Day in the Life of a: CLINICAL LAB ASSISTANT

[@butter03]

UPDATE: Hi all, I just wanted to hop on and give you all an exciting update! I RECENTLY GOT HIRED AS A CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR IN NYC!!!!! Thanking God for this opportunity and also thank you to all that have tuned into this video! I wanted to let you know that “Days in the Life” at my new position will be coming soon! BACKGROUND: if you’ve kept up with my channel then you’ll see that I completed a year long masters degree program, and in most of that time I did not work or post on KZbin (the video is uploaded now though). And since then I have moved to nyc, there are a couple of videos uploaded about the journey this far as well. I’m anticipating the new videos in my clinical research coordinator position will be uploaded in November. Thank you all for your support, and I’m wishing you all the best!

[@HalfYallBroke]

Congratulations 🎊

[@butter03]

@72breezy thank you!

[@gumudafleurr5981]

congratulations 🎉😊

[@butter03]

@gumudafleurr5981 thank you!

[@goodgirlessie]

congratulations love! so inspiring seeing someone who looks like me in these spaces. i’m currently studying Bio, in NY . i switched over from a RN path to Gen Bio. i want to get into Lab work. any tips 🙃

[@foodiemukbang4975]

I have my interview tomorrow. I'm praying to get the job.

[@butter03]

Wishing the best for you! Let us know how it goes!!

[@foodiemukbang4975]

@@butter03 It went well. They asked 3 questions: What experience I had in a laboratory setup. How would I handle confidential information Examples of when I worked in a team and what characteristics are needed for excellent teamwork They said they will get back to me in a few weeks so will wait for a response.

[@butter03]

Yes!!!! Glad it went well! Thank you for the update, I’m sure your sharing what you were asked will help others in the comments. 💪🏾 thank you!

[@mikey-fs4zf]

Hi, this is an informative video! I was wondering, can someone who is colorblind work as a medical lab assistant? Are there any specific challenges or accommodations for tasks that involve color recognition? Thanks in advance

[@butter03]

@mikey-fs4zf Hi, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. This is a great question, in my screening process that consisted of a drug test and physical they did administer a color blind test. I believe this is to make sure that everyone can read the test properly. I will say though, by this point I was already offered the job and it was pending passing the drug test, etc. So I HOPE it would be illegal for them to renege the offer based on something outside of your control, but I cannot remember if the job was also pending the ability to pass the physical. Hope this helps and wishing you the best!

[@najibrown3694]

How do you like your job? I recently got hired as a lab assistant and I’m watching videos to see how it is

[@butter03]

Honestly, I think the pay is well for the work given. But I will say that it gets very repetitive after awhile which gets boring, but sometimes no surprises at work is a good thing lol. It also depends on the company that you work for, because I have worked for a lab that was ran very well and they provided us with lunch everyday and lab assistants were taught from higher ups, but I have also worked for a lab that is purely profit based and cuts hours when sample counts are low and also don't even have a designated break room (from my experience this is more common with the newer start up labs). I hope this helps, and congratulations on the new job!

[@mikey-fs4zf]

I was wondering, can someone who is colorblind work as a medical lab assistant? Are there any specific challenges or accommodations for tasks that involve color recognition? Thanks in advance

[@katertot6527]

I am curious, as a lab assistant do you ever personally take the samples yourself? Or is that only a lab techs job? Or does it depend on the place?

[@butter03]

From my experience, the nurses would collect the samples. These were covid labs though so the nasopharyngeal swabs would go deep, so maybe that played a part in why only nurses could collect. I’m not sure if it would be different for other labs that collect different test. I think for some lab jobs that require a phlebotomy license, lab assistants do collect the blood though.

[@Marlah]

In Canada lab assistants take samples. 👀

[@thollis7515]

Hey, I'm starting as a lab assistant and just wanted to know where do you get your scrubs from?

[@butter03]

Congratulations!!!! I usually shop for scrubs at Walmart. But the ones I wore in this video are from scrubs and beyond, they typically have more of the jogger fit scrubs, but are more pricey.

[@TheSelfdestructAngel]

I just had an interview to be a CLA and got a tour of the lab, it was so overwhelming and I’m so nervous 😭 I find out in the next couple of days but I don’t feel like I’m qualified with just a bio degree

[@butter03]

A tour of the lab could be a really good sign! Wishing you the best!!

[@ambitiousbeauty1013]

Thank you for this video. I'm a introvert, this would be a good career for me. What type of setting/facility you work in?

