Go Into The Summer Proud Of What You've Accomplished

Study hard! The first piece of advice you should hear about having an enjoyable summer is that you should work hard in school BEFORE your summer vacation. Go into the summer break as a triumphant young scholar who has had victory over every exam and paper they threw at you over the course of the school year. Of course, you can still have a great summer even if you got a D in physics, but you'll have an even better one if you buckle down and get that B, or A.

Make Sure You Enjoy Your Summer By Planning It

How will you plan this summer when you're busy studying for physics? Especially if you're having a challenging year at school, you might not have a lot of free time. However, the most enjoyable summers take a little planning, and you want one, right? You also deserve it. So, the next time you catch yourself daydreaming about when all of your homework will finally all be over, switch over to a productive mode and make that dream a reality.

Vacation Getaways

If you're chained to your computer this semester, or stuck in the library 24/7, you might be fantasizing about the perfect vacation. If you start your plans early enough, even if you don't have a lot of money, you and your friends can have a great time. Figure out where you'd like to go and start a savings plan. If you don't have a job, you can probably get one that will fit into your busy schedule if you stop by the career services office.

Drop in at the Career Services Center Early And Often

Drop in as soon as you can to the Career Services Center. During your first visit, make an appointment to visit with a career counselor in a few days. After you've made your appointment, explore the resources available to you. To make sure you get the most out of your upcoming meeting with the career counselor, give yourself a few hours at least to familiarize yourself with the Career Service Center's reference materials.

What you should do during that first visit is to take any career assessment tests the center might offer. These tests will ask you about what you're good at, and what you want from a career. From the list of possible careers that the test suggests to you, see which of them appeal to you the most.

When you have your meeting with your career counselor, ask him or her about the path you're considering pursuing. Ask your career counselor how to land a job in the field or fields of your choice. The answer you get may help you determine the course of study you take in your classes. In addition, you should ask your career counselor to give you contact information for alumni who are now working in the fields you wish to work in after graduation. Also, ask about internship opportunities that will help you get a leg up on a high-paying career.

Once you graduate from dental school you are immediately licensed to practice. There are many options for you to explore.

One option is to complete a residency at a community or private hospital. This is a good way to get extra training for the future. Working as a dentist is a hospital can be a hectic environment. You will see many patients a day and deal with more difficult cases than in dental school or private practice. You will learn many ways to deal with patients and different health issues that will enrich your skills if you decide to enter into private practice.

Specialization is another reason to complete a residency. If you do not want to practice general dentistry there are other professions out there for you.

You can become an orthodontist which is someone that straightens teeth. An endodontist specializes in tooth decay and root canal treatment. A forensic odentologist can help solve crime cases by identifying people through the unique structures of teeth. You can also specialize in oral surgery or in treating certain age groups such as children. There are many options out there for your degree so take time to research the possibilities.

Private practice is another way to go. Most dentists go into private practice. This is where you have your own offices and attract your own patients. Private practice has its perks since you ultimately make your own schedule and take on as many or as little patients as you desire.

One of the drawbacks to private practice is that you are not only a practicing dentist but also a businessperson. You have to think about bookkeeping and hiring employees. You may have to oversee a dental assistant, dental hygienist, and receptionists. Other aspects you must think about is startup capital and buying the equipment you need for your procedures. Many dentists go into partnerships and work with other dentists in one office so that operating costs can be shared.

If you don't want to go into private practice, you can find a position as a salaried dentist. You can work for community clinics or private organizations where you take home a set salary. This can be a stable alternative to private practice.

If you're looking for a little adventure, you can find a position abroad. Your medical degree translates well into any country. You may have to take another licensing exam if you practice in an area outside of the United States. Some doctors choose to work for hospitals overseas. You can also work for non-profit organizations that have facilities in third world countries.

There is a world of possibilities out there for graduates with a dental degree. Take time to research your options and find the path you'd like to follow.

Before you search for jobs, make sure to research the different career paths for your degree. Find out the careers that most interest you. If you are graduating from graduate school you most likely thought about your future professional life.

If you know the field you would like to pursue, think about where you would like to work. Do you want to stay in your hometown or the town where you went to school? Have you always wanted to live in a certain state or particular city? Once you've chosen the area where you want to live and work, it's time to mount a job search.

