Deciphering the Crazy Things Bosses Say

Deciphering the Crazy Things Bosses Say

by Colette Martin

Chances are you've had a conversation with your boss where he or she says something that sounds a little bit lopsided — or perhaps even crazy. Or maybe you were the boss and you found yourself saying something that — in retrospect — you're really not proud of.

Here are some of my least favorite things I have heard bosses say:
"That's just the way the system works." I've seen managers use this line when delivering a less-than-appropriate assessment. This boss probably believes what they are saying. But what they really mean is, "My boss told me I had me to do this," or "I think you deserve more but I failed to get you the result you deserve."

"I can't let you take that opportunity/promotion because you're too valuable." This is a classic response to an internal job opportunity. This boss (usually) doesn't really want to keep you from achieving your goals. What this really means is, "You have great skills and I'm worried about how I will replace you."

"You're working too hard." Sounds a little crazy, right? The truth might be that this boss is afraid of losing resources. She may want the job to look harder than it is, or perhaps protect lower-performing employees from being fired.

"You don't want to do that," or "Do you really want to do that?" This one is tricky — some great bosses will use these words when they want to help you think things through. If your boss is a good mentor, this is likely the case. But there's also a chance that this boss really means, "I don't want you to do that," or "I'll look bad if you do that."

The craziest thing a boss ever said to me was, "You didn't get the job because the last two managers they hired were female, and this time they needed to hire a male." In his defense, he was telling the truth (and he was relaying a decision made by someone else). I was appreciative that my boss was willing to share what really happened (and I did get a management job shortly thereafter), but it was nonetheless — crazy.

Are You In Love With Your Job?

Are You In Love With Your Job?

12 great-paying jobs that could trigger love at first sight.

By Cherise Asato


Have you been looking for career love in all the wrong places?
If you haven't yet found the job that makes your heart go all aflutter, it's not too late.


We've compiled a list of jobs that can help you make a love-match when it comes to your career. Just find what you love, and see two hot career options for you.

What You Love: Freedom
Job Option 1: Physical therapist assistant jobs are great for people who need a non-traditional schedule. In this position, you'll likely be able to work weekends and evenings, as patients may not be able to come in during regular "9-to-5" hours. The average salary is $46,140 per year. Find Physical Therapy schools.


Job Option 2: Maybe your definition of career freedom is related to place more than a schedule. If so, a career in travel nursing that allows you to pick your location - around the country or even the world - may be for you. Train for this career by earning a nursing degree or diploma. Average salary: Over $60,000 per year. Find Registered Nursing training programs.

What You Love: Kids
Job Option 1: School counselors provide valuable support to students during their formative years. Prepare for this rewarding career with a degree in counseling. Average salary for elementary and secondary school counselors: $57,800 per year.

Job Option 2: As a teacher, you can play a fundamental role in educating and supporting children. Enroll in a teacher education program and you could be on your way to a job - and a salary - you'll love: Kindergarten and elementary school teachers make about $50,000 on average.

What You Love: Mystery
Job Option 1: Does the idea of conducting DNA analysis or collecting crime scene evidence sound exciting to you? Consider a career as a forensic science technician (a.k.a. crime scene investigator). A degree in forensics or criminal justice can help get you started. The Pay: an average of $23.97 per hour.


Job Option 2: As a forensic accountant, it would be your job to investigate financial data and transactions for criminal activity. You'll need a bachelor's degree in accounting, coursework in auditing and fraud, and your Certified Public Accountant designation. The average annual salary for accountants is $59,430. Find Accounting and Business schools.

What You Love: Helping Others
Job Option 1: Medical assistants contribute to the well-being of others by helping medical offices run smoothly. Complete a one or two-year medical assistant training program and you'll be on your way to a career with solid salary numbers. Medical assistants in California and Oregon average at over $30,000 a year, while District of Columbia medical assistants average at about $38,000 per year. Find Medical Assisting classes now.


