28 Sep 08 Become A Lawyer
Overview for Lawyers
Lawyers act as both advocates and advisors in society. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal and civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients about their legal rights and obligations and suggest particular courses of action in business and personal matters. Whether acting as an advocate or an advisor, all attorneys research the intent of laws and judicial decisions and apply the law to the specific circumstances faced by their clients.
The more detailed aspects of a lawyer’s job depend upon his or her field of specialization and position. All lawyers are licensed to represent parties in court, but some, such as trial lawyers, appear in court more frequently than others. Lawyers may specialize in a number of areas, such as bankruptcy, probate, international, elder, or environmental law.
Most lawyers are in private practice, concentrating on criminal or civil law. In criminal law, lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in courts of law. Attorneys dealing with civil law assist clients with litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, titles, and leases.
Employment Situation
About 27 percent of lawyers are self-employed, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Competition for job openings should be strong due to the large number of students who graduate from law school each year.
Employment of lawyers is expected to grow 11 percent during the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The growing population and increased business activity is expected create more legal transactions, civil disputes, and criminal cases. Job growth among lawyers also will result from increasing demand for legal services in such areas as health care, intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust, and environmental law. In addition, the wider availability and affordability of legal clinics should result in increased use of legal services by middle-income people. However, growth in demand for lawyers will be constrained as businesses increasingly use large accounting firms and paralegals to perform some of the same functions that lawyers do.
Education Outlook
Formal requirements to become a lawyer usually include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by state. Competition for admission to most law schools is intense. As of 2006, there were 195 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. Others were approved by state authorities only.
Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Law school applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to qualify for admission. To meet the needs of students who can attend only part time, a number of law schools have night or part-time divisions. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them.
Although there is no recommended “prelaw” undergraduate major, prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically—skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the law. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. All accredited law schools require applicants to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Find an online legal degree.
Salary Expectations for Lawyers
In May 2006, the median annual earnings of all lawyers were $102,470. The middle half of the occupation earned between $69,910 and $145,600.
Related Information
- Find all advertised Lawyers jobs.
27 Sep 08 Details On Pharmacy Aid Employment
Overview for Pharmacy Aides
Pharmacy aides perform administrative duties in pharmacies. Aides often are clerks or cashiers whose chief responsibilities are to answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. They work closely with pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians usually perform more complex tasks than do aides, although in some States the duties and titles of the jobs overlap.
Pharmacy aides may create and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Accurate record keeping is necessary to help avert dangerous drug interactions. It is essential that pharmacy aides be able to communicate efficiently and correctly with third-party insurance providers to obtain payment. Pharmacy aides maintain inventory and inform the supervisor of stock needs so that the pharmacy does not run out of necessary and vital medications. Some aides also help with the maintenance of equipment and supplies.
Employment Situation
Employment of pharmacy aides is expected to decrease rapidly, dropping by 11 percent over the 2006 to 2016 period. Demand for pharmacy aides will fall as more responsibility is given to pharmacy technicians for answering phones, stocking shelves, operating cash registers, and performing other administrative tasks. In addition, with increased training, many pharmacy aides will become pharmacy technicians, which will result in further declines in pharmacy aide jobs.
In spire of decreasing employment, job opportunities for full-time and part-time work are expected to be good. The frequent need to replace workers who leave the occupation will create opportunities for interested applicants. Aides with related work experience in pharmacies, or as cashiers or stock clerks in other retail settings, will have the best opportunities.
Education Outlook
Most pharmacy aides are trained on the job. Employers favor those with at least a high school diploma and previous experience and strong customer service skills. Many pharmacy aides go on to become pharmacy technicians. Prospective pharmacy aides with experience working as cashiers may have an advantage when applying for jobs. Employers also prefer applicants with experience managing inventories and using computers.
Training for pharmacy aides begins by observing a more experienced worker. As they become familiar with the store’s equipment, policies, and procedures, aides start to work on their own.
Salary Expectations for Pharmacy Aides
Median hourly earnings of pharmacy aides totaled $9.35 in May 2006. Hourly pay ranged between $7.89 and over $14.64. Median hourly earnings in general medical and surgical hospitals totaled $11.53, while grocery stores paid a median of $9.87 per hour, and pharmacies and drug stores paid $8.97 as the median hourly wage.
