Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Boomers Over 50 More Likely to Succeed as Entrepreneurs

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Boomers Over 50 More Likely to Succeed as Entrepreneurs This post is in honor of Job Action Day: Astudyby the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation reported that the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity over the last few years is not Gen-Y upstarts, but Baby Boomers in the 55-64 year age group. In fact, Boomers are actually driving a new entrepreneurship boom as they retire from their traditional corporate jobs and seek more meaningful sources of work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 60 percent of the country’s workforce is currently made up of senior employees, but long-term employment has fallen dramatically for people ages 35-64. Since the first Internet-era recession, transaction costs and barriers to entry have fallen for entrepreneurs of every age. And with longer life expectancies and greater health in later life,older generations are starting new firmsand mentoring young entrepreneurs in record numbers. According to Jeff Mariola, the Boomer CEO of online marketing firmDigital Brandworks, Boomers are also more likely to succeed as entrepreneurs. When I asked Jeff why this was the case, he provided four compelling reasons. Greater emotional intelligence The rapid growth and constant change environment inherent in a start-up business requires steady andconsistent leadership. Boomer CEOs have worked through countlesschange management initiativesover the years. They can provide their coworkers with the guidance, inspiration and motivation required to get everyone focused on the vision of the business while acknowledging that the road to get there will naturally be filled with anxiety, fear and exhilaration. Savvy talent management The long term success of a start-up relies heavily on the recruitment of the best talent. Boomer CEOs have learned through painful trial and error the artful process of finding the right people. Havingmade a few bad hiresin their time, they understand who to bring on and who to pass on â€" and why. They have also learned how to get the best work out of existing talent. Networking that’s finally paying off Experienced CEOs have a better understanding of how to manage critical external relationships with banks, investors and board members. Credibility is key in these relationships, and the fact that Boomer CEOs have “been there and done that” is reassuring to outside stakeholders. Also, most Boomers simply have bigger networks and thousands of valuabledormant tiesas a result of decades of networking. Financial experience and extra capital Most start-ups fail because they run out of cash. Boomer CEOs fully understand the significance of cash flow and how to manage and protect it. They have a more accurate picture of what things will cost and how long it will take to turn a profit. Also, most Boomers have more savings to safely invest as capital in their business to give it the best fighting chance. In general, this is how the rich get richer in business. If you think about it, the qualities and seasoning that make Boomers great entrepreneurs make them great employees andintrapreneursas well. I always jump at the chance to work with a Boomer because I know I will learn a ton. I have numerous Boomer mentors who I tap for advice periodically. I drink up their experience and perspective like a sweet cocktail, and my efforts are always better for it. Boomers sometimes get a reputation for being stuck in their ways. But sometimes, it’s because those wayswork.So the next time you are tempted to be ageist, recognize that the Boomers have advantages that you don’t and thus should be an essential component of every team. This piece was originally published on Intuits Fast Track blog.

7 Online Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Do For You - Classy Career Girl

7 Online Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Do For You A virtual assistant is an online secretary who does administrative or office tasks remotely. He/she does not have to be at a company’s office to accomplish assignments. Virtual assistants can be located in different parts of the world. This is a new and trending industry that most business owners should take advantage of. One of the many advantages of working with a virtual assistant is you can save money if you do not have to  hire someone to work with you in-house. How?  First off, you don’t need to spend money on another computer set for an in-house employee. Virtual assistants are pretty much equipped with the tools you need to get your work done in their own homes â€" internet connection, computers, software, and skills. Second, you don’t have to pay for employee taxes. Virtual assistants pay their own as self-employed individuals. 7 Online Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Do For You 1. Email Management Want your inbox cleared from spam? Want your inbox  organized? Want to make sure you get back to your clients and customers on time, every time? Need to do email campaigns for a new product you are launching? A virtual assistant can do all that for you. 2. Phone Support Similar to a call center, phone  support virtual assistants can take calls for you. Their number one asset is their skills in customer service and second, skills in sales. They can also make outbound calls â€" especially in a sales driven business. Technical support through phone calls? Yes, they are capable of that, too! 3. Chat Support Most online and international businesses have live chats enabled on their websites. This helps their customers and clients who have no way of making phone calls be able to  send their queries or concerns quickly. A chat support VA handles this task so you don’t have to stay in front of your computer with your website open  all day and night. 4. Blog Management A virtual assistant can manage your blog content. They can proofread blogs from your writers or guest bloggers. They can upload these blogs or articles onto your website. This means a virtual assistant with blog management skills should know the basics of the one or more website  portals like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla â€" the three  most common  platforms. 5. Article Writing/Blogging A writer can be different from a blogger so when hiring virtual assistants who “writes”, make sure you lay out your terms. Is he/she going to be a writer or a blogger? A writer usually follows the English grammar rules and they are more academic and journalistic than bloggers. Bloggers can write according to experience (as what I am doing now). 6. Web Design Today, the definition of virtual assistants extends into web designers, developers, and other technical skill-sets because they all do their jobs with clients online and virtually. So yes, these are web design virtual assistants who can design your websites or your clients’ websites for you at affordable prices. 7. Transcriptions Transcriptionists or transcribers can make that podcast into a written, readable form. Transcription services are not limited to transcribing podcasts but also videos, interviews, meetings, conferences, and court proceedings. And there are different levels and types of transcriptionists/transcribers. There are those who specialize in general transcription, others who specialize in legal transcription, and still others in medical transcription. Of course, virtual assistant services are not limited to these 7 general categories.  There are lots more things that they can do for you. We challenge you to look into it to see how you can replace yourself and become 10 times more productive.  You can check out our guide to hiring a VA and how to outsource your work here. Questions? Comment below.

