5 Tips for Talking Money With a Potential Employer

Robert Half International

Discussing compensation and benefits with a potential employer when the economy is humming can be nerve--wracking; in a recession, it can be downright scary. But applicants should be ready -- and willing -- to bring up the topic with hiring managers. In fact, more than half (56 percent) of senior executive surveyed by Robert Half International said they are comfortable with applicants asking about salary in the first or second interview.

Following are five tips to help ensure you're well-prepared to negotiate compensation:

1.      Do your homework

Conduct research to determine your market value, or, in other words, what the skills and experience you possess are currently worth. Begin by reviewing salary surveys and publications such as Robert Half's annual Salary Guides, talking to colleagues and recruiters, and checking salary comparison Web sites. Keep in mind that your geographic area plays a significant role in determining pay levels -- it's unlikely that an IT manager in Boise, Idaho, will be paid as much as one in San Jose, Calif., for instance.

2.      Research the company

Is the firm in a position to bargain? Find out before attempting any salary negotiation. If you've been offered a job as a Web designer at a newly formed startup or a company that recently announced layoffs, your bargaining power may be limited. If the firm isn't able to offer the salary you seek, consider negotiating other elements of the compensation package, such as benefits, vacation days or flexible scheduling. Another option is to see if the company is willing to re-evaluate your compensation six months or a year after you start, assuming you've met performance expectations.

3.      Look at more than money

Whenever you are offered a new position, make sure to consider all aspects of the job. Will you gain more responsibility or work on a high-profile project that will be a valuable addition to your résumé? These factors may make up for a smaller compensation package. Consider the benefits package, too. In addition to health insurance and vacation time, some companies provide perks such as tuition reimbursement or on-the-job training. Determine which factors are critical to you -- perhaps that you have access to a retirement savings account -- and on which ones you're willing to compromise.

4.      Show them your value

Be prepared to show how the company's investment in you will pay off. Provide quantitative examples of your contributions to previous employers. Explain how your knowledge of a particular software program could save the business 10 percent in outsourcing fees or that your experience leading a product rollout will allow the company to complete the project more quickly. If you can provide a high ROI, you might be able to negotiate better compensation.

5.      Get it in writing

Once you've agreed on terms, ask the employer to draw up a letter that outlines the specifics to the offer, such as the position's key responsibilities, salary and any special arrangements that resulted from the negotiations. Having everything in writing will prevent misunderstandings down the line.

Flexibility and an open mind are critical to successful salary negotiation. By researching your market value, assessing the company's financial position and demonstrating return on investment, you'll most likely find an offer that's agreeable to both you and your new employer.

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8 Surefire Tips for Stay-at-Home Parents to Jump Back into a Career

by Sharon Reed Abboud

Transitioning back to work can be difficult for long time stay-at-home parents. Often transitioning career-seekers have lost touch with their professional network. They send their resume in response to job ads and usually end up without a job or with a job that is below their professional level. There is a better way.

Job-seekers who have been home for three, five, or even 10 years or more can ease into a professional job if they strategize their job search carefully. By considering the following eight factors with advice from some of America's career experts, most transitioning career-seekers should be able to jump right back into the professional work force.

1. It Really Is "Who You Know"

Remember the old saying: "It is who you know that gets you there." Well, it is as true as ever. Most employers fill jobs by people they know or have met through networking or connections. Stay-at-home parents are sometimes "out of the networking loop" and need to get back in and make or re-establish their connections.

Mary Ann Blackwell, a professional career coach and owner of Blackwell Career Management, Washington, DC, advises transitioning stay-at-home mothers to "build bridges" toward the workplace.

"Probably 80 percent of professional women find their jobs through contacts," Blackwell said. "You need to keep your professionalism activated." Blackwell advises career-seekers to join a professional group or association and go to meetings at least once a month all the time they are raising their children to network and keep abreast of their field. She also encourages career-seekers to join at least one civic organization in their community.

It is never too late to establish or re-ignite a network. Transitioning career-seekers should join or re-join professional organizations in their field and start to network and develop professional contacts by attending their meetings. Active career-seekers may want to volunteer to serve on committees within the organizations. Looking for an instant comeback? Volunteer to speak at a meeting or professional conference. Transitioning career-seekers are advised to subscribe to professional journals and re-acquaint themselves with trends in their industry.

"You need to develop a lifelong plan to be professionally abreast of the times," Blackwell said.

Elizabeth Wilcox, the Boston, MA-based author of The Mom Economy: The Mother's Guide to Getting Family-Friendly Work, agrees. "A lot of women, I find, underestimate not only the strength of their past professional network but also their at-home network," Wilcox said.

Wilcox advises transitioning career-seekers to find out what others do and how they can help you professionally. For example, Wilcox said she established a professional contact by asking another player on her women's soccer league what she did for a living. It turned out that they had similar career interests and eventually completed a project together. She also found the agent for her book through a contact at her local church.

"Don't be afraid to let people know what you are looking to do and don't underestimate anyone in your network," Wilcox said.

Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire and author of Take this Book to Work: How to Ask for (and Get) Money, Fulfillment and Advancement also urges career-seekers to network with such network members as neighborhood friends and PTA contacts.

"These are people who know your work ethic and like you and trust you -- so they are more eager to either help you get hired or hire you themselves," Johnson said.

"Attitude is extremely important," when you are networking, said Blackwell. She advises transitioning career-seekers to project confidence and enthusiasm. "You need to be able to create a verbal resume," she added. "You ought to be able to tell people what you want to do." Transitioning career-seekers are advised to circulate in their groups and let people know that you are going back to work.

Blackwell encourages career-seekers to set up a few informational interviews with people in their network. In an informational interview, you meet to ask questions, share ideas, and expand your network -- not to ask for a job. [Editor's note: Learn all about how to conduct informational interviews in our Informational Interviewing Tutorial].

2. New horizons: Should You Consider a Career Change?

Stay-at-home parents often report that being home and re-entering the workforce allows them the possibility of re-examining their career goals and to sometimes consider a career change. It is an important time to reflect on questions such as "Who am I?", "What are my values?", and "What do I want to do with the rest of my life?"

