Archive for January, 2010

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What Careers are Available in the Electronics Sector?

Friday, January 29th, 2010

There are many employment opportunities in the field of electronics. Electronic technicians will be expected to repair, maintain and assemble electronic equipment. Titles for technicians are often expanded and include:

Computer electronics technician, which focus on computer and IT support.

Field electronics technician, which performs outside and off-site maintenance and repair tasks.

Metrology electronics technician, which calibrate and repair equipment to NIST and other standards.

Bench electronic technician, which repair, test and assemble electronics indoors at a work bench.

Senior electronics technician, usually an in-house position, which requires extensive knowledge and experience with the organization’s products or exact technological field.

Electronics technicians use the principles and theories of science, engineering and mathematics to solve technical problems in research and development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection and maintenance. Their work is more limited in scope than that of scientists and engineers. Many electronics technicians assist engineers and scientists, especially in research and development. Others work in quality control, inspecting products, conducting tests or collecting data. In manufacturing, they assist in product design, development and production.

Almost all of the electronics technician careers available require repair and maintenance of the organization’s electronic equipment. This requires the ability to test and troubleshoot equipment, read schematics and maintenance manuals, solder and unsolder components, and research parts availability and costs. It also includes the ability to determine whether outside or factory support is required in order to make repairs. Specialized tasks, such as working on equipment requiring specific licensing or working in a physically dangerous environment will be defined in the description of the job.

Most electronics technician careers require at minimum an associate degree, a diploma from a technical or vocational school or military training. If you cannot claim this education, you are unlikely to receive an interview. Most organizations perform background checks which will verify any education claims.

While electronics technician careers are not physically demanding, there may be requirements to access equipment on the field, climb stairs, ladders or enter underground areas or lift large pieces of equipment for test and repair purposes. Other requirements can include licenses or special certifications, particularly for computer and IT positions.

Future opportunities will be available for individuals with an associate degree or extensive job training in engineering technology. As technology becomes more sophisticated, employers will continue to look for technicians who are skilled in new technology. An increase in the number of jobs related to public health and safety will create job opportunities for engineering technicians with the appropriate training and certification.

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Education and Training Careers in the United Kingdom

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

People who work in education and training give people of all ages and background opportunities to learn and develop. Most teachers work in schools, teaching further education to students aged 16 to 19, and some adults.

Lecturers work with students studying for higher qualifications such as degrees. Trainers help people learn the skills they need in their working lives. Some education roles are concerned with ensuring that standards are upheld in education and work-based learning. Finally, some support staff work directly with students, such as teaching assistants. Others, such as administrative staff, make sure that education facilities run smoothly.

Most jobs in the education and training industry are based in schools, colleges and training centers. Certain jobs include working outdoors some of the time, such as lunchtime supervisors. Administrative staff are based in offices. Some jobs in this sector involve working around 37 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Teaching, and some other school-related jobs, are term-time only, but often require working evenings and weekends.

Employers include state and private sector schools, colleges, universities, training providers, prisons and youth offenders’ institutions, and in the armed forces.

There are around 475,000 registered teachers working in England. Around 800,000 people are employed in the learning sector in England, including people working in further education and work-based learning. Jobs are available throughout the UK.

It is important to enjoy working with people and having great organizational skills when working in the education and training industry. Oral and written communication skills are vital, and knowledge of specific subjects is often essential. The ability to motivate others and give constructive criticism are also important.

Most jobs in education require a degree or postgraduate certification. School teachers normally hold Qualified Teacher Status. Related experience is more important than qualifications for other jobs, such as a learning mentor.

Continuing professional development is vital for teachers and lecturers. Other roles can include on-the-job training and the opportunity to work towards qualifications, such as NVQs. Some employers also offer Apprenticeships.

There are many opportunities for promotion in the education and training industry, as well as opportunities to work overseas. While most jobs require relevant degrees, many only require experience, especially in private training facilities.

Overall, the education and training industry is a constantly growing field with jobs available everywhere in the United Kingdom and abroad. Opportunities for advancement are abundant, as well as other job-related benefits, such as vacations and health coverage.

