I work first shift at my job( also in the hospital), but I work 4 days a week- 2/12s, 2/8’s. When I work an 8, I get off at 3 and when I work a 12, I get off at 7pm. I also work every 3rd weekend and 2 holidays a year (my holidays this year are 4th of July and Thanksgiving). I enjoy it so much because I have a good work/life balance, only working 16 shifts a month.
Thanks for sharing! Your schedule seems like a nice balance. I’ve worked with some people who had that schedule, but their days were Friday-Monday every week!
Thank you for this! I'm finishing my MLA program at the end of the month, so it's time to start applying for jobs. This helped a lot! I'm happy to see that you're content with your work schedule and have more time for yourself now. Thank you for being an inspiration!
I have a just completed my MLT program and passed my AMT exam. I have a few interviews lined up, one of which I really want bc it is 100% day shift off by 7. I have 2 other jobs that I really love so where ever I go will have to accept my limited availability. I pray it all works. Interviews start on Monday!
This is such an exciting time for you! Thanks for sharing your experiences in transitioning to the field so far. Good luck on the interviews, I’m sure you will do great!
Love your videos, honesty and willingness to share your experience as a med tech. You are so smart and beautiful and such an inspiration to those of us who are struggling with the material. Your maturity and dedication and hard work are admirable. That you are also an example of balancing life with difficult work and studies is also inspiring. Thank your for sharing :)
@@domilarae I didn't take the MLT exam when I graduated and am scheduled to take it five years later. Epic procrastination. I just started to study and your videos have given me courage to continue. Thank you for the positive encouragement and your study strategies. LabCE is letting me know that there is a lot of work to do in the next 50 days. I have changed jobs a number of times and the adjustment can be difficult. It will get better :). Good luck with your master's program and with your new job.
@Callie-h9o Good luck as you study for your exam! I feel like the study questions from the ASCP BOC book were more similar to the actual exam. quizlet.com/215943915/complete-boc-ascp-prep-flash-cards/
Thank you! The schedule was as bad as it sounds 😂 Evenings are great, especially if you like to sleep in or you need to plan morning appts/obligations before work.
I feel so motivated to go for this career path. It’s cool to see people that look like me going into science 🧬. I have been on the fence but I like technology too! So, do you think this careers allows for skill advancement in tech?
Yes there are opportunities to branch into other things like tech, it just depends on your interests (engineering, programming, tech support, sales, etc).
Does your hospital including your past job offer evenings? Whats your opinion on those shifts since they seem to be an in between? From what I see Night and Evenings Shifts are needed more. Is your Masters for MLS? Ive heard mixed things about getting one.
Yes, the majority of employers in my area offer evenings from 3-11p. Evenings may be a bit better on the sleep schedule, especially if one likes to sleep in. I decided against MS in MLS, but it seems beneficial if you want to move up in management - although I’m sure an MBA or MHA would have the same effect, just broader than lab science.
For students watching this video, PLEASE know 12 hour shifts are much harder to find in the market than 5 8’s. I wish I got a more realistic idea of the schedule in the field before going to school…if I knew the truth I would have gone nursing instead.
@@domilarae oh wow, good to know! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m currently doing an MLS program and I’m looking forward to getting into the lab. Do you think it would be good to get experience as a lab assistant while in school? My program is 12mths long with only 8weeks of clinicals.
Yes! If it fits with your schedule, go for it! You will gain a better understanding of specimen processing and have better knowledge with specimen requirements for testing - all while you gain work experience in the lab.
Thanks for the video. I'm wondering if it's difficult to work with your glasses on. Do you take them off, keep them on, keep them on but cover them, and if you keep them on do they constantly get scratched?
Sometimes I briefly lift my glasses up to look into the microscope. But, other than that, I keep them on or else I can’t see to do my work. I don’t get any scratches or anything. There’s big splash guards and biosafety hoods available that protect your face/glasses, so I don’t feel the need to cover them up with personal equipment.
Thank you for sharing! I wonder can you share what the job market is like rn? I’m a graduate with a life science bsc and completed mls last year, also got ascp mls certified. However I took some time off after my board exams and clinicals for family reasons. It’s a been a couple months and I’m trying to get back into the job market but I can’t even get an interview. I’ve received lots of rejections and it’s not my resume. I wonder if it’s cos IT’s graduation season and the hospitals are giving preferences to their grads and trainees. It’s just draining..
Hi! Maybe it’s the region? In my region, there’s more jobs than graduates but I’ve heard of other regions being highly competitive. Other things I thought of - if you are applying to all shifts/depts or if they are only considering experienced techs. Lastly, the resume just isn’t passing HR screening in order to get an interview
It depends on how the lab does training. Typically 3 weeks, but sometimes it may be shorter or longer. And then, once training is complete you rotate regularly based on the needs of the schedule.
@@domilaraeThank you. One more question, I see American agencies recruiting Medical Laboratory Scientists from Kenya and Philippines for American hospitals, is the shortage that dire?.
I’m currently doing a post bacc in computing. I’m applying to master programs to begin in spring, one is microbiology and the other is data science- I can’t decide between the two 😂
