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Top Five Fastest Growing Jobs that Don’t Require a Cubicle

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It’s a simple fact: desk jobs aren’t for everybody. But just because office life isn’t calling your name doesn’t mean you can’t have a job with a good future. There are tons of great, fast-growing career choices that don’t require a cubicle, a swivel chair, or even an office water-cooler.

Here are our top five fastest-growing careers that will get you up and about:

 

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants work with doctors to care for and treat patients. You’ll spend lots of time on your feet, making rounds, evaluating patients, and moving about operating rooms. With the rising demands for healthcare workers, this job is expected to grow a whopping 39% by 2018.

Main Education Level: Master’s degree

Average salary: $86,000

Job Growth: 39% by 2018

 

Athletic Trainer

The basic job of an athletic trainer is to help prevent and treat injuries in all kinds of people—from professional athletes to soldiers. You’ve got to stay on your toes as you work with patients in rehab centers or run onto the sports field when a player goes down. Because of increasing awareness of sports-related injuries, this job is projected to expand 37% by 2018.

Main Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Average salary: $42,000

Job Growth: 37% by 2018

 

Dental Hygienist

Keep your clients’ teeth bright and clean as a dental hygienist. True, you do generally sit to examine a patient’s mouth. But you are also kept on the move walking between exam rooms and setting up X-ray machines. As more people seek out dental care, this occupation is calculated to grow 36% by 2018.

Main Education Level: Associate’s degree

Average salary: $68,000

Job Growth: 36% by 2018

 

Veterinary Technician

Always dreamed of working with animals? This could be your ideal career path. Veterinary techs help veterinarians care for our fuzzy friends by performing diagnostic tests and helping pet owners understand the best care for their animals. Working with pets can a physically demanding job, but the rewards of seeing a healthy animal can be extremely satisfying. Plus, opening in this area are forecast to expand 36% by 2018.

Main Education Level: Associate’s degree

Average salary: $30,000

Job Growth: 36% by 2018

 

Physical Therapy Assistant

Under the guidance of a physical therapist, PT assistants use exercises, massages, and stretching to help patients recover from major injuries. Between setting up equipment and assisting clients, you won’t spend much time behind a desk. As the baby boomer population gets older, demand for physical therapy is expanding. This job is no exception: it’s expected to rise by 33% by 2018.

Main Education Level: Associate’s degree

Average salary: $38,000

Job Growth: 33% by 2018

 

Sources: All job growth and salary information comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

About the guest author:

Annie Favreau is the managing editor for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover a career they’ll love and build strong, successful futures.

 

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Pursuing a Nursing Career in the UK

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A career in nursing might possibly be one of the most challenging in the entire medical field for a variety of reasons. At the same time it is also one of the most rewarding. Nurses run the gamut from direct patient care in hospitals and clinics all the way up to teaching and administrative positions.

Yet the one thing they all have in common is the goal of helping make the lives of patients better through proper care and quality delivery of healthcare services.

 

Becoming a nurse in the UK is not necessarily a difficult proposition, but it does require an investment in time and energy in order to complete your education. Once that’s done, you’ll have the opportunity to go to work in a hospital, clinic, nursing or residential home, research facility, or the military, just to name a few. There are so many options available to nurses that it’s easy to find something you’ll enjoy and thrive in. But remember, it all starts with education.

 

The Nursing Degree Program

For a long time nurses could complete their education through a diploma program at a qualified college. That all changes beginning next year when all nursing programs become degree level. The increased graduate level work is necessary due to the complex environment of today’s nursing careers.

 

During your degree program you’ll spend about half your time in local hospitals and other facilities gaining hands-on experience under the supervision of licensed professionals. The rest of your time will be spent in the classroom learning all the things you’ll need to know to be a successful nurse. Some students find the classroom portion of the program to be more difficult while others have a harder time with the hands-on program. Either way, you’ll have to demonstrate proficiency in the skills you’ve learned before you can begin working as a nurse.

 

Types of Nursing Jobs Available

Once you complete your nursing education you will most likely start work in an entry-level position providing day-to-day care to patients in a clinic or hospital setting. Some nurses will continue their education further in order to become instructors or administrators. How far you want to go in your education and career is entirely up to you. For those who choose to stay involved in day-to-day patient care, there are a number of different career options.

