Skills

Unlocking The Value Of A “Career College” Degree In Today’s Economy

May 8, 2024 by Tim McMahon

As the 1960s Bob Dylan song says The Times They are a-changin’. Today an ordinary Bachelor of Arts degree doesn’t carry much weight. But a practical degree from a “Career College” that teaches you real-life skills can be much more valuable.

Navigating the Job Market through Upskilling

In a landscape where job stability is increasingly rare, the significance of education and skill enhancement is more critical than ever. Acquiring new, relevant skills or honing existing ones offers a tangible path to securing stable employment. It’s about making oneself indispensable in roles that are in demand, regardless of economic fluctuations.

Understanding “Career Colleges”

Career colleges, often misunderstood and undervalued, offer a unique value proposition. These programs aim to equip students with highly sought-after practical skills in shorter timeframes than traditional four-year educational institutions provide. These colleges focus on hands-on training and real-world applications, preparing students for specific careers quickly and effectively.

Career colleges offer specialized training in fields that are in high demand, such as cybersecurity, office administration, graphics design, web design, data analytics, and healthcare management. This prepares students for careers in emerging industries and fields.

Career colleges also prioritize job readiness, ensuring that students are prepared to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. This often includes training in soft skills, resume building, and interview preparation.

Transform Your Career by Passing Microsoft AZ-900 Certification Exam

August 9, 2021 by Guest Contributor

Career transformation often involves studying and upgrading your skills. It also involves making either your current employer or potential employers aware of those skills. That is where a high-quality certificate like the AZ-900 from Microsoft can help.

In this article, we’re going to discuss the Microsoft AZ-900 certification exam, but there are a variety of other Microsoft Certifications that can open all sorts of different doors for you.

What This Qualifying Exam Entails

The AZ-900 “Azure fundamentals certification” exam covers the critical basics regarding cloud services and how they relate to the Microsoft Azure platform. Thus, beginners are best suited to take it because it’s a great way to cover the basic issues about solutions and services associated with the cloud. According to Microsoft, “Candidates for this exam should have a foundational knowledge of cloud services and how those services are provided with Microsoft Azure. The exam is intended for candidates who are just beginning to work with cloud-based solutions and services or are new to Azure.”

20-25% of the test involves describing cloud concepts such as [Read more…] about Transform Your Career by Passing Microsoft AZ-900 Certification Exam

Dealing with Workplace Stress and Squabbles

December 16, 2017 by Guest Contributor

It’s natural to have your ups and downs with fellow employees. You’re brought together by work and shared strategic goals, but your personalities and temperaments may not always mesh as well as you’d like. And you likely have differing opinions and ways of getting things done than a co-worker, too. So even though you may love your job, sometimes the worst part is just getting along with your teammates.

While you can’t avoid strife entirely, you should work to resolve any differences as quickly as possible and improve communication skills from both sides of the disagreement. If you don’t, it’s likely that a simple argument can lead to bigger issues that get in the way of productivity and creativity.

For starters, remember that a calm, rational person is easier to deal with—and that includes you. Whenever tempers rise, give yourself some space to lower them again before you try to resolve things. What else can you do at work to get through arguments? This graphic can help.

You are not alone:

The first key is to realize that you are not alone 85 percent of employees experience conflict at some point. As a matter of fact, I would dare to say that the 15% who say they don’t ever have conflict are either lying, dead or take high doses of Valium.

As a matter of fact U.S. employees spend 2.8 hours out of every week dealing with some sort of conflict. If it gets bad enough it can cause ulcers, and other stress related illnesses resulting in absence from work or even permanent illness.

Most workplace conflict exists in entry level or front line roles. Perhaps this is due to lower education levels, less experience in dealing with others or simply the nature of dealing with customers all day.

Or perhaps it is due to personality conflicts, warring egos, stress, and heavy workloads.

54% of employees feel that their managers could do a better job of managing conflict.

So what can you do to reduce conflict?

According to Cafe Quill the key to resolving workplace squabbles like an adult is to:

