Move From the "Can" to the "How"

How many times do you think about doing something that feels like a stretch and you ask yourself, "Can I do this'? Those four little words can really set the stage for the end result. If you ask yourself "Can I do this" you are introducing and validating your own self-doubt. When that enters, the goal seems that much further away and you are ultimately sabotaging your results.

Rather than asking "Can I do this", ask instead, "How can I do this". The mere act of rephrasing that shifts the paradigm from one of self-doubt to one of embracing the possibilities. When you ask, "Can I do this" you are really prompting your mind to make an immediate assessment and answer yes or no. The sad realization is that we often gravitate to the "no" response.. The key is to start a conversation with your mind. When your brain is confronted with the "how" it will immediately shift into offering possibilities and finding solutions. Our brain is like a computer and it will naturally seek out the solution when presented the problem. But we have to take that first step to in essence, program our brain to respond to our request.

"How can I do this" implies the solution is out there it's just a matter of us putting together the right pieces to make it happen. It entails being open and aware of the opportunities that already exist around us and a willingness to step into them. The solution always exists when you don't shut down the process. Make sure your mindset is such that you are ready to receive it.

The next time you are confronted with a situation that requires you to step outside your comfort zone or stretches you to that next level, ask yourself "how can I do this"? Allow yourself to open up to the process and you will find the solution will present itself.

Action Step:
Catch yourself the next time you say, "Can I do this". Stop and immediately rephrase that to "How can I do this" and keep reinforcing that until you sense you've let go of any self doubt and allowed yourself to embrace the possibilities. Train your mind to immediately let go of the "Can I" response. Write out your thoughts. Let any self-doubt that exists come out and release it. Open up the way for the solution to show up. The solution always exists, you just need to create an environment that allows it to manifest.

Karen Dunlap is an interior designer, business owner and creator of the Design For Your Success NOW System™, a unique training and coaching program specifically created for design professionals. Using specific strategies and systems, Karen coaches design professionals on how to simplify their business, attract ideal clients and get back to their original passion, designing and decorating.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Dunlap

Relationships Can Build or Hurt Your Business

Even though we are solo professionals,k there are many people who can influence us for good or evil over time. It is therefore important to be cautious about the people who we have as associates. There are several types of relationships that can hurt our business:

1. Partners - Many of us have been burned in the past after beginning a venture with high hopes only to have them dashed when the person who we chose to partner with does not have the same goals, lifestyle or ambition. This may be a business partner who perhaps does not invest time and energy to the degree that was promised or a romantic partner who has a completely different idea of how your lives and business should operate. Be cautious!

2. Friends - People can enter and leave your life just as the seasons change. Usually we are attracted to others because we have something in common but if one of us grows the relationship can end either abruptly or through a gradual slide that is almost imperceptible. Unfortunately, jealousy can interfere with what was previously a supportive and enjoyable relationship. It is therefore important that you live in the moment and be able to let go of the other person when the right time for this arrives.

3. Associates - It is very easy to get into habits that might not be very positive for your business. An associate might, for example, invite you for an after-work beverage which evolves into drinking several times a week or even every night. This can be an expensive, time-consuming activity that may actually result in a negative label in the community.

4. Consultants - Over the years, I have spent a great deal of money hiring professionals who claim that they are experts only to be disappointed when they tried to led me into an area that I felt didn't fit my values or goals. Just because they promote themselves as the "expert" doesn't mean that they are the "expert" of me or my business. You need to have a good match with the person who is to help you to build and grow your business. Choose well.

5. Clients - Usually you don't know clients when they book their first appointment with you and, as you get to know them you will soon realize that some of them are "toxic" individuals who would not hesitate to bad-mouth anyone who crosses their path. Be very discerning about issues that clients may have and endeavor to resolve them before things fester into a situation that might harm your business. Also, remember that it is acceptable for you to "fire" your clients if you feel that you are not making progress. A good referral might be just the answer!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hancock

Martial Arts Business Marketing to Attract Adult Students

I've spoken to a lot of school owners recently about the whole "Adult Marketing" thing.

Some of these ladies and gentlemen have as much as an 80% adult population in their schools.

Some have mainly kids and a small number of adults.

Both have one thing in common...

The want more adult students.

And not just for their "Fitness Kickboxing" programs.

Some of these schools have pretty full fitness type classes. But these are usually NOT martial arts or MMA classes. In most cases the member pays a lot less than the tuition in the "Real Martial Arts program."

Often the question from these school owners is...

"How do I ramp up my adult martial arts program?"

My response is based on one key principle regardless of whether their school is doing MMA, BJJ or "traditional martial arts."

"It comes down to the MESSAGE!"

Does the message you're getting out there for your adult program position your school against the competition of the health club?

Does it talk about the personal nature and guidance you give your students?

Does it assure them they'll be safe? Most professional good quality adult prospects can't walk in to work with a black eye the next day!

Does it warn them against all the UN-professional hacks out there who just want their money?

Does it let them know you have classes for beginners? (Don't assume they know they'll be in a beginner class!)

Are you making the mistake of trying to market to teens and adults at the same time? Big Mistake!!

This is the tip of the iceberg on what you need to think about if you want to ramp up your adult programs.

Have fun because as you know classes full of intense committed adult martial arts students can be a joy to teach.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Dolpies

Do You Embrace the "Ebbs" in Your Business?

I don't always have to be busy. Repeat that again, I don't always have to be busy. There is a natural ebb and flow to our business that we need to learn to embrace more fully. In a society that promotes 24/7 access, it's hard to give ourselves permission to not get caught up in the mindset of always having to be busy.

Just look to nature to better understand that there is an innate rhythm that allows times of growth to be offset with times of rest. When we fight this, we are fighting the flow of nature. The slow times allow for regeneration and reenergizing. It doesn't mean we don't do anything; we just alter our course a little bit and take the time to reconnect and refocus.

Embrace the slow times to really get centered on your business and your goals. Always have a running list close at hand that identifies business development opportunities. As ideas come to mind, write them down. Use the slower times to map out these opportunities. Identify the necessary steps and the resources needed to get you from point A to point B and then here is the key, IMPLEMENT! The slower times really are there to give you breathing room so you can plan and grow to that next level. I don't mean to suggest you leave business development to only the slow times, it truly should be part of every week if not every day but you can leapfrog your business development during the slow teams if you adequately prepare for them and know "what to do next".

Growth is a process. While we've all heard the "overnight" success story, typically we're only hearing about the present and when you dig a little deeper into the story behind the headline, you uncover a journey that was filled with ebbs and flows. It is how these individuals worked with these ebbs and flows that contributed to their success. They didn't accept the ebbs as defeat but rather dug in and re-evaluated and uncovered something that could make them better and stronger. That is the true measure of success.

Don't ever accept clients just to keep "busy". While it may initially seem attractive because they'll pay the bills, accepting clients that may not be your ideal client will preclude you from being able to fully embrace the intended ebb in your business. While short term goals may be met, the longer term goals will the be opportunity cost and you'll remain where you are even longer.

Resist the urge to always stay busy and accept the ebbs in your business as just a natural part of the process. Plan and prepare for those ebbs so they can create more flows in the future. When you match your business to this natural rhythm, you'll start to feel and see the difference in your bottom line results.

ACTION STEPS:

Buy a notebook or journal and dedicate it to recording your business development ideas and strategies. Having this in one place simplifies the process and allows you easily to track your progress. I used to jot down ideas and thoughts on random pieces of paper but as you can guess, that bright idea I had got buried in the business of things and was ultimately lost and forgotten.

I can't tell you how many wasted hours I've spent searching for those random notes! My little notebook has saved me and it's fun to look back and see how the little ideas have flowed and generated into even bigger and better ideas. The initial seeds are captured and given the opportunity to bloom into their potential. Embrace the ebbs in your business and look at those times as laying the foundation for your next big leap forward. You'll soon discover the wonderful benefits of working "in the flow".


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Dunlap

How To Set A Price On Projects As A Freelancer

So you have decided on leaving your job and become a freelance worker. It is a good idea indeed, having control over the time and kind of work you will do and have the potential to earn more than what you receive as a company employee. Becoming a freelancer means you can set your own price on projects you choose but this is where new freelancers often falls into the trap of pricing themselves too low.

Some things to take note are the cost of working at home. You might not need to go outside and drive a car or take a cab but you are now consuming more electricity and other utilities. All the time you use are not billable hours so you have to check how much is the expenses added since you started working at home. You have to set a price that will let you pay your bills on time.

I have seen listings on many job sites offering less than a dollar per hour for a full time work! Imagine you are applying for this work. Even if the work is easy, you have to be working for full 8 hours a day which translates to 160 hours a month. Less than a dollar per hour would just give you roughly $100 or even less. Do you think you'd want to still take that job? Many people I've seen are always applying to those kinds of listings thinking they have a job and can start saving but in reality, just by using their computers for 160 hours, they may not even be able to pay the electric bills. Its a win-loss type of work. Win for the employer and loss for the employee.

