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Most college students and graduates understand how important their resume objective is. It tells an employer what prospective entry level job candidates have to offer their organization. However, sometimes we may forget that point and talk too much about our wants, causing an employer to lose interest in our resume. Remember, the goal of your resume objective is to capture the employer's attention immediately.

According to an article by Deborah S. Hildebrand, resume objectives don't work. She says they are too general and are not effective for every job opportunity you apply for. Instead, she believes that job candidates should be using "resume headlines" as a selling point to spark a potential employer's interest in what they have to offer. In fact, Hildebrand compares resume headlines to newspaper headlines because both are designed to draw attention to the reader's eye. Your resume headline should highlight who you are in a sentence. For example, if you're looking for an entry level job in accounting, you want to include information like your field of interest, education, and skills in your headline.

In her article, Hildebrand gives examples of both resume objectives and resume headlines. While she supports using headlines, she says that using objectives is okay as long as they are tailored to a specific job. So, if you're looking for an entry level job in accounting, adjust your resume objective for a certain accounting position and the type of setting you would be working in. Here's an example of this type of objective:

"Seeking an entry level position as a tax accountant in a corporation"

I had never heard of the term resume headlines until reading this article. It does make sense because your resume objective is supposed to capture the attention of an employer at first glance. Your objective should speak to an employer's needs; in other words, it has to clearly emphasize the value you can add to the employer's organization. So the next time you're writing a resume objective, think of it as a headline on your resume for a potential employer to ponder over.

For additional information, I invite you to read:
The Resume Objective
Writing Objective Statements
Objective Statement vs. Positioning Statement
Accounting Jobs
Accountants:Where They Work

Sources
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/905965/why_resume_headlines_are_better_than.html
http://www.career-tests-guide.com/resume-objective-examples.html

Have you ever thought about working outside of the United States? If so, then you might be interested in finding an entry level job in international relations. People who want to work abroad are usually drawn to the opportunity to experience life in another culture. By taking part in another culture's lifestyle, you could clear up any misconceptions that may exist in your mind. Working in another country allows you not only to learn new skills and raise your cultural awareness, but potentially can give you an advantage over other people looking for jobs in the United States because of your international experience. Of course, there are factors to consider before you decide to accept an entry level job in international relations such as money and travel requirements, but if you can overcome any such obstacles, more power to you.

College students and recent graduates should understand that programs offered in international relations may take a while to apply for, as well as the time necessary to find an entry level job in international relations. In addition, there is a need to save money to provide for yourself while working globally. That's why it's important to choose a program that fits your needs and wants, and to plan early for it. Some of these programs include agriculture, business, foreign relations, and teaching.

Today, we live in a global economy, where businesses are making and spending money in other countries. This is due to globalization, the expansion of businesses into other countries. With this gradually increasing practice in the U.S., more employers are looking for more "globally minded" workers. Therefore, having experience in the world of international business could be an asset for job seekers in international relations.

There are both professional benefits and personal benefits to having work experience in international relations. On the professional side, working abroad can help you apply any classroom studies to a real world experience and increase your qualifications in the hopes of getting an entry level job in international relations. A survey done by The Institute for International Education of Students indicated that more students may seek an international career if they participated in an internship overseas. If you decide not to take a permanent job abroad, the skills you obtain might still be valuable when it comes to finding employment in the U.S. that require some international experience. The personal benefits of having work experience in international relations include allowing yourself time to examine career opportunities, having new cultural experiences, and finding out more about yourself. Also, by living in another culture, you can gain more perspective on the lifestyles of people who don't live in the U.S.

Here is some criteria to consider when working abroad:

-Professional focus- Is there an opportunity to learn about specific careers?
-Location of program- How does location impact the type of experience you want to have?
-Degree of cultural immersion- Can you interact with the local culture?
-Degree of pre-trip job placement- Will you be responsible for finding a job as well as housing?
-Duration of program- How long will you be working in the international program?

College graduates who decide on a career in international relations usually have a bachelor's degree in the field. They have taken courses in economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, history, and business to prepare themselves for various entry level jobs in international relations. Here is a list of some of the jobs:


  • Archivist

  • Demographer

  • Diplomat

  • Foreign Affairs Analyst

  • Foreign Relations Specialist

  • Foreign Service Officer

  • Immigration Specialist

  • Journalist

  • Language Specialist

  • Market Research Analyst

To find information on getting a job abroad or viewing international job listings or internship listings, contact:


  • American Foreign Service Association

  • One Small Planet

  • The Peace Corps.

