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News, Information and Career Advice |
January 2010 |
Blackstone Career Institute Earns Reaccreditation from Distance Education and Training CouncilBlackstone Career Institute (BCI) has been reaccredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), the nation’s premiere accrediting association for distance learning education. Blackstone was granted initial accreditation in 2005, and after a rigorous review process, the Accrediting Commission of the DETC voted to grant the maximum five-year renewal at its January 16 meeting. Approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission of the DETC is also a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and strives to identify schools that offer high quality distance education. DETC accreditation enables Blackstone students to qualify for veterans, GI and other military educational reimbursement programs, as well as employer-sponsored education financial aid programs. The DETC review process includes submission of an in-depth self-evaluation report; review of all courses by subject matter experts; surveys of students and graduates; and an on-site inspection. “Receiving our five-year accreditation renewal from the DETC is a gratifying achievement because it underscores our commitment to providing quality education by meeting both high educational and business standards,” said Kevin McCloskey, President of Blackstone Career Institute. “I am very proud of our staff, who worked hard to obtain this achievement, conducting an extensive review of our policies and procedures and presenting this information to the Accrediting Commission for analysis.” Michael Lambert, Executive Director of the Accrediting Commission of the DETC, said, “This milestone achievement by Blackstone Career Institute signals that the school continues on its 120 year journey of the pursuit of excellence in career education. We salute BCI on this singular achievement and congratulate its staff for earning this prestigious award, which serves to identify the school as an outstanding provider of accredited distance learning.” The reaccreditation process ensures that Blackstone continues to meet a set of quality educational and business standards and provides assurance that the school’s programs have been approved, its instructors are qualified, facilities and equipment are adequate, recruitment and admissions policies are fair, and that financial operations are sound. In addition to being nationally accredited by the DETC, Blackstone is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools and is a private licensed school regulated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools. Blackstone is also in the process of renewing its accreditation with Middle States. Blackstone Provides You with Job Search ToolsWhile finding a job in this economy is challenging, there are many ways you can make yourself stand out as well as discover where the opportunities are. The Blackstone Career Institute curriculum, whether you are a paralegal or allied health student, provides the knowledge you need to enter the work force in your desired field as well as the tools you need to find the right job. All Blackstone courses include study units on finding a job in your chosen field, ethics, and on-the-job professionalism. Blackstone also provides another excellent job hunting resource: the Online Career Center. The Career Center is divided into the following three areas to assist in your job search process: Job Search Strategies: Learn how to coordinate your job search, find resume writing and interviewing tips, become skilled in networking, and make yourself marketable to employers. Job Search Databank: Search employment networks to find local or national job listings or companies in your field. You can search general job databases or sites dedicated solely to your career choice. Find career fairs, internships, or a career counselor in your area. Career Resources: Search sites dedicated to your career, such as organizations, research tools, books, journals, job forums and job postings. Find valuable information on certifications that may be available and read articles on the latest updates in your field. There is a separate Career Resources page for each diploma program offered by Blackstone. Use the links below to view these resources: • Legal Assistant/Paralegal There are links to sites which allow you to search for jobs in a specific career field. For example, the Contexo Media website provides those seeking positions as medical billers and coders with an opportunity to browse available jobs, post their resumes, and receive e-mail alerts when new job openings become available. Paralegals looking for positions can identify local law firms by using the Martindale or Lawyers.com directories. There are dozens of helpful links in the Career Center that can help you search for government jobs or professional associations in your field, get resume and interviewing advice, find internships or a career counselor, and much more! Answering Tough Interview QuestionsTo prepare for an interview, experts recommend that you make a list of your accomplishments and focus on those items during your interview. But you also need to be prepared to answer tough interview questions about your background, experience and past working relationships. Skillfully handling the difficult questions can land you the job. Here are some recommendations from Careerbuilder.com about how to respond to a variety of questions: • “Tell me about yourself.” Don’t use this as an opportunity to tell your entire life’s story. Provide a brief summary of your qualifications and experience. Talk about your education, work history and future goals. • “Why did you leave your last job?” It is not appropriate to badmouth a former employer or give a long list of reasons why you left. Focus on what you learned in your previous position and how that will benefit the new employer. Careerbuilder.com suggests an answer such as “The company wasn’t a good fit for my creativity, but I learned that organizations have distinct personalities just like people do. Now I know where I’ll be a better fit.” • “What are your weaknesses?” Steer away from generic responses, such as you are “too detail-oriented” or you “work too hard.” Instead, respond by identifying skills you would like to improve that would be assets to the new employer. For example, you might say “I wasn’t able to fully develop my public-speaking skills in my last position, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to give presentations to the public or colleagues.” • “Why were you laid off?” This is a tough question, but answer it as honestly as possible. For example: “My position was eliminated due to a large staff reduction due to the economic conditions. I am confident that the layoff was not related to job performance, as exemplified by my record: I was one of the top sales people in my division for the past three years.” • “Would you be willing to take a salary cut?” This is something you may be willing to do because of the tough economic conditions, but don’t sell yourself short. Careerbuilder.com suggests an appropriate response such as “I understand the salary range for this position is $35,000 to $40,000. I would like to improve my salary, but I am very interested in this job and would be willing to negotiate. I would hope we can revisit the subject in a few months after I have proven myself to you.”
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In This Issue
More News from BlackstoneFor more news from Blackstone as well as an archive of recent news items, visit our web site. Join Our CommunityJoin Blackstone’s new Facebook group and connect with fellow students, alumni and prospective students! If you are not already a Facebook member, join now. Did You Know?Finding a job in a career field that is expected to grow in the next two decades should certainly be a priority for those seeking a new position. The health care field is attractive to those seeking stability, long-term growth, challenging work, and an opportunity to help people. The largest employment sector in the nation, healthcare employed 14 million workers in 2006 and continues to have a promising outlook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care sector will potentially add three million new jobs between 2006 and 2016. Many jobs in health care require years of training, including graduate school; however, there are also great opportunities for those without a bachelor’s degree. Careerbuilder.com has identified seven top jobs that offer plenty of potential with only moderate training. Among these fields are medical transcriptionists and medical records and health information technicians (which includes medical coders). Salaries averaged over $30,000 in 2008 for medical records and health information technicians, and over $32,000 for medical transcriptionists. Blackstone offers diploma programs in both medical transcription and medical billing & coding, which can be completed quickly and at the student’s own pace. For more information, use the links below. For Your InformationWant to learn more about Blackstone programs? Use the links below to explore BCI’s career programs and continuing education opportunities:
Online Professional and Personal Development CoursesFrequently Asked QuestionsVisit our FAQs page to learn more about enrolling in any of our programs. If you have additional questions, contact our friendly staff at info@blackstone.edu. Enroll NowReady to enroll right now in a Blackstone program? Go directly to our online enrollment form. Pass It AlongKnow anyone who might be interested in our newsletter? Click here to forward this email to up to 5 friends at once. |
Newsletter January 2010
by admin on January 9, 2010
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