Lastly, you know what your skills are. You know the kind of work you are best so market those skills and charge a competitive price. Don't charge first over the standard rate if you are new to freelancing but over time once you have gained a lot of clients and have more experience, then you can raise your price. Clients will happily pay you a high rate per hour if your work meets or exceeds their expectations. Some clients may take advantage but you can weed them out and just continue working on the good ones.

Bottom line is, setting a price can be tricky but with enough experience and some planning ahead, you will be sure that you can pay your bills on time and have enough savings left at the end of the month.

Be a winner at the rat race and enjoy living life to the fullest!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Jose

Create a Framework for Your New Planning Business

When building your wedding planning business, it's important to make time for administrative work. Creating a framework for this work will make it easier to implement and get done. Problem is, there's so much to do, it may be difficult to see the big picture. I have three simple steps to get you started.

When a new planner begins coaching with me, one of the first things we do is create an organization chart. This helps to paint a nicely compacted picture of all the different things that need to be done in her business. We include all the positions/job titles in a traditional, small business and then we add the tasks that would be completed by each position.

Now, because you are flying solo (for now), your name will appear in every single section on this org chart. I know...sounds like a lot of work...but realistically, you ARE the person who needs to do it all. At least in the beginning.

The good news is, documenting it in this way helps to give you focus and clarity on what you need to do as a new business owner.

The second thing we do is to create a schedule of everything that needs to be done in a typical week. Blocking out chunks of time for similar tasks gives you the flexibility you need to work "on" and "in" your business which is just as important as doing "client" work.

For some new planners, this means including a regular 9 to 5 job. Let's face it, more than likely, you are starting your business by building it during evenings and weekends. I don't like to call it "part time" because if you are as ambitious as I think you are, building your wedding planning business is a 30-40+ hour per week job. There's nothing part time about that! This schedule will also help you to make sure nothing is missed and that you stay on track with the goals you've set for your new business.

And finally, the third important first step in creating the framework of your new planning business is to create your business plan outline. Notice I didn't say, "create your business plan." It's sounds so daunting and a little scary, I know. I said, "create your business plan outline", not "write your business plan". Creating a formal business plan can be a long process. I worked on my plan for almost a year before I felt ready to launch my business. Starting with an outline will give you the framework for a comprehensive and more traditional business plan, when the time comes to write it, which is very important for any business.

Now? The REAL work begins. You have a framework for your business and it's time to put a plan into place.

What else are you struggling with in your business? Have you setup your systems for when you get that first lead? You DO want to be ready BEFORE that first bride calls, don't you?

The Before the Bride Business Planning System is a 10 step program developed to help wedding planners start their businesses the right way...to become business owners and not just hobbyists. It comes complete with step by step exercises, worksheets and audio files to guide you in building a planning business that's ready to accept new brides. To get it, visit the services page at AspiretoPlan.com.

Wendy is the founder of Sacred Moment Weddings, a planning business that concentrates on giving her clients delightful food choices, music that delights and moves a crowd and wedding décor with a dazzling and inviting atmosphere. These are the three foundational elements she uses for planning her clients wedding day.

She is also the founder of Aspire to Plan and Before the Bride; a program created to empower and develop wedding planners into wedding industry leaders. She feels there is a need for more business coaching for aspiring wedding planners in order to promote more professionalism in the industry.

Tips for the Solo Entrepreneur to Get Unstuck

Sometimes life can seem to get in the way of our business. We can get so busy doing what we do that we never take the time to invest in ourselves, in our own personal lives. Our gift and our creativity can get us to a certain place. Yes, we may enjoy a measure of success but in order to keep it or get to the next level, personal and professional development is a must.

Just like every physician needs a physician, every solo entrepreneur needs a coach, a mentor, a mastermind group. Iron sharpens iron. It brings growth or in the least camaraderie. Just like life, operating a business is a journey. Bill Gates talks to Warren Buffet. Napoleon Hill talked to Dale Carnegie. They did this not only for their professional growth but for their personal growth also. If you are the smartest, one in your group, then it is time to find another group.

As people who are following their purpose in life, we must be careful not to isolate ourselves, trying to achieve business goals and just want people to follow us and receive our services or products. It is possible that in the midst of following our dream, we can negate our personal responsibility.

I understand in growing our business, our time is short and our energies have to be focused on what takes priority. Here are a few tips for the solo entrepreneur who may be feeling stuck:

1) Take the time each day, preferably before your business day starts and do something for yourself, spiritually and physically. This will help us to move forward. Look at this as part of your business day. Your mind will be clearer to stay focused for making a decision or meeting with your clients. Purposely allowing our minds to have a time of peace without thinking about our businesses will help us to be more creative. We have the same twenty four hours in a day as the likes of: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Helen Free and Sarah Boone. Each of them understood they needed to do something to help their minds have the freedom needed to create. As solo entrepreneurs, we need to make sure we do the same thing.

2) Make sure each day you have a time where the business is over and your life begins. This brings work balance and energy. Constantly mixing and mingling your business with your personal life will cause one or the other to suffer. Oprah Winfrey, Ray Kroc and Debbi Fields understood this. In the midst of trying to gain what each of us define as being successful, we don't want to forget to be a success in our own personal lives. Losing our families and our true friends does not equal success. It can be lonely at the top if we choose it to be that way.

3) Start and end each day with a grateful heart and attitude. Life is going to bring ups as well as downs. Our businesses will experience everything between times of great success to times of deciding whether we should close the doors. Having a positive attitude will help to keep us motivated. Gratitude is the fuel we need to move us beyond whatever we are experiencing to just being thankful for a chance to live life and do what we love doing, which is a gift.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cynthia_L_Hatcher

Stress Management and Work-Life Balance: When Setting Boundaries Is Vital for Women in Business

Women are known for their ability to multi-task and perform many roles at one time. This is true within business where a woman may be performing a myriad of roles including administration and finance officer, director of sales and marketing, and customer service representative, to name but a few!

The same is true when the picture is broadened. How many of the following apply to you:

* business owner/leader/manager/entrepreneur
* homeowner/ home maker/housekeeper
* cook/chauffeur/washerwoman/tidier
* wife/mother/friend/counselor/homework helper/playmate
* etc

The Center for Women's Business Research in the US has found that 82% of all women business owners are mothers.

With so many things on the go at once, work life balance can get out of kilter, stress levels can rise, and it can be difficult to create the space and time needed to work effectively on a business.... little surprise when you stop to think of all the other things you are doing alongside the business, but more crucially, what structures (or lack of) you have around your work time and space.

In addition, many business women work from home, opening up opportunity for the work/life boundary to become very blurred.

Women who work from home often report constant interruptions from multiple sources:

* Friends calling in to visit because you "are at home".
* Tradespeople dropping by to fix something up (usually organised by your husband or partner).
* You see a pile of laundry right next to your workspace and take the 5 minutes to pop the washing on,

And for women who go out to work, countless commitments and pulls on your time can lead to confusion and stress.

Given all that is going on it is apparent that if you don't have firm structures in place to define what is work time and space and what is not, the distractions can become overwhelming. This leaves little head-space to get on to the task of efficiently and effectively running your business, or your life. The offshoots of this will include feelings of frustration, lack of work life balance, high levels of stress and ultimately less productivity and success in both business and personal life.

Take ACTION!!!

Take the time now to examine how you are currently operating to identify areas where you are already magnificent, and other areas where you could put more structure in place in order to create clearer work life balance and reduce your stress.

Your work space:

* Do you have a clearly defined space in which you work?
* Is this clearly for work only? What possible distractions are there in your workplace (e.g. can you see the laundry pile from your chair? Can you hear your home phone ringing?)
* What could you do to more clearly separate your work space from your home space (if you work from home)

Your work hours:

* Are you clear with yourself when you are working and when you are not?
* Do you stick to these hours? Be really honest with yourself - are there times when you are in work time and are doing non work-related tasks?
* Do you ever hop onto the computer outside of work hours, just to check an email or finish up a task?
* How could you more clearly delineate your work and out of work times so that you create the time and therefore head-space in which to succeed both in business and in your personal life?

The reality is that if you are a female business owner or manager, it is likely that this is but one of the roles you fulfill on a day-to-day basis. We often aim to be everything to everybody, leaving us with little time to do anything to the standards we aspire to. Work life balance is often talked about but tricky to implement... but making conscious choices now will be a step in the right direction.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jo_Foster

Freelance Writers: How to Use Online Job Boards to Earn Fast Cash

If you're one of those writers who never seems to find any assignments on the online job boards, you're probably being too picky OR you may just be looking at the wrong kinds of ads. Here's something to try that should help you land a job you can complete quickly to earn some fast cash.

