(ARA) – In today’s challenging economy, a number of people find themselves looking for a new job. Not only are job losses on the rise, many are finding that rapid changes in the corporate landscape have left them ill-equipped for a new position. Either their skill sets need to be updated or it’s too difficult to compete in a field with too many applicants. Yet despite gloomy unemployment statistics, some industries are not only seeking applicants who are ready to make a change, they are even offering paid training.

It may strike some as ironic that during a time when the financial markets in general have experienced so much volatility, sales positions in financial services are actually experiencing expansion and growth. Opportunities exist for motivated, success-minded individuals who want to attain more than a new job; for many it’s a chance to pursue a promising career with a future.

Personal qualifications valued over experience
If you’ve never worked in financial sales, the prospect might sound intimidating at first. But the fact is, for those people who are dedicated, willing to work hard and are persistent, a career as a licensed financial professional can absolutely be the right decision.

There are many qualifications and transferable skills from other occupations that can give you a leading edge in the financial services field. Someone with a background in network marketing or public relations, for example, may have key relationship building skills. Those with a customer service or sales background could also be a good fit. Even fields that don’t seem obviously compatible like teaching and counseling could give an individual the kind of excellent listening skills needed to succeed as a financial professional. And since employers typically look for a staff of professionals that mirrors the communities they serve, the field is wide open to people from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

A timely opportunity
The timing for entering the financial sales field has never been better. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment field for personal financial advisers is projected to grow by 41 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. For one thing, increasing numbers of advisers will be needed to assist the millions of workers expected to retire in the next 10 years.

“As more members of the large baby boom generation reach their peak years of retirement savings, personal investments are expected to increase and more people will seek the help of experts,” says John Greene, president, agency distribution with The Prudential Insurance Company of America. “Plus, since many companies have replaced traditional pension plans with retirement savings programs, more individuals are managing their own funds, creating jobs for advisers.”

What motivates you?
Everyone wants to feel that their work has meaning and that they are somehow making a contribution to the greater good. Embarking on a new career as a financial services sales professional can offer significant rewards as you help others achieve their financial goals. Planning for retirement; saving for college; purchasing life and disability insurance; estate planning — these topics are all on the forefront of nearly everyone’s mind right now. Training for a career in financial services sales is an opportunity to meet a marketplace demand that will only increase in the coming years. If you are looking for a rewarding, career with the potential for long-term growth, a sales position in financial services may be just what you’ve been looking for.

To learn more about a position as a financial professional call (877) 569-9623 or e-mail afinancialservicescareer@prudential.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“The automotive industry usually makes the news when it comes to manufacturing job loss. This gives the impression that good automotive jobs are few and far between. But that just isn’t the case,” says Brad Smart, transmissions instructor at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif. “While it’s true that careers in automotive manufacturing are becoming more limited, the future is bright for skilled service technicians.”

The Department of Labor reports that service careers in the automotive industry are expected to grow at around 16 percent through 2016. The DOL estimates that approximately 110,000 new positions will be added between 2006 and 2016, with even larger demand resulting from the large number of service technicians who plan to retire.

The right training will be essential, however, and prospects are best for those who have completed a technical degree. “The automotive industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated and technological, so proper training is important. There will be high demand for those with the right training,” says Smart.

Joe Bojorquez, automotive instructor at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif., explains why automotive service jobs continue to be in demand. “Because consumers are keeping their cars longer, demand for vehicle service and repair are on the rise,” says Bojorquez. A recent report from JD Power and Associates found that in 2008, consumers are keeping their vehicles for 71 months on average, up from 67 months in 2007, mostly for economic reasons.

“While manufacturing jobs are currently in transition — service jobs never are. That’s why a job in automotive service will be a secure career option over the next few decades,” says Bojorquez. He also explains that the service department is the largest department of any car dealership and its staff must manage both the technical problems of the car, as well as administrative and customer relations duties. With baby boomers expected to retire in record numbers, demand for employees in the service sector is expected to remain high.

