Archive for the ‘Careers’ Category
Architecture and Architects Jobs
Architecture is the science or art of building construction and design, which makes use of long lasting materials to produce buildings or structures that are aesthetically pleasing and well suited for a particular purpose. A quote from English poet Sir Henry Wooten states that “Well building hath three conditions: Commodite, Firmenes and Delight”.
Over history, the architecture followed a long sequence of distinguishable styles, these can be identified by words such as Baroque, Gothic, Neo-Classical. Architecture may also be of a homogenous style such as Ancient Greek, Roman or Egyptian.
Architectural style, whether it is found in factories, country houses, hotels, airports or religious buildings, reflects the needs and the values of the society that has produced it. The style of structures is not only ruled by tastes and conventions, but by another range of correlative pragmatic considerations.
These are mainly the availability of technology and of materials for construction, as well as engineering considerations such as load bearing and stresses that must be taken into account during the design, all of which will make sure that the finished structure will fulfill its intended purpose.
Through the ages, the availability of local materials has had distinct influence on the design of buildings and structures throughout the World. The availability of local materials is also closely linked to development of the skills required to work them. Carpentry for example, developed where local surroundings that were densely forested as the wood became an important building material. Despite becoming a scarce resource, timber still remains widely used in construction projects of the present day. In other parts of the World, early architects chose readily available stone and marble to create buildings and monuments adorned with sculptures that were integral load bearing parts of the building structure. Today the use of stone an marble continues although its use has declined in favor of more readily available materials such as steel, glass and concrete which are also much more economical to produce and assemble.
In some regions even timber was scarce, this forced the local inhabitants to fashion buildings from the Earth itself. Mud and clay was, and still is, used by compacting it into bricks. After being left to try in the sun, these bricks are used in local construction and held together with mortar made from the same material. Older civilizations used kilns to further harden the bricks which makes them far stronger and more durable enabling larger structures to be built. So early cultures used naturally occurring substances from their local environment and then developed technologies to exploit the materials to their advantage.
Masonry is the term used to describe buildings made with stones or bricks. The bricks are built in bonded rows which adhere by an alternate layer of mortar compressed by gravity. Early mortars were comprised of sand or mud but the Romans developed cement mortars and concretes which they used to dramatic effect in buildings which are still in existence more that 2000 years after they were first constructed. Despite the Roman’s development of the first concrete, it was not until the 19th century until the a truly waterproof cement was developed.
Another development of the 19th century was production of iron and steel on an industrial scale. Mills turned out rolled sections that could replace traditional wooden frames with a much stronger material. Steel rods could also be placed in wet concrete which improved its versatility giving rise to the 20th century’s myriad of reinforced concrete structures. Subsequently, aluminium became widely available and was used in an anodized for to provide a cladding material used to cover the surface of buildings to provide a coating that was durable and virtually maintenance free. Glass became easier to produce in larger sizes and higher quality, stained glass appeared in many churches and religious buildings, its availability being enhanced enormously by industrial processing. This gave architects the ability to exploit natural light in a way that had never been possible before.
The expanse of building and construction being carried out in the modern age today shows the complexity of modern day Architects jobs, having to balance the creation of mass housing, shopping centres, large office buildings, town centres airports, supermarkets, hospitals schools and a whole host of other infrastructure required by today’s modern life.
Today Architects are not only concerned with the aesthetics of a new building they also need to focus on the needs of a diverse community of business and urban neighborhoods, developing new structures that fulfill the requirements of the modern world whilst interacting with existing buildings to create a pleasing aesthetic.
In the UK Architects jobs are restricted by Law, practicing Architects must be registered with the Architects registration board. Persons considering architects careers should know that it takes a minimum of seven years to obtain the necessary qualifications and experience. Those wishing to qualify must study at recognised universities. Candidates must completing a three year B.A or B.Sc degree. Afterwards the candidate must complete a least one years experience in a working architect’s practice. Candidates must then complete post graduate courses of two years followed by at least one more year of experince before being allowed to sit the professional practice and management examination.
