Everyone needs help with practice success, whether you are a newbie or a weathered veteran.  Whether you dress for success, impress for success, or invest in your success, everyone needs success!

Looking for a job? You are not alone, not only is the economy a challenge, but there is a lot of competition for the available jobs.  Make certain that you have prepared yourself for your job search and that you are doing the best possible job at representing yourself in your job search.   While the economy is a challenge, not all of the economy is bad.  Here are some ideas about landing that next high paying and rewarding new job.

1.  Make certain that you have completely investigated the company or health practice that you are looking at applying at. 

2.  Ask yourself these basic questions, is this company or practice a good fit for me?  Does the job, the company/practice, and potential fellow employees fit with my personality, skills, goals and desires for employment?

3.  Your investigation into the company or practice needs to tell you if you have the skills and abilities that they are looking for.  How do you find this out?  Call the company or practice and find out what they do. Find out if the company or practice has a website or brochure that lists their products and services and compare what they do to what you know how to do.  Do you measure up?

4.  Whatever you do, do not apply for a job unless you know that you have the knowledge and skills needed to perform the job.  For example, if you are strictly a clinical, rehabilitation, or medical massage therapist do you have the exact skills needed for a job as a relaxation or spa massage therapist?  If you had to perform a spa massage could you do it competently?

5.  Develop a written plan and the materials that you need to present your professional knowledge and skills.  Write out your professional and employment goals in a brief outline.  This outline can serve as a constant reminder of your objectives and that you can refer to as you look for opportunities in your field. 

6.  As part of your professional development plan and in preparation for applying for jobs create a business card, resume and professional webpage that you can use in responding to job ads.  There are many free opportunities for websites and email available to you.   AHS provides information regarding free website and email to its members, so take advantage of that opportunity.

7.  Never use the exact same resume for every job.   Research each potential employer and their company and/or practice and revise and slant your resume to the job opportunity and to the services offered by which potential employer. 

8.  Your resume should include a one or two sentence statement at the top of the page that defines your employment objective.  This brief statement should change for each potential job opening you apply for.

9.  Some fields such as massage therapy and personal training may require that you perform a demonstration of your abilities, by giving a massage or conducting a training session.  Be sent that you have prepared in advance for this practical evaluation and that you have the knowledge and skills the employer will be evaluating.

10. Some fields require basic certification and/or licensure so make certain that you have completed whatever training, certifications, or licensure is required for your profession.  For example, in the massage field national board certification is a normal requirement.  In the personal training field national board certification is highly advised and certification in CPR is a standard job and hiring requirement.  In allied medical fields such as medical assisting or billing there are national certification exams and national board certification is a standard job and hiring requirement.  Make certain that your training program has prepared you for national board certification.

And finally, you can never be too prepared, too smart, or look to good.  Nurture your professionalism like you take care of the rest of you and you will be successful.  Your future is waiting, go get it…

For information and materials to help you develop your professional future check out these links:

AHS Business Builder

http://americanhealthsource.org/bizbuilder.htm

US Small Business Association

http://www.sba.gov/