Search for just one short assignment that pays at least $50 for something you would feel comfortable writing because you have the skills and knowledge to pull off the job. It doesn't have to be something you're passionate about writing. You just want a quick assignment. For example, if you're good at writing press releases or book or product reviews, or cover letters, or artist statements, look for ads for one of those assignments.

As soon as you see the ad, follow the application guidelines immediately.

If you get the assignment, do it right away and bill the client.

The point of this is to look for jobs that you can complete quickly and that are relatively easy so you can make some fast cash. But then you want to move on to another new client and another new project that you can complete quickly.

Skip over the ads that promise regular work - these are usually the ones that will gobble up your time for very little pay and you won't be able to do anything else. Also, skip over the ads for assignments that will take weeks to complete. You aren't looking for a regular client at this point or a long-term assignment. You just want a short, easy assignment that will give you some quick cash.

Get in the habit of scanning a variety of online job boards like this on a regular basis and you'll soon be making some quick cash every week!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Lieurance

Simple Facebook Tips for Business Networking

It seems these days that most people are on Facebook for either their personal life or their business life, or both. Social media is very popular, but I would still say that Facebook is king in the social media world.

From a business standpoint, Facebook is a very effective way of networking, different than Twitter or LinkedIn or some of the others out there, Facebook is easy because it's so... well... big, for lack of a better word!

It's easy to browse around and see what people are up to, and it's easy to connect and network with people, but there are a few tips that you might want to use to improve your business networking so that you can maximize your time online and really use it effectively.

Be selective. It's important to have quality over quantity for your business contacts. On your wall feed, you will see posts from all of your connections. If you have people who post valuable content once a day, and you have others who post things that don't interest you much more often, you may miss the things you are really interested in. It's not a race, and it's not a contest. Only connect (or stay connected) with people that you really want to be in contact with. And don't be afraid to try people on for size first. I have friended and unfriended many business people/pages/groups - if they take away from my online experience (or even just don't add to it), I am not afraid to disconnect with them.

Mix it up. Be sure to have a good balance of personal and business posts going. Business is business, and of course you want to use your social media to expand your business, but the people that will work with you are going to want to connect with you, the person, so it's important to balance that. Same can be said for the other way - if you are posting only personal content, people may not find that business connection with you that you want them to find.

Build lists. The easiest way to separate the content that comes in over your wall feed is to use lists. You can create lists to segregate all of the people you are friends with - so you can keep your personal contacts and your business ones separate. I also keep a couple of separate business lists, for pages, people and really interesting contacts, so when I view my feed I can select to view only what they have posted. On the Most Recent tab, there is a dropdown menu where you can choose which list of contacts you want to show. This is a great way to get yourself up to date quickly. Pick a list to check out, scan the posts, and comment or share as you wish!

Interact. It is social media after all! Don't just lurk on people's walls - comment on their posts and updates. Interaction is the networking part of things. Share things that others have posted to your own wall. You may think that they don't want to hear what you have to say, but they really do. Everyone likes to have someone comment on something they have 'put out there'. From a business standpoint, it makes great sense to post interesting things and to comment on other people's as well. You are trying to establish a reputation as an expert, so share your knowledge and opinion!

Be active. Once you put your social media strategy in place, it's important to keep up your activity. Check in regularly, and interact regularly. Post your own content regularly too. Share your expertise in your industry. Be interesting. Don't overload people, but don't disappear. It can be a fine balance, but using a social media strategy will help you keep on track.

Connecting with potential clients and colleagues alike on Facebook makes good business networking sense. You can do it easily in minutes a day when you follow these simple tips!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracey_D'Aviero

The Benefits of Being A Virtual Assistant

A VA, if you're unfamiliar with the acronym, is a virtual assistant. It's an administrative assistant that works virtually or online. It's a fantastic career choice for many. Here are just a few of the many benefits to being a VA.

#1 Ability to work from home

The choice to become a VA is a great one for many. If you're a parent or caregiver, it enables you to stay home and earn a paycheck. Being a virtual assistant means you can work from your computer. You don't have to go into a formal office. Your clients are managed all online.

Additionally, you can work from anywhere. If you're heading to the beach for spring break, you can take your work with you. You can work from a coffee shop. You can work from the poolside. You can work while you're waiting at your child's dentist office.

#2 It's interesting

There really is no end to the type of work you can do as a virtual assistant. You can offer a broad base of services or a specialty service like transcription. This variety can help keep the job interesting. You won't suffer from burnout. Likewise you can manage a number of different clients. This provides the ability to learn about a lot of industries and topics.

#3 Demand

Virtual administration is a growing industry. As more and more people go into business online there's an increasing need. Additionally, both individuals and companies are realizing the benefits of outsourcing. It puts you in a prime position to create a business and a career.

#4 Low startup requirements

There's not much required to get started as a VA. You'll need a computer, a website and the means to market and grow your business. All of this can be managed for just a few hundred dollars. You also don't need any special degree or certification. While administrative certification is available, if you have the skills you're ready to get started.

#5 You're the boss

In addition to being able to work from home there are also many other freedoms. For example, you can set your own work hours. If you're a night owl this means you can work at night when you're awake and alert. You can also take time off whenever you need to. No more asking the boss for a vacation day or worrying about sick leave. Finally, you also get to choose who you work with. You choose the clients and the projects you'll take on.

If you're looking for a full time career or just a little extra money consider becoming a VA. Virtual Assistants are in high demand. You can create the lifestyle you need and want.

Pam Ivey is founder of VA Training Academy and is a 10 year virtual assistant veteran, author, speaker and trainer. Visit http://www.virtualassistanttrainingacademy.com to pick up your free business reports:
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How to Apply for a Skip Hire Permit

If you're considering embarking on a construction or demolition job, or you just want to clear out any household or garage rubbish, then you should consider hiring a skip.

Skip hire is a great way to make any large job, such as fitting a new kitchen or bathroom a lot easier. This is because it will make the job more effective, efficient and cleaner. Skips come in all shapes and sizes and have add on features which make them suitable for any job you're about to embark on.

There are a few things that you need to consider when hiring a skip. As well as considering the type and size of skip, you need to know what you can and can't put in a skip as well as whether or not you need council permission to have one.

It's in the hands of the person hiring the skip to ascertain whether or not they need a skip hire permit. If your property isn't large enough to place a skip on either your driveway or in the front garden, then you'll probably consider placing the skip on a public pathway, road, or any other type of land that isn't actually yours. If this is the case, then you'll most likely need a skip hire permit.

Now, before lending you a skip, these companies make sure that you have all relevant documentation first. So before calling a skip hire company it's always worth checking with your local authority whether you need a permit or not. In the event that you need to place the skip on any public or council property, it's most likely you'll need a skip hire permit. So, how do you apply for a skip hire permit?

This can be done a variety of ways and usually differs with which council you are seeking permission from. In this case it's always worth checking with them first to see what method they prefer. Also some local authorities actually prefer the skip hire company seeking permission to contact the council themselves. In this case it's also worth checking with the company of this is ok - In fact some companies will offer this as part of their service! That's right; they'll sort out all this paper work for you, all you have to do is check whether you need a permit.

If the hire company doesn't offer this service, you need to contact your local authority yourself. There are various different methods of seeking permission from your local authority. First of all, visit your local council's website - some councils have put their forms online, and there may be a skip hire permit form on their too. Alternatively, you should write to the council directly, addressing it to the relevant department. In some cases, local councils actually require you to visit their offices in person. In any case, you will receive a form which you must complete and then deliver back either by e-mail, fax, post or in person.

Applying for a skip hire permit in this respect can be a tad confusing, but all you have to do is contact your local authority first to seek confirmation, and then clarify with the skip hire company. Before you seek a permit, make sure you know exactly what skip type and size you will need, as well as the duration and positioning of the skip.

You will receive you skip permit for an allocated time, if you need this for longer speak to the council who may extend the permit (at an extra cost probably). If you're permit has expired and you don't need an extension then arrange to have the skip removed and make sure the position is left in a clean and tidy condition.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vincent_Rogers

Top Five Ways to Solve Your Industrial Flooring Problems

Company owners who have been in the same industry and area for years know that even the sturdiest floors go through normal wear and tear, especially where machines and heavy equipment are concerned. This is why finding the best industrial flooring contractor is vital to the success of any organisation, no matter what type of business they operate.

Here are five important tips every business owner should know about solving flooring problems:

Identify the problem areas and what must be done to fix them.
When it comes to problems with your floor area, doing your homework early on can save you a whole lot of time, money and effort. Knowing what your problem areas are and how to fix them can make a huge difference when it comes to solving your problems. You can ask a couple of experts from your company to do the initial study, report directly to you and work with them closely while work is being done on your floors.