 

Children’s Nursing – According to the Royal College of Nursing, children’s nursing specializes in working with patients from infancy up to 18 years old. Nurses in this sector can be specialists in an infant care unit or work with teenagers and some of their unique medical needs. What makes children’s nursing so challenging is the extra measure of compassion needed to deal with children who may be frightened by their circumstances. Children’s nurses also need the ability to be able to comfort and educate parents and other family members as needed.

 

Adult Nursing – The Royal College of nursing says that the opportunities for adult nursing are “huge.” As an adult nurse you are dealing with patients over the age of 18 in all sorts of settings. Adult nurses work in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and so on. Adult nurses can also choose between specialties such as emergency room care, women’s health, and school nursing.

 

Adult and children’s nursing are the two most common types of nursing jobs in the UK. If you’re interested in something different you might consider mental health nursing, disability and special needs a nursing, nursing administration, and even midwifery. All of these professions enjoy their unique challenges and opportunities. For more information you are encouraged to contact the Royal College of Nurses or a university with a nursing degree program.

 

About the Guest Author:

Debbie Paige runs a free information website dedicated to nursing education. She provides resources for students including career advice, and help finding schools and nursing programs.

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The Growing Demand for a Career in Massage Therapy

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Do you like working with people?

Do you seek a relaxed work environment?

Do you have the ‘soothing touch’ and a passion to help others?

If you answered “yes” to these three questions you might want to consider a career in massage therapy, a field that has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade.

According to bls.gov:

Employment of massage therapists is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists.

But this rapid growth has turned many potential massage therapists away from the profession. These people find it concerning that the average massage therapy school is full of aspiring masseuses just like them. They worry that National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork has slowed the certification process because there are so many new massage therapists out there – therapists who will inevitably be competing with each other for clients and jobs. In short, then, they worry that the massage “bubble” will soon pop and that the field will thereafter contract.

Such concern is understandable, especially in light of the current job market as a whole. But it ignores one important factor at play here: demand.

Even as the number of massage therapists continue to rise, so too does the demand for these professionals. This growing demand is no fluke; rather, it shows no signs of abating anytime in the new future.

Here’s why:

 

Aging demographics

With lifespans increasing, birth rates down, and the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age, the American population is currently older than it’s ever been before – and it will only continue to age in the future. This translates into a tremendous demand for health and wellness services, and massage therapy is no exception.

 

Medical benefits

Recent studies have shown that massage therapy confers benefits beyond lower stress levels and more relaxed muscles. Since a massage can help your body lower cortisol levels and boost lymphatic circulation, it can effectively produce more disease-fighting cells and strengthen your immune system. These findings have made massage therapy an attractive treatment for a variety of diseases.

 

Increased institutional respect

Finally, on a much more basic level, massage therapy’s growth in popularity has translated into greater institutional respect over the past few years. Businesses and corporations are now more likely to include massages in worker benefits and incentives programs.

Health insurance providers are now regularly including massage therapy as a covered medical expense. Both of these measures have the effect of exposing more people to the treatment – and giving them an incentive to come back.

These three factors help explain why the field of massage therapy is experiencing a growing demand that shows no signs of future abatement. If you’re interested in the profession but concerned by the large number of massage therapists out there, you might want to keep these factors in mind as you do more research and further explore the career path.

 

Find more info on massage therapist salary and career prospects at bls.gov website.

 

Are you planning on a career change as a massage therapist? Share your tips!

 


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Start Your Career as a Dental Assistant

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Choosing a career as a dental assistant is a smart decision. Dental assistants have competencies and skills to perform administrative, laboratory and patient care tasks under the supervision of licensed dentists.

According to BLS.gov, Many assistants learn their skills on the job, although an increasing number are trained in dental-assisting programs; most programs take 1 year or less to complete.

If you want to start your career as a dental assistant, then opting for online education is a smart, flexible and convenient way to acquire all the essential skills and knowledge you will be needed to become a successful dental assistant.

 

What are the Job Duties of Dental Assistants?

Dental assistants can successfully run a dental office while performing major roles such as assisting dentists during dental procedures. Being a dental assistant you are solely responsible to work beside the dentist providing assistance during dental procedures in the laboratory and office. Moreover, they prepare patients for treatment, delivering examination instruments to dentists, sterilize dental instruments, process dental x-ray film and prepare materials and much more.