"I think raising kids in general teaches you a lot about who you are, and it can be a very reflective time for a woman outside of the workplace�"said Career Strategist Ellen Dunagan, president of Traverse Management Solutions, Arlington, VA.

3. Paperwork 101: Marketing Yourself: Resumes, Cover Letters, Web Pages

Transitioning career-seekers will need to create or revise their resume. Job-seekers can research resume and cover-letter formats on Quint Careers. In today's job market, some career-seekers may want to consider creating their own web page.

Rather than focus on the employment gap, career-seekers should highlight volunteer experience and community involvement on their resume. Were you president of the PTA? Include it. Did you write the neighborhood newsletter? Add that, too. It is all valuable experience; just be sure to highlight the professional skills that you used in your volunteer positions.

"Transitioning back into the workplace can be made less difficult if a woman looks at her career trajectory as part of a continuum," said Wilcox.

Wilcox advises transitioning career-seekers to think about how to portray their non-employed status. Self-assessment should focus on how they have been maintaining their skills.

Blackwell said to focus on your "goals, objectives, and innate values" and "how your skills will transfer into a new job." She urges her clients to "downplay the mommy role" and focus on transferable professional skills gained through participation in professional and civic organizations.

Ann Crittenden, author of If You've Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything, takes a different perspective. According to Crittenden, parenting skills are transferable to the workplace and the lessons of leadership can be learned from children.

"The difference between being a parent and managing adults is not all that different," Crittenden commented. "Motherhood is truly complex and highly skilled."

Crittenden said that management experts and trainers are teaching the very same people skills that are recommended in popular baby books. Key examples of transferable skills include the ability to multitask, emotional intelligence and the ability to negotiate, motivational skills, and the ability to maintain a good perspective in emotionally charged situations.

So should you include these skills on your resume or mention it in your interview? "It depends," said Crittenden. "You need to size up who is interviewing you. You can use a really creative resume if you have an interviewer who seems to �get it'." She said that today's climate is not yet the time to "brag" about your accomplishments as a mother in an interview but "past the time when you have to totally hide it."

In her book, Crittenden urges women to create several resumes � a traditional skills-based resume and a functional resume that focuses on the administrative and management skills gained through parenting.

4. Volunteering� "Making a Difference" While Building Your Resume

Wilcox advises transitioning career-seekers to volunteer for an organization and include these experiences on a resume. Volunteer work can be a way to update your skills and establish professional contacts

"My suggestion for mothers is to think about how to portray their non-employed status. Have they been leveraging or maintaining their skills in a non-profit in any way? Have they taken any courses to keep themselves abreast of technological advancements and industry change?" asked Wilcox. "If not, I suggest they think about how they can start applying those skills in a volunteer status while they look at how they can put themselves better abreast of industry developments."

"By volunteering, you leverage and maintain your skill set in a new capacity," Wilcox explained.

Volunteer opportunities can be invaluable, according to Blackwell, and you can sometimes meet a mentor at the organization who can help you with your career search.

Those with a flair for writing may want to try to publish an article in a professional publication, newspaper, or Website. Career-changers may want to volunteer to research and write an article related to their desired new career for a local newspaper. The resulting article will give them a degree of instant credibility and the opportunity to make contacts with the people interviewed for the article.

Transitioning career-seekers may want to consider volunteer opportunities in nearly every industry and interest category that are available nationwide through USA Freedom Corps. Prospective volunteers can enter their industry category and zip code to access volunteer opportunities. Parents with young children may want to consider a "virtual" volunteering opportunity so that they can stay home and volunteer online while gaining valuable professional experience.

5. Should You Step Backwards?

Yes, no, maybe � this might be the $64,000 question. "Sometimes you have to go backwards," Blackwell said, but it depends. Most parents should not have to go backwards or accept a lower level job if they maintained or started a good network and have done their research. However, some women may willingly seek a lower-level job if it offers a more flexible work schedule or if they are switching career fields.

"I'm a firm believer that women should not even think they have to start over at entry level after being in the workforce," Dunagan stated.

Dunagan emphasized that the transitioning career-seeker needs a well-defined strategy, a clear assessment of what the market looks like, and strong self-marketing skills to re-enter the workforce without going back to entry-level status.

Some transitioning career-seekers may need to obtain additional credentials or experience. It is often advisable to take some relevant courses to update your skills, Blackwell said, but not necessarily another degree. A short course may be available to update your skills in some fields.

A transitioning seeker making a career change to a new profession that requires specific credentials may to need to go back to school or get additional training, Dunagan said.

However, Dunagan cautions women to carefully consider the reasons and the cost involved for additional training or education. A transitioning career-seeker may want to consult with people in her network and see if the additional education is necessary or desirable.

6. Remember Me? Consider Contacting Your Former Employer

Dunagan urges her clients to make their first stop at the former place of work if they liked their job and the company.

"Most companies will find it easier to hire someone back instead of starting from scratch, especially if they performed well," Dunagan said.

Wilcox agrees. "Chances are if you worked well for them five years ago, they will still value you."

7. Work-life Balance is critical with a baby on board

Let's face it. Many parents may not want to work the same long hours that they did before. It is important to decide if you want to work full-time or part-time, or do consulting or contractual work. Transitioning career-seekers may want to look for a position with a flexible schedule and telecommuting options.

A good place to look for these opportunities is with former employers, according to Dunagan. One of Dunagan's former clients found a job in human resources in an IT company after being a stay-at-home parent for five years. She negotiated a flexible schedule, telecommuting set-up and a job description that she was very satisfied with. This woman essentially created her own position by reactivating her connection with her former boss.

"As the result of her relationship, they were able to bring this stay-at-home mom back to the company � and it allowed the returning mother to honor her values � continuing to spend time with her children," Dunagan explained.

8. Give it Time

It may take 3-6 months or longer to re-enter the professional job force, according to Blackwell. Blackwell advises her clients to make a regular schedule for a job search �perhaps one hour a day, nearly every day.

