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Category: Online Course

Benefits of Taking an Online Medical Terminology Course

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Awareness of medical terminology is vital to those working in the healthcare industry. When it comes to discussing symptoms, diagnosis, illnesses, or even billing and administration issues, understanding the language used by your co-workers makes a big difference. And learning medical terminology is easy with online courses like the one offered by Corexcel.

What Are The Benefits of an Online Medical Terminology Course?

Taking medical terminology online courses have a number of advantages, such as:

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Price

The cost of online courses is considerably less than taking an in-person class, where you’re paying extra for an instructor and facility rental. Taking courses online reduces the overhead expense for institutions without lowering the quality of the information. So, you can gain the knowledge you want without having to take on additional debt.

Flexible Learning

Most online courses allow you to pick your schedule and work at your own pace. Accessing the content for Corexcel’s medical terminology course can be done whenever you have free time. You’ll also be able to access it from any device, which means you can learn on the go. Online learning in this way means you don’t have to quit your job to further your studies.

Tailor Your Learning

Another benefit of taking online classes is that it allows you to design a learning path that is right for you. You can mix and match the subjects you want to learn more about and beef up the skills you need to improve.

The Time the Course Takes

Getting a certificate in medical terminology is faster with an online course. You can set your own pace and complete the course as quickly as you want, allowing you to easily meet deadlines set by your employer or school.

Career boost

Having a certificate in medical terminology can have a positive impact on your career. Whether you are looking for a promotion or a new job, completing the Corexcel medical terminology course will be an advantage on your resume.

Innovative Learning

With the breadth of technology available, online courses can be more innovative in their delivery of valuable information. The use of games, multimedia presentations, and interactive activities aid the learning process in a fun and engaging way that you won’t get in a classroom.

Personalized Learning

Everyone has their own unique way of learning. With online learning courses, you can personalize your experience to fit your preferred study method.

Accessible

For learners with special needs, online courses are a great way to gain new knowledge in a comfortable and familiar setting. These courses also offer the added benefit of learning at your own pace.

Why Corexcel?

The online medical terminology course puts you in charge of your studies. With Corexcel, you’ll earn a certificate of completion for 9.5 Continuing Education Units.

Using interactive exercises, multimedia animations, and audio playback, learning the fundamentals of medical terminology is easy and fun. Corexcel also has a variety of practice quizzes and case studies to reinforce the learning process. And our course includes access to the Medical Terminology for Health Professions ebook to provide a comprehensive understanding.
Whether you want to master medical terminology to further your career, improve your work performance, or enhance your knowledge, taking the Corexcel medical terminology online course is for you. Click here to register today.

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How Will Medical Terminology Enrich My Career?

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Medical Terminology CareersIn the slow return to normalcy after the pandemic, career change, and simply finding a job again, is on everyone’s mind. As employers are concerned about the shortage of skilled workers, people are looking for an industry they can lend their services to. Following a career path today can mean maneuvering many twists and turns, setbacks, side roads, and blind alleys. Where is the path to a new career that provides enrichment, stability and growth potential?

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The best way to increase your marketability is to broaden your skill set. Since continuing education is often required to maintain licenses and certifications, go ahead and boost your resume. The right training can mean more opportunities in your current field or serve as a stepping stone to a new career. Which industries offer the best chance for job stability and advancement? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, jobs using medical terminology range from medical assistants to dental hygienists, who earn a median pay of $77,090.

A basic requirement for entry into almost any healthcare-related career is a command of medical terminology. The ability to recognize, understand, spell, and pronounce basic medical terms is necessary to perform well in any medical setting. And learning how to identify medical abbreviations and decipher unfamiliar words using roots, suffixes, and prefixes is most easily learned in a medical terminology course online.

Below are some jobs that use medical terminology skills on a daily basis:

Medical Transcription – To understand and accurately transcribe dictated reports, medical transcriptionists must understand medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and treatment assessments. They also must be able to translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms.

