HOW TO PREPARE FOR AMEDICAL CAREER

Starting a health care career is easier than you think when you’ve done your research, understand whichmedical career fits your personality and pursue training from a school that supports you from enrollmentand beyond. Why wait? Learn how to prepare for your new medical career now!

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 whoretire 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 2008-18 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 officesof physicians.

• Wage and salary employment in the health care industry isprojected to increase 22 percent through 2016, compared with 11

percent for all industries combined.

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 well-

suited 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

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 matchedyour needs and interests with possible medical occupations, selectone 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 careercounselor 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!

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 classroomcounterparts 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 onlineeducation:

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 youthink 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 todevote ample time to keep your medical training on track.

3. You are on your own with an online school - An indicatorof a high-quality online school is one that offers live student

support. This means that you can call and actually speak one-on-

one with someone when you have a question or need assistance.

You should not be alone when you enroll in an online course;

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 thatall 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 onlineprograms - in fact, it is even commonplace to get a bachelor’s or master’sdegree online. Just make sure to check the school’s credentials - including

accreditation, approvals, memberships and student testimonials. Arespected online school will be respected by today’s employers.

What are you waiting for? Partner with an online school and get themedical 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 growinghealth care field!

How to Prepare for Medical Job Interviewswith 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.

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 self-

confidence, 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.

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

How to Choose an Online School for YourMedical 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 approvedstudy 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 aviable 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 eachmonth.

Student Support. If you opt for online medical training, how will youget 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 asemail and phone.

Guarantee. You did your research, but how do you know if thecourse 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 themunsatisfactory.

Allied Student Benefits

Student Focused

Ì 100% Online, 24/7 Access

Ì Live Support

Ì Flexible Study for Busy Schedules

Ì Finish Quicker and Start You Career Sooner

High Quality Education

Ì Nationally Accredited

Ì Pass the Certification Exam or Don’t Pay Promise*

Ì Comprehensive Curriculum

Competitive Tuition

Ì No Unnecessary Filler Courses that Inflate Tuition Cost –No General Ed Classes to Hold You Back!

Ì Interest-Free Payment Plan Available

Ì No Additional Fees – Your Tuition Includes EverythingYou Need

Career Preparation

Ì Hands On Externships Available*

Ì Résumé, Cover Letter, and Interview Prep

Get the support and encouragement you deserve with Alliedby your side throughout each step of your training program.Learn more about Allied’s online, self-paced medical training

by calling 888-822-2923 or check out our courses onlinenow:

Medical Assistingwww.medicalaa.com/medical-administrative-assistant.asp

Medical Billingwww.medicalbillingcourses.com

Pharmacy Technicianwww.pharmacytrainingonline.com

Medical Codingwww.medicalcodingcourses.com

*Available for select medical programs

All employment and salary statistics, projections, and information where “(BLS)” is indicatedwas collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Information may be verified byvisiting http://www.bls.gov/.