How to Get Hired as a Medical Assistant After Graduation

Hear From Suzanne Biggs, Career Services Advisor at Pima Medical Institute

Graduation may feel like the finish line, but for healthcare students, it’s really the starting line. Earning your diploma is an incredible accomplishment, but landing your first job as a medical assistant requires a different set of skills, including confidence, professionalism and a willingness to keep learning.

In this episode of Voices of Vital Care, host Nohelani Graf sits down with Suzanne Biggs, Career Services Advisor at Pima Medical Institute and a former medical assistant and practice manager, to discuss what separates graduates who get hired quickly from those who struggle to break into the field.

Drawing from more than a decade of healthcare leadership and mentoring students every day, Biggs shares practical advice on navigating the transition from the classroom to the workplace and why technical skills are only one part of building a successful healthcare career.

If you’re preparing to graduate or wondering how to stand out in a competitive job market, this episode offers an honest look at what employers value most and how you can position yourself for long-term success.

“Medical assisting really is your foot in the door to healthcare. The career you choose is truly at your fingertips.”
— Suzanne Biggs, Career Services Advisor, Pima Medical Institute

For Biggs, becoming a medical assistant wasn’t the end goal, it was the beginning of a career that eventually led her into clinical leadership, practice management and now higher education. Looking back, she says one of the biggest surprises wasn’t the job itself, but realizing how many career opportunities opened because she started as a medical assistant.

She encourages students to think beyond their first position and recognize that experience in patient care can become a foundation for careers in management, nursing, physician assistant studies, healthcare administration and more.

That perspective shapes how she works with students today. Through resume workshops, interview coaching and one-on-one career guidance, she helps graduates understand that employers are hiring more than technical ability, they’re hiring professionalism, reliability and potential.

“You come out of school with a fabulous foundation, but you still don’t know everything. Employers want to see that you’re willing to learn.”
— Suzanne Biggs

According to Biggs, one of the biggest misconceptions new graduates have is believing that submitting a resume is enough to secure a job. In today’s hiring environment, competition is real, and employers are looking closely at how candidates present themselves throughout the hiring process.

That preparation starts long before graduation. Pima Medical Institute’s Career Services team works with students throughout their program to develop resumes optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS), conduct mock interviews and prepare students to confidently communicate their skills and strengths.

Biggs also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a growth mindset.

Healthcare changes constantly, and successful medical assistants understand they will continue learning long after graduation. Students who demonstrate humility, adaptability and professionalism often make the strongest first impression with employers.

Professionalism extends well beyond the interview.

Showing up on time, communicating effectively, supporting teammates and demonstrating reliability all contribute to building trust—not only with patients, but with supervisors and coworkers as well.

“Your management team is paying attention to how you behave at work—whether you’re dependable, flexible and willing to go above and beyond.”
— Suzanne Biggs

Beyond technical knowledge, Biggs believes confidence plays a significant role in helping graduates succeed.

She has noticed many students underestimate themselves, often hesitating to speak up or advocate for their abilities. One student in particular stood out because she approached every opportunity with confidence, curiosity and a clear vision for her future.

Biggs hopes more graduates develop that same belief in themselves.

“If I could pull that confidence out of one student and plant it into every other student, we’d be in great shape.”
— Suzanne Biggs

Throughout the conversation, Biggs also reflects on the emotional side of healthcare.

She recalls patients she’ll never forget—including a young woman experiencing a mental health crisis and another who arrived unexpectedly with serious injuries. Those experiences reinforced why she chose healthcare in the first place and continue to inspire the guidance she provides students today.

Whether working directly with patients or mentoring future healthcare professionals, Biggs believes success ultimately comes down to compassion, teamwork and a commitment to lifelong learning.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why graduation is only the beginning of a healthcare career
• What employers look for beyond technical skills
• How Pima Medical Institute prepares students through resume workshops, mock interviews and career coaching
• Why a growth mindset is one of the most valuable qualities new graduates can demonstrate
• Common mistakes that can hurt a job search—and how to avoid them
• The importance of professionalism, communication and teamwork in healthcare
• How confidence and self-belief influence career success
• Why medical assisting can serve as a gateway to careers in nursing, leadership and healthcare management
• How mentorship and strong support systems help new graduates succeed during their first 90 days on the job
• Why compassion and patient relationships remain at the heart of every healthcare career

Who this episode is for

Anyone preparing to graduate from a medical assisting program, exploring a career in healthcare or wondering how to successfully transition from the classroom into their first professional healthcare role.

Watch Episode 6: How to Get Hired as a Medical Assistant After Graduation