Choose Your Career

Like many things, discovering how to get paid to play sounds too good to be true. The fact of the matter, though, is that it’s not too good to be true. Things that are too good to be true would be things that promise results without any work. You can discover how to find a career you will enjoy each day as long as you put in a little bit of work in finding out what that career is. So how can you discover a fun job that feels like play time and is actually a career? Think About It – I know, it sounds like work. If you put some serious time and thought into figuring out what you like to do, though, you can then put some serious thought into how you can make your hobby into a paying career. Only serious self reflection will tell you what you view as play. So think about your hobbies and don’t leave anything out. If it’s snowboarding, you could be a snowboarding instructor, etc.  Take a Test Trial Run – Many ideas have a way of sounding glamorous but when … [Read more...] about Discovering How to Get Paid To Play

Some time ago, in a typical morning session with a bunch of rebellious teens, one of my many “admirers” shouted at me, “You needs to stop riding our backs and get yo'self a real job!” After I politely put her in her place (and corrected her grammar), I assured her that substitute teaching was a real job; and I assure you too. :-)BACKGROUND...Substitute teachers are like understudies are to actors.  It's estimated that by the time that most students graduate from high school, they will have spent the equivalent of one year under the instruction of a substitute teacher. Yet, substitutes remain an enigma. For example, did you know that in many states Subs are required to have a four-year degree and hold a certificate in substitute teaching before they enter the classroom? Or that Subs can earn full time pay for part-time hours? Or that these professionals are considered as part of the “real” teachers' union? Why So Many are Transitioning to this … [Read more...] about Substitute Teaching – The Perfect Job?

What does the future hold as far as education is concerned?  If you have the right degree, the future may bring many exciting career opportunities your way. Not surprisingly, most of the promising up and coming degrees have a lot to do with the technology field, green living and healthcare. Check out some of the great career fields of the future. If you chose one of these paths now, chances are you will have a great career for many years to come. 1.    Green JobsEveryone knows that going green is the future. While the trend is catching on and becoming more and more popular each day, it is no wonder that this will be one of the most important career paths of the future. There are many lucrative jobs to get into when it comes to being green, such as a Biologist, Food Scientist and Biochemical Engineer. There are also jobs in Green energy and even Marketing, in which you would market and convince others to buy and use green products. The average mean annual wages for … [Read more...] about Career Fields of the Future

Believe it or not, there are still some very solid career choices out there. While many jobs are going up in smoke, medical assisting jobs are going strong. Since the 1950’s, medical assistants have been a vital part of the medical industry. Doing everything from filing paperwork to running medical tests, they help keep any medical facility running smoothly. If you’ve been thinking about a career change and the following 5 benefits appeal to you, then it may very well be something you should consider. Job Growth and StabilityAccording to United Stats Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for medical assistants is quite impressive. In fact, it’s projected to have one of the fastest job growths all the way through to the year 2018. From 2008 to 2018, it was expected that medical assistant employment would grow 34%. With the ever-growing technologies in the healthcare industry, the number of aging citizens and rising numbers of medical conditions like diabetes; … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons to Consider Becoming a Medical Assistant

You should consider some interesting facts about nursing assistants if you are thinking of a career as a nursing assistant or know someone who works as a CNA.  A CNA is someone who provides basic care (typically non-medical care) for patients in hospitals, nursing care facilities and home-health settings.  They work closely with nurses and other members of the healthcare team to keep a patient safe and comfortable when they are ill or injured.  There are probably many things you do not know about nursing assistants. 1.    If you think a career as a certified nursing assistant is not an important career; think again.  Nursing assistants are a vital part of the healthcare team for patients and clients in a variety of healthcare settings.  You can make a difference in the lives of patients of all ages when working as a nursing assistant. 2.    There are about 1.5 million jobs in the United States, filled by certified nursing assistants, nursing aides and psychiatry aides.  Enrolling … [Read more...] about 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Nursing Assistants

Nanotechnology? Huh?Have you grown weary of reading all those “hot jobs for 2012 (or whatever)” lists? Is it me or do they always have careers in which I wouldn’t be remotely interested or others I’m convinced someone is making up? A recent Wall Street Journal article, “What Will Be the Hot Jobs of 2018?”by Sue Shellenbarger, discusses some of the hottest careers coming up. Don’t get me wrong, I do think these articles are extremely helpful for young people who are poised to choose a career. They can inform and help students gear their curriculum towards jobs that might actually hire and pay decently in the future. But for an aging worker/sometime job-seeker like me, even the idea of “nanotechnology” as a career makes me cranky. In past posts, I’ve written about some dream jobs, “I Want a TV Job” and careers that might be appealing if I ever decide what I want to do next, “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow … [Read more...] about An “Alternative” Hot Jobs Forecast

Utilize That Fork in the Road to Decide I’ll start with a disclaimer - I’m not a career coach. I’m a psychotherapist and have counseled people about work-related issues, like stress, improving interactions with co-workers, etc. But my experience is in the clinical rather than the business sphere.Having had about a zillion jobs, I am somewhat of an expert on zigzagging career paths. A recent personal “fork in the road” has made me re-evaluate the type of work (besides writing, which I love, but doesn’t pay the bills yet) I might want to do. And since I won’t be able to retire until I’m 92, I’d like to explore some new, interesting work- something more than a paycheck, but maybe less than a “calling.” We’ve all heard career advice that says that you should think about what type of work you would do even if you weren’t getting paid. Starting there, my list would be:* Working around horses (I never did get … [Read more...] about What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?