The Job Seeker’s Dilemma: Is it time to change career direction?
Todayâ??s job market is tough. Millions of people are looking for jobs for the first time in years. Theyâ??re looking for jobs that donâ??t seem to exist. Recruiters donâ??t return phone calls. Job seekers are fed up and frustrated. They wonder if all the effort is ever going to pay off and if itâ??s time to change careers. You might be wondering the same thing. But, it seems so risky in this economy.Â
If you are experiencing these feelings, it might be time for a career change:
â?¢Â Youâ??ve always been interested in other career areas but went with the â??safeâ? route and now you feel burned out
â?¢Â You donâ??t enjoy your work anymore and you wonder what other options are out there for you
� You feel stuck and stagnant
� You are finding fewer and fewer jobs available in your industry
â?¢Â Youâ??re over-qualified for the jobs that are available in your industry
� You feel the effort to get a new job in your industry is more than you want to undertake
How do you know if now is a good time to change career direction?
The reality is that job loss and job creation are natural components of the world of work. It happens all the time to varying degrees. So there probably isnâ??t one perfect time to change jobs or careers. The decision depends a lot on your personal situation.
Before launching a job search or career change, though, there are several important steps to take which I also outline in my career guide and audio program, Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love.
Gaining Personal Insight
Before you change careers, you need to figure out what you want. By assessing your current situation you can determine what you need in your career to be satisfied. Analyze your values, skills, personality characteristics, interests, and lifestyle preferences. Itâ??s also useful to take inventory of your financial situation, especially if the career youâ??re considering might require additional education and training or relocation.
Getting a Reality Check
A critical mistake in making a career change is making the leap without getting enough career information. By exploring career possibilities youâ??ll be able to identify options that are best suited to your personal attributes and preferences. There are online and print resources you can use to learn about job outlooks and industry trends. The people in your network can also be great sources for information about trends and opportunities in various career fields. In addition, they can make introductions and give you referrals.
Charting Your Career Path
After youâ??ve done some self-assessment to learn what you want in a career and done career research to generate options, you have to make a decision about next steps. Your transition and job search plans will guide you to successfully getting the job you want and expanding your professional network. Youâ??ll also need to update your resume, cover letter, and other support materials and fine-tune your interviewing and networking skills.
People change jobs or careers in search of greater satisfaction. By following the steps outlined above, you will increase your chances for finding a career that better suits your personal goals and uses your talents in meaningful ways.
If you’re thinking about a career change, purchase the The Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love career guide and audio program today. You will go through a step-by-step exploration and planning process by completing several exercises, so you can get clear about your career direction.
Special thanks to Andrea Delgado for contributing to this article. For more than 10 years, Andrea, was a program manager at an international development organization during which time she held multiple positions involving program and grant management and administrative support. Andrea has been networking to find employment opportunities and has considered a career change into the private sector. Her dream job would take her into the international financial arena analyzing economic policy and regulations. Andrea has her M.A. degree in International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University; a Graduate Certificate in Womenâ??s Politics & Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a B.A degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.”
Andrea can be contacted on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrea-delgado/10/3b6/717
Markell Steele is a career counselor, owner of Futures in Motion, Inc. and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love. She helps frustrated job seekers find career direction so they can get the job they want in less time with less stress. Request the free SPECIAL REPORT: 6 Tips for Discovering the Work You Love by Working With a Career Counselor- http://tinyurl.com/d9jk8y
Career Development Centre: Guiding you towards a right career track
Career Development has become a primary responsibility and an essential requirement for every individual in any organization. A profound career development skill can help an individual to meet the constantly changing needs of the market.
Career Development can be discussed under two perspectives- organizational and personal career development. Organizational development looks at how concerned individuals manage their careers within and between organizations. Personal career development aims at individual career development to bridge his skills with his career objectives.
