Tag: Education

6 Clever Ways Graduates Can Improve Their Job Search

Why some people search for a job for months without results while others get employed in a couple of weeks? Everything depends on your attitude.
A job search is a serious process that demands setting goals, creating a plan, and sticking to it. Regular job hunting in different areas using various approaches is surely challenging but also productive. If you do not want to lose your time, read the instruction below that will allow you to find a job faster.

1. Market Yourself

Inform people around that you are a great professional who is open to offers. It will help you get the attention of potential employers. Online presence is a great way to do that. LinkedIn is a number one tool in online job hunting.
Do everything possible to make your profile more visible for the recruiters. Include offline actions to your personal marketing campaign. For instance, you might visit events related to your profession, make some new contacts during the conferences, or attend job fairs.

2. Keep Developing

While job search should take a significant part of your time, focusing on it too much could cause stress and depression. It might be a good idea to combine job search with the development of new skills. Spend some time on learning new languages, reading books related to your field, or improving your computer skills. It will keep your brain working and the new knowledge might help you to get the position you want.

3. Stay Tuned

It is important to keep participating in the work environment. Consider taking short-term freelance jobs in your field, find an internship or a part-time job in a company you want to work for. It will broaden your experience and will develop your skills. You will also get familiar with the new tendencies and equipment. This way the employer will see that you are active and ready to immerse into the new environment.

4. Get a Well-built Resume

If you have the same resume for years and it still did not help you to find a job you want, it is probably the time to upgrade it.
Make sure your CV is current, well-written, and convenient to read. It should show your strong sides and professionalism. Sending the same resume for different positions is not the best idea. Try to modify it a little for every job. Be sure to take into consideration the goals and needs of the company. The recruiters will surely notice it and that will help you to stand out.
If you still have troubles making your resume, consider using professional resume writing services. What is more, some job seekers have a hard time understanding the difference between cover letter and resume. Make sure you know what application document your potential employer requires.

5. Prepare for a Job Interview

Job interview puts a lot of pressure so it is better to prepare for it. You may practice with your friend or make a video to see how you look. Answer the common job interview questions and pay attention not only to what you say but also how you say it. Your voice and body language are as much as important as the words. Control your tone and the speed of the speech. A straight posture and eye contact may help to look more confident.

6. Be Persistent

Active position during job search shows your enthusiasm. After sending a resume it is essential to wait for an interview invitation. If you are really interested in a position, there is no harm in reminding the company that you approached them. It will emphasize your interest and desire to work. If you did not get a call back after the interview, do not be shy to contact the recruiter and ask about results. It is also important to know the limit. If there is no answer, move forward.
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How to Look Like a Successful Entrepreneur

When you are trying to get a new business off the ground, it is not enough to just think that you are going to succeed. You need to feel like you are going to succeed, and in order to do this, you need to put yourself into a special mindset, and have the appearance of a successful entrepreneur, even if you are struggling. The more successful you look to others, the better your chances will be of actually succeeding, because people are going to naturally gravitate to you. Here are some tips to help you look like the most successful entrepreneur in the world.
  1. Love what You Do – If you don’t love what you are doing, chances are that your business is not going to be a successful one. You need to really want to be doing this. Many people don’t realize just how much work really goes into being an entrepreneur, and the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who are happy to be going to work every day and not dreading it because they hate what they are doing.
  2. Take it Seriously – When you are an entrepreneur, there is only one person who is completely responsible for your business at the end of the day, and that is you. So, you need to take your business very seriously. Sure, you can have fun and enjoy what you do, but you also need to really believe in what you are doing in order to be able to make others really believe in you as an entrepreneur.
  3. Look Good – “While not everyone is going to be movie star gorgeous, you can still strive to always look your best, which includes taking care of your teeth so you have a great looking smile,” says Dr. Ella Dekhtyar from Broadway Family Dental. Always dress the part, and flash a winning smile at everyone you meet. When you look great and appear to be confident, this is going to attract people to you and your business. If you look dumpy and rarely smile, people are going to check out your competition instead.
  4. Ask for Help – It is true that no man is an island, and no man stands alone. Everyone needs help at one time or another, especially when it comes to starting a new business. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. It doesn’t make you look incompetent or like a failure. It shows you as someone who really cares about their business, and wants to make it as great as they possibly can. It also shows that you are willing to take and use advice, and that you have an open mind.
  5. Fake It – You are not going to be a success in everything, and there are going to be failures. But, no one has to know about those failures. Even if you are still in the struggling new stages of your business, don’t let it show. Fake it, and no one is going to know the difference. In fact, the more you fake it, the more your personal attitude is going to change to fit what you are trying to convey to the rest of the world.
  6. Remember Your Customers – A business is only as good as its customer base. If you are not respecting the customer, they are not going to respect you, and they will not see you as someone who they want to do business with. Everything you do for your business, including policies, payment options, hours of operation, warranties, etc. must focus around the customer. Without customers, there is no business, period, and you aren’t going to be seen as a successful entrepreneur.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Maternity Leave and the Small Business Owner

