Starting a Business Right After Graduation

Smiling cafe owner or waitress. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Starting a business is something that most people think comes later—after they’ve worked their way up a ladder, made some contacts, saved some money, spent a few years in the trenches…you get the idea. That doesn’t have to be your story. Starting your own business is one of the best things you can do and there’s no time like the present to do it. Here’s how to make it happen. Continue Reading

3 Ways to Make Your Resume Look Brilliant

If you’re a recent college graduate, you’re probably looking for work.

According to data conducted for The Associated Press, half of young college graduates in 2012 were unemployed or underemployed. This issue could be compounded if recent graduates don’t have enough experience to get a job in their fields, which brings us back to that classic conundrum: You can’t find a job without experience and you can’t get experience without a job. Continue Reading

10 Recommendations for Job Seekers With Criminal Records

Prisoner behind chain link fence courtesy of Shutterstock

While having a run-in with the law can have long-term repercussions for job hunting, a new study from CareerBuilder shows organizations are open to giving people second chances. Fifty-one percent of human resource managers reported that their organizations have hired someone with a criminal record.

The study, which was conducted by Harris Interactive^© and included more than 2,000 hiring managers nationwide, also looked at what job seekers with criminal records can do to help their chances of getting hired.

“The number one recommendation hiring managers have is to own your past and focus on what you learned from it to grow professionally and personally,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “You also want to stay active. Taking classes, volunteering and tapping into social networks can be good ways to help overcome obstacles associated with job hunting with a criminal past.” Continue Reading

Make Employers Think About Hiring You

Have you thought about what it takes to get a job?  Sure, you know about doing research, having a good resume and cover letter, a good interview, etc., but what can you do for an employer to consider hiring you.  As a job seeker, you want to prove your worth without seeming pushy.  One suggestion is to volunteer somewhere, which is an opportunity to offer your services and get noticed.

Here are some expert tips to remember in your approach to volunteering: Continue Reading

Moms Going Back to Work for Financial Security

There has been a ton of discussion lately about stay-at-home moms sacrificing their financial health for the sake of raising their children. Whether you agree or disagree with this statement, there are a lot of moms returning to the workforce to make an extra buck and keep their foot in the corporate world.
However, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. What are some ways to successfully get you back into the working world? Take a look:
Work Part-Time
This can be one of the most appealing work alternatives for moms. You don’t have to give up all your freedom and time with your kids while earning a paycheck. That’s the misconception that many have while contemplating their next move. Not only does part-time work allow you to get your feet wet once again without diving in head first, you can pick up some new skills and start putting away some money while you’re at it.
Work-At-Home (for someone else) & Freelance
There are many ways this can happen. You can become skilled in a trade that hires home-workers such as medical transcriptionists. There are different courses out there to help you get started with such a thing. You can also become a virtual assistant or a freelancer for a business owner. The type of work would vary greatly depending on your strengths and the business owner’s needs.
Work-At-Home (for yourself)
Starting a business can be extremely scary and overwhelming but the Internet makes it easier than ever. Now don’t get me wrong: you still have to have strong business acumen and be willing to work very hard and constantly keep abreast of new marketing techniques, but you don’t need a lot of upfront capital. Domain names are cheap and there’s help out there to get started.
But do NOT get caught up in the easy-money scam. These scams prey on amateurs who might not know that it really is too good to be true. Those of us who have online businesses know that it takes time and a lot of hard work to become successful.
Volunteer
Now if you’re a mom who doesn’t care about earning an extra paycheck right now, then volunteering might be the route for you. It allows you to choose something you enjoy and believe in while honing some important business skills. Yes, volunteer work can easily be transformed into valuable assets that will work for you when and if it comes time to go back to work. It’s usually viewed upon very highly with employers.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s your decision. Some people believe that all women should work outside the home. If not, you risk financial ruin. That is a very dire picture to paint especially where there are other ways you can gain financial security. Do what’s right for you and your family. If the time is right and you feel you are willing and able to jump back into working, then go for it…and don’t let anything hold you back.

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