Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday As a small business owner or solopreneur (business-of-one), I often find it challenging to do everything that needs to get done in a day or even a week. There are many hats to wear and often times, I just dont have the expertise (or desire) to do some of the things that need to get done. I have a keen interest in topics that are important to small business owners and for the past several months, Ive been sharing information Ive found helpful and interesting on Twitter on Saturdays. I use the hashtag #smallbiz to call out these shared articles. In case you arent on Twitter, here is my Paper.li page. You will see I share articles mostly written by others so you get different voices across different topics related to small business. You can expect to see and hear more from me on the small business topic. What topics/issues are important to you? Leave a comment, let me know! FYI: Technically each of us is already a business-of-one. You and I both need to manage our career and income streams so that we have a career insurance policy. This was so nicely explained in a LifeHacker post by Alan Henry (oh, by the way, he references me!)

How to Present a Problem to Your Boss - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

How to Present a Problem to Your Boss - Career Advice Blog for Millennials First, it was a need for coffee that caused you to walk by your boss’ door. Your next excuses included going to the copy machine, checking on a report’s status and once, you even made it into your boss’ office. Fortunately, a call came in, and you faded into the background. You considered sending an email, but when you finally read all the drafts in your inbox, they looked too pitiful to send. What kind of subject line is “Important: Cause for Concern” anyway? Is this problem such a big deal after all? Will your boss think you’re helpless since you can’t handle this situation on your own? When you feel at a loss, it’s okay to ask for help â€" especially from your boss. You won’t look like a bumbling idiot without an ounce of common sense. Everything you’ve read or learned says youre the one who’s supposed to bring strategies and solutions to your boss, not the other way around. If you’re nervous about confronting your boss about a problem, follow these five suggestions to present the issue with confidence. 1. Develop a Strategy for Approach When it comes to approaching your boss, really think about how you will do it. Don’t pace outside your boss’ office or waste valuable working hours composing email drafts you won’t send. Instead, consider how your boss typically likes to be approached. For example, your boss may want face-to-face meetings, but they will expect you to be direct and results-focused. For smaller matters, a simple email can quickly outline the basics of the situation. If you’re stressing out about having to write out all the details, keep the message concise and ask your boss for advice. In the subject line, mention the client or relevant file number. You can also request a meeting with this introductory email on the matter you want advice on. For more significant matters, consider the weight of the issue. Are you pressed for time? Does the progression of the concern raise broader implications for the future of the company? Such weighty matters signal a need for an in-person conversation. Dont interrupt an important meeting, but call or give a quick knock at your boss’ door. 2. Get Your Facts Straight Dont walk into your boss office or shoot off a quick email alerting your boss to a fire and expect them to put it out. Youre going to need details for the questions that will be undoubtedly brought up. What’s going on? How did this start, and what’s been done about it? When your boss asks what’s been done so far, it doesn’t mean you’re being accused of not solving the issue yourself. Your boss wants to know what’s been attempted and what hasn’t worked so you can come up with a valid strategy quickly, and the answer to this question saves everyone time. Forget bringing solutions to the table. Bring the relevant details and facts that arm your boss to understand what’s going on and decide the best course of action. Don’t forget to bring along any critical documentation to back up your statements. 3. Weigh the Potential Results A situation can go from bad to worse when the pros and cons aren’t weighed. There is no single result to any given situation, and those many sides may seem overwhelming when youve stared the case in the face for hours. You need the outside perspective of your boss. Before you present the situation, weigh the potential results again. Remove the stress and fear from your analysis, and look at the best and worst-case scenarios. Whats the likely fallout? What about the middle ground? Consider what about the situation makes it necessary for your boss to take a look. Has the fallout already started? Its best to go to your boss before this happens, but be prepared to clearly communicate the stakes, along with the cause and effects. 4. Focus on Strategy, Not Self-Deprecation The guilt of not having a solution might weigh on your professional conscious, but it doesn’t mean you should spend valuable time in your boss’ office apologizing. Focus on strategy, not self-deprecation. Depending on the severity of the issue, you might feel guilty, embarrassed, lost and fearful. That’s natural, but remember, it’s your boss’ job to step in with their experience and guide you. So, express gratitude over guilt. When you talk to your boss, don’t apologize for wasting their time or bothering them â€" it will make you appear indecisive or helpless. Some matters are outside your control. Try saying, “I’d be grateful if you could help me develop a strategy to best address this client’s concern.” 5. Create a Cheat Sheet With Your Boss’ Tips When talking to your boss, listen actively and take notes. Use body language to show you’re taking in your boss’ advice, and make eye contact to demonstrate an open mind ready to get to work. You don’t want to present your boss with the same concern over and over again. If you get caught in that pattern, you’ll establish a relationship with your boss where they think you expect them to “save” you. Your boss will step in and advise you, but it’s your responsibility to apply that advice using your unique skill set and experience. It’s your responsibility to learn from the situation to benefit and grow your career. Create a cheat sheet with your boss’ tips by using a spreadsheet or document to track client concerns, areas where you felt at a loss, advice given and strategies applied with the results. When the issue comes up again, you can check your cheat sheet, feel reassured and proactively respond. Bringing It All Together Before Your Meeting It’s normal to feel unnerved when approaching your boss for advice, especially if you’ve been taught to bring solutions to the table instead of concerns. However, you can’t let the issue grow into a potential wildfire â€" take the matter to your boss now. Think of your strategy for the approach. Gather the facts, relevant documents and outline the stakes. During the meeting, focus on strategy rather than apologizing or feeling guilty. Don’t waste your time or your boss’ time. Take notes while listening and use these in the future to feel more empowered about developing strategies for situations that have you feeling less than confident. You’ve got this. Now, go talk to your boss. Open lines of communication are essential between a boss and employee, and asking for help is an opportunity for learning and growth. Comment the results of your conversation below and subscribe to Punched Clocks for more helpful tips to grow your career. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.

