We’ve all heard how to achieve real estate success; location, location and location. Successful job search and career change after 50 also revolves around important three maxims: attitude, attitude and more attitude.

With the right attitude everything in the career change and job hunt comes in a distant second. A positive attitude generates optimism and optimism radiates a winning level of enthusiasm.

This in turn shapes your behavior; to make the extra call, to spend more time preparing for the job or informational interview, to interject enthusiasm into everything you write, and to express an honest and sincere interest in the career and challenges of the job.

With this winning attitude, it’s easy to prepare and present yourself as the best candidate in the battle for the right career and the right job.

Here are 17 basic tips to get your attitude, career change and job hunt on the right track:

1. Get feedback on your image, telephone voice, and on-camera abilities. How you answer questions and what you say reflects positively and negatively on your image. Show your good side and project the best image possible-practice, practice and practice some more.
2. Limit your resume to the last 10-15 years. Don’t put graduation dates and personal information in your resume. Focus on quantifiable accomplishments in your resume.
3. Start a relevant course of study-formal education, self-study and on-line learning can all show that you are a lifelong learner. Keep up with the latest and greatest in you field-know the latest new software developments, for example. Build learning into your career plan after 50, it will pay dividends.
4. Join relevant professional associations. Do what needs to be done to get you noticed, be proactive, work on projects and assist others. Volunteer to work for a non-profit to get additional experience and to keep busy.
5. Prepare to answer the questions about being overqualified for the position, about the level of pay being lower than your last job, about working for someone younger, and about quitting when the first better job comes along. Build 50 good answers to 50 tough questions, and prepare-not memorize your responses-you’ll shine in the interviews.
6. Use networking to uncover hidden job possibilities.
7. If necessary, work as a temp or contractor to build your skills and experience to qualify for your new career.
8. Project energy; bring into your answers during the interview examples of physical activities that you enjoy doing on a frequent basis.
9. Know that changing careers and/or finding a new job after 50 takes time. Be patient, but be diligent-work at finding the right job every day-it’s full time work. Build a set of procedures to follow-up on contacts, and prospective opportunities.
10. Focus on what you are doing now and tomorrow and not the “good old days.”
11. Use a career coach to evaluate you ideas, smooth out the rough spots, and help you with your career planning.
12. Analyze your transferable skills and know how to communicate how they relate to the new job and new career.
13. Don’t use overt or covet age discrimination as a cop-out to impact your career change and job hunt. It exists, but more times or not, there is another valid reason for not hiring you. Keep moving forward, there is a great employer waiting to hire you.
14. Look closely at smaller companies. They need your broad range of skills rather that the larger employer where the job may be narrower in scope.
15. Research the prospective employer, corporate culture, dress code, new projects and products, and new markets will all help you ace the interview.
16. Continue working your career plan, especially after you find a job in your new career. It will make you more valuable to your employer, you’ll be able to assist others, and your attitude will soar with your new skills and abilities.
17. And finally, get your weight under control, exercise as appropriate. Nothing shows age more than extra weight and the perception that you lack energy.

Forget your age and focus on living your life, good things will happen. Your new job and new career after 50 will bring new joy and challenges to your life, and isn’t that what life is all about?

Many people will ask you to guess their career as a sort of test of your abilities. If this comes up, there are several things that can help you make the right guess.

First, be very observant. For men, look at their fingernails. If they have grease under their nails, that indicates a mechanic. Shake hands, without being obvious, and feel for calluses or rough hands that would indicate more manual work.

Look at a man’s tie, if he is wearing one. You can always spot a man who does not usually wear a suit. Usually his tie is not tight under the collar.

Rings are indications of married or not and men with no rings often work with machines and need to keep their rings away from them for safety.

Check out physique. Do you see muscles or not? What type of career would the physique suit?

Observe how a woman walks. Does she have good posture? Does she know how to walk in heels? More subtle make-up may indicate an executive position.

The best answer you can give, when asked to guess their career, is that the person “fixes, rehabilitates or repairs something”. This line is great in that the vast majority of jobs do actually “fix or repair something.” “I’m getting the impression that you are involved with fixing or repairing…”

Think about it. Aside from the obvious jobs, like mechanic or dentist, most jobs involve fixing something. How about a sales person? He or she repairs a company’s bottom line. Teachers? They fix a student’s ability to learn. Taxi drivers? Apart from doing minor repairs to their cabs, they have routes “fixed” in their minds. A receptionist? Maybe he or she doesn’t repair or fix anything per se but there’s a good chance their company might.

