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  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Baker

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Baker

    A lot of people can’t take their coffee in the morning without a pastry or two on hand—be it a cookie, a croissant, or a muffin. And just as there are as many coffee shops in the country, there will be as many bakers as well. There is no doubt that bakers will remain one of the most in-demand careers in Canada.

    Furthermore, the popularity of shows like the Great Canadian Baking Show is testament to the fact that a career as a baker can ultimately be a promising and exciting one. If you are looking into going this direction, you have to know though that it does take a lot more to succeed in the baking industry than knowing how to spread butter icing on pastries…

    Bakers – What You Need to Know

    The main job of bakers is to prepare the baked goods that the establishment offers to customers. For those who work in regular coffee shops or bakery, they are responsible for the typical fare like doughnuts, muffins, cookies, croissants, and others. For those who work in specialty coffee shops or restaurants, they are responsible for preparing items that are more specialized like artisan baked goods or specialty desserts.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a baker can earn an average of $22,519 to $44,702 a year.

    Skills

    To become a baker, training in the culinary arts will be an advantage as some establishments do have this as a pre-requisite for hiring. This will allow them to learn not just about baking essentials and techniques but also about nutrition and food safety. They can further their knowledge by joining an apprenticeship program or any on-the-job training.

    Apart from formal training and the baking know-how, bakers are recommended to be in excellent physical form since they should be able to work well in the kitchen, operate the oven efficiently, and withstand fairly warm temperatures. Sometimes, they are also responsible for loading and unloading baking supplies. Apart from good physical condition, mental alertness is a must. They should have quick thinking skills and attention to detail as they have to always be on their feet to check the progress of their baked goods.

    Bakers can either work under the management of an establishment or work under their own bakery business. Some are referred to as production bakers, and these are those who work in manufacturing facilities that make breads, pastries, and other baked products for distribution in larger establishments like supermarkets or superstores. Whichever the case may be, bakers should have collaborative skills and be able to work harmoniously with others, as well as customer service strengths in order to deal well with customers.

    Pros and Cons

    A career in baking will be rewarding one for those who have a passion for baking or cooking. As bakers, they can also maximize their creative potential as they may be asked to create their own signature pastries.

    However, it’s not all icing on the cake though as being a baker means working mostly in early morning shifts or late evening shifts under quality-monitored environment and strict deadlines. It can also be a physically strenuous job as they are required to stand most of their working hours and have to work with equipment with safety risks such as ovens, mixing machines, and dough cutters. To ensure safety in the workplace, they must always be alert and follow the required safety procedures.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Baker/Hourly_Rate

    https://www.wowjobs.ca/BrowseResults.aspx?q=Baker&s=r&l=&job=KCZnZP4fwr1gfOMNbhDTs-fXg8c0OGw8OXCVkiL8r7d9sdueB22ujA

    https://www.cobsbread.com/careers/

  • Ajustements académiques pour les étudiants du postsecondaire avec des troubles d’apprentissage : quels sont vos droits et vos devoirs ?

    Au Canada, tous les collèges et  universités doivent, légalement, fournir des ajustements académiques pour les étudiants ayant des troubles d’apprentissage. Cela veut dire que vous avez le droit à une éducation postsecondaire — ainsi que tout ce qui en découle — comme n’importe quel autre étudiant. Ce droit vous protège de deux façons.

    D’abord, toute discrimination basée sur  une déficience, incluant les troubles d’apprentissage, est rigoureusement interdite par la Charte des droits et libertés ainsi que par la loi provinciale sur les Droits de la personne. C’est une protection fondamentale qui couvre tous les Canadiens, pas seulement les étudiants.

    Ensuite, toutes les institutions postsecondaires ont établi des politiques pour les étudiants, y compris contre la discrimination. Par exemple, le programme de l’université de Colombie-Britannique affirme, particulièrement, que des exemples de discrimination incluent le refus de fournir des ajustements aux personnes avec un handicap médicalement certifié. Il se peut que les étudiants internationaux avec des troubles d’apprentissages ne soient pas couverts par les lois susmentionnées, mais ils sont protégés par les politiques particulières de chaque école.

