When trying to decide on a nonclinical job, do you feel lost trying to figure out where to start? Or do you feel paralyzed by the multiple options to select from? I hope that answering these 6 questions will help you know which role is right for you!

1) Do you want face to face interaction or a remote position?

There are pros and cons to each, but a lot of it depends on your own personality. Are you someone energized being around others daily? Would you rather stay at home all day? Keep in mind that remote jobs tend to have more competition because there are fewer geographical limits for applicants.

For me: A remote position was appealing to me, but I was okay with jobs that would be face to face.

2) Do sales roles appeal to you?

Clinical work does have aspects where you have to sell, but I do think there are a wide range of mental images each person has when they hear "sales" or "salesperson." Some have a positive view because salespeople are there to help solve a problem. Others have a negative view because salespeople may be seen as having more interest in meeting their own needs. Many nonclinical roles involve sales, so answering yes or no can either rule in or eliminate many opportunities.

For me: Most of my life, sales was very unappealing. However, once I experienced a few successes in convincing management at my old job to pay for things that I proposed, I was open to the idea of sales.

3) Are you open to going back to school?

Health informatics and IT are popular roles that often, but not always, requiring an additional degree. Some have the option with their clinical job to have tuition reimbursement. Others have no desire to spend the time and money to get more education beyond what their license requires.

For me: As a husband and father, I did not want to seek any job that required a new degree.

4) How important is a set schedule?

Wanting better work/life balance is a common reason for seeking nonclinical jobs. For some, to have a set schedule ranks high on the list of priorities. For others, a set schedule is not important at all.

For me: A set schedule was important because I wanted to end the blending of work outside normal working hours.

5) Are you wanting Full-time or Part-time/PRN?

The majority of nonclinical roles are Full-time. If seeking Part-time or PRN, know that the options will be more limited.

For me: I knew that full-time was the only option for me.

6) What salary amount are you expecting?

When I asked the Facebook group Nonclinical Career Guide what concerns they had most about nonclinical jobs, salary was the biggest concern. That is understandable because honestly many jobs will require at least an initial pay cut, especially if coming from higher paying settings or with more years of experience. Keep in mind, salary isn't the end all be all of a job, but it is a serious decision that needs to be decided.

For me: If looking at gross salary alone, I took about a 20% pay cut leaving home health. However, I calculated all the benefits and realized that it would be around a 5-10% initial pay cut.

While deciding on what jobs to be searching for, take the time to prepare an updated resume!

Get my free e-book : Nonclinical Resumes That Get Interviews!