wayvs.com

Companies big and small are shifting their marketing strategy to incorporate the huge impact of social media. Customers across multiple demographics are heavily influenced by social media in terms of where they obtain their information, how they interact with each other and various brands and most importantly, where they spend their money.  There are several tools available allowing you to sell your products on Instagram, so why not make it easier for your customer to shop from you?

1. Spreesy

Place a shopping link in your bio, where customers are taken to a customized, Spreesy storefront with a summarized listing of your products.

Cost: $15 flat fee monthly

Major Benefits/Features:

• General: No contracts, no commitments, automation (24/7), built-in marketing, mobile commerce, inventory tracking and much more!
• Sales Channels: FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM
• Payment & Pricing: PAYPAL
• Integrations: ETSY, Google Analytics, SHIPSTATION, and SHOPIFY

2. Shopseen

Shopseen focuses on helping you manage how you sell your products online. “Shopseen makes it simple to enter products, get them listed anywhere you sell, get them promoted everywhere your customers are, and get your products shipped out the door – from your laptop or your phone.”

Cost: Free to $499/month

Fees: 1% to 10% of sales

Major Benefits/Features:

• Shipping: Assist with printing unique labels and get your products to your customers with an integration plan with UPS, USPS and FedEx with a discount rate!
• Multichannel Listing: Instead of choosing where to promote your products, Shopseen helps to promote your products on all platforms using one interface.
• Social Buy Buttons: Utilizing the technology by using “Stripe Relay” to increase consumer buying power with one easy click of a button

3.  Like2Buy

A tool powered by Curalate can be used through Instagram with just a link in your bio! Adding your unique link in your bio will take customers to a customized online storefront where they will see a gallery of professional photos of your products which are available to purchase.

Cost: Supposedly a $1,000 monthly, but contact support for more information

Major Benefits/Features:

• Single Photo-Multiple Purchase Power: A single image can (should) include multiple pieces where consumers can click and have multiple opportunities to buy!
• Increase Instagram/Email Subscribers: Including links from social media to your online marketplace can increase revenue as well as loyal followers
• Celebrate Fans: Give consumers the chance to be highlighted by showcasing their products to new visitors and potential buyers!

Other amazing tools for Instagram and Facebook are simple things like using relevant #hashtags. Try to think out the box when thinking of ways to optimize sales on your social media pages.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

fastcompany.com

Learning is an on-going element of being a true entrepreneur. With the heavy reliance on technology and gaining valuable resources from the World Wide Web, it becomes easier and easier to find ways to improve an array of skills.

We’re delighted to announce  and Womeneur™ have partnered to bring to you all learning opportunities that will mold you in to a well-rounded businesswoman. Coursehorse is a NYC based online platform offering a large, curated inventory of classes and courses that you can take to enhance your skillset in a variety of topics. Under Professional, you’ll find courses in Business, Legal, Executive Education and more. But it can’t always be all work and no play. When you take a break from work and enjoy some downtime, check out the Cooking, Life Skills, Dance, Music, Art and other courses. Visit Classes in our navigation bar.

Starting this month, we will inform you of a few educational tools that can directly improve the way you do business. Enhance your knowledge with courses in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management, Accounting and so much more. One of the key elements of entrepreneurship is investing in both yourself and your business.  We’ve outlined a few below that are an amazing addition to your brain power!

**Use code “womeneurlearns” to save $25 off classes through Oct 9**

 – Thursday, October 1 and Tuesday, November 2; 6:30 – 9:00PM in Flatiron, Manhattan

• Description: Over 1900 courses in NYC to fit your schedule. Social media channels are an effective (and free) way to engage your audience and grow your business. But if you’re putting in the time and effort to expand your digital footprint, it’s essential to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. By knowing how to keep track of and analyze key metrics, you’ll be able to develop your social media presence into a powerful brand building tool. In this class, you’ll gain an understanding of the fundamentals of social media analytics.
• Business Use: Many businesses utilize social media to gain their core customer base, provide their audience with information and grow their brand. Through this business course you can  learn the core metrics worth monitoring and analyzing

