Month: November 2018
The festive season is characterized by expanded waistlines due to the indulgence that goes on unabated. The average person will gain in excess of 5lbs over this period. A few of us might really be surprised about the whole waistline expansion thing while others find the roast potatoes, chocolates, mulled wine and mince pies too delicious to care about putting on the pounds. The cold weather during Christmas also plays a very big part in ensuring that we put on the pounds due to the simple fact that our bodies need energy to stay warm which translates to more eating. One of the highlights of Christmas has to be the traditional Christmas feast and especially the stuffed turkey and Mullen wine. Families gather for the Christmas festivities and end up swapping gifts for Christmas as they indulge in brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce and the roast turkey. This is also a time that most of us let our guard down and indulge in just about anything that comes our way.
They say a rest is as good as a change, there are some of us who would like to experience a different Christmas altogether especially in terms of the culinary department. Since it is a free world, you have the liberty of treating yourself to some new Christmas culinary delights instead of the usual traditional ones. Who knows, you might as well start your own Christmas tradition. One of the easiest ways to get this done is to let someone take over the cooking business on that fateful day. Christmas holidays make for some of the most splendid ways of spending Christmas. There are package gifts that are ideal as gifts for her while others are best suited as Christmas gifts for him. Such a treat will see to it that you get someone entirely different to do all the pampering for you. Mums will also find such a gift package quite ideal since they are the ones charged with preparations for the Christmas dinner while everyone else gets to enjoy some beer or gifts.
A Christmas holiday might be anything from a night in a local suite to a fortnight in the Maldives. It will all depend on the bank balance that one has. One of the best gift packages that fall under this is the hotel and theatre for two experience. Another great option to avert the usual traditional Christmas dinner is to spend the day at a relatives instead of your place. In this way, you get to relax a little since the responsibility of entertaining the guests will be on someone else. One of the hardest aspects of the traditional Christmas dinner is the fact that you have to feed lots of people at a go. The food is in huge quantities and it has to be done to perfection. If he happens to be interested in cooking, you can always get him a cookery demonstration for two which has been rated severally as one of the best Christmas gifts for him especially if he loves cooking. A recipe book is also one of the best gifts for her if you want to do away with the traditional Christmas dinner.
Rising unemployment rates in the recent past have made hunting for a job a guerilla search. The good news is that while most sectors in our economy have suffered cutbacks in employment, many of them are now back in business and are ready to hire. Here’s what you should be doing.
Still in college or heading there? You have the opportunity to make the smart career choices now that can hone your skills for the job opportunities that are in greater demand today.
Already employed? Now is the time to consider upgrading your credentials with a course that could augment your skills and qualify you for promotions or a new career.
Careers that Show Excellent Growth Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, certain sectors of our economy are showing more optimistic signs of growth.* To enhance your job marketability, below are a few career options you should consider pursuing in 2011.
Healthcare. Its not for everyone, but if you’re looking for the likelihood of job security, this could be the place for your skills. During the recession, the healthcare industry was one of the few industries that actually hired more people. Plus, employment rates have been rising in almost every field of specialization. Career options are open in nursing, healthcare management, medical assisting, and accounting in hospitals and long-term facilities.
Energy Sector. As gas costs continue to rise, focus today has turned to saving energy and discovering alternative fuel sources. Opportunities lay ahead in marine, wind, and solar energies, carbon management, and more.
Business Administration. Business will always require administrators and managers, and opportunities are growing. Sales and customer service representatives are also in demand. Plus, with business gone global, more multinational companies are looking for people who are willing to travel or relocate to different parts of the world.
Information Technology (IT). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT is one of the fastest-growing job markets.** There is a huge demand for a top-level, higher-end IT workforce, which includes talented systems designers and software developers. Internet publishers have good job prospects as well. The IT industry is dynamic, and a bright future could lie ahead for those who can keep up with the pace of information technology.
Good News for Fresh Grads
The job market for fresh grads is growing. Entry-level job postings for candidates with less than one year of experience have increased by 13 percent from the previous year at the end of 2010.***
Courses can prepare you both practically and academically to face real-life challenges in todays job market. There are a wide range of degree programs to consider in order to pursue a career in any of these growing fields, including health sciences degrees nursing administration degrees, information technology degrees and more.
*United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Statistics.” dol.gov/dol/topic/statistics/index.htm
**”Fourth Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report” Beyond.com, Inc. beyond.com/Media/BeyondcomCareerTrendAnalysisReport-4QT10.pdf
***Koc, Edwin and Mimi Collins. “Job Outlook 2011: College Hiring Outlook Positive in All Regions.” NACE. naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Job_Outlook_2011__College_Hiring_Outlook_Positive_in_All_Regions.aspx