Career Education

When some people reach a certain level in your executive career, they start to ... well, coast a bit sometimes.

Are you one of them? Be honest, now. Have you decided - actively or not - that you already know enough, and don't need to continue improving your skill set?

Call it a feeling of invincibility. It has its advantages in the business world, but it can have its drawbacks, too. Particularly when you start thinking about changing careers, and especially when you start thinking about moving into a different industry.

When you explore a new career, you're going to see two groups of folks: the people already doing the work you want to do, and the ones who aren't there yet, but want to be.

Not all of them are pursuing continuing education to make themselves better candidates for the management positions they're after.

But a lot of them are. And that's an extra point or two they'll have on you when you start sending out your resume to recruiters and headhunters and the like.

Now, that by itself may not be enough of a motivator for you. Real world experience is often a more powerful aphrodisiac to a hiring manager than a college degree at any level.

But it's also fair to say that 1) everyone can use a tune-up, and 2) academia often serves as a hot spot for research and trend-spotting in many industries. So don't dismiss the education thing outright.

Need a little present-moment way to look at it? Think of the people working around you. How much could they benefit from the increased knowledge your extra-educated self brings to a team? How much could your company improve? And then (to make it all about you again), how much better would your resume look when you've helped your team and your company make great strides?

Education isn't just a lark. If you have a company that helps pay for continuing education (most do), you know they don't think it's a lark. They know it'll only help their bottom line by keeping their people sharp. It'll help your bottom line, too.

So if you haven't gone through that course catalog yet, now's as good a time as any to start. Whether it's the local community college, a full-fledged degree program, your industry association's event calendar, or a trade group certification course, go for it!

Competent interviewers in the marketplace help you discover the best direction to secure your employer of choice.

Learning about the firm from the interviewer and Internet research is important to your success. Don't be bashful, ask whatever you want to know.

Sure, timing is important but you should have all the details about every career position before you leave the interview.

Hold off the urge to ask about money during the early part of your interview. You probably don't want to appear only interested in CASH rewards, but the answer needs to come somewhere in the process.

If the firm is not able to meet your financial requirements then it's best to keep searching for one that has the potential to make an offer.

Sure, there are many avenues of interest to discover. The first questions that need to be answered are.... can you do the job? Do you have the skills? Talent? Education? Knowledge? Do you have experience already in this field?

Obviously, you have more questions.... assuming you answered YES to our initial questions. Once you have met with the interviewer and he believes you have "what it takes" to do the job, then we can begin to sneak in the important questions... about compensation, benefits, work hours, job assignment, supervision, the title you'll have as an employee, etc.

There's usually an understanding that if you don't ask for "it" upfront [before your new job begins] you may as well forget about "seeing" it in your future.

For example, 2 weeks vacation may be the "norm" but maybe you can negotiate a better agreement with 3,4 or 5 weeks; start other benefits immediately rather than in 90 days.... worth thinking about during the initial interviews with the executive staff or owners.

Leave NO lingering questions ~ ask if you don't know or if you don't understand. A good interviewer wants you to ASK questions about all things important about the career position you are seeking.

If you get rejected or made to feel foolish, then I would think long and hard before hanging my hat with this company.

The real truth about a firm is often hidden, covered-up, or a bad situation not revealed. It's important that you dig deep for any underlying skeletons, bad publicity or press, dishonesty within the ranks, especially at the executive level of the firm or the owners behind the scenes.

Never shy away from diversity, or considering an entirely new position regardless of past "gender" decisions in the past. Women are doing jobs formerly filled by men most of the time and now men are doing jobs "normally" filled by women in the past, i.e. ... wait staff, nurses, secretaries, even the bus boy/girl cleaning tables. are non-gender focused today.

Your focus should be on opportunity not whether it's different from your past experiences in the job market.

Be open to change, new exposures in the business marketplace are happening and offer career choices in every field of enterprise.

Keep your notebook handy, especially when you're interviewing with the competition in your niche industry.

Write down all the questions you are asked, think about your answers, right or wrong, it becomes added ammunition in your own arsenal of Q and A, to have on the very tip of your tongue for an easy response next time around.

Ask for the firms EMPLOYEE MANUAL and any additional "propaganda" advertising or financial reports that may be available in the public eye.

Every firm should be willing to share their history and future goals with you during the interview process.

