There are many different career options out there to explore and consider. Finding the exact career can often be a challenge. But if a person knows about all the excellent career choices, he can definitely select one to his liking for the long term.

Exploring Different Careers

A multitude of prospective careers abound in today’s work environment. Some pay better than others, and some are simply much more stimulating and fun even though they pay less. There are great careers in fields such as healthcare, marketing, law, administration, education, human resources, advertising, as well as many choices to have a career as a self-employed individual opening up a business if the traditional workforce is not what’s desired.

People can become mental health counselors, paralegals, nurses, biologists, attorneys, market researchers, copywriters, computer software designers, and satellite TV installers and repair technicians. They can also be carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and roofers and other workers in the rewarding construction trade. It’s all up to the individual in deciding what he would like to do and where his greatest aptitude and abilities lie.

It can be enjoyable to ponder different careers whether one is just starting out in the workforce or is contemplating switching careers from their present one. They might be looking for new and different opportunities or simply to try to earn a better living with increased fringe benefits such as major medical insurance, prescription drugs, dental and vision plans, and retirement plans such as the 401(K). It’s all up to their specific requirements in terms of what they’d feel most competent and confident doing for a living. That’s why exploring career options can be such a positive and rewarding activity.

Some careers have more tangible rewards than others. Some provide higher salaries while others such as a mental health counselor offer many emotional rewards because the counselor is helping her patient better adjust and adapt to her problems. The exact carer choice for either the short or long term can depend on many factors, but an excellent way to start is to take a career assessment test or aptitude test.

Career Aptitude Test

A person can get a career assessment with a free career aptitude test. This is a type of examination that explores the person’s characteristics, interests and abilities of individuals via using a variety of well designed questions for them to answer. The results can directly correspond to the type of career the person would be most suited for. For example, if a person shows high interest in enjoying to communicate, he may be most inclined to pursue a career as a teacher, a writer or a psychologist. Each aptitude test often pinpoints certain traits and interests, such as desiring to work indoors or outdoors, wanting to work more with one’s mind than with one’s hands, or preferring to work with animals over people. The specific responses can accurately gauge the person’s overall success quotient that he’ll have in a particular career far better than if a career aptitude test was never taken.

The Rise of Social Network Ad Spending

With over 500 million users, it makes sense that advertisers find venues such as Facebook to be excellent places for advertisement. Since the year 2008, there has been about a thirty percent increase in advertisement spending on social networking sites yearly. Facebook currently receives half of the spending on advertisement since it has so many users. Myspace receives nineteen percent and the remaining is divided among other social networking sites and applications.

In 2009, the spending was divided somewhat differently. Myspace was almost equal with Facebook, receiving thirty two percent of spending compared to Facebook’s thirty six percent. Since more and more people are turning to Facebook as their social networking site and either away from Myspace or have one of each account, it is logical that the bulk of advertisement would be used on the site which has over 500 million users.

For those who use a social networking site, the idea of this type of advertising is not a novel concept. There are always ads for various things on the side of a person’s news feed on Facebook which is often catered to his or her specific interests. Applications are sometimes developed for the purpose of advertisement as well. Some colleges or career centers offer applications which give potential students a free career aptitude test. This career aptitude test can be used for career assessment and to guide students to their specific programs. A career assessment test or aptitude test is not the only means of using applications to advertise on Facebook or another social media site.

Studies show that the amount of people who regularly use social media as a means to decide which products or services to purchase is very small, varying between one and four percent. The amount of people who sometimes use social media advertisement is higher, varying between ten and twenty four percent. As advertisers know, just because a person does not purchase the advertised product or service upon seeing it does not mean he or she won’t think about it when the product is needed. If a person decides they need to purchase a specific product and have been seeing advertisements for a specific brand of that product over time, he or she is more likely to purchase that brand.

The amount of purchases made based on social media advertisements is on the rise. From the year 2009 to 2010, it increased by five and a half percent. Between 2010 and 2011 it increased by almost seven percent. It is projected that it will increase by an additional twelve and a third percent by 2012 and another nine and a half percent by 2013. Because of this, it is within all likelihood that the amount of money spent on advertisements will continue to increase as well.

So like the Mayans said way back when – civilization ends on the Winter Solstice in 2012. It’s just around the corner. What do you do?

