Thursday, November 15, 2007

How Go Freelance And Start Working Today

Are you sick and tired of a dead end 9-5 job? Maybe it is time for you to go freelance and become your own boss. People from all walks of life are finding that they can find a rewarding career in freelance work right from their own home.

Here are five of the hottest jobs for new freelancers who want to start right away:

Freelance Writer
Okay, so not everyone can be the next J.K Rowling and write a best-selling novel, but you’d be surprised at what level of writing can actually make you money online. If you have even a little talent as a writer, then the sky’s the limit as to how much you can make. From writing reports for companies, to product reviews, or even offering a resume writing service, there’s always a need for writers to provide these services all over the world.

Virtual Assistant
If you’ve got access to a computer, a good Internet connection, and you have a decent set of organizational skills, then you may want to look at becoming a virtual assistant. Many small to medium sized companies are now outsourcing a lot of their administrative work. Instead of using a recruitment agency, they prefer to use people working from home. So, if you can work a spreadsheet and answer calls, this might be ideal.

Fill out Surveys Online
Probably the easiest way to get started making money as a freelancer from home, completing surveys offers a way for you to get paid for your opinion. This usually comes in the form of companies wanting to judge the marketplace before launching a new product, and they’ll ask for your input via an online survey.

However, you need to sign up to as many companies as possible and hope you get selected for more than the average amount of surveys to make good money. But, just like the rest, it can be done with commitment, hard work and just a little bit of luck!

Taking pictures. Do you have a digital camera and an internet connection? Then you can get paid to take pictures of everyday items. Magazines, online e-zines and online companies pay very well for good snapshots.

Internet research. Companies pay workers to research the internet for competitive products or services and report it back to them. This is great for someone who loves to spend time surfing the web. All you need is an internet connection and you are ready to get paid.

If these jobs sound interesting, then there has never been an easier time to go freelance and find cool jobs like these. You don’t need years of schooling to get started either. Just sign up with a good freelance site, like GoFreelance, and you could start working today right from your own home.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/How-Go-Freelance-and-Start-Working-Today/351530

Ten Tips For A Terrific Resume

In today's competitive employment market, your resume has to stand out in order to get the attention of the decision maker and create a strong impression. And later on, when you meet the prospective employer face to face, a strong resume will act as a valuable tool during the interviewing process.

The best way to prepare a super resume is not to change the facts, but make them more presentable. This can be accomplished in two ways:
1. By strengthening the content of your resume; and

2. By enhancing its appearance.

Ten key considerations

To help you construct a better, more powerful resume, here are ten overall considerations in regard to your résumé’s content and presentation:

1. Position title and job description. Provide your title, plus a detailed explanation of your daily activities and measurable results. Since job titles are often misleading or their function may vary from one company to another, your resume should tell the reader exactly what you've done. (Titles such as account manager, business analyst, and internal consultant are especially vague.)

2. Clarity of dates and place. Document your work history accurately. Don't leave the reader guessing where you were employed, or for how long. If you've had overlapping jobs, find a way to pull them apart on paper, or eliminate mentioning one, to avoid confusion.

3. Detail. Specify some of the more technical, or involved aspects of your past work or education. Have you performed tasks of any complexity, or significance? If so, don't be shy; give a one or two sentence description.

4. Proportion. Give appropriate attention to jobs or educational credentials according to their length, or importance to the reader. For example, if you wish to be considered for a position at a bank, don't write one paragraph describing your current job as a loan officer, followed by three paragraphs about your high school summer job as a lifeguard.

5. Relevancy. Confine your curriculum vitae to that which is job-related or clearly demonstrates a pattern of success. For example, nobody really cares that your hobby is spear fishing, or that you weigh 137 pounds, or that you belong to an activist youth group. Concentrate on the subject matter that addresses the needs of the employer.

6. Explicitness. Leave nothing to the imagination. Don't assume the resume reader knows, for example, that the University of Indiana you attended is in western Pennsylvania, or that an "M.M." is a Master of Music degree, or that your current employer, U.S. Computer Systems, Inc., supplies the fast-food industry with order-taker headsets.

7. Length. Fill up only 2-3 pages. Technology resumes can usually be up to three pages. If you write more than three pages, it sends a signal to the reader that you can't organize your thoughts, or you're trying too hard to make a good impression. If your content is strong, you won't need more than three pages.

8. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Create an error-free document that is representative of an educated, detail oriented person. If you're unsure about the correctness of your writing (or if English is your second language), consult a professional writer or copy editor. At the very least, use a spell-check program if you have access to a word processor, and always proofread what you've written.

9. Readability. Organize your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. Avoid writing in a style that's either fragmented or long-winded. No resume ever won a Nobel Prize for literature; however, an unreadable resume will virtually assure you of starting at the back of the line.

10. Overall appearance and presentation. Select the proper visual format, type style, and stationery. Resume readers have become used to a customary and predictable format. If you deviate too much, or your resume takes too much effort to read, it'll probably end up in the trash, even if you have a terrific background.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Ten-Tips-for-a-Terrific-Resume/351733

Are You Afraid To Make A Career Change?

We're pretty darn good at playing mind games with ourselves aren't we? Many of you have fooled yourselves into thinking that being afraid of changing your careers means you shouldn't go ahead and pursue a employment change. You probably figured that if you're that worried about making a employment career change happen, that maybe you shouldn't even bother try and not bother to take any chances.

When did you become so filled with fear? There are many people who feel that once you chose a occupation you're got to stick with it. They don't think they have the abilities or options to change and do something else. Quite often we sell our abilities short! Without trying to make a change, the more unhappy and dissatisfied people become with their work. Any time they consider a different career field, they are overcome with fear and figure they are locked into where they are.
Many people are fearful of not making enough money, not liking their new job, or even failing. Some people even feel that they might not even land the job in the first place so why even try? Maybe the new career is beneath you and you feel that you are simply "wasting your degree". Can you relate to any of these fears?

One of the ways to move past the career fears is by no longer waiting for your fear to disappear before changing employment and instead taking action despite being afraid. It's very normal to be scared about changing careers. If you weren't, I'd have to make sure that your heart is still beating! You have got to realize that you are not supposed to stop your fear in order to be able to change careers.

You must accept your fear as a part of this career changing transformation. Once you can do that, let yourself be afraid but still move forward to take the steps needed to get that next career. Looking behind you then can see that your fear was unfounded and was not really a big deal after all! Take a deep breath and let the fear go and take the first step. It won't be that bad, go for it!



http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Are-You-Afraid-To-Make-A-Career-Change-/351783

Career Life Lessons-from An 11 Year Old Businessman

You remember the neighborhood paperboy. Almost everyone took the daily paper. The kings of the paperboys in my mid-western city delivered to almost every house in an eight block area and sometimes had a helper. They could make $15 or more a week and the local newspaper set aside some money every week so when the paperboy retired at age 17 or 18 they might have up to $1000 or more to help get them started toward college. If you think this wasn’t much money-it would pay one year’s tuition and some of the expenses at a pretty good school. Like I said this was a long time ago but the lessons learned are just as applicable today.

You had to know somebody to get one of the big paper routes or be at least 13 or 14, but I uncovered a kid about my age (11) whose parents told him to quit because he was spending too much time and getting almost no return. This was a Sunday paper route with about 60 customers delivering the big fat Sunday paper from the big city. The paper reached our town on a train at about 3am Sunday morning. I paid $2.65 for the whole route. I calculated by the 5 cents a week commission from each customer that I’d have the money back in one week. My first lesson: A one week return on your investment you say had to be illegal or fattening but it was legal. Not a bad return on my investment.
The first Sunday was a disaster. My predecessor’s books were not up to date or in order. Lesson number 2: do your homework and don’t assume the other guy knows what he’s doing. It took me about four hours to deliver the papers and to try and collect my money. When I was all done I’d made about 35 cents. Lesson number 3: in a cash business don’t count your earnings until the money is in your pocket.

My father took a dim view of me spending most of my Sunday in my paper route business and he told me to fix it or quit. Lesson number 4: If you’re responsible do what your can to fix the problem. Everyone has a boss, it’s always the customers, and sometimes it’s your father.

I straightened out the books, drew a map and then put each customer on the map in order of delivery. Some customers were several blocks out of the way and very time consuming to service so I gave them to paperboys in adjacent areas. Lesson number 5: Not all customers are equal. Some you earn money on and some cost you money.

Now I had the receivables to consider. During the week I went knocking on doors. I introduced myself and explained my problem. I told the customer I wanted them to get the big city Sunday paper as early as possible, but I didn’t want to wake them to collect. Some offered to pay by the month, in advance. Others would put their money under a bottle or rock on their front porch. And a few didn’t have a solution; for example, they lived in an apartment so there was nowhere to put the money out. Lesson number 6: Ask the customer for a solution and most times they’ll come up with a good answer to your problem.

