Want a Career in Public Health? Northern New England is the Place for Public Health.

Some of the fastest growing public health careers in the United States include biostaticians and epidemiologists. Many of those careers are experiencing growth rates of up to 27 percent over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Not bad, considering that overall employment is projected to increase by 14 percent.
But what about northern New England? If you want to live and work in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine, what is the outlook for jobs in public health?
The health care and social assistance sector – which includes jobs in public health – is growing faster than other industries in northern New England, the BLS notes.
VermontSimilar to the rest of the region and the country, Vermont is expected to see a surge in health care jobs over the next decade. The health care and social assistance sector is expected to grow 15 percent, compared to 8.2 percent for all jobs in the Green Mountain State.
The job growth rate projected for public health careers includes:
  • Health educators, 21.3 percent
  • Health care social workers, 19.3 percent
  • Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, 11 percent
  • Social and community service managers, 10 percent
  • Medical and health services managers, 10 percent
  • Community and social service specialists, 9.3 percent
  • Statisticians, 5 percent
  • Occupational health and safety specialists, 3 percent
New HampshireThe Granite State is expected to see a 24 percent jump in the number of health care and social assistance jobs over the next decade, compared to 10.4 percent growth for total employment. Put into perspective: The health care industry will account for nearly 30 percent of all new jobs in New Hampshire over the next decade.
The field of public health will see tremendous job growth compared to other fields:
  • Health educators, 37.2 percent
  • Medical and public health social workers, 28.3 percent
  • Social and community service managers, 22.3 percent
  • Community and social service specialists, 20.1 percent
  • Medical and health services managers, 18.9 percent
  • Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, 17.9 percent
  • Statisticians, 9.4 percent
  • Occupational health and safety specialists, 8.2 percent
MaineAs Mainers age, the state will experience numerous job openings. The health and social assistance sector – where approximately a quarter of the workforce is over age 55 – faces the most retirements. Couple that with the fact that Maine is the “oldest” state in the nation – with numerous health care needs for its aging population – and you can understand why the state is concerned about finding more health care workers.
Jobs in the health and social assistance sector are expected to grow nearly 16 percent, the highest of any industry in the state. That compares to a 5.5 percent increase for total employment.
Most of the careers in public health will follow this growth trend. Among them:
  • Health educators, 24.2 percent
  • Medical and public health social workers, 18.5 percent
  • Medical and health services managers, 15.9 percent
  • Epidemiologists, 15.2 percent
  • Statisticians, 4.8 percent
  • Social and community service managers, 4.3 percent
  • Community and social service specialists, 3.6 percent
  • Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, 1.9 percent
If you are planning on working in Public Health, Northern New England is following the national trend of seeing an increase in jobs in health care and social assistance sector, which will create 28 percent of new jobs over the next decade in the United States

5 Reasons to Take an Online Course This Fall

As the summer continues, your mind may begin to return to more academic topics. After all, the fall semester will be here before you know it. Chances are that you have already selected all or most of your fall courses, but perhaps you are now reconsidering your class schedule—whether by choice, or because circumstances demand it. As you ponder your schedule, consider adding an online course to the mix. Why? Here are five reasons to take an online course this fall:
  1. An online class can offer you flexibility
Registering for multiple preferred courses during a single semester can often be near-impossible. Luckily, online classes offer scheduling flexibility that traditional courses simply cannot rival. For instance, certain online classes allow you to complete work on your own time. This flexibility can enable you to squeeze another course into your schedule, or to balance school with full-time work.
  1. Your options may be broader
In addition to offering scheduling flexibility, online class catalogues may have a wider reach than in-person class catalogues—in other words, they may boast a larger variety of courses. This may even allow you to sign up for a class that is not offered on campus at your school. Such a course may be essential to your career path and major/minor, or it may be in a subject of personal interest.Bryant & Stratton College Online Student
  1. An online class may save you money
Online courses are often less expensive than traditional in-person classes (though this is not always the case). Given the cost of college tuition and the likely possibility of graduating with debt, this can be a very appealing quality of online courses. Set aside time to compare costs, and if you believe that it will save you a significant amount of money, consider at least one online class this fall.
  1. You may earn needed credit
You may be taking an online course to supplement your existing class schedule, or it may be a task that you are completing while you work full-time or embark on a gap year. Whatever your situation, the credits you acquire may be transferable to multiple colleges and universities. Just ensure that the course you select is offered by an accredited program.
  1. You will strengthen key academic skills
Because online classes do not meet in a physical classroom, you may be nervous about the lack of structure. However, online courses can build crucial skills that you will require for almost any job. Since classes are conducted electronically, there is perhaps a greater need for communication than in a traditional class. You will learn the best ways to communicate with peers and professors, and working digitally will also boost your technology skills—which are becoming increasingly important in nearly every industry. If you are still uncertain about online courses, speak with someone who has taken one, and ask for his or her feedback. Even if you have some hesitation, why not register for one online class this fall? You never know what you may learn about yourself as a student.

