Teaching Degrees - When You're Short On Time

While jobs are widely available for those with teaching degrees, and teaching degrees are now offered online as well as at traditional colleges and universities, deciding in which teaching field to specialize can be difficult. No matter which teaching degrees interest you, all of them will require several years of dedicated work to obtain.

Online Degree Programs

If getting a teaching degree online is the best option svailable to you, you will have to spend time researching the various online universities and their teaching degree programs. Consider hoe many online teaching degree courses you can comfortably fit into your schedule, and if those courses will be transferable to a traditional college or university if things chance and you want to pursue your teaching degree full-time.

Verify that the online school you are considering is accredited by the Distance Training and Education Council; the DTEC will let you know if that school's teaching degrees are accepted under state teaching certification requirements. Talk to other students who have completed teaching degrees with the different online programs and see what their real-world experience has been in finding employment.

If, on the other hand, you are considering one of the teaching degrees offered by a traditional institution of higher learning, you can expect to take between four and five years to qualify. While this may be fine for those just out of high school at the beginning their adult lives, there are many people who would like to return to school to complete teaching degrees. Perhaps they are unhappy in their careers, or simply would like the security of teaching degrees to fall back on if, as is happening to more and more people, their current jobs are eliminated.

Accelerated Teaching Degrees

For those individuals, having to attend school for four or more years to get heir teaching degrees is not feasible. And many educational institutions, both online and traditional, recognize their dilemma and now offering accelerated teaching degree curricula.

Depending on the individual's ability to work hard, and the classes available to him or here, accelerated teaching degree programs can be completed in less than two years. Designed for mature adults, the programs offer flexible scheduling and terms of shorter duration than the typical semesters or quarters on which normal teaching degree programs are structured.

Some colleges will give credit life and professional experience toward accelerated teaching degrees; this is true for both brick-and-mortar and online degree programs. But once again, make sure any online accelerated teaching degree program in which you are interested is accredited by the DETC. And if getting a teaching degree is designed to qualify you for a work promotion, make sure your company will also accept your online degree as legitimate.

Careers in Radiologic Technology (X-ray)

The field of radiologic (x-ray) technology offers an excellent career option to those interested in the allied health field. An x-ray technician, or radiologic technologist, is the individual responsible for performing diagnostic x-ray procedures in hospitals, physician offices, and outpatient imaging centers.

The training period for an x-ray technologist is usually 2-4 years in an accredited college or hospital based radiologic technology program. Training will be split between classroom instruction and hands on clinical training in a healthcare setting. The x-ray student will obtain a thorough working knowledge of radiographic physics and anatomy, radiation safety, proper patient positioning and technique, quality control, and darkroom skills. In addition, the student will receive instruction in infection control, sterile technique, body mechanics, and patient privacy. The successful student will also possess good communication skills and demonstrate an ability to quickly adapt to different situations.

On completion of training, the x-ray technologist will be eligible to take a national registry examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. This is a comprehensive examination which will address many of the skills required of the x-ray technologist. Successfully passing the registry examination will allow the student to add the designation RT to their name to signify that they are credentialed as a registered radiologic technologist. Many states will also require a state licensure for radiologic technologists. The requirements for state licensure and continuing education will vary from state to state, however licensure is generally necessary for employment in states that require it.

The employment prospects for radiologic technologists will tend to remain strong due to the health care needs of our aging population. While most x-ray technicians are employed by hospitals, a significant number are employed by freestanding imaging centers and outpatient clinics. Others may find employment in private physician offices such as orthopedic or urologic practices, portable x-ray services, or in sales support.

The x-ray technician has a number of opportunities for advancement by acquiring proficiency in specialized diagnostic imaging areas. Among them are MRI, Cat Scan, Mammography, and interventional radiology. These fields require specialized training that may be acquired through on the job training or additional college or trade school based programs. The technician will be eligible to take an additional registry examination for the specialties listed above that will identify them as proficient in that area. Generally speaking the more specialties an x-ray technologist can demonstrate proficiency in, the greater the employment options are.

Attack Of The QSR and Why Quick Serve Restaurants Rule!

QSR or quick serve restaurants are here to stay. Love them or hate them, fast food is "where it's at". This segment of the food service industry is growing more rapidly than any other area with sales forecasted near $145 billion this year. And this comes at a time in our society where watching what you eat and counting calories is a daily occurrence for most of us.

