Digital Age = Education Revolution + Skills Such As Transcription and Virtual Assistance
In this day and age where the impact of technology affects us on every aspect of our lives, people are compelled to keep up and be regularly updated. Right now, the knowledge that we learned in college just wouldn’t suffice due to rise of robotics and artificial intelligence (to name a few) which calls for another education revolution to each one of us. This education revolution entails keeping ourselves in-the-know on what's happening at present. Learning new skills such as transcription and virtual assistance are two examples that are being learned using a laptop or personal computer. In medical transcription, it is much more than just turning speech into text. Healthcare providers are required to keep notes as part of their record-keeping process and meeting the HIPAA-compliance standards. On the other hand, virtual assistance provide plenty of support services to their clients to improve their business while working remotely.
College Degree or Expertise in Skills Such as Medical Transcription or Virtual Assistance?
The main concern now is this: Is it still important to go to college when most employers nowadays are focused in hiring applicants based on their skills?
The cliché goes that learning is a continuous process; it never stops. While it might be easy to say that people needs to keep learning throughout their careers, equipping them to stay ahead is another story. Education is very important, college education to be exact. There is no quick fix for this. With rising college tuition fees and high unemployment rate, a lot of people are wondering if pursuing a college degree is worth it.
Path to Success
Getting a college degree is almost always a smart choice. It will improve one’s career opportunities because most companies are still requiring applicants to hold at least a college degree to qualify for the job. In addition, promotions are sometimes limited for a person who has no college credentials even if one has years of experience in a certain field. It’s not just about a piece of paper we call diploma, since having a college degree will give us a foundation in our chosen field that will equip us for success. The job market is competitive which is why having a degree is a necessity.
In addition, some people who are already graduates do not settle once they get their diploma. Some of them still go back to school either online or the classic classroom education setting in order to further strengthen and enhance their skills. To become a medical transcriptionist, education and training can be obtained through certificate or diploma programs or on-the-job training which are offered in some hospitals. In some countries, medical transcriptionists are required to have 18 months to 2 years of specialized MT training before they are employed. To become a virtual assistant entails learning about social media marketing, content development, business management, and tech support (to name a few). These are skills that are learned and developed progressively.
Resolution
If we have the foundations we have learned in college; coupled with work experience and skills such as communication skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and social skills, then we are prepared in competing in the job market. We need to rev up our skill set just like medical transcription and virtual assistance, since promotions and incentives are based on our performance and not solely based on how educated we are.
My Experience as a Medical Transcriptionist and Virtual Assistant
Studying for five years in college and passing the board exam were still not enough for me to compete in the labor force. I opened a window when the doors were closed. I deviated from a hospital-based to an office-based setting and eventually to a homebased environment. I used my medical background and trained to become a medical transcriptionist. Then to add more skills, I enrolled in an online freelance virtual assistance course in FVA to learn the skills and equip myself in being a virtual assistant so I could work at home and be there for my kids at the same time. I am a stay-at-home mom, working at the comfort of my home while enjoying time with my family.
