Day: March 10, 2020

IT Online Training Courses – Become a Leader on Your Own Terms

If you’re one of those lucky young people who knows exactly what you want to do with your life, then congratulations. However, these days, by the time people enter the collegiate realm, put themselves through school, or get a job to begin supporting their family – the career vision can evolve multiple times. Successful IT online training courses can transform a basic skill set or a general knowledge/interest into more specific and marketable abilities.
Keep Ahead of the Game
In a competitive job market, you want to be able to demonstrate that you have the best training, and are well versed in the most up and coming technological trends. IT is so much more than fixing computers and developing software. You need to be thinking in terms of mobile application development, IT management opportunities, and IT security, so you can market yourself appropriately to a wide range of prospective employers.
Diversify Your Skill Set
So, you think you want to become a computer programmer? Exposure to the right training can help you to diversify your skill sets so that you become a programmer with a credible knowledge of software development for applications or system software. Your computer networking classes can help you to develop various niche skills, such as computer systems analysis or network and computer systems administration. Exposure to these microcosms of the IT umbrella will provide more well-rounded skills and abilities.
Hone Your Skills
Don’t get too comfortable once you have completed your program. Check back with your college and take advantage of new classes and training which will continue to enhance and enrich your technical abilities. The flexibility offered by your online college will make it easy to take a class here and there – at your convenience – to keep in touch with the latest technology trends, and/or to add to your current degree.
The right IT online training courses will keep your technical abilities sharp, and give you the competitive edge in the applicant pool.

4 Reasons to Contact your Dream Company Today

The job market continues to be competitive and job seekers looking for career information may find this tidbit helpful: do not wait for your dream company to contact you. If you wait for a company to contact you or post a job opening, you may be losing key opportunities. Still not sure that proactively reaching out to a company is in your best interest? Below are four reasons why it could help your job search efforts.
Demonstrates You’re A Self-Starter
Companies are looking for employees who seek out challenges and don’t need a manager to push them. By reaching out a company on your own, you’re demonstrating the work ethic you will bring to their team and that will help you stand out among other job seekers.
Proves You Are Passionate
Employers often complain about the template cover letters and communications they receive from job seekers. Companies want to know that you care about the mission and values of the organization, because invested employees are better at their job and contribute more to company goals. When you proactively reach out you are effectively saying, “out of all the companies out there, I want work for you.”
Quality Over Quantity
Reaching out to employers on your own also supports a healthy quality over quantity approach to job seeking. It can be tempting to simply blast out your resume and hope a company responds. But, career information experts often advise that job seekers should be more selective in their approach. By narrowing your job search you are more likely to end up in a career where you’re challenged and happy, rather than just a job.
Creates An Opportunity For An Informational Interview
Even if a company is not hiring, if you want to work for them you should contact them. Much of landing a job is networking and who better to network with then the people you want to hire you. Asking for an informational interview can be a great foot in the door as well as a way to learn about an industry. You can ask for resume help, their best career advice or talk about trends in the industry. Whatever you do, don’t flat out ask to be hired. Keep in mind that this is an informational interview and you don’t want the person you’re meeting with to feel like your after something more.
Being proactive in your job search will take more effort but you’ll experience a lot of benefits from that work. In terms of career management, you’ll be thankful that you put forth the extra time! If you’re looking for a career change or to advance your current career, check out the degrees offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online by calling 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative.

A Future Entrepreneur Soars to New Heights at UVM

To call Tyler Brown motivated is a serious understatement.
The 22-year-old is the former director of operations at the Vermont Flight Academy. Now he’s a full-time student at the UVM School of Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA. He’s running for student government and recently joined the accounting club. Oh, and he plays a little intramural broomball, too.
A 2010 graduate of South Burlington High School, Brown attended the Burlington Technical Center and completed the post-secondary aviation technology program. While in high school and at the technical center, he won state and national awards in aviation maintenance from Skills USA, a national organization serving teachers as well as high school and college students preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations.
It wasn’t long after the aviation program when he landed a job at Vermont Flight Academy to provide technical help with computers. He eventually worked his way up to director of operations, which involved maintenance and administrative work. After a month on the job, he told the president of the company that he wanted to contract out maintenance and focus solely on the business aspect.
“Back in high school, I wanted to be an aerospace engineer and get my Ph.D. Then I wanted to do aviation maintenance, and then maybe own my own shop. I thought I wanted to be a pilot. It’s never been just one thing I wanted to do,” he says. “But I kept thinking about business, and I realized that was my passion. My father owns an electrical company, so I’ve always had a little business blood in me.”
Brown pilots two-seater Cessna 152 and four-seater Cessna 172 planes. When he started at Vermont Flight Academy, the company had two planes and two instructors. Now it has 13 planes, four simulators, plus six full-time and six part-time instructors.
non-traditional-college-student

