Career Exploration for a Rewarding Career

If you are a recent or soon to be high school or college graduate, you are probably scratching your head wondering what to do next. If you are a high school graduate, you may be interested in exploring different majors so that you can decide, which college, university, or vocational school is right for you. If you are a college graduate, you may be interested in exploring the many different types of jobs that are available to you now that you have earned your degree.

Making the right decision about your education or job choice is the first step toward a rewarding career. You can save yourself years of unhappiness by taking the time to research the different types of careers that are available to you, the economic outlook for those careers, the salary that you can expect to earn, and the advancement potential you can anticipate.

With tens of millions of jobs to choose from, planning your career can be a long and difficult road without the proper tools to research your career and education options. As a high school graduate, if you make the wrong choice about your major you could spend years earning a degree only to discover it was not the right career path for you. As a college graduate, if you make the wrong choice about your career you could spend years feeling trapped in a job because it was not the right career trajectory for you.

As an experienced career coach and resume writer, I have clients of all ages and career levels contact me to help them navigate their job search. Unbelievably, approximately 50% of these clients do not have a clear-cut job target, nor do they know that there are resources to assist them in making this very important decision. As a result, I provide my clients with the tools and resources they need to identify their career objective before we begin mapping out a strategy to help them get there.

With graduation time creeping around again, I wanted to share a few online resources with you to help you find the career that might suit you best. The Big Book of Jobs published by GM Career Books and the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics says, "The key to a successful career search is to balance what you can do and what you want to do versus what employers expect in specific career fields. One way that most of us reconcile this dilemma is by first conducting an extensive self-assessment and then researching careers that match your personal profile". I could not have said it better myself. Below are a few of the free self-assessment resources that are available online.

1. The O*NET Computerized Interest Profiler is a vocational interest assessment instrument administered online that fosters career awareness and provides a window to the world of work via the 800+ occupations within O*NET Online.

2. O*NET Work Importance Locator is a self-assessment career exploration tool that allows people to identify occupations that they may find satisfying based on the similarity between their work values and the characteristics of the occupations.

3. The O*NET Ability Profiler is a career exploration tool that helps clients plan their work lives. Individuals can use the results to identify areas for which they might want to receive more training and education as well as identify occupations that fit their strengths.

Once you have completed a comprehensive self-assessment, you can begin researching careers that match your personal profile. Below are a few career exploration tools that are available online.

1. Inside Jobs is a free online resource dedicated to career exploration. There are thousands of job descriptions to help people identify what they want to do in their career. The job descriptions are fun to read and include salary ranges and work environment information as well as information on education and training needed to enter a specific job field. Users can also explore common career trajectories for a variety of job fields. The interactive media components of the website allow users to watch informational videos with real people sharing their personal experience about their career choice.

2. O*NET Online is an interactive application for career exploration and job analysis. The O*NET database contains information on hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors, which is available to the public at no cost, and is continually updated by surveying a broad range of workers from each occupation.

Even with the multitude of career exploration tools available, you may still find it difficult to make a career decision. As you peruse job descriptions that match your personal profile, make a list of the likes and dislikes of the jobs you have eliminated as well as a list of the likes and dislikes of the jobs that are still in contention.

For the positions that are still in contention, make notes about what makes these types of jobs attractive to you such as skill sets, opportunity for advancement and salary ranges. Think about other types of careers that share these same features and refine your research efforts to focus solely on these career fields until you reach a decision.

If you are still undecided about your career choice, consider setting-up informational interviews with professionals in your fields of interest to learn more about what the jobs entail and what you might expect should you decide on a career in one of those fields.

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Reaching Your Goals With Career Builders

These days, you can hardly achieve any exciting career advancement without taking career builders. It is nearly impossible to just walk into an interview or ask for a promotion without bringing any proof of you value. A career builder is what can help you gain or increase that value. With a good career builder you will definitely become an employer head swinger.

Career builders can take a number of forms, and the usual type include training, seminars, workshops and continuing education. If you willingly and actively participate in these activities, you are sure to get an edge over others.

If you are looking for a job, you may simply document (with evidence) in your resume the skills you acquired in the builder programs. These might be enough to convince your future employer of you value and you do not even need to be interviewed. In case you are currently employed, taking a career building program can help improve the package of skills and services that you can offer to your employer. Whether it is an improved work attitude or new skills, the employer will definitely notice you more.

When you inform your employer of your participation in career building programs, you are not only giving a hint that you have become more capable, skilled and updated in your field. You are also giving an indication that you are committed and eager to advance your skills and knowledge for the benefit of the company. An employer loves no one better than an employee who is always open to change and improvement.

Although the benefits of participating in career building programs are obvious, some people have trouble choosing the right ones to take. After all, there are a good number and various types of programs out there. You do not want to get stuck taking the wrong one. How can you tell which program is good and appropriate for you?

The best way to discover the best career building programs for you is to ask a career counselor for his opinion. Career counselors have been especially trained to find out the work strengths and weaknesses of a person. This will allow him to work with you to create a tailor-suited career planning for you.

Some people may require a gradual, long-term continuing education program. For others though, a less demanding form may achieve similar results in career advancement. The latter may include a one-day seminar on writing business letters, resumes and corporate memos, or some short courses about how to dress properly, how to speak in public and how to make simple presentations. Sometimes, a programs may help you achieve some improvement without actually being known as a career builder, such as seminars that teach you the simplest day-to-day business basics.

You can never be too confident about bagging a job or position that you want. Often, the right career builders are simply the key, and your open-mindedness about participating in these programs can spell the difference between career failure and success. So, get yourself ready for opportunities that will help your career development in the long run.

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Career Advice: How're You Doing On Your Job?

Career Advice: How Are You Doing On Your Job?

How are you doing on your career path? Far too many individuals have to reply: "I don't really know; okay I guess."

Career success requires answers.

Answers are not available when employers don't have feedback systems; many who do, don't use them effectively. The result: a huge problem for employers as well as employees.

Common sense says every organization ought to have in place an organized system for evaluating employees and letting them know where they stand on their career path.

How can people build their strengths and correct their shortcomings if they don't know what they are? How can they do their best work if they don't understand what is expected of them?

Five Career Tips For Effective Feedback

An effective feedback system includes these five points:

1. The manager and the employee discuss and agree on specific duties and expectations (i.e., goals).

2. Both parties agree on how achievements will be measured and rewarded. This step includes an understanding as to when and how the measurements will be taken.

3.The manager provides mid-course checkups and corrections on a regular basis.

4. At the end of a predetermined period, performance is appraised against the agreed-upon standards of measurements. Both positive and negative results are discussed candidly.

