Career

What’s So Cool about Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.?

May 4, 2015

Floyd Jr. might be too good and too cool for some people to accept. He just won the battle of the century against the equally popular Filipino boxer, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Yet, fans are shouting that Floyd Jr. may have won the title, but Pacman won the hearts of the people.

Did Floyd Jr. really rob Manny the world title during their May 2015 fight?

Zero Loss Record is Cool

Whatever tactic Floyd Jr. is using – whether it is evading, running and not engaging – it works. People are criticizing the WBO Welterweight Champ for his calculating moves, but that propelled him to win all 47 of his battles and lost to none. Who would question that record? Who else has that record?

Singleness is Cool

At his age, he has never been married, although he has fathered a few kids. This gives him a sense of focus, with no marital issues to distract him, he is free from emotional stresses that often comes from family. On the other side, though, he lacks the inspiration that a family of his own may offer him, but this did not stop him from winning all of his fights.

Wealth is Cool

Floyd Jr. is not nicknamed “Money” for nothing. He currently holds a net worth of $280 million, which should double now that the fight with Manny is over. He has over 100 luxury cars as part of his collection. He also owns a 22,000 square-foot mansion with five well-appointed bedrooms in Las Vegas Township.

Father-Reconciliation is Cool

Floyd Sr. and Floyd Jr. were not in good terms for nine long years, since 2000. In May 2009, the two reconciled and has since teamed up more effectively than ever, with the elder Mayweather declaring that indeed his son is “bigger than boxing”.

Boxing is Cool

Unlike his close rival, Pacman, Money is more determined to make it big in boxing. The Filipino boxer is also in politics and basketball, in addition to his boxing career but Floyd Jr. is too serious and devoted about boxing, he has no other career besides it and occasional celebrity duties that go along with it. To Floyd Jr., boxing is cool enough for him, he does not need anything else (for now).

5 Reasons a Civil Service Career Might Be Right for You

Robert Harris

May 1, 2015

A career in the civil service is an opportunity to get hands on with the public and make a real difference in your community. Many of those who join the civil service are passionate about social justice and relish the opportunity to change peoples’ lives for the better. Civil servants often say they joined the public sector because they wanted a career based on integrity and personal values, rather than merely the pursuit of money.

But finding a way to give back isn’t the only benefit of a career in civil service. Public sector jobs offer stability and job security, better benefits than many private sector jobs, and more holidays than private sector workers. You may not get rich in the civil service, but the pay is competitive, and there are jobs to suit every interest, with plenty of opportunities to move up the ladder. If that sounds good to you, you may want to consider preparing for a public sector career by earning a Master of Public Administration.

1. Stability and Job Security

The work world has changed since your parents’ or grandparents’ day, when employees stayed with a single company for their entire careers. Now, many peoples’ professional lives are less stable, with job changes happening every several years, if not more often. If you don’t decide it’s time for a change on your own, there’s still the threat of being made redundant.

But in the civil service, you can enjoy a long career with guaranteed job security and the stability that comes with always knowing where your next paycheck is coming from. Many civil servants stay in the public sector for their entire careers, logging 25 or 30 years of service. You won’t have to worry so much about being made redundant in the civil service, since there’s a long and complicated process involved in firing a public servant. And even in leaner times, the public sector needs employees.

2. Great Benefits

You won’t find many private sector jobs these days offering pensions, but in the civil service, you’ll get that and more. A career in the civil service means you’ll have excellent health insurance, if applicable where you live, a generous pension, and plenty of time off. Civil service employees get to take bank holidays off in addition to their normal holidays, which means more time to relax with friends and family throughout the year.

3. Competitive Pay

Many people shy away from civil service because they think they won’t make enough money working in the public sector. But while it’s true that some private sector jobs pay more, those jobs also come with the volatility and uncertainty typical of today’s workplace. Besides, the public sector probably pays better than you think – salaries often average more than $70,000.