UVM student Tyler Brown
Brown wanted a college education and attended Vermont Technical College for a semester when he thought he still wanted to pursue aviation maintenance. But as it became clear that business was what he really wanted, Brown decided to go to UVM. He transferred into the College of Arts and Sciences last fall and was accepted to the UVM School of Business Administration in January.
To meet new people and immerse himself in the college experience, Brown participated in a broomball team in the fall and recently joined the accounting club. He is also running for student government.
While he’s juggling a full course load, he continues to work at the Vermont Flight Academy in an advisory role.
Even though he’s no longer the director of operations, Brown still manages the books, works with maintenance contractors, and consults with his successor. He is also working with Green Mountain Software to help develop and market an aviation app.
He also plans to graduate from UVM within three years.
How does he do it all?
“No sleep,” he quips. “I like to think that if I’m not stressed, I’m dead.”
Scott Tighe, a molecular biologist and manages the advanced genomics facility at the UVM Cancer Center, met Brown three years ago at the Vermont Flight Academy while he was learning to fly.
“Tyler ran Vermont Flight Academy and ran it very well. He kept planes rolling and addressing every single customer’s needs,” Tighe says. “Tyler is take charge, motivated, but careful not to overstep his bounds. He is very smart and listens to other people’s comments before he chimes in on a subject. He is a textbook case of a go-getter.”

The Path to College as a Non-Traditional College Student

Brown is savvy with technology, and clearly has a knack for business and multi-tasking. It’s easy to see him as a CEO of a tech company or founder of a blockbuster start-up. Was going back to school at 22 really necessary? Brown believes a college degree is what he needs to truly succeed in the business world, especially as a technology entrepreneur.
“I highly value education. It’s not just what you get out of it, but (earning a degree) also shows you are dedicated to expand your knowledge in a particular career path,” he says. “Learning on the job is one thing, but being in school is entirely different. I’ve had so many road blocks in my career so far because I’m young and didn’t have my degree. If you are young and without a degree, it’s difficult.”
Brown also sees being at UVM as a way to network, build connections, and do informal market research with his peers. “That’s what business is. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
His one regret? Not going straight to college right after high school.
“My friends here at UVM call me ‘Gramps,’” he jokes. “But really, at the same time, it’s never too late to go back to school. I take school very seriously because I’ve been out of school for a few years. I hold myself to a very high standard, and I think that people who generally take time off between high school and college have more respect for education when they return.”

What’s next for Brown?

“Aviation is not as important to me now, and it’s a hard business,” he says. “The work I’ve done has been rewarding, but now I want to create my own company

Should Every Child Get a Flu Shot?

Because the flu is more dangerous for children than the common cold, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that all children over 6 months old get a flu shot. Each year, complications from the flu send an average of 20,000 children under age 5 to the hospital. Some children die; in 2012-13, 167 children were lost to the flu.
“The flu is here every year, and every year we have to be prepared, and the best way to protect yourself and your family is to get a flu shot,” said Dr. Jan Carney, associate dean for public health, professor of medicine and lead faculty for the University of Vermont’s online graduate public health certificate program. “Even at the start of flu season, it’s not too late to get a flu shot. If you haven’t already, make sure you follow the Department of Health’s recommendations and get vaccinated.”
Dr. Carney suggests that parents:
The CDC especially recommends the flu shot for children younger than age 5, and children of any age with a long-term health condition like asthma, diabetes or disorders of the brain or nervous system. Children with such health conditions are at risk of serious flu complications, such as pneumonia.
In addition, adults who come in contact with children under age 5 or with children with serious health conditions also should get a flu shot. The 2013-2014 flu vaccine protects people against the influenza viruses most likely to cause illness this year. With few exceptions, the CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months get a flu shot – every year.

