With over 130,000 employees across 60 countries, Johnson & Johnson is the largest and most broadly based healthcare company in the world. Although Johnson & Johnson is a well established company, they operate with the mindset of a startup, focused on collaboration and innovation. While the healthcare industry is ever-changing, one thing remains the same: Johnson & Johnson’s mission is to develop and deliver solutions that allow people to thrive throughout every stage of their lives — and with that comes incredible opportunities for team members across all divisions to advance, excel, and innovate. 

We spoke to two early career Johnson & Johnson employees, Hannah and Zachary, both of whom are part of the organization’s Global Operations Leadership Development (GOLD) Program — a two-and-a-half-year rotation program for recent grads interested in supply chain management. Read on to learn more about Hannah and Zachary’s experience at Johnson & Johnson and how working there has helped them positively impact the future of human health. 

For Hannah, Working with Johnson & Johnson Provided Her With Invaluable Opportunities To Shape Human Health

Before becoming a GOLD Associate, Hannah previously worked with Johnson & Johnson as part of the Demand Generation team before joining the Data and Analytics team as an intern. One of the main reasons Hannah returned to Johnson & Johnson was because she enjoyed being challenged. “There are always so many opportunities in this company to challenge yourself and learn new things,” she said, before continuing, “Johnson & Johnson will always push you that next step and make you a better individual.” 

Today, Hannah works as a Device Engineer in San Francisco, where she works in a lab two to three days per week. Her responsibilities include testing and building new medical tools and devices to help meet patients’ healthcare needs and goals. “For example, I’m currently working on a device that’s extremely new to the market,” she told WayUp. “We really do go through months and months of evaluation of how these products work,”  Hannah explained that this process allows people to thrive; and ensures that  people can get the life-changing  products they depend on. 

Hannah, who studied Supply Chain and Information Systems in college, remarked that she hadn’t been in a lab since AP Bio in high school. Had it not been for Johnson & Johnson, Hannah claims she, “never would have never gotten the opportunity to be a device engineer.” She continued, “Opportunities here are pretty much endless.” 

Zachary Studied Entrepreneurship In College — Now He Leads a Team of 60 Engineering Technicians

Like Hannah, Zachary first joined Johnson & Johnson as a co-op and intern — where he worked on the 

Global Strategy, Event Management, and Analytics teams — before making the switch to eyewear manufacturing. 

Although Zachary graduated college with a degree in Entrepreneurship, he always had a passion for helping others — especially when it comes to healthcare. “Access to high-quality healthcare is a human right,” he says. 

As of March 2020, Zachary leads a team of 60 engineering technicians, all of whom are responsible for manufacturing contact lenses. He is tasked with ensuring everything runs smoothly in terms of production, manufacturing, and operations — while also adhering to safety, quality, and compliance standards. Ultimately,  this experience has allowed Zachary to follow his passions, discover new areas of interest, and help others: All at the same time. “I don’t believe healthcare should be a locked door for anybody. Anything I can do to help unlock that door for people is amazing — and Johnson & Johnson has given me the chance to do that.” 

In 2017 Both Zachary and Hannah were tasked to communicate with partners on the ground during Hurricane Maria. 

Zachary shared his early-career experience working with the North America Event Management team, which ensures that all products are properly shipped to and from North America. He explained how difficult it was reaching out to carry partners during Hurricane Maria when Puerto Rico lost all communications. It was at that moment he saw the direct impact that Johnson & Johnson has on global health. 

Hannah played a part in developing a “days on hand report” which relayed daily level insight on how the plant was doing and which products needed to be focused on amidst the chaos. Hannah says her team, “had to be resilient and considerate of the employees’ time during the crisis.” They had to keep in mind both product safety and employee safety during this difficult time. 

Neither Zachary nor Hannah knew that their positions would thrust them into a natural disaster, but these invaluable experiences helped them gain a broader perspective on the importance of their roles at Johnson & Johnson. 

At Johnson & Johnson, there’s no shortage of breakthroughs to achieve while making an impact.

If you enjoy being challenged — and you are particularly passionate about making an impact on human health — Johnson & Johnson is the place for you. “You will always feel like what you do is important because you are going to be challenged,” Hannah advised. 

