Finding Your Entrepreneurial Niche

Finding Your Entrepreneurial Niche If the statistics are true, more people than ever before want to star their own business someday. Of those people, I bet 90% of them have no clue what type of business they want to start. Todays post provides a process that should help you start gaining clarity on what Your Company, Inc. looks like. Before we begin, there are a few things to keep in mind: 1. Defining your business mission is not an easy or quick process. For many it takes years. The important part is that you keep on searching and keep trying new things until something feels right. Whatever you do, dont get discouraged and quit. (Kind of like dating, weird.) 2. Remember that your business will probably change and evolve several times before it settles and starts making money. This is normal and ok. You are not a ditz if this happens. 3. Get over the fact that there is a recession going on and stop using it as an excuse. Many great companies were started in the midst of a recession, check out this article for proof. The books that helped me focus my brainstorming process the most were ones I read in the last year: Ladies Who Launch and Escape Corporate America. Here are some ways to start putting your dreams into action based on these books. Step 1: Fantasize In your handy entrepreneur notebook (which I hope you have purchased by now) jot down the answers to the following questions. Put down the first things that come to mind, even if your thoughts seem odd. These questions are not necessarily easy, so come back to them over time as needed. • What did you love doing as a child? • If money were no object, what would you do? • What do your friends and family say about you? (Sarah is so great at connecting people, Tara is so organized, Corrine hosts the best events) Sometimes what your friends and family say about you are things that you didnt notice in yourself. Pay attention to these compliments and write them down. • Outline your perfect workday. Yes, I said perfect. Yoga, manicures, lunch with Oprah, driving your Range Rover, and playing with your new puppy can all be included. • Who are your career idols? Step 2: Research • Write down a list of all of your interests. Yes, this includes any secret interests you have such as bowling and color-coding your underwear drawer. Once you get that list, start googling and twitter searching the interests to prove to yourself that there are way more careers and small businesses out there than you imagined. • Now write down your skills and talents. They can be conventional skills such as your ability to build a website or your mastery of Quicknooks, or they can be unconventional. Soft skills are just as important when you have your own business. Start drawing parallels between your interests list and your skills/talents list. • Use the skills/talents and interests list to make up your dream job title. If you could have any dream job title, what would it be? Make it fun if you wish. My new job title is Chief Executive Diva of Ms. Career Girl. Now see if this job title exists, and if not start researching ways to make it come to life. Step 3: Go Shopping Hell no! I am NOT talking about a trip to Michigan Avenue here. Rather, window shop your dream job and take advantage of the dressing room. Here are some tips on how to start shopping: • Start reading blogs on entrepreneurship and on things that interest you daily. • Join Twitter or use your existing Twitter account to start connecting with people who have similar interests. • Research your competition or existing dream companies to see what they are doing. Then, get some guts and ask someone from that company to lunch. • If it is possible, volunteer doing something that helps you meet new people and get a little closer to your targeted industry. • Take a class at a local college, join an incubator or get involved in your local Womens Business Center even if youre not sure exactly what you want to do yet. These groups will really help. • As you get more confident, offer to guest post on a blog or start your own blog. Just start somewhere. Consider it your new part-time job to find your strengths, passions and future business aspirations. Talk to everyone you can and try on many different outfits, you never know what could fit. Once you get your dream on, then we can start talking about implementing the dream. And let me know if you want to be considered as the subject for part 2 of this post.