Related Information
* All advertised Pharmacy Aide jobs
* Find a Healthcare school near you
26 Sep 08 Become A Food Prep Worker
Overview for Food Preparation Workers
Food preparation workers perform routine, repetitive tasks under the direction of chefs and cooks. These workers ready the ingredients for complex dishes by slicing and dicing vegetables, and composing salads and cold items. They weigh and measure ingredients, go after pots and pans, and stir and strain soups and sauces. Food preparation workers may cut and grind meats, poultry, and seafood in preparation for cooking. They also clean work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, and silverware.
Salary Expectations for Food Preparation Workers
Earnings of food preparation workers vary greatly by region and the type of employer. Median annual earnings of food preparation workers were $17,410 in May 2006 and ranged from less than $13,190 to over $25,940.
Employment Situation
There were 902,000 million food preparation workers in the U.S. in 2006. Job opportunities for food preparation workers are expected to be plentiful because of the continued growth and expansion of food services outlets, resulting in average employment growth, and because of the large numbers of workers who leave these occupations and need to be replaced. Employment of food preparation workers is expected to increase by 11 percent over the 2006-16 decade, or about as fast as the average for all occupations. This occupation will have among the largest numbers of new jobs – about 351,000 – over that period.
Education Outlook
On-the-job training is most common for fast-food cooks, short-order cooks, and food preparation workers. Vocational training programs are available to many high school students, but advanced positions usually require training after high school. Experience, an ability to develop and enhance cooking skills, and a strong desire to cook are the most common requirements for advancement. Opportunities exist for advancement above and beyond as well.
Related Information
- Find Culinary Schools near you
- All advertised food preparation jobs
20 Sep 08 Looking For California State Jobs? The Number Of Open Jobs For Engineers Of All Types Continues To Increase!
If you are looking for California Jobs, or California Engineering Jobs, we hope this article will help you find what you are looking for.
Most engineers also have a specialty, though most wait until they’ve been working as engineers for a few years before they choose one.
You must possess 4 years of professional experience and pass a state licensing exam. Requirements vary by state.
The most rapid areas of growth in the California jobs engineering field are taking place in the fields of Environmental and Biomedical Engineering.
The money you’ll make varies wildly according to the career level of the job and the specific field you choose, but in general, aerospace, agricultural, bioengineering and biomedical engineering are the most lucrative current fields.
A survey conducted in 2004 reported an approximate salary range for engineers that ran from $43, 679 to $61, 516, depending on the specialty field chosen and the level of education completed.
The California engineer’s resume is a little different than the resume of someone in a different profession. You are going to want to focus on your high level of technical expertise- this means that you’ll want to use lots of “buzz words” relating to any advanced certifications you hold.
Make sure that you don’t sell yourself short on your resume- it’s your first handshake, your calling card and informal introduction. If you are going for an academic or research-oriented engineering job, you may want to use a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in place of a resume. A CV is actually just an expanded resume- where a resume is typically only a page long, a CV can run for multiple pages and contains an exhaustive list of all your academic achievements, honors, awards, publications, group memberships, and things like that.
The interview process for engineers is also different than with other professions. The way you dress for your engineering jobs interview is important, as with any other type of job. Don’t wear work clothes (jeans, sweatshirt, work boots) to the interview, but also don’t overdress- if employees in your potential role don’t wear a suit and tie to work, don’t wear that either- it’d be awkward to be wearing a 3-piece suit only to be interviewed by someone in casual pants and a short sleeve shirt.
To assist with your California jobs search, join some engineering-related professional associations.
Many of these California organizations have job placement searches for members, and some of them even have their own members-only job boards. Additionally, read any industry-related publications or newsletters to stay abreast of new opportunities- many of these publications include classified ads for open California Engineering Jobs.
20 Sep 08 How To Prepare Yourself For Job Interview Questions
Preparing for job interview questions can be one of the most difficult and nerve-racking experiences. On the one hand, you know that you have to hit an interview perfectly. You want this job, and you can feel in your bones that you are the right candidate for it. It all comes down to this one interview, so you have to give it everything you’ve got. On the other hand, you have no idea what to look at. How do you study for an interview? How do you know if you answer job interview questions well or not?