I’d say almost any job or career can be reframed as one that fixes problems or repairs something.

To get some practice with this, go over your job and the jobs of family members, friends and neighbors. How do these jobs fix or repair something?

Practice, when you are not performing, by observing everything you can and then asking people what they do for a living. You will be amazed how good you can get and you can use this in your mind reading.

The economy is expected to continue creating jobs for workers at all levels of education and training. Occupations that require a post secondary award (an associate’s degree) are estimated to have faster growth rates than occupations requiring less education or training.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) Tourism revenues are expected to rise by 42 per cent from 2007 to 2017. Every year, more than 3 million tourists visit the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Despite short- and medium-term setbacks, tourism revenues are expected to rise by 42 per cent from 2007 to 2017.

FHRAI is committed to promote and protect the interests of the Hospitality Industry by actively seeking better privileges and more concessions for the Industry. FHRAI members are always kept abreast with the latest trade information and trends, statistical analysis and reports on various topics that have a direct impact on the Industry, government notifications and circulars. FHRAI helps the Hospitality Industry to grow, prosper and keep in pace with the developments in the International scenario.

FHRAI is truly the voice of the Hospitality Industry that brings several million dollars to the exchequer and employs more than 15 million direct workers.

Job Prospects

Many avenues are open to a hotel management graduate. Not only in the hotels but various other fields like;

• Airline

• Cruise line

• Travel and Tour

• Restaurants

• Bars

• Fast food chains

• Catering industry (Institution, Railway and hospitals)

• Highway Motels

• Amusement Parks and Malls

• Multiplexes

• Hotel & Tourism Institutes

• Self employment, are to name a few.

High turnover is a key challenge in the hospitality industry. Employers have difficulty finding workers who possess basic “soft skills,” which are often a prerequisite for success in a customer service-oriented field. English proficiency is a key challenge because a large percentage of the hospitality workforce does not speak English as their primary language.

With the hospitality industry’s growth rate increasing, the importance of finding good employees, especially young workers, is a high priority. Historically, the hospitality industry has drawn heavily from the young labor pool to meet their workforce needs, but in recent years the industry has been left with an insufficient pipeline of new skilled workers to satisfy the demand.

Successful Career Planning in Hospitality

Successful career planning is very tempting for everyone. Planning of a good career involves many decisions. What will help you to make a good decision? A good decision making model. All you need to have a good vision statement which will help you to find what is it you want to do and for whom. Once you identify this it is easier to make out your right decision.

Most of us are not well trained in decision making. Most of our decisions are made by our parents or relatives or friends. And we follow them, because we are influenced by these outside factors to believe strongly that “experience is the best teacher.” Many a time experience is quite expensive. Developing a good decision making module and using a good process will lead you to achieve your desired goal.

A good career planning process will have the following steps:

• Decision Making

• Know yourself

• Narrow your options

• Chose the right job

• Execute

Decision Making: A good decision making is an essential skill for career success. If you can learn to make timely and well-considered decisions, then it can lead you to spectacular and well-deserved success. All of us have to make decisions every day. Some decisions are relatively straightforward and simple while others are quite complex. Simple decision needs a simple decision making process. But difficult or complex decisions usually involve issues like uncertainty, complexity, high – risk, alternatives, and interpersonal issues. With these difficulties in mind, the best way is to use an effective process. Clear processes usually lead to consistent, high-quality results, and they can improve the quality of almost everything we do.

Every hospitality student’s career dream is to become a Hotel General Manager. Becoming a Hotel General Manager may be an objective for your career, but first you have to understand ‘what is it you want to do and for whom.’ Ideally, career planning is more than just finding a job. A process shows you what you want to do for the rest of your life. You need to find out what is right for you without being influenced by others. Because some people still have negative image of hospitality industry, and may discourage you.

Know yourself: You need to know yourself before you search for a job. Understanding yourself will help you to find out the best job for your abilities. Knowing yourself in essence, you understand your strengths, weaknesses, interests, values, and personality. Knowing yourself includes classifying your skills, interests, values, personality type, and developing a vision statement.

Know your skills: Start creating a list of your achievements and accomplishments. Do not restrict only with your professional or technical knowledge. Be extensive and cover everything from your school days accomplishments, hobbies, extracurricular activities, problem-solving abilities, project management etc. This list will be an excellent start and help you creating your resume. The root causes of these accomplishments are your strengths.

