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Monthly Archives: April 2009
Management Consulting As A Career
Author : Tony Jacowski
As a business continues to grow, the procedures and strategies employed become more complex This increases the challenges and risks involved in routine transactions Irrespective of the size of the business, there is always scope to employ external experts for advice and guidelines They contribute towards obtaining optimum results in the most cost effective manner, to yield a good profit Research reveals that they help to improve efficiency, organizational structure and returns on investments
The demand for management consultants is high whenever a company is under performance pressure They welcome professional help to boost the revenues and lower the cost of management The special ability of a management consultant to identify the issues responsible for stagnation in a business helps the management to focus on developing the areas of concern
Emoluments Of A Management Consultant
Management consultancy is one of the highest paying careers in the U S According to surveys conducted by the Association of Management Consulting Firms, a beginner in management consulting has an average earning of $58,000 annually Earnings of senior partners are approximately $250,000 annually A self-employed management consultant usually charges $100 to $300 per hour
Working Conditions
Management consultancy offers intellectually stimulating working These conditions expose professionals to challenging situations and provide a platform for perpetual learning You can enjoy tremendous job satisfaction as a management consultant, especially if you are driven by challenges
The field is highly competitive, and generally an MBA degree is the minimum acceptable qualification Management consultancy firms help organizations take independent decisions in the areas of operations, information technology and business strategy
Attributes Required
Operations consultancy focuses on the organization?s policies and processes, with a view to achieve optimization within the given resources and strategy Information technology is about developing management information systems to enable the achievement of a company’s goals
Strategy consulting is determining behavioral patterns in the given business environment, taking into consideration its capability and the effect of external influences These influences usually include competitors, customers and suppliers
The attributes required for a successful career in management consulting are skills and experience in defining client problems, to suggest and implement appropriate solutions You must possess high-level critical business thinking ability and be a team player, with exceptional communication skills Strong skills in spreadsheet and financial modeling are also required to understand operational and market dynamics
Designations for undergraduates include the designations of Associate Consultant, Analyst and Business Analyst The responsibilities include collection of data, data analysis and submission of reports
Newly-minted MBAs are considered to be Consultants or Management Consultants They are responsible for business analysis and interaction with clients They also are expected to manage junior level employees They get the opportunity to identify and work with a team within the company, who in future generate high returns with the help of the expertise inculcated
In order to pursue a career in as a management consultant, it is necessary to possess an MBA degree It is a career that demands a high level of intellect, offering a very lucrative salary, social recognition and prestige
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution’s Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
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The Impact Of The Financial Downturn On IT Contracting
Author : Mike Parsonage
The IT industry has always relied heavily on contractors and consultants to manage the varying workloads and to provide specialist knowledge to support key systems It remains to be seen what impact the current financial downturn will have on this highly specialised workforce One thing is certain, the status quo will change
The IT departments of large corporations have always faced a changing environment On the one hand the technology is continuously changing and the skills and management systems need to change accordingly On the other hand, the willingness of the business to invest in new systems and technology tends to follow a boom or bust mentality At times IT is seen as the business enabler that will provide leverage to the organisation, at other times it is seen as an expensive drain on resources Unlike staff employed in the core business, who need to be maintained in proportion to the amount of business activity
Another trend is the rapid commoditisation of information technology and related services This has not been a smooth process and has been marked by leaps in technology and changes to established paradigms The market has responded with a rapid cycles for out-sourcing and then in-sourcing again However, we are witnessing an increasing trend towards globalisation and the off-shoring of routine functions to developing countries such as India and China
As the financial downturn bites deeper, most businesses are likely to react by adopting a cautious outlook, postponing new development work and delaying technology refreshes Today we see the focus of localised IT services falling into four main areas:
