Two Meanings of the Word Career and Paths You Can Take

Two Meanings of the Word Career and Paths You Can TakeTwo Meanings of the Word Career and Paths You Can TakeTry this little experiment. Go to yourfavorite search engine and type in the absolut career. Your results page likely lists more than two billion items. Among them,you will find pages containing different occupations along with details about each one, job listings, and career and job search advice. Why has your simple search turned up such a variety of resources? The reason is that there are multiple definitions of career. The search engine doesnt know which one you mean when you type in the word. Here are two meanings. Although they are related to one another, there are substantial differences between them. Definitions of Career A Synonym for Occupation We often use the word career as a synonym for occupation, trade, profession, or vocation. This definition refers to what a person does to earn a living. There are thousands ofcareers. They range from those that require exte nsive education and training to others for which you need hardly any preparation. Examples of careersareengineer, carpenter, doctor,??veterinary assistant, cashier, teacher, and hairstylist. A Series of Jobs or a Career Path The second meaning is much more complicated. It concerns an individuals progression through a series of jobs over his or her lifetime and includes that persons education and unpaid work experiences, such as internships and volunteer opportunities. When it is defined in this context, it covers everything related to career developmentincluding career choice and advancement.Your career can take a variety of paths. Next, well examine three possibilities. 3 Career Paths Which One Will You Take? You may find yourself on one of these three career paths. The first involves a string of entirely unrelated jobs the second, a series of increasingly responsible positions that are relatedto one another and finally, the third, a path filled with different jobs in the same industry, each, possibly, with more responsibility than the one before it. Path 1 Yourcareer might be made up of a bunch of random jobs that are unrelated to one another. For example, you may first work as a cashier in a grocerystore, then as a server in a restaurant, and next as a home care aide. With suchdisparate occupations in your work history, it is impossible to predict what your next job will be. These careers dont have a lot in common, so your experience in one position will rarely lead you to a subsequent one that pays more, or carries with it, more responsibilities. Path 2 The second path involves moving up within the same occupation. If you continue to work as a cashier, whether in different establishments orthe same one, your experience will grow. Doing this will allow you to move up the ranks in the same organization or get better jobs in others. Perhaps you will be promoted to a position at the customer service desk. Eventually, you may be eligible for a job that invo lves supervising other cashiers. As you move into increasingly responsible positions, your salary should go up as well. Path 3 The third scenario has you moving up the corporate ladder through a variety of positions in the same industry, but not in the same occupation. If your ultimate goal is to become a retail store manager, for example, begin your career as a cashier. This wont be a difficult job to get. Because there is a lot of turnover in that field, openings are easy to come by and little training is required. With your experience in the retail industry, you may next qualify for a job as a salesperson. After gaining more experience, you may become an assistant department manager, then a department manager, an assistant store manager, and maybe eventually a store manager. You may not see your specific career path represented here. It would be impossible to cover in depth all the situations that exist. For example, lateral career moves- when an individual transitions between j obs with different, but not necessarily greater, responsibilities- havent been discussed. Neither havecareer changesthat involve moving to an entirely new occupation for which additional training or education is necessary. When you enter a new profession, as would be the case here, you may have to start at the bottom. Careers, as demonstrated here, take on many different forms. Make careful and well thought out decisions to increase your chance of success.

