Is Medical Laboratory Technician a hard major?

Question about Medical Laboratory Technician/Lab assistant positions?

• I am rethinking my entire career and want to increase my chances of getting a job in a medical lab (as a technician/assistant) by taking some courses. I will be re taking my Maths GCSE as I wasn't happy with my grade when I left school 14 years ago but also want to refresh my knowledge in Science. I don't want to waste time and money doing a course that won't help me in my chosen career. What do you suggest? A Level Biology? Applied Science? Chemistry? I'm just not sure what will actually help me get a job AND be good at it. Note: I work full time so I can't study during the day - I will have to do a distance learning course. I don't have a lot of money and don't qualify for any help with course fees so one maybe two courses at most. Can someone advise? Maybe a Lab Technologist who actually employs lab techs, what would impress you on a CV?

• Answer:

  It really depends on the type of lab you want to join. "Science" and "medicine" are huge fields, what specifically interests you? If you are interested in lab work, you should definitely start by volunteering in a lab if you can. But know that you will likely start at the BOTTOM of the chain (washing glassware, labeling tubes, etc) at first. I think most PIs (primary investigators, the title of profs who run labs) will want a pretty consistent commitment, so if you work 9-5 M-F it might be hard to pull off. Not many PIs will hire a tech with zero experience. In laboratory bench work, experience is at least as important as classwork. I guess my basic message is: you should be thinking about how to get hands-on experience at least as much as you are thinking about what online classes to take!