Find a Health Job That's Right for You

What's your work personality? Are you someone who thrives in a team environment, or do you prefer to work alone? Like working in an office? Or would you rather be outside, active and moving around? No matter what your style, with over 200 types of health jobs -- far more than just doctors and nurses -- you're bound to find something that's right for you. Here are a few options:

Health Educator

Are you the first person your friends turn to for advice when they're in trouble? That says a lot about your skills as a communicator: You're probably someone who's good at listening attentively and helping people work through their problems -- without judgment -- which helps you gain their trust. Great communication skills and a strong desire to help people are key traits for health educators, who work at public hospitals or community health organizations, educating people about how to promote healthy living and prevent diseases.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

If you thrive on adrenaline, you may love working as an EMT. But there's more to it than just the rush. You also need to be able to remain cool, calm, and collected in a crisis. EMTs are typically first responders on the scene of an accident or emergency along with police or fire departments, performing CPR, giving oxygen, administering drugs -- often while people's lives hang in the balance. They need to practice good judgment under pressure and communicate quickly and clearly with others on the emergency team. And they have a very real opportunity to save lives.

Medical Transcriptionist

Does the mere thought of blood and guts send you running for the door? That's OK! Jobs in health administration, such as medical transcriptionist, offer a way for detail-oriented people who prefer to work in a quiet, controlled office setting to join the growing health care field. Medical transcriptionists listen to recordings dictated by physicians and process them into documents such as hospital discharge and examination reports. Many medical transcriptionists work as independent contractors from home a plus if you prefer to work solo.

Medical Laboratory Technician

If you like technology, medical laboratory work could be for you. Medical lab workers test and analyze tissues, cells or fluids using microscopes and other equipment to help diagnose or treat a disease. They don't typically work face-to-face with patients (the people who actually draw blood and collect samples are called phlebotomists), but rather work alone in a lab setting behind the scenes. Precision is the name of the game, both for the safety of the lab worker (who may be handling biohazards and dangerous chemicals) and for the health of the patient, whose treatment depends on the lab results' accuracy.

Certified Nursing Aide (CNA)

For some people, nurturing and caring for the sick and injured comes as second nature. For Certified Nursing Aides (CNAs), that instinct is what makes the difference between a job and a rewarding career. CNAs typically work at hospitals or other nursing care facilities, providing around-the-clock care for patients -- serving meals, making beds, taking patients' vital signs and helping them get into and out of bed. For CNAs, "How can I help you?" isn't a question. It's a calling -- and a potential stepping-stone to other careers in health care.