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Have YOU heard...

... what HS Administrator KIM CURTIS said about www.uwannadu.com?

Watch it here:

Permission Granted to Change the World

The revolutionary career research platform, uwannadu, is taking another step in helping you plan your future. As someone once said, "It's coming anyway, so you might as well plan for it."

We already offer thousands of job opportunities, but uwannadu is much more than a simple jobs board. In addition to our fun five-minute Interest Quiz, which suggests careers based on your personal interests, we profile thousands of awesome careers so you can make the best decision of your life. We now also offer insight into what it is actually like to work for leading companies who hire the careers you are exploring.

Now you can explore and compare the inner workings of the corporate cultures of great companies where your skills are needed. Discover the ones that suit you, and apply to their open positions with a click. You've done your homework and targeted your approach. Recruiters appreciate that.

So this week, uwannadu is proud to highlight the ground breaking non-profit firm, Ashoka, and put the spotlight on 4 careers where you can be a "change-maker". They build networks of pattern-changing social innovators and select high-impact entrepreneurs to creatively solve some of the worlds biggest social challenges. Ashoka believes that there is nothing more powerful than a new idea in the hands of a social entrepreneur.

Does this sound exciting to you? Do you see where the world could benefit from your ideas, but never knew what to do about it? Well that was yesterday, NOW you know what to do.

Learn more about Ashoka by viewing their profile on uwannadu. Watch videos of key employees offering insight into their daily work life at Ashoka. It's all free. It's just one more way uwannadu helps you make the right career choice. We believe to thrive and really make a positive difference, you should do what you wanna do. You just need to discover what career matches your passions. 

Explore thousands of other careers and discover exactly what YOU wanna do 

at uwannadu.com

"Camera 3: Star wipe and Fade to Black"

It's the TV News equivalent to being head of NASA Mission Control during a space launch. 

There you sit, or sometimes stand, in a darkened room, in front of a huge wall of glowing video monitors. A vast control panel of blinking buttons and shiny levers awaits your commands. There's a palpable static in the air. A sense of barely controlled chaos. Like teetering on two legs of a chair. On the edge of a skyscraper. Neck hair bristles. No time to blink. Hardly time to think. Split second timing is crucial. No room for second guesses. This is not amateur hour. Millions of people (and sometimes dollars) hang on your every move.

You, my friend, are a TECHNICAL DIRECTOR. And your TV Network News station can not function without your seasoned editorial decisions, your impeccable cat-like reflexes and your weathered nerves of steel. This job separates the men (or women) from the boys (or girls). 

But Scott seems to like it. In fact, Scott LOVES it. He's the TECHNICAL DIRECTOR for the 5 O'clock News and 11 O'clock News. It's every bit the seat-of-your-pants type of career described above, but Scott and his family are making it work. And being a TECHNICAL DIRECTOR in a large urban market can come with a large salary, which helps. But at the end of the day, regardless of the perks, you gotta love that day-to-day grind or you'll go crazy. No sense in living only for the weekends. What about those other 5 days in between that make up the bulk of your life? Successful people don't hate their jobs. They do it because they love it and they THRIVE. Scott thrives because he's following his childhood dream and it's every bit as exciting, challenging and rewarding as he had hoped.

Hear more from Scott as he answers the 15 most requested questions about his cool career in Network News. Pop over to uwannadu.com and take a quick Interest Quiz to see what real careers match YOUR interests. Then explore the Career Profiles to learn all the details you need to know to make one of the most important decisions of your life. Namely... what do you wanna do with your life?

Maybe TECHNICAL DIRECTOR is or you. Maybe not.

Perhaps another one of the thousands of careers in the uwannadu database.

Check it out. It's all COMPLETELY FREE! Cool.

Discover exactly what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

   

Designs for Living... In

Do you consider yourself creative, but don't have good illustration skills?

Cat wearing a party hat (or an upside down ice cream cone).

Can you walk into a room and sense what's wrong or right with the layout?

Oh. My. Gawd. EVERYTHING is wrong.

Do you have an strong interest in designing how people utilize and interact with the space around them?

Following the principle of the 5 Fs. Flowing Forms Feel Fresh Forever. 

Then maybe, just maybe, you are perfect for a career in INTERIOR DESIGN.

Maggie sat down with uwannadu to answer the 15 most-asked questions of what life is really like as a professional INTERIOR DESIGNER. She offers lots of valuable insight into her activities. From a description of exactly what she does all day to some stuff she wishes she knew before she entered the business. Topics range from the most rewarding aspects of the job to personality types who would excel in the field of interior design. 