Builders Online

Builders OnlineBuilders online has become increasingly popular in recent years. With so many companies offering website design and building services, you are bound to find a good one if you're looking for a reliable company.Builders online allow their customers to choose the style of site they want as well as a builder. The choice is entirely up to the customer, but it is good to know that the most popular style of builders for builders online are custom website builders. They are easy to install and offer you the best possible features.Online builders offer the perfect balance between cost and quality. There are so many builders online nowadays that choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Before making your choice you should always consider the following points:Technical support is essential when working with technology. Choose a builder who has a qualified tech support team, preferably from a well-known company.You should also consider how good the company is at providing excel lent customer service. Most reputable builders offer excellent customer service by offering free upgrades or by upgrading all their existing customers. Be sure that you will not be stuck with a poor website.Find out how easily you can add new pages, design the site yourself or design an order form and send it back to the website builder with your quotes. You need to ask the website builder how long it takes to get it built, as the size of the site and the layout of the site will greatly affect the speed of its completion.There are many builders online these days, so make sure you look around before making a final decision. However, if you have a budget to work with, then builders online can be great options to consider.

The Best Resume Tips if Youve Been Laid Off or Fired - ZipJob

The Best Resume Tips if You’ve Been Laid Off or Fired Spread the loveMany job seekers ask Should i leave a job off my resume if i was fired?For hard-working individuals, there are few things more frustrating than being laid off or fired. Some take the loss of a job as a personal attack on their self-worth. Others can become despondent, especially during times when the labor market is tight. There are almost as many varying responses to being let go from a job as there are possible reasons for those dismissals.One thing that almost all those employees have in common, however, is the need to somehow explain that dismissal in their resumes, as they search for a new job opportunity. And since terminations often result in resume gaps, it’s important to know how to address a layoff on your resume. Here are some resume tips that can help when you’ve been laid off or fired.Know the Difference Between “Laid Off” and “Fired”First, it’s important that you recognize the difference between being laid off and getting fired. Employers us e layoffs all the time. There are times when they need to cut their labor costs, so they eliminate certain workers from the payroll. There are companies that have laid off hundreds and even thousands of employees in a single day. In short, there are many good reasons for being laid off.Employers who fire their workers typically have a more individualized reason for the termination. These reasons can vary from poor attendance or chronic tardiness to an inability to meet expectations or outright insubordination.It’s important to note the distinction between those two types of terminations, since you will want to handle them in somewhat different ways when creating your resume.How to Address a Layoff on Your ResumeMany job seekers ask, How do I put laid off on a resume. There are some different schools of thought when it comes to choosing how to explain getting fired or terminated on a resume. There are some who believe that it is important to be as upfront as possible, and thus sugg est including information about the termination within the body of the resume itself.Others believe that such explanations are typically best handled in the personal interview. Still others argue that you should put that information in your cover letter after being fired.When it comes to figuring out how to put “laid off” on a resume, no one has yet come up with a foolproof solution that will ensure that you never need to answer questions about the termination. That makes it critical for you to learn know how to explain a termination on your resume. And to do that, you need to follow a few basic principles:If the termination caused a gap in your employment history, eliminate the months in your chronological list of employers. That can help to ensure that your resume demonstrates continuous employment.Be honest and direct. There is no need to provide exhaustive explanations about why your position was terminated, or the market conditions that resulted in layoffs at your previous company. Just address the matter briefly and move on to more positive territory.Always focus on your accomplishments. When it comes to layoffs, most employers will be more interested in learning what you achieved at your last job than in why your company restructured, automated your position, etc. Keep the focus on the positive achievements you’ve racked up rather than on the layoff.That, of course, brings us to that list of things that you shouldn’t do when you’ve been laid off.What not to do when you were laid off:Do not speak