Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Career Opportunities In Commercial Cookery

If you are interested in a career in commercial cookery or you are finishing up your diploma, there are many wonderful opportunities for you to take advantage of once you graduate. Because most degree programs offer internships and hands-on learning in fully equipped kitchens, you will be prepared to not only prepare a wide variety of food, but also lead and instruct others.

Some common careers include:
  • Head Chef
  • Sous chef
  • Wait staff supervisor
  • Hospitality coordinator

While there are many other opportunities available, you will find that many hotels, restaurants, inns, catering companies, and cruise ships need those with leadership and cooking skills to fill these positions.

HEAD CHEF

It is up to the head chef to plan menus, instruct others in the kitchen, hire staff, coordinate with the dining staff, and ensure that all food is prepared to a patronÕs liking. The head chef should have an understanding of many different types of cooking and should be able to train others quickly and easily.

This is a leadership position that requires people to not only have a thorough knowledge of food, but also posses the ability to make quick decisions and direct others on a regular basis.

SOUS CHEF

A sous chef is considered the second in command in the kitchen. Working with the head chef to create menus and supervise the staff, the sous chef will also oversee prep work, and check the finished product before the food is served to patrons. This position also requires the ability to lead others and make critical decisions when necessary.

WAIT STAFF SUPERVISOR

Because service is just as important as a meal, the wait staff supervisor is in charge of training wait staff, handling patron complaints, making sure the dinning room is ready to receive patrons each night, and is usually responsible for hiring and dismissing staff.

If you enjoy cooking, but want to work in another capacity in a restaurant or hotel, you can take courses in hospitality management while earning a diploma in commercial cookery. This position requires leadership skills, and attention to detail, and the ability to listen.

HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR

Depending on where you work, a hospitality coordinator may have different tasks. Most hospitality coordinators arrange parties, conferences, and other events. They work closely with chefs, wait staff, and others to ensure that the event is perfect. They may plan menus, meet with clients, and choose decorations and table placement and seating.

As you can see, there are many diverse careers you can choose from after earning your diploma. Other career options include opening your own restaurant, catering company, or becoming an instructor.

Academia International is a leading international college providing cooking courses, hospitality management training, hairdressing courses, and beauty courses. For a free brochure please visit Commercial Cookery.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Johnstone

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Photography Schools

Photography school can offer anyone from any background the opportunity to learn a new craft and start a business out of the knowledge gained. One of the oldest schools is the New York Institute of Photography.

Since 1910, this school has been helping photographers all over the world thru their correspondence courses. With the main three classes they offer, anyone no matter whether a novice or experienced photographer can gain the knowledge needed to get started in this upscale business.

The beginning class that is offered teaches the fundamentals of digital photography. Even someone who just purchased a new digital camera can take this class and learn exactly how to use this new piece of equipment that seem foreign even after reading the many manuals that come with the camera.

The school gives the student a professional advisor that can be contacted anytime, DVDs, and online access to their system in order to ensure that the student succeeds. With this kind of help, anyone would do well and learn from the institute.

Another course that this particular photography school offers is the digital photography complete course. With this course, Adobe PhotoShop will be completely taught. The instruction will include how to "to retouch photos, post pictures on the web and how to take better digital photographs."

Also taught in this course will be how to restore old black and white photography pictures that may have suffered damage with age. This instruction is always helpful to photographers because many people have old photographs that need restoring, and they are not sure who to take them to or what to do to restore them.

By having this instruction at this photography school, the future photographer will enhance anyone's budding photography business.

The last course that this particular school offers is more than likely the most important. The NYI complete course in professional photography is the last correspondence course that this school offers.

Here the photography student will learn all of the in's and outs of the photography business including: wedding photographers. nature photography, art photography, and many more.

If someone is serious about becoming a professional photographer, this is the course that is for them. After completing the other two courses, this one is the icing on the cake for the budding photographer.

The photography school called the New York Institute of Photography is a great place for a newbie photographer to get started on the right track. Instead of having to attend classes on campus, classes are all correspondence, and a person can still continue with their daily lives while they attend photography school.

So, if someone is looking for an affordable and fun way to get started in the business, a suggestion is to check out the New York Institute of Photography.