Decision making is one of the toughest obstacles that an individual faces before he finally gives a kick start to his career. A right Career Development Centre can provide a great deal of help and support while launching one’s career. An individual’s career skill varies from another. So, choosing a right career needs proper counselling and lots of research works. An ideal Career Development Centre will help you sort out your professional skills, launching your career towards a right track. For a successful career path, it’s advisable to take counseling and guidelines from a renowned career development centre.
Why Career Development Centre has become a great demand in the market?
Career Development Centre has become a great demand in the market because:
It provides individual learning solutions and job search services Provides unique enterprise learning solutions for career oriented students and professionals Affords learning solutions for students, employees, academic institutions etc Provides help in decision making strategies for individuals Assists you to take charge and supervise your future Moves forwards your career, add new skills, or build up abilities
Computer Training Centre as one of the wings of Career Development Centre
Computer Training Centre has also been considered as one of the wings of Career Development Centers. Whether you want to launch a career in IT or upgrade your current desktop skill set, Computer Training Centres provide you with the right training programme to allow you achieve the desired goals. There are various computer training centres in the market that provide rich and compelling computer knowledge. Most of these computer training centres provide Red Hat certificate to ensure the privacy of communications. Red Hat Certificate system abridges enterprise-wide operation and implementation of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
The science of career development may take a new shape or role. However, with a wide range of career options for everyone, the further need for Career Development Centres will keep increasing day by day.
HCL CDC is an initiative that enables individuals and organisations to benefit from HCL’s deep expertise in the IT space. HCL Career Development Centre offers a complete spectrum of quality training programs on software, hardware, networking as well as global certifications in association with leading IT organisations worldwide.
Career Colleges of America-career Education and Medical Schools
As the economy suffers, many people are interested in finding a new career. Sometimes this is a personal choice, and sometimes, like in the case of people who have lost their jobs or have gotten laid off, it is a necessity. There are certain types of careers which become at risk when the economy takes a turn for the worse. A career in the medical field is not one of those risks. If anything, a career in the medical field can be expected to increase in demand overtime, regardless of our economic situation. That is because the medical needs of the population are not necessarily driven by the status of the economy. As the population grows the need for highly trained and qualified medical workers will rise.
The Healthcare Job Outlook for 2008/2009 describes new job growth from 2006 – 2016 as excellent with over 3 million new jobs added for the period. As well, the projected salary increase is 22% compared to just 11% for other industries combined.
The Department of Labor shows similar findings, projecting that medical assistant jobs are expected to increase over 35 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The health care industry is expanding as our population grows and ages, and as technology advances, so will the need for highly trained health care workers such as a surgical assistant medical assistant, vocational nurse, computerized office assist, and so on.
A career in the medical field has been referred to as “recession-proof.” Few industries can boast this kind of employment outlook. If you’ve been laid off in another work field, this should not be a concern for you in considering starting training in a medical career. It is highly unusual for medical layoffs to occur.
And if you are considering a career in the medical field, even if you have no medical training, or even a GED, it is best to get started right away, in order to take advantage of this growing industry. Medical career college courses are available for every type of lifestyle. You will receive hands on training, job placement assistance, and in some cases even financial aid. The career choices are nearly unlimited, from vocational nursing programs, to diagnostic medical sonographer training, to pharmacy technician careers, and so much more. Take your first step towards that new career today!
Career Colleges of America is a Southern California college that offers a vocational nursing program, as well as programs in medical assisting, paralegal, computerized accounting and more!
Career Coaching: Seven Mistakes to Avoid When Making a Big Career Change
Are you considering a big change in your career? Do you feel let down, bored, burned out? Maybe you think there is something bigger and more meaningful that you are meant to do. Perhaps your company downsized you into this predicament. Regardless of the reason, there are some common mistakes to avoid while you evaluate and select new career options. Avoid these pitfalls and you can stay motivated, keep your balance and move forward successfully.
