Category: Your Workplace (Page 13 of 24)

Art jobs not on the decline, says NEA

August 5, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Many reports have suggested that one of the worst career fields to take up in a bad economy is anything related to art. Well, a recent report by the National Endowment for the Arts says this just isn’t true. Between now and 2018, the report says job growth in artistic fields such as painting photography, and architecture is expected to exceed the average growth rate across all industries. What’s seven more promising is, museum jobs such as archivists and curators are set to grow at nearly double the average rate.

Other art jobs that creatives can count on for future growth are animators, actors, graphic designers, interior designers, writers, interpreters, translators, and landscape architects. Although job growth is promising for these careers, the competition is still fierce. To get your foot in the door, you’ll need more than just talent. A degree and experience are equally as important.

For more information about creative careers, what they pay, and growth projections, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education, Your Workplace

How Do Scientific Staffing Agencies Work?

July 29, 2011 / Michelle Burton

A scientific staffing agency specializes in matching professionals that work in scientific fields with employers in the industry. The types of positions are not limited to biologist, astronomer, meteorologist, engineer, or physicist. Scientific staffing agencies also work with technicians, lab assistants, research assistants, record clerks, and many other entry-level workers in the science sector.

Scientific staffing agencies work with the employee and the employer to find the right match for both parties. Companies, facilities, and organizations sign up with the agency much in the same way as a potential employee does. The agency meets with a representative of the company to assess its needs. If the agency feels like the company would be an asset, the agency will perform a background check on the company and if it passes, the agency will enter into a contract outlining how and under what terms it will help with the company’s staffing needs.

To sign up with a scientific staffing agency, job seekers must begin by submitting a resume and references. Once the agency has verified an applicant’s employment history and references, he or she will be invited to interview. At this point, the applicant may be asked to take a series of skill tests and sign an authorization for a background check. In most cases, a drug test and credit check may be required as well.

Once the process is complete, the agency will begin searching its database for possible matches. Scientific staffing agencies work with hundreds of employers on a daily basis, so many job seekers end up working multiple temporary assignments before the agency finds a permanent match. Temporary workers typically work assignments that last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. In some cases, these assignments lead to a permanent position.

Whether you’re a temporary worker or the agency places you in a permanent position, you will never have to pay a fee for their services. Salaries and fees are paid by the hiring company, organization, or facility.

How to Locate Scientific Staffing Agencies

It’s perfectly ok to use your favorite search engine to locate scientific staffing agencies, but this shouldn’t be your first choice. If at all possible, obtain a referral from a friend, family member or co-worker. Someone with firsthand experience with any given staffing agency is much better than dealing with an agency blind.

If you cannot find a referral, jot down 5-10 agencies that you find online and start researching. Find out how long they’ve been in business, if they are listed with the Better Business Bureau, and if there are any complaints against the company. You should also make sure the company can be reached by phone, email, and fax—not just email. Make sure the company has a physical address/office as well. If there’s a problem, you should have the option to speak with someone in person.

A reputable company will be more than willing to provide answers to any questions you may have and they are even willing to provide their own references and testimonials for you to check out on your own. Remember, if a staffing agency offers vague answers to your questions or if they request a fee, chances are it’s not an agency you want to do business with.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Network, Your Workplace

Non-Profit Management Training

July 15, 2011 / Michelle Burton

There are more than 1.4 million non-profit organizations in the U.S., with more than 12.5 million employees. The non-profit sector expends $120 billion in annual personnel costs and represents $340 billion in total annual budget outlays. This means, if you’re lucky enough to land a job with a religious organization, hospital, university, foundation, or other non-profit organization, you can expect stability, salary growth, employment growth, and a variety of positions to choose from.

Most non-profit management personnel have an MBA in non-profit management. These professionals typically hold positions such as assistant director of fundraising, program analyst, program director, program officer, marketing/research manager, director, community outreach coordinator, finance director, director of information systems or director of public relations.

How to Find Non-Profit Management Training Programs

Non-profit managers usually hold a non-profit management MBA from an accredited college or university. Today’s MBA student has the option of obtaining a degree on-campus, online, or through a blended format. Blended formats allow students to complete half of the degree on-campus and the other half online. Blended and online formats make it easier for students to work full-time in the field while pursuing an advanced degree.

