Archives for: October 2010, 12

10/12/10

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/learning-how-to-network-p-1207.html

In the entertainment industry you often hear it declared the choice is between networking and not working. Anyhow, it seems sensible. Networking applies in different ways to various kinds of individuals, several may enjoy it while for others it is a challenge. But the rewards are potentially great. Networking is not just for those employed in the entertainment industry, it also works well with other industries too.The goal of networking is to make contacts as well as connections that can result in work. In industries like film, a group is assembled on a per project basis. Making a network a continuing process that you will do while working.


According to the Oxford Dictionary, networking is defined as, "a group of people who trade information, contacts and experience for professional or social purposes." Today a great deal of networking takes place on the internet. Linkedln is becoming the primary business networking site on the internet.Creating a comprehensive profile in Linkedln makes it possible to network while offline. Employers or contacts can look at your LinkedIn profile and add details about your experience as well as qualifications.


While online networking is becoming more prevalent in the previous decade it's important not to ignore the significance of offline networking. Certain occasions are posted on the internet which makes it possible for you to practice offline networking. Although, doing it the old-fashioned method, putting some good face time at activities continues to be much more rewarding than a good LinkedIn profile.When you attend such an event it's all about the impact you make. Swapping business cards during these events can be an artform. It's a good idea to take the soft touch approach in that you don't want to arrive off as to pushy, overbearing or opportunistic. Also, you need to be able to market yourself in an exceedingly confident manner, typically people will gain interest if you show confidence.


Learning how to properly network yourself is a skill one has to perfect. It can allow you to enhance your client base and open up your existing business in new and diverse ways. To further raise your career opportunities, networking can open these up as well.

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/college-degrees-and-what-they-mean-p-1206.html

In an age where it seems any successful profession needs some college degrees, there is a lot of pressure on young people (and many adults) to pursue a degree. To be sure, getting a quality education is never a bad idea in itself, but the truth is the significance of college degrees is often a matter of context. In other words, holding a degree counts a lot in most professions, and matters hardly any in others. A college education and a degree doesn't assure you a good job, however with the energy you put in accomplishing it is commendable.


College degrees are essential for some professions, particularly those that are very technical in nature. Some of these professional areas consist of:


•Education (Teaching expertise aren't really innate but rather taught, student management also requires extra skill and effort.)


•Medicine (Medical professions have persons as clients, so you extremely don't want to go wrong here.)


•Law (Lawyers have to learn several things, and the Bar exams are extremely difficult.)


•Engineering/design (It is a very technical profession having to deal with plenty of computations, proficiency is key, a good education will be helpful.)


There are however many professions which don't always require some college degrees. Having a degree may be an edge. Expertise however is much more essential in these fields. Here are some instances of occupations which may not require a college degree:


•Filmmaking (There are a lot of good directors that don't have a degree in filmmaking.)


•Music (Music skills are perfected and enhanced for years, and getting a job in the music industry will most likely require you to audition.)


•Recording (If you're able to work the equipment and make a superior recording, chances are you won't even be asked regarding your degree.)


•Broadcasting (Provided that people comprehend what you are referring to then you will end up with the employment.)


Don't misunderstand; in these areas like film and music, you must still be educated. The expertise you need in these areas however are not taught in conventional education programs but can be acquired through other programs. In other words, the knowledge is most important, not how you came about that information.


The degree is not about that sheet of paper, it is the experience the sweat and blood, the work you do to obtain that degree. A degree basically tells people what you have learned, and with some opportunities, that remains the best evidence. But with other careers, the best way to show what you've learned is to demonstrate what you've learned-by doing it well. These are the professions where college degrees don't carry as much weight.

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/colleges-p-1205.html

There are so many different kinds of colleges available that the prospective applicant can find himself or herself utterly vexed by the process of trying to determine which school out of them all will be the best possible match given the passions, expertise, and goals of that specific applicant. The task of selecting that special college is overwhelming and sometimes you may seem like quitting. Although reversing the process may become a simpler alternative. Rather than trying to figure out which college seems most interesting, why not determine what in life most appeals to you, after which choose the college that will provide something closest to that model.


Before choosing the right colleges, maybe the career you want does not require you to attend college. Since the expenses of college is already difficult than college itself, and you may be repaying student loans for some time. Most colleges on the other hand will not teach you life skills -- only academic stuff -- that could turn out to be tricky since after graduation your company might not be be looking at your grades and paying the student loan might seem unachievable.


