Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom How to Recruit For A Small Business

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom How to Recruit For A Small Business In a recent Monster survey, 46 percent of respondents indicated they would actually prefer to work at a business with between six and 100 employees. But despite the desirability, small businesses are at a disadvantage, as many may not have HR departments.They may have a harder time ateach stage of the hiring process and have to be creative when it comes to recruiting new employees in particular. Isought insight from three successful small-business owners who have mastered the recruiting process: Derek Capo, CEO of Next Step China, a study abroad program in Beijing; Erica Douglass, co-CEO of computer repair shop 1Up Repairs in Austin, Texas; and Phillip Oakley, founder and CEO of branding agency Common Giant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. What Business Owners Consider When Recruiting New Employees Do you have a recruitment strategy? How did you come up with it? Derek Capo: Our recruitment strategy consists of reaching out to people who are the most passionate about our industry and mission. We reach out to our community, LinkedIn, current employees or online networks on financial websites. Erica Douglass: Weve hired seven people now, all through word of mouth. Some are college graduates, some arent. Only one of our previous employees was in a technical position before we hired him. We prefer to hire people who are trustworthy and loyalâ€"our two key valuesâ€"and train them technically. Our employees have diverse experiences and backgrounds, from a restaurant manager to a veteran to a former security guard. Phillip Oakley: Common Giants recruitment strategy is almost completely a byproduct of our brand and culture. The agency world can become arevolving door of talent, which wetry to avoid.At Common Giant, we careless about agencypedigree and more aboutyour life experiences and how you learn and adapt from them. Ipersonallydecided on this strategy years ago afterbeing in the agency world andseeingincredibletalent and humans overlooked. We have found the best employees to be ones that reach out to me personally and are direct with their intentions to work with us. Where have you found your best employees? Oakley: Most of our employees have come from internal referrals, but some have reached out without job postings to share interest in our culture. We build relationships through our social media, partners, vendors and networking. Our talent pool has spanned from Chicago to as far as the Philippines. Douglass: We look for people who are willing to learn and will stick with us for the long term. Weve found employees from playing video games and belonging to a car club. Its pretty diverse, but the key for us has been getting out of industry meetups and being willing to train people who want to learn what we do. Capo: We have found the best employees to be ones that reach out to me personally and are direct with their intentions to work with us. This may seem aggressive, but I think it shows motivation and passion. For the rest of the interview, check out the AMEX Open Forum.

Are You Ready to be Committed - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Ready to be Committed - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The play on words, “to be committed”, describes the life of an entrepreneur. We face so many requirements of commitment in order to find success, that frequently we find the same commitments produce a sense of overwhelm too. Time, monetary investment, education, introspective thought, associations, partnerships and clientele all bring a type of required commitment to the entrepreneurial endeavor. After all, commitment is the key to business success. Are you finding time for introspection on a weekly basis if not daily? Willingness to explore where you are today versus tomorrow and the journey you have been on will provide much insight for picking up the slack to move forward more quickly. And should the realization hit that the current track is not yielding the right results, are you willing to reinvent the way you do business? Are you committed to making it right? When it comes to your clientele, are you committed to doing everything in your power to ensure satisfaction? Do you check in frequently to further build the relationship and to answer questions? The act of remaining in touch will do much to encourage repeat business, referrals and testimonials. This is business development at its peak. As far as your ‘intended’ projects, are you committed to making these happen or are other things cropping up that interfere with progress in this regard? Should you be truly committed to developing a new venue, for example, carve out time just for you. Let the interruptions wait a bit until you spend the time allotted on your envisioned work of art. Set an overall time slot guaranteed for just you to be spent for the week and adhere to it on a daily basis. For those days where interruptions are too great, make the time up on other days, and work into the evenings as needed to see each weekly time commitment satisfied. Are you wishing you had the knowledge on a particular subject as it would advance your business more quickly or make you a more versatile service provider? Create a monetary investment plan with a date set for getting the help you need to make your new venture happen. With continued education, you enhance your offerings as well as your clientele. Do others ask you to collaborate on projects, and are you able to carve out the time to dedicate yourself to its success? This is a commitment that should not be taken lightly. Poor follow through will only serve to put you on a “do not call” list in the future as well as possibly add a dose of bad word of mouth. Only take on those projects where you know you may commit 100% and the fruit of your labor will be beneficial to and appreciated by all. Making all of these commitments in the name of business sometimes has many feeling as if they should be “committed”. But in the end, when all is executed well, your achievements soar creating a better business presence than ever. Others know they can count on you to get things done, and your personal brand becomes known as “the super achiever”. The biggest reward is, when others know they can count on you, it becomes a Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, (800) 704-1499, was honored by Open View Labs with inclusion in their international list of “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012.” Elinor authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and the best selling career book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”, Career Press. She provides team sales training, private coaching and highly acclaimed inspirational keynotes for conferences. Elinor is available for consultation.

