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American InterContinental University Online
Return to CareerPointers™ Home American InterContinental University Online NewsletterFebruary 2004, Issue 20
Admissions & Financial Aid
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In This Month's Issue
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Arrow AIU Online Selected as Presenter at Career College Association Convention & Exposition
Arrow From the President's Desk
Arrow Meet AIU Online Professor Jim Hite
Arrow Virtual Voices
Arrow Ask a Career Services Advisor
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An AIU Online representative will call you at the number you specify
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Ask a Career Services Advisor Ask a Career Services Advisor
Each month, an AIU Online Career Services Advisor will answer questions on career-related issues. This month, we address questions relating to using education to make career changes.
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Ask Our Career Advisor a Question!
Ask a Career Services Advisor Return to CareerPointers™ Home
I am a customer service assistant for my local phone company and would like to at least complete my Associate's degree. I am also interested in a career in the mortgage industry. What program should I consider to achieve my goals? —Lisa

Lisa, what an exciting industry to break into. Furthering your education is a great way to achieve your career goals. Since many careers require a Bachelor's degree, I would suggest starting with AIU Online's Associate degree in Business Administration program and continuing with your Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. These degree programs will provide you with a solid business foundation and the Bachelor (BBA) program offers an Accounting & Finance concentration.

Your existing customer service experience combined with your degree can give you the credentials you need to make your next career move. To make a smooth career transition, I would suggest evaluating your skills to see which are transferable to the finance industry, such as customer service. I would also research prospective employers to identify where there is active hiring. Some sites you might want to explore are www.jobsinthemoney.com, www.mortgageboard.com, www.mortgagerecruiter.com and www.mortgagedaily.com. Good luck!

I recently graduated high school and I am attending college. I don't know what I want to major in, but I am interested in Healthcare Management. I am not sure if I should enter this field because it seems that Healthcare Management is for more experienced professionals. Is this the case or would I be able to immediately enter the field after graduation? —Keeanna

Keeanna, it can sometimes be overwhelming deciding on a career path, but by examining your interests, skills, and what you are truly passionate about, it can take some of the guesswork out of your decision. The healthcare industry has tremendous growth potential and AIU Online's Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management can help prepare you toward being a great job prospect in this industry. This degree combines business and healthcare related coursework so that it can be applied in the real world.

I would also recommend that you obtain relevant healthcare work experience while pursuing your degree, which can be done on a part-time basis or even as an internship. This could help you solidify your career path decision and assist you in securing a position in your chosen field. Best wishes.

I am 36 years old and was recently laid off. I have some computer training, but have not used that training for the past five to six years. I have some managerial skills, but have found that not having a Bachelor's degree is limiting my chances of obtaining another management level position. Which degree program would you recommend I pursue?
—Bridgette

Bridgette, it sounds like you have great work experience which would tie in well with the Bachelor of Business Administration program. This program includes a coherent business core which provides a foundation for careers in business and management. Additionally, we have five concentrations you can choose from including Management, Marketing, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, or Accounting and Finance so you can tailor your degree to your specific interest.

For more information about this exciting program and how to get started, contact an AIU Online Admissions Advisor today and begin your new path to success!

I am currently working as a secretary at a construction company and am interested in earning my degree. I have a High School diploma and some basic computer skills and am interested in furthering my education in computer software/administration. Kindly advise me what I should do to be more marketable? —Stella

Congratulations on exploring the educational opportunities necessary to realize your dreams! Given your interest and previous experience, I would recommend pursuing an Associate of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems. This degree can provide you with the foundational knowledge of the logic and structure of information systems, as well as an introduction into business. Please also note that this program additionally prepares you to enter into the baccalaureate degree program as it meets the lower level requirements for AIU Online's Bachelor of Information Technology.

I would recommend that you continue to enhance your computer and technology skills as you pursue your degree. This can help make your transition into the technology industry a smooth one and will help make you more marketable to employers.

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