Job Option 2: Licensed practical nurses assist physicians and registered nurses in providing care and comfort to patients in need. You can train for this rewarding career in just one year through an LPN or LVN certificate program. The Pay: $39,030 per year, on average. Find LPN and LVN classes now.

What You Love: Technology
Job Option 1: Are you consistently up to date on the latest technology? You might enjoy a career as a computer programmer writing code and creating software. Get educated with a bachelor's degree, two-year degree, or diploma and you could be on your way to becoming a company's go-to person for writing, updating, and repairing programs. The Pay: $69,620 per year.


Job Option 2: Do you love the web? As a web developer, you'll be creating the nuts and bolts that make web sites run as well as giving them life with interactivity and graphics. A two-year associate's degree in web design and development can help you get started. According to Payscale.com, the median annual salary varies from about $38,000 to $55,000 for people starting out in this career.

What You Love: Art
Job Option 1: Get a two-year degree in graphic design, and you could find yourself working on CD covers, posters, and web sites. The average annual salary for graphic designers is $42,400. Find Graphic Design training programs now.


Job Option 2: Are you a fan of video games and animation? If you have artistic skills and training in the software tools that are used in these fields, you may enjoy many career opportunities. An associate's degree in animation can help you get started, or you can focus just on video game design. Salaried multimedia artists and animators have an average annual salary of $56,330. How's that for a career you can love? Find Creative Arts and Design programs now.

Night Owl Jobs

Night Owl Jobs

You can make $30... $40... even $50K doing your work by the light of the moon.

By Lawrence Ross

Are you attracted to the darkness? Think daylight is overrated? Are you... a night owl?

If your day doesn't really start until the sky begins to darken, check out these 7 jobs for night owls. Some even pay $40K and up!

1. Nurse

Nurses are the engines of America's health care facilities. They assist doctors, administer medications and treatments, and educate patients about their medical conditions.

Consider the fact that hospitals never close, and you have another night shift career with some distinct advantages. For one, the pace of work in hospitals and clinics tends to slow down in the darker hours. Another benefit is that there are fewer administrators on staff, which leads many night shift nurses to cross train in a variety of areas, allowing them a sense of autonomy and responsibility that daytime nurses may not have.

The Pay: Registered nurses (RNs) make an average of $57,280, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics from 2006. For night shift nurses, the pay can go up significantly. Salarylist.com notes that a night shift nurse can earn from $58,000 to $64,000, depending on the region.

2. Correctional Officer

Correctional officers maintain order within the prison system. Not easy to do when you consider the fact that nearly 12 million people are admitted and processed into correctional facilities each year, according to the Department of Labor.

Yet for night owls, this may be the perfect position. Because prisons never close, correctional officers are needed to work eight hours a day, five days a week, on rotating shifts.

The Pay: The Department of Labor notes that a correctional officer earns around $35,000 per year. This could greatly increase for night owls who take on weekend and overnight shifts.

3. Photojournalist

You wake up in the morning, fill your favorite cup with coffee, and open your newspaper. On the front page, you'll likely find a photo, perhaps of something that happened in the night while you slept. Forget about who wrote the story, who took that picture? The answer: a photojournalist.

Newspapers and news services assign photojournalists to photograph news events - many of which occur at night or in the wee hours of the morning. Think sporting events, crimes, and fires. With the Internet offering greater opportunities for photographers, this field could keep you up at night getting paid (bring your flash!).

The Pay: As a photojournalist, you can make upwards of $38,000 per year, according to the Department of Labor.

4. Adult School Teacher

Adult schools need teachers who don't mind working beyond the standard classroom hours, which is where you would come in. As a night school teacher, you might teach topics like remedial reading, math, or English as a second language.

The Pay: Adult school teachers earn a median of over $40,000 according to the Department of Labor numbers from 2006. Night school teachers, depending on the region, can earn more.

5. Chef

Chefs prepare the food we enjoy outside our homes, whether it's at a buffet, restaurant, or café. Late night diners, hospitals, and restaurant cafés all need chefs, too - which means plenty of opportunity for culinary night owls like you.

