Career networking begins now -5 ways to do it

It’s never too early to start networking your way to a better future. The people you meet today could be your connection to a new career, but you need to begin forging those relationships now. Here are 5 important ways you can do just that:

   1.  Make a business card. Even if you’re still in school, you probably already have a skillset you could highlight in the hyper-short format of a business card. All it really needs to contain, though, is your name and contact information. A resume may give the details of your work experience and education, but it’s just not practical to carry wherever you go. On the other hand, a business card is super convenient, makes you look like the professional you hope to become and entices your contact to share their own info so you can follow up with an email or phone call.

2.    Reach out to your existing circles. Contact friends, coworkers and teachers who are in the career you hope to have and let them know you’re on your way there. In fact, tell everyone about your future plans. Connections are formed over time and you can’t possibly know all your friends-of-friends. The wider your networking circle, the more likely you are to find people who can help you land a future job.

3.    Create new circles. Join organizations and clubs at your school. At Career Quest Learning Centers, our students create connections in groups like the Student Council and the National Technical HonorSociety. Try joining clubs off campus, too. If you’re an IT student, you might consider a student membership in an organization like the Association of Information Technology Professionals. However, the clubs don’t have to be career-focused. Charitable organizations offer a great opportunity to do good while you connect with like-minded people –and you never know where those connections might lead.

4.    Get online. If you’re not already on social media, it’s time you are. Just be certain that the face you present to the world is representative of the professional you want to be. LinkedIn is an especially effective tool for career searches, notifying you of jobs that fit your search criteria. And it makes it super easy to check out the connections of people you already know.

5.    Get a mentor. There are people in your field who would be happy to serve as mentor to someone like you! Do a bit of research and find those who have the kind of career you’re pursuing. Then, just ask them a few questions; it doesn’t have to be anything formal. People like sharing their stories and they especially like to know that there’s a new generation as interested in their field as they are.

      At Career Quest Learning Centers, we’ll teach you the skills you need to start on your career path. Then, our career center services can show you how to prepare an effective resume and cover letter, find job postings and even how to network.

Pharmacy Tech Job Growth in Michigan and beyond

Jobs in healthcare related fields remained remarkably resilient even at the worst of the recession and now that there seems to be a light at the end of the economic tunnel, some jobs are rebounding with gusto! Across the U.S., pharmacy technicians can expect to see above average job growth and in some Michigan locales, the prospects are even more promising. According to the Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regularly Affairs, places like Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo are seeing job growth of more than 20 percent and even statewide the job growth for pharmacy technicians is above 16 percent.

Great news if you’re considering becoming a pharmacy technician, but even better is that the rosy outlook is expected to continue through 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And there are more than a few reasons why there is such a growing demand for pharmacy technicians:

·         An aging population using more medications

·         Higher rates of chronic health problems such diabetes and heart disease which require prescription medications

·         Advances in pharmaceutical research which increases available medications and their uses

·         The affordable healthcare act which expands access to health insurance and prescription medication benefits

·         Expansion of hospital pharmacy departments and the pharmaceutical services

·         Michigan’s move toward “satellite” pharmacies on hospital floors which require additional staffing

Pharmacy technicians play a vital role on today’s healthcare team. As assistant to pharmacists, technicians are called upon to perform a variety of tasks, including:

·         Measuring medications to fill prescriptions

·         Taking inventory of medications and supplies

·         Packaging and labeling medications

·         Interacting with patients and healthcare professionals to fill prescriptions

·         Processing insurance claims and payments

·         Serving as liaison between patients and pharmacists

If you’re a detail-oriented person who would like a career where you could play an important role in the healthcare field, check out the Pharmacy Technician certificate program at Career Quest Learning Centers.

Career Quest Learning Centers offer an array of career training programs, many of which can be completed in less than 7 months. Call one of our three campuses or contact us here for more information. The beginning to your new career could be waiting behind a Michigan door in Lansing, Jackson or Kalamazoo.

Customizing your resume and cover letter

Searching for a job can be an overwhelming process. And when you finally hone in on the possibility of a perfect job, you don’t want anything to stand in your way. That’s why your resume and cover letter need to get you noticed –in the right way. Below are a few ways to make sure they do:

Cover Letter

While your cover letter needs to be as individual as you are, here are a few general tips to consider before you send off a bland note that might not get you the attention you deserve:

·      Don’t address your letter “to whom it may concern.” Instead, find out to whom it should be addressed and give the reader their due respect.

·         Get right to the point. Your reader’s time is valuable –so don’t waste it! In the first line tell them the job you want: Dear Mr. Miller: I would like to be considered for the Medical Administrative Assistant position you recently advertised in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

·         Do some company research and then demonstrate your knowledge of the company with a positive spin. What do you know about the company and why do you like it?

·         And remember, it’s not what the company can do for you; it’s what you can do for the company. What skill set do you possess that makes you a unique candidate perfectly suited to the job?

 

Resume

You may understand the necessity of customizing your cover letter, but it’s equally important to tailor your resume to the job you are pursuing. Start with the objective, but take it even further by considering these suggestions:

·        Find out the programs and systems used at the company and make certain you include your qualifications to seamlessly link to them.

·         Pull language directly from the job description and include it on your resume. If your resume says that you ran a team and the job description asks for candidates who can lead a team; you’re now a leader. Even your job titles can be tweaked to fit your new job if they reflect the same competencies.

·         View your past positions in a new light. If you were once in retail, consider the full skill set you may have called upon to perform your job. Demonstrating skills in client interface and conflict resolution is another—and better—way of saying that you know how to handle difficult customers.

·         Include hobbies and interests. You never know how you’ll connect to the person conducting the interview. When it comes down to the final hire decision, it’s often just about whether or not they like you. And you’re more likeable when you have outside interests –particularly if they match the interviewer’s.

At Career Quest Learning Centers, we not only train you to work in fields with some of the best employment potential; we also offer career services including assistance with resumes and cover letters.