  • United National Internships and Careers

  • U.S. State Department Career Opportunities

While some of the jobs are not associated with the federal government, employment opportunities in this area do exist for those who have experience in international relations. Federal agencies that have workers abroad include:


  • Department of Agriculture

  • Department of Commerce

  • Department of Defense

  • Department of the Air Force

  • Department of the Army

  • Department of State (also has internship opportunities)

  • U.S. Agency for International Development

  • Peace Corps.

  • U.S. Information Agency

The federal government also has internship opportunities available in international relations if you're interested.

The most important part of deciding to work in another country is finding something that interests you. After all, you want to have the best international experience possible. Consider all the factors involved in this decision, and do extensive research before making any long-term commitments. Who knows? Once you've had a taste of another culture, you might want to stay abroad and get an entry level job in international relations.

Sources
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6046143/working-abroad-finding-international-internships.html#abstract
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/a/intl_relations.htm
(Information provided by Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com)
http://www.makingthedifference.org/federalcareers/internationalrelations.shtml


To work where I make enough money to support my family and still have fun doing it!!

-- Submitted by B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


I worked as a secretary for a high school/vocational school, and I was in charge of coordinating a periodic literary contest. One thing that bothered me when I took it over was the fact that no one ever got to read the winning entries. So I got a binder and some document protectors and made a book that displayed the first, second and third place entries. I would copy them onto designed paper - one had a beautiful mountain landscape picture - and put them in the binder. It sat on a general table and students would come in and look through it while they waited to see my boss or while they were having "study hall" in my office.

What was satisfying about all of this was listening to the students talk about the winning entries - almost always favorably - and then talk about entering the next one when it came around. Putting the entries on display created the interest in the contest that my boss had been hoping for because it gave the students something to aspire toward, which really got their creative energies going.

-- Submitted by C. A. through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


Go to the UK.

-- Submitted by B. P. from through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


I have a passion for helping people find their way. And when it comes to "finding one's way," nothing looms quite as large as "career choice."

-- Submitted by D. S. from Frisco, Texas, United States through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


Wow, so many mistakes....so many lessons : )

Just remember: mistakes don't go away just because you ignore them.

It's inevitable - you are human - it's going to happen. What's important is what you do once you've made "the" mistake.

Don't run - don't hide - be accountable. If you aren't making mistakes, you're most likely not doing much. Keep your traction by readily 'fessing up, and then ask for help. Your peers (and leaders) will respect your accountability and the fact that you are teachable.

Now, go for it. Make some mistakes!

-- Submitted by D. S. from Frisco, Texas, United States through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


Your success (a large part of it) will be based on the people you know.

-- Submitted by D. S. from Frisco, Texas, United States through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.

I read an interesting article on how colleges are promoting bikes as their preferred mode of transportation across campus. At Emory University, near Atlanta, Georgia, students and faculty can purchase bicycles at a low cost to make traveling across campus more convenient. It is part of the $250,000 dollar initiative known as "Bike Emory", which encourages more bike riding and less driving in automobiles; the initiative began one year ago.

Emory also has a bike-share program that allows students to borrow bikes at no cost. All people have to do is write their name on a sign-out list and pick up their bike. According to the head of the program, it is increasing in popularity. In April, only 12 names were on the sign-out list, but that number rose to 45 in June. Emory employees find riding bikes a plus. The article talked about how two co-workers check out bikes to get to meetings across campus much easier rather than driving and looking for a place to park. One of the employees said riding bikes can reduce pollution from automobiles (which is good for our health) and provide better safety on campus for pedestrians.

Other colleges and universities getting into the act of providing bikes to students are: Ripon College, Duke University, Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University, and The University of Washington. I think offering bikes on college campuses to students and/or faculty is a good idea. Anything that can help you save money, time, and protect the environment is beneficial. To quote one student, "And, honestly, I think that anything free when you're in college is good, especially something like a bike that is worth something."

Who knows? One day, you may be riding one of these bikes to your entry level job or internship on campus.

