The Buffalo Soldiers in World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Buffalo Soldiers in World War II - Essay Example As expected, they were discriminated during their service in the army. Many officers did not wanted to command them including George Armstrong Custer. Their role eventually dwindled due to discrimination as their participation in World War I was limited. The idea of the Buffalo soldiers in 1866 was carried on to the Second World War when the 92nd Infantry Division which were composed of African American soldiers under the command of Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond. They adapted the insignia of the Buffalo soldiers and were hence nicknamed the â€Å"Buffalo Soldiers Division†. This division fought in Europe in the Second World War particularly in Italy from 1944 until the war ended. Unlike in World War I where their role was diminished, the Buffalo soldier fought at the front line in the European Campaign with the tankers of the U.S. 1st Armored division and fought until the war ended. African American 92nd Infantry Division Fought in Italy During World War II. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2015, from

Barn Burning by William Faulkner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Barn Burning by William Faulkner - Essay Example However, equally powerful is Faulkner’s use of character to define, explain, and develop the conflicts that take place throughout the short story. As such, this author will work to examine these two specific aspects and draw inference on their interrelation and use within the story. The story itself opens amidst a trial that is set in the epitome of the rural dust-bowl of the mid-west. Abner Snopes stand accused of purposefully and intentionally burning the barn of his former employer. The reader is quickly made aware that the true nature of the crime is known by young Sartoris and it is soon incumbent upon him to lie to the court, as instructed by his father, in order to wrongfully acquit the accused. Unlike most stories where the denouement comes at the end, Faulkner uses this as a mechanism to provide a life-altering impression on the young Sartoris; an impression that categorically affects the way that the rest of the story progresses and has implications for how Abner Sno pes will eventually be undone (Swann 132). In a way, Faulkner’s development shows the reader that the story can essentially be broken in to three distinct components. Firstly, the reader is made aware of Abner Snopes treachery and his moral deviance. Secondly, Faulkner wanders about describing each scene to the fullest while alluding back to the effect that Sartoris has come to experience as a result of the lies that have been told and the type of life that is being led. Lastly, the tension is released by Sartoris making the difficult choice to right the wrong that he had previously done. Although few might consider this story a tale of redemption, for Sartoris, it is precisely this. Haunted by the wrongs that the father continues to perpetrate and fearful of what the future consequences of these might be, Sartoris has to make the most difficult of decisions and quickly pursue honesty in order that the opening sequence of the short story will not repeat itself with respect to Abner’s short employment with de Spain. Although this conflict exists early in the story, it is the feeling and sense of conscience that troubles the young boy and makes it difficult for him to accept the result of the trial as well as to accept his role in the acquittal and to a greater extent his role within such a family. Faulkner presents a young boy who even at the tender age of 10 is uniquely aware of what is right and what is wrong (Comprone 18). Masterfully fabricated elements within the story help to develop the fact that Abner Snopes is an absolute tyrant. These include but are not limited to the beating that Sartoris faces as the family is in the process of relocating, the fact that Abner curses at his wife and instructs her not to tend to Sartoris wounds, the incident with the rug in de Spain’s house, and the final incident concerning the lantern oil. Although these can be understood as elements of conflict, they are at the same time elements of character development with relation to the way that Sartoris views his surrounds, his role in the family, and the level to which he will allow these things to continue before making a stand based on his own convictions. What is intriguing about the development of both of these themes is the fact that they are so inexorably linked. Without Sartoris clearly defined conscience, there would be little if any of a conflict between Sartoris and Abner. Without a broken family suffering under the dictatorial rule of a maniacal father, there would be little room to development on the emotions of frustration, rage, anger, regret,

Individualism versus Collectivism Essay Example for Free