Calm down, and then tackle the issue-
If you find yourself in an argument, take a few minutes to create some space and clear your head. If you receive an email from a coworker that bothers you, don’t respond right away. Put the issue to the side until you’re able to look at it more objectively.
State your case thoughtfully-
When it’s time to meet and talk it out, make sure you think through your words first. Be tactful instead of automatically playing the blame game. Realize that some people are more sensitive, so even if you tend to be straightforward and serious, it’s a good idea to be diplomatic.
Look at the problem, not the person-
If you’re butting heads with a specific colleague, it’s easy to bring judgments into the picture. Do your best to stay focused on the situation and untie it from the person you have personality issues with.
Be forward thinking-
View conflict as an opportunity to focus on the future and fixing the problem to avoid a recurrence, versus getting stuck in the past and getting into a “he said, she said” scenario. For instance, if there was a misunderstanding about delegating a project, identify where the issue went astray, and focus on how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Listen up-
Before jumping in with your own thoughts and concerns, give active listening a shot: Refrain from speaking and really take note of what the other person is saying about the conflict. Maybe your boss won’t allow you to hire someone you need on the team. Make a conscious effort to hear him or her out and think about the reasons why you weren’t given a budget for a hire, versus jumping directly to assumptions, like “My boss is so cheap and controlling and doesn’t understand what I need!”
Pick your battles-
You’re not going to win every argument or feel 100 percent in agreement at work. Challenges are normal, and not everything is going to end on a high note and make you feel fully satisfied. That’s okay. Pick your battles. Work toward resolving the challenges that could have serious repercussions, including decreased productivity, poor performance, and work dissatisfaction.
Celebrate agreement-
Once you come to an agreement, acknowledge that you both (or all) worked through the discomfort to come out of the situation with more clarity and less stress. Grab lunch or an after-work drink to make amends and keep moving forward.

There’s no way around it: Workplace conflict happens. So rather than try to avoid it at all costs, use these tips to approach tension in a healthier way and make the relationship with your colleagues and your job as productive as possible. This article originally appeared here.

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Should You Make a Career Change into Tech?

July 17, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Even though there is someone who has made a fortune in almost any industry, not every line of work offers the same prospects for potential advancement, growth and prosperity. Because of this, at one point in their lives, most people come to regret not choosing a different career path. As of late, the IT industry is getting larger by the hour and seems like the promised land for people who have any training or experience in it. However, you may be wondering if it’s possible to make a career change into tech even if you don’t have any previous background in similar fields? Let’s find out!

Advantages of Shifting to IT

Before we even start discussing the idea of switching into tech, we first need to consider motives one might have for making this decision in the first place. For starters, there is a high demand for IT jobs, which means that you shouldn’t have any problems finding the work you’re looking for. In fact, the unemployment rates for top 10 jobs in IT are currently less than 3 percent. According to a U.S. News article the top 10 IT jobs are: [Read more…] about Should You Make a Career Change into Tech?

How to Increase Your Earning Potential

December 28, 2016 by Tim McMahon

We all seem to be too busy, you know how hard it is to find extra time in your schedule to plan any new projects. This is a common problem for people who want to increase their earning potential. You want to improve life for your family, but fitting in new activities seems impossible. Here are four ways you can increase your earning potential while taking care of your family and other responsibilities.

Earn a Certification

If you don’t have time to return to school full-time, you should consider getting certified for a skill or program that’s in demand. This is something you can do by taking a single course. Community colleges commonly offer certification courses. Some possibilities include computer programming languages, Microsoft Office Specialist or Notary Public. If you can’t see yourself taking even a single course, you can do [Read more…] about How to Increase Your Earning Potential

Becoming a Good Mentor

May 10, 2016 by Tim McMahon

Serving as a mentor in business can be rewarding and valuable for both you and the person to whom you are providing this service. Becoming a good mentor requires thinking about the qualities that have enabled you to be successful in business in the first place. If you are looking to lead others through the path you followed, research your own success and use these skills to offer good advice and become respected in your community.

Leadership

Skilled leaders draw followers and are often sought as mentors. They understand the need to show both confidence and compassion when making decisions. They are not above doing tasks themselves, but are also confident enough to delegate responsibility and not micromanage. Effective leaders understand the benefit of hiring team members who shore up their strengths and are not threatened by such individuals. Demonstrating this balance of strength and humility to mentees is incredibly valuable. If you are serious about strengthening these skills before offering advice, see if getting a master in leadership online or from a local course could help develop and hone these skills.

Accountability

As a mentor, it is important to demonstrate both a willingness to accept responsibility for your mistakes and the mistakes of your direct reports as well as an ability to develop solutions to avoid similar future occurrences. In addition, providing the necessary training and tools for your team members to do their jobs well is critically important.

Building Relationships

Developing a strong and trusting relationship with individuals being mentored as well as colleagues, superiors, and subordinates is significant in the business world. A successful leader and mentor will provide a safe and trusting environment in which to ask any questions comfortably and learn from the discussion. A strong mentor will truly listen with interest, empathy and concern for the individual and provide information and guidance based on experience. The mentor will display consistent patience.

Be Current

Be current with the latest industry trends, staff development concepts, tools, and technology. A true mentor wants to pass on their wisdom and knowledge, but recognizes the importance of consistently keeping their skill set refined and current.

Diversity is

It is not necessary to mentor someone who is of the same race, gender, socioeconomic background, or educational history. While it’s important for them to relate to each other, diversity actually provides greater perspective and insight. A mentor is like a parent, teacher, and trainer all rolled into one. Lines are blurred, and this should be a more intimate, deeper relationship. This is not contingent on a grade, a promotion, or a familial obligation. An individual being mentored should walk away from the experience feeling more business savvy, confident, and have an enhanced tool kit with which to navigate the business world.

