careers

Tips for Climbing to the Top of the Ladder

September 22, 2016 by Guest Contributor

Whether you start with a High School degree or a Master’s degree there are avenues to successful careers. Here are 4 different paths to climbing the corporate ladder including where they start and where they end, along with the positions and salaries along the way.

Starting With a High School Degree

Entry-level position: Administrative assistant

One of the few corporate positions open to holders of high school diplomas, administrative assistants perform clerical and organizational duties for other staff. There’s room to move up, but it can require up to five years.

Annual median pay: $36,500

Tip: Show up on time and prepared

Compensate for your lack of formal education with [Read more…] about Tips for Climbing to the Top of the Ladder

6 Great Jobs for Left-Brained People

June 6, 2016 by Tim McMahon

The left brain-right brain theory began with the work of 1981 Nobel Prize winner Roger W. Sperry. Generally speaking, the left side of the brain tends to control many aspects of language, logic, learning and information processing. People who are left brain dominant tend to be more analytical in their thinking and typically perform well academically.

When a person is Right Brain Dominant, they are thought of as dreamers, artists, and musicians since the right side of the brain tends to handle spatial information and visual comprehension. People characterized as being right-brained prefer visual instructions with examples, can memorize music more easily, are more spontaneous and tend to solve problems more intuitively.

Left brained people are often considered smart, because modern education is generally geared toward their strengths such as memorizing information and logic. But this does not actually make them “smarter” it simply allows them to succeed academically easier than their right brained counterparts. They are however able to use their abilities to solve complex problems and these strengths make certain jobs perfect for the left-brained individual. Here are six, high-paying jobs, which would probably suit a left-brained person. [Read more…] about 6 Great Jobs for Left-Brained People

Six Careers for Natural Leaders

May 18, 2016 by Tim McMahon

When choosing a career, it is important that you consider both your interests and strengths. Certain careers are better suited toward people that are naturally strong leaders. If you take the time and consideration to choose carefully, you will be more likely to enjoy what you do and excel at it.

Nurse

We often think of the primary characteristic of a nurse to be compassion but although it may not be obvious at first glance, it is highly beneficial for nurses to also be good leaders, have strong personalities and excellent organizational skills. They often have to keep track of many patients and pay close attention to detail. They have to be effective communicators with patients, their families, doctors, and other supporting staff. And on occasion they need to be forceful in order to ensure the best care for their patients.

Teacher

Teachers are charged with [Read more…] about Six Careers for Natural Leaders

Six of the Most Dangerous Jobs in America

September 23, 2015 by Guest Contributor

Most people know they will be safe when they arrive at work, but that’s not the case for everyone. In order to keep a highly productive society, some of us have to do the extra hard and dangerous jobs. While there are dozens of jobs with some level of danger, these six often pose the most threat to worker safety.

Pilot

There are a variety of different jobs for pilots from flying small private planes in the bush to flying large jumbo jets from city to city. There is always going to be [Read more…] about Six of the Most Dangerous Jobs in America

Tips for Selecting the Right Technical Training Program

January 15, 2014 by Guest Contributor

With the abundance of college graduates with degrees in “soft” subjects like Psychology, Drama, Anthropology, Liberal Arts, English and History unable to find jobs when they graduate you might think that a more job specific major like Business, Economics or Criminal Justice might be more appropriate. But recent findings by Payscale have found that Criminal Justice majors have little advantage over High School grads and end up working security or as entry level police officers, Economics majors “should have learned in Econ 101: In the job market, the supply of econ majors outstrips demand”. And even business majors “need a concentration in quantitative courses such as statistics or finance” in order to succeed.

So unless you want to major in one of the “hard science” subjects like Engineering or Computer Science you might be better off skipping college and attending a Technical School that will train you for a specific profession. ~Tim McMahon, editor.

Technical Training Programs

Technical schools–also known as vocational schools, trade schools or career colleges–prepare students for specific jobs that they can pursue after graduation. Occupations taught at technical schools include electronics technician, automotive technician, welder, paralegal, licensed practical nurse, radiology, medical assistant, hair stylist and truck driver. [Read more…] about Tips for Selecting the Right Technical Training Program

Changing Directions: Five Careers to Get You Ahead

December 11, 2013 by Tim McMahon

As the economy continues to repair itself after the fallout of the 2008 mortgage crisis, many workers are finding that a new career, or a career switch is becoming an ever-more attractive idea. There are many ways to switch careers or begin new paths in life, and here are just a few career options for people hoping to make a positive impact on their future job satisfaction and earnings.

1) Software Developer

Looking at job listings for working in software, you’d hardly know the world is suffering from a recession. Software development is a skill that can be developed at a university, or outside of one (self taught IT workers are very common), and salaries can be very strong. If computers are your passion, this may be the path for you. Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or other device. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Software Developers in 2010 earned an average of $90,530 per year. The BLS projects that the job outlook for 2010 -2020 expects much faster than average growth for the field.

