If you wish to enter into the field of culinary arts and have a strong passion for making breads, cookies, chocolates, cake, ice cream and pies, becoming a pastry chef or a patissier can just be the right career option for you. Though the dessert comes at the end of a meal, it can make or break the taste of the entire course of meal. And the best part is that the demand for pastry chefs is quite strong in the culinary industry. There are several culinary schools where you can enroll into a culinary arts course and get trained in the art of baking and pastry making. Read on to know about the job responsibilities, education and training required and career prospects in this occupation.

Job Description
Since the job of a pastry chef uses a lot of innovative skills, you will never get bored. Whether it is a hotel chain, a resort or a high end restaurant, patissiers are in high demand in the food preparation industry. A pastry chef has the responsibility of supervising all the operations inside the pastry kitchen. You will be handling work include preparation and production of a wide range of pastry and bakery items. Whether it is about making confections, wedding cakes, a range of breads and other specialty items, the pastry chef need to possess creative skills to prepare all of these items.

A pastry chef or a patissier's job description does not involve only preparation of desserts and bakery items, but it may also include looking after administrative tasks including menu planning cost control and ordering supplies. You job responsibilities will prove to be quite challenging, as you will also need to do some research for creating and testing new dessert recipes. Preparation of all the dessert items needs to be done in advance before seating begins for dinner. The challenge is to prepare recipes that are exciting and attract customers. Artwork in pastry making plays a vital role.

The pastry department in a large hotel or high end restaurant may have one or more pastry chefs, aside from assistants and bakers. The pastry chef performs the duties of heading the department supervising other assistants and bakers, planning the menu and making sure the preparation is done in time to be served at the end of a meal. The chef has to take into consideration all the aesthetics involved in the process including the taste, size, shape, color, calories, presentation etc.

Educational Qualification & Training Required
Candidates who aspire to make a career in pastry arts can enroll into a relevant culinary arts course that trains them into the art of baking and pastry making. Today, there are numerous culinary art schools and courses offering courses in baking, pastry making, culinary arts etc. To become a pastry chef or a pastissier, you can get enrolled into one of the following courses.

Baking and Pastry Certificate
Associate's Degree in Applied Science Culinary Arts
Bachelor Degree in Culinary Arts

Certifications courses in baking and pastry making can prepare for entry level jobs. If you are looking for well rounded education, you should go for an associate degree or a bachelor degree. A bachelor's degree in culinary arts will highly increase your chances of landing jobs and make a successful culinary career. Before you get enrolled in a culinary arts program, remember to go through the detailed coursework and check the accreditation of the culinary schools you attend.

Job Skills
Candidates should possess some essential skills and personal characteristics to become a successful pastry chef. Excellent organization skills and detail orientation are crucial to become successful. Other important qualities include creativity, patience, understanding of scientific principles, correct measurement capability, extensive food preparation techniques, people skills, management and business skills among others.
 

Career Prospects
There is no dearth of employment opportunities for candidates with formal training and relevant working experience. You may need to face stiff competition at the start of your career. However, as you grow in experience and skills, you will have excellent career opportunities. According to the Unites States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for pastry chef jobs is expected to grow as fast as the average of all other occupations. As the culinary industry continues to expand, job opportunities will also arise.

Annual Salary
The salary of a pastry chef varies depending on the years of experience you carry and the job position you take. The average annual salary of a patissier or a pastry chef is $35,000. As you grow in experience and acquire more skill sets, the salary can go up to $65,000 annually or more.

Depending on what educational qualification you have, you can choose from a host of career options in the automotive industry. With the advanced technology used to manufacture a wide range of automobiles, the requirement for automotive service technicians also increases. These technicians are expertly trained in the checking, maintenance and repair of a range of automobiles. Even in terms of fuel, automotive can be classified under different categories. For example, an automobile may use electricity, gasoline or alternative fuel. For each of these types, trained automotive technicians are required.

Job Description
There is a variety of automobiles in use today. Technicians have an expert knowledge of how different components of an automobile function together. In case of problem or a fault, the service technicians talk to the owners and then try to identify the problems. To identify the problem, technicians also use an array of tools including computerized equipment, electronic diagnostic equipment and other similar automotive tools. After the problem has been diagnosed appropriately, technicians begin their repair work.

Besides doing checking and repair, automotive service technicians also perform routine checks and test the engine to make sure the automobile functions properly. To work efficiently, these technicians use a checklist of testing and checking that need to be done. While doing routine service inspections, automotive technicians check the proper functioning of brakes, fuel systems, plugs, belts and other related automobile equipment.