College is not for everyone, however we all must work and earn to make our way in life. Think about what you truly love to do, and then arrange for a way to get paid for doing it. If you have an interest in a career in entertainment, unless you intend to work primarily on the business side, you might want to consider some sort of program that places you out in the real world and gives you useful guidance in a one-on-one mentoring scenario. Doing similar work through internships and on the job training experiences will also be a plus and will be an advantage when applying for a job.


Deciding which colleges might be a good fit, or if a college education is even the right choice for you to begin with, can be a trying process, but be sure you really examine what you want before you sign away four years of your life, and sign on for tens of thousands of dollars in debt

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/do-i-need-a-degree-whats-its-worth-p-1204.html

A number of people nowadays wonder "do I need a degree?". Do college degrees actually make you more beneficial after graduation? Many individuals are thinking, since college and continuing education needs time and money. There's no simple answer. While those with college degrees do tend to make more money compared to those without, it's unclear whether the degree alone is the reason for their increased financial security. There are many obstacles in obtaining a degree, and one is money. Paying off the loans that numerous students incur to pay for their education usually takes a disastrous cost on those who estimated that earning a degree would lead to wealth, not debt.


The significance of college degrees nowadays are determined by being able to pay off your loans without getting yourself in trouble and enhance your career opportunities. To have a realistic view, think about the following:


1. This is when a degree can be a burden for you. It won't ensure that you will get a great-paying job right out of school. Competition is stiff, and plenty of other graduates will be lining up for the same work opportunities you want. Be prepared to start out at the bottom and repay your dues. And today with the crisis, with lots of personnel are being terminated, a degree won't certainly help you if you made a decision to work again.


Sound discouraging? Do I need a degree? It can be, but you should also be conscious of the benefits of getting that piece of paper:


2. What a degree will do. For many white-collar industries, it's a requirement. As graduates increase and the standards of the industry increase, employers sometimes do not consider those with a degree, unless you have valuable experience. Depending on the field you want to enter, skipping out on college is probably not an option. It's the beginning of your journey, and allows you to be regarded for the kind of work you want. What else will that degree do? As mentioned previously, it can saddle you with debt that you can spend a lifetime striving to pay off.


So you want that degree, but you don't want to spend the rest of your life reducing your debt. What's the solution?For many, it's choosing the right college, one that will teach you the fundamental expertise you need in your industry, but one with reasonable tuition fees that won't burden you for a long time. There are several alternatives that are cheap yet effective. You can get all the benefits of what a degree is worth, without the debt. So answer the question you've been asking yourself: Do I need a degree?

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/degree-diploma-or-certificate-whats-the-difference-p-1203.html

There are versions in programs between vocational schools and college. Colleges provide you with different kinds of proofs of passing a certain program; degrees, diplomas, and certificates of completion. There are actually distinctions between degrees, diplomas and certificates, and we will discuss the differences here. Although the time and the depth of the program are the determining factors which from the three you'll be getting.


Degrees designed to help students get in on the entry level of most occupations are often undergraduate degrees-either associates or bachelors. The real difference between the two are associate degrees usually take two years and a bachelors degree take four to finish. Associate degrees are designed so that a student can select whether or not to pursue a four-year program after obtaining the associates degree. General courses such as math, english, and a few science classes however are needed in both associates and bachelors degree. Also, it almost goes without saying that a bachelors degree will be more comprehensive and advanced than an associates-and in some professions, that means you're qualified for a higher starting salary.


Diplomas and certificates are similar in that they are not degrees, and typically don't demand any general education classes. The focus for diplomas and certificates are to the training and technical aspect of the chosen area and can take between 4 to 18 months to accomplish. The biggest distinction between diplomas and certificates is in intensity and time-length. Certificate programs tend to be shorter while diplomas take a much longer time and the knowledge more in-depth.


It is very often thought that the biggest difference with degrees, diplomas and certificates lies in how effectively they qualify college students for higher paying jobs-that degree-holding graduates are certain to get better, higher-paying roles than those holding certificates. Although this is not always the case. It depends on the occupation in question, but more employers are beginning to acknowledge certificates and diplomas on equal par with associates degrees, recognizing that sometimes the only thing separating them is the general education requirements. It might be advisable, for you to be hired immediately by obtaining a certificate thus saving on money and time.


There are jobs that additionally need no degree, diploma or certificate as long as you are able. A few examples are recording, broadcasting, and the film industries. Skills are given primary significance in these fields not credentials. Time and money spent on degree, diploma or certificate may be the only difference in some fields. Experience and expertise is still what matters to many companies.

:: Next >>