Category: jobs

Teaching Golf Will Turn Avocation Into A Career

If you wake up each day dreading the thought of going to work, but looking forward to those sunny Saturdays when you are able to play a round of golf, then maybe you should re-think your objectives. Looking into a career teaching golf will not only allow you to partake in your favorite pastime, but it will also allow you to draw a paycheck.

Teaching golf does not require you to be a former member of the PGA. All you need is a love for the game, dedication and a little education. Very few individuals are born with a natural talent for golfing. Most players take years and years to develop good skills to master the game. If you are interested in making a career out of teaching golf, the first step you should do is find an accredited golf academy you can afford. Golf academies can give you the basics to being a good instructor because there is a huge difference in being a good golfer and being a good teacher. It also takes longer to learn all there is to know about golf instruction, so be prepared to give at least a couple of years to the academy.

By attending an academy, those who want to teach golf will learn golf techniques from qualified instructors and former PGA members. Academies also offer the opportunity to learn manners needed to be a quality instructor. Patience is a virtue to have when playing golf. It is also something needed when you teach it to others. Interpersonal relationship courses are part of the curriculum students take while attending an academy. These skills are not only used on the course, but they can also be employed in other aspects of one’s life. Golfing is also about connecting the body with the mind, and students will acquire the knowledge to relay this trait to those they teach after completing their courses.

Teaching golf requires good interpersonal skills and patience because you deal with all age groups. It is easy to get frustrated when someone is unable to master a swing. Learning how to put aside personal frustrations and perform repetitive demonstrations to clients is part of being a good instructor. Going through an academy gives an individual the time needed to determine if teaching golf is something they are cut out to do.

Academies will also provide a person with solid management skills, the ability to communicate in a variety of settings and a good knowledge about the golfing industry. All of these combined can give a future instructor the confidence he or she needs to excel in a career teaching golf. By having greater knowledge of the game, a person can also improve their own golfing skills in addition to improving the skills of others wanting to learn the sport.

Instructors can choose how they want to teach the game to others. There is the option of working as a private teacher, or working at a larger resort or club. Teaching golf is also not limited to the course. By learning the fundamentals from an academy, instructors can venture out and expand their career by working in the design and development of golf equipment, consulting players on their mental attitude about the game or marketing golf to those interested in learning the sport. It is easy to see all the opportunities available in the golfing industry. Teaching golf will help continue its popularity as a sport and a profession. You will be giving others the knowledge needed for success while providing yourself a chance to succeed as a golfer.

Family: How to Balance Having a Family and a Career

Are you a career-oriented woman who also happens to be a parent? If you are, you may be dealing with a number of different issues. Many women, just like yourself, find it somewhat difficult to balance having a career and a family. While it is more than possible to do both, it can be overwhelming at times.

One of the many issues surrounding working mothers is that they do not know how to balance their time. Mothers who need to work or finish an upcoming project often do so, but they occasionally feel guilty about missing out on quality time with their children or their romantic partner. It can also be the other way around, as well. Many working mothers are afraid to, essentially, put their family first in certain situations, in fear of losing their jobs. If these are issues that you have dealt with or if they are issues that you are currently dealing with now, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many ways that you can go about balancing a family and a career is by setting aside time for both your family and your important career. For instance, if at all possible, you will want to try and establish hours just for work or work related tasks. If you have to work overtime, it is advised that you do so, especially if your job may be at risk. That is often what is difficult for many mothers, when relying on their income, it can be fearful to put work second. With that in mind, it is important that you leave work at work. This gives you the opportunity to put your family first, especially when you are at home with them.

As with having set hours for work, it is also advised that you create a schedule for your family time as well. While your days don’t have to be planned out hour by hour, it is nice to at least develop a little schedule. This schedule could include days of the week when you may want to take a trip to the zoo with you children or days that you may want to spend visiting family. By having your plans already made and in place, you are more likely to follow through with them. Your family, including your children and your partner, will likely be pleased with this follow through.