    Les institutions académiques s’assurent de fournir un environnement accessible à tous les étudiants. Le mot-clé est « accessible ». Certains étudiants ont besoin d’ajustements académiques, mais ils ne sont pas accordés pour leur donner un avantage sur les autres étudiants. Ces ajustements permettent juste d’aplanir les écueils, de donner aux étudiants un accès équitable. Priver un étudiant avec des troubles d’apprentissage, des ajustements qu’il demande, c’est purement  et simplement de la discrimination.

    Maintenant que vous connaissez vos droits, quels sont vos devoirs ? La liste qui suit n’est pas exhaustive, mais ils sont des devoirs généraux et essentiels dont vous devez vous souvenir.

    1. Le devoir de travailler pour votre formation

    Chaque étudiant doit travailler pour sa propre formation et son propre succès. On vous fournira les ajustements académiques que vous demandez, mais cela ne veut pas dire que vous pouvez vous laisser aller. C’est important que vous assistiez aux cours, effectuiez vos devoirs et étudiiez pour vos tests.

    1. Le devoir d’informer le bureau de l’accessibilité des étudiants ou le bureau du service des handicaps

    Si  vous avez un trouble d’apprentissage qui, vous semble-t-il, donne un avantage injuste aux autres étudiants, c’est votre devoir d’en informer le bureau approprié de votre école et de demander les ajustements académiques nécessaires. Suivant l’institution, le bureau peut être un service appelé le service d’accessibilité des étudiants, le bureau des handicaps de l’étudiant, ou bien il fait partie des services généraux des étudiants. C’est votre devoir de fournir le dossier concernant  votre trouble d’apprentissage aux conseillers qui pourront satisfaire vos besoins particuliers.

    1. Le devoir de demander des ajustements à temps

    Le devoir de demander des ajustements dans un délai convenable est important. Par exemple, un étudiant peut avoir besoin de passer ses examens dans une salle séparée. Cela exige de réserver une salle ainsi que la présence d’un surveillant d’examen. Ces ajustements ne peuvent pas être demandés la veille, surtout pendant les semaines chargées des examens.  Le bureau du service des handicaps ainsi que le professeur devraient être informés bien en avance.

    Les points à retenir dans cet article sont de savoir que les collèges et universités canadiennes doivent, légalement, fournir des ajustements académiques pour les étudiants ayant des troubles d’apprentissage. Ils le doivent, légalement ! Vous n’avez qu’à en faire la demande et prendre en charge votre formation.

    Référence :

    1. http://www.youth2youth.ca/en/be-your-own-advocate/rights-and-responsibilities-for-academic-accommodations
    2. https://students.ubc.ca/campus-life/diversity-campus/discrimination-harassment
    3. https://studentaidbc.ca/sites/all/files/school-officials/disability_services_framework.pdf
  • Academic Accommodations for Post-Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities: What Are Your Rights and Responsibilities?

    Academic Accommodations for Post-Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities: What Are Your Rights and Responsibilities?

    Each and every Canadian college and university is legally required to provide academic accommodations to students with learning disabilities. That means, you have a right to post-secondary education—and all the career and life advantages it entails—just like any other student. This right is protected in two ways.

    One, discrimination based on disability, including learning disabilities, is strictly prohibited by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as each provincial Human Rights Act. This is an overarching protection that covers all Canadian citizens, not just post-secondary students.

    Two, each post-secondary institution will have set student policies, including one against discrimination. The policy at the University of British Columbia, for example, specifically states, “Examples of discrimination include…Denying appropriate accommodations to persons with a medically certified disability.” International students with learning disabilities may not be protected under the abovementioned laws but they are protected by school-specific policies.

    Schools must ensure all their students are learning in an accessible environment. The keyword there being “accessible.” Some students will require academic accommodations, and these accommodations are not to give them an edge over other students. These accommodations are meant to level the playing field, to give these students equitable access. To deprive a student with a learning disability the accommodations they require is discrimination, plain and simple.

    Now that you know what your rights are, what are your responsibilities? The following list is not meant to be comprehensive, but they are general, fundamental responsibilities you should keep in mind.

