DMLT

A DMLT holder may become a lab manager in the following manner:

• Gaining experience: When you graduate with a DMLT, getting enough continuous work in diagnostic labs or hospitals will clearly develop hands-on experience. Gaining hands-on experience is required to being considered for supervisory positions.

• Pursuing education: Advancement for many DMLT professionals include upgrading to BMLT, or BSc MLT. You may also want to consider taking short-term management courses to enhance qualifications and develop leadership skills.

• Strengthening soft skills: Lab managers should have strong communication skills, strong organisation skills, and they should also have skills related to handling a team of employees. These are some skills that DMLT individuals can work on and develop, often this is the difference that some employers will evaluate when considering who to promote.

• Staying up to date: Monitor the changing landscape of laboratory technologies or changes in reporting formats and compliance standards. This is important for DMLT individuals looking to transition into a managerial role slowly over time.

The challenges faced by DMLT freshers are as follows:

• Low starting salary: Many freshers experience starting with a low salary (especially in smaller labs or clinics), which can be demotivating, regardless of the practical skills they develop. 

• Limited job awareness: Freshers often have little to no clarity regarding their career path, job roles, and growth opportunities, which can hinder their ability to make the right choice. 

• Hands-on confidence: Some students wonder if they are ready for "real-time" lab work when undervalued because of their limited practical experience in their studies. 

• High competition: Jobs for lab technicians are on the rise but the number of DMLT graduates is rising at the same rate, which makes securing jobs with some student scientists even more difficult without a personal network or experience.