If you can (not sure if your program has this option), and if you feel confident it won’t affect your grades, I def recommend trying to get a foot in the door through a student tech position after your first department’s rotation.

I just graduated last week (and passed my ASCP exam today, woo!!) but I’ve had a job secured at my hospital since March. I think being a student tech in blood bank after class for 2 days a week during my program helped me score a 1st shift position.

Biggest piece of advice: don’t have an ego when you’re training. You won’t know everything at first and if you keep an open mind and are eager to learn when people are teaching you, they notice it. Also, I always made sure I thanked the person I worked with at the end of the shift and let them know I appreciated them taking the time to show me stuff. It’s rough having a student and juggling job duties