Searching for work is a full-time job. If you're serious about finding a job you have to buckle down and put yourself out there. The first step is to look at job boards. Check your college career center for any openings. Grab a newspaper daily and peruse the job ads.

A great way to look for work is using online job sites. Online job sites can help you look for jobs more efficiently. You can type in keywords that search thousands of jobs in the web site's database in only seconds. You will be able to see all the relevant jobs that matched your search criteria. At this point, you can sort the list to view the most recent job ads. No need to look at an ad that was posted last month. The position has most likely been filled.

You can also search online job sites by zip code or location. This is great if you want to work in a particular area. You can even limit your search to locations near your home. You can specify the search to only show jobs within ten or twenty miles from your zip code.

There are many exciting opportunities out there for a law school graduate. Take some time to research all the possibilities and you will find your career path. Here are just a few ways you can utilize your law degree.

Join a law firm. Many graduates join a law firm right after graduation. When starting at a law firm, you are an associate. This is entry-level lawyering.

Being an associate is not unlike completing a residency for a doctor. You will work long hours every week and complete most of the grunt work. You will produce legal documents, write briefs, research for hours and other tedious tasks all in the hopes of climbing the ladder to one day become partner.

Becoming partner is the pinnacle of law firm statuses. As one of the partners, you have a say in what cases your firm takes on and other big decisions. Partners also share the profits of the law firm. Once all expenses have been paid out such as associates' salaries, the income that is left will be distributed between the partners. The respect of being partner and the high earning potential attracts many law school graduates.

Law graduates who prefer not to deal with the social hierarchy of a law firm may opt to find work in a corporation. This position is called in-house counsel. You are employed by the company and work in the legal department. As in-house counsel you will typically work less hours than at a law firm and your salary will be fixed.

Another career option for lawyers is to work for the government. There are many positions to be found in the government and non-profit sector. You can work as a public defender where you will defend criminal cases. This is higher paid than you might think. You will deal with many interesting cases in this capacity and you will also face much court time.

Another path in government is becoming an assistant district attorney. In this position you will be the prosecutor in criminal cases.

Life after law school is a big change from what graduates have done in the past. Law students spend three years in law school learning as much as possible about the law. Life after law school provides practical training. Graduates will learn the ins and outs of practicing their profession. Here are a few paths that law school graduates follow.

Many law school graduates start their career in large firms. These firms will deal in either litigation or transactions. Work in litigation involves arguing disputes between two or more parties. This category of law deals with civil and criminal cases.

Working with transactions involves contracts, patents, mergers, insurance and many more specialization. No matter what area of law you work in get used to long hours and massive amounts of paperwork.

Entry level law firm positions are called associates. You will bear the brunt of the work in this environment. Your job is to research, write briefs, check facts of a case and produce most of the documents. Be ready to spend 70 hours a week or more on the job.

Law firms follow a set career path. There is a hierarchy that everyone adheres to. Most graduates who become associates desire to one day become partner. Being partner in a law firm means you have a say in the decisions made in the firm. You also share the profits after paying all other employees.

Many associates leave law firm life to work in private business. A lawyer can gain a position as in-house counsel. These are salaried positions in a company’s legal department. You will deal only with the legal issues of that company such as contracts or litigation.

A lawyer doesn’t have to spend their careers in a corporate environment. Another path after law school is working for the government. You can become a public defender which is a lawyer that defends criminal cases where the individual lacks funds to hire private representation. This is a good way to get court time and deal with interesting cases.

Another step in the government direction is becoming an assistant district-attorney. You will deal with many cases while you help district attorneys prosecute.

Another path altogether is being a solo practitioner. This means that you have your own private practice. You are your own boss. You can provide whatever service you choose and charge your own fees. Some disadvantages can be that you have to lease your own office space, pay employees and think about bookkeeping and other business related duties.

Congratulations. Med school is finally in the past. You graduated with an MD and you’re ready for the next step: residency.

After medical school, the average graduate spends two to eight years in residency. This is the time to further your training and eventually become licensed to practice. Now that you’ve chosen your specialty, here are some tips to get you through your postgraduate study.