And although she works hard, it comes naturally to her because she loves what she does. She gets paid to create highly usable spaces and working environments. Maggie designs exciting layouts with human traffic patterns and exciting wall textures and logical furniture placement. While floor treatments and functional (and atmospheric) lighting completes the space. 

And although she mostly pulls her ideas from within herself, the job of INTERIOR DESIGNER is still a very social one. From volunteer events and office Olympics to ladder golf and giant jenga. A creative person thrives in a creative environment. And Maggie's work reflects this. 

Do YOU have what it takes to thrive in this career? The first step in answering that question is uncovering the complete and honest truth about the career and what skills and education is required to succeed. Only then can you take confident action in any direction. Explore careers and get the FULL picture from uwannadu. It's completely FREE! As it should be.        
  

Maybe INTERIOR DESIGNER is for you. Check it out. 

Hear much more from Maggie about her career choice.

Explore thousands of other careers and discover exactly what YOU wanna do 

at uwannadu.com

Real Estate, Real Career

Nearly everyone who has purchased property has dealt with a Real Estate Agent at some point. Their job is to not only help you find the residence you are looking for, but also facilitate the purchase transaction and even find a buyer for your old residence. Without someone to assist you through this process most people are kinda stuck where they are.

So although the number of real estate transactions fluctuates (like most industries), the need these agents is not going away anytime soon. Indeed this industry is growing at a 12% over the past year. And as a Real Estate Agent you get paid for performance. Agents get an agreed upon percentage, so the larger the transaction, the bigger the pay. It can be 'feast or famine' at times, but a good agent with a large social network can do quite well financially. Especially in a high end urban market.

But don't take our word for it. We spoke with Danai "The Condo Queen" about life as a Realtor. She's an ex-beauty queen currently conquering the real estate market in a large metropolitan market. Danai offers valuable insight into the world of buying and selling real estate property. View her "teaser" video HERE, and pop over to uwannadu to view her full interview (broken into 15 short answers) and get salary information, what skills and knowledge is required, and even recommended education. And even current job opportunities. Before you choose your career direction, explore all your options. It just makes sense to do what YOU wanna do.

Maybe REALTOR is for you. Hear much more from Danai about her career choice.

Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

Designed For The Web

There's no denying the growing importance of the internet.

Nearly all 'consumers' (people who purchase things) now shop online. And shopping from mobile devices such as iPads and smartphones has increased a whopping 81% from 2012 to 2013. 

A typical "ghost mall"

So although the shopping malls in America may be a nostalgic thing of the past, (who doesn't live near at least one "ghost mall") shopping is alive and well. It's just our tastes in how we shop have changed along with the advances in technology.

So who is driving this acceptance of web shopping? Well, the designers of these sites play a large role in this "new shopping experience". Web Designers and Developers style, build and maintain these platforms to allow for easy use, maximum compatibility, and a pleasant consistent overall experience. (The online equivalent to soft lighting and Musak playing the background while you shop.) And have you noticed how they track your browsing and purchasing habits so the sites can recommend relevant suggestions? That growing trend of 'up-selling' and 'cross-selling' products is more prevalent than ever.

But making a successful web site requires a lot of work. It requires someone to structure the layout, design the look, code the functionality, manage the search engine optimization, and design the database and back-end controls. And that's just the beginning. So careers in web site development are varied and always evolving. It's an exciting thriving industry with lots of room for professional and personal growth. Web Design typically embraces leading-edge technology to stay one step ahead of the competition. It's a career that could easily be classified as "fun". But don't take our word for it... Meet Cory.

http://uwannadu.com/web-designer/

Does that sound exciting to you? Do you like to solve problems using technology? Even those with art backgrounds with little knowledge of programming can find a fit in designing web applications and graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Cory sat down with uwannadu to answer the 15 most-asked questions and shared what his life is like behind the mouse. Maybe Web Designer is for you?

Hear much more from Cory about his career choice.

Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

To Fly

Have you felt the need? The need for speed.

Tom Cruise

To paraphrase the famous line from Tom Cruise's high flying hit film Top Gun.

That may sound like fun to some... but surely there's much more to piloting a 10 ton hunk of metal through the clouds than just "going fast".

So how does one get a real understanding of what life is like to be a pilot? They are usually pretty busy on the job and don't have time to sit for interviews. (Well, maybe if you can catch a pilot in between impromptu jazz concerts.)

The real reason cockpit doors now have locks? Private concerts.

