Chapter 23 - Medical assisting externships and preparing to find a position. After completing this chapter, students will be able to: Perform professionally in all externship scenarios, discuss employment services and methods of obtaining a position, create a résumé, create a cover letter, create a follow-up letter, explain key factors for a successful interview.
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Trang 2Learning Outcomes
23.1 Perform professionally in all externship
scenarios.
23.2 Discuss employment services and
methods of obtaining a position.
23.3 Create a résumé.
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Learning Outcomes (cont.)
23.4Create a cover letter.
23.5Create a follow-up letter.
23.6Explain key factors for a successful
interview.
Trang 4• Form a strategic plan for securing a position
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Trang 6The Externship Process
• Educational institutions partner with
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The Externship Process (cont.)
– Screening by medical facility
Trang 8Expectations of Externship Candidates
• Professionalism
– Be open to suggestions and ideas
– Do not question or argue with preceptors
concerning how procedures are done – Use proper verbal skills and grammar
– Turn cell phones and pagers off during
working hours
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Expectations of Externship Candidates
(cont.)
• Attendance
– Report each day assigned to a
schedule – Be dependable and punctual
– Adhere to policies regarding
breaks
Trang 10Expectations of Externship Candidates
(cont.)
• Professional appearance
– Clean, pressed, and
well-fitting uniform – Name tag or badge
– No artificial nails, visible
tattoos, or facial piercings – Hair off collar
– Avoid colognes, perfumes,
and scented hair products
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Expectations of Externship Candidates
(cont.)
• As an extern you represent
– The school you attend
– The profession of medical assisting – Yourself
Trang 12Expectations of Externship Candidates
(cont.)
• Initiative and willingness to learn
– Accept all assignments
– Ask for additional work
if time permits – Look for additional experiences
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Apply Your Knowledge
What are the expectations of a candidate for an
externship?
ANSWER: Candidates are expected display
professionalism in actions and appearance, to be
dependable and punctual, and to exhibit initiative
and a willingness to learn.
Trang 14Preparing to Find a Position
• Career services department
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Seeking Employment
• Take advantage of resources
– Classified ads and employment
Websites – Internet Websites sites
– Employment services
– Networking
• Explore possibilities
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Résumés (cont.)
• Components
– Awards and honors
– Campus and community
activities – Professional memberships and
activities – Summary of skills
Trang 18accomplishments and strengths
– Chronological – used
by people with job experience
– Targeted – focuses on
a specific job target
• Writing the résumé
– Direct, functional style
– Focus on verbs that imply action
– Choose words that display strengths and demonstrate initiative
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Résumés (cont.)
• Writing tips
– Organize information on a
worksheet – List educational institutions
with dates attended and degree
or certificate attained – Choose format that best describes you
Trang 20Résumés (cont.)
• Tips
– Use a computer and save work
– Proofread for spelling and grammar
– Use high-quality paper
– Be truthful and honest
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– One page in length
– Address to specific person at organization
– Make descriptions of your qualifications reflect the
words used by the company’s advertisement
Trang 22Sending a Résumé
• Use correct address, zip code,
and name of facility
• Verify the fax number before sending
• Post your résumé and cover letter on a
career job search site on the Internet
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Obtaining a Reference
• Recommendation for employment
• Always ask permission before listing
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Apply Your Knowledge
1 What do you include on a functional resume?
2 Name two things that you know about the cover
letter.
ANSWER: You should highlight specialty areas of your
accomplishments and strengths.
ANSWER: The cover letter:
1 Markets your resume as well as your skills and
abilities
2 Direct and to the point
3 One page in length
Correct!
Trang 26Interview Planning and Strategies
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Interview Planning and Strategies (cont.)
• Maintain comfortable eye contact
• Relate your experience to the job
Trang 28Interview Planning and Strategies (cont.)
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Trang 30Reasons for Not Being Hired
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Reasons for Not Being Hired (cont.)
• No enthusiasm for the job
• Not active in extracurricular school
programs
• Being interested only in salary offer
• Poor school record
• Unwilling to begin in entry-level position
Trang 32Reasons for Not Being Hired (cont.)
• Making excuses for poor
record
• No tact
• No maturity
• No curiosity about the job
• Being critical of past employers
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– Benchmark for negotiating
• Employer should bring up salary first
– Ask about range for position
Trang 34Apply Your Knowledge
During an interview, the interviewer asks you
your age and if you are married and have
children How should you answer these
questions?
ANSWER: These are inappropriate questions You should
be polite and professional in declining to answer the
questions You may state that you do not believe the
information is needed to evaluate your qualifications for
the job.
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On the Job
• Learn to be an effective employee
• Identify skills in your daily duties
• Stay competitive and marketable through
continuing education
• Integrate constructive criticism
Trang 36On the Job (cont.)
• Job description
– Lists and describes
expectations of position and duties to
– Describes performance
– Evaluates strengths and weaknesses
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On the Job (cont.)
• Continuing education
– Set educational advancement goals annually
– Stay current
• Medical publications
• Medical assisting meetings
• Internet
– Required to maintain certification
Trang 38Apply Your Knowledge
What is the purpose of your job description?
ANSWER: Your job description lists and describes the
expectations for your position and the duties you are
expected to perform It is used as the standard by which
you are evaluated.
Outstanding!
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In Summary
23.1 Students’ weekly progress sheets should reveal new
goals each week and progress on previous weeks’
goals Their assessment and preceptor’s assessments should be similar and show professionalism,
willingness to learn, and continual progress throughout the externship.
23.2 Students should be able to list classified
advertisements available in local papers, employment Websites, networking and employment agencies
where employment assistance is available
Trang 40In Summary (cont.)
23.3 With assistance, students should turn in a workable,
professional résumé which can be used to begin the employment search.
23.4 Students should create a basic, professional cover
letter which can be modified to fit the job description they are applying for.
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In Summary (cont.)
23.5 Students should create a basic follow-up letter that
can be modified to send to each individual prospective employer after the interview is completed.
23.6 Students should be able to list key factors such as
portraying confidence, smiling, looking the interviewer
in the eye, having questions ready for the interviewer about the position, and practicing answers to common interviewing questions If possible, participation in a mock interview should be considered.
Trang 42End of Chapter 23
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work
~ Aristotle