To learn more about the "Bike Emory" initiative, go to http://bike.emory.edu/.

Source: The Morning News

If you are looking for an entry level computer programmer job in the health care industry, this may be the opportunity for you. Patient Care Technologies, Inc. needs someone who can assist them with their home health care information system. They will train candidates in the technologies needed for the position.

Those interested in applying for this entry level computer programmer job should have earned a Bachelor's or Associate's Degree in computer science or have comparable work experience, and understand computer programming language at a high level. Candidates must also have these qualifications:

-Strong analytical and problem solving skills
-Ability to work as part of a team
-Excellent communication skills
-Ability to multi-task in fast paced environment
-Strong desire to learn (aka-passion)

This is a full time entry level computer programmer job in Atlanta, Georgia that offers benefits. If you're hired, you can start work right away.

Patient Care Technologies, Inc. provides products and services for the clinical, administrative, and financial needs of its clients who work in the home care and hospice industries.

Source: http://www.atlanta.computerjobs.com/job_display.aspx?jobid=2157983&siteid=100&sort=pd&view=s&searchid=123927425&page=1&published=


Never!

-- Submitted by TOU Lynzee from LOS ANGELES, California through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on MySpace.com.


When I was telemarketing for a local arts organization, the guy next to me was becoming discouraged because he wasn't making any sales. I told him that his discouragement was reflected in his voice and that it's hard to get other people excited about something if you don't sound excited about it yourself. I also told him that a lot of people hate telemarketers so he shouldn't take their attitudes toward him personally.

Finally, I told him that once he made that first sale, keeping a smile in his voice would be easy because it's such a charge to succeed after so many failures. He tried it, it worked, and because the head manager was in the room when I gave my little pep talk, I was offered the job of assistant manager for that account, but I declined. I'm not a telemarketer at heart. It was just something I was doing to earn money between temp assignments.

I guess that's a way of building enthusiasm in at least one other person, if not many.

-- Submitted by C. A. from through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


My story is a bit different from the typical college student/career professional's. I am a mid-career changer who is very happy that I decided to return to school to get a masters degree in Education - concentrating in College Student Personnel. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

After spending many years working for various employers, mostly in the field of Human Resources, I thoroughly enjoy my work as a career counselor at a small liberal arts college in upstate New York. In addition, I have my own career counseling business, Career Choice(http://www.careerchoic.com/cc/home.php)
, and write for About.com as their Guide to Internships
(http://internships.about.com/). I love the diversity that these jobs offer and I couldn't be happier.

Penny Loretto

-- Submitted by P. L. from through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.

To become an entry level nurse, you are required to have a certain amount of education. For admission into nursing school, students must have earned a high school diploma and have good grades in high school subjects like English, algebra, chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology. Having experience with computers is also a benefit.

Students who want to get into nursing need to apply to state-approved and accredited schools of nursing. Courses taken include biology, chemistry, physics, the social sciences, nursing theory and practice, and the humanities. Students also participate in clinical hands-on experience in hospitals and health care settings, while under supervision. It is important for entry level nursing students to be studious and have critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as a passion for becoming a nurse.

The United States offers over 1,500 nursing programs. There are three entry level nursing programs available to prepare students for different jobs after graduation:

-Bachelor Science in Nursing (BSN)- a four to five year program offered at colleges and universities; the program prepares nurses for jobs in inpatient and community settings.

-Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)- a two year program offered at a community college and some hospital schools of nursing; the program prepares nurses for staff positions in hospitals and other inpatient facilities.

-Hospital Diploma- a two to three year program offered in a hospital that may work with a community college that offers science and English requirements; the program gets nurses ready for staff jobs in hospitals and other inpatient facilities.

The BSN provides the best opportunity for advancement and offers the most flexibility. It is a requirement for anyone looking to obtain a master's degree in nursing, which allows nurses to work in advanced specialty areas of nursing.

Graduates of a nursing program are required to pass a national licensing exam to become a registered nurse (RN). You can take the exam through the Board of Nursing from the state you will work in. In addition, nurses may be required to get more education or continue their practice to keep their nursing license, depending on their state of residence. Nurses usually take additional courses to stay up-to-date on new information on medical and nursing sciences.