5 Tips For Strategic Employee Communication

5 Tips For Strategic Employee Communication In the work place, communication is not just a two way street, its a web. Theres management, employees, consumers, industry networks and each channel needs to be addressed efficiently. Most of us spend weeks or months pouring over your social media, print and video campaign for the new product your company is pushing. But while spending so much energy focusing on how to communicate a message to your consumer base, what is most neglected is communicating that message to your own employees. Employees need to be on board with your new campaigns, and how you communicate with them will differ from how you communicate with your consumers. Your marketing success hinges not only on getting the message across to your customers, but also on you making the effort to improve communication with your employees. Get HR Involved Don’t let your marketing team work behind closed doors. Forbes reported on the evolution occurring over the past few years of a marketing and communications team; such a team used to focus on just a few aspects of publicity, like writing speeches for CEOs and advertising new products, and it now basically oversees the entire company image. Part of strategic communications is making sure you cover all of your bases. Get HR involved to ensure consistent communication efforts to and by members of the staff, especially if your business has multiple locations. Select an Effective Platform Your first task once you have HR on board is to select an effective communication platform. For example, decide if you’re going to send out all communication by email or on private company-wide forums. Avoid sending out in-house memos via social media, unless your IT department is able to build a social media-like platform or you use something like Google Groups that’s locked and open to employees only. Don’t let the size of your company be an obstacle. For example, GreenBiz reports Avon Products has 42,000 employees and over 6 million sales representatives around the world, but they manage to maintain a consistent method of communication thanks to a single platform. While it doesn’t hurt to remind employees of important news in different formats (for example, sending out an email reminder after something’s been posted at the company forum), there should be one single format where everyone can go to read all of the news and information they need. Whenever there’s an update, the update needs to appear on that platform first. Post Reminders Throughout the Office In addition to choosing an online format for delivering news, post reminders around the office at desks, in the break room, or even in bathrooms. Not every bit of news needs to be posted, but if there’s an upcoming event, such as a company booth at a trade exhibit you want employees to attend, or a new company-wide rule, like “always ask the customer if she’d like to buy the warranty,” posting the notices around the office for a few weeks helps reiterate the important messages. In some ways, though, less is more. If you post notices around the office, take them down after they’ve had a few weeks to sink in or the applicable date has passed; don’t post more than a couple notices at once or it’ll become overwhelming. Provide Opportunities for Two-Way Communication   Just as you look for customer feedback when it comes to how your marketing strategies are working, you should always seek feedback from employees when it comes to your communications with them. Getting employee feedback and adjusting your in-house communication strategies is actually easier than getting feedback from customers. You may find, for example, that employees prefer email notices instead of forum notices after a trial run. Let employees know where they can contact you and hold regular meetings to address suggestions and comments. Earn Your Master’s Professionals who make the effort to study a specialization such as strategic communications understand the nuances of effective employee communications. Earn your MA in strategic communications; read the course descriptions here to learn more. Encourage your marketing team to pursue a degree in the specialization as well. It’s one thing to earn a generic marketing degree, and it’s quite another to expose yourself to the latest research and techniques in effective marketing, lessons that will positively inform your marketing strategies. No marketing plan can truly take advantage of strategic communication without including employees in that plan. Even if your attention is often focused outward, it’s essential you turn your attention inward from time to time. Employees have to be on board with all of your goals and marketing campaigns to convey consistency and efficiency to the world at large. Effective employee involvement starts with clear communication. Have you tried to involve your employees to get the first wave of information out to the public? If everyone is on board and working as a team, results are better met! Tell us about your own experience with employee communication by commenting below or tweeting @mscareergirl! Photo credit:  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/company-discussion-going-on-in-a-meeting-hall-photo-p223605