Several customers told of the disorganization of my predecessor, where he tried to collect twice, or didn’t come by for weeks and then neither really knew the correct amount to be collected. I apologized for him and asked what I could do to make it right? Lesson number 7: Customer service issues are difficult to overcome, but by being honest with the customer many times you’ll be given a second chance.

After about four weeks I have the route running as good as it could be. I make the deliveries before 7am each Sunday and after church stopped and collected from the few that owed me money. Then another challenge cropped up.
The newspaper manger announced a contest on who could get the most new subscriptions. After some thought, I went back to my customers and asked for referrals. I offered to give them a free Sunday paper if they gave me a referral that signed up. A number of new customers were outside my area but I increased my subscriptions by 25% and came in third in the contest. Lesson number 8: Know the value and cost of acquiring each new customer. For each free paper I gave out, I got the money back in five weeks, again an exceptional return on my marketing costs.

So here they are: eight career business lessons; (1) Know your return on investment; (2) Don’t assume: do your homework; (3) In a cash business don’t count your earnings until the cash is in the till; (4) If you’re responsible do what you can to fix the problem; (5) Not all customers are equal-some cost and some pay; (6) Ask the customer for a solution; (7) Customer service issues can be overcome with honesty; and (8) Know the value and cost of acquiring each new customer. Overall a good set of guidelines for any career or business.

I’m sure if you think about it you have some life lessons that you learned early on. Maybe it was a job that was horrible and you learned early you didn’t want to get into that career or line of work. Or maybe it was a good boss where you learned how to lead or a bad boss where you learned what not to do. Overall the secret is to take something positive away from each of our life lessons and you’re never too early to start. So as you grow in your career you can stand on your previous experiences and reach higher and higher goals.



http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Career-Life-Lessons-from-an-11-year-old-businessman/351806

Creative Breaking The Rules To Get Ahead?

Career Development: Break the Rules Within the Rules

Your future career success lies in your ability to break some rules. Do you know your competition within the organization? How about your company’s competition? Do you follow them or do you look for ways to move outside the box? Within the organization, are you expected to follow the group or if you move outside the group thinking will you be ostracized? Do you hide in the group or are you willing to achieve success on your own?
All are important questions to answer. Are you willing to take the risks to your career to put your ideas into action? If you are willing to take initiative, responsibility and break some rules you career will flourish and in the right environment you’ll move up to areas of more responsibility and more rewards. Don’t play it safe and take the easy route and hide behind the rules.

Here are some actions you can take to advance your career by breaking the rules within the rules:

Think like an entrepreneur. If you owned the company what would you do differently? Step out of your job and career and act like the CEO, fairly analyze your contributions, your departments results; what more could you be doing?

What rules are getting in your way? What rules are getting in your department’s way? Study how the rule came about. Is it still meeting the organization’s needs? Maybe part of it is still valid, how can the rest of the rule be modified or eliminated to help the business or customers.

Define the problem. Write it out. Ask for help and ideas from others in the department. Run the problem by people you know in the industry. What did another company do to solve the problem? Is it applicable to your situation? Take the best ideas (giving credit where credit is due) and work them into the solution.

Become known as the idea person and problem solver. Search out others to be sounding boards for your ideas and possible solutions. Think other ideas through. At meetings if an idea is presented and you don’t agree, present a different solution or a well reasoned argument why the proposed direction won’t work.

Strive to have a plan of implementation for every great idea you come up with. Think benefits both for the department and the company. Quantify possible results.

Always look for ways of improving what is being done and moving the company forward. Consider taking a different approach in dealing with a customer. How can meeting presentations be improved and streamlined?

Keep this overall approach on the forefront of your thinking every day. Being average with the group is never good enough. Raise the bar.

As you challenge the rules that don’t contribute to the bottom line, or don’t help your career growth or the company’s mission statement you’ll find your career growing. Importantly your career will have more satisfaction, your responsibilities and rewards will increase all because you learned to break the rules with the rules.



http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Creative-Breaking-the-Rules-to-Get-Ahead-/351811

Veterans Seek Second Career At Sea

Many veterans who served their country honorably in the Navy or Coast Guard are falling hook, line and sinker for a second career at sea-especially when the training is free.

Such free training is available at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Affiliated with the Seafarers International Union (SIU), the center's mission is to provide training needed for a successful career as a United States Merchant Mariner.
There's a 10-week able-bodied seaman course for deck students and an eight-week fireman/oiler course for engine students. When applicants successfully complete the course and get a passing grade on the Coast Guard exam, graduates are guaranteed a first job with a contracted company.

The jobs offer competitive pay, freedom in scheduling, comprehensive medical coverage for the mariners and their families, a pension plan and a contract that spells out safe working conditions and benefits. Mariners work for an SIU-contracted company.

Approximately 1,800 veterans have completed the program in the last 10 years.

To sit for the able-bodied seaman's endorsement or the fireman/ oiler endorsement, separated and retired personnel must have the necessary deck or engine ratings required by the U.S. Coast Guard. Applicants must have at least two years' sea service in an accepted Naval/Coast Guard rating.

All applicants must be able to present a history of their assignments while in the military and an honorable discharge.

They must be physically fit as determined by the U.S. Coast Guard standards and eligible to receive a merchant mariner's document. Applicants cannot be on parole or probation and must have a valid driver's license. Other separated Navy/Coast Guard personnel who do not qualify for the veterans' program may still be eligible for the center's apprentice program.

Besides the program for veterans with qualifying sea time in a deck or engine rating, the center also offers a thorough entry-level program that is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. More than 22,000 people have graduated from the entry program since the school opened in 1967.

The SIU represents unlicensed United States Merchant Mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea, Great Lakes and inland trades. The union also represents licensed U.S. mariners in the Great Lakes and inland sectors.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Veterans-Seek-Second-Career-At-Sea/352849

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Preparing An Effective Search For Civil Engineering Graduate Jobs

The field of civil engineering is one of the oldest in the world dating back to the viaducts and roadways created during the Roman Empire. University students throughout the United Kingdom pursue a civil engineering degree to take advantage of their aptitude for mathematics and their desire for a meaningful career. The influx of foreign professionals into civil engineering firms and public agencies has meant greater competition for new graduates.

Your desire to find a civil engineering graduate job immediately after you complete school can be fulfilled with a deliberate job search. Before you begin filling out applications and heading in for interviews, you need to put together a portfolio that will impress potential employers. You should utilise student projects, sketches and recommendations from former professors to demonstrate your engineering skills. It is also important to contact references in your curriculum vitae to let them know that engineering firms may be making contact on your behalf.

Once you have your portfolio completed, you need to build a network of resources to find job openings. Daily investigations of engineering job web-sites allow you to place your name into consideration for dozens of positions with online resume tools. These web-sites are frequented by thousands of engineering candidates and many hiring managers select a limited number of resumes to review. There are a number of resources you can use to supplement your use of highly-used job web-sites.

Civil engineers should look to trade publications and engineering organisations for information on jobs for graduates. These publications have a limited distribution and feature internship and training programmes that are focused on a select audience. You should look at public libraries and your university’s careers office to find free versions of these publications during your job search.

You also need to do some legwork in order to find civil engineering graduate jobs with a high amount of potential. A review of an engineering firm’s web-site may yield some results but you should also call and send your credentials to a firm’s human resources department for future consideration. Many graduates fail to utilise their connections to the engineering field among family, friends and former employers. You should contact your references as well as friends that have worked in the engineering industry to gain insight into what it takes to get hired. With a few phone calls and e-mails to your natural network of resources, you can find plenty of graduate opportunities in civil engineering.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Preparing-an-Effective-Search-for-Civil-Engineering-Graduate-Jobs/348457

Moving Beyond College Housing After Graduation

You have spent several years of college getting used to small spaces, shared accommodations and the nuances of college living. While you may not have imagined college housing as a comfortable place on your first day of school, you will be reluctant to leave for the real world. There are a number of ways to find housing after college that will help you feel at home after work.

One way to replicate the cosiness of college housing is to find an apartment situated between work and a local university. The atmosphere created by university students and professors as they walk along the streets in fall can help you relive your school days every day. You should also look to save elements of college housing design like lighting and wall hangings that fit into your home’s décor. You also need to find post-graduate housing that passes the initial visual test. Your best tool when searching for a new apartment or home is your first impressions. It is critical that you take a look at the exterior as well as every room in the interior to develop an initial judgement. Your college housing may have left a lot to the imagination when you moved in but as a graduate you can dictate the type of dwelling you use.
An area of housing that is often misunderstood by university graduates is the cost of living. Graduates with experience living in regular apartments away from campus may understand the price of utilities and groceries but the safety net of college is yanked from many students in an instant. You need to add several hundred pounds onto any monthly rent to accurately assess your financial burden. A determination of your savings and loan repayments for school loans is also critical for an accurate budget.