Once you have graduated from an entry level nursing program, you can expect to get on-the-job training in hospitals and other health care establishments through orientation programs and similar events. Remember to be attentive and ask questions; this will help you feel more comfortable on your path to becoming a successful nurse.

Here is a list of qualities that nurses also need to have:

  • Leadership and organization skills
  • People skills
  • Patience
  • Flexibility
  • Compassion
  • Problem-solving skills
  • A sense of humor
  • The ability to stay calm in a crisis

The right education and personality can make you a good candidate for an entry level nursing job.

Sources
http://www.marylandhealthcareers.org/html/student/nursing.html
http://www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/programs.php

There are a variety of places to work in nursing. While most nurses work in hospitals, they can also be found in the following establishments:

  • Long-term-care centers
  • Community health clinics
  • Freestanding outpatient and surgery centers
  • Medical offices
  • Home care
  • Nursing schools
  • Corporate health centers
  • Insurance and managed care companies
  • Other companies
  • Research centers
  • Schools
  • Military
  • Peace Corps and international service organizations
  • Hospital regulators

If you get into nursing at a hospital, there are opportunities to work in:

  • Patient care units
  • Operating rooms, trauma centers, and emergency rooms
  • Medical records or other hospital offices
  • X-ray and other diagnostic units
  • Pediatrics (work with children)
  • Hospital nurseries or neonatal intensive care units (work with babies)
  • Obstetrics (assist with childbirth)
  • Psychiatric and drug treatment centers
  • Laboratories
  • Helicopters and ambulances (assist patients in transport to hospitals)

Some registered nurses (RNs) may decide to go back to school and take classes that allow them to specialize in a certain area of nursing. These are specialty nursing areas that allow nurses to become the following:

  • Clinical nurse specialists
  • Certified nurse midwives
  • Nurse anesthetists
  • Nurse researchers
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Psychiatric nurse practitioners

As you can see, there are many opportunities in nursing to choose from. It's just a matter of deciding which one is best for you.

Source: http://www.marylandhealthcareers.org/html/student/nursing.html


When you sign all the paperwork for a new job, you're signing an "at-will" contract, which essentially means that you can leave "at will" and the employer can fire you "at will." Not so when you sign up for military service.

When you join the military, you're signing a contract, promising the United States of America a minimum of eight years of your life - from two to four years of active duty plus four to six years in the inactive reserves, where you can be called back into active duty at any time. Lots of people join the military believing that it will be the adventure the commercials promise it will be. For some - maybe even most - it probably is, but for the select few who decide military life isn't for them, getting out of their contract is on a par with trying to pull a bad tooth out with a pair of pliers: It can be done, but it will be painful and it won't be pretty.

First of all, a recruit has to come to the realization that military life is not for him within the first 180 days of service, and even then there's no guarantee that he'll get to leave. His superiors have to determine the kind of discharge he should receive. With an entry level separation, the superior says, " I haven't had sufficient time to assess the recruit's personality or abilities. He's still at the entry level." That's an entry level separation. Conversely, if he whined and complained and generally made a nuisance of himself because he sorely regretted his mistake, his superior could just as easily say that the recruit displayed "conduct unbecoming" and a separation "under other than honorable conditions" could be given instead. This is very bad indeed because it will effect the recruit's ability to get a job after separation.

It's been rumored that after serving about two years or more, a serviceman can transfer from full active duty to the Reserves or National Guard. I have it on good authority that that is not the case. It could happen, but don't expect it. It's naturally much easier the other way around. But you still have to endure basic training for at least 8 1/2 weeks, depending on the branch of service. There usually has to be some incredible need for the military to allow an active duty serviceman to transfer to Reserve or National Guard duty, like "my dad died, my mom's an invalid and there's absolutely no one else but me to take care of my younger brother and sister." Again, I have it on good authority that some branches of the service won't let you out even then. And in these times of war, it's unlikely that any branch of the service would be willing to let someone go without a fight.

A lot of money is invested in feeding, clothing, sheltering and training military recruits. If there's any doubt whatsoever in your mind, go to sites like Military.com and learn all that you can about military life and what you can expect from basic training to technical training school to your first duty station. Each branch of the service has its own Web site and some even have videos. The Air Force has a series of videos that show what Airmen go through during basic training. It's not like in the old days. Now even they are expected to go through some kind of simulated combat training, complete with rifles and muddy training courses.