5. Career rewards are given according to achievements of agreed upon goals. If there are problems with performance, the employee should be advised of improvements that must be made, within a given time frame, along with an explanation of what will happen if corrections are not made.

Put the results of this five-step process in writing.

Career Tip: Performance Feedback Is Not An Easy Process

There is nothing easy about this process. However, if executed properly, it doesn't have to be painful. In fact, it can be a time of renewal and improvement.

This all makes common sense, doesn't it?

Then, why don't more companies have evaluation systems in place? Why don't those who have them do a better job executing them?

First, strange as it may seem, managers often don't have a clear enough picture of their employees' duties, or how they will be gaged, to put them in writing.

Frequently, managers don't take the time to evaluate their employees and help them when they drift off course. Instead. They wait until it is crisis time.

Career Tip: Praise and Constructive Criticism

An effective system for evaluating performance includes both praise and constructive criticism presented in an even-handed manner.

Achievements should be rewarded according to set standards. However, it is a mistake to reward incompetence. When employees receive awards, even after failing to reach their goals, the system begins to fall apart and failure becomes acceptable.

If an employee is fouling up, he should be told. It is unfair and unwise for the manager to ignore the small mistakes until a major one occurs and a major confrontation takes place.

Career Tip: Ask For Regular Appraisals

What should you do if your employer doesn't have a stated evaluation system or has one and lets it languish?

Screw up your courage and act.

If you are in a position to do so, take a lead in instituting an appraisal system. If you can't do that, at least suggest to your boss that the organization would be better off if it had a system for evaluating and rewarding all of its employees.

Even if there's not a system for all employees, ask your boss for an individual performance appraisal... pluses and minuses.

Tell the boss you want to learn and grow. Explain that the only way you can advance toward your career goals is to know what you are doing right and wrong and receive career coaching accordingly.

If your boss has his wits about him and is at all interested in his own career, he will recognize that you are exhibiting strength and ambition, not weakness, when you speak up on this vital issue. He will appreciate that you are trying to learn more, do more and earn more.

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The Ever Changing World of Careers

You can choose Your career
Are you one of the many people who don't feel pleasant with your current job or career? Have you worked in one career for many years, and found yourself burned out? Or do you feel that your life is not what it could be, because you can't take out your full potential in the job or career you are in? Changing careers and jobs is indeed an issue that concerns many of us. What's really amazing me is the fact that many people - myself included - are continuing in the same job or career year after year, even though they are sick and tired of it and really want to quit their jobs and start up with something else. I think this grounding is a part of human nature: it's a comfort zone that is difficult to climb out of, using arguments as "I know the job I have, but not which job I'll get."
Before I finally took the step that I had considered for years; quit my job and starting a new career I did like most people; I waited so long that I was almost forced out of my job because of sickness and tiredness. But when I first took this step and started in my new career, more and more I realized that this job change should have been done much earlier. Like many other people who are establishing work at home careers or jobs, I had to admit that this was my dream job.
Even if you're forced to start a new career, you decide which
I was one of the lucky guys who chosed to change my career. But not every worker is that lucky. In this ever changing world, and especially after the internet came - the job market has changed tremendously. Now the rule is change and stability is an exception. Many work tasks are obsolete because automation has taken over, which means that many jobs are not needed any longer. This forces many working people to find another job or career. Sometimes the alternative to a career change is welfare, and who wants that? The turmoil of the 'new economy' job market creates new jobs every day, while old jobs are falling into abandonment. What you can choose however, is which career or job you want to change to.
Values impact career choices
Another trend in the job market is that the need of self realization and prioritizing soft values seem to be knocking out the importance of money as a measurement of life quality. This can be preferences of staying home more with partner and kids, more leisure time, etc. As people grow older they often choose to focus on other things in life than job and career, such as time to spend at home with spouse, kids and more leisure time.
Follow your career dreams
Everybody should be able to pick the career or job they want, thus taking out their fullest potential for the benefit of themselves and others. Everybody should follow their inner voice and do what they always have wanted to do in their lives. To jump info a new job or career is a challenge - at least in the beginning. You have to go through a period of uncertainty or insecurity. You have no guarantees for anything in life, however. And the fact is that you have no guarantee to keep a job or career either, so why not look upon this fantastic opportunity to start a new career as an exciting and joyful challenge? There are many sources ready to support you during the career transmission, like career coaches, outplacement services and career counselling in general. Get yourself a career or job mentor, this person can be the most valuable person you ever get in touch with.
When I quit my job as a business consultant and started to work at home as an internet publisher, it didn't take me much time to realize that I had made the best choice ever. I think the separation of job and private life is artificial; there is only one life. Work is a part of it, and joy is a part of it too. For me, my work is a joy and joy is what life should be for all of us.

Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website 1st-Self_Improvement.net. Terje is a Sociologist who enjoys contributing to the personal growth and happiness of others. He tries to accomplish this by writing about self improvement issues from his own experience and knowledge. For example, development of careers for self realization and work at home careers for achieving financial independency.

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Teach Overseas As A Career Stepping Stone

Teaching abroad is a wonderful and challenging experience that many educators take advantage of in order to broaden their cultural horizons and immerse themselves in a foreign culture, but it has other advantages as well. While many teachers eventually return to the United States to continue their careers, others find that they love their new locale so much they opt to continue to teach in their adoptive country. For others, there are a variety of other career opportunities available that they can take advantage of. Some educators teach overseas as a stepping stone to a high-powered corporate position, government role or diplomatic post.
The Many Career Benefits Of Overseas Education Jobs
Why are these teachers in such high demand by international businesses? Because they've acquired a very specific set of skills that make them ideal employees for branch offices in other countries, including:
• Cultural awareness. Sensitivity to the moral and social mores of another country is critical to successfully conducting business.
• Local awareness. Educators become intimately aware of their surroundings and are able to navigate the confusing streets of their new city quickly and safely, and instruct other expatriates how to do the same.
• Language fluency. No one can speak a foreign language as fluently as a native speaker, but individuals who have been immersed in a particular language for months at a time come in a close second.
• Diplomacy. Experienced teachers have navigated the complexities of a new language, new rules and regulations for teaching and the political wilderness of international school systems, and can teach those skills to individuals in the business and diplomatic worlds.
Overseas Career Opportunities Abound If You Like To Teach
What kinds of genuine job opportunities are available for instructors who have lived overseas? The most obvious is often a position within the organization they've been teaching for. Once the initial contract is over, the hiring company or school system may ask you to stay on in an advisory capacity or to teach others how to instruct students in foreign school systems. International businesses often hire teachers to teach their employees who aren't yet fluent in a foreign language but who need to be able to navigate their way through business deals with international clients or companies.
Cultural exchange programs often hire educators to be facilitators or contact points for students who are studying abroad. And the tourism industries in various countries often hire United States citizens who can successfully lead, educate and entertain foreign tourists in two or more languages. Government organizations such as the United Nations always need experienced individuals to represent them in foreign ports as translators, cultural liaisons and more.
Don't forget that there are thousands of Americans living and working overseas who need a nanny or au pair to assist with child care and early education. Individuals working for these high-powered executives and their families often become a part of the family who are able to take advantage of many opportunities to travel to surrounding countries on vacations and take advantage of other personal perks.
Whether you want to continue to teach indefinitely or you're looking for a way to improve your international resume, teaching in foreign countries is a great way to get started.

