Search 4 career colleges

We’ve all heard people say that job hunting is like a job in and of itself. And, from what I’ve heard, it can be a full-time nightmare. But, we’ve all seen people who decide to change jobs and then manage to land a great position within a few weeks.

So, this made me start to wonder … why is it so easy for some people to find a job? And why do so many others have to send out countless resumes and feel rejected for months before they can find employment? Why do some people who are just as qualified as their “lucky-in-job-hunting” counterparts struggle to find jobs?

What are they doing differently?

So, I decided to take a look at what really works for people. I came up with a few job hunting tips based on what I found.

Networking: This was a big “light-bulb” moment for me. After talking with a few friends and doing some really unofficial research (mostly comprised of searching the web), I realized that people who are able to find jobs really quickly usually already have a solid network in place.

Everyone knows the old adage “it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” It makes sense that people who keep in touch with other professionals automatically have a leg-up when it comes job hunting. Think about it. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could put your resume directly into the right hands?

D.I.Y. Networking
So, what about people who don’t already have a million strings to pull? The good news is that there are actually a lot of resources for creating a network of people who can potentially help you find a job.

Don’t discount your friends and family! Tell them you’re looking for a job. They know people, who know people. And, they care about you, so they’ll be likely to help you get the word out. Plus, a lot of jobs aren’t ever advertised – the only way you’ll ever hear about them is through word-of-mouth!

Join professional organizations. Lots of professions have groups that meet to network. You’ll have the chance to develop relationships with the right people who already hold jobs in companies you might be interested in joining. These organizations usually also provide helpful employment information about job listings and job placement.

Use Internet resources! Lots of job search sites have message boards. Get into conversations with other people who are trying to find employment. You can exchange job hunting tips and connect with a community of people who are all invested in a search similar to your own. There are also social networking sites like LinkedIn.com that specifically work toward connecting professionals. Use these resources – I know they’ve worked for a lot of people. You can also easily maintain these connections even after you’ve found a job. That way you’ll be one of those people who have a network in place when you need one.

Talk to schools in your area. There are probably lots of people at your college, or even your high school who can point you in the right direction. These folks know a lot of people in the community, so you might be able to tap into their network. You might find a career placement advisor who can help you find a job. You might also get advice on a program of study that could open a lot of doors for your future employment opportunities.

I know that there are tons of other effective job hunting methods out there. I’m interested in knowing what works for people. If you’ve got any job hunting advice you think might help people out, let us know!

In the time you’ve spent looking for an educational opportunity to follow high school, you may have run across a lot of choices – from community colleges to universities. Another option is the career college – sometimes called a technical or vocational college.

The origin of the career college goes back over 100 years. Back then, not many people had a chance to go to a university. And many universities were exclusive to men. A career college offered people of different social classes (including women!) a chance to learn specific business skills that weren’t taught in school.

The first career college, according to many historians, was Foster’s Commercial School of Boston. Founded by Benjamin Franklin Foster in 1832, it was the first established school in the United States to specialize in training for commerce. By the mid-1830s, there were 15-20 private institutions in existence teaching business classes. The oldest private career school in continual operation in the U.S. is Duff’s Mercantile College (now called Everest Institute). Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1841.

A career college focuses on teaching skills that are specifically required for a particular job. Whereas in a college or university you have core classes required for all students (such as freshman composition), career training programs usually include only courses pertaining to your field of study. In the early days, schools focused on business skills, such as accounting. Nowadays, career colleges may target information technology, healthcare, trade skills or culinary arts. Some schools offer a blend of programs, so you can choose what kind of program you want or even a specialization.

When you graduate from a career college program, you may be awarded with a diploma, a certificate or even a degree. The outcome depends on the program itself. Usually, career training is designed to get students into the workforce as quickly as possible. These programs result in a diploma or certificate. A career training program that offers an Associate or Bachelor’s degree usually takes longer but offers a more well-rounded education.

To decide if a career college is the right choice for you, think about the kind of work you hope to do and examine the educational requirements for that job. You’d be surprised at the number of jobs that don’t require a 2- or 4-year degree. If you are not interested in a traditional college education and your career path has training available, a career college might be right for you!

Searching for jobs can be a whole lot easier when employers are already searching for you. Jobs in healthcare make up at least 5 of the fastest growing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics November 2007 Monthly Labor Review. That means that getting training in health care could take the ache out of your future job search. Check out the careers below that made the cut.

Dental assistants
What they do:
Dental assistants work closely with both dentists and patients. They perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties under the supervision of dentists. Assistants make patients comfortable and prepare them for treatment.

Getting the training you’ll need:
For the best opportunities, you can get training in dental assisting programs offered by community colleges, junior colleges, career colleges, trade schools, technical institutes, or the Armed Forces. Most dental assisting programs take 1 year or less to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma.

Dental hygienist
What they do:
Dental hygienists educate patients on good oral hygiene. On the job, they remove soft and hard deposits from teeth and provide preventive dental care. They examine patients’ teeth and gums, and record any diseases or abnormalities.

Getting the training you’ll need:
Most dental hygiene programs grant an associate degree, although some also offer a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. A minimum of an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene is usually required for practice in a private dental office. Many career colleges offer dental hygienist programs.

Medical Assistants
What they do:
Medical assistants keep the offices of health practitioners running smoothly. They usually perform administrative and clinical tasks. However, the duties of medical assistants vary according to their place of employment.

Getting the training you’ll need:
Postsecondary medical assisting programs are offered in vocational-technical high schools, career colleges, postsecondary vocational schools, and community and junior colleges. Programs lasting 1 year usually result in a certificate or diploma. Training in 2-year programs usually results in an associate degree.

Pharmacy technicians
What they do:
Pharmacy technicians work closely with licensed Pharmacists to provide medication and other health care products to patients. The duties performed by pharmacy technicians working in retail or mail-order pharmacies vary according to state rules and regulations.

Getting the training you’ll need:
Although most pharmacy technicians continue to receive informal on-the-job training, employers favor those who have completed formal training and certification. Many career colleges and other postsecondary schools offer training programs leading to certification.

Physical therapist assistants
What they do:
Physical therapist assistants work closely with physical therapists and patients. Under the supervision of a physical therapist, they help provide treatment that improves patient mobility, relieves pain, and prevents or lessens physical disabilities of patients.

Getting the training you’ll need:
In many states, physical therapist assistants are required by law to hold at least an associate degree. Career colleges, community colleges and other postsecondary vocational schools offer programs that include both academic and hands-on clinical experience.

How can you know for certain what you want to be when you “grow up”? I know I have been asking myself this since I graduated. How can I choose the right college? Is there even such a thing as choosing a college that is right for me? These are the questions that run through my mind every day. And I have all of the resources I need to figure out the age-old question: Where should I go to college?

With the invention of the Internet, the Worldwide Web has been used as the greatest research tool out there. I can look up college majors and school programs that will fit my needs. I have focused on career colleges. I want to learn a trade that is both rewarding and satisfying. Becoming a chef has been a dream of mine for years. And now I can turn my passion for food into an exciting career.

I don’t have to worry about dragging out my college career for 4 years. There are so many programs out there where I can earn my Associate degree and get to cooking!
The path for me was easy to choose, but for some it might be more difficult. You can learn more about career colleges at a number of web sites. I went to Search4CareerColleges.com, and I found a career college in my area that fits my needs.