Both part-time and full-time work opportunities are available to the dental assistants. Some advertised positions require X-Ray and CPR certification and mostly some level of computer skills are desirable.

Employment Prospects and Salary Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment options for dental assistants are quite good and they can work in specialty areas such as orthodontics, periodontics, pediatric and dental prosthetics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that job growth is expected to increase by 35.8% through 2018.

Dental assistants can find employment in a variety of health care areas including dental schools, military dental clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. The average yearly salary of dental assistants is approximately $33,170.

 

What Will You Learn in Online Dental Assisting Programs?

Online dental assisting degrees cover courses such as dental radiography, lab techniques, dental office management, dental anatomy, human biology, licensing exam preparation, dental science, chair-side assisting, dental materials, and dental office practices. Students also gain hands-on experience in dental radiology techniques, dental lab procedures and preventative dentistry methods.

Completing a dental assisting program prepares students to pass Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination in order to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).

 

Online Dental Assisting Degree Programs              

Online dental assisting degree programs are available at associate’s, certificate and diploma levels. Individuals interested in getting dental assisting training can choose from any of these dental assisting programs.

Online Associate’s Degree In Dental Assisting: Enrolling in an online associate’s degree in dental assisting usually takes two years to complete and provides students with an in-depth knowledge of dental practices. An online associate’s degree in dental assisting focuses on major core courses and lab courses as well as allows students to participate in clinical rotations.

Online Certificate Program In Dental Assisting: Those opt for an online certificate program in dental assisting will learn about the lab work and clinical rotations, dental equipment and techniques. Certificate programs in dental assisting takes a year or less and equip students with skills and clinical experience required to become a certified as a dental assistant.

Online Diploma Program In Dental Assisting: While online diploma program in dental assisting takes about one year to complete and help students familiarize with the tools and techniques used in dental assisting.

 

In conclusion, starting your career as a dental assisting requires proper training in dental lab procedures as well as practical experience in specialty areas. Pursuing your dental assisting degree program is the best way to get all necessary skills and expertise required to become a certified dental assistant.

 

About the guest author:

Kelly Gibson is a professional webmaster. Her main area of interest is educational research. Check out her blog for affordable online learning options, useful articles on online education, accredited online schools, universities and much more.

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Top 5 Career Options with an Online Health Information Technology Degree

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Individuals interested in health sciences and information technology can opt for an online health information degree as it is tailor-made for people having interests in these fields. An online health information technology degree combines two areas of studies while enabling you to qualify for a job in health sector.

Earning an degree in information technology can be beneficial for a career change or transition to the healthcare industry. Some of the growing careers in the field of healthcare are listed below:

 

1.    Health IT Specialist

Pursuing an online associate’s degree in online health information technology degree allows individuals to become an IT specialist in the healthcare field. As a health IT specialist, you will be responsible for maintaining and updating computer systems as well as medical records that are used in a variety of healthcare settings. Health IT specialists who specialized in specific types of healthcare software and networking systems can also work for health-related businesses and insurance companies.

 

2.    Health Information Technician

Getting your health information technology degree online also prepares you for the position position of medical records and health information technician. As a technician, you are accountable for organizing and storing patient’s healthcare documents, managing different medical records such as doctors’ visits, test reports and treatment plans. For qualifying the position of a health information technician, you’d need an online associate’s degree in health information technology that would give you an in-depth knowledge in computer software programs and data systems.

With regards to salary, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that medical records and health information technicians may earn up to $35,010 yearly.

 

3.    Medical Coder

Individuals who earned an online health information technology degree with specialization in medical coding are eligible for the position of medical coder. Medical coders analyze patient’s health records and assign code so that payments can easily be calculated and assigned. In addition, medical coders also assist with coding system used to bill patients, insurance companies and government Medicare programs.

As far as salary is concerned, medical coders have good earning potential and may earn a yearly salary ranges from $22,311-$48,625.

 

4.    Cancer Registrar

It is another rewarding career that can be pursued by choosing an online associate’s degree in health information technology degree. Cancer registrars are basically special health information technology professionals who evaluate cancer patients’ medical records and allocate codes based on a patient’s disease and treatment plan. They monitor patients’ progress for a long period of time. Later, patients’ medical information is used to determine the progress of particular cancer treatment options among particular individuals.

