February 2009
Monthly Archive
Do you have a passion for science? Does chemistry interest you? If so, a career as a pharmacist is a great choice. Pharmacy is a high paying career and one where you are thrust right into the action as soon as you complete your degree. Yes, you do have to have a degree to be a pharmacist. That is because there is much to learn and you are responsible for making up and dispensing medication to people. In some instances theses can be life saving medications so you absolutely have to have exceptional knowledge of the medicines as well as be able to give sound advice to customers.
Pharmacists can earn anywhere between $50,000 and $150,000 per year depending upon where you are employed. Once qualified you can work in a storefront chemist, in a laboratory or in a hospital amongst other places. Graduate pharmacists will start earning very good money in their first year and it may continue to rise after that. If you are working in a large establishment you may be able to work your way up to head or supervising pharmacist and this can result in an excellent salary.
Pharmacists must have an excellent command of all sciences, but in particular chemistry. Entry requirements are fairly strict for pharmacy degrees and you will need good high school results in maths, physics, chemistry, biology and English.
Some benefits of being a pharmacist include:
- assisting people in their life health choices
– working in a relaxed environment compared to many other scientific fields
– Flexible working schedule
– Excellent pay
– Wide choice of where to work
– Constant demand for your skills
– Opportunities to work and study overseas
– teaching opportunities
– Room for career advancement
You will have to study hard and gain excellent skills, both technical and personable, to be a pharmacist however it is well worth it when you are qualified and looking for a job. You will likely to be able to find a position very quickly.
Being a pharmacist holds a lot of responsibility, and it is one of the most respected careers. As a pharmacist people in your community will look up to you and trust you. You will be serving them well and you will be well rewarded for the hard work you have put into becoming a pharmacist.
So what exactly do pharmacists do anyway? Learn more about this exciting career field from http://www.careertoolkits.com – get the scoop on pharmacy school degree programs and much more.
Your resume can determine whether or not you are worthy of a job. That is why it is important that you know how to make a very powerful and impressionable resume. If you are simply typing a brief employment history on a sheet of paper, that is not enough. How you’re going to impress someone is by having a resume that adequately highlights your skills, gives a detailed work history so that they can see how you can benefit your company, and shows that you are the needle in a haystack that they have been looking for all along. Knowing how to make a resume is the key.
The first step is to ask yourself, “What sort of skills do I possess that could benefit this company? After you have figured out the skills that you possess, write them down. The fact of the matter is, we are all human beings and human beings can’t remember everything off of the top of our heads.
The second thing that you need to ask yourself is, “What type of employee is this company looking for? If you know the answer to this, write it down. You then need to ask yourself, “What about me is beneficial to this company? You want to make sure you have something to offer or you will get the job and wonder what you were thinking when you sent them your impeccable resume. You also need to take a look at your experience so that you can pinpoint where you will excel in the company.
Once all of this information is written down, it is time to construct the resume. You will start with your objective section in which you state what it is you intend on accomplishing by working for this company. Your employment history is then the next step. You always have to make sure that you outline this well because even the smallest skill may be relevant to the needs of the company you are applying for. Make sure you outline all of your duties while on that job.
Next, you will outline any other relevant experience you have such as volunteer experience. You will want to include any certifications or licensing that you may have. You never know when one of these items could be important. You never know what might impress a potential employer, so be sure to leave out nothing.
Lastly, you have your reference section. You may decide to include your references on your resume. Some do prefer to state that references will be provided upon request and others prefer to go ahead and give that information.
It is important to not skimp on your resume in any way. Although there are individuals who state that a one page resume is the best, it is something that is impossible for some to do. You want to be able to show your skills, but sometimes you may have so many you cannot condense it that much.
Furthermore, make sure you use a high quality paper. You don’t want to use the paper that is in your printer right now. This is because that is a lower quality paper. You can go to your local department store or office supply store and purchase a high quality resume paper. With high quality paper and a high quality individual working together, the chances of getting the job increase significantly.
Click the link for more information on Resume Formats
Nursing careers provide a richly rewarding career option. If you enjoy helping people and making a difference in their lives, then nursing is a wonderful career choice for you. The life of a nurse is that of selflessness and giving. Each and everyday you will come across people in need; sick, injured, or elderly. As a nurse you must be personable and friendly as well as caring and supportive. Nursing careers go beyond just knowing the technical side of nursing; it involves you being a friend and guide to your patients.
Nurses conduct some or all of the following tasks on the job:
- Assess and gather patient information
– Diagnose patient problems and needs
– Implement nursing plans
– Provide emotional and physical support to patients
– Evaluate patient progress and results
– Communicate with the patient’s family members
These are just a few of the tasks that nurses do at work. Of course your tasks will totally depend on where you gain employment. Not all nurses work in hospitals. There are also options to work in schools, nursing homes and other locations.
