by cjxpadmin | Mar 1, 2012 | First Issue, Job Market, March 2012 Magazine
What Can They Teach You About Your Aspirations?
Customer service representative… technical support specialist… administrative assistant… snore! Are you tired of empty job titles that just don’t get you out of bed in the morning? From banana gassing to wrinkle chasing, check out 10 of the most unusual jobs you’ve never heard of and stimulate some fascinating career field exploration.
Unusual Job #1: Ice Cream Taster
John Harrison has the most delicious job in the business. As Official Ice Cream Taster for Dreyers Ice Cream (not to be confused with Breyers), John gets paid to sample three cartons of each flavor daily to check product quality. He claims the gig isn’t all fun and games since he must maintain a strict, spice-free diet; however, being surrounded by Rocky Road sounds like a sweet deal nonetheless.
Find Dreyers Ice Cream Jobs >>
Unusual Job #2: Hair Simulation Supervisor
Believe it or not, those proficient in the art of creating 3-D hair are hot commodities in the world of animation. Just ask Mark Thomas Henne, the man responsible for every follicle flip in Pixar’s CGI blockbuster, ‘The Incredibles.’ According to Nathan Pieratt, Director of the Online Animation Program at Westwood College, the industry has shifted from 2-D design to 3-D digital media, giving rise to highly specific jobs. “This industry is huge,” Pieratt says. “Students are blown away by how hard it is and how exciting it is, too.”
Find a Job in Animation >>
Unusual Job #3: Palliative Care Technician
A cross between M.D.s and hospice workers, palliative care technicians ameliorate symptoms, but don’t cure disease for terminally ill patients. On top of medical training, technicians must be prepared to handle the legal, psychological, and ethical issues associated with death. Online courses like the End of Life Issues Program at the University of South Florida provide medical professionals with background to help patients and families cope with grief.
Find a Job in Palliative Care >>
Unusual Job #4: Banana Gasser
Less flatulent than it sounds, banana gassers finish off what Mother Nature started. To make sure the bottom of your split is tasty, bananas are shipped while they’re still green to prevent bruising. Gassers for the JFC Fruit Company are in charge of moving new shipments into hermetically sealed chambers where the fruit is sprayed with an ethylene gas to catalyze ripening. According to the company Web site, trained gassers use the computer program “Probe” to determine how much gas should be applied and for how long. The process can take anywhere from three to eight days, after which bananas hit grocery store shelves yellow and ready to be eaten. Bon appetite!
Find a Job in Fruit & Produce >>
Unusual Job #5: Fire Scientist
Specializing in experiments involving flame, fire scientists do everything from checking gas pipe leaks to blowing things up. Grads from the University of Maryland’s University College online fire science program not only learn the science behind smithereens,but are also trained in emergency management and arson investigation.
Find Fire Investigator Jobs >>
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by cjxpadmin | Mar 1, 2012 | A View, First Issue, March 2012 Magazine
Oh, the joys of being a dad! Rough housing with the kids, building tree houses with the boys, and, of course, the random tea parties with princes pearly pants! The only problem is trying to balance out your work life and your life as a father. If you’re the good dad we know you are, you want to spend as much time with your kids as possible. But with this economy, work hours are getting longer and time with your family is getting shorter. Here are some things that could possibly make your life a little easier.
1. Keep from stressing out. We know that’s like putting the chicken before the egg, but not stressing out is the first thing that you need to accomplish. More men die of heart problems every year due to anxiety. Taking thirty minutes to an hour out for you each day to just decompress could make all the difference in the world to you. If you have to throw the white clothes in the washer or help to start dinner, just take that time while it’s going to do something for you.
2. Keep from overextending yourself. When you have a lot to do, you tend to try to cram as many activities as you can into your day. But instead of patting yourself on the back for a job well done, you fill it up with more things! You will get more done when you take only a few projects at a time instead of carrying the load for the office. It’s better to get three things done well than to get no things done at all or done badly.
3. Keep from becoming a ghost. Yes, you’re working 18 hours a day. Yes, your boss is calling every 5 minutes, but there comes a point when you have to focus on why you are working so hard — your family and yourself. If you are not taking time for either of these things, then, what is the point? So often, men become so engrossed with making money that they don’t make the time to see their children. Taking time to reaffirm your reasons for working hard is never a bad thing. But take the time to focus on your goals and it reminds your children that you care for them.
4. Keep a positive attitude. There is nothing like thinking happy thoughts! Every day you’re at work, you are one step closer to your dream. Every time you hug your child, you are just a little closer to cementing that bond that will carry you both throughout your lives. You have a goal and you know that though it may not happen right away, you will get there. Just keep the big picture in front of you and move forward. Just remember that the path to your goal may not be a straightforward one. You might have thought you were going to become President
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by cjxpadmin | Mar 1, 2012 | March 2012 Magazine, Uncategorized
We’re not going to cover hygiene. We assume everyone knows how to do these things. We are talking about those unspoken rules that are applicable to a work setting with which you may not be familiar — things that make getting along with customers and co-workers a breeze! Degrees may vary depending on how laid back your job is, but these etiquette rules apply, no matter what type of work you do.
Being Respectful and Courteous. You don’t have to make friends with everyone in your office. In all honesty, you may not. There is a good chance there will be someone at your job you dislike immensely, but that is life. Regardless of how you feel about someone, there is no excuse for being rude to them. There is no reason for you to attack them personally or physically for any reason. Don’t start none and there won’t be none. Staying professional is key in any profession.
Be Mindful of Others’ Work Space. This can be difficult if you’re at stations or cubicles, but running around and just borrowing things can grate others the wrong way. Being asked is always appreciated. You wouldn’t want others randomly taking your things, so don’t do it to others. The things you take may hinder their work or safety, and no one wants to be responsible for a safety hazard.
Be a Team Player. Yes, this can get old rather quickly, but everyone needs help at one point or another. No one is asking for you to come to the rescue of lazy co-workers, but if there is a team member who is falling behind, then, by all means, pick up some slack. That extra help and assistance could make a big difference in your group or unit meeting their numbers or going home on time.
Office Attire. Always dress appropriately for work. Not doing so can make for a difficult and distracting situation with the people you work with, and in some cases, uncomfortable. How you dress is a reflection of who you work for, and if you’re wearing a tank top with torn jeans during a shareholders meeting or while waiting on customers at the grocery store, it could make your boss question your commitment to your work ethic.
Know Your Place. If you are not a manager or supervisor, then, you have no business telling another worker about themselves. Your best and safest bet is to present your concerns to a higher up and let them handle the situation. If it does not affect you personally, you run the risk of making your work environment a hostile one. Your job is to do your work, not police the work of others that are on the same rung of the ladder as you. Being annoyed is not a good reason to address anyone either.
Gossiping. Another word for gossiping is snitching. This is not a problem reserved for women. This is a problem that concerns everyone and it can hurt your work place tremendously. If you are where you’re supposed to be and doing your work, you don’t have time to discuss why so-and-so stayed after work with the boss. If your work is getting completed in a timely manner, then you don’t have to worry about why so-and-so had two lunch breaks. They both could have very innocent reasons that have nothing to do with you. Once you get the stigma of being the office gossip, it’s hard to shake and your boss will wonder why you have so many people running up to your desk every five seconds.
Everyone wants to have an enjoyable work experience and the best way to do this is to keep your work space as problem-free as possible. With a little effort, you can be a rock in any storm and your ability to stay above problems will not only be noted, but appreciated.