    1. The responsibility to work on your education

    Each student is responsible for their own education and their own success. You will be given the appropriate academic accommodations you require, but this does not mean you can slack off. It is still important that you attend your classes, complete the assigned homework, and study for your tests.

    1. The responsibility to inform the school’s student accessibility office or disability service office

    If you have a learning disability that you feel gives your non-disabled peers an unfair advantage, it is your responsibility to inform the appropriate office at your school and request academic accommodations. Depending on your school, the office may be a specific department called student accessibility services or the student disability office, or it may be a part of the general student services department. It is your responsibility to provide documentation of your learning disability to allow the counsellors there to provide you with accommodations specific to your needs.

    1. The responsibility to request accommodations in a timely manner

    The responsibility to request accommodations in a timely manner is an important one. For example, a student may require that they write their exams alone in a separate room. This requires booking the room as well as hiring an invigilator for the student. These arrangements cannot be done the day before, especially during hectic exam weeks. The student accessibility office as well as the professor should be notified well in advance.

    The key takeaway from this article is know that Canadian universities and colleges are legally required to provide academic accommodations for students with learning disabilities. They legally have to! You just have to ask for accommodations and take responsibility for your education.

    References:

    1. http://www.youth2youth.ca/en/be-your-own-advocate/rights-and-responsibilities-for-academic-accommodations
    2. https://students.ubc.ca/campus-life/diversity-campus/discrimination-harassment
    3. https://studentaidbc.ca/sites/all/files/school-officials/disability_services_framework.pdf
  • Your Building’s Daily Hero: A Profile of Janitors and Cleaners

    Your Building’s Daily Hero: A Profile of Janitors and Cleaners

    Buildings are filled with different people doing many things. Some buildings have residents living out busy lives with their families. Others have businesspeople helping to lead to great progress and change in the world. No matter what is happening inside, all of these buildings depend on janitors and cleaners to keep the place tidy, organized, and functioning. It is a very physically demanding career path, and one that so many people around the world greatly depend on.

    In general, janitors and cleaners have to maintain a clean appearance for the building they are in and make sure things are working properly. This can mean very different tasks depending on the building you are in. Usually, you will have to collect garbage and remove it. You must also clean washrooms, make sure there is enough soap, toilet paper, and so on. Cleaners must also sweep, mop, and vacuum all of the floors of the building. Janitors get to be physically active, making it ideal for those who do not want to sit at a desk all day. They get to talk to the residents and workers of the site they work at, making it the perfect job for someone who loves chatting with many different people. However, the job can also be very tough on the body and force you to deal with angry people who are upset about the condition of the building. There can be long hours, and you may have to work overnight to get everything done.

    Janitors and caretakers in Canada can expect to earn minimum wage when they first start working. The median income is $17 per hour, and it can go up to around $25 hourly. There were over 202,000 people working in the field in 2014. Even as the world becomes more and more digital, there will always be buildings that need cleaning and maintenance, and so there are expected to be enough job opportunities to meet demand. From 2015 to 2024, there will be around 59,400 people looking for janitorial and cleaning jobs, with about 68,000 opportunities. Despite this, you can expect some competition because there are not many requirements for the job compared to other careers.

    Some employers may require that you have completed high school and have previous experience. However, because buildings are very unique from one another, a lot of places will train you at the site. Depending on where you work, you may have to use equipment such as buffers for flooring, lawn machinery, and steam cleaners. As you gain experience, you can become promoted to a senior janitorial position and oversee other employees at the site. About 38% of employees in the field are in unions, which is higher than the average rate for all careers. This can help lead to greater job security and fair pay even if you are less experienced than a senior staff member.

    Without janitors and cleaners, office buildings and condominiums would be far less organized. People would be getting sick more often from germs, equipment would break down, the site’s environment would be less pleasant, and everyone would be far less productive. This career path keeps you physically active and gives you the chance to directly affect the lives of many different people at the place you maintain. Resident communities and office buildings can only function if everyone works together, and cleaners and janitors play a very important role in that teamwork.