10 No-Fail Ways to Get Your Resume by Resume Screeners [Guest Post] - Career Pivot

10 No-Fail Ways to Get Your Resume by Resume Screeners [Guest Post] - Career Pivot Resume Screeners Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo Ten years ago, you would’ve written your resume solely with the hiring manager in mind. Today, your audience is still the hiring manager, but also resume screeners. Resume screeners, also called “applicant tracking systems”, search, filter and parse each resume to determine which candidates are the best fit for the position. This all happens before the hiring manager even sees them. What does ATS mean for you? Your audience should shift slightly away from the hiring manager in favor of ATS. Check out these 10 no-fail ways to get your resume by ATS. 1 . Do your research In order to properly build a resume, you must first research the job you are applying for. The job posting is a great place to start. What is the hiring manager looking for in a candidate? How does your experience match up to what they are looking for? Mold your resume based on the answers. Extra tip: you can even tweak past job titles to match the one in the job posting. As long as it is essentially the same position, it will work in your favor. 2. Tailor Why the research? After resumes are all put into the ATS, hiring managers search by keyword. If your resume isn’t a match with the searched keywords, the hiring manager won’t see it. You must tailor your resume for each job, scanning the job posting for keywords and skills, and listing them on your resume. 3. Reformat There are three main types of resume formats: chronological (the most common), functional and hybrid. Choose the format that puts your experience in the best light. For example, if you have a traditional work background, chronological is best because it highlights work experience. If you are lacking experience, the functional or hybrid resume might be a better option for you. 4. Simplify your font Font is one of the pesky little things that can make ATS parse (sort) the information in your resume incorrectly. Stick to the basic, easy-to-read fonts to make sure you’re in the clear. Times New Roman is a safe bet. 5. … and your structure Format and structure are not the same thing, but they are both important. Format refers to the order in which you set up the information in your resume. Structure is the backbones that you use. The trick is to keep the structure very simple. For example, most ATS do not know how to parse tables or columns, so it’s best to avoid them. 6. Let your experience speak for you Try to fight the urge to show your personality by using bright colors or graphics on your resume. Create a resume that makes you stand out based on your experience instead. While bright colors might seem like a good way to get the hiring manager’s attention, this tactic will likely get your resume sidelined by the ATS before he/she ever sees it. 7. Choose tenses wisely Keywords added to your resume should match the keywords in the job posting exactly. That means you must use the exact same tense. For example, “project manage” and “project managed” might not be a match in all ATS. Extra tip: It’s a myth that your resume needs to be written in past tense. Both “manage” and “managed” can be used in one resume as long as it makes sense and matches the job posting. 8. Standardize your headings There’s a theme developing hereâ€"don’t get too fancy when it comes to your resume. The same is true for headings. Refrain from being too creative with the titles of your section headings. The goal is for ATS to properly parse your resume into the system. Stick to headings like “Professional Experience” and “Education”. 9. Clarify acronyms It’s best for ATS and hiring managers if you spell out acronymsâ€"even if the meaning is obvious to you. You can put the acronym in parentheses if you feel inclined to include it. For example, “Bachelor of Science (BS)” or “Master of Business Administration (MBA)”. Listen to the most recent episode 10. Edit The resume editing process refers to spelling, grammar and excess information. Read over your resume, have a friend read it over, and make use of tools like grammarly.com. Most hiring managers will only have a few seconds to scan your resume, so your job is to make sure there is no unnecessary information clouding the good stuff. While using just one or two of these tips will help your chances, it’s the combination of them that will get your resume past applicant tracking systems. Take the time to build the best resume for each jobâ€"you won’t regret it. This post was written by James Hu, who is the founder and CEO of Jobscan (www.jobscan.co), an analytics tool that helps job seekers land more interviews by comparing one’s resume against any job description for keywords and match rate. Follow Jobscan onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram Like what you just read? 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Build your network through professional associations

Build your network through professional associations Networking is the cornerstone of a successful job search campaign. It is the on-going process of building and maintaining relationships with people who have information you want and need and reciprocating with information that is useful to others. Joining a professional organization related to your field is an excellent way to build your network of contacts and quickly gain visibility within an affinity group of potential decision makers. Members of the group work in the same industry or perform a similar job function for an organization and in turn they share similar interests. By building trust and rapport within this group you improve your chances of sourcing new business contacts or job leads that in turn can accelerate your search. These communities offer multiple opportunities to contribute your knowledge and expertise which results in greater credibility within the group. If youre not familiar with the professional organizations for your industry or function an excellent resou rce is available at www.weddles.com.