Although raising a family is often associated with spending time with your children, that is not all that motherhood is about. For that reason, you likely have a full plate. That plate may include grocery shopping, the preparation of family meals, as well as house cleaning. To reduce the stress associated with many of these tasks, as well as give you more quality time to spend with you family, you may want to consider hiring assistance. Whether you choose to hire a professional housekeeper or a landscaper to mow your yard for you, this extra time may come in handy.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many ways that you can go about balancing a career and a family. Although it may seem impossible to do right now, especially if you just recently got a new job or had your first child, it is more than possible for you have a great career, as well as happy and healthy family life at home.

Make The Right Career Move

It is not realistic for HR Managers to believe that there will not be any staff turnover in the organisation. Having regular staff turnover need not be a negative proposition as it may imply that the industry is very dynamic. There are also other varied reasons for this: The organisation may undergo a restructuring exercise or its headquarters may be relocated to a different country. With new talents to improve the competitiveness of the organisation, it is dependent on each employee to take full control of his career progression.
In this article, tips will be provided about making the best decisions in career progression.
Your Expertise:
You have to be objective and honest about your own personal expertise assessment. Are you suitable for a particular job or are you expected to learn in new skill? It is best to find out about the future progress of your chosen industry so that your skills will not be deemed as outdated by other organizations.
Your Networks:
You should also get in contact with your corporate networks and find out more about the industry. This will be useful if you want to take up relevant courses to boost your employability in the industry. You can also join informal Internet Forums to get more information.
During The Transition:
It is wise to take stock of your current situation before you make a career transition. The most important aspect is your regular financial commitments. The reason is that making a career transition needs considerable adjustment in time and building new working relationships. You may have to set aside more money in your new working environment for transport, eating and business entertainment.
Your Company Has Changed Focus:
You feel that your organisation may have changed its long-term focus and your skills may not be as important as before. This is not uncommon occurrence especially with globalisation. It is good to have a word with your immediate superior and explain your wish to change your job specification. Your initiative may actually prompt your immediate supervisor to recommend you for a promotion.
Needing New Challenges:
With the recent dot-com explosion, many people have been exposed with the excitement of setting up a company from scratch. There is a lure of being an entrepreneur. You may not want to be a technopreneur but you are certainly considering to be an Independent Consultant.
Do not throw away your current contacts: They may prove to be instrumental in getting new contract. Leave your organisation in good terms; they may be your future alliances.
Overseas Posting:
Your Career Move may also be an overseas posting. The reason is that your performance may be monitored and a good showing will bring positive results. Before you accept the overseas posting, you should make the effort of finding out about the living conditions and expenses. A lot of this information can be found on the internet It is also prudent to get in contact with other employees who have had the same overseas posting.
Developing A New Product/Expertise:
If you are in the R&D industry and you are developing a patent, you may decide to make a career move because your current work environment may not be conducive. This is not a difficult decision as developing a patent may take about 5 years and you do not want to waste your productive years not completing the patent design.
Needing More Flexibility:
A career move be a signal your deep desire to pursue other interests. This can be in the form of writing a book or completing a study program. Many senior employees make this conscious decision after their children’s education have been settled or after accumulating a comfortable retirement fund.

Disability insurance

Disability insurance will allow you to keep a usable income even if you are disabled.
Disability insurance is the best way to make sure that your income will be protected. While everybody can benefit from disability insurance, it is especially important for people who have jobs that require a lot of mobility. If you are disabled in some way that will prevent you working your old career, then disability insurance will make sure that you will still get enough money.
There are two major types of disability definitions that are used with regard to disability insurance. The first is just that you can become disabled in a way that will keep you from working your own job. In this case, you might still be able to work another job; all that matters is that you will no longer be able to work in your chosen career. This type of insurance is best since in a lot of cases it will also result in you getting enough disability money after your business starts back up again so that you will end up with the same income despite your disability.
The other type of disability insurance only applies if you are disabled to the point where you cannot work a steady job at all. This disability insurance is generally cheaper and is less useful. However, if you cannot afford the other type of insurance, this is better than nothing. In any case, no matter what type of job you work, you should definitely have at least the most basic disability insurance. That way, you’ll be able to have an income even if you are unable to find a job that you are capable of working.
It is very difficult to figure out which type of disability insurance you should consider. There are a lot of different factors that need to be considered – for instance, your current income, the type of career that you have, and what type of insurance company you are going to be buying insurance from.
Another thing that you should consider is that even if your employer is offering group disability to you, it might not be enough. Even if you think that you already have disability, then you should look at your existing policies and make sure that they will actually cover you in the event that you are disabled and unable to work.

