Get a job or start a business (series part 2)

(Free seminar coming up in Port Harcourt, Rivers Nigeria soon)

Prepare a Cover letter

1. Why write a Cover Letter
2. Your cover letter should explain why you are sending your resume. Never send a resume without a cover letter, unless you are explicitly asked not to by an employer's application instructions. Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for - be specific! Tell the employer you are writing about the part-time summer elementary opportunity or the permanent position in secondary science advertised on the Education Canada Network site. Or are writing because you didn't see any positions in grade 4 physical education on the Education Canada Network and you would like to know of any upcoming opportunities in school district.
3. Always state specifically how you learned about the position or the organization -- your university academic advisor, your neighbor Mrs. Blake. It is always appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.
4. Remember you are trying to convince the reader to look at your resume. The cover letter is the first impression - there are no second chances for a first impression! The cover letter must be well written and targeted specifically to the employer you are writing.
5. Call attention to the highlights of your background -- education, experience, leadership roles -- which are relevant to the position you are applying for. Be specific and use examples.
6. States exactly what is enclosed or attached -- resume, practicum report, list of references, transcripts forthcoming etc., so that the employer knows what you included in your application package.
7. Provides additional information not referred to or requested in the application such as your availability date for an interview and/or start date and when you will follow up via mail/e-mail or telephone.

how to write your cv video

Get a job or start a business series (Part 1)

(Free seminar coming up in Port Harcourt, Rivers Nigeria soon)

According to recent statistics by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, about 40 million African youths are currently unemployed, making about 60 per cent of the continent's unemployed.

1. Start your job search by making a list of your 10 most important job skills. The list will help you narrow your job search.
2. Prepare your CV
1. Why write a cv

                                                              i.      To apply for a job within the same field.

                                                            ii.      To apply for a job within a different field.

                                                          iii.      To summarize your life achievements.

                                                           iv.      To apply for a particular job vacancy.

2. General information on writing a cv

                                                              i.      the best time to have a CV drawn up? As soon as you are out of the college 

                                                            ii.      Every six months you need to update your CV to contain the latest information as and when you complete any new degree, training or achievement.

                                                          iii.      Every time you apply for a new job, you need to re-write the CV which should be totally tailor-made to the job you are applying for

                                                           iv.      you should have researched deeply into the company's background as well as have identified the best personal traits and qualifications that match with the prescribed job requirements. 

                                                             v.      no way a regular CV can match of all the jobs universally.

                                                           vi.      have a master CV in your computer that can be changed at the drop of a hat to fit any job requirements so it can be submitted properly.

                                                         vii.      One of the best ways of Standing out  is to show what you've accomplished in your work. Everyone has a storehouse of what they've done, things they've achieved on the job. What's important is to be able to quantify those things as a work value measurement. Clear indications of what you've done, how you did it, and these are tangible proof of your skills.

                                                       viii.      Do not ever falsify information, or give any misleading information to an employer under any circumstances whatever. It's illegal, it's self destructive, and it's just plain stupid. Don't even think about it.

10 Excuses for Missing Work

We've all been there. It's a beautiful day, and you can't bear the thought of going into work. So you call in with some excuse about feeling ill, but you know in your bones that your boss doesn't buy it.

The feeling-ill excuse is a short-term solution that won't win you any fans at the office -- someone else will have to pick up the slack, or you'll miss deadlines. And it won't help your career any. Here are 10 excuses -- five smart and five not-so-smart -- to help you save face and your sanity.

Smart Excuses 

1.   I've Earned It: No one can argue with performance. Come in two or three hours early -- or stay late -- for a week or two. Then negotiate a day off in advance. "Really work when you're there, so you'll be able to feel good about taking time off," says Andrea Nierenberg, president of The Nierenberg Group, a management consulting and personal marketing practice.
2. I'm Playing Golf with a Client: For this one to work, you've got to have a job that requires you to meet and court current and prospective clients. Neil Simpkins, an account executive at Oxford Communications, has used this one successfully. One note of caution: Meet the client; don't just say you did. 
3. I Have a Doctor's Appointment: This excuse will get you out of work for a half-day or so. Make the appointment first thing in the morning or late in the day, say around 3 p.m. You can leave the office by 2:30 p.m. and get home (hopefully) by 4 p.m. The shortened day will help you recharge, especially if you schedule it on a Friday afternoon. 
4. I Have Cramps: Before you dismiss this one, think about it: Who can argue? "It's such an embarrassing topic that nobody will ever challenge it," says Jennifer Newman, vice president of Lippe Taylor Public Relations. She has used this excuse -- and had it used on her -- successfully. "It's one of those things that men honestly have no clue about, and women can sympathize with,." One important point: Don't use this one if you're a man. It'll never work. 
5.  I'm Working from Home: This is an excellent way to give yourself a break if your company allows it. Although you'll need to do some work at home, you can generally get away with a shortened day. And you'll eliminate your commuting time. 