poorly about the company that let you go. If you mention the layoff in your cover letter, be sure to include praise for that company. Your prospective employer doesn’t want to read even a single negative statement about other companies you’ve worked for in the past.Don’t be dishonest. That doesn’t mean that you need to go into detail about the layoff; just don’t write anything that’s false. Always assume that your new employer will somehow find out the truth.Don’t be ashamed of the layoff. As mentioned earlier, layoffs are a common thing these days, and no serious employer is going to refuse to hire you based on that criteria alone.Should I Put a Job on My Resume If I Was Fired?If you were fired from a that you only held for a few months, you may not need to list it at all. If you have had a series of firings, however, you should consider how you will address that in your cover letter or interview. You might also want to look at yourself and ask why you’re continually being fired for cause.As a rule, though, you usually shouldn’t avoid the issue. List that period of employment on your resume along with all the others. That way, the employer cannot come back months later and ask why you failed to mention that job. And if he or she does have questions about why you left that company, you can explain it in an interview.Of course, it’s important to know how to deal with that issue if it is raised during an intervi ew. There are a few things that you can do to effectively address most firings, but they all involve being as direct as possible without going into too much detail. For example,“Yes, they did let me go two months ago, and I was sorry to part ways. That’s a great company, and they’re doing great things in the industry. I really feel as though my time with them was an invaluable lesson that truly helped to sharpen my skill sets, and I’m disappointed that my relationship with them didn’t last longer than it did. However, I’m hopeful that the many lessons I learned with XYZ Corp will help me to be an even greater asset when I’m employed with your firm.”Use the Functional Resume to Deal with Layoffs and FiringsThe functional resume is the ideal format for dealing with these types of issues. It can provide you with an opportunity to redirect attention away from your employment history, and focus it like a laser on the skills that you offer to any new employer â€" as well a s the accomplishments that make you such a great candidate.The functional resume is perfect for addressing any gaps in your work history, especially when you just list the years of employment rather than the months and years. It also puts that work experience into perspective by listing the work history last on the resume. And since the goal is to reduce the attention paid to layoffs and firings, the increased focus on your skills and abilities will help to highlight your qualifications rather than waste time dealing with the details surrounding your previous jobs.You can read out post regarding resume formats here.Addressing Layoffs in the Cover LetterAgain, layoff issues are best addressed in the cover letter that you send along with your resume. The resume itself should be used to details your skill sets and accomplishments, while de-emphasizing the actual positions that you’ve held. That’s why we recommend the functional resume as an ideal vehicle for addressing these types of issues.With your cover letter, though, you want to continue to focus on all those great benefits that you bring to the table for any new employer. If your layoff or firing was recent, you may want to mention it in passing, but only in a positive way. You don’t have to be deceptive, but you do have to be diplomatic. Always think about how you would want a prospective employee to describe his former employer if you were in the hiring manager’s shoes. You can also check out our post on how to write an awesome cover letter.What If You’ve Been Laid Off and Are Still Unemployed?Another question that many would-be workers often ask is how they should handle situations where they’ve been laid off and still haven’t found a job? In addition to the resume gap, that unemployment status can be an obstacle to gaining employment.Yes, that seems counter-intuitive â€" but it’s true. Hiring managers are often resistant to hiring people who are unemployed. In much the same way that it t akes money to make money, you often need to be working to obtain work. Catch-22? Perhaps, but that’s life. The good news is that you can close gaps and remove the employment barrier by being creative.If you were fired or laid off, do more than just submit resumes and wait for the next opportunity. Fill some of your time with activities that can at least give the appearance that you’re working. Begin to write a book. Volunteer with a charity. Do some independent contracting. Keep yourself active and in the marketplace in one way or another. That can help to ensure that you’re seen in the best light possible.The Bottom LineYou can’t just ignore being laid off or fired, but neither should you allow the loss of one job to stand in the way of getting the next. By using the right resume format and focusing on an honest and positive promotion of your great skills sets and accomplishments, you can create a resume that minimizes the importance of being laid off or fired in the past.