How to Use The Right Words and Phrases in Resume Writing

How to Use The Right Words and Phrases in Resume WritingThe resume action words and phrases should be tailored to each individual job. The resume writing and editing process should be done by the person who has been hired for the job, not by you. Use these personalized action words and phrases only in your jobs. When you are writing your resume, use only those personal words and phrases that are useful in the job and not necessarily those which are considered 'professional'.When you are already employed, you might have a few problems that you need to resolve before you get promoted or when you are hired for an even bigger job. The first and foremost is the resume action words and phrases that you use in your current job, while editing your resumes.The best action words and phrases are the ones that give an immediate result. Action words and phrases like 'I'us' suggest a hierarchy. In addition, they imply that you are with the company and what the company can do for you and this impli es the importance of the job.The action words and phrases that are used to make a boss or a superior are usually very elaborate. They imply a higher level of responsibility and then the job description must be read closely to avoid any misunderstanding. Even if they appear on the paper, they must be written to make sense and they should be avoided when creating a resume.The action words and phrases that are used to praise the job are usually very simple and direct. They are either kind words or suggestions to improve your performance in the job. They should be kept short and do not go into the intricacies of the job. This is because this will create confusion and will also be confusing for the reader as well.The personal action words and phrases that are written on the resume are usually shorter than the corporate action words and phrases. They are more to put across the message and only those that convey a specific message must be used. When you are using professional action words and phrases, it would be inappropriate to use them on your resume.The professionals in resume writing and editing know how to create and write action words and phrases that will make a boss or a superior. They also know how to use them in writing resumes and are able to convert short paragraphs into a resume. What more is needed for a resume to stand out in the crowd and make a statement. If you are in the dilemma of learning how to write a resume, you are in luck because there are some ways to turn your resume writing process into a reality.When it comes to action words and phrases, the professionals are the best in creating the perfect resume action words and phrases for you. There are many websites that have both corporate and personal resume words and phrases that you can use as well as templates to start off with. It is advisable to look around and see what is available before you buy a template.

How to Use Resume Writing Services For Entry Level Jobs

How to Use Resume Writing Services For Entry Level JobsThe job market is crowded, and the entry-level positions are a bit too. Most jobs these days require a lot of education and a lot of experience, but is there a way to get these jobs without that? Sometimes companies will hire people with very little experience, but they will still find someone willing to work for less, so you can find yourself in this type of position. You may not be able to do it all by yourself, but you can have an expert resume writing service to help you out in this area.It is a good idea to go online and find a professional resume writer who can write resumes for different companies. They will also have experience for many different types of positions, so you can hire them. You can also get great reviews from other consumers, and if you see something you like, you can ask if they would be able to provide it for you. This way you can save time, money, and save time.When you are searching for a company to do t his for you, you need to understand exactly what you are looking for. They will provide the overall task, but you must specify what kind of resume that you want. Most of the time they will give you sample resumes that you can use, but you need to tailor them to your specific requirements. You need to be honest with them and make sure that they know what they are doing. They can provide you with samples of previous employers, and they can help you tailor it to your needs.You can save yourself a lot of time when you do this type of service for an entry level job. Instead of having to find yourself a job and try to figure out where you fit in and what type of salary you need to be making, you can just find someone that can do this for you. They will take the hard work out of it, because you can keep your resume to yourself, and they can provide you with a proof copy of the resume for review and editing by them. They can also provide you with your draft in several formats, so you can pr int it and then go over it with you boss if you need to, so you can make corrections.A lot of people do not have enough experience to get these kinds of jobs, and this is fine, but you can save yourself a lot of work by doing this yourself. You can get started right away and keep your skills and knowledge up to date. Instead of spending months searching for jobs you can just start now. Make sure you are ready for the competition, because most companies are much more willing to look at someone who has experience.The problem with most entry level positions is that they are not advertised anywhere. They are not advertised on the television or in the newspaper. People are just not aware of them and the demand for them. So you will need to keep your resume clean and professional. It is important to let the companies know what kind of person you are and how much experience you have.Resume writing services for entry-level positions are becoming more popular because of how much easier it is to get one done. You can have a professional writer, a proof copy, and use it right away. There is no need to spend months on the job hunting and testing. It is quick and easy to do, and you can save yourself a lot of time and money by using this service.