Not-So-Smart Excuses 

1. There's a Death in the Family: Don't ever use this excuse if it's not true. Your employer will lose all trust in you. "I had an employee whose mother died -- twice," says David Wear, a Virginia PR executive. "He also had the misfortune of losing all his grandparents -- 12 of them -- during a two-year period." 
2.  I'm Too Sleepy: When she was a manager at IBM, Marilynn Mobley heard it all. This one still makes her laugh: The employee apparently took Tylenol 3 with codeine instead of a vitamin, because the bottles looked alike. 
3.  I Can't Get My Car Out of the Garage: This is another one that Mobley didn't buy. An employee said that a power failure was preventing him from opening his power-operated garage door. "I reminded him that there's a pull chain on it for just such cases," she says. 
4. I Can't Find My Polling Place: Mary Dale Walters, a communications specialist at CCH, couldn't believe this one. A former employee needed an entire day to figure out where she had to go to vote in the presidential election. 
5. I Have a Personal Emergency: This one is so vague that it rarely works. It could mean anything from fatigue to an appointment with your hairdresser, and your boss knows it.

Don't lie, no matter which excuse you use. "I'm not a believer in playing hooky, because it always comes back to you," Nierenberg says. "Don't lie to your boss, your supervisor or your clients. You're guaranteed they will be the ones you'll run into while you're walking down the street in your jeans."

By Michele Marrinan

How to Start an Online Company with Little Money

People often have this notion that you have to have a huge amount of money to start a new business which makes them hesitate about starting their own even if their idea is great. But yes, there are times when you will be required to invest more, but then again, there are times when there will be very little of there won’t even require money at all.

Follow these tips to get your own company started:

• Before taking anything in action, make sure you know what type of skills, assets, properties or equipments you have that you can use to open up and start your business. An example would be a car, computers, cleaning supplies and many more.

• Take your time in researching for options that do not require money at all. One of the easiest and most common choices is freelancing. You can start a small business without putting out a lot of money. All you are going to need are your marketable skills and you can advertise your services online. Be patient, a new company’s birth does not come quick. You have to work hard to earn the trust of clients.

• Advertise your services. You can use fliers, your blog or other people’s blog. You can even offer offline jobs too such as home cleaning, lawn mowing, baby sitting etc. if you are into online jobs, you can post your services in classified ads or on websites so that when clients are hiring, they can easily look for you services online.

• If you can’t find options that don’t require money and it just so happens that don’t have enough money at all, you can apply for a small business loan. You just have to make sure that yourcredit score is in good shape so that creditors would not see you as a risk to their agency. Start of small, especially if you don’t have enough money. Then s soon as you’ve saved up enough money, you can start expanding your business step by step.

• As soon as you’ve gotten your loan, you have to maintain your business credit score. It will serve as a basis on the goings-on and the financial matters when it comes to your business. Your company credit score, if maintained will make it easier for you to gain clients and expand. Other companies will check your credit to make sure that your company is in good shape and that it isn’t a risk to invest in it.

www.business2community.com

If you want to get a job you need transferable skills

Transferable skills are a versatile set of skills that you can apply to more than one job. These are the skills that add to your marketability as a candidate and help you assimilate from one job to another. So, for example, while you may be studying accounting and sharpening your ability to balance bookkeeping ledgers, a transferable skill could be your ability to problem solve

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/if-you-want-to-get-a-job-you-need-transferable-skills-2012-6#ixzz1yJWmasuI

Most Powerful Questions When Starting a New Business

1. What are we?
2. What is our higher Purpose?
3. What must Work?
4. Who will be our first customer?
5. Why are we starting a business?
6. How much money do you have in the bank?
7. What is your exit criteria?
8. Who are your competitors?
9. What is your core focus
10. .......

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Factors that determine whether a business succeeds or fails

During the last two decades, small and new businesses have created two of every three new jobs in the United States. According to the National Economic Council, small businesses employ 60 million Americans - or half of all jobs in the country.

The numbers are impressive and the success stories are many, but even long hours of hard work and steadfast dedication don't guarantee success. In fact, more than half of small businesses fail within the first five years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

What makes the difference between success and failure? several fundamental factors...determine whether a business succeeds or fails

1. Experience
2. A plan
3. Money
4. Strong credit
5. Outside income
6. Bench strength
7. Strong financial controls
8. Friends. The business owner needs a lot of support
9. Energy. 
10. A good team
11. A realistic perception of success

The best part of starting a new business is that there are a number of resources to help with the process, including a personal banker. Remember, they've been there before and have helped many other businesses get off to a successful start.


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