Catherine Martin is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world’s largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors.

Important Factors for Choosing the Right Online College

There are many factors to consider in selecting a school in order to make sure you will be able to thrive personally and academically. While online college is not right for everyone, it can be a great opportunity for people who like self-paced learning, need to balance school with a busy schedule or need a flexible schedule to meet family obligations. But, before you enroll, taking the time to think about some of the questions below will help you feel good about making an investment in your education and help you get to graduation.
Where to look? We probably don’t have to tell you the internet is a great resource. Today colleges have websites, social media profiles, blogs, webinars and other resources that can help you see what the school has to offer. There are also lots of sites that offer reviews of online degree programs where you can read what real students and alumni have to say. Looking at some of these resources will help you at least narrow your list of prospective schools.
Can I take a tour? Of course with an online college taking a physical tour isn’t possible, but talk to the college admissions representatives at your top schools about taking a virtual tour. Find out about the technology that is used, what resources are available to students and how classes are delivered. Learning more about the school’s offerings will help you judge the quality of the college and get a better understanding of online education.
Who can I talk to? During your virtual tour, make sure you’re able to speak with a variety of people at the college. Want to know what a class will be like? Set up time to speak or chat online with an instructor. Ask if there are students or alumni you can speak with or if the college can share what student have said about the school. Also, talk to the financial aid office to find out what kind of scholarships or grants might be available. You can also find a college’s social media profiles to see what students are saying or post a question and get their feedback directly.
What career help is offered? More than likely you are going to school to change or advance your career. As you gather information about a school, make sure you consider its career services offerings. You want to be sure the school you choose is focused on giving you the right skills to manage your career. Talk to the career services counselors about what resources are available to students and look online for information about job placement rates.
Finding a school that is just as invested in your employability as you are can be important to your future success. You want to make a good decision when selecting an online college. So, it’s time to start researching and asking questions. Good luck in your search!
Interested in learning more about the online degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online? Call 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative.

DEAR REWORKER: CAN YOU FIRE AN EMPLOYEE FOR CALLING IN SICK TOO OFTEN?