– Understand how to optimize social media content based on analysis and trends

– How to develop proper social media reports for clients or team members

– Maximize the use of free and paid social media monitoring tools

 

 – Thursday, December 3, 2015; 6:45PM @ Mediabistro – Midtown, New York

• Description: Over 200 courses in NYC to fit your schedule. The first part of this course teaches nuts-and-bolts tips and techniques to become a more confident and competent public speaker. In the second part, students are assessed on their abilities to apply the learning to specific presentations and coached to address areas of improvement.
• Business Use: As a Womeneur, speaking to clients and potential clients are probably a daily task. Comfort with speaking to a group or individual about your business and how it will benefit your customer base is perfected through practice. Customers want you to be confident, knowledge and articulate. Public speaking can be scary but the more you do it, the great benefits for your business

 – Tuesday, Oct. 27th 2015; 1PM @ In Good Company – Flatiron, New York

• Description: Over 100 courses in NYC to fit your schedule. Your “brand” reflects all the experiences and interactions people have with you (as a business owner) and your company – from meetings, to sales presentations to your website, social media, PR, client service and other marketing activities.  The more clearly you can define what you stand for, the more successfully you can communicate with customers to increase sales.
• Business Use: You are your business. The ability to clearly explain your service or product in a short amount of time is a gift and a talent! Passion and focus makes it easier but there is great finesse when it comes to pitching your idea to a potential VC you met at a social event or during a scheduled meeting. The goal of these classes is to ensure that you are always prepared.

Stay tuned for our suggestions on more courses/classes that will benefit you as an entrepreneur.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][dt_fancy_title title=”S.H.E. Summit – giltcity.com” title_align=”left” title_size=”small”][vc_column_text]Establishing a small business brings about many questions and a need to make some key and immediate connections. This Fall there will be a number of small business and women empowerment conferences that seek to provide information and inspiration for the goals you have set for your business and personal growth.

Fall has officially arrived and there are plenty of conferences that we think you should attend! Many of these conferences have panel discussions from some well-known and up and coming stars in the entrepreneurship world. Check out our key finds and register today!

1. 

September 25th – September 27th

• Location – Washington, DC
• Description – The Women Inspiring Women Sisterhood Conference is an opportunity to create memorable experiences through empowerment and self-discovery. Our desire that you will walk away from these three days feeling renewed, encouraged, and inspired. This is an opportunity to build new relationships, gain knowledge, share your story, and nourish your soul. We are also very excited to collectively participate in community service during our stay in Washington, D.C.!
• Cool Deets! – Speakers include Martice Sutton (founder of Girls Gone Global), Zim Ugochukwu (founder of Travel Noire) and Quanisha M. Smith (founder & Chief Activator of Mitea LLC & the Black Women Rise Movement)

2. 

September 29, 2015

• Location – Digital Sandbox, 55 Broad Street, NY, NY
• Description – Womancon is a women’s entrepreneurship media and content company that offers women entrepreneurs the tools, resources, relationship building and inspiration needed to effectively start, grow and thrive as business owners.  Womancon brings together experts from a variety of disciplines to provide actionable advice to the women’s entrepreneurial community.  In 2015, we will be hosting the third annual womancon2015 conference on September 29, 2015 in NYC. To learn more about Womancon and to register for the annual conference.
• Cool Deets! – filled with speakers (Egypt Sharrod, HGTV Host, Vivian Giang, Fast Company and many more!) seminars (“Networking with a Purpose”, “Pitch the Media”, “Successful Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs)

3. 

September 27th – September 29th

• Location – San Antonio, TX
• Description – This is an incredible opportunity to connect with hundreds of women entrepreneurs of all experiences and industries from across the United States.  The conference includes the opportunities for sponsors, exhibitors and in-kind vendors.
• Cool Deets! – Panel discussion including Bonnie St. John (1st African-American to win Olympic or Paralympic medals in sky racing) and a Leadership Bootcamp filled with information workshops!

