Industry Highlight |
Career NewsIt's Not Only About MoneyTHE TEENS WHO MANAGE THE COUNTRY'S RICHEST STUDENT-RUN CREDIT UNION LEARN PLENTY (Money Magazine) The Kent Denver School is not your typical school. The private college-prep academy of 620 sixth- to 12th-graders sits on acre after acre of gently rolling hills that unfurl like a flag toward the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There is an extensive library and a state-of-the-art weight-training and fitness center. Tuition is $13,500. Nor is the credit union, a branch of Gateway Credit Union of Aurora, Colo., your typical school project. It is a flourishing financial institution with $2 million in assets, making it easily the largest of some 50 student-run credit unions in the country. Full Text:http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_ archive/2002/01/01/315616/index.htm" Is a Liberal Arts Degree an Advantage?(FOX Business - September 2008) When the job market gets tough, the tough specialize--or at least that's the theory advanced by recruiters and headhunters. But regardless of what the statistics say, some academics and professionals argue specialized degree programs are not always the best preparation for a long-term career. Specialized and technical occupations, which have long been in high demand, are more immune to fluctuations in the economy and job market. As Americans begin to compete with the rest of the world for jobs, there’s no question that those jobs are the ones in-demand. Best Small Businesses to StartLearn from the examples of entrepreneurs who've succeeded in these hot start-up areas (US News & World Report-November 13, 2008) America's economic future is uncertain. Unemployment is up sharply. Credit is tight. People are worried about their savings. So is it a great time to start a business? "Are you crazy?" might be the quick answer. But it's not necessarily the right answer. Starting a business has always been a bold, risky move. Even in good economic times, the failure rate of new small businesses is high. But a well-conceived business can always catch on. So how can a wannabe entrepreneur succeed? U.S. News's Best Small Businesses to Start springs from the idea that those who stand on the shoulders of giants can see the farthest. The entrepreneurs behind the types of start-ups we profile here have defied the odds, finding both profit and an enjoyable, independent lifestyle along the way. Two-Year Degree Required for These Hot Jobs(MSN Careers-January 2009) Two-year degrees, of which an associate degree is the most common, provide training and education for a variety of fields in approximately half the time as a bachelor's degree. Plus, you can earn an associate degree from a local community college for a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree at a university. Also, for most areas of study, an associate degree puts you half way toward a four-year degree should you decide to pursue it later. Based on salary, industry employment and projected job growth, here are 10 of the best jobs for workers with two-year degrees: 25 Best Jobs for 2009(MSN Careers - December 2008) The labor force is expected to increase by 12.8 million workers over the 2006 -2016 period, according to the BLS. Total employment is expected to increase by 10 percent to 166.2 million over that period as well, while an estimated 15.6 million jobs will be added by 2016. While that year seems like a long way off today, a certain number of new jobs will be added each year leading up to 2016 -- including in 2009. Reports Show High School Dropouts Face Financial Hardships(Reuters.com - November 2008) Two Pennsylvania specific reports echo the results of similar previous studies from other regions of the country - High School Dropouts are more likely to earn far less or be unemployed than workers who have earned a diploma. The results of these studies communicate the negative impact that dropping out has on young people, communities, and states. Considering the relationship that exist between earnings and lifestyle choices, and the fact that education and training determines earnings, today's youth must understand the dire consequences associated with quitting school. Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS234863+14-Nov-2008+PRN20081114 Virginia's Career Readiness CertificateThere is great concern in the private sector about the gap that exists between the skills required in today's workplace and those exhibited by potential and incumbent employees. Businesses have trouble finding and hiring people who have basic employable skills and who are therefore trainable for specific jobs. The Career Readiness Certificate is a portable skills credential, assuring employers that a job applicant actually has the basic skills they seek. Virginia's Career Readiness Certificate helps employers by certifying that a recipient possesses core skills in applied math, reading for information, and locating information — skills that are required by at least 85% of all jobs profiled by ACT Workkeys in the country. The Certificate is based on established WorkKeys® assessment tests. (WorkKeys is a comprehensive skills assessment tool recognized by thousands of companies in the U.S. and by state and federal agencies.) To earn a Career Readiness Certificate, individuals undergo testing related to reading, applied math, and locating information through the WorkKeys skills assessment system. The Career Readiness Certificate program is supported by Governor Tim Kaine under the Education for a Lifetime initiative. Oversight of the CRC is the responsibility of the Senior Advisor to the Governor for Workforce Development; administration of the CRC is handled by the Virginia Community College System. Learn more about it: http://www.crc.virginia.gov/index.php" WCC Now Offers Truck Driving Training Program2008-2009 Academic Year Wytheville Community College has enhanced its program offerings to include a Truck Driver Training Program now offered at The Crossroads Institute in Galax, Virginia. This program provides all the basic knowledge and practical skills needed to become an entry-level truck driver, and also provides ample behind-the-wheel driving time so you are prepared when you enter the workforce. This class provides the knowledge needed to receive your Commercial Driver's License (CDL). For admission, a student must: complete college placement tests; be 18 years of age before the program begins; have a valid Virginia Driver's License; have a CDL instruction permit; provide WCC with a copy of his/her official DMV driving record; pass a D.O.T. physical exam; pass a drug test and permit to being randomly tested for drugs and alcohol. For additional information, please contact The Crossroads Institute (276) 744-4980. |