"Gather your resources, get out of the house and meet people, and prepare for a longer haul�excellent preparation is the key to building bridges toward work," Blackwell said.

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7 Ways to Improve Your Cover Letter and Get Your Application Noticed

Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

Don't underestimate the power of a cover letter. When  well-written, attractively designed and customized for the recipient, a cover letter is a powerful tool that can practically scream, "Interview this candidate immediately!"
But when they are thrown together using little to no consideration, personalization or creativity -- as cover letters often are -- letters are as ineffective in the job hunt as blank sheets of paper.
"This is a major misstep when job searching," say Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark, co-authors of "Cover Letter Magic." "You should take advantage of every opportunity there is to stand out from other candidates."
Enelow and Kursmark also say that writing a cover letter can be more fun than job seekers realize. "With the right perspective and a positive attitude, you'll find that it affords you great flexibility. There is no one set format in which they must be written. There is no one style in which they must be presented. In fact, there are very few rules at all, and because they are so flexible, cover letters allow you to positively present just those skills, qualifications, achievements and credentials you want to bring to the recipient's immediate attention."
There are a variety of ways job seekers can get creative with their cover letters and bring them to life in ways they never considered. In their book, Enelow and Kursmark suggest a few of these techniques:
1. Find out what your target employer's slogan, catch phrase or mission statement is and brainstorm ways to include it in your cover letter's introduction. This technique will quickly capture the reader's attention, demonstrate that you are familiar with the employer and stand out from other candidates' one-size-fits-all cover letters.
2. Add a table or two-column section that closely connects the employer's requirements to your qualifications and professional achievements. This strategy will quickly provide the employer with concrete evidence that you're a good fit for the job and worth learning more about.
3. Begin with a thought-provoking quote relevant to the position, the employer's goals or your target industry. Many people love to read, share and ponder quotes. Including one in your cover letter can be a quick and effective way to engage the reader.
4. Feature a strong headline near the beginning of the cover letter. To keep it brief, yet powerful, address one of the employer's key concerns or spotlight your expertise or an attribute that will be particularly appealing to the employer.
5. Develop your own slogan or mission statement and include it near the top of your cover letter. This technique will enhance your career brand and stand out much like a headline would. To draw even more attention to the phrase, place it inside a graphic element that is attractive and appropriate.
6. Add a "P.S." to the end of your cover letter. Often, it's the first thing a person will read.
7. Include testimonials about you in the body of your cover letter or in an attractive sidebar. Testimonials will emphasize your skills and achievements and support claims you make about your expertise and why you're the best candidate for the job.

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Preparing for Your 2010 Job Search; 5 tips to get you ready

Robert Half International

job search

The good news: You have a job. The bad news: You'd like to find a new one, and the current state of the economy has undermined your efforts.

You don't have to wait out the storm. You can take steps to prepare for your job search. By laying the groundwork now, you'll be well-positioned once the job market recovers, giving you a valuable edge.

Following are five tips to get you started:

1. Update your résumé. The most essential element of any job search is an up-to-date résumé. If you haven't touched your résumé in awhile, dust it off and make sure it highlights your most recent skills, areas of responsibility and accomplishments. Taking a little time over several weeks to work on this document is better than rushing to complete your résumé all at once. Keep in mind that this draft of your résumé will serve as a starting point. You'll want to customize it to each position for which you apply.

2. Keep your profile current. Your professional profiles on networking Web sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook serve as an informal résumé for recruiters, who are more frequently using these sites to locate talented candidates. Make sure your profile is complete and current. Also, consider taking advantage of the extra features many of these sites offer. For example, LinkedIn allows you to secure recommendations from members of your network for display on your page. Adding a few to your profile can help you stand out from the crowd.

3. Put your best digital foot forward. In a competitive job market, a polished professional reputation -- both online and off -- can make or break someone's chances of landing a coveted position. As a result, it's important to get a sense of your digital footprint, or the presence you have on the Web. Building a strong reputation online, or remaking a poor one, can take some time.

Start by searching for yourself on several search engines. If you discover unflattering information, such as an embarrassing picture from a college trip to Mexico, remove it or ask the person who posted the information to do the same. You also should adjust your privacy settings on social networking Web sites to ensure that personal details or photos are available only to the people you select.

4. Make new friends. The best time to expand your network of business connections is when you don't need a job. Reaching out to new contacts now allows you to nurture the relationships. Maintain regular communication with your contacts and offer your assistance as necessary. When you launch your own search and you're in need, they'll be willing to return the favor.

5. Prepare your references. You'll need several people with whom you've worked to sing your praises to prospective employers when your search begins. So why not start identifying and reaching out to these contacts now?

Although most hiring managers ask to speak to three to five individuals, you'll want to prep more people than this. Like your résumé, your reference list should be customized for each opportunity. That means you'll want to be able to call on people who can speak to several different aspects of your career -- for example, your work ethic, management skills or ability to work with diverse audiences.

Check in with former managers and peers to ask if they would be willing to recommend you if contacted by a hiring manager. If it's been awhile since you've connected with a potential reference, arrange to meet for coffee or lunch, or send a note along with an article you think the person would find interesting. Let each person know you'll contact him or her if a prospective employer has requested your references.

Although you can't control the economy, you don't have to be a passive observer. By preparing for your entry into the job market now, you'll be ready to take advantage of new opportunities as soon as they arise.

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Internet Tips and Tricks to Help You Land Your Next Job

CareerBuilder.com

There's a wealth of career information on the Internet, and these resources are just a mouse-click away for any job seeker.

But as comprehensive as sites like CareerBuilder.com are, there are other resources on the Internet you can use to land a new job. Here are a few tips and tricks to help maximize your job search on the Web.

1. Career assessment tests

Career assessment tests can be engaging and fun, and the results can give you important insight into your working style to help you find the best fit.

For example, CareerPath.com has a number of helpful career tests, including a color test that gauges your reaction to colors and suggests potential career paths based on the result. Take note of any keywords that appear in your test results and use them as search terms.

