The Latest in the Business Systems Technology Class
The Business Systems Technology class is
working in many new areas this year. The students are learning
new cluster skills and leaving old ones behind in an attempt to
keep up with today's fast changing technology and the need for
skilled workers in multiple areas. The State of Illinois,
Department of Employment Security, estimates that the career areas
listed below will require the following number of skilled workers
in 2012.
Office clerks - 137,786
Administrative Assistants - 68,718
Banking Managers - 32,540
Insurance Agents - 18,501
Legal Assistants - 14,181
Transcriptionists - 8,580
The curriculum of the BST class provides
students with skills in the following "core" areas: Microsoft
Office Suites, Data Entry, Customer Service, Entrepreneurship,
Administrative Transcription, Banking and Finance. It also
introduces the students to an overview of the following cluster
areas: Medical Transcription, Digitools, PDA's, Paralegals,
and Billing and Coding. The students will be exposed to guest
speakers from the surrounding area businesses and will take field
trips. The students in the BST class could expect to find
employment in the following areas:
- Administrative Assistants
- Executive Secretary
- Administrative
Transcriptionist
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Clerical
Specialists
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Customer
Service
- Paralegal
- Data Entry
Specialists
- Records Manager
A few of the above career
choices require a two year associate’s degree; several can be
completed in less than two years with certification in the stated
area. A few can be pursued as soon as high school graduation is
completed.
Microsoft Office is a major part of the core
curriculum in the BST class. The students are encouraged to
take the Microsoft Certification in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and
Access. With any of these certifications, the student can
expect an entry level salary 10% above those people who do not have
the certification.
The business community has many
opportunities for those who love working on computers and learning
new technology in an ever changing world.