In reality, just practicing can help you. Answering job interview questions is as much a matter of feeling comfortable on your feet as of having the correct answer. Although a lot of job interview questions books will give you different specific tips on what types of answers an employer is looking for, they will all tell you this: you have a better chance of getting the job If you appear confident.
This is why you should answer job interview questions with a friend before the actual interview. Practicing questions and answers alone can be helpful, but practicing with a partner can be even better. A partner will help you simulate actual interview conditions. He or she can tell you whether or not you seem calm, confident, and comfortable with the interview. He can give you tips on eye contact, posture, facial expressions, and any other pointers you might need.
The problem is, finding out the right answers for job interview questions is difficult. You see, every employer looks for something different. I worked in human resources for five years, so I know a little bit about the subject. Basically, there are several things that I look for from someone who I am interviewing. Of course, he or she has to answer job interview questions in an honest, straightforward manner and with confidence, but it goes beyond that. I want someone who is honest. There are usually pat, safe ways to answer job interview questions, but sometimes you can get better results by straying a little bit from the standard responses. If you can illustrate your points with a really interesting story from your own experience, it will make an even better impression. Basically, the most important thing is to engage your interviewer. If you can make him or her like you, you have the job!
More Job Interview Techniques articles
17 Sep 08 Avoid these Job Search Mistakes
To find something, you have to start by looking, and that process can be applied to landing yourself some employment. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can’t get a job, but the truth is, these people don’t actively go looking for one. Mass communication and the technological world we live in can make job seeking easier, but there are still some basic rules to apply when you’re determined to find employment.
The most common and preventable mistake in the great job hunt is limiting one’s search to a single source, such as the employment section of a single newspaper or a single job search website. It can be hard to keep track of all the places you have applied to, but if you take notes from the start, you should be able to keep track of where you’ve sent your application, no matter how many sources you’re searching.
While job listings, whether in a newspaper’s employment section or an internet job site (preferably more than one of each), are both great places to look for work, never underestimate the power of networking in helping you find a job. Friends, former coworkers, and even previous employers can all give you a lead on a job that’s open, if you’ve remained on good terms with them and ask politely. The easiest way to start networking is to expand the horizons of your search. If you don’t have the time to do an in-depth search, make the time – the efforts will pay off.
Looking for a job can sometimes be a long process, and you may find yourself feeling discouraged or wondering if you ever will be employed again. Of course you will, but if you give up on your job search, you definitely won’t find that perfect employment. Keep yourself motivated to stick with your search, using whatever means it takes. Guilt, applied to you, can be an excellent motivator, though not always comfortable to maintain. Another method of making sure you keep looking for a job even when things become difficult is to reward yourself. The point is to find a way to make yourself continue to look for employment, especially when you feel like giving in to despair.
In a similar vein, there’s no such thing as a job search where you aren’t actively searching. Though it can sometimes seem like an easy, hassle-free process, particularly with the advent of the online job search, the process of finding employment is something you have to commit yourself to and never trust that a job will simply fall into your lap. You have to go out there and find opportunities rather than wait for them to find you, though if you are lucky enough to have that sort of luck come your way, seize the chance.
The last thing to make sure you do during your search for employment is to research your field of profession thoroughly and take an in-depth look at companies you apply to. You may find that the industry you want to work in is saturated in your region, which will tell you to find a different spin on what you can do and expand your horizons, or you may find that an attractive company really isn’t that pretty, once you find out their history. To be successful in your search for employment, be persistent and knowledgeable, always on the lookout for information that will help you land that perfect job.
10 Sep 08 Don’t Blow the Job Interview
You may have gone through every step of preparing to land a good job with confidence, by gaining experience, honing your education, and writing a good, solid resume. Once those efforts start to pay off and you get a call for an interview with a potential employer, you may find yourself struck with a bad case of nervousness. This problem is common and, fortunately, it’s one that’s all in your head – there’s nothing about a job interview you should be nervous about, if you’re confident and secure.
Practicing interviews goes a long way to giving yourself self-confidence. With the help of friends or family, you can prepare yourself to answer questions without hesitation and try a few different answers to choose the one that sounds best. Rehearsal is important for making sure you look confident to potential employers. You can also use a mirror to see how your face and eyes display a look of either nerves or confidence, and work on eliminating small details that will give an impression of self-doubt. Once you enter the interview and finally meet your potential employer, use a firm handshake and a smile, keep yourself from looking down at the floor, and definitely try not to shift too much from nerves.
