Latest news with #career
Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Carl O'Brien: ‘Why many of today's apprentices are out-earning college graduates'
When Meghan Russell was in sixth year she recalls being encouraged by teachers and guidance counsellors to get a college degree at all costs. After duly completing a bachelor of science in environmental health at Technological University Dublin, she soon realised an office job wasn't for her. Two weeks ago she completed her four-year stint as an apprentice electrician with CJK engineering in Dublin. She loves the satisfaction of fitting out new buildings or problem-solving how to rewire older ones. READ MORE Meghan Russell has just graduated as an apprentice electrician. Photograph: Alan Betson An added bonus is that she is out-earning many of her college graduate friends, with a starting salary of about €52,000. With enough overtime, she says, it can rise to €60,000-€70,000. By contrast, latest figures indicate that average starting salaries for college graduates are about €34,000 for those completing undergraduate courses. Many school leavers like Meghan find their real strength lies in learning through doing. In a previous era, their opportunities were confined to apprenticeships in construction and the motor trade. Today's school leavers have a choice of some 77 apprenticeship programmes across every sector of the economy. They include new degree-level apprenticeships in areas such as ICT, financial services and insurance. They range in length from two to four-year programmes and are certified from levels five (certificate) to level 10 (PhD standard). Turnaround Latest figures show there were about 9,000 new registrations last year, the highest on record, an increase of more than 60 per cent over the past three years. These days, more school leavers realise that apprenticeships provide a chance to 'earn and learn'. Why haven't they been more popular? Some say it's snobbery. For many parents – and, by extension school leavers – there has been no cap and gown at the end of it. But it is more than that, I think. Apprenticeships, in the eyes of many well-meaning parents, seem to lack stability of employment. There's a perception that they are more at risk from the vagaries of the economy. That is changing with the advent of degree-level apprenticeships. For a growing number, they are jumping in advance of college graduates in similar fields with years of on-the-job experience under their belt by the time they finish. To find out more, visit Exams Believe it or not, it was day 12 of the State exams today. Thousands of Leaving Cert completed their design and communication graphics (CDG) exam in the morning, following by music in the afternoon. Music was a challenging paper with some familiar Irish musicians , while the general tone of the DCG exam was one of familiarity with topics that ' should be in everyone's arsenal' . Up tomorrow: Economics (9.30-12pm) and Physical Education (2-4.30pm)
Washington Post
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
A Ukrainian fled to Israel. An Iranian missile shattered her new life
TEL AVIV, Israel — When Tetiana Kurakova fled Ukraine weeks after Russia invaded in 2022 , she thought she had left behind buildings with gaping holes, streets lined with rubble, and the fear felt while hiding from airstrikes. In Israel, friends helped the 40-year-old makeup artist relaunch her career, and she slowly built a life in the coastal city of Bat Yam.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
4 Ways To Maximize Summer Slowdown For Career Growth
It's that time of the year again: the sun's out, everyone's in vacation mode, and workloads seem a bit lighter. It is then natural for businesses and even employees to see the summer slowdown as a disadvantage. In fact, a survey by Dayforce showed that 41% of employees feel less productive during summer, and 35% of them end up slacking off while their boss is on vacation. But slower days don't mean lost opportunities. By spending the summer days more wisely, you can keep your momentum and stay productive. Here are four ways you can maximize the summer slowdown to help advance your career. While visibility is everything in your career, knowing when to take a pause matters just as much. If everyone is taking a break, your boss included, it doesn't hurt to take one, too. Give yourself some time to read that book you've been curious about, check out a newly opened café, go museum hopping, or take a weekend trip to the beach. You can also find a new hobby, slow down, or simply do nothing. A quick rest isn't a waste of time; it's an investment in yourself and your career. You'll go back reenergized with a clearer mind and a renewed sense of purpose. Of course, you can't just spend the whole summer on break. While others are still enjoying their revenge vacation, make the most of this quieter period by doing a mid-year self-audit. Take time to reflect on the goals you set at the beginning of the year and see where you stand now. What have you ticked off so far? What strategies worked, and which areas need more work? For example, if you wanted to focus on handling challenging clients better, have you tried developing your communication skills? Did you learn how to negotiate and manage expectations more clearly? Perhaps you took online courses, read about conflict resolution, or sought help from your superiors and colleagues. Recall that time you successfully dealt with a major client while applying what you learned. Celebrate your progress, and assess what goals or practices you want to change or continue. This way, you can achieve more things in the second half of the year. Lull days during summer mean more opportunities to get ahead and grow professionally. Take advantage of free online courses, attend webinars and workshops, or enroll in a summer class at a local community college. You can also find volunteer opportunities to develop new skills while trying to give back. Depending on your priorities for the rest of the year or your long-term goals, you can explore different skills that fill in the gaps. For example, if you're a creative, try learning coding, data analysis, or leveraging AI tools. If you're in a more technical field, practice writing, public speaking, or basic marketing. If you're aiming for a leadership role, focus on your problem-solving, communication, mentoring, and time-management skills. The goal is to continue reinventing yourself and be equipped with the skills necessary to move forward in your career. This doesn't mean you have to hunt actively. But it helps to keep an eye out for opportunities available, whether internal or external. Doing so lets you assess what you want next in your career. Are you satisfied with your pace right now? Do you see yourself growing? Or is it time to explore a new path? According to Indeed's 2025 US Jobs and Hiring Trends Report, job postings started to stabilize over the summer of 2024. So while the season may feel quieter, the job market is not completely cold. It then pays to stay well-informed and be ready to act when the right opportunities come. Summer is both an exciting time to rest a bit and a challenge to be strategic for your career growth. While it's tempting to become more complacent, the key is to strike the right balance between relaxation and self-improvement. Take your much-needed break, but make room for some mid-year review of yourself, acquire new skills, and stay aware of different opportunities out there. A slowdown can lead to your breakthrough, so keep going!
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
'My wife wants to retire so she can spend time with me. I can't think of anything worse': I can see straight through this letter-writer's motivation, says CAROLINE WEST-MEADS. This is my brutal answer
Q I'm 65 and retired three years ago. Our children have moved out so now it's just my wife and me at home. Since retiring I have formed a very nice social life, and enjoy spending weekends with her. I also find it interesting in the evenings hearing about her busy job – she has a good career. My wife has now told me that she wants to retire in the next six to 12 months. She says that this means we can start planning all the things we have talked about doing together.
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saskatoon teen dancer heads to Hollywood
Watch WATCH: A Saskatoon teen is getting the opportunity of her dreams to pursue a dancing career on the biggest stages.
