Monthly Archives: October 2009

Author : Donald Mitchell

When I attend a career-related conference or seminar, one of the typical activities is asking each person to consider his or her life’s purpose Then attendees are encouraged to share what they’ve concluded As I listen, I’m constantly struck by how often such statements include the words “Help others to succeed in ”

I’m always encouraged to find someone has a powerful desire to help others through their careers It’s no wonder that improvements are made in many areas: Cooperation based on a sincere desire to help is a good foundation for making such progress

Curious about what motivates such desires, I often ask people why they want to help others Some reflect on times when they received help and how important that had been in their lives Others comment on the good feelings they experience from contributing to someone else’s progress Still others observe that helping others is part of their values, often based in religious belief

Let me contrast those heart-felt conversations with what I experience when I interview senior executives about their work and contributions Rarely do such executives comment on having a desire to help others succeed or report having done so Instead, they usually complain about how they feel out of sync with what their colleagues are focused on doing Sometimes executives tell me that they don’t like their work very much

With two such strong sets of different responses, it seems unlikely that people who want a more meaningful career of contribution will be nurtured towards such a career by these unhappy senior executives

What path can you follow instead to add value to other peoples lives? Let me suggest seven breakthrough steps:

1 Find what you like to do

2 Determine what way of helping others succeed means the most to you

3 Assess what you need to learn in order to help in that way

4 Explore ways to add that knowledge and experience

5 Add the knowledge and experience

6 Relocate to the place where the opportunities are greatest

7 Ally with those who will nurture and encourage your work

Let’s look at an example of someone who has followed these steps in order to better understand how you can build such a satisfying and rewarding career

Find What You Like To Do

Barry Plotkin grew up in Scotland where he was fascinated by learning how things work Building on that interest, he became a mechanical engineer After earning his degree, Mr Plotkin took a position in a large marine engineering firm To his consternation, this job led him to realize that his interest in management was much greater than his interest in technology

Determine What Way of Helping Others Succeed Means the Most to You

Mr Plotkin changed jobs and became an installation supervisor for new plants In this role, his team succeeded in finishing the work ahead of schedule and under budget He enjoyed what he was doing and realized that improving management was the way he wanted to help others succeed With more experience, however, he also realized that being more effective to earn more money didn’t feel rewarding — particularly when ethical and social needs were ignored in pursuit of more profit

At first, he tried to help those managers who described themselves as very aggrieved by banking problems, customer difficulties, neglectful authorities, abusive suppliers, and exploitive employees Unfortunately, Mr Plotkin learned that these problems were mostly the result of the management’s own mistakes After “helping” them to overcome the difficulties, management would usually revert to its bad habits

Instead, Mr Plotkin learned to work with those who accepted responsibility for their own results and wanted to improve, but were being genuinely held back by access to resources like money, know-how, experience, time, or manpower Working with those individuals, Mr Plotkin could do better professional work and accomplish more while feeling great about what he was doing

Assess What You Need to Learn in Order to Help in That Way

Not having prepared for a management career, Mr Plotkin found he had knowledge and skill gaps to fill On his own, he learned about methods for improving process efficiency, marketing, public directorships, and accounting He also realized that to be more successful in helping others he needed to become strong in strategy, organizational management, analysis, data management, and finance skills

Explore Ways to Add That Knowledge and Experience

Although Mr Plotkin made great strides in studying on his own, he realized that the knowledge he gained had ragged edges that could be smoothed by going through a more disciplined set of studies An online MBA program that provided a choice of courses and study-time flexibility seemed like a good solution After investigating 15 MBA programs, Mr Plotkin selected the one at Rushmore University because its self-directed study methods left his success largely in his own hands while providing the structure and support he needed

Add the Knowledge and Experience

Mr Plotkin accumulated the knowledge that he lacked through applying what he learned from books to practical problems In developing his answers, he benefited from regular reviews by his professors and editor Although he was attending a virtual university, he was pleased to report that he had “acquired the confidence and capability to work with, rather than against, the market forces to increase my financial wellbeing without compromising my own set of business values ”

Relocate to the Place Where the Opportunities Are Greatest

After deciding to leave engineering, Mr Plotkin and his wife had carefully considered where to live They chose Israel because it seemed to provide them with “a dynamic cauldron of emerging possibilities ” After earning his MBA, Mr Plotkin realized that Israel was a good location for his career because the gap between management skills there and elsewhere was widening within many companies that had a good technical base for global success But with limited skills, the many start-ups were having trouble attracting capital and entering external markets

Ally with Those Who Will Nurture and Encourage Your Work

With his new-found knowledge, Mr Plotkin realized that Israeli technology start-ups needed a wider range of services than he could provide by himself A search for partners quickly enabled him to ally with people who shared his values and could assist the start-ups in those other ways

As time passes, he hopes that success in helping others will permit him more time to explore personal interests and financial success to provide more for his family With that success already delivering a higher quality of work and personal life, he is optimistic about his prospects

Where are you in the process of adding more value to your career and that of others? Take the first step today by thinking more about what you like to do

Donald W. Mitchell is a professor at Rushmore University. For more information about ways to engage in fruitful lifelong learning at Rushmore to increase your influence, visit

http://www.rushmore.edu .