If you’re not sure about something, ask for help. One person can’t know everything and you don’t want to make a mistake. Take the time to ask for a second opinion.

Have a good attitude. Working in the medical field is a high stress environment. Certain things have to be done immediately and snapping at other people adds to the tension. Everyone involved understands the urgency of their jobs, so try to add some calmness to the atmosphere.

Appreciate how the whole engine operates. You’re not the only one working. You need the help of nurses, radiologists, surgeons, and many more people to get you through the day. You have to work with many different departments so be appreciative and respectful. It will help things to run smoothly.

Work hard. Make sure you’re giving your patients the best you can offer. You’ll be gaining many experiences to fall back on later in your career. Learn ways to communicate effectively with your patients in all situations.

On a very practical note, don’t forget to eat, drink, and rest. Although you’re taking care of the health of your patients, don’t push aside your own. You will be more productive and have more stamina if you take the time to grab a snack or take a catnap. Take your own advice and live a healthy life with nutritious food and plenty of exercise.

Cultivate positive relationships with people around you. Yes, this is networking and it can be essential to your career. Think about life after residency and where you want to end up. Other people can give you great advice on ways to achieve your career goals.

Keep those goals in mind. Do you want to go into academia, be a salaried doctor, open your own private practice, or go into research? There are still many options open to you. Figure out what you think is best for you. It’s your own thoughts that matter.

Getting a graduate degree will almost guarantee that you will receive a salary increase. Often, you will also get a promotion to a more stable, higher ranking position within your organization. There are a few things to consider, though, before you make the leap.

Consider the Timing

Timing is everything when you're trying to get your graduate degree. Is now really the best time to get a graduate degree? Do you have time in the midst of your busy schedule to really go after the degree as you should or will school always be coming second to something else?

A Free Degree

Often, people go back for a graduate degree almost solely because their company will pay for it. Many teachers work at underprivileged schools in order to get their degrees financed. They also get a pay raise, but the biggest incentive is the free degree that may open up new job opportunities. The disadvantage is that your current employer will want you to promise to stay for a certain amount of time or they won't pay for the degree. If you do leave the company early, you'll owe them the cost of at least part of your tuition and sometimes even a hefty interest payment. If you plan to leave soon, reconsider taking the free degree.

Get Some Real World Experience First

Many people go straight from undergraduate into graduate school. While this can be a good idea for some people, it's usually best to get some real world experience first so that you know what you want to get a degree in. Maybe you end up not liking your profession and need a career change. Getting a graduate degree will be a great way to make the transition.

Lawyers make up one of the highest paying professions available. Their investment of time and money, though, is part of what allows them to command such high salaries, so let's talk for a minute about the salary increase for lawyers and the commitment required.

Three Years

After finishing your undergraduate degree, you will have three more years of full-time schooling before you can become a lawyer. The requirement of time and commitment is great, and many people find that it is simply too much. Before applying to law school be sure that you are truly interested enough in the law to invest this kind of time and effort.

Shadow

Before you officially start law school, shadow several lawyers. Once you start school, you will have a lot of choices about what type of lawyer you will become. It's best if you can actually shadow a few people before making such a huge commitment of time and money. Check out the profession and see if it's something you can actually see yourself doing for many years in the future, or at least long enough to pay off your student loans.

How Big Is the Increase?

Lawyers can make anywhere from $80,000 a year to well over $200,000 a year depending on the type of lawyer, their experience, and the geographical location. The increase is certainly significant, especially if you eventually own your own practice. Just remember that the increase is partly so large because this is a high stress job. Make sure you can take it before you begin law school.

Provisional figures released in October by UCAS for the 2006 year intake show that 868 people enrolled in degree or degree equivalent courses in complementary medicine this year. If you add in to this figure the number of people choosing non-degree courses and entering the profession, then the number is likely to be in excess of 2,000 people this year alone. The UCAS data shows that this is up around 37% on last year and is rising at a faster rate each year.

But what does the future hold for the estimated 20,000 complementary and alternative healthcare professionals in the UK?

