Category: Your Career (Page 43 of 62)

Why Travel Nurse Jobs are on the Rise

April 24, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Healthcare jobs overall account for 26 percent of all new jobs created in the U.S. today and at 2.6 million, registered nurses make up the nation’s largest healthcare group. This group is expected to grow by a whopping 22 percent over the next seven years, adding more than half a million new jobs to talent pool. This will be the largest number of new jobs for any occupation in the U.S.

This trend is expected to continue beyond seven years of as America’s aging population continues to grow. Advances in technology in the area of patient care, a push for preventative care, and the need to replace nurses that retire from the field will also contribute to the trend.

Although the outlook is outstanding for the nursing profession overall, some nurses will fare even better than others. The projected growth rate for RNs working in offices of physicians is 48 percent. Travel nursing (or home health care service nurses) is number two on the list with projected growth of 33 percent over the next seven years. Nursing care facilities is number three on the list at 25 percent, and employment services is number four on the list at 24 percent. Job growth for RNs working in hospitals, public and private, will average 17 percent over the next seven years.

More than 500,000 new jobs will be up for grabs over the next seven years and nursing programs are having a tough time keeping up with the demand. Nursing programs are more difficult complete than they were in earlier years and licensing requirements have become stricter than ever before. Fortunately, certain areas of nursing such as travel nursing have increased in popularity among nurses of all skill levels, and the demand by hospitals and other facilities has increased tremendously. This makes the difficult road from nursing student to registered nurse well worth it for many aspiring nurses interested in a mobile lifestyle.

There are more than 300 travel nursing agencies in the U.S. today and just about every hospital, retirement community, home health care service, nursing homes, and even mental health facilities, use travel nurses. It is important to note that many hospitals hire travel nurses directly. In these cases the travel nurse will report to the HR department to receive their assignment for any given length of time. In some cases, the assignment may change daily, in others it may change weekly or monthly. Agency travel nurses may report to the agency daily, weekly, monthly or every several months, depending on the length of the assignment.

It is important to note that the length of assignment varies greatly by agency and location (city, suburb, rural), but many travel nurses report 13 weeks as an average assignment.

In addition to a high demand for travel nurses, travel nursing jobs offer higher salaries and more “perks” than home-based nursing jobs. In addition to the opportunity to visit different parts of any given state or different parts of the country every few weeks or so, many hospitals lure travel nurses by offering a free private apartment, a travel allowance or reimbursement for travel (tax free), free health, life, and dental insurance, licensure reimbursement, AAA Membership, and unlimited free CEU credits while on assignment. Travel nurse agencies offer the same benefits, but if the assignment changes frequently, agencies pay for accommodations and any related relocation expenses.

Salaries for travel nurses vary, but they typically earn a minimum of 15 percent more than home-based nurses. It is not uncommon for an agency to pay thousands of dollars for a single assignment that lasts several weeks. Travel nurses earn an average salary of $83,200 per year ($40/hr.). Median annual wages of home-based registered nurses is around $62,450 per year ($30/hr.). Most travel nurse agencies offer signing bonuses, referral bonuses, and bonuses upon completion of an assignment.

Travel nursing is expected to continue to grow at a much faster than average pace for the next several decades. The demand for travel nurses has resulted in an increase in the number of agencies available across the nation. This has created intense competition among agencies. As a result, the competition among agencies continues to drive travel nurse salaries and benefits up.

To keep up with the latest news and trends in travel nursing visit Travelnursing.com.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Workplace

registered nurse jobs

Financial Jobs: A Good Career Move?

April 20, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Financial Jobs

Financial professionals are needed now more than ever before. Companies need help with trimming the fat in order to stay afloat through these tough times, they need help uncovering fraud and other illegal practices that are on the rise, and new companies need financial professionals to help put them on the right path to financial success. Companies, businesses, and even individuals use financial professionals of all kinds today. They are called upon so often that the industry is expected to grow 8-20 percent by 2018. Some of the different types of financial jobs include:

-Accountant
-Auditor
-Cash Manager
-Comptroller
-Credit Manager
-Economist
-Forensic Accountant
-Fundraiser
-Investment Banker
-Options Trader
-Risk Manager
-Stockbroker
-Treasurer
-Underwriter
-Urban Planner

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), some of the top industries for financial professionals are securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage, management of companies and enterprises, insurance carriers, local government, and depository credit intermediation. Financial professionals working in these industries earn an average of $77,280-$134,940 annually and other industries are not too far behind on the pay scale.

Entry-level financial professionals start at around $50,290 per year. The mid-range salary is $90,970 per year and the highest average salary, which is usually reserved for management professionals, is around $145,600 per year. Some may make more depending on the size of the company, bonuses, and other benefits.

How to Get a Financial Job

If you’re interested in one of the many financial jobs mentioned above, you should consider earning a bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, accounting, or economics. A bachelor’s degree is a great start, but many companies prefer a master’s degree in finance, accounting or other related field or an MBA with a focus in finance, accounting, or economics. Not only are advanced degree holder’s recruited more often than bachelor’s degree holder’s, they usually have more advancement opportunities and greater earning power.

While an advanced degree is important, experience is important as well. While in school, you should take advantage of your institutions internship program. This will help you land your first job (even if it’s entry-level), which can help prepare you for higher profile jobs with more responsibility and better pay.

Finding the Best Financial Degree Programs

College directories and college ranking websites are an invaluable tool for degree seekers. U.S. News & World Report publishes a “best of” list of colleges and Princetonreview.com publishes rankings for all colleges and degree programs. College directories such as Petersons.com offer plenty of listings and reviews as well.