Honestly, if we are to believe the movies... planes are quick-starting, upside-down landing, tiny vacuum hole-sucking, gravity-defying time machines... full of snakes.

Surely that can't be right. Of course it's not... and don't call me Shirley.  

There was an ancient time when passengers actually dressed up to fly. And airlines served real food with metal silverware. Hard to believe today.

So if a few hours playing a flight simulator has peeked your interest, or maybe you just love to travel by air and wonder what sitting behind the stick in charge of all that thrust would really feel like, Ben is here to pull back the curtain and tell it like it is. 

http://uwannadu.com/airline-pilot/

He's a young pilot who sat down with uwannadu to answer the 15 most-asked questions to offer insight into being an airline pilot. Not acting in a movie. But in real life. And it might not be as difficult as you think. Many celebrities have pilot's licenses just for fun. Actor Harrison Ford can fly more than just the Millennium Falcon, as he's rated for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. And unlike his Indiana Jones character in Temple of Doom, he can land a plane too! Other celebs with a license to fly include: Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Jimmy Buffet, John Travolta, Kurt Russell, half of the band Pink Floyd, Victoria's Secret model Gisele Bundchen and yes, even Tom Cruise.    

Like any career, it's not all well-dressed glamour and private lounges, nor is it all action-movie explosiveness and nail-biting suspense. The reality lies somewhere in the middle.

And understanding that reality is crucial to making the best decision for your own future.

Hear much more from Ben about his career choice.
Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

Who Do You Call When Rebooting Doesn't Work?

"Why is my computer screen all blue? All I did was open this unknown .zip file that some stranger emailed me!" 

Well, believe it or not. That's most likely an actual quote from someone somewhere. But thankfully their are those with the skills to come to make it all better. And guess what... EVERY OFFICE needs one.     

They are called Information Technology Managers. (or "IT Managers" for short)

It's one of the fastest growing industries boasting an impressive growth of 18% in the last 12 months. (Just fixing healthcare.gov required dozens!) So if job security is important, and it should be, IT Manager is a solid career bet. But what makes it desirable also makes it competitive. So although a bachelor's degree in computer or information science is generally required (including coursework in software programming, development and/or mathmatics), some firms look for that candidate with a Masters Degree. Always look for something that will make you stand above the rest.

Nate is an IT Manager. Ever since he was young, Nate has always liked to take things apart to see how they worked. This led to an interest in electronics and computers. His interests led to the development of a useful skillset that now affords him a decent lifestyle, all the while enjoying his time during the work-week at the office. To him, that's what success is all about.

He gets to be the guy who comes in when things look darkest for his co-workers, when they are stressed that they can't do their jobs properly because the technology is not behaving, and SAVES THE DAY. He says it's a good feeling. Those looks on his co-workers faces are so rewarding. 

Managing priorities and expectations is a big part of the job also. So although he deals deeply with the world of ever-evolving technology, his "people skills" are what he relies on to truly be an effective IT Manager.

VIEW NATE'S FULL VIDEO HERE

Are you a problem solver? Do you like to fiddle with technology to see how it functions? Are you advanced at math? did you get in trouble for taking apart the toaster-oven as a child? You might be perfect for a career in IT Management. And there are many related careers for those with this same skillset. Have you answered your calling?    

What do uwannadu?

Hear much more from Nate about his career choice.
Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

Graphic Design is a lot of fun!

We are a visual culture.

Even cats respond to graphics.

We place great importance on the visual. 

Images can influence our emotions, trigger memories and even trick our senses. We are constantly swayed this way and that by an endless barrage of imagery. Having a good understanding of how people are likely to react to visual stimuli is an important yet sometimes overlooked skill in being a good Graphic Designer. 

From and mood of colors to the use of negative space (the "empty" area around shapes). Graphic Designers must consider a whole range of issues when approaching a visual solution for any given project. From budget, to technical constraints of the delivery method, all the while serving to express the message or have the intended effect on as many people as possible within the targeted audience. It's a challenge to do it well time after time. 

But meeting those challenges can be a source of fun and inspiration.

The late Storm Thorgerson's iconic cover for Pink Floyd's THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Another exciting thing for a Graphic Designer is to see their work embraced on a large scale by the public. To witness their work mass produced by the thousands and pasted on walls all over the world can offer a great sense of pride. To have their work outlast themselves is an honor sadly no artist gets to savor, but it is still a great accomplishment.

Many artists are shy and are happy to let their art speak for them. They would much rather have their work be famous, all the while keeping their treasured personal anonymity. Many of you may know the album cover above, but did you know the artist who designed it? (No, it wasn't Pink Floyd. See caption.) The artist was happy to know you liked his work, regardless of the fact you did not know his name.