4. 

October 3, 2015

• Location – The Roosevelt Hotel, NYC, NY
• Description – Rock the World is an annual gathering with a mission to inspire, educate and connect women entrepreneurs and leaders. Attendees can expect to experience a day filled with inspiring speakers, a buzzing marketplace with products and resources, and expert breakout workshops.
• Cool Deets! – Face to face orientation, success stories from celebrity CEOs and inspirational speakers, and shop at the Marketplace

5. 

October 6 – October 7, 2015

• Location – 92nd Street, NYC, NY
• Description – S.H.E. Summit’s mission is to be the world’s most accessible women’s empowerment conference–exposing today’s leading role models, empowerment stories and strategies, women’s campaigns and supportive community to a global female audience who have the power to ripple affect change in their own lives, and for the betterment of other women and the world
• Cool Deets! – “The 2015 Content Sessions”; Speakers including Chelsea Clinton (VP of Clinton Foundation), Ali Brown (Entrepreneur Mentor, Ali International), Latham Thomas, HHC, AADP (Founder, Mama Glow Guru) and many more!

6. 

October 10, 2015

• Location – 195 1/2 Chrystie St NY, NY
• Description – Calling ambitious women: world-changers, DIYers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, corporate takeover-ists, artists, elder stateswomen, forward-thinking students, and all other take-charge bullicorns
• Cool Deets! – Face to face orientation, success stories from celebrity CEOs and inspirational speakers, and shop at the Marketplace

7. 

October 12th – October 14th

• Location – Washington, DC
• Description – This year’s theme is “Leading with Purpose,” and the agenda will feature one-on one interviews, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions and high-level networking.  What started as a list 16 years ago has evolved into the world’s most extraordinary leadership community, convening the preeminent women in business—along with select leaders in government, philanthropy, education, and the arts—for wide-ranging and inspiring discussions.
• Cool Deets! – Confirmed to join us in 2015 include Fortune 500 CEOs Mary Barra of General Motors, Ursula Burns of Xerox, Lynn Good of Duke Energy, Ilene Gordon of Ingredion, Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin, Gracia Martore of Gannett, Sheri McCoy of Avon, and Denise Morrison of Campbell Soup, Ginni Rometty of IBM.

8. 

October 15th

• Location – Austin, Texas
• Description – The Texas Conference for Women offers the community and connection, the information and inspiration, the motivation and momentum to help you discover what you want—and go get it! The Conference features nationally recognized speakers who share their wisdom and expertise on a wide range of personal and professional development topics, helping you find clarity on your goals and what you need to accomplish them
• Cool Deets! – Robin Roberts, Patricia Arquette and Candy Chang will be keynote speakers for this daylong event!

9. 

October 15th – October 17th

• Location – Albuquerque, N.M.
• Description – Conference to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
• Cool Deets! –Breakout session and Networking and Business Show and Tell

10. 

October 17 – October 18, 2015

• Location – Jacob Javits Center, NY, NY
• Description – Circle of Sisters (COS) is the largest expo for women of color in New York City. Founded in 1998 and sponsored by WBLS-FM, HOT 97, WLIB – AM and Emmis Communications, COS hosts a variety of panel discussions, seminars, inspirational services, R&B and gospel concerts and a fashion show in addition to over 200 vendors and small businesses selling unique items and services all weekend.  This expo is accented by an avalanche of captivating elements such as fabulous shopping and food tasting with some of today’s top chefs at the Food Pavilion and youth activities including lessons in the arts and dance at the Children’s Pavilion.
• Cool Deets! – Informative and empowering panel discussions led by authors, field experts, political figures and some of the biggest names in entertainment.

11. 

November 7th

• Location – Riverside Epicenter – Atlanta, GA
• Description – Faith. Hope. Love. Mom Conference is a full-day event designed to empower and inspire women who are committed to the success of their families. We’re changing the conversation, taking the focus away from the obvious and talking about something that moms often overlook – themselves. This conference fuels the desire to exchange ideas with like-minded women. Faith. Hope. Love. Mom Conference is for smart, motivated, and highly conscientious moms who know that being a mother is more than just a balancing act.
• Cool Deets! – Black Girls Run creator Toni Carey and Tracy Nicole, mother and designer are among the great speakers.