Free Word Resume Template for the Ladies - Pretty in Pink

Free Word Resume Template for the Ladies - Pretty in Pink Free Word Resume Template for the Ladies Pretty in Pink It’s a tough job market for everyone. But let’s be honest. It’s even harder for women. If your current resume isn’t doing the trick, it’s time to make a change. Don’t spend hours trying to perfect your own resume. Don’t spend hundreds of dollars on a customized template. You need a resume that reflects your femininity and your professionalism. We have just the thing for you. Our “Pretty in Pink” template is the ideal resume template for women. Download it for free for your resume or CV. You’ll love the split design. The pink color scheme is just feminine enough to attract attention, but still does an amazing job at displaying your qualifications. Use it to file the perfect professional resume for the announced position.You can download the template today. It’s compatible with Word, so you can customize it as you see fit. All we ask is that you share this post on social media. You’ll be helping us get the word out about our resume templates! File size: 62 KB Format: .doc Downloaded 2,413 times License: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article Preparing for a Job Interview â€" Researching the Company next article 15 Best WordPress Resume / CV Themes you might also likeCadmium Yellow: Simple, Yet Elegant Resume Template

Interview Series - Career Experts - Mark Babbitt from YouTern CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Mark Babbitt from YouTernâ€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Mark Babbitt from YouTern who shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change,etc.in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your company evalAt YouTern, we help college students, recent graduates, and young professionals land their first or next gig in a culture where they will learn, grow, and become a valued contributor.How did you get started in this path?I jumped into the world of careers and workplace culture when it became obvious that job boards had taken all the “human” out of human resources.The world of work, to put it simply, had come down to clicking an “Apply Now” button instead of mastering soft skills, mentoring others, and building mutually-beneficial relationships. I knew there was a better way to carve out a fulfilling career.Is this something you decided early on in your career? Not at all! My career path has taken me from the military, to an engineering position in Silicon Valley, to l aw enforcement, to the start-up world. Nothing in my career was “decided,” I was just lucky enough to follow the right path for me.What is the Best Career Advice You’ve ever received?I received the best career advice ever at a very young age. While working at a warehouse as a second income to my Air Force pay, my boss, Hank Bera, knew I was restless. I had chosen engineering as a military job, but wasn’t exactly feeling fulfilled in the work.He said, “Stop worrying. In three years, you’ll find another career. And another three to five more years after that. And another after that. A career choice is not a life sentence… a career should be chosen to help you enjoy life.” Sure enough, I’m on about my eighth different career.What is the most exciting part of working in this industry? The mentorship angle appeals most to me, and to my team.By serving others, by helping them find their unique path, we know we’re using our experience for good.evalHow do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert? It’s a cliche, but it comes down to continuous learning combined with a relentless desire to learn from the success of others. What is working today? What is not?What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?Demonstrating social proof of their qualifications and soft skills.Job seekers can’t just say they are “hard workers” and “proven leaders.” They must show proof, in the form of quantified storytelling and digital evidence, that they have mastered the skills employers covet most.What are the common mistakes that you see them do? Relying far too heavily on what amount to anonymous digital applications through job boards and company career sites.The fact is that sending a resume blind, without having a champion for your candidacy already within the company ready to support your efforts, is a tremendous waste of valuable time and energy.How should job seekers approach job search today?The most successful job se ekers in today’s marketplace focus first on building mutually-beneficial relationships. In other words, they focus on “people” not “companies.”What is the biggest trendMark Babittand YouTern have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€"Top Career Advice Websites.

