Career Change Blues.

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So like many Americans these days I currently find myself unemployed and coming to terms that it is time for a career change. I am 29 years old and have been a certified massage therapist for almost 10 years (no license because I live in PA, but they have changed that since and I'm pursuing it) and I have been a supervisor for the past 5 years at a pharmaceutical packaging plant. I just learned in early June that our plant would be officially closing in November and my severance date is in Sept.

I have always wanted to further pursue a career in health care beyond massage therapy, but money, working full time, and just plain being a scaredy cat has always held me back. Now with all that's happening I feel it's time to bite it in the butt and go for it. My first plan is to become a CNA. I feel this will enable me to get my feet wet in a true health care setting and this way if it's truly not for me I didn't waste money and my sanity going through nursing school. I called my local community colleges only to find that Fall is all booked and Spring already has a long waiting list so that option was out for now. My one friend then told me that the one hospital had a CNA training program being offered. I went and applied and filled out a psych survey, went to a 1hr orientation, 2hr assessment test (which I passed 1st time were as a majority fail) and took a hospital tour along with an interview. Everything was going great and I was sure with my strong team work and supervisor background as well as being a massage therapist I would get in. Well needless to say I got a rejection E-mail. I was upset because I really didn't understand why I was rejected because it was an entry level program. Especially since the friend who told me about it got accepted and she only had her GED, only ever worked at Wendy's AND failed the one assessment test! I wanted to call HR (who was faceless for 99.9% of the time) and complain but, that is childish and wouldn't look good on my part. It just irked me a lot.

I called other hospitals and nursing homes to see what they offered only to be put through to countless people who don't know anything, told to go on the website and apply or have been told nothing at all because I guess people are too busy to pick up a phone.

I did enroll in an online medical terminology class through my community college and I'm also getting my BLS certificate. I figure doing that will give me a leg up in getting into an entry level CNA position. Is there anything else I can do to help my situation? I guess I should mention that I live in the Lehigh Valley in PA in case anyone on here lives there too and would know first hand what hospitals are looking for.

Oh and I know schooling would be the best bet but my UC benefits are running out and I need to work full time. I know if push comes to shove I will enroll come spring, but I would like to get in at a hospital because not only will I get training but I will be getting paid for it as well as getting a job right after.

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You were probably seen as overqualified.

I got that once, I was actually told that they look for people who DO NOT have experience that would make them able to take on much responsibility. Your supervisory experience is what blew it for you. I know some people will feel insulted now that I've put this out there, but it is what it is. This is how it was explained to me. You would have done better to say little, and play down your experience during an interview, or, not mention it at all. CNA/tech jobs are considered worker-bee. In the overall workings that HR goes by, you would not make a good worker-bee.

Many facilities look at RN first jobs this way as well. You are best not to appear that you have a shred of experience to bring to them. This is seen not as an asset, but as a threat to many of your supervisors who, very well do not possess the qualifications for management that you have. They "might" have nursing experience, and this you don't have.

I hear more and more about how in order to get a job these days, one that might technically be "beneath" you, you must edit your resume to show that you are a better "fit" for the job. You, probably could not get a job at Starbucks, or Target at this point unless you deleted half your resume.

I am quite serious. Also when you get those psych exams, never answer any question without putting on a different personality first. You must dumb it down, and never answer in a way that you might be construed as a "leader". Never answer that you are someone that people "often go to for help".

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Great reply 2ndwind... I could not have put it better.

Original poster, as a CNA you do not lead... you follow the orders of a licensed or registered nurse and in fact operate under their license so your actions can result in them losing their licensing. This is why they seek sheep not shepherds.

When you become a nurse, you can put on your leadership hat but right now it's a detriment not a benefit.

Best of luck

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Some community colleges in Massachusetts that have nursing programs are also offering CNA programs, e.g. Middlesex Community College. I'm not sure if that's the case in PA, but do some research to see what you uncover. You may also want to visit your local Red Cross web site to see if they offer the CNA program. It is offered through the Boston Red Cross. Good luck with your search. Don't give up!

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

Are you interested in EMS at all? You may still have time to register for an EMT-B course this fall. It is one semester, and you'll have time to simultaneously work any old retail job. After the course, you'll be qualified to work as a ER Tech. This is what I did in nursing school, it was good experience and a resume booster. To increase the likelihood of getting a job as an ER Tech, really shine and network (kiss orifice) during your ER rotations in the EMS cirriculum. Just another avenue to consider. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Psych.
You were probably seen as overqualified.

I got that once, I was actually told that they look for people who DO NOT have experience that would make them able to take on much responsibility. Your supervisory experience is what blew it for you. I know some people will feel insulted now that I've put this out there, but it is what it is. This is how it was explained to me. You would have done better to say little, and play down your experience during an interview, or, not mention it at all. CNA/tech jobs are considered worker-bee. In the overall workings that HR goes by, you would not make a good worker-bee.