The art of digital photography brings great memories to anyone. Browse to Mike Selvon portal to find out more about photography school. We greatly appreciate your feedback at our photography blog.
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Monday, August 6, 2007

Career in Computer Hacking

Ethical Hacking Course

The ethical hacking course works on the basic principles of “To catch a thief, employ the tricks of the thieves”. The course covers the basics of networking and security and the advanced course that involves the use of hacking tools, hacking programs and the upcoming computer hacking techniques.

With the increased use of Internet in our day to day life, a virtual world has been created with immense possibilities. But this virtual is sometimes prone to real threats like hacking, cracking, theft etc. In such a scenario, Information Security holds immense importance. At this time when the businesses are going global and processes are controlled over network, there is a growing need for professionals to ensure network and data security. It will enable the tech-savvy people and professionals to address the emerging network security issues.

Ethical hacking is a white hat technique to counteract the unethical hackers (black hat hackers). Hence, ethical hacking course makes you learn the tricks to maintain your personal security and corporate security in a computerized environment. White-hat hacking, or ethical hacking, is becoming an important tool in the arsenals of business IT managers.

Who is an Ethical Hacker?

An ethical hacker (a.k.a. white hat hacker) is a person who knows the hacking (as well as anti-hacking techniques) and ethically opposes to the abuse of computer systems and networks. A white hat generally focuses on securing IT systems, whereas a black hat (a.k.a. cracker or unethical hacker) breaks into them. A black hat wishes to secure his own machine, and a white hat needs to break into a black hat's machine in the course of an investigation. Both black hat and white hats function the same way, but latter tends to cite altruistic motivations.

Benefits of Ethical Hacking Course

•For Students

In our time information is power and network is the medium. Hence, the ethical hacking course offers great prospects in terms of building a corporate career and/or maintaining security in one’s own business.

•For Professors/Teachers

Professors/teachers interested in pursuing a career in teaching ethical hacking will be greatly benefited, because this course is up and going. It is going to be a full-fledged discipline.

•For Professionals

The Ethical Hack Course will open avenues for professionals and tech-savvy individuals by giving them hands on training and internationally recognized certificates.



Ethical Hacking Course – Overview Ethical hacking course and training delves deep into the techniques used by malicious, black hat hackers with hands-on lab exercises. While these hacking skills can be used for malicious purposes, the course imparts ethics to perform a white hat technique, all for general well-being. Upon successful completion you are able to assess the network security threats quantitatively and discover where your organization is most vulnerable. Then you plan to strengthen your security and/or reveal the malicious techniques of a black hat hacker/cracker.

A Complete Course on Ethical Hacking covers:

  • Techniques: Windows Hacking, Registries Editing, Password cracks, Google hacking, Computer Forensics, Firewalls, Network Hacking, Security tools, Hacking tools, Encryption, Email tracking, Router Hacking, Email Forging, Port Scanning , MAC Address Spoofing, Proxies etc.

  • Tools: Key loggers, Anti Key Loggers, Firewalls, MAC Address Spoofing, Proxy Bouncing tools, Network Scanners like IPscan, Sniffers, Spyware and Trojan Detectors, Information Gathering Tools, Remote Administration Tools, Computer Forensics Tools, Steganography tools and a lot more.

  • Games: Hacking Simulation Games to understand the world of hacking and provides you with the opportunity to practice hacking without the danger of getting caught.

  • Relevant articles and Case Studies

The author is a one time System Administrator of Northern University. He occasionally contributes literature on network and security issues and presently works with Appinlabs as a consultant. For more information please visit us at: http://www.appinlabs.com/case-study-hacking.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Mathew
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Need-of-Ethical-Hacking-Course&id=189977

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Sunday, August 5, 2007

Career in Acting

Many people have wanted to know how they can get into acting. Sometimes a model realizes that he or she cannot make a full-time living with a modeling career. Other models are aware of their limitations such as height and bone structure. They know that beyond print work, it can be real tough to get into modeling. So they choose to step into the broader acting field.

Acting requires more specialized training than modeling does. Most actors and actresses get into acting by getting involved in theatre, dramas, plays and stage productions. Many actors and actresses also get into acting through an acting coach. An acting coach trains you much like an athletic coach does, except the muscle that is trained is your "acting muscle". You are trained in learning improvisation, cold reading, and acting methods. These are generally the basics for a beginning actor.

Once you have discovered how to get into acting, you will also need to know about the two types of productions exist for actors and actresses.

