In today’s ever changing landscape there are certain jobs that have become obsolete as new technology has advanced. Well, the same thing applies for jobs that don’t even exist yet. So how does someone even study something that doesn’t exist? Well there is hope! A lot of what someone learns in college can be applied to other areas that will eventually be in hot demand.
Some jobs coming to the forefront are 3D printing engineers and alternative currency bankers, which a lot of people are saying will be very in demand by 2020. We are already seeing a lot of discussion about BitCoin, a type of digital currency, and how some retailers are adopting this form of currency alongside paper money. And according to Javelin Strategies, 20% of all online trades is done with alternative currency. And 3D printing is a hot topic right now since artists, architects and engineers are using this medium to create practically anything they want! The possibilities are endless.
The whole point is to take what you are learning now and think about how it can applied in a modern world. Even if you are not a STEM major, take myself for example, I can still apply my skills to an ever evolving world.
For more information on jobs that don’t exist yet check out these sites. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your dream career and you didn’t even know it existed!
When most people think of hypnosis, or anything to do with it, they think of that one magician that came to their high school grad night that made someone think their shoe was a phone or making you think your bellybutton was gone. Well, that’s not exactly the case.
According to Leslie Graff, a practicing hypnotherapist, hypnosis is an “altered yet natural state”. What does this mean? It just means that you are aware of your surroundings but you are very relaxed which allows your mind to be more open towards suggestion. Interestingly enough, we experience some type of hypnosis every day. Graff says that a good example of being in a state of trance (or hypnosis) is driving somewhere but you are on auto-pilot, as in you don’t really remember how you got from point A to point B. That’s hypnosis! Other misconceptions include doing things you wouldn’t normally do (like the shoe as a phone example) or getting “stuck” in hypnosis and not waking up. By clinical standards, these are false.
Hypnotherapy is used to combat a number of issues that people experience. Those include people with addictions like smoking, alchohol, drugs or even bad habits that you want to break. Other things include managing stress and overcoming fears and anxieties.
Personally, I have been put into hypnosis by a licensed psychologist and it was very interesting. I would describe it as only hearing their voice in a room, almost like tunnel vision, and I was very calm and relaxed. No other thoughts were entering my head, only the psychologist’s voice. I was acutely aware of my surroundings, especially my hearing. My other senses were not as enhanced but rather dimmed so I could focus on the psychologist’s voice. After he brought me out of hypnosis I felt like I had just woken up from an energizing nap and I could recall to him exactly what I had experienced during it. A very enlightening experience for anyone!
So how does one become a hypnotherapist? The most common way is through a long course with an instructor who’s course has been credentialed by one or more professional hypnosis associations, according to Dr. Roy Hunter. Dr. Hunter is a professional hypnotherapist who has been practicing for more than 20 years and who received an honorary doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy from St. John’s University in 2004. As well he has his Ph.D in clinical hypnotherapy from Alpha and California University which he received in 2009. He has received too many awards and accolades to count in the hypnotherapy field and is considered one of the top people in this profession.
Dr. Hunter personally became a hypnotherapist because he was a stressed out manager for an insurance company and he was told by his doctor to reduce the stress or he would be at risk for serious health complications from it. Most people are stressed out at least a little bit, but he was at the point where it was going to kill him! His friend recommended he try hypnotherapy and he learned from a hypnotherapist how to do self-hypnosis in order to manage stress. This eventually lead to him leaving insurance so he could help others to improve their quality of life since his had improved so much from this treatment.
Hypnotherapy may not work for everyone though! As Graff puts it, some people are closed off and unresponsive by choice. This can happen if people are unwilling to relax or are too afraid to give up control so to speak. Other times people try too hard to be hypnotized!
All in all, hypnotherapy is a fascinating profession that can be incorporated into psychology treatments or practiced on it’s own.
For more information, go ahead and check out Dr. Roy Hunter’s website. He has a great FAQ that explains hypnotherapy, as well visit the University of Maryland’s FAQ page to learn more about what is it, how a session is conducted, what happens during a session and how to find a hypnotherapist.