I'd take the EM and reports home with me and spend a little time reading all the fine print. You may turn up a few surprises that the interviewer overlooked telling you about.

I'd want to know if the company promotes from within or always goes on the outside to look for a new employee.

Think about it! You've got to get promoted to reach your 5 year goals, at least that's my assumption as you find a beginning place to start your climb up the corporate ladder.

In conclusion, let me suggest visiting several local organizations, especially the Chamber of Commerce and others to discover if the firm is a good citizen, do they support local groups, i.e. the United way, the BBB [Better Business Bureau] and there may be other places this firm is well connected to in the community as a good citizen.

Why Vocational and Career Education Are Important

There are three major reasons why every school district should offer strong vocational learning opportunities:

1. Vocational competence is critical to the economic health of our nation.

2. A significant number of students, both college-bound and non-college-bound, are experiential learners who will learn academic skills best from developing them in a career or application context.

3. Delaying the career or application context until after grade 12 lowers motivation and learning achievement for many experiential learners.

Consider these characteristics of experiential learners:

1. They are often as or even more capable of complex learning than traditional learners.

2. They learn academic skills best from concrete tasks and a focus on real-life problems.

3. They often do not work to their potential in the relatively abstract-linear environment of traditional classes.

So, not having vocational or career learning options is a major disservice to the many experiential learners in any school population.

Advantages of Career and Vocational Education

When strong vocational learning options are available in a school district, they present these advantages:

1. They help many experiential learners reach higher achievement levels. (Too few policymakers have given adequate attention to a major weakness of American public education - - lack of inclusion of a strong application component in learning programs. Refer to the work of Dr. William Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education, for solid research comparisons in this area. The Center's web site is www.LeaderEd.com.)

2. Career path exploration helps many students make more information and dedicated choices on college enrollment. Students often discover the career path they love and are more motivated to pursue college study.

3. Career context makes subjects and courses more meaningful to students. Application adds to the strength of learning.

4. The career context makes it more feasible to teach and promote a continuous improvement culture in relation to the real world of work.

5. Strong secondary school vocational programs provide workplace skills to some students who do not plan to attend college immediately after graduation from high school. They also equip many college-bound students with skills useful in part-time work that helps in financing college study.

Evaluating Your Local Situation

Do you want to evaluate the strength of your local vocational and career options for students? Look for positive responses to these standards:

1. The local school mission statement recognizes career/vocational education as a valuable service to many college-bound and non-college-bound students.

2. The career focus is placed on all levels of the K-12 programs - -

a. Elementary schools using career-focused stories, readings, field trips.

b. Middle schools providing strong technical (applied) literacy learning opportunities, especially to encourage continued interest in science. Also, providing after-school career exploration options perhaps with the help of local or area vocational centers.

c. High schools providing a broad spectrum of both career exploration and initial skill development on different career paths. NOTE: The number of vocational programs should be adequate to serve students with different talents and interests. There should be technical or science-focused programs, people-focused programs, and traditional trade programs.

d. High school guidance providing help on preference matching between talents and careers.

e. High school vocational programs presenting beneficial articulation with both 2-year and 4-year college programs to reject completely the error of viewing vocational courses as something only for the non-college-bound. That latter stereotype was founded on ignorance of the value of different talent or intelligence areas.

f. High schools providing strong information on and articulated access to apprentice training programs as a viable and important option for graduation.

3. Fiscal support and facilities are maintained on modern and attractive levels for both classical and vocational programs, never allowing one area to play second-fiddle to the other.

4. Local educators and government leaders are working to correct any state and national inattention to the needs and talents of experiential and vocational learners. NOTE: That inattention is evidenced by over-emphasis on written high stakes tests and concurrent outright failure to provide performance evaluation options for highly talented experiential learners under initial implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. Reasons given for this serious failure are nothing but outright rationalizations to provide excuses for avoiding the work of constructing comprehensive assessment programs. Narrow written tests alone are an "easier" even though cognitively weak option. Can you imagine riding in an airplane with a pilot who has passed a written test but never before actually successfully flown an airplane? At some point in the future a higher quality assessment program must be pursued for the good of students and the good of our nation.