When searching for non-profit management training programs, try Princeton Review first. This is an excellent source for lists of top business colleges. U.S. News and World Report is also a great source. When you find a school you’re interested in, make sure it’s accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency. Just a few recognized agencies include:

-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)
-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

Many online programs have also been accredited by:

-Distance Education Training Council (DETC)
-Council on Occupational Education (COE)

If you come across a school that has not been accredited by any of the agencies listed above, check the U.S. Department of Education website at ED.gov for a complete list of accrediting agencies.

Non-Profit Management MBA Program Curriculum

Non-profit management MBA programs prepare students for a career in management by teaching everything from business computing and business finance to principles of marketing and principles of management. Online curriculums should require the same courses as on-campus programs, so be sure to check the course listings for the online program you have chosen before beginning the application process. The following is a list of non-profit management degree courses to look for:

-Business Computing
-Business Finance
-Business Statistics
-Effective Career Management
-Entrepreneurship
-Human Resource Management
-International Business
-Legal Environment Business
-Organizations: Structures & Behavior
-Principles of Management
-Principles of Marketing
-Writing and Speaking for Business

If you would like more information about non-profit management MBA degrees or careers, the following websites might be useful visit the U.S. Department of Labor website at www.bls.gov.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Education, Your Workplace

Benefits of Foreign Language Programs

July 14, 2011 / Michelle Burton

The United States is home to the fifth highest population of Hispanics in the world. As of 2009, 44 million Hispanics lived in the U.S. and this number is expected to increase to over 100 million by 2050. Not surprisingly, Spanish is the second most common language in America. Spanish isn’t the only language that’s growing in America. Chinese is the third most common language in the country, followed by French, then German, Tagalog (spoken in the Philippines), Vietnamese, Italian, Korean, Russian, Polish, and Arabic.

With so many languages and cultures flourishing in the U.S., businesses, colleges, government organizations, and others feel that being bilingual, or even multilingual, is an asset. In many instances, companies will hire a bilingual or multilingual candidate over one that speaks only one language—even if the candidates’ backgrounds are nearly identical.

In addition to being a plus in the working world, there are a number of jobs for individuals with a degree in foreign language. These jobs are available in education, government, aviation, law, the arts, finance, journalism, tourism, social service, customer service, and many others. Just a few job titles for foreign language graduates are foreign service officer, foreign service peacekeeping, air-traffic assistant, paralegal, art dealer, importer/exporter, professor, consultant, international banking officer, cultural attaché, linguist, interpreter or translator, customs/immigration officer, travel writer, foreign exchange trader, UNESCO official, and foreign diplomat.

While a foreign language degree is the minimum requirement for some of the positions listed above, a degree in say finance, along with fluency in or a certificate in a foreign language might be the only requirements. If you already speak a second language such as Spanish, but have never taken a Spanish class, that doesn’t mean you can teach Spanish. In a language program, you’ll learn the technical aspects of the language and the proper way to speak it.

The type of foreign language program you should take will depend on what you plan to do once you’ve learned a second language. If you plan to learn a second language for personal growth, taking a foreign language program at a language center or community college may be sufficient. If you prefer to work independently, you can purchase any number of language learning software packages online or at your local software emporium, bookstore, or electronics store. If you plan to make a career of it, a foreign language program at a two- or four-year college is your best bet.

Some of the best colleges for foreign language majors are:

-Georgetown University
-University of Chicago
-Harvard University
-Princeton University
-Columbia University New York
-Stanford University
-Brown University
-Tufts University
-University of Colorado
-Southern Methodist University
-Dartmouth College
-Brigham Young
-University of California-Berkeley
-University of Pittsburgh
-University of Rochester
-Duke University
-Vanderbilt University
-The University of Texas

A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language takes four to five years to complete. Colleges that offer the program online may offer the option to take an accelerated program, which means, you can complete the program in two to three years, with no breaks.