Common Workplace Mistakes Made by Newbies

If you are stepping into your first “real” job after college you probably have a mixed bag of feelings about it. It’s exciting to meet new people, have new responsibilities and contribute to your new company’s goals. And it’s also little scary. That’s just how it goes when you’re a newbie, but that’s a bad thing. Some mistakes are expected and they are easy to avoid or correct as long as you are aware of them. Here are a few:workers hiding behind cubicle
  1. Flying Solo
“Although you’re new to the company, you’ll need the support of others to succeed in your career,” said Ericka Spradley, career coach and author. “Oftentimes, new employees fail because they don’t have a success team. As you partner with your leader, discuss mentoring options; as you progress in your role, identify those who have succeeded where you see yourself,” she added. And remember, employers hire a diverse workforce on purpose. Interact with people who have diverse thoughts, ideas and perspectives, not only with other recent grads.
  1. Staying in the dark
New employees often have to do a lot of reading and that can get quite boring and confusing. Mix things up a little to show interest in learning all you can. Jot down questions that come up while reading and use them as conversation starters that help enlighten you about things that are unwritten or not so obvious. “The beginning of your job is the time to ask questions. Your new co-workers expect you to be curious and are willing to help if you ask them. Plus, this will help you build professional relationships,” said Deborah Brown-Volkman, career coach and president of Surpass Your Dreams (www.surpassyourdreams.com).
  1. Not understanding your value
You don’t have to be a know-it-all or expert when you walk in the door, but know that you were hired for a reason: your employer is making an investment to fill a need. That investment in you is evidence that you bring something of value to the table. It may be hard skills, like computer programming or dental hygiene techniques, or equally valuable soft skills that newbies often bring:  energy, enthusiasm, passion and new ideas.
  1. Mismanaging time
“Because you’re new and may not be able to function independently for the first 90 days or so, you may have “breaks” in your day. These breaks occur because tasks are completed sooner than anticipated but employers still expect productivity,” said Spradley. “New grads may use these breaks to surf the internet or share social media updates, but a better use of this time may be: navigating the company’s intranet to understand policy, relevant news, employer updates; asking for more tasks or staying abreast of training,” she added. Brown-Volkman believes being a newbie is a state of mind. “If you feel bad about it, then it will be harder for you to adjust. Hold you head up high, put your shoulders back and watch how you carry yourself,” she said.

Common Questions about Criminal Justice Studies

There are some common misconceptions when it comes to the criminal justice field. You may have wondered: \”What can I do with a criminal justice degree?” Sit back and learn some of the finer points about the degree and potential careers in the field.
What do you think of when you think of criminal justice? Sexy crime scene investigators in Miami? “Gumshoes” in trench coats?
Hopefully you are laughing at those outdated stereotypes. Very few criminal justice positions look like what you see on TV. But that doesn’t mean the field can’t be a fulfilling and exciting career path. If you are considering earning a criminal justice degree online or in a traditional classroom then knowing the answers to a few common questions will start you off on the right foot. Take a look at the tidbits below to find out more about the field of criminal justice.

How do I know if Criminal Justice Studies is right for me?

If you like the idea of protecting and serving people in your community then Criminal Justice Studies could be a good fit. Likewise, working in criminal justice could help you take an interest in the law and turn it into a career. Enjoying working with people, piecing together different parts of a problem to come up with a solution, and believing that all people deserve to be treated well and equally could mean this is the right field for you.

What will I learn?

As part of many degree programs you can expect to develop a broad understanding of the U.S. criminal justice system by studying its aspects including law enforcement, courts, corrections and private security. Subjects may also include the nature and effects of criminal and delinquent behavior, state and federal court systems, correctional organizations and various law enforcement agencies. If you earn a criminal justice Bachelor\’s degree you will also learn about criminal law and procedures to resolving ethical issues and managing the human and business side of criminal justice.

What can I do with my degree?

Earning a Criminal Justice Studies degree offers many career paths. Examples include corrections officer, legal assistant, loss prevention specialist, police officer, security manager, and social and human services assistant. Be sure to research individual career paths to see what kind of degree they recommend. You can also check out our blog on Career Ideas for Criminal Justice Studies majors for more details on each career path.

What are the career projections for criminal justice fields?

There are different projections for the various career criminal justice career paths. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), police officers and detectives have a slower than average predicted growth. Those professions are expected to grow 4 percent by 2024, slower than the national average. Probation officers, correctional treatment specialists, security guards and legal assistants also have a 4% predicted growth rate

Where will I work?

Graduates with a Criminal Justice Studies degree work in many settings. Some work for private companies like a law firm, retail store or a corporation. Individuals may also pursue a public sector position working for the federal, state or local government or a non-profit organization.
If a career in criminal justice sounds interesting, consider enrolling in Bryant & Stratton College associates degree in Criminal Justice Studies or a Criminal Justice & Security Services diploma. You can learn more by calling 1.888.447.3528 and speaking with an admissions representative.
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DEAR REWORKER: WHAT BELONGS IN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK?