What Is A CPA Certified Public Accountant

What Is A CPA Certified Public Accountant If you’re thinking about becoming an accountant or working with numbers as a career, you may be wondering how you can get started and what is involved. While becoming an accountant does not always take a lot of schooling, if you want to become a CPA, then you have to get a degree first. But what is a CPA? Is it worth it to go through the extra steps of getting certified? Let’s look at this lucrative career and see if it’s right for you. CPA = Certified Public Accountant So what does that mean exactly? It means that he or she went to school, got a degree, and passed the CPA exam. Certification is the biggest difference between a CPA and a regular accountant. While the test is the same in all 50 states, each state has its own requirements for people looking to qualify to take the exam. In many cases, you will need a CPA prep study guide to pass. What Steps Are Involved? Technically speaking, becoming a CPA is a three-step process. First, you have to go to school and graduate with a degree in accounting. Depending on your state, you may also have to take and pass additional classes, otherwise, you won’t be able to take the test. In some instances, to pass the CPA exam, you will have to attend special training programs or tutoring classes. Once you get your degree, then you have to make sure that you meet all of your state’s requirements. If you want to be a CPA in a different state, then you will need to look up what things you have to do to become an accountant there. Finally, you have to pass the exam. As we mentioned, this test is the same for every state and it is administered by the American Institute of CPAs. Once you pass the test (using your CPA study guide), then you get your certification and can start looking for work. While becoming a CPA can be a lucrative career move, the field is highly competitive. On average, these accountants can make over $60K per year, and many of them work for private or public companies earning much more. For more information about becoming and passing the CPA exam, check out CPAExamGuy.com. Overall, it’s an arduous journey, but if you stay committed, it can be well worth it. . Image credits. Main.  Degree.

The Top 7 Quick Fixes to Prevent Breakouts - Classy Career Girl

The Top 7 Quick Fixes to Prevent Breakouts When you are busy with a lot of networking events and presentations on your plate, breakouts are the last thing that you want to have to worry about, right? Acne usually starts in your teenage years but the sad fact is that it can also affect you during adulthood. As a matter of fact, some women only begin experiencing breakouts during their adult years. There are different possible causes of acne but the good news is that you can manage acne prone skin and keep breakouts under control. Here are quick fixes for preventing breakouts if you have acne-prone skin. Top 7 Quick Fixes to Prevent Breakouts 1. Choose a Cleanser Carefully Cleansing is very important because it helps prevent your skin’s pores from becoming clogged. Look for a product that is formulated specifically for acne-prone skin. Look for active ingredients that are proven such as salicylic acid, colloidal, sulfur  and benzoyl peroxide.  The formulation should be gentle enough not to cause irritation. Then, use a clean towel to dry your skin after. 2. Be Careful With the Products You Use People with acne-prone skin need to be very careful since most products contain ingredients that can irritate the skin and cause breakouts. There are skincare products that are specially formulated to help combat acne. These products contain anti-bacterial agents and other anti-acne ingredients. Even if you have acne-prone skin, you still need a moisturizer but it should be very light and non-comedogenic. There are also special sunscreens for acne-prone skin. [RELATED: 5 Simple Health Tips We Love] 3. Use a Good Toner There are conflicting opinions among skincare professionals when it comes to the oil-reducing properties of a toner. Some dermatologists think it is unnecessary and only increases the risk of irritating the skin. There are others that say it is very useful in treating areas of the skin that are oily such as the T-zone. Avoid using a toner on areas of the skin that tend to be dry. Choose a product carefully and check the key ingredients before buying. If you have sensitive skin, you should consult your skincare professional first. 4. Use Spot Treatments Breakouts cannot be completely prevented even with the best skincare regimen. You need to be ready with a good spot treatment that can clear up breakouts. Look for products with proven active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and colloidal sulfur. Spot treatments dry out pimples quickly. Be careful with products if you have sensitive skin. Skin test a formulation before buying to check for adverse reactions. 5. Clean Your Makeup Brushes Make sure your makeup application tools are always clean.  Dirty makeup brushes and sponges can spread bacteria and cause breakouts. Learn how to clean your makeup brushes properly and do it regularly. Throw away your sponge after a few uses. Make sure your makeup tricks are oil-free since heavy makeup can trigger breakouts. 6. Change Your Diet There are studies showing that diets high in simple carbohydrates can increase the  risk of acne. This involves food that can cause a spike in blood sugar level. Dairy products are also known to promote breakouts. Experts believe that dairy products contain hormones and other chemicals that can lead to acne. Try cutting out dairy products from your diet a few weeks and observe if your skin becomes clearer. Reduce intake of simple carbohydrates especially those that contain a high amount of sugar. Eat more nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables. 7. See a Skincare Specialist The quick fixes previously mentioned will usually take care of the problem. However, if your acne persists, it may be time to seek professional help. In these cases, more potent treatments are needed to clear up the skin and manage acne-prone skin. There are also cases wherein the acne is caused by medical conditions such as fluctuating hormone levels. These can be treated with prescription medication.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of 5 Freelance Careers CareerMetis.com