Find the best professionals around and hire them.
Ask your company experts to do the research to help you find the most trusted professionals in the field of industrial flooring. When you find the best one, establish a relationship with the company and work with them closely throughout the project.

Discuss your problems openly with your contractor.
This is the most important aspect of solving your problems. Be sure to share everything with your industrial flooring contractor, especially the issues identified by your experts at the onset of the project. Leave no stone unturned and be as direct as possible.

Coordinate with your chosen contractor on a regular basis.
Just because you have already hired the best in the industry doesn't mean you can leave things to chance. It's important to monitor the work being done in your area to ensure that there will never be any interruptions or production halts while your floors are being fixed, renovated or replaced.

Let your industrial flooring contractor do their work.
Trust is vital when it comes to dealing with contractors, especially if they will be fixing your floor area for a significant period of time. Once you find professionals whom you can rely on, you must let them deliver what they promised - the best solution for your flooring problems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Mendez

Winterizing Your Real Estate Projects

Just because winter is upon us, doesn't mean your construction business must be put on hold. Especially for those companies who are based in areas that don't experience extreme weather conditions such as snow. However, it is crucial that you take necessary precautions to protect your site and project from the harmful effects of winter weather conditions. A damaged site means loss of business and money, so keeping it well protected is of utmost importance!

1. Protect your building materials from being damaged due to wet weather and cover them with a strong plastic or a heavy tarp. Having to replace materials can be a major expense and is one of the many risk factors involved when working in places with more sever weather conditions. However, there is an easy fix. Before you leave each day be sure all of your materials that are out are covered and protected.

2. Keep excess materials in a protected storage unit. There's no need to keep excess materials on-site, especially during harsh winter months. Keep extra materials in a safe and dry place until needed. This will save you the headache of trying to protect more materials than you need to.

3. Remove waste materials immediately rather than waiting until the end of a project when things can get a little bit messier. During dry summer months, this may not be a major concern, however, during the wet winter months, scraps and other waste can cause major problems when it comes to flooding and debris being washed from your site. Either remove the waste yourself or pay for a waste removal company to do it for you (preferably on a regular basis) so as to avoid the hassle of creating a mess post-storm.

4. Be sure to properly protect the sewers and drains surrounding your construction site. Inlet protection is a major concern for construction companies, especially during wet winter months. Not only is it a necessity to keep your construction site clean, but it is also the law. Be sure to research compliance measures to ensure that your construction site is up to code to avoid hefty fines.

5. Use your time wisely and work quickly, especially on days that are dry. Don't let the wet weather keep you from reaching your completion date. Work efficiently on dry days to make up for time that you may lose when it's wet outside.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Ahlgren

How to Effectively Use Adhesives For Repairs

If you're in the repair business, you will have spent a lot of time working with, and looking for, adhesives. This is often a complex process, and it's a good idea to have a reliable source of information available when you need it. Evaluating the requirements of some repair jobs can be tricky, and in repair work mistakes really aren't an option. If you regularly use anaerobic adhesives, silicone adhesives, retainers, or similar materials, there are some easy ways to make sure you can conduct a full evaluation and find the right solutions.

Repair issues and basic adhesive evaluations

In many types of repair work like automotive and trades work, the need is for adhesives which meet particular industry and in many cases statutory or even contract standards. When you're evaluating adhesive options, you can use these standards as a working frame of reference. Adhesive specifications may not be light reading, but they can also ensure you're getting the correct quality adhesives for your work.

A typical case: Pipe sealing

There's a virtual library of standards in terms of viscosity and chemical tolerances related to this type of adhesive. The proper quality adhesive will provide a high value psi instant seal, and be structurally as strong as the pipe. The practical value of this information for repair work is that you can be absolutely sure that the adhesive which meets these criteria will do the job.

Evaluation of adhesives from the ground up

As all repairers know, some jobs are neither simple nor straightforward. You may find yourself using multiple adhesives on multiple materials, and have to figure out what you need from the ground up.

The best way to do this is systematically. Use each separate bonding issue as part of a progressive process for evaluation, much the same way as you'd structure the actual repair work:

* Start with the major materials and their structural bonds: These are heavy duty bonds, and they're integral to the job. The materials to be joined define the type of adhesive required. For motor repairs, for example, anaerobic adhesives are commonly used.
* Secondary bonds: These are the less structurally significant bonds, and will include a range of materials, particularly in mechanical repairs. Again, compare materials for bonding and select a bonding agent which is targeted to both materials.
* Additional bonds and joins: These may involve components or other elements which could need additional adhesive-related things like gasketing. These are separate jobs by definition, and you'll need specific types of adhesives for them.

Note: Test bonds prior to committing to the repair, particularly if you haven't used the adhesives before.

Getting help if you need it

There's always something in a repair job which may not be easy to deal with. The best approach to a dubious situation is to get in touch with the adhesives manufacturers direct, and you'll find you can get a lot of useful information in a hurry. Their websites are also full of helpful information, and you can check out product specifications in detail.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_R_Williams

Economic And Practical Advantages Of Steel Buildings

For commercial and industrial structures, steel has been used for many years. Over the past few years, however, it has become increasingly popular to construct taller buildings using this metal as well. This has been taking place all over the world. This ultimately is because the advantages of steel buildings are becoming clearer and better known.

Ever since the 1700s, iron has been used for columns within the walls of different structures. Over time, the use of iron became more frequent. In the mid 1800s, steel was created. Since then, it has been used in many types of construction, including bridges and pipes. One reason it has been popular in these areas is that it becomes more economically and environmentally viable to use. This is due to the fact that most of what this metal has replaced was originally done by wood.

From a financial standpoint, structures made in this way may be constructed more quickly than others. This makes it more cost-effective to use this, rather than a different material. This material is also easier to maintain than others. The risk of fire is lower, which in turn makes the insurance costs less.

In residential houses, it may be more expensive to build in this way than with other materials. It is still a popular option, however, because the lower maintenance and the fact that they are more efficient in terms of energy can potentially be of more benefit in the long term.

The actual metal can also cost less because it could be designed prior to building. This allows the designers to perfectly shape it more precisely and more efficiently. This has also led to it being used more frequently simply because of the advantages of its design and precision.

More practically, structures made in this way are lighter in weight than those made from traditional materials. Components using this metal might be up to 50% lighter than wood. The metal used is also recycled from scrap, which makes their use more environmentally friendly as well. In addition, the very strength of the structures built from this material makes it very beneficial. In fact, these building have one of the highest ratios of weight to strength of all building materials. They are not only immune to insect and rot problems, but they can even withstand hazardous weather condition, such as hurricanes.

In comparison to some other building materials, steel will not warp over time nor will pieces of it twist or splinter. The strength it offers also means that less of the metal is required for support than other materials. This is another way in which the costs of building with it can be reduced.

Some people favor the very modern appearance of these structures, while others find it too austere. This does not need to present a problem, however, because other building materials can be used to cover the metal if necessary. This will allow for the advantages of steel buildings, while still maintaining the appearance of traditional ones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adriana_Noton

How Industrial Painting Contractors Price Their Services

When facility managers are searching for industrial painting contractors to perform certain tasks in the facility, they are often provided with price proposals which vary from one contractor to another. Should this be the case? If the same tasks will be performed to complete the same job, why are they bidding with different asking prices?

The answer is because industrial painting contractors have different operational and business expenses. Their own unique business environment is influenced by many factors, which influences their pricing scheme.

Overhead Costs

There are major expenses that contribute to the industrial painting contractors' total overhead costs. The more capable the workforce, the greater the knowledge base, experience and certifications, as well as higher limit insurance coverage that a company offers, the greater the overhead costs.

Overhead costs such as highly-skilled workers salaries and benefits, office expenses, rental fees, office supplies, utilities, are incurred to maintain the company offices. Since contractors spend most of their time going to and from client sites, another frequent overhead cost are transportation-related travel and vehicle maintenance costs.

As with any successful company, overhead expenses are considered and built in accordingly to all contracts to enable industrial painting contractors to make profits and stay in business.

Legal Costs

Industrial painting contractors have to pay the obligatory taxes if they wish to continue conducting their business legally.

Insurance plays a big role in overhead costs. Small companies that are family-run and only employ family members often don't have the huge expense of workers compensation insurance. General liability limits and coverage vary significantly and it is advantageous to see what limits a potential contractor can provide your facility.

Licenses, application and manufacturer certifications, safety training and compliance with local, state and federal safety requirements are more costs that contractors incur. These costs, as all overhead costs, may not be visible in the bid price quotation, but are some of the drivers of the total project cost charged by painting contractors to clients.