Dear ReWorker,
My company has an Employee Manual stating company policies on vacation, sick time, tardiness, overtime, absences, conduct, appearance, drug testing, etc. We do not, however, spell out company policy regarding the day-to-day operation of our business.
We would like to start issuing written warnings to employees that violate operational policies by being rude to customers, charging items to customers with bad credit, not returning items to vendors in a timely manner and breaking other rules. Can we issue written warnings to employees that violate policies not included in the manual, or does every policy have to be spelled out before we reprimand our employees?
Sincerely,
Pondering Policy
___________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Pondering,
The short answer is yes, you can issue a warning even if the policy isn\’t included in the employee manual (or handbook).
It\’s worth discussing, however, what should be in the employee handbook to ensure that both employers and employees have a holistic document to use for different types of situations.
An employee handbook is a governing document for the company, which means it should include content that applies to everyone. While a concept such as \”rudeness to customers\” can be covered in the Code of Conduct section (employees shouldn\’t be rude to anyone, period), how items are returned to vendors only applies to the department that handles returns. Those types of policies are best left to individual departments and job descriptions. As long as your handbook is written properly, individual managers can come up with requirements for day-to-day operations, and write people up when necessary.
Companies are legally bound by their handbook, so make sure yours is both legally accurate and has policies that you\’re willing and able to defend in court. Make sure you avoid these common legal pitfalls.

Forgetting Local Law

Employment law is complex on the federal as well as the local level. For example, federal law governs whether or not someone is eligible for overtime pay (Fair Labor Standards Act, FLSA), how to handle employees and candidates with disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA) and what qualifies as a legally protected leave of absence (Family Medical Leave Act, FMLA).
But there are also local laws that oversee the same areas. In Connecticut, for instance, non-exempt service workers are entitled to 40 hours of sick leave each year. Connecticut employers must offer at least that many hours, but can offer up to 80 hours if they prefer. They can even choose to extend the benefit to salaried exempt employees.

Accidentally Making a Contract

Many companies observe a 90-day probationary period after hiring a new employee, but what happens when the employee hits 91 days? Is that employee then \”permanent\”? You have to be careful with your wording here—unless you live in Montana, all workers are, by default, \”at-will\” employees, which means you can terminate them with or without reason whenever you want(as long as it isn\’t prohibited by law), and they can quit at any time (with or without notice) as well.
A handbook that states that an employee becomes \”permanent\” after a probationary period can negate that at-will status. The handbook is a binding contract, and if you\’re not deliberate with your wording throughout its entirety, you could wind up in a problematic situation.

Omitting Important Policies

Your handbook needs to include policies for vacations (how much you offer, how it\’s accrued or granted, whether it\’s paid out when someone leaves, etc), sickness (when are doctor\’s notes required, if ever), internal transfers, working from home, using company equipment and any other rules that have to be fair and consistent across the organization.
It\’s important to remember that handbooks don\’t have to cover every little thing, but the rules that are included must be accurate and carefully explained. Always have your handbook reviewed by an employment attorney, just to be safe.
With that said, don\’t feel any guilt about writing someone up for violating a tenant of their specific job, even if it\’s not listed in the employee handbook. Your duty as a manager is to ensure workers do their job well, so feel free to give them a warning when it\’s appropriate.
Sincerely,
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Careers in Healthcare with Online Certificate Programs

