Actors Job DescriptionActors are entertainers. They bring a writer's words to life by portraying characters on stage, screen and radio.
Though the career can be glamorous, the road to success is often long and difficult.
Most actors have to compete for parts through auditions. They need to be able to handle criticism and rejection.
Once hired, actors spend hours memorizing lines and rehearsing. The workdays can be very long, especially on film shoots
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Arts Audio-Video Technology and CommunicationsThere’s an old saying in the theater. Everyone has two fields of expertise: their business, and show business.
Most of us love to be entertained, and with television shows and magazines that focus on the entertainment business, people know a lot more now about what goes on behind the scenes, than they did in the old days. Even so, the headlines make it seem as though it’s possible for anyone with talent to make a lot of money in this industry
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Bartenders Job DescriptionBartenders fill the beer, wine, and mixed drink orders that waiters and waitresses take from patrons seated in a restaurant or lounge. Most do the same for customers seated at the bar.
Whether through vocational school training or personal experience, most bartenders know how to prepare drink orders quickly and efficiently, even during an establishment’s busiest periods. However, since the same brands are available everywhere, the most important part of a bartender’s job is usually the creation of a friendly, welcoming atmosphere that encourages customers to return on a regular basis
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Chemical Plant and System Operators Job DescriptionWhether the product is photographic film, pesticides, prescription drugs, or food, the chances are that it uses one of the 50,000 different chemical substances manufactured by workers in the chemical industries.
Operating from a control booth, chemical plant and systems operators use gauges and computer readouts to monitor and control the entire production process.
They make sure that chemicals are mixed in the correct ratios, and that reaction rates, temperatures, and many other variables are on target
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Commercial Artists Job DescriptionFrom books …to billboards…to video games, we’re surrounded by the work of Commercial Artists. They use their artistic ability to illustrate ideas or sell products.
At advertising agencies, for example, commercial artists visualize concepts developed by the creative team. Their work may appear in ads for newspapers and magazines…or in commercials for TV.
Illustrations in a book and animations for video games are other examples of commercial art
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Cooks, Fast Food Job DescriptionFast food cooks work in local diners, bars, and restaurants, and in locations operated by national fast food chains. They prepare hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, French fries, fried chicken, deli sandwiches, and other basic menu items.
The hours are long. The work is often part-time. The pay is not much above the minimum wage. And there are usually no benefits.
Yet being a fast food cook has a lot to offer those with their eyes on a career in food services
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Court Clerks Job DescriptionBefore a judge can bang the gavel to call a court to order…a court clerk organizes the whole procedure.
It is up to the clerk to prepare a calendar of cases to be called in court, and to contact every person who will be needed to try the case.
All the documents submitted for the case have to be pulled together and distributed.
And the all-important procedures must be explained to those who will participate
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Dancers and Choreographers Job DescriptionWhile dancing may seem to spring spontaneously from emotion and music, experts know that it’s usually the result of hard work and long practice.
The person who designs the dance, literally step by step, is called the choreographer.
Usually dancers--or former dancers-- themselves, choreographers need a strong knowledge of movement and music, innate rhythm and artistic creativity.
They need to be able to communicate their ideas to the dancers expected to execute the movements
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Desktop Publishers Job DescriptionMany print materials that used to take an entire team and lots of equipment to produce…can now be created by one person at a computer.
Called Desktop Publishers, they are revolutionizing the printing industry. From books…to newspapers…to brochures and even business cards, new software technologies are making it easier for tasks to be accomplished with a mouse and keyboard.
A desktop publisher writes and edits text, designs graphics and develops layouts
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Etchers and Engravers Job Description Etchers and Engravers perform a century-old craft using high-tech tools for speed and precision.
They use specialized tools and machinery to create decorative engravings, such as awards and trophies, gifts and signs, or identification plates and circuit boards.
Engravers may use both traditional routers and new technologies, such as lasers and sublimation. Today’s tools of the trade also include computers, scanners and simple graphic programs
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Fashion Designers Job DescriptionDo you love looking at clothes, and imagining outfits that you put together yourself?