Moreover, Bojorquez explains that the industry offers jobs that appeal to a wide range of interests, and options for advancement abound for those with the right training. “Jobs in automotive service range from hands-on service technicians to management positions. There are also opportunities for individuals to specialize in a specific area such as lubrication, detailing or customer service.”

One promising area of specialization for automotive service workers is in diesel engine repair and service. The Department of Labor reports that diesel engine technicians held approximately 275,000 jobs in 2006 and are expected to grow at a rate of approximately 11 percent through 2016. Usage of diesel engine vehicles is rising steadily, as more trucks and buses are used to ship freight across the country. And experts predict that the rising use of diesel engines in buses, trucks and increasingly, passenger vehicles, will fuel new jobs in the field.

Chad Enyeart, diesel/advanced diesel department coordinator at WyoTech’s Laramie, Wyo., campus explains that diesel engines have a lot of advantages over gasoline engines. “Diesel engines are more durable and economic than gasoline engines. And as diesel engines continue to improve their environmental standards, they will be used more frequently,” says Enyeart.

Another area that offers a whole new line of work in automotive sales and service is the huge growth of alternative fuel vehicles. Faced with incredible pressure to reduce dependence on gas and reduce emissions, most car producers are now on a fast track to offer electric cars and hybrids. Large car manufacturers including Ford, Toyota and GM either already have electric cars in stock, or plan to add them in the next two years.

“Alternative fuel vehicles open up a whole new area of automotive jobs. For those graduates who have had the proper training in hybrid engine maintenance, electric cars can offer great career opportunities and long-term job security,” says Enyeart.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – First, the bad news: there is a growing shortage of veterinarians, particularly in the fields of public health and food safety. The good news: as a result, young veterinarians can get expensive school loans comped.

It’s long been acknowledged that there is a shortage of food animal veterinarians in rural areas. Now, a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office shows that there are also shortages of veterinarians who are employed by the federal government. The Food Safety and Inspection Services, which is responsible for inspecting all meats we eat or export, has a 15 percent shortage. A GAO report says “a lack of veterinarians has impaired the agency’s ability to meet its food safety responsibilities.” Furthermore, the Agricultural Research Service, which conducts research on diseases such as avian influenza, has a 12 percent veterinary shortage.

“The shortage of food safety and public health veterinarians has become a national crisis and it’s really put food safety in America in jeopardy,” explains Dr. James Cook, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “The good news is that many states, the federal government, and even the AVMA have begun college-loan repayment programs to entice young veterinarians into this field. So if you’re interested in working with farm animals or in public health, this could be a very good time to go to veterinary school.”

The federal government has $4.8 million available in funding for its school loan repayment program, called the National Veterinary Medical Services Act, also known as NVMSA, which should start offering loan repayments this fall.

“The grants will be spread over a number of years,” explains Dr. Mark Lutschaunig, head of the Washington, DC offices of the AVMA. “The finer points of NVMSA haven’t been determined yet, but it is our hope that veterinarians could earn as much as $25,000 a year for the first two years and then $35,000 for the third and fourth years if they agree to serve an underserved area like rural food supply veterinary medicine.”

Dr. Jennifer McKee, a young veterinarian working on farms around Hendersonville, N.C., says that she’s witnessed the shortage firsthand. In her area some farmers have had to kill livestock that may have been saved because of the scarcity of veterinarians.

“I’ve had to drive up to two hours one way to serve a client because of the shortage,” she explains. She believes that NVMSA is needed and plans on applying when it starts.

“It’s what I love to do, to work with large animals, but my veterinary school loans are over $140,000,” McKee says. “This would really help support me while I continue to work in an area that I love.”

Many states, including Ohio, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Washington, Wyoming and Kansas, have created state school loan repayment incentives for young veterinarians, and more are being passed by state legislatures every year.

Garrett Stewart, a second year veterinary student at Kansas State University veterinary school, is currently enrolled in Kansas’ incentive program, which offers students $20,000 a year for each year they practice in an area of need in the state

Stewart said the program should help fight a serious “brain drain” in Kansas. Last year, only 13 KSU veterinary school graduates out of a class of 118 stayed in Kansas.

