4 Things Every Female Entrepreneur Should Do This Year -

4 Things Every Female Entrepreneur Should Do This Year - New year, same to-do list. Although we replace our calendars, the concerns of small business owners are very much the same year to year: Make sure your business is cash flow positive, and that you’re generating enough revenue to stay that way. That’s not going to change with the dawn of this new year, sure. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t bring a fresh outlook. That part’s up to you. This year, consider setting the bar higher for yourself with better goals and a few big-picture changes. Not only will your business targets stay top of mind, but you will also begin setting yourself up for better success down the line. Set real goals. This might seem trite, or at least tired. But that’s only if you make it so. This year, when you’re looking at your numbers and deciding what direction to take, consider putting in place a system of goals like OKRsâ€"“objectives and key results”â€"that are supposed to be, in part, unattainable. These highly measurable, methodical goals are supposed to be so challenging that you’re expected to miss about a third of them. If you’re hitting every single one of your goals, then they’re not hard enough. Push yourself for major, quantifiable achievement to see real growth and challenge yourself. Major companies, including Google, use these, and you can, too. Expand your network. For female entrepreneurs especially, networking is paramount to success. Women need to support each other in a world in which men dominate the top ranks of companies and organizations. Create an item on your checklist to expand your professional networking circle by doing oneâ€"or more!â€"of the following: Join a local trade association Join an industry-specific group Look for a local female entrepreneur meetup Attend a conference or workshop for female entrepreneurship Start your own networking coffee group If you’re unsure of where to start, the SBA offers a number of internal organizations aimed at helping women entrepreneurs. The Office Of Women’s Business Ownership offers training, counseling, and access to credit and funding, especially for economically disadvantaged women. These are, of course, only ideas to get the wheels turning. If you have your own idea or can think of another opportunity, pursue it! Advocate for yourself. Can you think of a situation in either your business or personal life in which you wish you’d spoken up more to get your desired outcome? If you can’t, you’re probably not thinking hard enough. It’s an unfortunate truth that women don’t have nearly the resources that men do in businessâ€"and that goes even more for women of color. If you’d like to apply for a grant but aren’t sure you should, submit your application. If you aren’t sure that you’re qualified for business funding, apply (especially because, statistically, women apply for funding less than men). And if you’d like to find a mentor but you’re shy, push yourself.  You’ll be glad you did, and you will reap the rewards. For instance, women are statistically more likely to see higher returns from mentorship than men so if you haven’t found a mentor, this is the year you should. Get an outside perspective. Even the most experienced businesswomen need help seeing things that they simply can’t. Your business is your life, your baby, your everything. There’s nothing wrong with you if you’re too “in” it to see flaws. It’s just the nature of how perspective works. The savvy choice, however, is making a commitment to having someone help you take the step back that you can’t yourself. This year, ask for outside perspective on a piece of your companyâ€"your business plan, your financials, a new product launchâ€"if not the entire thing. Perhaps you’ll be able to miss an obvious oversight or be turned onto a market nuance that only an experienced entrepreneur could add. Either way, the advice could change the trajectory of your business this year. *** As you’ve probably figured out by now, this list is as much about growing your business as it is about growing yourself. And that makes a lot of sense. As a female entrepreneur, your business is you and you are your business (within reason, of courseâ€"don’t forget to disconnect a little!). The more you know and develop as an individual, the more you’ll be able to strategically do the same to the company that you’re building, no matter the stage you’re in. With that in mind, when the clock strikes midnight to mark the New Year, kick those business resolutions into high gear. When you look back at all you’ve accomplished, you’ll find much to be proud ofâ€"from all angles. This guest post was authored by Meredith Wood. Meredith Wood is the Editor-in-Chief at  Fundera, an online marketplace for small business loans that matches business owners with the best funding providers for their business. Specializing in financial advice for small business owners, Meredith is a current and past contributor to Yahoo!, Amex OPEN Forum, Fox Business, SCORE, AllBusiness and more.

Writing a Resume For Sales Position

Writing a Resume For Sales PositionWriting a resume for sales position is a must if you are in the industry. It is required to present yourself well. It's also the first thing a potential employer notices about you. So if you want to get noticed, prepare your resume for sales position well.In order to be successful in writing a resume for a sales position, it's important to have good knowledge about business. Sales professionals are expected to know how to present themselves well and they must have solid knowledge about their field.When a sales person writes a resume, they should keep in mind the same things that would make them a successful one. Make sure that your resumes include all the important details such as objective, purpose of employment, skills, responsibilities, years of experience, educational qualifications, and references that are credible.Know the value of skills. If you don't have any skills, write down the ones that you do have and put them at the end of your resume .References. You must provide references that are credible. You may ask your former colleagues, friends or family members to add some references.Your objective. Be clear about what your objective is.Background information. Be sure to put the latest academic degrees, diplomas, certificates, professional organizations, and recommendations that you have. In order to write a resume for a sales position, you must know your strengths and weaknesses.If you can follow these tips, you will definitely have a greater chance of getting a job when writing a resume for a sales position. You can apply for ajob after knowing how to write a resume for a sales position and making an impression on your potential employer.