If you prefer to search for a program on your own, just make sure the college (whether online or traditional) is accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Some of the top accrediting agencies are:

-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
-The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
-The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
-The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
-Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
-New England Association of Schools and Colleges
-North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
-Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
-Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
-Western Association of Schools and Colleges

To make sure the college of your choice is accredited, visit the U.S. Department of Education at Ed.gov. The site has a searchable database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. And yes, it’s free.

Your Career, Your Compensation

How to become a lingerie model

April 18, 2011 / Staff

With the sluggish job market, people are considering all sorts of interesting career options. Yet the idea of becoming a lingerie model has always had appeal for many women. For many, it’s a glamorous career and it can do wonders for one’s self image.

This video has some helpful advice on how to become a lingerie model. The focus is on working for lingerie retailers, like Victoria’s Secret or Frederick’s of Hollywood. Yet there are many other options for lingerie models, particularly glamour modeling. Companies like Maxim and Bullz-Eye feature beautiful models in lingerie and bikinis.

One fact that some might not understand is that you don’t need to be tall to be a lingerie model or a glamour model. Victoria’s Secret is an obvious exception, as they primarily hire fashion models for their shoots, as does Sports Illustrated. Instead, it’s more important to have an hourglass figure and an ample cup size to succeed in this area. Also, there’s very little runway work in this area – that’s for the fashion models. If you’re interested in this field, you should probably avoid tattoos as well.

Listen to the video and learn more about becoming a model.

Your Career

Leadership Development Degree Careers

April 18, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Leadership Development Career

A leadership development degree (MBA) can prepare you for a variety of management careers. The curriculum for this degree is designed to help you develop decision-making skills conflict and management skills, and of course, leadership skills. Common career paths include:

Project Management
Human Resources Management
Financial Management
Non-Profit Management
Management Consulting

Project managers are responsible for assembling and managing teams assigned to a specific project. They also plan and organize projects.

Human resource managers manage employee pay and benefits, development and training, hiring, and employee relations.

Financial managers handle accounting, financial analysis, investment portfolios, and financial reports. They are also responsible for financial legislation and regulation, and cash management of companies.

Non-profit managers manage the operations and development of non-profit organizations. They might work for an environmental agency, human rights organizations, health care facilities, and many others.

Management consultants help companies by providing advice and expertise aimed at improving business performance, maximizing growth, and creating value. They work for human resource departments, information technology firms, marketing firms, supply-chain firms, and many others.

In addition to a variety of job options, leadership development graduates can look forward to job growth and stability. Depending on the position, job growth is expected to average from 8-20 percent between now and 2018. Entry-level leadership development professionals earn around $50,000-$60,000 per year. MBA holders with experience can expect to earn from $92,390-$128,330+ per year.

An MBA with a focus in leadership development is the way to go if you want to work at a top firm. Although it is not required for entry into the field, many employers prefer an MBA. Nearly 30 percent of all professionals in this field hold an MBA, while nearly 40 percent hold a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degree holders usually start out it entry-level or assistant positions.

Earning Your Leadership Development Degree

To earn an MBA with a focus in leadership development, you will have to enroll in a program at an accredited college or university. The following accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education:

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)

The following recognized agencies offer regional accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

To find the best programs, try searching though college directories such as Petersons.com, Princetonreview.com or U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education

What are the Best Careers in Biology?

April 12, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Biologist

A degree in biology or biological sciences can lead to a career in the health care industry, allied health, the environmental industry, animal care & research, plant biology, education, government, mathematics, engineering, the legal field, and the art industry. Some of the best positions in each industry include:

·Health Care: Physician, Podiatrist, Dentist, Optometrist, Podiatrist

·Allied Health: Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech Therapist

·Environmental: Agricultural Scientist, Conservation Biologist, Environmental Scientist, Forest Ranger

·Animal Care & Research: Gamekeeper, Marine Biologist, Marine Mammal Trainer, Zookeeper

·Plant Biology: Botanist, Ethnobotanist, Horticulturalist, Landscaper

·Education: Professor, Biology Teacher

·Government: City or Community Health Official, Bioterrorism Expert, National Health Professional (FDA, CDC)

·Math/Engineering: Bioinformatics, Biomechanical Engineer, Epidemiologist, Biometrician/Statistician, Nanotechnologist, Medical Physics

·Legal: Forensics & Criminal Investigator, Biotechnology Patent Lawyer

·Art: Medical Illustration, Bio-Animation and Films, Molecular Visualization

These are not the only career fields for biology degree holders. With a bachelor’s degree in biology or biological sciences, you can also become a bioethicist, clinical lab scientist, dietician, drug testing/quality control expert, food safety expert, genetic counseling, pharmaceutical researcher, pharmacist’s assistant or zymurgist (beer/winemaker).

Most biology degree careers pay extremely well. In fact, many of them pay well over the national average. The average American earns $46,326 per year and dual earner households average $67,348. Biomechanical engineer, for example, earn $74,920-$114,740 per year and botanists average $72,792 per year.

If you’re interested in a career in biology, you should enroll in a biology degree program at an accredited university. The accrediting agency must be recognized by the Department of Education, so visit U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs for listings.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

A Ph.D. is usually necessary for independent research, particularly in academia, as well as for advancement to administrative positions. A bachelor’s or master’s degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research, product development, management, or inspection; it also may be sufficient to work as a research technician or a teacher. Many with a bachelor’s degree in biology enter medical, dental, veterinary, or other health profession schools, or find jobs as high school science teachers.

If you’re considering an Ph.D., your program will consist of classroom and fieldwork, laboratory research, and a thesis or dissertation. This requires 5-6 years of full-time study. For master’s degrees, two years of intense study is required. Undergraduate biology degree programs require courses in chemistry and biology, mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer science.

For more information about biology degree careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

Your Career, Your Education