With the continuous advancement in the field of automotive technology, the demand for technical and educational qualifications of technicians has also increased. Today, technicians need to know an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the complex components used in automobiles.

Typical responsibilities of an automotive technician includes -

Training & Educational Requirements
Though a high school diploma can land you entry level automobile technician job, most of the employers prefer hiring candidates with formal education and training in automotive service technology. There are several technical schools and colleges that offer training and courses in automotive technology. Internships prove to be quite useful to gain some real world automobile industry experience. Besides having a relevant training and degree, students can also go for additional certifications to establish a successful career in automotive industry. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is provided to candidates in key areas like electrical system, engine repair, air conditioning, brake system, steering etc. Passing state examination and working experience are essential to obtain the certification.

Other Essential Skills
Becoming an automotive service technician can be a right career option for those who have a strong passion for automotive vehicles. To make the most of their careers, technicians also need to possess a host of other essential and interpersonal skills including excellent problem solving skills, strong analytical skills, strong communication (verbal and written) skills and manual dexterity among others. Automotive service technicians should also have a good understanding of how different components of an automobile work. Mechanical aptitude is also required.

Career Outlook
Job prospects in the automotive industry are quite good. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for automotive service technicians' job is expected to grow at 14% from the year 2006 through to the year 2016. Career opportunities will also grow with the advancement and growth in motor vehicles. Job opportunities are also created due to a large number of people reaching their age of retirement and leaving the occupations for other reasons.

Annual Salary
Salaries of automotive technicians vary according to the work experience they carry. Technicians who carry with them less than one year of experience earn an annual salary ranging between $20,800 and $40,000. Those who hold an experience of 1 to 4 years can earn between $23,186 and $40,463 annually.

Whether it is a residential place or commercial, interior designers are expertly trained to design all these and much more. Right from the combination of colors to furniture to lighting effects, these professionals know it all and use a variety of skills to make it leave a wonderful effect on all. Interior designers, while performing their work, also need to abide by a set of rules, regulations and guidelines. They also take into considerations important elements like safety and general aesthetics. Those who aspire to make a career in interior designing may also choose to specialize in an area of their interest. Over the past few years, the occupation has evolved a lot and professionals have many more responsibilities to handle, apart from designing and decoration.

Interior designers work in close contact with licensed engineers and architects. Architectural detailing, remodeling, redecorating and ground up modeling are all a part of the interior designer's job responsibilities. Whatever project you have in mind, interior designing professionals are quite well versed to guide you through the entire design and decoration procedure.

Interior designers' roles and responsibilities also include reading blueprints, understanding fire and safety codes and comprehending building codes among others. In order to successfully derive the design, professionals also need to possess a strong sense of aesthetics. They should have the capability to understand what defines a space.

Interior Designing Procedure
The typical design process remains consistent, notwithstanding the type of the project or space designers handle. To begin with, these professionals first come up with a master plan for the project they take up. The interior designer, therefore, should have the ability to identify the actual requirements and perform the documentation work, referred to as the programming phase. It is very essential to understand what the client is really looking for.

To understand the clients specific requirements, interior designers have a preliminary session where they discuss the needs and prerequisites. The scope of the work, functioning and budgetary considerations become clear in this preliminary meeting. Next, the designer makes a visit to the site where interior designing has to be done. After reviewing the site and taking the measurements, designers also use special software called Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) to do their work efficiently. After the designer has formulated a design plan, they propose the budget that would go in the completion of the project. It is only after several meetings with the clients and confirmation that the actual work begins.

Education & Degrees Required
A bachelor's degree in interior designing is the standard requirement to make a career in this field. Students can also get enrolled into education programs which has postsecondary educational program accreditation. There are several professional art schools and design colleges that offer courses and degree programs in the field of interior designing. The National Association of School of Arts and Design have given accreditation to more than 200 schools whereas the National Council for Interior Design Accreditation has given accreditation to more than 140 bachelor degree programs across the United States.

To make the most of their careers, candidates also need to fulfill some licensure requirements, which may vary from one US state to another. The license is offered by the National Council of Interior Design Qualification. To obtain the license, candidates need to pass an exam, which can be had after 6 years of educational training and working experience under a licensed architect or designer. After successfully passing this state exam, the designer would be labeled as a Certified Interior Designer.