You can also choose to specialize in particular nursing departments. These can include child birth, palliative care, children’s wards, counseling and more. As you study to become a nurse you will be exposed to options on each career path which will make your decision easier. However the best way to choose a career is to undergo work experience in a hospital or other medical facility. Here you become exposed to all the different specialties so that you can make a wise choice based on your area of interest.
Nurses often work very long hours involving shift work so you must be prepared for this and take it into consideration before embarking on this richly rewarding career path. Although nurses get paid a fairly high salary, nursing is not a career that people choose for money; it is usually chosen due to a passion to turn people’s lives around.
Whether you are helping to deliver babies, helping injured people or assisting the ill, nursing careers are highly satisfying and rewarding. No other career offers the opportunity to make such a profound difference upon the lives of people who truly need and appreciate it.
Nursing Salaries
Nursing salaries are often at the center of controversy, with most people believing that they are not high enough. Thankfully improvements are being made to increase nursing salaries which is good news for you if you are considering going into this industry.
Nursing salaries are on the rise, with 2004 seeing a 14% increase in nursing salaries. The average is said to be around the $64,000 mark with 11% of nurses in 2004 earning $75,000 or higher.
Nursing salaries for graduates differ widely between locations but the average is around $40,000 for an entry-level nurse.
The areas with the most nursing jobs available are those in large, major cities. These include Chicago, New York and Los Angeles amongst others. You can also expect higher nursing salaries in bigger cities as well as better employment benefits. Nonetheless it can be very beneficial and rewarding to be a nurse in a rural area. Sometimes you may be the only nurse on staff so you provide an exceptional service to the local community. Often nurses in very small towns achieve almost celebrity like status!
Nurses in larger cities may get paid more but their jobs are often much more stressful. There are a much larger number of patients and a variety of cases that come in. This can lead to very long hours.
Nursing salaries are heavily affected by a number of factors. Because nurses tend to work a lot of overtime their salary can rise significantly on a week per week basis. Night shifts usually pay more than day shifts, sometimes $5 or more extra per hour. Most hospitals impose 12 hour shifts on nurses so night shift workers generally start at around 7.30 pm and finish at 7.30 am. The benefit is a four day weekend and a 36 hour week which is still considered full time.
Nurses can work in a particular ward of the hospital such as the maternity ward, intensive care unit, and children’s ward, among others. Nursing salaries generally do not depend upon which ward a nurse is placed in.
Nursing salaries are on the rise and provide a good standard of living for nurses who are one of the most important groups of people in our society. If you are seeking a highly rewarding career in the medical field, then working as a nurse is something for you to consider.
Do you need facts about nursing career? Check-out the stats and facts available at http://www.careertoolkits.com – Learn the average rn salaries.
College life is fun. For a lot of people, college is even where the best years of their lives are spent. So, when college ends, there is that part of you that does not want to leave. But, at the same time, there is another part of you that feels excited to finally enter what “grown ups” call the “real world”. So, put on that professional image and wear your nice corporate attire. Go and conquer the interesting field of job hunting.
Job hunting can stir up all sorts of emotions to new graduates such as yourself. On one hand, you feel excited and hopeful. The idea of landing your dream job is what inspires you to get up in the morning, spend time on your application materials such as resumes and cover letters, and attend interviews. On the other hand, however, there is fear and confusion. Questions like, “Is this right for me?” or “Do I really want this job?” lingers around in your head. You also fear about being rejected by the companies in your top list to apply for and end up getting a job you do not really want. Going though all these emotions can be consuming. That is exactly the reason why you would want your job hunting stage to be as brief as possible.
The news has been giving up updates on the growing concern on the global economy for over a year or so. The situation has gotten worse than any financial expert and economic analyst have anticipated in our generation. The global economy has plunged in a very frustrating state that many small to large-scale businesses have closed. Banks and even the most established financial institutions have either filed for bankruptcy or are in a struggling possition due to the economic problem.
It is times like this that you, as a new graduate, and the ones who are still trying to complete their education grow anxious about the future. With the economic turmoil, one cannot help but to jump into assumptions or conclusions that landing graduate jobs in reputable companies which offer a competitive compensation would be impossible to achieve. Fresh graduates who possess zero or very minimal work experience especially feel the pressure during this situation. Companies, whether big or small, have now cost cutting as their ongoing motto. That being said, many of them would prefer applicants who already have experience in the job vacancy that they wish to fill as that would save them time and money that they usually spend on training.
Many companies from even the highest income generating cities currently have a no hiring period. That puts even more weight on the shoulders of new graduates. London, however, boasts that the pressure of finding a decent job is less felt than in most UK cities. There are plenty of London graduate jobs that you can try your luck on. London holds many offices and even some of the headquarters of the companies listed in the UK’s top 100 as well as Europe’s top 500. So, no matter what profession you wish to pursue when you graduate, you are sure to find a graduate job in London where you can start building your career on.