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Careers in Defense and the Armed Forces

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

People working in defense and armed forces help protect both people and property. There are many opportunities for both front-line personnel and support staff.

There is a diverse range of jobs available in each of the following:

The Army, Navy and Royal Air Force. There are jobs available at home and abroad in a variety of combat and support roles.

Police and prison services. Crime scene investigators, instructors, officers and community support work closely together to prevent and solve crimes, and in rehabilitating offenders.

Fire and rescue services. These include firefighters and coastguard response and rescue teams.

Private security. Protection officers, store detectives and security officers are constantly protecting both people and premises.

Technology is continually integrating with many jobs available in defense and armed forces, particularly in intelligence gathering to help anticipate dangerous situations. This means that more office-based jobs are available, but the majority of jobs still require challenging and physical outdoor work, which is often the reason why people choose to work in this sector. Shift work and long hours are common practice, especially during operations or exercises. Recruits in the armed forces may be required to relocate anywhere in the world.

There are over 140,000 police officers employed in regional forces such as the British Transport Police. The Army employs over 100,000 people. The Royal Navy employs over 34,000 and nearly 40,000 people work for the Royal Air Force. The UK private sector employs around 500,000 people. Protecting businesses against theft and terrorism are big growth areas, with opportunities everywhere.

Essential skills in the defense and armed forces industry are common sense, confidence and communication skills. Part of the recruitment process for the police and armed forces involves assessing physical fitness and leadership qualities. Employers look for people who think quickly, read situations and work well in teams.

Entry requirements depend on the occupation and the level of entry. For example, it is possible to join the armed forces in a junior rank with no educational qualifications. However, some roles require qualifications for entry. The minimum entry age for the police and security guards is 18.

Police officers begin their careers at a police training center and have to pay a two-year probationary period. Some areas require a professional qualification. Many security jobs are now licensed. The armed forces offer structured training, including Apprenticeships in technical trades. The opportunity to take professional and vocational qualifications may be available as part of the training.

The skills gained in the defense and armed forces sectors are highly sought after by commercial and public employers. Many transfer into private security jobs. Members of the armed forces are offered resettlement training to aid the transition into civilian life.

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The Facts About Construction Jobs

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Many people believe construction is a physically demanding field that is best suited for those who like working with their hands. In all actuality, a large number of employees will never get their hands dirty. There is a large amount of jobs available in the commercial construction industry including management, design and financial planning. As the construction industry progresses into more green and ergonomic building practices, more jobs will become available for hard workers with experience in building trades. Every construction company needs employees in five specific areas in order to obtain new projects and meet their clients expectations.

The five major areas in commercial construction are administrative and management, structural construction, finishing contractors, mechanics and operations and specialty trades. Let’s go over these below:

The main office of a construction company has to be staffed with an administrative assistant and an accountant. The administrative assistant takes calls from local businesses and homeowners, provides quotes and seeks out permits from local agencies. An accountant can work part-time, balancing ledgers and providing tax assistance. The middleman between the office and the construction site is the foreman, an experienced professional who oversees employees and communicates problems directly with the customers.

The skeletal form of a new building is made possible by the structural construction employees. Machine operation is required, and Bobcats, backhoes and front-end loaders move building materials into the right places. Iron workers are employed to create metal frames and coordinate the movement of materials with the machine operators. In many construction sites, brick masons are needed to make sure that the structure and exterior of a building meet the demands set by the client.

Construction companies have to keep in contact with finishing contractors to make sure projects are finished in a timely manner. Finishing contractors often perform roofing work because every building requires ceiling tiles and panels. A construction company also employs a paver to lay driveways and parking lots. Drywall contractors allow walls to be insulated and perform well under harsh conditions. These jobs are usually performed by contractors instead of full-time employees to keep wages low.

