1. HOW TO PREPARE FOR A
MEDICAL CAREER
Starting a health care career is easier than you think when you’ve done your research, understand which
medical career fits your personality and pursue training from a school that supports you from enrollment
and beyond. Why wait? Learn how to prepare for your new medical career now!

2. Medical Career Stats and Facts
Need a push to finally jumpstart your health care career? Check out
these inspiring figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
• Many job openings should arise in all health care employment settings
as a result of employment growth and the need to replace workers who
retire or leave their jobs for other reasons.
• Many of the occupations projected to grow the fastest in the economy
are concentrated in the health care industry.
• Employment growth is expected to account for about 22 percent of all
wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 2008-18 period.
• Ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are health care related.
• Health care will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between
2008 and 2018, more than any other industry, largely in response to
rapid growth in the elderly population.
• Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college
education.
• About 595,800 establishments make up the health care industry.
• About 76 percent of health care establishments are offices of
physicians, dentists, or other health practitioners and salary workers.
About 40 percent were in hospitals; another 21 percent were in
nursing and residential care facilities; and 16 percent were in offices
of physicians.
• Wage and salary employment in the health care industry is
projected to increase 22 percent through 2016, compared with 11
percent for all industries combined.

3. How to Select the Right Medical Career Path
When deciding which medical career path to choose, the options
can be overwhelming. Searching for an occupation that is well-
suited to your interests, skills and lifestyle is a great place to start.
One of the most cherished benefits of living in our great country is
the freedom to choose your line of work. However, it’s important to
keep in mind that the job you pick may have long-term ramifications.
Your career choice can play a major role in determining such factors
in your life such as income, social status, and your circle of friends, as
well as your personal identity and sense of self-worth.
Though the options can seem overwhelming, if you follow the basic
steps outlined below, your medical career search can be an enjoyable
and stress-free process:
1) Start with a thorough self-assessment. Identify your interests,
skills, values, needs and behavioral traits to help you determine the
best fit for your personality, lifestyle and what is important to you. For
example, if you’re a people person, a career in medical assisting or as
a pharmacy technician could be an ideal fit.
2) Take time to research. Based on what you’ve learned about
yourself, check out various sources of occupational information to
discover those health care jobs that seem to be the best match.
More than likely, you will find several types of occupations that
match your interests. Now you can form your list of medical career
possibilities.
3) Learn more. The next step is to research job positions on
your list to find out more about each one. Record pertinent
information such as duties, qualifications, training, salary scales
and benefits, chances for advancement, and pros and cons of

4. working conditions. You can do this through written materials, the
internet, and actual conversations with workers.
4) Make a tentative career choice. Now that you have matched
your needs and interests with possible medical occupations, select
one that you want to pursue. Don’t fret about making a wrong or
definite decision at this point in time… just make the best choice you
can.
5) Test it out. Since it’s easier to determine whether or not a job is right
for you by trying it, you might consider enrolling in a related course,
taking a volunteer position, shadowing an experienced employee for a
day, or talking to people who work at the site. If possible, you might
also consider a part-time job to test the waters.
6) Make a final decision. Based on what you have learned thus far,
select an occupation you feel is the best match for you. If you have
trouble doing this, you may want to consult a professional career
counselor for some assistance and guidance.
7) You’re almost done! If applicable, complete any necessary
training or coursework needed to develop the suggested qualifications.
After doing that, you should be ready to seek a position in the field
you have selected with confidence.
Hopefully you have found this brief outline of a career-planning
program to be an inspiration as you begin to explore your choices.
Good luck and have fun!

5. Top 5 Myths of Getting an Online Education
Unsure whether or not online medical training is the right choice?
In today’s technological world, there are many options for getting
an education, including taking part in an online curriculum. You may
have heard that online medical courses are easier than their classroom
counterparts or that you are totally on your own when you enroll - both
of which are not true! Here are 5 common myths about getting an online
education:
1. The quality of an online course is not as good as a traditional
brick and mortar school - If you take the time to research your online
school and confirm that it is accredited by an accrediting organization
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, you are going to receive
a quality online education. Accreditation is a reliable indicator that you
are enrolling in a quality school. Partner with a school that has the right
credentials and benefit from a curriculum that has been evaluated and
critiqued to conform to specific standards.
2. Online learning is easier than attending a live school - If you
think that you are going to breeze through an online medical training
course, think again. If anything, you have to be more dedicated to your
online education - if you don’t complete your assignments and lessons on
a regular basis, you are not going to learn the material and you are not
going to pass the course. Remember you are unsupervised in an online
course - it is up to you to meet deadlines and avoid procrastination.
While you have more flexibility as to when you learn, you still need to
devote ample time to keep your medical training on track.
3. You are on your own with an online school - An indicator
of a high-quality online school is one that offers live student
support. This means that you can call and actually speak one-on-
one with someone when you have a question or need assistance.
You should not be alone when you enroll in an online course;

6. your school should have a team of professionals available to assist
you throughout your medical training. Choose a school that has an
educational support and student services department - make sure that
all of your educational needs are met.
4. You need to be tech-savvy to enroll in an online course -
Online courses are typically designed to be user-friendly. This means that
anyone - from the novice to the pro - can navigate an online course.
Typically your course website will have a clear and obvious place to log
in - once you provide your username and password, you will be able to
access your course materials. There will be instructions on how to proceed
through your course. In an online setting, the assignments, quizzes and
tests will be available through your computer. You proceed through your
course at your own pace and on your own schedule.
5. An online school is not as respected as a live school - Worried
about health care employers not recognizing your career training? Don’t!
In today’s educational times, more and more schools are offering online
programs - in fact, it is even commonplace to get a bachelor’s or master’s
degree online. Just make sure to check the school’s credentials - including
accreditation, approvals, memberships and student testimonials. A
respected online school will be respected by today’s employers.
What are you waiting for? Partner with an online school and get the
medical career training you’ve always wanted. With high-quality
online courses, in-depth educational materials, personalized student
support and user-friendly courses, you’ll be ready to build a solid
foundation that sets the stage for an exciting career in the growing
health care field!

