Effective Ways to Search for (and Retain) Employment

In today’s economy, many people who have worked in lucrative careers are either unemployed or under-employed. However, there are a number of ways that you can enhance your job search to land the position that you really want. And, once you receive the news that you’re hired, you’ll also need to know how to make sure you’re invaluable as an employee.

Before you send your information to employers, make sure that your resume is stellar. Even if your career spans over two or three decades, it’s important to keep your resume as short as possible. Hiring managers need to be able to skim through your resume and see your major accomplishments and qualifications in just a few seconds. Start your resume with a short objective or mission stating, detailing what you hope to accomplish in your new position, and the skills that you’re bringing to the table. Include the dates you worked at each of your most recent positions, and provide references if you have them. This shows supervisors that you’re reliable and consistent, and that other people can vouch for your professionalism.

When you’re called for an interview, dress neatly and professionally, even if the company where you’re interviewing has a business casual dress code. Be sure to greet the hiring manager with a firm handshake, smile warmly and make eye contact when you’re speaking and listening during the interview. Come prepared with a list of questions that you want to ask the interviewer concerning the history of the company, what your daily duties would be, and whether there are opportunities for growth with the company. A day or so after the interview, send a follow-up email thanking the interviewer for his/her time and stating that you look forward to getting a response soon.

Once you’re officially employed, continue learning all you can about the position you’re in. Download free software tutorials and ask questions as often as you need to. Volunteer to help colleagues with projects, and take notes during business meetings. Take it upon yourself to give your boss a weekly progress report, so that you can receive regular feedback on the job you’re doing. And, of course, keep your ear open for the possibility of a promotion. If you’ve been doing your best to contribute to the company’s success, you’ll have the confidence to negotiate a raise when the time comes.

Giving Business Presentations Without Putting Anyone to Sleep

Giving business presentations doesn’t have to be horribly boring. If you take the time to do the proper preparation, there are several ways that you can make your presentation much more interesting and help your audience to make the decision that you would like them to make.

Before giving business presentations, you must fully prepare. The first thing to do is to create a story. This is the number one way that you will hold the attention of your audience. Giving them just a whole bunch of information with no meaning or context is extremely boring and you lose your audience. You also want to keep your presentation relevant. Figure out what decision you want the audience to make and build a case that will lead them there.

Be short and simple when creating your introduction. Something that drags on to tell all about you, your business and how you got there will just bore people. Even for a longer presentation, keep it to a sentence or two only. You’ll also want to do this with the entire length of your presentation. Cut the time in half of how long you thought it should be, or even shorter.

Start out with an eye-opening fact that will give your audience a unique perspective and that leads well into your presentation. Also, use facts instead of generalities. Make your presentation memorable and dramatic with verifiable facts.

You’ll also want to consider the type of audience you are presenting to. Customize your presentation accordingly, as each audience is different. Simplify your graphics on any slides or other pictures you use, and don’t try and use fancy, confusing backgrounds. Make sure you use simple, readable fonts as well. Don’t try and use features such as all caps, boldface or italics.

Before the presentation begins, make sure your equipment is working properly. This is the last thing you want to be fumbling with during the presentation.

Speak to your audience instead of focusing on your notes or slides. This will encourage the audience’s focus on you and the message you are giving. Also, do not ever read from your slides, as this insults the intelligence of your audience and will bore them. Don’t try to be a comedian either. When giving business presentations, there is no place for joking or polite laughter.

Another important aspect of your presentation is the time of day that you give it. Don’t try and present right before lunch, at the end of the day or the day before a holiday. Also, don’t appear disorganized by skipping around from point to point. Don’t go back to slides you already showed your audience or show slides that don’t fit into your presentation. This will ruin the credibility of the message you are trying to give.

With the proper preparation, giving business presentations can be informative and interesting for your audience and you will have a much better chance of getting your message across.

Funding your Business with Help from the U.S.A Government

Give Your Business a Kick Start – Funding your Business with Help from the U.S.A Government

Where to Start?
Finding the sources to give a kick start to an established venture, start-up or idea can seem challenging. The U.S government is a great place to get your plans moving. Sources that are available include grants, solicitations, challenges, training, international trade loans and SBA loans. After a good business plan has been established, obtaining seed money for your venture can become a smoother and easier process.

SBA Loans
Traditional loan sources may be a choice that many ventures seek to obtain but many experience unapproved or less than desirable results from this path. The SBA is a great place to start to get everything moving into the right direction financially. To obtain a loan from this source the first step should be to visit their website or visit a local center. There are several loans and opportunities the SBA can help you become qualified for and obtain.

Grants
Grants can be obtained also. Put your writing skills into action or hire a professional to apply. There are numerous opportunities for those seeking seed money for their new or existing ventures. Obtaining grants can be a challenging process but with proper preparation or seeking help from SCORE to mentor you through the process, gaining the funding need can be easier and more successful.

Training
Training can help to elevate your efforts to obtain the financial means to get your business moving in the right direction. Knowing what to do and how to obtain seed money, can arm you with the expertise to make your efforts soar to the top. Many government training program are available to help you gain the knowledge needed to be successful financially. To obtain funds for your business, having a trained arsenal of information that works will help you excel.