Your Online Branding Strategy When Applying To Grad School - Work It Daily

Your Online Branding Strategy When Applying To Grad School - Work It Daily Prospective graduate students must prepare extensively when applying for further study. They must study hard and score well on admissions tests, as well as polish essays and resumes. But one area many neglect to consider is their online branding strategy. Social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, photo-sharing sites, like Flickr, and blogs maintained by graduate school applicants all have the potential to affect an admissions decision. Whether applying for medical school or pursuing a MBA degree, it is wise to examine one’s online profiles and, if necessary, use some of the techniques described below to make them ready for review by the admissions team when applying to grad school. 1. Understand Applicants must first understand that there are real risks to leaving these profiles open for anyone to see. A survey by Kaplan, the test preparation company, found 41 percent of law school admissions officers conduct a simple search on applicants, and 37 percent say they check applicants’ Facebook profiles. A lower percentage of admissions officers at business schools and colleges report investigating applicants’ online profiles, but a sizable number do, and the trend is towards increased scrutiny. Even more concerning, the same survey found nearly a third of law school admissions officers found online content about applicants that negatively affected their candidacy for admission. With no shortage of data like this, applicants would be foolish to leave their online profiles unchecked. 2. Control Fortunately, social media users can control what they share publicly on the web with relative ease. Twitter allows users to make accounts protected, which means no one can follow the person and see his or her tweets without the user’s approval. Facebook includes a set of privacy controls that users can employ to limit who sees their photos, wall posts, and even who can search for and find their profile within Facebook. Some people find these controls confusing and complex, so, when in doubt, restrict sharing to only close friends or even no one at all. And use the “Grandmother test” by asking yourself: Would I be comfortable with my grandmother seeing this? If the answer is no, don’t post it. 3. Build If setting privacy controls is not enough to change the Google search results for your name, there are other options. Many experts suggest building your online brand with active presences that reflect positively on you, so that those results show up instead of the salacious photos from a friend’s bachelor party. Katherine Cohen, founder and CEO of Ivywise and Applywise.com told U.S. News and World Report starting an active blog related to the field you are applying to graduate school for might even help you gain admittance. Developing skills with social media can be an asset, especially in online degree programs like the University of Southern California’s MAT degree program, in which students use social networking tools as part of their online learning experience. 4. Reach Out Companies and consultants are also available to help people manage their online presences. “We realized there is a growing trend among B-schools to go beyond the submitted application by also exploring a candidate’s social media profile,” said Dan Bauer, managing director of admissions consultancy, The MBA Exchange. “The admissions staff wants to see how future MBAs presents themselves on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.” His firm investigates and cleans up an applicant’s online presence. Companies like Reputation.com and myID.com offer a variety of services to people concerned about what information shows up online. These services go beyond simple Google searches and social media privacy settings to find information on the deep web that applicants might not even know is out there. Despite all these warnings, applicants should not panic. Most admissions officers say that they are simply too busy and do not have the resources to check up on each and every applicant’s online profiles. “We don’t systematically Google applicants or look up people on Facebook,” says Lisa Beisser, senior associate director of MBA admissions at North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, “But if something strange comes up in an applicant’s essay, we will check a Facebook page.” So, be careful with what you share online, but don’t give yourself a headache stressing about something that shows up on the 12th page of Google results. This article was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator, Sarah Fudin on behalf of Work It Daily-Approved Partner, 2tor â€" an education-technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as USC to deliver their Masters in Teaching degree online. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