There is union work and non-union work. Union work is controlled by the Screen Actor's Guild and the AFTRA. If you are interested in doing union work you do need to be signed on with a Screen Actor's Guild franchise agent. A quick search on the internet on "SAG Agencies" will give you information to all the agencies that have access to the current job openings in your area.

For acting work that is non-union related, you can use other methods of searching to find work in your area, such as hiring an agent. If you have an agent, he or she will submit potential acting jobs to you. Job opportunities can also be found on websites like http://www.actingcastingcall.com that includes both a job forum and message board.

Your agent will need copies of your resume and your headshot picture. This is the best way to go in order to get into motion pictures, television or commercial work.

The reality is that you will need a break - to be asked to come to an audition. An audition is conducted at the office of the Casting Director. You will be reading "sides". A "side" is a small portion of the script. You may be able to acquire these small scripts in advance so that you can practice your acting skills.

Then, during your audition, someone opposite of you will actually act the role out while you read the "side". Be sure to ask the Casting Director what your motivation in the particular session will be so that you can put more of natural talent into it. It will help you to read the lines appropriately. There will be lots of other actors waiting to read for the very same role that you will be reading. Show business is competitive. Once you are done reading, you will go home and wait for your agent to call you with the good or bad news.

Another way to break into acting is to become an "extra". Many people make a partial living being an "extra" in movies or film. "Extras" are paid anywhere from being a volunteer to $200 a day on most movie sets. You can locate jobs as an extra actor by finding union films.

Below are some tips to get you started from the mere beginner to full time acting;

1.Join your local speech and drama clubs. If you're in school, join the theatre there. Usually, every major city has a theatre. 2.Brush up on acting skills - join classes, seminars, and events. Gain as much skill and experience as possible. 3.Read books - your local library will have books on acting. 4.Start small - don't try to go for the big parts if you are a new. Ask to be an "extra" or a stand-in. 5.Leverage the web. Job opportunities can be found on websites like http://www.actingcastingcall.com that includes both a job forum and message board.

With continued dedication and persistence, you will realize your dream of becoming an actor or actress. It takes hard work and relentless determination, but you know you can do it. The business is extremely competitive and the chances of big success are small - but there is a chance.

About the Author

About Acting Casting Call

We've all had dreams of making it big as a movie star or model, but have you ever tried making those dreams come true? View our Acting & Modeling Jobs. Message Board.

We are on the web at http://www.actingcastingcall.com

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Saturday, August 4, 2007

Build your Career as a Wedding Planner

In today's busy world, couples that want to get married don't always have the time to plan the wedding of their dreams. Wedding planners are in the profession of planning weddings for others. Their role in this process is planner, organizer, decorator or sometimes, even referee. These professionals work in a high stress environment where they are responsible for making sure that the wedding going off without a hitch.

What Wedding Planner Do?

Wedding planners help the bride and groom come up with a plan for their special day. After the date is chosen and the budget set, the wedding planner can go on to work on other endless details. The wedding planner will set up a time line schedule and a step-by-step list of what needs to be done. The wedding planner is in regular communications with their clients to ensure that they are in agreement to the plans that are being made. They cover all details of the wedding from helping the bride and groom choose a location, colors, flooring, caterers, music, and type of ceremony. In addition, they also handle things like etiquette, religious traditions, marriage licensing, and coordinating bridesmaids groomsmen and parents.

Training

Although no formal training is required to be a wedding planner, those who do take formal wedding planning programs have an edge over their competition. After all, wouldn't you want someone who has some credentials? When you take a wedding planning program, you will be trained in how to start a wedding consulting business, and run it successfully. You will learn how to make timelines, set schedules, and work with your vendors. You will also learn how to calculate your cost, and stick to the wedding budget. Having knowledge of religions and wedding traditions is necessary so the wedding planner can prepare things properly. Staying current with wedding trends, bridal fashion and floral design is ongoing education in your career as a wedding planner. By offering the best service available, you can build a client base just by word of mouth. A wedding planner's typical fee is 10 to 15 percent of the cost of the wedding.

About the Author

Mary Hart has been writing about online business degree programs since 2004. To find out more information about earning your online bridal consultant degree, click here.

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Sunday, July 29, 2007

Fifteen Minutes To A Higher Grade Point Average

Adult students return to college with well defined goals, significant life experience, and maturity. In those areas they are generally ahead of their younger counterparts.

However, many adult students must overcome some challenges their younger counterparts never face.

