Tips for a Long and Fruitful Career in Gerontology

Due to the shifting of generations, the baby boomer’s population is quickly beginning to fill the need for medical professionals in the field of gerontology. What has been forecasted and is now here is an increasing disparity between the number of actual and potential patients in the older demographics and the availability of medical professionals able to staff the wide breadth of various medical positions that make up the collective field of geriatric medicine. As such the field of gerontology is one of the fastest growing sectors for employment in the United States.

For any person considering a career change or the first few steps onto the path of medical professional then geriatrics is one that should be given consideration. The following are some tips for a long and fruitful career in gerontology.

What is Gerontology?

Sometimes confused with geriatric care, gerontology is the consideration and study of human aging and the contributing, multidimensional factors that contribute to aging. Geriatrics tends to focus more on the medical diagnosis and treatment of age-related symptoms, while gerontology takes a much broader approach, almost holistic, by considering aging from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Gerontologists look at genetic, sociological, medical, and psychological factors.

Divided into two major camps, gerontology is studied as social gerontology and biogerontology; the former gives more attention to how social, interpersonal relationships and aging affect individuals and communities whereas biogerontology focuses more on the biological and physical presentations of human aging. Careers as gerontologist

The breadth of aging and its effects on families, communities, governmental policy, medicine, finance and more make those with gerontology training able to work in a diverse set of marketplaces. Being that so much of the economy is based upon social ethics, the demand for informed gerontologists will continue to be high for the next few decades.

Practical Tips for Approaching or Recent Graduates

Gathering Practical Experience

There has long been a balance desired in job candidates to have scholastic and practical work experience. Any person who has been a student and has gone through early job searches attempting to make their way into the workforce has likely come up against this double standard: having a degree, but most of the jobs in that field of study require a few years of practical work experience.

The irony is that graduates don't typically have any practical work experience because they just graduated and are looking for a job, but jobs won't hire without the experience. This frustrating double standard, though illogical and persistent, can be maneuvered around by spending time gaining practical work experience before graduating.

Spending time researching colleges and programs that are privy to the double standard will make a point of offering and preparing their students with opportunities to gain practical experience. Practicums, research laboratories, and even volunteer work (though not ideal as someone occurring student loans) all add up to some practical work experience.

On-Site Experience

While practical work experience is what will be necessary and look good on a resume, the process of deciding which expression of gerontology to work in is another choice that needs to be carefully considered. Taking the time to reach out and connect with current professionals and the organizations they work for will not only give insider perspectives that are likely lacking even in the most thorough programming, but also clarify what a day-to-day experience will be like in one field or another.

Additionally, any connections that are made even just from a passing email, can pan out into networking connections. While putting a face to a name on an email is ideal, simple curiosity and politeness can be enough to warrant a job invitation in the future.

Tips for Seasoned Gerontology Professionals

Professional Organizations

There are numerous professional organizations for any field of study or industry. While not always necessary to join, the benefits from doing so are many: networking connections, staying up to date on the latest research (like mental healthcare for nurses), continuing educational resources, and informed perspectives on current policies are just a few benefits. Memberships are typically very affordable if not altogether free and the resources that they contain are worth the investment.

Becoming a Mentor

It has been documented that a lack of consistent learning contributed heavily to rapid aging later in life, and while that is mostly associated with research done on retirees the principles apply to any worker: not staying mentally fit and up to date on research not only damages effectiveness but can be a cause of boredom and disinterest in one's career.

Taking on a mentorship can invigorate the life and practice of even the most established professional by awakening a deeper purpose and passion through sharing one's thoughts and hard earned lessons.