Quick Highlights:
- Health informatics internships are competitive; aim for top grades and relevant coursework.
- Develop skills like data analysis, coding, and teamwork for a strong application.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to each internship, and include an online portfolio.
- Network through university events and professional associations to find opportunities.
- Prepare for interviews using the STAR method and utilize university resources for support.
Table of contents
Landing an internship in health informatics is the first step toward a rewarding career. Using the best application tips can help health informatics students learn how to secure these internships. Since health informatics internships are very competitive, aim for high grades in data science, health information, and behavior science classes. You can also boost your chances by looking for internships that don’t require prior experience. In this article, you’ll learn the best strategies for getting a health informatics internship.
Related:
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- 20 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Health Informatics
- Cutting Edge Tech in Health Informatics
- The Role of Big Data in Health Informatics: Opportunities for Innovation
Understanding Health Informatics Internships
While learning how to get a health informatics internship, it’s important to gain a better understanding of what these internships generally involve and why they’re so important for career development.
Typically, these internships are offered by:
- healthcare IT companies
- hospitals
- public health organizations
If you’ve never worked in the field of health informatics, this type of internship is a good way to gain professional experience. Often, you’ll be able to use your internship to network with people in the industry so that you can get a job after graduation.
Preparation for Applying
Before you can start landing an internship in health informatics, you need to learn about the application process. The application process is a chance for companies to learn more about who you are and what types of skills you can offer. As a result, you should make sure that you have a solid foundation and well-developed skills.
Educational Foundation
If you know where you want to apply for the best health informatics internships, you can take coursework that prepares you for that specific type of role. For example, someone who wants to work in a pharmaceutical setting may want to take additional classes on pharmacy informatics to support their internship application.
Skill Development
When you look at a health informatics internship guide, it will typically recommend that you develop specific skills for working in the field. In general, a health informatics internship will expect some of the following abilities.
- Data analysis
- Interpersonal communication
- Coding
- Leadership skills
- Understanding of how healthcare systems work
- Teamwork abilities
- Analytical skills
- Computer programming
Building a Strong Application
The average health informatics worker makes $82,781 per year according to ZipRecruiter. Unsurprisingly, this level of pay attracts a wide variety of applicants. To stand out from the crowd, you must make sure that your application is truly exceptional.
Resume Tips
Before you turn in your application, read through some of the best resume tips for health informatics internship applications. First, you should try to keep your resume to just a page. Hiring managers often spend only six to seven seconds initially screening each resume. They aren’t going to read through each detail, so you need a resume that is concise and stands out.
Your resume will also likely go through an automated screening program before it reaches a human viewer. Because of this, you should make sure it incorporates keywords and skills that the software program cares about. You can often tell which skills are required by reading the job description for the position.
For entry-level health informatics internships and other jobs in this field, you should also consider using a portfolio to show what you are capable of. Tableau, R, and other tools are used in this industry, so you can differentiate yourself by having a link to your online portfolio of successful projects.
Cover Letter Crafting
One of the best internship application tips health informatics students should use is to craft customized cover letters. You should never use the same cover letter for every position. Each letter should be modified to match the specific internship, and it should illustrate how your academic background perfectly prepares you for the internship role.
Effective Networking Strategies
To succeed in your no experience health informatics internships, you need to spend some time meeting colleagues and working with mentors. Networking for health informatics internships is incredibly important because it is often how people land internships and jobs. You may be able to find internships and job opportunities through:
- university events
- professional associations
- seminars
- online platforms
Acing the Interview
After you’ve found an amazing internship and perfected your resume, the next step is preparing for the interview. Use the STAR method to answer questions. This method involves using a situation, task, action, and result from a real experience when you answer a question. Because people remember stories better than facts, the STAR method is exceptionally good for leaving a lasting impression and conveying your best qualities.
You may be asked some of the following interview questions.
- Why do you want to build a career in health informatics?
- What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered? How have you dealt with them?
- Tell me about a time you struggled to work with someone. How did you manage that working relationship?
- What skills have you developed that will help you work in health informatics?
Utilizing University Resources
When landing an internship in health informatics, try using your university resources. Many schools host job fairs where you can interact with potential employers and find internship opportunities. You can also find opportunities through the university’s career services and alumni networks.
Considerations for Virtual Internships
In recent years, remote internships have become more popular. New technology has made it easier to collaborate from remote locations. This is especially true for a tech-centric field like health informatics.
If you want to apply for and excel at remote health informatics internships, remember the following tips.
- Clarify your role. You won’t be able to ask casual questions at the water cooler, so you need to be proactive about what your role is and how you’re supposed to do it.
- Ask for feedback. People might not provide you with feedback and support unless you explicitly ask them for it.
- Remember to network. Even when you do a virtual internship, you should still use the internship to network with others and prepare yourself for your future career.
- Join the company culture. Many aspects of remote work require a proactive mindset because you won’t feel like you’re part of the company culture unless you make it a point to participate in group chats and one-on-one conversations.
Get Help Finding a Job in Health Informatics
Landing an internship in health informatics is the first step toward a rewarding career. BY reviewing some of these tips and strategies, you can be proactive about building your future. With a great health informatics internship, you can start networking with colleagues and learning what it takes to succeed in the industry.