How you can tell if you need to find a new career to satisfy yourself

Having a job that does not make you happy is not something that you want to continue with. You need to go work and feel good about yourself and what you do. This may not be something that you realize right from the start but once you figure it out you have to move on quickly.
Doing something every day that is not fulfilling your needs and making you feel worthy of who you are is going to make your life difficult. Working is one part of life that we may not want to do but we will not want to do it even more when it is something that really brings us down. Feeling good about our work and what we do each day is a good start to a happy and healthy lifestyle.
There are ways that you can tell if you need to find a different career. Being satisfied in life means that you might have to make changes in certain areas of your life. Creating a challenge for yourself in the career path that you want will make you a stronger and more creative person. You need to listen to the way that you think and if you have doubts about your job and the happiness that you need, then you need to make certain decisions that could affect the rest of your life.
You need to justify what you do in your career. Are you really doing something that brings happiness to your life? Is this really what you want to do for a long time to come? These are factors that will help you justify your decision to keep the job that you have or to move on to a better and more exciting career. Learning about yourself and what makes you happy can make this challenge a little easier on yourself.
When you go to work every day, are you doing something that allows you to use all of your abilities? If not then you may not be completely happy with what you are doing. You may be looking for more to keep you satisfied. This may be a good sign that you have to try to find a different career that will allow you to be more productive. When you are more productive at work, you will find it easier to feel good about yourself and everything that you do.
Do you want to learn more about what you can do in life? If you want more you might have to go back to school and get more education. This is one thing that you can benefit from and get you promoted into a career that brings you more responsibility and more money too. This is going to be a good motivational guide to bring you closer to a more productive and fulfilling job.
When you find that, you are not happy and you want to try something new then you have to go for it. There are going to be risks involved and of course you may be scared at first. However if you are working at a job that makes you feel bad about yourself then this is only going to have more impact on the everyday part of your life. You are going to feel depressed and the stress is going to build up inside. This is going to make it more difficult for you to have personal relationships and achieve the goals that you have set for yourself.
Take the risk and make the change from a job that brings you a paycheck to a career that brings you happiness and satisfaction.
 

The Career Athlete

Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully. Don’t wait and see; make things happen. Just like athletes who prepare for the “big game” or a marathon, designing your career requires goals, planning, work, and above all, commitment. Think of yourself as a Career Athlete.
Being a Career Athlete requires awareness and action. Athletes are aware of their gifts, talents and abilities. They then focus their training on sharpening these skills with the goal of being the best they can be in their chosen area of expertise. Designing your career is no different. What are your gifts? What do you care about more than anything else? What work would allow you to connect to this purpose? This part of the process requires that you are honest with yourself. Once you have answered these questions you need to focus your attention on the “training”. What steps do you need to take in order to design a career that honors your abilities? What is in your way that you need to overcome, as you strive for this goal? Remember that fear is a natural and inevitable part of this process, but that it does not have to stop you. Identifying what keeps you from pursuing the career that you want is an important step. Knowing what may become a stumbling block allows you to move through it much easier when it occurs, rather than being stopped by it.
An Elite Athlete has a four phase training program which can be incorporated in the Career Athlete plan.
Phase I: Preparation. This phase is crucial in providing you with a firm base. What skills/strengths are fundamental to your success?
Phase II: Pre-competitive. What is the motivation behind what you want to do? Have you connected it to your value system?
Phase III: Competitive Peaking. The point at which everything you have been working toward comes together.
Phase IV: Active Rest. This is the phase of transition. A time when you are under no pressure. Use this time to have fun and celebrate the completion of phases I – III. This is also a good time for self-reflection, self-evaluation and future goal setting. Shape your career, don’t let it shape you! Decide what you want and create your opportunities accordingly. Positioning yourself in your career will happen one step at a time with planning.

Looking for Career Longevity? Jewelry Is Forever

Want a career with staying power? Consider this: A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report cited many occupations expected to decline severely between now and 2014 as advances in technology further eliminate the need for human interaction in the production process. Jewelry is one occupational sector where BLS projects excellent employment. Why?

Jewelry is big. Today’s worldwide jewelry industry is conservatively estimated to be a $120-plus billion business. It employs people in science, manufacturing, distributing, designing, marketing and many other functions.

