A Navy nurse career provides unrivaled experience and skills that are transferable anywhere allowing you to choose from the best nursing jobs available in civilian life. Additionally, the Navy offers excellent scholarship opportunities so spending years paying off your debts from graduate school won’t be a factor in your decision to pursue a healthcare career.

Navy nurses get ample opportunity to focus their career on a variety of nursing specialties including:

• Critical Care
• Education
• Emergency Trauma
• Manpower System Analysis
• Maternal/Infant
• Medical/Surgical
• Neonatal Intensive Care
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Nurse Midwife
• Nurse Practitioner
  • Family
  • Pediatric
  • Psychiatric
  • Women’s Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Perioperative
  • Psychiatric
  • Public Health
  • Research
  • Training Management

Navy nurses also see the world. There are more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the world including places like Japan, Germany, Guam and of course the United States. You may be called to work at one of the National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, Maryland, Portsmouth, Virginia and San Diego, California or provide medical support to deployed troops aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: The USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

If choosing the Navy to kick start your career in nursing looks viable there are additional perks worth considering. The Navy covers up to $180,000 of your education and students have no military/training obligation until after graduation. Current nursing students who qualify for the Nurse Candidate Program get an initial grant of $10,000 plus a stipend of $1,000 per month for up to two years.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 41, pass a full medical exam and be willing to serve a minimum of three years active duty among other requirements. Click here for more information on how to be a nurse in the Navy.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

The jobs reviewed were taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Employment Matrix which provides projected growth between 2008 and 2018 for 750 major job categories. The study identified jobs that are going to add the largest number of new positions (greater than a 20 percent increase) and then selected those with a median annual income of at least $60,000.

Of the top 10 jobs identified, dental hygienists rank #9 on the list. Dental hygienists work alongside of dentists, clean teeth and assist in surgery. Total new jobs expected between the years of 2008-2018 are just under 63,000 (a 36.1 percent increase) and the position has a median income of $68,250. Those who live in Michigan, Idaho and Utah will have a leg up as these are the states with the most dental hygienist jobs per capita.

Coming in at #5 are physicians and surgeons. This career path is exploding not only from the expected increase in population (several million a year) but a high number of physicians and surgeons are also expected to retire during the 2008-2018 period. The increase in demand has been calculated at nearly 22 percent and the median income for this position is between $94,000 and $153,000. It was noted that the level of training is one of the most difficult but the potential payoff is high. Those living in New Mexico, West Virginia and Wyoming will fare better at findings jobs than in other parts of the country.

The #1 job is Registered Nurses with an expected 581,500 (a 22.2 percent increase) new jobs opening during the years of 2008 and 2018. Registered Nurses, or RNs, provide basic medical treatment, manage patient records and are the primary providers of long-term care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes, “Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care.” Like dental hygienists, the demand for RNs is being fueled by the Baby Boomers who, as they age, will push the demand for nursing care. The median income is $64,690 and people living in Rhode Island, South Dakota and Massachusetts will have the best chance at finding a job in this field.

The job market in the healthcare industry is better than ever-with much opportunity attached. Even the experts agree.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

You are not alone when it comes to expecting some sort of phone call or even any type of correspondence to let you know where you stand. And you are not alone when you hear nothing for weeks and sometimes when you hear nothing…ever. There are a number of reasons for this. Some have nothing to do with you and some may have everything to do with you. An article posted on a popular job search site breaks down this new phenomenon in job searching and provides some hints on how to overcome it.

The company is not into you.

Yes you may qualify but someone else more closely matches what they were looking for. This is one of the tightest job markets ever so employers can usually get exactly the type of candidate they want.

They like you-they just haven’t come across your resume.

Companies are inundated with applications, so much so, they don’t even have time to send acknowledgement letters. Some companies spend months looking through resumes for one open position. So, while you may want the job today it may take months before you even get an interview.

Did you follow directions?

One way companies siphon through resumes is to see if the applicant followed directions. Did you respond exactly the way the company asked you to? Did you tailor your resume to show you have the experience and qualifications that are required? Additionally, don’t expect success if you are using a shotgun approach by sending the same letter to dozens of companies.

Is the job you applied for appropriate for you?

If you’re not right for the job, whether it’s because you are over qualified, under qualified or just plain wrong for the job, don’t expect the company to find a spot for you on their roster. Read the job description carefully and make sure you are a fit.

Your application materials could use some work.