“There is a pretty good chance that I would have left Kansas without the help I received from this program,” says Stewart, who grew up on a ranch in Washington, Kan. “This will help me to stay in Kansas and work with large animal medicine, which is what I love.”

There are also generous, privately funded incentive programs that are being developed for veterinary students. The AVMA and its charitable arm, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, are currently developing an ambitious plan to offer their own veterinary school loan repayment program offering $20,000 to $30,000 a year over four years to young veterinarians willing to practice in rural areas.

“We are seeing a serious shortage in the number of new graduates going into food animal practice, particularly into rural areas. This program is intended to identify up to 50 new graduates a year and make it more economically feasible for them to go into rural agricultural practice,” explains Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the AVMA. “It is an exciting program, and we have been overwhelmed by the positive response we’ve received from our corporate sponsors.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Score with a Career in Video Game Industry

Remember Mom’s warning that you would never earn a living playing video games? If Mom could have foreseen the growth of the $10 billion gaming industry, she might have encouraged you to play more and worry about your homework less.

The video game industry is booming and so is the demand for gaming-experienced professionals to fill an array of jobs, from developing new games to creating simulations for military and tactical applications. In fact, the U.S. Army alone plans to invest $100 million in training games and simulations over the next few years.

Companies like State Farm are investing as well. “State Farm is researching and prototyping how game technology can be used in the workplace,” says Brandon Whatley, systems analyst for State Farm Insurance. “We are currently exploring various options in the areas of group collaboration, training, recruiting and virtual work.”

Both industries need smart men and women with highly specialized skills to help them continue to grow. Christopher Axthelm, 28, of Washington, D.C. is among those who have answered the call. Like many American kids, he grew up playing video games. “I got a Nintendo Entertainment System when I was about 10 years old and started programming video games in early high-school on my TI-85 graphing calculator,” he says.

Following high school, he pursued a communications degree at the University of South Florida, and after graduation, worked in customer service for a Washington, D.C. company for a while. “But it really wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to go back to school,” says Axthelm.

He decided to pursue a degree in Game and Simulation Programming (GSP) at DeVry University’s Arlington campus so he could turn his childhood love of gaming into a profitable career.

“During their time at DeVry, GSP students are exposed to a wide range of concepts,” says Professor Joe Keum, who teaches at DeVry’s Crystal City, Va. campus. “They learn to program in C++ at some level of competence. They learn software development, gain valuable team project experience and come to understand the basic hardware and network issues regarding 3D computer graphics.”

Gaming graduates need an array of specialized skills, like:

* The ability to apply higher-level math and science to programming multidimensional dynamic imagery in interactive computer programs.

* Creating game and simulation software programs that employ contemporary application functionality.

* Applying software engineering and project management skills to game and simulation development.

* Communicating effectively both orally and in writing; and

* Participating effectively in project team environments.

Axthelm just graduated this past February and is already employed in the industry. Open Path Products, a wireless technology company located in Annapolis, Md., hired him to help develop technology that will grow their business. “I’ll be editing code to make video games work on a variety of systems,” he says.

Michelle Mercurio, director of career services for DeVry’s Mid-Atlantic region says with a gaming degree, students can be poised to cash in on a booming market where exciting new jobs are created every day. “Our programmers are equipped to enter a variety of non-traditional fields within the gaming and simulation arenas,” she says.

Examples include military tactical and strategic simulations and training, automotive design and testing, training for health care workers, crime scene reconstruction, flight simulation and any other industry that does design and prototyping work.

For more information on the bachelor’s degree program in Game and Simulation Programming from DeVry, log on to www.DeVry.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Fast-food companies have known for decades that it isn’t hard to find good workers. It’s hard to keep good workers from leaving. The national employee turnover rate in the quick service restaurant industry rose to 130 percent last year, according to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Industry Operations Report.

With the industry expected to create an additional 2 million positions over the next 10 years, companies are looking for new ways to recruit, train and retain dedicated employees.

McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain, says it wants to spotlight career opportunities available within its company and, in turn, drive out the dead-end job perception of its restaurants.

“In 1975, I began as a swing manager in Georgia,” says Karen King, east division president of McDonald’s USA, who appeared in a TV commercial as part of a campaign to emphasize career opportunities at the fast-food chain. “Now I oversee 5,200 restaurants between Maine and Florida. I truly believe that with hard work, anyone at McDonald’s has the chance to excel.”

The campaign that features King is designed to showcase career growth at McDonald’s. In addition to the advertisements, it features a Web site, www.mcdonald.com/careers, which details King’s career path as well as success stories from other employees across the country.

Professor Jerry M. Newman, author of “My Secret Life on the McJob,” said in a recent news release that the best way to change the negative image of the “McJob” is to positively redefine the perception of the fast-food worker.

“A fast-food worker is able to handle a variety of demands and produce under pressure, a veritable Big Mac of reliability, integrity and workplace maturity,” says Newman, a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in the University at Buffalo School of Management.

Fast-food employees today receive flexible schedules, rising wages and health insurance. Career training and even college-accredited courses are now available. According to King, the McDonald’s campaign is intended to help current and potential employees realize and seek out those benefits and rewards.

“One of the things that is important about this campaign is I want employees to have that same sense of pride that I do and to understand they have the opportunities that I have,” King adds.

The latest employment figures show that 30 percent of McDonald’s franchise owners, 50 percent of its corporate staff, and 70 percent of restaurant managers started as crew. Additionally, 40 percent of McDonald’s top management started behind the counter, including CEO Jim Skinner.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Americans admire self-made millionaires whose degrees come from the school of hard knocks. The reality of the work place, however, is that the more education you have, the more you are likely to earn – and the more job satisfaction you are likely to enjoy. According to United States Census Bureau data, workers with a bachelor’s degree earn on average about $25,241 more per year than those with only a high school diploma. And those with a master’s, professional, or doctoral degree earn on average about $25,257 more per year than colleagues with only an undergraduate degree.

“Whether your plan is to finish a degree you started long ago, pursue an advanced degree or add a professional certificate to your resume, heading back to school can open the door to a better-paying job,” says Stephen Semprevivo, president of ClassesUSA.com. “Education can help you command a higher salary from your current employer, earn a promotion or find a new, higher-paying, more satisfying job.”

Professionals heading back to school will find a wealth of educational opportunities tailored for busy people. From night classes at traditional brick-and-mortar schools to online courses and accelerated degree programs, the options are numerous. Sites like ClassesUSA.com can assist prospective students in finding the degree or certificate program best suited to advancing their professional goals.

For those looking to earn a degree relatively quickly, accelerated degree programs can be particularly appealing. Offered for a variety of certificate and degree endeavors, these programs typically compress the course workload into a shorter time frame. For example, courses might span 20 hours of class time in just five weeks, as opposed to more than 40 hours over 16 weeks. And “class time” doesn’t necessarily mean sitting in a classroom at a set time every week. Many accelerated programs are offered online, making it even easier to fit learning time into a busy lifestyle.

An accelerated degree program can make financial sense as well. Fewer semesters as a student could translate into fewer tuition payments. And by earning a degree quickly, you can have more time in the work force at your new higher earning potential.

Remember, however, that compressing an entire degree into a shorter time period can mean pressure that is even more intense than what you would experience pursuing a degree at a traditional pace. But take heart, even if you don’t perform well under pressure or at an accelerated pace, there are still other ways you might be able to speed up your educational process:

* Transfer, transfer, transfer – Check with the registrar to see whether previous college courses you have completed can count toward your degree requirements elsewhere.

* Life experience counts – Some degree programs will grant you credit for knowledge acquired through work experience. You may have to pass an exam that measures your level of expertise and familiarity with the subject matter, but this can still save you time, and tuition money, in the long run.

* Go online – Many degrees or certificates can be completed partially or entirely online. The flexibility of taking classes online may enable you to complete the program faster and will almost certainly allow you greater control over your time commitments than you would have in a traditional class structure.