Individualism versus Collectivism Essay The concepts of individualism and collectivism apply to the description of societies and individuals within the society. Cultures vary in their levels of individualism/ collectivism while individuals within these specific cultures vary on the same dimension. Idiocentric and allocentric are constructs that are very important in differentiating consistent variations of an individual’s attitudes, beliefs, self-definition, normative behavior and self-definition. Individualism is termed as the person’s level of idiocentric while collectivism is the person’s level of allocentric (Udehn, 2001). Idiocentric individuals emphasize more on their own goals and needs over those of the group to which they belong. They are much independent and self-reliant. On the other hand, allocentric individuals tend to be more cooperative, interdependent and they also have a stronger desire to partner with others. In addition allocentric and idiocentric individuals differ in their source of intimacy and companionship to satisfy their several needs and to strengthen their self-esteem. For instance, idiocentric obtains their social support from peers and best friends while allocentrics obtain their social support from their parents. Individuals with allocentric tendencies have fewer daily but more in-depth discussions than individuals with idiocentric tendencies. People who express more allocentric or idiocentric tendencies vary in various ways. For instance, the people who tend to be more allocentric have good reliability and inter-correlation thus showing convergent validity. They are characterized with three main aspects which include individual to group goals, in-group as extension of the self and in-group identity. Individuals who are more idiocentric mainly use equity and need in distributing rewards. Individuals who are more allocentric mainly emphasize on the values of cooperation, fairness and honesty while individuals who are more idiocentric put much emphasis on values of comfortable life, competition, pleasure and social recognition. Persons who are allocentric receive much and better quality social support while those who are more idiocentric are usually higher in achievement motivation, alienation and greater loneliness. The difference between collective and individualist cultures is mainly based on self. In collectivist cultures, the self is more linked to in-group memberships while in individualist cultures; self-concept is obtained from independently groups which are based on the varying characteristics and contributions of the individual. In collectivists’ cultures, there is high adherence to the goals of the in-group and to in-group values and also the maintaining of in-group harmony (Lee Kelly 1996). In individualistic societies, the aims and the goals of a particular individual are more important and less significance is attached to in-group harmony. Nevertheless, individualism is mainly based on Western cultures while collectivism is related with Eastern cultures. Collectivistic cultures have lower rates of suicide, psychopathology and relatively higher marital satisfaction than individualistic cultures. I consider myself to be idiocentric. This is because I always concentrate on my own goals and achievement over those of the other people and I carry out my tasks independently. I normally display a different tendency towards the allocentric. For instance, in making purchase of luxury brands, I purchase goods for my own sake pleasures ad interests while the allocentric purchase the luxury brands only with an aim of seeking social recognition (McCarthy, 2005). As a result of these differences, conflict and misunderstanding emerges. This is because as a personally motivated consumer, I will purchase the luxury brands for self-interests while on the other hand an allocentric individual who is socially motivated will make the purchase of luxury brands with an aim of seeking social recognition.

Marketing Audit Of Primark Stores Limited

Marketing Audit Of Primark Stores Limited This report will start with an exhaustive examination of the internal factors of the organisation with a critique of its Marketing Mix. A SWOT Analysis will then be performed to get more evidence of where the company is standing now. The fourth part of the report consists of the auditing of external environment of the business with the help of a very effective tool which is PESTLE factors. To perform marketing audit in best possible manner another tool named Competitive Analysis will be employed which is also known as Porters 5 Forces Analysis. Here a broader view is adapted by looking at the fashion retail sector as a whole along with competition as faced by Primark Stores Limited. Marketing Audit of Primark Stores Limited A marketing plan clearly defines all the decisions relating to the marketing mix for the given product or service. Then each of the mix elements would be made into a plan at a further tactical level in the organisation to be implemented. The framework remains basic and unchanged at marketing and corporate level. It can be simply described as: Where are we now? (Audit) Where are we going? (Objectives) What are the alternative ways of getting there? Choosing the best option and developing an action plan (Tactics) Implementation and Control (Cravens and Piercy, 2003) The question of the report clearly indicates the researcher to focus upon the marketing plan, the implementation of which begins with a marketing audit. This report will attempt to do the marketing audit of Primark Stores Limited. Primark needs no formal introduction as being a value clothing retailer in UK; now more so when people are worried about the economy and employment. It has in total 207 stores across Europe in countries like Ireland (Trading as Penneys in Ireland), UK (145 Stores), Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany and Belgium (www.primark.co.uk). Primark outperformed MS this September with 17 per cent increase in profits and figure of  £233million (www.dailymail.co.uk). This Company is chosen for two other reasons as it being a prominent player in affordable fashion retail sector (www.gurdian.co.uk) and secondly the writer has worked in the retail sector and is hoping to secure a graduate placement in the same industry. Critique of Primarks Marketing