The Allen School Blog wishes you and yours the happiest, healthiest, holiday and a most prosperous New Year. We are looking forward to a 2011 full of promise and potential. 
Doug White of renowned staffing firm, Robert Half International says to be prepared for the different personalities of hiring managers. In terms that remind this blogger of Seinfeld episodes (remember the “Low-Talker” or the “Re-Gifter”?) he outlines three typical HR managers’ personality types and provides information on how to prepare yourself should you run into one of them in your next job interview.
Click here to learn how to address “The Small Talker”, “The Box Checker” and the “Ill-Prepared” varieties of hiring manager. 
In an article by Chris Kyle for Yahoo! Education, medical assistant and medical manager are two of the five top “encore” careers. That is, fields for people wishing to retrain and re-enter the workforce, perhaps after losing a job in an industry hard hit by the recession. The relative safety and immunity from economic downturn enjoyed by the medical field played a large part in vaulting these two jobs to the top of this particular list. Click here to read all the details! 
US News and World Report published the 50 most overused phrases job seekers include in their resumés. Trying to avoid them all seems like a difficult challenge. However, if you succeed in avoiding them all, your resumé will be undeniably different and that is exactly what catches the eye of the recruiter! Make the jump to see the full list: Continue reading… 
Well, no one here will likely be surprised, but according to US News & World Report the healthcare field is near the top of the list of industries where jobs are returning fastest. According to their article linked here:
“Healthcare. There was barely a recession in healthcare–employment has been rising consistently in almost every specialty. This is one of the few fields in which there are more jobs today than before the recession began. A lot more, in fact.
Jobs gained in 2010: 204,000
Change since 2007: 738,000 jobs gained“
Mining, warehousing and oil extraction also made the list. But aren’t you glad to be in healthcare rather than digging, lifting or drilling? 
One of our regular themes here at the Allen School Blog is resumé help/tips/ideas. As our students graduate and make their way into new careers, the resumé takes on greater significance. So here’s another in that series courtesy of Lifehack.org. For the details on each of the eight tips below, click here for the full article.
According to this article from Yahoo! entitled, ” Jobs that Let You Flex Your Freedom”, medical assistant is the best job for work-life balance. The number four job on the list is medical transcriptionist. Read the article at Yahoo! for the details. 
Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last few months, you’ve seen the unbelievable amount of money spent on campaign advertising. This year a record $4billion is being spent on campaign ads. I know of a million ways (at least) that the $4billion could have been spent better. But alas, this is the system we have. So let’s make it worth it for all the cash that would otherwise be a complete waste and get out there and VOTE! Don’t forget, many generations of Americans laid down their lives to protect your right to vote. So honor those who have fallen by exercising your franchise and make your voice heard. Tomorrow, November 2, is Election Day. Go and pull the lever for the people you feel best reflect your values. Or at least, vote against those whose values run counter to you own. It is your most precious right as an American!