Seven Things Aspiring Entrepreneurs Should Know

Seven Things Aspiring Entrepreneurs Should Know It’s no secret that women in business put up with a lot. From not being taken seriously, to being objectified, to even losing out on business opportunities due to their gender, the workplace is not always feminine-friendly. However, with the cultural shift the U.S. is experiencing right now, this time is crucial for women to take a step forward and be entrepreneurs, if that’s something they desire. The things we do today will shape our tomorrows, and this era has the power to propel a normalization of businesswomen. This is especially important because entrepreneurs are the backbone of the U.S. economy. Although it’s tough for a lot of people to define what “American” is, the ability to start something yourself is a beloved factor of the ethos we’ve traditionally held dear. If you’re looking at starting your own business or that’s something you aspire to, here are some words of advice and encouragement to get you started: Decision Is Key Several years ago, actor Shia Labeouf was featured in a viral internet video where he was flexing downward in front of a green screen screaming “just do it,” encouraging viewers (or someone behind the camera maybe? The video was quite confusing) to follow their dreams and not wait for time to line up for them. Although the video was, frankly, pretty hard to take seriously, Mr. Even Stevens has a point â€" to do something, you have to make the choice to do it, and you can’t procrastinate. Now obviously, a lot goes into starting your own business. You’re not going to be able to start one overnight â€" but you can start the processes of starting one now. Creating your business plan, doing market research, figuring out how much money you need, how you might manufacture and distribute your product, planning your funding, and coming up with names are all possible. Start prepping now, though; don’t put it off, and stay on the ball. Learn how to make this dream of yours a reality, and execute your plan accordingly. Seek After Motivation It’s a difficult task getting motivated some days â€" especially when you have other things going on in life and you’re in charge of the ship of a blossoming business. But of course, productivity is necessary if you’re going to be an entrepreneur, because it’s what gets you off the ground. Otherwise, your business will fail or stay a plan you never followed through on. Different things push people to productivity, but there are some threads among people that commonly inspire them and bring creativity. Ms. Career Girl actually wrote about some of them here, noting specifically that some people’s creativity is inspired by others’ creativity. For instance, books, inspirational movies, and Ted Talks are all listed in the Ms. Career Girl article. Additionally, marketing company Timmerman Group shared an article detailing their employees’ favorite working music last year, which is full of various great suggestions. Watching or listening to other people get so much out of their drive and seeing how they enjoy the journey can help you do the same. Additionally, staying productive in other ways may help some to live more productive lives habitually. Others, not so much. Side Hustles Are Okay A lot of people nowadays have second jobs because their normal jobs don’t pay enough. There’s a pretty good chance you’ll need these if you start your own business, at least for a few years while you’re getting your feet set on solid ground. Know there’s nothing wrong with that, and that a lot of millennials have side hustles! Side hustles are second jobs essentially, or other forms of income. This comes in many forms â€" some people sell Scentsy, while others work in an office. However, this can give you the freedom to grow your own business organically without quitting when the money doesn’t come in like you hope. It’s something most of us do that has huge benefits while we’re starting out! Legalities Are Not Meant to Be Put Off It can be easy while you’re not making much money to put the legalities of your business off. For instance, why set yourself up to pay taxes if there’s hardly any income to report? My friend, success can come like a thief in the night, and you better be prepared for it. Furthermore, when business starts to pick up, you may be pressed for time to get these things in order. Small business taxes are a beast of their own, so it’s wise to do your homework before getting them set up. Before you do any of that though, make sure to register what you’re doing with the government. Whether you get an LLC, a sole proprietorship or another form of registration, ensure that you have it taken care of so the government knows how to tax you. Also, if this sounds completely dreadful, remember that startup costs and certain materials and services costs can be written off on your taxes, and you may even get some money back at the end of the day. These Are Socially Conscious Times Now, if you’re reading Ms. Career Girl, you’re most likely a woman. And you know that being a woman in the workplace can be hard. Did you know that venture capital investors are much more likely to invest in men than in women? You probably do if you’re an entrepreneur and have had to seek funding before. Therefore, don’t discriminate, and be conscious not to do so! These are socially conscious times, and it’s important to use that to your advantage of working with people commonly missed out on. Fellow women, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ+ community are also discriminated against, so a time like the one we live in today is a chance to change things. But you need to be somewhat conscious to do so most effectively. Target Market Research Is of the Utmost Importance A target audience changes its opinions and tastes over time in just about any market. Going through these seasons with them â€" having fidelity with your market, in a way â€" is what will keep you afloat. You can’t adapt if you don’t know what’s going on. Frankly, a lot of businesses go wrong here and don’t end up lasting. So do the proper target market analysis. Do whatever surveys you have to do; analyze traffic and social media trends and the like. But of course, also get your hands a bit dirty and do some ground work â€" that is, discover what the people you’re trying to sell to enjoy or respond to and adapt to it. This can be done by asking them directly and being involved on social media. Starting Your Own Business is Hard to Do Alone You probably have a somewhat clear vision of what you want to do as an entrepreneur. That’s good, and that’s important, because it’s what builds brands up to become strong fortresses. But let’s be honest: Running a business is hard to do alone. There’s so much that goes into it from the conception to that first moment a customer purchases from you, that at any hoped for growth you may find yourself wondering “how do I manage all of this?” Well first of all, think about whether or not you want funding or a business loan. They’re scary things, but it helps to start with some capital. Second, seek advice from experts about your endeavor and how to make it successful. Listen to them, because it’s what will keep you afloat. Third, when you’re able, hire employees and don’t be afraid to let them take control over their own jobs. Let them own their work so they’re as proud of the results as you want to be. Doing things alone is rough, but with the right people involved, you may find yourself growing to unimaginable heights. Have you started a business? What was your experience? What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs? Let us know in the comments below! This guest post was authored by Brooke Faulkner Brooke  Faulkner is a writer, mom and adventurer in the Pacific Northwest.  She spends her days pondering what makes a good leader.   And then dreaming up ways to teach these virtues to her sons, without getting groans and eye rolls in response.