If you are interested in pursuing a profession which helps people, offers a variety of different work environments, and provides multiple outlets for professional advancement, a career in healthcare is a perfect fit. The healthcare industry encompasses a seemingly infinite array of positions, from administration and billing professionals, nurses and doctors, to upper-level management positions. One thing they all have in common is they require some form of certification and/or degree before you can be considered for employment.
Fortunately, no matter how busy you are, online certificate programs make it easy and affordable for you to receive the qualifications you need to obtain a satisfying career in healthcare. Healthcare certification programs online are flexible enough to work with any schedule.
  • Are you a single mom?
  • Are you tired of working full-time without any hope of career advancement?
  • Do you regret that you never received any education after high school?
Consider how jobs in healthcare can transform your life.
Healthcare Certifications List with Encouraging Employment Growth Rates
Here are some of the healthcare certifications which have encouraging job outlook statistics, based on reports published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to needing qualified applicants, these healthcare professions have higher-than-average salaries and provide plenty of opportunity for you to climb the career advancement ladder:
Health Services Administration
As opportunities for jobs in healthcare continue to increase, so does the need for superior management. An online degree in health services administration provides a comprehensive education in multiple aspects of the health arena: financial, legal, medical, and theoretical. It will also provide a solid foundation in management skills and practices. The need for health services administrators is expected to increase by 22% over the next several years with a  median salary as high as $84,000 per year. This is one of the most desirable careers in healthcare.
Medical Reimbursement and Coding
It’s one thing to work as an office assistant for a company that does medical reimbursement and coding, but once you receive your online degree, you will wonder why you didn’t do it years ago. Whether you choose to work in-house for an established medical billing corporation, work free-lance for local doctors, chiropractors, or medical facilities in your area, or choose to start your own medical billing business, this degree will make you an independent agent for your own career success. To make yourself an even more desirable applicant, you can diversify your coding expertise across both Physician Coding and Hospital/inpatient coding.
Medical Administration Assistant
Even with experience as a traditional Administrative Assistant backing you, your lack of medical terms, medical billing and coding, and medical software may stop you from obtaining a job in a medical office. The work is fast-paced and there is a need for qualified people who can fill the role with minimal on-the-job training and hit the ground running. By getting your degree as a Medical Administration Assistant, you open the doors to more exciting job opportunities and higher pay.
If you’re ready to advance your career horizons and spend your working time in a profession which is exciting, fast-paced, and devoted to healing people, pursuing an online certification and/or degree focused on careers in healthcare is your first step towards professional success.
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Researching Careers on LinkedIn

Before you start applying for jobs, it helps to know as much as possible about the types of jobs that will best fit your skills, and to get the broadest-possible frame for how many ways you might develop your career. Happily, LinkedIn has been developing a terrific tool to help you do just that and do a LinkedIn job search at the same time.
It’s called the “Skills & Expertise” section, and you can find it by clicking on the “More” tab at the far right end of the LinkedIn tabs shown across the top of the page. This will bring up a selection of options; you want to click on the one that says “Skills.”
This will bring up a page with a Search box where you can enter the career title or skill or keyword you’re interested in, and then all sorts of cool stuff will be presented for you to explore. For example, you’ll see information about:
Career description. In the center top of the page, there’s a description of that role, and the primary industry of which it’s a part (keep in mind, however, that these career profiles/descriptions are taken from Wikipedia, so some of them are right on target while others, shall we say, miss the mark?). In the description box, there’s also a small arrow pointing up or down with a number; this indicates the amount of growth (or contraction) going on in that career.
Related skills. To the left of the description is a list of “Related Skills” that like the career description, are a bit diverse in how on-target they are (for example, a search on libraries brings up baths, closets, and model homes as related skills in addition to other very relevant terms). Essentially, this section generally pulls up other careers that use skills similar to the ones in your search term, so you can see a potentially broader universe of opportunities for your skills.
LinkedIn members whose jobs include your search term. Doing a search on the term nursing, for example, brings up a list of “Nursing Professionals” on LinkedIn, so you can check out their profiles, where they work, what their career track has looked like, and what keywords they use to describe themselves and their work (to help you determine what keywords you want to use in your profile and search on for additional career info). You’ll also be able to see if anyone you know or are connected to through LinkedIn shows up in this list (LinkedIn will point them out for you).
The relative growth of this career path. Located at the top of the search-results page is a box that provides information about what aspects of the profession are growing or contracting. In the results for nursing, for example, two areas of better-than-average growth are midwifery and nurse practitioners.
Major employers in this field. Under a section title “Related Companies” (right-hand side of the search-results page), you’ll find a list of the major employers in your area of interest. Click on their name, and you’ll be taken to their company page, where you can explore more about them, their career opportunities, and job openings.
LinkedIn groups related to this career path. Most major professional associations now have LinkedIn groups where people can exchange information, talk about trends and issues, and connect with others in their field. Under “Nursing Groups” (lower left side of the page) you’ll find four groups: American Organization of Nurse Executives (3,837 members), Nursing Network (7,449 members), The R.N. Network (6,337 members), and the American Nurses Association (4,515 members). This section tells you a bit about the LinkedIn group then provides a “Join” button so you can join the group. Why join groups like these? To learn more about what people in this career do, where they work, what their concerns are, and reach out to them to start building your professional network.
Job listings. You may not be ready to apply for jobs yet, but there’s still great value in reading about various job descriptions in your potential career path. You have a chance to see what skills are expected, what aspects of the work are likely to appeal to you (or not), what employers look like they offer the best/most interesting opportunities, and what keywords seem to be used most commonly, so you can be sure you have these in your LinkedIn profile.
If you’re just starting your career, the LinkedIn “Skills & Expertise” section provides a great place from which to launch your career-exploration efforts, both in what potential job opportunities might look like, and who might be able to help you go after some of those opportunities when you’re ready to do so. If you’re already well into your career, this section can help you decide how to keep growing in your existing area, or learn more in preparation for a career change.
For more information about Bryant & Stratton\’s Career help for students click here: https://www.bryantstratton.edu/career-life-prep
About the Author
Acclaimed Career Coach, Kim Dority is a frequent presenter for Bryant & Stratton College Online. Dority is an information specialist, consultant, career coach, published author and adjunct professor at the University of Denver in Colorado. She has written extensively on career development for students and new graduates and is a frequent presenter, lecturer and panelist on career-related topics. Kim’s areas of expertise include professional branding, career transitions and career sustainability.

