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Main Contentadmin on 26 Jul 2010 08:31 am

Do you know where your career is going? As staying with the same company for life becomes rarer, more and more people aren’t sure. If you’re one of them, then maybe it’s time to take time out, sit back, and have a think.

It’s all too common to find that you’ve got into your job through a series of coincidences, each one taking you a little further away from where you were aiming to go when you started. There is simply a huge gap between the jobs that people get and the jobs they wanted. No-one aspires to work at a paper company, but someone’s got to do it. Once you’ve been there a few years, you suddenly realise that your only options are to either move sideways into a similar job somewhere else, or move upwards in the hierarchy and become a manager.

So what do you do. The answer is to finally answer to yourself that most elusive of questions: what do you want to be doing five years from now? Ten? Twenty? If the answer isn’t “what I’m doing now” or “I want to be a high-level manager”, then what you need is drastic action.

What you might not realise, though, is that forging out a career path isn’t as difficult as you might think. If you can free yourself from the day-to-day struggle to survive by living below your means for a year or so and accumulating some savings, you suddenly have some time to get where you want to be in the job market. Whatever your ambition is, the chances are that there’s an entry-level job going somewhere, or a community of enthusiastic amateurs.

If it’s really what you’ve wanted to do all your life, then it should be as simple as getting started and getting noticed. And if it doesn’t work out, then you’ve always got the other job to fall back on. Whether you succeed or fail, it’s always better to try, and it’s not as hard to do as you think. Take the plunge.

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Main Contentadmin on 18 Jul 2010 08:30 am

The members of the Class of 2006 are expected to be met with great opportunity after they accept their diplomas and embark on the U.S. workforce. Baby boomers are beginning to retire and, as a result, employers are aggressively recruiting top talent to not only fill open positions but to identify and retain the best and brightest.

Fortunately for these graduates, the job outlook is strong, as 72 percent of employers anticipate hiring entry-level employees in the next year, according to a recent survey conducted by MonsterTRAK, the leading careers site for college students and young alumni. Additionally, 37 percent of employers report plans to hire more college graduates than they did in 2005. The MonsterTRAK survey also revealed that 82 percent of graduates expect to receive at least one job offer following graduation, while 13 percent have already secured a full-time job.

According to MonsterTRAK, it is possible for 2006 graduates to land the opportunity of their dreams, if they follow their instincts and develop a strategic plan of action to secure their career goals. Before starting a job search, graduates should answer these four questions:

• Who Are You? New job seekers should first complete a self-evaluation, examining both personal and career-related goals, interests and values. This will provide the framework for exploring career objectives and narrowing a job search.

• Why Hire You? After completing a self-evaluation, grads will be better equipped to identify their most compatible career path and create a strong resume. Recognizing weaknesses can also be beneficial, as it can provide direction as to the skill sets they need to master.

• Where to Work? Throughout an initial job search, making a strong connection with a future employer is essential. The best strategy is to research successful companies within a given field, applicable hiring trends and the availability of entry-level positions.

• How Do You Make the Connection? Informational interviews and internships can be particularly beneficial, as they provide education regarding the skills required and help to forge networking relationships. Roughly 57 percent of 2006 grads surveyed by MonsterTRAK have already completed at least one internship.

Finally, one of the most important things recent graduates should recognize is that their job search will be an ongoing learning experience. Starting with clear objectives and a good understanding of their capabilities will help build the confidence needed to shine during interviews. The future looks bright for the members of the Class of 2006, but it is up to them to properly market themselves and seize all the opportunities ahead.

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Main Contentadmin on 09 Jul 2010 08:30 am

A career as a rock star or television star is unattainable for most hopeful teens who dream of being in the spotlight. While many dream of being the next *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys sensation, this may be a little far-fetched. However, teens don’t have to give up their dream, at least not completely. Few star-struck teens actually realize how many careers are available in the entertainment production industry.
Large numbers of people are needed to put on concerts, make film movies or animate cartoons. These are the people who work behind the scenes to make great entertainment. Careers in this industry are as varied as the people that work in them. There are a few careers available that many may overlook, such as: free lance illustrator, dance choreographer, set designers, writers, or 2d animation specialists. Below are just a few of the many fields available in the entertainment production industry and a short summary of what they do.

Illustration
An illustration artist can mean many different things. In the traditional sense illustration artists draw pictures for books, magazines and other publications. They also work with computer graphics, designing web pages, doing character creation for animation studios and even making their own cartoons. They are versatile artists whose primary medium is digital graphics such as flash, photoshop and other such programs.

Dance
Dance provides more opportunities than just backup dancer for a music group. Jobs range from choreographer (the person who makes up the routines) to the person who makes the costumes and dance equipment. Since dance comes in many genres, the field is diverse. Without dancers entertainment would not have the appeal that it has now. However, without the entertainment production staff like teachers and choreographers, those dancers would not have made it very far.