2. Network, network, network

Most career experts encourage job seekers to expand their networks. You can connect with other professionals via Web sites like BrightFuse and LinkedIn, and even a personal contact on Facebook can provide an important connection to an opportunity.

Alumni groups with an online presence can also be a great place to network, since the focus of those groups is their eagerness to connect with fellow graduates.

If you're not sure where to start, sign on to a networking site. Search for current or former co-workers and managers and invite them to join your network. Engage your network by sending messages and giving other users recommendations or kudos for the positive experience you had with them.

3. Research your prospective employer

If you're competing against other candidates with equally impressive skills, education and experience, you really need to break ahead of the pack. One way to do that is to know your prospective employer.

Start with the company's Web site; look in the "About Us," "Media" or "Press Room" sections. To be fully informed, you'll want to check out other sites with detailed information.

"Use online news sites to understand which companies are doing well or expanding," suggests Patrick Madsen, the director of professional career services at The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. "Reading through articles and generally knowing where the world is going can open potential new doors and windows."

Madsen also suggests that job seekers research information sites like Hoover's, Vault.com or Careerbeam to learn about companies.

4. Person to person

Do an Internet search on yourself. A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found that one in four hiring managers are researching candidates online. If there's any information out there that could hurt your chances of being hired, you need to be aware of it.

Once you've landed an interview, you can also research the person you'll be talking to. Madsen recommends doing a simple Google search on the interviewer's name, as well as checking Facebook or LinkedIn to see if he has a profile there. The interviewer may also be featured on the company's Web site.

Mark Moran, founder and CEO of Dulcinea Media in New York City, says this step is vitally important. "I've interviewed perhaps 500 people in the last five years, and I can tell you most of them failed to get the job because they did not use the Internet to research me, the company or our industry."

5. Brave the cold

It's ideal to use sites like CareerBuilder.com to reply to job postings from employers actively seeking candidates in your field. But you can also use the Internet to do a "cold" search on companies that are in your field.

Career expert Chris Russell, the founder of the Secrets of the Job Hunt blog, recalls his initial job search. He researched companies in his area (none of which were actively hiring) and compiled a list of 80. From there, he identified a contact at each company. Russell launched his own "direct mail" campaign and soon had seven interviews. One of those companies hired him.

The twist to the story? Russell's job search was in the pre-Internet days of 1993. "The Internet would have made my campaign a much easier one if I had access to it back then. Today, there is so much information on the World Wide Web it can be daunting," he admits. "But if you know where to search, you can end your job hunt that much faster."

6. Back to basics

Some important basic tips to remember when using the Internet to land your new job:

- Make sure your e-mail address is professional; a handle like "partyguy2002" will give employers a negative perception of you before you've even started.

- Don't rely on spell check alone to capture any errors in e-mails, cover letters and résumés. The difference between the word "shift" and a common curse word is only one letter.

- Be sure to have text-only versions of any documents, so they can be easily sent or submitted to employers.

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10 Job Search Tips for 2010

Winter, Wyman Co.

The New Year -- sure, it's a time to rejoice, be merry and have some fun, but to some folks it is a time to reflect on their lives, and yes (a big sigh here) that means making the ever popular New Year's resolutions. The most common resolutions are losing weight, paying off debt, saving money and getting a better job. Try looking beyond the recession and the "doom and gloom" of 2009, and make 2010 a bright new year by kicking your job search into high gear.

"No matter the market conditions, there are always companies looking to hire talented professionals, and those people who are prepared will be best positioned to take advantage of new career opportunities as they are uncovered," says David Sanford, executive vice president of business development at Winter, Wyman. Sanford says that people should always be looking for a new job (hey, you never know what's out there unless you're looking) and that the New Year is a great time to go out and make it happen.

If you want to know how to get yourself noticed and find your dream job during the New Year, follow these 10 tips for 2010.

Be ready to move.

As with all of life's opportunities, you have to be ready to strike when the iron is hot -- and sometimes even when it's heating up. No matter if your plan includes pounding the pavement for a new job or sitting back and waiting for one to come your way, make sure you have all the groundwork in place for a successful job search. Update your résumé, prepare a compelling story to tell about why you would consider a new opportunity and know whom you would use for references. Start becoming mentally and emotionally ready for a change so you are better prepared for when it happens.

Don't ignore the elephant in the room.

In soft economies, many people think it's safer to stay with their current employer than to risk taking a position with a new company -- and often it is. But don't ignore the elephant in the room and hope that everything will be OK. Even in the best of times, companies routinely are merged, acquired, imploded and overtaken, sometimes leaving hundreds and thousands of people looking for new jobs. Be prudent and always be aware of your business's conditions; keep your nose in the wind and your eyes and ears open for when it is the best time to move on to a new job.

Know thyself.

As people age and lives and goals change, so do their career objectives. Spend the time necessary to know what really makes you happy. Is it being an authority at work? Having a schedule flexible enough to see your kids play soccer on a midweek afternoon? Knowing the drug you are researching will someday eradicate a life-threatening disease? Have a heart-to-heart with yourself about what you want from your career and what steps would be necessary to achieve this goal. Have realistic expectations, but know that most career dreams are within our reach.

Step out of your comfort zone.

As human beings, we don't like to admit that we don't have all the answers, and it's uncomfortable for most people to ask for help, especially from those outside their inner circle. Asking for assistance and advice is the heart of networking and the single most important thing a person looking for a new job should do.

Your next opportunity could come via a tip or chance encounter with a former boss, colleague, neighbor, recruiter, barber, golf buddy -- but you will never hear about it if they don't know you are looking (even passively). You need to be courageous enough to talk to people you meet about what you ultimately want instead of regretting that you didn't mention it sooner.

Devote time to job searching.

Take a hint from the world's greatest athletes. Succeeding at anything takes practice and hard work. If you are trying to further your career, you need to devote the energy needed to make that change, and that takes time. Find a way to carve out the hours necessary, whether it's giving up an hour of gym time on Tuesday nights to attend networking meetings, or getting up early on Sunday mornings to search for leads and contacts online, establish some goals and set aside the time it will take to accomplish them.