In addition to cooking, night shift chefs are often responsible for early morning deliveries and prepping for daytime service. For chefs who'd like to work independently, you can work through the night to prepare healthy breakfasts and gourmet lunches for private clients.

The Pay: Chefs can earn from $25,910 to $46,040, depending on the industry, according to the Department of Labor.

6. Computer Support Personnel

Computer support personnel provide technical support to customers and clients with computer issues. All computer users know that pesky problems can arise at any time of the day ? from 12 p.m. to midnight - and when you're pulling an all-nighter for work or school, waiting for help is just not an option? making this a great option for computer savvy individuals with night owl tendencies.

The Pay: The Department of Labor estimates a $40,000 salary range for most computer support personnel.

7. Police Officer

Someone has to keep the dark streets safe from harm, and the police officer working the night shift is that person. Whether patrolling neighborhoods or responding to calls, the night shift police officer must be observant of criminals who use the cover of night to commit their crimes.

The Pay: According to the Department of Labor, a police officer can earn an average of $47,000. However, most police departments have a night shift differential that pays a night shift officer extra. The amount is dependent on the specific department and the pay will vary.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Work Hard, Play Hard

4 jobs that pay you to play!
By Jason Latshaw


Many of us remember the days when our time was filled with playing a game or inhabiting an imaginary world. Unfortunately, the demands of a full-time career, family, and other responsibilities have since curtailed such flights of fancy.

But what if your career consisted of playing? There are many jobs that revolve around the concept of playing. And playing, whether it is for entertainment or therapy, is becoming an increasingly big business.
So if you're someone who pines for the games and endless hours of fun from childhood, check out these four careers that pay you handsomely to play.

1. Toy and Game Designers:
 From initial sketches and computer concepts to the final prototype, designers of toys and games are involved in the whole process. Most toy and game designers are entrepreneurs who are skilled in pitching their ideas to toy and game companies. However, many also work in-house for those same companies. To become a toy and game designer, you need to be able to communicate your ideas visually, something you can learn with a creative degree program, like one in graphic design.
The Play: Toy and game designers get to play with prototypes while testing iterations and figuring out how to make everything more fun. Hours are dedicated to making sure the consumer (children of all ages) has the best possible time with the eventual released product.
The Pay: The U.S. Department of Labor maintains no salary figure specifically for toy and game designers. But as with other entrepreneurial jobs, the sky's the limit if you have the skills and passion. For those designers employed by toy and game companies, SimplyHired.com reports that the annual mean wage is $53,000. Not bad for such a fun job.

2. Video Game Designers:
 The increasingly popular world of video games has created a number of new job opportunities, like video game designers, who influence many aspects of the game, including graphics, characters, animation, code, and design. To become a video game designer, look into video game design degree programs.
The Play: Despite the job title, it's not all fun and games. There can be long hours and grueling work sessions to get the video games just right - especially when a ship date is looming. However, this is offset by the fact that you get to create worlds and characters, interact with them, and improve the playing experience until its perfect.
The Pay: According to Payscale.com, this popular career pays from $38,000 to $88,000 and upwards, depending on how many years of experience you have.

3. Recreational Therapists:
You know that playing can be fun, right? But did you know it can be healing as well? Recreational therapists know this secret, and this growing field uses a large number of fun activities - games, arts and crafts, animal visits, sports, music, and more - to help people with disabilities and illnesses in a variety of ways.To become a recreational therapist, a person normally completes an undergraduate degree in therapy or counseling.

The Play: Playing is a powerful part of many therapy programs and can be used to help people deal with depression, recover a wider range of motion, learn valuable skills, and more. And the fun part is - while helping and leading activities, you also get to participate in them as well.
The Pay: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, recreational therapists are paid a median of nearly $35,000.