Many AIDC educators teach in Abu Dhabi before moving on to exciting opportunities with international companies in the United Arab Emirates and other prosperous Middle Eastern countries. To discover current opportunities, visit the AIDC website.

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Career Counselling - Finding a Career Suited to Your Personality

The most important aspect of finding your dream job is to look for the job or career that is matched and compatible with your personality. This may sound relatively simple, however often we often don't have a clue about what different careers really involve and too often people find themselves "ending up" in a career without ever having made a conscious choice to do so. Resources for career counseling, including career tests, can be a great help in giving people the power to make a career decisions. So what are some of the resources available to people and how can they be most effectively used to achieve outcomes?

Job Search Websites and Databases

The Internet is an exhaustive information source that allows us to select from an ever growing list of options. Most online resources help job seekers find a job based on their personal preference and skill. Unfortunately, as often happens candidates are forced to search for and take jobs that meet their requirements at that point in time based on factors such as salary, location, and often simply what jobs are on offer at the time. If not careful however, once a job seeker takes a job or role based on such factors however, they have often unknowingly move further from achieving their true career goal. Job seekers using this methods to decide on a career may eventually feel they have found themselves ultimately unhappy and in a job or career that is not suited to their personality or to them.

Identifying What Is "Really" Important To You

A critical aspect of finding a career well matched to your personality is to understand what is important to you. It sounds simple but surprisingly few job seekers actually do this. There are a few ways one can do this. You could make a list of all the things you think are important to you in a job and then place them in order from most important to least important. You could then access a jobs database and review the many thousands of jobs and careers in order to locate those that suitably match your list of priorities. While this process could potentially be successful, it would be extremely time consuming and fortunately there are more effective and time efficient ways of going about this process. One such method is for job seekers to take a career test, which when completed will review all their job preferences and personality traits before providing them with a list of all the jobs suited to their personality. Most quality tests, such as the Strong Interest Inventory (SIMI) also go a step further and provide a good list of detailed action steps to guide the person in taking the necessary steps to move toward achieving their desired career.

Ensure you use a quality Career Test only

Career tests aren't career tests, just as "oils ain't oils". What is meant by this is that there are many career tests or "Quizzes" on the internet today which, while fun to play around with, are along way from quality career advice and are often very unreliable. In order to use a career test to help you find a job suited to your personality you need to find a test you can rely on. This is easier said than done but the only reliable or trusted way of doing this is to select a career test or questionnaire which is backed by solid research data and one which hasn't just been created by the webmaster of the site you are visiting. For example, as mentioned above the Strong Interest Inventory is a career test which has been used by professional career counselors around the world for many years, and has had many revisions and updates. It is based on years of research and its developers publish its reliability and validity data which is publicly available. Free career tests and quizzes on the internet may make many claims, but when was the last time you saw one that actually provided you with concrete reliability and validity figures and measures?

You can take the Strong Interest Inventory online at at CareerSense.com.au for a very affordable price. They will provide you with a comprehensive report reviewed by a registered psychologist and careers counselor. You can also have a one on one phone interview with a psychologist or careers counselor to discuss your results. Benefits - By taking a quality career test such as the at The Strong Interest Inventory (SIMI) you will be taking the first step on the path to finding your dream job. The Strong Interest Inventory (SIMI) report will give you a clear list of action step you can follow to move you towards being able to get your dream job. It will also give you some great insight into your personality and what is important to you in a job. Nathan Jones is the Director of CareerSense.com.au. He is a registered psychologist with extensive experience working in the field of career counseling and support. In 2009 he founded CareerSense.com.au which provides quality and affordable online career and personality testing. Career Sense use only the most respected and scientifically validated testing instruments and professional career counseling services. Visit Career Sense today for a career or personality test at CareerSense.com.au.

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Best and Worst Careers in Buffalo

Buffalo, New York is said to be going uphill as far as employment opportunity is concerned. There are several highly professional careers that can be pursued in Buffalo. There are many Buffalo careers that are still in demand if your meet the requirements.

Medical careers right now are the best Buffalo careers to try to get into. A registered nurse is right on top of the list for the best career in Buffalo. Medical and health service managers are also very much in demand as some of the best careers in Buffalo. If you get a career such as this in Buffalo, your salary could be well over $95,000 depending upon your past experience in this field.

The highest paying careers in Buffalo in the medical profession range from dentistry to psychiatry with earnings that could top $200,000 per year.

Getting a great career in Buffalo could also mean finding it in one of the many colleges and universities located in the area. There are actually seven times more university professors located in Buffalo than in most other large cities in the United States. The average college educator can earn at least $75,000 or more per year. The more experience in education that you have, the higher your salary will start out. You can also take advantage of a baking career with the many baking schools available in Buffalo.

High tech firms and business services have added many jobs over the recent years that has opened up career opportunities in Buffalo. Thousands of new jobs have been created by these companies.

There are also Buffalo careers that are considered the worst in the city. One example of a bad career in Buffalo is a retail career. Even if you want to work in retail to help get you some income to continue with school, it's still very difficult to get such a job. You will find if you apply at many retail stores either online or in person that you won't ever get a call. This is true even if the store has a "help wanted" sign in the front window. Another career that is hard to get in Buffalo is a pizza place or a fast food restaurant. Buffalo seems to require new applicants to have experience in these positions before they will hire. However, there are many such restaurants in other cities who will be happy to hire someone and train them to do the work.

The economy changes all the time, and this career information can also change in just a few months. The best idea is to find out the best choices when and if you would decide to relocate to Buffalo.

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Career Opportunities and Career Selection

Today's world offers a vast array of exciting career opportunities in a wide range of challenging fields for students. In this highly competitive world, in order to get an edge in the rat race one has to select a career by choice and not by chance.