5. Local educators and government leaders work actively to ensure three other realities for quality vocational programs:

a. Secondary vocational programs being protected against misuse such as referral of a disproportionate share of learning disadvantaged students (who often need more effective basic academic programs) or misbehaving students (who can be dangerous to themselves and others in shop situations). NOTE: The mission of vocational schools involves career path selection and preparation. They are not special education schools but, like all schools, can serve their share of special education students. If over-used for the special education purpose, the primary mission is subverted and many talented experiential learners are tragically excluded.

b. Business and industry representatives being kept deeply involved as advisors to and evaluators of all secondary vocational programs. NOTE: This is the path to keeping programs relevant to evolving careers and to having businesses provide special help (internships, equipment, etc.) to an important source of future employees.

c. Secondary vocational programs being given strong annual funding for modernization of teaching youngsters to use equipment no longer used in the real world of work.

If the response to any one of the above basic standards is negative, you have identified an area where corrective action should be taken.

There are plenty of things I do to get more business and career education every day. For example, I listen to audio books while I'm driving around town, and finish a book per week that I wouldn't otherwise have time to read. I took a speed reading course, where I was able to double my reading rate in one month. And finally, I surround myself with successful people.

The last one may sounds strange, so let me explain. Like my other two methods, making good friends let's me learn automatically. In other words, I don't have to take any additional time out of my day to get the benefit. It is built into my life so that it happens no matter what, which is the real power.

Simple put, I make friends with people who are knowledgeable, full of great ideas, and happy to share them.

When I spend time with my friends, we inevitably talk about the work we've been doing, what's been working, what hasn't been working, and what we're excited about. These discussions always leave me feeling either inspired about the success they are experiencing, or with new ideas that I can apply to my own business.

Quick story: I recently went to go see a speaker named Chris Wasden, who is a successful entrepreneur and founded several medical device companies. His talk was informative and insightful, and afterwards I ran into an old friend. We caught up over a cup of coffee, discussed the speech, and talked a bit about her new accounting business. Just as we were wrapping things up, she casually mentioned that she had put up a post on craigslist.com, a free classified website. She said it had been an effective way to bring in new business for her, and she suggested I give it a try.

Well, I promptly went home and put up a quick post (it was entirely free) and by the end of the day I had new client for my own business.

That was money in my pocket, just because of a quick conversation with a friend.

I knew about that particular website, craigslist.com, before our discussion that day, but it took a conversation with a good friend to remind me to actually use it!

But it wasn't just any friend. It was a friend with similar interests, who was successful, positive, and willing to share.

Most people do the opposite: they spend time with their same old friends, who are stuck in their same old jobs, and have few aspirations in life. It is quite literally impossible to spend time with negative or unsuccessful people, and NOT have it rub off on you.

So make an effort to surround yourself with people who know more than you do. Find friends who are entrepreneurs. Find friends who are positive. And find friends who are willing to share their ideas. They will automatically start pushing you toward owning a successful business, whether you like it or not!

If you are still on the fence, try this little experiment: Take your five closest friends and average their income, and I bet you'll end up with a number remarkably close to your own income.

Try it. Was I right?

An unsuccessful person would look at this and say "When I make more money, I will start to have successful friends". A wise person would look at this and say "When I make successful friends, I will start to earn more money".

Find Physical Therapy Careers in the United States and Canada. Whether you pursue a career as a physical therapist, rehabilitation counselor or occupational therapist, you will definitely need to attain a certain level of education and training in order to fulfill your career aspirations. In addition, it is important that prospective candidates possess good communication skills, compassion and like the idea of working with people.


Today, physical therapy careers are on the rise and the field is expected to grow much faster than average of other occupations; and if individuals are interested in achieving these occupations, they must pass a licensure exam before they can even begin the practice. In addition, candidates must complete an accredited physical therapy program from one of several schools or colleges.

Common studies involved in training programs geared toward physical therapy careers are clinical conferencing, training and education; clinical sciences, orthotics and prosthetics, cardiac management and testing, pathokinesiology, pulmonary management and testing, psychosocial patient care, and professional aspects with regard to physical therapy.

Some physical therapy careers require a degree like Associates, Bachelors or a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Additional physical therapy careers that one can pursue are occupations as a physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist assistant or physical therapy aide. Typically, entry-level positions as physical therapist assistants or aides can be earned with an Associate Degree.

