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Career Opportunities for Engineering Graduates and Students

August 26th, 2008
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Aurora
Nihit Aurora asked:


The United States has the world’s largest GDP, which currently stands at around $13 trillion. This makes it the most powerful economy worldwide. Since the United States is the largest manufacturer, engineering is an attractive option for those who aspire to pursue careers in this field. The role of engineering is the application

of knowledge derived from a variety of fields such as science and mathematics to develop solutions for humanity’s practical needs.

Engineering consists of a variety of disciplines, such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and computer applications engineering. Its study requires aptitude and

imagination. Engineering is a highly satisfying and rewarding career field and offers its members prestige in contemporary society.

Currently, engineers are in great demand in the corporate world. There are always requirements for engineers in sectors like manufacturing, software, information technology, and research and development. For this reason, engineers command high salaries and can expect long-term employment opportunities.

The remuneration that engineers receive is commensurate with their experience, so their salary range spreads over a broad spectrum. Employers consider a variety of factors before they finalize salaries. Some of these factors include previous experience, responsibilities, education, training, and employer credentials.

These days, newly graduated engineers can expect to earn approximately $45,000 a year. Senior engineers can expect to earn around $90,000. There is no upper limit for engineers with exceptional experience and skills.

The minimum educational requirement for becoming an engineer is an Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) accredited degree or a degree from a recognized engineering program. Students are required to have an appropriate understanding of high school-level mathematics and physics and some knowledge of computer programming or related studies. Admission requirements vary slightly from one university to another, so it is advisable to inquire with programs’ offices about specifics.

Completing an engineering program is no simple task. The course load is usually heavy, and students need to put in long hours to meet their programs’ requirements and obtain satisfactory grades. Many students choose careers after graduating. Others go on to pursue higher qualifications such as master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, as well.

Many employers require that their employees be professionally qualified; for example, they might need to obtain licenses or become members of professional bodies. Licensure not only enhances an engineer’s status but also reflects competence and positions him or her for advanced employment opportunities.

Furthermore, experienced licensed engineers can anticipate getting impressive projects and prestigious placements. Some employers even reimburse licensure application fees to employees who successfully obtain their engineering licenses. Licensed engineers enjoy considerable privileges. Some government jobs are only open to licensed engineering graduates. In some cases, only licensed engineers can officially represent their companies to public authorities.

Most states have also made possessing a license a legal necessity. Licensed engineers are eligible to utilize the abbreviation PE (professional engineer) after their designations. ABET-accredited engineering degree candidates must possess at least four years of work experience and pass the Fundamental Engineering (FE) Exam. Most states accept additional work experience in the cases of non-ABET engineering degree holders. Candidates are also required to pass the Electrical and Computing Examination, usually referred to as the PE examination.

Even though the path to a career in engineering may sound complex and intricate enough to discourage prospective applicants, it is a path that many have taken in the past and have found immensely satisfying. If an applicant has the right qualifications, a career in engineering is well worth considering.

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BRITTO

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Think Corporate Staffing is Easy? Guess Again

August 14th, 2008
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Aurora
Aurora Brown asked:


Today many placement firms want to specialize in corporate staffing. And why not; it is one field where the returns are high and business is usually good. Companies are willing to pay big money to get the right employee because they don’t want to waste time locating the employee themselves. Most then decide to outsource the screening work to corporate staffing firms.

The two most common forms of corporate staffing are retained search and project based recruiting. In the case of retained search, the placement firm spends considerable time familiarizing itself with the inner workings of the company.

This enables it to shortlist a handful of candidates, suitable for different positions in the company. The list of these candidates is then sent to the company, which may select a few names and ask the placement firm to do another check on them.

Once this happens, the company and the corporate staffing firm can really work together to come up with the right person for the job. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the complexity of the job and the amount of candidates available for it. The role of the placement firm comes to an end when the company appoints a candidate recommended by the placement firm.

There are two major types of recruiting, retained and project-based. Retained search is normally a long-term contract, and works well when both the company and the placement firm develop confidence in each other.

In the case of project-based recruiting, the placement firm uses a team of recruiters. The interviews are carried onsite or offsite, and the selected names forwarded to the company for interview and appointment. There may be occasions when this may be a rush job, and the placement firms have to work hard to get the right candidates.

Besides this, corporate staffing firms also provide consultancy and training, which can be either on-site or off-site. Each of these functions requires a difficult skill set. That is why corporate staffing firms often have a big team. They realize that much depends on the way they select a candidate. One wrong candidate and they may end up losing a lucrative contract. These are just several aspects of corporate staffing; there are more subtle elements and methods within those above, and it really takes the skill and accomplishment of a professional who knows what they’re doing.



BOWLBY

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A Career as a Pharmacist

January 7th, 2008
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Aurora
Nihit Aurora asked:


If you are looking for a rewarding career in the pharmaceutical industry, you might want to think about becoming a pharmacist. Pharmacists dispense drugs that doctors prescribe for patients. Additionally, they advise patients on dosages and side effects. Pharmacists also monitor the health and progress of patients to ensure that patients use prescribed drugs safely and benefit from them. Currently, most pharmaceutical companies manufacture drugs in standard dosages, reducing the need for compounding drugs in the pharmacy.

Overview

Many pharmacists choose to work in retail and community settings, while others prefer to work in-house for health clinics or medical institutions.

Pharmacists who work for healthcare facilities often choose to obtain training in specialty fields like intravenous nutrition support, geriatric pharmacy, oncology, or nuclear pharmacy. Many pharmacists also prepare and administer intravenous drugs to patients, especially those suffering from cancer and other advanced diseases. Additionally, pharmacists are responsible for keeping accurate records of drugs administered to patients. Many senior pharmacists work as faculty members at academic institutions, where they teach, conduct research, and prepare students for graduation and licensure.

Many pharmacists find work with pharmaceutical companies, where they can become involved in research and development. Other pharmacists work in marketing and sales, promoting their companies’ products to doctors, hospitals, and allied health professionals. Other employers include government bodies and public healthcare services.

Employment Opportunities

In the United States, a significant number of pharmacists work part time. Most full-time pharmacists work 40 hours per week with occasional overtime. However, many self-employed pharmacists put in more than 50 hours per week. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 230,000 pharmacy jobs in the U.S. in 2004. Around 24% of salaried pharmacists work in hospitals, while others work for retail and community pharmacies, clinics, healthcare agencies, or the federal government.

Salaries

Pharmacy is a relatively high-paying professional field. In May 2004, the median earnings of pharmacists were between $75,700 and around $95,000 per year. Pharmacists working for department stores earned the highest salaries, followed by those employed by grocery stores, health and personal care boutiques, hospitals, and other general outlets.

Qualifications and Licensure

In the United States, all pharmacists need to have licenses to practice. Prospective pharmacists are also required to possess degrees accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Furthermore, 43 states, including the District of Columbia, require candidates to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). Additionally, candidates licensed in one state may need to pass a reexamination in another state. It is always advisable to check the examination requirements of other states before applying for a licensing examination.

Summary

Pharmacists should be practical and methodical and should have scientific aptitude. They should also have a strong desire to help others. Aspiring pharmacists can conduct independent searches online to find relevant educational institutions and prospective employers in this field.



OFTEDAHL

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