Here is a self-hypnosis video to give everyone an idea of what it may sound like. This one is focused on sleep if you are someone who suffers from insomnia or just want something relaxing to listen to before going to bed. If you like these, search “self hypnosis” on YouTube. Enjoy!
I have many friends that work in some type of customer service setting, whether it’s being a hostess or working at the local grocery store. And many of them tell me how they need to pay their bills but they also want to get something else out of the job that they can apply towards their future careers. There are other options that meet all those requirements that students (and others) may not know about!
I found out about the AmeriCorps State and National program through my own family since my brother decided to apply for the part-time program. I had no idea what it was, so I did some research on my own. And I found out that it’s a great opportunity to get real life experience and money to pay for college after your term of service is completed.
So let’s break it down as to what it is and how it’s beneficial for college students today.
The State and National program helps local communities through their members by providing education, public safety, health and cleaning up the environment to improve the overall quality of life in critical areas. So this could mean tutoring at risk children, improve health services, teaching critical skills, help clean up local parks and much more! As well, there is an awesome incentive they provide after a member completes their term of service: the Segal AmeriCorps Education Reward. This provides a member for up to $5,500 to go to education costs! I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a great deal. For part-time members it may only be a partial amount, but something is better than nothing.
But wait, there’s more.
Not only do they provide this education award, but during your service the program can provide a living allowance. They definitely do say you will not be living the high life off of it, but you will be able to pay your bills.
Their website also states that they can provide health coverage and child care to those who qualify, which is a lot more than many jobs offer today.
So if you are 17 years old or older, in college or thinking about how to pay off your student loans, wanting to build new skills and connections as well as put something awesome on your resume, then definitely check out their website and for any opportunities in your area.
It’s a great opportunity and at the end of the day you will feel accomplished knowing you are helping out in your own backyard.
As a college student, I’m always looking for a job that can be flexible around my school schedule without having to grovel on my knees to a manager. I know many people love the ability to not feel tied down to a strict schedule and it’s necessary when dealing you are juggling with multiple things at once (and in this economy it’s worth checking into all job avenues). Work-at-home jobs are great because one, you get to wear your pajamas all day, and two it’s not your normal 9-to-5 gig. So I tracked down a couple of websites that can help you find a remote job, if you are interested, or if you want more information about what these types of jobs entail.
For one, these jobs can be anything from being a personal assistant to data entry to website moderation. It all depends on your particular skill set!
All Stay At Home is a great resource for finding companies that offer remote jobs. The website gives different categories for job seekers like online research jobs, data entry, mock juries and more! As well it gives you other websites to visit that contain job postings or reviews of companies.
Rat Race Rebellion is one of the more popular work-at-home websites since they’ve been heavily featured in the media for being an extensive source for remote job seekers. They post daily job leads and also offer clear job categories. The downside is that their daily job postings have advertisements as well as paid job leads, so the page is a little busy and not as clear cut as others.
Work At Home Adventures is an interesting site because the author actually has performed or attempted to apply for many work at home jobs and gives her audience reviews of the company, how the application process works and if the job is lucrative or just for extra cash. And the end of each job review she also states if the company is hiring or not at the time which cuts out some extra clicking. Also potential jobs are put into categories like non-phone, extra money and advice which makes it very easy to find what you are looking for.
And one last thing, be wary of scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is! Research the company you are interested in, look at reviews from other employees if available and check to see if the money they offer is the money you will receive. The amount of time you put into these work at home jobs usually correlates to how much money you will make, but not in all cases.
When I visualize opera I think of grand stages, powerful voices and dramatic plays as well as sophistication, worldliness and beauty. I have never been a singer so I truly admire opera because it is an art that requires relentless dedication and effort. Plus it is astounding to hear some of the notes that these singers can hit! So how exactly does one pursue a dream of singing opera? Well, I had the chance to find out!
Michael Franzone, 28, has been chasing his dream of singing opera on the world’s major stages ever since his first high school performance. He studied at the University of Delaware and Hofstra University majoring in Music Performance and currently lives in Chandler, Arizona. When he isn’t performing he likes to keep in shape, play video games, working to pay the bills and of course, singing opera.
