Archive for October, 2007

Online MBA Program

October 24, 2007

How incredible would it be to finish your MBA online?

Online MBA programs are becoming the preferred method for students looking for ways to earn a graduate degree while keeping their current employment. 

Online MBA programs for professionals who need to earn a degree without sacrificing their job and home lives.  The flexibility that online learning offers doesn’t exist in traditional school settings.

The next 18 months will go by anyway, wouldn’t it be nice to have your MBA?

If you’re considering earning an online MBA, make sure you visit Vocational Schools Guide by clicking here.

Oh yeah,   Congratulations on earning your MBA………. 

Medical Assisting as a Career

October 23, 2007
  medical assisting training
Medical AssistingHealthcare is one of the largest employment fields in the U.S., employing more than 12.9 million people.Healthcare jobs are expected to be among the fastest-growing in the future, with more than 3.5 million new jobs being created through 2012.A career in the rewarding, fulfilling healthcare industry can be yours with the right training. Our healthcare training school partners can give you the training you need for a successful career in healthcare administration, radiology, medical coding and billing, medical technology and other high-demand medical fields.Our healthcare training schools offer flexible program options, including online healthcare training that allows you to fit classes around your busy schedule from the comfort of your home.The healthcare industry needs trained professionals. Get the training you need for a healthcare career and find employment with a future — your future — in the healthcare industry.

Medical Assisting Training

October 22, 2007

Did you know that in less than 18 months you can have a career in Medical Assisting?Healthcare is one of the largest employment fields in the U.S., employing more than 12.9 million people.  Healthcare jobs are expected to be among the fastest-growing in the future, with more than 3.5 million new jobs being created through 2012.

A career in the rewarding, fulfilling healthcare industry can be yours with the right training. Our healthcare training school partners can give you the training you need for a successful career in healthcare administration, radiology, medical coding and billing, medical technology and other high-demand medical fields.Our healthcare training schools offer flexible program options, including online healthcare training that allows you to fit classes around your busy schedule from the comfort of your home.The healthcare industry needs trained professionals. Get the training you need for a healthcare career and find employment with a future — your future — in the healthcare industry.

Setting up your portfolio

October 19, 2007

  • The print portfolio
  • The online portfolio
  • The CD portfolio

Your art portfolio represents you. It is an extension of your artistic experience, education and talent. You want to make sure that your art portfolio reflects your very best work.

Showcase the pieces that make you proudest, even if you have fewer pieces to include in your art portfolio. When it comes to an art portfolio, the quality of your work is far more important than the quantity. Your goal is to successfully show a potential art school, employer, gallery or buyer the kind of work you are capable of doing.

Different portfolios are used for different occasions. Portfolios for galleries are different than those used for buyers, and those are different from ones used for exhibitors or employers. Despite these differences, all art portfolios contain some general items.

Every portfolio should contain a cover page identifying the portfolio owner, an artist’s statement, a current resume, documented descriptions of each piece included in the portfolio and samples of your best work arranged according to a theme or subject. Art portfolios can be compiled in print, online or CD.

The important thing is that you remember to present your best work, organize it in a way that makes sense, customize it for specific needs and keep it professional. If you follow these tips, it should be a lot easier to achieve your end goal of attending school, finding a job, having a gallery showing of your work or even selling your art!

The Print Portfolio

The more traditional print art portfolio is still requested by most schools and companies, especially if print output is their main business function. These portfolios tend to be displayed in a notebook-type case that allows you to add pages as necessary for customization. While these portfolios look professional, they can also be expensive.

A regular notebook with a clean, professional front cover and enough space to properly display your work is ideal for students on a budget. The key is to keep it clean and professional. You don’t want a potential employer, school or buyer distracted from the quality of your work because your presentation is displeasing to the eye.

The Online Portfolio

Having an online portfolio is almost a requirement in our high-tech world. Just like print portfolios, online portfolios are extensive resumés that link to an online repository of your work. Presentation and the careful selection of your work is just as important with an online portfolio as it is with a print portfolio. You are still presenting yourself to people seeking your talents.

You want to make sure that your best is available for them to view. Use thumbnail samples of your work to make pages easy to load and view. Larger pictures of each piece can be available through links from the thumbnails. Keep the navigation clean and easy to follow for easy access to art work of interest. If you are a savvy web designer, consider adding Flash to your online art portfolio. Remember to also include a simple HTML version of your web site for those not capable of displaying Flash.