10 Must-Read Books for Career and Personal Development - CareerMetis.com

10 Must-Read Books for Career and Personal Development Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comAuthor of globally renowned Harry Potter series of books, J.K. Rowling says: “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” Her quote is rather astute. Books do help us in our daily lives.Reading books authored by greatest motivational speakers, management gurus and successful businessmen indeed serve as beacon for those looking for career and personal development.Importance of readingevalReading books is among the first casualties of the onslaught of smart-phones, Internet and satellite TV. Indeed, reading is now labeled as ‘old fashioned’, despite easy availability of excellent books.evalRegardless whether they are based on fact or fiction, theory or evidence, books help us in different ways. They help improve vocabulary, enrich our general knowledge, creates awareness of threats and opportunities and help in overall career and personal development, vital for a successful life.Here we present a selection of 10 books th at are helping people worldwide to develop their career and overall personality.1) Rich Dad, Poor Dad- by Robert KiyosakiThis bestseller by Japanese-American motivational speaker and financial expert, Robert Kiyosaki, is a must-read for everyone from teenage students to those embarking on careers, middle aged people as well as top executives.Rich Dad, Poor Dad is based on real life experiences of the author. It speaks about how the educated generally lag behind in wealth. Robert Kiyosaki provides you with a goldmine of information, based on his own experiences, about how a person can strike the perfect balance between education, wealth and happiness.First published in 1997, this book has helped millions of people worldwide to fulfill their dreams over the last two decades. It continues to remain a bestseller in its genre.2) The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People â€" by Dr. Stephen R. CoveyAuthored by America’s topmost motivational speaker, ‘The Seven Habits…” takes you on a journey of character development from childhood till teenage and beyond, when people start their career.The first three habits primarily focus on growth years, when we depend upon parents, teachers and the society for our needs.The next three habits cover teenage and mid-20s when young women and men migrate from the state of dependence to inter-dependence.Dr. Covey speaks of the new person born as a result of these first six steps, as the seventh habit.3) The Eighth Habit- by Dr. Stephen R. Coveyeval‘The Eighth Habit’, the author, Dr. Stephen R. Covey is a sequel to his earlier book, we mention above.This book shows readers how to open vistas for their career and personal growth.Dr.Covey exhorts readers to delve deeper into their inherent attributes- talent, need, conscience and passion to scale great heights in life.eval4) Zero to One- By Peter ThielNot many outside the IT or finance industry may have heard of Peter Thiel. He is better known as the founder of PayPal, the world’s largest global payments gateway.‘Zero-to One’ is actually a collection of lectures and personal experiences of the author. The book is fun to read, highly informative and extremely encouraging, to say the least.Thiel was associated with several top Silicon Valley companies, including Facebook and Napster. In ‘Zero to One’, this American entrepreneur of German origin gives valuable advice to anyone- from teenager to retiree- about how to start an enterprise with almost no investment.The book is excellent for career and personal development since it features a number of quizzes It consists of several to-do exercises and puzzles including an imaginary universe with zero gravity that you can rule and games for getting rid of our ‘impostor’ syndrome or the person we pretend to be.6) The Journey Within- By Radhanath SwamiThough the author, Radhanath Swami is a renowned preacher of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness 7) The Power of Onlyness- By Nilofe r MerchantEveryone is unique and each brain is capable of conceiving some rare yet workable idea. In her book, The Power of Onlyness, author Nilofer Merchant forces readers to search deeper into themselves to find their inherent uniqueness, regardless whether they are strengths or weaknesses.It helps readers to get rid of that lingering feeling of being a misfit or being unable to cope with others due to differences. Instead, she encourages readers to look upon everyone as a unique creation and accept all people are one by accepting their peculiarities.Nilofer Merchant explains why some people attain greatness and shows ways and means by which you too can soar to heights you never imagined.8) Stealing Fire- by Steven Kotler and Jamie WhealAuthors Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal make readers do something they never dared attempt. They help you dive deep into gray areas of your consciousness and personality.Stealing Fire draws on four elements- psychology, neurobiology, pharmacology and technology to explain functioning of our brain. It helps us to understand why we behave in a particular manner or how we react or respond to situations.The authors teamed up for a four year study which culminates as the book. Kotler and Wheal explain why some people become presidents and CEOs and mental aptitudes to become successful. It helps you personally map gray areas of your brain. Stealing Fire is one of the topmost books for career and personal development.9) Tools of Titans- by Tim FerrisSurely, you would love to be as rich and famous as Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates. Author Tim Ferris says, everyone can attain heights of greatness by following some simple habits and discipline.Becoming rich and famous does not involve only exceptional talent, Ferris adds. In his book, Tools of Titans, author Tim Ferris analyzes these habits and routines of some of the world’s top rich and famous.The book features interviews with personalities such as Hollywood star Kevin Costner, founde r of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffmann and others, where they speak about simple measures that helped them achieve success.This book is a must read for anyone eyeing career and personal developments to soar to great heights by following simple habits.10) Own It : The Power of Women at Work- by Sallie KrawcheckDespite centuries of progress, women lag behind in entrepreneurship when compared to males. In her book, Own It, author Sallie Krawcheck deals with this issue.She aptly highlights why women lag behind, blaming lack of confidence and other self-created issues as hurdles. She includes examples of successful businesswomen in her book.‘Own It’ is a great book for every woman who wishes to realize her dream of striking it rich and famous. Regardless whether you are a teenage girl or a working woman, ‘Own It’ will inspire you to take that leap you felt were impossible, for attaining great heights.In conclusionThanks to online stores and Kindle-based publications, these books can be bou ght as hard copies or downloaded at very economical rates.A majority of these books are authored by American writers. Yet, their contents have global relevance.While you can learn a great deal from these book, action on your part is the prerequisite for career and personal growth.