Ask any adult student and he or she will tell you that it can be difficult to balance the demands of family, career, and education. Even online degree programs, which enable students to work anywhere they wish and set their own work schedules, require timely completion of assignments. And, students who find themselves continually behind are seldom successful.

Good time management skills and strong self-discipline, important to all students, are even more necessary to adults facing family, career, and academic demands.

And, even students with great time management skills often overlook one important technique. A technique which requires little effort but can pay big dividends.

You can't add hours to your day. And you can't add days to your week. But, you can find fifteen minute blocks of time to utilize for your schoolwork. And, just two such blocks of time each day will give you an extra three and a half hours of study time a week.

If you think about it, you'll realize just how much you can get done in fifteen minutes. You can revise your notes, review a difficult concept, reread a complex passage, email a classmate or professor, choose a topic for a paper, etc.

Fifteen minutes can be a significant amount of time; enough time to get something accomplished. And, for most people, it is not too difficult to find at least two fifteen minute blocks of time daily. How about getting up just fifteen minutes earlier every day and spending that time doing schoolwork? What about spending fifteen minutes at your office before going home at the end of your workday? Perhaps you could read while eating breakfast or lunch.

I know a college student who spends between fifteen minutes and a half hour on her schoolwork whenever she returns to her apartment. By the way, she has been on the Dean's List during all of her five college semesters.

Everyone can find two additional fifteen minute periods a day to spend on their studies. And, taking advantage of those small blocks of time really can turn a competent student into a high-achiever.

By: Daniel Kane

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Saturday, July 28, 2007

Modern Online Career Portals The One-stop Shop

In the not-so-recent-past, job seekers had to spend hours upon hours walking around visiting companies and career consultants hoping to get a good job. They had to pour over newspapers and job listings for hours and then call up every prospective employer to ask for an appointment. But the advent of the Internet has changed all that. Now one of the most effective and efficient ways to look for a job is by using online career services. Unlike days past, the new online job services offer comprehensive advice concerning interviews, resume writing, and even career coaching all at reasonable prices, and some services are free of charge.

Online Career Sites- Job Searching Made Simple

Online career sites started out small but with time they have become bigger and better, and offer more value-added services. With online career services, you have a rich repository of career-related information at your fingertips 24/7. Using an online job service is very efficient. Instead of having to go to several different sources for career-related information and help, you can find everything you need in one place.

Is The Online Career Site Reputable?

We've all heard of job-related scams, so it pays to be careful. Scammers create false vacancies and post them with the intention of getting personal information about candidates and later misusing it. If you follow certain practices while using an online career service, you will be secure. To verify that an online career service will do what they say they will, ask yourself the following questions:

Is there a help function contact email or otherwise?

Does the service offer career coaching (it is hard to fake this)?
Is there sufficient information on the site (a dearth of information suggests a scam)?

You can also verify the reliability of an online career service from sources like the Better Business Bureau.

A reputable online career service offers lots of features and information upfront. A good site will include lots of free articles, resume writing help and career coaching available. In addition, they will offer free tools and assessments for job seekers to use on their own before seeking live help.

Gone are the days when a career site only allowed job seekers to post their resumes and search available vacancies. Today's career sites are comprehensive tools, offering complete career management, planning and consulting.

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Friday, July 27, 2007

The Rules of Engagement

The Art of War:In the Battlefield of Business you must be equipped with: The Top Rules of Engagement For Business Success!

How do Men and Women work together to create the best work environment for all? They work with the Rules of Engagement.


Rule #1 CONFIDENCE: The level of self-confidence maintained by both parties will help determine how well the interactions will play out. One can interact with peers, supervisors or staff with confidence, utilizing leadership skills to improve the results of any transaction, negotiation or team work effort. There isn't a situation that can be described that wouldn't benefit from both parties leaving the "baggage" behind and working from a position of self confidence. Interaction between men and men, men and women and women and women are being tested constantly and will improve when both parties come from a position of confidence, leadership, and strategic partnership. A lack of self-confidence creates duplicity, back stabbing and a defensive nature.

It's not always recognized but its there lurking in the background of every interaction.

THE MESSAGE FOR MEN and WOMEN:

You either have confidence or you don't You either have the skills to do the job or you don't Approaching each interaction anticipating that you are required to "Prove Yourself" or the other party needs to do the same will cloud your ability to do the job you were hired to do! GET OVER IT! Act in a professional manner, assertive with CONFIDENCE Make the most of every interaction Put your efforts on the same path going in the same direction.

