Page 68 of 93

How to Find the Best Culinary School

March 22, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Cooking School_I

The future looks bright for America’s culinary students. The National Restaurant Association authored a news release stating that the outlook for the restaurant industry showed strong signs of rebounding in 2010. In December, the restaurant performance index rose to its highest level in nearly two years. Not only is the industry expected to do well as the nation forges ahead in 2011, but job growth in the industry is expected to average 6-7 percent between now and 2018.

Salaries are significant for culinary artists as well. The annual average salary for chefs is $38,770. Top chefs earn an average of $66,680 per year and if you plan to start your own business, most chef-owners report earnings of $100,00 or more per year.

Aspiring culinary artists have the right figures on their side, but they can increase their chances of securing a top position even more by choosing the right culinary school. Culinary programs are offered at a variety of institutions such as art and design schools, trade schools, community colleges, and professional career institutes. Degree options include certificate, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in culinary art. Some schools even offer advanced degrees in culinary arts.

When choosing a culinary school, it’s best to stick with accredited culinary art programs. The American Culinary Federation accredits most programs, but not all. So, when you find a school you’re interested in, be sure to check the website for accreditation status and the name of the accrediting agency. You can verify any schools accreditation status, and whether it’s recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, by visiting Ed.gov.

To begin your search for a quality culinary degree program, visit reputable sites such as:

These sites offer free access to college listings and descriptions, peer reviews, ratings, and tuition rates. Once you’ve located a program, take some time out to review the curriculum. Accredited culinary programs typically offer more than 1,000 hours of hands-on training as a part of the curriculum. They also offer similar course curriculums including:

-Advanced Restaurant Cooking
-Baking and Pastry Skill Development
-Cuisines of the Americas, Asia, Italy, and the Mediterranean
-Food Safety
-Menu Development
-Nutrition
-Restaurant Law
-Wine Studies

Most accredited culinary institutes report 90% placement rates for graduates, so check with admissions to see if your selection is in the ballpark.

If you want to take a look at one of the nations top culinary programs, visit the official Culinary Institute of America (CIA) website. This will give you a good idea of what a top culinary program looks like. CIA has campuses in New York, Texas, and California.

Your Career, Your Education

10 Reasons Employers Won’t Hire You

March 18, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Sad Businessman

You curse. You lie. You think nothing of posting risqué photos of yourself on social networking sites. These are just three of the reasons why employer’s won’t hire you. A 2009 CareerBuilder survey revealed that 47 percent of employers said that finding qualified applicant’s is their biggest hiring challenge. The survey also stated that employers are looking for multitaskers, candidates that take initiative, and those with a talent for creative problem solving. What they don’t want are cocky and disinterested candidates with no long-term potential. Their words – not ours! Other turn-offs for potential employers include:

-Not knowing anything about the company
-Being too personal
-Bringing up salary before the employer
-Can’t provide examples of accomplishments
-Lack of experience

If you want to learn more about things not to do to impress a potential employer, read more about the survey here.

Your Career

job interview job market jobs overseas

What are My Options for Tax Debt Relief?

March 17, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Tax_Debt_Relief

Tax debt is monies owed to the IRS originating from any current or past tax returns. Tax debt may include income tax owed combined with any accumulated interest and penalties. It is important to note that not paying your taxes can result in wage garnishments, levies, and long-term damage to your credit report.

There are many reasons why individuals may find themselves with a large amount of tax debt. The inability to pay tax debt may be the result of a layoff or extended periods of unemployment, illness, divorce, an accident, or the mismanagement of funds. Whatever the reason may be for your tax debt, you can find relief through several solutions or sources.

Short-term solutions for tax debt relief include: borrowing from a family member or a friend, selling any valuables for cash (or liquidating), taking out a short-term personal loan, or applying for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) through the IRS.

Applying for an Offer in Compromise

An OIC can provide relief for taxpayers who cannot pay their tax debt in full or if an installment agreement is not an option. An Offer in Compromise is an agreement between the IRS and a taxpayer that resolves the taxpayer’s debt. The fee for filing is $150, but in some cases the fee may be waived.

With an OIC, the IRS can choose to settle the taxpayers debt by accepting less than the full payment if there is: doubt as to liability, doubt as to collectibility, if the collection of the tax would create an economic hardship or if it would be unfair and inequitable. In order to apply for an OIC, taxpayers should fill out Form 656 (and possibly 656-L), available at Irs.gov. If you assistance, please contact an IRS collection representative at 1-800-829-1040, or preferably, a tax attorney or a certified public accountant (CPA).

There are several things to keep in mind when applying for an Offer in Compromise or when seeking assistance with the process. Obtaining approval for an Offer in Compromise is difficult, so if at all possible, think of a Plan B or revisit the list of short-term and long-term solutions to be absolutely sure that you have exhausted all possibilities.

IRS SIGN

When seeking assistance with applying for an OIC, it’s best to avoid services that use the following language “settle your tax debts for pennies on the dollar” through the Offer in Compromise Program. Instead, read through Publication 594 (The IRS Collection Process) and stick with trusted names in the industry. Publication 594 is available at Irs.gov or by calling 1-800-829-3676.

Long-Term and Permanent Solutions for Tax Debt Relief

A common long-term solution for tax debt relief is an IRS installment agreement. An IRS installment agreement, also called payment option, payment plan, and payment agreement is an agreement between the IRS and the taxpayer to make payments on taxes owed. You will be charged a fee, interest and penalties to start the installment agreement. Interest and penalties may be minimized of you are able to resolve your tax debt immediately or in a few of months.