12. 

November 19th  – November 21st

• Location – Miami, FL
• Description – If you’ve got big ideas AND the commitment to bring those ideas to life, The Summit is like pouring accelerant on a flame – it will supercharge your momentum. The Summit will stretch you, push you and pull you toward your highest and best destiny. So get ready for a life-changing experience. By attending this event and participating fully, you WILL walk away with: 1) Influential contacts and connections – people who could change your career forever; 2) Innovative ideas for your business – the kind that fast track your results; 3) Solutions for problems and challenges – that you didn’t even realize were holding you back; and 4) The latest tools and resources – to leverage your strengths and magnify and multiply your outcomes.
• Cool Deets! – An array of amazing speakers including Jennifer Grace author of “The Art of Making $H!T Happen” and Michael Hall Social Entrepreneurship Champion, and Owner & Senior Partner of MediumFour

 13. 

November 20th 

• Location – Leesburg, VA
• Description – The Virginia Women’s Business Conference is THE one day event for visionary women who want to discover the tools for success, make strategic business connections and leave feeling empowered and inspired to take action.
• Cool Deets! – is exclusive to this conference and gives small business owners the opportunity to take their business to the next level. The winner of the 2015 Business Makeover Mentoring Program will be the focus of a special mentoring program overseen by the Virginia Women’s Business Conference Advisory Council with a cash prize!

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Social media has changed the way we interact with people and has created new opportunities for small business to reach their customer base. Most of us rely heavily on our smart phones to check emails, post photos, maintain our e-commerce sites and maintain a constant connection to the world and our clients.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms; becoming host to many small business looking to provide a service, products and information to each given audience. This mobile application is supported by complimentary applications (apps) to enhance our pictures and videos which can help to engage our audience in fun, relevant and creative ways.

So what are the Instagram complimentary apps that can help small business owners utilize the benefits of their social media platforms and make the experience for their customer better? Here are 3 apps that we can’t live without!

1.  Instafollow

When you are running a small business, it is important to monitor and set goals to gain respectful, authentic and consistent followers. Instafollow is a free to install apps that helps you track the people that follow your business page back (followers), understand the followers you have gained our lost and see any mutual friends that may exist for potential new followers. This app is available for IPhone and Android phones given many users the opportunity to participate!

    Some App Features:

– View user profiles

– Show non-followers, mutual friends and fans

– Support accounts up to 10,000 users

– Detect and keep track of blockers (Optional Purchase)

– Support Multiple Accounts (Optional Purchase)

For your business, it is important to know the numbers! Losing and gaining followers should be tracked when it comes to social media so that you can understand how you should adjust your content, how you should engage your audience better and the ability to set goals for where you would like to be!

2.  Iconosquare

Photos, Photos, Photos! That is the true essence of Instagram. Iconosquare is a free complimentary app helps to enhance the visual portion of your page. The pages that typically have the largest amount of followers have great content and even better photos. If you are running social media campaign or establishing your brand it is important that you pay close attention to the beauty of your photos.

     Some App Features:

– Promote your Instagram account across other social networks with feed tabs or photo widgets.

– Manage your community and their comments on a user-friendly platform.

– Analyse your activity through professional statistics.

– Engage your community with photo contests: Setup, promote, moderate, monitor and publish results of an Instagram contest all within Iconosquare.

“Iconosquare works with your Instagram account to help you grow a social-rich media strategy, effectively interact with your community and measure your efforts with metrics.”

3.  Phonto

It is important to protect your photos on your business Instagram page while being creative, fun and informative. The Phonto app is a free install that allows you to add text and/or watermarks to your photos that can increase your brand with a logo or slogan or add in a text that informs the audience of what the photo is about, promote an event or inform about a #newpost or an alert to your customers.