Focus your résumé.

Most résumés are vanilla -- overview, titles, tasks, accomplishments and education. But companies want to see the sizzle and the steak. They want to see progression in experience, skills and responsibility and how you have contributed directly to your employer's, or former employer's, success. Make sure your document includes enough substance to explain the strategies and tactics you were responsible for, but also the intangibles where you made a difference. It doesn't have to be overly long or detailed, but back up any success claims with real facts and examples.

Join in and get connected.

There isn't a profession or industry on Earth that doesn't have a trade association, user group, online discussion board or fan club. Find one relevant to you and join it. Whether you are employed or not, opportunities flow from being around like-minded people, and professional associations and communities are where you need to be. They are a great way for uncovering hidden jobs, to further your knowledge and to make new relationships. Investigate which are appropriate for you and join in.

Sell yourself.

Unless you are a pompous, arrogant bore, you are probably not used to -- and are uncomfortable with -- talking immodestly about yourself, your attributes and shining moments. Get over it. Advancing in your career or finding a new job requires you to balance humility with bravado. Your résumé or a relationship may open a door, but you have to be prepared to march through it with a lot of confidence and a bit of swagger.

Find a way to get over any discomfort when talking about yourself and how wonderful you are. The best job candidate is one who truly believes he has something unique to offer and can articulate his message with words, body language and confidence. A hiring manager wants to fall in love with you; give her a reason to.

Narrow your thinking.

Don't try to be all things to all people, especially when looking for a job. You are not going to be good at everything you do, so don't fool yourself into thinking you are. Figure out what you want to do and where you want to do it, and narrow your search to opportunities that fit into your realm. Don't have interviews or networking meetings where you hope the other person can help you figure out what you want to do. The responsibility is yours; be targeted and specific about the jobs you want, skills you have and the companies for which you want to work.

Get started.

Self-assessment is important but can be paralyzing. Take the time necessary to be introspective and then craft your plan, but don't let those activities stall you from taking action. Talk is cheap -- get out there and take the steps to change or improve your career. Being proactive in your career will open up opportunities you never dreamed of and will start 2010 off right.

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Common Job Interview Questions

By : About.com

Regardless of your field, there are five things that almost every interviewer asks:

1. Can you tell me about yourself?
This is the most hated and most common question in interview history. Typically asked at the beginning of the job interview, this question gives the interviewer an opportunity to gain knowledge about you and your capabilities.

When you answer, offer a summary of your personality, skills, experience, and work history. Do not mention your knitting hobby or your pet iguana. Try to stick with facts that will demonstrate why you are the person for the job.

2. Why do you want to work here?
Even if it is true, do not answer with: Because I really need a job and you were hiring. If you did any research prior to the interview, you can answer this question. Utilize what you know about the company. Tell the interviewer why you admire the company, their practices, or their product.

If all else fails, make a connection between the job description and your abilities. Tell the interviewer why you are compatible with their company.

3. Why should we hire you?
This is one of the most important questions that you will be asked, and you need to make sure that you have a very good answer. Try to be as specific as possible. Explain in detail: why you would make a good employee, why you are the right fit for the job, and what sets you apart from other applicants. Point out your achievements, accomplishments, and applicable experience.

4. Why did you leave your last job?
This is actually more of a test than a question. The interviewer wants to see what pushes your buttons. Your answer should be as honest as possible, but whatever you do, try not to sound bitter, angry, or violent. And most importantly, do not badmouth your former company, boss, or co-workers.

5. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Why do interviewers continue to ask this question? Because- it shows them how motivated you are and it offers insight into your professional intentions. Instead of telling the interviewer that you would like to be sailing in the Bahamas, try offering information about your professional goals as the relate to your job or industry.

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Goals and Happiness

What makes you happier than anything else you do? Where does real contentment come from?

If you understand and apply the following definition of happiness, you also open the door to unlimited success for yourself, your family and your group.

"Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals. There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one is content. But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view. There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his ends in life." — L. Ron Hubbard

Examine how three facts, from this definition of happiness, make happiness come and go in your life.


1. "There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one is content."

Think of goals you have reached in the past. Remember how you felt on your wedding day or when you graduated from school or a training course? In each case, you achieved a goal!. Remember those times when you were content with life? Maybe when you started a business or landed a great job? When you paid off your debts?

At every point in your life when you felt content or happy, you can probably find you were either making progress toward a goal or had reached a goal


2. "But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view."

Without a new goal, you get bored. Boredom leads to stress and misery. For example, planning a vacation is exciting. But toward the end of a vacation many people are bored to tears as they no longer have a goal. Arguments during honeymoons are common if the newlyweds do not set goals for their marriage. Planning your retirement and the first day of retirement is a thrill. But the joy of freedom quickly turns to boredom and early death if you do not work on new goals.

"There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his ends in life."

Think of a time you were very bored. Had you completed a major goal without starting a new one? Look at other times you were bored. Examine your goals, or lack of goals, at those times.


3. "Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals."

We can use this definition to understand unhappiness as well. When were you last unhappy?

In each case, you probably 1) had no goal, 2) were trying to reach an undesirable goal, or 3) you were making no progress toward a goal. Using the definition of happiness makes happiness easy to achieve. Simply chose desirable goals and make progress toward them!


Exercises

The following steps will help you put this definition of happiness to use.


1. List goals you have not yet reached.
Small goals, large goals, old goals, failed goals and current goals. Make a very complete list.

2. Circle those goals that interest you the most.
Drop out the goals that do not excite you as you can’t reach a goal unless it interests you.

However, if an uninteresting goal is vital for you to reach, find ways to get excited about that goal. Examine the goal’s benefits. For example, maybe the goal to "Pay off all debts" does not thrill you until you examine the benefits: Save $5319 in interest this year, financial freedom, less anxiety.

If you cannot find any benefits of the goal, eliminate it.


3. Add new, desirable goals.
Push the envelope of your self limitations and set goals you really, really want. What are your greatest desires?

If you had unlimited time, money and support, what would your life be like? What would you do? What would you have?