Finding Internships that Lead to Permanent Placement - CareerAlley

Finding Internships that Lead to Permanent Placement - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Every year, fresh-faced college students venture out into the world of work, completing assignments as interns at major firms. These students hold high hopes that their hard work will lead to permanent careers after graduation. In most cases, though, students are disheartened to find out that the opposite is true. The majority of students will not find jobs with their intern companies. By understanding the factors that determine which students get hired, aspiring interns can maximize their chances for placement after graduation. Suggested Reading:The Intern Files: How to Get, Keep, and Make the Most of Your Internship Start With Your Search The first place to start looking for companies that hire interns is with the internship search. Thoroughly research the companies that you are interested in joining permanently. Look for career opportunities on their website that fit your area of expertise. A company that is actively hiring is more likely to hire their interns than one that is not. Look for entry-level positions that are tailored toward recent graduates. Timing is Everything One of the main reasons that some interns are not hired for positions after graduation is because their timetables dont match the employers needs. Students that intern during their sophomore or junior year wont be available to work for another one to two years. A intern who is a senior has a greater chance of being on staff when a position becomes open. Find out if your department head will allow you to complete your internship during your last semester. This way you can transition straight into a career if one becomes available. Think Small Skip the big companies with the panache and prestige. Every intern wants those placements, and as such, there will be more competition for limited permanent slots. The larger firms are less likely to hire interns because their job openings are in such high demand. For what they would pay a recent grad, they can hire an experienced professional. Go for small firms and startups that need extra help. A prime example of this is the Made in New York Tech Meetup site. This site lists hundreds of companies that are looking for creative interns and permanent staff. Not only will you have a better chance of landing a job, you will have more opportunities to learn and gain valuable job skills. In a larger firm, you may be relegated to making copies and getting coffee. At small firms, you may have the opportunity to work on projects, give input and enjoy decision-making responsibility. Maximize Your Time With the Company One of the best ways to get hired from your internship is to become valuable in your company. Participate in projects and offer fresh ideas. If you have an idea about how to reach customers in your age range, pitch a new product or marketing idea. Work closely with your mentor and volunteer to take on extra projects as they become available. Build up your portfolio with the work you have performed. Another tactic to get your foot in the door at your intern company is to find out if they hire temporary staff. Often companies hire administrative staff from staffing firms. Register with these firms while you are still working at the company. If you dont receive a job offer at the end of your internship term, go to your staffing firm and asked to be placed as a temporary employee of the company. Often these placements lead to permanent work. Companies that Hire Interns Finding a company that hires interns starts with the job posting. Often these postings will include the phrase training program. The New York City Mayors Office of Film is one such internship. The Made in New York Production Assistant Training Program specifically trains interns to work on movie sets in New York City. These placements lead to permanent jobs that pay a competitive wage. The starting salary for these positions is between $35,000 and $51,000. more Importance of Interns When it comes to working at a business after graduation, not much else is on the same level as being your own boss. Each year, College Works Paintings successful district managers train students to becomes leaders and manage a painting project from start to finish. The programs helps student gain direct experience in customer service, organizing projects, and budgeting. With these couple of examples and by conducting a thorough job search, making yourself a valuable part of the team and working closely with decision-makers, you will be able to find internships that lead to permanent jobs. Other Resources: Internships, Apprenticeships Volunteer Opportunities Internships.com We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to launch your career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Easy Ways to Create a First Resume