Weighing the Pros and Cons of 5 Freelance Careers Source â€" Unsplash.comFreelance work is becoming more and more popular in today’s workplace, with 36% of the U.S. workforceconsisting of work-from-home freelancers and over half of the workforce set to become freelancers in the next decade.If you’re thinking that freelance work might be for you, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before launching yourself into the online market. Here, we’ll explore five freelance jobs that have been popular in 2018.1) Social Media Coordinator evalBusinesses are looking now more than ever to social media to build a strong customer base and keep in touch with their potential clients. While in-house employees typically take care of product design and manufacturing, companies often choose to outsource their marketing needs to a third party specialist.evalWhen contacted, the marketing company or freelance social media marketer designs a well-thought-out campaign of tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram photos, emails, and possibly YouTube info mercials to keep the company’s brand in the public eye. They typically come with a ready-made set of marketing skills and work with a number of clients at the same time.Pro: More Independence and ControlAs a freelancer, you are the social media expert, and you will often be given complete control over the strategies and techniques you employ to promote each brand. Companies While you were in college, you probably found a design program or kit that you absolutely lovedand got into a great design routine that worked for you. As a freelancer, you can use your own kit and set your work rhythm so that you get the best flow possible while designing, rather than fitting in with a company’s software and hours.Con: Larger Up-Front InvestmentThe downside to using your own software is that you carry the full burden of upfront purchase costs as well as the ongoing cost of keeping your software up-to-date. The cumulative costs of maintaining your own materials and tools, as well as downtime without projects, can mean you need to earn more than an in-house designer to maintain a similar annual income.3) Software ProgrammerSource â€" Unsplash.comThe software programming and web development industries are exploding and there is a higher demand for skilled programmers than ever before. As a freelance programmer, you could find yourself building websites and apps, debugging existing software, or designing internal management systems from the ground up.Programmers can work in-house or as freelancers in most parts of the world and can earn a decent income either way, so it’s useful to be able to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each.Pro: Use A Variety of Programming LanguagesevalIn a full-time programming role, you’ll most likely be working with only one language, like JavaScript, Python, or Ruby. As a freelancer, you will need to be familiar with all the main programming languages and be able to use them as the client and project require. In the end, this versatility makes you a lot more employable and keeps you flexible on the job.Con: No Recourse for Workplace Stress and HarassmentProgramming is notorious for being a high-pressure, high-stress job, and freelancers can find they sometimes need support to stand up for their rights in the online workplace. These contracted workers are especially vulnerable to harassment in gig jobs, and without access to an HR department, there often seems like there’s no place to go for help if you are being harassed or treated unfairly.Independent lawyers can help, especially if you live in the state of California where laws exist to protect you. If you are not sure whether you are being harassed, read “11 Types of Workplace Harassment and How to Stop Them.”4) CopywriterWriters, like social media coordinators, can obtain freelance work creating web content and blogs for companies looking to boost their web rankings. This freelance career requires little training besides a talent for producing engaging and grammatically-correct content, and the ability to research quickly and effectively.Pro: Work AnywhereWith little software or set-up required, writing is a job you can do pretty much anywhereâ€"even at an internet café or on your cell phone! This makes it one of the most flexible freelance jobs available.Con: Limited PayOccasionally, you may hear of a copywriter who is making $250 per hour writing web content and blogs. However, these freelancers are the exception and not the rule. A study of freelancers in 170 countriesshowed that freelancers generally earn between $11 and $28 per hour with an average of $19, and copywriters tend to earn in the lower part of this range.Pay-per-word schemes sound attractive, but you also need to factor in your research time. To up your pay through scoring well on quality-rating systems, you might want to consider using these 9 amazing freelancer platforms.eval5) Online TutorSource â€" Unsplash.comIf you have a college degree and enjoy teaching, onl ine tutoring is a convenient option. Online tutors teach everything from English to Physics and can connect with students around the world. These jobs are typically managed through a third-party agency, some of which allow you to set your own hourly rates.Pro: Eliminate Travel TimeIn-person tutoring is the most popular arrangement for children and teens who are very hands-on and enjoy face-to-face interaction. However, when parents want you to drive or bus to their homes every week for a one-hour session and then drive or bus home again, you can end up losing too much valuable time and income. Online tutoring eliminates the commute completely, allowing you to tutor students during your most productive work hours.Con: Reliable, High-Speed Internet is a MustevalA slow internet speed not only makes online tutoring frustrating, but it might also mean you are not eligible for employment through an agency from the get-go. In order to have a productive session with each student, you need t o be able to ensure that your internet connection is reliable and fast, with download speeds of at least 10mb/s.A World of OpportunityThese five freelance careers only represent a fraction of the opportunities that are out there in a constantly-changing market. If you enjoy working independently and have the flexibility to keep pace with the trends, freelance work might be a great option for you!