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Author : Tony Jacowski

Job pages in newspapers and on jobsites clear doubts in anyone’s mind about Six Sigma career opportunities As companies place emphasis on quality and cost management with process improvement being the underlying foundation, Six Sigma is coming to the forefront because of its overall applicability in a business environment With it comes an upswing in the demand for Six Sigma professionals

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities are on the rise in the Six Sigma sector at various capacities For experienced professionals, launching their own venture can also be very lucrative However, job opportunities probably exist within your organization as well as outside of it

Within Your Organization

You can enhance your career within your own organization as a black belt or a green belt in Six Sigma discipline by appropriate Six Sigma training Organizations that decide on Six Sigma implementation usually hire a professional in consultative capacities for initiation They will not be playing decision-making roles for strategic reasons Upper management obviously prefers to use its own employees at all levels beginning with green belts at execution levels, black belts at problem solving levels and master black belts at the highest levels

Outside Your Organization

A keyword search for “Six Sigma” in any of the popular job portals reveal the number of available jobs and related information like the level of employment, salary etc Both freshly trained as well as experienced black belts are in demand; however, the ratio seems to be slightly skewed in favor of those having implemented at least one or two projects Certain companies place more weight on prior work experience in a relevant field even with freshly trained candidates

Another interesting statistic is that black belts are in a rather higher demand than green belt Six Sigma professionals This is obvious from the fact that, as green belts form the lower rungs of implementation program, they have the obligation of having to divide their time to their routine work as well It is normal practice to identify people from within the organization for this position

Six Sigma Training

One unfortunate thing about Six Sigma training is that the methodology is not universal and not standardized Because of this, there is an inconsistency in teaching, subject material etc It is important for organizations to confirm through references, employment bureaus/counselors and future employers who recognizes which institute The fees are another major cause of concern for many candidates

Many corporations have in-house training facilities for their employees Candidates may need to undergo Six Sigma training as a condition their continued employment Some professionals see this as detrimental to their career prospects due to the heavy workload involved

Aptitude Of A Six Sigma Professional

Black and Green Belt candidates must have open minds and strong analytical abilities They must possess the ability to question all things with a view to making a core contribution Above all, self-confidence and a high degree of motivation are necessary Black belts need to focus more on the analytical and problem-solving aspects and dedicate 100% of their time to the implementation Green belts can’t dedicate 100% of their time, as they have to also focus on their routine responsibilities within the organization What is expected of them is studiousness, flexibility, understanding of statistical tools and interpersonal skills

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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Author : Amy Nutt

In our lifetimes, we have the option of trying out very many jobs, or even careers, to find out what we really love In many cases, it may take quite a few years to find true joy in their employment, as we’re not all sure as to what we want to do As we try out many jobs, we build skills and a work ethic that is positive for the thing we eventually find out we want to do for the rest of our lives Simply put, we find our calling There are many jobs out there to choose from, and while they are rewarding, more and more people are finding the field of physical therapy as a dream job

What it Takes

In the media, there are more and more advertisements about the career that is physical therapy With these advertisements and growing public knowledge, it has made the career choice one of the fastest growing professions stateside Although it is growing rapidly, it still requires a certain level of drive and work ethic to achieve this goal, all the while still being quite attainable for those willing The job duties of the physical therapist include working with doctors and other therapists to rehabilitate them These people could be suffering from painful injuries, maybe diseases, or other ailments

To be a physical therapist, there is always going to be a certain level of training and education Normally, there are two different parts that a person must successfully pass to be a therapist, which normally last three to four years The first part is more of the education similar to what one would see at a school The second is where it gets to the heart of the matter, where you essentially learn more of what you need to know to be a successful physical trainer

This is in addition to an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree to legally practice physical therapy After all of the applicable training, there is also a national standardized test that is required for you to practice The test is something that can be easy to overcome if the person is genuinely serious about what they want to do, if they genuinely have a passion for physical therapy

The Joy of Physical Therapy

Choosing a career in physical therapy is something that is worthwhile; as there are many jobs available for people who are required to practice They enjoy a very decent salary, although it’s more about the people that they have the privilege of helping The physical therapist is a person who really has a zest for life, as they get to live every day helping people who are in need What is more exciting than that?

In addition to that, there are many different professions in the physical therapy field Whether it’s bringing someone back to health after a tremendous enjoy, or helping out an athlete get back to fighting form, there are essentially no bounds when it comes to this exciting career!

