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Let’s face it: The construction industry just is not for everybody. While the work itself is steady and readily available, the nature of it can change frequently. One job might find you clearing rubble from a winding mountain road, while another might bring you into the city to raze and old highway. Additionally, operating heavy construction equipment is done outdoors, and it is often strenuous work. Some people just aren’t cut out for that type of employment, instead preferring to make their living in a safer, more comfortable environment.

For those who choose the construction field as their source of income, however, the very things that drive some people away are precisely what draw them to it. There is something to be said about working with the sun on your face, or about performing rewarding physical labor. The monotony of an office setting is a far cry from the comparative freedom offered by a construction job. The state of the construction industry in the country today is such that people employed in it can still enjoy regular, rewarding pay even while the job changes; there is simply more demand than there are qualified employees, and thus there always exist job opportunities.

The National Heavy Equipment Operators School can and will help prepare you for a job in the construction industry. Our short, comprehensive, two-part course is the only accredited heavy equipment operation training in the country. In short, training through National is worth far more than simply a certificate. Moreover, our training program is as unorthodox as the industry it represents. The first part of the course is performed in-home at the student’s individual pace. National provides all relevant texts and materials, and the student receives all background information that will be necessary in order to start training in person. The second phase is just that: on-site, in-person training at our facility in North Florida. There, the student will receive time with a wide variety of heavy equipment, including modern bulldozers and excavators, all under the watchful eyes of our qualified instructors.

The next time that you are driving to the dreary confines of your current job and wondering why you keep going back day after day, think about what else you might be doing instead. Take a look at the people inside the construction equipment that you pass and wonder if they feel the same way before heading into the “office.” With the training offered by National, you can earn your way into something better.

Remember when job-hopping was anathema? Well, you better take today’s hot new non-traditional career advice . . . start job-hopping!

Things have changed. The economy is booming, Younger job seekers are much more ambitious and almost instinctively understand that if they want to get ahead,. . . if they’re heading for the top, they have to job hop.

It’s really all part of the 21st Century job market and the dramatic changes that have occurred especially since 9/11 and Katrina. The old-fashioned job search approaches simply don’t work anymore. If you’ve been busy writing a traditional resume and then mass distributing it to job sites, job listings, a bunch of companies, some agencies and recruiters . . . well, you already know what I mean.

You’re probably sitting around nervously waiting for the phone to ring. Or hoping today’s mail will bring that priceless invitation to an interview instead of the more usual TNT (thanks-but-no-thanks) letter.

Non-traditional career advice is the solution to your job search dilemma. It makes you get in tune with today’s sophisticated job marketplace. You need to understand the employers aren’t interested in what you used to do for someone else (as outlined in your resume). They expect you to come forward with some understanding of the corporate goals are.

And they are impressed when you’ve done your research and come up with an ability to address your next boss’ personal requirements. This evidence of your commitment to excellence goes much further than a resume. It’s just another piece of non-traditional career advice.

So does a commitment to job-hopping. Curtis Crawford, author of “Corporate Rise: The X Principles of Extreme Personal Leadership,” advises that the more versatile you are, the more likely you are to move up.
What’s more, he recommends:

1. Don’t be afraid to be visibly ambitious. In the past, ambition was confused with arrogance and ruthlessness–getting to the top at any cost. Ambition is achieving your goal the right way–honestly, ethically, all the while gaining the respect of your subordinates, peers and management.

2. Avoid getting stuck in one job. Avoid becoming a specialist which means you’re pigeonholed as being able to do only one thing well. That specialist thinking flew years ago–but not anymore.

3. Make significant contributions. Just moving through different jobs is not enough. Take jobs that provide platforms for you to make significant contributions. It means getting involved in critical areas such as product development, financial management, technological improvements, or improving production or distribution.

This departure from old-fashioned thinking is just one of the many exciting pieces of non-traditional career advice. It’s part of the amazing new alternative thinking that is consistent with expectations in today’s job marketplace!

If you are pretty talented at art you might not even consider going to Art College. Why should you, anyway? You can draw like the masters: Boticelli, Michaelangeo, Da Vinci. There wasn’t a landscape scene your brushes didn’t like, and there wasn’t any portrait you couldn’t draw. You can sketch anything that exists!

But as with any talent, you must have realized that this is one big world we live in. There is always room for improvement, and although your work might speak for itself, a degree behind you may be just what employers are looking for. Therefore, you muster all your reserves; you pack your easel, your brushes, and your palette and head north to the nearest art college.

1. Good choice?

Art school will definitely benefit you as an artist. Your innate talent will benefit from the proven concepts and techniques you can learn here. It may be that you already know the basics and the techniques of your art. Rest assured that there are always things the art school can teach you that you won’t already know.

Art school also develops in its students a love and appreciation for the different forms of art. It opens to the student new vistas of learning and expressing. Even if only for that reason, Art school would be worth every penny.