4. Activities Directors:
College campuses, cruise ships, vacation resorts, and even nursing homes and hospitals could all use activities directors to coordinate fun events. Aspiring activities directors can prepare for the role with a variety of degrees, including marketing, business, or hospitality - all programs which prepare people to work and organize large groups of people.
The Play: Activities directors coordinate games, meetings, events, and other forms of entertainment. The fun part: They often get to participate in all the fun and entertainment they plan and organize!

The Pay: or those who work at nursing homes, the median annual wage is nearly $35,000. For those leading activities on a cruise ship, pay can be up to $90,000, according to Salary.com.

8 Jobs That Require Imagination

8 Jobs That Require Imagination

Get paid to use your creativity and imagination with these great-paying jobs!
By Chris Kyle

Imagine this: getting paid to let your imagination run wild.

If you're a creative person with a great imagination, we've got some ideas to help you turn your passion into a profit with one of these eight great-paying careers.

1. Graphic Designer
Here's a profession that really rewards creativity. By becoming a graphic designer, you can use your active imagination to dazzle clients by imagining and executing visual solutions to their communication problems.

Training: Interactive media is a game changer for graphic designers, who often earn a bachelor's in computer aided design, animation, or graphic design and multimedia. Shorter certificate programs can also help you keep pace with the competition.
Pay: Graphic designers earned an annual average salary of $42,400 in 2008. Those specializing in computer systems design earned an average of $47,860.

Find Graphic Design degree programs now.

2. Marketing Professional

Creative brainstorming sessions are the norm for marketers, who are constantly coming up with fresh ways to communicate with consumers.
Training: It's not enough to come up with a brilliant plan. You need to know how to execute it. Marketing/communications programs can help you launch your career. An MBA can help you land a more senior position.
Pay: Marketing managers earned an average of $108,580 per year in 2008.

Search for online and local Marketing programs now.

3. Detective/Forensics
If you enjoy detective stories, why not live the life yourself? Before detectives and forensics specialists can get the bad guy, they have to imagine how he did it.
Training: An active imagination can help law enforcement personnel envision crime-scene scenarios and motivations for different suspects. A lot of legwork is required, but imagination can be the key to cracking a case. A degree in forensics/crime scene, police & law enforcement, or criminal justice can help make that your job description.
Pay: The median annual wage for detectives and criminal investigators in 2008 was $60,910.
Find Criminal Justice & Security degree programs now.

4. Business Entrepreneur

Walt Disney once famously said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Creating a successful company requires bold, unconventional thinking. Some people call visionary businesspeople "crazy" - until their idea becomes huge. There are no guarantees in the business world, but every great business starts with that new idea. Do you have what it takes to make an idea come to life?
Training: Get started with an associate's or bachelor's degree in business administration or e-business/e-commerce, and finish with an MBA.
Pay: SimplyHired.com says the average entrepreneur earns $111,000.
Search for local and online Business degree programs.

5. Video Game Designer

Sharing their own mind-blowing ideas can quickly turn profitable for video game designers since imagining new worlds is what they do for a living.
Training: But imagining that brave new world is just the first step. Getting a degree in video game design or animation can help you share that vision with the rest of us.
Pay: Video game designers new to the job make about $46,000, according to AnimationArena.com.
Discover the magic behind video games with a Video Game Design program.

6. Forensic Accountant

Money laundering is a dirty business that requires smart, creative accountants to visualize how the white collar criminals do what they do.
Training: Math courses are the obvious choice here and you'll get plenty of those while getting a bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration. An associate's degree in accounting can help you land a more entry-level job.
Pay: Accountants and auditors earn $59,430, with the top ten percent clearing over $100,000, according to the Department of Labor.
Find online and local schools with Accounting programs.

7. Teacher

An active imagination and a flair for creativity helps teachers connect with students. And the more they inspire the students, the more the students return the favor.
Training: Teachers need an active imagination - and credentials. Thankfully, getting your education degree or teaching certificate has never been easier, thanks to a proliferation of online teaching programs.