Interests: Identify your interests in relation to the opportunities and demands of the hospitality industry. It is essential to identify interests that have connection with the hospitality industry such as traveling, cooking, meeting people, organizing events, participation in team activities, and learning languages. Sincere interest and genuine enthusiasm are keen factors for successful career.

Values: Values are the rules by which we make decisions about right and wrong, should and shouldn’t, good and bad. They also tell us which are more or less important, and which is useful. You should examine your values during the self assessment process. Trying to answer the question “what matters most to me?” working in a large group or a small group, high risk or security, working individually or working with a team, multicultural or homogeneous environment, long work hours with few holidays or eight hours of work with weekends and holidays, can be very thought provoking.

Personality type: Knowing what type of personality you are and what are your psychological preferences and finding a career which suits you will make you more successful and you will gain more satisfaction from the career. There are many tools available on the web to find what type of personality you are.

Vision Statement: Creating your personal vision or mission statement is the blue print for all your career planning. A vision statement can help you in every step of your career. It is a statement written to inspire you and not to impress anyone else. Your vision statement will answer the question “what do I want to do and for whom?”

Narrow your options: Now that you understand yourself, it is time for you to narrow down the options available for you. Begin by asking: What you feel is your dream job? Which company or group will be suitable for you? What kind of work you would like to do? Once you answer these questions, find out more about specific companies by networking, reading industry related magazines etc. Try to get the detailed picture of the company with the information on their top management, mission statement, the objectives, their growth, policies, career ladder of the company, and their past performance. This information will help you significantly during the interviews.

It is mandatory in many institutes in India offering hotel management course to send their students for industrial exposure to gain first hand knowledge and industry experience. There are many potential benefits for students as well as the organization. While the student gets hands on real life experience, the organization gets the opportunity to judge the enthusiastic students and plan for recruitment. Even the student decides his or her department of preference during this period. Student should try and get the full benefit of the training period by learning more information about the industry and its career opportunities while doing their training.

Choose the right Job: Now that you have determined who you are and what are your options, you need to compare the two to see where there is overlap. Which occupation, organization, career choice fit your values, interests, personality, and vision? You will need to narrow it down to three or four. Look for realistic career path that lead from this job. What are the job advancement opportunities? What would be the compensation package? What are the long term benefits from the organization? What kind of training you will be receiving? More often this information will be made available from the presentation and during the interviewing process.

Where you work can have enormous effect on how you work. Many hotels expect you to relocate for promotions and career growth. Moving away from your family and friends might affect your job performance due to homesickness. Having chosen the hospitality as your career, it is suggested that you need to be flexible and mobile.

Execute: Getting a job is purely and simply a sales process. You are selling yourself. The buyer (hotel) will hire you only when satisfied with you. You need to be a good salesman during the process of discussion or interview. Some of the points mentioned above in this article will help you to project you significantly. It is time to create a personal sales plan based on the marketing research you’ve already done.

Creating an effective Resume: An excellent resume may not guarantee a job offer, but a poor resume may prevent one.

The Resume helps you in many ways

• They help you to obtain employment interviews.

• They allow you to emphasize your talents and accomplishments.

• The help the recruiters to remember you and your capabilities and or influence hiring decisions.

Resume is a marketing tool. The main components of an effective resume are:

• Personal details

• Educational details

• Professional experience

• Special skills, talents and honors.

A resume is only effective if it produces the desired result – a call letter for an interview.

Interviewing Better: After coming through all the hurdles of the selection process, you will eventually arrive at an interview. This is of course, a major obstacle for many job applicants. Although they may have the qualifications, experience and a proven track record, they may lose out to a candidate who ‘interviews better.’ So what does ‘interviewing better’ actually mean? It comes down to the candidate being well prepared and confident. A candidate who can answer questions in a way which is acceptable (but not necessarily right) to the interviewer, someone who knows something about their potential employers business and the post they hope to fill.

These are really the basic components of any candidate who ‘interviews well’. There are undoubtedly other aspects employers may look for in relation to specific posts – having their own ideas, articulate, thinking on their feet, aspects which will be related to the job and to the company’s preference in employees. The employer will also be looking to fill a post, which has a particular job specification – in other words personal aspects besides the experience, and qualifications that can be put down on paper. The interviewer will set out to ascertain that the candidate has these personal qualities, skills and abilities the company requires. These two essential ingredients are interlinked. Good preparation instills confidence. So the basic approach to an interview is to be well prepared.