4. Challenging Work

No matter what your area of interest, there’s a job to suit you in the civil service. Are you a scientist? You may be able to find work in government-funded research. Interested in policy? Earn a degree in public administration and work with lawmakers and have a direct influence on the way the country is headed. Want to see the world? Apply for a post with the State Department.

5. Plenty of Opportunities for Advancement

You’ll get plenty of chances to work your way up the ladder as a civil servant. Many government employees get their first promotion within a couple of years of being hired. Even if you don’t get a place on the fast stream, it’s not hard to move up the ladder. If you work hard and take responsibility for moving your career forward, you can reasonably expect to secure a place in middle management in no time.

If you’re looking for a stable, long-term career that will be personally and financially rewarding, a career in the civil service may be for you. You’ll get the opportunity to improve peoples’ lives through your work, and you’ll enjoy competitive pay, great benefits, and a level of security that simply isn’t found in the private sector these days. These are all good reasons to join the civil service, but they pale in comparison to the best one — the opportunity to enjoy a career based on integrity and community service.

Benefits of Business Travels You Probably Don’t Know

Robert Harris

April 6, 2015

Some people have the best jobs as they get opportunities to travel to different cities and countries for work. But, there are others who might find business travels more of a chore than a privilege. After all, it won’t be all play. However, it’s actually all about having the right perspective.

If you haven’t realized the benefits of a business trip yet, here are some points to enlighten you:

Travel for free

This is the biggest benefit of a business travel since most of it are paid in full by your company. You get to keep your savings intact while you are able to check off some of the places on your travel bucket list and even travel first class.

Explore new places

Although most of these trips have time constraints, with proper time management, you’ll be able to squeeze in a few hours to check out some local attractions. Even if the city or town you’ll be visiting isn’t in your list of must-go-to places, you’ll still find it enjoyable to be able to explore a new destination after your conference or client appointment.

Get extra miles

Say, your company will be paying for your trip in cash, you can use your credit card to pay for your flights and hotels and save the cash for yourself. That way, you can gain extra miles for your credit card, which you can use when you’ll finally make that trip to Panama or Santorini.

Make work interesting

When you work in an office day in and day out, chances are, you’ll get burnt out eventually. This makes business travels a welcome interruption to your routine and will make your job more interesting.

Enhance your ability to adapt

When you work for a company, you need to roll with the punches. That’s what employers expect from their employees. By traveling on your own on a business trip, your ability to be adaptable will be honed, which will improve your performance at work.

Become more resilient

Traveling has its challenges. There’s packing, catching your flight, adapting to new cultures, etc. So if you’ve traveled a lot though for business purposes, you learn to be more resilient – to bounce back after challenges, like a very difficult project.

Once you realize just how beneficial work travels are, you’ll be more willing to be assigned to different places.

Office Work Doesn’t Always Need to Be Sedentary

Robert Harris

March 30, 2015

Working in an office means sitting in front of your computer for at least eight hours a day. Prolonged sitting can have ill effects on our health. This is why it’s important to try as much as you can to increase activity in your job. Here’s how:

Move as much as you can.

Oftentimes, when you’re working inside a cubicle, there’s little room to move around. This forces you to spend the entire shift in one position. What you can do is to place some of your stuff somewhere that’s not within arm’s reach. That way, you’ll need to stand up from your chair and walk up to where the item is.

You should also consider taking frequent, short breaks. You can walk up and down a few flights of stairs several times a day just to get your blood vessels pumping. If you’re going down or up a few floors, use the stairs instead of the elevator. You can also go outside of your office for a few minutes to get some sun and be able stretch your body.

Don’t drive to work

If your workplace isn’t really far, you can walk in going there. That way, you’ll be able to reduce stress and enhance activity. You can also use a bike instead. By doing so, you get a bit of exercise every morning before going to your office.

Encourage others to join

It’s easier and more fun to do things when you’re part of a group. You can recruit some of your office mates to join you in being more active. By doing so, climbing up and down the stairs or walking outside won’t be so lonely. Plus, you’ll be able to move your body without fear of getting ridiculed for trying so hard. As you can see, there are several ways to keep yourself active even if you work in an office. So, say NO to living a sedentary life today!