In a recent survey conducted by Montana Career Resource Network, it's found that only 41% of adults report that they started their career through a conscious choice or plan and 69 % say that if they were starting over, they would try to get more information about the job and career options open to them than they got the first time. This clears suggests that the majority of people are leaving their career decisions, at least partially, to chance.

Economic self-sufficiency is one goal most of us want to achieve which is nothing but to have a job that earns enough to own a house, pay the bills and have some for saving. This may not seem to be an unachievable dream. However to attain this one has to have satisfaction in what he or she does. From the existing to the new, there are vast and wide career opportunities one can choose from, but "Are you really doing what you wanted to do?" is the question one has to ask. To secure a satisfied job, after a certain level of education "Career Planning" is very important. Successful people have always opted for what they want to do.

Career Planning - A Step by Step Process

Basically, planning your career begins after the secondary level of education and continues throughout your life. Pre-planning helps to evaluate you personality and achieve your educational targets effectively. In fact today's focus is on acquiring multiple skills and not just on specialization. With proper career planning one achieve great results and secure safe future.

AA€¢ Choosing the right direction - To begin the journey, first choose the right direction. It starts with discovering the essential "you": Ask yourself "Who am I and what do I want to do? Once you unmask, your journey continues with a specific career goal that allows you to make good use of your talents. In fact, by taking a talent-based approach path you keep heading towards the right career and move on to work as this journey never ends because the career that you chose itself is all about change, learning, growth and development.
AA€¢ Measure hidden traits - When trying to figure out what you really wanted to, traits such as personality, attitude, intelligence and beliefs are some important characteristics which has to measured and assessed. One way to gather this information is through the online psychometric tests which help to measure interests, personality, and aptitude. These tests provide objective data for otherwise subjective measurements. For example if you want determine a person's ability to perform certain tasks, online aptitude tests can be used. Likewise psychometric tests can be used to make personnel and career-related assessments. In short a good way of objectively assessing people's "hidden" traits.
AA€¢ Speak/Listen to Experts - Goals have some things in common which are specific, attainable, realistic, and timely. There are thousands of careers to choose from; hence to put together all these elements in a career plan, clear information is needed. Seeking advice from career experts can help narrow down the career choices most suited to individual. Teacher, professionals, career guidance websites, can also guide you to a secure career path.
AA€¢ Avoid opting for a forced career option - A pilot's child need not necessarily aim to become a pilot, simply because his father was a pilot. A forced career of this kind will later may lead to dissatisfaction at later part of the life. No doubt, parents have some wishes, but you have your own too. In such scenarios, it's good to take guidance from an educational counselor to get better guidance towards new dimensional fields as well.

Assess People pioneered the concept of online career planning by launching CAREER WISE, aimed at high school students in late 2001, and has offered this service to a large number of schools across the country since the launch. CAREER WISE is a programmed that has been validated by eminent experts in Psychology. For more information, log on to: http://www.careerwise.in

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Social Worker Career

Have you ever seen a beggar who wore worn out clothes, smelt very stinking and was picking up leftover food to fill up his starving stomach from an extremely dirty and smelly dump area where you rarely pass by? Have you ever known a family with violence problems? The drunken husband is always going to bars and casinos. He then comes home to hit his poor innocent wife and children in order to get more and more money again and again. He does not care about the family at all and in his mind is all about wine and gambling. Have you heard a group of young gangsters hijacking a brand new sport car and driving crazily by hitting and destroying public infrastructure until the gas had been run out of? They intended to put the car on fire but fortunately the car owner and police arrived on time.

A premature boy always plays truant to join his gangster brothers to fight another group of gangsters so that they could collect private security fees and control that area, without any knowledge of his parents at all. An old lady used her young grandson's toy gun to rub a bank because she was neglected by her children who spent most of their time making money, and ended up in jail.

These countless social disorder and abnormalities make our world an unpleasant place to live. We know these existing matters, but who is willing to help and care about these? All of these factors contribute the idea of a social worker as a professional to improve and enhance a harmonious and happy living environment to the world. Social worker is considered as one of the most generous professions in the world.

Social work was in fact originated since the beginning of the human ancient civilization because the human have a nature of pity and willingness to help other from their instinct. If we realize other are in troubles, we would naturally want to assist. This instinct is passed by one generation to anther in our genre endlessly. At first social work is by means of individual or group of individuals who were very wealthy and willing to donate their personal property and money to improve the poor€™s life, and then later volunteers were introduced. They were willing to spend some time to help the work of the poor people without collecting any money. Most volunteers were church missionaries due to religion beliefs. However, the emergence of social worker was introduced by Academic SimonN.Patten in 1900. These workers were not considered as professionals since they weren't specially trained and educated. They did not work for money and they spent only some time for related tasks. The force was fulfilled the need of the poor people in that time.
However, along with rapid development of human society, people were not hungry for just materials, but he also desired for comforting and solving the problems of their minds. While social problems developed more and more complicated, the help from personal and group of individuals did not fulfill the hunger of more materials and mind cure in the revolution of society. All these factors contribute the ideal of social worker becoming real professionals. These professionals are required not only to solve the surface of the problems, but also to find the origin of problems, and prevent problems happen. The idea of making these workers real professionals were introduced in western countries in late nth and early nth century.

Social worker is a trained and experienced professional whose job is to increase the quality of life, solve the social problems such as violence in the families and communities, drugs addiction or alcoholism, child abuse, human trafficking, racism in the communities, poor living conditions, health problems, and gambling addiction etc, so that our society is good to live, harmonious, and perfect. Everyone will live a more comfortable and happy life.

Social worker contributes really a lot to our society. He or she helps adopted children to find better families to live. He or she assists poor families to find ways of making money. They prevent young wife and her children from being hit by her cruel and drunken husband by persuading, comforting or warning. In case the husband is still the same and acts more badly. They could help applying support and protection from the local authority to the victims. He or she guides and makes naughty young teenagers not to play truant by directly cooperating with their teachers, parents and the students themselves. After being educated, the students in most cases perform normal levels of study, personal knowledge, and behavior as other. If there are special students either physically or mentally handicapped, the social worker will cope with special teachers to help the kids to get as best as they could. There are a lot of handicapped people around the world could live happily as ordinary people through this help. He or she educates the community about heath, and self-protection in case of natural disasters. They seek for public donation for the homeless, the abandoned children and isolated old people. Some of them walk homes by homes to collect donation from generous people. This action is repeated endlessly. Although it is a difficult task, they still always put their smiles on since in their heart, their clients are as important as their relatives and families. They are keen to see the children's growth from children to adults and from adults to good citizens. They also cooperate with NGO either nationally or internationally to obtain funds to improve the communities.

