Get Certified, It's Worth It!

Do you want to advance in a healthcare career? Dental assistants, nurses aides, medical assistants, patient care technicians, pharmacy technicians and others all can benefit from earning certifications.

Here are four great reasons to get certified:

Choosing A Career Path - Video

CQ Student Success Stories - Healthcare/Medical

Guest Post by Andrew Belanger – Career Services Coordinator

Andrea Bollinger enrolled in Career Quest Learning Centers Medical Assistant train-in program in October of 2010. Andrea was looking to build on her two years of direct patient care experience and grow as a healthcare professional. When asked what she liked most about Career Quest, Andrea recommended, “The staff. Everyone is SO helpful and encouraging. I had some of the best instructors that helped me through the program. If it weren’t for them, I probably would have given up when ‘life’ got in the way of my learning. But they were there to encourage me to keep trying.”

Andrea completed her externship at Michigan State University’s Family Medicine Clinic and graduated from her program in September of 2011. Through hard work and networking Andrea interviewed and accepted a position as a Medical Assistant with Sparrow Medical Group – North that same month. “I love it here. I want to work at my current job for as long as they allow me!”

Andrea credits the following three items in part for her success. “Interview skills, Resume building, and CONFIDENCE! Knowing that I knew what I knew, and that I was good at it, thanks to the instructors at CQ!”

“Career Services helped me make the finishing touches to my resume, making it more professional, which grabbed the attention of my current employer.”

Andrea’s advice for current students is to, “Soak up as much "hands on" knowledge as you can. It's different when you’re actually performing the tasks that you have learned about. Don't be afraid to ask for help, everyone understands that you are still learning!” Andrea loves working in the medical field and at Sparrow, she is hoping to attend Nursing School down the road.

About the Author

Andrew Belanger, GCDF is a Career Services Coordinator at CQLC’s Lansing Campus and is Managing Editor of “The Quest” CQLC’s Career Services Monthly Newsletter. He has several years of experience working in Career and Workforce Development and is certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Adult Learning and Education (HALE) from Michigan State University. Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbelangergcdf

2012 Hot Career Fields

Trends show that the health care and technology industries are growing.This is good news for jobs. Keep reading for tips on how to get started in a hot new career this year.

1.   Enroll in a career-focused program. Specialized knowledge equals security in almost any field. Specific career training will make you more appealing to employers.

2.   Talk the Talk. Stay on top of industry trends. Take note of the latest buzzwords andacronyms that may be bounced around during interviews. Books, professional magazines and journals, and online chats are all great resources for this type of information.

3.   Look for opportunities for real-life experience. Externships, Internships and volunteering are all great ways to gain experience while your still in school or working other jobs. 

A RECENT CNA GRAD SHARES HER STORY

Interested in being a CNA? Here's a first-hand look at what it really takes to be one!
See the story here.