Graduation is only the beginning. Landing your first healthcare job takes more than technical skills.

It takes confidence, professionalism, preparation, and knowing what employers are looking for.

In this episode of Voices of Vital Care, host Nohelani Graf sits down with Suzanne Biggs, Career Services Advisor at Pima Medical Institute and former Medical Assistant and Practice Manager, to talk about what separates graduates who get hired quickly from those who struggle to land their first opportunity.

Suzanne shares what it felt like to transition from student to healthcare professional, the biggest surprises she faced in her first Medical Assistant role, and the lessons she now teaches students preparing for their own careers.

She also explains how resumes are screened, what interview mistakes cost candidates opportunities, why employers value a growth mindset, and how mentorship and professionalism can shape long term success in healthcare.

Whether you're a Medical Assistant student, allied health graduate, career changer, or preparing for your first healthcare interview, this conversation offers practical advice you can use immediately.

In this episode:

- How to get hired as a Medical Assistant

- Medical Assistant interview tips

- Resume advice for healthcare graduates

- What employers look for in new graduates

- Common mistakes that keep candidates from getting hired

- Why confidence and professionalism matter

- How externships prepare students for real patient care

- Building a successful healthcare career from day one

- The importance of mentors in healthcare

- Career growth opportunities for Medical Assistants

Subscribe to Voices of Vital Care for conversations that prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals with real career advice, industry insights, and stories from the people shaping the future of allied health.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, stance, or position of Pima Medical Institute.

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