(1) Senior client facing consultants
These include the business analysts, architects and project managers who can work closely with the business to understand and tailor a solution for a specific business need Frequently they need to specialise in an industry such as banking or insurance and are critical to the success of new business projects Typically their roles cannot be moved off-shore very easily
In a recession the amount of new work would drop sharply and the need for the senior consultants will reduce Where this group could command high payments in the boom times there is likely to be a marked drop in their rates
(2) Mainstream technical specialists
These include programmers, analyst programmers and engineers They may be very highly qualified and have a strong technical expertise but these days they face increasing competition from overseas Over time more and more of these roles are moving to India and China, especially for current and emerging technologies
In a recession there is likely to be an increased focus in reducing costs so the mainstream technical specialists will come under even more pressure from outsourced off-shore companies However, the transition to off-shoring takes time so while the pressure increases, the realisation will be slow, several years at least
(3) Client facing support roles
These include the PC support staff, the help desk operators and the general administrative staff behind the IT functions Clearly these roles are changing rapidly e g the mass movement of call centres to remote locations and the improved automation of IT systems requiring less local support
In a recession the client facing support roles are likely to come under pressure through the need to reduce costs However, the real enabler is the introduction of new automation technology which could be delayed
(4) Niche contractors
These provide technical services in a specialised field Frequently the people have broad skills in a range of technologies that are rare or superseded and this rarity plus the business dependence on their services makes them invaluable Most large businesses have a range of legacy systems that must be maintained despite aging hardware and unsupported versions of software
In a recession these contractors are almost guaranteed a longer tenure as the old legacy systems have to survive that bit longer
In summary, it is not an exciting prospect for consultants and contractors working in IT during a recession These people enjoy higher rates of pay during the good times but form a buffer against changing workloads in the majority of IT departments As things get tough, their positions become more tenuous Clearly though, there are some opportunities for the more enterprising individuals For instance:
o Develop specialised skills that are in short supply
o Work closely with the business to leverage IT systems
o Identify emerging trends for small business
The rate of change continues to increase whether in boom times or bust and the IT contractors need to keep pace it they are to survive Technical skills sets are no longer sufficient
Mike Parsonage worked as a contractor, consultant, supplier and client in most fields of computing over the last 25 years. His book Contracting in Information Technology looks at all the issues facing independent contractors and consultants in IT today.
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Home Health Nursing A Popular Nursing Job
Author : Kris Koonar
The all time noble and respectable profession of nursing is fast becoming a lucrative career The last decade has witnessed a huge deficit in the supply of trained nurses to the increasing demand in different health establishments Nursing as a full fledged profession provides job satisfaction and job security, the flexibility in choosing where, when and how much to work, great compensation package, a job stability that few other careers may offer and a number of career paths within nursing to choose from Thus, once you are armed with education and training in nursing, rest assured the world is your oyster
Nursing is no longer restricted within the walls of the hospital Travel nursing, independent contract nursing, nursing assistants, emergency room nursing, floor nursing, operating room nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, home health nursing etc are some of the fields within nursing that one can pursue
Home health nursing is growing as a popular career option for nurses The increasing population of the senior citizens requires a lot of care on a daily basis This has lead to an increase in demand for aides at home who can treat, examine and provide therapies and interventions for the usual ailments and sickness generally faced by the elderly
Home health nursing is similar to the job of a normal nurse It requires the nurse to take on all responsibility and extend personal care and attention to the patient, the difference being that the nurse has to travel all the way to the patient’s home for providing this care Generally the home health nurse works with disabled or elderly people, who require care and attention beyond that which the family members of the patient can provide A home health nurse usually takes care by assisting the patient in daily chores like laundry, cooking, housekeeping, bathing, dressing etc A home health nurse also checks temperature, changes dressings, takes the pulse count of the patient and also helps the patient with exercises or other treatments prescribed by the doctor or therapist