The results are amazing because Confident business partners create AMAZING RESULTS!

Rule #2 PHYSICAL : Dos and Don'ts Have you ever worked with someone who, when speaking to you, stands just a little too close? Have you every worked with someone who wears too much perfume or cologne? Have you ever worked with someone who could use a breath mint all the time? What about the women who love to hug everyone, or the man who likes to put his arm around both his male and female's staff's shoulder as a sign of appreciation or camaraderie?

These are all signs of the physical don'ts everyone needs their space. Business relationships are much more successful when all parties are not feeling they are in compromising physical positions. Nothing inappropriate implied here just uncomfortable

1. Keep your space when making your point, be sure you make eye contact from a proper distance to allow the other party to digest your words and body expressions without feeling "backed into a corner" or "crowded" as you try to convince the other party your position is the one and only choice!

2. When meeting your professional counterpart, extend a hand, not a hug.

3. Men, women and men alike don't always like the pat on the back or squeeze of the arm, embrace of the shoulder.

4. Great rule of thumb: If you wouldn't do that physical move with a business associate of the same sex, don't make the physical move with the opposite sex. Women, just because you might hug and kiss an old friend of the female persuasion, don't hug and kiss a female business associate and for sure don't hug and kiss a male business associate. It's hard to be taken seriously if you are hugging and kissing the team! Men, same approach applies: if you wouldn't hug and kiss a male business associate there is no reason to hug and kiss a female business associate. You want her to respect you the same way her male counterpart would.

Rule #3 SCARCITY MENTALITY: Replace Competition with Creativity:

This concept brings forward the idea that business success is abundant. If you utilize your creativity instead of worrying about the other person getting ahead of you, the picture will now include a whole new set of possibilities.

Win/Win: with creative ideas. Create a mentor/student bond or work side by side rather than in confrontation mode. All of these imply that you are not running from "the Pie is only so big!"

One-up-man-ship: This completely distracts all parties from the ultimate goal; focus on the players and you get just that, glaring issues with each side of the puzzle, friction, certainly duplicity in the message. If you focus on the goal, rather than the players and CREATE new ideas and approaches, while really listening to each other the GOAL will become more important than the players and the RESULTS can be amazing.

When you eliminate Scarcity Mentality you create:

Results = you have self-worth.

Results = you have creative license to really grow your talents.

Results = you remove the tension and friction = Quantum Leaps in your Career!

There are more rules and more discussions to have but this is a great start. Let's keep an open mindand work to improve your future.

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Health Services Training Can Take You Far

Are you looking for an important career in health services? If so, you might be ready to join thousands of others who have learned to routinely perform the various tasks that help a medical practice run smoothly. It's hard to imagine what health care would be like without qualified health care services providers, like dental assistants, medical assistants, and medical office administrators. The best news is a good, quality health services school can train you for just such a career.

With the increasing demand for health services, there are more and more schools and classes forming to meet the need for well-trained medical services professionals. The field of health services is at work in practically every aspect of the medical profession. Health services training is available today for any number of occupations in health care or medical practice. If you are seeking a career in health care, you will be pleased by the number of health services professions from which to choose.

What are your aspirations? You can learn medical billing and coding, physical therapy, nursing, dental assistant, medical assistant, medical transcription, cardiovascular and EKG technology--these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health services training. Not only that, but students can select from several different levels of health care education, as well, including diplomas, certificates, undergraduate degrees, and graduate degrees.

You can readily find health services courses in vocational schools, trade schools, technical schools, and community colleges. At this level, you can earn certificates and diplomas, and sometimes associates and bachelor degrees. At the college and university level, you can study for health services degrees at the level of associate, bachelor, master, and even doctorate. A college level health services degree program will most likely cover anatomy, biology, physiology, math, medical terminology, arts, sciences, social studies, and more. A higher level, graduate degree program might include training in business, management, finances, economics, health services administration, and a lot more.

Employment outlook is excellent for well-trained, qualified health service professionals. There are always positions open in medical and health care institutions such as hospitals, medical centers, geriatric care facilities, outpatient clinics, and private health care practices. Depending on your particular field of expertise and, your level of health services education, you can expect a beginning salary around $40,000 up to $100,000 or more.