Medical Records and Health Information – In addition to general education, coursework requirements for medical records and health information technicians includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health information, health data standards, coding and abstraction of data, statistics, database management, quality improvement methods, and computer science.

Surgical Technology – Surgical technologists receive their training in formal programs offered by community and junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, hospitals, and the military. Programs last from nine to 24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. Programs provide classroom education and supervised clinical experience. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, professional ethics, and medical terminology. Other topics covered include the care and safety of patients during surgery, sterile techniques, and surgical procedures. Students also learn to sterilize instruments; prevent and control infection; and handle special drugs, solutions, supplies, and equipment. Most employers prefer to hire certified technologists.

Occupational Therapy – The first year of study in an accredited occupational therapist assistant program typically involves an introduction to health care, basic medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. In the second year, courses are more rigorous and usually include occupational therapist courses in areas such as mental health, adult physical disabilities, gerontology, and pediatrics. Students also must complete 16 weeks of supervised fieldwork in a clinic or community setting.

Radiologic Technology – The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology accredits most formal training programs for the field. The programs provide both classroom and clinical instruction in anatomy and physiology, patient care procedures, radiation physics, radiation protection, principles of imaging, medical terminology, positioning of patients, medical ethics, radiobiology, and pathology..

Medical Assistant – Post-secondary medical assisting programs are offered in vocational-technical high schools, post-secondary vocational schools, and community and junior colleges. Programs usually last either one year and result in a certificate or diploma, or two years and result in an associate degree. Courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, as well as typing, transcription, record-keeping, accounting, and insurance processing. Students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, the administration of medications, and first aid. They also study office practices, patient relations, medical law, and ethics. There are various organizations that accredit medical assisting programs, and accredited programs often include an internship that provides practical experience in physicians’ offices, hospitals, or other health care facilities.

Emergency Medicine (EMT) – Emergency medicine is a fast-growing field with first responders such as EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters taking the lead. Most positions in this field require training and certification, though not necessarily a degree. Medical terminology and anatomy & physiology courses are often required as part of private certification programs or as prerequisites for state-licensed exams.

Dental Hygiene – Dental hygienists must be licensed in the state they work in. Standards will vary by state licensing board, but an accredited associate’s degree is usually the minimum education required. Medical terminology and anatomy & physiology are often part of the core curriculum for these degrees. With a median income above $70,000, dental hygiene is quickly becoming a sought after career.

In addition to these medical terminologist jobs, many other professionals can benefit from an understanding of medical terminology. Lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries and other legal professionals handling cases involving medical-related issues are better able to litigate these cases when they understand the terminology involved. Health insurance professionals, as well as those working in medical billing and coding positions also benefit from a working knowledge of medical terminology.

Many agencies require a certificate in medical terminology for pharmacy technicians. Professionals and technicians of biology, hospital administration and many others must properly utilize medical terminology skills to communicate with patients, staff, customers and colleagues. Therapists, technicians, counselors and home health care providers can improve patient safety and patient experience, while providing more efficient care and reducing oversights and liability issues with a clear understanding of medical terminology.

An online medical terminology course is a widely accessible means to broaden your skill set, boost your marketability, and increase opportunities for advancement in your current career while helping you map a route to exciting work in the healthcare industry. Doubling the value of your time and education leads to better employment that will enrich your life.

You Talkin’ to Me?

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As we come out of isolation and social distancing, we’re interacting with others more than we have in a long time. There’s less working on the sofa in sweatpants and more heading to the office in pants with zippers. Are you finding post-COVID communication tricky…and your skills rusty? You’re not alone.

Nonetheless, being able to effectively communicate with your superiors, your coworkers and your staff members is essential in the workplace. If you’re thinking, “I’ve forgotten how to have a normal conversation with someone,” that’s valid. However, keep in mind that effective communication entails more than talking.

As Indeed shares in “Communication Skills for Career Success,” there are several types of communication. These include:

Verbal. Here’s where talking comes in. To speak effectively, speak with confidence. Avoid filler words, and use business jargon only when necessary. Speak clearly and loudly enough for others to hear you, and be sure not to ramble on.