For more information about language in America, visit the U.S. Census Bureau Language Use page at http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/language/.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Education, Your Workplace

Career Spotlight: Pediatric Travel Nurse

July 11, 2011 / Michelle Burton

There are more than 75.2 million children in the U.S. today and this figure is expected to increase to 81.7 million over the next decade. Unfortunately, there are a number of top health problems affecting children across the U.S. today that could have an impact on these figures. Childhood obesity, smoking, drugs, psychological stress, depression, eating disorders, suicide, autism, childhood cancer, and food contamination are just a few. Fortunately, because treatment options are quite different for children than they are for adults, there is an entire field devoted to caring for children’s health needs.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine concerned with the care and development of children and with the prevention and treatment of children’s diseases. The doctors and nurses that work in this field are qualified to work with both adults and children, but they specialize in the prevention and treatment of children’s diseases. While all doctors and nurses are qualified to work with both children and adults, most facilities separate the two.

Working with sick or injured infants and children calls for a somewhat different set of personal attributes that are common among pediatricians and pediatric nurses. Pediatricians and pediatric nurses must be patient, they must be passionate about working with children, and they must have the ability to communicate with children at all age levels. Because pediatric nurses meet with or talk to dozens of parents on a daily basis, they must also be skilled at communicating with parents about their child’s condition, health, and treatment in a clam and effective manner.

In addition to special personal attributes, pediatric nurses must have a specific educational background and training. Most pediatric nurses complete a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) followed by a master of science in nursing (MSN) with a focus in pediatric care. This means, aspiring pediatric nurses must complete anywhere from 5-6 years of study, which includes supervised clinical experience in pediatrics. Pediatric travel nurses must also obtain the RN (registered nurse) or the LPN (licensed practical nurse) designation. Each state has its own licensing requirements, so you must contact your state nursing board for details. To locate your state nursing board click here for listings or visit the Nursing Center at www.nursingcenter.com.

The path from nursing student to pediatric nurse is a long and arduous one, so many nursing students never make it to graduation. Others may take several additional years to complete the program. As a result, nursing schools have a tough time keeping up with the demand for skilled pediatric nurses. To help with staffing needs, hospitals, clinics, private practices, and other health care facilities routinely call upon pediatric travel nurses to fill the void. So, if you are one of the lucky few that make it to graduation, you can look forward to an unlimited number of travel nurse opportunities.

Pediatric travel nurses must have the same qualifications and skills as home-based nurses, only pediatric travel nurses travel across the U.S. to fill in at facilities that are short staffed. Pediatric travel nurse assignments usually last a minimum of 13 weeks, but it is not uncommon for an assignment to last up to 26 weeks or more.

Pediatric travel nurses are in high demand all over the U.S., but the demand is highest in the nations 30 largest metropolitan areas. These include: Phoenix, AZ., Los Angeles, CA., Riverside, CA., Sacramento, CA., San Diego, CA., San Francisco, CA., Denver, CO., Washington, DC., Miami, FL., Orlando, FL., Tampa, FL., Atlanta, GA., Chicago, IL., Boston, MA., Detroit, MI., Minneapolis, MN., Kansas City, MO., St. Louis, MO., Las Vegas, NV., New York, NY., Cincinnati, OH., Cleveland, OH., Columbus, OH., Portland, OR., Philadelphia, PA., Pittsburgh, PA., Dallas, TX., Houston, TX., and Seattle, WA. Travel nurse agencies dispatch pediatric travel nurses to these large metropolitan areas and other areas by way of auto or plane, depending on where the travel nurse is located.

Once the pediatric travel nurse has been offered an assignment, the travel nurse agency pays for transportation to and from the assignment, housing, meals, health insurance, and savings. Pediatric travel nurses also receive a number of bonuses such as signing bonuses, completion bonuses, and referral bonuses. In addition, pediatric travel nurses can expect to earn around 15 percent more than home-based pediatric nurses depending on experience, facility, and agency. The average median salary for pediatric nurses is $59,571. It is important to note that pediatric nurses tend to learn less overall than most other nurses.

To become a pediatric travel nurse, you should begin by enrolling in an accredited nursing program. Nursing programs are readily available at 2-year and 4-year colleges, universities, technical schools, and career schools. Once you have located a program of interest, all you have to do is check to make sure the program is accredited by a recognized agency such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Check with the U.S. Department of Education for an official list of agencies at www.ed.gov.

Once you have completed your program(s) and supervised clinical experience, you may sign up with one of more than 300 travel nurse agencies across the U.S. A simple Google search will provide listings for travel nurse agencies in your area. In the meantime, just a few top travel nurse agencies include:

For more information about pediatric travel nursing, or to keep up with the latest news and trends in travel nursing visit Travelnursing.com.