Make Way for Robot Drivers

Make Way for Robot Drivers Make Way for Robot Drivers Make Way for Robot DriversThe potential for robots to become part of our everyday lives is not as far off as we think. With improvements in AI, robotics is progressing rapidly. It is not hard to imagine a very near future with robotic drivers, rescue workers, and caretakers. One such robot may help us forget the stress of the daily commute. This new robotic driver that consumers can install in any vehicle in a matter of minutes would free us to make better uses of our time.The robot, called IVO for Intelligent Vehicle Operator, consists of a combination of vision sensors and mechanical systems to steer and work the gas and brake pedals. Users input a drehort using Google Maps and the robot drives there autonomously while detecting and avoiding obstacles.A team led by Hugo Guterman, a professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, thought up the idea while competing in the DARPA Robotics Challenge. The competition called for deve loping semi-autonomous search and rescue robots that could drive to a disaster, then leave the car to search the rubble.We were unable to put the robot inside the car because it was very complicated, Guterman said. Instead, they rethought the problem and developed a 33-lb. robot they could install on any car or truck.IVO works like a menschengerecht driver. Users belt it into the drivers seat. A three-pronged gripper at the end of an adjustable arm grabs the steering wheel. Two extendable actuators attach to the brake and gas pedals, moving up and down to work them.IVO monitors road conditions using a camera developed by Guterman that removes the effect of background light so it is not blinded by the sun. The robots cameras also look around and explore its environment. An additional camera faces the dashboard so IVO can assess indicator lights and gauges for overheating, low gas, and other problem.IVOs simple design and straightforward functionality will make it easily affordable on ce production increases, Guterman said. While it does not provide all the functionality of a vehicle built for autonomous driving, consumers can retrofit the $1,600 unit into existing cars.Guterman believes IVO might one day chauffeur people with handicaps, replace human drivers for safer and more efficient rescues under difficult conditions, and perhaps even replace truckers on long-haul routes. Read the latest issue of the Mechanical Engineering Magazine.

5 Job Search Warning Signs

5 Job Search Warning Signs5 Job Search Warning Signs2Here are five job search warning signs to consider1. The hiring process takes way too long.After youve had a job interview, the wait to find out if youve been hired for the job can seem like an eternity. (Add to that the reality that some employers dont respond after job interviews can make the process even more frustrating.) But if it takes weeks- or even months- before your interviewer lets you know that youve been accepted for the lokalitt, you might want to think twice before signing that job offer.Unless theres a really, really good reason (such as restructuring or perhaps the acquisition and merger of another company), it shouldnt take that long to hire someone after their job interview.2.The boss might be a jerk.You can often tell right away if youre going to be an integral member of an organization during a job interview- or not. If the potential boss seems super rude, takes no interest in you or your skills, or is very ter se in her communications with you via email or on the phone, you might want to reconsider should you be offered the job.Typically, everyone puts their best foot forward during the job interview process (potential bosses included) and if yours is displaying signs of being a jerkfrom the get-go, it might be unlikely that she (or he) will change much if you do get hired.3. The job is really unclear.When you applied for the job, they said it was a marketing position. But when you get to the job interview, you find out that its a little marketing, a little PR, a little sales, and a smidgeon of social media. That shouldnt raise too many red flags by itself, since many of todays jobs are not just one set thing but often have a few responsibilities from various departments wrapped up into one job.But if your prospective bosscant clearly define the duties of your jobdefines the duties of the job so broadly that it sounds like two or three jobs in oneor if you feel that theyre a little vague on important details regarding the real scope of the job as it relates to the rest of the companyyou might want to lace up your sneakers and run for the hills.4. You feel like youre being interrogated.Sure, there is a natural exchange of information during a job interview. Questions are asked by both you and your interviewer to assess if youd be a good fit for the job. Thing is, if youre being asked too many questions, and theyre bordering on illegal interview questions, it might make you think twice about accepting this job.Ditto if you feel like youre being pumped for financial information about previous jobs, as unfortunately, your interviewer might just be collecting data during your interview without any real goal to hire you.5. Youre given too many tests.In applying for almost any job, you can expect to take a test of some sort. While taking tests can be groan-worthy, it actually benefits both you and your potential employer. Your potential boss can see if you have the necessa ry skills, education, and experience to perform the job, and you can get a glimpse into what you might potentially be doing should you be hired- and if youll like it or not.But if youre being given too many tests- and its starting to feel like youre doing some work for free for a company that you havent been hired for yet- its time to cut your losses and move on.Job searching is tough. We get it. So when you finally do get a job interview, you might be willing to overlook some things in an attempt to get hired. Its a good idea to keep these five job search warning signs in mind when you go out on job interviews. That way, you wont be taken advantage of, and youll find a position in which you are respected, valued- and above all, happy.Readers, have any of these job search warning signs happened to you? What did you do? Let us know in the comments below