This means two things –

– preparing yourself practically for the interview, and

– gathering knowledge and information you can draw on during the interview

Points to Remember:

• Be sure you know the time, date and location of the interview and name of interviewer where appropriate.

• Check out how you will get to the location, and when you need to set off to be there in good time – do a dummy run if necessary. Plan to get there no earlier than half an hour before the interview time, anticipate delays.

• Have what you are going to wear ready in advance – everything down to your underwear.

• Do not go to the interview laden down with baggage – psychological as well as physical.

• Take the bare minimum of belongings necessary.

• Concentrate on the interview at the interview – nothing else

• If you are asked to bring certificates, references etc, get them ready before the day.

• Take your interview letter.

• On arrival ensure the receptionist knows you are there, visit the toilets to tidy up etc.

• If you are well organized and have planned for the day your confidence will increase

Few General Rules:

• Speak up when answering questions.

• Answer briefly, but try to avoid yes or no answers.

• Don’t worry about pausing before you answer, it shows you can think and are not

spitting out the sound bites you learned!

• Don’t worry about admitting you don’t know – but keep this to a bare minimum.

• Don’t embellish answers or lie! Be as honest as possible.

• Be prepared for hypothetical situation questions; take your time on these.

• Be prepared for the unexpected question that’s designed to see how you cope with the unexpected.

• If you ask questions keep them brief during the interview, remember you’re the interviewee.

Grooming tips:

• Sit comfortably with both feet on the floor, lean slightly towards the interviewer.

• Don’t play with your hair or you hands. Keep them out of pockets!

• Try not to create defensive barriers between you and them, like a brief case on your knees, folded arms or crossed legs. even if you feel you need to. It’s natural, but your interviewer will not physically attack!

• Maintain natural eye contact with the interviewer – that is maintaining eye contact, but do not stare like a snake!

• If there is more than one interviewer, look at who’s talking.

• When you are talking, shift your glance from one to the other.

• Do not over use your hands, if you are a natural gesticulator.

• Do not squirm and fidget.

Obeying these rules will allow the interviewers to concentrate on you, and not what you are doing in the interview. Body language conveys all sorts of messages, and the right body language will convey the message of a well-balanced and confident individual… even if you are not!

The success or failure of your professional development lies entirely on you. No one else knows your skills, interests and values as well as you do. Nor can anyone measure the development activities that will be effective for you.

A career in private investigation is versatile and many people pursue it as an alternative career option. There is a growing demand for private investigators. This is chiefly because of the increase in the number of crimes and the resulting fear and tension, an increase in litigation and the need for special investigative techniques. The Internet has opened up a whole new world for the private investigation business and has made monitoring the operations much easier.

Nature Of Work

Private investigators use different types of surveillance to determine facts and gather information. They offer assistance in legal, financial and personal cases, to attorneys, businesses and individuals. Private investigators are trained to perform physical surveillance and computer database searches that enable them to obtain the required information on any subject. The career demands that you work very closely with the police and the law. The job of a private investigator involves questioning suspects and criminals and filing complaints against them and testifying in the court of law. The duties of a private investigator generally depend on the services demanded by the clients and employers.

Work Conditions

A career in private investigation involves irregular working hours. Private investigators travel extensively to keep an eye on the subject or to gather more information on a particular case. The work environment could be a plush boardroom or a bar. Generally they work alone, except during interrogations. Their work involves confrontation sometimes and this can be stressful and dangerous. Investigators who are into law enforcement need to be armed as well.

Required Skills

The skills essential for a career in private investigation involve not being afraid of confrontation, good communication skills, a high level of intelligence to think and act quickly, good interrogation skills and the ability to present facts appropriately before the jury.

Specializations

A career in private investigation often involves specialization. For instance, legal investigators specialize in cases involving the law and are employed by the law firms or lawyers. Corporate investigators conduct investigations, both external and internal, for the various corporations, while financial investigators are hired to make confidential reports on individuals or companies that are suspected to be prospective parties to large financial transactions. In order to safeguard the assets of large retail stores, store detectives or loss prevention agents are employed, who are expected to identify anyone attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store property.

Education & Training

There is no formal education or training available for a career in private investigation. The skills are expected to be inherent. However, employers prefer high school or college graduates, along with some training in criminal justice, forensic sciences, law enforcement and security administration. Those who are self-employed are generally from a background where they have worked in the related field for a while. In the U.S., most states prefer licensed private investigators, though the requirements for various licensing authorities do differ.