    Some App Features:

    – Install other fonts

– Text size is changeable

– Text color is changeable

– Text gradient is changeable

When you are developing your small business, focusing on the creative side of your social media platform is key! Use this app in order to literally add some color to your post and keep your followers anticipating for more!

So, what are your favorite apps on social media for your small business?

shutterstock.com

Throughout the journey of creating your small business, there are many little nuances that need to get done in order to make your complete vision come to light. Most of us start out as a one-woman show, hustling to balancing all tasks for the day, for the week or even for the season. Once a solid routine is beginning to develop, you will notice that there are particular areas (mostly administrative) that warrant some help.

Hiring a full-time employee or obtaining an intern for the short term or long term is a very big decision when it comes to the growth of your small business. Bringing on someone to your small team in a personal assistant or “right-hand” capacity should be a ‘give and take” situation. This means that you should want to give this person the opportunity to learn, gain skills, and broaden their network all the while having them take responsibility for the project management aspects of the business to relieve some of your time to focus on “big picture” tasks.

As a Womeneur, you have to be all about learning and growing at all times. Included in that sentiment is being a good example to those individuals who are looking up to you. Here are a few things to consider and/or think about when you find yourself knee deep in work and desperate to find the perfect right hand guy or gal:

1.   What are your needs?

Early on in my business, our team of two realized that we needed help! There were many small tasks that turned in to big task because we were unable to effectively complete them because of hectic schedules and being consumed with the larger pieces of the puzzle. We ended up sitting down for a few hours and writing out what we needed help with. Many of the items on that list included things such as:

• Email follow-ups to folks we met at conferences, developing sponsorship or intent letters to between clients and/or companies/individuals we needed to connect with;
• Organizing our shared drive, folders and email traffic;
• Meeting minutes for internal status meetings and client meetings;
• Niche tasks such as copywriters, editors (video, photo or articles) or even a great research
• Administrative needs around filing, answering phones, sending “thank you” emails/letters, etc.

2.   Level of Involvement/Level of Experience

Whether you are adding someone on your team full-time or bringing on an intern, it’s important to know what level of experience you expect this person to have. Often, you will be able to meet with your assistant a few times a week, define the “to dos” with deadlines and check in as needed. Other options are more time-consuming where you will have to be in a coaching mode and give your assistant a helping hand and show them how to do things properly or in the matter that is acceptable for your brand.

For me, I prefer the former because of my busy schedule it is expected that the person that I bring on would be at a level where they can work a bit more independent and know that I am open to questions and communication as needed.

3.   Setting  Expectations

Similar to dealing with clients you must be direct and clear when it comes to what is expected from your personal assistant. This new team member will either be seen with you at meetings, social events or business settings or representing you via email or on the phone so expectations must be set. A few things to discuss should be:

• Location of the job: remotely (from home), in your offices or at the client site;
• Status updates are crucial when check ins are need for assignments, information or work product;
• Schedule in terms of work schedule (how many hours/days are they needed) and deadlines for projects or tasks

Many local universities, temp agency and even your network of friends and families may be great resources to conduct a list of people that can potentially fit the role of an assistant. Tap into your network and keep in mind that although some people may think of an assistant as a non-essential job, it should be just as important as any other role. Make sure that you are the type of boss that gives them the space to be a value-add to the brand and you are doing all you can to assistant in their growth.

[vc_row][vc_column][dt_fancy_title title=”www.civit.it” title_align=”left” title_size=”small”][vc_column_text]The number of women starting their own business is growing at an astounding rate with no chance of slowing down. The opportunity and desire for female entrepreneurs across many fields have not been absent of challenges; as expected. Embarking in male dominated industries like technology and engineering to the consultant life of branding, social media and marketing, can present some difficulties in terms of reaching the level of success that is deemed worthy.

In our careers, especially those of us that are small business owners and bosses, it is important to understand that it’s OK to demand the fee that you deserve. Consulting fees are tricky in that you have to narrow down the number that makes sense for the industry that you are in, your expertise and quality of work experience. Your rate or fee can also establish your respect “on the street” and create a reputation for you that can bring in more business.