Social work is a task to help other for a joy. If we say a doctor's main job is to cure people's physical or mental diseases, social worker's main task is to help those who meet problems and difficulties in lives. Unselfishness and willingness to find solutions of social problems is the best description of the career, making it the most admirable job in human modern civilization and a must profession in the society.

Social work is a professional. No matter who their clients are, either is a person or group of people it requires social work professional knowledge and skills in order to deal with their clients and find the best way solutions. Therefore the profession requires at least a bachelor degree and for some senior posts requires at least master degree.

Being a social worker requires good work ethic. No matter who their clients are, social worker will cope with them all to find solutions to their problems. He or she should improve their clients' lives and not spoil them for money. He or she needs also be knowledgeable about local communities' law, culture and customs in order to find the best ways for their customers to be accepted by the communities. The job is also supposed to have abilities to play different kinds of roles. Their roles could be direct or indirect problems solvers, and social rule directors etc. They need abilities to communicate and deal with all related personnel. They also need to have really good relationship with their clients to make the services work. He or she needs to process abilities to critical thinking and creativity to solve the social problems.

Social worker works the hardest but earns only moderately if comparing to other professionals. They work from Monday to Friday normally but most of time they are supposed to continue work at weekends when it is required. Most of them travel a lot either going to meet clients or for job related task such as meetings, seminars, educational programs, or seeking for donations. They spend more time with their clients than with their families. They regard their clients as their relatives and friends. They consider helping others as the main goal of the profession, not the salary. The average social worker salary is supposed to reach 53000$ a year in USA. The highest paid salary is expected to receive 65000$ a year. If we compare it to other normal professions, it is only moderate.

All in all, social worker means a lot to our society and the world. They are working hard and endlessly to cure our society problems. They are like candles which burn themselves and give light to us. Who could deny it is not one of the kindest jobs in the world?

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Disclaimer Policy

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by us. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

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Get To Know Which Career Is Right For You

These days, there are so many different fields as far as education is concerned. Apart from the professional courses like Engineering and Medicine, there are other courses like arts, hotel management and so on. Although it is difficult to make a decision regarding careers early on in life, that is what we are all expected to do. So, it could be that sometimes you feel that the career you chose was not really the right decision. What do you do then?
These days, there are some considerate experts who have set up sites online that will explain in great detail everything there is to know about the different careers available to students from different fields. No matter what you are choosing to study, you will have adequate counselling so you can make an informed decision, and be sure of what you are doing.
First of all, there is a basis process to assess the interests of the student. This will give you an idea as to what fields you are willing to choose as a career. Then there are sixteen pre or post tests, all of which will give their results for print out and also will store these results in the data base, so teachers can access these results and take detailed report print outs.
The total number of careers available to students all over the world can be basically divided into sixteen segments, or clusters. For example, if your interests lie in farm products, vegetable and fruits or related fields, then there is a cluster called Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Otherwise, if you are looking at restaurants or hotels, then there is a Hospitality and Tourism sector. If you like production, manufacturing processes and the like, then there is the Manufacturing Technologies sector. You can explore all sixteen clusters in detail, and then decide which seems most appropriate for your taste and temperament.
In case you are not the type to adhere to a cluster, and you are looking for counselling regarding a specific career, these sites have a section dedicated to individual careers as well. For example, there are farm managers, dairy farmers, forestry technicians, agricultural scientists, veterinarians and so on. All these careers have their own dynamics, and you can learn about the nuances and the hardships involved before committing yourself to any of them.
Apart from these clusters and career options, there are other skills that you need when you get a job. There are CDs with reading levels of different grades, as per your comfort. There are interactive and dynamic Power Points that students can use in order to get the skills that are necessary to find a job, and execute a job search successfully. There are tips on looking for a job, preparing a resume, the appearance in an interview and so on.
There are also some life skills like understanding credit loans, how to launch a checking account and the like, so you can be sure that you are well equipped to handle the different elements that a job comprises.

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5 Tips for Working in a Private Clinic

Working at a private medical clinic means generally means that you will enjoy an intimate work environment, close relationships with your coworkers, and a slower pace than you would experience if you worked in a hospital. There are a few things you can do to make sure you're a valued member of the private clinics team.
Know Your Duties
Since you're working in a private practice; it's likely that there is not much staff. In order for everything to run smoothly everyone has to be very clear about what their individual responsibilities are. When you're first hired to work in a private clinic, you need to take the initiative and ask your new employer to provide you with a precise list of everything you will be expected to do each day. Not only will being clear on your duties keep the clinic running smoothly, it also reduces friction between you and your coworkers.
Make Good Conflict Resolution Decisions
The upside to working in a private clinic is that you're going to form close relationships with your co-workers. The down side is that a small staff can also mean that minor issues can quickly boil out of control. When you sense that tensions are mounting, you shouldn't assume someone else will deal with the situation. Even though you might not be directly connected to the problem it's in your best interest to put your conflict resolution skills to use and defuse the situation.
Always be Willing to Step in and Help Out
Take it upon yourself to learn a little bit about the type of work your co-workers do each day. Learning something about what they do makes it possible for you to step in and lend a hand if there's a reason they can't get things done. Not only does your ability to step in and help out mean that the practice continues to run smoothly and provide the best possible patient care, but it also increases the odds of you getting rewarded a promotion.
Be Willing to Continue your Education
It doesn't matter if you're working in the private clinic in a set field, you need to accept the fact that learning will be a constant part of your job. Plan on attending various conferences and seminars where you will learn how the latest developments in technology and medical research will benefit the private clinic.
Hone Your Office Skills
Whether you're employed as a medical office assistant or nurse, you need to have strong computer skills. Being able to quickly access patient files improves your ability to make sure patients get the best possible care. In addition to being able to use the computer it's also important that you're able to keep data organized. Taking a few classes at a business school will make your job at a private clinic easier. Make sure at least one or two of the classes you take includes record-keeping, bookkeeping, and basic computer skills.

Visit Academy of Learning College for other career paths like web design courses.
Patrick Quinn is a Copywriter at Higher Education Marketing, a leading web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Marketing, and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other web marketing services and tools.