Dear ReWorker,
We hired an employee at the beginning of this year to work the front desk of our medical office. She worked for 10 days, but has been out sick sporadically (with doctors notes) since then.
When she has been in the office, she hasn\’t performed very well and we see that she is not a good candidate for this position. She uses her cell phone, works very slowly and shows no initiative. It\’s all very discouraging.
My other employees are working harder than usual to pull her weight. I want to hire a replacement ASAP, but don\’t want to break any medical leave laws. What should I do? Is it legal to fire an employee for calling in sick too often?
Sincerely,
Needing a New Employee
___________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Needing,
My first question for you is: do you have an absentee policy? Every business needs a policy that dictates how many days employees can miss due to illness, what procedures to follow and when to bring a doctor\’s note.
Legally, an employee—even one that\’s stricken by some horrible disease—isn\’t covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) until they\’ve worked for a company for at least a year, so you\’re not obligated to hold her position open while she takes care of her medical issues.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), though, is a different story. If your company has more than 15 employees, all workers are eligible for protection on day one. If your new employee has a serious disability that results in these absences, you\’re required to make a \”reasonable accommodation\” for her.
What is reasonable? That depends on the job. For instance, it\’s reasonable for an accountant with migraines to work in a quiet, dim area or have a special computer screen. It\’s not reasonable for a bartender in a dance club to work in a quiet, dim area.
Absences can sometimes be considered reasonable, but most likely not for the employee you\’ve described. As a front desk worker, being on site is a core function of her job, so excessive absenteeism wouldn\’t be considered a reasonable accommodation.
With that said, unless you live in Montana, you\’re in at at-will state, so you can let your employee go whenever you choose to do so. It\’s rare to do this without warning, however, so here\’s what I recommend instead.
Focus on her behavior at work, not the absences. Even though it\’s unlikely that she\’s covered by any legal protection, there\’s a chance that the reason she is calling in sick so often is because she has suddenly developed a serious illness—it\’s certainly not her fault, and we should attempt compassion.
Sit her down and say, \”Jane, you\’re on your cell phone often. You show no initiative. Other people have to work harder to make up for your work ethic. We are going to put you on a performance improvement plan (PIP).\”
Present her with a formal document that states the areas she needs to improve and ask her what training or help she might need. Then, make it clear that she has 30 days to change her ways and meet all of the conditions of the PIP. Warn her that if you don\’t notice a difference, you\’ll terminate her.
If she starts complaining about her health, say that you understand, but explain that she still has to meet these conditions within 30 days, ill or not.
And, in the meantime, put together an absentee policy and follow it strictly. When rules are clearly laid out, it makes it easier for employees to separate right from wrong behaviors, and gives employers the right to dole out consequences when rules are not followed.
Sincerely,
Your ReWorker

5 Tips for Negotiating Like a Boss

What should you do when you nail the interview, get the job and your potential employer asks: “What are your salary expectations?
Tell her!
A recent poll by the Society of Human Resources Management and careerjournal.com found that most job seekers are not comfortable negotiating employment terms, especially money.  In fact, 78 percent of those polled stated that they did not like talking about money. If you are among this group, try following these tips to successfully negotiate your fist ‘real’ salary.

1. Don’t be intimidated. Be informed.

Do your research. There is no way you can be in the ballpark of an acceptable salary if you have no idea of the going rate. For some jobs, there may be little chance to negotiate your salary, like positions that have established pay scales, especially those that are published online. These would  include federal, state and local government jobs, military jobs and jobs at public schools. For most other jobs, you can determine the general pay ranges by browsing the websites, Salary.com, Payscale.com and careeronestop.org.

2. Understand the job and the employer needs.

\”It is a myth that companies try to pay as little as they can to get good talent. Now they may be frugal and, to a certain extent, pay the relative market salary, but the vast majority of companies know that they get what they pay for,\” said Tony Beshara, president and owner of Babich &  Associates recruitment firm.
At every opportunity during the job search process be specific about the impact your accomplishments made in the past and be sure to talk about accomplishments that demonstrate the skill set the employer needs. Don\’t hesitate to ask the employer about the challenges, goals and upcoming projects. Then, draw the connection of how you can contribute to them, without being overly confident.
\”Take your ego out of the deal. Money is usually going to take care of itself, if and only if you have presented your prospective employer with value,\” Beshara said

 3. Figure out what you need out of the deal.

Successful negotiating requires knowing how much you need to live comfortably. Draw up a budget or use a worksheet like ______ to figure out the high end and low end of what you can feasibly accept. Then, go a little bit higher, just in case you have to \”give up a little\” in the negotiation process.
Know that money isn\’t everything, either. Do you need access to medical, dental or vision insurance? Will the company eventually pay for continued formal education, training or licensing? Does the company have a telework policy? These benefits cost the company money and are considered a part of your compensation package. Many times they are a more than worthy tradeoff for a few extra dollars. Finally, having a job you love and opportunity for development that will help you meet your short-term goals is priceless.