    Sources:

    Job Bank. “Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?action=final&noc=6733&region=9219&s=0&source=6

    PayScale. “Janitor Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Janitor/Hourly_Rate

    SnagAJob.com. “Janitor Job Description.” https://www.snagajob.com/job-descriptions/janitor/

  • The Information Organizers: A Profile of Data

    The Information Organizers: A Profile of Data

    The modern world is filled with data, and technology able to store and organize all of it. This has allowed for advancements across many industries, and it is only possible because of dedicated workers putting that information into systems. Data entry keyers are at the heart of that progress. They are the people taking information and carefully entering it into data entry systems. If you love information, are great with computers, and have a great eye for detail, then this career path is worth looking into.

    Data entry clerks enter letters and numbers using different devices and programs such as Microsoft Word. They have to review data to make sure it is accurate, keep logs of the work they have completed, and prepare materials to be printed. Workers typically get to enjoy a comfortable working environment, such as a clean and well-lit office. Although not physically demanding, the repetitive nature of the job can cause eye strain and injuries to hands and wrists. The long hours of sitting at a computer screen can be difficult to handle. To succeed, it is important that you are patient, precise, and able to sit for many hours focusing on a single task.

    In Canada, data entry clerks can expect to start out earning minimum wage. The median hourly wage is $17.50, and that can increase to over $26 per hour. There were 46,000 people working in the profession in 2014, with their median age being 40. From 2015 to 2024, it is expected that there may be a challenge in finding work due to there being more people than positions. There will be around 12,100 job seekers, but only about 9,900 positions to be filled. Having a strong education is not a major factor when it comes to increasing changes of getting a job. The basic requirement is graduation of high school, while some employers may expect completion of college or other courses.

    Once you secure a position, you can expect your pay to increase during the first five to ten years of employment. Many people have no more than 20 years of experience as data entry clerks. However, the job allows you to move onto many different career paths. It is very common for data entry keyers to become Administrative Assistants, Customer Service Representatives, Office Administrators, Office Clerks, and Accounting Clerks. From there, additional experience can lead to higher-paying positions such as Executive Assistant, Office Manager, Accountant, and Bookkeeper. Depending on the company you work for and the type of data you are handling, there are many opportunities to advance in your career and pursue other jobs.

    Data is crucial in the modern world. However, it can only be used if it is stored and organized effectively. Data entry keyers have that very important role. Work in data entry is very ideal for recent graduates seeking experience. There is not a great amount of education required, the job takes place in a comfortable office environment, and it is the perfect way to get used to the data in the field you are interested in. From there, you can gain further experience and education to advance to other office positions. If you love information, are a fast typist, and can handle repetitive work, this career path might be the one for you.

    Sources:

    Job Bank. “Data Entry Clerks.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9193&lang=eng&noc=1422

    PayScale. “Data Entry Clerk Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Data_Entry_Clerk/Hourly_Rate

  • Career Profile: Translator and Interpreter

    Career Profile: Translator and Interpreter

    There are many different languages spoken around the world, and even in Canada we have French and English as official languages, plus many First Nations languages that are both written and spoken around the country, such as Oneida, Cree, Algonquin, Mohawk, Inuktitut and Okanagan, to name only a few.  Canada also has a strong immigrant population from many different countries, many of whom are fluent in their native languages but still learning to speak English.

    There are also sign language interpreters, who can facilitate communication between speaking and hearing people and people who are mute, Deaf, or Hard of Hearing.

    Even though we all speak different languages, it’s important that we are able to communicate with each other for business and for fun activities.  This is where professional translators and interpreters come in. These professionals are individuals who can speak and/or read more than one language fluently, and will work at translating written documents from one language to another, or act as spoken word interpreters to facilitate communication between individuals and groups.

    Translators primarily work on written text, while interpreters work with spoken words. It is common for bilingual or multilingual people to perform both types of work.

    While it may not seem like it, translators and interpreters are very creative people, as they must translate the language as accurately as possible, while still retaining the meaning, tone, and emotional depth of the original words.