Career Outlook

A career in private investigation offers excellent opportunities for self-employment. Nearly one out of every four private investigators is self-employed. Stiff competition is expected due to highly qualified people, with experience in law enforcement and the military being attracted to the career.

Picking one out of many fashion jobs generally is an overwhelming challenge. There are several different opportunities in the fashion industry that you might not be sure which one is best for you. With the high demand for fashion jobs, you need to be sure of what it is that you want to do so you can get started on pursuing your dream in this competitive industry. Below you will find descriptions for several fashion jobs and, subsequently, be one step closer to establishing your career in the fashion industry.

1. Fashion Designer

Thanks to shows like Project Runway, there are many people whose curiosity has been rose towards the fashion industry, exclusively, fashion design. A career as a fashion designer seems extravagant and rewarding but it takes a whole lot of work. A fashion designer must be well-informed of the latest trends (and sometimes even be ahead of them) and have the creativity to conceptualize new designs. A fashion designer creates sketches, whether by hand or with computer-aided design (CAD) software, of their designs and must be familiar with fabrics and materials in order to create samples that show what the final product would look like. As a fashion designer you can specialize in clothing design, footwear or accessories. Fashion jobs like that of a fashion designer are prolonged with grueling hours of intensive work and lots of traveling if you want to promote your designs. Fashion designers work under pressure to meet deadlines and make an impression on fashion buyers and other potential clients. As a fashion designer you would need not only talent and creativity but also thick skin and dedication.

2. Fashion Merchandising

Fashion jobs in merchandising can be very challenging. A fashion merchandiser must know what consumers really want, how to present it to them, what they want to pay for it and how to lure them to purchase. A fashion merchandiser is not just an expert in fashion but must also have strong business, financial and advertising skills. As a fashion designer you might find yourself creating budgets, tracking profits and losses, tracking inventory, developing marketing strategies and even putting together creative visual displays to draw in consumers. It’s a career that entails many different roles but also has many opportunities to grow and advance in.

3. Fashion Buyer

Fashion buyers are among the most crucial people for brands and companies. They must have good communication skills, be aggressive, organized and driven. As a fashion buyer you work hand in hand with designers, merchandisers and other key people to select what pieces to present to consumers and ensure that best-sellers are continually available. Buyers must be mindful of both current and future trends so they can make the right choices of clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. to ensure high profits. Working with suppliers to negotiate prices suggests that a fashion buyer must have good interpersonal skills, be educated in market costs and also in consumer demands. Fashion buyers must be ready to work under pressure, travel and research and analyze in order to make practical decisions on what products to offer their target customer base.

4. Fashion Director

Fashion directors, also known as creative directors or fashion coordinators, are in charge of the image and look of a store, magazine or a fashion house. They are accountable for that first impression given when people look at ad campaigns, shoots and even fashion films. A fashion director must make sure that the models, photographers, location and concepts characterize the store, brand, or magazine in the best and most genuine way. One of the most well known creative directors in the industry is Grace Coddington who, alongside Anna Wintour and other industry professionals, are a part of American Vogue. In the documentary “The September Issue” we are able to see Coddington showing us her best work and the steps she takes to produce the magnificent spreads in Vogue. Now, don’t think it will be a snap landing one of these fashion jobs. Be prepared for long hours of work, creative stumps, frequent traveling, crazy deadlines, and being willing to go back to the drawing board time and time again. Remember, as a fashion director you are responsible for the image of a brand; you produce something that the whole world will see. People will base their opinions on what you present to them. As one of the top fashion jobs in the industry, the pressure is on!

Fashion Jobs – The List Goes On

5. Fashion Forecaster

Probably one of the highest ranking careers in the fashion industry, fashion forecasters do just that, forecast the future trends and styles. This is much more sophisticated than forecasting the weather. Not only does a fashion forecaster need to have in depth knowledge of fashion but he or she must also be creative and surely have the skills necessary to research and analyze potential trends, colors, fabrics and patterns. Fashion forecasters seek inspiration in everything from movies, music, even science and technology. Getting a position as a fashion forecaster is one of the most prestigious of all fashion jobs you could aspire to.