Mix This Marketing Audit can prove useful in evaluation of the companys marketing, since evaluation compares results with expectations the findings should prove interesting and helpful. (Cravens and Piercy, 2003) Gillian and Wilson, 2003 suggest that a distinct competitive position as compared to other companies can be established and sustained through the manipulation of the elements of the marketing mix. In UK, services account for greater economic output as compared to manufacturing. In retail sector as well equal importance is placed on customer service and thus the 7 Ps of Marketing Mix are considered here. Primarks 7 Ps analysis is described below: Product: This is the first element of the marketing mix, the product is widely understood as the tangible and physical entity that is bought and sold. However there are three levels of a product namely the Core Product, the Actual Product and the Augmented Product. This is briefly explained in the diagram below: three_levels.gif Source: www.marketingteacher.com In case of Primark the Core Product is the Benefit that one gets by buying clothes and fashion accessories acceptance in society, protection from weather conditions, etc. The Actual Product will be clothes that are sold in stores and Augmented Product will be after sale services like refund and exchange. This also includes tools like Product Management, New Product Development, Product Life Cycle, Customer Life Cycle and Branding. It can be said that Primark has mastered its mix in an efficient way and this P has been added in the best possible manner. It has a product range comparable to any other clothes and fashion retailers. One can buy from socks to over coats and also home decoration products like bed sheets and so on. Price: Pricing consist various decisions and choices to price the product or service provided. This in broader sense includes terms of business, discount structures and pricing strategies. Pricing strategies can range from Value Pricing, Promotional Pricing, Psychological Pricing, Product Bundle Pricing and Geographical Pricing. The diagram below attempts to simplify the strategies: pricing_matrix.gif Primark without any doubt falls into Economy Pricing and that has been the key ingredient for the success of the company and also in making it more known brand name than its parent company which is Associated British Foods. It is undoubtedly a no frills low price retailer with cheapest rates in the market for majority of its products. Place / Distribution: This element refers to logistic and channel management, physical distribution of the goods and services. It is apparent from the pricing and policies of the company that it does not sell its products online. It has done very well in terms of the location of the stores in majority of town centers as well as high streets and Oxford Street Branch is one strong example of it. This is a key ingredient which Primark is suggested to re-evaluate as there is one more tool which is the most effective in todays retail environment which is e-retailing which can be used to its benefit with careful consideration. Promotion: Promotion is supposedly the most considered P among the other elements and in writers experience and the elements of Promotion Mix would form a very large chunk of the Marketing Budget of any retail company. Primark claims that it can deliver its products to the customer at cheaper rates which are thanks to their no promotions policy. (www.primark.co.uk) This can be claimed as the best strategy suited to a no frills retailer like Primark to maintain feasibility. People: As consistent with the concept of marketing itself, people form the most important part of any service offered to the customer. It consists of tasks like employee selection, training and motivation. Employees are the brand they are selling in many ways. Primark has struck a good balance with this P in the mix making the Primark team full with energy and team spirit. Rigorous recruitment process takes place to test the individuals patience and swiftness in serving customers. Physical Evidence: This can be said that the products itself are the major part of the physical evidence and looking at the things like packaging, layout, dà ©cor and ease of access, Primark can be said to have well designed layouts where products can be found with less effort. However as the case with many no frills companies, other retailer would get more score on this P comparatively. Process Management: Here the process management would cover right from when customer enters the store to when they leave the store. This experience would be considered process and this is also a weaker element in the marketing mix of Primark for it being a very busy place to shop at and at many instances good tend to be damaged if not selected carefully. (Hartley, 2004) Primarks SWOT Analysis Being one of the most frequently used tools, strategic importance of SWOT Analysis is many a times undermined. The outputs suffer at some occasions due to the superficial ways in which it is conducted (Gillian and Wilson, 2003). Its rigorous implementation however could greatly assist in two major purposes: To separate meaningful data from just interesting data. To discover what the company can do to exploit its competencies within its market segments in present and in future. SWOT-Analysis-sm.jpg Source: www.bizstrategies.biz Weihrich, 1982 also argue that using same inputs in TOWS pattern increases their recognition and fully integrates them into strategic planning process. Discussing Primarks SWOT: Strengths: Vast Product Range and Cheap Prices Part of Ethical Trading Initiative