After a building is constructed, companies have to install plumbing and ventilation systems. HVAC technicians are called in to install vents and central air units that control the climate inside the building. Some buildings, such as grocery stores or medical labs, require refrigeration technicians to install cooling units to maintain low temperatures. Pip fitters and layers have to meet local building standards by installing drain pipes, natural gas pipes and sewer lines.

The last step in building construction employs specialty contractors. Electricians are hired to run wiring to fuse boxes, test outlets and make sure safety standards are upheld. Homeowners often employ plumbers themselves to install sinks, showers and toilets. Carpenters are employed to lay down tiles and carpeting throughout the building. Specialty contractors often charge high rates, which encourage businesses and homeowners to search for the best rate.

Overall, the commercial construction industry offers a large assortment of careers, especially in skilled trade areas such as HVAC systems and plumbing. Many other positions include office work, accounting and even attorneys.

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What Kinds of Customer Service Careers Are Available?

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Customer service jobs involve answering the questions and concerns of a company’s customers, clients, patients or users. Customer service positions can include other job roles. For instance, a customer service representative can also be in a sales position or technical support. A customer service representative is one who specializes in the communication skills needed for such a job.

When performing a customer service job, duties can include direct contact, telephone contact or Internet contact with a customer. Customer service is needed in every field available for employment. Jobs involving repetitive and ongoing customer service, such as a sales clerk, usually pay the least. Higher paying jobs require some sort of qualification, such as a customer service manager or a flight attendant.

Quality communication skills are vital to all customer service jobs. The ability to understand what the customer is wanting is a major part of good communication. The other major part is the ability to speak clearly. Customer service representatives must also know how to say no to customers in a way that is not offensive. They must understand the company’s policies so they can inform customers accurately. Finally, representatives must be able to troubleshoot common concerns and problems.

Careers in the customer service industry may look easy to many, but they are very stressful occupations. A common complaint made by customer service employees is the rudeness of customers, who take out the frustrations they have for the company on the employee who is trying to help them. Customer service employees also deal with the same questions over and over, but have to treat each new customer with respect and a positive attitude. Customer service employees have to also seem helpful and upbeat with every customer, no matter what.

Customer service careers are not usually considered professional careers. Yet some professionals in a non-customer service job can be considered a customer service professional. For example, librarians, health care providers and professors all regularly deal with the public and have to use customer service skills. Eventually, customer service jobs focused solely on managing customers will be created to support people in professional positions.

Customer service jobs can lead to advancement, while others can be considered a dead end. When looking for a job in customer service, ask if the job has any opportunities for advancement, either in customer service or in other fields. Usually, customer service require very little experience, or even none at all. However, the skills learned from customer service positions are vital to other professional fields and will be regarded highly on your resume.

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Thinking About a Career in Catering?

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Employment in the catering industry means more opportunities than just working in hotels. Cruise ships, resorts, spa locations, private bed and breakfasts, retirement communities and any place that offers overnight lodging employ catering staff. These opportunities are open to almost all age groups, especially to those who are looking to work part time. In addition, the industry has a high turnover which ensures plenty of employment opportunities. Among the jobs available are chefs, cooks, wait staff and food preparation workers. There are also a large number of management jobs available.

The types of catering jobs are diverse and the catering and hospitality industry represents the largest occupational group of all workers. Management jobs include regional management, front desk management, training and personnel management, operations management and night management. Catering employees fall under various departments and careers include food and beverage managers, bar managers, housekeepers, catering managers and executive chefs.

Depending on the location of your employment, there are other jobs available:

Hotel jobs include room service which can pay very well with the tips you receive. Food service jobs are one of the hotel jobs that often require college training and include cooks and chefs.

Catering jobs are a different kind of hotel job. A caterer is normally a higher paying job than a hotel worker as the wait staff do not make tips and cooks do not cook from menus. Catering jobs are sometimes on an as needed basis, which means a lot of evenings and weekends.

Bar jobs are available for the outgoing and enthusiastic individuals who are team players and can provide quality customer service. These jobs earn a large amount of money in tips. Attending bar tending school can help in landing a job and previous experience will help.

