downward dog, do you often fantasise about leaving your corporate desk job? Do you spend all of your spare change (and time!) devouring wellness books, researching the latest health trends and scrolling blogs to keep an eye on the latest health products and services? 

Perhaps the time has come to listen to one of your much-loved motivational quotes and begin exploring a career in the health and wellness industry. 

Here are 5 tips on how to get your foot in the door of the booming health industry.  

1.    Explore study options 

There are so many different career paths you can take in the health industry, so it’s important to fully explore your options and ensure you take the right course to fit with your end goals and, more practically, with your current life situation. 

For example, it may not be feasible at this stage of your life to quit your corporate desk job just yet (have patience, the time will come!). 

If this is the case, then online study could be the perfect fit for you. It gives you the flexibility and freedom to study whenever and wherever you want, while allowing you to fit your study time around your life’s other commitments.  

Another thing to remember is that there is more than one way into the health industry. Don’t rule out a business course as a way into the industry. After all, these wonderful health businesses need someone to steer the ship! 

2.    Network

Make it your mission to meet as many people in your local health industry as possible. Sign up for talks, seminars, expos, events, festivals...and talk, talk, talk. 

Ask questions, share ideas, share contact details and keep in touch. You never know when your paths will cross in the future and how you may be of use to each other.

The wellness industry relies heavily on word of mouth and in clinical practice situations, cross referrals. Networking with established industry people can also open the door of opportunity for work experience.

3.    Volunteer

Once you’ve met people in your preferred path, offer to assist them with their business. This may be volunteering your services for a paid position or simply volunteering your time in return for their teachings and guidance about the industry. 

These teachings will most likely be by way of your own observations, but spending time in the field is vital to then carve out your own successful space in the health and wellness industry. Don’t be afraid to intern for a short while to learn or master a necessary skill. It’s also a quick way to “test” your new career before deciding on whether you want to make a switch for good.

4.    Get active on social media

If you want to market yourself as a health expert, or your business and services, a social media presence is vital for success. 

Take a look at examples of inspiring health experts, doing a sensational job on social media here.

Even if you haven’t yet established your business, it’s important to get active on social media and learn how it is used for business. Start following those that inspire you (and might give you ideas for your own business!) and most importantly, start spotting where there are gaps in the market that you or your idea/business may be able to help fill.                            

5.    Learn from Leaders

Determine what specialty you’re most passionate about and devote time to learning from industry leaders as much as you can. Subscribe to their newsletters, follow their feeds, visit their practices and, where possible, attend their events. 

Above all, go for it with confidence! The health and wellness industry offers such varied and exciting career options from Nursing, to Dental to Allied Health. Have patience and be persistent, and who knows, you may be penning your own wellness book or treating your own clients before you know it! 

6. Study a health course to gain a nationally recognised qualification 

Open Colleges offers a number of health courses. Some are delivered exclusively online, and others offer a blended style of learning which combines online study with on-campus training.  

You can find out more about our large range of health courses here.  

Enrol today and find out just where a career in the health industry could take you.