If you knew you could accomplish ANYTHING, what would your goals be?

Add these goals to the list.


4. Line up your goals in a logical sequence.
The better your goals align with each other, the more likely you will reach them. For instance, if you have a goal to travel the world for six months this year and another goal to make more money this year than ever before, you might have problems.

However, if you line up your goals, your odds of success are better because your focus is constant. Example of aligned goals: "Finish my training program so I can double my productivity and income." "Help my husband lower our monthly debts so we can spend more time with the kids." "Delegate all of my sales activities to the sales manager so I can open a new office."


5. To complete the procedure and become happier, you now need to start making progress toward your goals.
Big steps or baby steps, any progress is progress.

Plan out next week. Plan out the month of January. Plan your best year ever.

Make a new habit of reviewing your goals each day to keep your attention and efforts aligned with your goals. At the start of each day, ask yourself: What can I do today to make progress toward my goals?

The more progress you make toward your most desired goals, the happier and more successful your new year will be!

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Getting Started on Twitter: 25 Tips For Job-Seekers to Take Advantage of the Web's Best-Kept Job Search Secret

by Susan Whitcomb


Twitter.

There's been lots of buzz about it. Perhaps you even visited the site, created an account, or dabbled with tweeting. Not love at first sight, right? If you're like most people, you're not alone in wondering, "What's the point? How can this cacophonous site -- crammed with apparently tangential, disconnected information -- possibly help my job search?"

Do keep an open mind! Although Twitter has a learning curve (as is the case with all good things), you can find value from Day One, whether just dabbling as a NOOB (Twitter shorthand for newbie) or committing to becoming a power user. Here are 25 tips to get you started:

• Lurk First. Sit back and study what's happening on Twitter before jumping in with both feet. You can do this even before setting up your own Twitter account by going directly to Twitter user's streams (for example, you can see my Twitter stream at www.twitter.com/susanwhitcomb or my coauthors in The Twitter job Search Guide (JIST, 2010), www.twitter.com/chandlee and www.twitter.com/CEOCoach). You can also visit www.monitter.com and search keywords of interest to you.

• Think Strategic When Setting Up Your Twitter Account. Many people vacillate between using their own personal name (such as JohnDoe) or profession (such as CFOintheKnow). There are advantages to both, but using your real name can add to your name recognition. If you have a common name that is already taken on Twitter and want to use your name, add a designation that matches your profession, such as JohnDoeCPA or JohnDoeSalesExec.

• Write an Employer-Focused "160me" for Your Twitter Profile. Twitter allows you 160 characters max to describe who you are. Give them a taste of the return-on-investment they'll receive from hiring you. For example: "Go-to resource for publicity for nonprofits. Earned org's cover stories in regional mags; PR delivered 10s of thousands in contributions."

• Point Employers to More Information. In your profile, include a link to a site where employers can get more information about you, such as your resume at VisualCV.com or your profile at LinkedIn.com.

• Include a Professional Photo. Leaving off a photo is an invitation for people to dismiss you. Your photo should be as professional as you look when going to an interview -- your absolute best. A greater sense of connection seems to take place between followers and followees when each of you can see what the other really looks like. If you use an avatar, be on brand. Some people use avatars rather than a real photo -- these sites are great starting points for avatars: BigHugeLabs.com and SouthParkStudios.com.

• Don't Rush to Follow at First. When you follow people on Twitter, it's likely they will consider following you back. If your history of tweets (your "tweet stream") isn't interesting or it's non-existent, you'll lose the opportunity to gain new followers. Instead, put out some interesting tweets first.

• Tweet On-Brand. Tweet primarily about things that relate to your profession. Read news feeds, blogs, and other resources for relevant, fresh content.

• Set Up Google Alerts for Tweet Content. Go to Google.com/alerts to set up alerts for industry trends, news on your target companies, and more sent directly to your email. You can then be the first to tweet about it.

• Use a Third-Party Application (API). Twitter can appear disorganized and confusing. APIs such as TweetDeck.com, HootSuite.com, and Seesmic.com help organize tweets into columns of your choosing, such as those that reference your name, those that contain a relevant hashtag or keyword (such as #forensicaccounting), or a list of followers you are particularly interested in.

• Follow People Who You Want To Know You. Follow companies on your list of target companies, employees in those companies, potential networking contacts, recruiters, industry leaders, and others who might help connect you to the people with the power to hire.

• Explore Twitter's Advanced Search Feature. Search Twitter's advanced search function at www.search.twitter.com/advanced to search for opportunities (e.g., #jobs #portland #finance) or people.

• Search Beyond Twitter. Use sites like TweepSearch.com, Twazzup.com, Tweetzi.com, or Tweefind.com to find people (e.g., recruiters, finance).

• Use the 75-25 Rule When Tweeting. When in job-search mode, approximately 75 percent of your tweets should be professional, while 25 percent can be more of a personal nature (e.g., "Looking forward to my 25-mile ride through the Blossom Trail this weekend."). Use discretion with your personal tweets!

• Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, But Don't Get Sucked In. Be careful that your time on Twitter is focused and productive. Consider a 15-minute-a-day model where you spend five minutes in the morning, noon, and afternoon. During that time, you might tweet about an interesting industry trend, retweet someone's tweet that would be interesting to your followers, and send an "at" (@) message to someone based on an intereting comment in their tweet stream.

• Retweet -- The Highest Form of Flattery. Retweet (RT) interesting tweets from your networking contacts. Imagine how impressed a prospective employer might be when he/she sees you retweeting information that will promote the company.

• Turn Your Twitter Conversations into Phone and Face-to-Face Conversations. You'll eventually want to shift the conversation from Twitter to a voice conversation or live meeting. Watch for opportunities, and act immediately when they present themselves.

• Time Your Thank You's. As you engage people on Twitter, people will recommend you, retweet you, and compliment you. Consider thanking these people at off-times (late in the evening, early in the morning) so they don't clog your tweet stream.

• Schedule Your Tweets. In some cases, you'll want to schedule your tweets in advance if you know you'll be unable to tweet. SocialOomph.com is a free service that will allow you to do that. HootSuite.com is another.

