Thursday, December 16, 2010

Careers in Demand

Culinary Schools

One of the hottest career trends is in the food and beverage industry. Even with the economy as it is, people continue to flock to the cities and go out for food and drink. Talented and well-trained people in the food and beverage industry can do very well, and the industry is on the rise. Students attending culinary schools have a lot to choose from. A student can earn a certificate, diploma, or Associate's degree in culinary arts (chef training), baking and pastry arts, or professional cooking. If a management position is the goal, the student can go on to a bachelor's or even master's degree and pursue culinary arts management, restaurant and hotel management, or wine, spirit and beverage management. There is a great variety in the culinary world, and it is well-suited to someone who likes hands-on training and a very active work environment.

Pharmacy Technician

With the baby boomers aging, all careers within the medical field stand to increase. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will be in high demand as the aging population becomes increasingly dependent on medications to stay healthy. A pharmacy technician is specially trained to assist the licensed pharmacist in many duties. The pharmacy technician gives health care products and medications to patients, works with doctor offices and insurance companies to fill prescriptions and get claims paid, orders medications and other supplies, and performs all kinds of non-licensed management tasks. The pharmacy technician is in demand because they are so versatile. Training is available from proprietary schools, vocational and technical colleges, and community colleges. Many employers will even make the training part of the employment.

Teachers and Educators

There is always a demand for people to teach children. Teaching is a fulfilling career for someone who deals well with other people, enjoys learning, and is effective at passing it on to other people. The most successful teachers are passionate about their subject area, and are enthusiastic in passing on their knowledge and passion to others. Students enjoy learning from someone who is excited about what they are teaching. There are many ways to get involved in education. Teachers need to get a four-year university degree, but there is also great demand for teacher's assistants, specialists, and substitutes. Depending on the state or district, a college degree may not be required.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Sweet Employment Opportunities For Pastry Certificate Recipients

Working with food is a very rewarding career for people all over the world. Culinary degrees and completion of pastry certificate programs can lead to endless job opportunities. Similar to many other career fields, the higher the degree the more plentiful opportunities and the higher the salary.

Pastry chefs must be proficient in many skills in order to be successful. They must be able to handle hard work and long hours. They must be able to interact well with other people and be able to satisfy their requests. They must possess a profound knowledge of ingredients and be able to combine them in a pleasant way. Pastry chefs need to be artistic and skillful. They have to have original ideas and be able to present in a visually pleasing manner. Rising each morning at three or four a.m. and baking for hours, before the average person wakes up. The profession demands dedication and perfection.

The up side is the intense satisfaction. Having the ability to create a mouth watering dessert from simple ingredients, being able to build a masterpiece too beautiful too eat, and having the gift of bringing joy to others are worth the time and effort each day.

What kind of jobs do these pastry skills offer? They offer a myriad of opportunities. Bakery work is an option. Making cupcakes, cookies, breads and confections to serve the general public. Many start out as an assistant, gaining skills and experience, and work their way up to pastry chef or owning their own store. Others work in restaurants of all types and sizes making delectable desserts. Hotels offer many possibilities. Catering events and filling room service requests around the clock. Resorts, cruise ships and private clubs all need pastry chefs to delight and satisfy their clients. Someone needs to slather those buffet tables with creamy, chocolate and sinfully delicious temptations. Last, but not least a chocolatier, someone who makes chocolates and sells them.

The sky is the limit as far as salary is concerned. The more experience you have and the higher the quality of your pastries, the more money you can earn. An enormous amount of money is spent each year in the food service industry and pastry chefs have every chance to earn their share. With a pastry certificate and some raw talent your career possibilities are endless.