You may be eager to get started on turning your new apartment into a home but it is critical that you get every agreement with an apartment manager in writing. The apartment lease is the most basic document needed in your portfolio to avoid misunderstandings about rent and other responsibilities. You should also approach verbal agreements with extreme caution as they are difficult to enforce in the legal system. A template contract found on most word processing software can be printed off with the appropriate information and signed by an apartment manager as proof of informal agreements.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Moving-Beyond-College-Housing-After-Graduation/348454

Living In College Apartments Beyond Graduation To Save Money

Many universities in the United Kingdom and Europe have begun working with private developers to find housing for students away from university grounds. The aging buildings of elite universities in the United Kingdom are not inviting to students that need to live away from home for several years. The use of college apartments for undergraduate and graduate students does not necessarily need to end upon graduation.

Unlike traditional residence halls on campus, college apartments are designated spaces within a private apartment development surrounded by apartments filled with families and professionals. The prices are negotiated between schools and apartment owners to help students defray costs while they are studying for a degree. If you want to live in college apartments beyond your last day of courses, there are a number of steps to take.

Some schools may offer a transition program to graduates that keep young professionals in the community. This transition program may feature moving assistance or a continued subsidy of rental prices that help ease the financial burden on graduates. You may need to move into a different apartment within the same complex but transition assistance helps you avoid hunting for a new apartment while you are searching for a job.

You need to approach your college apartment manager at least two months before graduation to learn all of your options. Apartment managers are concerned with filling vacancies and dealing with administrative work as far ahead as possible. This step is not only a demonstration of courtesy on your part but it can help you determine the availability of college apartments after you complete your studies.

Once you have decided that you want to stay in a college apartment beyond graduation, you need to consider redecoration. The apartments of a university student and a professional differ greatly from one another. You can use your location in the midst of college students to sell off old furniture and housing accessories to help you pay for new furnishings. You can also take the opportunity to clean your apartment and apply a layer of paint to cover up any damage caused during your college days.

The benefits of using college apartments from your first day on school until you are ready to own a home are apparent. You should avoid the temptation to find an expensive place that seems to exude professionalism to friends and visitors. New furniture and a new attitude can turn your school apartment into a reflection of your professional attitude.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Living-in-College-Apartments-Beyond-Graduation-to-Save-Money/348453

3 Cover Letter Tips Used By Professional Writers

Writing a cover letter is harder is many respects than writing a resume because resumes are more objective, or at least, appear to be. Consequently, you do not really have to scratch your head wondering how you can make an impression or make your letter sound personable. If we had to make a comparison, writing a resume is like writing a report. Once you’ve got the skills set, you’re pretty much good with most assignments that come your way. Writing a cover letter is more complicated, however, and is like writing an introduction to that report. How to make it so that the reader is captivated? How to make it so that the reader will start his reading with a positive attitude as opposed to looking at the report ahead as a dreadful burden?

The first tip that all good writers adhere to is to know what message you want to convey. Until you know what you want to communicate, how can you start writing? Yet, that is the mistake that too many people make. Why? Because most of us are lazy and we hope that inspiration will come as we go along. True, it doesn’t hurt to be inspired. That being said, it’s much easier to be inspired when all the right elements are in place. What should you do? Think it through in your head. What skills do you want to convey? What kind of impression do you want to make? As you go through these questions in your head, you should do some background research also. Just go on the Web and start browsing the employer’s website. This will definitely make your look smarter on paper as it will help you tailor your message. Hopefully, this is not too much to ask and will bring in big rewards eventually.
The next tip is to push yourself to stand out. If you write something that sounds too ordinary or just doesn’t sound right, it means you still need to put in more work. Whatever you write down needs to be exceptional, or at least good/ stand out. Good writers know that and that’s why they’re good. They have high expectations when they write and that’s how they improve. Stay away from clichés and try to be specific. Sell yourself and visualize other candidates as your competitors. You want to surpass them. Make that your goal.

The last tip is to go through a lot of drafts. Once your first draft done, go do something else and come back on it later (even a day later if necessary). Time does miracles and as you come back on your draft, you will see aspects of it that you don’t like. If after giving it some time, you come back to your draft, still like it, and have nothing else you want to add or change, then you can tell yourself that you’re done. Your cover letter is ready to be sent out.

The above tips may sound simple, but they really work. It’s simple common sense! Good luck in your job search!!


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/3-Cover-Letter-Tips-Used-By-Professional-Writers/348381

Wildlife In The Attic - A Career Option You May Have Overlooked

It is early morning and you're awakened by the unmistakable patter of running feet in your attic. You quickly dismiss the thought that it is a thief. It's too small and besides, what thief would be running around the attic? Perhaps, it's a raccoon or a skunk then? How about a simple country mouse?

And you quickly come to the core of the problem. Once you know it's an animal up there, who are you going to call for aid? Not Ghostbusters, definitely. And surely, not SWAT. What are they going to do; shoot the poor thing?
The rapid growth of urban and suburban areas across the country is eating into the natural habitats of many animals. These displaced animals camp out in your backyard, make their home on your porch or slip into your attic.

These animals, though generally harmless, are indirectly dangerous. They can be like recalcitrant house pets and chew on your electrical wiring which can cause a fire. They will eat holes into your roof and ceiling as well and let the rain in.

Health-wise, there is no telling what diseases these wild animals carry: rabies is very high on the list. Bird or bat droppings that are allowed to accumulate in eaves and attics carry the risk of diseases such as histoplasmosis. And what homeowner would be happy when, on stepping outside for a breath of fresh air, he is confronted by the sight of a skunk family having feasting on his garden?

The increasing number of animal-human encounters has bred the need for wildlife management professionals who have the knowledge, equipment and experience to help homeowners deal with such problems.

--- The Growth of Wildlife Management ---

Admittedly, nuisance wildlife management was not really needed before. Then, there was a distinct border line between human and wildlife habitats. Population growth and urban/suburban expansion meant that people were 'trespassing' into traditional wildlife habitats. Most wildlife - especially the smaller ones - quickly learned to adapt to the human invasion.

Homes may be for humans, but wildlife can find a warm, comfortable nest in human households. Food is easy to find; they just need to dig around the garbage. If they're herbivores, humans are prone to planting gardens (both ornamental and vegetable) where the food is out there for the picking. Most homes have numerous nooks and crannies, as well as insulation (especially in cold areas) which provide a warm and safe environment for raising animal families.

Animals mean humans no harm. However, these animals can still present a danger to the humans in the house.

This is where wildlife management professionals come in. They have the training, temperament and equipment to handle the problem professionally, efficiently and humanely. They take special care not to harm the wildlife and they are forever looking for ways to reduce the conflict between humans and wildlife.

--- Prevention is the Key ---

The primary role of a wildlife management professional is to stop a problem from happening, and the best way to do this is by helping homeowners prevent it from happening in the first place.

If you're a homeowner in a recently developed urban/suburban area - one which was only recently uninhabited - it would be best to call in a wildlife expert to check out your house. If you want to do it yourself, check out your home's roof as well as sidings for entry points that wildlife can use.

Check out your chimney to ensure that no animal has moved in that way. Also have a regulated chimney cap installed. Inspect your porch, your roof and your sidings for holes where animals can comfortably burrow. Get up into the attic and check your attic screens and look for animal tracks. Torn screens and animal tracks are sure signs that an animal has either taken up residence with you, or is about to move in.

If there are animals already in residence, call in a wildlife management expert to evict them for you.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Wildlife-In-The-Attic---A-Career-Option-You-May-Have-Overlooked/348297

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

So You Want To Be A Fashion Model?

Have you ever thought about becoming a fashion model? Do you think you have what it takes for that kind of job? The typical fashion model travels to exotic places, models the latest clothes, fashions, and accessories from top designers, and can even be featured in various magazines, which of course can also then lead to being pursued by manufacturers for you to do product endorsements.

But that is typically not where a fashion model STARTS. Like anything else, a fashion model or teen model usually starts significantly lower on the totem pole while they are gaining visibility with potential clients and top modeling agencies around the world. But if you are willing to “pay your dues”, the rewards can be fabulous from many perspectives, including travel, mingling with celebrities, attending exclusive events, and of course from a financial perspective. Top models can earn upwards of thousands of dollars per day.

