Automotive technical schools around the country provide advanced training and employment assistance that leads to entry level positions at repair shops and dealerships.  For the seasoned mechanic, however, they can also provide instruction on recent advances as well as training on specific automobile systems.   Many graduates return on a semi-annual basis for shorter courses that serve as a refresher or to learn about manufacture specific advances. Even mechanics who started their careers through high school level vocational training or from working in family businesses often end up entering technical schools to increase their overall automotive understanding and employability.

Another method of career building for mechanics is to obtain National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certification.  The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (known in the industry as ASE) offers certifications that can truly benefit automotive technician professionals over the course of their careers.  Regarded in the automotive industry as the general standard for mechanic competency and ability, ASE certifications can help mechanics find the best employment opportunities.

ASE examinations are offered twice a year.  Mechanics can take one or a variety of certification tests for general automotive knowledge or specializations such as transmissions, fuel systems, electronics systems and more.  Those who pass an ASE exam and have two-years of relevant hands-on work experience or one year of hands-on work experience and are graduates of an automotive technical school will become certified.  Many employers will pay for their employees to take the exams or reimburse their employees once they become certified.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Job openings for chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers are expected to be plentiful through 2014″.  While positions in well known eateries will always be competitive and highly coveted, there are several options available for those with the culinary know how to put together a menu that can define an establishment.  Those who have graduated from culinary training schools are quickly learning that there are more choices than ever when it comes to where they wish to hone their skills.  In fact, it’s not at all uncommon for recent culinary school graduates to receive job offers from restaurants they have never heard of prior to graduation, some of which may be located overseas.

Because there are so few culinary training institutes around the globe, restaurant owners and managers often find that the easiest way to find the right personnel is by going straight to the source.  Local, regional or national advertising may yield a qualified candidate, but with competition for head chefs at at all time high, soliciting soon to be graduates can be a wise strategy.  Considering how few experienced chefs there are who are not currently holding a position, it’s no wonder that demand is eclipsing supply and forcing restaurateurs to snatch up chefs as they are receiving their diplomas.

For the immediate future, job openings should be plentiful for those with the proper training.  If the world’s penchant for palate pleasing fair continues unabated as it has since the invention of fire, this is one trend that is always likely to continue.

In most cases, the GED — the term for General Education Development credential — is the only official ‘diploma’ that has value and is meaningful for adults who never completed their high school education. There are exceptions. Many people have been duped or misled with the promises of phony certifications.  These diploma mills are nothing more than a printer, some software and a marketing plan. 

The reality is however, that many businesses do not check into the background of a person to that extent.  This is especially true of jobs in the lower 50% of the general pay scale.  Recently there have been a rash of high level business president, vice-president types who have been found to have used phony credentials to obtain their positions.  If large corporations paying huge salaries to these types of people don’t check them out, how deeply do you think they will check your his troy?

Still, the future is anything but set.  Although it’s possible to get away without having solid educational proof, the future may be much different.  In a few years, it may be possible for companies to check historical records online and then the phone degrees will all become evident. 

The very best solution is to obtain a solid education no matter how much effort it may take.

If you’re already in the industry, then it is possibly the best time to take post graduate courses to increase your chance of landing better opportunities when the finance career employment peak kicks in. And if you’re just entering college, a career in finance may be something that you should really consider.

Before even thinking of a career in finance, the field does require a certain level of skills and knowledge which you can learn. Finance professionals are expected to organize, analyze and interpret numerical and financial data. They are expected to arrive at sound decisions based on the data that they have. They should be meticulous and show attention to details.

It is also expected from them that their oral and written communications skills are beyond average since they will be expected to present data and information to others. Having knowledge of financial and economic history, practices, laws, trends, as well as having economics and accounting background is often an advantage.

In a career in finance, you can either go to private, public or non-profit organizations since all those three needs some levels of financial management and control. Finance professionals often find themselves employed in commercial banking, financial planning, money managing, corporate finance, investment banking, insurance and, of course, in real estate. These are the fields that finance professionals are often in demand.