You can contact selected schools and request all the information you need to get started on a new and exciting career in health services.

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Maine Jobs

Maine is a tourist center and is an ideal location for vacations in all seasons. Maine jobs largely depend on tourism and related works. Other jobs in education, health care, and social services are also preferred to a great extent. A number of interesting Maine jobs are available to the earnest seeker.

The state government of Maine has career development centers for helping job seekers according to their qualification and experience. Tourism related jobs for helping tourists are available in Maine. Professionals for safeguarding tourists engaging in outdoor activities such as kayaking, rafting, and surfing are very much needed in Maine. Maine jobs are created in restaurants, vacation rentals, and hotels as more visitors are coming to this place for lodging and tasting the special recipes of Maine lobster and salmon. Tour operators and agencies seek the service of guides for accompanying tourists on sightseeing trips. Career openings in the educational department of Maine for professionals, support staff, technicians, and extra curricular personnel are also in plenty.

Maine jobs are offered in the fields of health care, IT industry, and social services according to your qualification. You can search newspaper advertisements for securing good jobs. There are also opportunities to post your bio-data to websites dealing with Maine jobs services, so that they can intimate you whenever an opportunity is available. Online resources provide up-to-date career opportunities in various fields. You can browse the site to find Maine jobs that suit you. Job fairs and interviews are conducted all over Maine to find qualified persons. Career centers in different towns of Maine give all information regarding Maine jobs and opportunities. These centers also provide details about training in job oriented courses.

Full time, part time, seasonal, and temporary jobs are available in Maine. You can earn while studying by engaging in part time jobs. Part time jobs are preferred in tourism related industry. Details about jobs in state and municipal offices of Maine are available in state websites. Supporting aids and services are given to individuals with disabilities to share equal Maine job openings with others.

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Thursday, July 26, 2007

SEO Career: Enough opportunity to develop

Presently, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is considered as the most effective technique to get maximum number of targeted visitors for a particular website. Advertisers can rely on this technique to achieve their required result. Hence, it is counted as one of the booming industries. The younger generation can carve brighter SEO careers if they consciously put in their effort.

One of the leading SEO Companies in India, AuroIN, has been acting as a pioneer in the field of search engine optimization and is one of the fastest growing organizations. It provides sufficient opportunity to young generations build their SEO careers, provides employees friendly workplace with a fun-filled environment. Always, we provide enough opportunities to our employees to learn something new. AuroIN has a strong objective to build good relationship with clients and strategic partnership through quality people, brilliant service and advanced technology.

AuroIN, as a professional SEO Company, concentrates on certain guidelines which will help our new employees to build up a successful SEO Career.

  • We always give prime importance on making strategies, before starting any project work.
  • To get better performance, it is very essential to celebrate the achievements. Hence, we recognize the achievements of our new employees and let them share their laurels with others.
  • We give prime importance to our clients. Hence, we advise our new employees that first of all, they need to understand our clients' objectives before starting any work.
  • When required, we provide good learning exposure to our new incumbents by attaching them with some of the senior employees who not only act as guide but also as counselors to them.
  • Our working culture permits our employees to share their ideas and thoughts among each other. It also makes them creative.
  • To survive among our competitors, we train our employees on new and advanced technologies.
  • The process of confidence building is one of the major attributes that we want to instill in our new employees.
  • Exit interviews let us identify our own loopholes in the system and help us move towards achieving excellence.
There are enough opportunities in our organization for the professionals who are creative, independent and talented.

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Don't Lose Your Best Employees

This can't possibly be intentional. Management hires what they expect will be an appropriate addition to the team. They train this employee, teaching not only the requirements of the job as a function, but also the inner workings of the organization itself. They expose the employee to customers, vendors, and co-workers, maybe even key financial relationships. The employee gains tremendous knowledge specific to the company and how it works, with all the ups and downs of the organization. Years and years, and thousands upon thousands of dollars go by.

One day the employee says to himself or herself, "I've got to get out of here I'm not growing. My ideas are not being considered. I haven't had a performance review in ages. I'm not recognized or appreciated. I'm not being paid what I know I'm worth. There's no consideration given to the dramatic amount of money I'm saving for the company." And thus the company loses another top performer. Only the mediocre employees stick around. What a waste of money and time! Does this sound familiar?