Fashion modeling is no longer limited to just the “perfect” people anymore with the great looks, superb hair, and a Barbie-doll figure. Particularly in recent years, the fashion designers have started to realize that by only targeting the “perfect” people, they were ignoring a large portion, indeed a MAJORITY, of the audiences they could potentially target to sell their merchandise, accessories, and fashions.

That being the case, there is also a market for fashion models that almost spans the entire range of types of people; i.e., the petite, the “plus size”, the teen, the “mature”, and yes even the retiree crowd. Think about it, all those types of people have money also, and are willing to spend it if they are aware of the possibilities and availability of their products. And selling their creations and fashions is what they are in business for! To become a successful fashion model today, you no longer need to be limited to the group that is about 5 foot 8 inches tall at 120 pounds with perfect bouncy hair and about 22 years old.

There are many types of modeling jobs available, and virtually any of them would be a good start for someone with the motivation and desire to get into some of the top spots and top agencies. There is catalog modeling, runway modeling, showroom modeling, promotional or trade show modeling, television modeling, as well as print modeling like in newspapers or magazines.

Make no mistake about it, it is a tough market and there will likely be some long hours involved. But for those with the motivation and desire to succeed in this very competitive industry, the rewards can far outweigh the negatives.



http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/So-You-Want-To-Be-A-Fashion-Model-/30675

Job Interviews Give Them What They Want to Hear

Job interviews. Each interviewer thinks that they are using new and novel techniques. Really it all goes down to the book they read this week or most likely last year.
Once you realize that there is little originality in interview techniques your ability to succeed in interviews and hence jobs and promotions offered to you will soar .and you will be on the gravy train so to speak.

In actuality it is all about giving the interviewer what is that they want to hear.
Management guru Riteway Strokon notes that the skill of getting through university is to learn to give back to the professor what he told in different words – and importantly words that he understands. So it is with passing interviews. .
There is very little originality in interview techniques and questions no matter how elaborate and intimidating the interviewer and interview seems. If ever get an honest out of way real interview this is the tip off that this is either the company with its style of management or the superior you can work with and for to prosper.

First of all read and reread the ad or posting carefully. What are they looking for?
What skills and traits are desired both by the organization and the ad? Do you have those traits or will you have to groom them. Reread the ad to ascertain the “corporate culture”. How could you fit into that society so to speak? How would you present yourself both in appearance, attitude and answers to better fit the interview mold?

Further along the path of interview preparation, research the company either as if you were buying one of the company’s expensive products or purchasing a large block of stock. The internet affords the easiest and quickest ever means of initial research.
. If you use Google as your search engine of choice try using other search engines – such as MSN or Yahoo. You can even try a search engine of search engines – a Meta search engine such as Dogpile or Clusty. Look at the links leading to firm’s WebPages.
Are there links leading from customers for tech support or product information? Who are their major customers? Often the real dirt and info on a company can be obtained from competitors. The best source of information about a Tylenol sales manager would be from their competition – that is someone who sells aspirin for example. Call tech support for the company to check customer service levels as well as the over demeanor and morale of company. If possible such as for retail stores try to talk to some real employees of the firm. What you are looking for is consistency in approach and philosophy all the way down the line and happy satisfied employees and customers. For example the job listing may be all about “targeting and core customer base”. However if you spot that the company is not targeted that their advertising as well as focus is all over the map with no discernable focus and that major customers are unhappy and are ready to jump ship then this is not a good sign for you.

Just as you are playing a game at presentation in the interview process management often has to play a similar game with their supervisors who may be clueless. Look at what was the most major and vital industry to the American economy that was the automobile industry. It used to be said “What is good for General Motors (GM) is good for America. Now the American car industry with its insulated senior management is on its way to hell in a hand basket. Or at least with senior management is still being served executive meals on white linen far away from any employee cafeteria or worker lunchbox. Management may be shown a video or given a course and be clueless about basic concepts in life that your 4 year old nephew knows instinctively

Preparation is the key to successful job interviews. Lastly it is always a good idea not to laugh at the incongruity of the interviewer’s questions and answer questions with a straight face while maintaining eye contact.



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Reinforcing Your Career Decisions - Part One

Perhaps youv'e realised that your career is taking a wrong turn. It's time to make personal judgments, and professional ones as well.

Resolutions are nothing but setting goals for yourself and is the key to success. Remember, don't set impossible goals which are not within your reach. Instead, set short-term goals and challenge yourself.

Improve your skills: Add a professional degree to your curriculum vitae. Alternatively, take a class or go to a seminar. It is essential to set learning goals on a regular basis. Surf noteworthy websites, and even online job searches so you have an idea what skills are currently in demand in the job market.

Gain knowledge of new technology: Technology is here to stay and communication is essential for business success. Don't be afraid to try out and acquaint yourself with technology. Job opprotunities are granted to those who show an active involvement with the Internet and technology in general. After all, nowadays, technology becomes obsolete quickly and gets replaced by new versions, so you have to keep updated along with it.

Be prepared with your CV: You may never know when opportunity might knock at your door. Make your CV professional. All the online resume posting has been telling us that. Our resume and CV are our first and foremost way of advertising ourselves for getting a job and ending an online job search.

Learn a new language: If your job puts you in contact with people who speak other languages, on a regular basis. This is particularly important when there may be many regional dialects when dealing with overseas countries. It may be very wise to learn a foreign language and if you find you are enjoying this, learn another. It pays in the end.



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Is it Prestigious to be a Teacher?

After graduation we get lost in the number of opportunities and careers proposed to us by various agents visiting high-school. Some students follow parents’ advice, some of them chose occupation taking prestige into consideration. Only a few strong-willed people follow their calling not paying attention to any of advice, orders and other factors. These brave people are more likely to be successful in their lives than others. Listening to teachers’ lecture we sometimes may think about a career of a teacher. After a couple of seconds an image comes to sight. Lots of screaming and yelling annoying children that do not follow directions stay noisy and do not know the word “order”. After an image like that your desire to become a teacher disappears. After a couple of weeks you start thinking about it again. What is that teachers do for us?

This topic can be boring for youngsters for they could have written millions of essays on the similar topic. But if to look at the problem a bit deeper, there is always something interesting and exciting to find out. A person always tries to be in charge of somebody. This increases self-confidence and gives power over people. Being a teacher you may become more self-confident and see how much you can do for yourself. Imagine, how much can you give to a young boy or girl that absorbs every word you utter. Financial aspect has always been important even for those who cared only about a job. That’s why people sometimes mention the wished salary during interview when applying to some position. Teachers are well-paid nowadays and salaries depend on working hours and extra curriculum work with children. A person can express himself or herself in any field possible. To become a professional you are to be coached and tutored. Who is going to do it? Of course, a teacher. Every specialist is born from hard work both of a student and a teacher. Teachers were always respected by people and those, involved in education and science almost always get recognition with their contribution to the world of knowledge. Every student is a visit card that tells a long story about a teacher and methodology. Requirements for teachers are high, but the result is rewarding. You fulfill your dream and become a respectable citizen.

That is why people prepare a good resume, gather all the awards and diplomas and go for an interview with a strict school principal to join a team of those who were disliked and even hated during teenage years. And they do it not because of prestige or money or fame, but because of respect, hidden deep inside in high-school year’s memories. They want to be at least a bit like that brave, outgoing, strict but kind-hearted person that seems to know the answers to all the questions.


http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/Is-it-Prestigious-to-be-a-Teacher-/32030

Tips On The Offshore Oil Rig Jobs

As you probably know by now, the offshore oil rig jobs imply physical work. Almost all the rig companies on the market try to offer their employees an enjoyable time onboard. Especially as there are accommodation wings that meet 4 or 5 star hotel standards. The result is that, even if the employees are actually living in the middle of the ocean, they are good taken care of, with companies assuring all food, board and laundry expenses, besides the travel and transfer costs.

So, if you decide to get a job at one of the offshore oil rig companies available today, you can choose from a very large range of opportunities. Whether you want to be a Driller, Derrickman, Shakerhand or Mudman, you can surely get a very good job there. People who dream of becoming a Toolpusher, a Floorman or a Roughneck, a Motorman, an Assistant Driller, a Crane Operator, Roustabouts, a Cleaner or a Painter and even a Storekeeper, will also find what they are looking for at an offshore oil rig company. Other jobs that are available there are Mechanic/Electrician, Sub Sea Engineer, Rig Mechanic, Rig Electrician, Rig Welder, Barge Engineer, Ballast Controlman or Watchstander, Captain and Chief Engineer, Rig Medic and Safety Man. You see, the number of possible jobs is higher than you can imagine.