Nonverbal. Your body language and facial expressions say a lot, without a sound. Whether you’re in a meeting or having a casual conversation with a colleague, maintain eye contact and respect personal space. Be mindful of your physical responses to what others say. If your arms are crossed, for example, you can appear to be unreceptive to what someone is saying. Leaning forward in your seat or nodding, on the other hand, conveys interest.

Written. When you’re putting things in writing at work, keep the writing simple and uncluttered. Use bullet points to highlight key points, as people tend to skim documents rather than read them from start to finish. Always, always proofread your work. Consider asking another team member to proofread your document as well for an additional quality assurance measure.

Want to shake the rust off your communication skills? We have a variety of communication courses you can take online, at your convenience. Choose from:

We offer an online Business Communications certificate program as well.

So dust off your office clothes and your communication skills. You’ll be ready to face the workplace with confidence.

Email us at learn@corexcel.com to learn more.

Source: Indeed, Examples of Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace

Medical Terminology Frequently Asked Questions

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Search Medical Terminology FAQsMedical terminology is used in various healthcare professions. To help guide you through what medical terminology really consists of, we decided to share some frequently asked questions.

What is Medical Terminology?

Medical terminology is the language and words used in the healthcare profession to communicate patient diagnosis, treatments, and diseases. Medical terms are composed of root words, suffixes, and prefixes.

Why is Medical Terminology Important in Healthcare?

Knowing medical terminology is essential for success in the healthcare industry, especially if you work with professionals such as doctors and nurses. Understanding medical terminology is key for those in clinical and non-clinical roles. It helps you to understand of what is being discussed and to read patient care charts. Medical terminology is also used in medical coding, billing and other administrative tasks.

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Which Medical Terminology Word Part Provides the General Meaning of the Word?

There are three basic parts of a word we focus on when teaching medical terminology: root word, suffix, and prefix. The root word provides the general meaning of the word. Many of these words were developed from Latin and Greek languages. Suffixes and prefixes are added to give the word more meaning.

What is a Word Root in Medical Terminology?

Word roots, or root words, in medical terminology are the base part of the word. Suffixes and prefixes are added to the root word to give it more meaning or modify its meaning. For example, you are probably familiar with the term tonsillitis, which is an inflammation of the tonsils. However, the root word tonsilla is a Latin word that refers to the tonsils.

What Does the Prefix Mean in Medical Terminology?

A prefix is added to the front of a root word to give it a more specific meaning. For example, the prefix ‘a’ usually negates the meaning of the root word. So, atypical means not typical. In medical terminology, a prefix usually refers to the location and intensity of a condition.

What is a Suffix in Medical Terminology?

A suffix is added to the end of a root word to modify the meaning. For example, the suffix -itis indicates inflammation. So, when placed with the prefix arthro- (joints), it becomes arthritis, an inflammation of the joints. In medical terminology, a suffix usually refers to a procedure, condition, or disease.

What is the Purpose of Combining Vowels?

Combining a vowel with a root word in medical terminology is a way to describe a specific condition or structure. Root words with vowels may also have prefixes or suffixes to clarify their meaning further.

Why is Proper Spelling of Medical Terminology in Health-Related Professions Important?

Correct spelling of medical terminology by healthcare professionals is critical to patient treatment and diagnosis. There are hundreds of medical words that professionals use to specify conditions, diseases, medications, and more. A spelling error of a term could have serious and long-lasting implications on patient care. For example, an incorrect spelling of a drug could result in the patient receiving an incorrect prescription for the wrong medication.

How Can I Get a Medical Terminology Certificate?

Anyone can learn medical terminology with a self-paced, online course like the one offered by Corexcel. At the end of the course, you can earn a certificate of completion to prove you’ve mastered medical terminology. With engaging and interactive exercises, you’ll learn word roots and how to use prefixes, suffixes, and combining vowels to construct more complex medical terms.