At the same time, however, it’s important not to feel “stuck” or pigeon-holed into a position — and at Johnson & Johnson, there are ample opportunities to expand upon your interests and pursue new endeavors. When asked if he had any advice for recent graduates, Zachary stressed the importance of taking a chance and “test-driving a career” —  just as he did. 

“Try something outside of your field of study. You may find out you love it, you’re good at it, and that you’re very passionate about it,” he said. 

Interested in learning more about Johnson & Johnson, the GOLD Program, or other opportunities? Check out the company’s latest job postings here!

The post No Matter Your Role At Johnson & Johnson, You’re Making An Impact On Future Human Health appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Due to the expected increase in people who have access to health insurance, clinical mental health counseling should advance considerably. For example, employment of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 19 percent by 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is nearly three times the average for all occupations.

Here are four careers that professionals in clinical mental health counseling can pursue.

1. Mental Health Counselor

A mental health counselor helps individuals, families, couples and groups with a variety of mental and emotional issues, which can range from life events such as relationship problems and death of loved ones to serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and other techniques are used by a mental health counselor to help clients manage and overcome a disorder or problem. Some mental health counselors specialize and work with a certain population, such as adolescents or the elderly. As a part of a health care team, a mental health counselor often works with doctors, nurse specialists, psychologists and social workers.

A master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling or a related field is typically required for employment. All states require licensure, which involves 2,000 to 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical experience.

2. Marriage and Family Therapist

A marriage and family therapist shares many job responsibilities with a mental health counselor. In fact, the similarities are so close that the Bureau of Labor Statistics groups the two professions together.

Like a mental health counselor, a marriage and family therapist helps individuals, couples and families face a wide range of disorders and problems. The difference is that the marriage and family therapist brings a family-centered perspective to treatment, even when treating individuals. A focus is on family roles and development and understanding how clients’ families impact their mental health.

A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field is typically required for employment. Two additional years of supervised experience is normally required for licensure, but the exact amount varies by state.

3. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor

A substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor helps people dealing with drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders and other behavioral problems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors will increase 22 percent by 2024.

A substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor provides treatment and therapy options to clients. Clients receive assistance developing the skills and behaviors they need to modify their behavior and recover from the addiction. Also, clients receive help integrating back into areas of their lives most affected by their addiction or behavioral disorder, such as work and personal relationships. A substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor also provides outreach programs in the community to help avoid such behavior.

Education requirements depend on the employer, but most positions require a bachelor’s degree. Licensure is required for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in private practice, consisting of 2,000 to 4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.

4. Behavior Analyst

A behavior analyst provides expertise in the analysis of behavioral problems. A primary role in this field is assessing a client’s behaviors and developing a plan to help alleviate problem behaviors.

Often, a behavior analyst will work as a consultant to agencies in order to increase clients’ independence and improve their access to the community. Through interviews with clients’ parents, teachers and other caregivers, along with knowledge of how best to motivate each client, the behavior analyst is able to tackle complex problems. Many behavior analysts specialize in an area such as autism, developmental disabilities or geriatrics.

For employment, at least a master’s degree is required, in fields such as behavior analysis, psychology, special education, rehabilitation or social work. Certification is often required.

Grace College offers a CACREP-accredited online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program includes a seven- to 10-day residency on campus.

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So you think that a career in medicine may be right for you, but now you’re scrolling through med school websites and pages of requirements, exams, and statistics that are making your head spin. The pre-med world can be a confusing vortex of choices and decisions, and it can be hard to choose one job or even understand each position. Before you can move forward, you have to narrow your choices down. Then, you need to start planning for the future. So to help you sort through all the chaos, here is a broad list of common careers (mostly hospital-based) in the medical field, complete with the steps to get there.

EMT/Paramedic

Although most usually think of these people as the ones driving ambulances and responding to car crashes and 911 calls, there are many other positions that EMTs and paramedics can work. Some of those positions include less-intense hours at industrial and chemical plants, part-time positions, or even involvement in the military. Most EMT programs require no formal college education, but most employers want to see a high school diploma at the very least. The next step is to complete an approved EMT or paramedic education course, but to be eligible for a paramedic course, you must be an EMT and generally have at least six months of work experience. Then, pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and apply for certification. From there, it’s all about finding a job, but be wary – wages vary greatly state by state and even by city, so take that into consideration when job hunting.