Most offshore oil rig jobs call for a 14 / 21 day rotation, which means that you work for a couple of weeks, then you get three weeks off. Thus, you actually spend a lot of time on holiday every year! And let us look at another enjoyable aspect of such a job! Countries like Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the United States, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, Norway, China, Canada and the United Kingdom are only few of all the drilling employment and travel opportunities you can get from working in the offshore oil rig industry.

If you agree to wearing safety boots hard hat safety glasses and coveralls, then you have a good chance of feeling good in such a field. Fortunately you get to take off your work gear and eat in the galley. You must also keep a good attitude and be focused on why you wanted to work offshore. Should you be a smoker, there are smoking rooms at various places on a rig where safety matches will be supplied. So, you won�t have any reasons to be stressed out!



http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/Tips-On-The-Offshore-Oil-Rig-Jobs/32459

Monday, November 12, 2007

Analyze a Career in Economics

Economists, as defined by the Labor Department, study how society distributes scarce resources such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery to produce goods and services. They conduct research, collect and analyze data, monitor economic trends, and develop forecasts.

The Work:

Economists conduct research and prepare data for analysis. They research issues such as inflation, interest rates, and employment levels to come up with data that can be processed to forecast economic change in the future. They prepare their reports by using charts and graphs or tables to illustrate the results of their research. There are many specific areas for work as an economist such as being an organizational economist, industrial economist, labor economist or monetary economist to name a few.

Training:

To become and economist, you will need to earn at least a bachelors degree in economics. Many private sector companies require a master’s degree or Ph. D. in economics from their employees however. A bachelor’s degree in economics will cover topics such as macro and microeconomics as well as statistics and math. Finance, accounting, public relations, public policy and information technology will also be covered in your degree program. To become and economist, you will need to skills in organization, pay keen attention to details, and have patience and persistence. Those with a graduate degree in economics will generally specialize in a specific area of the industry.

Outlook:

An economics degree can provide you an opportunity to work in a variety of professional organizations. A number of economists work in the public sector and help government simplify their operations. Up to 58 % of economists work in this capacity. Depending on your field, expertise, and industry, salaries can vary greatly. Economists in major metropolitan areas average a salary of $78,000 annually, but they can earn significantly more with years of experience.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Hart

Choosing The Right Career For The Ideal Job

Many people go into careers and jobs without thinking if this is suited for me or 5 to 10 years later they realize this is not what I expected. Many individuals spend months or even years not happy with their careers. Some may take any available job while others may follow in their parents footsteps. This may work out for some but many others never discover their true career skills and are dissatisfied with their jobs.

Careful career planning is essential in fulfilling one's job search that will give years of work enjoyment and satisfaction. If you are going to work it might as well be something you like to do and skilled at doing. Knowing what your skills are and what you are good at is the starting point in choosing the right career.You will unlikely be completely satisfied in your career unless you use the skills you enjoy and are good at.

Ask yourself some questions such as : What interests do I have? What sorts of people would I like to work with?

Don't confuse an ideal job with a job title. You might enjoy working in one place and hate working in another. Both could have the same job title but be entirely different jobs.

Let's say you were looking for a job as a sales person or a teacher, these would be job titles. The ideal job within the salesperson category could be in retail sales, real estate, manufacturing sales representatives, car sales, etc. A teacher might teach kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school students. Or a teacher might teach adults or special need individuals how to read and write. So don't choose a job just by it's title but by the different job areas under the title that fits your interests and skills. People are more likely to stay in a career and be successful if it suits their interest and skills.

It would be wise to spend extra time thinking about what type of work you want to do. Some key factors to consider when planning a career is your skills, interests, earnings, location, work environment, kinds of people you like to work with, etc.

You may have to go back to school for more education, but don't let that hold you back from that ideal job. Education and earnings go hand in hand. The more education you have the more money you are capable of earning. Although earnings are important, liking your work is equally important.

Having a college degree is definitely a plus in career planning, but many trade, technical and other schools offer similar opportunities to individuals without a college degree.

A well trained electrician, plumber, police officer, auto mechanic, computer repair technician, tool and die maker among many others can do very well in todays economy. There are many jobs that only require one or two years of training. Many companies and organizations have on the job training while paying your salary. People in sales, small business, self employment and other job areas do quite well without a college degree, although for better positions more education is often required.

Your career will most likely change over the course of your life no matter how much career planning you do. That make's it important for you to recognize what you are good at and develop those skills throughout your life. As your interests change you may want to develop new skills.

Good career planning is very important, but it should be done in the context of what you want to do with your life.



Paralegal Schools Can Prepare You For a Career in Law

You can train to be a respected paralegal at some of the best paralegal schools in the US and Canada. There are a variety of paralegal courses available throughout North America where you can learn to be a professional paralegal, but what exactly will you learn?

Paralegal schools can prepare you for a legal career assisting attorneys and judges in the day-to-day routine duties of the court. You may be able to specialize in one or more aspects of the paralegal profession, such as tax laws, real estate laws, child custody cases, criminal cases, and many others. But, in general, you will be required to have an overall knowledge of law practices and courtroom procedures with the goal of helping legal processes to proceed smoothly.

Whether your ultimate goal is to work for an independent law firm or a government agency, the top paralegal schools will give you a thorough paralegal education to qualify you for a new career. Lawyers often rely on paralegals to help prepare legal arguments, draft motions and pleas, manage individual cases, and assist in the courtroom. Legal and paralegal schools teach paralegals how to help attorneys prepare for a courtroom hearing or trial by researching the facts about a case and investigating the laws that pertain. In addition to a general education, a paralegal course will cover legal terminology and documents, legal software applications, and other related topics.

There are several levels of paralegal education available, beginning with simple professional certification or an Associate of Arts degree in paralegal (AA-P). Either would be great for an entry-level paralegal position. Those who wish to expand their paralegal training can obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in paralegal (BS-P) or Bachelor of Arts - Paralegal (BA-P). If your ultimate goal is to become a legal administrator, such as a court clerk, you may wish to continue your legal studies to obtain a Master of Arts in Paralegal (MA-P) and Master of Science in Paralegal (MS-P) degree.

Graduates of paralegal schools are eligible to take the National Association of Legal Assistants Exam (NALA) to become Certified Legal Assistants (CLAs). With two years of relevant paralegal experience and a minimum of a bachelor's degree in paralegal, you may take the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to become a Registered Paralegal (RP). Starting salaries for paralegals are in the range of $40,000 - $60,000, depending on experience and level of education.

To find out how you can learn to be a paralegal, we urge you to contact paralegal schools on SchoolsGalore.com today.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Online Fashion Merchandising Courses-A Convenient Path to a Fashion Career

The Internet has revolutionized education. Distance and online learning is one of the fastest growing segments of the educational field. If you are thinking of attending fashion school for a fashion merchandising degree or certificate, you may want to consider an online fashion design program. These online programs have evolved and are more comprehensive and sophisticated to meet student needs.

As a fashion merchandising student, you'll learn the nuts and bolts of fashion design and marketing. You'll study the whole cycle of fashion creation, concentrating primarily on the manufacturing, buying, selling, and promotion of items to retail and other outlets. You'll also learn about the actual textiles that create fabrics, and their manufacture.

There are many advantages to studying fashion merchandising online. You will have a more flexible schedule, and can study around your job, or other responsibilities. A great way to get even more prepared for working in the field is to take a fashion-related job while you are attending school online. This will help you get real world fashion experience that can enrich your online education, and help qualify you for your fashion merchandising career once you graduate.

There are a number of schools that offer online programs. Many respectable and respected fashion campuses also offer an online component. Its better to enroll in an online program that is well-known and has a presence in the fashion industry. Many schools offer a two year associates degree or a certificate, and some schools offer a four year bachelor degree. Whatever degree program you choose, you want to make sure that your online program has the appropriate accreditation, so that when you graduate, your achievement has merit in the industry, and is recognizable.

Another factor to consider is the job placement assistance offered after you graduate. Most schools will have statistics regarding the number of graduates working the fashion merchandising industry. Before you enroll, you should review the school's job assistance program, and make sure it is comprehensive as possible.

A fashion merchandising career is one of the most flexible and varied in the fashion industry. Once you have achieved your diploma or certification, there are a wide variety of positions available. You could work in retail as store manager, or store owner. You could also work as a fashion buyer, merchandiser, fashion event planner, and that is just a small number of the variety of positions available.

If you live too far away to attend an on campus fashion school, or need more flexibility with your schedule, an online fashion merchandising program may be a good fit for you. More and more schools are catering to the needs of their students by offering online degree and certificate studies, and there are now a number to choose from. Your fashion career could be just a few mouse clicks away.