Depending on experience and education, professionals who have earned one of several physical therapy careers can anticipate rewarding earnings up to $88,000 annually and can expect to work in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, schools or other healthcare facilities.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in attaining physical therapy careers, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Salary source: Bls.gov (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Physical Therapy Careers: Educational Programs and Occupational Outlook
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved


NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Education is said to be a lifelong process; it is a journey rather than a destination. However, many people having once acquired a basic degree and a few years of work experience pay little attention to enhancing their prospects with specific career education. Hectic professional schedules and personal commitments weigh heavily on their minds and the challenge of starting on an educational course all over again is a daunting one. In the competitive environment that exists today, this attitude of maintaining a static state of affairs with respect to one's education could mean a string of missed opportunities when it comes to job hunting or even growth in the current organization. As the job market is cluttered with many thousands of qualified job applicants, employers are constrained to apply stringent screening processes when recruiting. What this means for job seekers is that there is really no alternative to enhancing their career with specific career education. Pursuing a degree relevant to the business needs of the industry and the function of their specialization is critical.

Stand Out

When there are limited job vacancies in an organization and multiple applicants who meet most of the specified eligibility criteria, the employer looks out for special skills in the candidate in terms of specific career education. An additional qualification can serve to make your candidature stand apart and tip the scales in your favor. Any practical exposure that you have acquired in a previous job or any knowledge you have acquired through a specific career education course, speaks well of your ability to learn continuously.

A specialized career-training course that helps hone existing skills and develop new ones is something every professional should seriously consider, irrespective of their years of experience. Prior to enrolling in any such education program, it is advisable to take a career aptitude test that helps ascertain your existing skills and interests. If you are already employed, it may not be possible to attend regular college and you could consider enrolling in online career education programs. The emergence of the Internet has created endless opportunities in online and virtual education programs.

Education Types

As a result, enhancing your career with specific career education programs is a very feasible option today. You could choose programs that are offered at universities in different states and even countries; this permits you to study during your free time and at your own pace. You can even choose to study along with fellow students and opt for joint sessions via web-based technologies. Most specific career education institutes have a number of college-based forums, discussion groups and chat rooms, which helps fellow students in collaborating and discussing course related projects.

Dedication And Hard Work

Though there is more flexibility available in terms of time, location and pace in the case of specific career education, it still calls for serious effort from the student in order to acquire the certification. Typically, specific career education programs, much like regular college degrees, require students to submit journals and projects, and attend examinations. Though these requirements might make a working professional feel pressured, overall, it makes good sense to invest time in career education specific to the field of expertise.

When you are in college and are working hard to get through it you may not be bother to go to the career education services. Ironically, the sooner that you go to the career education services the better chance you will have of planning what your future will be once college is over. You don't have to go there right away or even during your freshman year. However, you need to be realistic and acknowledge that at some point in time you will have to go to the career services office.

The sooner that you go to the career services office the better chance you will have of dealing with the end of college. They can help you get started with the career choice you want. The career education services are a powerful tool that you need to take advantage of.

One way that they can help you while you are still in school is to help you find internships in the field that you have chosen. This will make you a more attractive candidate to future jobs and even to graduate schools.

When you have no idea on what you want to do for your career you still need to go to the career services office because this will mean more to you than other students who do know what they want to do. Some of the career services offices have tests that you can take to help you figure out what you want to do. This will help you figure out what your talents are and what you are suited for.

When you do go to the career education services you will need to be prepared for the meeting. They can be helpful to you but you have to realize that you may only have one hour or even thirty minutes with the counselor. You need to do some soul searching and figure out what types of subjects that you gravitate towards. Then you can ask the counselor what someone with your interests can do for your career. The more information that you can give to the counselor the more they can help you with your career choices.

You have to at some point go to the career education services before your last year of college. This is very important to do because otherwise you might just end up in the unemployment line after college. You don't want this to happen to you. So take advantage of the career services office and get your future figured out before you get out of college.

Everest College (Everest Career Education Network), formerly known as Olympia College, boasts 60 campus locations throughout the United States and in Canada. Affording numerous career training programs in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, massage therapy, medical assisting and pharmacy technician, and others, Everest Career Education Network is a multifaceted vocational network dedicated to the professional and academic advancement of career-seeking students.

The criminal justice program, for instance, gives students essential skills and knowledge in subject matter like criminology, criminal evidence and procedures, criminal investigations, criminal justice communications, and other relative studies. In addition, Everest Career Education Network's criminal justice course teaches candidates necessary critical-thinking skills that help to establish a solid foundation in this fast-growing career field. Successful graduates of the criminal justice program can attain occupations as correctional and probation officers, forensic science technicians and in other law enforcement and public service careers.