Many facilities look at RN first jobs this way as well. You are best not to appear that you have a shred of experience to bring to them. This is seen not as an asset, but as a threat to many of your supervisors who, very well do not possess the qualifications for management that you have. They "might" have nursing experience, and this you don't have.

I hear more and more about how in order to get a job these days, one that might technically be "beneath" you, you must edit your resume to show that you are a better "fit" for the job. You, probably could not get a job at Starbucks, or Target at this point unless you deleted half your resume.

I am quite serious. Also when you get those psych exams, never answer any question without putting on a different personality first. You must dumb it down, and never answer in a way that you might be construed as a "leader". Never answer that you are someone that people "often go to for help".

I know "I" don't feel insulted. In fact, I had started to wonder if all the stuff from my former career, the stuff that had always helped me land EVERY job I had ever applied for in the past, might now be working against me somehow. I haven't been quite sure just what to DO with this info otherwise, because I don't want to look like I haven't done anything else all these years or that I'm trying to 'hide' something. I'm very glad you brought this up...so thank you and also the other person who chimed in. I'm going to have to give this some thought.

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Thank you all for your answers and great advice. Especially 2ndwind!

I guess it didn't occur to me that I would be overqualified. The only reason I emphasized my supervisor position is because I did work under high stress situations and I had to make snap decisions as well as do loads and loads of paperwork and report back to my superiors. I figured that would fit right in with being a CNA because from what I've heard CNA's deal with a lot of stress (rude patients, family, other staff, etc) need to make snap decisions (you're in a room and the patient goes into cardiac arrest or has a seizure) and depending on were you work lots of paperwork. Plus the interviewer asked me questions related to those instances.

I can definitely see how they wouldn't want someone with supervisory experience. They probably figure I would just go in and start bossing everyone around. To be honest I hated being a supervisor and would rather be supervised. This past January I stepped down from the position because the training was crappy and I was constantly laid off due to other sups having more seniority than me. I went back to being a line associate which is just standing on a line and putting stuff in a box and checking for visual defects. So yes, I can definitely dumb down my resume by a lot. I also applied for volunteer work at my hospitals local ambulatory surgical center so I hope that helps some too.

My career as a massage therapist has been a very peaceful non stress job. The only issue I've ever had were creepy guys who didn't realize that the massage was legitimate and I had to throw them out. I have also worked with clients that had varying ailments such as HIV, cancer and fibromyalgia and some with mental health issues as well. My main concern is they'll think as a CNA I'll just start randomly massaging a patient or worse that I'm some new age nut job that won't take 'Western' medicine seriously. Plus being self employed and working under the table is hard to prove. I have names and numbers of my clients who said they would be happy to reference me but, hospitals would probably just assume they're my friends or family.

I know the CNA role is a grunt role so to speak and I wouldn't be a leader there. It's perfectly fine with me. I would NEVER step on anyone's toes or try to take over a situation because that is unprofessional and I hated when it was done to me. It's too bad the hospitals can't see that.

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I know "I" don't feel insulted. In fact, I had started to wonder if all the stuff from my former career, the stuff that had always helped me land EVERY job I had ever applied for in the past, might now be working against me somehow. I haven't been quite sure just what to DO with this info otherwise, because I don't want to look like I haven't done anything else all these years or that I'm trying to 'hide' something. I'm very glad you brought this up...so thank you and also the other person who chimed in. I'm going to have to give this some thought.

Yes, that is exactly why I used my supervisory experience in the first place! At every single job I've had I was promoted into management position and it has always helped me land my next job. I figured hospitals would want to see someone who is go getter, able to work in a face paced high stress environment, a great team worker and one who can make snap decisions. That's why I emphasized it so much on my interviews. It just seemed to fit.

I know how you feel about not wanting to hide something. I'm proud of all my promotions. Especially with my old job. I never set foot in a factory before then and within 4 years I was promoted 3 times. I just don't want them to think I sat around and did nothing as well.

Another thing that confused me as well was at the orientation the HR rep said they were looking for people who wanted to advance their careers and not just sit and be a CNA (or any nurse support position) forever. So again I thought showing that I was promoted a lot would show that I'm a go getter.

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Great reply 2ndwind... I could not have put it better.

Original poster, as a CNA you do not lead... you follow the orders of a licensed or registered nurse and in fact operate under their license so your actions can result in them losing their licensing. This is why they seek sheep not shepherds.

When you become a nurse, you can put on your leadership hat but right now it's a detriment not a benefit.

Best of luck

I may be wrong, but I've never known CNA's to work under the license of a RN or LPN... at least in my state, CNA's are required to be Certified (hence the C in CNA) by the state board of nursing, and are authorized to perform the tasks that they are qualified to do, as determined by their state and facility. Many CNAs maintain their own (as they, the CNA, can be held liable for their actions/inactions, not the RN/LPN).

Certainly, nursing students work under the license of a RN/LPN (their clinical instructor/preceptor/etc), which may be what you're thinking of. Can anyone else clarify/confirm? :confused:

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Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

If your getting laid off; you might be in line a school grant to get your LPN or RN.

Been there; it's tough to take.

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