Bryant is a Graphic Designer. An "Environmental" Graphic Designer to be exact.

VIEW HIS OVERVIEW VIDEO HERE

There are MANY MANY different kinds of designers as nearly EVERYTHING these days needs to be designed, presented, packaged, and branded in some fashion. And it's likely to only increase over time as new media streams develop. It's the rare profession where literally ANYONE with a developed talent and the right ideas can enjoy great success. There's no such thing as perfect, but practice makes MUCH MUCH BETTER. Have you answered your calling?    

What do uwannadu?

Hear much more from Bryant about his career choice.  Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

Wanna Be a Real Hero?

When there's danger...

Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-man.

What do they all have in common? Brightly colored Spandex? Well maybe, but that's not the point. They ALL use their super skills to help people and save lives. Sadly those characters are works of fiction. Fun... yes. But real... not so much.

... to the rescue!

But did you know there ARE super heroes in real life? Yep. We call them Paramedic Firefighters. And they use their awesome skills to help people and save lives every day. From administering life support and rescue services to even occasionally delivering babies. They are the first responders to arrive, stabilize medical patients on scene, and provide transport to a hospital for definitive care.

Udana is a Paramedic Firefighter. With a good head on her shoulders and a degree in micro-biology, she loves her career decision. It's a job that truly makes a difference we all can be thankful for. So although we may not read comic books about them, or watch them glide across the silver screen, Paramedic Firefighters are quietly busy saving our lives every day. It takes someone with nerves of steel. A warm caring heart. And the flexibility to deal with any situation to be a Paramedic Firefighter... and that sounds pretty super to us at uwannadu. Have you answered your calling?    

What do uwannadu?

Hear much more from Udana about her career choice.  Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

ARCHITECTURE: The Poetry of Form & Structure

"Every great architect is, necessarily, a great poet"

- Frank Lloyd Wright

Here's an example of Wright’s poetry. 

'Falling Water' appears to grow from the environment

‘Falling Water’, near Pittsburgh, PA was built in 1935 and is Wright’s most recognized masterpiece.  It is a monument to ‘organic’ architecture and a monument to doing what you love. And doing it well. He was 67.

Wright inspired millions to follow their dreams and build their own monuments.

Some builders aim to move us emotionally and inspire us, blending form and function, not to work or live in but to feel and be moved by.

Maya Lin

Ohio-born Maya Lin, Architecture student, entered a national contest to commemorate the sacrifices Americans made in the Vietnam War.

Lin won the prize and international acclaim, while we received the celebrated Memorial. Few can visit the National Mall in Washington DC and not be moved by her heart-felt message built in somber stone and haunted by the reflected names of our fallen heroes.

Jeff is an architect who works primarily on residential designs.  He brings homeowner dreams to life.

Architects pursue different visions and dreams:

• Frank Lloyd Wright built to reflect and integrate with nature
• Maya Lin built to solemnly help us remember
• Jeff builds private sanctuaries in the homes of regular people

They chose Architecture as a means of expressing their dreams.

What do you uwannadu?

Hear much more from Jeff about his career as an architect.  Explore thousands of other careers and discover what YOU wanna do at uwannadu.com

Do YOU suffer from "dentophobia"? Huh?

Do YOU suffer from "dentophobia"? Huh?

Say AAAAAHHHHH!

Yes that's a real word. And an actual medically recognized condition. Dentophobia is the fear of dental care, and more specifically, visiting the dental hygienist. Many people suffer from this condition to varying degrees. Sometimes it’s caused by childhood traumas. Who doesn't cringe at the shrill whine of a dental drill?

Sir Laurence Olivier            |            Steve Martin            |            Jennifer Aniston

Certainly the media has had no shortage of exaggerated portrayals of dentists over the years. From the crazed Nazi dental torturer of MARATHON MAN, to Steve Martin's antics in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (or even NOVOCAINE), to Jennifer Aniston's naughty advances toward dental hygienist Charlie Day in HORRIBLE BOSSES.

Although the reality of life as a dentist may not be so extreme, it's certainly no less interesting. Jamie chose to follow her interests and became a professional dental hygienist. Hear her story and what it's really like behind the mask.

With a growth rate of 28% per year and a potential salary of $100k, dental hygienists are smiling pretty.  

So while the anxiety of visiting the dentist can be real, fortunately we have dental hygienists like Jamie to ease our fears.

You can explore thousands of careers and discover what you want to do at uwannadu.com