Got great hands? The massage therapy program through Everest Career Education Network includes practical training in a variety of bodywork modalities like Swedish massage, prenatal massage, geriatric massage, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and clinical and sports massage. Additionally, academic courses in the massage therapy program provide in-depth education in Eastern theory and practice, wellness and CPR, muscle energy techniques, health and wellness, Western theory and practice, and business.

Another great course offered through Everest Career Education Network is its business program, where students learn about business accounting principles, corporate accounting, computer applications, financial concepts, human resources, management principles, advertising, and more. Graduates of the business program achieve careers as managers, accounting clerks, business administrators, and other fields in human resources.

Furthermore, as an accredited group of schools, Everest Career Education Network participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs, and offers career planning and placement services to its students.

HolisticJunction.com acknowledges Everest Career Education Network and applauds its commitment to occupational training. There are several vocational studies in which prospective students can participate so if you are interested in additional career paths, feel free to review course offerings extended through Everest Career Education Network today.

Featured School of the Week: Olympia College (Everest Career Education Network)
©Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

There are a lot of people who have probably heard of the Career Education Corporation. However, there are other people who have never heard of them and don't have a clue as to what they are. Let me explain what the Career Education Corporation is.

The CEC Career Education Corporation was founded in 1994. They have grown rapidly since that time. They are well on their way to becoming the world's leading provider of quality educational services.

The Career Education Corporation is the world's largest on-campus provider of education. They are also one of leading providers for online education. There are many colleges, schools and Universities that are a part of the CEC Career Education Corporation.
 
The many schools, colleges and universities that make up this corporation offer education to students all over the world. They have over 95,000 students that they provide quality education to. They have many different campuses that serve students all over the world. They currently have campuses in the U.S., Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. These are just a few of the locations that they have. They have 80 plus campuses which their students can use.

They also offer many types of programs and education choices. Some of these are the doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees. They also offer diploma and certificate programs for their students.

A lot of the students that use the CEC Career Education Corporation to receive their education will take advantage of their web-based virtual campuses. These are campuses that they can take their courses online and not have to go to an actual physical campus. Two of the biggest web-based virtual campuses that the students can attend are the American InterContinental University Online and the Colorado Technical University Online. Most people have heard of these two campuses. Even if you have not they are two of the best ones that you can attend for the online programs that are available today.

The Career Education Corporation has many schools that are a part of this corporation. You have probably heard of some of the schools, colleges and universities that are a part of the CEC Career Education Corporation.

The main goal of the Career Education Corporation is to ensure that their students graduate successfully and are prepared for the career choices that they want to do. This way they will be ready for the work place when they do get out of school. When you want to get a good education you will definitely want to check into the CEC Career Education Corporation.

According Ediger (2000), elementary school career education is important. Ediger stated that "the elementary school years are not too early to begin to achieve a vision of what one desires to do in life contributing to the world of work". Without career education, students have unrealistic perceptions of careers due to a lack of knowledge and poor decision making. Students have limited knowledge and exposure to careers. (2,3) When students look at the different industries e.g. sports, media and entertainment, most students underestimate the skills and time required to have successful careers. (3)

The Basics for Elementary School Career Education Programs

In career awareness programs, students do not make premature career choices. Elementary school career education is not career exploration or career preparation. Elementary students remain open to new career ideas and possibilities. (7,8,13,15) Elementary students build awareness of self, personal interactions, school, and the workforce. (2,15) Elementary school counselors and teachers build self-awareness, family awareness, school awareness, community awareness, career/ work awareness, attitude development, skill development, decision making strategies, and self-worth. (2,4,11)

Career awareness programs use age appropriate materials that match the developmental levels of the students. Age appropriate activities expose students to a variety of different jobs, career information sources, and the reasons why people work. Programs also incorporate academic career pathways into classroom activities. According to CareerTec (2000), the preliminary career education skills serve as foundations for future skills. As the students progress, previous skills are reinforced, developed, and expanded. (2,4,11)

As elementary students get older, the students modify career visions and goals. After completing an elementary school career awareness program, students have higher grades, higher academic achievement, improved school involvement, as well as an increase in career awareness exploration, personal, and interpersonal skills. (1,15) In addition, the students complete more complex courses and have a higher graduation rate from high school. (9)