New year, and better ways to find a job

New year, and better ways to find a jobYou were reminded of the peacock, while you were going through the reading list. Your housemate was interested in birds, which you thought was unusual for a young man like him. Not that there werent many students who liked bird watching, but there were mora pressing matters to think about. (Deadline would be one of those things.) You knew the peacock to be an attractive bird, often showing off those colorful feathers. Who would have thought that this image would remind you of more important matters.You thought about the peacock, while looking at your resume. You wondered what would it take for prospective employers to bedrngnisice it after a second or two. You were complimented for your good looks, but this was about what you could give to the company. And then you mused about your boss. Your tried to put yourself in his shoes. These were the things that you figured out after an hour or twoDo you have the skills that the employer is looking for? You want to brag about your heavy reading, which would make you familiar with the classics. Your dedication and (unusual) interest wont go unnoticed, but it might not be the case if it wasnt related to academics. Do a little research on the companies (you want to send your resume). Understand the job description, and what skills they want from applicants. If you dont meet all the requirements, then think how you can make it up. You wont find out if you cant give it a try.Your resume must be highlighted with an introduction. This should be a few paragraphs long, located on the top (of your resume). You should be specific, as employers rather pass up vague assertions. And dont be tempted to compose a long one. (Youre not the only one who is looking for work. And they wont have the time.) Dont ever think of adding your virtues, as this is about what you can offer to the table. Try to figure out your worth, and if this is what the company is looking for.Its time to put social media int o good use. You want instant recognition, and it can be done in the Internet. This is not the case a generation ago, which would make you grateful to technology. But most job hunters arent aware of the functions of the Internet and its capabilities. Think how a site like LinkedIn can help you. (Those recommendations can give you the extra push.) Skype can be another option. (You can ask a member of the faculty about it.) Dont disregard Youtube. (Its about attention.) And theres more to Facebook than turning it into your own diary. (Theres no such thing as online privacy.) Its all about creativity, which can help you notice sooner than youre hoping for.Do you have other suggestions? Drop us a line. Read all news

Find Out Who is Talking About Resume Examples for Students and Why You Need to Be Concerned

Find Out Who is Talking About Resume Examples for Students and Why You Need to Be Concerned The Truth About Resume Examples for Students Whether youre asking for work, a grant, or using your resume to construct your own client base, a skilled and well-organized resume is suggested. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. You must make your qualifications and expertise to shine out in your resume. Resume objectives are occasionally regarded as the old schooltype of resume. The focus ought to be on the education and abilities. When youre asking for work, your very first aim is to let employers know your abilities and talents align with the needs of their open position. Landing a fantastic internship for a college student is an excellent means to get ready for the challenges of life after the university. You are able to mention your upcoming education plans too. Writing a resume for employment in the species industry can be difficult . The challenge of being a true student searching for a job tends to be a deficiency of prior job experience. What Is So Fascinating About Resume Examples for Students? It would be exceedingly hard to distinguish between both activities. You might also incorporate your communication and disciplinary abilities, along with highlight how patient youre with your students. If your learning environment is going to be your house, then decide what is going to be the very best distributionspolitik for concentration with little if any distraction. Several students dont know the real goal of resume so they dont understand how to make one. The Hidden Truth on Resume Examples for Students The discipline of information technology grows more important every single day. Unless youre a graphic designer looking for employment, theres no need to over think the plan of your one-pager. Below, you will discover a list of resume examples that may aid you with your work search. Working at home and having in-home classes isnt recommended. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Examples for Students Be certain to include quantifiable information to actually drive home how valuable you can be to a prospective employer. Resume creators permit jobseekers to make and download their finished resumes directly from the world wide web to begin applying immediately. If youre attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the substantial cost saving in comparison to traditional hiring methods. Resume Examples for Students Explained The resume summary will function as their sales pitch. Basic resumes typically have an extremely classic and classic tone. If youre trying to customize professional, pre-formatted resumes, take a look at our totally free downloadable templates. Chronological resumes are the ideal place to highlight your accomplishments. The New Angle On Resume Examples for Students Just Released Resumes are usually categorized by the way in which the info is presented. They give potential employers a way to learn about applicants quickly and easily, and they are your first step toward new job opportunities. They can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment. They may be organized in different ways.