Joining the military is more than a notion and shouldn't be taken lightly. Talk to people, other than your recruiter, who have been or are still in the military. Ask them what it's like. If you don't know anyone personally, Military.com has a forum you can visit and see what other people are saying about their experiences. Research the military as thoroughly as you would any other employer. This is eight years of your life you're playing with, and the consequences of getting out early could be ruinous.


I don't know where to begin, let me just start with taking a position out of desperation, needing the money not really considering it seriously. The hours were awful, I loved the work though I was working on an AS400 system dispatching; the hours are what messed me up. I worked from 8pm to 5am, never having had a night position ever, I thought the change would be easy. Nobody told me your whole body changes, I was miserable.

-- Submitted by V. G. from through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.


The ideal company is the one who pays the bills, and gives you the chance to grow in an environment of respect.

-- Submitted by L. T. from Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.

If you are considering a career in nursing, then you are choosing a career that combines your knowledge of the field with a passion for helping other people. Nursing employs the greatest number of health care workers with about 2.6 million registered nurses or RNs and that number will continue to grow. As more nurses move into their retirement, new nurses will be needed to fill those jobs and provide the quality care people depend on every day. If you're a trained nurse, you'll have the best opportunity to find employment and possibly a good entry level salary. By becoming a staff RN, you are in line to earn one of the top entry level salaries in the workforce (See Entry Level Salaries article).

Nurses work together with doctors and other health care workers to do what is in the best interest of patients and their families. So what do nurses actually do? The following steps:

Assessments- Nurses collect information about the patient.
Diagnoses- Nurses determine the patient's problems or needs.
Planning- Nurses come up with a plan to determine what is best to do for the patient.
Implementation- Nurses apply their plan of action on the patient; for example, giving medication as a treatment for a condition.
Evaluation- Nurses review how a patient has responded to their plan and make adjustments to it as needed.

Nurses also care for their patients in a variety of ways such as helping with childbirth, performing physical examinations, and giving medications and treatments prescribed by doctors.

The demand in nursing is expected to only increase for the following reasons:
-People are living longer thanks to health care technology, which means more nurses will be needed to care for elderly people.
-As more people get sick, they will need more skilled nurses to care for them.
-More nurses are in demand away from hospitals.
-There will be a need to replace nurses as they get older and move into retirement, and the well educated and trained nurses can get those jobs leading them into a career.

Nursing can offer flexibility in your work schedule. Nurses may work during the day or at night; their shifts can last from 8 to 12 hours. You may work several hours for a few days but then have three or four days off after that. Nurses also have the option of working part-time or just on weekends.

According to a representative of Salary.com, an entry level registered nurse's salary is about $44,600 dollars; this is more than the average starting salaries of accounting, marketing, economics, and teaching graduates. As nurses get more experience, their income will increase. If they decide to move into management or advanced clinical practice, they can make more money.

Source: http://www.marylandhealthcareers.org/html/student/nursing.html


Gasoline prices rise in direct response to the rise in oil prices. Still, there aren't many people clamoring for a job on an offshore oil rig ... or the oil industry in general.

There are plenty of entry-level jobs in the oil industry. Working on an offshore rig is not an easy feat, despite the rotating two weeks on, three weeks off work schedule and the high quality accomodations most companies provide. The nature of offshore drilling means a trained medic must be on staff at all times. Other non-drilling jobs are cook, radio operator and even some admin positions.

If you want a taste of the drilling life ... entry-level jobs like Roughnecks can start at $42,000 per year. So what does a Roughneck do to earn his $42k per year? He "works in a team of three on the rig floor and is responsible for the operation of equipment and machinery that is required at the time." If you have absolutely no experience in oil drilling, but still want to work on a rig, you'll probably start out as a Roustabout, "guiding the crane as loads are moved around the deck, supplying any equipment needed to the rig floor as requested and keeping the pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy." A roustabout also gets to assist the roughnecks on the drilling floor, if necessary.

An entry-level job in off-shore oil drilling is not for everyone. But if you like working hard and don't mind getting dirty, you could easily work your way up from roustabout to roughneck and beyond. But remember that not every entry-level job onboard an off-shore oil rig involves drilling. Your could also work as an electrician, a mechanic or a catering assistant.