with workers rights taken care of. UKs second largest clothing retailer according to volume. (www.tnsglobal.com) Selling around 20 Own Brand Labels. Weaknesses: Bad name with allegations of child labour and worker rights. Criticised due to quality of clothes many times. Weak in terms of Augmented Product. (Figure in Section 2) Opportunities: Expansion in European countries. Improvement of Brand Image. Use of e-retailing. Threats: Competitors make use of Promotion element very well. Asdas own brand- George. Few shops degrading the name of the brand due to bad quality of service and unmaintained and shabby merchandising. Primark clothing.jpg Analysing PESTLE factors for Primark There is an argument that it is many a times not the customer but the external factors that decide what happens in the market. For example insurance companies are directly or indirectly involved with the design of smoke detectors and activists can demand of design change in dolls. (Salancik and Upah, 1978) For Marketing Audit to be realistic one of the binding necessities is to study the external trends. Amongst various approaches, analysing PESTEL factors is deemed best which include political, economical, sociological, technological, legal and environmental issues. Political Factors Government regulations in terms of worker health and safety. Primarks UK energy consumption is sourced against green power generated and sold into the grid by British Sugar. Economical Factors Economic turbulence might actually encourage the customer to buy cheaper clothes and save some money. In this way the economic factor has been a blessing in disguise for Primark. Sociological Factors UK Charity War on Want investigated and reported that the conditions of the workers in Bangladesh had not improved after all the problems with Indian Suppliers. Primark products are not considered to be very good in quality and thus rejected by many segments of customers. It is believed you will come across people wearing same t-shirt or other piece of clothing about 10 times in a day if it is bought from Primark. Technological Factors It is keeping ahead of the competition in a way by getting Entropy Software Platform developed by BSI Management Systems, which will enable global visibility and better management control in line with its ethical trade strategy. (www.bsigroup.com) Legal Factors It had to face legal issues regarding the child labour allegations. Its expansion in Europe might have undergone extensive legal checks to ensure it is abiding by the local laws. Environmental Factors It has to consider the environmental sustainability issues and it has also acted upon it by dumping plastic bags and giving away paper bags. Recent news shows that due to Throwaway Fashion in last five years, textile waste has rise from 7 percent to 30 percent. It is being called The Primark Effect. (www.dailymail.co.uk) Primarks Michael Porters 5 Forces Analysis Porter, 1980 emphasised that the first determinant of a firms profitability is the attractiveness of the industry in which it operates. The second determinant is competition. This led him to device five forces that determine the nature and intensity of competition within the industry which are described in the diagram below: Source: www.businessballs.com Based on: Michael Porters Five Forces of Competitive Position Model Threat of New Entrants Risk Very Low: High cost of setup. Power of the Supplier Risk Very Low: No single big supplier and less bargaining power of suppliers. Power of the Buyer Risk High: Competition in Market and no switching cost. Competitive rivalry Risk Moderate: Few low price retailers with similar vast range of products. Threat of the Substitutes Risk Moderate: Existing low price retailers but none that can be called a substitute. Conclusion This report started with an introduction to Marketing Plan and the first function of it which is Market Audit. Primark Stores Limited is chosen for various mentioned reasons. A critique of its Marketing Mix followed with a SWOT Analysis which gave a deeper insight into the companys current standing. Auditing of external environment of the business was then carried out with the help of PESTLE factors and Porters 5 Forces Analysis. It is apparent from the study that there are two areas namely its Brand Image and Online Presence that Primark need to work on and on the other hand it position is quite strong and its marketing mix very effective. This report concludes with a quote by Porter which summarises the whole study very coherently, 1998 Pp.142: Competitive Strategy means taking offensive or defensive actions to create a defendable position in an industry, to cope successfully with competitive forces and thereby yield a superior return on investment for the firm. Firms have discovered many different approaches to this end, and the best strategy for a given firm is ultimately a unique construction reflecting its particular circumstances. [Word Count: 2094 words]

Confucianism Essay -- Papers China Chinese Culture Religion Essays