Pay: Forbes magazine says new teachers made $49,000 in 2005-06, the most recent year for which data is available.
Find online Teaching degree programs now.

8. Chef

Among other things, inventiveness is a key to being a great chef. Great dishes won't make as big a splash if the artistic presentation isn't up to par.
Training: Prior experience in the industry may help you get your foot in the door. If you want to get formal training, look into getting a degree in culinary arts.
Pay: Chefs, and head cooks earn an average of $38,770 per year. That average goes up ($44,660 per year) for those in traveler accommodation.

Is it Time to Break Up With Your Job?

Is it Time to Break Up With Your Job?

3 signs that you should move on.
By Chris Kyle
Your relationship with your career is like any other relationship.
There will be good days and bad days. Ups and downs.
You may have to make compromises. You may get something unexpected in return.
But, unfortunately, sometimes, you just need to end things. Maybe it's best to just say goodbye and let it go.

Check out these three signs that it's time for a career break up, as well as ways to ensure that your next job is your dream job.

Break Up Sign #1: You're not really in love.
You need to be honest with yourself. This career relationship is one of the most important in your life.
Here's a test: When you're at a party, do you dread that moment when someone asks you: "So...what do you do?"
If you answered yes, you likely aren't a physical therapist. According to a University of Chicago employment survey, more than three quarters of physical therapists describe themselves as "very satisfied" at work. The only occupation to rank higher: the clergy.
Generally speaking, the happiest employees work in creative or helping professions:
Graphic designers, for example, use their artistic ability to create designs for posters, flyers, and websites. An associate's degree in graphic design can get you started.
If you're active and want to help others like you, massage therapy and fitness programs can give you the skills you need to go into business for yourself and ultimately find flexible full-time or part-time work.
Likewise, a teaching certificate program can help you trade your office cubicle for a classroom and the rewards of working with students.

Break Up Sign #2: You fight about money.
Parade magazine's 2008 survey on marriage found that money was the most common cause of marital fights.
So if your career is like a marriage, it makes sense that money can be an issue.
Depending on your interests and skill-set, here are several options that can help you get the financial aspects of your career relationship in order.
Consider earning a bachelor's degree in computer science. With an average starting salary of $61,407, it was ranked sixth in CNBC's highest-paid bachelor's degrees of 2009.
By earning your nursing degree, you'll be qualified to enter one of today's fastest-growing professions with an average starting salary of $54,900, according to a 2009 report from PayScale.com.
Finally, if you really want to get your financial life in order, consider a career in accounting or finance. You'll make good money in your career (average salary of $59,430) and be able to carry your skills over to your personal finances!

Break Up Sign #3: You feel trapped
A little break is healthy for any relationship - or any job. That's what weekends and vacations are for.
But if a little R&R isn't enough to cure you, you might be in a job that's not allowing you room for professional growth and advancement. Break up alert!
It's time to examine your goals to see if they are compatible with your current role
Maybe quitting or leaving your current job isn't feasible. Going to school online is one way to gain the skills you need to advance. By earning your master's of business administration, you'll really become corner office material.
If you really need a fresh start, try one of today's most interesting careers like video game design, forensics, massage therapy, or fashion design. These careers might seem a little crazy, but in relationships you have to follow your heart!

5 Things You Might Be Doing to Sabotage Your Relationship

5 Things You Might Be Doing to Sabotage Your Relationship

Could you be driving a perfectly good relationship onto a crash course? If you're participating any of the following five romance-foiling pitfalls, the answer is yes. Instead of steering toward failure, you can increase your chances for a long-term love affair by avoiding these common self-destructive practices.

1. You're frequently disappointed by your partner's gifts or gestures.

He might not have the greatest taste in jewelry or the latest fashions, and consequently his gifts may fall short of your stylish expectations. But in matters of the heart, it really is the thought that counts. If you want to stay in good favor, be thankful of the effort. After all, nothing discourages gift-giving or spontaneous romantic gestures like real or perceived criticism from the recipient.