Hotel management jobs often require college degrees, usually a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management. These careers pay more and offer a lot of flexibility as far as the positions offered. These types of jobs have a high turnover rate and sometimes require relocation in order to be considered for promotion.

When working with the public, catering employees will deal with all types of people and need to be able to communicate with a gracious and hospitable manner, even at the end of a long and stressful day. Most catering businesses rely on “word of mouth” and hope to meet and exceed the expectations of visitors, and this requires the staff to act as polite as possible.

Catering jobs are growing in availability at an average rate of 11 percent a year since 2006. These jobs offer opportunities for regular employees as well as students since they offer a lot of flexibility.

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The Types of Call Center Jobs

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

A call center job is a customer service position that is done on a remote basis using a telephone and/or computer equipment. There are two types of jobs in call centers: inbound, where calls are received, and outbound, where calls are made. While a call center employee can work from home, many call centers have an on site location with hundreds of staff.

Businesses that have extensive customer issues, such as Internet providers and credit card companies, staff customer service teams in the form of call centers. A call center job is often done in a casual environment. Some call centers are quite sophisticated with a cafeteria, a gym and even a break room with computers and television. Some call centers even provide shuttle transportation for their employees. Shifts can be long and employees may need to be available anytime between the early morning and late evening.

An outbound call center job requires employees to place calls using a list of contacts and a sales script. This is also known as telemarketing. Outbound call center agents might be doing direct sales work, such as asking for donations, or may give information and schedule appointments for outside sales employees to follow on. Outbound call center workers may be asked to promote additional products or services.

An inbound call center agent answers calls from customers and the work is much more unpredictable as the employee does not know what problem or complaint the caller will have. Inbound call center employees must learn about their companies products, services and policies. Some call center jobs require extensive technical knowledge of the product or service, such as a technical service representative. These employees communicate with customers and troubleshoot any problems with the product or service.

Customer service specialists and contact center representatives are some of the titles associated with call centers. Although it may sound easy to speak to people all day, working in a call center can be very stressful. Using the same calling script or hearing nothing but complaints can take its toll. Also, call center jobs require the employee to never lost their temper during a call under any circumstances.

Call center jobs are great experience for people interested in customer service. Entry level careers usually require no experience, but usually pay close to minimum wage. However, it is possible to double or triple your wages within five years after promotions occur.

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Commercial Banking Careers

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

If you are looking for a career in banking, there are a number of opportunities to choose from. You can always start with the most basic position and work your way up. While some commercial banking jobs require cash handling or sales experience, others may require a degree. Primarily, you will be dealing with checking and savings accounts as they are a banks primary product. While tellers make up the majority of banking jobs, there are many other career choices such as administration, financial services, office, management and miscellaneous support positions.

Administration jobs take up the largest portion of commercial banking careers, as well as office positions. Administration includes teller positions who handle account transactions and services for customers. Other positions that fall under administration are customer service and account clerks, clerks who answer customer questions and have a thorough knowledge of the banks services. There are also positions in call centers, where the employees answer phone calls and respond to emails.

Financial services is a position geared toward sales and handles selling the banks services. These agents handle everything from deposit accounts and credit to certificates of deposit and investments. Financial service agents handle marketing the bank, including credit cards and services.

There are many banking positions involving the office. There are general office jobs such as secretaries, data entry clerks and receptionists. There are also accountants, audit clerks and bookkeepers. Other positions include management and supervisors who oversee the daily tasks of the office support.

Within the management field of banking careers there are financial managers, loan officers and trust officers. Financial managers oversee bank branches and departments as well as maintain standards and resolve issues with customers. Loan officers go over loan applications and recommend whether to approve a loan or not. Finally, trust officers handle pension funds and profit sharing, and occasionally act as the banks accountant and lawyer.

While most commercial banking careers fall into a specific field, there are many miscellaneous positions that a bank requires for operation. Accountants, auditors, computer specialists and lawyers are all necessary. These positions ensure the bank complies with federal regulations as well as maintain corporate financial records. Computer specialists maintain computers and upgrade banking technology.