Looking for frequently asked questions related to Corexcel’s Medical Terminology Course? Visit the Course FAQs page.

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Tips for Creating Your Own Medical Terminology Flashcards

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Medical terminology is a valuable tool for those in the healthcare industry. It promotes communication about parts, functions, and conditions of patients’ bodiesMedical Terminology Flash Cards. Understanding the language that most nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals use helps clinical and non-clinical employees with documentation, billing, reporting, and daily communication. By no means do you have to be a medical professional to learn the terminology. Gaining an understanding of the terms can offer you more insight into your health and well-being.

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Learning new words can be a challenge. However, using flashcards is an excellent way to become a medical terminology master. Using flashcards to study medical terminology uses active recall, one of the most effective ways to learn. Here are some other ways that you can boost your knowledge of medical terms using flashcards.

How Can I Make My Own Medical Terminology Flashcards?

Creating your own medical term flashcards is pretty simple. Here are some tips on how to make medical terminology flash cards to help you get the most out of this study tool!

Group Flash Cards Together

Making different groups for your medical terms can help speed along your studies. Divide your flashcards into prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. When you add words to your collection, you can divide them into their proper group. You may also want to divide the combining word cards into different body systems or chapters you are studying. This can improve your ability to memorize the terms. Another tip to consider is using different colors for terms that are related.

Avoid Too Much Information

Try to be as concise as possible when writing your flashcards. Too much information can overwhelm you and may hinder your ability to learn the terms. When you use too much detail on your flashcards, you’ll run into the problem of recognition rather than recall. Recognizing the answer is not the same as being able to recall the word’s meaning when you hear it.

Use Pictures

One great way to help you learn medical terminology faster with flashcards is to use pictures and words together. Our brains are designed to remember imagery or visual cues much quicker than words. Pairing words and pictures together makes a powerful study tool to learn medical terms. Rather than using images you think should go with the words, the pictures you use on the cards should make sense to your brain.

Say the Words

When studying medical terminology using flashcards, it is beneficial to say the word out loud as you read it. By speaking the word out loud, you’re reinforcing to your brain what the word means and how to say it.

Use Both Sides

When reviewing your knowledge with flashcards, use both sides of the cards. Testing your understanding using both the word and definition sides can build strong neural pathways that increase your mastery of the medical terms.

Developing an aptitude for medical terminology is essential for those in the medical field. The ability to communicate with co-workers and other professionals that you come into contact with on a daily basis will increase your efficiency and performance during work.

Where Can I Learn Medical Terminology Online?

After taking the Corexcel medical terminology course, you won’t need to refer to your textbook constantly, and you’ll no longer be confused or overwhelmed by all the medical jargon around you. Additionally, the Corexcel course allows you to move at your own pace. No more waiting for instructors to return your exams or listening to lectures that get off topic. Now you can streamline your study time and advance when you are ready.

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What Will I Learn in a Medical Terminology Course?

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Medical terminology is the language that those in the healthcare industry use to discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. If you work in healthcare, it is vital to your job performance to know medical terminology. Even if you don’t work in the healthcare industry, taking a medical terminology course can still be helpful, particularly if you want to understand your health symptoms and treatments better.

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Who Should Take an Online Medical Terminology Course?

Anyone can learn medical terminology. You don’t need to be a doctor or nurse. But, it is essential for those in the medical field to understand terminology whether you are in a clinical or non-clinical role. It helps to understand what is being written, billed, and discussed daily in your job.

Here are some occupations where medical terminology is vital:

  • General practitioner
  • Medical office assistant
  • Social care worker
  • Medical transcriptionist
  • Pharmacist
  • Medical coder
  • Insurance company employees

What Will You Learn in an Online Medical Terminology Course?

Medical terms are made up of a root word and prefixes and suffixes. In a medical terminology course, students will gain an understanding of how these root words and the prefixes and suffixes work together. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to decipher unfamiliar terms.