Career Prospects for Interior Designers
There are diverse career possibilities that you can choose from. While choosing to become an interior designer, you can either become a home decorator or specialize in a niche of your interest. Some of the possibilities you can choose from include hospitality, office planning, healthcare, space planning etc. If you want to work towards reducing the environmental pollution, you can concentrate on green design. The interior design industry offers you multiple career options to choose from.

Annual Salary
The salary of an interior designer varies according to the working experience and the type of employer they work for. Many of these designers are self employed and their annual income depends on the number of clients they cater to. Those who are employed with an architectural design firm earn an average starting annual salary of $35,000. With growing working experience and skill set, you can earn higher salary.

The glamour of the fashion industry is quite exciting. If the industry excites you too to be part of this fresh and fast-paced world, a career as a fashion industry can be a perfect option for you. Though you will face stiff competition while trying to make a career in fashion design, the rewarding career that you get will definitely be worth the effort. The fashion industry, however, is not just about clothes. It offers you a range of career possibilities. Whether it is accessory design, footwear design or clothing, you have multiple options to choose from. Even when you pick up clothing, there are various niches to choose from. Before you decide to become a fashion designer, you should be quite well informed of the entire process, job description, education and degrees required and how to have a successful career in the industry. Below, we talk about all of this and much more.

The Industry & the Fashion Design Process
It is quite obvious that the fashion design industry is ever-evolving and is fiercely competitive. However, there can be dearth of opportunities for right talents. From conceptualizations till the completion of the product, the entire process may consume a time period between 18 to 24 months. Thorough research on current trends and making predictions about what the future trend is going to be are always a crucial part of the fashion designer's responsibilities. Designers also need to be active participants at trade and textile exhibitions and shows. They need to keep themselves abreast of the current trend and visualize the design of the products keeping the same in mind.

The design process begins with the selection of textile samples and sketches. Next begins the prototype of the article. To create the prototype, designers use a variety of cheaper materials and create the model. Then, the garments are edited and required adjustments are being made. For the review, the garments are sent to clothing retailers. After the garment design is approved, designers can finally exhibit the designs at trade shows and fashion shows. When retailers place orders for the exhibited designs, the bulk manufacturing process begins and the sale starts.

The same process is followed at all big fashion design companies. Fashion designers perform their work responsibilities throughout the process. There are other fashion designers who work for themselves, creating their own designs and showing it to clients. Experienced professionals can open their own boutique and cater to needs of clients. Many of skilled designers also get employed at television and film productions companies where they make an array of costumes for artists.

Educational Requirements & Training
A bachelor's fashion degree in fine arts is the standard requirement to become a fashion designer. Today, there are several professional fashion schools and colleges across the United States offering accredited degree programs in fashion design. Students can obtain their degrees both via campus mode and online. Around 200 fashion schools, college and universities have received accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Internships with manufacturing firms provide some valuable working experience to candidates.

If you plan to start your own fashion garments business, you can also obtain a degree in marketing or fashion merchandising. The educational qualification enables you to have a business of your own. The typical coursework of a fashion design degree program includes training in textile color study, fashion technology, fashion history, sewing, tailoring, Computer Aided Design (CAD) etc.

Career Prospects & Employment Opportunities
In the year 2006, fashion designers occupied a total of 20,000 jobs in the United States. The highest number of fashion designers employed was noticed in places like New York and California. While landing jobs, candidates may need to face stiff competition. However, candidates with adequate training and educational qualification will have no dearth of employment opportunities. Candidates can land jobs with apparel manufactures, fashion studios, retailers, trend consultants, textile manufacturers and haute couturier among others.

Annual Salary
At the initial stage of your design career, you may start with a starting salary of around $30,000 annually. Most of the fashion designers earn an annual salary ranging between $42,140 and $87,510. With growing skill sets and experience, fashion designers can earn an annual salary of around $100,000 or more.

If you are passionate about making a career in the aerospace industry, aviation technology can be just the right path for you to achieve your goals. The field of aviation technology offers aspiring candidates a host of career possibilities to choose from. And according to the Federal Aviation Administration, job prospects in air transportation will be quite good over the next decade. Therefore, a large number of aviation technology graduates will be required to fill the job positions. The industry is growing and candidates can avail themselves of the job potential waiting for them. Whether you are looking to pursue a career in aeronautical technology, aviation management or professional flight technology, you have some of the most profitable career opportunities waiting for you.