By law, all businesses are required to provide a certain amount of maternity leave to employees. The time allowed for maternity leave depends on a number of factors, including state and federal regulations, eligibility, type of maternity leave, etc. For the small business owner, maternity leave has a much greater impact than it does on a larger corporation. If a small business only has a few employees, losing one for a few months is going to have a huge impact, not to mention the fact that setting up a maternity leave policy is a confusing proposition at best. Here are some of the things you need to know about before creating a maternity leave policy for your small business.

Federal and State Laws

The first thing you need to look into are the federal and state laws, which can get pretty confusing, especially for the small business owner. For instance, if you have 50 or more employees, you are required by federal law to provide at least 12 weeks of unpaid leave, both for childbirth and for the adoption of a child. If you have fewer than 50 employees, the Federal government doesn’t require you to provide this maternity leave. But, you may still be required to provide this benefit, under certain circumstances.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act requires employers to treat all pregnant employees as they would treat employees who have temporary disabilities if a woman is unable to perform all of her duties due to her pregnancy. There are also state laws, which are completely separate from federal regulations. For instance, under the California Family Rights Act, employers must provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave, and in some cases they are required to also provide six weeks of paid leave.
You can learn more about your state requirements by visiting the US Department of Labor website. States that do have maternity policy requirements are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

Eligibility

“The next consideration is eligibility, as it is not only pregnant women who are eligible for maternity or parental leave. Your maternity/paternity leave policy will need to be explicit about who is eligible for this leave,” says an expert from Forest Hills Medical Services. FMLA regulations require that employees must work a minimum of 12 months or 1,250 hours in the previous 12 months to qualify for 12 weeks of unpaid leave. But, if you have 50 employees or less, the amount of unpaid leave is at your own discretion (or applicable state laws) for your company policy.

Types of Maternity Leave

Once you have figured out the amount of time that employees are going to be able to have for maternity leave, you need to consider the various types of maternity leave in order to create your company policy. There are three types of maternity leave:
  • Intermittent Leave – This is short-term leave, to cover medical appointments, emergencies, etc.
  • Reduced Schedule Leave – This is when the employee still works, but reduces their hours to fit in with their physical needs.
  • Block of Time Leave – This is when the employee needs an extended period of time away from work, usually granted after childbirth or if there are complications during the pregnancy.

Paid Leave

Finally, you need to decide whether or not you are going to offer paid leave. While this is not a federal or state requirement, many companies do offer this to their employees. If you have valued employees who you want to see return to your company, paid maternity leave is definitely a good incentive to offer.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Five Tips for Job References

The praise or criticism of your references can influence whether you are offered a position.  It is therefore important to consider these tips:
*Think about who you ask: You may want to ask a friend or family member that you have known personally.  However, it is important to ask those that KNOW YOUR WORK. For example: a former supervisor, a professor that was your advisor or that you took a class from, a colleague would all be people to consider.
*How to Ask: Do not assume that someone will want to be your reference. Be courteous and professional by meeting, sending an email or calling. Also, ask if they prefer to be contacted by phone or email. Provide your reference with your resume and let them know the types of positions you are targeting.
*When to Ask: If you are looking for a job, you should ask as soon as possible. Do not wait until you have a deadline to meet.
*Update References: When a potential employer informs you that they are going to check your references, contact your reference and send them a link to the job description. This will help them provide feedback that is focused on the position, not just random comments.
*Follow-Up: Let your references know how your job search is going and thank them for providing a reference regardless of whether you were offered the position or not. If you get the job, provide them with your new contact information and stay in touch.
Following these tips will help you to manage this aspect of the job search successfully!
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How To Build Your Learning Skills The Right Way