Home health nurses generally get employed at the homes of clients, who are invalid, terminally ill or ambulatory patients, but other options of working include social service agencies and nursing care facilities The services in the home health care sector are regulated by the government at the local and the federal levels, depending on the type of service given to the clients, like social services, medical and non medical services The earnings as a home health nurse ranges from $6 to $15 per hour As a home health nurse the professional has the option to decide on the number of patients he or she can take care of, in order to maximize income and comfort level These nurses have control on the hours of work they put in Thus, home health nursing is a well paid job for friendly and skilled nurses
Many senior citizens are now choosing to stay at home for their health care needs and enjoy the benefits of their health insurance plans and policies This ensures that the job market for home health nurses will continue to be on the rise, thus making home health nursing a popular career choice for nurses Apart from the money, the reward of enabling an elderly person to enjoy good health is even more satisfying
Are you interested in getting the very best Nursing Job for yourself? The official occupational outlook of Nursing Careers can be found here.This site is 100% free for employers and job hunters for a limited time only http://www.nursingjobworld.com
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Why Not Start A Plumbing Course
Author : James Copper
A plumbing course can undoubtedly provide a very stable and secure career Usually we don’t require plumbers on regular basis But it’s very urgent, whenever we need them For example, you can’t live with a leaking pipeline of your shower or bathroom
The demand for a plumber is endless In such a case, training as a plumber will only provide you with a great scope for earning Although we don’t realize the importance of a plumber in our routine life, we understand it very well when we actually need their services
Work of a plumber is nothing but a pure art No matter how good a plumbing course is, the art is actually mastered on the field Plumbing has evolved more as a science in recent times, with newer technological advancements in this field A good plumbing training course has to be updated with necessary changes in the syllabus to keep up with the latest technological advancements
According to survey done by US Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbing occupation is one of the eight occupations which are growing rapidly Many people don’t look at plumbing course as an attractive career option This survey has cleared all the misconceptions about a plumbing course
There are quite a few advantages of doing a plumbing course Skilled plumbers are very important in keeping society clean There is a constant shortage of plumbers is almost all the countries Hence there is a constant demand for plumbers A plumbing training course can help you earn great money Average payment of a plumber in US ranges between $20-25 per hour and even $35 based on which city you are working In UK a plumber can earn as much as $ 40,000 per year
A plumbing course can give you amazing benefits along with a great job Due to competition among employers to hire the best plumber, they are offering amazing packages like paid vacation and medical insurance A plumbing course can give you a stable employment No matter what the economic conditions of the county are, need of plumber in society cannot be sidelined You can join a construction company or can work independently on contract basis
Although the job of a plumber involves a lot of physical work, a plumber can have a great career growth prospectus after retirement due to age After having years of experience and a good plumbing course to the credit, one can establish a firm after retirement for giving plumbing services on contract basis and have young plumbers to work under his supervision If you like tacking challenge and have to passion to win in whatever you do, then plumbing profession can be one of the best career options for you One thing is for sure, that you will never get bored You can start this exciting career by just enrolling for a good plumbing course
After completing a plumbing training course, one has many options to start their work They can apply for a job in big construction companies or start their job independently With so many advantages on one hand and full of challenging works on the other hand, I am sure it’s going to be exhilarating rollercoaster ride for a plumber
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareerchange.co.uk where there are plumbing courses uk
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Medical Transcription What is It
Author : Art Gib
Medical records are an important document for patients and doctors The medical records contain information on treatments, diagnosis, and other notes made by the doctor Maintaining these records assures that doctors have the vital components in making further prescriptions or diagnoses
Patients receive better care when their records are updated and maintained Many doctors turn to outside consultants to transcribe their records so that they have electronic archives of their files This assures that they have accurate and precise information at hand at all times