Did you send a cover letter? Does your resume show you’re the right person for the job? Did you remember to spell check everything prior to submitting? Mistakes and coming across as having no idea what the position is for won’t result in a call back.

The job is gone.

Sometimes companies realize they don’t need the position anymore or budget cuts end up axing the position which means they no longer need you. In some cases, companies will collect resumes for a job they plan to open sometime in the future.

This is not a comprehensive list by any means but if you are not receiving responses, there are some steps that you can take:

1. Call. Try and track down the hiring manager for the position you applied for and see if you’re even in the running.
2. Don’t be a pest. If you did get an interview, send your “thank you” letter and wait a week to call. You can even send an email or two but no more; you’ll just come across as desperate.
3. Reread the job posting. A second or even third read may reveal some tidbits that do indeed disqualify you as a viable candidate.
4. Review your resume. Ask others what they think of it and if it needs tweaking.
5. Network even more. The best chance for you in the healthcare field, especially in this job climate, is to network your way in.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

1. Speaking of hot seat, don’t turn it into one. The interview is not an interrogation (when one party asks all the questions with the other giving all the answers). It’s a conversation and not necessarily a conversation about you. Think of the interview as a conversation about your skills and what you bring to the healthcare field and specifically to the company you’ve applied to.
2. Don’t just sit there and answer questions. Ask questions too! After all, the interview is not only for your potential employer to get to know you but for you to get to know them. By asking questions you may just find that their not the right fit for you. If you go into an interview without prepared questions it’s a tip off to the interviewer that you really have little interest in the position. Besides, if you just sit and field questions, you unwittingly turn the interviewer into an interrogator which only serves to make them uncomfortable.  Our tips for asking questions include inquiring about the company and the position. We do not recommend asking about salary or benefits during a first interview-it is a turn off to your interviewer. If things are going smoothly, you may want to ask some general questions about the career path of the person interviewing you.
3. Don’t give a list of weaknesses. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll know a likely question will be about the non-perfect parts of your personality or character. And of course, you hopefully will be honest that you have one. But note that we said ONE. Stick with that-don’t start a verbal list of all the areas you are hoping to improve in.
4. Don’t turn a weakness into a positive. It’s been done so often that its borderline cliché so just stick with the facts and be upfront about what you’re doing to try and improve.
5. Don’t forget to study yourself. You may end up spending all your time researching the company and the position you’re applying for but when the interviewer asks you a question about the job you held 10 years ago you’ll have no answer. So, be sure to run down a checklist of accomplishments as well as anecdotal stories about how you handle stress and even difficult situations or employees. Remember, you need to be prepared to discuss any part of your past work experience.
6. Don’t leave your cell phone on during your interview. Forgetting about it is not an excuse. It’s important so turn it off so do so before you even enter the building.
7. Don’t wait for them to call you back. You’re most likely not the only candidate so what will separate you from the rest if you’re all on an equal plane with your skills and education? Follow up and gentle persistence (not stalking) can be the key to getting the job.
8. Don’t forget to say thank you after the interview. Send a card, email or give a call with your thanks.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

LinkedIn is a social networking website for professionals like yourself, and if you’re not on it, you should be. It allows you to reconnect with former colleagues, post your curriculum vitae, and broaden your connections. A fact not to be overlooked: 80% of all companies expect to find their next employee through LinkedIn.

Gone are the days when you can walk into a hospital or clinic and make a casual inquiry about job openings. Most likely, you’ll just be told to look at the company’s website for job postings. And a cold submission to an online job posting won’t go nearly as far as a submission through someone in your social network. Nowdays, it is critical to have your resume online and for you to develop a web network of contacts.

Most recruiters first look online when deciding on viable candidates. LinkedIn can eliminate a number of hoops for a recruiter, and if your profile is not readily available but someone else who is equally qualified does have an online profile available, guess who moves on to the interview process? LinkedIn is the new first impression, and it allows you to sell yourself and market your skills and achievements.

When setting up your LinkedIn profile, you can download your current resume then rearrange it to highlight the skills and experience you feel are most crucial for a recruiter to see.

One of the best features on LinkedIn is your ability to request a recommendation from people in your network. These recommendations will appear on your public profile so that any recruiter can easily see the positive impact you have had in your various positions. We recommend that you have at least three recommendations and keep them current.