Profit Considerations

Soaring material costs, increasing competition and a changing market environment present new challenges for industrial painting contractors to earn a decent profit. Close consideration of their earnings and expenses balanced with clients' budget allocations can vary the profit margin for the company.

To attract new clients, contractors spend for advertising in newspapers, local phone directories, and in the Internet to promote their business.

When working on a client project, they incur material, labor, and travel expenses. Travel expense is affected by rising fuel costs, toll fees, and vehicle maintenance. Material costs, on the other hand, are acquired at every stage of the project from surface preparation, application and post-application, with quality materials costing higher than sub-standard ones.

Facility managers should estimate the profit and expense rates of bidding industrial painting contractors in order to obtain the fairest project price from them.

Because of the varying price rates of industrial painting contractors, facility managers should consider 3 to 5 price quotations from differently-sized painting companies. A price comparison from these short-listed companies helps facility managers make a more informed decision which of these industrial painting contractors is price-right for the project. But facility managers should be cautious of industrial painting contractors who price the lowest, because this may be a ploy to simply win the bid, but results in poor workmanship, cutting corners during the project. Low bidders often plan on implementing changes to the scope of work during the project to increase the overall contract price. Skills and experience should remain the major factor for the contractors' costing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_A._Parker

how to write mba resume?

When preparing a set of documents to enter a school of your dreams, you seem to have used it all: pass GMAT and TOEFL tests excellently, composed great essay, collected recommendations and it seems you can already relax. You just copied your CV, which is an indispensable element of any set of documents, as you repeatedly prepared it during your career.

However, a CV for employer and resume for business school are rather different things. Resume, you submit to a selection committee of any MBA program may once again convince everyone you're the right candidate or terminate your chances of learning where you want. In order to define the role resume plays in a set of documents, it would be useful to reiterate briefly what a group of experts searches in it. Of course, this is general information, such as: professional experience, position, previous employers. In fact, while reading your documents a person pays attention to three specific elements: logical sequence, diversity of experience, success of entire professional career.

Ideally, relatively interlinked experience is when various stages in a young professional's career are connected with each other by opportunities that appeared in his life were created by him. That is, it is important that you do not just wait for such opportunities, but are constantly in a search of them, or, more importantly, create them independently. In addition, they should be combined with your long-term goals, being a logical successor to a started path.

Diversity of experience

This factor as important, as interconnectedness of what you were doing. Member of an admission committee is looking for a candidate able to bring something new and useful in the audience, as well as understand and cover all richness and complexity of proposed training material. Many MBA programs even developed a sort of formula for compliance with this requirement: Experience in managing a team consisting of representatives of various nationalities + experience in organizing a new business in international markets. All this perfectly increases your chances of admission to an MBA program.

Visible signs of success

In order to evaluate your professional status, selection committee will look at the length of your experience in various companies, duties you performed, and the progress of your salary and bonuses in continuous communication with the results you've achieved both personally and in a team. It is ideally, if you were a leader of this team.

Some practical tips

Adjust your resume to a chosen MBA program. As well as an essay, it is important to choose what is most appropriate in this case. Give more importance to points that have been colorfully described in your essay. For example, if you wrote about teamwork, then it would be natural to describe your experience of team management, knowledge in project management.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yana_Mikheeva

It's All in the Packaging

Browsing through the shelves at Kinokuniya reinforced one important point that marketers tend to forget: the power of packaging.

Yes, the brand name matters. In the same way that most people will gravitate towards the best-selling authors such as Dan Brown, Danielle Steele or Jodi Picoult, consumers in a supermarket will readily look for big-name brands such as Heinz ketchup, Pantene shampoo or Colgate toothpaste. Yet, if you're in a very cluttered or crowded area such as Kinokuniya (or any hypermarket like Carrefour or Cold Storage), the problem is standing out among the thousands of seemingly identical items.

If the average customer is like me, he/she will quickly scan the shelves and look at items that grab the eye. For example, while browsing aimlessly through the non-fiction sections of Kinokuniya, I tended to look at books whose covers caught and held my attention through colourful or interesting graphics, or succinct titles that hinted of something fascinating (e.g., "The Fall of Advertising & The Rise of PR" by Al Ries and Laura Ries; "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond). All other books fell to the wayside, with nary a thought given to them. With the countless selection offered by Kinokuniya as well as the limited time I had in the store, I could not be bothered to look at each book one by one and read each of their precis on the back cover. Similar to being at the supermarket as well, when you've got a harried mother of two looking for mayonnaise while being plagued by the constant cries of her child who WANTS ICE CREAM... NOW!

Sadly, though, packaging (as well as shelving and visual merchandising) has been largely out of the product mix whenever marketers do their brainstorming. Most of the time, we get bland and generic labels that do nothing to excite a customer's attention and imagination. Even worse, we get packaging labels that aren't even seen by the customers! To quote one recent article by Scott Young and Jonathan Asher, "Consider rounded containers. They look great in the conference room (or when viewed in a focus group) when they face directly forward, but, in-store these containers are often turned off-center, which can greatly compromise their impact and communication. Bagged products can also be a challenge because they are likely to sag or get 'scrunched' on shelf, which can impact quality perceptions and/or make key copy points (claims, variety, etc.) unreadable."

If you still don't believe in the power of good packaging, consider the Japanese who have elevated packaging and gift wrapping into an art form. The food contained inside the beautiful packaging may not always be good (and for non-Japanese speakers such as myself, we may even be clueless as to what is actually inside the package), but we must have that item because it's simply exquisite! Moira Cullen, the Senior Director for Global Design at The Hershey Company, said it best when she spoke about the packaging employed for food, confections and teas sold in Japan's leading department stores: "On a purely visceral, visual level, I was seduced by these objects. The boxes and pouches and bags were exquisite. Each one was uniquely exceptional. I didn't always know what was inside, but I didn't care. I was so amazed I bought an extra suitcase just for samples. I had to bring them home with me."
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Non

I Really Need to Use a Professional Resume Writer?

People look at me strangely when they ask, "Do I really need to use a professional resume writer?"

"Come on," they say, "I can easily just write my own resume - what are you going to do that I cannot just do myself?"

Of course it's true that anybody can write their own resume. The same is true that anyone can attempt to build a house or change the plumbing or paint some artwork, however in each of these examples you'd prefer to call on an expert because of their specific skills, knowledge and experience in their particular trades. The same can be said of a professional resume writer.

How long should a resume be? Should I include a qualifications profile or a career summary? How many duties and responsibilities should I include for my current role? Do I include the same amount of information for all my previous roles and how far back should my resume go?

How about questions relating to "soft skills" - should you include information like "volunteered for the Red Cross"? Is this relevant on your resume? How about the fact that you were the football captain at school - is this relevant?

Have a look at your resume and see if you have words such as "hard working", "dedicated", "team player", or "loyal" - do these type of words enhance or actually detract from your resume? If you are using these types of words do you think your competitors are as well?

And what about achievements - do you have any on your resume? Is a hiring manager going to take one look at your resume and be impressed with your past experiences, skills and success? Have you mentioned initiatives you introduced to the business or awards you have won?

This is what a professional resume writer can do for you. They can open doors to get that interview. Remember - resume writing is not about reinventing the wheel, it is about ensuring that you adequately highlight everything that is required to make sure that your resume is selected and you are given the chance to present yourself in the interview. Once you make it to the interview you have the opportunity to prove to the hiring manager how good you really are. Without a professional resume you may never get this chance.

Gavin Redelman is the founder of RedStarResume and known as being a master of "Achievement Based" resume writing. Recognised as an expert in the field of resume writing and also as a prolific blogger, Gavin has had articles published around the world in newspapers, journals, student and graduate publications and magazines as well being the only resume writer to feature on the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's website in their "Living In Australia" section.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_F_Redelman

Page Versus 1-Page Resume

If you are seeking a job, then a good resume can benefit you in exhibiting your skills and qualifications in a manner to influence the interviewer. Whether you acquire a job or not, can depend on various things. A resume is like a tool for the jobseekers that can be utilized to make an impression to the interviewer and boost probabilities of attaining a job.

While writing a resume, you will need to take care of various aspects like the format, layout and tone of the resume, there should be no grammar or punctuation errors, effectively market job skills, an effective cover letter and a lot more. An important aspect that makes some job seekers confused is the length of the resume, whether it should be 1-page resume or 2-page resume.

Well, it depends upon your experiences and professional circumstances. It is not necessary that if a 2-page resume works good for a person, it will also work well for you. If you have recently finished your studies or have a little experience, then a 1-page resume is sufficient for you and you are not required to surpass one page. However, if you are a professional-level candidate and want to exhibit your qualifications, experience and accomplishments to the prospective employer, then you can go for 2-page resume.