It’s never too late to learn. We learn things our whole life, but we don’t think about how we do that. Not surprisingly, only a small amount of everyday skills is turned into long-time habits. Is there a way to become a more efficient person? How to develop necessary learning skills and make them root?
Answers to those questions you can find in this article.
  1. Narrow your goal
Plans like “read more,” “get up early” or “learn something new” are too vague and uncertain. Specify what you want to achieve. Give your goal a form of concrete, measurable and controlled action. For example: “every month to attend a conference in an interesting to me field,” “read 50 books related to my occupation for a year” or “spend two hours every Thursday, reading articles that were kept in bookmarks during the week.” A defined goal will stimulate you to act.
  1. Take time to think big
In the constant chaos of everyday life, there is frequently no time to think about global life goals. Where do you see yourself in five years? How could you develop your skills to make your work more productive, and yourself – a valuable specialist? We are all different, someone is enough half an hour for such reflections, and someone prefers to think about problems of a global scale, having gone on a long bike trip. If you enjoy being alone, take this time to review your skills and aspirations. You may also go a completely different way and discuss everything with colleagues or with old friends, you trust.
  1. Ask yourself: Whom do you envy?
Envy is a negative emotion, but it can serve as an excellent stimulus for self-development. If you envy someone, then this person has something that you really want to have. To whom do you envy: your friend, who is constantly traveling, your dad who doesn’t miss any of the mornings runs or your colleague, who successfully passed the MBA program. You don’t envy people; you envy their achievements. Envy helps to choose the direction of personal growth if you treat this emotion wisely.
  1. Control your habits
Control has a strange power over us. Studies show that by simply controlling our behavior, we begin to perform tasks much faster. It does not matter what exactly it will be: counting the steps from the apartment to the nearest store or the number of phone calls made per day. The same can be applied to how frequently we look at teaching materials or devote time to practice a new skill. Watch how the new habit begins to develop, and it will help you to keep growing.
  1. Set up a learning schedule
The goal, formulated as “to study something of this sort,” will always be somewhere at the end of your to-do list. Of course, this task is essential, but there is no definite deadline for it, and we always can postpone it for another day. That’s why it’s helpful to create a plan for building new skills.
And, don’t forget that you have to form skills, which will bring you benefits: strengthen your temper, broaden the mind horizon, and train professional features. When we do something for our good, the chances of successfully forming a new skill are doubled.
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How To Earn Respect in the Workplace

 For those of us who may not know how to act in business, it can be somewhat intimidating. But it can be pretty easy to make sure that you handle yourself well in the world of business.
Here are a few simple rules to follow.
  • Always listen: This may simple enough, but when you demonstrate that you are a good listener, it shows that you respect your bosses and coworkers, and are genuinely interested in what they have to say. This can also give you a chance to gain some helpful knowledge. Perhaps you meet someone you can trust and feel comfortable asking for advice about workplace etiquette. Remember, asking questions doesn’t show ignorance, it’s a sign of intelligence.
  • Go the Extra mile with a smile: Obviously, it shows a great deal of care if you take on a few extra assignments or willingly work longer hours. But when you do it without complaining, it shows to your bosses what a good worker you are and how much you care about the job. Many people you work with may not be so interested in taking on those few extra tasks and going the extra mile, but if you can do it gladly, you can show the bosses just what a valuable asset you can be to their company.
  • Never Assume: This piece of advice works in tandem with the last piece. You want to be willing to take on any extra work that is available, but you also do not want to get in over your head or come off as presumptuous. If you are new to the job and show up acting like you run the place, no one is going to appreciate your help or enjoy working with you. Understand, that you are the new person and that you do not know everything. If anything, your boss will appreciate this quality, as long as you also demonstrate a willingness to learn.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