Buyer Trust What Consumers Need To Know When Investing In Résumé Services - Pathfinder Careers

Buyer Trust What Consumers Need To Know When Investing In Résumé Services - Pathfinder Careers Buyer Trust: What Consumers Need To Know When Investing In Résumé Services We have all been down that road before:  That moment when we realized that we were duped.   If you haven’t ever had someone pull a fast one on you before, then count yourself either extremely lucky or completely street-wise. But for the rest of us, being burned once makes us doubly careful the next time. I’m running into this as people who have been to other so-called résumé writers bounce over to me. They arrive after everything falls apart, yet it was clear that they failed to see the warning signs from the get-go. Here are some quick tips to consumers so they are more savvy when selecting a career partner to work with on an important project: No one (except an employer) can promise you a job.   Some writers offer guarantees for interviews, but those and jobs are not something that a résumé writer has any kind of control over. The writer isn’t in charge of your job search and quite frankly, they don’t know what you do with your résumé once they send it to you, and they don’t know the types of jobs you are using it as an application. Proceed with caution if the writer is promising you showers of job offers! If they are reputable, you’ll find them on more than just their own website.   Career industry professionals are engaged in their community, give back, and can be found quickly (and frequently) with multiple results on the first page of Google. Don’t expect a good quality document to be cheap.   The résumé that are going to be the most help in your job search aren’t the $35 “deals” found on Craigslist and other billboard sites.    Good quality writers are constantly educating themselves on emerging trends to make sure that the documents they produce are on-target to meet employer needs. And that means that they are investing in themselves (by going to industry conferences as well as gaining certification)s just as you are investing in them.   Remember: you get what you pay for! Résumé writers are not a “typing service.”    The reason why so many people stumble over writing their own career documents is because it IS difficult.   While résumé writers do this day in and day out, it also takes time to digest the information you provide, and that goes far beyond just a “typing” service.   Digging into your background, uncovering the bullets, then framing up the accomplishments in a way that appeals to employers is a specialized skill. It’s so much more than simply “typing something up.” High-integrity writers respond right away.   If you have emailed or called and don’t hear back within a reasonable time, either they are too busy or aren’t particularly anxious to get your business.    Or, if they are cagey about the process, you might want to look elsewhere. Pricing is up front. You can expect a sales process with the writer, but pricing should never be a “moving” target.  Writers who have integrity will be specific on what you are investing in, and that should not change. You should be a satisfied customer.  Conscientious writers are out to win your trust. They want your project to end on a positive note and will make sure your needs are met.  After all, savvy business owners know that happy clients will tell their friends and family. Sabrina Baker, a noted HR professional with Acacia HR Solutions, also talks about how to select a job search partner in her two-part blog on this topic:  Part 1 and Part 2. Keep these factors in mind, and you’ll have a much better experience as a result, as well as a fabulous new résumé!

Is Arena a lap - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Is Arena a lap - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog One of the many fascinationg people Ive met at the Practice of Peace conference is Max Gail, who runs an organization called lap. This is based on the metaphor of a lap. We all have one, and it is, among other things, wher our kids sit to hear a story or to feel safe. So what is a community lap? According to Max, its a computer-empowered, creativity inspiring, consensus building community communication center or network. Does that sound like Arena? It does to me: Imagine a lap for small businesses, where people can network, innovate, hear and tell stories, learn and recharge their batteries. That could be Arena, and I think it ties in nicely with the idea of a third place, outside of home and work. 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

The New Way to Network

The New Way to Network Traditional ways of networking still exist today, but there are plenty other ways you can meet professionals. As an executive, it’s easy to get caught up in the traditional ways of networking, such as attending formal events, speaking engagements, seminars and passing out resumes and cover letters at business meetings. However, with the digital and social media age peaking at its highest level, new networking techniques are being used to connect with professionals effectively. Here are some of the top new ways to network today. Networking While Exercising Building a professional network doesn’t have to be limited to wearing business attire. Plenty of connections are made while exercising at the gym and other places. This is especially true in organized fitness and group activities, where several people are working out together. Some people prefer to meet others through their LinkedIn profile first and then connect at the gym or similar events, just so they are familiar with each other ahead of time. While social media is great for making initial connections, there is no substitute for face-to-face communication. Conversation Differences The language used in your executive bio doesn’t need to be used in conversation anymore. Nowadays, conversation starters don’t usually revolve around a career. Instead, the conversation tends to shift to what the person’s lifestyle is like, including work-life balance. Having a solid 9-5 job is still important for many people, but it’s more impressive to have freedom to do the things they want to do while having a stable career. Listen in on some conversations at a networking event you attend and you may be surprised at the discussions taking place. Multitasking Whether you’re an aspiring executive fresh out of college or an experienced veteran, multitasking is essential today. Many executives with children have to be creative in their networking efforts. Some parents will schedule playdates with other executives who have kids, so the kids can play while the adults connect. This usually isn’t a place to exchange a formal executive bio, but getting creative with multitasking can help improve your work-life balance exceptionally. At Professional Resume Services, our services go beyond simply writing effective resumes. Our experts stay on top of the latest trends in networking as well, since the two go hand-in-hand. For more tips on how to effectively network, or for more executive job search assistance, feel free to contact us at any time.