Among the best jobs in London that you can apply for are graduate marketing jobs. Marketing jobs appeal to many people because of its challenging and exciting nature. The work responsibilities are widely varied, resulting in faster aquisition of knowledge and experiences that will help you grow personally and professionally. Some of the responsibilities include planning, advertising, public relations, product development, sponsorships and even market research. Take the time to learn the qualities that employers usually look out for. That will give you a heads up on your job hunt for marketing roles. Some of these qualities include initiative, literacy in information technology and comprehensive analytical skills.
Finding a graduate job during these times can really be a huge challenge. What you can do at this time of global economic crisis is to explore your capabilities. Find out what your strengths and weaknesses are, and determine what it is you are cut out for. Our generation has redefined survival of the fittest. You must be armed with all your qualifications, skills and talents, and continuously develop them in order to survive.
Having finally completed the long and hard years of education, you find yourself one step closer to realizing your dream of becoming a solicitor. You are now in the stage of hunting for training contracts and, like many fresh graduates, you wish for that stage to be quick and short.
Grabbing a training contract for solicitors in the UK is one of the best things that could ever happen in your professional like. There are plenty of graduate training jobs in the UK. Here are a few tips on how to find one for yourself and help you get started with building your career.
- Look at the right places. – Making a decision on the career path you want to take is a great step towards an interesting and, more importantly, bright future. There is, however, the question of knowing where to look. There are many law firms in the UK and you can send your training contracts and resumes to as many of them as you please. This early in your career, it will do you good if you are not too picky. Sure, it would be great to land a law training contract from a big and established firm, but if a small firm opens the doors for you, walk in and learn as much as you can to gain experience.
- Getting grants. – The Legal Services Commission (LSC) provides funding to support new legal aid solicitors’ training. The grant covers tuition expenses for both the Professional Skills Course (PSC) and the Legal Practice Course (LPC). However, the Legal Services Commission does not accept applications for grants directly. A Training Contracts Grants Scheme (TCG) must be secured. Applications should be submitted to the various solicitors and not-for-profit organizations.
- Graduate Diploma in Law. – As the name suggests, a graduate diploma is a postgraduate diploma offered in the UK. The diploma is taken after successfully completing a Bachelor’s Degree. Getting a graduate diploma is an essential first step if you wish to pursue a career in law, but do not have an undergraduate law degree. The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a conversion course that basically converts your non-law degree to take you to the next step: Legal Practice Course. The course will give you a solid knowledge on the fundamental principles governing many areas of law. It will also help you develop the skills you will definitely need such as legal reasoning and understanding the language of law. There are many institutions in the UK that offer graduate diplomas.
- Legal Practice Course. – It is the vocational stage for becoming a solicitor in the UK. The course is offered as full-time or part-time to thousands of students who are looking into getting a training contract. Its goal is to have you prepared for your trainee solicitor practice. The Legal Practice Course (LPC) teaches you how to apply the academic training you have learned during your law undergraduate studies or graduate diploma to real-world issues. It emulates the nature of work encountered in actual practice, following a specific set of clients through a case study.
- Creating your resume and cover letter. – Cover letters are optional. However, taking the time to create them, and attaching them your resume and your application sends a very good impression to the employer. The resume is a very dynamic piece of paper. The deal with resumes is that they either help you or harm you. That is exactly why they should be well-written. Review and rewrite as necessary. It would even help if you printed out a copy so can you see how it actually looks. Bear in mind that your qualifications, skills and talents are your key selling points to getting a training contract. Having all those essential personal information in your resume is very vital. At this point, modesty should be taken aside. Highlight the things about yourself that need to be highlighted. Be sure though, that the things written in your resume and cover letter are true. It is also important for you to be concise, but avoid being too wordy and keep your resume short.
Remember that the competition out there is tough and fierce. Finding training contracts for solicitors is not as easy as you would hope it would be. Have faith in yourself. Allow your qualifications to do the talking for you. Trust in your abilities and, at the same time, work hard to achieve your most potential and get qualified. You will realize that, not long enough, your dreams of having a career in this field is slowly unfolding right before your eyes.
School time is finally over. You are now an inch closer to living the life you have planned for yourself. But first, you must land that graduate job that you have been eyeing to have for a very long time now. So, you gather all the resources available for any possible job listings to get you your first ever graduate job. If you live in Europe, lucky for you, there is an abundance of graduate jobs in the UK that you can apply for. The even better news is that there are plenty of these job opportunities that are available for the fresh graduates.