Here are some points to consider when deciding what you and your company are worth:

1.  Knowing Your Business:

Understanding the effort, work product and customer base of your business is key when trying to solidify a fee. Ask yourself: What are my customers looking for?; What type of work do they need (proposal, social media presence, presentation, etc.)?; and How much time and resources would be needed for a typical project and/or task? These will help you narrow down what may be reasonable based on your field and geographic location.

2.  Freelance / Consultant Fee Types:

• Hourly – Entrepreneur.com tells us that “To figure out an appropriate hourly rate, you can either use a source like the Careers in Business website to see what consultants earn in your area, or decide how much you’d like to earn in a year and do the math to turn that figure into an hourly rate.”
• Project – Typically, entrepreneurs work on a project by project basis which includes a set schedule of completion with milestones with a given budget. If this type of fee is chosen, you and the client should negotiate a fixed fee based on the effort needed, length of project and/or your work history. If you are just starting out, expect this fixed rate to be a little lower than your counterpart; do not get discouraged as this experience will build up your resume.
• Retainer basis – Certain occupations such as attorney, event planner and/or interior designer have a set monthly fee which allows them to be available to work for the client at will during the agreed upon timeframe. As a consultant, many clients may need your expertise at random points throughout their business activities and this method may make it easier to secure your time.

Check out Consultant Journal models and fee calculator to jot down your financial worth as an entrepreneur across these types!

3.  Having the Conversation

As a consultant/entrepreneur, any discussions that deal with payment, contract and agreements should always be face to face initially. This can set the stage for a great relationship. Before you meet your clients, you should already have a pretty good idea of what type of services you can and will provide and the type of rate you have chosen. Conversations with your client will iron out the details. The conversation should allow you to be firm in your demands, realistic with the work you can produce and gain a level of respect that will travel to the potential next client.

Talking, asking and negotiating your fee is tough because it’s essentially an awkward conversation. To avoid this inevitable feeling, do some homework beforehand. Negotiations may be necessary and once done so, follow up with something in writing so that everyone remains on the same page. Don’t be afraid to demand what you deserve; your fee should increase over time as you gain more experience and build out your client base. People will pay for quality work especially from fearless Womeneurs™ they trust![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Whether you are in undergrad or grad school, it is important to begin thinking ahead when it comes to your career. Many of us are still trying to figure out what kind of career we want to have and many of us will learn (later in life) that the career we start out with may not be the one we end up with. With that in mind, you should remain in a habit of always working towards your future in a way that will set you up for success regardless of the obstacles you may face.  The best time to begin preparing for your career is before you even get the job!

We talked a few weeks back about the things you need once you already entered in to the workforce: how to utilize your mentor’s time, how to control your career reputation, how to get the raise you deserve and the steps to transition your career. Let’s take a step back for those who are still pursuing their degrees or trades and look at what you all can do to become a part of the workforce on solid ground.

1. Jot it Down!

By now, you have secured a major and have a general idea of what field you want to focus on. Like most goals, it is a great first step to begin writing down what you what in terms of skillset and roles. Another smart thing to do is start at the end. Write down what you would like your end goal to be; for example “I want to be the editor of a major magazine” therefore my list would include all the steps I would need to take to get there.

This list can be a researched list or “off the top of your head” list in its roughest form because it will help spark some great ideas. Whether you will be an entrepreneur or an employee, creatively thinking about your next steps is always key. Having a little “hustle” in your spirit will set you a part from the pack.

2. Work Experience

When I was in college, I had a summer internships and a work/study jobs throughout the year. It may suck but even if you are entering the workforce as an entry-level employee, hiring managers still want to see that you have some basic skills under your belt. Some of these skills include:

• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.);
• Good Communication skills;
• Good Writing skills; and
• Good Customer Service skills

Internships (unpaid or paid), on-campus jobs or board level roles in extracurricular activities will show hiring managers your dedication to preparing for your future.