If you’re passionate and persistent you might have what it takes to be a professional.
Fashion designers work in an exciting but fiercely competitive industry.
They must be creative, imaginative, persistent, and able to communicate their ideas in writing, verbally and visually. Designers need to be open to new ideas and influences and quick to react to changing trends
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Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorFor centuries, art has been a means for people to express themselves and communicate ideas.
Fine artists continue to convey thoughts and impressions through their art...in the hopes that appreciative collectors will buy their work.
Fine artists usually specialize in an area such as painting or sculpture.
New technologies have given rise to art forms such as computer printmaking and video art installation
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Funeral Directors Job DescriptionFuneral Directors provide an important service for our society. Also called morticians and undertakers, they handle both the practical details of death, and the emotional needs of a family.
They help make a difficult time easier, from arranging for the removal of remains from a home or hospital, to helping a family decide what kind of service to have, writing obituary notices, working with clergy, notifying government agencies, and arranging burial or cremation
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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPeople have always wanted to look their best, and hairdressers and hairstylists—or “cosmetologists,” as they may be called—have helped them achieve that goal.
These professionals shampoo, cut, and style hair. But they may also color, straighten, or curl hair and give manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments.
All states require hairdressers and hairstylists to be licensed, but training and apprenticeship requirements vary widely, so be sure to check before entering a program
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Interior Designers Job DescriptionHave you ever walked into a business office and admired the decor? Or visited a new restaurant and immediately felt like it was “your kind of place?” Interior designers are responsible for creating environments that people respond to on both an emotional and visual level.
Planning the space and furnishing the interiors of private homes, offices, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and theaters, interior designers must work within a client’s tastes, needs and budget
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Makeup Artists, Theatrical and PerformanceAn actor’s appearance is a major part of his or her performance. Making the actor look right for the role is the job of the Makeup Artist.
Professional Makeup Artists work in TV, movies and live theater. They begin by reading the script and learning details about the production. To create their designs, they consider many factors, including the age of each character and the setting and time period of the story
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Mechanical Drafters Job DescriptionMechanical Drafters draw for a living. But they create a different kind of picture than the typical artist.
Before intricate equipment like cars or factory machines are built, Mechanical Drafters design objects and make blueprints showing how the equipment will be manufactured and assembled.
As part of the process, they may use a computer-aided design and drafting system. Called CADD, these highly specialized computers systems help create guidelines showing technical details from every angle
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Medical Transcriptionists Job DescriptionEvery time a patient is examined, or diagnostic tests are reviewed, a record must be made of the health care professional’s analysis.
That report becomes a part of the patient’s medical record—a vital chapter in an ongoing story.
To save the expert’s time and to capture the immediacy of the observation, the analysis is dictated, and the tape is then given to a Medical Transcriptionist to distill into a report
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Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Job DescriptionStore window displays can be as elaborate as a theatrical production.
Or they can be straightforward presentations of what’s for sale—and for how much.
But somebody has to put those things in the window! And that person is called a “window trimmer.”
The goal is to catch the eye, and make merchandise look irresistible.
It’s a job that requires creativity, the ability to work under pressure, and marketing skills—you need to understand what kind of shopper the store wants to attract
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Museum Technicians and Consevators Job DescriptionMuseums would be dreary places if not for the ingenious work of museum technicians and conservators.
Whether preparing a painting for display…or creating a housing to store priceless objects…museum professionals use their skill and knowledge to engage audiences of all ages.
Conservators typically train in graduate level programs specifically designed for museum work. Technicians may receive on the job training while working on their undergraduate degrees
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Musicians and Singers Job DescriptionPerforming music can be fun, and getting paid for it makes it more enjoyable still. Composers, singers, and other musicians are employed by big-city orchestras and theaters, by TV and movie studios, and as studio session players in major recording centers like Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York. Some musicians are members of rock bands and jazz groups.
Unfortunately, there are relatively few full-time positions for musicians
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Obstetricians and Gynecologists Job DescriptionObstetricians and Gynecologists are medical doctors who specialize in the welfare of women.
Gynecologists deal with general health issues, as well as issues that affect the reproductive system.