How to Protect your Startup from Crime

Protecting your business from crime is essential for all enterprises, no matter how long they have been operating or at what scale. With the rise of cyber crime alongside regular criminal activity, as well as white-collar crime, there is a lot to consider when setting up preventative measures for your new startup.
In addition to protecting your business interests – including stock, premises and business assets – staff welfare and safety must also be considered. Creating a successful strategy, therefore, requires planning, as well as execution, and this guide is designed to help protect your startup from the beginning.
Begin with a risk assessment
Risk assessments are common in business, and while they are usually completed most frequently in the field of health and safety, adopting this strategy when beginning your security setup is a useful and effective starting point.
Using the five steps to risk assessment within a security context is an extremely helpful way to first consider the potential risks your startup may be susceptible to. To some extent, risk assessment requires a little creative thinking – try to consider broadly the various forms of crime that are out there. Communicating with other businesses may be a good way to think outside the box, and get a clear idea of the various potential risks.
Protect your premises and assets
Having completed your risk assessment you can then start considering your security setup. An effective security strategy requires installing the right security systems for your specific requirements. While fanciful face recognition tech and Chamber of Secrets-style vaults might be preferable, they’re probably unaffordable (and maybe a little unrealistic) for a startup!
The security systems you do opt for need to be realistic and practical, as well as affordable. They should act as both a deterrent to potential criminals, and as a protective measure should crime occur. Selecting the right systems from the get-go is essential.
Effective staff policies
Having the most effective security equipment in the world is one thing, but not backing it up with a well-measured and carried out policy makes the investment somewhat redundant. A successful company policy should ensure consistent regulations and standards across the board.
Make sure that employees understand what is expected of them through a code of conduct, and what can happen should they commit white-collar crime against your startup. Consistency is the key!
Setting up for cyber crime
Cyber crime is an increasing concern for businesses – both more established, and startups – due to the convenience and anonymity afforded by the internet. When setting up a new business venture, particularly a digital company, it is increasingly important to be aware of the types of cyber crime that exist, in order to take effective preventative measures.
It is essential to be both aware of cyber crime yourself, and to educate your staff on how to prevent it occurring. This should begin through your staff policies and regulations – you need to include a social media policy, both to prevent poor conduct, as well as potential cyber crime.
As well as staff policies, you need to protect your startup from external threats. Police your internal networks thoroughly, conduct regular audits, and make sure portable devices (as well as desktop computers) are scanned. Checking out who you are working with, such as external partners and suppliers is also important in safeguarding your business from cyber crime.
Monitor your security measures as your business grows
As well as ensuring your security measures are effective from the beginning, it is essential to consistently assess and update your procedures as your business grows, in order to stay well protected from crime.
This can be done through regular risk assessments, external surveys and audits, and consistent reviews of your policies and systems. As your business grows, new crime threats can emerge, so regular reviews are an important part of ensuring ongoing protection for your startup against crime.
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Planning a Company Retreat

By Chemeketa SBDC

Do you and your staff need a retreat day? You know, a day away from work where you can focus on strategic planning, or resolving something that’s just too big to fit into an extended staff meeting. If you do, here are some planning tips to make the most of your time.
First, you need to know what your goal is for your time away. The retreat should have a clear business purpose, like creating a strategic plan, or developing the year’s marketing calendar. Make sure you can accomplish this goal within the time you’ve dedicated.
Once you know what you want to accomplish you can decide who to invite. Just issuing a blanket invitation to all staff might not be the best use of staff resources. And consider that some retreat goals might be served by inviting some of your best customers or other stakeholders. Also, you’ll want to include anyone who needs to have buy-in on whatever decisions you are making.
From here you’ll need to decide on a few logistics. Where will you hold the retreat? Do you want to build social time around the business activities? If so, then consider a place with good restaurants or recreational facilities around it. Will you be having the event catered? Is it a brown-bag affair? This will make a difference in your locale.
Next, think about who will help you get through the agenda. A facilitator can play a helpful role here. They’re neutral, understand group processes and dynamics, and can help you get through an agenda efficiently. You may want to include one.
Prior to the retreat, work up an agenda that is specific as to time frames, activities, purpose and desired results. Distribute the agenda beforehand so attendees can bring whatever materials they might need to present. Participants should know up front if they are there to just discuss issues or if they’ll be asked to make decisions on issues. The more preparation everyone puts in ahead of time the better your retreat will go.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

What Small Biz Can Learn From the Tech Industry

By Chemeketa SBDC

“The Lean Startup” has become a book that every tech entrepreneur has read and quotes regularly. Eric Reis, the author of the book, coined the term “lean startup” to reframe what it means to be a startup and the process that a startup should follow to ensure success… or at least to take a good stab at it. The main premise of the book is that a startup is simply a
series of experiments. Experiments that have a hypothesis (an idea to test), limited variables to test (test certain aspects of your idea, not the whole idea at once), and success measurements (how you know when you succeeded or failed).
By executing and completing these experiments, you are continually refining and defining your product and target market. Through the experiments, you might find out that no one will buy your product, or that a completely overlooked demographic is actually your target market. In the long run, testing small aspects of your idea will save you time and money because you will be forced to focus on the product that will sell and not on superfluous
aspects of your business that do not contribute to your bottom line.
While “The Lean Startup” is written specifically for tech startups, the principles can be and must be applied to small start-up business and social ventures. Here are some examples on how applying the lean start-up principles might look in a small business.
Business idea: Car mechanic Hypothesis: People want a car mechanic in a convenient
location.
Experiment: Find a neighborhood that has to travel 5 miles to get to a car mechanic. Go door to door and offer to provide basic services at their residence.
Measurements: Get 30 percent of car-owning neighborhood residents to pay for services.
Why it works? You will be able to determine if a convenient location is a problem. You will start to build a customer base before making the capital investments into a building.
Business idea: Organization services
Hypothesis: People want to get organized because it makes them calm.
Experiment: In the same time frame, send out two sets of marketing materials. One that uses words and colors that reflect calm, peace, tranquility, etc., and the other that uses words and colors that represent efficiency, time-saving, productivity, etc.
Measurements: Record which marketing materials created the most interest.
Why it works? You will be able to see what motivates people to get organized and develop a customer-centric marketing strategy.
Using the lean startup principles can be intimidating and might be counter intuitive to traditional startup thinking. The fact is you can plan as much as you want but in reality business plans reflect the world that’s in your mind, and not the world that actually exists. To start a successful business from the beginning, you need to be in the trenches with your
potential customers.
Now time for my experiment: Are you interested in learning more about lean startup rinciples and how you can incorporate them into your startup or existing business or nonprofit? If you are, contact me at kmozian@chemeketa.edu or 503-399-5088 and let’s chat.
Kristen Mozian is a business advisor working with the MERIT Microenterprise Program at the Chemeketa Small Business Development Center, www.sbdc.chemeketa.edu.