Another benefit of an online portfolio is that it is essentially a part of your portfolio as it must be designed with thought and creativity just like the other pieces of your work. If you really want to get the most of your online portfolio, secure your own domain name and use your visual communications skills to create a portfolio that is a branding tool complete with logo for your letterhead, business cards and e-mail address.

The CD Portfolio

Creating a CD portfolio is a great way to distribute large numbers of your portfolio when applying for jobs after graduation. By sending a CD portfolio with your job applications, you are giving potential employers a preview of your work before they even call you in for an interview. While this strategy cannot guarantee an interview or job, it certainly increases your chances of being noticed, if done correctly.

The rules for a CD portfolio are the same as for print and online. You are presenting your best work. An easy way to do this is to simply put your web site on CD. Make it clear how to open the index page and hide the other files in a folder so they aren’t visible to the viewer. Create CD labels and CD inserts for jewel cases. The more professional your work, the more you will be taken seriously.

Getting a gallery show

October 18, 2007

 

Art is made to be on display. Whether it’s mounted in a museum, prominently displayed on a coffee table or hung over a fireplace, the beauty of your artwork is meant to communicate with others. Securing exhibition space in a gallery could take your artistic expression from a lifelong passion to a viable career. Art Training Schools has talked with art galleries and artists around the country to come up with a few recommendations to securing successful gallery showings.Before you go any further, you must understand how mainstream art galleries work. They are in the business to make money. If you decide to go with a mainstream art gallery, you must accept that these art galleries will take a share of your profits. Most art dealers make 40-60 percent of retail prices. If you can deal with a lower profit margin in exchange for third-party pitching, an enhanced resumé, increased visibility and greater financial security in the future, mainstream art galleries can take your art career to new heights. Alternatives to mainstream art galleries are non-profit galleries, art organization exhibition spaces, artists’ galleries and studio space. Any of these spaces are a great place to start displaying your work while you wait to get a showing at a mainstream art gallery.

Pitching Your Work to Galleries

Before you begin soliciting art galleries for exhibition space, you must decide your primary objective. Do you want to sell your artwork or just show your artwork? Once you decide what your goal is, you can begin planning your art exhibit strategy. Here are a few things that you must do before contacting potential art galleries:

  • Get slides of your work or very good prints. Make sure you put the originals in a safe place.
  • Get duplicates made, label them and put them in slide sleeves or sheets.
  • Write a compelling cover letter that introduces you to your audience.
  • Write an artist’s statement about your ideas, your work and your techniques.
  • Update your resumé with all contact information, awards, art education, art organization memberships and affiliations and places your artwork has been exhibited.
  • Make sure your portfolio is updated, too.

Once you have completed your pitch materials, you are ready to start contacting art galleries to set up a showing. Begin by visiting the locations you are interested in. Pay attention to how they display the art. How is the lighting? Is the work protected? Does the space look tasteful and appealing? Remember, you are seeking exhibit space for the purpose of selling your work. Contact key people to start the negotiating process. Present your pitch materials. If they reject you, remember to thank them for the meeting and stay in contact with them. Art galleries often book shows up to a year in advance. Send slides of new pieces periodically to keep them interested and familiar with your work. A rejection today can very well be an acceptance tomorrow if you keep the right attitude. If your work is accepted for a showing, get ready. Putting together an art showing in a mainstream art gallery is a lot of work.

Creating a Successful Opening

For a successful art opening, you must create anticipation in advance. You want as many people as possible to attend your art gallery opening, which means your pre-show opening must include an aggressive public relations campaign. Make a list of contacts who you want to attend. This should include art collectors, art critics, friends, faculty and fellow artists. Combine a well written press release with a promotional announcement. Publicize the opening on community bulletin boards, in newspapers, on the radio and on public access television, in local and regional visual arts publications and through e-mail. Plan to have enough food to keep people at the art gallery opening. Finger foods work best as this allows guests to mingle with each other while discussing your work. You will need to practice your presentation before the art gallery showing to make sure you speak with confidence and clarity. You are your best salesperson and no one understands your art better than you. Let people arrive at their own conclusions about your artwork.Make yourself available to speak with potential buyers. The more people understand your work, the better connected they feel to you and the more likely they are to purchase a piece of art. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t sell a lot of your artwork during your art gallery showing. Building a reputation as an artist is just as important as making sales. If enough buzz is generated surrounding your art, your chances of being asked to do art shows in the future, or even being contacted for commissioned artwork, increases. You want to sell your artwork, but you also want to develop a following. When your art show is over, evaluate how it went. Was the publicity strong enough to get people in the door? Was the environment conducive to mingling and conversing about the art on display? Did guests understand your explanations of your work, or were they confused? Was the gallery pleased with the way things turned out? Did you make solid contacts and connections with those in attendance? How can you improve next time? Regardless of how things turned out, pat yourself on the back. You survived and that is something to celebrate. Work on making necessary improvements for your next showing. The more exposure you have, the more successful your art career will be.