“Whatever path you choose to further your education, the resulting degree may mean finally crossing those job-related items off your resolution list, rather than seeing them show up year after year,” Semprevivo says.

To learn more about online and traditional higher education opportunities, visit www.ClassesUSA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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But that’s rarely the case for individuals who make the big decision to change their lives by changing careers.

“Generally people change careers for more potential growth,” says Michael Cubbin, dean of career services and student affairs for DeVry University — South Florida. “I think that a resurgence of IT jobs, including computer programming, will find some people that avoided the technology field a few years ago turning to it for great pay and challenge.”

According to About.com, “finding a better job” is one of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions. But changing careers isn’t just about finding a new job; it’s about finding a new direction in life.

Many career changers are taking the leap by first returning to school for retraining or brushing up on old skills.

Sue Sours is one example. At age 54, she lost her job due to a work-related injury, ending a 30-year career in quality control and 18 years of management. “It was a giant wake-up call that they could replace me in the blink of an eye,” Sours says.

A network communications management major at DeVry University’s Miramar, Fla., campus, Sours plans to turn her hobby of building and repairing computers into a new career.

“I believe that computers are the future of technology only if they are networked and that’s why I chose my major,” she says. “As stand-alone devices, computers make very expensive typewriters, calculators and games.”

Opportunities for computer and information systems managers are growing at a faster rate than most other professions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2006 to 2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Employment opportunities are expected to grow faster than the average — or more than 27 percent — for all occupations through the year 2014. The Handbook credits this growth with technological advancements that will boost the employment of computer-related workers and, as a result, the demand for managers to direct these workers also will increase.

Despite the downturn in the technology sector in the early part of the decade, the outlook for computer and information systems managers remains strong, according to the Handbook. To remain competitive, firms will continue to install sophisticated computer networks and set up more complex Internet and intranet sites. Keeping a computer network running smoothly is essential to almost every organization. Firms will be more willing to hire managers who can accomplish that, the Handbook notes.

Technology isn’t the only field attracting career changers. Valiant Hardy is seeking a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Management at DeVry in Valley Forge, Penn. He worked for 10 years as an engineer technician, helping engineers to design and develop test and measurement equipment for the broadcast industry. After his company was bought and sold by several companies, eventually he was downsized. He now attends DeVry and is strengthening his technical skills as well as his management skills because he aspires to a management role in any number of industry sectors.

“Prior to coming to DeVry, I never would have thought of pursuing a management position,” he says. “But I began to realize that I needed to go back to school in order to advance my career and increase my earning potential.”

For anyone thinking of launching a career change, John Petrik , dean of Student and Career Services at DeVry University’s Addison, Ill., campus offers some tips to consider before moving forward.

“Follow your heart and know what passion and interest you have for moving into a new career and make sure you research the field,” he says. “Assess your transferable skills and rewrite your resume to focus on the new position or career path you choose,” he says.

Cubbin and Petrik both stress the importance of building a new network. “At DeVry, we connect students with organizations related to their new field,” says Cubbin. “For example, a student working in entry level health care completing a degree in human resources was connected to the HR Consortium in Broward County (Fla.) to meet people in her new field before she graduated.”

Both the students and career service professionals agree that education was a great springboard to a career change. “DeVry opened up a whole new world for me,” says Sours. “And working with fellow students in clubs and organizations has shown me that I want to share the wisdom and experience I have gained with young people. It’s a way to make the world a better place in a lasting way, which is the greatest legacy of all.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Tour directors are the special people who take care of all day to day the details that make for a successful vacation. They oversee airport, motor coach and hotel check-ins, handle customs and airline problem solving, schedule sightseeing arrangements and act as a congenial host generating enthusiasm and melding a group together into a happy “traveling family.”