7. How to Prepare for Medical Job Interviews
with Confidence
Going into a job interview equipped to answer the questions that
are most likely to be asked will not only boost your confidence, but
will also make a positive impact on your prospective health care
employer.
According to Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute,
a practice manual for job-hunters and career-changers, there are
five basic questions that will most certainly be asked in the course of
an interview. Knowing what these questions are, and preparing your
answers beforehand, will give you a definite advantage in your job
search and enhance your employment opportunities.
The research process can oftentimes result in consulting an overwhelming
number of resources. However, by narrowing your focus to the five
questions most likely to be posed during a job interview, you will be
covering the basics of what most employers are interested in learning
about you. Not only will this save valuable time, but will also serve to
ease any apprehension you may have in preparing for an upcoming
meeting with a prospective employer.
Practice answering the following five questions to align your thoughts
and nail your next interview:
Q: Why are you here?
A: In order to answer this question effectively, you must know why
you are interested in working for this particular organization. Tell
them why you want the job and demonstrate your knowledge
of the company by giving specific examples based on your
research. This will surely make a favorable impression on the
employer.

8. Q: What can you do for us?
A: An employer will always want to know what you, as a prospective
employee, can do to benefit the company. Provide them with detailed
examples from your past experiences, training and certifications, and
relate them to the position you are seeking. For example, if you’re
seeking a medical coding position and you’re revving up your ICD-10
background, that’s a valuable skill set to share!
Q: What kind of person are you?
A: During the course of a face-to-face meeting, an employer has the
opportunity to evaluate your personality and observe how well you carry
yourself. Having prepared your answers to the five questions and being
well rehearsed prior to the day of the interview, you will exude self-
confidence, giving you an overall appearance that is sure to impress
the interviewer. For example, if you’re seeking a pharmacy technician
position, a bright smile and well-spoken individual will stand out over
someone who’s quiet and more introverted.
Q: What is it that distinguishes you from other people who
can perform the same job?
A: When a prospective employer asks you what it is that makes
you stand out and sets you apart among the other 19 candidates
applying for the same position, your response should include
qualities and specific achievements relative to the job, like
certification. By making an impact on the employer in this way,
they will likely want to hire you immediately.

9. Q: Can I afford you?
A: If an employer asks you how much you want to be paid, it is
best to state your answer as a range. This will keep you from pricing
yourself out of the market for the job. Prior to the interview, be sure
to research the appropriate salary expectation of your geographical
area

10. How to Choose an Online School for Your
Medical Training
Accreditation. If your medical school isn’t accredited by a qualified
accrediting agency, find another school. Why? Accreditation means
the school operates on a sound financial basis, has an approved
study program, has qualified instructors, approved recruitment and
admissions policies and advertises its courses in a factual manner.
Accreditation is your assurance that the course you take will lead to a
viable certificate or diploma.
Online Courses. An online medical school offers many perks. For
example, you can study when and where you want while juggling a job
and family responsibilities. Plus, you can study at your own pace, set your
own schedule and avoid gas guzzling trips to crowded classrooms.
Interest-Free Pay Plan. Affording your education is a big concern. If
taking out an interest-bearing loan that will require repayment at the end
of your training sounds undesirable, choose a school with other options.
For example, consider a training program that offers an interest-free
pay plan. You can make a down payment and pay for education each
month.
Student Support. If you opt for online medical training, how will you
get help if you need it? That depends on the online school you choose.
Look for a school with an educational support department that assists
students with academic inquiries and a tech support department that
helps students with computer problems. You should have multiple
ways to access your school’s student support departments, such as
email and phone.
Guarantee. You did your research, but how do you know if the
course you purchased is really worth it? Your online school
should have some kind of guarantee that allows you to return the
course materials, within a specific timeframe, if you find them
unsatisfactory.

11. Allied Student Benefits
Student Focused
 100% Online, 24/7 Access
 Live Support
 Flexible Study for Busy Schedules
 Finish Quicker and Start You Career Sooner
High Quality Education
 Nationally Accredited
 Pass the Certification Exam or Don’t Pay Promise*
 Comprehensive Curriculum
Competitive Tuition
 No Unnecessary Filler Courses that Inflate Tuition Cost –
No General Ed Classes to Hold You Back!
 Interest-Free Payment Plan Available
 No Additional Fees – Your Tuition Includes Everything
You Need
Career Preparation
 Hands On Externships Available*
 Résumé, Cover Letter, and Interview Prep

12. Get the support and encouragement you deserve with Allied
by your side throughout each step of your training program.
Learn more about Allied’s online, self-paced medical training
by calling 888-822-2923 or check out our courses online
now:
Medical Assisting
www.medicalaa.com/medical-
administrative-assistant.asp
Medical Billing
www.medicalbillingcourses.com
Pharmacy Technician
www.pharmacytrainingonline.com
Medical Coding
www.medicalcodingcourses.com
*Available for select medical programs
All employment and salary statistics, projections, and information where “(BLS)” is indicated
was collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Information may be verified by
visiting http://www.bls.gov/.