Apprenticeships offer school leavers real-life experience

Robert Harris

October 24, 2014

If you are going to be leaving school soon, your thoughts will no doubt have turned to your future prospects. Since nursery school you might have had a particular vocation in mind and if so an apprenticeship could provide the perfect solution.

There is no substitute for real-life experience. It impresses future employers, shows that you have initiative and drive to go and do something and gives you a real feel for what a profession might actually involve.

Because many schools lack vocational training, it can be really difficult to know what your chosen career path actually involves and this is where apprenticeships come into their own.

You will get a proper feel for the day-to-day requirements of working in your chosen field. It may well be that you decide a particular path is not for you once you have tried it out, but apprenticeships give you the opportunity to make an educated decision about your future. They also give you flexibility.

Once you begin working at a company, it is much easier to move to other departments and experience different roles until you find the one for you.

Earn while you learn

Many school-leavers are put off going to university by the prospect of ever increasing fees. With an apprenticeship you get to earn as you learn your trade. What’s more, it means you can start to make steps up the career ladder well before your college-going counterparts.

Apprenticeships give you transferable skills

It may be that you decide to train in a particular company but move on elsewhere once you have completed your training. Because apprenticeships are a nationally recognised qualification, you can be sure that your efforts and training will be acknowledged by other companies.

Training like this shows prospective employers that you have focus, are willing to work hard to achieve your goals and have a clear idea of the direction you want your career to go in.

Experience counts for a lot in the world of business and being able to demonstrate to would-be employers that you have already had real hands-on knowledge of a particular environment can prove invaluable.

It is also a great way to boost confidence. When you go for interviews, you can be sure that you have more of an idea of what employers are searching for from the perfect candidate. You will know a lot more about how business works and that will make you much better informed.

Government funds more apprenticeships

The value of apprenticeships was outlined in the 2014 Budget when Chancellor George Osborne announced there would be an increasing the number of grants to get businesses training youngsters in work.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: “To make sure we give young people the skills they need to get good jobs in this modern world, we’ve doubled the number of apprenticeships and I will extend the grants for smaller businesses to support over 100,000 more.”

Proof that the government and employers value on the job training as a way to improve prospects for the young and boost the economy at large.

Cool Jobs That Pay Even Cooler

Robert Harris

September 29, 2014

According to Time Magazine, Mathematician tops the list of the most coveted jobs, simply because job opportunities are plenty and varied. A mathematician can work as a broker on Wall Street, provide financial advice and teach at a university. Suffice to say that mathematicians have a role in every sector in the economy, making them highly in demand.

But you have to admit that Math isn’t exactly fun to learn and most people don’t find fun in numbers. Do you happen to be one of them? Don’t worry; you can still escape unemployment by trying your hand at some of the coolest jobs that pay really well.

Video Game Developer

If you spend your days and nights trying to beat everyone at MMORPG, you should become a professional video game player and earn a whopping annual salary of $50K. But you can make more than that if you develop your own game. Sure, the money will come only when the game becomes a hit. With years of playing, however, there’s no doubt you know exactly what game to make to rouse a gamer’s interest.

Body Part Model

Nobody’s perfect. Even the most gorgeous celebrities have flaws. If you have more beautiful hair or legs than them, then you have a higher chance of becoming a model for a shampoo or body lotion commercial. Body part models are said to earn a thousand dollars for just an afternoon shoot.

Ice Cream Taster

This is the best job ever! Can you imagine being hired just to eat ice cream? The pay would just be a bonus, which happens to be not too shabby. In this line of work, however, you have to accept the bad with the good. What if the new ice cream flavor tastes super awful?

Other well-paying cool jobs include a race car driving instructor, furniture tester, chocolatier, winemaker and an entertainer on a cruise. Interested to apply?