Jewelry is human. Jewelry is inexorably part of what makes us human, something inherited from our Cro-Magnon ancestors, like art, music or speech. Expression through personal adornment is hardwired into the human psyche.

Jewelry is made by people. In other industries, technological advances can eliminate jobs, but much of jewelry making can’t be automated. Jewelry, like art and music, begins as an idea and requires the skills of designers and craftsmen to bring it to reality.

Jewelry will always be acquired by someone from someone. The retail environment is changing with the Internet, discount stores and shopping networks working with a relatively small sales force. But these same distribution channels also increase demand for jewelry, offering new opportunities for skilled jewelers and gemologists. Many consumers prefer to purchase high-ticket, luxury goods from jewelry professionals they know and trust.

A changing population creates demand for jewelry and jewelers. According to the BLS, the increasing numbers of affluent individuals, working women, double-income households, an upcoming “bling” generation and fashion-conscious men will keep jewelry sales strong. And as more jewelers retire, the need for trained and skilled jewelers will continue.

Jewelry is accessible. Nearly everyone can own a piece of personal jewelry at an affordable price. Everyone is a potential jewelry customer.

Jobs in jewelry are accessible, too. If you’d like to work surrounded by beautiful gems and precious metals and help people celebrate their happiest moments, check out the jewelry industry.

To learn more about your options in the gem and jewelry industry, you can attend the GIA Jewelry Career Fair, the industry’s annual career day, where you can meet potential employers and other industry professionals, as well as attend workshops and seminars on jewelry careers. The event is free and open to the public.

Bartending: Building A Foundation For A Profitable and Rewarding Career

Dating back thousands of years, bartending began as a trade by those that produced liquor and in turn sold it to the public. This was not only a profitable venture for these early bartenders, but provided a product in huge demand by the public. Historically humans have always had a fondness for spirits which is an enormous benefit to those pursuing a bartending career. Prohibition makes a very clear case that people want their drinks and demand is not quashed by the absence of product.

Very few careers can offer you virtually guaranteed placement in literally any place you wish to live and work in the world. Most bartenders, in fact, earn more than entry level college graduates, with some eventually earning 6 figure incomes.

Becoming a successful bartender takes more than just learning to spin drink recipes. The professional bartender is well versed on the legal and business ramifications of alcohol management and service. Today’s bartenders are a breed apart, savvy and knowledgeable performers in a fast paced exciting environment. Simply put, there is no aspect more vital to a professional bartending career than the foundation built by a quality bartending school. Bartending schools provide more than just preparation, they directly effect how much you earn from your very first day on the job. Some certifications, such as TIPS ® (Training for Intervention Procedures or TAM ® (Techniques in Alcohol Management) are required by law in many states.

Given the earning potential bartending offers as a career, the cost of attending a quality bartending school becomes a wise investment rather than an expense. Most bartending schools are very affordable, require very little time (as little as 2 weeks), and can be found in nearly every state in the country. Bartending-World.com offers a state by state listing of reputable bartending schools that make selecting a school a breeze. When selecting a bartending school, make sure to ask these questions, and be leery of those that cannot offer answers.

What is the schools’ industry reputation and how long have they been teaching? Look for a school well recognized in the bartending education industry. Many schools have a long history making research easy.

What are the size of the classes and how well equipped are they? Look for low teacher to student ratios and facilities that mimic actual working environments as closely as possible.

Is the bartending school licensed by the state? What credentials are required for the instructors? Verifying that a school is actually licensed by the state they teach in is important. Find out what they look for when they hire instructors. Instructors, if well chosen, are industry vets that can provide invaluable insight into the bartending industry.

Can you be given references of graduates who are working in the industry? What is the bartending school’s job placement policy? Any reputable school will have working graduates who will endorse the school. If not, you need to be careful. A successful job placement plan is always indicative of a good training facility. If local bars have had success with hiring quality graduates then you can rest assured that school is worth a second look.

Bartending offers a rewarding and profitable career for those that are serious about their pursuit. While there is a lot of hard work involved, the excitement and fun of the atmosphere is hard to beat. Investing in a quality education will put you on the fast track to maximized earnings in bartending.