• Go Mobile. Set up mobile alerts so you can stay in touch with Twitter friends while on the road. Tweetie is a favorite iPhone app. Android users can check out twidroid.com.

• Sign up for TweetMyJobs Alerts. Every job seeker, whether a Twitter user or not, should visit www.TweetMyJobs.com to sign up for mobile-phone alerts of jobs relevant to their profession and geographic area. It's simple and free to jobseekers, and a lot less expensive for employers than some of the traditional job sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder.

• Use Hashtags. Hashtags, represented by the # sign in front of a word (e.g., #accounting, #finance, #programming, #healthcare), are used on Twitter to help users find all the tweets with that hashtag. Use them religiously! You can find a hashtag directory at hashtags.org. Or, simply watch for the hashtags used by your favorite tweeps to get an idea of the latest hashtag lingo.

• Let Your Followers Know You're Looking. One savvy jobseeker posted this hashtag-heavy tweet to gain the attention of employers and recruiters: "Looking to leverage my awesome #transportation #trucking #logistics & #supplychain tweeps to find #employment in #Charlotte NC. Suggestions?" Consider tweeting this type of information weekly.

• Get Career Advice on Twitter. Follow savvy career coaches and job-search strategists for great career tips (such as this list) or search for hashtags such as #careercoach #resumes #jobsearch #twitterjobsearch.

• Use Lists to Find People.Check out Listorious.com to find lists of people of interest in your target companies or profession. Similarly, check out the lists that other Twitter users have created.

• Give, Give, Give Before You Go Asking for Help. As in all networking, look for ways to be of help to others before asking them for help. If you start off on Twitter with a tweet that says: "Lost my job. Anybody know of job openings?" You'll not likely get much help.

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10 Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Here are 10 tips to help you achieve a better balance in your life. Take a moment to read and reflect on these tips -- and then get your life in balance!

1. Negotiate a Change with Your Current Employer. Progressive employers recognize the value of good employees, and many are willing to find ways to help current employees deal with short-term or permanent changes caused by family situations. The changes can include flextime, job-sharing, telecommuting, or part-time employment. Your first step is to research your employer's policies and methods of handling previous requests. Then go to your boss armed with information and a plan that shows how you will be an even more valuable and productive employee if you can modify your current work situation.

2. Find a New Career. Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming than others. If you need more time for yourself or your family, now may be the time to explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible.

3. Find a New Job. Rather than a career change, perhaps you simply need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. This change may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position, it may involve a full job-search, or it may involve temping or becoming a consultant or starting a freelancing or other home-based business.

4. Slow Down. Life is simply too short, so don't let things pass you in a blur. Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. Schedule more time between meetings; don't make plans for every evening or weekend, and find some ways to distance yourself from the things that are causing you the most stress.

5. Learn to Better Manage Your Time. Avoid Procrastination. For many people, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized -- and procrastinating. Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines -- and then stick to them. You'll find that not only are you less stressed, but your work will be better.

6. Share the Load. Even though we may sometimes feel we're the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. Get your partner or other family members to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the household, children, or parents should not be the responsibility of just one person.

7. Let Things Go. (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.) It's simpler said than done, but learn to let things go once in a while. So what if the dishes don't washed everyday or that the house doesn't get vacuumed every week. Learn to recognize the things that don't really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go -- and then not beat yourself up for doing so.

8. Explore Your Options. Get Help. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your family responsibilities, please get help if you can afford it. Find a sitter for your children, explore options for aging parents, and seek counseling for yourself. In many cases, you have options, but you need to take the time to find them.

9. Take Charge. Set Priorities. Sometimes it's easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done. You need to buck the trend. Develop a list. Set priorities. And then enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off your list.

10. Simplify. It seems human nature for just about everyone to take on too many tasks and responsibilities, to try to do too much, and to own too much. Find a way to simplify your life. Change your lifestyle. Learn to say no to requests for help. Get rid of the clutter and baggage in your house -- and your life.

In the end, the key word is balance. You need to find the right balance that works for you. Celebrate your successes and don't dwell on your failures. Life is a process, and so is striving for balance in your life.

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Business Ethics To Practice

There is a lot of tension that business managers have to learn to deal with in today's business environment. Shareholders want higher profits, but the workforce wants higher wages. Consumer want lower prices, but suppliers want to charge more for parts and supplies. In the midst of all that, companies need to keep a close eye on business ethics issues.

Ethics in business has been a concern for businesses for a while now, but events of the past years has mad it even more of a focus. It seem like it should be such an easy thing; do what is right and you won't get into trouble, but deciding what is right seems to depend on who you talk to.

Business schools teach managers have a responsibility to grow the business and get the best return for the stakeholders, but some times the stakeholders have conflicting concerns. How do business ethics apply to that type of situation?

3 Important Business Ethics

While there are often times that the answer is not clear cut, there are a few standards that will help you avoid major missteps.

Honesty

One business ethics rule you should never violate is to tell the truth. Regardless of what problem you might face, you will never go wrong by being honest. If you need to make a decision that is not popular, or may even harm one group or another, be honest with the people involved.

Most of the major business ethics scandals over the past years have come as a result of business leaders that were dishonest. Knowing right from wrong, they chose wrong, and then lied about what they had done. Those in the organization that were not involved in the original problem ended up getting in trouble when they participated in the cover up.

Perhaps the most basic tenet of business ethics is maintaining honesty. Those you deal with may not agree with you, but they will respect the fact that they know that you are telling them the truth. That goes a long way with people.

Integrity

Business WomenThere are times in business when people do something that may be honest, and it may be the right decision for the company, but they go about it all wrong. You have heard stories of companies that announce layoffs the week before Christmas.

Many times these companies new about the decision weeks or even months before it was announced, but in order to avoid problems, they put off the announcement until the last minute. Integrity in business ethics would say that you tell your people what is coming so they have the opportunity to prepare for the layoff.

The same is true with price increases for your clients. If you need to increase prices you need to be honest and up front about the increases, not try to slip an increase in unnoticed. This type of behavior usually backfires, and the reputation of your business is harmed in the process.