There are a number of programs that train people to do medical transcription With training, a medical transcriptionist can then work to transfer paper records to electronic copies Certificates are not needed, but a person usually receives one to lend credibility to his/her ability To be a good transcriptionist, a person needs to listen well, know grammar, have a good memory and be able to focus
It is very beneficial for someone who is thinking of doing medical transcription as a career to take a class on medical terminology It will cost money to become a certified transcriptionist, but it pays off in the end because it is a career that is in demand Often, a person can work from home, as long as they have the proper materials and equipment A career in medical transcription is a great option for those who want flexibility in a job Companies look for accuracy and guarantee the work done by their transcriptionist
Some doctors use voice files that are then sent to the medical transcriptionist There are also web based services Special equipment allows the person that will transcribe the file to listen, type, and use a pedal to stop the voice file The doctor’s subscribe to transcription service to convert their files A transcriptionist cannot interpret what the doctor’s are trying to say, but need to transcribe what is said word for word
If the doctor mumbles or says conflicting things, the transcriptionist can make a note of it Doctor’s can review the files before a patient comes back Any typos or errors in transcription can be dangerous to a patient
Medical transcription is a great service and career If a person is interested in getting a certificate to begin a career in medical transcription, there are various sites that can direct him/her to a local school or program With a certificate in medical transcription, a person helps a doctor and a patient Everyone benefits from accurate records
If you are looking into medical transcription as a service or job, look no further than Oracle Transcription, Inc. (http://www.oracleti.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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Why Students Get a College Internship
Author : Beth Ibarra
Getting a college education should be important to each student attending a college or university, but realizing that a college education often extends beyond the classroom is where some students set themselves apart from their peers Experience in the real world is invaluable, as students learn a good deal from bosses and coworkers in an internship or a part-time job Students that take advantage of this offering often end up more prepared for a full-time job and have more success when it comes time to interview for jobs after graduation
A college internship often comes with many benefits that college students should strive for These benefits include the ability to pay the bills or to earn some extra spending money that allows them to achieve some degree of financial freedom they would not enjoy otherwise Many students may fail to see the value of having an internship on top of their already busy schedule that seems crammed with books, studying and classes However, having something like a college internship is often the boost many students need to gain the experience necessary to excel in the real world upon graduation
An internship may also have a positive effect on the student’s ability to concentrate on their studies Getting away for a few hours may allow the student to rest their mind, or at least get their mind on something else Upon returning to their studying, many students find that they feel refreshed This may give them the opportunity to retain more information with a fresh mind and gives them the chance to learn new skills that will benefit them later in life In some cases, students are able to use their college internship as a means of applying what they learn in classes to the real world so that they can get some practical knowledge and experience
A college internship that goes beyond using their interns for filing and coffee duty and gives them the chance to learn some real lessons and attain some practical skills that can be applied to their future career is invaluable Many students enter the working world with no experience and are very underdeveloped An internship that gives students responsibility and gives them opportunities to develop their leadership skills and other important skills will put the student at an advantage Interviewers love to see students ready to step in and make a contribution from day one
Employers seek out students that are not afraid to lead and have had experience doing so When a student is ready to lead after college, or perhaps even while they are still in college, they make themselves very valuable assets to potential employers Companies understand how valuable leadership is, as many people do not have the experience to become good leaders, so they actively seek out those that do A college internship that gives students the chance to develop and learn leadership will help the student beyond giving them money for college It will allow them the chance to better themselves and become more attractive potential employees
More information on College Works Painting, College Works Painting estimates and College Works Painting resources in your area is just a click away.