Cancer registrars may earn a yearly salary ranges between $28,978-$57,529.

 

5.    Medical Transcriptionist

Earning an online health information technology degree can help you prepare for the post of medical transcriptionist and give you all the skills and essential knowledge required for this job. Medical transcriptionists prepare patient’s medical records of symptoms and treatment by listening the audio recording from physicians and health officials. They transcribe autopsy and progress reports of patients, alongside essential points during meetings between physicians.

So, if you are interested in any of these careers, you’ll need to earn an associate’s degree or a certificate program in health information technology that will give you essential knowledge and skills needed for getting a job in healthcare field.

 

About the Guest Author:

Kelly Gibson is a professional webmaster. Her main area of interest is educational research. Check out her blog for affordable online learning options, useful articles on online education, accredited online schools, universities and much more.

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Career as a Certified Nursing Assistant

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Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be a great start to a career in nursing, especially if you want to find out whether nursing is right for you. Here are the basics you should know about a career as a CNA.

Education

All you need to do to become a CNA is complete a training program, which generally lasts between four and six weeks. There are a number of programs available through local colleges, online colleges, medical centers, and even the American Red Cross. Since these programs don’t take long to complete, they don’t cost nearly as much as a full college degree. You can even get financial aid through many programs. After the training program, you must also pass a state licensing exam that tests your knowledge and skills.

Often even the entry level jobs require certification as a Nurse Assistant by the State as well as CPR certification. However for some part-time entry level positions only High School diploma or equivalent might be required.

 

Job Responsibilities

CNAs work in hospitals and nursing homes providing basic care to patients who cannot properly care for themselves. Patients may be elderly, chronically sick, or in rehabilitation. CNAs usually work under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs), which gives them an opportunity to see what a nursing career might entail.

Everyday duties may include administering medication, taking note of patient behavior and symptoms, cleaning patient areas, dressing bandages, and helping with patients’ personal hygiene.

 

Average Salary

It’s more common for CNAs to receive hourly pay than a salary, so your pay depends on how many hours you work.  Those who work full time can typically earn between $25,000 and $30,000 per year.

Note: For part-time jobs salary is flexible and some organizations may offer you extra incentives or pay for working weekends. Usually the work entails around 8 or 12 hour shifts; includes some weekends and holidays.

 

Advanced Career Opportunities

If your job as a CNA inspires you to move up in the nursing field, there are many opportunities available to you. With one year of training, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). An LPN does many of the same things as CNA, but you will be able to work in other settings like private clinics and earn a higher salary. To become a Registered Nurse (RN), you will need two to four years of training, but this will greatly expand your nursing responsibilities and salary. Many RN programs have accelerated options for students with previous experience as a CNA or LPN as well. You may even consider getting your master’s degree down the road, which will allow you to become a nurse practitioner, midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or a nurse anesthetist. As you can see, a job as a CNA is just the beginning of an exciting career in nursing!

 

Is the Schedule Challenging / Demanding?

It sure can be since you might be required to be physically fit to take care of others. You might be performing lifting, pushing, pulling and continuous standing or sitting at your job. Also you might be exposed to infections daily. But appropriate training and regular hygiene and precautions can make this a very satisfying career for an individual who values helping others and wants to carry forth a career or giving.

 

About the guest author:

Cathy Norton has worked as a Registered Nurse in various hospitals for over 20 years. She also owns the site Becoming a CNA which offers resources for those looking to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

 

Info on Red Cross CNA Training Programs


With patience and passion for this profession, you can accelerate your learning process through structured programs and certifications.
Nurse assistants offer mental support mentally to the patients, they also have to take care of every minute detail from washing, grooming, cleaning, and bathing the patients. These are the basic things which a patient cannot perform being physically challenged. On the other hand you should be proficient at certain monitoring skill like checking the pulse rate, blood pressure and temperature.
If you want to make this profession as your career and have the passion to serve people then you should opt this as your career option. It is very also very essential to choose an excellent nurse assistant training centers and if you are planning to do best in this field then you should go for American Red Cross CNA program training.
One of the most in-demand professions is the CNA. The need of CNA assistant is growing day by day and it is one of the most satisfying jobs if you are planning to get into health care sectors.

