HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MEDICAL CAREER

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1 HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MEDICAL CAREER Starting a health care career is easier than you think when you ve done your research, understand which medical career fits your personality and pursue training from a school that supports you from enrollment and beyond. Why wait? Learn how to prepare for your new medical career now!

2 Medical Career Stats and Facts Need a push to finally jumpstart your health care career? Check out these inspiring figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Many job openings should arise in all health care employment settings as a result of employment growth and the need to replace workers who retire or leave their jobs for other reasons. Many of the occupations projected to grow the fastest in the economy are concentrated in the health care industry. Employment growth is expected to account for about 22 percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the period. Ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are health care related. Health care will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry, largely in response to rapid growth in the elderly population. Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college education. About 595,800 establishments make up the health care industry. About 76 percent of health care establishments are offices of physicians, dentists, or other health practitioners and salary workers. About 40 percent were in hospitals; another 21 percent were in nursing and residential care facilities; and 16 percent were in offices of physicians. Wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2016, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined.

3 How to Select the Right Medical Career Path When deciding which medical career path to choose, the options can be overwhelming. Searching for an occupation that is wellsuited to your interests, skills and lifestyle is a great place to start. One of the most cherished benefits of living in our great country is the freedom to choose your line of work. However, it s important to keep in mind that the job you pick may have long-term ramifications. Your career choice can play a major role in determining such factors in your life such as income, social status, and your circle of friends, as well as your personal identity and sense of self-worth. Though the options can seem overwhelming, if you follow the basic steps outlined below, your medical career search can be an enjoyable and stress-free process: 1) Start with a thorough self-assessment. Identify your interests, skills, values, needs and behavioral traits to help you determine the best fit for your personality, lifestyle and what is important to you. For example, if you re a people person, a career in medical assisting or as a pharmacy technician could be an ideal fit. 2) Take time to research. Based on what you ve learned about yourself, check out various sources of occupational information to discover those health care jobs that seem to be the best match. More than likely, you will find several types of occupations that match your interests. Now you can form your list of medical career possibilities. 3) Learn more. The next step is to research job positions on your list to find out more about each one. Record pertinent information such as duties, qualifications, training, salary scales and benefits, chances for advancement, and pros and cons of

4 working conditions. You can do this through written materials, the internet, and actual conversations with workers. 4) Make a tentative career choice. Now that you have matched your needs and interests with possible medical occupations, select one that you want to pursue. Don t fret about making a wrong or definite decision at this point in time just make the best choice you can. 5) Test it out. Since it s easier to determine whether or not a job is right for you by trying it, you might consider enrolling in a related course, taking a volunteer position, shadowing an experienced employee for a day, or talking to people who work at the site. If possible, you might also consider a part-time job to test the waters. 6) Make a final decision. Based on what you have learned thus far, select an occupation you feel is the best match for you. If you have trouble doing this, you may want to consult a professional career counselor for some assistance and guidance. 7) You re almost done! If applicable, complete any necessary training or coursework needed to develop the suggested qualifications. After doing that, you should be ready to seek a position in the field you have selected with confidence. Hopefully you have found this brief outline of a career-planning program to be an inspiration as you begin to explore your choices. Good luck and have fun!

5 Top 5 Myths of Getting an Online Education Unsure whether or not online medical training is the right choice? In today s technological world, there are many options for getting an education, including taking part in an online curriculum. You may have heard that online medical courses are easier than their classroom counterparts or that you are totally on your own when you enroll - both of which are not true! Here are 5 common myths about getting an online education: 1. The quality of an online course is not as good as a traditional brick and mortar school - If you take the time to research your online school and confirm that it is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, you are going to receive a quality online education. Accreditation is a reliable indicator that you are enrolling in a quality school. Partner with a school that has the right credentials and benefit from a curriculum that has been evaluated and critiqued to conform to specific standards. 2. Online learning is easier than attending a live school - If you think that you are going to breeze through an online medical training course, think again. If anything, you have to be more dedicated to your online education - if you don t complete your assignments and lessons on a regular basis, you are not going to learn the material and you are not going to pass the course. Remember you are unsupervised in an online course - it is up to you to meet deadlines and avoid procrastination. While you have more flexibility as to when you learn, you still need to devote ample time to keep your medical training on track. 3. You are on your own with an online school - An indicator of a high-quality online school is one that offers live student support. This means that you can call and actually speak one-onone with someone when you have a question or need assistance. You should not be alone when you enroll in an online course;

6 your school should have a team of professionals available to assist you throughout your medical training. Choose a school that has an educational support and student services department - make sure that all of your educational needs are met. 4. You need to be tech-savvy to enroll in an online course - Online courses are typically designed to be user-friendly. This means that anyone - from the novice to the pro - can navigate an online course. Typically your course website will have a clear and obvious place to log in - once you provide your username and password, you will be able to access your course materials. There will be instructions on how to proceed through your course. In an online setting, the assignments, quizzes and tests will be available through your computer. You proceed through your course at your own pace and on your own schedule. 5. An online school is not as respected as a live school - Worried about health care employers not recognizing your career training? Don t! In today s educational times, more and more schools are offering online programs - in fact, it is even commonplace to get a bachelor s or master s degree online. Just make sure to check the school s credentials - including accreditation, approvals, memberships and student testimonials. A respected online school will be respected by today s employers. What are you waiting for? Partner with an online school and get the medical career training you ve always wanted. With high-quality online courses, in-depth educational materials, personalized student support and user-friendly courses, you ll be ready to build a solid foundation that sets the stage for an exciting career in the growing health care field!

