The Business Sector

The business sector is a great place for clinicians who are truly seeking a fresh start in their careers.

Transitioning into the corporate world can feel challenging—and it might take time to convince hiring managers to take a chance on a clinical career-changer—but the results are often very much worth the time and energy. Business careers typically have unmatched perks and benefits, fantastic upward mobility potential, and a very stable way of life.   

You might think that business careers look like a scene out of an 80s thriller, complete with power suits, big shoulder pads, and cackling CEOs counting stacks of money. It’s true that the business world is about as profit-driven as can be, but we’re here to tell you that it’s OK to prioritize your financial well being. Clinicians are often made to feel guilty for wanting to earn more money, but if that’s what you’re looking for, the business sector will very often be the ticket!

Yes, there are typical corporate careers out there, like sales, management/leadership, and finance. But there are so many other paths you can take in the corporate sector, including client success, data analytics, training/education, project management, and consulting. 

The key to any career in the business sector is being able to advocate yourself so you can advance up the ranks (if that’s your desire). Many of us in healthcare are groomed to behave like we’re lucky to be in our jobs and privileged to have employment at all. That mentality can really hold you back in the corporate world, so keep in mind that you’ll want to really refine your skills at promoting yourself—without going overboard with nonstop boasting or resorting to throwing your coworkers under the bus to move up the career ladder.

Corporate careers can sometimes make a clinician feel like a fish out of water. The good news is that there are many ways to upskill and gain additional education so that you feel more comfortable in your new career. Even more good news is that quite a few corporations and large companies have support systems designed for formal mentorship. There are often programs to support women, minorities, and even career transitioners who are coming in from other industries or trying to make a change within the business sector.

Pros and cons of the business sector

Every industry has its pros and cons, and we’d be remiss if we recommended you pursue a specific sector without sharing the bad along with the good. Here are a few pros and cons you’ll find working in business.

Pros

• Perks Galore – Free snacks and coffee in the break room! Bonuses! 401k matching! PTO AND sick days! Depending on where you work, your benefits could be the best part of your job in the business sector. If you have a family to support, the insurance benefits alone might make this transition worthwhile.
• Pay Potential – There’s a reason why people choose corporate careers. They’re known for great upward mobility and growth potential, and the earning possibilities are similarly impressive.
• Numerous Paths to Pursue – If you’re willing to upskill and invest in additional education, the opportunities in the business sector are truly limitless. But even if you’d like to start simple without too much investment in additional education, you can often pivot to business roles like sales or client success at corporate healthcare firms.
• Career Ladders – Healthcare can be frustrating because there’s very little career progression for clinicians. In the business sector, moving up that career ladder is a way of life. While it might feel like a slog to try to stand out and ensure you’re noticed for promotions, the strong work ethic developed in clinical practice means many clinicians shine in business roles from day one.

Cons

• Steep Learning Curve – The corporate world might not move as quickly as the tech or entrepreneurial worlds, but there’s still a significant learning curve for many jobs. Upskilling and additional education are often helpful to make the leap simpler.
• Tough to Transition – In the same vein as above, the business sector is very different from the healthcare world. It can be tough to sell yourself to initially break in, and then the culture shock of corporate life can also be challenging at first.
• Bureaucracy – The business sector is notorious for being bureaucratic, clunky, and slow to change—with tons of meetings to keep things even more bureaucratic. But there are certainly companies that break that mold and define themselves as innovative and dynamic.
• Emotional Disconnect – Of all the sectors, the business world is where it’s most likely to lose your sense of identity or connection to healthcare. It’s not that you can’t make an impact in corporate jobs, but feeling like a cog in a machine is a real risk with such a huge career pivot!

Clinicians working in business

• Brianna Fullenkamp, PT, DPT — Enterprise Client Executive
• Matt Crow, PT, DPT, CCS — National Director, Cardiac Rehab
• Michelle Satler, PMP, SMC, OTR/L, MOT — Customer Project Specialist
• Nandita Ramasubramaniam, PT, DPT, MHS, PCS — Success Manager (Software)
• Nina Luskin, PT, DPT — VP of Client Services, Nursing and Allied Health
• Jessica Manson, PTA – Customer Success Representative
• Somer Meyers, PT, DPT – Client Success Manager
• Lauren Rosenthal, MS, OTR/L — Account Executive and Data Analyst

Articles

• Sales Careers for Rehab Clinicians
• Client Success Careers for Clinicians
• Data Analytics Careers
• How to Become a Healthcare Recruiter
• Commission-Only (1099) Sales Jobs: Pros & Cons

If stability and upward mobility are what you want, the business world is a great place to land. The pay is fabulous, the growth opportunities are ample, and the perks are enough to make anyone understand the meaning behind the term “golden handcuffs“. After working as a clinician with our paltry “benefits,” simply enjoying free coffee in the breakroom can feel like the royal treatment! In all seriousness, though, someone looking for a more traditional career ladder will probably be happy in the business world. 

Note that we used the world PROBABLY in that last sentence. That’s because you took a very quick personality assessment. We’re proud of that assessment—we bet you’re nodding your head at how well your results suit you—but it’s still a simple, free, online personality quiz.

The reality is that everyone’s life is different. We all have stakeholders in our lives (friends, family, pets, volunteer commitments), and their needs will impact what we can commit to our careers. We might NEED to work remotely. We might NEED part-time work. Or we might absolutely cringe at the thought of using terms like “bandwidth” or “circle back” or “synergistic.”

Ultimately, it’s up to you to look within and discover what really makes you tick, which is why we know you’ll love our free lesson (password: FIRSTSTEP)! In this 28-minute video, you’ll gain deeper insights into your life and career priorities through a powerful self-discovery exercise that will help kickstart your non-clinical journey.

Feeling overwhelmed? We created Non-Clinical 101 to take the guesswork and overwhelm off your plate. The online, self-paced format provides a structured playbook with lifetime access—so you achieve your goals on your timeline.

Getting started is always the hardest part, but you CAN do this. Whether you dive in right away or schedule a course binge for later, ​Non-Clinical 101​ is waiting for you with lifetime access and a supportive community. Plus, you’ll receive early-access to our weekly jobs every Sunday.

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