Mistake #1 – Making Decisions in Haste
Tempted to just quit and wing it? Everyone is now and then, but unless you just can’t stand your current situation another day, resist! Instead, write down everything you hate about your current situation, then one by one, look at the most intolerable issues and see how you can turn each around to make it more tolerable for the present moment.
It is easy to get so excited about the future that you decide to forge ahead without a plan and hope everything naturally falls your way after that. It will require more energy to sustain your new career and make it work well for you than it will to identify and start it. It is better to come from a place of higher energy and stability than to start out already burned out or worried about how you will pay the bills. Consider seeking the help of a qualified career coach, life coach or career counselor to help you identify your next career path. An objective, trained third party can help you strategize and phase it in for the best results and the least amount of heartache.
Mistake #2 – Ignoring the Finances
“I can’t stand this any longer! I would rather eat dog food than put up with this another day!” Whether you are pursuing a new career voluntarily or involuntarily, you must pay the bills. Do pursue your dream. Do look for the career that brings out the best in you. If you have plenty of savings, good for you! Resist the temptation to go through it and be left without. If you have a dream, by all means hang on to it! But if it won’t realistically get off the ground for three years, find another way to earn a living in the meantime. The need for income is a reality you cannot ignore.
Mistake #3 – Filling Your Head with Negative Stuff
What do you read? What do you view on television or the Internet? With whom do you spend free time? When you’re looking at making big life and career changes, you need lots of positive energy around you. If you spend time with negative people or fill your mind with anything that isn’t useful, guess what? It fills you with negative energy. Instead, surround yourself with people and things that give you positive energy and encouragement. Read books that motivate and encourage you. Go places that inspire you. Do everything you can to be what you want to be like after you land the next great career opportunity, and you will be more likely to attract it into your life!
Mistake #4 – Getting Bogged Down by Decisions
If you’re an intelligent person who has enjoyed any measure of success, chances are there are a lot of different choices you could make in your next big life or career change. Clients often tell me they are overwhelmed by all of the thoughts and ideas that keep running through their minds. And as the overwhelm sets in, it is very easy to just shut down. As we work together, I remind clients when making tough decisions to ask themselves, “Is this going to move me forward?” If the answer is yes, proceed. If the answer is no, either revise the decision or drop it entirely.
Mistake #5 – Not Having a Plan
There are two reasons this is important. First, life is unpredictable and it is dangerous to relinquish security before the next career arrangement is lined up. Second, changing careers is a lot like dating. You are always more desirable when you are unavailable. You are more attractive to a prospective employer if you are already working. And if you have already lost your job either voluntarily or involuntarily, it is even more important to have a plan so that you are then more likely to achieve it. If you see success, you will be successful. (Conversely, if you don’t have a plan, how will you know when you’ve succeeded?)
Mistake #6 – Ending your Preparation Too Soon
All I can say here is, prepare, prepare, prepare. If you’re looking at several possibilities, don’t immediately drop one when another looks good. Think about all of the big tests you have taken in life (college entrance exams, finals, certification exams) and how you prepared for those. Did you study way in advance and take a big, long break before taking the test? Or were you still reading the material as you walked in the door on test day, wondering if you could still be better prepared? When you’re embarking on a new career or life change, give it all of your available energy, skills and attention. If you have a goal in mind, resist relaxing when you think you almost have it. Prepare and stay sharp right up until the day you start. This will help keep you from losing confidence at the last minute.
Mistake #7 – Getting Discouraged Too Easily
Does this happen to you when you face hurdles in the midst of your goal? Instead of giving in to the pain, pay attention to what specifically is making you uncomfortable and make adjustments to get you through. For example, if you’re in career transition and you find that it is painful to go through the tedium of making phone calls, sending resumes, going on interviews where the competition is tough, etc., find the formula that gives you a break without stopping the process. Try devoting an hour or two each morning to these tasks and letting it go for the rest of the day, or only making a certain number of phone calls or interview appointments per week so that when you’re finished, you can feel good about giving yourself some time off. Don’t stop. Adjust.