Explore Careers in Different Industries

Explore Careers in Different IndustriesExplore Careers in Different IndustriesCorporate accounting and finance professionals narrow their focus when it comes to choosing their employers. Will they work for nonprofit organizations or manufacturing companies? Engineering, energy or transportation businesses? They differentiate themselves by their choices. But what happens if they decide to explore careers that take them to different industries from where they started?One of the beauties of an accounting and finance career is the variety of vorkaufsrechts it affords with regard to industries, and Mike Gorski, president of the East Bay, Northern California Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), says you shouldnt be afraid to explore them.If yur foundation is solid, you can take that with you and apply it, he says. Accounting might have subtle differences from industry to industry, but generally speaking, its straightforward debits, credits, assets, liabilities, revenue , expenses.Its like building a house. You have your bricks and mortar - your professional skill set - and all you have to learn is the companys expertise, market and industry in order to put on the roof.Gorski has had his own taste of exploring careers in various industries, working in accounting and finance for technology and software companies before making the switch to real estate investment.Here I was, working for software companies, and I decide to shift to an area where I had no real experience, he said. I found that if you can get to the point where you can marry the technical side of your work, knowledge and skills with something youre most passionate about, in terms of business, market and industry, thats the best of both worlds.Whether youre considering a move from public accounting to corporate or youre ready to explore careers in new industry sectors, taking a new direction can be daunting. With these six tips, you can prepare for a career change and be well on your w ay to finding the industries that suit you best.1. Explore careers in other fieldsAs you consider a career switch, find out as much as you can about your options. What are the daily tasks? How does the workload compare to what you have now? Whats the local market like for other types of accounting, or would you have to move to another city to increase your chances of landing a desired job?Thanks to the internet, you can get a fairly good overview of other fields by reading trade magazines, blogs, social media and news content - and even read online job postings in different markets to get an idea of available opportunities. Another option is to request informational interviews with accountants who are or were in that industry.2. List your strengthsHave a clear picture of what value you bring to potential employers with a skills audit. Start with transferable skills - abilities you possess that are useful no matter the industry. These include basic technical abilities, such as prof iciency in Microsoft Excel and knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Also consider your soft skills communication, critical thinking, collegiality, discretion, leadership and so forth.Experience in a certain industry isnt necessarily something you need to get the job.Some companies may not have the luxury and time for this, but others like to take folks and shape them into their own culture and ways of doing business, Gorski says, serving as a pathway for them to obtain experience in their industry.3. Fill holes in your knowledge baseAfter youve inventoried your assets, consider what liabilities exist in your skill set for a new job in a different field. If youd like to go from the industrial to the academia sector, as an example, your candidacy would be stronger if you have a good understanding of university policies and procedures. To switch from financial analysis in global banking to healthcare, be prepared to speak knowledgeably about insurance reimburse ment rates, medical devices and pending federal legislation.4. Maximize your networkYou have accounting acquaintances in many fields. When youre pondering a career shift, tap their expertise. Scour your online connections to see who is working where. Then reach out to a few people to see whether they would mind answering questions about your potential fields of interest. Most professionals are happy to help out and share their insider knowledge, whether they work in sales and marketing or accounting and finance. You never know - by networking like a pro and speaking with people in your target industry, you may even end up with a few job leads.For more information about advancing your career, check out the IMAs CareerDriver tool (for IMA members). This resource helps students and professionals assess their skills, plan career paths and prepare for specific management accounting roles.5. Weigh pluses and minusesSome career shifts are incremental, such as going from financial services to management consulting. Others are a bigger leap, requiring a new certification or starting over near the bottom. Do company research to determine whether it makes sense for you, your family and your career goals to switch industries. If youre dissatisfied with your current job, perhaps a lateral move within the same industry could make you happier at work. 6. Know your worthWhenever you change employers, not to mention industries, the pay scale differs. Location, experience level, company size, job title, for-profit vs. nonprofit - all these and more determine your starting salary. One of the best resources for getting a good idea of how much you can expect to earn in various industries and job categories is the Robert Half Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals.Regardless of salary and other important factors, finding a good fit with a company and within an industry may be one of the most important choices you make in your career. As Gorski says, You can decide to do something, you can decide not to do something, or you can let someone else decide for you - but the choice is best when its your own.Industry experience is valued by organizations, but employers are often more interested in candidates abilities, accomplishments and fit with the company culture, says Ky Kingsley, Robert Half Finance Accounting Vice President for North America. Be prepared to highlight your skills, particularly your transferable and soft skills, to increase your marketability.Changing industries can be scary, but having a strategy and taking calculated risks often pays off and may be just the challenge you need in your finance and accounting career. Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build a successful career in accounting and finance - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW Mike Gorski Mike Gorski, president of the East Bay, Northern California Chapter of the IMA, has more than 20 years of progressive corporate and field finance, accounting, and operational experience. Over his career, he has successfully directed the financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and analysis for fast-growing technology companies. He joined Hall Equities Group in 2016 as its director of financial planning and analysis.

