Job Search Resources – August Edition

A new feature we are going to unveil on our blog will take a look at different articles that offer job search resources, employability and college tips. These posts will give you advice from experts around the field, allowing you to take you job search to the next level or even to help ace that next exam. You’ll be able to find these job source resources and more on our Twitter account, so be sure to follow along there so you don’t miss a thing.

4 Job Search Excuses That Just Don’t Cut It – US News & World Report The job search process can often be arduous and downright frustrating. Don’t let hurdles keep you from your dream job and use these pieces of advice from US News & World Report to make sure you aren’t using excuses to stall your search.

Was I Right to Refuse This Job Offer? – Forbes Not every job will be right for you. In fact, you may find yourself in a tough situation of turning down a job offer after going in to interview. This article gives some great advice for that tricky situation.

7 Social Media Mistakes Job Seekers Must Avoid – CIO.com Sarah White of CIO.com offers up some terrific advice on making sure your social media profiles don’t cost you an interview or even an important call back.

Don’t Conduct a Job Search, Conduct a Company Search – Forbes An interesting article on the importance of researching and vetting the companies you may be applying with, not just jobs. As the article notes, this won’t just show you’ve done your research before an interview but it will make sure you’re applying for positions where you’ll fit the culture and attitude of the company.

How to Use Social Media to Boost Your Online Employability – OnRec.com More advice on ensuring your social media footprint compliments your job search; this time OnRec, The Online Recruitment Resource, shares tips. The most interesting point made is on using social media to stand out through innovative practices.

What Should I Wear to a Job Interview – Plus Model Magazine Unsure if you have the proper attire in your wardrobe to impress at your next interview? Give this a read to make sure you have what it takes to raise eyebrows during your job search.

Ask Matt: Are The Job Search Basics Still The Same? – StarTribune An advice column from the Minnesota Star-Tribune touches on some interesting and important topics related to resumes. This will be a great read for anyone who has been out of the job search game for some time.

7 Ways to Take Control of Your Job Search – LinkedIn.com LinkedIn’s Sarah Haydt runs through a comprehensive list of tips that will help boost any job search. Her note on posting your updated resume to job boards is a particularly helpful piece of advice.

Career Overview: Information Technology

The Information Technology field is wide and varied, as are IT careers and what they pay.

And best of all, the field is expanding. According the federal government, the number of available jobs is rising every year, faster than most other fields.

A new graduate of Bryant & Stratton College’s Networking Technology or Security Technology associate’s degree programs will likely begin their career manning the IT desk at a company. There, they keep the computer systems running and help other employees who do not have extended IT background, fix any problems they experience using the system.

These jobs often mean working odd hours, weekends and holidays since the computer systems need to be on and functioning 24 hours a day:

IT Help Desk Technician
Web Administrator

The great benefit to growing a career in information technology is that there is plenty of room in the IT career path to move upward.

More experience and more time in the classroom can quickly lead to more responsibility and better pay. IT techs can often move on to work with a company’s database, become responsible for protecting the company from cyberattacks as an information security analyst or write code to create software programs. Each of these positions comes with a substantial rise in pay. Some examples of these jobs include:

Network Administrator
Database Administrator
Information Security Analyst

Experts in the IT field who earn a doctoral degree can earn coveted positions as computer and information research scientists, a field whose median pay is roughly $100,000 a year, according to the US. Department of Labor.

Each of the IT jobs researched by the Department of Labor is growing faster than other careers. The department also reports that employees who put in the time to master the field will do well. Many of the available jobs in IT go unfilled because employers have a hard time finding workers with the skills needed for the position.

Basic facts for Computer and Information Technology, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (for 2015, the last available data)

Job Title: Computer Support Specialist

Median Pay: $ 51,470 per year ($24.75 per hour)

Number of jobs: 766,900

Rate of job growth: 12 percent

What will you study: Education requirements for IT jobs differ depending on the job. Entry level positions may only require applicants to hold an associate’s degree. Large software companies and more technical positions may require a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience.