6. Fashion Stylist

A fashion stylist has the easy (or is it?) task of making someone look good. A stylist must be familiar with what colors, fabrics and styles work best to flatter someone’s shape while also knowing ways to accessorize and finish the perfect outfit. Fashion stylists are responsible for picking the best pieces for photoshoots, events, etc. and putting them together for the final product. A stylist’s reputation lies on how good the client looks and, in the case of ad campaigns, whether or not the stylist can communicate the image and vision of a product. Don’t be surprised if, as a fashion stylist, you find yourself traveling for motivation or shopping for clothing, or even spending a day (or a few) revamping a client’s closet. Finding fashion jobs for stylists can be as uncomplicated as working as a personal shopper or styling photo shoots for websites or local magazines or newspapers.

7. Fashion Photographer

It’s not just about knowing just how to take a good picture. Fashion photographers basically have two fields to be good at: fashion and photography. The photography part consists of knowing what angles, lighting, etc. As far as the fashion, photographers really need to be experts in that as well. A fashion photographer should always know what the best trends are, top designers, top fashion events and any other heavy hitter aspects of the industry. Fashion jobs in this field can consist of taking pictures for model portfolios, ad campaigns, and fashion shows. Fashion photographers are responsible for producing a shot that requires excellent technical skills and extensive fashion knowledge. For example, when a fashion photographer goes to shoot at a fashion show he or she must know exactly when to snap the shot of that model wearing the flowing dress. The picture must showcase how the fabric moves and flows instead of displaying a dress that falls limp and drags on the floor. A fashion photographer works hand in hand with stylists, makeup artists and models to ensure that the final product is efficient in sending a visual message.

8. Fashion Editor

Fashion editors supervise the direction of a fashion publication, website and other media. They are in charge for editing a fashion writer’s work, making suggestions, and researching the possibilities of future stories. Fashion writers must be aware of trends and classics to assure that coverage is provided for the target audience. A fashion editor works under the pressure of meeting deadlines, supervising writers, discovering features and fresh ideas all while staying current on the industry and scanning the levels of competition. Some of the qualities necessary for one of these fashion jobs are being organized, punctual, able to communicate verbally and have impeccable writing and journalistic skills. Being one of the most competitive fashion jobs in the industry, a fashion editor should be ready to put some hard work in and spend long nights brewing up excellent, creative content.

9. Fashion Writer

Being a fashion writer is not as easy as picking up a pen and paper (or laptop, tablet, etc.) but includes extensive amounts of research. Fashion writers must be current on their knowledge of fashion and creative when drumming up writing ideas. Of course, outstanding writing skills are a must and meeting deadlines are also fundamental in this career. Fashion writers can execute interviews, cover fashion events and supply reviews of products. You have a choice of working as a freelance writer, with television shows, websites, blogs, smaller publications like local magazines and newspapers or with major publications such as Vogue or Elle, among others. This is one of those fashion jobs where you can find many opportunities and can be fairly simple to get started.

10. Fashion PR (Fashion Public Relations)

Creating a good consumer opinion is of the utmost importance for this fashion job. Where advertising and marketing can create a consumer desire to purchase a certain fashion item, public relations handles the image in its relation to the public eye. Public opinion can gauge the success and longevity of a company. Out of all the fashion jobs mentioned, fashion pr is the piece that ties it all together.

Fashion Jobs that Require WORK!

Whatever one of these fashion jobs you determine to make your career, remember that in such a reasonably competitive industry it’s important to put in a lot of hard work and to be determined. All employers look for something that make their next hire special and capable of making their publication, line, show, or website shine amongst the rest. What is it that you have to offer that others don’t have? How motivated are you? Tell us, which one of these fashion jobs appeal to you the most?

Computer programming training is considered by most employment forecasters to be one of the best educational tracks with regards to career outlook in the future. An education in computer programming, whether through a traditional college degree program or a certification class, can open up many doors for job-seekers looking to secure employment in this rapidly changing field.

What is Computer Programming?

The science of programming – and it IS a science – involves developing and inputting the set of instructions that computers use to function, as well as resolving problems and conducting logical tests within the system. Every company utilizes some type of computer system these days, and although the role of the computer programmer is largely dependent on the type of company that he/she works for, the position is always a professional one due to the enormous amount of responsibility.

Over the years, computer programming has changed drastically as technology evolves, and computer programmers have been at the very forefront of that change. In essence, computer programmers are charged with instructing computers how to think by inputting a series of algorithms and other data, and making changes to those formulas when problems arise.

What Are the Requirements for Computer Programming?

