Patsy said:
> Subject:	job recruiting
>
> just a few thoughts on the recent histotect recruiting thread...
>
> i just asked anita to post the city for her "wonderful job opportunity"
> because i think the 3 most important  factors for successful recruiting
> are location, and location and location
>
> here in colorado we have enjoyed  fairly successful recruitment of
> histotechs, even from out of the area because this seems to be a desirable
> place to live, in recent months though, i have noticed it taking longer to
> fill positions, so it must be getting bad out there
>
> there is not much of a solution for this location problem factor, but be
> aware that you may be completing against something other than salaries, as
> a matter of fact, the salaries in colorado are very low, it is not the pay
> that is drawing techs here
>
> my two cents worth
>

Exactly my thoughts. I'm not willing to jump from the frying pan into the
fire. I'd like to know where the job is and an approximate salary before I
submit my CV. Cost of living varys greatly across this country and one
institution's idea of a good salary is not necessarily a living wage in that
particular community.

Also, regarding education: Many educated individuals do not necessarily have
good manual skills. THE thing that has drawn me to this profession, after
trying several others, is the marriage of intellectual stimulation and
hands-on experimentation and quality output.I just submitted the practical
portion of my registry exam (fingers firmly crossed). My undergraduate
degrees are in Microbiology and Biochemistry. I was nearly fnished with the
biology part when I realized there were few jobs out there for me. So, I
completed requirements for the second degree and spent several years
teaching chemistry, working for an analytical chemistry firm and doing
process quality control before going back to school.
My graduate program further combined my interest in biological chemistry and
pathophysiology terminating in a M.S. in Interdisciplinary Toxicology. While
working on my graduate degree, I was introduced to histology and fell in
love. So much so that I've put forth the very considerable effort to become
registered. Quality matters. Registry programs set minimum standards. What
we do, both in the clinical setting and in research, effects diagnosis and
treatment. It is therefore imperitive that those who perform these tasks be
measured all by the same ruler and held to the same quality standards.

I'll hop off the soapbox now.

Regards,
Donna Montague
Orthopaedic Research
UAMS
Little Rock, AR