Remember, a career change is a life change. You didn’t arrive at your current level of education and experience overnight, and don’t be disappointed if you don’t immediately uncover “the thing” you want to do next. Allow yourself time and space to explore and make an educated decision. Get the help you need along the way (i.e., career coach, career counselor) to help you do it strategically, not emotionally. If you avoid these mistakes you are much more likely to end up in a new career that complements and fulfills your life.
Gwen Jewett is a Life and Career Coach and Selfgrowth.com Guide to Career Coaching, living in the Dallas area. After 14 years as Executive Director of a 12,000-member national healthcare association, she voluntarily left to pursue a more balanced life. Since 2001 she has helped many clients make their career and personal life stop working against each other and instead work in complement. www.coachgwen.com
The Career Makeover: 7 Steps to Achieving Your Goals
Makeovers on television shows and in magazines are enticing for women the world over. Of course the reason they are so popular, is because the idea of getting a fresh start in life is a golden key we have all dreamt about at one time or another. No matter what their lives are like, everyone has something they wish could be different â?? their home, their body, their friends, and even their career.
Career makeovers are not a new concept and if you think about it, making over your career will automatically set a chain reaction in motion that will affect all aspects of your life, particularly those that are unsatisfactory. If youâ??ve ever changed jobs or industries, worked with a recruiter, drafted a new resume or pursued additional education to increase your job prospects or opportunities, youâ??ve already taken steps to improve or â??make overâ? your career.
Here are some ideas which can take your career makeover to a whole new level!
1. Look inside yourself. How do you perceive yourself? Are you confident? Do you like yourself? Are you proud of your accomplishments? What is your attitude to life, on working, on the value that you bring to your job? How do you feel about your career? Do you feel in control of your future? Working on your â??inner selfâ? is of critical importance when it comes to creating a career makeover. If your internal thoughts are not consistent with the actions that you need to take, youâ??ll continually feel a sense of disconnect. Others will feel it too. All change starts on the inside. If you need support in this area, consider counseling or coaching, whichever is most appropriate for your situation. Until the inner issues are resolved or healed, it can be very challenging to take the necessary steps that lead to a fulfilling career.
2. Get balanced. A key component of effectively managing your career starts with managing your time efficiently. Do you keep your work life separate from your home life? Do you take work home in the evenings or weekends? Do you talk about work ALL THE TIME? Do you take time to recharge your batteries so that you feel refreshed? This is probably one of the most difficult areas when it comes to career makeovers. It takes a lot of courage to â??draw the lineâ? when it comes to balancing your life. Many women feel that if they donâ??t give everything to their job, then they wonâ??t have a job, yet, the opposite is actually true. If youâ??re working for a company which does not allow you to set boundaries around your time, you WILL burn out. Before this happens it is probably best that you start looking for a new position. Itâ??s a difficult choice to make, but ultimately itâ??s up to you to set boundaries around what types of treatment you will accept from others â?? including your employer. If you canâ??t achieve work/life balance in your current job, you will never be able to give it your best, simply because you will not be at your best which in turn will affect your future career prospects.
3. Get your relationships in check. They say birds of a feather flock together. Are your friends dragging you down? ( I was told my friends were holding me back by a naturopath when I was in my early 20â??s I was VERY angry with him and protective of my friends â?? but a year later when I had taken a grip of my life and moved on, I realized he had been completely right!) Is your network of friends and associates supportive of you and your goals, or are they constantly telling you that your dreams are too lofty? Do they drag you into their gossip or do they inspire you with thoughtful conversation? In essence your ambition can be affected by the people around you and because of this your personal and professional relationships will have a tremendous influence on your career success. Therefore, to get your relationships in check, evaluate your friendships and acquaintances. It might be time to start gently letting go of some of the relationships that arenâ??t serving you, which will allow you to fill the empty spaces with new friends who will support you. Make sure youâ??re forging relationships with the people who see your value, and surround yourself with mentors who are helpful in assisting you to move forward.