Growth Opportunities: The nature of the IT business is changing technology. Because of this, many computer support specialists continue their education through their entire career. Also, more experience, more exposure to different systems and the ability to master the technology means employees can advance through the rank, even without an advanced degree.

Professional Resources: To learn more about careers in information technology, check out these professional associations. Each of these organizations can help you find information, connect with mentors and research job opportunities.

Association of Information Technology Professionals

Information Systems Security Association

Association for Computing Machinery

CompTIA – The IT Industry Trade Association

Association for Women in Computing

Women in Technology

Do Military Credits Earned on Active Duty Count Toward My Degree?

Do the courses you took during military training count toward your civilian degree?

The short answer is, maybe.

For military members who are working toward earning a degree, the first step to military college credit transfer is to request a joint service transcript. Members of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines can visit this DOD site and follow the step by step process to order their transcript (PDF).

While there are no limits to the number of transcripts you can order and have delivered to schools electronically, transcripts printed and delivered by the postal service are limited to two every 30 days.

Air Force members must request their transcript from the Community College of the Air Force. You can find that request form at this official site.

Individual schools do not determine what credits on those transcripts transfer to a civilian degree.

Instead, the American Council on Education evaluates every single course offered by every branch of the military. The organization sends professors from different colleges to sit through the military course and evaluate it.

The process takes time. And, in the last decade the military has re-aligned many of the MOS descriptions, and the accompanying course structures. Those new courses have yet to be evaluated and have no credit associated with them that can be transferred.

“It’s a lengthy process to quantify military training experience, put it into correct language and validate it so colleges will accept it,” explained Ed Dennis, Military and Corporate Relations Manager with Bryant & Stratton College.

Veterans should keep in mind that if they are studying for a degree that is different from their MOS, most likely, very few of their military college credits will count for their degree.

The smartest way to reduce your out of pocket expense is to not rely on transfer credits, but instead, to use the GI Bill, Dennis said. Military members who know they are getting out should begin working on their college degree while still in uniform. That way they are using funds from the tuition assistance program instead of dipping into the money the GI Bill allots them.

Many students can complete up to two years of their degree by following this plan.

Once they leave the military behind, the GI Bill may pay the remainder of the bill for their degree program.

Dennis said making a plan early on, before you leave the military, will help you earn that degree and spend less of your own money doing it.

A Student\’s Guide to ICD 10

The upcoming transition to ICD-10 is a hot topic in the healthcare community. Learn more about the transition and how Bryant & Stratton is preparing Medical Reimbursement and Coding degree students for this change.

If you’re a student earning an associates degree in medical billing and coding, then you’ve probably heard about a big change on the horizon. The field is abuzz about the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10. ICD stands for International Classification of Disease and is a United Nations-sponsored World Health Organization standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management and clinical purposes.

This guide sets the standard for how professional medical coders assign alphanumeric code(s) to a patient’s record. ICD-10 refers to two classifications, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS). ICD-10-CM will replace ICD-9-CM volumes 1 and 2 and be used to report diagnoses in all clinical settings. The other update, ICD-10-PCS, is the procedure code group that is for inpatient hospital procedures and will replace ICD-9-CM Volume 3.

The ICD-10 implementation may hit seasoned professionals harder than individuals who are just entering the field. The codes for diagnoses and procedures are both changing with the new system, so professionals who have memorized codes may find themselves referencing guidelines more often than they are accustomed to now. Chris Schenk is a certified ICD-10 trainer and has already trained many people on the new guidelines.

“People think it’s a big scary monster,” said Mr. Schenk. “But, if you can read guidelines, look up words, correlate information, you can do ICD-10.”

Today, the U.S. is one of the last countries of its economic size to still be using ICD-9, guidelines that were created over 30 years ago. Because ICD-9 was developed so long ago, it does not reflect current medical technology and intelligence, which limits how many details can be included in a record. ICD-10 increases this ability to allow for the capture of more specific diagnoses. In the new guidelines there will be approximately 70,000 codes, an increase from the 15,000 codes in ICD-9. ICD-10 also has the ability to accommodate future changes in medical technology or know-how, making it adaptable for future needs.