Benefits like medical and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, 401(k) plans, and profit sharing plans are often provided, as well as vacation time and many other incentives. Recent college graduates looking for entry-level engineering jobs are welcome in the oil industry - so much so that they can earn in excess of $60,000 per year plus signing bonuses. And they don't necessarily have to work on a rig in the middle of the ocean.

For more information visit these sites:

http://www.oil-industry-jobs.com
http://www.oiljobs.com
http://www.oiljobfinder.com/oilrigjobs.php

Dispelling Delusions About "The Real World"

Provided By: Associated Content, Inc.


May 2003. I had been counting down the days to graduation for four years, yet it seemed to sneak up on me so quickly. I would miss my friends and working at the school radio and TV stations, but the whole world was ahead of me.

Eager employers were ready for the brightest and most ambitious university graduates. With my degree, I could expect to earn up to 75% more than people without a degree. In this day and age, if you want a good job, you will need a university education. These things I expected.
What I didn't expect was the feeling of loss after my subsequent freedom. For my whole life, I knew just what to do: you go to elementary school, you go to high school, you go to college. No questions asked. Yet for the first time I stood before an unknown universe, wondering what I should do with my life. Where and how do I apply for a job? Is my resume good enough? Are there jobs available in my field? Should I start with an internship? How do I gain valuable out-of-school experience? So many questions faced me and I felt I had so few answers. After almost two years, I realized the ugly truth: there's a plethora of things they simply DON'T teach you in school, and these may be the most important lessons. Continue reading What Your Teachers Don't Tell You ...

Original article by Jennn Fusion, published on Jun 11, 2006


Provided By: Associated Content, Inc.

When I began college I had this misconception of life. I figured that once I graduated I would automatically get a good paying job and all of my troubles would disappear. I also thought that a degree would immediately entitle me to a job with a lot of responsibility.Eventually I graduated, started working, and was struck by reality. While those with connections may obtain high paying jobs immediately after graduation, the majority of us are going to pay some dues. In May of 2005 I accepted a job at Fortune 500 Company in the mortgage industry. I was excited. I remember thinking-Wow! I finally have a real job. Continue reading How to Survive ...

Original article by Chris Cullinan, published on Oct 02, 2006


Tips from a College Grad
Provided By: Associated Content, Inc.

People have wondered what are some good ways to find success while in college. As a recent college graduate I have compiled things that have helped me.

Study Hard
Get to Know Your Professors
Find/Create a Study Group
Join a Group or Organization
Do an Internship/Externship
Take Advantage of the Library

To read the full article ...

Original article by Jennifer Weiss, published on Oct 19, 2006


You learn more than what you find in your books. You open your mind to new cultures, opinions, ideas, and interests.

-- Submitted by L. C. from Waterloo, Iowa, United States through the CollegeRecruiter.com Career Blog Application on Facebook.com.

As you may remember from my last article, Physical Therapist Assistant, these workers assist physical therapists in the process of physical therapy for patients to improve and maintain their overall health. While under the physical therapist supervision, a physical therapist assistant provides treatment relative to conditions such as back and neck injuries, arthritis, and birth defects.

Physical therapist assistants can work in a variety of places including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, and fitness centers among other places.

Based on information gathered by the American Physical Therapy Association, entry level physical therapist assistants make more than $33,000 dollars a year. Workers living in the southern and western areas of the United States had the best salaries. Surveys taken by graduates of Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) say that the beginning salary for entry level physical therapist assistant graduates is currently around $36,000 dollars annually and will continue to increase.

Source: http://www.blackhawk.edu/programs/associates/physical_therapist_assistant.htm

Physical therapist assistants work with physical therapists to provide the proper care to their patients that will improve and maintain their overall health. For example, an assistant may teach a patient how to use a walker as a person learns to walk again. Physical therapist assistants have different responsibilities that are performed under the watchful eye of a physical therapist such as exercises and massages. The assistant also keeps track of the patient's reaction to all treatment in order to monitor their progress; this information is reported to the physical therapist.