4. Begin with a vision. Having an idea of where you want to go is one of the most important steps in your career makeover. Until you know where you want to be or what you want to have, itâ??s impossible to decide on the correct steps to get you there. How do you envision your ideal life? What type of job would make you happy? What brings you the most joy? What type of position would you like to see yourself working in 5 years time? Give yourself permission to think about what you really want, dare to dream a little. Remember what seems impossible today is only so because you havenâ??t had the opportunity to break the journey from here to there down into manageable chunks â?? now you are ready to start working on your career makeover.
5. Be the change. Once you have a vision of what you think you might want. Itâ??s now time to assess where you are now. What are your strengths and your weaknesses? What skills do you have? Which ones will you need in order to achieve your career vision? You need to know where you are now versus where you want to be in the future. The rest is about managing the â??gapâ? in between. Here is where the career makeover really takes place and this is the secret to making it possibleâ?¦
6. Start at the end and work backwards. Imagine you have your dream job and are living your dream life. What was the final step you had to take to make this all possible, now what was the step before that? Work this process through until you arrive back at where you are today. Now you are aware of these steps, you know what you have to do to achieve your goals in manageable chunks. Your next course of action is to develop a plan for achieving these goals thereby giving each part of the process a timeline.
7. Now hone your skills. One of the most obvious ways to create a career makeover is to work on your skills. Whether you go back to school to earn an advanced degree or take training classes here and there, anything that you can do to improve yourself can benefit your career. Learn more about your industry; attend conferences where you can keep abreast of the latest trends. Network with possible mentors. Buy books written by leaders in your field. Read industry periodicals and other materials that deep your knowledge. Check with your human resources department to find out what types of internal training opportunities are available. Take advantage of your companyâ??s tuition reimbursement programs. Continuing your education is essential no matter how you do it. Studying will not be a chore. If you are doing work you love you will be passionate about absorbing as much information about your field as you can!
And finally plan for the future.
No matter who you are or whom you know, you career will have its ups and downs. These days itâ??s unrealistic to think youâ??ll have a job for life. You might be transferred, demoted, or get a new boss that you donâ??t enjoy. You could even lose your job because of a downturn in your industry. These are realities of work life today. To lessen the possibility of your becoming an economic statistic itâ??s always a good idea to have options. This means you need to think about your exit plan. What would you do if you wanted to leave, or lost your job for whatever reason? Even the people who are happy in their jobs today should have an exit strategy, so take my advice and start working on it now. Donâ??t wait until itâ??s too late and youâ??re in panic mode.
In conclusion, always remember, no matter what career or life choices you make, ALL women need a strategic career plan. Your career makeover is ultimately your responsibility. You are the master of your life and itâ??s up to you to make a plan. Once you have a clear plan, take the steps that lead you to fulfilling your ultimate vision. One powerful way of helping you stay on track is by working with a coach who can help you make the transition more quickly. A good coach gives you support you need, helps you to stay focused and on track. With proper guidance, you will quickly find yourself achieving your career goals.
Career coach Krissy Jackson, CPC, specializes in working with women in IT and communications who want to take charge of their lives and careers. From career planning to promotions, from time management to transition strategies, Krissy empowers her clients to design and develop their careers on their own terms. Known for her straightforward coaching style and her ability to focus quickly on key issues, Krissy has attracted a global client following representing a variety of industries. To read more of her articles and career coaching tips, visit http://www.ITGirlsCoach.com
What Do You Mean I Am A Product?! (Career Marketing 101)
Job search seems to have many hurdles to overcome – resume, interview technique, appearance, and networking are challenges that job seekers face. Read the rest of this entry »
Accelerated Nursing Program
There is such a demand for people to enter the field of nursing that many new programs are being developed to certify nurses in record time. Read the rest of this entry »