Well there are more and more people finding themselves disillusioned with traditional medicine or simply wanting to benefit from a more holistic approach to health. This of course is good news for practitioners looking to grow their business. But, operating a successful practice requires more than simply learning how to practise your new found skill, it means learning about how to run a business, how to sell and market yourself and how to manage and invest the money you make.

The need for these additional skills becomes even more apparent when you consider the data from the Department of Trade and Industry regarding small business survival rates. These show that of businesses starting up in the period 1994-2003 (the latest dates available) around 10% of small businesses will not survive past their first birthday, while this figure rises to around 15% whose failure will occur before they are three years old. These figures are based on VAT registered businesses.

The fact is the picture for survival rates among non-VAT registered businesses are likely to be worse. Some estimates suggest that the failure rate in smaller non-vat registered businesses is much higher, perhaps even double, meaning that the first year failure rate may be closer to 20% and the three year rate to nearer to 30%.

These figures are not necessarily a true reflection of the failure rates among complementary healthcare professionals. Anecdotally, the failure rate among this group appears even higher than the norm. Whether this is through the high percentage of practitioners only working part time, while continuing their normal full time work or whether it is because they were unable to create a viable business for themselves is still unknown. It is certainly true that the rewards are there for those who want to succeed.

One of the key differences between those that fail and those that succeed appears to be breadth of knowledge. Far too many small business owners, and this is especially noticeable in the complementary and alternative healthcare markets, fail to expand their knowledge base beyond the technical skills of their trade.

In many cases even the regulatory bodies help to drive potential failure. In a world driven by marketing and focused on results, they can put straight jackets on their members such that it can be very difficult to promote oneself. In the world we live in marketing is king and the ability to stand out from the crowd is vital and this means being promoted wherever the potential customers might be. Of course this does not mean that the material and method of promotion should be less than ethical or professional. But to hide from the commercial realities does not help their members either.

While marketing is a key skill that needs to be learnt by practitioners, there are others such as communication, business planning and objective setting that can also make all the difference between success and failure. While these additional skills are vital, it appears that they are not particularly well covered by the mainstream teaching in complementary and alternative healthcare. The needs of this group are very different from that of typical self-employed people, and few people have really taken the time to understand this and develop programs accordingly.

Of course the challenge can be cost, as with everything else it costs money to learn, develop and maintain skills in these areas, and certainly at the time of starting out it is unlikely that businesses can afford to use the services of professionals, whose cost while reasonable to them, may still be more than a circa £20,000 or less revenue business can afford.

In an attempt to try reduce the risk of failure, for complementary and alternative health practitioners; one company at least is setting out to provide some help. Practitioners Profit is aiming to provide a wide range of business services tailored specifically for the community and at a price that makes it affordable to the majority of people who would like help.

Initially they are offering a series of one day training workshops, where participants get to think about their profession as a business and to think about both their goals and their plans to achieve them. The course provides lots of practical advice and tips that attendees can take away and use immediately. Comments from recent course attendees seem to back up these claims.

Kath Henderson an Acupuncturist from Warwickshire stated “Only practitioners who have to turn patients away or have them queuing around the block can afford not to attend this seminar", while Helena Petre, an Aromatherapist from Gloucestershire added “ Straightaway I was able to increase a product sale by 50% and collect a testimonial. And this is only 2 hours later!"

According to Geoff Merrigan, joint managing director of Practitioners Profit, such comments are typical of the clients that they have worked with over the years. Merrigan said “We have strong backgrounds in marketing and business development, but more importantly we have a passion for seeing people develop for themselves, all too often in training sessions some so called expert will lecture to you, rather than work with you to help you solve your problems.” What Geoff does not mention is that in addition to their years of experience he and his colleague have also invested tens of thousands of pounds and hundreds of hours studying the latest techniques in learning and mindset, which is perhaps why in addition to being very different, their approach is very popular with attendees.

After initial trials of their low cost approach to training proved successful they are now expanding the program and have already agreed to run the course at the College of Traditional Acupuncture in Warwick and are currently in discussions with other training establishments to offer the program at their locations. In some cases such establishments are talking to them about adding the program to their core syllabus and helping to ensure that their students increase their chances of being among the survivors.

Pharmaceutical sales interview questions may be difficult for many; but nearly any candidate, no matter how composed or prepared, can get "tripped up" by these tricky pharmaceutical sales interview questions.