 

About Red Cross CNA Training Programs and how it is distinguished from others

 

For more than 20 years, the American Red Cross has been providing CNA training program to many candidates who are willing to pursue their career in nursing.
  • It provides excellent training session and good laboratory facility along with online CNA programs. It’s the best choice for candidates who are looking for nurse assistant training.
  • American Red Cross center trains the candidates in such a way that they become well versed in every field. They become more confident and more passionate about their work.
  • The best part of American Red Cross is when you get the appointment letter from the hospital or any nursing homes. American Red Cross American Red Cross candidates get well paid everywhere.

 

As the demand of Certified nursing assistant is increasing day by day in the same way demand for good training center is also increasing. Red Cross CNA Training Programs is considered as one of the best training institute.

 

Information about the Red Cross CNA program – courtesy to Martin Headen, Certified Nursing Assistant through the American Red Cross and CNA Insurance Consultant.

 

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Career in Alternative Medicine

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Alternative medicine is the study that focuses on empowering patients to prevent disease by stimulating the natural process of the body. It is a broad field that caters to healing practices which are useful for treating chronic health problems. Earning an alternative medicine degree online makes you enable to offer medical and healing practices while making the lives of the people healthier and comfortable. Online alternative degrees offer many different fields to study that are available at associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D. to certificate levels.

 

Areas of Study in Alternative Medicine

Students who opt for an online alternative medicine will find a considerable variety of fields that are available to choose from. There are many online schools and colleges which offer online alternative medicine degrees. Some areas of alternative medicine include:

  • Chinese medicine
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage therapy
  • Herbal medicine
  • Chiropractic
  • Naturopathic medicine
  • Indian Ayurvedic medicine
  • Homeopathic medicine
  • Yoga
  • Massage therapy
  • Homeopathy
  • Oriental body therapy

 

Why Opt For an Online Alternative Medicine Degree?

Choosing an online degree in Alternative Medicine could be the perfect decision for those who feel attuned with nature and believe in self healing. Alternative medicine is all about natural healing methods to promote happy and healthier life without using complex chemicals or procedures. Students looking for a career in natural medicine can enroll in online schools to pursue online alternative medicine degree. There are number of accredited online schools that offer top online degrees in all major areas of alternative medicine.

 

Online Course Options for Alternative Medicine Degree

Earning an online alternative medicine degree allows individuals to learn how to heal the body itself, how to treat the entire body and spirit rather than just localized symptoms. Additionally, in an online alternative medicine degree, students will take courses such as acupuncture, midwifery, homeopathy, holistic health, oriental medicine and herbal sciences. Along with alternative medicine courses, students will also take traditional physical sciences courses including biology, physiology, psychology, anatomy and nutrition.

 

Popular Career Options for Grads with Alternative Medicine Degree

Opting for an online degree in alternative medicine allows individuals to choose a number of different careers in specialty areas. Depending upon your level of education, you can choose to become an alternative medicine practitioner and can enjoy satisfying and rewarding career path that affect people’s lives deeply. Some examples of career choices in alternative medicine include:

  • Massage therapist
  • Acupuncturist
  • Herbalist
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
  • Aroma therapist
  • Nutritionist
  • Educator
  • Masseuses
  • Lifestyle counselor
  • Hypnotists
  • Yogis

Choosing an alternative medicine degree is a worthwhile option as it allows students to opt for several challenging and rewarding careers. As a matter of fact, those who choose to enroll in an online alternative medicine degree will have great chances of career accomplishment throughout their entire lives.

 

About the Guest Author:

Kelly Gibson is a professional webmaster. Her main area of interest is educational research. Check out her blog for online college brochures, useful articles on online education, accredited online schools, universities and much more.