7 How to Prepare for Medical Job Interviews with Confidence Going into a job interview equipped to answer the questions that are most likely to be asked will not only boost your confidence, but will also make a positive impact on your prospective health care employer. According to Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute, a practice manual for job-hunters and career-changers, there are five basic questions that will most certainly be asked in the course of an interview. Knowing what these questions are, and preparing your answers beforehand, will give you a definite advantage in your job search and enhance your employment opportunities. The research process can oftentimes result in consulting an overwhelming number of resources. However, by narrowing your focus to the five questions most likely to be posed during a job interview, you will be covering the basics of what most employers are interested in learning about you. Not only will this save valuable time, but will also serve to ease any apprehension you may have in preparing for an upcoming meeting with a prospective employer. Practice answering the following five questions to align your thoughts and nail your next interview: Q: Why are you here? A: In order to answer this question effectively, you must know why you are interested in working for this particular organization. Tell them why you want the job and demonstrate your knowledge of the company by giving specific examples based on your research. This will surely make a favorable impression on the employer.

8 Q: What can you do for us? A: An employer will always want to know what you, as a prospective employee, can do to benefit the company. Provide them with detailed examples from your past experiences, training and certifications, and relate them to the position you are seeking. For example, if you re seeking a medical coding position and you re revving up your ICD-10 background, that s a valuable skill set to share! Q: What kind of person are you? A: During the course of a face-to-face meeting, an employer has the opportunity to evaluate your personality and observe how well you carry yourself. Having prepared your answers to the five questions and being well rehearsed prior to the day of the interview, you will exude selfconfidence, giving you an overall appearance that is sure to impress the interviewer. For example, if you re seeking a pharmacy technician position, a bright smile and well-spoken individual will stand out over someone who s quiet and more introverted. Q: What is it that distinguishes you from other people who can perform the same job? A: When a prospective employer asks you what it is that makes you stand out and sets you apart among the other 19 candidates applying for the same position, your response should include qualities and specific achievements relative to the job, like certification. By making an impact on the employer in this way, they will likely want to hire you immediately.

9 Q: Can I afford you? A: If an employer asks you how much you want to be paid, it is best to state your answer as a range. This will keep you from pricing yourself out of the market for the job. Prior to the interview, be sure to research the appropriate salary expectation of your geographical area

10 How to Choose an Online School for Your Medical Training Accreditation. If your medical school isn t accredited by a qualified accrediting agency, find another school. Why? Accreditation means the school operates on a sound financial basis, has an approved study program, has qualified instructors, approved recruitment and admissions policies and advertises its courses in a factual manner. Accreditation is your assurance that the course you take will lead to a viable certificate or diploma. Online Courses. An online medical school offers many perks. For example, you can study when and where you want while juggling a job and family responsibilities. Plus, you can study at your own pace, set your own schedule and avoid gas guzzling trips to crowded classrooms. Interest-Free Pay Plan. Affording your education is a big concern. If taking out an interest-bearing loan that will require repayment at the end of your training sounds undesirable, choose a school with other options. For example, consider a training program that offers an interest-free pay plan. You can make a down payment and pay for education each month. Student Support. If you opt for online medical training, how will you get help if you need it? That depends on the online school you choose. Look for a school with an educational support department that assists students with academic inquiries and a tech support department that helps students with computer problems. You should have multiple ways to access your school s student support departments, such as and phone. Guarantee. You did your research, but how do you know if the course you purchased is really worth it? Your online school should have some kind of guarantee that allows you to return the course materials, within a specific timeframe, if you find them unsatisfactory.

11 Allied Student Benefits Student Focused 100% Online, 24/7 Access Live Support Flexible Study for Busy Schedules Finish Quicker and Start You Career Sooner High Quality Education Nationally Accredited Pass the Certification Exam or Don t Pay Promise* Comprehensive Curriculum Competitive Tuition No Unnecessary Filler Courses that Inflate Tuition Cost No General Ed Classes to Hold You Back! Interest-Free Payment Plan Available No Additional Fees Your Tuition Includes Everything You Need Career Preparation Hands On Externships Available* Résumé, Cover Letter, and Interview Prep

12 Get the support and encouragement you deserve with Allied by your side throughout each step of your training program. Learn more about Allied s online, self-paced medical training by calling or check out our courses online now: Medical Assisting Medical Billing Pharmacy Technician Medical Coding *Available for select medical programs All employment and salary statistics, projections, and information where (BLS) is indicated was collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Information may be verified by visiting