The problem can be fixed from the top. (It probably also started there.) Many organizational managers have found themselves in leadership roles quite by accident. They were top performers on a technical level themselves, and either became supervisors by promotion or by ownership. This does not make them inherently good and productive managers of people. Put corrective action in place!

Make sure the organization has a solid set of job descriptions for all roles in the company, including the top positions. Make sure that performance appraisals are performed on a regular scheduled basis, not just when someone begs for a raise. Document performance carefully, both positive and negative. Be creative, fair, and ethical with rewards and punishment. Not all rewards cost money! People measure success in a variety of ways: growth, environment, and satisfaction. Do you know what motivates your people? Indeed, they may measure success in entirely different ways than expected. Be systematic and organized in communicating with your people. Know the parameters of fair compensation in the marketplace.


Managers need to take a hard look at themselves and their company processes when hoping to retain the best people. The "human assets" are probably one of the most expensive budget items in the operation of the business. Don't invest in them, only to lose that investment through lack of management disciplines. Don't grow 'em, only to throw'em, away.

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Career in Spiritual Counseling

In general, spiritual counseling studies are geared toward emotional, mental and spiritual maturity; however, specific coursework can help students become certified spiritual counselors.

Spiritual counseling studies curriculums may be comprised of, but not limited to learning about:
  • Angelology,
  • Channeling,
  • Chakras,
  • Energy and intuitive healing,
  • Meditation and prayer in spiritual counseling,
  • Metaphysics,
  • Psychic development,
  • Reiki,
  • Science of mind, and spiritual energy.
Through a comprehensive education, spiritual counseling studies allow students to gain the knowledge and skills to establish a career as a spiritual counselor; and successful graduates of approved educational programs can become certified in spiritual counseling.

Typically, spiritual counseling studies are holistic healing art form. Students may enroll at specific learning institutions or attain their courses online or via distance learning programs. In addition, various spiritual counseling studies include spiritual counseling for the grieving and dying; healing touch; dream interpretation; herbal therapies; stress reduction; crisis intervention and other related metaphysical studies.

Healthcare providers may wish to enroll in spiritual counseling studies to continue and earn educational units through seminars; lectures; video educational programs; educational workshops; self-study programs and coursework; and other spiritual counseling studies offered through universities and other educational institutions.

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Spring Career Fairs

Quick Tips For Making The Most Of The Spring Career Fairs

Spring is in the air - or it was in the air until today if you are on the east coast - and it is time for career fairs to sprout up everywhere. Whether your interest is a college career fair, diversity career fair or an industry specialty career fair, there is much to choose from. New college grads, new alumni and not-so-new alumni are out looking to see what is available for them in this early career fair season. A lot - if job seekers play their cards right.

The career fair is an awesome place to explore career options and make new potential career connections. Despite the target rich concentration of opportunities, many job seekers fail to connect with recruiters in a meaningful way. Is it possible they might be overwhelmed and feel lost in a sea of suits?

To make your trip to the career fair work - you must have a strategy. You must develop a game plan for spanning the terrain, sizing up your target and moving in to make that new career connection. Unfortunately, we can always tell the candidates who are unprepared and knew little more than the fact that they were going to a career fair. They are usually the folks head down in programs or room layout and wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles, stopping to talk only to those who are free, just because they are free and not because the company was a target employer of theirs.


Some quick career fair do's:

1. Do identify a target number of companies that you want to connect with for a few minutes each Have an actual list. Search the map before you enter the employer space and get your bearings.

2. Do have your 30 second spot or introduction that go along with your error free resume.

3. Do prepare questions you specifically want to ask, based on prior research. Begin your sentences with a fact you know about the organization you are trying to engage eg. I saw that you are opening a new division in xyz, are there any opportunities in the abc division?

4. Do have a 30 second spot or statement to ask for the follow-up if you are really interested. Most people miss this piece! Eg. I would really like to talk more in depth with you about xyz, how may I follow-up with you? If you collect a business card, you have 48 hours to follow-up.


Some quick career fair don'ts:

1. Do not job search in packs. Ditch your friend, your ride, your helicopter parent or whoever is accompanying you and arrange a time to meet.

2. Do not pick up "career fair goodies" without first having a conversation with the recruiters. Do not do the side swipe for that really cool pen while the recruiter is speaking with someone else.

3. Do not stand in lines more than 2 people deep at a career fair. Time is important, especially if you are on your lunch hour like a lot of other job seekers there. Make the rounds and comeback if the company is really on your list.