Amy Wells writes about fashion education. Thinking of attending Fashion School? Get the facts first, find out where to go and how to save money on Fashion School.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Wells

The Best Investment - You and Your Career

Are you interested in a career in business, education, health science, psychology or the behavioral sciences? You can excel in your field with a degree and pursue the career of your dreams.

There are many universities that offer undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees that will launch your career, or provide you the edge you need to get ahead in your field. Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco—there are thousands of campus locations across the nation, and with online degree and distance learning programs, you can be literally anywhere and get your degree.

Making The Choice: What To Look For In A College

Faculty

You want qualified instructors. You want teachers that don’t just talk the talk-they’ve also walked the walk. You want working professionals with years of experience. Many colleges utilize a faculty that brings more than just a textbook and a syllabus to the classroom; they bring professional knowledge and real-world insight into your field. With the right instruction, right out of the gate, you can be learning real-world applications that you can put into action--not just isolated theories.

Small Class Size

It’s well know that the smaller the class, the greater your chance of success. Look for a college that believes that close interaction with instructors helps build a sense of community among faculty and fellow students, as well as providing networking opportunities that can enhance your career opportunities. Choosing this unique learning model will keep the focus on you and your future success.

Flexibility

Many college have programs are designed to prepare you for a meaningful, rewarding career, but you also want a school that understands that you have a life outside of our classroom. Many colleges have programs that enable you to customize your schedule by offering evening and weekend classes, as well as online classes. Choose the program that’s built to fit your life.

Of course, you may already be out there pursuing your dreams and working in your field. You don't want to interrupt your career to focus exclusively on study. Many colleges offer programs that are designed to fit the time constraints of your already busy schedule. You can earn your undergraduate or graduate degree through on-campus learning, online learning, or a mix of both. Many colleges offer a combination of offsite tutorials and intensive one-week classroom sessions that are held throughout the year. Flexibility and accelerated degree programs distinguish some universities--these schools have the flexibility designed to suit you and give you the edge you need to succeed.

Whatever your goal--completing your bachelor's degree, pursuing a master's or doctoral degree--you'll find a college that is both relevant and flexible and designed to suit your life. Be poised for success and discover how earning your degree from will help you get a fresh start and an exciting career.

Programs

A full range of degree programs, from associate's and bachelor's to master's and doctoral studies, are available. Depending on your choice of college, you can choose a campus-based education, online courses, or a blended mix of both. You select which option best suits you.

Degrees are available in these exciting fields:

• Clinical Psychology
• Clinical Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy
• Community Counseling
• Counseling Psychology
• Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy
• Counselor Education and Supervision
• Forensic Psychology
• Marriage & Family Therapy
• Mental Health Counseling
• Organizational Leadership
• Pastoral Community Counseling
• Professional Counseling
• Psychology
• Psychology (Degree Completion Program)
• School Counseling
• School Psychology
• Sport-Exercise Psychology

In the area of Education and Human Development, you’ll find these options:

• Community College Executive Leadership
• Educational Leadership
• Institutional Leadership

Those interested in Business and Information Technology may want to consider:

• Business Administration
• Business Administration (Degree Completion Program)
• Management

The fascinating world of Health Sciences offers:

• Dental Hygiene
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound)
• Health Service Management
• Histotechnology
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Radiation Therapy
• Radiologic Technology
• Veterinary Technology




Computer Repair Training To Become Certified Technician

With millions of computers in use around the globe, there is a huge and growing demand for computer technicians with good computer repair training. If you are one of those computer-minded folks with good dexterity and a knack for repairing things, you might be the perfect candidate for vocational training in computer repair.

The ultimate goal is to become certified in computer repair so that you will qualify for gainful employment as an expert computer technician. Look to trade schools, community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools to offer the best computer repair training. In less than two years, you can gain a vocational certificate or Associate degree that will convince any employer of your professional competency.

Computer repair training can include a number of interesting subjects, but in general you will learn to install, repair, and maintain computers of all types. Your computer repair course will have you tinkering with a variety of electrical devices and computers, including those found in homes, businesses, and government agencies. An education in computer repair will delve deeply into the various aspects of computer technology, and may even cover radar systems, televisions, industrial and medical equipment, and telecommunications systems.

Check with several computer repair schools to be sure the one you choose will be able to meet your professional goals. Once you have graduated and become a certified computer repair technician, you may choose to enter into an apprenticeship to gain the hands-on, practical experience you will need for a career in computer repair. Depending on the extent of your computer repair training and the nature of the specific computer technician position, you can soon be earning an annual salary of $36,000 or more.

If you think a career in computer technology is for you, check out schools providing Computer Repair Training at SchoolsGalore.com. You could soon be on your way to becoming certified in computer repair.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante

Nursing Shortage and Distance Education Nursing Programs

Distance education nursing programs could help alleviate the nursing shortage in the US. We are currently experiencing a critical nursing shortage that is stretching healthcare to its limits. You would think we could alleviate the shortage by training more nurses, but therein lies the problem. There are plenty of qualified applicants for the available spots in nursing schools. We simply don't have enough nursing educators to teach them.

Nursing is a scientifically rigorous discipline with the added requirement of hands-on technical skills. Nursing education has a classroom component and a clinical component. Distance learning nursing programs have been available for years, but providing the clinical component of the curriculum continues to be problematic.

The minimum degree for a nursing educator is a masters in nursing (MSN). Distance learning programs that prepare existing nurses to be nurse educators could be the solution to the nursing shortage.

There is currently little incentive for BSN prepared nurse to continue their education. Graduate education in nursing is expensive and rigorous. It is very difficult for a working nurse to find the time, energy and resources for school. And he has little reason to do so; BSN prepared nurses have most of the same opportunities as MSN prepared nurses, and make about the same amount of money. Education is one of the few areas that they can't find employment in, and most nursing educators make less money than BSN prepared hospital nurses.

There are two ways that distance education nursing programs can help.

RN to MSN Programs

RN's who do not have a BSN do have limited career opportunities. It is more difficult for them to advance into management and specialty areas, and this is an incentive for them to go back to school and get a degree. RN to BSN programs make it relatively easy for working nurses to get a degree. Many are available as distance learning programs, and they are configured for working adults.

RN's who apply for those programs could be encouraged to enter RN to MSN programs instead. RN to MSN programs already exist. We could use those programs to prepare more nursing educators by making it easier to complete them and by recruiting more nurses into them. When an RN expresses interest in an RN to BSN program, perhaps he could be offered entrance into an RN to MSN program instead.

BSN to PhD Programs

There isn't a lot of incentive for MSN prepared nurses to teach. Perhaps that means that we should recruit more nurses into doctoral programs. PhD prepared nursing educators do have more opportunities and make more money than MSN prepared educators. Perhaps we should recruit BSN prepared nurses into doctoral programs instead of trying to convince them to pursue a masters degree.

Preparing more nursing educators is the only answer to the nursing shortage, and distance education nursing programs for graduate study are a viable way to do that.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of a Online High School Courses website where you can find the best online learning programs and degrees to suit your needs including online math courses and more.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Iggo

Chinese Medicine Education - Certificate Programs

Find Chinese medicine education in the United States and Canada. Chinese medicine education offered through several acupuncture schools and other Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) schools include certificate programs that are comprehensive, and can enhance your professional aspirations.

A good example of one of the many certificate programs extended through an in-depth Chinese medicine education is the certificate in Chinese herbal medicine (CCHM). This Chinese medicine education program is a postgraduate course for licensed acupuncturists and covers a tremendous curriculum that includes Chinese medicine education in botany, Chinese medical terminology, herbal formulation and therapeutics, Chinese medicine principles and theories, and other related subject matter. Though each school varies in its Chinese medicine education; a number of these programs average about 62 credits.

Other certificate programs offered through Chinese medicine education courses are the Asian bodywork and Qigong courses. Chinese medicine education in these subjects encompass practical training and academics in a range of topics including but not limited to TCM theories, anatomy, qigong, clinical bodywork, shiatsu, biomechanics, kinesiology, Thai massage, Tuina, and other related studies. In many instances, successful students who have completed all bodywork training requirements are awarded Tuina and shiatsu massage certificates.

In addition, some Chinese medicine education courses are extended through home-study programs, as well as in-class studies. These certificate and continuing education programs include courses in herbology. In this Chinese medicine education course, students are introduced to Chinese herbal medicine, pathology, tonic herbs and formulation, and many more associated topics of interest.

Furthermore, several alternative healing schools will provide Chinese medicine education certificate and/or diploma courses in Oriental medicine nutrition, skin care, wellness and acupressure.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding appropriate Chinese medicine education to help attain your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CarolAnn_Bailey-Lloyd

Online Nursing Continuing Education - Right For Working Nurses

Nurses can earn Continuing Education credit by attending conferences, seminars, workshops, or by enrolling in online nursing continuing education courses. One Continuing Education Unit is equivalent to ten contact hours. A contact hour is defined as 50 consecutive minutes of participation in a class or activity approved by a nursing board.