Why You Should Become a Dental Assistant

Becoming a Dental Assistant offers you a great career working with people. You will generally be working under one or more dentists. This type of career will allow you to interact with many people as well as get to see various dental procedures take place first hand. This profession allows you the opportunity to participate in providing dental care as well as comfort to patients.

Dental Assistants are often confused with Dental Hygienist. They perform different dental procedures. Dental Assistants help both dentists and hygienist. A Dental Hygienist cleans patient’s teeth while the dentist performs procedures including fillings and bridges.

Dental Assistants are in huge demand all over the Nation. It is anticipated that Dental Assistants will be among the fastest growing occupations between now and 2012. This means you will have job opportunities available most anywhere you choose to live. The pay for Dental Assistants varies by region, but is generally several dollars above minimum wage. Being a Dental Assistant will allow you to decide if you want to pursue a career as a tech, dental hygienist, or a dentist. You will get to see first hand just what such jobs entail.

Employment as a Dental Assistant will help guarantee you job with normal hours of operation. This is very important, especially if you have a family you want to be spending your evenings and weekends with. In addition, you will generally have paid Holidays off as well. Most Dental Assistants receive a large discount on dental care for themselves, their spouse, and their children. This can be a great perk of the job that saves you a large sum of money in the end.

Some of the duties Dental Assistants will perform include assisting with dental procedures, setting up dental rooms, performing X-rays, and completing lab work. The exact procedures you will be able to perform will depend on the licensing requirements in your state as well as the needs of the dental office you choose to work in. It is important to ask what procedures you will be performing during a job interview if a complete job description is not provided for you.

If you enjoy working with people, having a daily routine that varies, and have excellent communication skills, then a career as a Dental Assistant might be right for you. Since you will be dealing with the public and other dental professionals throughout your day, the ability to communicate is going to make a big impact on how successful you will be as a Dental Assistant.

Generally, the certification program for Dental Assistant is 1 year. The exact length of the program depends on your state requirements and the program you are enrolling in. In some states, you can be trained on the job in as little as three months. Most states require you to pass a Dental Assistant Exam for certification.

Since technology and dental procedures continually improve, you will need to keep up with these changes as a Dental Assistant. Generally, such educational needs and trainings will be set up by your employer for you to attend at no charge.

Becoming a Dental Assistant can be a fun and rewarding career for individuals with a desire to help others, provide comfort, and who has excellent communication skills. The amount of employment opportunities in the field are numerous, with the numbers continuing to climb as more and more people focus on the importance of good oral hygiene.