Taxpayers with $25,000 or less in combined tax, penalties, and interest are eligible to use the Internal Revenue Services’ Online Payment Agreement (OPA). You can access the agreement at Irs.gov. If you need further assistance, you can contact an IRS collection representative by calling 1-800-829-1040 or contact a tax attorney or a CPA in your area.

A permanent solution for IRS tax debt relief is tax bankruptcy. In the case of tax bankruptcy, you must contact a tax attorney to assist you with this complicated process. In general, if taxes are old enough they are dischargeable in Chapter 7 — if certain criteria are met.

Uncategorized

Most Executives Entertaining Multiple Job Offers

March 16, 2011 / Michelle Burton

HAPPY EXECUTIVE

Most high-level candidates receive more than one job offer, according to online networking and job site ExecuNet Inc. The company surveyed 380 recruiters and about 51% reported that the executives they work with receive multiple job offers. In 2010, only 35% of search firms worked with executives that received multiple job offers. Although this is good news for executives, overall, the figures still haven’t made their way back to 2007 levels when 80% of search firms reported that the candidates they worked with received multiple job offers.

The jump is still a positive one, and some industries seem to be enjoying it more than others.

“Competition [for candidates] is heating up in some industries,” said ExecuNet president Mark Anderson. Mr. Anderson said that executives in the health-care and technology industries seem to be in high demand, while defense and nonprofit companies are growing the slowest. Among functions, sales and business-development experience are most sought after, although marketing and engineering experience have also seen an increase in demand.

Companies are doing more than just making offers to executives with technology and scientific skill sets. Nearly 60% of recruiters report that companies sweeten the deal by offering perks and increasing compensation, while more than 40% made their offers more attractive by adding signing bonuses. Just last year, less than 30% of companies added incentives such as signing bonuses.

Where you look for a job has a lot to do with how many offers you might receive as well. For example, if you’re an executive with a technology background, you can expect to receive more offers in say DC or New York than Chicago. If you’re an executive in the healthcare field, forget Fresno and head to Florida.

Your Business, Your Career

cool jobs job boards job market tech jobs technology jobs

Benefits of an Education Degree

March 15, 2011 / Michelle Burton

TEACHER

An education degree can lead to a career as an elementary, secondary or postsecondary educator. A career in this field offers growth, stability, and a competitive salary at all levels. In today’s economy, growth and stability are top priorities for job seekers. Job growth in the education sector is expected to average between 13-15 percent between now and 2018. This is faster than the average for all occupations.

Before you can become a member of this respected group of professonals, you will have to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in teacher education. Very few are accepted into this field with an associate’s degree. In fact, more than 90% of teachers enter this career field with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and most hold a master’s degree or doctoral degree. Around 10% hold a first professional degree.

The level of education attained can have a dramatic effect on earning potential. Doctoral degree holders make 30% more than master’s degree holders, and master’s degree holders make 29% more than bachelor’s degree holder’s. Bachelor degree holders earn roughly 18% more than associate degree holders. Coveted positions that offer greater responsibilities and research opportunities are reserved for masters, doctorate, and first professional degree holders.

Earning an Education Degree

To get started on a career as an educator, you should enroll in an accredited bachelor’s degree program or higher in teacher education. The program curriculum will consist advanced versions of the subjects you plan to teach as well as:

-Curriculum Development
-Diversity in the Classroom
-Diversity on the Workplace
-Education of Children
-School Law
-Leadership and Teaching
-Internship

The program should be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) or other Department of Education approved accrediting agency. This will make fulfilling licensure requirements easier. In addition, most schools prefer graduates from accredited programs, whether the program is through a traditional college or university, or online.

Other approved accrediting agencies include:

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

Regional accrediting agencies include Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Postsecondary Education Jobs and Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Median annual earnings of all postsecondary teachers in May 2008 were $58,830. The middle 50 percent earned between $41,600 and $83,960. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,870, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,850.
Earnings for college faculty vary with the rank and type of institution, geographic area, and field. According to a 2008–09 survey by the American Association of University Professors, salaries for full-time faculty averaged $79,439. By rank, the average was $108,749 for professors, $76,147 for associate professors, $63,827 for assistant professors, $45,977 for instructors, and $52,436 for lecturers. In 2008–09, full-time faculty salaries averaged $92,257 in private independent institutions, $77,009 in public institutions, and $71,857 in religiously affiliated private colleges and universities.
Faculty in 4-year institutions earn higher salaries, on average, than do those in 2-year schools. In fields with high-paying nonacademic alternatives—medicine, law, engineering, and business, among others—earnings exceed these averages. In others fields, such as the humanities and education, earnings are lower. Earnings for postsecondary career and technical education teachers vary widely by subject, academic credentials, experience, and region of the country.
Many faculty members have significant earnings from consulting, teaching additional courses, research, writing for publication, or other employment, in addition to their base salary. Many college and university faculty enjoy unique benefits, including access to campus facilities, tuition waivers for dependents, housing and travel allowances, and paid leave for sabbaticals. Part-time faculty and instructors usually have fewer benefits than full-time faculty have.

Elementary, Middle School, and Secondary Jobs and Salaries

Educators interested in or with experience working in inner city schools or rural areas will have the most job opportunities in the coming years. If you are willing to commute or even relocate, you can increase your chances of obtaining a lucrative and stable teaching position. The highest paying metropolitan areas for teachers include Columbus, OH; Baltimore, MD; Cleveland, OH; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA, and Sacramento, CA. Salaries range from an average of $45,000-$50,000+.