4. Point out the win-win situation.

“When a company and candidate are trying to work out an equitable arrangement, it has to be a win-win for everyone,” Beshara said. “Put yourself in their shoes. See it from both your point-of-view and theirs, and then work with him or her to come to reasonable terms.”

5. Need an example of the type of email you can write to begin salary negotiations?

“Mr. or Ms. Hiring Authority, Im really excited about this job offer. Based on my research, the salary range for this type of position is _______________. Through our discussions, it sounds like we are a perfect match for at least three reasons: First, in general, my background exceeds the stated requirements of the job; second, my ________________ skills/experience will help meet the goals/challenges you mentioned during the interview (name them); and third, your company has the resources for highly self-motivated employees like myself to engage in various professional development opportunities that will benefit both of us. This is definitely a win-win situation and I am confident we can come to an agreement.\”

Webinar Recap: Ramp Up Your Job Search with LinkedIn

As job-search efforts ramp up across a battered economy, job-hunters need every effective tool that can find. LinkedIn is one of the most robust tools available, with a wealth of tools, resources, and processes to help connect you with the right job. Best of all? It’s free, and really easy to use!
During the presentation, acclaimed career coach Kim Dority shared her unique perspectives on just how to utilize LinkedIn for your professional needs.
Kim also covered how to :
  1. Identify and use all of LinkedIn’s job-search options, including targeted alerts
  2. Optimize all of the sections of your Profile to stand out to potential employers
  3. Develop and execute a strategy to enable your connections to help you find the right job
Watch Recorded Webinar Now
Kim’s Key Take-Aways:
  • Enhance your visibility to employers by completely building out your LinkedIn profile.
  • Research industries, companies, and careers to get a comprehensive sense of your job and career options.
  • Explore job openings to understand the possibilities, assess your competitiveness, and see what interests you.
  • Apply for jobs via LinkedIn or through the company’s website.
  • Prepare for the interview by researching your interviewer, company, and industry.
Kim’s Recommended Resources
Build Your Career Opportunities on LinkedIn, by Kim Dority, https://www.bryantstratton.edu/career-life-prep
How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networksby Brad and Debra Schepp
Job Searching with Social Media, by Joshua Waldman

Want a Career in Public Health? Northern New England is the Place for Public Health.

Some of the fastest growing public health careers in the United States include biostaticians and epidemiologists. Many of those careers are experiencing growth rates of up to 27 percent over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Not bad, considering that overall employment is projected to increase by 14 percent.
But what about northern New England? If you want to live and work in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine, what is the outlook for jobs in public health?
The health care and social assistance sector – which includes jobs in public health – is growing faster than other industries in northern New England, the BLS notes.
VermontSimilar to the rest of the region and the country, Vermont is expected to see a surge in health care jobs over the next decade. The health care and social assistance sector is expected to grow 15 percent, compared to 8.2 percent for all jobs in the Green Mountain State.
The job growth rate projected for public health careers includes:
  • Health educators, 21.3 percent
  • Health care social workers, 19.3 percent
  • Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, 11 percent
  • Social and community service managers, 10 percent
  • Medical and health services managers, 10 percent
  • Community and social service specialists, 9.3 percent
  • Statisticians, 5 percent
  • Occupational health and safety specialists, 3 percent
New HampshireThe Granite State is expected to see a 24 percent jump in the number of health care and social assistance jobs over the next decade, compared to 10.4 percent growth for total employment. Put into perspective: The health care industry will account for nearly 30 percent of all new jobs in New Hampshire over the next decade.
The field of public health will see tremendous job growth compared to other fields:
  • Health educators, 37.2 percent
  • Medical and public health social workers, 28.3 percent
  • Social and community service managers, 22.3 percent
  • Community and social service specialists, 20.1 percent
  • Medical and health services managers, 18.9 percent
  • Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, 17.9 percent
  • Statisticians, 9.4 percent
  • Occupational health and safety specialists, 8.2 percent
MaineAs Mainers age, the state will experience numerous job openings. The health and social assistance sector – where approximately a quarter of the workforce is over age 55 – faces the most retirements. Couple that with the fact that Maine is the “oldest” state in the nation – with numerous health care needs for its aging population – and you can understand why the state is concerned about finding more health care workers.
Jobs in the health and social assistance sector are expected to grow nearly 16 percent, the highest of any industry in the state. That compares to a 5.5 percent increase for total employment.
Most of the careers in public health will follow this growth trend. Among them:
  • Health educators, 24.2 percent
  • Medical and public health social workers, 18.5 percent
  • Medical and health services managers, 15.9 percent
  • Epidemiologists, 15.2 percent
  • Statisticians, 4.8 percent
  • Social and community service managers, 4.3 percent
  • Community and social service specialists, 3.6 percent
  • Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, 1.9 percent
If you are planning on working in Public Health, Northern New England is following the national trend of seeing an increase in jobs in health care and social assistance sector, which will create 28 percent of new jobs over the next decade in the United States