“Tour directing is great job for those who have retired. You don’t need to be away for months on end, you choose your schedule, where you want to go and when you want to work,” says Ted Bravos, who 30 years ago founded International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), the first state-certified school for training professional tour directors and guides in America. “I feel older people with their extensive life experience can really make a difference in this industry. They get to share their wisdom while guiding others. They also get the added benefit to stay mentally and physically active while creating unforgettable memories.”

Lee Burch did just that. After retiring from a 40 year career he decided he was ready for a new adventure. “Tour directing has allowed me to travel to places I probably wouldn’t have been able to travel otherwise, and I’m able to help people,” says Burch. “It combines both the travel, which I have a passion for, with being able to make a difference in people’s lives. It has made a difference in my own life as well.”

Sound too good to be true? ITMI’s 30 year track record speaks for itself. With the right tools, determination and personality, it can be a reality. The school prepares students for a tour directing career in a 15-day intensive training program. Students learn about the tour and travel industry through practical “hands-on” experience in the field, including 5 days training aboard a deluxe motor coach and an overnight fieldtrip where they actually perform the role of a tour director. After graduation, ITMI have a more than 85 percent placement record.

Tour directors range in age from 20 to 70 with almost half over 50 who have either raised families or had other careers before taking on the new challenge of leading tours. After becoming certified, tour directors can work as much or as little as they choose. Leading tours can also be financially rewarding as well. Besides getting a free trip, tour directors receive approximately $200 per day, plus all expenses, meals and their own private accommodations.

Joanne Connors began her career after raising three children. She had always dreamt of traveling the world, but marriage and family came first. She first learned of tour directing on a trip to the Grand Canyon.

“My tours started in New England where I was born,” says Connors. “From there the whole world opened up to the most exotic places for me. My biggest dream was to go to Africa, but on my route I went to India, Egypt and the Soviet Union. It’s been such a pleasure and a joy.”

Connors spaces out her trips so that she will have plenty of time to spend with her family, including her grandchildren. She has found being a tour guide is a rewarding and flexible career that can be tailored to complement her other interests and responsibilities.

For more information about a travel career and becoming a tour director, visit www.ITMItourtraining.com or call (800) 442-4864.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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The field: veterinary pathology. The demand is great and the field is growing. Some specialize in recognizing disease and understanding how and why it occurs by examining animals in the clinic as well as studying their organs, tissues, cells, chemicals, molecules and genes. Other vet pathologists work in academia, government and industry. Pharmaceutical companies, for example, need veterinary pathologists to help test new drugs for safety and get approval from the FDA. Consequently, any decline in the number of veterinary pathologists could ultimately mean fewer life-saving drugs and treatments reaching consumers every year.

The need is great, the impact enormous.

“Within the next several years, every senior veterinary pathologist faculty member at Ohio State University will retire,” says Paul Stromberg, president of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) and professor in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences at Ohio State. “It’s not unique to Ohio State University — it’s like that all across the country. There’re just not enough people coming up in the ranks to replace them.”

“It’s hard to believe that a few retiring professors could have much of an impact on our lives. But a shortage of veterinary pathology professors could soon have lasting impact on global human health,” says Stromberg. “This shortage will have huge impact on health and medicine, where veterinary pathologists perform critical behind-the-scenes work.

With 75 percent of the emerging infectious diseases over the past 20 years originating in animals, veterinary pathologists remain on the frontlines of disease prevention as well as that of potential epidemics. Two veterinary pathologists in New York were the first to detect the West Nile virus in the United States. This quick detection is crucial to containing other outbreaks like the Ebola virus or avian flu and is a specialty unmatched by any other profession.

Zoos and pet owners will also be affected. Few zoos have the financial resources to employ a full-time veterinary pathologist. So when zoo animals die of unknown causes, university pathologists perform autopsies to help determine the cause of death. And when a cherished pet dies unexpectedly, the veterinary pathologist at a local university can sometimes provide answers that help owners through the grieving process.

“It’s not that the last guy will turn out the lights, go home and that will be the end of the profession,” Stromberg says. “The real problem is that the shortage of academic pathologists will slow down progress. Progress in detecting emerging diseases; identifying new drugs and developing new approaches to disease detection, treatment and management; and perhaps, protecting the world from Ebola virus or the next emerging disease or act of bioterrorism.”