Nonetheless, if you do not have sufficient information to load two pages, just stick to one. Never include inappropriate information just to fill two pages just because you think that is the best length.

So, whatever be the length of the resume, be ensured that the first page actually gets the attention of the interviewer. So, you must place the important information on first page to catch the interest of the employer. You must include your basic information, qualifications, experience on first page, and references, hobbies, accolades and extra-curricular activities can be on second page.

While writing a resume, always write the most important information first and apply this rule for overall structure of the resume as well as within the sections.

A well-structured resume may make a big difference in your presentation and help you in getting the job of your imaginings.

Jatinder Kaur

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jatinder_Kaur_Dhingra

Resume Writing Tips - Keywords for Computer and Person

Writing a resume that improves your position among other contenders for a job opening involves recognizing that many businesses are now using computers to perform the first screening of applicants. If you don't write your resume to address this, you won't make it through that first cut.

Correct File Format to Use

Companies that are large enough to use computer screening use three formats almost universally --.txt,.doc and.pdf. If you submit your resume in one of these three formats, the computer will be able to "read" your resume for the target keywords the employer has programmed into the computer.

Identifying the Right Keywords

There is another advantage provided by larger companies. They always have a moderately detailed job description. This is where you go to identify which keywords the computer is likely to be scanning for.

First, look for the job title. This is a guaranteed keyword you don't want to miss. Then look for words that describe the job duties. These are also likely to be keywords for the position.

Identifying Skills Keywords

The employer will describe the essential skills for the job. These are your keywords. You want to look for two different types of skills keywords. There are skills that are related to your credentials or occupation. Then there are keywords that are related to general skills. The credential or occupation related keywords are the keywords you don't want to miss.

If you aren't sure what skills fit under "Experience," consider looking up your career description in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. It is an excellent resource.

Another even more effective way to identify if you are using the right keywords on your resume is to go to a job site and search for job openings using the keywords you have selected. If you don't find jobs that fit your skills, you aren't using the right keywords. Keep on trying until you start finding jobs you can apply for.

When it comes to occupational keywords, you don't have to list every single one, but be sure you use the keywords that apply to the skills you can prove you have. It isn't volume. It's quality that matters.

Once you've made sure you have covered your occupational keywords, you can add other general skills keywords that reflect additional non-industry specific skills that might interest an employer. These skills are generally more important to a human reader, yet this doesn't make them any less important. Certain skills--such as the ability to multi-task, work well with others, speak publicly, speak in more than one language or work in a variety of computer programs--are very attractive to an employer.

Never forget that a resume needs to be ready for both computer screening and human screening. This means that you want your resume to contain keywords that stand out both for the computer and the person who gets your resume after the computer approves it.

Denise Rutledge has provided resume and cover letter writing services for over three years through WritingasaGhost. Her clients have said things like: "I've always gotten an interview when Denise has written my cover letter." R.F. "You are the best money I have ever spent." K.S. She shares this information to empower others to write their own resumes and cover letters for successful job search results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_Rutledge

Design Your Resume for Maximum Impact

Resume development consists of two parts: writing and design. I think of these equally important components as the "one two punch" essential for a truly effective resume that will get you the job.

The first impression of any resumé is made with the appearance: Does your resumé look professional? Are the key points easily visible? Is the material well organized? An attractive appearance will capture your readers' interest immediately. To keep that interest, your copy must be compelling, well written and relevant to their needs. Assuming that you have already completed the draft copy of your resumé, it is time to move on to organizing, arranging and highlighting the material to create visual appeal and greatest impact.

A well designed resume does not mean a fancy or complicated resume. Whether you are using chronological resume examples as a format or any other layout, you want it to be clean and easy to read with ample white space and logical organization. This appeals to a busy hiring manager who needs to grasp the essential information and rapidly decide "yes," "no," or "maybe" about a potential candidate.

Give yourself the greatest possible chance of getting the "yes." Skim through the resumé examples you can find online and in books. You'll notice many similarities among many resume styles of effective job seekers:

Major headings are in large or bold print for easy navigation through the resume.

Job titles are generally more important than company names and should be emphasized with bold print, underscoring, or other enhancements.

Accomplishments are clearly distinguishable from job responsibilities, either through a paragraph/bulleted list format or through subheadings.

Horizontal line frequently separate sections of the resumé.

Text formatting is consistent throughout the resume.

Font sizes are large enough to be readable but small enough to look professional.

Times Roman is the most common font used in business today and is what you should use on your resumé. Do not get fancy with script and other fonts.

Bullet sizes and shapes compliment the resumé layout.

The indents and tab settings of the resumé are clean and precise.

Dates are easily located but not over emphasized.

Chronological resume examples are the most common format. Some job seekers' resume may be two pages long; maybe even three pages long, while others fit comfortably on one page. Professional with 15 to 20 years of experience will find it difficult to compress their background and achievements on one page. There is no reason they should. If your resumé is more than one page, just be certain that your strongest selling points are on the first page, so they are not over looked by a quick read.

By following these simple design rules, you will have a resume that will have the best impact and catch a hiring manager's eye.

For over a decade David J. Clemen has helped individuals find gainful employment through job search coaching. Currently David is an active contributor to http://jpcservicesinc.com a completely free job search resource.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Clemen

Video Resumes - Are Recruiters Maximizing Their Value Added?

Every good recruiter works with the unemployed or job changing client to present the client in the best light. They evaluate their client's resume and give them guidance on how to make it more directly applicable to hiring managers. Whether the job seeker is paying the fee or if some employer is paying the fee, the candidate should discern if the recruiter is throwing mud against the wall hoping some sticks or truly adding value to the effort.

Many recruiters save themselves extra effort by saying that video resumes are not mainstream yet. They say that some employers may be afraid of discrimination issues. Some employers have reduced their hiring effort to key word searches on applications and won't take the time to view videos. But, in all cases, recruiters may be missing an exceptional opportunity to provide value to their clients by helping them to create a focused, professional video resume. The would be in addition to the other tools in the job search tool-box.

A job seeker must be able to succinctly and quickly tell their story. Most recruiters advise clients to memorize the words in this elevator speech which should be less than two minutes. This short, personal commercial answers the question, "tell me about yourself". During the job search process, some may get flustered or tongue-tied reciting their story in face-to-face meetings. If the job seeker records this short speech on video and creates a web-link to it, they can make sure it presents a perfect first impression.

Recruiters, using video resumes, can maximize their value to their clients by:

1. teaching them what to wear for the interview,
2. teaching them what to say,
3. teaching them how to say it,
4. help them with cameras, backdrops, and computers,
5. help them critique and improve the video product for certain employers,
6. teach them how to best use it with their networking effort,
7. teach them how to use it with their paper resumes,
8. teach them how to use it with cover letters or thank-you letters,
9. use the video effectively with the recruiter's business clients,
10. host the client's video privately while advertising services on their own web site.

There is very little investment, other than time, by the recruiter. Their client's video becomes a powerful job search tool that can be used profitably. The video does not replace the paper resume, it adds to it. When the web-link address is included at the top of a paper resume, the hiring manager might give it a second look. This second look is an advantage over someone who does not have one.

Recruiters and employers both know that discrimination issues can occur just as easily in the first interview, as with a video. At the time of a face-to-face interview, much time, effort, money, travel and worry for all parties has happened. Job seekers just want to be treated fairly and honestly. Steps can be taken to insure fairness. With a short video, first interview decisions can be made earlier with less stress for all. Job seekers would not have to go through the emotional roller-coaster ride only to be disappointed walking in to that first interview. Finally, if a hiring manager has viewed a video resume and invited the candidate in for an interview, it is actually the second interview. The employer has already seen them and the pressure is off. The job seeker can relax, be themselves, and win the job.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Cronlund

How Many Resumes Do I Really Need?

As a career counselor, career guidance professional, HR professional and staffing executive who has hired or placed 1,275+ individuals, I'm asked again and again, "do I only need one resume?"

The answer from my perspective is a resounding, "No. One is not enough."

My reasoning is as follows:

* One resume is needed for job boards.
* A new (revised) resume is needed each time you apply for a new job.

The first resume for general posting on job boards should be a chronological list of your achievements, what you have done, where you have done it, and the results your employ has generated. Be as specific as possible and indicate savings, benefits, and accomplishments again in a chronological order starting with most current and backwards. Be certain to mention education and any specialty certificates, etc.

A "rule of thumb" is that a better means of securing a new position (instead of "post and pray" above) is to search for a specific job that meets your background. This "meeting background" is paramount or key to a successful job hunt.

This puts responsibility on you:

* First, you respond to a job that matches your background.
* Then a modification to your resume must show how-your-background

matches the job opening. You will need to revise your resume to show what you have / how you have done it / and how you match requirements.