Nursing

Although nursing responsibilities vary by specialization or unit, nearly all nurses provide, coordinate and monitor patient care, educate patients and family members about health conditions, administer medications, provide treatments and emotional support and more. Many also work with healthy people and are more focused on preventative care and wellness. Although nurses work primarily in hospitals, they can also work for schools, private clinics, nursing homes, placement agencies, businesses, prisons, and military bases. Nurses also don’t just take care of patients; some supervise other nurses, teach nursing, work in administration, or do research. Work hours vary quite a bit depending on the area and the training of each nurse.

There are many different types of nursing, each with different jobs and different requirements. The shortest path to nursing is to become a CNA, or certified nursing assistant. This is done by taking a six- to eight-week course and then passing a written and practical exam (administered by each state). CNAs are able to provide maintenance-type care; they are commonly found in hospitals, group homes, and hospice centers and are almost always in high demand. They can take vitals, roll patients to avoid bed sores, help them in and out of bed, and help them do their daily tasks like getting dressed and eating meals. CNA is a good position to start in if you think nursing might be for you but want more experience before committing to formal schooling for a prolonged period.

The next step up on the nursing ladder is the licensed practical nurse (LPN). An LPN program is typically one year long and goes into more detail than the CNA education, which means that LPNs are licensed to do a few more things. They are usually found in nursing homes and home care, providing patient care and administering certain medicines and treatments under the supervision of an RN or physician.

The classically pictured nurse is almost always an RN. Programs to become a registered nurse are either three-year hospital-based nursing school programs (diploma), or two- or four-year college programs and graduate with a nursing degree. Graduates must then pass the national nursing exam (the NCLEX) before applying for a license to practice. Registered nurses have more autonomy than LPNs, and the degree of care they provide depends on their level of education. An RN with an associate’s degree generally provides hands-on care directly to patients and can supervise LPNs. There may also be some administrative work involved with their position. An RN with a BSN can take on more leadership roles and more advanced nursing care in specialized units.

For those interested in even higher positions, nurses can get a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and become nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, or nurse anesthetists. These are called advanced practice nurses (ARPNs). They have a larger scope of practice and are more independent, specializing almost like physicians.

Physical/Occupational Therapist

PTs primarily work with patients in recovery and prevention rather than treating injuries. Although they can be found in hospitals, therapists usually have their own practice or work under a company’s label. They help people who have been injured or who suffer from chronic illness or disability regain previous abilities or help them discover new ones. They use everything from exercise machines to physical modulation and electrical stimulus to heal their patients and help them regain their previous quality of life. Most people who become PTs or OTs graduate from college with a degree in the sciences and apply to PT school sometime during their senior year. Most schools require applicants to have taken the GRE and also gain a certain amount of PT volunteer hours (those hours vary by school). Most programs take between two and three years to complete, and once licensure is achieved, physical therapists have a large level of autonomy and are very versatile in their field.

Physician’s Assistant

The physician’s assistant, or PA, is one of the fastest growing medical careers. Physician’s assistants become PAs by attending college and obtaining their bachelor’s degree first. Their degree can be in anything as long as they have taken the proper courses — each PA school is different, but most require common chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and math courses similar to medical school requirements — and that they have taken the GRE. From there, applicants must apply to one of the few PA schools in the nation (the average is less than one per state) with their undergraduate transcript (most want higher than a 3.2 GPA but accept those closer to 3.7), GRE scores, resume, essay questions, and patient contact hours. These vary by school, but many require numerous hours of PA shadowing and between 1,000 and 2,000 direct patient contact hours before applying to the school; this usually results in at least one gap year between undergrad and PA school. PA programs are usually two- to- two and a half years long, and graduates can work almost any job an MD can with slightly less autonomy. PAs can work in emergency rooms, general practitioners’ offices and can specialize into just about any area.

Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy

MDs and DOs are very similar in training and positions, often working side-by-side or even in the same jobs. The only difference is their education. Both graduate with a bachelor’s (usually in science), take the MCAT standardized exam while in college, and build their resumes before applying to their choice schools. This process is extremely competitive and involves a lot of work, including numerous essays and interviews. Both medical school and DO programs are four years long, complete with classes and on-site job rotations; but DOs learn about less invasive methods of treatment and some alternative therapies that typical medical schools do not cover. After graduation (and licensing), both search for residencies at hospitals to place into. Depending on their department and specialization, most graduated DOs and MDs still need two- to- six years of residency before they can practice medicine independently. DOs and MDs can open their own practices, work in just about any location of the hospital, and have many other opportunities open to them with their advanced degree. They make a high salary, but also devote a huge amount of their time to their work.