Collaboration Can Boost Your Business

By Chemeketa SBDC

The word “collaboration” is used a lot these days. But
what’s the practical application of that word and concept for a business owner?
Turns out there’s a lot contained there that can help you with your business.
There’s a synergy to working with others that can mean great things for you, and
success for your business. Tap into the power of others and watch what
happens.
A common way to build a collaborative partnership is
when a for-profit business (a pet store for instance) teams up with a nonprofit
(the humane society). They have some common goals, they have a common
constituency, and they can mutually benefit each other.
Another pathway to collaboration is when a group of
businesses in a given industry (retailers, manufacturers, service providers,
etc.) or a group of similar businesses (specialty food producers, health
services providers, artisans, etc.) work together. Perhaps they host an event,
perhaps it’s a group marketing campaign, or a series of meetings where they get
together to share best practices and common concerns.
There are several good reasons to enter into these
mutual arrangements. First is to promote your business to customers (with the
intention of driving sales). As a business owner, this is always on the top of
your mind, and a collaborative effort is another way for you to do achieve that
end. When you team up with other organizations you may gain access to their
customer lists, their ability to reach customers, their expertise, and many
other benefits.
Another good reason is to generate publicity for
yourself and your collaborative partners. The more awareness and name
recognition you can create, the better. Cross-promotion helps everyone.
There are a couple of things to consider before
entering into a collaborative effort with others.
• Consider carefully who you align yourself with in
order to ensure compatibility of mission. Ask yourself who you want to be
associated with.
• Be sure to plan everything out in advance and put it
in writing. The more time spent up front, the smoother things will go.
• Each partner’s responsibilities need to be spelled
out and agreed to.
• Reach a consensus on a common vision for what will be
accomplished and how each partner will benefit.
• Speak well of each other in public; dirty laundry
needs to be kept strictly out of sight. Keep a professional tone, both when
speaking with, and when speaking to, your collaborators.
Marcia Bagnall is Director of the Chemeketa Small
Business Development Center.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

If You Fall Behind on Payments, Talk to Your Creditors

By Chemeketa SBDC

There are times when cash flow becomes very short for your business and you may have fallen behind in payments to your suppliers.
While it may not be easy, talking to your creditors has to be done. Unanswered collection calls are the quickest way to see your company fall into a legal morass that will end badly. Whether it is the actual creditor or a collection agency, providing no information (also known as running and hiding) inevitably takes the action one step further into a legal process until you may end up in court or even in bankruptcy.
If you can’t pay your bills in full, work out a plan of partial payments or extend the deadline for sending a check. You can work this plan out on a spreadsheet (every business owner should be very comfortable around a spreadsheet – if not, go get trained or learn on your own – just be sure it is a tool you know how to use!) Look at every possibility and be certain that you can present a plan that you can handle. It makes no sense to propose a payback if you cannot meet it.
Then you need to present this plan. If you are really uncomfortable about having a conversation with your creditors, start the dialogue with a short letter. One caution here is to avoid making any promises. You don’t know yet what ones you can keep. Try something along the lines of:
“Dear Supplier: You may have noticed that recently our payments have been slower than you normally expect from our company. Our cash flow has been strained by a shorter than normal summer and lower than expected sales. We are all working diligently to correct our problems and hope to be back to a better schedule soon. We will be in touch shortly to give you an update on our progress. We appreciate our long-term business relationship and thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, ABC Company.
People will talk. If all they have heard from you is silence, it is likely that strong action will be taken, including legal action. You need a chance to explain the circumstances of your company’s current situation and then describe your strategy for changing those circumstances. Your own spin on the subject will be much more positive than someone unfamiliar with your circumstances.
And finally, a creditor is less likely to take major action against someone with a recognizable name and personality – so make those calls!
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Lead Generation Strategies

