Why is it so hard to transition out of healthcare?
Spending years on the medical track leaves people completely unaware of what other career options even exist. Attempts to escape the low pay and physical strain by applying to remote jobs or lateral hospital tech roles often end in constant rejection. This traps them in stressful situations where they feel lost, afraid to spend any more money on educational certifications that won't actually help them get hired.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Applying for remote and contract positions on job boardsDid this help you?
- 2Considering dropping out of a specialized radiation therapy associate program for immediate stable workDid this help you?
- 3Applying to internal and external hospital positions like EKG, lab, or pharmacy techDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Being postpartum has made my feelings toward my job so much worse. I’ve been experiencing terrible anxiety and depression just thinking about returning to work, and I honestly feel so lost right now.”source ↗
“I’m currently making around $20–30k a year 😭😭, and I just want to be able to provide a better life for my child as soon as possible.”source ↗
“I’ve already applied to different positions, including EKG tech, pharmacy tech, customer service line, and lab tech, both within my current hospital and at other hospitals, with no luck so far. I’ve also applied to remote and contract positions through LinkedIn, but haven’t had any success there either.”source ↗
“I just don’t want to keep spending money on certifications or education that won’t actually help me get hired.”source ↗
“I have come to realize (very quickly) that healthcare is not for me. At all. I am looking at changing my major and put myself on a new course.”source ↗
“I feel like I’ve been on the healthcare track so long I don’t even know what my other options are.”source ↗
“I just want to get out of healthcare. I want greater earning potential and less strain on my body.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 5How to make good money without a degree
- 4How to change careers without taking a pay cut
- 12Can I get an accounting job with an unrelated degree?
- 9Can you switch accounting service lines before starting your job?
- 6Is switching to teaching worth it later in life?
- 12Accounts receivable vs bank teller for a finance degree?