    Translators will often be employed by companies, schools or the government to translate written documents into different languages, including reports, legal documents, textbooks, or software.  They are responsible for revising and correcting their own and other translators’ work, as well as training new translators.

    Interpreters can be employed in all the same venues, but instead provide services for spoken communication.  They can provide their services using their own voice or electronic equipment, and can perform these tasks either simultaneously while someone is speaking, after someone has finished speaking, or as whispered speech to one or both parties. It is common for interpreters to work during conferences, meetings, court proceedings, and other public events.  Increasingly, sign language interpreters are part of these events to provide ASL services for attendees.

    Translators and interpreters are part of a regulated profession in Canada, which means that a license exam or other certification is required to work in this field.  Certification courses and exams are available through the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council.  You will also need a college or university degree in translation, linguistics, one or more spoken or written languages, or a related field of study. Sign language interpreters will also require additional testing and certification through an accredited ASL association.

    Hourly wages for translators and interpreters start around $15 per hour for entry-level positions, up to around $40 per hour for more experienced positions.  Wages will also vary based on what part of the country you work in.  These wages average out to an annual salary between $30,000 and $65,000.

    Sources:

    https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/carrieres-careers/bt_carriere-career_tb-eng.html

    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=5125&action=final&ln=n&s=2

    http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/BoaCom/interpret/Pages/index.aspx

    https://linguagreca.com/blog/2014/11/certified-translator-in-canada/

    https://www.livingin-canada.com/salaries-for-translators-terminologists-and-interpreters.html

    http://www.cttic.org/mission.asp

  • Career Profile: Real Estate Broker

    Career Profile: Real Estate Broker

    Have you ever wondered how someone goes about buying or selling their house or condo?  Real estate brokers are the professionals who work to assist home buyers and sellers to list their home for sale, take offers, and arrange the final sale of a house.

    Real estate brokers can work either independently, or under the umbrella of a real estate brokerage firm which employs real estate agents, which is a slightly different role.  A real estate broker oversees the agents working for the firm, and usually requires additional certifications for the additional responsibilities involved.

    Responsibilities of a real estate broker include soliciting real estate listings from potential vendors and clients, taking care of selling-related tasks such as setting prices, listing and advertising the sale property, and conducting open houses to show the property to potential buyers.  They also act on the buyer’s side, by advising clients on market trends, mortgages, prices, and legal requirements.  Along with buying and selling properties, real estate brokers also assist homeowners who want to rent out their properties to make the rental arrangements.

    While the residential housing market has one of the largest groups of real estate brokers, professionals in this industry can also specialize in industrial, commercial or rural real estate.

    There are no specific degree requirements for working as a real estate broker, but it is a regulated profession that requires completion of a real estate training course and licensing exam in the province you wish to work in.  These training courses and licensing exams are available through your provincial real estate association or council.  Generally, you will get certified as a real estate agent first, and once you have gained some work experience you can take additional courses and apply to be certified as a real estate broker.

    Working as a real estate broker is a great career path for people who want to be self-employed, as the hours you work can be flexible, and real estate offers high earning potential, as brokers will earn a commission on each sale they complete.  However, the nature of real estate means that while your overall earning potential is high, it is often a “feast or famine” industry where you will make a sum of money at a time upon the completion of a sale, but have no other income between sales.

    This means you need to be organized and dedicated to maintaining both a personal and professional budget to ensure you are able to cover your essential expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, food and medical bills, and utilities during the low-income times, and to enable you to put away money in savings during times you earn a large amount from a sale.

    The average salary for real estate brokers in Canada can be around $50,000, but this amount will vary greatly depending on how many sales you complete in a year, what the value of the sale is, and what portion of the sale is paid to you as your commission.

    Because of these variable earnings, many real estate brokers pursue this job as a secondary career path in addition to other full-time or part-time employment. However, this means that you will often have to work on evenings and weekends from your home or a brokerage firm office to do paperwork, show houses to prospective buyers, or meet with sellers who are only available outside of their own regular work hours.