Easy Ways to Create a First ResumeWriting a first resume can be very difficult especially if you don't have a lot of experience. Your qualifications might be impressive, but if you don't have previous work experience, you might end up with a very unprofessional resume. Luckily, there are some great resume writing tips that will make the process easier for you.First of all, you should think about the format of your resume. There are a number of different formats available to choose from, including the chronological, formatted, reverse chronological, vertical, full horizontal, vertical or capitalized. You can also choose to use bold text to highlight certain keywords or you can use italics to italicize your information. The important thing is to pick one format that makes it easy for you to read and write on.When you are choosing a resume format, you need to decide what information you want to highlight in your resume. If you are applying for a position as a writer for a publishing com pany, you probably will want to highlight your extensive knowledge in literature and fiction. If you are applying for a job as a graphic designer, then you will want to highlight your expertise in visual communication. Whatever your strengths, the first step in writing a resume is to get focused on your talents.Next, you should focus on the most important information you want to highlight in your resume. It's a good idea to look at your previous employment, as well as other personal information, to see if this information is relevant to the position you are applying for. Keep in mind that your credibility will suffer if you emphasize inaccurate information. For example, if you are applying for a job as a medical receptionist, the best way to include any sort of artwork in your resume is to provide a portfolio of work.Next, you should look at the titles that appear at the top of your resume. Do you really need to list your occupation, name, or title? You can choose to leave this info rmation off the first time, or you can leave them off when you are creating your first resume. In general, it's always best to leave them off the first time, unless you are required to, such as when you are filling out a new application form.If you are completing a paper resume, make sure that you use the appropriate font and size. Make sure that you do not overload your resume with too many fonts, or put too much information on the first page. Avoid using the same font style throughout your resume. Also, make sure that the spacing between your paragraphs is even.One important thing to keep in mind when you are preparing your resume is to avoid having your work experience listed alongside your qualifications. If you are applying for a sales position, for example, you should not include your writing experience in your resume. Instead, make sure that your resume only highlights your skills and the accomplishments you have completed.When you are choosing a resume template, you need to consider how much time you will have to spend working on your resume. Your best option is to hire a professional writer. You should think about how much time you will need to spend on your resume in order to meet your deadlines. In addition, you should know that hiring a professional writer will save you the cost of creating your own first resume.

Example Writing Resume - What to Write and How to Do It

Example Writing Resume - What to Write and How to Do ItWriting an example writing resume is a great way to create an interview-ready resume and business card. It's a quick and simple method to demonstrate your skills, experience, and interest in a job opening you're applying for.Writing an example resume can help put your resume and cover letter in context and communicate your skills, interests, and values clearly. You'll find the following three examples very helpful in terms of presenting your qualifications, accomplishments, and experiences clearly.For each example, you'll want to explain how you met the interviewer's requirements for the position. This may be in the job description or maybe something they say about the position. For example, if you're applying for a sales manager position, you'll want to include a few examples of work you've done in this role.Another example is showing how you've developed your skills. There are several ways to do this. You could present a resume that shows how you've gained skills from one position to another (and vice versa) or perhaps you could describe how you've learned something new about a certain subject over time.When you're finished writing the examples, you'll want to make sure you've actually written them in your own words. Since your example writing resume should show how you can contribute to the company, you want to write it in a manner that shows you're someone who can lead the way through a hiring process.Examples can also demonstrate how well you can manage yourself in the job interview. To test your example writing resume, you could include a few questions to ask in the examples that have been provided.Writing an example writing resume is easy and simple to do. Here are three examples you can use for free to help you get started.