In summary, in career programs, students:

Learn and apply the academic material
Know and value self
Build self-esteem and confidence
Identify interests and build relationships between the school environment and the work force
Build academic, communication, problem solving, and social skills
Increase awareness of the need for future jobs skills
See the connections between learning in school, academic skills, job related skills, and careers
See career possibilities
See themselves as a future contributor to the job force
Receive empowerment
Build self-determination (2,7,9)

Examples of Elementary School Career Education Resources

Career awareness programs widely use tools are the Individual Career Plan (ICP) and the Individual Career Develop Portfolio. According to the Ohio State Department of Education (2000), Individual Career Plans (ICP) are essential for the development of self-awareness, employability skills, decision making and goal setting, community involvement, economics, and the reduction of bias. Students use the Individual Career Plans as they identify and explore initial career goals and educational plans. Elementary students use Individual Career Plan (ICP) to develop skills and to prepare to make future educational and career decisions. (12)

Another important tool is the Individual Career Develop Portfolio. Individual Career Develop Portfolios are collections of the career awareness activities and experiences that have occurred during the school year. (12) Other elementary school career awareness activities include:

Artistic displays
Career Days
Career Fairs
Career research
Career videos
Collages, murals
Community speakers
Educational games
Family group discussions
Field trips
Information interviewing
Job shadowing
Library book report
Mentors
Poetry
Phonics
Pictured dictionary
Puppets
Role playing
Scrapbook
Story reading
Student group discussions
Word search and comprehension activities (8,9,11,12,16)

Elementary school programs help students build connections between academics and real life situations. (9) Teachers and counselors use career education principles to stress the importance of language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Language arts have many uses in the workplace: Reading, writing, and listening skills. The uses for Mathematics include: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division skills to solve problems. In Social Studies, students gain understanding about other countries, languages, cultures, and the aspects of living in a global marketplace. Students learn the importance of Science having skills to solve problems as well as understanding how science is involved in different industries, such as food, media, agricultural, and automotive industries. (8)

Guidelines for Elementary Education Career Resources - National Career Development Guidelines

The NCDG Guidelines is a career knowledge, skills, and decision-making framework. The NCDG framework has three domains, goals, and indicators. Teachers and counselors use the domains, goals, and indicators as guidelines to design and create career resources. The three domains are: Personal Social Development (PS), Educational Achievement and Lifelong Learning (ED), and Career Management (CM). Each domain represents a developmental area in a career education program. Under each domain are goals or competencies. Under each goal, indicators highlight the knowledge and skills needed to achieve the goal. The National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG) is the foundation for career education products, research development, tests and tools. (14)

Summary

Elementary school career education programs build self-awareness, family awareness, school awareness, community awareness, career/ work awareness, attitude development, skill development, decision making strategies, and self-worth. Elementary school career awareness programs use age appropriate materials that match the developmental levels of the students. As a results of career education, schools reported that students had higher grades and academic achievement, improvement in school involvement and performance, as well as an increase in career awareness exploration, personal, and interpersonal skills. Career awareness activities include Individual Career Plan (ICP), Individual Career Develop Portfolio (ICDP), Career Days, Career Fairs, Field trips, information interviewing, and library book report.

References

1. American Counseling Association, Office of Public Policy and Legislation. (2007). Effectiveness of School Counseling. Alexandria, VA: Author.

2. Angel, N. Faye; Mooney, Marianne. (1996, December). Work-in-Progress: Career and Work Education for Elementary Students. (ED404516). Cincinnati, OH: Paper presented at the American Vocational Association Convention.

3. Benning, Cathleen; Bergt, Richard; Sausaman, Pamela. (2003, May). Improving Student Awareness of Careers through a Variety of Strategies. Thesis: Action Research Project. (ED481018). Chicago, Illinois: Saint Xavier University.

4. Career Tec. (2000). K-12 Career Awareness & Development Sequence [with Appendices, Executive and Implementation Guide]. (ED450219) .Springfield, Il: Author.

5. Carey, John. (2003, January). What are the Expected Benefits Associated with Implementing a Comprehensive Guidance Program. School counseling Research Brief 1.1. Amherst, MA: Fredrickson Center for School Counseling Outcome Research.

6. Dare, Donna E.; Maddy-Bernstein, Carolyn. (1999, September). Career Guidance Resource Guide for Elementary and Middle/Junior High School Educators. (ED434216). Berkeley, CA: National Center for Research in Vocational Education.