    Sources:

    https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/careers-in-real-estate-ca

    https://realestatelicensehq.ca/real-estate-agents-vs-real-estate-broker-2/

    https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/whats-it-like-being-a-real-estate-agent/

    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=6232&action=final&ln=n&s=2

    https://www.royallepage.ca/en/realestate/join-our-team/new-agent-page/how-do-i-get-started/

    http://comparerealestateagents.ca/real-estate-agent-vs-broker/

  • Career Profile: Bicycle Maintenance and Repair

    Career Profile: Bicycle Maintenance and Repair

    Cycling is extremely popular in Canada as a hobby, a sport and a mode of transportation.  Whether you live in a small town, or a large city, chances are good that there are lots of cyclists riding around. But what happens when a bike gets a flat tire, pops a chain, needs new brakes, or just could use a good cleaning? While some people are able to do repairs and maintenance on their bicycle themselves, others will prefer to take their bikes to a professional.

    Bicycle maintenance and repair persons are skilled tradespeople who fix, assemble and maintain bicycles.  To work in this field, you will need to know how to work on many different bicycle types and brands, from children’s bikes to adult leisure and competitive sport cycles. These workers regularly inspect, assemble and disassemble, install replacement parts and clean the components of bicycles. They will also often demonstrate assembly or repair actions for bicycle owners who wish to learn how to do these tasks themselves.

    Most bicycle maintenance and repair persons will work for either an independent cycle shop, or the bicycle department of a larger chain store that sells bikes. In these positions, they will also be responsible for tasks such as tracking and ordering inventory for parts and supplies, maintaining service logs and providing troubleshooting and customer support to bike owners. In particular, the customer service aspect requires workers who have good interpersonal communication skills in order to demonstrate bike repair tasks, answer customer questions and perform sales.

    To work in this trade, you will need at minimum a Grade 12 high school diploma, but it is increasingly common to complete a college diploma or training program in Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance, as well as completing an apprenticeship of between 2,000 to 2,500 hours in order to attain a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

    Most bicycle repair persons will be paid at an hourly wage, starting around $11 per hour or minimum wage in your province. As you accumulate experience, wages will increase up to around $20 per hour, with the average wage being around $15 per hour. This makes for an annual salary of around $23,000 to $42,000.  If you work in a more specialized field, such as doing repair and maintenance for a high-level sport cycling team or high-end cycle shop, wages can be higher.

    Hours you will work as a bike repair person will be quite regular if you work for a chain sporting goods or department store, as your work hours will likely line up with the open and close hours of the store or mall complex.  If you work for a smaller independent cycle shop, hours can vary a little more depending on the hours of the store.  Both small and large store employment is likely to include evening and weekend hours, in order to accommodate cyclists who are not able to pick up or drop off their bike during what are considered regular office hours.

    Sources:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Bicycle_Mechanic/Hourly_Rate

    http://lefca.org/training/bike.shtml

    https://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?tradeId=303&TradeName=bicycle-mechanic-297c-

  • A Closer Look at a Career as an Art Director

    A Closer Look at a Career as an Art Director

    Being an art director means you take the lead to establish the overall visual aesthetics for a film, publication, and media production. For those familiar with the Academy Awards, art direction is a category by itself because it is just as important as the direction for the actors or even the screenplay. Just think of your favourite films and you’ll see that if they had a flawed art direction, those movies might not have work as well like they were intended to.

    Art directors are not just employed in the film industry. They also work in various industries and media production such as magazines, newspapers, or commercials. Oftentimes they have the final say on the design concept, and they call upon their team made up of graphic designers and others to implement said concept. While this is the case, art directors still need the same skills as graphic designers, and the difference is that they have to have exceptional management and leadership skills.

    Art Directors – What You Need to Know

    Art directors’ main responsibility is to delegate tasks and instructions for the design team to come up with a design concept that are in line with their clients’ needs and ensuring that the project is completed according to the allowed timelines and budgets. They are the ones responsible for providing guidance and direction to ensure that the targets are met.

    Depending on the industry they are employed at, such as at an advertising agency, they are often asked to join the meetings or brainstorming sessions with the clients so they can note what the latter needs or has in mind. After the initial meetings, they are required to communicate and assign accountabilities to their team, which usually consists of copywriters, graphic designers, artists, photographers, stylists, and others. Once tasks are completed, they are responsible for presenting the designs to the clients and wait for the approval or sign-off.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, an art director can earn an average of $40,796 – $85,720 a year.