Becoming a business mentor is a great opportunity. If you’ve been sought for advice before, use your current skills and hone the ones you lack to become a more permanent fixture in your industry and a respected mentor to others.

Outside the Box: Employers Aren’t Just Whining: The “Skills Gap” Is Real

August 28, 2014 by Casey Research

By John Mauldin

Paul Krugman and other notables dismiss the notion of a skills gap, though employers continue to claim they’re having trouble finding workers with the skills they need. And if you look at the evidence one way, Krugman et al. are right. But this week an interesting post on the Harvard Business Review Blog Network by guest columnist James Bessen suggests that employers may not just be whining, they may really have a problem filling some kinds of jobs.

Unsurprisingly, the problem is with new technology and the seeming requirement that workers learn new skills on the job – you know, like when the student pilot has to take the helm of a 747 in a disaster movie. Perhaps there’s not quite the same pressure in the office or on the factory floor, but the challenges can be almost as complex. Most of us have had the experience of needing to learn completely new ways of doing things, sometimes over and over again as the technology for whatever we’re doing keeps changing.

The proverb about
[Read more…] about Outside the Box: Employers Aren’t Just Whining: The “Skills Gap” Is Real

15 Great Healthcare Careers

September 13, 2013 by Tim McMahon

With the baby boom generation aging there is more and more demand for healthcare professionals and not just in nursing homes either. Todays seniors are more active (and interested in staying that way) but their bodies aren’t necessarily cooperating. Here are 16 Health Care occupations with good prospects to consider.

1) Audiologists – Audiologists diagnose and treat a patient’s hearing and balance problems using advanced technology and procedures. Their Median Salary in 2010 was $66,660. Becoming an audiologist requires a Doctoral or professional degree. Available jobs are expected to grow much faster than average with an estimated 37% increase during the period from 2010 to 2020. Most audiologists work in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, and audiology clinics.

2) Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists – Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments in patients. They also help physicians treat problems with cardiac and vascular systems, such as blood clots. This position only requires an Associate’s degree and the median salary in 2010 was $49,410. Available jobs are expected to grow much faster than average with an estimated 29% increase during the period from 2010 to 2020. One example of this type of position is an EKG Technician, certifications are available from a variety of different schools including Csinow healthcare career training.

3) Chiropractors- Chiropractors treat patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They use spinal manipulation and other techniques to treat patients’ ailments, such as back or neck pain. To become a Chiropractor requires a Doctoral or Professional degree which involves 7 to 8 years of post–high school study: 3 to 4 years of undergraduate education, followed by a 4-year Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree program. Chiropractors also must be licensed by their state. The median salary in 2010 for a Chiropractor was [Read more…] about 15 Great Healthcare Careers

10 Reasons You Should be Blogging

September 5, 2013 by Guest Contributor

No experience is necessary to become a blogger. So, if you enjoy writing and have a lot to say – what are you waiting for? It could open up a lot of doors…

Here are 10 reasons why you should enter the blogosphere.

1. You can use it as your new CV

Your blog can act as your CV to showcase what you can do by highlighting your skills and capabilities. You never know who might be looking at it – perhaps a potential employer or recruiter? [Read more…] about 10 Reasons You Should be Blogging

What Skills are Needed to Become a Plumber?

August 29, 2013 by Guest Contributor

To become a plumber you may not need any previous experience or academic qualifications, but there will be certain skills you need to demonstrate.

Some courses and apprenticeships may require a number of GCSEs, whereas others are open to everyone. Despite the lack of need for formal qualifications, plumbing isn’t for everyone so you need to evaluate your suitability based on your own individual skill-set.

Note: The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Physical

It may not seem like a particularly physically demanding job at first, but plumbers need to have some dexterity and flexibility. Small confined spaces underneath sinks and round the back of appliances means that you might end up stuck in an uncomfortable position for some length of time.

While it may be awkward, you will still need to be able to do the job in hand. It’s also likely that you’ll need to climb ladders or steps and lift heavy items, so a reasonable level of fitness is essential.

Academic

It may not be necessary to have 10 GCSEs and 4 A Levels to become a plumber, but there are some basic skills you will need, particularly in mathematics.

You’ll probably have to do some arithmetic and use statistics for certain projects but it’s also possible that physics will come into play with fluid movements and pressure. But often tables and standard sizes are available so you probably won’t need to do the calculations yourself.

If you left school without any qualifications in these areas, you may get the chance to show your natural abilities and develop your knowledge on plumbing courses.

Personal

As a plumber, most of your work will be [Read more…] about What Skills are Needed to Become a Plumber?