Q: What made you want to become an opera singer?
A: When I was in high school I played the part of Billy Bigelow in Carousel. Up to that point I had never really performed much on stage but I was taking voice lessons from the time I was in fourth grade. Both nights of the shows I received standing ovations after my solo piece and at the end. The rush from the applause – the feeling and emotions that ran through me – I was hooked and knew I wanted to perform for the rest of my life. Soon after I started doing operas in college and it was a perfect fit.
Q: Are there different types of opera singers and if so, what type are you?
A: Definitely! There are two major styles or schools of Italian singing – Bel Canto and Verismo. This is based on the style of the music and the composer. There is also the German school that is dominated by German composers and operas. It would be difficult to explain what that all means with just one question and without writing a three page paper on each style! I am as of right now a mix of Bel Canto and Verismo. I like to be able to sing any and as many roles I can without saying I can’t. For most singers “can’t” is a terrible word that only comes into play when the limits of our voice or talent tell us otherwise.
Q: What challenges are involved with this career?
A: Many. Like an actor you constantly need to prove yourself. And nowadays it’s almost not enough to have a good voice! You must be able to act and in some cases be appealing to the eye. We work out in the gym almost as much as we train. I’m not just going against the US candidates either; I’m facing the best the world has to offer. Money and time are big challenges too. Voice lesson, coaches, accompanists, music, etc. all can become very expensive without any income from singing coming back. Most of us struggle like most other artists until we are in the right place at the right time with the right people. Even then it can be who you know more than what you know.
Q: How does the audition process work?
A: Depending on the house or the competition, usually we submit an application with our resume and possibly a CD or DVD with recent performances or arias. Then if they like what they see or hear then it’s a live audition in front of anywhere from two to seven judges. Often times this can go on for several rounds until a winner is chosen or you are accepted into the program. Lots of time, lots of stress, and lots of preparation just for 5-7 minutes of giving it everything you have.
Q: How long does it take to put together a performance?
A: Months. There are usually months of planning, staging, and lighting, learning the music, the language, the meaning behind it. Putting your own meaning and life into it. Becoming who you are on stage. Getting the orchestra together, practicing with the orchestra. Working with the conductor, the producer, the stage manager, the director and the staff. There are usually as many people that work behind the scenes of a show as on stage – many times there are more. With hours upon hours and days upon days making sure every detail is covered.
Q: What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had with singing?
A: There are so many. But I think taking the stage in my first professional gig after college and hitting each high note with such ease and grace and being reviewed well by The New York Times. I am so proud of myself and my ability to give people an experience, it drives me to do better.
Q: If someone wanted to become an opera singer, where would you recommend starting?
A: Voice lessons. Find a good teacher – usually university level. Prepare for failure but be able to handle criticism well. You will not win every competition or be accepted everywhere. Practice every day for three to four hours. Watch the masters, learn from them. I try to practice everyday. Luckily I was blessed with a strong and good voice so as long as I keep up with it I am OK. To be the best however – practicing every day is a necessity. You need to give yourself completely to your art.
Q: Do you believe that someone needs professional training to be a good opera singer or could someone learn in a non-academic or non-professional setting?
A: You need professional training without a doubt. You do not need to go to college or get a degree to be good. There are many people pursuing performance degrees who will never see a stage after college. They just simply do not have the talent or chops or voice to sing in the big theaters around the world.
Q: Did you have to take any language classes to be good at opera singing (like with pronunciation for example)?
A: Without a doubt. We take phonetics classes and work those into how we sing. Diction classes, language classes to be sure you know the meaning behind each word. We sit with dictionaries to translate every word and understand both a literal and poetic translation. It’s the only way we can engage the audience.
Q: What are your favorite opera performances or singers?
A: Luciano Pavarotti. Placido Domingo. Those two names are the epitome of modern opera singing. My favorite operas are Don Carlo, Tosca and L’Elisir D’Amore.
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