These trick questions are designed to create stress or pressure, as well as to get the candidate to "open up" and reveal negative attitudes or actions.

Don't let this happen to you! Read my tips, below, and the following series of articles to avoid the seven oh-so-deadly interview traps.

The seven deadliest pharmaceutical sales interview questions fall into these categories:

# Questions about past managers and their skill sets.

# Questions that force you to respond to a negative scenario, such as why you left or were fired in your last job, why you received a poor performance rating on your last review, how you dealt with colleague or manager problems, etc.

# Situational questions that ask how or when you've been frustrated, annoyed, angered, bored, or failed on a task, etc.

# Questions designed to evoke negative images of yourself, such as the "Tell me about your biggest weakness" questions.

# Questions that are designed to reveal your work environment preferences, such as "Tell me about the culture at your previous company."

# Questions that are large in scope, such as "Tell me about yourself, your background, your life at Tech University, or tell me about your time working for ABC's corporate office?"

# Questions designed to develop a commonality between you and the interviewer, whether it's an acquaintance, similar hobby, similar education, etc....in order to make you feel comfortable and unguarded, and then hitting you with a negative question.


Any of the above questions are designed to encourage negative responses, and lead you into the dastardly trap. Once within the trap, it will be impossible to get out of, and will prevent you from moving forward in the interview process.

Anyone can get the axe at any time. It happens to good people and bad ones...hard workers as well as slackers.

"We feel you would be happier working for another company."

"Sorry, business is falling off. We no longer need your services."

"Operations are being consolidated in Mexico. The Bedrock Plant will be closed Feb. 1."

Sugar-coated or not, the message is the same: You're fired! You've been sacked. You are out of a job!

13 Steps To Survive and Prosper

Therefore, it makes common sense to know what to do to survive and prosper should you ever get the dreaded "pink slip".

1. Keep in mind that in the current environment the idea of womb to tomb job security is as dead as a hammer. Be loyal to your present employer, but never develop a romance with the organization. Know that the relationship can end at any time. There is enough suffering in store for anyone over the loss of a job without adding the pains of an unrequited love. Look out for yourself first.

2. Be alert and well informed at all times about the outlook for your employer and your job. If you know things are going down the drain, begin a below-the-radar search for other opportunities. If the axe falls, you'll have a head start on finding another job.

3. Stay prepared financially. Always try to have enough cash in reserve to cover at least three months living expenses.

4. Keep your skills up to date with the needs of the job market. Capitalize on opportunities for additional training. Read the literature of your field.

5. Maintain an up-to-date record of your accomplishments so you can produce a resume in 24 hours.

6. Nurture contacts with people in your line of work and with those likely to employ your type of qualifications. Be visible through outside activities and positive publicity.

7. Help others who lose their jobs. Also, be of assistance to those who are looking to recruit employees. They may help you some day.

8. Understand your emotions.

Psychologist Bill Weber says getting fired is very much like dealing with the death of a loved one.

"The first reaction is denial, or wishful thinking. There's been a mistake. This can't be true," Dr. Weber says. "Then the shock sets in, followed by anger, depression, frustration and fear. Worst of all is the loss of self-esteem."

9. If you get fired, allow some time for grieving; but not too much. Don't just sit there feeling sorry for yourself. It's natural to be angry with your employer, but don't let your feelings show. You still need him. Negotiate the best possible severance package possible for continuing pay and benefits, particularly insurance coverage. Don't forget good references, too.

10. Start immediately to launch your search for another, better job. Use this time to reassess the goals you have set for the rest of your life. Define the job that will enable you to achieve these objectives.

11. Prepare a plan to market yourself. Let it be known you are available; "advertise" what you have to offer. Involve your network of friends and family in the job search.

12. Be patient. Recognize it will take time to find another acceptable position.

13. Don't panic. If you possibly can afford to wait, don't jump on the first opportunity that comes down the pike, unless, of course, it really matches up with your objectives.

Finally, try to remember two things.