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Career Path from Chef to Head Chef

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The culinary arts present exciting opportunities to pursue creative work while also building a prestigious career. Top chefs gain notoriety for their signature style in some of the most exclusive restaurants around the world. Some have even become celebrities through their own television shows, cookbooks, and line of gourmet products. However, the rise to top chef is not a direct line, and there are many steps up the ladder of success. A typical path to success after culinary school looks something like this:

 

Commis Chef

Everyone has to start at the bottom. The commis chef is like an apprentice who works in the kitchen while learning some of the tricks of the trade. You won’t be whipping up gourmet souffles in this position, but will instead be doing a lot of grunt work, er prep work, like chopping vegetables, sharpening knives, fetching measuring cups, and cleaning up the mess. You will work closely with other chefs in the kitchen to learn the basics of food preparation, including different techniques and methods. Depending on where you work, this position could also be called an internship or apprenticeship.

Job Description and possible Responsibilities: (though not limited to only those listed here)

Reports to Sous and/or Head Chef;

  • Assisting and in food preparation, ensuring orders are completed efficiently
  • May be required to assist with other duties within the kitchen – maintaining a clean, hygienic work area, providing assistance to other staff members.
  • Creating innovative, quality-driven menu ideas

 

Chef de Partie

This position — otherwise known as a line cook — oversees one section of the kitchen and preparation of one particular type of food. For example, these cooks may be responsible for cooking the fish, or they could oversee preparation of the pastries. The chef de partie becomes a specialist in this section, then moves on to another. Eventually, training is received in all parts of the kitchen.

Job Description and possible Responsibilities: (though not limited to only those listed here)

Reports to Head Chef;

  • Responsible for the preparation and cooking of good quality food
  • Trains develops new trainee chefs
  • Maintains overall order and cleanliness in the kitchen
  • Able to converse with the clients / guests

 

Sous Chef

The sous chef is the assistant to the head chef and is the second in charge in the kitchen. The sous chef helps to run the kitchen, creating schedules, managing customer relations, plans menus, and oversees ordering for the kitchen. Skilled in all aspects of food preparation, the sous chef can alternately plan special menus, fill in for the executive chef, or take over for a chef de partie.

 Job Description and possible Responsibilities: (though not limited to only those listed here)

  • As the Soup Chef you will be required to make a variety of soups on a large scale from scratch using various ingredients
  • Administrative work including scheduling and training other chefs, inventory check etc.

 

Executive Chef

The last step in your ascension up the ladder. The executive chef is in charge of the whole kitchen, planning and executing menus, hiring and supervising staff, sets the budget, and more. The head chef sets the tone for the restaurant, stamping his or her signature style on the menu. This is the person whose vision leads the success of the restaurant.

The path to becoming a head chef is all about gaining experience and honing skills. These are the traditional steps toward becoming a head chef, but there are many alternate routes that can be taken. Many head chefs started work in a kitchen as a dishwasher and moved their way up from there. Some worked as caterers, and some started in their own business as a personal chef. Restaurants, country clubs, cruise ships, and even small diners provided the setting for their on-the-job training. Every journey is as individual as the chef, and every step influences his or her personal style and ultimate success.

Job Description and possible Responsibilities: (though not limited to only those listed here)

Reports to a food service director;

  • Supervise, train and manage kitchen personnel
  • Oversees quality and effectiveness of the menu
  • Planning expenses, operating costs and other best practices guidelines for food storage and preparation
  • Good managerial and marketing skills and can communicate effectively with clients / customers

 

About the Guest Author:
Bridget Sandorford is a grant researcher and writer for CulinarySchools.org. Along with her passion for whipping up recipes that incorporate “superfoods”, she recently finished research on culinary school and culinary schools in West Virginia.

 

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Career as a Restaurant Sustainability Consultant

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Restaurant Consultants assist restaurant owners or managers on running the business more efficiently and profitably. Consultants are typically hired as contractors by the owners and are non-full time employees of a restaurant.

Now let’s add the sustainability component to your consulting job description – when preparing for a career as a Sustainability consultant you would add another role to your job – how to incorporate green sustainable practices in the restaurant operations and developing customized best practices policies suited to the restaurants needs. Sustainability consultants have an important and socially responsible role to promote sustainable practices in businesses and show them that they can considerably improve their bottom line with energy efficiency and resource conservation.

Overall a very satisfying career – your contribution in conserving resources and reducing the environmental impact is a positive contribution toward reducing greenhouse emissions, overall improved environment and of course – promoting healthy food choices.