Apply For An Online Course

There are numerous accredited online nursing continuing education courses available at very reasonable rates. You can complete the online nursing education courses from the comforts of your home. No need to sacrifice your working hours. Completing an online nursing continuing education course is very easy. Simply choose the course and study it. Then you pass the test and complete the evaluation form. After this you can register and pay the fee. Then you can print the certificate showing successful completion of the course.

In this competitive world, it is simply not enough to have a single degree. To maintain your competitiveness in the workplace, you have to continuously educate yourself. Online nursing degree programs are designed for working nurses to help them evolve in their careers. There are various nursing degree programs available at all levels. You can pursue a diploma, BSN, MSN, or a doctoral program from the comforts of your home and without sacrificing a single hour of work. If you already have a BSN degree, you can pursue an online nursing master degree and become a leader in your profession. There is no shortage of schools offering online nursing education programs.

The changing scenario in the nursing field would make online nursing continuing education degree programs more important for working nurses. Nurses need to put in long hours at work. Along with that they have families to take care of. This makes it impossible for most of them to earn a degree through a regular nursing college. Online nursing degree programs have not only met the educational aspirations of thousands of working nurses, but have also provided the healthcare industry with trained nurses. Without the online programs, the shortages of nurses would have been more acute.

Times have sure changed. There was a time when online education was looked down upon. Today online degrees are offered in every field. Many employers strongly encourage their nurses to pursue online nursing continuing education programs. Online programs have become a convenient means of advancing one's career. Online education is not education made easy but education made convenient. The idea behind online nursing degree programs is to provide education to working nurses so that they can grow in their professional fields.

Nursing degree info is an online information bank for people who wish to make successful career in nursing. Medicare Industry is growing day by day. With this growth there will be rise in requirement for qualified Medicare personnel's. For professional growth in nursing, go for Online Nursing Continuing Education. Choose from best Online Nursing Schools.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ekta_Jain

Thursday, November 8, 2007

The University of Cambridge

Speaking individually, people mention Oxford first since Oxford came into existence before Cambridge University. Cambridge University is much younger. It is only celebrating its 800th birth anniversary in 2009.

So awe-inspiring are these universities that they have also been restructured in Japan. Only the Japanese mention Cambridge first, based on the alphabetical order.

Reputation

Cambridge University, the second oldest university in the UK, proves its reputation by the sheer strength of its Nobel Prize winners. No other university in the world has produced this many achievers.

Since the year 1904, 81 affiliates of the University have won the Nobel Prize.

• Bertrand Russell was the first person to win the Nobel Prize from this University. He was awarded for his literary work, ‘A History of Western Philosophy.’
• The first woman of this University to win the Nobel was Dorothy Hodgkin. Her work dealing with the structure of compounds used to fight anaemia won universal acclamation.
• Fredrick Sanger holds the distinction of winning the Nobel Prize twice. Only 3 other people hold this unique record.
• The Trinity College won 31 Nobel Prizes. This college has produced the maximum number of prize winners.

The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) ranked Cambridge the 2nd best university in the world. Critics feel that THES that reports news on education highly favours British institutions. Critics were proved wrong when the Shanghai Jiao Tong University also ranked Cambridge the second best university in the world.

The Sunday times League Table had once ranked Cambridge the best university for many years persistently. This university produces more doctorates than Oxford University.

Administration of Cambridge University

The university is governed by the Chancellor who is the Duke of Edinburgh. He holds office for life. The Vice chancellor is the real executive head while the former is a head, symbolically.

The university campus holds 31 colleges and many departments. The varied departments conduct experiments and give lectures. The colleges take care of the admission procedure and cater to the welfare of the students.

Of the 31 colleges in the university, 3 colleges admit only women candidates. All the other colleges are co-educational. Though each college exhibits a strong leaning towards certain subjects, students studying different subjects are admitted.

The university as a unit developed a strong inclination towards mathematics since the days of Sir Isaac Newton. All students entering this university are expected to compulsorily study this subject. Liking for mathematics is well recognised. And, the ‘Isaac Newton Institute’ that is part of the university is considered as a research centre for mathematics and theoretical physics.

The Admission Procedure

Admissions were not granted to women till 1869. The opening of the Girton College (the first women’s college) changed the system. And, after that it took almost a century for all the colleges to admit women. Colleges turned co-educational between 1960 and 1988. The men and women candidate ratio is fast changing, and reaching a near equal figure.

Admission procedure for such a prestigious university is different from the other universities in the UK. Application forms have to be submitted much prior to the deadline set by other universities.

Only students who get 3 A grades in the ‘A’ level are called for an interview. The interview methods are unique, for candidates are evaluated for the originality of their answers that reveals their creative thinking. Strong orientation towards mathematics dictates that students perform well in the Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP) in mathematics.

Fame initiates the association of many myths. The most famous myth about Cambridge University is about the mathematical bridge near Queen’s College. It was believed that the bridge was held together without any nuts and bolts. However, this might have been only a myth. The current bridge has distinctly visible nuts and bolts all over.

Cambridge, the prestigious university, has an exceptionally difficult selection process to ensure that only the best gain entry into their campus.


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How Do You Get A Degree In Culinary Arts?

It is important if you want to be a master chef that you do a Degree in culinary arts. There are a number of institutions that offer these degrees in every one of the localities. Where ever you are in the US you will find one closest to you. What is more? There are also universities that offer these courses on a remote learning basis too! These institutes however, insist that you visit either their campus or an affiliated campus for in house training at some point of time or other. How do you find the right Degree in culinary arts course for you?

Almost every one of the Universities in the country has a culinary course for you. They offer any of the numerous Degree in culinary arts courses and programs. There are special programs for full time learners as well as there are ones that are valid for the working people. Even the practicing culinary specialists also find it a necessity to enhance their skills using any of these degrees that are offered by the Universities. You can find the courses that are offered by these institutes and schools for culinary learning on line. The University web sites carry adequate information on how and when the course commences and what are the eligibility norms that they have. As a matter of fact, in most of this Degree in culinary arts courses, you will find that your interest is one of the prime factors and you can get a seat if you can support yourself for the course. Many of the people would choose their course only on two criteria. One, does the institute that offer this course is specialized in the area that you are interested in? There could be a number of specialist institutes that would help you in learning Italian and European cuisine. But which one of them is the specialist one? If you want to really excel and be known for it, then you will possibly like to attend the best Degree in culinary arts.

The second criterion that students consider would be the factor of cost. How much is it going to cost me if I am going to do a course in there? Quite a valid question, particularly, since you need to support yourself for the entire course. In most of the institutions where you do the course of this kind, you will also find that you can work part time. Meaning there are restaurants and other off site service centers where the school would be catering to the requirements of their culinary fans. This will also help the school and its students practice what they are taught. Learning skills will be enhanced and this would result in a better understanding of the working methods.

Under this condition, the cost of the Degree in culinary arts could almost come down to zero. There are institutes that offer tuition fee waivers if you work part time. There are also others that pay on specific events. When there is an event where the school takes your help then you get paid for it.



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Personal Statements for the Law School

Personal Traits – Getting Personal Irrespective of whatever you write in your personal statement, the content within should be based upon a few underlying characteristics of human personality and acquired skills. Basing your content on this will give you a fair chance of seeing your application through the initial screening process. Some of them are as follows:

* Intellectual Ability: Intellectual ability refers to your skill to see beyond the obvious. A person with intellectual ability will be able to draw inferences easily. This person will also be the one who enjoys manipulating information and enjoys hypothesizing.
* Analytical Ability: As a lawyer, your first and foremost job is to crack down a case. To achieve this, one of the primary skills that can come to your rescue is your ability to analyse a problem and break it down into smaller chunks. Further, it can also touch upon ideas of the methodology that you adopt to solve a problem.
* Speaking Ability: What good is a lawyer, if he is not able to express what he wants. This is a prime aspect of a lawyer. Your voice and diction are large contributing factors towards your skill to convince people.
* Writing Ability: Your writing skills come into play as a lawyer when you start writing legal documents. You will need to write documents and record legal proceedings. It is essential that any piece of writing that comes off your table should be free of ambiguity.
* Creativity and imagination: Successful lawyers are those who tend to see what the others do not. Creativity and imagination form one of the prime requisites for a successful lawyer that can help him deter the course of the case in discussion.
* Self-confidence: This is a personal trait characteristic of every successful lawyer. While arguing in a court of law, you will be a one-man army fighting against the world. This requires a lot of self-confidence to represent yourself in a firm and convincing manner. If you are not confident about yourself, you will not be able to get your point across to anyone.
* Leadership Skills: This is the most essential of all traits of human personality. Your position as a lawyer requires that you lead from the front. People will look forward to you for a solution to all their problems. This will also require you to be a firm and effective decision maker.
* Motivation: As a lawyer, you need to be a self-learner. You need to motivate yourself from within. You will need to do a lot of research into case studies and current happenings. This will also require you to collaborate with people in your profession to update yourself with happenings around the world. This would reflect on your ability to work with others.
* Comprehensiveness: You always need to have a 360-degree view of a problem. The person should be extremely fact-conscious. This means that when you draw a conclusion, you need to avoid assumptions.