Commercial banking means having an opportunity to work in the areas of financial management, accountancy and auditing, securities, commodities and financial services sales. There’s also an opportunity to work in the area of financial and credit analysis since commercial banks are there to provide banking services to individuals as well as small and large businesses and organizations.

When you work in commercial banks, you may want to take the opportunity to learn more about businesses. Interacting with bank clients should be taken as an opportunity to build a people network. And because commercial banking is more diverse now that before, you can start as a bank teller and move up in areas like leasing, credit card banking, international finance and trade credits. Once you’re inside the commercial banking system, it would be nice to keep your eyes open for better opportunities within the industry.

If you’re not fond of commercial banks, you might want to look at corporate finance. In this area, part of your responsibilities as a finance professional is to find money for the company, plant for the future, make acquisitions whenever necessary and whenever there’s an opportunity, and help manage the company’s present finance. Fast problem-solving skills will be hand in this area of finance.

The good thing working in corporate finance is that it pays well, you get to travel and meet with lots of people, make business decisions that matters, and can hone your decision making skills.

Other areas where you can grow as finance professional include financial planning which involves helping individuals organize, manage, and plan their financial futures. You are expected to guide clients on their retirement needs, planning for their children’s education, etc. Your knowledge on investments, taxes, and listening skills should be exemplary.

You can also carve your career as a finance professional in the field of insurance. Helping individuals and businesses prepare for emergencies or disasters that would otherwise result to big losses would be the main course of your job.

Investment banking is yet another area where you can be good at. This time, you will be helping companies and even governments issue, purchase or trade securities, manage financial assets, and provide sound financial advice.

You can also be a successful money manager. As money managers you will be holding tocks and bonds for institutional clients. You’re expected to be informed and know how to analyze market trends using either quantitative techniques or simple intuition.

And finally a career on real estate is always something that you might have seen coming as a career in finance professional. You can get employment opportunities in areas like brokerage and leasing, in title insurance, in mortgage banking and even in construction and property management.

Real estate appraisals are also an important aspect of real estate work that you can take full advantage of.

Lately, another trend is beginning to emerge, with more universities offering specializations in the field of IT. While IT and computer science related programs with specializations are becoming more commonplace than ever, the marriage of IT and education was not always such a happy, fruitful union. Not long ago, computer science curriculum could be summed up in two phrases: network administration and programming. Large scale hardware and software IT implementations were performed by technicians certified by Cisco or Microsoft. These were the certifications one sought after they graduated from college but before attempting to find employment. Now, with the implementation and operation of server based intranet systems having long ago been de-mystified, most IT professionals are going from cap and gown to business casual with few if any stops along the way. The reason this is possible has a lot to do with changes in the educational system’s view of information technology.

Most institutions are moving toward a diverse curriculum that incorporates IT fundamentals with an emphasis on a particular area of specialization. Educational institutions are reacting to the needs of employers in the job market. From the implementation of infrastructures to systems security, an area of study that once might have had a course or two devoted to it now comprises an entire degree program.

The result of these changes in the educational landscape regarding IT is indeed a direct reflection of changes in the workplace. As alterations to the structure of IT management have occurred, so have evolutions in the way IT personnel are educated and trained.

A study done by the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions indicates that by 2020, the U.S. nursing shortage will grow to more than 800,000 registered nurses. How can we put a serious dent in stemming this dangerous tide unless nurses take an active role in educating the nurses of tomorrow?

Becoming a Nurse Educator is a wonderful career step

Registered nurses ARE teachers! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work.Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!

Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you’re 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!

Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn’t for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!

Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.

Career Flexibility

Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities. A Master’s degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!

Earn an NLN accredited Master’s in Nursing Education Degree While You Work

You can earn an accredited Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.

Don’t have a BSN Degree?

There’s a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don’t have to give up their job to do it.

Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!

Copyright 2006 Medi-Smart. Permission to reprint is granted as long as the article is published in its entirety with all hyperlinked text intact.