As a restaurant management recruiter, I have seen the interest in QSR candidates explode throughout the nation. Never has there been this kind of job need in the country for such a specialized group of individuals. Although it may not be a sexy profession to most, it is in fact a precious commodity.

The truth is that QSR have been around since 1912 and because we are predominantly lazy in our "Americanized" lives, it will only grow bigger and bigger. Sure we could eat healthier if we prepared meals ourselves, but the monopolies that control our produce and meat industries make it very unfeasible for the average family to eat healthy ALL of the time. They encourage us to inflate our waistlines and increase our fat intake because of the price factor.

While inflation goes up and the prices of our purchases increase, the majority of people find their salaries lagging. I remember as a child in the 1980's when inflationary pay raises were standard. These weren't performance reviews and everyone got what was called "the cost of living" raise. Those were the great times and I don't think we will ever see a compassionate corporate America like that ever again.

So because of the price point at most QSR, we continue to frequent them and show no signs of slowing down. We simply can't afford to eliminate them from our lives, even if we wanted.

And we are lazy.

Although the nutritional value has been increased in most QSR concepts, actually the non-nutritional items like trans fats and other preservatives have been decreased or eliminated; I believe it is the service factor that has garnered more attention. Never have you been able to visit a fast food chain and get your order quickly, accurately and with a smile. Yes, I said "A SMILE"! There is so much focus on providing GREAT service in the QSR now, that I think the improved service levels coupled with an expanded "health conscience" menu will only hurt the casual dining concepts in the future.

Meanwhile, the casual dining concepts are slugging it out and becoming increasingly more aware of their weaknesses and taking action. When was the last time that McDonalds announced they were laying off 4000 people because their same store sales sucked and they didn't do enough demographic research before sinking $2 million in to building a unit on leased land? Never, because they are smart. They don't chase the money and their customers. Instead their customers find them and beg them to take their money and do it quick! Really, it is the best business concept out there and probably always will be.

Lets face it, the fast food industry is here to stay and it will continue to become more important to our way of life in the future.

And we are still lazy!

Ironically - Virtual Bookkeeping Jobs Are Numerous

Bookkeeping is a very profitable skill. It's no surprise every business needs a bookkeeper, so a good bookkeeper will rarely have trouble finding a conventional job. But did you know that virtual bookkeeping jobs are increasingly available and necessary?

If you think about it, bookkeeping from home makes total sense. You will be hard pressed to find companies whose accounting systems are not computer-based. Every companies ultimate goal is to cut costs and increase profits. So in order to keep these overhead costs low, many companies are willing to hire work at home employees these days. So it only stands to reason that many businesses would be interested in providing someone with the right skills and knowledge with a virtual bookkeeping job. If you are half awake, you should be able to see the potential in this opportunity. So now that we have established the need and demand for this virtual career, let us get into the how .

How to Find a Bookkeeping Job

Getting a virtual bookkeeping job should not be all that difficult if you have the required training and software. A search of online job boards such as craigslist.com, monster.com, etc. will often bring up multiple listings. But if you really want to be proactive, posting your resume to various online resume databases of the major job sites could bring better results. Too often companies fear posting work at home jobs due to overwhelming response, so they instead they go in search of their ideal candidates using resume databases. Posting your resume where they can find it just may result in them beating down your door.

Going the freelance route can also be a good option for bookkeepers. Instead of doing books for one big business, you could take on several smaller clients with simpler needs. If you prefer to work as an independent contractor, this might be an option for you to consider.

At the end of the day virtual bookkeeping jobs are a lucrative way to work from home if you have the experience. If you possess the right skills and excel at working unsupervised, bookkeeping from home could be the perfect job for you.

Work For Your Country: Temporary Government Job

It is an acknowledged fact that The US Government is the largest employer in America with over 1.8 million employees working for them at any given time. The vast majority of these people are permanent employees from very different walks of life, educational backgrounds and skills, but every single one of them contributes to the running of the country effectively. They earn, on average, between $20,000 and $55,000 and have a full range of benefits at their disposal. However, it can actually be difficult to begin working for the government if you explore the traditional routes and look for permanent employment first time. This is not the case if you apply for a temporary government job and look to work your way up.