Different types of programming require varying levels of time and expertise. Simple programs can usually be written within a matter of hours, while more complex programs can take years to complete. Either way, the computer programmer must be proficient in the language of programming and be able to resolve problems “on the fly” using logical thinking and sequencing.

According to one of the more popular career sites, most computer programming positions require at least a Bachelor of Science in a computer-related field, but there are some professional programmers who have learned and perfected their skills through work-related experience only, instead of a formal degree program. Regardless of entry-level educational requirements, however, most programmers find they need to consistently seek out new training and certification opportunities in order to stay abreast of the current technology.

If you’re a creative, logical person who enjoys working as part of a team to solve problems, computer programming can be a fantastic way to earn a great living.

The desire to perform a career change is usually created by some work-related discontent. The form or type of discontent may vary but there is something about your work that makes you sad, disgruntled and unhappy. This discontent may take several forms. It could be lack of adequate compensation, no opportunities to learn and grow, uncaring employers, rigid schedules or not enough vacation time. The reasons for discontent at work are many and are unique as the people that change careers every 4 years. In 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggested that on average an individual will change careers once every 4 years. If you are not happy at work and want to be then you can only do one thing: Change. But what do you change? Choose one or all of these 4 and you can change TODAY to get you happy at work again.

1. Change your perspective -if you are deathly afraid of changing careers, this is your best option for a quick fix. Changing your outlook or view of a situation allows you to see a situation through new eyes. Find at least 5 things you enjoy about your current job everyday and when you’re tempted to complain, pull out your list and review them. Guaranteed mood lifter. If however you can’t find 5 things to be happy about, consider the next tip.
2. Change your environment– Sometimes all you need is a different scene to feel better. Changing your environment will require changing jobs within the same industry. If the thought of going to work turns your stomach into knots and tightens your jaw, but you really love what you do- change employers. This option is your only way to being happy at work.
3. Change your career. If what you do does not excite you or satisfy you at the end of the day, changing your perspective or environment will not help. Changing your career will give you the motivation, satisfaction and peace you deserve. Most career changers follow their passions and over the long run improve their income dramatically. Evaluate your skills, interests, talents and passions and allow them to show you the way. Of course, if you want a successful career change you will benefit from the expert advice of counselors, advisers and other career change experts.
4. Change your influence circle. No matter your situation, if you are surrounded by negative people and influences you will not find happiness at work. Jim Rohn states we are an average of the 5 people we are acquainted with. If your immediate circle is not known to be encouraging or motivating you’re more than likely to stay in a job you despise.

As a practitioner of holistic human capital development, I believe on being occupied with the study readiness and career choice topic early in any person’s life. However, it is surprising that people only engage on this topic at the high school level of the learners. It is as if readiness for studies and career choice becomes only relevant during the transition from high school to the college and university. It is for this reason that we find many learners not ready to choose the line of study that is informed by the ultimate careers they would like to follow.

My objective is to encourage all the parents, guardians and scholars to engage in this topic early in their schooling journey. Secondly, I would like to highlight the themes that should form the engagement. It is more complex than it looks, and always an emotional topic to handle. Scholars become victims of many fault lines not previously obvious to them.

Timing in handling this transitional topic is a challenge to all the scholars. They do not always have insights and necessary information to base their consideration on. Access to information is costly for some, and in most cases their school vocational guidance officers are not exposed to the latest trends. As a result they wake up very late and end up taking studies and career directions that are not well researched.

The schools and parents are encouraged to invest in mentorship program to support the scholars in their studies and career choices. However, such programs alone are not sufficient. The schools must work together with the various mentors in conceptualizing and designing educational tours to the institutions of higher learning (universities and colleges), attending studies and career fairs, exhibitions, etc.

The interaction between the schools and the industry should be effected in early years of the scholars development. The schools must employ career counselors, guidance teachers, and industry liaison officers. Companies must be encouraged to adopt schools under their Corporate Social Responsibility programs and see the scholars through to the universities. Such scholars could become scholarship recipients of these companies. Ultimately they would graduate to become their employees. However, the idea here is not for the companies to support schools for their own benefit. This is done for the benefit of the society with the hope that the economy will benefit from an educated people.

We cannot ignore the commercialization of the student information activities, like privately organised career fairs and exhibitions. They occupy the space left by the schools and education authorities. As a result such initiatives are perceived to be for the children of the middle class and the wealthy parents. There is a need for collaboration between private and public organizers. The main objective must be to assist the scholars in their studies and career readiness irrespective of their status in the society.

