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Leading the Fashion Scene

If you have a passion for fashion, then one of the career considerations that you should absolutely put some stock into is going to fashion school and learning all about what it takes to create your very own unique fashion line. Distinct fashion lines are popping up all over the place, proving that if you have something creative to share, then the odds are good that someone will be interested in buying what you’re selling.

Leading the Fashion Scene

If you are passionate about the idea of creating your own fashion line or clothing line, then you should put consideration into putting yourself through fashion school. Although not every fashion designer has been to fashion school, Rocawear clothing designer included, there are many benefits to attending this type of school because it is going to teach you a lot about not only forming your own clothing designs, but also how to survive in the business. The fashion industry can certainly be cutthroat, and so you want to be prepared for everything that it is going to throw at you before you enter into the market hoping for the best.

Every fashion school course that you take is going to benefit you, so take the courses that you are most interested in and see where that takes you. You are not required to get an official degree or certification, but you can walk out of this type of school with a lot of extremely useful information as well as a hands on experience that will help you go far in the industry.

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The Benefits of Attending Technical College

Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, USA

Image via Wikipedia

Many people dream of going to college. For some, that dream doesn’t include a prestigious and expensive ivy-league school, but a more economic and practical college, such as a technical or community college. Despite what many may say or think, there is absolutely nothing wrong with attending such a school. In fact, technical and community colleges actually have a few benefits over the more prominent colleges and universities.

Cost

Technical and community colleges don’t come with the same price tags of many colleges and universities. You may find that a local technical college has just the right course for you and it won’t see you thrown into the dark realms of never-ending student loans and debt.

Location

A big benefit of attending a technical or community college is that you can choose one that is close to where you currently live. That means you won’t have to move clear across the country to continue your education. It also means that you will have the support of your family and friends at hand, which is what many students miss when they move away for college.

Choice

Technical and community colleges offer a wide range of study areas from which you can choose from. Many are also very flexible with their courses. If you are unsure of what area you are wanting to study you will be able to pick up courses in a few different subject areas so that you can more easily figure out exactly what it is you want to do for the rest of your life.

Before making any drastic decisions, check out your local colleges for more information.

 

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All the Financial Gibberish

Don’t be afraid to admit the fact that every time you look at a tax form, the first thing you think of is that you’re reading a document straight out of another solar system, some ancient alien language discovered by no one else but you, making you probably the most important person on the world to have discovered an ancient alien race (not really, but you get the picture). The same could go for such documents as credit card applications, insurance policies, and credit reports. Somehow they all look just like gibberish to us!

The scary thing is this: the ambiguous language used in these forms and documents were intentional! Seriously? Yes. Fine print and confusing language has often been used while presenting an attractive intentioned offer to draw the attention of the reader directly to where the company wants the reader to go. Sneaky.

Thankfully, you can nail all that gibberish to the wall. It’s called the WonderMark Awards. It’s a ceremony celebrating the most unclear language used in all kinds of documents held annually at the Center for Plain Language (yes, there is such a place). Imagine how funny it would be if there was a cash advance store giving out payday loans with unclear documentation to boot!

It’s an interesting award ceremony to help hail the activity of personal finance in our country. We definitely want to understand our finances better. Why do people insist on using gibberish? It may just come down to the lawyers who get paid to write the stuff. If we could understand it, we might realize we don’t need them and they’d be out of a job!

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Online Certificate Programs: A Path to a New Career

The recent recession has taken a heavy toll on jobs in this country.  Many unemployed workers find that their current job skills are no longer adequate in a highly technical business marketplace.  Still others take the opportunity that unemployment affords them to re-evaluate their career path and their passions. For both types of unemployed workers, online certificate programs often offer the needed boost to full employment.

The good news is that no matter where your interest lies, there is an on-line certificate program to meet your needs.

Arts and Design

Many traditional universities like NYU and University of California at San Diego offer certificate programs in digital and graphic design.  For students looking to update or learn new skills, programs from established institutions are well received by prospective employers.  When in doubt; do some research.  Go to job fairs and ask prospective employers which schools they are familiar with.

Business

Business certificate programs can provide the needed boost and specialization to your resume.  Business certificates in conflict management, human resources, project management, risk management, contract administration, and e-commerce will equip you for today’s business niche.