Ways To Apply For A Temporary Government Job

There are various resources you can use to secure a temporary government job. The first and most logical place to look is online. Jobs databases will have a whole host of opportunities listed, including temporary government jobs. You just have to enter the type of job that you are looking for into the search engine on the site and it will bring the results you desire back, as well as offering hints and tips on how to apply for a temporary government job.

There are other entry routes into temporary government jobs. For example, there are programs set up that aim at students. Internships are designed to attract the most highly skilled students so that the government can then choose between them and secure the services of the most talented. There are also summer programs, volunteer programs and various other schemes deigned to attract students and recent graduates in the hope that a temporary government job will lead to something more in the future.

There are several areas that a temporary government job can cover. Most jobs are in research, human resources and similar areas that can give individuals a taste of what it is like working for them and contributing to the country in a productive way. A temporary government job will often lead to a permanent contract or an extended contract on a specialist program. It appears that this is the only way into the government with terrorism as much of a concern as it is these days. As a result, anyone wishing to break into it should definitely look at a temporary government job as an entry point. This may also help you to bypass the competition for jobs that exists in this area now.

Getting a temporary government job can be a hard task with ongoing aptitude tests, background checks and various interviews, but it would definitely be worth all of the hassle in the end. You can build a career from the ground upwards. You should actively look for an advantage though and do what you can to get into that field.

Graduate Finance Jobs - 8 Options in the Financial Sector

If you are thinking of applying for a graduate finance job it's often difficult to understand which area of the financial sector would suit you best. We've found eight popular areas that might appeal to you when applying for jobs.

Audit – auditors are the referees of the financial world, they are responsible for making sure everyone follow the law as well as helping companies run their business more efficiently. They can either work for the company itself or an external firm. They carry out reports and assessments where about how the business can improve.

Banking – it's a big sector but investments banking as well as frontline customer roles are always popular for numerically minded graduates. As big companies, banks offer well structured but competitive graduate recruitment schemes. They often provide a great foundation in the industry and often offer a good level of pay compared many graduate jobs.

Accounting – it often requires further training but accountancy is very lucrative career choice. There are a number of different accountancy qualifications which would allow for specialisation in different areas. It's worth seeking out companies that offer training schemes that would allow you to work towards the professional qualification while getting paid.

Book Keeping – Book keepers carry out much of the day to day financial duties for companies. Often working for small to medium sized businesses they are tasked with keeping tabs on both the payments made and received by the company and keeping extensive financial records.

Insurance – another large sector with a variety of interesting and rewarding jobs. Underwriters help understand the likeliness of the insured event taking place, there are also roles for claims staff who manage the process when insurance claims are made by insurance policy holders.

Taxation – most people find tax a complicated area, for the people that understand how VAT and other taxes work your expertise is hugely valuable. Helping companies and individual manage their responsibility for taxation can be hugely rewarding with great opportunities for professional development.

Payroll – everybody finds it important to get paid at the end of the month and it's the payroll department of the business that makes sure it happens. As well as the normal pay cheque at every month they are responsible for making sure any relevant bonuses or deductions and keeping the appropriate records and paperwork.

Private Equity – if you find the idea of helping small high risk companies become successful private equity might be the ideal job for you after university. They are tasked with finding companies that they believe offer a great investment potential for the venture capital firm and then organise the deal between the two companies.

Looking For A Manual Job? The Basics Of A Temporary Assembly Workers Job

Labour makes the world go round. It produces the products we use in our homes every day. Although there is less industry in the developed world than there was a hundred years ago, the factories of this country are still in need of workers, which results in a number of temporary assembly workers jobs being available at any given time. The Occupational and Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor guarantees the health and safety of individuals with a temporary assembly workers job and so there is nothing to hold you back when it comes to applying for one.

Health And Safety Guidelines

The OSHA guidelines should be taken very seriously because they ensure the health and safety of individuals performing in a temporary assembly workers job role. Individuals that do have a temporary assembly workers job are exposed to more health hazards than anyone sitting in an office. The equipment and machinery has to be of a certain standard to make sure that the possibility of an accident happening is extremely unlikely. Compliance to the guidelines is completely up to the company, although an employee, whether temporary or permanent, also has some responsibility to act sensibly in the workplace too. Any agency offering temporary assembly workers job positions should make a potential employee aware of their responsibilities before a contract is signed.