As the 4th industrial revolution becomes a reality, we need to be mindful of the role that technology is already playing in delivering education and the new careers emerging in the industry. The scholars must be preoccupied with the kind of careers that are going to be in existence by the time they graduate from the college/university.

It is a matter of concern to have the school career guidance offices that are poorly equipped with technology. We need digital libraries that are interactive and a place of global connectivity for the learners. They must be more than libraries but be digital information centres. The parents cannot be disengaged from their children’s studies and career ambitions. They must be observant of their children’s potential and harness it. The schools cannot be left with the responsibility of guiding these children alone. Their holistic development is a partnership.

If you dreamed of being a lawyer as a child, it is doubtful that you considered a career as a trademark attorney. Although trademark law is an area of legal services that is in demand today, it is one of the lesser known areas of practice. The fact that it is in demand may appeal to you, but before you decide upon a career in this form of law you will need to know a little more about a career as a trademark attorney!

What Is A Trademark Attorney?

A trademark attorney is literally an attorney that attends court to protect his or her client’s trademark rights, which includes processing applications for them in the first place. This is far more complex and challenging than it sounds. Applications for trademark status have to be legally sound so the drafts must include any and all rights that an individual company or business would like over a certain brand or product name. The details could prove problematic later on if there are any loopholes. As such, the trademark attorney has a vital role.

Trademark attorneys are employed by large companies to protect their interests and so work in house much of the time. However, there are independent law firms that represent several medium to large businesses that do not have the need for an in house attorney but require certain services nevertheless. There are job opportunities in both in the state of Texas so you could potentially choose which way you would like to take your career.

Do You Qualify?

To practice as a trademark attorney in the United States, you do not need to take a course in trademark law at all. The only requirements are that you have a Bachelors Degree in law and have a license to practice in at least one state if you want to prosecute trademark applications. This enables you to go before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, it is wise to pass the bar examination in the state you are to be practicing in, which is Texas in this case, because you may have to go through the courts at some point.

The average salary for a trademark attorney in Texas is $68,000. Of course, if you entered into a private practice you could earn as much as $120,000. There are plenty of opportunities out there in all of the major cities in Texas so it is worth having a look at the availability of employment and planning out your career goals. With a firm foot on the first rung of the career ladder, you can enjoy a long and prosperous career!

You may feel stuck in the career you are in which does not seem to be moving anywhere. There is may be no sight of a promotion; and as if to rub salt into your wounds, there may also appear to be people who move fast up the career ladder. This is the time that you should you realize a couple of facts as to where could you have possibly gone wrong and what should you do in order to put your career back on the fast track.

To begin with, do not take for granted that tuning up your career is easy and that there is one magic formula to do this. Here are the five most important steps that you can adopt to help your career regain lost ground.

Important 5 Steps To Tune Up Your Career

Each step is broad in its expanse and reach that you can easily further divide it if necessary. But as you see they are all interrelated, so omitting any one step will break the chain.

1. Revisit Your Lifes Goals to find out whether you need to restate your goals again. Considering that the goals you had set for your career as a teenager have now lost significance, you need critical examination so that you will not repeat the mistake of setting smaller goals. Your responsibilities have probably gone up over the years and the need for money is more important than you had expected.

2. Set Goals Measurable In Terms Of Money. Agreed, money is not everything, but it is also true that money can help a great deal. If you look around, most of the problems are connected to money at the root. May be because of this, George Bernard Shaw famously said “Lack of money is the root of all evil.”

3. Knowledge Is Power. As time passed by, everything that you learned in college has changed, and keeping abreast with current practices not just keeps you above board but helps you cover lost ground. For example, the accounting procedures which were in practice ten years ago are no longer relevant, with the WTO bringing in GAAP (generally accepted accounted accounting practice.) This is also true of all professions such as medicine, law and engineering.

4. Create Your Niche And Become An Expert. Becoming an expert in any field not only calls for tremendous subject knowledge but also problem-solving abilities. You develop expertise in more than one domain.

5. Boost Your Marketability. Your career will take an upward turn only when you posses and market the qualities that are in demand. This means gaining expertise either by additional training or by education, marketing through existing and new networking, preparing a good resume, and most importantly showing results in your present career. In this situation, actions definitely speak louder than words.

It is an uphill task tuning up your career but the end result will be well worth the effort.