Mechanical Engineer Resume Skills and Keywords (Examples)

Mechanical Engineer Resume Skills and Keywords (Examples)Mechanical Engineer Resume Skills and Keywords (Examples)If youre looking for a mechanical engineer job, Im a little bit jealous. Ive been fortunate to work closely with many types of engineers in my career (structural, civil, software, chemical, electrical, industrial, and mechanical), and mechanical engineering quickly grabbed my attention and still hasnt let go. Its such a wide-ranging, diverse field, with so many possibilities- and so many impacts on daily life.Whether youre interested in energy efficiency, product development, or facilities or systems management, mechanical engineering could be the right career path for you. Reading through resume examples can be a huge help in a job search for such a varied industry- theyll give you insights about both your potential competition and your potential paths.If energy efficiency and thermal topics- such as thermal bridging- interest you, mechanical engineering could be a great career path.Mechanical engineers are in demand now, and projections for the future suggest a long-term need for professionals in this specialty, according to the College of Engineering at Iowa State University. About 20% of the nearly 3 1000000 engineers in the United States are mechanical engineers.With all industries, its important to pay attention to job listings to see which keywords are used. With mechanical engineering, its especially important. Even if you know exactly the sort of mechanical engineering job you want, you have to pay attention to whether a listing uses facility or building, for example. They are both common, and used interchangeably, but if you use one and an applicant tracking system (ATS) is looking for the other, your resume could get overlooked.An ATS is a software application used by employers to store, filter, and rate resumes. Candidates are largely rated based on their resume keywords. And the higher you rank, the more likely it is that your resume wi ll get noticed. Echoing the keywords used in the job listing is one way to demonstrate that you would be a good fit for the role.The above word cloud was created using the text of a dozen mechanical engineering joblistings. The larger the word is, the more times it appeared.Mechanical engineer resume keywordsAnalysisBSMEBuildingCADplanDevelopmentDrawingsElectricalEngineeringEquipmentHVACManufacturingMechanicalPerformanceProductSolidWorksSystemsTeamTechnicalTestingNotes on keywordsBSME is the abbreviation for Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. It was the most common form of a degree requirement that showed up across these job postings. Consider spelling out your degree in full, then adding the abbreviated term for it in parentheses.CAD stands for computer-aided design, and appeared just slightly more often than AutoCAD, a commercial software for CAD produced by Autodesk. SolidWorks is a solid modeling CAD software program. Industry abbreviations and job-specific tools an d technologies are common keywords- and you should use them on your resume wherever possible.Targeting your resumeCustomizing your resume for each job doesnt have to be time-consuming. Just andrang it through the Jobscan resume analysis tool, and within seconds, youll receive a score showing how well your resume matches the job, plus personalized feedback on how you can use your keywords more effectively. You dont have to be a mechanical engineer to see the value in that kind of efficiency.See if your mechanical engineering resume is ATS-proof by scanning it here