You’ll cover terms related to major body systems such as the cardiovascular system or the nervous system. Students will also learn word-building principles. Once you’ve completed the medical terminology course, you’ll understand the rules for medical terms and how to abbreviate them correctly.

Where Can I Take a Medical Terminology Course Online?

Learning the foundation for the language used in the healthcare industry can be done through a self-paced, online course like the one offered by Corexcel. Students earn a certificate of completion when they have finished the course, equivalent to 9.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU).

Our course is made up of interactive exercises, multimedia animations, and audio playback so students can master the pronunciation and spelling of medical terms in an engaging and memorable way. To enhance your learning, we also offer a variety of games and practice quizzes that allow you to demonstrate your knowledge.

Our course includes access to the Medical Terminology for Health Professions e-book and case studies to give you a comprehensive understanding. With the Corexcel medical terminology course, you are in charge of your studies. There are no set login times or required live sessions. Students can work at their own pace and study on their own time, though most of our students are motivated and tend to complete the course in about 2-6 weeks.

If you’re thinking of taking a medical terminology course to advance your career or improve your understanding, you can start your studies with Corexcel today.

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Why is Learning Medical Terminology Important?

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Importance of Medical TerminologyProspective students sometimes ask why learning Medical Terminology is important. Depending on the type of career you choose to pursue, having the ability to recognize and decipher complex medical terms can be a game changer. We often think of the obvious examples such as doctors, nurses, physician assistants and medical billing specialists to name a few. However, you might be surprised to learn how many other careers require a working knowledge of medical terminology.

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Medical Terms Make it Easier to Communicate Across the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare is an $800 billion market growing at 7.3% annually. Healthcare and social assistance is the largest employment segment in the U.S. employing 20 million+ people. Medical Terminology is important to healthcare professionals who work directly with patients but there are also support positions that require knowledge of the subject.

For instance, let’s think about the average family practice with 4-5 doctors and 8-10 nurses. In addition to the professionals mentioned above, these practices would typically employ medical billing and coding specialists. The responsibility for generating billing documents falls upon these employees. An understanding of medical terms helps ensure billing codes are accurate which results in more timely payments for the practice. It also allows the practice to receive the maximum payment possible for a particular service. Since payment delays are often a result of improper codes, it’s important for these professionals to understand the terminology they work with on a regular basis.

Documentation Becomes Much More Simple

After the medical billing department sends bills out for payment, an employee from the health insurance company reviews the incoming bills for accuracy and entry into their accounting system. Without understanding medical terminology, it would be difficult for these professionals to perform their responsibilities effectively. This knowledge helps people in these industries work more efficiently and effectively. Medical Terminology is a common language used to communicate complex medical data between health professionals, patients and many others.

Medical Terminology Plays an Important Role in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Let’s take a look at another industry. After the last year, we’ve all heard or read about the COVID-19 clinical trials performed by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Before a drug, or vaccine is approved, it must be submitted to a rigorous clinical trial. The pharmaceutical industry regularly recruits patients into their studies. Employees tasked with qualifying patients for the trial, creating intake materials and developing trial notifications need to have a basic knowledge of medical terms to communicate the various aspects of the clinical trial.

In addition to the recruiting professionals, pharmaceutical companies also employ Clinical Data Analysts. These highly skilled professionals are responsible for verifying the data gathered during the trial period as well as reporting on the results of the clinical trials. They’re required to write reports that use terminology to communicate disease states, patient conditions, adverse events and more.

Knowing the Right Terms Keeps Everyone on the Same Page

Analysts use computer software to record and report clinical trial results which brings us to our next profession. It can be quite appealing for a programmer or front-end developer to have completed an accredited online medical terminology course. Knowledge of the subject helps employees communicate with each other effectively which helps to keep everyone focused on the same goals. Clinical Data Analysts will use the software developed by these programmers to submit reports to the FDA in the United States for drug approval and other milestones throughout the lifespan of the drug.

