Vancouver Career College

Two years ago, Erika Potomak hit a crossroads in her life. As with many hospital workers around the province, privatization of health care services eliminated her job.

She had to find a new career. Employment Insurance benefits offered temporary support, but no long-term stability. Since her early-twenties, Erika worked as a travel agent and consultant before moving on to a position in food services at Vancouver Hospital.

Up until the layoffs, she had never needed a resume. Now she faced a competitive job market and the situation frightened her. “I was making a career change at 39, and it was scary, actually,” she says.

Career transitions terrify people because they involve many changes. The familiar job and its security are gone. The horrifying thought of returning to school often means learning how to study and take tests again. When handled with confidence, patience and persistence, however, career transitions can be rewarding.

Erika started with a visit to the AWARE Society, a community-based organization in New Westminster. She met with a career counselor who helped her explore career options.

Together they determined that Erika’s background in the travel industry and food services emphasized her customer service skills. The counselor pointed out that Erika’s affable and spirited nature suited a people-oriented job.

When the counselor suggested a career in dental office administration, Erika joked that she hated going to the dentist, but she was intrigued by the idea of working in a dental office.

She decided to investigate a little further. She met with dental office administrators to discuss career issues such as workload, stress and wages. “I had to know if I was going to make this a career that I could do this and be serious about it,” she adds.

After deciding that dental office administration was the right career for her, Erika searched for a college program to suit her needs and provide her with the appropriate training.

She researched dental office administrator programs at public and private institutions and encountered a few problems. First, a meeting with an advisor from one private college turned into a completely frustrating experience when the advisor tried to convince Erika to enroll in an entirely different program. Additionally, time was a pressing issue.

Because EI agreed to sponsor her training, Erika needed to find a program that started immediately. She found that some of the dental administration programs had either started or weren’t scheduled to start for months.

When she came across Vancouver Career College’s 24-week dental office administrator program, she immediately liked the curriculum and noticed she could start immediately. She registered without delay.

At first, Erika admits, returning to school was intimidating. A few obstacles stood in her way. Even though EI sponsored her, she had to live on a very tight budget. “Money was always an issue,” she explains. She learned to adjust her lifestyle accordingly. Also, receiving benefits prohibited her from working during the course of her studies, but Erika is grateful that it allowed her to focus on her studies.

After fifteen years in the work force, she also had to learn to be a student again. At times, frustration overwhelmed her. “I had moments when I was like ‘I don’t understand! I don’t understand!’” she exclaims.

But she persevered and worked diligently. She pored over her books at night, even after long days in the classroom. “I hardly watched TV,” she explained, “and if I read anything, it was my school books.”

The program was intense. Erika learned dental terminology and tooth morphology. She studied dental pharmacology and coding. “They do everything,” Erika says. “There was introduction to computers, to resume writing right up to the dental [portion of the program].”

The instructors kept the program fun and stimulating. She credits instructor Donna Taylor with making the learning experience exciting and memorable. “We played Jeopardy,” she said laughingly. Taylor made up cards, handed out prizes and even made students answer in the form of a question just like the contestants on the television version of the game.

“This made it fun, but it also made it stick in your head, she adds. The instructors created a sense of community on campus as well. After the tsunami devastated parts of Southeast Asia in December 2004, teachers and students held a silent auction to raise funds to help survivors over seas. Students donated items while others made things to be auctioned off. Then the college matched the total that the students raised.

Erika put her newly acquired skills to the test during a practicum in a dentist’s office. She was a little nervous at first and needed to adjust to her new environment.

She remembers her practicum host suggested that she observe the dental team at work so she could understand and be comfortable with common dental procedures. “[She] told me not to scream out ‘Oh my God, he’s bleeding’ when I saw blood,” she laughs.

At graduation in June 2005, Erika was valedictorian for her class. Eager to begin her new career, she started her job search. After about a month, however, frustration set in. She received no response from some of the jobs she applied on. Others called her in for interviews, only to give positions to more experienced candidates.

Fighting off disappointment, Erika carried on with her search. “I cried to my parents a couple of times,” she explains. “But I also remembered a piece of advice my dad gave me: ‘Life is full of disappointments, but there are also many accomplishments and achievements.

When one door closes, another one will open.’” She knew these words well. She shared them with her fellow graduates in her valedictory address.

Patience and persistence paid off. In July, Erika became a full-time dental receptionist with AARM Dental in Vancouver. She is responsible for billing, scheduling appointments and follow-ups and maintaining contact with patients. As with any new job, there was an adjustment period.

She was nervous at first, but her confidence grew as she adapted to her new role. Erika is an important part of the dental team: she is the first and last face that patients see at the dentist’s office. With her jovial and energetic personality, Erika Potomak undoubtedly makes them smile.

By Warren A. Mailey