4. Do not ask the same questions the person before you did if you heard all the answers. Build on what you heard and advance the conversation with the recruiter.

5. Do not hover, look lost or confused while at a career fair. Work the room with purpose. If you begin to feel lost or overwhelmed, exit the room and gather yourself.

No question that career fairs can be overwhelming. Preparation is truly the key to career fair success. Make the best of the season.

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Is Accreditation Really A Big Deal?

Students considering colleges, career schools and online degree programs are often confused by the concept and meaning of accreditation. And, they frequently confuse it with state licensure, which is very different.

To be accredited, a school, traditional college, or online college has to meet fairly rigorous standards of quality. State licensure, on the other hand, generally requires an institution to meet only the most minimal standards. Thus, a warning flag should be raised when a college emphasizes licensure in lieu of regional accreditation.

Students should be aware that a number of higher education institutions, particularly those engaged in offering online degrees and distance education programs, report that they are accredited by organizations which are not approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Whether these organizations are staffed by scam artists or well meaning educators, the so-called accreditation they offer is, practically speaking, entirely worthless in the eyes of most employers and accredited colleges.

For example, in their help wanted announcements, schools, colleges, and universities virtually always require that applicants hold degrees from institutions accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized agencies.

Accredited colleges and universities will almost never accept transfer credit for courses completed at unaccredited colleges or colleges. And, they do not differentiate between colleges with no accreditation at all and those with so-called accreditation offered by unrecognized agencies.

Of course, students who want a degree only for personal satisfaction may initially not think accreditation is of much importance. But, if they reconsider, even those students should want to earn a degree that is viewed as a valuable credential; a degree that demonstrates that they have completed a rigorous academic program; a degree from a college or university that has proven that it meets the highest educational standards. That is why students should always find out which agency accredits a college they are considering, and go to the U.S. Department of Education website to be sure that the agency is government recognized.

Nobody can promise that, just because it's accredited, you'll be happy at an individual college or university. But accreditation does virtually guarantee you the advantages of qualified instructors and a well conceived curriculum. And, it means that employers are likely to recognize your degree as a meaningful credential which demonstrates motivation and expertise.

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Dream Job Map

A Dream Job Map will help you discover what you want in your work life.

Follow the steps below and create your own map. It is a very useful tool and a lot of fun too !

How much time you spend on your map is up to you. Don t try to do it when you are feeling rushed or hassled. Set aside a quiet evening or a weekend afternoon.

- Get a very large piece of paper, glue and scissor

- Gather magazines, catalog's and newspapers

- Look for ideas, images, concepts, activities, experiences and words that speak to you or bring out good feelings. It could be a photo of an environment you would like to work in (art gallery, university, outdoors, an office with a large desk and comfortable leather chair) or an idea (working with children, being a writer) or an experience (making an audience laugh, organizing a filing system). Be creative !

- Make sure you put the Yes, but how? voices to one side while you answer these questions. Do not worry about whether they are realistic or not. Don t censor yourself with limitations. I know a lady who lives in Italy and she works as a flight attendant for a British airline company. She happily commutes from Rome to Heathrow for work !

- Cut out these photos / ideas / concepts which appeal to you

- Place and paste them on the paper in the way that you like

Now that you have created your unique Dream Job Map, answer the following questions (This might take a few weeks to complete):

- What have you learnt about yourself from looking at your Dream Job Map ?


- Do you see any work themes / patterns ?

- What career ideas can you come up with ? Write down 5 ideas. If you can t think of any, ask your family and friends to come up with some suggestions.

- Turn these ideas into job opportunities. Ask for help if you need it. Search on internet.

- How do you feel about these jobs ? Do they inspire you ?

- Which one gives you the most energy / motivation / enthusiasm ? Which one aligns mostly with your work values ? Choose one.

- Include everything you know that supports this choice and everything that undermines it You re moving towards making this happen, so you need to start with a full and true assessment of where you are. Whatever the obstacles, you need to find a way to deal with them! Do you need to learn a new skill to close the gap between reality and your vision ? Do you need to attend classes, learn a foreign language ?

- Make an action plan which will take you from where you are now to where you want to be.

- Think about the people in your life who can help you reach this goal, like mentors and friends. Think about how they can help, and contact them.

- Take action and monitor your progress. Enjoy each step and reward yourself !

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