The ICD-10 transition date has recently been extended and will not take effect until December 31, 2015. Still, Mr. Schenk and many professional medical and coding associations encourage individuals to learn ICD-10 ahead of the new implementation. Mr. Schenk’s advice is simple.

“Get educated and read the new guidelines,” he said.

For new coders, he suggests verifying that degree programs include a background in anatomy, physiology and medical terminology before enrolling in them. Bryant & Stratton College’s associate’s degree in medical reimbursement and coding is currently teaching ICD-10 to all newly enrolled students so graduates are prepared for the upcoming transition.

If you are interested in learning more about the degrees Bryant & Stratton offers in the medical field, particularly an associate’s degree in medical billing and coding, call 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative.

A Student\’s Guide to ICD 10

“People think it’s a big scary monster,” said Mr. Schenk. “But, if you can read guidelines, look up words, correlate information, you can do ICD-10.”

“Get educated and read the new guidelines,” he said.

A Student\’s Guide to ICD 10

“People think it’s a big scary monster,” said Mr. Schenk. “But, if you can read guidelines, look up words, correlate information, you can do ICD-10.”

“Get educated and read the new guidelines,” he said.

Begin a Career in Law with a Paralegal Studies degree

Paralegal studies are an ideal path to a successful law career. For some, becoming a legal secretary or paralegal is the destination point. For others, it is an opportune starting place to work their way through law school. Either way, in order to learn the skill sets necessary to work competently in one of the most competitive career fields, it is imperative that you get the right combination of practical, theoretical, and technical training so you are adequately prepared for your future job.

At Bryant & Stratton College, we offer an associate Degree in Paralegal Studies with the goal of preparing students for a career in law. When our students graduate from the program, they are fully qualified and prepared to enter multiple paralegal career options such as:

Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal Secretaries
Legal Support Workers
Bill and Account Collectors
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Word Processors and Typists

According to the US Census Bureau, these careers have median salaries higher than average, making them appealing to both continuing and returning students. In order to stand out among the field of applicants, make sure your paralegal studies include a foundation of law and ethics, comprehensive practical and theoretical classes, as well as relevant hands-on training so you have a clear understanding of your legal strengths and interests.

Comprehensive Course Listings. In most cases, students who begin their paralegal studies have only a nominal understanding of the law. It is important the program you attend offers a wide variety of courses so you are exposed to many legal facets. Your courses should cover everything from the fundamentals of ethics and legal research, to more specific classes such as:

Contract Law
Torts and Civil Litigation
Criminal Law & Procedures
Law Office Management
Real Property
Advanced Legal Research
Domestic Relations Law

Through these courses, you will not only gain the education you need to begin working for a legal practice, you will also develop a deeper understanding of where your interests lie as you begin to prepare for your practicum and/or internship(s).

Real World Practicum. While fundamental book learning and lectures are important to learn the ABCs of law, it isn’t until you have the opportunity to put your learning to use that you will understand where your strengths lie, what aspect of law suits you, and where you envision yourself beginning a career. At Bryant & Stratton College, we ensure each of our students in the paralegal studies program has the opportunity to gain real-world internship experience in an area that interests them. During your internship, you will be supervised both academically and professionally to ensure you have the support you need to be successful.

Once you have successfully completed your paralegal studies program, you will have a deeper understanding of the ethical considerations for legal professionals, set by the American Bar Association. Additionally, you will be prepared to become certified by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

Shakespeare once wrote, “good counselors lack no clients.” Here at Bryant & Stratton, we know that good counselors require superb legal assistants and support staff. Our Paralegal Studies Associate of Applied Science Degree program will prepare you to become a superb legal professional.

Please contact the admissions office at Bryant & Stratton College for more information about our paralegal studies program. You will be one step closer to achieving your academic and professional goals.