2. You focus on his faults.

Even Mr. Right is not going to be perfect. In fact, far from it. A solid relationship is not about verbally beating his flaws out of him any more than it is about him expecting you to change into his “dream girl.” The secret is to learn to love even the things you hate about him—or at least recognize that they are to be embraced as part of the gloriously imperfect package. If you can accept his less savory qualities, he's more likely to be able to return the courtesy—and that's an indication of true compatibility. Besides, if it's the real deal, even his faults may grow into endearing idiosyncrasies.

3. You’re too available or have drastically changed your routine for him.

It might be tempting to spend all your free time with your significant other, especially during the “honeymoon stage.” But losing yourself in your loved one invariably results in backlash, which might include bickering or a loss of interest on his part. Schedule a girl's night out with your gal pals, don your hottest LBD and sky-scraping heels and leave your man on his own for the night. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Plus, maintaining your own identity and routine lets him know you that while you want him in your life, you don't need him—independence and confidence never stops being attractive.

4. You've stopped getting gleam for your dates…ever.

As a relationship becomes more serious, what you lose in excitement you make up for in intimacy. There's something to be said for a cozy movie night at home in which you wear his favorite T-shirt. However, taking the time to don your hottest date night dress or throwing on new lingerie, may breathe new life in your relationship and remind you both of your exciting beginning.

5. You discuss your relationship too much.

Once you've moved past the casual dating stage to full-on coupledom, it might be tempting to talk about your relationship more. Beware of discussing the ins and outs of your courtship, asking repeatedly if he is “OK” or obsessing on your relationship's rough edges. Not to say you shouldn't have an open communication, but make sure you're living in the moment and keeping things fun and light on a regular basis. After all, you get what you focus on.

Yoga and Weight Loss

Yoga and Weight Loss
By Margaret Furtado

Yoga... it means union of mind and body, and you probably know what sets it apart from stretching or calisthenics: the deep and distinct connection with your breath.

Did you know, though, that even gentle yoga can help with weight loss?
Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center showed that regular yoga practice helped:  prevent middle-age spread in people of healthy weight promote weight loss in those who were overweight Along with colleagues, Dr. Alan Kristal, a professor of epidemiology at the Hutchinson Cancer Center, developed a study that looked at yoga's effect on people's eating habits (and therefore on their weight). The researchers first developed a questionnaire or feedback form, which determined how mindful and focused each participant was while eating.
By filling out the questionnaire, participants could see when they were eating while distracted, eating despite already being full, or using food to mask emotional distress.  All the participants were physically active, following regimens that included walking for at least 90 minutes per week, and one group regularly practiced yoga.

Simply put, what the scientists found was that a consistent yoga practice was strongly associated with mindful eating. In fact, the study found that yoga--regardless of whether it was practiced vigorously or not--was the only physical activity consistently associated with attentive eating. So what's so great about mindful eating, you ask? The researchers explained that the people who ate mindfully were aware of why they were eating and were thus more apt to stop eating when they were full; that is, focused eaters tended to eat because they were hungry and not because they were trying to mask anxiety or depression. The yoga participants also weighed less, had lower body mass indexes, and were less likely to be obese than were the subjects who were not as mindful while eating. (In fact, the lower a participant's BMI was, the higher was his or her awareness rating on the questionnaire.) I've mentioned in the past that if you're eating mindfully, chances are you're eating more slowly. And if you're eating slowly and paying attention to what you're doing, you're going to be more apt to notice when you're feeling full--your brain gets the stomach's signal of fullness more promptly when you're paying attention.  This study is one more vote for including yoga in weight-loss programs, over and above its ability to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Here are a couple of resources I recommend to clients who ask me how they can get started with the practice of yoga:  To find a yoga class. Go to YogaFinder.com to find teachers in most nations of the world. The United States is listed as "USA," in the last column to the right.