Required or expected Education

  • A bachelors degree in environmental sciences
  • Having a management degree in hospitality industry could be to your advantage.
  • MBA related to sustainability
  • Or relevant experience and expertise in the industry

Salary Range

$65,000 to $90,000 and more is a possibility.

Role and Responsibilities

Sustainability consultants support clients (restaurant owners)

Can cover but not limited to:

  • In general: Supporting compliance, operational efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
  • Providing clients with energy usage analysis, greenhouse gas emissions information, sustainable material buying, local food buying best practices and sustainability action plans.
  • Assisting your clients in conserving resources, reducing waste and material and overall reducing the environmental impact of the restaurants’ operation.
  • LEED restaurant development
  • Support or complete the process of green restaurant certification
  • Informing clients on making sustainable food choices for a healthier or organic menu
  • Developing zero-waste programs
  • Helping restaurants achieve or maintain their Conditionally Exempt Small-Quantity Generator (CESQG) status
  • Offer sustainability tips and latest industry news to their clients which can be helpful in furthering the best practices
  • Guidance or training to employees on sustainable practices

Other Supporting Job Titles

  • Green Restaurant Advisor
  • Sustainable Foodservice Consultant

Who’s Hiring Restaurant Sustainability Consultants?

Greening of the restaurant industry is a trend that’s here to stay and restaurant sustainability consultants would see an increase in demand in the coming years.

  • Work independently as a consultant for restaurants.
  • Join Green Restaurant Association in their consulting team.
  • Join some independent consulting firm engaged in sustainable consulting offering to clients. This gives you a wider experience since you can also use your consulting services in non-foodservices area.

Where to Look for Jobs for Restaurant Sustainability Consultants?

It is not very common to find many such jobs floating around – as always what matters is how you present your personal brand, even with little experience what is required is how you can help create a job for yourself. Even though working as a sustainability consults for a restaurant maybe your dream job, keep other options open to work in sustainability area for other companies and use your experience of a couple of years to enter the restaurant industry.

  • LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter could also be good starting point essentials for those who are well into social network. Look up the profiles of those who have “been there done that” in this field. They could be an important information resource to know how to get your foot in this industry or ask for referrals – don’t be shy to ask them to be your mentor. People love to help if they have time and also when asked appropriately.
  • Join Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) which is a premier association promoting professionalism in foodservice and hospitality consulting.

Also, instead of finding out who’s hiring your first step probably should to find out WHY these restaurants interested in integrating sustainable practices? Is it for cost reduction, greening their operations, conserving resources, increasing profitability – the answer could well be all of the above. Work toward presenting a case or portfolio where you can help these restaurants with a study, analysis, example or just your passion in achieving these goals. Even with no previous experience there are quite a few tools available online which you can easily master or present to your clients with examples on instant ROI calculations and increased savings calculations as a result of sustainable initiatives. Some tools, web apps can also help you here – more information below.

Websites and Applications helping Sustainability Consultants

  • Dinegreen.com – Green Restaurant Association website which helps restaurants in Environmental Assessment, Environmental Consulting, Green Certification and Green Public Relations and Marketing.
  • 500gallons.com is a new start-up in the growing field of restaurant sustainability. Encouraging sustainable actions and behavior change, this website can be of immense value to a restaurant sustainability consultant with an easy to use web application: “Use the site for research, customizing the results and informing your customers about the “green steps” that can help reduce their carbon footprints or add to overall operational savings. You also have access to the latest eco-friendly and energy efficient products and equipment in the marketplace which can help achieve sustainability goals for your restaurant clients.”

Using such tools to research and confirm the restaurants sustainable actions you can help market restaurants better – bringing sustainability, profitability and attracting customer loyalty at the same time!

 

What have I missed?

Any other info that you might be familiar with regarding this career – pls do share in comments below.

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What you must know when Transitioning to a Food Service Career

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*By 2020 the National Restaurant Association expects 1.3 million restaurant jobs to be created across all areas of the industry.*

Cooks and food preparation workers held 3.0 million jobs in 2008. Employment of cooks and food preparation workers is expected to increase by 6 percent over the 2008–18 decade. Job opportunities for cooks and food preparation workers are expected to be good because of high turnover and the need to replace the workers who leave these occupations. ~ Source: bls.gov

Considering a career change to the food service industry – here are some important tips that you must know. And before you enroll in the latest culinary schools or all set to acquire the latest degrees in hospitality – stop – your first step is crucial for a satisfying career change. It is gaining more knowledge about this industry and about yourself through some planned research and analysis. What inspires you, what skills that you have currently can be applied to this career transition and what are the viable options for making a good living in the food service career?