Job Search (And Life) Lessons Learned From The Martian

Job Search (And Life) Lessons Learned From The Martian Job Search (And Life) Lessons Learned From The Martian Last weekend, I went to see The Martian. Since I didn’t have time to read the book, I didn’t know anything other than it was about a man stranded on Mars. Without giving any secrets away, one of the astronauts is hit by debris during a storm. Based on the evidence, he is presumed dead and left behind as the rest of the crew evacuates the planet. Well, the movie was awesome. Viewing it in 3D was an experience, worth every extra penny. The movie has many underlying themes like the significance of character, friendship, and loyalty. It demonstrates how essential, sometimes critical, it is to be open to new ideas. However, the most powerful theme was the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Later that day as I was thinking about the movie, I realized that many of The Martian’s lessons would serve job seekers as well. Looking for a new job can sometimes make you feel alone and overwhelmed. Here are five ways to get back on track. (Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the movie, there are no spoilers here.) Be Open Even if it seems like your job search is going along smoothly trying something new may take you to the next level.  Be open to trying something new, like getting on Twitter and connecting with some recruiters. What if it works? You may find that the help you need comes from an unexpected source or sources. Your 20-something niece or former boss may come up with an idea that you never thought of. Change Your Perspective After a few hours of working on a project, whether it’s writing your resume or scanning the job boards, take a break. Don’t just open Facebook to see what your friends are doing. Get up and walk away from the computer. When you’re stuck, go for a walk or sleep on it. Ah-ha moments can come while taking a shower or in other unexpected places. One Step at a Time It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when facing what may be a prolonged job search. Finding a job is a major undertaking. But, it will be less daunting if you take it one step at a time. First create a plan, even if that plan is little more than a to do list: revamp resume, find networking events, research job boards, update LinkedIn profile, etc. Then tackle one thing at a time. In the morning focus on your resume. Schedule time in the afternoon to research job boards and choose a few that will work best for you. Carve out an hour to search online for local networking events. Don’t Forget Humor Even in your darkest hour, try not to forget or neglect your sense of humor.  Exercise your funny bone whenever possible. That might mean watching a funny movie. Or exchanging sarcastic quips with a friend. Looking on the bright side during a job search can be difficult sometimes. But, you can always try. Just Begin As Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So it is with your job search as well. Everyone has those “deer caught in the headlights” moments. The key is to do something to move forward. Whether you’ve just been laid off or have been looking for a job for the past six weeks, or six months, begin by doing one thing, taking that first step, today.

Things to Look For When Using Free Resume Writing Services

Things to Look For When Using Free Resume Writing ServicesIf you are considering using Colorado free resume writing services, there are several things that you should consider before doing so. Although this is a nice perk, the problem is that it does not have to cost anything. It is something that can be offered to you for free, but you should be careful to choose a service that can give you a quality product.The first thing that you should look at is whether or not they will use your writing. This is important because if they do not use your work, it will show that you are not up to par with what other people need. It is important to know that Colorado free resume writing services are not going to be as skilled as the writers who do work on the side. They are going to be experts in the field of resume writing, but you can still expect them to make some mistakes when writing your resume.The next thing that you should look at is whether or not they offer you any type of good customer service. Some of the best services out there can be found online, and this means that you will be able to communicate with them anytime you want. You will have no problem receiving their services if you choose the right one.The last thing that you should consider is how professional the Denver free resume writing services are. You will want to ensure that they are well known in the industry. It should be a fairly easy process to find out whether or not they have done any work for someone else in the past, or whether or not they are a newcomer to the field.The last thing that you should keep in mind is whether or not the Colorado free resume writing services can use your work. Some may simply be able to take your words and incorporate them into a resume. Other services may not have the ability to do this, but they can at least send you a resumeas a professional service would.The last thing that you should look at is whether or not they have a quality content. A good company will offe r you a great experience and be able to work with you on your needs. Some services may have a bit more content, but if you are serious about getting your resume written by a professional, then you should be able to expect a very professional job.By using a free resume writing service, you are essentially taking the workload off of yourself. All of the tasks are being done for you, and all you have to do is sit back and relax while the professionals handle the rest. You can rest assured that you will get your resume done in a timely manner, and you will not have to worry about anyone else having to read it or turn it down.These are some of the things that you should keep in mind when looking for a Colorado free resume writing service. You should make sure that you are choosing a service that can help you in the way that you need it.