    Skills

    Like with graphic designers, having an incredible sense of design aesthetics is a requirement for art directors, as well as creativity and resourcefulness. However, as an art director is more of a leadership role, it is an advantage to have completed a degree that lets you acquire competencies not just in graphic design but in other areas as well like marketing management, business management, and visual communications.

    Additional courses or training in leadership are an asset as well, especially if you want to move up the ladder. Business or marketing savviness can also be extremely beneficial, so you would need to continuously brush up on latest business and marketing trends.

    Pros and Cons

    A career in art direction can prove to be a truly exciting one as you work with different types of projects according to different requirements all the time. As they oversee the overall artistic style of projects, they have the authority or the final say, and this is a welcome advantage for most.

    Being an art director though can be extremely demanding in terms of work schedule when you are trying to beat deadlines as per client requirements. There will be the need to utilize skills in conflict resolution and negotiation as well should there be instances where the client is not satisfied with the delivered product.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Art_Director/Salary

    https://www.academicinvest.com/arts-careers/fine-arts-careers/how-to-become-an-art-director

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Teller

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Teller

    At first glance, today’s technological advances with automated teller machines may have decreased the need for bank tellers. However, for most people, when their banking transactions are more than run-of-the-mill ones, they still prefer to work with a live person and interact with them, making tellers an important job that is still a necessity. In essence, a bank maintains its brand and customer loyalty not merely for keeping their services in line with the modern times such as check deposits via a mobile app but also for providing their client base with top-of-the-line customer service staff, including the tellers.

    Quality customer interaction is something that tellers can offer, plus a lot more, putting them in an advantage over ATMs or phone calls. Let us take a comprehensive look at this still popular career.

    Tellers – What You Need to Know

    Tellers are primarily responsible for completing account transactions such as deposits and withdrawals for customers on location. This also involves overseeing precise monetary balances down to the last cent for both the customers and the bank. In most cases, they also attend to customer inquiries and make recommendations as necessary, ensuring that the customers are provided with accurate and comprehensive information on the products and services. Most branches, if not all, do more than traditional banking services these days apart from accounting and finance and credit card but also offer wealth management and insurance services, so tellers should also be knowledgeable in these too.

    Tellers are under the authority of branch managers who may ask them to perform responsibilities such as answering phones and attending periodic meetings to discuss new policies or changes.

    To fulfill such responsibilities, bank tellers will need to be well-versed in the use of banking software or applications and be highly adept in critical thinking and analysis to be able to quickly deduce whether something is amiss with a transaction or not such as fraud or identity theft. They have to be skilled in organization and time management. A high school degree or equivalent is required, and to have a solid background experience in customer service or any frontline position is an asset. Advancement is extremely likely in a bank environment, and it helps to have a degree in a related field like business administration.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a teller can earn as much as $23,682 up to $37,731 a year, and the salary is dependent on the size of the bank or financial institution.

    Skills

    If you are looking at a career as a teller, you would have to complete a high school degree or equivalent. I you want to move forward to high-level positions, it is extremely helpful to earn a diploma or degree in related fields such as business administration. Accounting skills are helpful, but not necessary as you perform transactions via software or applications, but adroitness in computer technology is a must.

    Pros and Cons

    As with any frontline staff, bank tellers have the benefit of customer interaction and thus they get to speak to people of all backgrounds and cultures. Most bank organizations have well-rounded benefit packages for employees, so this is another pro. In some cases, apart from comprehensive in-house training, bank companies also support education prospects for employees.

    A disadvantage is that it can involve working long hours and being available for weekends as some branches now offer weekend banking hours. It can also be a demanding profession during certain times of the week or month when there is a surge of clients coming in such as on pay days.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.job-applications.ca/td-bank-application/

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Teller/Hourly_Rate

    https://www.academicinvest.com/business-careers/business-administration-careers/how-to-become-a-bank-teller