2. Who Is Art School Suited For?

Artists are a rare kind. They seem to be able to create masterpieces without complicated theories and computations. It’s as if they are moved by instinct to draw, paint, and create visually pleasing artworks. Some artists, when asked about their artwork, would simply shrug and say they didn’t know what motivated them, and they just felt like painting it. Art school should not aim to correct this freewheeling style of artistry. It should, however, provide the basic techniques and theories on art and creativity. Instead of suppressing natural skill, it should develop and enlighten it by explaining the concepts behind art. Unlike what most people think, there truly is a science behind art.

Artists sometimes just create art. But after Art College, they come to a realization of theories behind what they have done by instinct. Fundamental theories can only improve and supplement the talent students have.

3. What to Learn?

When choosing an Arts College, look into the nature of its programs.

- Is it solely a graphic design school or does it offer courses in other specific areas?
- Is this school well-known for its emphasis on its programs?
- Is the school recognized internationally?
- Is the class size large or small?
- How many years will the program be in total?
- Does the school provide any statistics or downloadable documents outlining the percentage of its graduates that are now working in their chosen field?

4. Specialize!

Remember that the subject of art is not just a big blob with the label art. It is composed of numerous subcategories and specializations. You need to choose a specialization because if you don’t, your skills will be diffused trying to learn the many branches of art. Try to improve the most at the area of your interest. It could be painting, sculpture, digital arts or others.

5. Be The Best

Also, look into whether the school participates in any graphical arts competitions or has accomplished anything of renown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the arts and the education of its students. One of the best things one can get out of Art College is exposure to competition and industry standards. Such competition pushes one from being complacent. If you are to be a better artist, you should never be satisfied with what you already know. You should grab the opportunity to learn new and exciting things.

6. Conclusion

Your education might be the most important investment you make in your life. Without proper training, your chances at success are greatly diminished. A proper Art college will certainly train you and equip you with the tools needed to make it big in your profession.

We’d all like to think that posting our resume with an internet job search service like Monster.com or HotJobs.com is the ultimate in convenience and a sure fire way of getting noticed. NOT!

In fact, these internet job search websites suck up thousands of resumes each day. And then they disappear forever, leaving us with a lot of hope and very few results . . . except may be some pitches from resume services and a group interviews to see if you want to learn the ropes as a financial planner.

One expert in the internet job search field says that at least 75% of the listings are generic job postings from temporary service firms and recruiters . . . not actual job openings. What’s more, only 7% of job hunters found new positions through the Internet.

The conclusion reached by job search experts is straightforward: Relying on a digital job search is an all but hopeless strategy. Career changing and finding a job is a step-by-step exercise that can best be achieved through networking. There are no shortcuts. You must locate opportunities, attract interview and negotiate for the best offer.

“The Internet may be the world’s most powerful information and marketing vehicle, but it’s still a trap for the unwary,” according to Tom Jackson who writes for the Wall Street Career Journal.com. He goes on to report, “It’s possible that someone actually received two offers after sending a resume customized by a particular service–but in what decade? Don’t be among the hordes who are duped in cyberspace.”

Does this mean you’re out of luck? If the internet doesn’t offer any real solutions, what’s a serious job seeker to do? Well, the good news is that there’s a system available that can show you how to take the correct approach . . . one step at a time. And if you follow the plan assiduously you can be looking at a good job offer in as little as 14 days!

When you do it right, you can avoid the pitfalls and disappointment of an internet job search.

You want your organization to function as a team. Executive coaching can help. Senior employees’ understanding of generational differences among members of the team can significantly upgrade productivity and motivation.

Different age groups within your operation can bring different benefits and skills to the table. Managing those distinctions can make a huge difference. Tapping the natural, inherent qualities and capabilities of each age group can turn executive coaching into powerful addition to your overall management objectives.

So what are these natural age groups and what makes them tick?

Among your workforce there are typically four groups:

1. Veterans–61 years old and up. To them work comes first. They’re dedicated and can be counted on to follow the rules.

2. Baby Boomers–42 to 60 years old. They’re optimistic. They tend to be political at work. But they value teamwork.

3. Generation X–24 to 42 years old. Work is just a job to this generation. They’re self-reliant and seek immediate feedback.

4. Generation Y–6 to 23 years old. They’re highly multi-tasking. They’ll have multiple careers and are globally oriented.

Put them all in the same room together and you have an amazing stew of talent and perspective which must be harnessed and encouraged in any intelligent executive coaching program.

Cindy Krischer, in Knight Ridder Newspapers, tells about the value of understanding each generation and the contribution it can make. She reports that Alicia Bain, vice president of information systems for Visa International in Miami, says that managers must understand what motivates each generation.

For example, Blain practices informal reverse mentoring as part of an executive coaching effort and taps her GenY workers when she wants to improve on how she finds and book venues for group events. “They always have a faster, better way of getting the information,” she says.

Astute executive coaching utilizing generational differences is just one of the alternative career advancement that a job-seeker can bring to the table that will capture the attention and interest of a decision-maker.

Hiring decision-makers are not interested in what you used to do for someone else. They want you to come forward with a proposal for addressing their needs and the needs of their organization. The extra time you spend researching those needs and preparing for a face-to-face meeting far outweigh whatever time you think you need to spend on your resume.

Executive coaching using generational distinctions will get you noticed. Just like the many other innovative non-traditional career advancement strategies!