Personal Statements – Addressing Weaknesses Weaknesses need to be addressed somewhere. Especially, if you have a fabulous history of scoring low grades all through your education, it does need a mention somewhere. These things can influence your selection process. However, you can play it smart using one of the two ways:

* If you want to cite it within your personal statement, you can do so. However, you need to take the extra precaution that the content gels with the rest. This means that it should flow along well with the story mentioned in your personal statement.
* The second way of doing this is to use an addendum. An addendum is like an appendix of a book. It gives the reviewer supplementary information about yourself, which you would rather prefer, does not take the centre stage.


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Do Computer Repair Classes Make Sense For You?

There is a lot to know if you plan on repairing computers for a living. Even if you simply plan on moonlighting with a computer repair business, the amount of information you are expected to know can be daunting. Computer repair classes may make sense for you if you have both time and some money to invest in some training.

The first thing you'll want to determine is what kind of training you will need. Do you need advanced training or are you looking for simple techniques? Knowing what kind of training you need can reduce the time it take you to find the right class for your training needs.

How much of a budget have you set aside for training? Most computer training takes money. The more advanced the training, the more money it will cost. The cost will also depend on whether you follow a course of study. For the computer repair industry, compTia's A+ certification is the one most recognized. Most computer training centers will offer a course on A+ certification.

Other training that makes sense for a computer repair technician includes computer networks including compTia's Network+, Microsoft's MSCE certification and CISCO certifications. You could also benefit from computer security certification like compTia's Security+, MCSE security, Cisco security and even an ethical hacking cert like CISSP training.

Know what you plan on focusing your energies on. If you plan on working for someone else, know what area you plan on concentrating on. If you plan on owning your own business, you should also know what your area of concentration is going to be. Don't take the MSCE certification if you intend to focus your business on Linux based products. While this may seem obvious to some, I've encountered people who were confused on this issue.

Bottom line, choose a computer training firm that has been around a while and is known for their thoroughness and expertise. There is nothing worse than paying big bucks for computer training that fails to prepare you properly for the field. Do some research, ask some people in the industry. In the end, if you've done your homework, you'll be fine.



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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

How to Find a Good Massage Course

For anyone wanting to get into the field of massage, there is an ever growing range of choice in the type and style of therapy work you could do. Being a massage therapist can be a lucrative career, but the choice of course is important in offering the therapist the widest number of career options. There are now so many different types of massage that you could specialise in, it makes choosing a course almost more difficult, so good research is crucial in deciding your career path.

Your first task then, is to decide exactly what type of therapist you would like to be. Would you like to work closely with the medical field as a physical therapist, helping those who have been injured due to accidents, and even this can be broken down to such categories as sports injuries, work injuries, etc. Though being a physical therapist does involve knowing many types of massage, it also entails knowing other forms of therapy as well, so training should be detailed and in-depth. A training course in massage therapy as part of a physical therapy course should be done at an accredited school; one that will eventually lead you to certification in many areas and be a stepping stone for working closely with the medical profession.

What if you are just interested in massage therapy in and of itself? Is certification still necessary? If you are simply interested in learning the techniques of giving a good massage, then certification is probably not necessary, and you may be able to learn through books, videos, non-credit courses, or by being mentored by a masseuse. If you are going to be charging fees for your massage services, however, then you will need to become certified and insured. In fact, to work in a clinic environment it is required. How then, do you find a good massage course that not only teaches you how to give an effective massage, but also provides you with recognized certification?

The first thing that you will need to do is check the rules and regulations for massage certification in the state in which you live. Though most regulations will be similar from area to area, it is best to know the details of where you live. Also, external vocational examining bodies should be able to give you a list of schools that can provide you with the type of training that should suit your goals and needs. After obtaining a list of schools that you feel would fit your needs, start narrowing down your choices by such factors as location, expense, length of training before certification can be accomplished, and possibly even graduate placement record. Check references, and make sure that all schools that you are interested in attending are themselves board certified.

Never discount the advantage of having a mentor in the field, and if you possibly can, try to network with different types of massage therapists so that you can get a feel for different types of techniques. Experience and diversity are key factors when it comes to attracting and maintaining loyal clients once you go into business.


http://www.articlenext.com/Article/3858.html

How to Find a Good Massage Course

For anyone wanting to get into the field of massage, there is an ever growing range of choice in the type and style of therapy work you could do. Being a massage therapist can be a lucrative career, but the choice of course is important in offering the therapist the widest number of career options. There are now so many different types of massage that you could specialise in, it makes choosing a course almost more difficult, so good research is crucial in deciding your career path.

Your first task then, is to decide exactly what type of therapist you would like to be. Would you like to work closely with the medical field as a physical therapist, helping those who have been injured due to accidents, and even this can be broken down to such categories as sports injuries, work injuries, etc. Though being a physical therapist does involve knowing many types of massage, it also entails knowing other forms of therapy as well, so training should be detailed and in-depth. A training course in massage therapy as part of a physical therapy course should be done at an accredited school; one that will eventually lead you to certification in many areas and be a stepping stone for working closely with the medical profession.

What if you are just interested in massage therapy in and of itself? Is certification still necessary? If you are simply interested in learning the techniques of giving a good massage, then certification is probably not necessary, and you may be able to learn through books, videos, non-credit courses, or by being mentored by a masseuse. If you are going to be charging fees for your massage services, however, then you will need to become certified and insured. In fact, to work in a clinic environment it is required. How then, do you find a good massage course that not only teaches you how to give an effective massage, but also provides you with recognized certification?

The first thing that you will need to do is check the rules and regulations for massage certification in the state in which you live. Though most regulations will be similar from area to area, it is best to know the details of where you live. Also, external vocational examining bodies should be able to give you a list of schools that can provide you with the type of training that should suit your goals and needs. After obtaining a list of schools that you feel would fit your needs, start narrowing down your choices by such factors as location, expense, length of training before certification can be accomplished, and possibly even graduate placement record. Check references, and make sure that all schools that you are interested in attending are themselves board certified.

Never discount the advantage of having a mentor in the field, and if you possibly can, try to network with different types of massage therapists so that you can get a feel for different types of techniques. Experience and diversity are key factors when it comes to attracting and maintaining loyal clients once you go into business.


http://www.articlenext.com/Article/3858.html

How To Prepare Yourself For A Paralegal Career Or Advancement

Did you know that these days when professional opportunities are declining, the Paralegal field is blooming with opportunities you can grab with two hands? Yes, opportunities are positively expanding in the paralegal field.

This, obviously, is because the practice of law is expanding necessitating the need for Paralegals. There has never been a better for a Paralegal job. As more and more lawyers graduate so also is the need for Paralegals mounting on a daily basis.

As should be expected, this great need for Paralegals has also brought about the mushrooming of both accredited and none accredited Paralegal schools and institutions, both online and offline.

Therefore, selecting a Paralegal institution, whether online or offline entails some research on your part. What you must know in the first instance is that Paralegal institutions that are worth your trust must be ABA (American Bar Association) approved, belong to National Paralegal Organizations, and have, among other levels of Paralegal courses, a foundation course for beginners in which you will be taught the rudiments of Paralegal concepts following which you can then decide to specialize in areas such as litigation, real estate, estate and will, trust, and corporate law.

If you are desirous of doing a Paralegal course on a part time basis, the online option is advised, because of the following reasons:

1. An online Paralegal course will allow you the convenience of taking the course at your own pace.
2. There is flexibility and the benefit of studying at home using your PC and Internet connection.
3. Fees are paid per course module for most Paralegal online courses.

Obtaining an online paralegal degree will provide you with opportunities for advancing your career or finding new employment opportunities with law firms, the judiciary or the legal departments of organizations and the private sector, give it a thought in 2007.

Neshah writes for your Success. Recommended: Online Paralegal Degree Success blog or Online Paralegal Degree Programs Success, the road maps to successful online paralegal degree programs



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