Graduate jobs in accounting, graduate finance jobs, graduate jobs in sales, whatever you are looking for, you will most likely find it in the UK. You must cover all the bases when you are in the middle of a job hunt. While you focus on the aspect of seeking employment by sending out your resumes, you must remain appropriate and professional. The list below are tips that can help keep you on the right track during your job hunting days.
- Find out the job you want. – The first thing you should do is to ask yourself what it is that you really want to do. Take the time to review your career plans or get advice from family and friends. Lay down all your options on the table. It is important to think the types of job or career that you are seeking through as that will help you identify your prospective employers and target your applications or compose your resumes that will clearly showcase what it is that you have to offer.
- Know where to look. – The traditional way of looking for job postings on the Sunday newspaper still helps as it is the day of the week when plenty of UK graduate job openings are posted. Or, you can make use of information technology and browse through the pages of the many job search websites available today. Another option is to directly visit the website of the companies you wish to apply for and click on their employment opportunities section for any openings that you qualify for.
- Writing your resume and cover letter. – Cover letters are optional, but taking the time to create them sends a very good impression to employers. The resume is a very dynamic piece of paper. It is where to put into writing your qualifications, talents and skills. A good resume is critical to landing the job, but at the same time, resumes only serve as a request to be met and interviewed. Go ahead and highlight the important things that employers should know about you, but be sure to keep it short and concise.
- Interview. – Showing up on time is not enough. In fact, you should try to be at the company’s office ready for your interview at least five to ten minutes earlier than your schedule. This is a gesture that will show the company a preview of your attitude towards work and punctuality.
- Follow up. – Many people think that making a phone call to the office that interviewed them days, weeks or even months ago is inappropriate. Some even assume that the company has already hired another applicant. Do not be afraid to make a follow up on your application, but, as mentioned above, be sure to keep it professional. This is a great way to be remembered.
- Attend job fairs. – A lot of UK graduate jobs are offered at job fairs held at colleges and universities even for fresh graduates who have no work experience. Submit your resume to every company’s booths that you wish to be a part of.
- Tracking. – Fresh graduates naturally send out multiple job applications. It is then important to keep track of the companies that have conducted interviews with you. That will help you remember the type of company and the position you applied for, which will be very useful should you get a call back.
- Send thank you notes. – Showing appreciation and gratitude is always good. It should not be seen in a way as brown-nosing. A simple note that you can deliver directly to the office or even an email to the human resources personnel that met you for your interview would suffice.
- Stay updated. – Being updated on the latest business news is important and will later on prove beneficial to you. Reading newspapers and other business journals definitely equips you with the information on which companies are doing well in the field.
- Do not give up. – Being rejected may be painful, but it is normal. That is life. You win some, you lose some. The important thing is that you learn to accept the so-called defeat with grace and give yourself the time to re-strategize. Do not lose hope. Giving up does not get you anywhere.
Take risks when job hunting. It is where you discover more about your strengths and weaknesses, and find out what career path you should take that would truly make you happy.
If you tell someone you plan on becoming a scientist they may automatically imagine you in a white lab coat hovering over bubbling test tubes. But science takes on many different forms and only a small percentage of scientists actually work in a laboratory. Most are actually out in the field doing real world testing. This can be a very exciting way to spend your life. Obviously it takes some studying to become qualified in any scientific field but once the university degree is behind you, you can look forward to a life of research, discovery and fascination. Some of the scientific fields that you can study include:
Anthropology – Study and research the development of humans through origin, culture, behavior and social interactions.
Archaeology -The study of human lives from the past.
Astronomy – Research and study space beyond Earth
Biochemistry – The study of chemical processes and substances in living things.
Biology – A life science. Study of all living things. Biologists generally specialize in a particular sub-field for example Marine Biology.
Botany – Study of plants and trees
Ecology – The study of living things in their environment.
Genetics – The study of genes, hereditary and traits of living things
Geology – Study the structure of the earth, rocks minerals and earth history
Medicine – You can either become a doctor or a medical researcher after studying Medicine.
Meteorology – The study of the weather and atmosphere
Oceanography – They study of the ocean.
Palaeontology – Fossil study and prehistoric life science
Physics – the study of energy, matter and force.
Volcanology – The study of volcanoes
Zoology – The study of animals
The above is just a small selection of the scientific disciplines you can choose from. All have their own challenges and the great thing about science is that you are always contributing to enhancing our knowledge of certain aspects of life and the earth. All science students complete a study as part of their degree, often for their thesis. You can also choose to go on and do a Masters degree in your field of choice.
Science is one of the most challenging fields to study and work in however is also considered one of the most interesting. If you have an interest in any type of science then consider a career in this field. There are many private, public and government jobs available in science.
Do you need information on aquatic science careers? Check-out the stats and facts available at http://www.careertoolkits.com – Learn about aquaculture careers.