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Careers to Pursue in Photography

People take pictures for a number of reasons. Some people click photos to capture memories while some click photos as it is their hobby. It depends on person to person how they look upon photography. Nowadays people upload their photos on the social networking sites. There are many education centers which teach you the basics of digital photography nowadays. But many people do not know that photography is a very good option for building their career. Suppose you get a diploma degree in photography, do you know what the next step you need to take is? The next step is you need to search for a job. There are many scopes of jobs as a photographer. All the photographers who are ambitious to gain success must know about the scopes of photography. The photographers join a job in order to apply their special skills and then master them.
Freelance photography
For starting a career in photography freelancing is the best way. A lot of people start their career as freelancers. The meaning is that they do not work under any company. They work for their own. They cater the need of as many clients as they want. You go around to the business companies and get the details of the work. You can opt for freelancing when you want to do photography as a secondary income. You can pursue seasonal activities like wedding photography or photography of festivals. They can work either full time or part time according to their wish. Nobody can dominate the freelancers. For this you can choose the best digital camera under 500 dollars.
For media house
Photographers can do the photography for newspapers, magazines and media houses. They can also pursue the career of photojournalism. They can do fashion photography for magazines. There are many scopes of photography for example
• Outdoor photography,
• Still life photography,
• Sports photography,
• Portrait photography,
• Nature and wildlife photography etc.
Advertising photography
When you have gained much experience in this area, you can do photography for advertising. Big companies hire you to click photographs for the advertisement of their photos.
Fine art photography
You can also opt for the profession of fine art photography. You can shoot the various elements of nature. These are generally set up in exhibitions and fests.
You have a lot of scope in photography careers. You must know how to choose the best digital camera for your work.

For pursuing photography careers, you need to know how to select a good camera under 500 dollars. Search for the best digital camera under 500.

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Employment Tips for Getting Your First Bartending Job

Dress Code
First impressions are created within the first ten seconds of meeting someone. Dress according to the bars dress code for bartenders. If a bar requires their bartenders to wear black and white, go to apply and interview in black and white. If a bar requires their bartenders to wear khaki pants and a golf shirt, apply in khaki pants and the same color shirt, etc. etc. You must look your best! You should be recently bathed, have your hair combed and clothes clean and pressed and be on time. This applies to the application trip, as well as the interview. If you do not look appropriate, you may not be asked back to interview.
To Apply
Take a copy of your resume, social security card and driver's license. If your state requires a liquor serving permit, get on in advance. Some major hotels will ask for a background check. These are available at the police station, or courthouse for a minimum charge. Fill out the application completely and correctly. You may want to bring a written record of previous jobs, dates and references with you. Try to get your application to a manager. Do not leave it with the front desk or bartender.
The Interview
Get to the interview at least ten minutes early. Being late will usually cause a manger not to hire you. Don't take a friend along to the interview. Don't have a drink while waiting for the manager. Don't smoke during the interview. Don't judge a bar by its appearance. A busy bar generally means good tips. The only bad bar is a bar with no customers. Be positive and confident. Most experienced bartenders have confidence in themselves. You should too. Don't make unreasonable demands on the bar manager. You need to be flexible and bend your schedule around the bar managers. Don't make statements such and "I need to make at least $100.00 a night". Don't be too choosy in getting your first job. Take the job, see how much money you can make and get at least thirty days of on the job experience.
Follow Up
If a manager says they will call you back in two days, wait until the third day and call them to see if they have made a decision. Tell them you have been very busy and thought you may have missed their call. Be persistent. Bar managers get a lot of applications from many unqualified people. By being persistent, they know you really want to work for them. Eagerness is a good quality and may cause them to hire you. Be polite when calling bars back and understand that bar managers are juggling many tasks at once. You are not their main priority.
Follow these tips and you will be sure to get your first job in no time!

Learn the basics of beer, wine, drink making and bartending. Discover the fast and easy way at http://www.becomeabartenderhq.com.

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Get The Holiday Time Off You Need Without Hurting Your Team

As the holiday season approaches, many people are starting to think about time off. Planning ahead and being organized is always best, but sometimes, plans go awry or a friend decides to get married at the last minute, and you need to negotiate with your colleagues for some premium time off. What should you say to secure that all-important flexibility?

Acknowledge You're Asking for a Favor

If your organization has a "no time off" policy during certain periods or if time needs to be planned months in advance, make it clear that you understand you are asking for something extraordinary and be prepared to explain why this need does not result from your poor planning. In other words, if you decided to book a trip because the price was right, even though you knew you were working and wouldn't easily be able to secure vacation time, you are probably out of luck and you may be burning your bridges. Depending on how firm the policy at work, if there's a family situation or event outside of your control and planning, it's fair to lobby for an exception to the rule in most circumstances. When you ask, explain the extraordinary circumstances and make it clear you would never otherwise ask for an exception to the rule.

Assume Everyone Needs Something

If it's up to you to find a stand-in so you can be off, keep in mind: the first rule of negotiating anything is that everyone should walk away feeling like a winner. It's unlikely you're the only one in the office with an unexpected event or situation. If you need Thanksgiving off and it's important to you, offer to work New Year's Eve for the colleague who's hoping to get engaged that night. If you find another person with an equally pressing need for time off and you can help each other, everyone wins.

Up the Ante

Assuming you cannot find someone to make an even swap for holiday time off, ramp up the stakes. Offer to work someone else's holiday weekend in the future, or take an extra turn or two doing an unpopular task. For example, you could suggest you take on your colleague's clean-up duty for the next week, or offer to work that person's late nights for a certain amount of time. Sweeten the pot as much as necessary to sway your colleagues and you may be able to win your time off.

Plan Ahead for Next Time

If these tactics fail, it's time to take a serious look at your work relationships. Maybe you're a valuable employee, but are you the colleague who doesn't give anyone the time of day until you need something, and then have no compunction about asking for a favor? Make some changes now, so next time, you'll have a better chance of convincing your colleagues to help you out in the future.

How can you make this change? Be exceptionally considerate at work. If your automatic reply is "no" when someone asks for something that inconveniences you, start to say "yes" instead. Offer to pitch in if co-workers look swamped and you have a little free time. When people ask you to switch shifts with them, do it, even when it's a little inconvenient for you. If you work remotely, make a point to connect with your colleagues regularly so you're more than a name on a screen.

Become the teammate everyone knows they can rely on to help out and it will be easier to convince co-workers to step up when you need a hand or a favor down the road.

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HR Wants To Meet! What Do I Do?

You get the call or the email and your heart sinks to your feet. HR wants to meet with you. Unless you think a promotion or raise is in the works, a meeting with HR is usually something employees dread. But if you do some basic preparation, you can be ready for anything.

Here are some things HR may want to meet with you about, and what you should do: 

You complained about discrimination or harassment: HR must investigate if you complain about race, age, sex, religious, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, disability or other illegal discrimination or harassment. If they want to talk to you about your complaint, don't refuse! If you do, then you wasted your time complaining and they'll note that you refused to cooperate. Instead, go in prepared.