By Chemeketa SBDC

If you’re a small business owner, you know that generating new customer leads is a continual process. You always need new potential customers coming into your pipeline. So how do you find these folks? Here are five strategies to consider.
  • Focus and prioritize lead capture. This may sound obvious, but if you don’t have a system for doing this (and if you’re not working the system you might have), then it won’t happen. You need a standard process to capture lead information during any interaction that you or your staff have with any potential customer. If you’re interested in direct responses then use coupons or other discounts that bring a customer to you. You can capture customer information on your website with forms (which a customer would fill out in order to get something of benefit from you). However you do it, get that information so you can communicate regularly from then on.
  • Amp up your online presence. Review your SEO (search engine optimization) practices. Use tools like Google Places. Pay attention to Google key word protocols. Engage with influential (preferably local) bloggers who have the ears of your potential customers and offer to write a guest blog post on those sites. Make it easier and faster for leads to come across you online.
  • Divide your contact database into segments and tailor your marketing messages. A well-aimed message will get forwarded and passed along (because the folks you target associate with people similar to themselves). This is a way to have your current customers become a referral source for you.
  • Create alliances and partnerships. What businesses around you offer complementary products and services? How can you collaborate with them in a way that benefits both partners, and gives access to the other one’s customer base? The key here is creating added value for both of your customers.
  • Develop and implement a referral strategy. Besides complementary businesses, who else in your sphere of influence could benefit their customers and clients by referring them to you? Reach out to those people, make an intentional effort to know them and have them know you. Be willing to refer your customers to them as warranted (remember, you are providing a solution for your customer when you do this, and that’s good for everyone involved).
Remember that these strategies are not one-time solutions. Marketing is a continual process of doing the same things repeatedly (sorry!) and there are no easy fixes. You may not see much progress at first, but stick with it and the results will start coming in.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

What traits do successful business owners have?

By Chemeketa SBDC

What does it take to be a successful business owner, and why do some people seem to “have it” while others don’t? There are a handful of characteristics that set a high achieving entrepreneur apart from the rest of the pack, and the good news is that you don’t need to be born with these, you can learn them.
Look around at the successful businesses you know, chances are the owners will exhibit several, if not all, of these traits.
• First is the ability to self manage. This is the ability to train yourself to do what you don’t want to do. It’s self-discipline that you develop and that becomes a regular habit. It’s hard at first, but you can practice this until it is second nature. You won’t succeed unless you can manage yourself (and after that managing someone else won’t seem so daunting!).
• Along these lines is the ability to work hard. Putting in long hours, following up on details and commitments. It’s staying on the job until the job is done. Successful business owners make whatever sacrifices they need to in order to reach their goals. This entails making hard choices (and sometimes those can take a personal toll).
• Achievers are focused on where they’re going. They’re not idling along without a plan, they’re moving towards a goal at a good clip. They lock onto their vision and pursue it. They choose not to let distractions deter them from their destinations.
• And because they have this focus, they are able to be decisive. They ask themselves the question of whether an opportunity presented will get them to their goal or not. And they don’t take forever to make the decision either. Delaying action is delaying achievement, and so they act on opportunities and choices in a timely manner. Yes, sometimes the decisions don’t pan out, but indecisiveness is worse.
• The successful have a will to succeed that underwrites the above points. They are able to channel motivation into focused goals, and then drive themselves to achieve those goals.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Should I Go to Law School? Four Questions to Help You Decide

There are a few important questions you should ask yourself in deciding if law school is the choice for you. Some of them are philosophical, and some are practical. All of them are important, but this fir  st one is essential…

Do I want to be a lawyer?

Before you decide to attend law school, ask yourself: do I actually want to practice law? That is the core of the profession – representing clients. If the idea of working with clients doesn’t excite you, then this might not be the right career for you.

Why do I want to go to law school?

Be honest. There are many reasons people attend law school.  Some have always known this was their path. Some have friends and family telling them they will be a great lawyer. Maybe someone, somewhere, told them, if all else fails, you can always try law school. Whatever your motivation, you should be able to identify it. That’s the only way to decide if law is the right choice for you. Before applying to law school, seriously consider your interest in becoming a practicing attorney and how that balances with the cost, the employment prospects, and the minimum three-year intensive academic commitment required to graduate.
REASONS to attend law school include knowing what lawyers do (and wanting to do it) and having a sense of how prepared you are for law school and the practice of law.
REASONS to keep considering your options include not knowing what else to do after graduation, making your parents happy, thinking it sounds like fun, or planning to figure it out later (when you get to law school, or after graduation).

