Business : Careers

Is there really such a thing as a “true calling” and if there is, how do people find it? Do we each have a dream job that we are, by nature or nurture, uniquely meant for? To answer this question, Chris Ballard set out to talk to people who found work they love way off the beaten path. more...

Price: $19.50

Houses, garages, sheds, gazebos, kitchen cabinets, wood floors, wooden play sets, decks, remodeling projects, built-in bookshelves – what do all these projects, large and small, have in common? They need people with carpentry skills and, in the larger projects, contractors to manage the project. The kinds of projects done by carpenters and contractors are varied in size, scope and value. Someone may hire a carpenter to help frame a new house, or add a deck to the side of the new house, or even to install a built-in desk and shelves into a home office. The carpenter may work alone, or in teams of carpenters, especially in large projects like house framing. On a large project, the carpenters have probably been hired by a contractor, someone whose job it is to study the requirements of the job, estimate the number of carpenters it will take to complete the work in the specified time period and to the standards set by the general contractor in compliance with local and national codes. The contractor may be a carpenter as well, joining in with the work in progress. Or the contractor may be in a strictly supervisory role, inspecting the work as it’s being done to make sure that it will pass the city inspector’s assessment. The contractor will also monitor safety issues on the work site. The contractor may be the owner of the company or be one of many employed by a large contracting firm. In either case, the contractor will have considerable experience and a thorough understanding of the work of the carpenters hired to complete the job. The world of carpentry and contracting offers a diverse and rewarding career for individuals with strong motor skills, manual dexterity and organizational capabilities, as well as those with the ability to visualize beyond a pile of wood into a finished product, whether it’s a cabinet for a laundry room or an entire home. It’s a career field that offers opportunities for both entry level and experienced professionals, and it also offers wor more...

Price: $15.00

Corrections officers contribute enormously to the maintenance of public safety. Corrections staffers must balance the needs of prison inmates with the demands of keeping the inmates safe, peaceful and productive – an assignment that requires utmost professionalism and dedication. COs work in some of the most difficult security jobs in the world, and they have to meet those challenges every day. And every day, corrections officers go home knowing that they have done all they can to keep our families and cities safe from crime and criminals. more...

Price: $15.00

Are you a dyed in the wool needle crafter? Do you have a velvet touch with business and people? Fabric, sewing and quilt store owners do, and you might even say each is cut from the same cloth! In their stores, these careerists sell fabric and notions, as well as sewing tools and equipment. Quilt, sewing and fabric store owners set up shop in converted turn of the century homes, in modern malls, even online. more...

Price: $15.00

Sporting competition is often compared, metaphorically, to war. Football teams lineup against one another, each desperately seeking to gain control of the line of scrimmage – their “front line.” Hockey players brutally attempt to gain control of the puck from the enemy, then as if it were a live grenade, they charge down the ice looking to thrust it into the net. Even tennis players and track stars push their limits in tough competition. If the athletes are portrayed as the combatants, locking horns with their opponents in a grueling test of their physical abilities, then that would make the coaches the generals. They oversee all aspects of the battle. They design tactics with the sole purpose of gaining victory during combat. They train their troops to be in peak physical and mental condition and motivate them to achieve maximum performance. They also take responsibility for their troops’ well being, making sure they receive the very best in care and maintenance for their bodies and minds. Coaches sometimes work individually, but more often they are part of a staff at a college, university, or professional sports franchise. They are responsible for devising successful training regimens and strategic game plans. They need to evaluate talent, recruit new athletes, and manage the athletes they oversee. They must assume many roles, including motivational speaker, psychologist, trainer, mentor, and tactician. The most important responsibility, though, is to make sure the men and women they coach are prepared to compete and succeed – not only in sports, but also in every other aspect of life. more...

Price: $15.00