It is estimated that more than 30 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, and the problem can affect people of all ages. At least 1.4 million of those who suffer are children, and 65% are under the age of 65.
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Often thought of as a problem of aging, the fact is that hearing loss can affect people at any age. When hearing loss is suspected, a patient is often sent to see an audiologist for both diagnosis and treatment.
What Is An Audiologist?
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who evaluates, diagnoses and treats hearing loss in adults and children. Most audiologists hold a doctorate degree in audiology from accredited universities or colleges. In addition, most states demand that audiologists be licensed, requiring further testing or continuing education.
What Does An Audiologist Do?
An audiologist treats all types of hearing loss, which are almost all treatable in some manner. An audiologist can:
Examine and assess patients reporting hearing loss
Prescribe and fit hearing aids
Design and implement hearing conservation programs
Develop newborn hearing screening programs
Provide hearing rehabilitation programs
Counsel patients on alternative communication methods such as lip reading or sign language
Conduct research on the causes and treatment of common hearing loss causes
In addition, audiologists often assist in cochlear implant programs and monitor ear or hearing related surgeries. Cochlear implants are small devices placed near the ear, under the skin, that send electric impulses to the auditory nerve. This allows people with certain forms of deafness to hear again. Audiologists are employed in hospitals, schools, clinics, private practice and many other areas that perform health screenings. In addition, audiologists are often called when a patient is suffering from balance and vertigo issues as those could be related to inner ear problems. The equipment used by audiologists include audiometers, computers and other testing devices.
Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for audiologists are expected to grow by 34%, which is much higher than the national average. The average salary for an audiologist is $69,720 per year, or $33.52 per hour. Most audiologists work full-time while some work nights and weekends to meet the needs of patients. In some areas, audiologists are contracted and must travel from one facility to another in order to meet with patients.
Hearing Aids
One of the tasks normally assigned to an audiologist is the fitting of hearing aids or other devices that can help address the loss of hearing. Research indicates that nine out of 10 people with hearing loss can be helped through the use of hearing aids. Most hearing loss is caused by nerve damage, which can be corrected through hearing aids. An audiologist can determine if a hearing aid, assistive listening device or even hearing rehabilitation can correct the problem and help the patient hear again.
For anyone suffering with hearing loss, whether it is minor or severe, there is no need to live without sound. Being able to hear and pick up on auditory signals makes functioning in the world much easier. In most cases, a hearing aid or assistive listening device like Miracle Ear can help a patient hear clearly with minimal effort.
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.