Health Care

The health care field is one of the fast growing industries in the United States and the demand for skilled workers is huge.  Online certificates from accredited schools can easily transition you into the medical field.  Here are just a few areas to consider:  health administration, nutrition, pharmacy tech, medical transcription, medical billing, and nursing.

Change is difficult—particularly when the change was unplanned. On-line certificate programs provide unemployed workers a path to new opportunities

Filed Under: Education, Technical School Tagged With: ,

Scholarship Essays Simplified

The essay portion of scholarship applications is often the most daunting.  Students feel confined by compactness of the essay and overwhelmed by their perceived inability to stand out. But here is the truth, scholarship essays have a purpose.  The purpose is to get to know you.  No matter what the assigned topic, essay evaluators are trying to get a feel for who you are as a student.

Follow these simple steps and breeze through your next scholarship essay.

Read and Analyze

Read and analyze the essay topic. What are the parts to the question or topic? What are the evaluators looking for? Brainstorm ideas around the topic.  Prepare a short outline for your best ideas.

Introductions and Conclusions

Introductions and conclusions should hook together.  Grab your reader with an introductory sentence that demands their attention and requires them to continue reading.  Tell the reader in the introduction what will follow.

Use your conclusion to summarize your main points and to lock into your introduction.

The Rule of Three

Illustrate your main idea with three examples.  Three is the number for completeness.  Readers feel satisfied with three pieces of evidence or examples.  You can definitely use more, but three is the minimum.

Use Active Voice

Whenever possible use active verbs. Say, “ I ran my first and last marathon at 15.” Don’t say, “ I was a marathon runner in my teens.”

Proofread and Proofread Again

Read your essay backwards.  Read the last sentence first.  It is easier to find mistakes when you read the essay backwards.  Read the essay aloud to see how it flows.  Finally, ask a friend to proofread your essay.

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Apprenticeships: Go to the Source

Since the dawn of learning apprenticeships have been the primary way master craftsmen pass their skills to the next generation. Stone masons, master builders, blacksmiths, and artisans all have long histories of apprenticeships.  Yet today, in the twenty-first century many people are unaware of the opportunities that apprenticeships afford.

Types of Apprenticeships Available

Today there are over 37,000 apprenticeship programs in the United States. These programs are offered in cooperation with 250,000 employers and unions.  The opportunities and types of apprenticeship programs are vast.  Some examples of occupations are: electrician, plumber, pipe-fitter, florist, millwright, firefighter, cook and tool and die maker.

How to Find Apprenticeships

The place to start is the U.S. Department of Labor website.  The Department of Labor will give you specific information about apprenticeships and apprenticeship applications and laws.  Your second stop is at your state’s department of labor website.  On the state sites are specific apprenticeships available in your area and the requirements you must meet to apply.  Finally, if you still haven’t found the apprenticeship you are looking for, visit the labor unions or industry organizations and ask about their apprenticeships.

Learn While You Earn

Apprenticeships are a combination of on-the-job training and classroom work.  Most apprenticeships allow you to earn money while you are learning the skills necessary to be a journeyman.  The average wage for apprenticeships today range from $16,000 to $24,000 per year.

Apprenticeships are valued form of education.  A completed apprenticeship is the equivalent of $42,000 college education.

For more information on apprenticeships write to the OA State Offices, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

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Online Accounting Degrees

Accountants are the backbone of any business, and degrees in accounting are among the most popular online degrees to obtain.  Why? Simply stated, the study of accounting is based on mathematics, logic, and long-held best practices. Students are drawn to accounting because of its precision.  That said, there are a number of disciplines within accounting for a student to choose from, and within those disciplines, a variety of degree possibilities. Let’s explore them.

Disciplines

The five basic disciplines are: Public Accounting, Management Accounting, Government Accounting, Internal Auditing, and Forensic Accounting.

Public accounting degrees prepare the student to create and maintain accurate financial records.  In addition public accountants can do audits, prepare financial records and taxes.

Management accounting degrees prepare the student to focus on internal business needs. Management accountants assign costs to processes.  Often called cost accounting, management accounting focuses on fixed and variable costs.

Government accounting degrees prepare the student to work in federal and state governments. Students will be proficient in the application of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).  Typical workplace activities deal with budgets, funds, encumbrances and appropriations.

Internal Auditing degrees are an advanced degree taken after first satisfying the requirements for bachelor’s degree in accounting.  Internal auditors review the accounting and financial activities and methods of businesses or government agencies.