TVMovies
Television and movie stars are glamorous and popular. What most people don’t realize is that it takes the work of many people to make that actor great. Movie and Television stars are very talented, but they need people to write their scripts, shoot the film, do their makeup, build the sets, and so on. Most people who work in television work in entertainment production rather than just acting.

Books and Print Media
The most well-known job in the field of print media is an author. To bring a book to the shelves an author needs editors, publishers, layout designers, and book reviewers. The author writes the book, and then it goes through reviews, revisions, and printing. Each of these steps requires a talented professional. There are many diverse opportunities available in print media.

Music
Music production has two sides. One could work for companies that distribute music such as radio stations, online music stores or even event planners for concerts. Conversely, one could work for a music recording studio that actually produces new music. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Working on the distribution side can be rewarding for those who love to listen to music or like music trivia. Working on the production side is more suited for those people who like being on the cutting edge of music. Plenty of opportunities exist for people who don’t have musical talent but still have a passion for it.

Animation
Animation is a diverse field that employs more than just artists. Animation studios typically have writers, animators, software designers, and sound engineers. Animation is most often, distributed through the internet and TV. Studios often employ people who know how to work with these types of mass media.

In addition to the jobs listed here, many others exist that are not related to entertainment production but are still in the entertainment industry. Examples of these are accountants at a TV studio, CEO of a publishing company, IT specialists for TV stations and the list goes on. Aspiring teens don’t have to give up their dream of working in the entertainment industry when they don’t make the cut for American Idol or loose the school talent show. Working in entertainment productions is a question of desire rather than talent. If a person wants to work in entertainment production, there is a job for them whatever their interests are. They just have to be creative and then work hard.

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Main Contentadmin on 01 Jul 2010 08:29 am

An accounting career could be just the thing to bring you satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Along with medical and health related careers, accounting professionals are among the group of professions that are projected to see a lot of growth over the next few years.

Graduates of four year accountancy programs are earning 3.7% more in terms of starting pay straight out of college. Master’s degree holders are seeing a 4% increase in starting pay over the last couple of years.

There are many top notch two year accounting degree programs as well. Your choice really depends on many factors, including career objectives, the amount of money that you have to invest in an education or your ability to attain student loans, as well as what your schedule is like.

If you want to educate yourself on accounting in order to better manage your own small business or non-profit organization, chances are you’d do best with some classes from the local community college or other type of learning center.

In many larger cities and some towns, there are learning centers that offer a wide variety of classes, from cooking and home improvement to accounting. Ask around at your local public library or community college to find out about all the learning opportunities that your community has to offer.

For more serious study to put toward managing the finances of your business or organization, you may find that a community college has just the combination of classes that you’re looking for.

If you want to pursue an accounting career further, a community college is still one of the best places to start. If you have children or must work while attending school, community colleges are going to offer you the most flexibility in terms of scheduling.

For more information on the projected outlook for those in accounting careers, take a look at the government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook found at http:www.bls.govoco. There is a great wealth of information here that can help you decide how satisfying various degrees and professions are likely to be over the coming years.

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Main Contentadmin on 01 Jun 2010 08:19 am

Anyone who is talented in design, imagining how a house or building could be constructed or who likes to draw may have the talent to find a successful career in architecture.  An architect is responsible for designing and planning the interior workings and foundation of a home or building.  Architects are responsible for drawing up plans and blueprints for towering city buildings, small country homes and luxurious mansions.  A successful architect must be versatile and imaginative while maintaining respect for the customer’s wishes.

There are a number of jobs available in the world of architecture and designing homes may be a career in itself.  A qualified individual may produce a blueprint, which consists of both interior and exterior elevations, foundation and floor plans, roof details, electrical layouts, cross sections and other general instructions.

In order to find a career in architecture, an individual must become licensed through an accrediting agency.  In addition, an architect must become familiar with building codes, local laws and regulations and must be skilled in their craft.  In order to learn this information, architectural hopefuls must pursue a college degree and learn firsthand how the process works.

In addition to designing a home or building, architecture also includes making adjustments to already developed plans.  This may include altering blueprints for a home or business in order to be customized to the individual’s needs.  Many individuals hire an architect to design their construction, but others decide to enlist a professional later.  If problems arise in the construction or they simply need a helping hand, many individuals and companies turn to the world of architecture for a professional evaluation and redesign.

Concerns surrounding both energy costs and safety have, in recent years, prompted many areas to require an architect’s seal be placed on a blueprint prior to construction.  In addition to the actual design process, many architects review plans and offer consultation services on independent creations.

While many architects find great success within a firm or working directly with homebuilders, many find that they are happy working on a freelance or consultant basis.  This means that they work directly with the company or individual, own and operate their own business and handle every decision within the company.  The freedom of self employment in the world of architecture can be very fulfilling, both financially and emotionally.  Much like a doctor, lawyer or accountant who branches out into their own private practice, an architect may also enjoy that same freedom.

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