Coaching for Lawyers

Marie noticed that Diane seemed to be sailing through her career and receiving “nods” from the firm’s partners. According to Marie, Diane was extremely successful in handling her cases, developing strong relationships with her clients and seemed to be building a successful career on all fronts. As a third year associate, Diane was viewed as a rising star in the firm and was getting several “choice assignments”…many of which Marie had hoped to get. After inviting her to lunch, Marie learned that Diane had been working with a Professional Coach. During lunch, Diane credited her Coach with helping her develop a strategic action plan to help her: 1) improve weak areas in her performance, 2)enhance and strengthen her professional image and 3) get on the fast track to partnership. According to Diane, “Hiring my Coach was the wisest career move I could have made.”
One week later, Marie hired her own Coach.
Professional Coaching is for lawyers who are ready to excel, enjoy a better quality of life and gain an edge on the competition.
Let’s face it, the legal profession is all about successful outcomes and lawyers are trained to succeed in achieving favorable outcomes for their clients.
Coaches are trained to help clients achieve powerful results. There are systems of accountability incorporated into the coaching process to move clients forward and deepen insights.
Coaching is a collaborative process that is focused and results oriented. A Professional Coach can help lawyers overcome challenges, increase strategic thinking and improve communication skills. In addition, many lawyers hire Coaches to help them develop a savvy professional image, cultivate ongoing career and personal goals and to achieve greater work-life balance. Unlike a consultant, a Coach doesn’t come in and solve the problem for you. Instead, a Coach partners with you to assess how best to resolve issues and achieve your goals.
A Professional Coach can provide the insight, accountability, resources and strategic planning that a lawyer needs in order to build a successful career and fulfilling personal life.
Below are 10 ways a lawyer can benefit by working with a Professional Coach.
1. Achieve better focus. When the majority of your time is spent juggling cases, keeping track of clients, meeting goals for billables and balancing your personal life, it’s hard to focus on anything other than making it through the day. A Professional Coach will help you focus your energy so you can achieve your goals with greater ease despite your hectic schedule.
2. Manage and Develop a Successful Legal Career. Developing a successful career depends largely on your ability to structure your career in alignment with your personal and professional goals. Coaching can help you clarify your vision and goals. When was the last time you considered what YOU want in your legal career and in your personal life? The practice of law is fast paced and it’s tough to find time to slow down and ask yourself some meaningful questions. Through Coaching, you’ll have the opportunity to examine what you want, what motivates you, where you get stuck or distracted and much more. The coaching process allows you to learn about what you value, what it will take to build a fulfilling career and how you can design a balanced personal and professional life. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was fully committed to you and your success? That’s the job of a Professional Coach.
3. Develop a Values-Based Professional Development Plan. Success doesn’t happen by accident. You must PLAN what you want to achieve and determine the best way to go about getting there. Consider your career plan as the roadmap for your career. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? How will you get there? What resources will you need? A Coach can help you create a plan that is in alignment with your personal and professional values and overall vision for your life and career.
4. Increase Productivity. Productive people have the ability to complete their work on time and in an efficient manner. How many times have you committed to completing a task only to have the needs of someone else get in the way? At the core of Professional Coaching is accountability. Knowing that you’ve made a commitment to yourself AND told someone else about it, makes you more likely to stay on task. Your Coach holds you accountable for what you say you want to accomplish, and then continues to work with you as you achieve your goals and increase productivity.
5. Navigate a Job Change or Career Transition. Too often, lawyers get locked into a job because they lack the tools needed to determine their next steps. Changing jobs, switching to a new practice area or transitioning to a new career can be tough. So tough in fact that many lawyers end up STUCK in an unfulfilling career. A Coach can provide you with the insight, resources and feedback needed to make concrete decisions regarding your career. If it’s time to move up or out…a Coach can help you make that decision faster and with greater ease than you would on your own.
6. Improve Time Management and Practice Management Skills. Lawyers are slaves to time yet few if any law schools provide training on how to successfully manage time. Case files, motions, clients, conference calls, deadlines, e-mails and meetings are simply a fraction of what goes on in a typical lawyer’s day. Too often everything feels like a priority and lawyers report feeling overwhelmed, stressed and ultimately burned out. A Professional Coach can help you to take an honest look at your schedule and how you currently spend your time and manage your practice. Based on this information your Coach can help you create a strategy where you can achieve more in less time…often with more time for a healthy personal life. Goodbye burnout!
7. Develop a Unique Brand for Improved Marketing. The practice of law is competitive and it’s important to create a brand that effectively communicates your value to your employer, colleagues and potential clients. Why should they hire you over another lawyer? A Coach can help you create and develop your unique value proposition and help you communicate it to others in a way that helps you develop a successful reputation and career.
8. Discover your Passion in the Law. Have you met lawyers who report feeling disillusioned with the law or report feeling lost? These feelings tend to emerge in a career when there is a misalignment between the work the lawyer is involved in and his or her personal and professional values. Sustaining a successful career in the law requires the pursuit and attainment of work in alignment with your passion, interests and strengths. Through Coaching you’ll have the opportunity to gain clarity about your ideal work and work environment and then take the necessary action steps toward designing a successful and gratifying legal career.
9. Create Boundaries. Working with a Professional Coach can help you evaluate what you say “yes” to because you want to and what you need to quit saying “yes” to. A Coach can help you find the cure for the “disease to please” and the inability to delegate effectively. Through coaching you’ll have the opportunity to consider what you need to say “yes “to or “no” to in order to respect your boundaries and function more effectively in your legal career.
10. Achieve Work-Life Balance. Lawyers are required to maintain hectic schedules under incredibly stressful, high pressure situations. After maintaining such a pace many lawyers experience burnout, depression and other stress related illnesses. Like others in high pressure professions, lawyers need to strike a balance between the demands of work and rest and relaxation. A Coach will help you to take charge and create a more balanced life. A Professional Coach can help you find time for family, friends, hobbies AND a successful law career.