Am I in it for the paycheck?

If you answered the first or second questions with Maybe, I’m not sure, or No, but the salary…, keep reading. Even if you score the job that brings that check you dreamed of, if you don’t love (or even like) the work, you may find you aren’t long for the field, but you might still be paying the loans from that JD.
Many students are drawn to the legal profession by the promise of future income. But like any career path, your decision needs to include more than the salary prospects. A law degree doesn’t guarantee of a high salary. According to a Washington Post article from April 2015, “nine months after graduation, a little more than half of the class of 2013 had found full-time jobs as lawyers, down from 77% of 2007, according to the most recent data from the American Bar Association and the National Association for Law Placement. Those who did find jobs had starting salaries that were 8% below the 2009 peak, averaging $78,205 in 2013.” In recent years, bar passage rates have also declined creating a challenge for new graduates hoping to begin their legal practice.
Doing your research will go a long way in helping you manage your salary expectations. Look at the employment statistics and average salary for students from schools you are likely to attend (based on your GPA and LSAT – if you have taken it). Factor the specialty you wish to practice, and the region.

What do I know about the practice of law (In other words, have I talked to any lawyers)?

Answering this question requires you to research and talk to actual lawyers.
Current law students and pre-law advising can help with your law school application, but lawyers – those practicing law every day – are the ones who can help you decide if this is the path for you. They can tell you how much their legal education cost, what they actually do on a daily basis, how many hours a week they work, how much they make, and what they like (or don’t) about their careers. You should ask about personal attributes needed to be successful in a legal career and the impact of a legal career on personal lives. If law school still sounds like the right plan for you, you can ask for advice about where to go from here.
Learning about the practice of law from lawyers (as many as you can, from different practice areas) will spotlight the different career paths in the legal profession, and which might be right for you. You may notice that lawyers with very similar experiences may have very different thoughts on their careers. Ask them why. This is your chance to get a feel for what type of people like what types of legal jobs (e.g. litigation or public interest law), and what that might mean for you. Thinking proactively about your potential place in the legal profession will help you in choosing a law school, finding funding for school, and planning your job search.
You may not know any lawyers firsthand, or they may all be relatives or family friends. Talk to them, and lots of other lawyers, also. If you don’t know how to begin, making an appointment to see the pre-law advisor in the Career Center is a great start.

What’s next?

Now that we’ve talked about the philosophical questions, if law school still sounds like the thing for you, consider meeting with your Career Advisor to discuss the practical considerations of applying for and funding law school.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Public Health Career Night Panelists’ Perspectives on Career Direction and Job Search

Written by Howlader Nashara, Student Assistant to the CAS Career Advising Team.
On February 11th, The Career Center and the Public Health Program co-hosted a career panel that featured five professionals working in various aspects of the public health field from health promotion, to policy and advocacy, to program development and more:
• Brian Bowden: Associative Legislative Director at the National Association of Counties (NACo)
• Evelyn Kelly: CAS ’01, Senior Program Manager at the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI)
• Andy Melendez-Salgado: Senior Advisor for Program Integration and Health at the American Red Cross
• Kim Smith: CAS ’14, Communication Associate at CommunicateHealth Inc.
• Alyia Smith-Parker: Senior Associate for Health and Wellness at the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families
All brought to the table diverse academic backgrounds, varying career paths, and wisdom and insights on working in the public health sector. Jody Gan, an instructor in the School of Education, Teaching, and Health in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Public Health, was the moderator for the night.
The panelists were asked about their career paths post-graduation, and then asked to describe what kind of academic paths they saw themselves on prior to graduation. Melendez-Salgado, a graduate of Florida State, talked about his experiences working with migrant farm workers during school, and how seeing their health issues sparked his interest in public health. That interest guided him to change his major, and led to an internship at the Department of Health. Bowden, a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, was not aware of public health as a field of work, and thus ended double majoring in medical sociology and biology, with the intent of going to a medical school. However, upon discovering that his interests lay elsewhere, Bowden received a Rotary Scholarship to attend University of Liverpool’s School of Tropical Medicine and pursue a master’s degree in Humanitarian Studies. Bowden advised that students should “Feel free to create your own path if it’s not there for you.” Important advice, considering how a common theme among the career paths of many of the panelists reflected change that occurred upon taking initiative in their lives.
Kelly discussed the importance of taking initiative as well; she received her current position after hearing about the organization at a work conference, and then requesting an information interview with president of the company. Although no positions were open at the time, a few weeks after the interview, Kelly found out that the organization liked her enough to create a position specifically for her. Similarly, Smith-Parker received her current job through her supervisor by communicating openly about her professional interests. Her supervisor was able to point her to a job in the parent organization. The importance of networking and utilizing connections in order to gain employment or explore interests was emphasized by everyone on the panel. Smith, the most recent graduate, talked about how she used her connections at American University and in the D.C. area, including the Career Center, her professors, and contacts from previous internships, to procure her current position directly after graduating.
The panelists who handle hiring processes at their respective organizations gave the audience advice on what they like to see in candidates. Among those qualities are critical thinking skills, knowledge about the organization the applicant is interviewing with, and the ability to transfer skills from other experiences. Collectively, they also advised applicants to really research organizations and target every cover letter and resume to specific employers. Melendez-Salgado added that students should start volunteering with organizations they are interested in, because even that tiniest bit of experience can turn into an internship or job. At the end of the night, the panelists were asked if they would do anything differently in their lives and offered some thoughts on their personal professional development. Melendez-Saldago expressed that although he speaks two languages, given that he works with an international aid organization, he wished he had learned more languages. Kelly wishes that she had studied abroad. Smith-Parker stated that she wished she had not been so linear in her path, and had taken time to pursue other non-public health related interests in order to be a more well-rounded individual. Bowden, his path was certainly atypical, advised students to follow their passions, be aware of natural talents, and use all of that to strengthen the skill set that they put forth in the professional world.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Health Studies Career Night, February 15 2017