Honesty is the best policy during a job interview. If you’re caught lying, you’ve guaranteed that you’ll be out of the race for the job. Still, if you have any blemishes on your work, education, or personal history, consider how you’ll answer related questions about those issues. Glossing over past mistakes leaves the wrong impression, though the way you word your answers can soften the blow of any errors you’ve made at previous employments.
On the other hand, it helps to know your rights as a job applicant. There are some questions that you legally don’t have to answer and can’t be looked down on for refusal to answer. There are also questions that your interviewer can’t legally ask. Although belligerence won’t help your case, it’s always a good thing to know your rights. Whatever answers you give your potential employer, say them with confidence, even if it’s explaining why you had a massive gap in your work history or confessing that you don’t currently have any career goals beyond the job you’re applying for.
There’s plenty of information to be found on preparing your appearance for the interview. Most of it is simple common sense. A business suit or a tasteful blouse and pants, with a clean, neat appearance complete with personal hygiene is all you really need to know about how to look for an interview. As with your responses, an appearance of professionalism will go a long way towards getting you the job you want.
A smart thing to do in your interview, just as you feel it’s starting to wind down, is to ask your employer a few questions about the position you’re applying for or the company itself. Asking questions shows you’ve done your homework and have a serious interest in the place you’ll be working. Questions also show your potential employer that you have dedication and the forethought to be careful about decisions, which can go a long way in their impression of you.
04 Sep 08 Write a Killer Cover Letter
The cover letter can usually seem like dead weight when you’re looking to land a job. After all, a cover letter is basically a single page’s worth of business babble to be filed away by businesses and never seen again. While the cover letter can be all that and less, it’s still better for individuals serious about becoming employed to look at this task as an opportunity rather than a burden. What you do with a cover letter is entirely up to you, and the right attitude will go a long way in writing a cover letter.
Speaking of attitudes, the first thing you want a cover letter to convey is your personal attitude, even though you’re also trying to introduce yourself to a potential employer and set the stage for your resume at the same time. Of course, this is no mean feat when you’re trying to confine the cover letter to one single page in length. Consider the attitude you want to convey from the start, and then set out to write the cover letter in that mindset.
The first parts of a cover letter are simple. Your name, address, and contact information are centered at the top and should be easily visible. The date, as well as the name, title, organization and business address of the person you’re sending the cover letter to goes below that, aligned to the left (as will be the rest of the cover letter). Below that information, open your covering letter with a simple “Dear Mr. or Ms. (last name of your employer here),” as per any normal letter you would send. There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?
After that, you’ll want to open your cover letter with something that will grab the reader’s attention from the start. This attention-grabber is the lead-in for a short paragraph of three to four sentences, in which you establish a connection with your reader, as well as telling the reader what position you’re applying for and where you heard of the employment opportunity. Catching and holding a reader’s interest is a task of the most utmost importance, as a bored reader will quickly move on to something else and you’ll lose your chance. Keep in mind, though, that you need to also show your professionalism and avoid writing anything that may turn the reader off completely.
Now that you’ve established a rapport with your reader and potential employer, it’s time to write the mid-section of the letter. This mid-section should carry on for about one or two short paragraphs at most. Remember, individuals today don’t have much time and the world is a fast-paced place. Traditionally, this mid-section of the cover letter is where you discuss your qualifications, but another quirk of the business world is that you’re not supposed to sum up your resume. Highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job and describe your intangible qualifications, such as enjoying working with people or your love of an intellectual challenge.
The final step that requires serious thought is the last paragraph of your cover letter, where you explain to the reader what you’ll be doing to follow up on your submitted resume and job application (such as contacting your potential employer), or ask that your reader take a specific action (such as contacting you). Always be very clear so that there is no possibility of miscommunication. This section, more than any other part of the cover letter, needs to show you’re as self-confidant and assertive as you can be while still sounding friendly.
When you’ve finished your cover letter, add “Sincerely yours,” leave yourself some space for a signature, add your name, and then the phrase “Enclosure: Resume” at the bottom of the page. Should your cover letter be longer than a single page, go back and edit it until you have everything you need on one page – remember that clear and concise is best. While you may not land this job with your cover letter and might have to write many more, consider each letter a task that brings you one step closer to the job that you really want to have.
