Adiomino Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 Hello my name is Anthony, I got my EMT basic certification about a year ago before I went off to college. I really want a job or volunteer position with my local ambulance company but I fear that I forgot a lot of the concepts and skills that I learned in class. Should I take a refresher course or should I just study on my own with the resources that I can access. Some of the things that I know I want to go over are the: obtaining vitals, medical and trauma patient assessments, and anatomy. As far as what you all know about what is expected from new trainees going into the workforce under an ambulance company, what would be expected of me? How much of what I learned is absolutely crucial to getting through my training and transitioning to being a full-time EMT? Thank you all so much, I am excited to join the work force as an EMT and I want to do my best and look good for whomever hires me.
island emt Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 Welcome to the city Did you just walk away from EMT and go off to college for the year without even contemplating EMS? I say this because most folks keep reading through the books and course materials afterwards. See if you can help at a local EMT class and sit in on some of the hands on sessions as a "victim" / helper. Check with your local Volunteer service to see when they have CEU classes being held. Most services do so at least once a month .
ERDoc Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 If you are applying for a job, I would recommend brushing up on interviewing skills and spellchecking your resume. As for the skills part of your question, I would recommend joining the volley squad and explain to them that you are certified but haven't done pt care in a while. Get the experience at the volley and then apply for a paid position once you are comfortable with taking care of a pt by yourself. Going over the class notes and textbook from your EMT class would be a good idea also, if you still have them.
Just Plain Ruff Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 I know several hiring managers in hospitals, ems and the corporate world and their biggest complaints they have are soft skills. here is a nice write up on soft skills from Monster.com See below my post for the soft skills info Second, I would definately volunteer at a local volley squad. Like Doc said, just be sure to tell them that you haven't done patient care. A new employer is going to want to train you to their specifications and desires so the volley squad can do that too. of course you don't get paid to be on the volley but think of it as your services for training. #3 - Get into a refresher course. EMT Refresher isn't that long and you should be able to get through it pretty easily. heck who knows, the volley squad might just have a refresher course that you can get into for free or a very limited cost - again trading your services for training/experience. once you get comfortable and ready to go to the paid world, make sure you don't leave the volunteer squad abruptly, keep on the roles, who knows when you might want to go back to them. I would continue to volunteer. Now here is the softskills - courtesy of Monster.com I think the best soft skills to obtain and polish are well all of these below. Hard pressed to name the number one item I like. And don't be like ruff in this post and butcher capitalization and punctuation, you will need that crucial skill when you get your medic and have to write patient reports. A poorly written report sometimes means a easy lawsuit judgement for the plaintiff. Know when to use a spell check as well. Six Soft Skills Everyone Needs courtesy of www.monster.com More Than Technical Qualifications Needed to Move Ahead in Your Career By Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs In a 2008 survey of more than 2,000 businesses in the state of Washington, employers said entry-level workers in a variety of professions were lacking in several areas, including problem solving, conflict resolution and critical observation. You'll likely see these "soft skills" popping up in job descriptions, next to demands for technical qualifications. Employment experts agree that tech skills may get you an interview, but these soft skills will get you the job -- and help you keep it: Communication Skills This doesn't mean you have to be a brilliant orator or writer. It does mean you have to express yourself well, whether it's writing a coherent memo, persuading others with a presentation or just being able to calmly explain to a team member what you need. Teamwork and Collaboration Employers want employees who play well with others -- who can effectively work as part of a team. "That means sometimes being a leader, sometimes being a good follower, monitoring the progress, meeting deadlines and working with others across the organization to achieve a common goal," says Lynne Sarikas, the MBA Career Center Director at Northeastern University. Adaptability This is especially important for more-seasoned professionals to demonstrate, to counter the (often erroneous) opinion that older workers are too set in their ways. "To succeed in most organizations, you need to have a passion for learning and the ability to continue to grow and stretch your skills to adapt to the changing needs of the organization," Sarikas says. "On your resume, on your cover letter and in your interview, explain the ways you've continued to learn and grow throughout your career." Problem Solving Be prepared for the "how did you solve a problem?" interview question with several examples, advises Ann Spoor, managing director of Cave Creek Partners. "Think of specific examples where you solved a tough business problem or participated in the solution. Be able to explain what you did, how you approached the problem, how you involved others and what the outcome was -- in real, measurable results." Critical Observation It's not enough to be able to collect data and manipulate it. You must also be able to analyze and interpret it. What story does the data tell? What questions are raised? Are there different ways to interpret the data? "Instead of handing your boss a spreadsheet, give them a business summary and highlight the key areas for attention, and suggest possible next steps," Sarikas advises. Conflict Resolution The ability to persuade, negotiate and resolve conflicts is crucial if you plan to move up. "You need to have the skill to develop mutually beneficial relationships in the organization so you can influence and persuade people," Sarikas says. "You need to be able to negotiate win-win solutions to serve the best interests of the company and the individuals involved." When It Comes to Soft Skills, Show -- Don't Tell How do you prove you're proficient at, say, critical observation? Demonstrating these soft skills may be more difficult than listing concrete accomplishments like $2 million in sales or a professional certification. But it is possible to persuade hiring managers that you have what they need. To demonstrate communication skills, for example, start with the obvious. Make sure there are no typos in your resume or cover letter. Beyond that, enhance your communication credibility by writing an accomplishment statement on your resume or cover letter, says Cheryl E. Palmer, president of Call to Career. "Instead of stating, 'great oral and written communication skills,' say, 'conducted presentation for C-level executives that persuaded them to open a new line of business that became profitable within eight months.'" Learn Soft Skills The good news is that, like any skill, soft skills can be learned. The better news? Boosting your soft skills not only gives you a leg up on a new job or a promotion, but these skills also have obvious applications in all areas of a person's life, both professional and personal. Take a Course: Some colleges are mixing technology with areas such as effective written and verbal communication, teamwork, cultural understanding and psychology. Take a writing or public speaking course to boost your communication skills. Look for a conflict-resolution course or "leadership skills" class at your local community college. Seek Mentors: Be as specific as you can about your target skill, and when you're approaching a potential mentor, compliment that person with a specific example in which you've seen him practice that skill, advises Ed Muzio, the author of Make Work Great. "Then ask whether that person would be willing to share ideas with you about how you might achieve the same level of capability," he says. "Maybe it will grow into a long mentoring relationship, or maybe you'll just pick the person's brain for a few minutes." Volunteer: Working with nonprofit organizations gives you the opportunity to build soft skills. And listing high-profile volunteer work on your resume gives you an excuse to point out what you gained there. For example, "As chair of the environmental committee, planned and carried out a citywide park cleanup campaign. Utilized team-building, decision-making and cooperative skills. Extensive report writing and public speaking."
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