Is Art School Right for Me?

October 17, 2007

Quiz – Are creative schools right for you?

Many creative people never get the chance to put their skills to great use. That is unfortunate because there are colleges out there readily available to help students take advantage of these skills! Are creative schools (such as art institutes) right for you? Take this quiz, and find out!

1. How creative do you think you are?

2. Would you be interested in pursuing a creative career?

3. Would you be interested in attending a college that would help cultivate your creative side?

4. What is your dream job?

5. Finally, where do you see yourself in the future? Is it where you want to be?

Arts & Graphic Design Schools

October 4, 2007

art school

Are you creative? Artistic?

If so, you should be doing something with those talents — namely, building a career in art and design. Contrary to the popular image of the starving artist, the world of art offers a wide variety of rewarding careers.

Creativity. Artistry. Style.

These are the characteristics designers bring to the merchandise we buy, the clothes we wear, the publications we read, and the web sites we visit. Become an art director, an artist or an illustrator. Whether your interest lies in fine art, graphic design, photography, fashion design, art therapy, animation, interactive/multimedia design or some other creative field, an art school can put you on the fast track to success.  Successful artists and graphic designers share one more trait — the right training to hone their skills. The right training will be as important as your own creativity, artistry and style.

That’s where we come in. We are partnered with art and graphic design schools that offer the necessary training to quickly build the skills you need to succeed as an artist and gain employment in the field of art and design. You’ll find flexible training in art, design, game arts, graphic design, multimedia design, animation, photography and more. Jobs are plentiful, and so are the opportunities. Get the training you need for a career in art and design. Flexible programs allow you to fit the classes around your busy schedule. With online training options, you can even earn a degree from the comfort of your home — and on your own schedule. Start your search today for a graphic design or art school that offers the training you need, and discover a rewarding career in art and design.

Culinary Schools, Cooking Schools & Culinary Arts Training

October 4, 2007

Executive chefs and head cooks in fine restaurants require years of training and experience. Many slog through years of low-skilled, unrewarding kitchen jobs as they work their way up the ladder.

But you can jump to the forefront of the culinary profession by honing your skills in a culinary school. Finding the right school can help you quickly master the culinary arts and give you an advantage when looking for your future jobs in the best restaurants and resorts.culinary arts

That’s where we come in. We have partnered with culinary schools across the country that offer high-quality training in the culinary arts. Find one near you, and get cooking with culinary experts who believe nothing is more important than hands-on, real-world training. With their help, you’ll quickly master the culinary arts. Our partner culinary schools offer flexible programs designed to fit any schedule. Great cooking doesn’t require a degree or certification —but some great jobs do. Start earning yours now. Search for a culinary school near you and get the training you need to get your career cooking.

Career Training – Vocational Schools Guide

October 4, 2007

More and more people are discovering the value of career training to succeed in today’s fastest-growing career fields.

Career training offers fast, hands-on education that can help you find good pay, lifestyle benefits, career satisfaction and career development, and career training is available in a wide variety of lucrative and fulfilling professions.

In fact, career training in some fields opens doors to earning potential university graduates may not reach.

Career College Search 

Career training is also well-suited to budding entrepeneurs hoping to build their own business. Whether you want to become a massage therapist, accountant, or even earn your MBA, career training helps you reach your goals faster.

Find the right career training for you, with Career Training Schools.

Career College Search

October 4, 2007

Career College

Vocational Schools Guide lists large and small Vocational Colleges throughout the United States. Whether you are planning on attending a 2-yearvocational college or just single vocational classes, our listings contain each type of vocational school or college. Financial aid is available for many of these colleges but visitors will need to contact each school directly to get assistance. Vocational Schools Guide does not maintain specific course, tuition, application, accredation or records of information on specific schools.  All inquiries should be made directly with such schools.  All information contained above is believed to be accurate and reputable.  If a discrepancy is found, please contact the Vocational Schools Guide staff by clicking on the “contact us” link on the left menu.  We are also able to update college information and locations through this contact address.  Featured listings on Vocational Schools Guide are generally for-profit school listings.  These listings help pay for bandwidth and maintenance of the Vocational Schools Guide site. Thanks for visiting Vocational Schools Guide and good luck in your Vocational Schools experience!
-The Vocational Schools Guide staff.