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Careers in Air Quality
Author : Barry Jonathan
The air quality field keeps growing and more people work in it each decade People with the right scientific credentials may pursue careers off the beaten path, and these careers may include government and institutional jobs
Are they easy to find? At times, and sometimes new graduates need to look elsewhere Consulting companies offer this kind of employment Check a few of these companies out if you know someone looking for work in these areas
There could be a pleasant surprise waiting for the right applicant
Credentials are important, obtaining a degree in the right discipline demonstrates a commitment to activities similar to those usable on the job in a consulting firm Other attributes greatly enhance that basic set of qualifications Experience, existing clientele and marketing capabilities make potential applicants worth even that much more to an organization of this type
Please see http://www stuffintheair com/environmental health and safety jobs html more info about relevant job qualifications
Here is a situation worth considering, as it could present a great opportunity An industrial production firm with a stable workforce now faces new legislation requiring technical expertise beyond the present job descriptions Someone has got to train those people
Air quality, environmental management systems, regulatory compliance and risk management are not trivial things Nor are they particularly simple But they need to be done regardless
Who can better train the industrial employees, other specialists and even government staff better than the consultants who perform these tasks on a daily basis? Most of the principles you would learn in this kind of training easily transfer from one industrial discipline to another Therefore, if you are scheduled to attend any training course, it is probably well worth your while
Some Examples of Job Descriptions
We need standards We have standards EHS Management Systems to satisfy ISO 14001 Standards ISO 14001 applies to any organization in manufacturing and production, as well as service providing companies
Good systems provide useful manuals and handbooks, as well as documented procedures for the Air & Waste Management Association Documents are only useful if the people look at them, so they need to be readable and easily searched to find your needed information
Some consulting firms train industry personnel in implementation of EHS management systems More extensive training may include regulatory compliance, environmental awareness, as well as health & safety awareness
What about emergency response plans? Industrial firms such as oil and gas operations need ERPs to meet government requirements Communities containing these industries need to be prepared to respond to potential accidents, chemical and otherwise For the peace of mind of residents, if nothing else That is where the emergency response plan comes into play
What things do industries have to do to control their environmental impact? They implement careful project management for one thing
Environmental impact assessments assist oil companies, for instance, in anticipating and preventing undesirable effects on the surrounding area
A good plan requires coordinating information and objectives from several special interest groups simultaneously If things are done consistently and thoroughly, you have a decent start to a successful plan One that satisfies the interests of all stakeholders
Barry Lough has more than 12 years experience dispersion meteorology, modelling, environmental permitting and consulting. http://www.stuffintheair.com – Homepage for Barry http://www.stuffintheair.com/WeatherMan.html – more about Barry and his past experience in air quality modelling.
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How To Conduct An Effective Job Search
Author : Shaun Parker
The beginning of the year can be quite a down time The weather is generally miserable, you have spent all of your money in Christmas and it’s going to be a good few months until you can leave work when the sun is shining It really can be a time for keeping your head down and just trying to get the few months out of the way For that reason it may not be the time of year where you might think about finding a new job
Nevertheless there is also the opportunity to embark on a new year and have a fresh start So embrace the New Year and start your job search Fortunately the New Year can be a good time of year for a job search as many employers use it as a chance to get new staff in So how can you make sure that your job search is successful? Follow these simple guidelines
Write a great CV
Writing a good CV should be an exciting experience If you are not excited writing it then how can you expect someone to be excited reading it? Well yes admittedly it is not the most exciting process but it is well worth putting in the hours To make sure the content in the CV is good you will first have to take the time to list all of your previous employment history, work experience and personal achievements This can be quite a long task The next thing to do is to refine what is likely to be a long and detailed list At this stage you can be selective and choose to emphasize the work experience that is directly applicable to the job you are searching for
If you have had jobs that have had notable responsibilities then it is important that you speak up about them If you had a job with an unexceptional title then it is important that you make a note of the roles and responsibilities that you had within the job Emphasize the good points and really try and sell yourself Don’t worry about sounding too smarmy or arrogant It is important that you are not a shrinking wall flower Remember no one else will be trying to promote you (unless you are a boxer) so it is important that you take the initiative
Apply everywhere
The next thing you need to do is get your CV out there The more desks it sits on the more likely you are to get an interview This means you should take it to as many agencies as possible and send it to every job advert that relates to what you want to do Even if you are not 100% sure from the sound of the advertisement you must remember that the more experience of interviews that you have the better you will become
It might also be the case that the job is better than you might initially think If you apply for a boring office job you might find that the office is a fun place or is based near town In other words there may be things about the job that appeal to you that have not been mentioned in the advertisement and you may inadvertently find the perfect job in a place that you didn’t expect
Shaun Parker has been involved in the Jobs industry for many years and is fully aware of the pitfalls you may face when you conduct a job search.
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