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Should Every Child Get a Flu Shot?

Because the flu is more dangerous for children than the common cold, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that all children over 6 months old get a flu shot. Each year, complications from the flu send an average of 20,000 children under age 5 to the hospital. Some children die; in 2012-13, 167 children were lost to the flu.
“The flu is here every year, and every year we have to be prepared, and the best way to protect yourself and your family is to get a flu shot,” said Dr. Jan Carney, associate dean for public health, professor of medicine and lead faculty for the University of Vermont’s online graduate public health certificate program. “Even at the start of flu season, it’s not too late to get a flu shot. If you haven’t already, make sure you follow the Department of Health’s recommendations and get vaccinated.”
Dr. Carney suggests that parents:
The CDC especially recommends the flu shot for children younger than age 5, and children of any age with a long-term health condition like asthma, diabetes or disorders of the brain or nervous system. Children with such health conditions are at risk of serious flu complications, such as pneumonia.
In addition, adults who come in contact with children under age 5 or with children with serious health conditions also should get a flu shot. The 2013-2014 flu vaccine protects people against the influenza viruses most likely to cause illness this year. With few exceptions, the CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months get a flu shot – every year.
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Advice from a Paralegal

There are a lot of factors to consider when pursuing a career as a paralegal.  In this role you will be the right-hand assistant to lawyers and other legal professionals.
The job requires certain skills and personality traits, paired with the right training and credentials. Ann Atkinson, advanced certified paralegal and president of the National Association for Legal Assistants (NALA), offered the following advice to aspiring paralegal professionals.
Hone Your Administrative Skills Depending on the area of law in which you are employed (eg. litigation law, family law, etc.), your duties as a paralegal may vary. However, Atkinson said the position generally requires strong writing and administrative skills.
“Being organized is key,” she added.
You will likely be responsible for drafting cover letters, legal documents, and other important writing projects. You also will be responsible for working with clients, and in many cases, you may be the first person a client interacts with when they contact the firm. Accordingly, being personable is a must.
Get Your Associates Degree There are no education requirements for paralegals, but that doesn’t mean training and certifications are unnecessary. According to Atkinson, every business has its own set of standards for employees, and having higher credentials may set you apart from other candidates when applying for a job. If you are already employed, consider asking about tuition reimbursement programs for a traditional program or online school. Earning an associate\’s degree in paralegal studies can help to set you apart from other job seekers down the road.
Earn Additional Credentials Paralegal professionals can also earn their certified paralegal credential (CPL) through national organizations, like NALA. Individuals earn their certification by successfully completing the exam offered by the association. In addition to the basic certification exam, NALA also offers an advanced paralegal certification (APC), which allows paralegals to specialize in a particular area of law. While statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that employment for paralegals and legal assistants is expected to grow, Atkinson said the job market is still very competitive. Getting certified through a national organization (in addition to earning an associate’s degree, paralegal studies) is critical in boosting your chances of getting hired.
Join an Association When you earn your certification through NALA, you are granted a one-year membership to the organization. Being an active member of a paralegal organization allows you to participate in leadership training and continuing education seminars, as well as networking events where you can build important connections with others in the field. These opportunities for professional development will play a large role in your budding career.
Be Flexible in Your Job Search Your search for a position as a paralegal should not be limited to law firms. There are plenty of companies that employ paralegals as part of their internal legal departments. Insurance companies, banks and real estate agencies are just a few examples. Be broad in your search for employment.
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