[@butter03]

This lab was a make shift smaller lab, but I have also worked in larger labs where more people were in one room. But overall I think working in a lab is a great job because it’s very repetitive and you can just do your work after you are trained. Just be mindful that usually everyday it will be the same task.

[@ambitiousbeauty1013]

@@butter03 I have no issue with that. Hopefully the place I work won't mind me listening to a little low playing music while I work LOL!

[@butter03]

Haha both labs I worked at allowed headphones and if I was ever the only lab assistant I played my music out loud too 😂

[@ambitiousbeauty1013]

@@butter03 Welp, with that being said, I know this is the profession for me. I can't wait to get my certification LOL!

[@butter03]

Wow, im so excited for you!!!

[@traceyhenton4261]

Thanks

[@ashleya193]

I have a job interview to be a lab assistant, do you think it’s a job that you can handle while going to college? Also was the training process stressful?

[@butter03]

Congratulations on the interview! The training process wasn’t stressful, but for me it was one week of training to making sure I understood how the test ran and the computer system works. I was definitely happy when I was able to work on my own after the training period. Whether or not the position will be good while in college depends on the lab and the program you’re in for school. I worked at a lab that allowed us to study when it was slow, and also one that did not. Hope this help! Thank you for the comment!

[@ashleya193]

thanks!

[@TimTim__]

Hi. Can you please share what coursework you showed from your undergrad to get this job. May be I need to finish up some courses as electives. Thank you

[@butter03]

Hi, sorry for the late reply I’m about to go into finals and have been busy. When applying to this job, they wanted to know that I had a background in science, so I showed proof of my bachelor’s degree. I’m not sure if jobs will look into specific classes, this may depend on the place. I hope this helps!

[@KM-nl8xr]

Is this job for someone with social anxiety?

[@butter03]

In both of the locations I have worked at, lab assistants don’t have interaction with the people getting tested. But I am surrounded by coworkers everyday (usually the same people) so I’m not completely isolated. I think if someone is okay being around coworkers and not having to interact with new people daily, then this could be a good job for someone with social anxiety (depending on how the lab operates, assuming there is no patient interaction for lab assistants). Hope this helps 🙌🏾

[@KM-nl8xr]

@@butter03 thanks for aswering my question

[@wafaaatbi9606]

Hey ! Can you choose your shifts ! I’m really interested but I have a baby 😅

[@butter03]

Hi! Both of the labs I worked at let us choose from morning shift, evening shift, and graveyard shift. But it will depend on the need of the lab you get hired at. Hope this helps! ☺️

[@rubyw6285]

I just saw a lab assistant job on indeed and I don’t really know much about it and I was wondering 💭 is the job duties pretty easy and simple? Also do you have to do any heavy lifting of anything? I’m a diabetic and I’ve been working as a housekeeper on lots of my jobs and it just bad on my body because of my blood sugar.

[@butter03]

Hi, this will definitely depend on the lab, but in my experience the duties are simple and repetitive. So everyday you can expect to do about the same thing. Also, none of the labs I worked at required heavy lifting. 👍

[@christykates8823]

How did you become a lab assistant? Did you have previous experience?

[@butter03]

I had some experience from course work in my undergrad that I included on my resume. I have my bachelors of science and that was the requirement for the labs I have worked in. However I do have a coworker who had experience in the Philippines and she was hired because of that experience.

[@johncoco6776]

How long did it take to get hired as a laboratory assistant?

[@butter03]

In total I think it took a little less than two weeks, from the point I submitted the application up until all of my new hire paperwork was completed. The time is takes will probably vary depending on the size/operations of the lab and the amount of samples they are receiving at that time.

[@johncoco6776]

@@butter03 ah okay, nice to hear it was speedy for you

[@butter03]

Thank you, wishing you the best 🙏🏾

[@Uzair_ediiitz]

Is there any need for a license?

[@butter03]

Hi, it may depend on the requirements of the lab, but for my position no license was needed for Clinical lab assistants. Licensure was only needed for the clinical laboratory scientist. Thank you for the comment!

[@Uzair_ediiitz]

@@butter03 Thank you

[@mbadavid8953]

Please what is the pay range for CLA

[@butter03]

This would depend on the state place you live and the type of lab you work in from my experience. The new start up labs tend to pay more, but it’s also a bit more disorganized cause they are still figuring everything out. And covid labs in the beginning of the pandemic paid a lot as well. When I look at jobs now they seem to range from $20/hr-$35/hr.