Get the Scoop on Resume Experience Before Youre Too Late

Get the Scoop on Resume Experience Before You're Too Late Keep yourself on the very edge of what's being done in your industry and you will be in a prime place to contribute. Read professional journals connected to the jobs you're applying for. You do not need to incorporate every job that you've held, especially when you have many years of expertise or have worked in unrelated fields. The medical assistant job is competitive and thus you are in need of a good resume to increase your likelihood of receiving an interview and nailing the job. New Step by Step Roadmap for Resume Experience If you're answering behaviorally, you might need 10, 15, or even 20 during the plan of merely 1 interview. Experience in the restaurant industry makes it possible to develop unique skills which are extremely valuable. As you proceed through the list of skills above, make a distinct list with the skills which you already possess. So you may use a work example to chat about your organizational abilities, then later in the interview use the exact work example to speak about your teamwork abilities. All About Resume Experience You never understand what experiences will connect with other people. How you write your resume experience is likely to make a significant difference. You may be thinking, I truly don't have that many examples in my personal life. An excellent instance of a seamless user and client experience is Airbnb. Entry level employees, who don't have a great deal of on-the-job experience, should incorporate every job possible. Not open for suggestions When you are searching for employment and forward your resume, companies will on occasion request that you modify your resume so be ready for it and make changes as different businesses, organisations have different requirements in regards to resume. What you should do is tweak your resume dependent on the job which you are applying for. Even though a basic serving job is fairly simple to find, servers who wish to work in nicer restaurants want in order to demonstrate their abilities and experience. Conclusion Getting work in any position is an important life changing process. Secretarial jobs typically involve a wide scope of tasks and techniques. Building a resume may sound like an overwhelming endeavor. It is vital to explore your choices because you would like to put money into an organization for which you are genuinely passionate. Leadership is absolutely an ability that includes experience, but not only that. An interactive presentation is essential to successful evaluation. Your resume ought to be worded differently than that which you'd see otherwise. Once you've reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to know how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a potent accomplishment statement. Employing social media as a tool to enhance customer experience can allow a more personal touch to attain your aims. Other d uties the owner of a small company performs include portraying their product to the perfect audience through the invention of associate campaign. You'll receive experience, construct your portfolio, but also learn about the organization AND it will force you to stand out like crazy. In college, you have the chance to become involved with a number of diverse organizations that may serve as excellent resume builders.

Do You Dread A Phone Interview Or Networking Call - Work It Daily

Do You Dread A Phone Interview Or Networking Call - Work It Daily Do you dread the miserable networking call or phone interview? Fear not. In a lot of ways, they are actually pretty easy! But, there are some drawbacks: It’s easy to take it for granted and not prepare or take them as seriously. A BIG mistake! It’s hard to tell how you’re doing because you can’t see the other person’s facial expressions and body language. Having said that: Plan The Conversation What you hope to achieve (networking) and/or what you hope to convey (phone interview). Practice if that helps, and write down your main points. This may seem like it will make the conversation sound contrived; it may the first few times, but more often, it will actually help you to be more relaxed and make the conversation flow far more smoothly. When you have a plan and your key points ready, it’s far less stressful, and that translates into more comfort, and usually, a far better call. If You’re Calling To Network, Be Sure The Time Is Good For The Other Party You may have taken some time to work up the nerve to call; that doesn’t mean they are ready or have time for your call when you do. I often suggest scheduling the call (in fact, that goal could be used as the first networking call) so both parties are ready for it. I suggest not taking too much time to work up the nerve to call; it just makes the stress and anxiety about the call that much worse. As a popular shoe brand would say, “just do it.” Of course with preparation, but no anticipatory anxiety. You Probably Have An Activity That Gets Your Juices Going Perhaps you jog or workout, listen to music, watch a great movie â€" whatever it is â€" do it first so when you make the call, you’re already pumped up and confident (but don’t be out of breath). Smile When You Talk It will show in your voice. Many people like to stand up when they talk â€" they speak more from the diaphragm and they come across as very confident. Even if they already are or are not! Incentivize Yourself Tell yourself for every five networking calls you make or for every phone interview you have, no matter how you do, you will reward yourself. Stick to your plan and make the reward worthwhile. It’ll make it much easier. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!