Gather your evidence and witness names supporting how you were singled out compared to others in a different category (race, age, sex, etc.), how you (and any others) were harassed compared to others in a different category, and any comments made related to you and others relating to your category. Make notes and take them with you so you don't forget anything.

Don't complain about "harassment" or "hostile environment" that isn't connected to race, age, sex, etc. General harassment and bullying aren't illegal, so you aren't protected against retaliation if you report these.

After the meeting, write up a summary of what you reported. Make sure you say the words, "age discrimination," "sexual harassment," "race-based harassment," "religious discrimination" or whatever specific type of discrimination you reported. If you don't, then HR may claim later you reported a personality conflict or bullying instead of something illegal.

Discipline: If you are being disciplined or investigated relating to potential discipline, don't freak out, storm out, or yell during the meeting. You don't want to compound the situation by being insubordinate. Instead, take good notes about the accusation. If you are asked to sign a document, sign and write something next to or above your name like, "as to receipt only, rebuttal to follow." Then wait until you are calm and prepare a businesslike response with any supporting documents and submit to HR.

If you are asked questions during the meeting, be truthful. Some employees lie or don't tell the whole truth because they panic. If you lie or are perceived as lying, you can be fired for that, whether or not you did what you are being accused of.

Crime: If you are being asked about a crime you committed, don't answer. It's time to contact a criminal defense attorney. Don't sign anything admitting to a crime. If HR or Loss Prevention tries to tell you that you can save your job if you admit to a crime, they are lying.

Termination: If you are being fired, stay calm. Don't sign anything they put in front of you. Instead, ask for a copy to take home and review. You aren't thinking straight. You may be asked to sign a severance agreement giving up any legal claims you may have. They may even stick something in there saying you can't work for a competitor. Even if it's "just" a disciplinary document, don't sign it. They can't make you do anything now. You don't work for them anymore. Take good notes of what they are saying is the reason for the termination. Get copies of anything you can documenting what they are saying.

Don't run out of the office shouting, try to get your coworkers to leave with you, or cause a scene. The work world is small and you may end up working with these folks again someday. If you don't understand a contract you're being asked to sign, or think you may have claims against the company, contact an employment lawyer in your state about your rights. For more about what to do if you think you're about to be fired, read my article here.

If you need legal advice, it's best to talk to an employment lawyer in your state, but if you have general legal issues you want me to discuss publicly here, whether about discrimination, working conditions, employment contracts, medical leave, or other employment law issues, you can ask me at AOL Jobs. While I can't answer every question here, your question might be featured in one of my columns, or in our upcoming live video chat. 

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How to Salvage Your Career After an Employer's Epic Fail

As we've all watched the story unfold around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) website disaster, one thing is certain: more than a few people will be named responsible for this large-scale failure. This kind of highly publicized mistake is mainstream. As the finger-pointing escalates, people (i.e. hiring managers) will remember the company - and its key players by name.

However, what about all the employees who did a great job, but will be "guilty by association" for working at the company that created such a mess?

When you find yourself in the unfortunate position of working for a company with a terrible reputation, you've got two challenges: 

1. You need to prove you didn't contribute to the company's current status.
2. You have to find a way to avoid throwing your employer under the bus when doing it.

 
It's not easy, but with the right mindset and some honest, yet tactful explanations, it can be done.

Remember: It's a Small Professional World

The first thing to keep in mind is in the professional world, we're all connected. You never know who might find yourself potentially working with (and for!) again someday. Be very careful not to say something that could get back to your co-workers or dysfunctional employer's management team.

Everyone Makes Mistakes, Your Day Could Come

Next, get yourself in the right frame of mind. Yes, you're angry and embarrassed by your employer's actions. In fact, I'm sure you can point to specific people in the organization who you're certain are responsible for the failure. But, before you start singing like a canary about their mistakes, ask yourself, "Am I so perfect I might never make a mistake that could be criticized publicly?"

Use the "Experience = Learn = Grow" Model to Explain What Happened

As you get out and network (Did I mention you should be networking since your company could end up going out of business as a result of their mistake?), people will want to hear all the nasty details. They'll push you for the inside scoop. Don't fall into the trap! Bring them back to reality by sticking to the facts. More importantly, use your employer's misfortune as a way to show your professionalism. Here are the key points to make:

• This has been a "powerful" experience. Don't say "bad," and you can't say "good." Instead, use a word that conveys the intensity of the experience in a neutral tone.
• We did our best, but mistakes occurred. Don't get into a long-winded explanation of the course of events that led to your employer's scandal. It opens you up to questions about each individual's participation and can put you in the hot seat. Remember the "telephone game" you used to play as a child? Words would get passed along until they were completely distorted. Well, the same can occur with whatever you say about your co-workers and management team's involvement in the failure.
• I learned a lot and want to make the most of it. Focus on the lessons that can be taken away from the time you spent with this employer. Have at least three things you can point to that you'll do differently as a result of your experience. Better still, show how the failure has given you resolve to stay in the game and continue your work in this area.

Your Career Isn't Fatal - Unless You Choose It To Be

There's an old saying that applies here: "That which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger." Your employer's mistake won't kill your career. But, to keep your career on track, you will need to use the experience with a troubled company to showcase your professionalism and to prove yourself to be even more valuable to future employers as a result of it.

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Are Hugs The New Handshake?

Depending on where you stand on the hug continuum, hugging at work is either inappropriately awkward or a great way to greet your colleagues. Unless your workplace actually prohibits hugging between colleagues, you may be left to your own devices when it comes to giving or accepting hugs at work.

Keep these tips in mind when it comes to hugging in the workplace:

Company culture and your comfort level

If your culture is very conservative and buttoned up, you'll likely want to stick with a firm, but warm handshake and avoid hugs to make the right impression. If people are constantly embracing as if they're reuniting with a long-lost relative, identify your comfort level, and don't hesitate to discourage hugs if you don't want to be embraced. The best deterrent is to make a point to extend your hand for a handshake. Of course, if you do feel harassed by the hugging culture or by a particular hugger, you can refer to policies and consult someone in human resources.

Types of hugs.

There are all types of hugs. These include the bear hug, the side hug and the quick embrace. You can assume, under most circumstances, any hug that embraces a little too long or tightly isn't appropriate in the workplace. If you're the hugging aggressor, make sure you aren't going overboard. If you hug at all, avoid any hug that could be labeled aggressive or passionate; both of these hugs definitely cross the line and are inappropriate in the workplace.

If you're a hugger, watch your colleague's body language.