To find yoga poses with specific therapeutic benefits. Go to the Yoga Journal Web site and run your cursor over the "Poses" heading at the top. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on "Therapeutic Focus." There you'll find a list of about 20 ailments or symptoms; click to see illustrated poses that might help alleviate them. (Note: Please also pay attention to any "Contraindications," which are also listed for each pose.)
Yoga DVDs for beginners. A DVD series with the unfortunate title of "Yoga for Dummies" happens to be a great teaching device. It shows plenty of modifications and alternative poses. Another good one for beginners is "AM/PM Yoga" from Gaiam, with Patricia Walden and Rodney Yee.

Which Classroom Skills Translate To The Job Market?

Which Classroom Skills Translate To The Job Market?
 
Boost your marketability by focusing on classroom skills that can get you hired.
By Tony Moton
 
A college degree, a polished resume, maybe even some new shoes...
Check, check, and check.
On the surface, this might be enough for a candidate to land the right job.
But in today's highly competitive hiring market, college students also need to consider which skills they learned in the classroom can help them nab the jobs they're after.
Cheri Butler, president-elect of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), highly recommends students pay close attention to how their college experiences play a part in the job hunt.
"I encourage them to find their own strengths," she says. "Then you can capitalize on these strengths."
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a sister organization of Butler's group, recently unveiled a list of the most desirable skills bosses seek in potential employees.

Check out the list to see how you can connect your classroom experiences to valuable job skills.
1. Communication Skills
Can you effectively share ideas with others? The ability to express thoughts simply and clearly ranks at the top of the list...and for good reason. Most careers require interpersonal interaction, and this skill goes a long way when it comes to being creative or solving a problem.
From Classroom to Career: Classroom presentations and group projects can help you develop valuable communication skills that could come in handy when selling products, running meetings, coordinating events, and developing new ideas.

Educational Programs That Build Communication Skills:
Human Resources
Business Management
Administrative Support
Child Care and Child Education
Marketing and Communications
Psychology and Counseling
Graphic Design and Multimedia

2. Analytical Skills
Are you detail oriented? A knack for solving problems and the ability to think logically rank high among preferred skills for applicants. Analytical skills are especially prized in professions where employees are expected to multi-task under pressure.
From Classroom to Career: Classes that promote analytical skills can help in finding solutions, analyzing data, and problem solving on-the-job.

Education Programs That Build Analytical Skills:
Technology Support
Computer Science
Database Technology
Network Administration
Programming and Software
Accounting and Finance


3. Teamwork Skills
Do you work well with others? Being able to work effectively in a group is important at almost every level of employment, from upper-level management on down.
From Classroom to Career: Think group projects are a waste? Think again. The skills you gain can help in managing organizations, supervising others, and delegating responsibility.

Education Programs That Build Teamwork Skills:
Nursing and Medical Assisting
Licensed Nurse and Registered Nurse
Criminal Justice and Security
Paralegal
Graphic Design and Multimedia
Restaurant Management

4. Technical Skills
Are you computer savvy? Jobs in the technical and science fields generally require workers who are able to keep pace with new technologies and gadgets. Being able to work with (and explain) complex systems or equipment is an invaluable tool for applicants in the eyes of employers.
From Classroom to Career: Developing technical skills in the classroom can help launch a career in technology or media. Talk to working pros or read industry web sites to make sure you're working with current tools. That way, you'll be able to hit the ground running from day one.

Education Programs That Build Technical Skills:
IT and Information Systems
Programming and Software
Network Administration
Graphic Design and Multimedia



5. Strong Work Ethic
Have you made special efforts to reach your goals? Applicants who have shown they can meet deadlines, remain committed to tasks, and handle pressure with grace are among the most highly sought after.
From Classroom to Career: Taking online classes or attending night school really requires dedication and time management skills, all things that will prove useful when you have a tight deadline to meet or need to motivate others.

Educational Programs That Build A Strong Work Ethic:
Health Care Administration
General Nursing and Medical
Business Management
Business Administration
Administrative Support
Education and Teaching