Are you considering teaching English in Israel? If so, there are a few key things you should know before you begin your job hunt. The information below is designed to make the process easier and ensure that you’re getting the best possible situation. Teaching English in Israel is an adventure… make sure it’s not a stressful one by following these simple tips.

Getting certified

Many countries prefer their native-speaking English teachers to get certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) while still in their home countries. While this isn’t a requirement in Israel, it will certainly help you when it comes time to finding a job.

Another requirement for teaching English in Israel is to have a four-year college degree. The subject is really unimportant; what matters is the fact that you have graduated from a college.

You must also consider becoming teacher certified in Israel. The TESOL organization in Tel Aviv is one of the most highly regarded English-teaching organizations in the country, and provides training for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Approach the English Teacher Network in Israel (http://www.etni.org.il) for more helpful information. Once the Israeli teaching program is completed, you are almost guaranteed a teaching position.

Finding a position

The need for English speakers in Israel has grown so much in recent years that the language has become one of the most popular subjects taught in classrooms, from elementary level on up. You will find, however, that jobs are more prevalent in middle and upper class areas, where the level of education is higher and more students are expected to enter the business world.

In the same middle to upper-class areas, you will also discover that a large percentage of children are tutored privately in the art of speaking English. You may want to consider becoming a private tutor if working in the school system does not suit you. While pay may be lower and you won’t have the benefits provided by a school or university job, you will be able to work more flexible hours, and some people much prefer the freedom of such a position over working for a school board.

If neither of these opportunities appeals to you, you may want to consider teaching English in Israel to adults. Many businesses and corporations in Israel deal with the Western world on a frequent basis, and employees who speak English is an absolute necessity. A corporation may hire you on a job-by-job basis, or even as a staff consultant, where you’ll be expected to teach English to employees one-on-one or in a group setting.

What to expect

The pay you will receive for teaching English in Israel is considered rather low compared to many other countries with opportunities for such positions. You will have the option, as a teacher, to attend numerous teaching conferences and workshops, and doing so can greatly increase your value as a teacher and result in pay raises down the road. A resourceful teacher will take any such opportunities that come along and will learn quickly how to increase his or her worth on the job.

Most schools that hire you as an English teacher will offer teacher’s housing, and you should take advantage of this situation particularly if you are located in a large city, where housing may be expensive and difficult to find.

Of course, you’ll also be given vacation time and paid holidays while teaching English in Israel, and you should use your time off exploring the country and learning more about your adopted culture. Israel is a beautiful place steeped in history, and teaching English to Israeli natives is a unique experience that should not be passed by.

One study shows that there are currently 230,000 financial analysts and financial advisors in the US. You might think that there is no more vacancy in the market but there are because new businesses are established while old ones are still growing.

With a college degree, one thing you can try is financial consulting. Here, you are tasked on providing advice to business valuation, economic forecasts and analysis, treasury management, strategies for creating shareholder value and securities pricing.

Later on, you may be promoted to finance manager and instead of providing advice to clients, you will have the opportunity to invest their money in order to make a profit. Those who do well here earn somewhere around $73,000 to $145,000 annually and with the amount of money that is given, you better deliver. 

Another field is corporate financing in which your job is to manage the client’s assets and if the opportunity presents itself, make acquisitions.

Those who want to serve their country may issue securities, enforce the law, manage assets and offer financial advice to people.

Similar to the finance manager are the money managers because they hold stocks and bonds for clients and at the same time buy stuff off Wall Street. For this job, you need to be proficient in various technologies as well as the latest qualitative methodologies. You will also need to be CFA certified.

Working for an insurance company is also a viable option. Here, you help prepare clients deal with catastrophes before they happen. It is a trillion dollar industry that is still growing so you can still get in the game.

Among the various opportunities, many find their way to commercial banking. You could be a bank manager, teller, the one in charge of approving loans or looking for new accounts. This accounts for the majority of those employed in the financial services industry.