Some people just don't feel comfortable being hugged at work. However, especially if you're the boss, it may be difficult for them to refuse your advance. (Think: sexual harassment.) Be careful and read your colleagues' body language. If people keep sticking their arms out at you in an effort to shake hands instead of hug and you grab them into a bear hug instead, assume you're crossing into dangerous territory. Don't create a toxic workplace by being overly affectionate.

People to hug or not hug.

Even if you're a compulsive hugger, it's best to avoid hugging subordinates. Keep your company's sexual harassment policy in mind and remember, if you're the boss, people may not feel comfortable asking you to stop hugging them. In some cases, you may be able to modify a hug into a warm pat on the back that may satisfy your need for a more intimate welcome and your colleague or subordinate's need to keep some distance. Keep in mind: even a "side hug" or shoulder pat can seem a little touch-y feel-y to some people.

Extraordinary situations

While hugging isn't a great idea at work, there are some situations where it might be considered okay to offer a quick hug as a way to congratulate or console someone. For example, if your colleague just won a huge award or promotion, or if he or she is retiring or leaving the company for good, it might be acceptable to offer a quick embrace. However, for some people, a "high five" will be more appreciated. Another situation when a hug may be okay is if someone just learned bad news and a consoling hug or quick shoulder squeeze just seems the most human response. Again – keep in mind, it may be best to console with words or offer flexibility and support instead of a hug.

Bottom line.

The safest bet is to avoid hugging in the workplace. You don't want to face sexual harassment charges for hugs you might consider innocent expressions of affection, but that come across as too touch-y feel-y to your colleagues or employees.

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What It's Like To Be... An Indoor Cycling Instructor

Every once in a while a craze takes hold and bundles of jobs are created as a result. One such fad over the last few decades has been indoor cycling, better known by its trademarked name Spinning. The fitness regimen was invented in 1989 in Santa Monica, Calif., by a South African-born fitness instructor known as Johnny G. He said he came up with the idea after a car nearly hit him while he was out riding his bicycle in Los Angeles, according to a report by the Independent. 

A quarter century later, indoor cycling studios are a global phenomenon ranging from the neighborhood gym to higher-end studios like SoulCycle. And according to Stevie, one of more than 125 instructors on the SoulCycle roster, working for the 20-gym chain is "like getting drafted by the Lakers." AOL Jobs recently met up with Stevie at a SoulCycle studio in the NoHo section of Manhattan. SoulCycle studios are currently located in New York and Los Angeles, but will be expanding soon to Boston and Washington, DC., and globally to London. Including support staff, the company has more than 500 employees.

The 48-year old instructor (Stevie doesn't share her last name when working) knows the exercise field. She's spent much of her career working as a trainer specializing in bodyweight composition and strategies on how to reduce body fat percentages. Before she started with SoulCycle, Stevie spent time as both a marathon runner and as a chef developing gluten-free recipes on a ranch in California, among other pursuits.

What makes SoulCycle stand out?

For starters, there's the price for the 45-minute class -- $32. And shat's before you account for the special shoes, water and SoulCycle apparel. The pricing has led many to lambast SoulCycle; the Daily Beast said the brand offers exercise for the "1 percent." But according to Stevie, the real reason SoulCycle stands out is because the practice "is not just a thing you do, it's a lifestyle."

Embracing the SoulCycle culture is in keeping with the all-inclusive sharing culture of the social media age, and instructors like Stevie make themselves available to their riders on Twitter. "We are here to create a personalized, supportive environment," she said.

And tweets are only the beginning of the close relationship she keeps with her riders; instructors often take on an aide-de-camp role in their riders' lives. Such a full-on lifestyle approach, according to Stevie, is only gaining traction in the fitness world as instructors are both expected to and want to do much more than what their hourly exercise schedule demands. "How you treat your public should matter," she said.

And so she said she regularly goes to coffee with her regular riders. "Some are friends, some are acquaintances but we are all a family. You walk into that room as an individual and you leave with the collective energy of 50 people," she explained. Stevie added she regularly talks about careers and relationships with her riders, both during and after class. But what's said in the studio, stays in the studio, she added.

It is still the norm for many indoor cycling instructors to balance their classloads with other work. But at SoulCycle, "it's a career, not a job." For her part, Stevie said she teaches an average of 15 classes a week, mostly focused at SoulCycle's NoHo studio. She said she puts in an average of three hours of preparation for each class, which means Stevie is working 60 hours a week.

Why does the instructing require so much prep time?

A class at SoulCycle, like at competitors including FlyWheel, is much more than a roomful of people riding on stationary bikes. The class could best be described as variety show, with the instructor taking on a range of identities as class host, equal parts Sonny and Cher, Bob Fosse and Jack LaLanne. And during class, Stevie proved herself to be a force on the microphone, pumping up her riders as they tried to keep up. The cycling room itself has no windows and is lit by grapefruit-scented candles. With smoke and heavy music, the studio feels like a night-club.

Stevie and her fellow instructors spend time organizing a highly stylized musical arrangement. She said her musical taste includes a broad range from Metallica and Thievery Corporation to DJs like Hardwell. The riding itself is unlike that at other studios, and makes use of SoulCycle's customized stationary bikes that facilitate a standing-riding posture. On top of that, the instructors work in some weightlifting to diversify the workout experience.

"All the instructors truly are special in their own way, but you need to be dynamic to lead a class," she said.

Given the money pouring into SoulCycle, are the instructors fairly compensated?

SoulCycle does not release information about its payscale. The company even forbade Stevie from discussing salaries at other indoor cycling studios. But she did say she feels "very valued" for her work. During the interview, a SoulCycle representative stepped in and demanded any discussion of money be curtailed.

Other instructors are more likely to find themselves scrambling to get by. According to Ask.com, an indoor cycling instructor can expect to make $40 a class, while physical instructors of all kinds make an average salary of $31,090 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It's also a sector that's seeing explosive growth, and the BLS projects the field to grow 24 percent by 2020.

How do you break in?

Web searches provide information for local certification programs that can be completed in as little as one day. SoulCycle, however, asks for a higher bar to be met for its instructors. SoulCycle's website advertises information for live auditions, which ask applicants to then lead a class in front of other instructors. The process also involves an in-person interview.

Given the amount of money SoulCycle riders pay for their fitness, the riders have every reason to expect their instructors will meet a higher standard and the full package. And that's what Steve said is at the heart of the instructing. "We sweat it out, we laugh it out," she said. "It involves everything."

What is the best part of your job?:

"I always leave here feeling better than when I arrived. And the clothing."

What is the worst part of your job?:

"When I am off sometimes I am so tired I just want to stay in bed."

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