3. Network

You will find throughout Womeneur.com how much we value networking. Collaborating with liked mind people will provide more than business cards or contacts in your phone; it will provide you with opportunity and a greater mindset to achieve success. In many institutions, various programs provide the standard networking cocktails sessions, speeches and luncheons throughout the year; go to at least 5 during the school year and try to meet 5 new people.

Other opportunities for networking include going to office hours and getting to know your professors and Teacher’s Aid (TAs). These people are a wealth of information. Begin to create your personal executive board; these are the people you can call on when you need informal or formal career advice, direction and inspiration.

4. Research the Requirements

How many times have you said to yourself “I would love to work for that company or that person?” For me, it has been many times! If you admire a company’s mission or a person’s career path, do a little research on them. Check out their website, Facebook or LinkedIn and find out what makes them unique, what kind of candidates are they looking for, what states, cities or countries are they looked in,  what jobs are available and what are the required skills needed to apply for that job.

The desire to work for a company like Nike is fun but knowing what it takes to click the “Apply” button will show that you are taking control of your career early on.

GPAs and school reputation are great things to carry with you in an interview and throughout school but remember that there are more things that will make you a well-rounded candidate. Career planningbefore you get the career can help you to counteract things like a poor job market. Use these tips to begin or continue on a journey of success.

www.e-rain.com

Take me to the top!  In a perfect world, the road to CEO would be paved with easy streets, no meetings, no interruptions and ultimately no road blocks but there are no lessons there.  On the way to the top there are road blocks galore and we are all trying to find our way up, under and around them.  Career obstacles can seem massive when you are starting from the bottom with powerful decision makers above you becoming the face and backbone of the company while you are working 16 hours a day and getting little to no credit.  Discouragement can cease when you know how to navigate your own career overlooking your position on the totem pole.  Whether you are at the staff / entry level or upper management, it’s your job to shine, learn, grow and make the right power moves to skyrocket your career. Here are 4 ways to be your own advocate at work:

1. Shake Hands and Kiss Some Babies
This is not a call to be the annoying “employee of the month” but to figure out who is important, influential and full of advice and grab some time with them.  As a lower level employee, there is so much power in knowing the boss and having them know who you are!  Test out that ‘open door policy’ and create some opportunity for yourself.

2. Extracurricular Activities  
Just like high school and college, being well-rounded will set you a part from the pack.  Make every attempt to get involved in the growth of the firm and ultimately your own personal growth.  Many companies have areas of the business that help grow their brand: volunteering, professional development programs, initiatives for more business and even social events.  Put yourself out there to introduce not only your talents and skills but who you are as a person.  Power moves are often made outside the office; think outside the box on how to connect with people and show your passion for the company as a whole.

3. Be Prepared, Stay Ready!
It can be frustrating having to study a hour more than other people or staying later at work just to perfect that presentation or document but someone has to be great and it might as well be you!  It is important to change your perspective when progressing in your career.  Tasks may seem insignificant or simple but be the best at it, always stay on your toes and this can open the doors for more challenging work.  You cannot expect to leap into more responsibility without preparing and perfecting your current position.

4. Help Me Please!
Smart people have mentors, plain and simple.  This person may change over the course of your career depending on your interest, career path and quality of their assistance (or lack thereof) but securing one is essential.  This person does not necessarily need to be at your company or even hold the position you want.  Mentors should be first and foremost honest, accountable, full of resources, a good listener, and have the capacity to provide advice.  Finding a good mentor is just as hard as finding a good apartment and date in NYC, so take your time and choose wisely!

Everyone I know fits the bill of a type A personality.  We are ambitious, overly focused and extremely impatient!  These traits can be a lethal combination if not handled properly.  Power moves at any level requires thought, vision and a level of perseverance.  Whether you are an intern or a newly promoted manager, take your work seriously and take the world by storm![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

careerdirectionsllc.com

There is something about the new season that brings about a lot of transition. For me, the feeling and motivation that I get during New Years starts all over again when the sun comes back out and the flowers begin to bloom. Getting rid of the winter blues and packing away the bulky clothing are fun and easy acts of transitioning. But what about the changes that require some intense thought? The decisions that can potentially alter your finances, lifestyle and career are the ones that require some advice and personal reflection.

