I moved out of state to pursue retraining for surgical technology. CST program opportunities were hyper competitive in the area. I was also tired of the high housing prices of where I lived and could not stand the local culture.
Anyone else use surgical tech school as an opportunity to escape a place that no longer (or never) felt right?
I got into a surgical tech program and will start this August. Previously, I worked in a few sales and customer service positions and a couple have ended in terminations. I would like to get an apprenticeship in a hospital during school if possible.
I have realized that my biggest issues were struggling to ask for help and not being selective in making sure that the position was a fit for my skills before accepting. No drugs or criminal history that would get me automatically denied.
I know that depending on the healthcare system, they require 7-10 years of all work history. If I go with the hospital system requiring 7 years, I should have to explain getting fired from 2 jobs. If the system requires 10 years, I have 4. These terminations were:
2017- Screwed up on a shipment order. It was partially my fault, but there were also system errors since the software was being transitioned during that time.
2018 - Took a job in a bank after a recruiter found my resume. They let me go after 2 weeks because I struggled to learn the material fast enough (no finance background).
2022 - Could not sell enough product over the phone. I knew that I was on my way out and told the boss I quit when I was pulled into his office (plan to frame it as a mutual separation).
2025 - Assistant property manager at an apartment community after getting promoted from leasing sales. I failed to ask for help when I needed it and made some major mistakes. Training for the job wasn't great, but I am mostly responsible. Got put on a PIP and got off, but they still fired me 2 weeks later when my boss got back from Thanksgiving vacation.
Did anyone else have a similarly imperfect history and still make it in the medical field?