Confucianism A philosopher named Confucius founded Confucianism in China 2,500 years ago. Confucianism is a system of ethical behavior and social responsibility that became the great traditions of the East.1 It played an important role in the evolution in Chinese culture over the centuries. It has influenced near-by countries and had made a mark in the history of religion. There are today over six million people who call themselves Confucianists. Most Confucianists live in East Asia where Confucianism is thought to be born. For over two thousand years, Confucianism has been the dominant philosophical system of Chinese government, which has still a great hold on their people. Because Chinese culture has spread to the counties of Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, the values of Confucianism can be found there too. Confucius Confucius was born in 551 BC in the village of Zou in the country of Lu. During that time, the Zhou dynasty was in decline-this was controlled by King Zhou. As a child, Confucius would have make-believe rituals; as a young adult he quickly earned a reputation for politeness, fairness and had a love for learning. He traveled often and studied at the imperial capital, Zhou, where legend has it he spoke with Lao Zi, the leader of Daoism. When Confucius returned to Lu, he became a renowned teacher. At the age of 35, Confucius followed Duke Zhao into war. Duke Zhao was later captured and Confucius again followed. Zhao often went to Confucius for advice, but was later advised not to by one of his advisors. Eventually Zhao stopped going to him for advice and Confucius returned to Lu. When he returned, he saw that conditions have been unchanged so he retired from public life to concentrate on teaching and studying... ...ducted at the many Confucian temples on the island. In June, Taiwan?s Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death, in 299 BCE, of the Confucian diplomat Chu Yuan, who drowned himself to call attention to unheeded demands for government reform. Bibliography: 1Confucianism ? World Religions by Thomas and Dorothy Hoober P. 3 2 Confucianism ? World Religions by Thomas and Dorothy Hoober P. 75 3 Confucianism http://albany.net/~geenius/kongfuzi/teach.html 4 Confucianism ? Encarta Encyclopedia http://www.encarta.com 5 Confucianism ? World Religions P. 56 6 Confucianism http://www.albany.net/~geenius/kongfuzi/modkong.html 7 World Book Encyclopedia ? Confucianism 8 Confucianism http://www.encyclopedia.com 9 Confucianism http://connect.net/ron/confucianism.html 10 Confucianism http://www.encarta.com (I would check it first)

Satellite Broadband Essay examples -- essays research papers

In recent years the demand for high-speed networking, driven mainly by the rapid expansion of the Internet, has been growing at an exponential rate. While a wide range of wireline and wireless solutions offering broadband connectivity are or will shortly be available, communication satellites are beginning to emerge as an attractive solution in providing broadband connectivity to a variety of users. The wide area or global coverage of satellites enables service provision to a large number of dispersed users and solve the expensive "last-mile" issue without dedicating to each user cable, fiber, switching equipment ports, etc. The broadcast nature of satellites supports efficiently the transmission of the same message to a large number of stations, making satellites the natural choice for multicasting services. Satellites are also attractive for interconnection of geographically distributed high-speed networks, or for providing other multimedia services to both home and business users. Hence, while much broadband communication today is carried via terrestrial links, satellites will come to play a greater and more important role. This can be demonstrated by the increasing commercial interest in this area and the large number of systems that are currently under development. On the other hand, considerable research work is under way to overcome some of the serious shortcomings inherent in satellite-based systems, such as significant propagation delays, wireless channel quality, exposure of systems to space radiation, etc. The service focus and nature of satellite systems themselves is also changing, with revolutionary new technologies such as onboard switching, spot-beam technology, inter-satellite links and constellations of systems in a variety of orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO, or Hybrid Orbits), that represent new challenges for the satellite industry. As with any hot topic today, the World Wide Web offers a wealth of information on satellite systems and networks. In these pages we try to collect some of this information in a somewhat organized manner. We try to focus on links relevant to Broadband Satellite Systems, although we also provide links and information to related topics in the more general areas of satellite systems and communication networks. There is material here that could be useful to a satellite expert, an engineering professional who is ne... ...iness market. However, if satellite access is really going to catch on, as operators hope and believe, then there has to be traffic over the network after five o'clock as well. For that to happen, there has to be a consumer market, which will require much lower priced terminals. "Satellite operators have very aggressive target prices in mind for terminals, which is somewhat disadvantageous for Ericsson, compared with traditional suppliers," says Rudi Omholt. "Our strategy is to take advantage of our experiences and know-how from MINI-LINK and the telecom industry. Our strength lies in our reliability and quality and the fact that we are able to show operators an impressive production capacity and a global presence." Ericsson is following developments in the market for broadband access via satellite with interest, and is trying to put its finger on the desires of customers. By offering terminals and trying to land its first contract, the company hopes to form a stable foundation for new operations. "We will be setting serious requirements that one or more of the major telecom operators express an interest in the satellite market," says Ingmar Karlsson.