Open Space on Open Space - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Open Space on Open Space - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Every year, open space practitioners meet to learn more about the open space method from each other. This meeting is of course held as an open space meeting I mean, what else? And this year, this Open Space on Open Space is in Denmark, on august 23-26. You can read about it here. Ill definitely be there, trying to learn from and contribute to Open Space practice all over the world! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related Open Space on Open Space - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog As part of my holidays I spent three days at the OSonOS, which is the annual conference for Open Space practitioners. For those who dont know Open Space Technology heres an excellent intro. To me it is quite simply an incredibly efficient meeting form, which treats people as adults capable of making their own choices. It was an excellent conference. I loved meeting people from all over the world, and I really enjoyed getting deeper into Open Space. And the venue was fantastic. It was held at Bramstrup a little south of Odense in a barn. It may sound weird, but the place was beautiful and worked perfectly for our needs. Meals were taken in the old cow stables and the food was equally excellent. If youre planning some large meeting in Denmark, consider Bramstrup as your venue. As always Open Space worked its magic, and the sessions we had were productive, constructive, interesting and lots of fun. You can see the entire report from the conference. I hosted these two sessions: Short OS meetings and Freedom and OS. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Federal Resume Writing Assistance

Federal Resume Writing AssistanceFederal resume writing assistance can be obtained to help those individuals looking for a job or those with a need for a resume. There are several different benefits that come with this service.Most people who are getting in this sort of job have to go through a long and time consuming research process. For those looking for a career change or seeking a job, there is definitely no way that they can simply sit back and wait. It takes a lot of work to get an offer of employment that will be the ideal position for their needs.Being prepared is not necessarily a difficult thing to do. In fact, it can be an absolute pleasure. There are a number of sites out there that can help you plan out the best way to get a job. You can even send in samples of previous work that you have done.If you are a student at the time you want to change careers or even if you are working in your own particular field of interest, there is a system that can help you write the perf ect resume. Federal resume writing assistance can help you find the skills that you will need to be successful. This can also be a great way to get a new career and a new job at the same time.There are many people who just don't know where to begin when it comes to getting a job. They have to do a lot of research. They may need to compile a list of the many different jobs available and then they will need to decide what will best fit their particular needs.Fortunately, it can be done a lot easier with help from a website that offers resume writing assistance. The companies that offer these services are not going to take up your time either by visiting your job application and asking you questions.They are going to answer all of your questions and be able to provide you with the information that you need. Since so many people now have a need for resume writing assistance, it only makes sense that this is a service that you should seek out.