What it takes to become a veterinary pathologist:

Veterinary pathologists train an additional three to six years after veterinary school. They then must pass a certification exam with the ACVP to become members of the elite organization. There are currently 45 veterinary pathology university programs in the United States.

“We’re working hard to help people understand that a career in veterinary pathology academics can be wonderfully rewarding,” Stromberg says. “It’s ready-made for anyone with a love for animals and a fundamental desire to teach.”

The rewards of such work can be mind-boggling. For example:

* The work is critical to quality veterinary care and rewards you with immediate satisfaction.
* Contributions benefit a large number of animals and people every day.
* Be the first to recognize a new disease or public health hazard — or to discover something else equally meaningful and important.
* Embark on a lifetime of learning and face exciting new challenges daily.
* Generous compensation packages and flexible hours provide a family-friendly environment.
* Become a key participant in the development of safe and innovative products to meet unmet medical needs, increase agricultural productivity and have a positive impact on customers’ business and/or life.

To learn more, visit www.acvp.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Once considered an alternative medicine, massage has staked its claim to the mainstream. Americans make about 114 million visits to massage therapists each year, and spend about $6 billion total. Moreover, the American Massage Therapy Association reports that 2 million more people sought out massage therapy in 2005 than in 2004.

Robin Helton, massage therapy department chairperson instructor at Everest College, in Burr Ridge, Ill., says that the massage industry’s huge growth is about more than just our nation’s need for relaxation. “Medical professionals now recognize the benefits of massage, not only in alleviating certain medical conditions, but also as a form of preventative medicine, and a key to overall well-being.”

Massage Offers a Range of Benefits for Even Casual Exercisers

Exercise is one area where massage therapy is fast making an impact. Professional athletes cite massage as vital to their performance, and even casual exercisers have begun incorporating it into their weekly workout routine.

Helton points out that while any type of exercise can take its toll on the body, massage can help alleviate many exercise-related problems. “Massage therapy can help care for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries caused by exercise,” Helton states. In fact, Helton says that not just exercisers, but anyone who does strenuous activities could benefit from a massage, including parents with small children, gardeners or physical laborers.

The Many Benefits of Massage for Exercisers

In addition to simply relaxing tired bodies, massage has numerous advantages that can directly benefit active people, including:

* Improving circulation
* Reducing recovery time between workouts
* Increasing flexibility and range of motion
* Helping prevent future injuries
* Easing discomfort in trouble spots

Leroy Tavares, Jr., education chairperson and licensed massage therapist at Everest Institute in DeKalb, Ga., explains that improving circulation can help build muscle. “Massage helps increase the flow of vital nutrients which are necessary for building muscle.”

Massage can also help you recover faster from workouts by removing waste products that exercise creates, such as lactic and carbonic acid. Everest Institute’s Tavares, who is also a certified personal trainer and former head coach for the American Diabetes Association marathon team explains, “It is the build up of lactic acid that makes you sore and massage helps remove those waste products faster, which can shorten time off between workouts.”

Massage can also improve flexibility and range of motion, which can help prevent future injuries. “Massage relaxes the muscles and stretches connective tissue, which can actually help prevent future injuries caused by tight muscles and joints,” says Tavares.

Everyone has their own trouble spot — sometimes these trouble spots are the result of past injuries, while other times they are just due to years of wear-and-tear. “A trained massage therapist can focus on your unique trouble spots, to ensure they give you as little trouble as possible,” says Tavares.

Massage Makes An Attractive Career Option

Because massage is being used in a growing number of settings, it is expected to remain in high demand over the coming years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for massage therapists to grow by 23.6 percent over the coming years and “Money Magazine’s” lists massage therapists among its Top 20 careers.

“In the past, when you said massage therapist, people would think of spas, candle-lit rooms and soft music, but now people are realizing that a massage career can open so many doors — whether you want to pursue the healthcare angle, or the athletics angle, it offers so much,” says Tavares.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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