Instructor Blog: The Keys of Information & Technological Literacy

My four-year-old asked me how snakes hear. When I said I didn’t know, she said “Can we look it up on the internet?”

I was proud of her question, even though I have no interest in learning about snakes, because it showed information literacy.

Many people think the term literacy refers only to the ability to read. However, literacy means knowledge. Another way to think of it is competency. Therefore, information literacy means knowing how to access information.

My daughter, at four, already knows that we can look things up on the internet that we don’t know. She even guessed that there would be a video about it. Information Literacy is one of the workplace capabilities listed on all supplemental syllabi. Our Virtual Library has a large amount of academic sources. Learning how to navigate it will not only help you locate academic sources for assignments, it will help you become more familiar with the databases your local library will have.

Using these databases and other credible sources will help you stay current with trends in your field and also be an informed in your community. There is nothing more powerful than being able to research a hotly debated issue and arrive at a conclusion without being swayed by inaccurate information. Another powerful skill is technology literacy. This means learning how to use technology such as software programs and programs particular to a field. It also means a basic understanding of technology to allow for greater ease with new versions of software, for example.

Students at Bryant & Stratton College will develop technology literacy through navigating Blackboard, Outlook and the eportfolio, among other programs and websites. One of the first courses new students will take is INFT 123 Computing Skills, which is focused on learning Microsoft Office. Technology literacy also involves basic troubleshooting skills.

For example if a website is not working, you would first check to make sure your internet connection was working. Then you might try a different browser, or check for needed updates on your computer. These simple steps involve an understanding of troubleshooting that is essential in any field, as well as daily life. In each of your courses you will hone your skills, and will be able to articulate your knowledge to a potential employer. In fact, information literacy can help you locate job listings. Technology literacy will give you the skills to prepare your resume and navigate an online system for job applications.

When you graduate from Bryant & Stratton College, you will be prepared for success professionally and personally!

Health Care Finance Raises Many Questions in Reform Debate

By Steven Kappel

Health care in the United States has been one of the most complex and contentious public policy issues for the last 100 years (Teddy Roosevelt’s 1912 presidential campaign included a call for a national health care system). While the organization and delivery of care have often been a part of reform discussions, financing has most often been the central reform issue, with proposals ranging from a single payer to more competition.

Most obviously, financing is a question because of the economic impact of health care. About one-sixth of the entire United States economy is accounted for by health care, from hospitals to pharmaceutical manufacturers. Even more striking than the size of the health care economy is the rate at which it is growing. In 1960, health care accounted for just over 5 percent of the U.S. economy. By 1990, that figure was 12.5 percent. In 2011, health care was 17.9 percent of the U.S. economy, putting pressure on wages and prices throughout the entire economy.

However, the overall cost of care and its rate of growth are only part of the problem. How those costs are distributed across the population is an equally important and difficult question. Should wealthier individuals pay more than those with fewer resources? Should behavioral choices such as smoking affect contribution?

These questions are mirrored when we think about payment for health services. How should payments be calculated, both within a specific profession (primary care physicians and surgeons) and across professions (nurse practitioners and physicians)? Should the amount paid for a service reflect its value (to the patient? to society?), or the cost to produce it?

Ultimately, the question that lives at the heart of the reform debate – like many other public policy questions – is who gets what when? Put in slightly different terms, who says no? Health care financing is always a balancing act between what we want or need and what we can afford (and who that “we” is). How should that balance be maintained and whose responsibility is it? Government? Private insurers? Do we prefer a market solution – by which we manage this balancing act in many areas of our lives? Or is health care something different, like education – something to which we as citizens have some level of entitlement? Is this entitlement limited or unlimited?

While financial questions are often defined arithmetically, financing questions in health care also have a powerful ethical dimension. Do we have obligations to others? If so, how do we choose to structure those obligations? As Richard Lamm, former Governor of Colorado has said, “Making a budget is the deepest expression of one’s values and priorities.”

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