You find some professionals you can count on, and stay close. They’ll know what to do when the cities burn and the seas rage. Many of them may have graduated from your friendly local community or career college. Who are they?

Nurses
They have the power to heal and know their anatomy and medications. When that Buick comes crashing out of the sky and lands on your foot, the nurse will be able to stitch your wounds, set your ankle and treat the burns. They’re invaluable companions in times of physical trauma. They are also especially effective when paired with EMTs, so don’t forget to chase that ambulance!

Auto Mechanics
Obviously you’re going to need to escape from rushing water, burning buildings and pummeling hailstorms, so you’re going to need a fast car that stays fixed. Making buddies with a mechanic is really smart, although you might have to help them carry tools and things. Small engine mechanics are also handy to have as buddies, since they can keep your zombie-killing chainsaw in working order.

Gunsmiths
Talk about your no-brainers. Gunsmiths are experts at keeping firearms functional and fit. They know their ammo, they can fix jammed rifles, and they’re usually pretty good shots, which is handy when the CHUDs come out of the sewers all hungry.

Pilots
There are few ways to avoid massive walls of water, aside from taking your chances in a boat that will likely be thrashed by tsunamis. If you want to get there, you have to take to the air. Also, since there’s a 98% chance that you won’t understand the first thing about getting a jet off the ground, best to make buddies with your friendly local sky captain. Aviation school grads know how to get you safely to higher ground quickly, but they might also need a trusty aircraft mechanic to keep sailing the skies smoothly.

Electronics Technicians
Once things settle down and the smoke has cleared, you’re going to need someone to step up and make the DVD player stop flashing 12:00. Electronics technicians can fix your computers so you can find out which of your facebook friends died, fix your phones so you can call for pizza after a long day of escaping havoc, and fix your big screen TV so you can relax and watch silly disaster flicks like The Day After Tomorrow.

Let Career Explorer help you find technical schools and career colleges near you so you know where to make new friends and avoid disaster! Make a new search now!

A recent report conducted by SRI International for the U.S. Department of Education seems to indicate that it might be.

This report compared online and traditional classroom students and their academic performance levels between the years of 1996 and 2008. Its conclusion? “On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.” This means an average percentile rank of 59th for online learners compared to 50th for traditional classroom learners.

While this report followed some students at the K-12 level, most of the subjects were college-level students. Could this be the end of classroom learning as we know it? Educational experts don’t think so. But they do think our country’s educational institutions will need to keep up with the online learning trend in the coming years. Today’s online learning environment is especially tailored to meet the student’s needs, and technologies such as email, video messaging, instant messaging and collaboration mean that many students will find unique chances to be engaged in their learning. Schools who stay hip to new technological trends can attract some of the best and brightest students.

Education experts see the exciting potential for learning communities and student collaborations that online education can create. They predict that more and more universities and colleges will offer online programs to their students.

Think learning online is the right choice for you? Search for online colleges and universities on Career Explorer today!

Summer is often thought of as the season of light, breezy reading. Romance novels, exciting page-turners, and other carefree types of books are out in full force at beaches, lakes, and pools all around the country. But this summer, you are more likely to see some books with a little more weight. We’re talking career advice books.

People young and old, employed or unemployed are finding words of wisdom in these books. In general, it’s a tough time for the book world. This year, overall book sales have been down 4.1%, according to the Association of American Publishers, but many retailers are reporting increased sales in the career improvement and advice category.

No matter your current professional situation or future goals, there’s a book out there designed to motivate and inspire you. Interested in exploring some of your reading options? Here’s a list of some of this summer’s most popular choices:

· What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles. 10 million copies have been sold since it was first published in 1970, and the text is updated with new information annually.

· Knock ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide by Martin Yate.

· Moms who are returning to the professional world should check out Back on the Career Track by Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin.

· Members of the baby-boomer generation might appreciate the advice in Finding Jobs After 50 by Jeannette Woodward.

· Job seeking “green” lovers could find good advice in Green Jobs: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Employment by A. Bronwyn Llewellyn.

· Classic motivational books like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey are a good choice for anyone looking for a boost of confidence.

As you browse the shelves in your local library or bookstore this summer, you’ll find countless other sources of advice and encouragement tailored to fit nearly every situation. And while buying a new book won’t guarantee you an instant job offer, you may learn new strategies or ideas you hadn’t previously considered.

Have you read any career improvement books that really made a difference to you? We’d love to hear about them!