Don’t want debt at uni? Try distance learning

Robert Harris

July 4, 2014

So, you’re straight out of school, and now you’re being asked to cough up more than £9,000 just to continue your education. Sound unlikely? Well, it’s a situation that’s occurring every day to students across England.

It’s a terrifying prospect, being asked to shoulder that much debt at such a young age. Yet – in addition to rent, utilities, course texts and travel costs – people under the age of 20 are being asked to pay back mammoth loans if they want to continue learning, and it’s putting thousands of them off further education.

However, let’s not throw the uni-shaped baby out with the educational bathwater – there are alternatives for those with the aptitude to work and focus without the help of others.

An online distance learning degree is, although still necessarily consisting of tuition fees, a far cheaper option than university. More than this, it’s the perfect way to start a job and further your education, allowing you to neatly balance the two like some kind of educational wire walker.

It’s easy to dismiss online degrees as little more than the cheap, Del Boy-esque brother of “proper” university, blagging its way into viability with Mickey Mouse degrees and “moody” tutors. But a degree from a fully accredited distance learning course actually has exactly the same appeal as one from its bricks-and-mortar equivalent.

In addition, online education provides international students with the opportunity to earn a degree from a university in another country, without ever having to leave home. This not only saves these students a tremendous amount of money, but also opens up classroom space for local students.

All international students have to do is submit an official transcript, proof of English proficiency, and proof of financial support to apply for enrollment in an online university. If accepted, these students will have access to the same faculty and curriculum as those who complete their degrees on-campus, but they can stay in their own countries throughout their studies.

A brave new world of online learning

In actual fact, universities are increasingly embracing online content, pushing the campus lifestyle of library learning and tutorials onto the peripheries. With technological advancement, a physical education is becoming just as digitised as an online degree.

It’s put distance learning on an even keel with standard universities. Can’t find a book? Simply head online and check out Google Books, JSTOR, Google Scholar or Amazon. Need to chat to a tutor quickly? Just send them an email and, unless they’re particularly lazy, you’ll receive a reply within the day.

As the technological age continues in its march towards perfection, so, too, does distance learning increase its appeal.

But it’s not the only advantage of this kind of education. In a lot of ways, the campus lifestyle of endless parties, socialising and societies tends to get in the way of why you’re actually at university. Although fun, you generally find that those who have partied the hardest tend to study the least, so it’s a good idea to create a gulf between your study habits and that distracting lifestyle.

The great news is that there are many more programs being offered online than ever before, making this route much more viable for even the most dedicated student. Imagine being able to work at your own speed, from your own home, and never having to worry about making the commute to classes again. In addition, you can work ahead in the class if you have some free time, so you can finish your program much faster than in a traditional classroom. Click here for more information on the outstanding programs now offered by online universities.

The take-home message is this – there are other ways to experience further education than campus, and the alternatives are getting better all the time. So have a look at some online courses to see what they could offer you.

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Careers in the optical industry you wouldn’t have thought about

Robert Harris

June 25, 2014

Most of us are familiar enough with the job of an optometrist – the friendly eye doctor who performs eye examinations at eyeglass stores and prescribes and fits contact lenses or glasses. As well as the doctor of optometry, who is highly trained as with any medical doctor and may earn an average of $102,000, there are a number of other specialists who form an important part of the optical team. There are some interesting and unusual jobs that may come as a surprise. Here is a selection of potential careers in the optical industry.

At the eye store

An optical lab technician’s role is to use state of the art computer technology to make sure lenses are made promptly to the precise specifications required. Training is often given to those who have graduated when they get their first job, and the average annual salary across the US is $31,000, as is the average salary for a frames specialist who assists clients with the selection and adjustment of their chosen frames.

There are management and retail staff members at a variety of different management levels who deliver sales and marketing support, and optometric technicians who assist the principal optometrists. All these highly trained specialists are very much in demand, and the Stanton Optical careers website carries details of current vacancies of all kinds.