[@nizalucas8800]

Hello, I'm from LATAM. I'm a Biotechnologist. What courses can one follow to be an assistant?

[@butter03]

The lab I worked at required a bachelors of science. But I had a coworker from the Philippines that was qualified to a clinical laboratory scientist (which is higher up than a lab assistant) so they allowed her to be a lab assistant without a bachelors of science. I would suggest reaching out to specific labs to see how your qualifications would translate for positions. Hope this helps!

[@moniquehickman7521]

Do the lab assistants actually draw blood?

[@butter03]

I worked in a lab that was not connected to a hospital so I didn’t work with any patients, I was just apart of the process for processing the samples. But there are some lab positions that require you to have your phlebotomy license.

[@RajanKumar-ml9xc]

U r good girl

[@butter03]

Thank you so much!

[@dukechinemeremoguejiofor2693]

Re you in Canada?

[@butter03]

I’m not located there, but I’m sure there’s other KZbinrs from Canada that documented their lab experience 👍

[@vencebuchanan]

🥰

[@rashidturab1]

Hi i. Want.to apply for job medical laboratory assistant.how i can apply please guide me

[@butter03]

Hi, I think a good way to find jobs in the area you are looking for is to search and on indeed and LinkedIn

[@rashidturab1]

@@butter03 you can apply

[@KaviNitishNirmaan]

I'm medical laboratory technician, working in india

[@butter03]

@KaviNitishNirmaan that’s awesome to hear and thank you for watching! Hoping other’s located in India might see your comment and ask questions they might have on choosing that career path!

[@FC.11]

Hello dear I'm from Pakistan. I'm medical laboratory technologist. I'm search for a job but i haven't certification for MLT😥. Kindly help me.

[@butter03]

Hi, thank you for the comment. I had a coworker that had qualifications from outside of the country that didn’t transfer for over as well. My coworker was allowed to become a clinical lab assistant, even though she technically is much more qualified than that…my suggestion would be to find smaller laboratories and explain your qualifications before or after applying. Hope this help!

[@hidfigfig2564]

how was the interview for this job and what did they ask you?

[@butter03]

They asked about experience I had in labs and if I was familiar with the techniques they used in their lab. I answered honestly but one thing I did was look up what lab technique they used in their lab so that I would have a basic idea of what they were doing before the interview in case I was asked about it. Usually the techniques the lab uses are in the job description. Other than that the interview was a phone call, and it was only myself and the hiring manager. Hope this helps!

[@hidfigfig2564]

@@butter03 it does thank you so much!

[@hidfigfig2564]

@@butter03 thank you! Good to know. Did they ask a lot of questions, was the interview long?

[@butter03]

Hi, no it wasn’t too many questions I think the entire interview was around 30 minutes but that included talking about scheduling and start dates because I believe the hiring manager told me I got the job while still in the virtual interview. I think the interview length and amount of questions will kind of depend on how badly they need to fill the positions. If the lab really needs people they will probably only ask about your previous experience in labs. 👍

[@hidfigfig2564]

@@butter03 Ok, thank you!

[@rophnaicadesruisseaux8950]

What are the duties? Is it hard

[@butter03]

The duties will vary depending on what the lab you are in is processing. But generally for a CLA the duties are laboratory upkeep, and preparation and processing of samples. Both of the labs I have worked in was simple work and VERY repetitive. Each day I went in I was doing the same thing, so as I got comfortable the work got even easier. Hope this helps!!

[@rophnaicadesruisseaux8950]

@@butter03 I went to interview she show me around the lab and tells me about duties but it wasn’t like an interview where you introduce yourself and your goals she mentioned training and schedule idk if I got the job

[@butter03]

Okay it sounds like they need people if they brought you in and showed you around already, assuming it all went well I think it will be fine. Congratulations 🥳 please keep us in the comments updated when you get the official offer, I’m sure others viewing this video would also like to hear about how it all goes for you! :)

[@noora2241]

what was your undergrad major?, how can I get an experience while I’m still a student? I’m an introvert and this job seems to me like a dream, I would appreciate it if you answer my questions whenever you get the chance🤍

[@butter03]

Hi, I majored in biology. From my experience, as a clinical lab assistant we were only required to have a bachelor of science, the exact major didn’t matter too much. Also, since you’re still in school, it might be worth asking if your school has a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) program/major. This would be best if you are looking to work in a lab for a career they make BANK (at least in the states I’ve seen) lol. Hope this helps, and thank you for the comment!