By choosing aviation technology as a career, you can choose from a range of jobs. Most of the people believe that entering the field of aviation just means becoming a pilot. However, an aviation technological career is not just limited to the job position of a pilot. You can also choose to become a maintenance technician, a safety inspector or work in the air traffic control and flight operations department. So, depending on your interest and individual preferences, you can choose to take up a job position and make a successful career in the aviation industry.

Training & Educational Requirements
There are several aviation technology schools offer degrees including associate of applied science and bachelor degrees of sciences and certifications. A bachelor's degree in aviation technology provides students with an in-depth understanding of how to pilot an aircraft, air traffic control and the mechanical and technological aspects of aeronautics. Classes taught in this degree program include flight principles, drafting fundamentals, aircraft instrument systems, aviation law etc. Students also have the opportunity of choosing from air traffic control degrees, aviation administration degrees and professional piloting degrees.

Candidates can obtain their degrees and certifications by enrolling into these degree programs, approved by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Most of these programs take around 18-24 months to complete. Coursework includes subjects like physics, mathematics, electronics, mechanical drawing and computer science among others. Technically, students will be trained and educated in aviation electronics, turbine engines and aircraft constrictions.

Degree programs and courses in aviation technology can be obtained both online and via campus mode. So, candidates have the flexibility to choose an option according to their specific requirements. There are multiple colleges and professional schools across the United States offering relevant courses and degrees for candidates. Online degrees save students both a lot of money and time and provide a lot of flexibility.

Aviation Field Specializations
Each commercial pilot on an aircraft is accompanied by four maintenance technicians. To make a flight travel for one hour, around four hour's maintenance is required. So, if you have a passion for maintenance of complex machines and have an interest in flying, the field of aviation technology offers you a range of career possibilities for you to choose from. Candidates can also choose to specialize in an area of their interest.

Candidates with a keen interest in aviation technology can not only become a pilot. They can also become -

Air Maintenance Technician
Aviation Electronics Technician
Assembly Inspector
Flight Dispatcher
Aviation Safety Inspector
Air Traffic Control Specialist
Aerospace Products and Parts Manufacturer

Career Outlook
With the increasing growth in population and the economy expanding once again, the passenger traffic also increases creating good job opportunities for aviation technology trained professionals. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for aviation industry jobs will grow as fast as the average of all professions, through to the year 2014. Excellent employment opportunities will come to those who are equipped with an aviation technology bachelor's degree and those trained in aircraft mechanics.

Before you choose a graduate degree program to enroll into, it is very essential to evaluate it. But, how can you evaluate it? Well, there are multiple criteria on the basis of which you can decide whether a graduate program is the most suitable for you. When it comes to choosing a graduate school, there are some of the most common and important criteria that people use. Given below are some of the most important criteria that can really help you make a well informed decision when you plan to get enrolled into a graduate program.

Accreditation
There are several careers where you would need to go for an accredited degree program to become successful. However, accreditation is not only program or degree-based, accreditations are also given to institutions. So, students need to consider both the program specific accreditations and academic institution accreditations. Let us take an example. If you are pursuing a degree in law from an unaccredited law school, you will not be allowed to sit for the bar exam. The case is similar with a host of other careers, where licensure requirements exist.

Cost of Attendance & Financial Assistance
College education expenses and tuition fees are rising continuously. And most of us have a tough time when it comes to bearing the cost of college education. Therefore, considering the cost of attendance is one of the most important issues when we consider enrolling into a graduate program. Whether it is the tuition fees, book expenses, housing costs or other similar education expenses, you need to review all the associated cost that you would be bearing. On the other hand, you can also get in touch with the graduate schools (where you plan to get admission) for financial assistance programs. The school may also help in finding you some additional resources for financial support.

Admission Standards
When you consider attending a graduate degree program, it is essential to go through the admission standards of the schools you have short-listed. One good idea is to the check out the total number of candidates applying at the graduate school and the number of seats available. If the competition is tough, it means admission standards are tough. And it is always better to be one among select few so you may receive quality graduate education.

Culture
Different graduate schools may have different cultures. Getting to know the culture of the institution where you plan to get enrolled is one of the most important criteria for choosing a graduate program. It is essential to know about the campus culture and the bonding that the faculty and students share with each other. Graduate schools that match your comfort level and style will offer you a nurturing environment.

Degrees Offered
This is, of course, one of the most fundamental criteria to choose a graduate degree program. What is more important is to exactly know about the degree you are looking for. Can you ever compromise on going for a lesser degree when a degree of your choice is not available at the school? If you are really determined and confident to seek a degree of your choice for career advancement, you should never consider getting enrolled into a lesser degree program.