Career Study: Dental Assistant

Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARYiv Introduction1 Facts and Findings2 Occupational Inventory2 Work environment2 Perks. 3 Market trends. 3 Personality Fit4 Stress level/mental strains. 4 Personality traits recommended/required. 4 Personal interests and passions. 5 Future Potential5 Continuing education requirements. 5 Advancement Opportunities. 5 Conclusion6 References7 List of Figures Figure 1 Gender of Dental Assistants3 Figure 2 Current Wages Earned for Dental Assistants3 Figure 3 Estimated Yearly Growth of Dental Assistant Jobs in Alberta4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe career area of dental assistant does, in many ways, relate directly to the skills and knowledge learnt in the Administrative Office Professional program (APRO). Skills such as computer knowledge, bookkeeping, customer service, human relations, reading and writing, verbal communication, and active listening are an essential part of being a dental assistant. APRO students already obtain these skills. This report shows how be coming a dental assistant is a great career choice for APRO students. With only an additional eight to ten months of training, an APRO student could become a ental assistant and earn a great wage, as well as acquire many sought after job perks. Job perks of a dental assistant include Monday to Friday daytime hours, free dental care, monthly or yearly bonuses, and medical benefits. Dental assistants primarily work in dental offices; however, there are jobs available in health care units and hospitals as well. The research that was conducted for this report consists of both primary and secondary sources. The primary research sources include an interview of a local dental assistant, as well as the researcher’s own experience and knowledge.Secondary sources of research include Google searches, ALIS website, STATS Canada, and APRO text books. The three main aspects covered in this report are as follows: 1) Occupational Inventory a. Work environment b. Perks c. Market trends 2) Per sonality Fit d. Stress level/mental strains e. Personality traits recommended/required 3) Future Potential f. Continuing education requirements g. Advancement opportunities Potential Career Choice: Dental Assistant Introduction Weekends off, daytime hours, decent wages, free dental care, medical benefits, and yearly bonuses! These, in many cases, are the perks that career seekers are looking for.Look no further. These, among others, are the perks the career of dental assistant has to offer. One might think that dental assisting has nothing to do with the tasks or skills learnt in the Administrative Office Professional program (APRO); however, there are many duties involved in dental assisting that relate directly to APRO knowledge. Skills such as computer knowledge, bookkeeping, customer service, human relations, reading and writing, verbal communication, and active listening are essential in a dental assisting career. As an APRO student, one obtains those skills.However, an APRO st udent would need to further their education. A dental assistant training program is needed to pursue a career in dental assisting. This training program would typically only be an additional eight to ten months over and above the APRO program. The APRO program is a good foundation as it gives students many of the basic skills needed to be successful in any program or career area. The dental assistant program differs by educational institution, but for the most part, prerequisites include a 30-level of English (which all APRO students already have), biology, and chemistry. Dental assisting is a very diverse career.One never knows what sort of situation or emergency may arise. For example, an appointment may be as simple as a routine check-up or a filling, and may be as complicated as a tooth breaking off at the gum line during an extraction which can lead to dental surgery. Duties of dental assistants are as diverse as the job itself. Duties will change from office to office, and day to day, but will include tasks such as: * Prepare patient, sterilize and disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, and assist dentist during dental procedures * Take and prepare dental diagnostic x-rays Record treatment information in patient records * Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patient * Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist * Assist dentist in management of medical and dental emergencies * Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs * Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth * Schedule appointments, prepare bills, and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records using computer or manually Because dental assisting does entail working in someone’s mouth, it may not be appealing to everyone.However, dental assistants are a vital part of the heath care profession. Most people have, at some point in time, experienced the excruciating pai n of a tooth ache. Without dentists and dental assistants, one would have to suffer