7. DuVall, Patricia. (1995).Let's Get Serious about Career Education for Elementary Students. AACE Bonus Briefs. (ED386603). Hermosa Beach, CA: AACE Bonus Briefs.

8. Ediger, Marlow. (2000, July). Vocational Education in the Elementary School. (ED442979) Opinion Papers

9. Gerver, Miriam, Shanley, Judy, O Cummings, Mindee. (2/14/02). Answering the Question EMSTAC Extra Elementary and Middle Schools. Washington, DC: Technical Assistance Center, (EMSTAC).

10. Hurley, Dan, Ed.; Thorp, Jim, Ed. (2002, May). Decisions without Direction: Career Guidance and Decision-Making among American Youth. (ED465895). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Ferris State University Career Institute for Education and Workforce Development.

11. Maddy-Bernstein, Carolyn; Dare, Donna E. (1997,December).Career Guidance for Elementary and Middle School Students. Office of Student Services Brief, v9 n1. (ED415353). Berkeley, CA: National Center for Research in Vocational Education.

12. Ohio Department of Education, Division of Vocational and Career Education, Ohio Career Development Blueprint, Individual Career Plan, K to 5 (ED449322). Columbus, Ohio, 2000

13. Splete, Howard; Stewart, Amy. (1990). Competency-Based Career Development Strategies and the National Career Development Guidelines. Information Series No. 345. (ED327739). Columbus, Ohio: ERIC Clearinghouse on Education and Training for Employment & Ohio State University

14. U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education. (1994, 2004). National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG). Washington, DC: Author.

15. Williams, Jean A., Ed. (1999, January). Elementary Career Awareness Guide: A Resource for Elementary School Counselors and Teachers. (ED445293). Raleigh, NC: NC Department of Public Instruction, NC Job Ready.

16. Woal, S. Theodore. (1995). Career Education--The Early Years. AACE Bonus Briefs. (ED386603). Hermosa Beach, CA: AACE Bonus Briefs.

Depressed about your work? Feeling dispirited? A savvy career education review may tell you it's not your job.

Career education wisdom says, "You have to choose to do the best you can with what you have where you are." So, short of finding another job, what can you do?

Here are some tips that can help you see work in a new light and spice up a dull job.

1. Start to see the big picture. Lots of people are ready to tell us what we should be. But we need to find out for ourselves what we want to be. So, ask yourself, "What is it that I'm doing? How important is it? How does it fit into the big picture?"

Recognizing that you are part of a bigger machine and that you are important to the functioning of that machine can give you a sense of self worth.

2. Focus on other people. If you're concerned only about yourself and your bad feelings, you only intensify the negative. If you can help other people it puts your situation in perspective.

For example, volunteer to help a co-worker finish a big project. Or show someone how to use a particular skill you've acquired.

3. Let go and laugh. Forget the wrongs, real or imaginary, that someone perpetrated on you a couple weeks ago. It's just not worth holding on to. If you relive it over and over, you're beating yourself up--not the other party.

When you let go of the past you embrace the present. That includes learning to laugh. Laughter releases the tension in you and allows you to let go and do your job better.

4. Know when it's time to say "enough." You may ultimately find that even with your best attitude your job just doesn't live up to your expectations. If you absolutely abhor what you're doing, then it's time to start looking around. Find out what does turn you on.

Career education advice recommends that you carefully explore your options before precipitously making a move. Even in the worst circumstance you still have a job and a paycheck. But just men tally turning the corner and recognizing it's time to move on can give your current job a boost, at least temporarily.

Take the time to prepare a carefully-crafted transition plan of action so you don't lose sight of where you want to go next and how to get there.

Career Education Strategy: Your Job Search Is A Business Venture

If you learn only one career education strategy, it should be this one: the employment market follows the same rules for success as the business market.

This is a key insight that supports alternative or non-traditional job search strategies. We're able to cut through the fog of traditional job searches that can take weeks or months.

As a result, we're able to guarantee customers who practice this insight the possibility of a job offer in as little as 14 days. It's the career education strategy of a lifetime!

I recently read an article that quoted Larry Thompson, a film producer. He says there is a simple four-step plan for success. He uses it with all the Hollywood stars whose careers he manages.