The Availability Of Temporary Assembly Workers Jobs

Temporary assembly workers job positions are widely available all over the world. A number of agencies will be engaged by any given company in order to recruit suitable candidates to fill all available temporary assembly workers job roles. All agencies will be fully vetted to ensure that they will actually inform potential candidates of the health risks when they undertake a temporary assembly workers job. They will perform health checks, work history checks and fully educate the individual on the nature of the work before they even set foot inside the plant in which they will work.

Safety Requirements Of A Temporary Assembly Workers Job

A temporary assembly workers job role will be commenced only on the completion of any necessary onsite training. This training will fully inform a potential employee of the nature of the job, the risks involved, the procedures within the workplace and any other necessary information that is vital to the role that he or she will take on. This is all essential to an individual's ability to do well in any given temporary assembly workers job.

Temporary assembly workers jobs employees will have to wear the correct protective clothing. This usually includes goggle, protective clothing such as heat resistant overalls, the correct shoes and gloves. The combination of the clothing requirement will actually depend on the nature of the job role. You may not need goggles or gloves, for example. All of the necessary equipment will be provided for you though.

A temporary assembly workers job can provide you with a good source of income and the potential for a more higher paying role if you get taken on a permanent contract. However, assess the pay in line with the risks before you commit to anything because you have to feel secure in the workplace and confident in your ability to do the job.

What You Need to Know About Dreams that Stalk You - How They Can Lead You to Your Best Career Change

Donna has been telling people for years that she wants to start her own business. She has dreamed about it since she was in high school but instead of taking steps towards following her dream, she has spent her days in the corporate world. When asked, Donna will say she doesn't know what she wants to do for a career. All she knows is that she is burned out with what she is doing. Yet, everyone around her knows the dream that has been following her – the dream of being her own boss.

Many of us have dreams that are following us around while we desperately try to ignore them! Think for a minute. Have you heard yourself saying things like..."I'd love to turn this hobby into a career but..." or "I've always wanted to be my own boss but..." or "What I really wanted to do was _______ but now it is too late." ? If this sounds like you then it is time to turn around and look those dreams right in the face. They hold clues to what your passion-filled career change can be.

What keeps us running from our dreams? One of the most common reasons I have seen as a Life Coach is that we think it is too late to live a dream. Most of the time that is absolutely false! We give up on our dreams way too fast. I remember reading about a woman who always dreamed of being a doctor. She was 60 years old when she went back to college to pursue that dream. Many people asked her, "Do you realize that you will be almost 70 years old by the time you get out of school and begin your career?" Her answer was always, "I can be 70 and a doctor or 70 and not a doctor. Either way I'll turn 70. I would much rather be 70 and a doctor!" She went on to achieve her MD and is still enjoying her thriving career. Are you giving up too soon?

I'll admit (although reluctantly) that sometimes it might be too late to accomplish certain dreams. For example becoming a professional athlete in your 60's might not happen. Although I really hate to say that because of a man called Banana George. He begin barefooting at the age of 46. He now holds 4 world records and is a professional barefooter. To top that off when George turned 75 he learned how to snowboard! Be very careful before you decide your dream is "impossible"! But if you really, really believe that the dream you have is impossible for you to reach then take a look at the essence of your dream. What is it that you wanted most from it? If you wanted to be a professional dancer then what attracted you to that career? Was it the movement? If so you can have a career around movement . Was it the music? Was it the thrill of performing on stage? The challenge of mastering something and being known for it? Whatever you loved about that dream you can have in many different careers. Take the essence of that dream and find a career to meet that essence.

The next time you hear yourself saying, "I have no idea what I am passionate about or what I want to do for a career change." take a quick peek behind you. Do you have a dream that is stalking you? If you do look it in the eye and start taking it seriously. I have been amazed over and over again at how well those clingy dreams lead people to exciting, passionate, and meaningful careers!

Acting - My Future Stage Career

What is an actor?


An actor plays a role in an artistic production, most commonly in movies, television and theatre. As well as performing roles, an actor may be called upon to dance, sing perform acrobatics and for radio and animated productions be a voice artist.