Physical therapist assistants should possess some physical strength as they may be asked to help patients during therapy. They might have to lift patients as well as spend a significant amount of time kneeling, stooping, and standing. As far as the work schedule goes, hours and days can vary; some assistants work part-time. To make services more convenient for patients, certain outpatient physical therapy offices and clinics offer evening and weekend hours.

Anyone looking to become a physical therapist assistant should have an associate degree from an accredited physical therapist program, and in some states, a license as well. An accredited program normally takes about two years, or four semesters to complete. It is composed of both academic learning and hands-on clinical experience. The academic subjects include algebra, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and psychology, while the clinical work involves learning CPR and other first aid and field experience in treatment centers. Teachers and potential employers believe strongly in the clinical experience as a test of the true knowledge an individual needs to be a physical therapist assistant. In addition to having a formal education, assistants need to be well-organized, detail oriented, and caring. Being able to interact with others and wanting to help people are also necessary qualities to work in this field.

There is room for advancement as a physical therapist assistant. Some assistants specialize in a clinical area by working with a certain type of patient or certain type of ailment to advance their careers. Other assistants may take administrative jobs, teach an accredited physical therapist assistant academic program, lead health risk reduction classes for the elderly, or organize community activities for improving and maintaining health.

The number of job opportunities to become a physical therapist assistant is expected to increase through 2016, as the demand for assisting people with disabilities or medical conditions grows. As people get older, there is usually a greater need for this care. Also, physical therapists may use assistants to lower the cost of their services; this is because the assistant can carry out certain parts of a patient's treatment plan developed by the therapist. People who have some type of experience working in physical therapy will have the best chance of gaining employment in the future. For other information, see the source below.

Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm


I think the worst job I ever had was working weekends on the 11 pm - 7 am shift for an answering service agency. Not only were the hours horrendous but there were all kinds of emergencies happening where timing was crucial and responses were slow. It was also unrewarding since you never knew the ultimate result of what happened and if someone was able to be helped (especially in medical emergencies).

Penny Loretto, Career Counselor
Career Choice, http://www.careerchoic.com/cc/home.php
About.com Guide to Internships, http://internships.about.com/

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Depends on the type of job it is I am applying for. When applying for a professional job I do. I think it is respectful and leaves an impression in their mind that you do want the position. They will remember you before the person who does not send one.

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...Houston

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Innovation. I get a real charge out of finding new and better ways to get work done so that our team becomes more efficient, effective, or both.

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Medical Laboratory Technician

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...upward mobility

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Sometimes, remembering your own strengths can be one of the more effective ways to jumpstart an internship search. I suggest that before you even consider delving into the world of random internship searches, you make a list of your credentials and what you consider to be your strong points. Doing this will provide focus and aim to your internship search. In addition, it will also serve you in the long run to know your own credentials. When applying for particular positions, you will have to be honest with yourself about whether or not you meet the internship criteria. So knowing where you stand is always a plus.

Remembering your strong points often goes hand in hand with remembering your passion. The key question is: what do you most enjoy in life? I can provide a personal anecdote to illustrate this key point. A few weeks ago, I was searching for internships over the internet and I came across a position as a student advisor for a startup website called Get-Accepted.com. The mission of Get-Accepted.com, which can be found at http://recruit.get-accepted.com, is to provide affordable college admissions advice to high school students who dream of attending top universities around the country. As a student advisor, my main responsibility would be to create and conduct a free, live web seminar on a particular aspect of the college admissions process.

The position at Get-Accepted.com immediately caught my eye because one of my main passions in life is writing. I also consider writing to be one of my strengths. My thought process went something like this: if I could convey my passion for writing to aspiring high school students, then I would be making some sort of difference in their lives, and fulfilling my own dreams and aspirations in the process. Sure enough, I will be conducting a conference call in late September on how to write an effective college admissions essay.

Reflecting on my own experience, I realized that I hopefully have a lot to share on the topic of writing a college admissions essay. Writing my essay was my favorite part of the college admissions process by far, and I have fond memories of crafting that piece of writing.

When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter what your strengths and passions are, it simply matters that you are aware of them. Remembering what you are good at is a simple way to refine and refocus your quest for a meaningful internship. So, as a simple exercise, look back on your own life and make a list of what you have accomplished and what you enjoyed doing along the way. From my own experience, recognizing my passion was the key to finding a meaningful internship that works for me.