And the first step is identifying whether you a Generalist or a Specialist? Take a few hours to find out which of the following appeals to you the most – acquiring degrees thereafter and changing careers then becomes a well-researched step.

 

Identifying Skills and Interest

The Generalist

As a generalist you very well be the owner of a restaurants, hotel or resort. or a general manager – the title says it all here! With responsibilities from managing the facility, hiring people, overseeing finances and revenues, supervising staff and much more.. the generalist can have many responsibilities. Also waiters are generalists, they must be aware of the menu, beverage choices, food ingredients, specials and above all serving guests , customers in the best possible way. If you are looking for part-time jobs joining in as a wait staff / hostess / bus person could be some options to explore.

The Specialist

There are perhaps a lot more specialists in the food industry than those I list here, do share in comments below if you can add on to the list here:

  • Chef or Kitchen Manager – get the kitchen staff organized for efficient cooking and perhaps should know how to prepare all dishes that would be on the menu
  • Sommeliers – wine specialists in fine dining restaurants who focus on wine lists.
  • Grill Cook – specialist in grill cooking
  • Baker – baking specialists
  • Bartenders – specialist in the beverage department

Other than BOH ‘in-the-kitchen’ jobs,  there’s always an option on a freelancing career – as a restaurant consultant. Restaurant consultants assist restaurant owners how to run the business efficiently and profitably. Consultants are usually hired for their services – if you have good finance and technical skills with a passion to enter the food industry this could be a viable option.

For more info on various roles in the restaurant you can visit foodservicewarehouse.com. And for more in-depth information on salary structure, growth outlook there’s of course the best source bls.gov.

 

Researching Job Boards

Your next step is furthering your research on the titles that suit your skill set and passion the most to get a practical idea of what the job truly desires and offers – skill set, salary range, working hours and general demand. Once you are through this step you have a thorough understanding of current job scenario and what the skills that you might want to add to your current portfolio.

Here are a few job boards where you can scan through the job descriptions which often cite the required education, degrees and roles and responsibilities in the food service career.

 

FOH BOH Career Progression

FOH career plan: greeter –> busser  –> back waiter  –> waiter  –> head waiter / trainer  –> assistant manager  –>  general manager

BOH career plan: dishwasher  –> prep cook  –> pantry cook  –> line cook  –> sauté cook  –> sous chef  –> executive sous chef  –> executive chef
(2)

 

General Terminology in Food Service Industry

Some terms that you might like to be familiar with when you begin on the quest for a restaurant career, this also can be your starting steps to your new career – to identify where you would want to work and what options are out there other than the restaurant next door.

  • QSR – Quick Service Restaurant
  • FOH BOH – Front of House, Back of House (dining area / kitchen)
  • Fast Casual – A fast casual restaurant is a type of restaurant that does not offer full table service, but promises a higher quality of food and atmosphere than a fast food restaurant. (1)
  • Family Style – Family style restaurants are a type of casual dining restaurants where food is often served on platters and the diners serve themselves. (1)
  • Casual – A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere. Except for buffet-style restaurants, casual dining restaurants typically provide table service. (1)
  • Fine Dining – Fine dining restaurants are full service restaurants with specific dedicated meal courses. (1)
  • Bistro and brasserie – bistro usually indicates either a fast casual dining restaurant with a European-influenced menu or cafés with a larger menu of food. (1)
  • Bar/Tavern – where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food. (1)
  • Contracted Food Service – Through the contract service food can be served on-site at your restaurant, café, and cafeteria.
  • Catering – Provide (food and drink), typically at social events and in a professional capacity
  • Hotels / Resorts – Hotels and resorts offer wide range of dining options, from bakeries to bars, fast food and fine dining all options might be available here.

 

(1)    : (Source: Wikipedia)

(2)    : (Source Start Your Restaurant Career: by Entrepreneur Press)

 

Have you recently transitioned to a food service career or assist others in doing so? Please do share your thoughts in comments below to help those in transition.

 

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