Faculty
It is quite obvious that the quality of a degree program depends on the quality of its faculty. It is most essential to know the professional background of the faculty who would be teaching you. There are multiple ways in which you can investigate about the expertise of the faculty teaching in a specific degree program. The number of scholarly publications and the national or regional plaudits of faculty members and talking to the ex-students will provide you a lot of information about faculty members at the graduate school.

Location of Graduate School
The location of the graduate school has an important role to play when you consider enrollment into a degree program. After you have enrolled, you will need to live in the geographical location till the completion of the degree; it could mean several years. Apart from that, it is advisable to obtain an advanced degree from a geographical location where you plan to start your career. An advanced degree has the greatest value in the region from where it is obtained. Therefore, always consider the location of the graduate school before getting enrolled.

Facilities
Most of the academic institutions boast state-of-the-art facilities for students. Find out whether the graduate school really offers ‘state-of-the-art facilities for students. More importantly, you need to investigate whether appropriate facilities for the degree program you select are available or not. Infrastructural facilities, corresponding to the program you attend, need to be investigated.

Surrounding Community
Also have a look at the surrounding area and environment of the school you are going to attend. Are you looking for a surrounding which is urban, rural or suburban? Would you like your graduate school to be located in a city or a small town?

Have you ever considered a career as a stockbroker? The major responsibility of a stockbroker is to buy and sell shares for their clients and generate maximum profits. These professionals work for a wide range of clients which may include corporate clients, institutional clients and private clients among others. Depending on their work profile, stockbrokers are also referred to as investment managers or wealth managers. Besides working for individual clients, these professionals also work for investment management companies, stockbroking and stockbrokerage companies.

Job Responsibilities of a Stockbroker
So, how do stockbrokers look after and manage their clients' investment profiles? While buying and selling shares, stockbrokers make profitable decisions on behalf of their clients, offer useful advices to their clients and help them identify right investment opportunities. There are many investment managers that work on behalf on their clients, whereas some others also act according to the instructions provided by their clients. Stockbrokers work in close contact with investment analysts and keep a close watch on the performance of companies and maneuvers of the stock market.

Stock brokers have the responsibility of efficiently managing their clients' investment portfolios. Updates are produces on a regular basis, so as to track the stock market movements and recognize investment opportunities that can bring benefits to clients.

A lot of research goes into the work of the stockbroker. To be able to make the right decisions, stockbroking professionals acquire an in-depth knowledge of the market, government stocks, foreign equities, domestic equities, securities etc. It is only after a great deal of research and market analysis that stockbrokerage professionals advice their clients by getting in touch with them via phone, email or meeting in person. When the client gives approval and a go-ahead, brokers or investment managers buy and sell shares on the stock exchange.

Working hours are long and hectic in the trading business. Cutting edge technology plays an important role in making up-to-date information globally available. Trading businesses operate in large open offices, equipped with large computer screens and telephones. Much of the stock exchange business is done using telephone and internet.

Educational Requirement & Training in Stockbroking
A bachelor's degree in economics, law, finance or accountancy can give your career a good start. There are several investment companies and brokerage firms that also train candidates to nurture their talents and polish their job skills. Postgraduate degrees like an MBA or an MSc will also help candidates who wish to make a career as a stock broker.

If you though this career required only a mathematical mind, you need to think again. Besides being a good team player, candidates also need to have the ability of making decisions independently. Strong analytical skill is essential to be successful in this career. While buying and selling stocks and handling the trading business, professionals need to handle a large volume of incoming information with accuracy. There is a lot of work pressure and the stockbrokerage professionals should be capable of handling all the pressure. A minor mistake can cost thousands of dollars. The broker needs to keep their clients well informed of the movements of the market and when investment opportunities open up.

Career Prospects
Plenty of employment opportunities are available with investment management companies and brokerage companies. Professionals also have the liberty of starting their own business and start working for private clients. Excellent prospects also arise when people are not pleased with their current broker and start looking for a more efficient broker. Both full time and part time employment opportunities are available for professionals. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment growth rate for stock broker jobs is expected to increase at 25%, through to the year 2012.

Annual Salary
The starting salary offered in the U.S. is around $17,000. Those with five years of working experience earn an annual salary ranging between $30,000 and $49,000. With growing experience and skill set, a stockbroker's annual salary can go as high as $100,000 or more. The career becomes even more profitable when stockbrokers become fund managers and start functioning as independent consultants to banks and investment companies.