In any of the positions mentioned, you must be good with numbers and have excellent interpersonal skills. Why? Because you are dealing with people and if the client doesn’t like your personality, chances are they will bring their business elsewhere.

After working for a few years, you can work for another company or be daring and start up your own company. 

Aside from banking, the real estate industry is also looking out for finance graduates. This is because their training is useful when it comes to property management, real estate appraisal, brokerage and leasing, construction and real estate development. On one end, they sell property while on the other find ways to make it possible for the customer to invest depending on their budget.

A college degree is the starting point of your finance career because no company out there will hire someone who just graduated from secondary school or does not have the proper training when you are dealing with other people’s money.

So, if you are still considering what to take up in college or lost in your current course, shift over because this is very rewarding.

The decision to become a pharmacist or pharmacist technician is a sound one. It is an excellent career decision and an easily achievable educational goal also. In most cases and in many states a bachelor’s degree is not necessary in order to become a pharmacist.

In order to begin a pharmacy degree your pre-pharmacy education must be completed. You must also take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test and depending what school you are planning to attend an interview may also be required.

With so many colleges, universities, and vocational technical schools offering pharmacy courses to their students you really have a wide array of options for every aspect of fulfilling your desire to be involved in the pharmacy industry. The pharmacy degrees typically offered through most higher learning institutions is Doctor of Pharmacy or PharmD degrees and Non Traditional PharmD degrees.

The latter is designed to accommodate currently practicing pharmacists. A pharmacist who has a BS in pharmacy from any of the accredited pharmacy schools and wants to practice at a more advanced level benefits from the availability of the Non-Traditional PharmD degree. This particular degree is typically offered with flexible scheduling. Most courses are also available through Internet access to accommodate the working pharmacists who typically benefit from this type of education opportunity.

Why would anyone choose pharmacy schools in order to gain a career skill? If you think about the importance of pharmaceuticals in today’s society you will be hard pressed to argue their non-existence in the future. Pharmacy schools and the pharmacists that are produced in them are an important part of education, modern medicine, and society also.

Pharmacy schools provide both challenges and rewards. Learning the effects of medicines and understanding the human body is just the beginning of this exciting career choice. Ultimately, serving as a pharmacist is both a rewarding and challenging job.

Pharmacy schools also offer courses that strictly pertain to business at hand. Whether you are directing your studies toward being a pharmacist or pharmacist technician you will not have to do prerequisite courses that have nothing to do with your goal. Courses such as pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy law ethics, and clinical pharmocokinetics are typical of PharmD degree courses. A license to practice pharmacy has always been required in the United States.

The rewards from attending pharmacy schools will benefit you directly and will also benefit you quickly. Being skilled at catching medicines prescribed by doctors that truly don’t mix well in a human is the life saving knowledge you as a pharmacist will bring to the work place each day. As a pharmacist you will be enriching the health and well being of your patients. You will be giving advice and recording information on a daily basis.

Along with the educational skills that you will acquire in pharmacy schools you will also gain the intuition to become a people person. All of the skills you will learn will be the beneficial and will also yield positive rewards throughout the duration of your career as a pharmacist or pharmacist technician.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

Today, it is accepted that an online education is just as viable for most areas of study as a traditional campus education. While there are some positions in health care that will always require hands on learning, many can be effectively taught online. Most universities that offer online curriculum are now making degree programs in health care available. Administrative programs are the most widely offered, although there are several that lean toward the clinical side of the industry. Nurses, in particular, have a variety of choices when it comes to online education. Several bachelors of Science degrees in nursing have become a popular way for nurses with LPN or RN licensure to advance their education.

The emergence of online educational opportunities for the health care industry will have a positive effect in the next several years. With an aging baby boomer population, positions in health care are expected to rise well above the average for all other industries. New positions will be created and both new and existing positions will need to be filled. Online degree programs offer many the chances to work in the health care industry that otherwise might not be able to because of scheduling conflicts that keep them from attending traditional universities.