2) Graphic Designer

Aspiring workers in graphic design can expect to [Read more…] about Changing Directions: Five Careers to Get You Ahead

Social Butterfly: 5 Jobs for the Effusive Talker

November 11, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Radio Host

Professional radio hosts make their job look easy, but in reality it’s a job that requires a specific skill set. Staying up-to-date on current events, being aware of popular trends, and conducting live interviews demands an avid talker who’s not afraid to keep the conversations going. A host must also not be afraid of putting their foot in their mouth at times. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the average radio host earns $27,010 per hour, however getting you show “syndicated” can multiply your earnings, top syndicated radio personalities can earn hundreds of thousands per year.

Reporter

For those who enjoy getting to know people through conversation, becoming a reporter offers the perfect opportunity to hone those conversational skills. Reporters do more than investigate stories, and write compelling articles. Using journalistic training and a desire to know more, reporters get to the heart of interesting people and things by [Read more…] about Social Butterfly: 5 Jobs for the Effusive Talker

What’s the Latest Buzz on Online Medical Education

October 31, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The advent of the internet and personal computers revolutionized the way we receive information. Modern technology makes it possible to educate and train the next generation of health care providers in a virtual classroom (such as those at CNACertification-Training.com). While online education creates opportunities for many people, especially those unable to pursue an education otherwise, it does not come without challenges and concerns. Many professionals are concerned that the quality of education received online may be substandard. Lack of personal interaction, potential academic dishonesty, and inadequate training of instructors bring into question the reliability of these distant learning programs.

Team Work

A universal concern among skeptics of online curriculum is the seeming lack of interpersonal interaction between peers, students, and faculty. There is doubt that online programs provide the necessary training to prepare students for working as part of a group. All healthcare workers are part of a team of professionals providing patient care. Learning to communicate and cooperate with others is essential to building a cohesive unit, and without it, patient care suffers. An online classroom generally does not afford the opportunity of face-to-face collaboration. And an individual, knowledgeable in theory, may yet be ill equipped to work with others. Most online programs deal with this issue through the use of online forums requiring students to post a certain number of comments on each assignment. This allows students to provide and receive feedback on their ideas from other students and the professor.

The Honor Code

Academic honesty is another concern. The anonymity provided by [Read more…] about What’s the Latest Buzz on Online Medical Education

Should You Become a Storage Buyer?

October 31, 2013 by Guest Contributor

With the popularity of shows such as the reality TV smash hit “Storage Wars“, more people are considering a full-time or part-time career as a storage buyer. Storage buyers are individuals who go to storage auctions that sell unpaid and abandon storage units by auctioning them off to the highest bidder. Prior to bidding on storage units, bidders are allowed to walk through the storage facility to take a quick glimpse at the contents of each storage unit. However during this quick glimpse, it is difficult to see the unit’s full contents, and most of the time bidders are not permitted to physically enter the storage units. If you are considering becoming a storage buyer there are a few questions you should ask yourself first.

Do You Have the Appropriate Knowledge, Tools, and Space?

Is important to know becoming a storage buyer will not be an overnight get-rich-quick plan but you can start small and work your way up. If it is a career choice you would like to seriously consider, first ask yourself if you have the knowledge, tools, and space required to do the job well. The knowledge would be the ability to spot antiques and memorabilia, even when only seeing a small portion of the items. If you purchased or bid on a storage locker without having the knowledge of valuable brands, memorabilia, and antiques you will have to invest additional fees to have the items you win appraised. As far as tools, you will need to ensure you have a vehicle large enough to transport the items you win. You also need the appropriate space to store your storage unit’s contents until you are able to resell them elsewhere. Keep in mind that some valuables will require a temperature controlled environment.

Are You Willing to Gamble with Your Money?

Becoming a storage buyer is in essence becoming a full-time gambler. Some units you bid on will have visible, valuable collectibles, while others may have something such as a vintage military storage locker that you place a high bid on in hopes that its contents are filled with military memorabilia. However, this is a [Read more…] about Should You Become a Storage Buyer?

Five Careers to Put Your Engineering Degree to Good Use

October 23, 2013 by Guest Contributor

When students choose to pursue a degree in engineering, many doors open for job opportunities in the various specialties of this broad field. Although the nature of the work depends on the specialized profession, nearly all careers in engineering involve making a difference in many peoples’ lives directly or indirectly. In order to help you find a career that is right for you, please read on to find five different careers that will put your engineering to good use.

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers design and analyze solutions for problems in the medical and biological fields, with the goal of improving the efficiency of healthcare. Biomedical engineers team up with scientists and chemists to design medical products, such as [Read more…] about Five Careers to Put Your Engineering Degree to Good Use