1. It can happen to anyone.

2. A high percentage of people end up with better jobs than the ones from which they were fired.

Your career starts in college. You need to explore opportunities and professional options while you’re still in school. Linking your studies with real world work experience is highly recommended approach. If you need extra cash, don’t work at Blockbuster, try and find a gig that supports your academic endeavors.

Here are four ways to find a part time job within your major.

1. Tutor your fellow students

Get involved in the learning process by instructing others about what you already know. Tap into your desire to help others. Approach the education process from the view of another person. Learn how and what other people learn. Discover new things about the material that you’ve embraced. Link that deeper understanding with practical applications and subject-related solutions. If you learn how to apply your major practically, you’ll be able to visualize your career goals more clearly.

2. Go to the career center on campus

Explore ways to apply your knowledge. Identify job skills you currently possess, and find a way to put them to use. Visit the career counselors. Ask questions about how you can find part-time job opportunities that’ll support your academic endeavors. Use the career center as a place to explore possible futures. The more you know about the opportunities that are available, the easier it’ll be to select one that you’ll love.

3. Look for an internship that’ll let you to apply what you’ve learned

Internships are interesting experiences. Some internship give you a stipend or wage, while others offer school credit. Some internships offer you nothing but a glimpse, a glimpse into your possible future career can be very valuable. Internships let you hover around and things out. Use them as opportunities to investigate. Rule out bad experiences, and try to find something that you like in every situation.

4. Work as an assistant

Shadow somebody. Take a part time job as an assistant to someone. Learn about the daily activities of a position that you covet. When you assist someone though, remember to stay true to your own sense of self-respect. A glimpse at the inner workings of one professional doesn’t mean that you have give up your dignity.

While your in college, if you can apply you educational goals in the real world, then do it. Get career answers in school, don’t wait until you graduate to think about what it is you really want to do with your life. Experience applying your new skills by getting a part time job within your major. Go to the career center, tutor people, apply for all sorts of internships and assistantships.

Have a hungry desire to mold your own future. Steer your goals towards your interests, and you'll carve out a happy life for yourself.

A plumbing designer is an engineer that is charge of planning the big picture of plumbing in building, reservoirs and other situations dealing with water. In the process they will work with architects, engineers, plumbers, and other designers. Their charge being to design the most efficient and effective plumbing systems in the new structures. The materials they choose on include pipes, tanks, valves, pumps and other means of channelling water as needed.

Plumbing Design requires building extremely strong plumbing systems with failover. The plumbing designer must never cut corners even if encouraged to, as the end systems may cause major disaster should they fail. When it comes to this, redundancy and backup systems are a large part of the planning. Failures in plumbing design could cause many displaced persons, and maybe even fatalities.

Education Required For Plumbing Design

The most complete education for Plumbing Design is through a university. You won't find a 4 year program called “plumbing design” rather you would focus on studies related to building construction, civil engineering, or mechanical engineering. This choice of study will bring you the widest spectrum of knowledge, and other opportunities should you decide that being a plumbing designer isn't for you. These programs will likely find you a vast resource in contacts, and some excellent internship opportunities that can give your career an extra boost from the start.

You will often find a more specific 2-year program in “plumbing design” at a number of colleges. This shorter degree program will definitely get you what you need. Still you will want to gain experience in your field prior to graduation to give you better chances once you are ready to start your career.

Some plumbing designers come from the many master plumbers out there. With years of experience they have become experts at the big picture of plumbing. With this come many certifications from various professional plumbing organizations that specifically confirm their qualifications. Often their career path was aimed towards the engineering side of commercial plumbing where the systems are much larger than those in residential installations and repairs.

Certifications and Continued Education

Plumbing design requires continued training on the skills needed to cover changes in plumbing, technological improvements in related fields, and changes in local codes that need to be followed in new civil engineering. Some plumbing engineers may even be involved in the development of these local laws.

Often plumbing engineers are “certified in plumbing design”. This is the result of passing tests proving they have strong knowledge in plumbing design. They also have to retest and train additionally to maintain their status. This not only keeps them at the top of their field, it also brings improvements in their designs.

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers is a professional trade organization that publishes magazines, and newsletters keeping their members up on the latest advances as well as other resources to help their membership keep up on the latest in their industry. If you are looking towards engineering related to plumbing you may want to become a member at the earliest possible time.