At the FDA you will find doctors, scientists and other health professionals who all need a working knowledge of medical terminology. Imagine how difficult it would be to read incoming reports without knowledge of medical terms. It would be virtually impossible, or at least extremely time consuming, to decipher reports and make informed decisions.

Once approval is granted a drug is ready for market. Most of the time that involves pharmaceutical sales representatives visiting doctors to promote the new drug. It’s imperative for sales representatives to be able to speak the doctor’s language. Without prior knowledge of medical terminology, the sales representative would not have the skills to discuss the target diseases that a drug is designed to address or the body systems it is intended to affect.

When a doctor prescribes a medication, they rely on a pharmacist to fill the prescription. From the pharmacist at your local Walgreens or CVS to the pharmacy assistants, it’s important that they all understand the patient’s medical conditions and the prescriptions they’re filling to recognize potential interactions before they occur.

Working in A Pharmacy

Occasionally the pharmacist will have to call the patient’s health insurance company to confirm information. They are expecting to reach an insurance professional who has knowledge of the drugs, diseases and side effects associated with the drug(s) being prescribed. All of these touch on medical terminology in some shape or form.

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While the pharmaceutical industry provides us with several solid examples of professions where medical terminology is used, it does not end there. Every day we receive course requests from paramedics, court reporters and even tattoo artists. If a career in healthcare is something that interests you, consider an online course covering medical terms to boost your resume or meet a prerequisite. If you have any questions about how taking an online course can help you, feel free to reach out to us.

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We’re Going Hybrid. Should You?

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Corexcel has focused on workplace trends for years, but we’ve never seen anything like this. The pandemic has brought about a workplace shift that’s becoming as widespread as the virus itself. Last spring, businesses, and organizations scrambled to establish work-from-home arrangements for employees. Now, nearly a year later, businesses throughout the U.S. are embracing hybrid work style and fully remote work options.

For a change of pace, we’re sharing our own work experience as it might serve as a useful example for other businesses.

Our Hybrid Experience

At Corexcel we went fully remote in 2020, and we recently transitioned to a hybrid work arrangement. We’re still ironing out the kinks, but for now, our team is working remotely on Mondays and Fridays and in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. So far, we’re finding the three-days-in-the-office-two-days-at-home arrangement to be a good balance.

woman on her laptop sitting on couch wearing a headset

We decided to try a hybrid format to:

  • Provide flexibility for employees
  • Reduce our rent expense
  • Lower the company’s carbon footprint

Before going hybrid, we polled the Corexcel team and, interestingly, no staff members indicated a preference to work virtually every day. While that might not be the response at every business, we’re finding that our team members aren’t missing a beat. In fact, our employees are comfortable and working effectively with the new arrangement.

We asked why they like the hybrid arrangement and received these comments, among others:

  • “It’s nice to skip the commute sometimes after being on the go with the kids.”
  • “I can work more at my own pace.”
  • “I appreciate the mix. I get quality time with the kids, but I also get time in the office with no kids and no dog.”
  • “Hybrid is so flexible. We can start a project in the office and finish the work at home at night if that works best with our schedule.”

These benefits would resonate with employees at other organizations as well.

Why Hybrid Instead of Fully Virtual?

As we see how our hybrid work arrangement plays out, we might decide to go virtual; who knows. For now, we like coming in part of the week to get a sense of normalcy. Our time in the office works well for meetings, too. Employees who might be hesitant to speak during a Zoom call are often open to speaking at an in-person meeting. For us, the hybrid model seems to be the perfect mix.

A Trend That’s Here to Stay

From our own experience, though brief, as well as input from other businesses, we believe a hybrid workplace could be the wave of the future. We’re hearing that business owners feel hybrid work styles widen the hiring pool. Candidates who might find the commute too much on a daily basis based on their location might be willing to travel two or three days a week. In addition, if a hybrid structure makes employees happy, they’re going to be loyal to the company. Hybrid workplaces could lead to less employee turnover, and in turn lower costs.

Going Hybrid?

