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Medical receptionists are a vital part of our healthcare system. They help hospitals, clinics, and private practices across the country run smoothly by overseeing a variety of duties, including:

  • greeting patients
  • scheduling appointments
  • updating and filing patient records
  • maintaining inventory of office supplies

If you’re over 30 and are looking to go back to school, this rewarding career path might just be the perfect fit for you. Why? To start with, a career as a medical office assistant offers several advantages, including good pay and job security.
And mature students typically bring a very useful combination of skills and experience to the table, which gives them a competitive edge when applying for medical office jobs.
Here’s a look at why mature students in search of rewarding work should consider medical office training, and which unique assets will help them build lasting careers in this field.

Industry Trends Show that Medical Office Assistants are In Demand

Good pay and job security are often top-of-the-list concerns for mature students. But many applicants also want meaningful careers that help them make a positive difference in their community.
That’s one of the reasons why many mature students opt for a career in healthcare – which offers the best of both worlds.
Healthcare professionals are becoming increasingly sought-after as our population grows older and needs extra care. In fact, according to Canada’s Job Bank, almost every region in the country needs more trained medical office assistants – making medical receptionist training a particularly wise diploma choice for anyone looking to switch careers or re-enter the workforce.

Experience in Retail or Customer Service is an Asset to Medical Office Assistants

Many healthcare students return to school in order to escape unrewarding jobs, and train for more fulfilling careers. They don’t believe their previous work experience (often in retail and related customer service positions) will benefit them while applying for healthcare jobs.
But, when it comes to a health office assistant career, the exact opposite is often true. Mature students with experience in customer-facing jobs have the qualities needed to build positive relationships with patients and clinic staff. In particular, they’ve developed valuable “people skills”, such as patience, conflict-resolution, and empathy that are essential for running a smooth clinic.

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Customer care is an important part of working as a medical receptionist

Successful Medical Office Assistants Draw on Maturity & Life Experience

Working in the healthcare field involves a high level of maturity. Medical office assistants juggle many tasks like answering phones, greeting patients, updating important files, and scheduling appointments for doctors. And, in the midst of multi-tasking, they must also manage incoming patients at treat each one with care and respect.

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Medical receptionists juggle a range of important tasks during their daily work

That’s why professionalism and thoughtfulness – as well as the ability to keep a cool head in a busy environment – are all important traits that set apart truly excellent medical office assistants.
There’s no denying that life experience can give mature students an edge in this regard.
In fact, a recent survey revealed that:

  • 71% of hiring managers recognize older employees as being more mature
  • 70% also saw them as having a stronger work ethic
  • 59% regarded older workers as more reliable.

Older healthcare students have a wealth of life experience to draw upon, making them excellent candidates for medical office positions where integrity, organization, and people skills are highly valued assets.
Interested in earning a medical office assistant diploma and launching a rewarding career where you can make a real difference?
Visit Academy of Learning to discover our unique, learn-at-your-own-pace study options and career support services!