Working with optical fibers

This complex technology has fascinated an increasing number of research scientists, in various parts of the world, who have embarked on unusual projects such as building functionality in light. This specialized field also involves the development of laser fibers to control light in entirely new and different ways – exciting new technology that could be in production within the next three to five years. Education to PhD level and beyond is required, and many doctoral students seek internships with relevant firms to gain hands-on experience.

Research scientists’ salaries vary considerably, depending on which company they are working for and which state they are in; however, the average for all levels of research scientist across the states in June 2014 was $82,000, and for principal research scientists $107,000. The opportunity to make new discoveries and to use these to improve our quality of life makes this an attractive career.

Optical engineering

A number of roles in the optical sector involve optical engineering – for example, someone holding the post of optical engineer designs the component parts of a variety of optical instruments, including microscopes, telescopes and lenses. Optical measurement systems and sensors are used in a range of applications, such as lasers and optical discs. In this field, physics and chemistry are both used at a high level, and computer knowledge is key as specialized optical software is used.

Salaries for optical engineers vary, depending on which company they are working for and which state they are in; however, the average for all levels of optical engineers across the states in June 2014 was $76,000. Optical engineers like to apply their knowledge of science to build implements that improve our quality of life.

What tools do you need when studying from a distance?

Robert Harris

June 10, 2014

Long distance study offers the chance for those to earn a degree who might not otherwise have been able to do so. Wherever you are, whatever your interests may be, distance education programs make it possible for you to spend time concentrating on what matters to you, improving your job prospects for the duration. Your first step should be to decide on a career, as this allows you to map out a future path. Determine the type and level of degree that you will need to reach your goals because this makes it easier to select a school at which to study. You might also want to choose a school that can provide you with an internship, since this is a great way to get your foot in the door with a reputable organization. Work on building your skills and your personal brand while earning your education to give yourself the best chance of landing your dream job in the future.

Studying for a degree isn’t always straightforward, however and studying from a distance can sometimes be even more difficult. There are a number of tools which you’ll want to have at your disposal to make life as a student that bit easier. Here, we take a look at a handful of these tools.

Strong internet connection

The internet is the very foundation of most distance learning courses. Whether you’re relying on email correspondence with your tutors or are watching video lectures, there are a whole host of reasons why having a strong internet connection is essential to your studies.

If you’re studying from one place, it should be easy enough to establish a good connection to the web. If you’re to be travelling on the move, it’s worth looking into mobile internet plans to ensure you’re never left in the lurch.

Powerful portable devices

When you don’t have immediate access to the concrete resources of a university, you’re likely to be heavily reliant on your devices. From a tablet on which to keep up with your weekly reading to a laptop on which to type up your essays, it’s wise to invest in some reliant portable devices.

If you are caught off-guard during an essay writing period, it’s not the end of the world. UK custom dissertations written by ivory research can help you to achieve your goals even when things aren’t going quite as you’d planned.

Library access

While the web might hold almost all of the resources you need to get on with your degree, sometimes there can be no substitute for a paper copy of your core texts. Access to a wide range of texts, coupled with a peaceful and expansive working environment mean that public libraries are still a great place for students to visit.

Whether Ivory Research are helping you meet your deadlines or not, looking into your local libraries can be a hugely helpful step to help you get where you need to be before the end of term. Libraries can also be a good place to pick up a strong internet connection.

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Zero Loss Record is Cool

Singleness is Cool

Wealth is Cool

Father-Reconciliation is Cool

Boxing is Cool

1. Stability and Job Security

2. Great Benefits

3. Competitive Pay

4. Challenging Work

5. Plenty of Opportunities for Advancement

Travel for free

Explore new places

Get extra miles

Make work interesting

Enhance your ability to adapt

Become more resilient

Move as much as you can.

Don’t drive to work

Encourage others to join

Earn while you learn

Apprenticeships give you transferable skills

Government funds more apprenticeships

Video Game Developer

Body Part Model

Ice Cream Taster

Strong internet connection

Powerful portable devices

Library access