Did you miss the Health Studies Career Night, but are still interested in the information provided? Well, although you did miss the opportunity to directly communicate and network with professionals working in what may be your future career field, this blog post may help you.

The panel, moderated by Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Studies (DHS) Kathleen Holton, and co-hosted by DHS and AU Career Center, consisted of four alumni:

Each speaker talked about the most and least favorite aspects of their careers, as well as gave advice to aid students’ future success, which is shared below.

There are various ways to go about entering a career in the health field. This information was posted at https://www.vocationaltraininghq.com/how-to-become/home-health-aide/ for longevity and so people that did not attend could peruse online. While Bergstrom simply applied through USA Jobs, this may be difficult as it is a competitive process, in which your resume has to stand out to employers from hundreds of others. Other panelists recommend that students work their networks to obtain a job lead, or get connected to someone from the organization you are interested in.

At times, your personality may be enough to get your foot in the door; the issue is displaying your character to employers. Before starting a new job you should talk to Labor Law Compliance Center, and make sure you are not working for less then what you should be. Morgan managed to get an interview with the Urban Institute by calling the institution and talking to an executive. This allowed him to add a personal touch to the application process, which cannot always be included in a resume submission.

Panelists recommend that students complete internships and treat each internship as a learning experience and utilize all connections gained.  Internships can also clarify your career goals and preferences. Prevou said, “Knowing what you don’t want to do at times is just as helpful as knowing what you do want to do.” At the same time, all panelists agreed that students should not jeopardize their peace of mind and sleep to work multiple internships at one time just to buff up a resume.

No matter your desired job, all panelists recommended that students obtain basic research skills and knowledge of statistical programs, such as SAS, SPSS and Excel. AU offers courses and access to some of these programs through the Center for Teaching, Research and Learning (CTRL) if you have not learned them already.

Knowledge of medical terms and anatomy also allows easy communication across job fields. While this may not be stressed in the interview, such knowledge may be necessary to learn on the job – so why not pick it up sooner rather than later?

Lastly, knowing email etiquette and how to follow-up may be the most beneficial and necessary job skill in any field. Email are often the first form of communication between an employer and employee. Therefore learn how to make your emails sound professional and friendly, but with a hint of your personality.

While there will always be a learning curve when entering a new job, panelists stressed that students should not be nervous about it. After all, they did hire you! Still, be ready to put in the necessary effort to grow in your career. Listen, ask questions and do your best.

UVM’s Digital Marketing Fundamentals program continues to be the highest ranking online digital marketing certificate program by BestDegreesMarketing.org. The website ranks the 20 best online digital marketing certificate programs and was established to provide research and insight into current marketing education.

UVM secured the number one spot two years in a row, followed by Duke University and DePaul University. The 2017-18 list was based on tuition and core course content, including content marketing, email strategies, pay-per-click platforms, SEO and SEM, mobile marketing, social media, and data analytics.

The 12-week UVM Digital Marketing Fundamentals Certificate program requires about 8-10 hours of course study per week. Taught by seasoned professionals, the program is designed to accommodate professionals looking to jump start their careers in digital marketing, whether they are starting from scratch or making a change mid-career.

“To be a successful digital marketing professional in today’s changing landscape requires more than a blog, Facebook page, banner ad or email address. Success is based on understanding how to connect with a customer’s needs and wants,” says Erik Harbison, CMO at AWeber Communications and lead instructor for the UVM program. “This course is designed to educate students on the core and emerging channels of digital marketing. Students will gain a new understanding for the ‘how’ behind these channels and why these channels are critical for solving the marketing challenges of brands today.”

“I decided to enroll in the UVM Digital Marketing Fundamentals Program to learn new ways to grow the Trimaco business with one of our key customers, The Home Depot,” said Digital Marketing student Bill Dunwoodie. “The diversity of background and experience of all my instructors provided far more insights than I anticipated. I can now plan with a fresh confidence and deeper insights our digital / online business with Home Depot. I highly recommend the class. ”

UVM was given the top spot on the BestDegreesMarketing.org ranking because it’s one of the most affordable and fast-paced programs on the list, offering a tuition rate of $1,695

The praise or criticism of your references can influence whether you are offered a position.  It is therefore important to consider these tips:

*Think about who you ask: You may want to ask a friend or family member that you have known personally.  However, it is important to ask those that KNOW YOUR WORK. For example: a former supervisor, a professor that was your advisor or that you took a class from, a colleague would all be people to consider.

*How to Ask: Do not assume that someone will want to be your reference. Be courteous and professional by meeting, sending an email or calling. Also, ask if they prefer to be contacted by phone or email. Provide your reference with your resume and let them know the types of positions you are targeting.

*When to Ask: If you are looking for a job, you should ask as soon as possible. Do not wait until you have a deadline to meet.

*Update References: When a potential employer informs you that they are going to check your references, contact your reference and send them a link to the job description. This will help them provide feedback that is focused on the position, not just random comments.

*Follow-Up: Let your references know how your job search is going and thank them for providing a reference regardless of whether you were offered the position or not. If you get the job, provide them with your new contact information and stay in touch.

Following these tips will help you to manage this aspect of the job search successfully!