LinkedIn now has a feature similar to Facebook which allows you to start conversations. Looking for advice on a difficult decision? You no longer need to make phone call after phone call or send an email blast out. Simply post your dilemma on LinkedIn and everyone in your network will see it. Someone from your network may not have the answer but may be linked to a specialist in his network and can get the word out. The possibilities are endless!

Another great feature about LinkedIn, which is especially true for the seasoned professional who has worked at several hospitals and/or clinics over the last decade or so, is the ability to find former colleagues. Once you start this, the domino effect begins. This is where the real networking happens. A former coworker can introduce you to a friend or colleague of his and then you are “LinkedIn” with someone new, and so on. The more “Connections” you have the wider your “Network” becomes and your profile is reached by more and more people.

LinkedIn allows you to post as much or as little information about yourself as you want. If you’re looking for a job, contemplating a career change or wish to relocate, the best advice is to put all of your professional credentials out there because you never know who may be looking…for you!

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

As you’re all aware by now, job hunting today is a much more complex endeavor than ever before. Let’s review what we’ve learned about job hunting over the past several months. Here are some of the things you need to be doing to be competitive in today’s job marketplace:

1. Join both real world and virtual groups for networking and support.

2. Enlist the help of a mentor or career counselor.

3. Stay on top of current and emerging trends by reading industry-specific magazines and blogs regularly.

4. Attend classes and workshops whenever possible.

5. Keep your resume up-to-date.

6. Be intentional about improving your personal character.

And finally, Google yourself to see what comes up! That’s right. I “googled” myself several years ago and was only listed 3 times in very obscure articles and websites. Totally harmless. Now my name is all over the place and some of the information is outdated and incorrect. Fortunately, there is nothing embarrassing or incriminating. More and more companies are requiring their HR people to research job candidates online, and though it may seem a violation of our privacy and our rights, the things they’re finding could affect your ability to get or keep a job.

Remember:

• If you are on social sites like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, make sure your profile pictures and biographical information are correct and current. If you have questionable photos, posts or friends, remove them. If your pages contain things you wouldn’t want your kids or your mom to see, you definitely don’t want it there for employers to see!
• Ask current or former co-workers and supervisors to provide recommendations on LinkedIn.
• If you find your online reputation to be seriously troubling you may want to enroll the help of a reputation management company like ReputationDefender.

Still think all of this stuff is just a passing fad that will go away with time and have no real impact on the way we do business/ Consider this: The Library of Congress will be acquiring and permanently storing the entire archive of public Twitter posts since 2006. It’s not going away!

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

HDJ-What kinds of services does a career coach offer?

Graham- Just a few of the benefits you could experience by working with a career coach include:

1. Expediting the process of determining your new career direction.
2. Helping you with a systematic approach to finding your career fit.
3. Giving you feedback and guidance from someone who has helped hundreds make career changes.

In this economy, old ways of job searching will delay your employment. Responding to Newspaper and Internet ads as your only means of searching will almost guarantee extended unemployment. But a skilled career coach can help you to develop targeted job search tools (like your professional resume), hone your skills for marketing yourself to employers, and design a strategic game plan for finding your next job.

HDJ- How else can these services help someone who is job searching?

Graham- They offer jobseekers the chance to learn how to use all of the tools at their disposal. It provides them with an understanding of how to use their time and resources to the greatest advantage. Career coaches help by listening, providing feedback, and asking powerful questions to improve the job seeker’s ability to market and sell themselves in the job market.

They can coach you on how to answer interview questions most strategically. It’s not always the most qualified person who gets the position-sometimes the person who communicates the most persuasively will get the job.

HDJ- What strategies might benefit someone searching for a job in the healthcare field?

Graham- A good career coach is going help a job seeker identify their unique selling points. With so many applicants in the Healthcare industry having similar qualifications, it is important to communicate exactly what it is that “sets you apart”. It’s not enough to assume that it’s obvious or that everyone will recognize your talents.

HDJ- Do you recommend networking? Why or why not?

Graham- Yes, absolutely. It’s not who you know, but who knows you. Job seekers should become a member of a networking group or two to meet new people and establish a presence in a supportive environment. Sharing ideas leads to exposure and opportunities for everyone.

Usually networking contacts won’t be potential employers. They will be people who know about potential employment. If one discovers that a contact is a potential employer, they should take off their networking hat and pursue employment.

Effective networking also includes being involved on social and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

HDJ- What is a common job searching mistake that you see?