The answer to "how many resumes?" Two? Five? Remembering that a job search is a full time effort, tweaking your resume may result in several versions of the resume.

If you're still confused over the number of resumes or specialty resumes you need, use the perspective of a possible new employer.......How can this person help my group or my department or my company? Companies today want to know how you will help them. Period.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Carlson

Teacher Cover Letter Sample - Do Not Copy Paste

People who need to apply for a teaching job need to differentiate between a teaching profession and other profession as in teaching profession; competition is very tough due to the limited job opportunities and too many applications. School administrator gets hundreds of requests for few openings and in order to get noticed, one has to write a teacher cover letter sample which sets the trend and looks attractive with a difference.

A perfect letter sample should be capable enough to grab the prospective employer's attention the moment he/she picks it up for reading because of high volume of applications they receive and due to the time constraint, they do not devote more than 1 minute in reading a letter. If such letter impresses then they turn the page to read the attached CV and other documents. The unimpressive letters get rejected and deserve the attention of the office dustbin. It ends the prospect of the candidate.

There is a great availability of books and internet sites which offer many attractive teacher cover letter sample, which can easily be referred for the idea and information on writing an effective letter but they should not be copied as a copied letter gets identified easily by the recruiters and get rejected immediately because they think that the person who is applying for a teacher's job should be knowledgeable enough to write a cover letter of his own using his own language and sets of vocabulary. Copying a letter available in the market is not a good idea for any type of job application and it gives a negative feedback of the applicant.

The teacher cover letter sample has to look original and summarized with as many information of the candidate as possible. Another important thing which needs to be kept in mind while writing a letter is that such letter should not be lengthy and need to be contained in a single page. The body of this sort of letter must contain the introduction, the reason of applying to that school and something about the applicant like personality, major areas of specialization, any past achievements, study and work experience details and the suitability factor. The last line should mention the list of enclosures like resume, certificates etc.

Alan Bleiweiss is an excellent writer who has an experience of providing the content on different kinds of job application cover letter samples. The author is specially known for creating an awesome cover letters in just a few minutes.For more information visit Teacher Cover Letter Sample and Teacher Cover Letter Example.



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6 Keys to Becoming a Successful Executive Resume Writer

Most people agree that a successful resume is the one that generates job interviews. So the big question is, how do you become a successful executive resume writer? Few truly important things are easy, but here are six keys to help you write an interview-generating resume.

Key #1 - Prove Your Value: While every resume highlights past career activities, the greater point is how your past success might benefit this potential employer. The fact that you solved a shipping problem may not matter at a company with limited transportation issues.

As much as possible, tailor your information to the needs of each employer. While you probably can't create a new resume for each job opportunity, build four or five resumes, each focus around different areas of concentration. Then make careful selections each time you send a resume.

Much of your resume is generic and will probably apply to any situation. Consider what every company wants and include past success at things like controlling cost, increasing business or keeping existing customers satisfied.

Key #2 - Demonstrate Leadership: Executives are hired because they can maximize the production of their team. The successful executive resume writer builds a document that clearly demonstrates how past strong leadership resulted in measurable, favorable outcomes. Remember, the successful leader always credits the team. Claiming an almost Superman-like ability will probably fail.

Key #3 - Two Pages Are Fine: The "one page only" rule generally applies for individuals looking for entry-level or production employee status. If, and this is an important "if," you have sufficient powerful and impressive experience, education and training to warrant it, two pages is just fine. Even so, include 75% of what is most important to the employer on the first page.

Key #4 - Get Help from Friends: Assuming that your job search is not a secret, your network of friends and acquaintances can be a huge help. Share your resume ideas and drafts with people whose opinions you respect and encourage their brutal honesty. Have someone else proofread your final document. Even a single undetected typographical errors and improperly used word can cost you countless interview opportunities.

Key #5 - Present Your Complete Education: Your education didn't end at college graduation. Professional development, both formal and informal, are valuable assets to present. Service as an officer in an industry association demonstrates leadership. Don't sell yourself short when it comes to this part of your executive resume.

Key #6 - Properly Present Your Age: This is a tough question. Should you hide your age? If so, how? Executives want to appear experience, but not old. While dates of employment are necessary, consider withholding things like the year you graduated college.

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Spring Cleaning Your Resume!

New job opportunities can arise in the blink of an eye in today's job market. Being prepared, specifically with regards to your resume, is the key to seizing them. If you haven't looked at your resume in a while, pull it out, dust it off, and use these strategies to make sure it's presenting you at your best:

1) PASSING THE VISUAL TEST

Glance briefly at your resume, then away. Now ask yourself what sticks in your mind: a bit of formatting or a portion of text? The problem with the vast majority of resume templates floating about the Internet is that they err on the side of the former. Take it from a Professional Resume Writer: artificially calling attention to your resume through a flashy border, logos, fonts, etc. is one of the best ways to get rejected during submissions. Keep it simple and make sure it SUPPORTS the text instead of detracting from it.

2) "IT'S ALL ABOUT SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS"

How many times have you heard the above phrase used when talk turns to resumes? While true, what TYPES of skills you highlight and the QUALITY of your accomplishments is the key to landing interviews. Did you recently complete a project drawing on previously untapped skills such as client relationship building, budgeting/cost control and others? If relevant, be sure to mention it within the OPENING SECTION of your resume, typically a 3-4 line summary of what you're bringing to the table.

The accomplishments you've racked up at previous positions are best served by being listed in bullets. Try to make them as quantifiable as possible. For example, a line like, "Managed all aspects of residential construction project, working with staff and regularly updating client" would work much better along the lines of, "Controlled all aspects of $22M condominium project, liaising heavily with cross-functional staff and delivering weekly client status updates." See the difference?

3) HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE

Sometimes in the panic to integrate industry keywords and play up professional credits, we forget to highlight what SETS US APART. While it's crucial to make sure your resume is up to professional standards, oftentimes the deciding factor in calling someone in for an interview resides in a seemingly unrelated detail such as fluency in another language or volunteer work with a respected organization. These details provide a window into the personality of the candidate, and highlight VERSATILITY, which is a quality that is valued by all hiring agents and recruiters regardless of industry.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

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Resume Writing Services

To be hired to a desirable job, help from resume writing services can make all the difference. They are experts in providing neat and structured resumes, as well as precise and appealing to the employers. Resume writing services have a personalized approach to develop a kind of resume that will surely provide the highest quality of professional resume writing. Not everyone is proficient in writing their personal advertisement in the form of a resume, and even those who are experienced will benefit from having another expert read the resume.

Most of the job seekers blame the recession for not having a job. However, there are a lot of factors that need to consider why it is so hard for some to get hired. In fact, underestimating the significance of resume in job search is one of the reasons why it is not easy to stand out from the rest of applicants. Remember, majority of the companies do not have time to interview all the candidates. Resume that was submitted to them are their instrument in eliminating the volume of the aspirants.

Based on the information given like employment history, specific positions in the company and job responsibilities, resume services will create an accurate and credible resume. They will determine what should be included or eliminated since they are professional in identifying the important key words to emphasize. Resume writing services analyze career direction; choose the right format and design of resume; and utilize persuasive statements in delivering introduction and objectives.

Resume written by specialist will highly increase the response rate of employers and shorten the job hunt time for aspirants. They are helping job seekers to get interviews quickly because they have an in-depth knowledge of what the employers exactly need.

Today's job market is complicated and it's essential to get the best resume writing services. Careful evaluations of at least several resume writing services before selecting a resume writer to work with should consider first. Will it be the company of expert or will it be a less proficient amateur? In selecting the best resume writing services, search for companies with a proven track record, a good reputation and a strong affiliations with large organizations.

A good resume writing service will be able to show you their own resume. Reading a sample of the work is a logical place to begin. If the company cannot even produce their own resume, it stands to reason that they will not be professional online resume writers.

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Points Not To Do While Writing a Resume

A tight economy means more competition for job seekers. When more people are out of work, employers get to pick the best of the best. A great resume is always important, but today it is more important than ever. If you want your resume to lead to a job interview, you do not want to make these 8 common mistakes.

1. Errors

Typos, spelling errors and grammatical errors are a sure-fire way to send your resume to the shredder. You might be unsurpassed in your field with all the education and experience that any employer would want, but errors on your resume will kill your chances to tell an employer about it. Carefully spell-check your resume. If you have errors that could easily be found with a spell-checking program, your message to a potential employer is that you are careless. This simple step is vital before sending off a resume, but it is not enough. Read through your resume carefully. You might have made a mistake the spell checker cannot catch like using send instead of sent.

Ask several people to look at your resume.. One person might see something another did not. Listen to their opinions. If someone thinks a sentence sounds awkward, look at it objectively and see if there is better wording to use. At the same time, it is your resume, so carefully think about all suggestions, and then use the suggestions that fit your personality and style.