Hiring Human Resources Managers Can Make Your Writing History Sizzle

Hiring Human Resources Managers Can Make Your Writing History SizzleA good combination of history and the hiring manager can help your resume speak a lot of yourself. Even though you may have the best resume in the world, the one that is written correctly is what is going to get the interview. The one mistake that you may not realize you have is that your writing style doesn't seem to match the name of the company. Do you realize that some human resources managers can be so impressed by your writing that they overlook the resume's importance?Let's say you are a quick study with a good grasp of the English language and are planning to go into the Human Resources business. You apply to a company and they have a specific person in mind for the position. The resume has you describe this person in detail and address the competition you have with your resume. The human resources manager thinks you could possibly be a good fit. They send the resume to all the potential candidates in the HR department and they get a lot of responses.So your resume goes on the table and out of the Human Resources department. You ask them what happened. The Human Resources Manager tells you that the person you were considering was rejected. It was too long and they had given other people a chance.You want to get the Human Resources Manager fired! This is a person you just hired who had given other people a chance. The resume you sent was to improve your chances of getting the job. You want them fired so you can show them your resume was meant to be looked at.You are asking Human Resources to give your best prospect to your top candidates. You need to make sure your resume, and any other documents you send in, is completed by the specific people that are hiring. It does not have to be the Human Resources Manager, it could be your supervisor, or the manager who read the resume in the first place. It should show they have seen the resume before so that their decision is not based on how the y feel about it. A resume may only be as good as the word that is in it.Most of the time it is the Human Resources Manager that is wrong and not the applicant. What could be the problem? It could be that you have included too much or too little. The Human Resources Manager may want to run the resume by someone else. But a Human Resources Manager can only make the final call. You want to make sure that your resume is impressive enough to impress them enough to get the job.You can make your resume stand out, however, if you have your Human Resources Manager as your own friend. He or she is looking for a job. Most people who have jobs prefer them. So you can do just that, write a resume that is both impressive and flattering to the Human Resources Manager to help get them to hire you.

Top How to Upload Resume to Linkedin Choices

Top How to Upload Resume to Linkedin Choices A properly executed social media profile on LinkedIn is a significant job-search tool which increases your visibility, but it doesn't guarantee that you'll be viewed, or seen by the folks with the authority and the urge to seek the services of a professional like you. Click on the business name and LinkedIn will create a list of colleagues in the corporation. LinkedIn is home to more than 120 million members using the social media platform to do precisely that. LinkedIn supplies you with a couple of ways of connecting with colleagues. Moreover, emails enable you to send files from 1 person to another. Resumes are generally a little restrictive as you abide by an overall format. LinkedIn is an amazing asset to your professional and company development. Based on your industry and the kind of job you're interested, an online resume can be a terrific way to highlight your abilities and experience in a way that is more visually appe aling and engaging than a traditional resume. Technology has changed every part of recruitment. The Number One Question You Must Ask for How to Upload Resume to Linkedin When you've finished your edits, it's time to pick the privacy alternatives for your document. It's important to get a professional resume that is simple to read and successfully highlights your abilities and experience, but when saving a resume file for uploading, in addition, it is critical to be certain it is readily accessible for potential employers. If that's the case, don't be concerned about what it appears like, because it is going to be consistent with the other resumes in the database. Or DoYouBuzz, which is a really user-friendly website with both free and paid plans, providing you a lot of template options and is an extremely smooth process also. Life After How to Upload Resume to Linkedin Look for a job which you would want to submit an application for that has the LinkedIn easy apply option. There are two methods to receive your resume onto LinkedIn. LinkedIn isn't a work board, it is a professional networking website. LinkedIn will conserve the past three resumes you uploaded. Definitions of How to Upload Resume to Linkedin All you will need is a Gmail email address and a small amount of know how. The aforementioned step can help you to launch the Edit intro window. You can also make a customized link to our document which may be easily pasted into an email or message. You might have to edit your resume within the text box to be sure it still appears professional. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for How to Upload Resume to Linkedin When you have created a resume utilizing a work search engine resume builder, the website will enable you to share it together with employers on the exact same job search engine. When applying for jobs on the website, you simply should click the saved resume you created on the website. If you don't create a resume employing an on-l ine site's resume builder but still wish to post it to the website, you might have to upload it. Because so much of the work search procedure is online, you will need to be ready to design a resume which works for the internet, how to send resumes as emails and email attachments, and the way to upload your resume to different job search websites and company websites. An excellent job board will also have private features for a number of your own personal information so your present employer won't know you're looking for a new job. When you wish to apply to jobs that you find, you will be able to attach a resume with the work application. You can have different resumes for various jobs you want to pursue, and you're able to send such carefully customized resumes straight to the headhunters, company recruiters, and hiring mangers you most want to speak to. Hunting for a new job can feel as a job in itself.