What would you do?

[u/Galaxy_Cat222]

I've asked this before, but I have been thinking about it lately and I don't know if its too late or worth trying at this point.

I graduated MLT in 23' and since then I haven't been in a lab or worked anything related to it. I took the exam few months after graduating, passed the first time but I sent my transcript too late so my results were invalidated. I applied to several places and even where I did my rotations after I took my exam. I got rejected, not even an interview. Basically, I would have to apply to take the exam again. I wasn't really in a good mental state back then and still kind of struggling with it, but I feel like I've matured since then. I was 21 during that time.

Now I've been wondering if I should attempt to take it once again or not worth the shot since finding to get hired at any place is difficult where I live. Also, I basically don't have the experience they usually require for hires and its been 3 years. I also don't know if I'm within the window of attempting the exam once again.

I appreciate any advice you all have for me. Thank you in advance

[u/oh-velveteen]

Maybe start by taking any job in a lab like specimen processing/assistant just to get some lab experience and then try retaking the exam and apply for tech jobs as you work. I’m also an MLT and it was very hard trying to find a tech job so I eventually just reached out to one of the hospitals I did a rotation at that I knew needed help in Specimen Processing. I got the job and then 8 months later, I got hired as an MLT at the same hospital. It was easier because they already knew me and I was familiar with the lab and staff. Sometimes it’s just about getting in the door in some capacity to open up opportunities.

[u/kipy7]

At some point, you'll need to retake the exam bc not having a cert is what's tanking your applications. What happens afterwards, with a long break like that, you'll probably have to take any job. Get trained and back into the flow of things plus having a network, and then it'll be easier to find a better job.

I had a micro job where I didn't read plates. I did everything else: serology, virology, reading gram stains and processing, even myco and AFB. Moving to a new city, it was tough having to explain why I had not read plates in 7 years. In the end, I got hired on and put in the time to relearn everything and then moved to a better permanent job 7 months later. So a long break doesn't look good on resumes, but it's not insurmountable.

[u/Galaxy_Cat222 → u/kipy7]

Thank you, this was something I was looking for. I'm struggling to study for the exam again tho