If you’re going hybrid, there are several factors to consider. SHRM’s article, “What to Consider When Moving to a Hybrid Work Model,” is a good place to start. If you’re concerned about hiring when your team isn’t in the office full-time, we recommend using a hiring assessment tool to screen candidates. PXT Select™ lets you assess candidates on thinking style, behavioral style, and interests—from wherever they are. If you’re thinking of going hybrid, please let us know!

Email us at learn@corexcel.com to learn more.

It’s a Good Time for a Fresh Start

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The past year has been a lot—at home and on the job. With the pandemic causing substantial changes to the way we live and work, that might be an understatement. But along with change comes the possibility for something new. Maybe you lost your job. Or maybe all this time at home has you contemplating a new career. If you’re looking for a job-related fresh start, here are some of our recommendations:

a person holding a small alarm clock

Update your resume. Does your resume reflect your current position and responsibilities? Make sure it clearly highlights the experience your potential employers would find useful.

Update your references. Check with the people vouching for you that they’re still on board to field calls about you and your work.

Create or update your LinkedIn profile. A current LinkedIn profile is a must as you look for a new job. You can search for jobs on LinkedIn and apply for jobs on the site when it’s an option. If you’re being considered for a job that’s not on LinkedIn, recruiters will still look at your profile to get a feel for your experience. Tip: Your LinkedIn profile should be more conversational in style than a resume.

Brush up on your interview skills. Job interviews are stressful. Going in prepared alleviates some of the stress, so practice answering common interview questions.

Prepare your technology for interviews, too. Chances are, you might have a few virtual interviews. Check your connectivity and your lighting to make sure you’re seen, literally, in the best light.

Join/subscribe to career development podcasts and career-related social media groups. They can provide helpful advice and insight on various careers, and they offer support from fellow jobseekers.

Take a course. Getting an introduction to a field you’re interested in is valuable. It can confirm you’re getting on the right career path—or let you know you’re not. Having a course under your belt can also make you more marketable. If you’re interested in the medical field, for example, our Medical Terminology or Microbiology course is an excellent first step.

With these tips, you’re ready for a career-related fresh start. Good luck!

Email us at learn@corexcel.com to learn more.

Are you Hiring? Be Sure to Hire Right

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What a year we just had; businesses and organizations across the board scrambled to revise operations, workers went remote, and hiring in many sectors came to a halt. As we enter a new year, hiring freezes are beginning to thaw. If you’re fortunate enough to be hiring, be sure to hire right with these best recruitment practices.

woman typing on the computer with the word assessment on the screen

Employing the wrong candidate comes at a cost. It costs you money. It costs you time. In fact, the cost of a bad hire is considered to be the equivalent of an employee’s first-year salary*. According to surveys conducted by John Wiley & Sons, which questioned 2,000 individuals, hiring practices are a common problem:

  • 39% of hiring managers do not always align job requirements with candidates.
  • 54% say candidates are not always assessed with a structured interview process.
  • 65% of hiring managers rely on their instincts rather than data.

To help ensure that you bring the right individual(s) on board follow these best hiring practices:

Establish a consistent hiring process. This ensures that hiring is fair, and it makes it easier for you to compare candidates. Consider creating a checklist that keeps the position’s requirements and the qualifications you seek front and center.

Use data in the hiring process. We use data to make lots of decisions these days, so why not use it for hiring? While the impression the candidate makes during the interview carries considerable weight, going exclusively with your gut is so yesterday. Data offers valuable input.

Use PXT Select™. This online assessment is designed to help you select the best candidates for your organization. Candidates take an assessment, and PXT Select generates a report that provides insight into their behaviors and interests. It also tips you off to their verbal and math skills so you can see if they’re a good fit for the position.

PXT Select lets you compare candidates to one another and a single candidate to multiple positions. In addition, the reports have ongoing use as they provide tips for an individual’s onboarding, training, and development.

After the year we’ve had, focusing on 2021 is a welcome development. If your organization is growing, congratulations. We’re here to help you do it right.

Email us at learn@corexcel.com to learn more.

* Source: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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