While Thompson's alluding to success in the film-making business, it occurred to me that the same principles apply to job search success . . . especially if you understand it as a business venture.

1. Identify and focus on your capabilities and assets. Too often we get hung up on what we can't do. Do what you dream of doing--not what others want you to do. Build a list of your talents and match them with opportunities. Your talent never limits you. Only a shortsighted vision can do that.

2. Failure-is-not-an-option commitment. Write down event or feelings in your life that can deepen your commitment to take advantage of your capabilities and assets.

3. Build your personal dream team. Every successful person has a team of supporters, mentors, professional, role models, motivators, and reality checkers. Ask them for advice. Test them. If they don't support and encourage you, drop them.

4. Make your own luck. How? Work hard, prepare for opportunities, be in the right place at the right time. Make a list of your top accomplishments. Acknowledge the effort and commitment it took to achieve them. Then go after your job opportunities, knowing that with passion and persistence you can do anything.

This formula for Hollywood success struck me because it's the same formula you need for job search success. It's one career education strategy that will for the rest of your life.

Health Dismay lifework education is peculiar of the excellent pick career PTV fields nowadays with the all-encompassing growing demand for more fitness care assistants and health uneasiness workers in the medical acreage. Most health care workers are rewarded both financially and emotionally. As a matter of substantiality, a number of huts offer vet nurses up to $14,000 of symboling bonuses solo aside from their wages. And statistics show that by the year of achievement 2012, about four-hundred thousand nursing grounds will be available to come.

Service mark nurses are probably the largest health care occupation which held about 2.1 million jobs in 1998 alone and employment is expected to amplify faster than average go*s because the occupation is large and many new jobs payoff from it. There will always be a demand for traditional dump* nurses but numerous new nannies will be employed in sustained-term, parking place health, and not fixed care.

Medical Assistant is another salubriousness care career education that can be gratifying for those inspired in health care games. Medical assistants channel of work is more on investing juncture with patients, but furthermore capable of carrying dated grave function-type tasks. Flexibility is very meaningful as change is stable in this field of daily grind, they have to be commodious with doing different things every twenty-four hours, and they should get along with people easily.

One more haleness care career education that is also valuable is Surgical Technologist, which enmeshs being comfortable around gore and watching society journey operated on. If you watch Encounter channel's documentaries on operations without covering your face with your extremitys, then you'll do fine in this field. A Surgical technologist is relaxed in intense battle situations, pushs well with their hands, and a keen interest in the human body.

On the other hand, if nursing or medical assistant or surgical technologist is not your garden then there are a lot of fine feather care career educations that sharpen on laboratory technology that leads to remunerative wholeness anguish careers as well. Radiological technologists and technicians for one earned an average income of $43, 410 in the year 2003. Nuclear fusion reaction medicine and X-Ray programs will fit out you to earn even higher pay than that.

Other euphoria care career education which again offer great opportunities for rewarding occupations and with duties tied up to those of service mark nurses are emergency, medical technicians, occupational headshrinkers, physician assistants, gross therapists, and respiratory therapists.

Vocational nursing programs are offered at schools throughout Southern California. A career in nursing is still in high demand, both here and abroad. Nursing offers immense employment opportunities, as well as many financial and professional advantages. Through an accelerated program, a nursing student can become a licensed vocational nurse (LVS) in as little as 11 months.

As a vocational nursing schoolgraduate student you will be able to demonstrate competencies in direct patient-care activities and ethical, caring behaviors while providing nursing care.  Often, graduates and active students in upper level vocational nursing classes are offered free review classes to help prepare for the NCLEX-PN exam.  Upon passing this licensure exam, graduates may obtain employment as a licensed vocational nurse.

A California Licensed Vocational Nurse works in hospitals, both public and private, in nursing and convalescent homes, in medical clinics and for health service agencies, government agencies such as the Peace Corps, and in the military. Some are self-employed working through nursing agencies for private duty service.

The average licensed nurse in the U.S. earns between $43,370 and $63,360 a year-some even earn as much as $71,000 to $113,000 a year. Most nursing jobs come with good benefits as well, in addition to bonuses, family-friendly work schedules, and subsidized training. This is because there is a shortage of nurses, so employers will offer benefits to attract and retain more nurses on their staff.

Vocational nursing schools also offer training programs for other successful careers in the healthcare sector, such as surgical technology, pharmacy technician, diagnostic medical sonographer, and medical assistant training.