Top Writing an Experience Narrative for Resume Choices

Top Writing an Experience Narrative for Resume Choices The Fundamentals of Writing an Experience Narrative for Resume Revealed The info in your resume should paint an image of the sort of employee you are and show employers what you're capable of accomplishing. Finally, stating an objective is optional, but it might help convince employers that you understand what you need and know about the business. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job you're applying for. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. Each job ought to have a minimum of three bulleted items having the most relevant duties listed first. When you're trying to enter a new area and don't have any experience in the area, you need to draft a resume that's future-oriented and focused on where you would like to be, which maynot be achieved just by listing what you've done in the pasta common mistake made by many. When you're trying to enter a new area and don't have an y experience in the area, you wish to draft a resume that's future-oriented and focused on where you would like to be, which maynot be achieved by merely listing what you've done in the past--a typical mistake made by many. The Secret to Writing an Experience Narrative for Resume You don't need to be the next Shakespeare to compose a wonderful narrative essay. What's a narrative essay. Narrative essays are usually assigned pieces of writing at various stages through school. They are often the norm in academia. The True Meaning of Writing an Experience Narrative for Resume In general, the aforementioned outline is remarkably simple because the work search procedure, despite all of the anxiety and confusion, is remarkably straightforward. A great resume format is simple to scan. When you have expertise with a particular sort of software, for instance, include it in the experience section. You have to make it exquisitely clear in the summary that you have what it requires to find the business done. It's important to keep in mind that experience isn't restricted to paid jobs. All you should know to earn a stunning resume job description. When reading the work description included in the ad, search for keywords associated with your responsibilities. Entry-level employees, who don't have lots of on-the-job experience, should incorporate every job possible whilst emphasizing the skills that match the work listing. The Work Experience Section is the region for detailing your prior employment info. Your experience should address every essential qualification in the job announcement. When you're crafting your resume objective, you should concentrate on particular abilities and experiences which are directly linked to the job. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Writing an Experience Narrative for Resume As a result, while your resume objective should consist of information on the career which you want, you also wish to spell out why you are the perfect candidate for the job. You don't have to incorporate every job you have held, especially when you have many years of expertise or have worked in unrelated fields. Whenever you would like to emphasize that you're ambitious, that you understand what you want in a career, or you have the skills for the particular job, you could benefit from a resume objective. It is going to be so much simpler for you to pick out your career highlights. It's also important to think about the sort of work you really are interested in being hired to do. The ideal way to keep your story focused is to get a program. Your experience isn't the sole thing that matters. With our customized essay offer, you can be certain to get any essay help you're looking for.

3 Tips For Finding A Purpose-Driven Job - Work It Daily

3 Tips For Finding A Purpose-Driven Job - Work It Daily How To Get A Purpose-Driven Job If you’ve had your ear to the ground lately, then you may have heard about this rapidly growing movement. It’s made up of a group of people who are tired of working boring, meaningless jobs, and ready to do whatever it takes to live life on their terms. Related: Want Career Happiness? Identify Your Top 5 Desires No more Office Space style workplaces. No more quarter-life crisis’, and spending the majority of your work day finding ways to look busy as you suppress your anger at wasting your life away… (By the way - there’s a better way to work at the bottom of this article.) This movement is about changing the game from surviving to thriving, from working for a just a paycheck to working for a purpose and a paycheck. It’s about a new game, where your authentic strengths, values, and passions are contributed daily to a worthy cause, and you go to bed at night exhausted, yet happy - satisfied with what you accomplished that day. It’s about you getting a... Purpose-Driven Job For A Purpose-Driven Company See, purpose-driven companies strive to make a profit as well as a difference in the world. They minimize their environmental footprint because it’s the right thing to do, and they treat their employees like human beings - empowering them to grow and contribute their unique skills. Having a purpose-driven job means that you feel good about contributing your time, effort, and skills to a worthy cause, and you’re proud to tell your family and friends what you do. And as an added bonus, these types of companies typically have the best work environments and benefits, with a focus on fun and growth in the workplace. Imagine variations of Google’s famous headquarters - like the Malaysian digital marketing company Mindvalley - and you’ll see why working for this type of company could be the future of your career. How To Get A Purpose-Driven Job Here are a few tips for getting a purpose-driven job: 1. Know Where To Look Thanks to sites like the GameChangers 500 - which is a list of the world’s top purpose-driven companies, like Google, TOMS shoes, and Patagonia - this is getting easier to do all the time. But before you dive into the list and start sending out resumes, you need to know that the traditional resume and cover letter approach is not going to work here. In fact, if you’re planning on making a small tweak to you cover letter before mailing it out, then you might as well not bother. You’d be wasting your time. These companies are the way of the future, and they require a new approach in order to get their attention... 2. Match Your Mission These GameChanging companies have a definitive purpose and clear core values, and they are only hiring people who are in alignment with them. So, before you apply, you need to figure out what matters most to you, and what kind of contribution you want to make - and then match that up with a company that values the same thing. 3. Stand Out Once you find the best organization(s) for you, you need a way to get their attention in a unique and creative way. See, these companies want people who aren’t afraid to authentically express their strengths, passions, and values, and with all of the amazing tools available on the internet these days, that’s easier than ever to do. So, figure out what your ideal purpose-driven job is and find a company that fits - and then use your creativity to stand out and get the job. And if you need a little help, I’ve teamed up with the founder of the GameChangers 500 to put together a free video with more tips you can apply today to get your purpose-driven job. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a Work It Daily-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!