through the pain, or extract the tooth one’s self. One might choose dental assisting as a career if one enjoys working in an office environment, prefer daytime hours, and the medical field is of interest to them. There are many perks associated with being a dental assistant such as wages and bonuses.Dentistry is a rapidly growing field, therefore leaving many new jobs available both now and in the future. One who enjoys helping others, and wants to make a difference in the lives of many, would be satisfied in the career of dental assisting. Dental assisting is a relatively low stress-level job. Because life-long learning is a required part of being a dental assistant, one must have a love of education and be committed to life-long learning. This report will look at the occupational inventory of dental assisting, including work environment, job perks, and market trends.It will also look at the personality fit for one interested in seeking a career in this area. The personality fit will include such information as the stress level of the job, personality traits required/recommended, and potential interests and passions one might have. Finally, this report will look at the future potential of this career choice for APRO students. The future potential will share information such as continuing education requirements and advancement opportunities. The facts and findings in this report are based on both primary and secondary sources.The primary sources include an interview with a dental assistant. I chose to interview a local dental assistant who works at Dr. Lo’s office here in Brooks, Alberta. The researcher will also be using her own experience and knowledge as primary research. The secondary research consists of Google searches, ALIS website, STATS Canada, and APRO textbooks. Facts and Findings Occupational Inventory Occupational inventory is an especially important aspect of a career because it looks at things such as work environment, career perks, and market trends.These specifics can help one decide if a certain career, in this case dental assisting, is right for them. Work environment. Dental assistants have a variety of different working environments to choose from. Dental assistants work as part of a dental health care team. Their duties can vary and can include working as chair-side assistants, intra-oral assistants, administrative assistants, community health assistants, sterilization assistants, research assistants, or treatment coordinators. Dental assistants can also work in dental sales and insurance or dental education.However, dental offices are the primary employer of dental assistants, with 97% of dental assistants working in dental offices. Typical hours of dental offices are Monday to Friday, 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. Some offices, however, are open during the evenings and weekends to accommodate a larger portion of the population. As shown in Figure 1, according to STATS Canada 2011, 99% of dental assistants are women. In larger offices, one can expect to work alongside many women. In smaller offices, on the other hand, one can expect to work closely with the dentist and a few other staff. Figure 1 Gender of Dental AssistantsPerks. There are several perks in the career of dental assistant. These perks may include good wages, good hours, free dental care for one’s family, yearly or monthly bonuses, and paid continuing education. As shown in Figure 2, according to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Dental Assistants’ occupational group earned between $15. 00 and $34. 00 per hour (2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survay, 2011). Therefore, the average wage of dental assistants in Alberta is around $26. 40 an hour. As stated previously, most dental office hours are Monday to Friday, with daytime hours.In many cases, dental offices provide their staff with free dental care for both the employee and the employee’s family. Many offices offer incentives in the form of either monthly or yearly bonuses. If the office is busy and makes over a certain amount of money in a month or year, a percentage of the excess money will be awarded to staff according to seniority and hours worked. Because dental assistants are required to keep up-to-date with their education and skills, most dental offices pay for continuing education. Figure 2 Current Wages Earned for Dental AssistantsCurrent Wages Earned for Dental Assistants| Wages| Low (5th percentile)| High (95th percentile)| Average| Median| Starting| $15. 00| $27. 00| $21. 82| $23. 00| Overall| $21. 00| $32. 57| $26. 40| $27. 00| Top| $25. 24| $34. 00| $30. 14| $30. 47| Figure 2 Figure 2 Market trends. Over 4,100 Albertans are employed in the Dental Assistants’ occupational group. It is expected to have an annual average growth of 3. 