There are two types of individuals that face career transitions:

1. People who are sure about the career/industry they want to transition in to
2. People who are not sure of the type of work they want to transition in to

Each individual still needs to go through a process to ensure that the decision they make is both correct and timely. Let’s be honest, the state of the job market here in the US is not great. Even if the career you wish to transition in to is seeking employees, the process to secure your dream job can be exhausting and may require a lot of time. But considering the decision to transition out of one industry to another adds on additional effort on your part and may require you to evaluate some key questions such as:

• What skills are transferrable to this new position and company?
• Do I need to re-write my resume?
• Is the salary in my desired field the same, more or less than what I’m making now?
• What is the promotion culture at this new position/company?
• Do I need additional education in order to apply for this job?
• Does my dream job or position require me to stay in my location or to move?

Here is some advice that will help you shape your career transition process:

1. Know thy Self – The Importance of Self-Assessment

If you are in your late 20s/early 30s, there is no time to waste. Understanding what you are best at (based on passion, education or work history) and how to transition those skills in to a new job should be the main priority. Jotting down a list of key skills and list of your hobbies and passions are great ways to evaluate you as a person and how you will fit into the workforce. It’s important to also keep in mind that this evaluation process may lean you towards creating your own career with you as a boss.

provides good resources for you to gain some insight on the various occupational groups. Here you will be able to generally track salary, job summaries and education needed to apply across many industries.

In addition to knowing yourself, it is also important to understand who you are as an employee. Birkman International is an organization that helps the workforce narrow down their behavior and the perception one has of themselves versus how others may perceive them. They provide a free online assessment and custom report that will help narrow down your work personality: .

2. Industry and Company Selection

The assessment will help you decide if your career aspirations match your skillsets and interests. There are situation where many people have to pick a career based on its immediate availability and that’s ok! But if you do have the opportunity to work towards obtaining the career of your dreams, narrowing down that industry and company is beneficial during your process. Start by figuring what companies you admire and research if they match your interests.

3. Position Selection

The position you aim to fill needs to be careful selected. Be honest with yourself. Based on the job description understand if you can fulfill those requirements. Requirements may come in the form of daily duties, managerial oversight, communication between multiple departments or people, submitting various assignment, etc. Choosing a position may also come with the requirement of additional education. Ask yourself if you have the needed background to set you a part from other candidates.

Most work requirements may come from on the job training (understanding company culture or internal technology) while others are required to get the job.

4. Re-Build Your Career History

At this point you have evaluated your skillset and passions, chosen the industry and position you identify with and the next logical step is to take those components to update your documentation: the resume and the cover letter.  Creating and updating a resume and cover letter is probably one of the most tedious parts of this process. There are so many nuances needed for it to be considered great. Outdated and irrelevant career documents can create setbacks when it comes to the job-hunting process. In order to avoid that, lets look at some ways to gain some help.

Career centers at your location university (if you are tackling the crazy life of school and work) will provide a level of face-to-face assistance that cannot be obtained online. If your main resource is your handy laptop and smart phone here are some amazing websites that can provide writing tips to enhance your documents before submission

5. The Submission Process

The submission process is often referred to as “The Black Hole; you submit your resume and it mysterious gets lost in the World Wide Web. Every company now requires you to submit your job application online. Our generation was born and raised on the Internet and the number of job submissions is growing by the second.

Understanding the way in which each company accepts application is so important. For example, small startups and large corporation may have a different process. Some may require digital resumes with a personal portfolio others may be more traditional and require to complete a profile and simply upload your documents.

We are in this together! When thinking about careers, you should always strive to get better at your craft. These pieces of advice should set the stage for you to finally make the decision to take control of your work life. Even though it may take a little extra hard work and time, we encourage you to continue to make 2015 an awesome a year![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]