Surgery

Surgeons are perhaps the most specialized and highest ranking on this list. The initial steps to become a surgeon are the same as those to become a DO or MD, and surgeons can be licensed as either of those. However, after graduating from medical school, aspiring surgeons must continue their medical training in competitive residency programs, gaining practical experience in a chosen specialty under the supervision of licensed physicians; these programs can last three- to- seven years depending on the specialty, though general surgery residencies typically take five years to complete. Surgeons who wish to focus their careers on sub-specialties must complete an additional one- to- three years of post-doctoral training in fellowship programs. In order to practice, surgeons must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam. Surgeons must also become board-certified in surgery and any subspecialties by the American Board of Medical Specialists or the American Osteopathic Association. Surgeons are generally required to complete continuing education credits throughout their careers to maintain licensure and certification. Although student loans and low-pay residencies mean that surgeons usually incur a large amount of debt, their extremely high salaries help to offset the expense, but they spend many hours on-call and life often revolves around work.

These are just some of the most common careers in the medical field. If none of these options appealed to you, don’t give up hope! There are plenty of other positions that weren’t mentioned here – dentistry, speech pathology, chiropractic, athletic training, occupational therapy, alternative medicine, etc. – that may be the right one for you! So keep searching; just don’t lose sight of yourself in the process!

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This is a guest post from Brittany Jaso who is a student at Cornell University majoring in psychology. Writing this two line bio was the most stressful thing she’s done in a long time.

There are a lot of wonderful things about winter break — sleeping a ridiculous amount of hours, eating wonderful home cooked meals, and participating in the holiday traditions to name a few. However, at some point you can only watch so much TV and with three long weeks looming after the holidays it’s easy to get a little stir crazy or even just bored.

At least, that’s how I felt. This is the exact reason I decided to take advantage of our alumni network and participate in something we refer to at school as an “externship.” An externship is a mini-internship that can last anywhere from a 1 hour interview with a professional in a potential field of interest, to a 5-day shadowing. I opted for the latter, and found myself shadowing all sorts of doctors at the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey. It was probably the most beneficial experience I have had so far in my life. It’s one thing to dream of being a doctor; it’s a whole other thing to witness the hardships and emotional drain that the profession demands.

Being a psychology major, I spent a large majority of my time in a lockdown wing of the hospital called the BIR- Brain Injury Rehabilitation. These people had experienced strokes, car crashes, and other life changing accidents that left them mentally and physically disabled. They had to learn a new way of living. I can say, I’ve never met such happy and optimistic people. Simple tasks we take for granted such as using a toaster became an accomplishment some patients had to work on for weeks. It gives you a new perspective on life and makes you appreciate the things we can do independently.

I spent three days working with, discussing, and observing speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists (they work on helping the patients be able to function in a household setting), pediatricians, physicians, and clinical psychologists. I learned so much in that short period of time. I never understood the complexity and flexibility that was required from all of the different doctors. No two patients had the same needs. The speech therapist worked with one patient on memory; 30 minutes later she was helping another man deal with his inability to read because his entire left field of vision was destroyed due to a stroke. It demanded a lot of collaboration between all of the doctors to make sure the patient was being treated for every aspect of their life. They all had one goal, make sure the patient could eventually leave the hospital and be confident in their ability to live on their own.

Even though I only spent three days in my externship, I learned so much and had such a better understanding of the hospital environment. It gave me a new perspective and helped me to understand that yes, I think I can work in that profession!

Not every school may have such a formal set-up like organizing an externship program every year but that does not mean you can’t set it up on your own! Here are a few tips to help you stave off winter break boredom and find a great externship.
• Look up alumni living near you in a profession you may be interested in; odds are they’d love to help!
• Keep it short. A lot of scheduling and planning goes into this on the host’s end; make it easier for them.
• Come prepared with questions. There is nothing more gratifying for your host than being able to answer questions and see your excitement about what they do.
• Be polite! Thank you notes for everyone you worked with are mandatory!
• Lastly, ENJOY! Have fun, share the experience with others, and get off the couch for a few days during winter break!

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