Prepared by Alexandra Jones, CAS Career Advising Team Assistant
Did you miss the Health Studies Career Night, but are still interested in the information provided? Well, although you did miss the opportunity to directly communicate and network with professionals working in what may be your future career field, this blog post may help you.
The panel, moderated by Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Studies (DHS) Kathleen Holton, and co-hosted by DHS and AU Career Center, consisted of four alumni:
  • Annika Bergstrom, TB Investigator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Ryan Paquin, Research Scientist at the Center for Communication Science at RTI International
  • Elizabeth Prevou, Clinical Practice Manager at GWU, and
  • Justin Morgan, Research Assistant at the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute.
Each speaker talked about the most and least favorite aspects of their careers, as well as gave advice to aid students’ future success, which is shared below.
How do you get your foot in the door?
There are various ways to go about entering a career in the health field. This information was posted at https://www.vocationaltraininghq.com/how-to-become/home-health-aide/ for longevity and so people that did not attend could peruse online. While Bergstrom simply applied through USA Jobs, this may be difficult as it is a competitive process, in which your resume has to stand out to employers from hundreds of others. Other panelists recommend that students work their networks to obtain a job lead, or get connected to someone from the organization you are interested in.
At times, your personality may be enough to get your foot in the door; the issue is displaying your character to employers. Before starting a new job you should talk to Labor Law Compliance Center, and make sure you are not working for less then what you should be. Morgan managed to get an interview with the Urban Institute by calling the institution and talking to an executive. This allowed him to add a personal touch to the application process, which cannot always be included in a resume submission.
How to be strategic with your internships?
Panelists recommend that students complete internships and treat each internship as a learning experience and utilize all connections gained.  Internships can also clarify your career goals and preferences. Prevou said, “Knowing what you don’t want to do at times is just as helpful as knowing what you do want to do.” At the same time, all panelists agreed that students should not jeopardize their peace of mind and sleep to work multiple internships at one time just to buff up a resume.
What skills make students valuable and wanted in the workplace?
No matter your desired job, all panelists recommended that students obtain basic research skills and knowledge of statistical programs, such as SAS, SPSS and Excel. AU offers courses and access to some of these programs through the Center for Teaching, Research and Learning (CTRL) if you have not learned them already.
Knowledge of medical terms and anatomy also allows easy communication across job fields. While this may not be stressed in the interview, such knowledge may be necessary to learn on the job – so why not pick it up sooner rather than later?
Lastly, knowing email etiquette and how to follow-up may be the most beneficial and necessary job skill in any field. Email are often the first form of communication between an employer and employee. Therefore learn how to make your emails sound professional and friendly, but with a hint of your personality.
Were you prepared for the workplace post-graduation?
While there will always be a learning curve when entering a new job, panelists stressed that students should not be nervous about it. After all, they did hire you! Still, be ready to put in the necessary effort to grow in your career. Listen, ask questions and do your best.
Related: How should I rewrite my paper in order to get high mark?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1