"Actor" is a gender neutral term, however, some female actors prefer to be known as "actresses" (2005, Wikipedia)

School Subjects

If you wish to become an actor, the main subject that you should endeavour to participate in is Drama. Studying Drama will teach you to perform, achieve focus and understand the different types and styles of dramatic acting.

Another almost essential subject to study is English. Almost every actor needs to be literate and able to understand language from a variety of eras. A language other than English [LOTE] subject can also be beneficial as acting is an international occupation.

Other subjects to consider include ancient history, modern history and geography.

Training Required

Formally, becoming an actor requires no qualifications or training. However, to make you seem more qualified and skilled, receiving a qualification from an external Performing Arts school will be beneficial. (2005, Art-Search)

Extra curricular activities such as dance and singing lessons, as well as volunteer participation in community events and performances are a great addition to a portfolio/resume.

In short


Becoming an actor is a long and difficult chore. Sheer determination and natural skill are prerequisites that a "wannabe" actor cannot be without. Acting is one of the most brutal and challenging careers to pursue, but also one of the most rewarding.

An actor will always have a job in society as humans have a desire to be entertained.

Beyond the Basic Job Interview - Personality and Skills Assessments

Whatever happened to the days where getting a job meant mailing a resume to a few dozen different places and waiting to be called in for an interview? Once you got your foot in the door, all that was left to do was impress someone sufficiently enough to get a job offer. Pretty simple stuff, relatively speaking. A little paperwork, a little talk — and maybe a job after that.

Today's recruitment strategies are changing though, particularly when it comes to higher-level jobs. Employers now use a variety of additional assessment tools to ensure they make smart hires that stick around. With a shrinking workforce to choose from, on top of the high cost of recruiting, don't be surprised if you're asked to complete a skills inventory or a personality assessment the next time you apply for a job.

A Growing Trend


According to recent research, approximately 60 percent of companies have increased their use of behavior, personality, and skill assessments in their efforts to secure hires that are better fits for their companies. Their use may extend well beyond the hiring phase as well — some companies use them to help coach and train their existing employees, or utilize the assessment data to pair or group workers into effective teams.

The cost of replacing an employee, particularly one in an upper-management position, can average three to five times their annual salary, but many employers have found that pre-employment assessments can save them significant amounts of time and money. Since studies show that personality assessments can be a reliable predictor of an individual's fit with a company and of their overall performance, it makes sense that some companies are willing to invest in such screening tools to save themselves money in the long run.

Certainly, assessment tools aren't the only thing being used as part of the hiring process and most employers will admit that they may or may not be the deciding factor when it comes to making a hiring decision. Results of an assessment test may contradict or completely support the conclusions of an interview, but ultimately the employer makes a decision based on what they feel is best for their company. However, if they're unsure about a candidate and an assessment supports the idea that they may be a bad fit, it can help finalize a decision.

Taking the High Road


As controversial as they may seem, there aren't any particular assessments that are outlawed at this point, although their use has certainly been tested. For the most part, use of assessment tools that measure things such as mental illness and stability are mostly limited to jobs where mental stability is pertinent to ensuring public safety. Many of the assessments employers are more likely to use measure personality traits, skill levels, and work attitudes — not anti-social tendencies or unusual thought patterns.

Whether you agree with them or not, you do have a choice when faced with a pre-employment assessment. You can voice your complaints and most likely lose out on the job, or you can take the following approach:


• Treat the assessment seriously. Don't make jokes about it, show up on time, and act and dress professionally. Your attitude and cooperation tell a lot about you.


• Find out ahead of time how long the assessment is expected to take, and plan accordingly.


• Keep in mind that the "bigger" the job you're applying for, the more likely you'll be asked to undertake some sort of assessment. You can prepare for such a possibility by familiarizing yourself with some of the more commonly used assessments, so you know what they are and what they assess. In some cases, you can even take practice tests.

If you are faced with taking some sort of assessment as part of a job evaluation, try not to get too stressed out about your results. In most cases, they won't be the only thing on which a hiring decision is made, so a strong resume and interview are still important. If the assessment results do result in your not getting a job, there's a good chance it wasn't a good fit for you anyway. It's not likely a personal reflection on you, but more of a matter of you just not being the right person for the job or the company culture. Keep looking, and the right job will come along.