How to Get a Job as a Medical Assistant in 2021

Are you keen on health and wellness? Do you enjoy helping others? If so, consider becoming a medical assistant. Medical assistants are the lifeblood of any doctor’s office. The need for medical assistants is growing quickly; baby boomers are living longer and going to the doctor more frequently, which means more physicians’ offices are opening up. If the medical field is fascinating to you and you want to make a difference in the lives of others, this may be just the job for you! The most valuable medical assistants have great attention to detail and critical thinking skills.  Download JobFlare today and prove to employers that you’ve got what it takes to succeed!

As a medical assistant, you’re a jack-of-all-trades because you’ve got both clerical and clinical responsibilities. While duties vary based on the size and location of the practice you work for, medical assistants typically work at the front desk and help get patients settled while they wait for their doctors. On the administrative side, you’ll be answering phone calls, scheduling patient appointments, greeting patients, helping them with their paperwork, filing insurance forms, and handling the billing and bookkeeping at the office. Your clinical duties can include recording medical histories, explaining procedures and treatments, collecting samples for labs, drawing blood, authorizing prescription refills, taking patient vitals and weight, and assisting physicians during medical examples and procedures.

Each office may do things a bit differently, so you could wind up in either a clinical or clerical heavy role, or it could be an even blend.  It’s great to ask your interviewer what the expected responsibilities of the role will be in their office.  Medical assistants can work in hospitals, private practices, clinics, or even on ambulances.  There isn’t a city in the US that doesn’t have a doctor’s office, so you have the option to live anywhere you want.

Landing that first medical assistant job can open the door to lots of other exciting career paths. It’s a good way to get firsthand knowledge of what being a nurse is like before making the commitment to hitting the books at nursing school. It’s also a great stepping stone towards a health management position.

Medical Assistant

US Median Salary
$31,540/year or $15.17/hour

Education Requirements
High School Diploma or GED
Certification or Licenses from AAMA-accredited programs can give you a leg up on other candidates and provide networking and externship opportunities, but not all states require them.
CPR, AED, and First Aid Training Certification
Phlebotomy Certification is highly desirable

Robot Risk Rating
Automation Risk Robot
30%

LOW AUTOMATION RISK

(Source: Will Robots Take My Job)

You'd be great for this position if...

– You’re nurturing
– You’re not squeamish
– You’re very organized
– You’re compassionate
– You’re outgoing
– People open up to you easily

Robot Risk Rating
Automation Risk Robot
30%

LOW AUTOMATION RISK

(Source: Will Robots Take My Job)

You'd be great for this position if...

– You’re nurturing
– You’re not squeamish
– You’re very organized
– You’re compassionate
– You’re outgoing
– People open up to you easily

Resume Tips for Medical Assistants

To have a successful career as a medical assistant, there are certain skills that hiring managers know to look for. Take inventory of these important qualities and emphasize them in your resume:

  • Attention to detail
  • Multitasking abilities
  • Team-oriented
  • Problem solving capabilities
  • Highly adaptable
  • Able to stay calm during stressful situations
  • Active listening skills
  • Fast learner
  • Familiarity with medical terminology
  • Excellent communication skills

If you don’t have much on-the-job experience, include things like…

  • Any past experience with documentation and information record keeping
  • Experience working as a clerk, receptionist or administrative assistant
  • Internships, externships or job-shadowing at a doctor’s office or hospital
  • Involvement in the American Association of Medical Assistants (or better yet, get AAMA certified!)
  • Working knowledge of electronic health record systems, like MediTouch or PrognoCIS
  • Experience with medical billing and coding
  • Volunteer work (especially at blood drives or children’s hospitals like Saint Jude)

If you’re still feeling stuck on what skills to list in your resume, check the job description! Hiring managers list the key qualities they’re looking for, so you can score serious points for including them.

Interview Pointers for Medical Assistants

Prior to your interview, be sure to think of examples of personal experience applicable to the role:

  • Describe a time when your organizational skills helped you solve a problem or challenge at work.
  • Explain how you handle difficult or stressful situations.
  • Discuss a time when you had a very difficult customer and how you were able deal with it to resolve the issue.
  • Talk about how you have persevered or stuck with a project and completed it, even if you found it to be tedious. What did you gain from this experience?

Be prepared to answer questions like:

  • Why do you want to become a medical assistant?
  • How do you handle the pressures of a fast-paced environment?
  • What would you do if a patient suddenly passed out or was unruly or frightened?

Trouble finding Medical Assistant jobs to apply for? Try searching for these jobs as well!

Medical Receptionist • Dental Assistants • Medical Records & Health Information Technicians • Occupational Therapy Assistants • Home Health Aides • Nursing Assistants • Orderlies • Pharmacy Technicians
Famous Former Medical Assistants
Albert Schweitzer
Winner of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize
Debbie Rowe
Ex-Wife of Michael Jackson
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