Obstetricians are involved in the birth process, from pregnancy thru childbirth and postpartum follow-up.
It’s not unusual for one doctor to be both a gynecologist and obstetrician.
This is a field that requires extensive education
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Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides Job DescriptionPeople who are physically, mentally or emotionally disabled often have difficulty dealing with basic living skills. Helping them to cope are Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides.
Under the supervision of occupational therapists, assistants and aides work very closely with their clients to help them compensate for limitations and help restore vocational, homemaking and daily living skills.
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Photographers Job Description The subjects vary.
And so does the equipment.
Photography is a business in transition from the old ways, with 35-millimeter film developed in chemicals…
…To the new digital imaging that is more immediate, and can be manipulated with computer software.
Photography is an art form. But very few photographers who specialize in “fine art” make enough money to support themselves solely through their artwork
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Plasterers and Stucco Masons Job DescriptionPeople have been smoothing plaster or cement finishes on the walls of their homes for centuries -- to insulate, to protect…to decorate.
This highly durable type of wall finish is enjoying a resurgence in popularity across the country, especially in Sunbelt states, making stucco and interior plastering one of the fastest growing occupations in the construction trades.
Plasterers work with different types of material, by mixing and applying them to interior and exterior walls and ceilings
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Police Patrol Officers Job DescriptionWhether investigating a murder or burglary, giving first aid, stopping a fight, or simply patrolling an area to prevent crime, few people are more vital to everyone’s safety and well being than police officers and detectives.
“Patrol-car” police, however, are only part of the story. Some officers work behind the scenes as experts in fire-arms identification, handwriting and fingerprints, or microscopic analysis
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Prepress Technicians and Workers Job DescriptionPrepress technicians and workers are the final stop for graphic designs on their way to the printed page.
In a large printing operation, you might handle only a few specific tasks. In a smaller shop, you might perform all of the pre-press duties yourself.
Desktop operators assemble documents, using design software to manipulate pictures and type. Those files are sent to the preflight technicians, who check one more time for errors and any missing elements
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Public Relations Managers Job DescriptionPublic Relations…or PR…is an important part of any business, government agency or non-profit organization. It’s the job of Public Relations Managers to help protect the organization’s reputation and image.
Often they act as the liaison between the organization and the public and news media.
PR managers write press releases and set-up events that the press is invited to attend. In times of crisis, these managers are called upon to explain the company’s side of the issue
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Recreational Therapists Job DescriptionA recreational therapist is rewarded with small successes that make big differences in a patient’s life:
The smile of a stroke victim, who finds she can move her stiff, cramped hand…
The pride of a patient in a psychiatric ward, who creates a work of art.
With America’s aging population there is a new focus on long term care As a result more physical and psychiatric rehabilitation will be needed in the years ahead
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Surgeons Job DescriptionRepairing injuries… preventing disease… even transplanting organs: surgeons are literally on the “cutting edge” of medicine.
Unless it’s an emergency situation, the surgeon meets with the patient and listens to the problem. The doctor does an examination and considers medical history, lab work and other possible treatments before deciding on the need for surgery.
Possessing that famous "good bedside manner" can help in explaining the diagnosis, the risks of the operation, and the patient's responsibilities before and after the procedure
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Waiters and Waitresses Job DescriptionWaiters and waitresses take orders and serve food in restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments. But few people realize that a waiter or waitress can make or break a business.
That's because "service sells!" The food may be completely ordinary, but if the waiters and waitresses are friendly and attentive, customers will come back again and again.
Job opportunities can range from local diners… to national chains… to expensive restaurants in major cities and resort areas
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Writers and Authors Job DescriptionThe number of words produced by writers and editors each day is staggering. Newspapers, magazines, and books are only the most obvious examples.
There are also the catalogs that arrive in your mailbox, the words that appear on everything from aspirin bottles to cereal boxes, and the words found in instruction booklets and on printed forms—to say nothing of those on Internet Web pages.
Regardless of where the writing appears, however, an “editor” probably decided what was needed, assigned the job to a writer, and later fine-tuned the writer’s text
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