Forensic accounting degrees prepare the student to combine accounting principles and information technology to analyze financial records and prepare the reports to be submitted as evidence in court.

Types of Degrees

Within the five disciplines, a student can choose from a number of degrees.  Many accounting disciplines offer a two-year associates degree. The advantage of the two-year degree is that it allows the student to get into the workplace sooner.  In addition to the two-year degrees are bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

While technology may change how we keep track of financial data, sound accounting principles will remain constant, and accountants will always be in demand.

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Beneficial Technology

250/365 - Still going strong

Image by Jez Page via Flickr

There is so much technology that is available today for people that desire a fast paced and progressive environment. For this type of person their is a lot of beneficial technology that can make their dreams come true. Technology has moved past the blase PDA, and now there are Blackberry’s, tablet computers, and even e-books that are read via tablet. There is other technology that is available that is continuing to make everyone life easier like high speed computers, internet connections on cell phone, and even electronic banking. Remember filling out those envelopes or wishing you could deposit cash into your account after hours? Well, we have arrived to the new beneficial technological age that is designed to make life a little less stressful. While we have not achieved the likes of Tron, we have gotten very close with the use of holographic visuals, streaming video, and the almost complete elimination of manual paperwork.

The technological age that we live in is allowing us to perform surgery via robot, and even clean house while we are away, can you say Rumba? With all this technology there is always going to be the need for there to be someone that can understand and fix or upgrade the gizmos and gadgets that we have grown to love. This is where tech schools and computer lovers come to a meeting place. It is in this arena that people are taught how to understand and work with the new technology, and create jobs that combine the skills of educated students with the likes of beneficial technology. There are many schools that are available to help with this training, and for those that embrace technology, this could be your calling. You could find yourself in a career that is more fun than work.

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Scholarships To Tech Schools

There are many scholarships available, but what many do not realize is that there are many scholarships to technical and trade schools as well. Technical and trade schools are not like the schools that were in their awkward infancy in the 1980′s. Today, these schools boasts healthy reputations, and many large corporations are in collaborative relationships, which they then in turn provide internships to students. The secret aspect to many of these schools, however, is that they offer scholarships to prospective students. Schools like ITT tech and DeVry can cost as must at $20,000 dollars per year for a Bachelors program, and students can receive grants and scholarships to help pay for these programs. There are also scholarships that will pay for the program in its entirety.

In order to qualify for these types of scholarships, student must do exactly what they would do for any other school and scholarship application. The student will need to still send out an essay saying why he or she should be awarded the scholarship. The essay should include information about the student, family, age, goals, and accolades. This should be detailed so that the school has a strong sense of identification with the student. The will help the school make a solid decision on the student award, and they will feel confident that the student will complete the program and represent the school well. This is a key factor for many schools, as they are ranked based on program requirements and success rates of the students. For students in High School, there are forms for these scholarships in the guidance counselors office. For those that are looking for way to sign up, you can find the form online for the school sites, or at your local library.

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Computer Schools

Gone are the days of the low end techy schools that show you how to do nothing but turn on a computer. Today’s technology schools are considered high tech, and at the leading edge of the most progressive computer technology available. For many students, these schools are the perfect solution for their desire for a life long profession, and they are taught the highly sought after skills that are desired by large progressive corporations. This also means that instead of being limited to just a certificate, students have the options to receive a certificate, earn an Associates degree, or continuing on for a Bachelors degree. This means that students could go on to earn post-graduate degrees, be certified for highly technical software programs, and have the base for learning more progressive technology as it comes into the marketplace. This is highly attractive for large businesses as they seek people that will help them with choosing innovative technology that will save their company time and money.

The other feature to these tech schools is that they are usually very catering for students and their schedules, and they offer day, evening, and weekend sessions. The other aspect to these schools is that they have full accreditation, and they offer flexible financial aid. Truthfully they should not be considered anything other than a regular college that specializes in technology, but the beginning of these schools in the 1980′s created a separation between the two academic genres. Regardless of how they are viewed, the facts remain. They are accredited, offer financial aid, and provide top notch education for those interested in the technology field. These schools are not for everyone as they require students to have an aptitude for computers, software, and a desire to continue growing beyond their education. Some of the most popular schools in this category are ITT tech, and DeVry. These two in particular also offer classes through satellite schooling on other college campuses.

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