The banking industry requires a large assortment of different careers in order to ensure successful operation. While there are many fields that are specific to the banking industry, other fields, such as a computer technician, may get overlooked when one considers a banking career. Even without a degree, there are many options available for employment, such as a bank teller or customer service positions.

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What Kind of Accounting and Finance Careers Are There?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

A number of different careers are available in the accounting field and financial operation of a company is the primary focus for each of them. This includes keeping records and ensuring taxes are paid on time. Although the job description for some accounting and finance jobs are simple, others are not nearly as clear due to the large number of duties performed.

Generally, an accounting and finance job falls into one of four major fields, which are public, management, government accounting and internal auditing. Each of these fields can require different qualifications for accountant, although a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is necessary.

What most people consider an accounting and finance job is usually a public accountant. The work involves performing a range of accounting, auditing, consulting and tax activities for clients. Specialties are often chosen in public accounting. For instance, one may choose to concentrate on tax matters, such as preparing income tax returns. Other public accountants may choose to focus on employee health care benefits or auditing financial statements. Public accountants are usually Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and either work for public firms or run their own business.

Another accounting and finance career available is a management accountant. This type of accountant records and analyzes financial information for the companies they work for. They have a long list of responsibilities, including budgeting, asset management, performance management and performance evaluations. Management accountants are often part of an executive team and analyze financial information so the business can make the right decisions.

Government accountants work in the public sector and are employed by federal or local governments. They work to ensure that revenues are received and expenditures are made in accordance to law. Government accountants employed by the federal government can also work as HM Revenue & Customs agents or in budget analysis or financial management.

The final major field in accounting and finance is internal auditing. These accountants verify internal records and check for inaccuracies such as fraud or waste. This area of accounting is extremely important, as internal auditors ensure that accurate records are kept and fraud, waste and management procedures are controlled. They also review company operations. The job description can vary depending on the company, and many internal auditors perform data processing, engineering, insurance reviews and banking.

The majority of accounting and finance jobs require a bachelor’s degree at minimum. However, many jobs require a master’s degree or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.

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Careers in the Agriculture and Forestry Industry

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

When you hear the words agriculture and forestry, you probably think of farming and logging. However, these make up only a small percentage of the industry. Today, there are approximately 22 million agriculture, fishing and forestry employees and this number is continually rising. So what kinds of careers are available in this field? What kind of education is required?

Agriculture and forestry as an industry is concerned with obtaining food and raw materials from plants and animals. Fields include farming, fishing, forestry, ranching and science. There are many career choices available in each of these fields.

Farming involves growing and harvesting plants to use for human consumption. Careers in farming include farm workers, farm management, crop dusters, pest control and equipment operators. While a degree in any field is a good idea, farming careers usually have low entry requirements.

The fishing field under the agriculture and forestry industry involves the process of catching fish and shellfish by nets and traps. Positions available in the fishing field may relate to the operation of a fishing vessel, such as a captain or first mate, or the process of fishing itself, such as fisherman or fish cleaners.

Forestry occupations fall into one of three major categories, which are government, industrial and consulting forestry. Government foresters maintain government-owned forests and parks. Industrial foresters work in the private sector and obtain limber and other related materials for their employers. Consulting foresters usually work as researchers or supervisors. They advise businesses on how to harvest forests or consult on how to increase business.

The process of raising animals for meat or another animal-based product falls under the ranching field. Ranching jobs include managers, workers, animal trainers, nutritionists, equipment operators and breeding technicians. Many careers in this field require a bachelor’s degree, but others, such as workers or animal trainers, require little experience or offer on the job training.

Agriculture has a high demand for science-based fields. Other careers include horticulture and food science, which involves the process of making food healthier and easier to grow.

The agriculture and forestry industry encompasses a multitude of different fields. Anything involving the production of food or harvesting of organic materials falls under this industry. Careers available are steadily rising and are not expected to taper off for many years, if at all. Overall, the agriculture and forestry industry offers steady and reliable jobs with minimal entrance requirements in many places.

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