2. Pronouns (I or me)

Resumes do not need I or me. These pronouns are understood - when you use them, you are telling an employer that you do not really know how to write a resume. Instead of, "I was responsible for troubleshooting networking malfunctions"; it is accurate in a resume to use, "Troubleshooting networking malfunctions".

3. Not enough white space

Long, run-on sentences are hard to read. Use short, but revealing sentences and leave space between sections it will be much easier to read. Don't try to run your margins all the way out to the edge. When you look at your resume from a distance, it should have some order and organization. You should be able to clearly see where one section ends and another begins. If your resume is confusing to an employer, it may stand to reason that you might just be a confusing employee.

4. Inconsistency

Formatting should be the same throughout your resume. All headings should be in the same font. If one is bold, they all should be bold. The body under each heading should use the same font in each section. If one of your dates is formatted with the year as 2002, then another part of the resume should not use 04. Pick a date style and stick with it.

Stay consistent with the tense of your resume too. If you wrote, "developed IMS support software" in one area of your resume, another should not have 'design and employ data migration process"' unless it is your current job. Another example of mixing tenses would be: "filed monthly reports, inputting data in Excel, managed database." Either use...ing or...ed but don't mix them. Consistency on the job is an important employment quality. Your resume should tell an employer you understand that.

5. Leaving off important information

A resume needs to have addresses of employers, names and phone numbers of the person they can contact that can tell them about you, dates of when you worked there and the details of what you did. It's not OK to say, I don't know their phone number or I don't remember the dates. You need to look it up. When you leave off important information, it says you do not pay attention to details.

6. Downplaying skills

If a resume says "worked on various computer projects"', it doesn't tell anyone very much. The following changes would tell an employer this person had skills and experience: "Member of a team that deployed software for 1000 stations, developed protocol for implementing system-wide troubleshooting database, led a team of three in updating..."

Think about the skills an employer is looking for and spell them out. Don't assume that some things go without saying. A resume does more than tell an employer your job title; it states how well you can express what it is you did.

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How to Perfect Your Resume/CV by Capitalizing on Your Work Experience

Employers skim over your qualifications, but do relate more to your Work Experience on your Resume/CV... In the past employers would have been satisfied with a brief description of your previous employer and your duties and roles performed during that employment. However, today as we see a tough job market, we also see a change in the attitude of employers. They need to see a longer description of your performance and duties in order to see the relevance you have for the current job available.

That said therefore, you may need to tweak these roles, duties and performance explanations and statistics for different employers. Your Work Experience section of your Resume/CV should leave the employer with a clear picture of where you have worked, what skills are evident and what experience you have related to the vacancy available.

So how do you best approach this task? First and foremost be aware how powerful WORDS are... Use words that describe actions in your previous roles, such as: delegate, coordinate, investigate, instigate, evaluate, examine, formulate, identify, yield, reconcile, prescribe, support and many more other action verbs. Suddenly the picture you're painting becomes powerful and not just dreary.

Another aspect that many people forget to include is the role of 'decision maker' - How can an employer know of your capabilities if you haven't given an example of what tasks you've previously been involved in; and no doubt completed them successfully. You may for example have been an important part of achieving a $million target, or perhaps you resolved a software computer error through research. Whatever successes you've had in your career to date should be reflected as Work Experience in your Resume/CV.

Don't forget that the layout of your Resume/CV is of paramount importance. If your resume flows onto several pages then index the important aspects of your career on the first page. Employers don't have the time to read everything on your resume when they are initially preparing the selection process. Each and every profession has different priorities when sifting through 50 resume's to determine a shortlist. If academic qualifications are more important than experience then make sure they are listed first. If your application is for someone who is more experienced based then make sure the experience appears first.

What happens if you haven't had much Work Experience to put on your Resume/CV? If this is the case you maybe better prepared than most, as expanding on fewer jobs is easier than for those who've had a job a year. Remember the importance of choosing the right action verbs, then explore your recent work experience and find tasks within there that can be deemed as relevant and used to determine your suitability. For more Work Experience advice for your Resume or CV please follow the link below...

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What Should A Resume Look Like? How To Type A Resume

This question has brought anguish to many searching for a job. This is especially true in the present environment of high unemployment. We hope to help alleviate any concerns you may have on how to type a resume. A resume is a summary of your job experience according to the actual job being applied for. Many make the mistake of sending a mass produced resume regardless of the job being offered. A professional resume will have a high content of active verbs. An example is making reference to your 'team building' experience. A good resume will also include an introductory cover letter.

The resume is what gets you in door. It is what it takes to get the call for an interview. Many perspective employers like to see how well the candidate has done at working with others. Working closely with people daily can tax one's diplomatic skills. An employer wants to see how you deliver under stressful or trying circumstances. This is one of many skillsets that can be offered to your potential employer.

In addition to experience relevant to the job you are seeking a resume that contains pertinent education information. Any kind of business education will be of help. If you have the ability to deal with numbers, for example, you may be called to work with the books. Management skills can be gained through business management classes and political science courses. You may have skills in typing or writing. English classes are some key points that you may want to hit upon.

Now for the big question. What is a cover sheet for a resume? The cover sheet or cover letter is possibly the most important part of a resume. You can leave a good impression with a quality cover letter. It is the first thing the employer will see. It is a way to set yourself apart from the others. A cover letter consists of three basic parts. Those three parts include the header, main body (two to three paragraphs) and conclusion. We touch on the basics of the cover sheet here. More details are to come.

The header should include your name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number and email address. Follow this with the date after single spacing. Single space again and include the employer name (if you have one), title, company, address, city, state, and zip code. Single space and then include the salutation if you know the person's name. If not leave it out.

The main body should include the job position you are seeking and who referred you if you have a name to drop. Follow this with what you have to offer the company. They have no interest in what you want at this point. Stick with what they want and how you can help them. This is the moment where you will explain your resume's content not repeat it. This is a good way to let them know what you have to offer the company.

In conclusion you will want to thank them for considering you and let them know how you plan to follow up. I will be writing soon on how to write a thank you and follow up letter.

It has been said that you can't make a second first impression. Follow your resume with confidence in the interview and you should do well. Most important, don't take it personally if you don't get the job. Use the experience as a spring board to a successful next interview.

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Professional Resumes - The Key to Your Dream Job!

Professional resumes have gained added importance because of the lackluster economy. Have you been looking for a job for a long time without any luck? Do your qualifications and experience deserve a better response? Perhaps you have not been presenting yourself adequately. Revisit your resume and see if you can improve it in any way. You could consult the services of a professional resume writer. They can offer you insights into what employers seek in candidates.

Purpose of Professional Resumes:

* The basic objective of resumes is to get you a job interview. Your prospective employers should want to know you better after reading about you.
* Your resume should give your future employer a comprehensive and informative idea of your goals, experience, aptitude, and qualifications.

Contents of Impressive Resumes:

* A well-written covering letter will act as the first step toward securing a good job. Cover letters introduce you to the company.
* Resumes should be brief. Time is always scarce. You will be appreciated for respecting your prospective employer's time and patience.
* It should be original. Employers will know if you use templates. It shows lack of interest and innovation.
* Brief your skills precisely rather than generically. If you are a good team player, give suitable examples. Don't offer general and open-ended statements of your strengths.
* Highlight what you want to be noticed. You cannot expect your interviewer to know your strong suits without some prompting.

Professional resumes may be required for the following reasons:

* to enter the job market
* to apply for a higher post within your organization
* to switch jobs.

Professional Resumes: What The Experts Offer

* They have the experience and knowledge of the selection criteria that help catch employers' attention.
* They know the art of accentuating your strong points.
* They are able to present your weaknesses in a light that explains gaps between jobs, lack of experience, and other question marks in your resume.
* Addressing selection criteria is a key part of resumes. You should be able to sufficiently match your skills to the job requirement. This will give the employer ample reason to choose you for the job. Professional writers can give you this edge too.
* You get an independent and informed third person's perspective. So, whether you sound pompous or understated, you get a chance to rectify it before an employer sees your account of yourself.
* As the experts have access to thousands of resumes, they know what the competition is putting out there. This is an unmatched advantage that you can make use of. Writers can differentiate you from the other applicants, promoting your cause.

Resume writing is a skill that few possess. Leave this job to the professionals. They will, of course, require information from you and then within a few days you can expect to own your ideal resume. Professional resumes must be accurate and honest. This is your only chance for that all-important first impression. Don't ruin your chances by sending out a less-than-perfect resume.

Resumes That Work is an organization that is involved in writing professional resumes and cover letters. They offer you result-oriented advice on facing interviews and help you prepare key selection criteria.

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