Career Choices for Business Students

From an AAS in Business to a BBA in Business Management, there are several different types of business degrees that provide the education, skills, and training you need to be successful in the world of business, or to start your own company.
Obtaining a business degree from Bryant & Stratton College will open the doors to professional opportunities, career advancement, and will help you maximize your lifetime earning potential. In general, there are two types of business degrees: Associates and Bachelors. Here are examples of the types of careers our students pursue after receiving a degree from Bryant & Stratton\’s business program. All median salary information and projected job growth through 2020 is provided by O*Net Online.
Career opportunities for graduates with an AAS in Business
Human Resources Specialist This career is ideal for those who enjoy working with people, and are good at assessing where an employee best fits into the company\’s vision. Some human resources specialists work in-house, managing employee files, tracking employee evaluations and reviews, and overseeing wage and benefits information. They may also be called upon to resolve employee disputes. Others serve as recruiters, attending career fairs and using online employment sites to find employees who are qualified to fill available positions. The projected job growth for HR specialists is higher than average and median salaries are $55,800.
First-Line Supervisors There are a variety of roles for individuals interested in first line management positions. You can work in the food and beverage sector, retail, or production and manufacturing. In every case, the first-line supervisors take an active role in hiring and managing employees, scheduling, and making sure goods and services are produced according to current health safety standards. They also serve as the liaison between employees and upper management. In both the food service and retain sectors, first-line supervisors also work to ensure clients and customers have a satisfying experience. The median salaries vary according to industry.
Customer Service Representatives As a customer service representative, it is your job to maintain customer satisfaction with your company\’s products and services. In many cases, this job is performed via the phone and the internet, working with customers and conveying their comments and queries to managers, so the company can continually tailor products and services to meet the customers\’ needs. In addition to educating the customers, customer service representatives also resolve complaints. The median salary is $30,580.
Career opportunities for graduates with a BBA in General Management
Office Clerks Office clerks perform a wide range of duties, depending on the type of business in which they are employed, including answering phones and email queries, administering correspondence, and ordering and keeping inventory of the office supplies. They may also be responsible for note-taking and transcription, as well as word processing. The median salary is $27,470.
First-Line Supervisors of Office Workers In this position, employees wear a multitude of hats, from manager to customer service representative. In addition to working with HR to hire and train employees, you also work to facilitate employee relations, help the office to run efficiently, and may work directly with the public to increase customer satisfaction. Median salaries are $49,330.
General Operations Managers This position is also referred to as General Manager or Superintendent and encompasses a wide range of duties and responsibilities in both the public and private sectors. They are responsible for creating, implementing, and revising policies to ensure their company runs efficiently. They are in charge of creating budgets, purchasing, and are ultimately responsible for the company\’s bottom line. The median salary is $95,440. Contact the Admissions Office at Bryant & Stratton College to learn more about the different types of business degrees we offer.