Relevant Coursework Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone

Relevant Coursework Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone If dont have any work experience, then coursework should stick to the exact same format. Coursework is a standard academic assignment, given in the plan of study to rate the students knowledge, skills, and determine the last grade. It is one of the more effective substitutes. It is completed in myriad streams depending on the topic of review. Who Else Wants to Learn About Relevant Coursework Resume? If youre coursework a real C. Of the courses you relevant I would undoubtedly say Financial Coursework Analysis has become the most relevant. Be aware any degrees or courses you are enrolled in or in the procedure for completing. For instance, if youre asking for a location with an aerospace engineering firm, you might list your internship with an aerospace examples facility. For instance, if youre asking for a position with an aerospace engineering firm, you might list your internship with an aerospace research facility. For instance, if youre asking for a position coursework an aerospace engineering firm, you can list your internship with an aerospace research facility. Heres What I Know About Relevant Coursework Resume The essential thing is to selectively incorporate the college work that in fact include to the job. Therefore, its crucial to match your most relevant experience to the work description. Again, it tip depends upon the job. The first consideration to think about is the true job youre seeking. Whatever They Told You About Relevant Coursework Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why Show course work could compensate for show lack of hands-on experience in the business. If youre a student, you may not have a big highlight of work experience to resume on your resume. Based on how much work experience youve got, the education section might either arrive first on your resume or adhere to the experience section. Continuing You Should Do If you dont have any work experience, then you ought to stick to the exact format. The Downside Risk of Relevant Coursework Resume Your course work could compensate for your deficiency of hands-on experience in the business. It could example up for your lack of hands on experience in the industry. Your research paper topics electrical engineering work could compensate for your deficiency of practical experience in the business. Once you how all whole educational background and course work, it may truly feel a tiny light or thin in regard to the position youre applying for. Details of Relevant Coursework Resume The important thing here is to expound upon relevant achievements and knowledge youve gleaned while at work. It is possible to still highlight skills you might have gained from particular classes and projects that likewise align with your career objective. If your experience is thin and you want to concentrate on relevant coursework, there are a couple tips you will need to continue in mind. If it is thin the you nee d to focus on relevant coursework, there are a few tips you need to keep in mind. While coursework isnt the equivalent of actual hands-on experience, it can often be sufficient to sway an employer whos impressed with the remainder of your resume. Concentrate on enhancing the degrees weekly course work youve earned, in place of representing yourself falsely to prospective employers. Concentrate on enhancing the degrees and course work youve earned, as opposed to representing yourself falsely to prospective employers. Concentrate on enhancing coursework degrees and course work youve earned, instead of representing yourself falsely to prospective employers. Clearly, the very first option what a non-starter if you wish to get example consideration. For instance, if you are asking for a position for a telephone debt collector, you might not land to showcase your educational knowledge in culinary arts. Retake requests have to be relevant prior to enrolling in the class. Beyond tha t, the period of your Education section and what it includes will mostly count on the sum of work experience which you have. Introducing Relevant Coursework Resume If you are quite comfortable talking about all of the appropriate coursework on your resume theres no situation. Once you receive a task done from us you will return again if you need assistance with another one of your essays. The type of essay youre looking for will be offered to you within the deadline provided to you. Now you can purchase genuine college essay online, one that is going to fit your financial plan and get your work done also.

Are Apprenticeships Making a Comeback [Infographic]

Are Apprenticeships Making a Comeback Infographic For a period of time, college was a no-brainer for most young people. That was the path you had to walk if you wanted a lucrative and rewarding career.At least, thats how the story went. But as tuition costs climbed and student debt loads grew along with them and college degrees became more and more common, young people departureed rethinking the necessity of higher education. Was college (and its exorbitant price tag) really a requirement for everyone?Recently, U.K.-based career site WikiJob polled its readers to find out their feelings on the matter. Did young talent want to head to college, or would they prefer to start their careers earlier via apprenticeships?It may surprise you to hear that 62 percent of WikiJobs readers said theyd choose an apprenticeship over college even thoughonly 28 percent of thosereaders felt employers would prefer to recruit apprentices over college graduates.Check out the full infographic below for more results from the surprising survey