Graham-That’s any easy one! People don’t read the advertisement and job description carefully. Read it 324 times, then read it again. Also, analyze and use those key words from the ad and job description to ensure that your résumé matches the employer requirements.

HDJ- Thank you Graham! Follow Graham on Twitter.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

1. Help my Resume- A no-cost resume rewriting service with a mission in mind to help people present themselves better. Their vision: “By the end of 2011, we will be the leading advocate, conscious, voice and solutions provider to, and on behalf of the unemployed, regardless of age, sex or race throughout the United States.” They have a comprehensive blog with a ton of good job searching information as well. Follow them on Twitter and Like them on Facebook.

2. Expert Resume Man- We first met Graham on Twitter, where he keeps a steady stream of interesting job conversations and resources going. Today he posted a great tip: “Never include marital status, religious/political affiliations in résumé. Don’t insert picture either.” Graham is a career coach and if you feel the need for some more in-depth analysis of your resume, job search or defining your objective/goals, he’s the one to go to.

3. Landon Long- We also met Landon on Twitter. He is great at outlining the common pitfalls on resumes and offers a free course on his website about resume writing. The course includes access to four newsletters on job interviewing.

4. HealthCareers.net offers a great blog with a lot of healthcare job stats and growth predictions. In addition, they have job listings, health news, education and financial aid information. You can even view educational programs by State.

5. Job-Hunt.org offers hundreds of listings for job resources including online job searching tutorials, a Guide to Lay-Off Self Defense and more. From Job-Hunt website, “Job-Hunt is dedicated to the millions of people who have had their personal lives disrupted by the loss of a job…We hope that Job-Hunt can help open doors and provide assistance and hope to job seekers…A job loss can be a new beginning as well as an ending. A career is a process, not a destination! Don’t give up!”

6. Don’t forget to check out our blog for great resources and also our job listing section for thousands of healthcare jobs!

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

1. Only apply for jobs that you are well-qualified for. The old adage “apply for every job possible” is usually a waste of time. For every job open, there are a ton of applicants who have the specific experience for that job and you will only stand out above those people if you have more than they have. Stick to your niches and to your areas of strengths to put yourself in a position to ace the interview.

2. Assume that everyone else is as qualified as you are and that they have great personalities. Seek other ways to put your best foot forward and truly make yourself irreplaceable to your future employer-even before you become employed. What can you bump yourself up on?

3. Before your interview, research the employer. Reviewing their website and printed material will give you a heads up about the company and help you appear more knowledgeable about them during your interview.

4. Consider advanced training. Where else can you go in your training? Can you continue education in your field? What about management classes? Consider the education that will help you become more valuable to a potential employer and follow through on it.

5. Ask questions. The interviewer might give you a chance to ask questions during the interview. Questions that are somewhat in-depth about the company are great as they show that you want to learn more. Be wary about asking for specific salary, benefits, etc. Of course you have the right to know these but it can give the impression that those are the only important things to you. Save them for after the employer calls you about the next step in the process.

6. Bring your references to the interview and a copy of your resume, even if you have already turned them in. I can’t tell you how many times an employer is unable to dig them up for interviews or “didn’t have time to go back to the office to grab them” but it has happened to me. It saves everyone time and grief if you can just hand another copy over.

7. Dress professionally. Shake hands firmly. Look your interviewer in the eye. Beware of nervous habits such as leg bouncing, twisting hair, and “umm’s”. Enough said. See an interview here with an HR Director on more of that.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.

1. Follow up your resume submission with contact-Keep a list of where and to whom you submit your resume and follow up with each one. In the current economy, your resume might get lost in a stack of 100 applicants. But an email or call can go a long way in helping yours to get pulled out of the stack and looked at more closely.

2.Ask for an informational interview- I have had two people contact me over the past six months and request an “informational interview”. This is an interview where you questions about the company. I’ve seen it used when people are exploring the industry, wanting to network or needing a job. Does it result in one? I can’t answer that. I can only say that if I had had an opening, I would have been more likely to hire one of the two people that I provided an informational interview to because their questions and comments impressed me. There is much to gain (including knowledge) and nothing to lose with contacting employers and requesting one.

3. Follow the employer on the social sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and Linked In (notice, I did not say stalk)-This shows your interest in the organization. Keep in mind that with larger organizations, the HR department may not even realize that you are a follower, but this will give you up-to-date information from the company and possible questions to ask during your interview.

©2012 Bridging Opportunity to Success. All Rights Reserved.