Many opportunities are waiting in physical therapy jobs. Openings in occupational therapy jobs need to be filled!

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Author : James Copper

Web design courses teach how to design and develop websites For many the thought of designing a website is an intimidating one However, various web design courses available today teach the basics of website designing in a very simple and easy to follow manner

Types Of Courses

Certain courses are designed for aspiring web design professionals These are individuals who have an eye for art and layout and wish to make a career out of designing websites

Other simple courses target the average individual who just wants to make a website for personal interest

What Do Web Design Courses Teach?

In both type of courses the basics of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and web design are taught It is important that your website looks attractive and a visitor is encouraged to follow links and click on other pages of your site This is very essential if you wish to attract advertisements to your website and also if you are trying to sell a product through your site

A website design course will teach you how to do all of this Some of the main subjects which feature on the curriculum include:

- Organization and planning the layout of the website Cluttered sites full of information in hard to read font and font size put off the reader

- Planning color schemes, use of frames and graphics It will provide information on the advantages and disadvantages of using background colors, the pros and cons of graphics, the use of moving objects such as banners, etc

- Basics of publishing on the internet

- Basics of computer graphics and design

- Effective navigation

- Issues relating to web security and administration

- Training on how to create links between documents

- Information on how to create tables and forms

- Training on site management

- Training in specific web design technologies and software

- Training in action scripting software

- Training on how to increase speed of your site

- Information on how to assist visitors with completing tasks such as filling up forms on the website

Where Can You Find A Web Design Course?

Given that these courses teach individuals how to design websites, the obvious answer to this question is “online” All web design courses are by no means similar While you search for an appropriate course which will meet your needs, you will notice that the website will prompt you for details You will be asked about the level of a course you want to undertake such as a certificate or a degree course

How Do These Online Courses Work?

Once you sign up for a course, your progress through the program is similar to any other online learning program You will have tutorials, class assignments and interactive sessions with your tutors You will receive feedback and will need to complete projects and finally appear for the certificate examination

A good web design course can open up a number of exciting and challenging career opportunities for you

James Copper is a writer for http://www.trainingindex.co.uk where you can find information on web design training courses

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Author : Kris Koonar

A combination of hard work and smart work are essential to making a long and prosperous career in any field In addition, if you are able to identify early enough what profession matches your interest and natural flair, you can be sure of success

Working on water can be a very different experience as compared to anything done on land If this appeals to you, then you have several interesting career options One such option is a career as a dredge operator Most of us do not get a chance to throw out a fishing rod every now and then to catch a fish for lunch while at work A job as a dredge operator can give you this as also many other exciting moments that you cannot dream of, in a conventional job

Who is a dredge operator?

Dredge operators operate power driven dredging machine in order to remove sand, and stones from rivers, lakes and streams They are responsible for making channels in waterways navigable by scooping out gravel from the bottom They control machines used in any kind of dredging process, either manually or through various mechanical aids

If you choose to specialize in this profession, your problem solving and coordination skills can also be put to use as you may be called upon to assess material in order to solve problems This will include establishing communication and coordinating with several members to complete a task

This profession will also ensure that you stay fit as it involves a lot of physical activities such as climbing, lifting of equipments, balancing of materials and walking You can also fulfill your dream of flying an aircraft or sailing a watercraft, either of which may be required at some dredging sites

What work does a dredging operator do?

Dredge workers are involved in the placing of shore anchors and cables They lay pipes from the dredge to the shore, and also perform the work of pumping water from pontoons Movement of levers to place dredge in position for excavation of gravel comes under their scope of duties as also lowering an anchor pole in order to verify the depth of excavation

If the above introduction to this career option has fascinated you enough as to consider taking up this career, then you would want to know more about the skills and knowledge required, which are mentioned below:

1 Oceanography

2 Meteorology

3 Physics

4 Fluid dynamics

5 Propulsion system

The skill to operate small boats and hydraulic equipment along with navigation is important As a dredge operator, you will need to have control over a machine or vehicle, as you may have to adjust its position very quickly

The different levels of job positions in this field are:

1 Dredger

2 Dredge worker

3 Dredge mate

4 Dredge hand

5 Dredge master

6 Dredge captain or engineer and

7 Dredge deckhand or level operator

As a dredge worker, you will get an opportunity to both travel and live on board, as you may have to keep moving to different locations Since you would typically be working on a contract basis, the company that has retained your services will bear the cost of food and accommodation

Some employers provide travel benefits to their workers that allow them to go home during the weekends As per a labor survey conducted in 2005, it is estimated that dredge operators earn around 600 dollars per day if they are exceptionally skilled

Stop wasting time and take control of your future. For more information go to http://www.earthmoverschool.com or phone 1.800.488.7364. Earthmoverschool.com has trained over 30,000 Construction Equipment Operators.

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