2%, which is above average. (Dental Assistant's Occupation Group, 2012) It is expected that about 131 new positions will be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boomer generation will be retiring over the next few years. Figure 3 shows the estimated yearly growth of dental assistant positions available in Alberta over the next few years. Figure 3 Estimated Yearly Growth of Dental Assistant Jobs in Alberta Personality Fit Being happy and comfortable at work is very important. One usually spends more time at work than they do anywhere else. Therefore, the personality fit of a given career, specifically dental assisting, is crucial.Personality fit for a career includes the stress level and mental strains, personality traits recommended, and personal interests and passions. Stress level/mental strains. Dental assistants can come across some stressful situations. Sometimes, a procedure does not go as planned, leaving it up to the dentist and dental assistan t to determine what to do next to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient. Although this may not be a regular occurrence, a dental assistant must have critical thinking ability and work well under pressure.When an appointment runs over time, this often leaves the next scheduled patient waiting longer than anticipated for his/her turn. This can sometimes lead to a stressful situation if the patient who is waiting does not understand the situation. Overall, most dental assistants have a low- to moderate-level of stress in their everyday work. Personality traits recommended/required. Dental assistants are required to work closely with their patients and co-workers. In order to communicate well with both patients and co-workers, one should be kind, patient, outgoing, an active listener, and organized.The ability to stay calm while under pressure and during emergencies is essential. Because dental assistants work side by side with dentists, one must be a team player and pay close attention to detail. It is the dental assistant’s job to know what the dentist needs next. Personal interests and passions. One who has a passion for helping others and for making a real difference in people’s lives may enjoy being a dental assistant. One should also have a general interest in the medical field. Dental assistants require continuing education; therefore, life-long learners would be satisfied in this career. Future PotentialIn many cases, employees want to be able to advance within their career area. Therefore, looking at the future potential of a career, in this case dental assistant, determines whether or not it is for him/her. Future potential information includes continuing education requirements and advancement opportunities. Continuing education requirements. Dental assistants must maintain their competency through the CADA Continuing Competence Program (CPP) (Dental Assistant Registration Process, 2012). This program assesses, maintains, and moni tors ongoing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and judgments of professional dental assistants.According to the Alberta Government, dental assistants must do the following activities each year in order to keep their Continuing Competence current: * Complete one hundred (100) hours in the dental field, or three hundred (300) in the past three (3) years * Review the Competency Profile * Complete the Competency Self-Assessment * Complete a Proposed Learning Plan by the renewal deadline * Undertake appropriate Learning Activities to complete your proposed Learning Objectives * Keep the proof of your completed Learning Activities.At least once in every five years you will be asked to send in Verification of Learning documents and Completed Learning Plans. CADA will want to see evidence of two completed Learning Objectives for each year Advancement Opportunities. Depending on the size of dental office, there are advancement opportunities for dental assistants. Although a dental assistant is a dental assistant, there are different skill sets and knowledge levels involved. If a dental assistant has furthered his/her education with advanced courses in specialty areas, for example, he/she would make a higher salary.Also, some dental assistants move on to be administrative managers of the dental offices where they work. Conclusion Based on the facts and findings in this report, dental assistant is a great career choice for APRO students. With only an additional eight months of training, an APRO student can have the opportunity to be a vital part of the health care system by becoming a dental assistant. Many of the skills already learnt in APRO are essential in the career area of dental assisting.If one loves to work with people, is outgoing, patient, and loves helping others, dental assisting may be for him/her. If one chooses this career path, one can look forward to good pay, hours, and benefits. References 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. (2011). Retrieved February 25 , 2013, from ALIS: www. alis. ca Dental Assistant's Occupation Group. (2012). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from Statistics Canada: www. statcan. gc. ca Dental Assistant Registration Process. (2012, May). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from Government of Alberta: http://www. albertacanada. com/Dental_Assisant_May_2012. pdf