Security

One area that has improved over the years is the issue of security of information about your clients and customers. There have been too many examples in past where a company has sold customer contact information to a third party for marketing purposes. You customers end up on a junk-mail list because the company owner saw an opportunity for a quick pay-day.

You need to apply business ethics by making sure that any information you collect about your customers is kept completely private. If your customers do not feel safe with your business they will quickly go to your competitors, and you will have a hard time trying to win them back.

Code of Business Ethics

One way to make sure the people in your organization abide by your business ethics is to write a Code of Ethics for your organization. This sends a message to your employees and your customers that you practice good business ethics.

Be prepared to spend some time getting this right. It isn't something you can typically knock out over lunch one day. You need to make sure it truly captures your view of business ethics for your organization. If you do this half-heartedly, your customers and employees will see through it, and they will probably doubt that you truly hold to the business ethics that you claim are important.

Points To Keep In Mind…

• Many problems can be avoided by being honest with the people involved.
• Sometimes businesses do what is right, but they go about doing it all wrong.
• A Code of Business Ethics lets your customers and employees know what is important to you.
• Once you lose the trust of the people you deal with it is very hard to get it back.
• Your Code of Ethics needs to truly reflect what you believe and not just something you threw together.

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Don’t Apply Without a Cover Letter

By : Anthony Balderrama

Chances are you went through several drafts of your résumé before you submitted it to a prospective employer. You wrote and rewrote each line several times and had friends, family, even strangers proofread it. But if you send it off without enclosing a cover letter, your hard work may never be seen.

According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 66 percent of hiring managers prefer a good cover letter attached to a résumé. Think of it as the first chance to stand out in a sea of applicants. Your cover letter, if done well, tells the hiring manager you are qualified for the job and a serious candidate. Perhaps more important is the opportunity to show your personality.

For this reason, many hiring managers discard any résumés that don’t have cover letters. Omitting a cover letter tells the employer that you can’t make the effort to sell yourself and to save him or her some time. Writing a cover letter is an easy way to keep yourself in the game.

Here are some things to remember as you write your cover letter.

It’s your cover letter, not your memoir
Keep the cover letter to a few organized paragraphs that fit on one page. You want to give the reader a glimpse into your personality and your ability as an employee, but no one needs to know every little detail about your life.

Be yourself
Being yourself doesn’t mean being your Saturday-night self. It means putting a little personality into your writing. Recruiters aren’t looking for jokes, but they do want to know a real person is applying for the job. Just changing the “To” and “From” fields in a form letter will come across as lazy and generic. Use your own words and ideas.

Let the resume speak for itself
Hiring managers read the cover letter before they (hopefully) flip the page to look at the résumé. They might decide they don’t want to read the résumé if your cover letter sounds like it’s restating the exact same information without offering anything new. Discuss a specific achievement or experience that shows your qualifications for the job. The cover letter and résumé combined give you their attention for only two pages, so don’t waste it repeating yourself.

Know your audience
If your boss greeted you each morning by saying, “Hello, employee,” you’d be irked she didn’t know your name. Cover letters beginning “Dear Sir or Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern” leave similar impressions. If the job posting does not specify who will receive the applications, find out. Look online or call the company’s main line to ask for the name of the corporate recruiter or hiring manager. Once you find out, use a formal title such as Mr., Ms. or Mrs. It adds a personal but professional touch that will be appreciated.

Why you want this job
Sure, a paycheck would be nice, but hopefully you want this job for another reason. The company’s history, accomplishments and culture probably played a role in your decision to apply. Let the hiring manager know. It tells him or her that you’ve done your homework and are serious about being a member of the team.

Your manners
Even though job hunts are increasingly taking place online, you still need to adhere to business etiquette. As you would on any professional correspondence, include your full contact information as well as the hiring manager’s name and company address. And of course, avoid any typos and grammatical errors, which include netspeak .

Take your time
You already know how important a cover letter is, so don’t rush through it. Treat it with the same care you used for your resume. Check your facts. Write several drafts, revise it and look it over again. Let your first impression be a good one.

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10 Ways Your Resume Irks Hiring Managers

By : Mary Lorenz

Fashion designer Coco Chanel had a personal rule: Before she left the house, the style icon always removed one piece of her ensemble to avoid the faux-pas of wearing too many accessories. Were Chanel alive today and working as a hiring manager, she would likely offer similar advice to job seekers: You don't have to include everything.

Job seekers do themselves a disservice when they send out resumes with more information than they need. Most employers don't have the time or patience to sift through the irrelevant details. Here are 10 things your resume could do without:

1. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
"If you are careless enough to send out this most important document with a mistake... I immediately assume you'll never care enough about the work you send out representing my company," says Jose Bandujo, president of New York-based Bandujo Advertising. He recalls one candidate who misspelled Manhattan, despite having worked in the city for a decade and another whose great educational background didn't compensate for the fact that he couldn't spell "education."

2. Opening objectives.
"These are generic... They do nothing to differentiate one candidate from another," says Donna Flagg, president of The Krysalis Group, a human resource and management consulting firm in New York.

3. Personal attributes.
Listing personal information such as height, weight and age and providing photographs is a pet peeve for Heather Mayfield, vice president of training and operations for Snelling Staffing Services. "It is amazing that we still see this on the résumés of today, but they are out there."

4. Interests and hobbies.
If these points of information don't pertain to the job in question, there's no need to include them. "Create a mystery and save these kinds of data points when you start the job," advises Roy Blitzer, author of "Hire Me, Inc.: Resumes and Cover Letters that Get Results."

5. Details of every task you've ever performed in every job you've ever had.
"It's too much information. Managers and recruiters need to know at-a-glance what makes a candidate special," Flagg says. Focus on those details that pertain to the job for which you're applying.

6. Excessive bragging.
Stating one's accomplishments can be helpful, but when it's overdone, the candidate can come across as narcissistic, a huge turnoff for employers, Flagg says.

7. Outdated information.
Leave off the activities that you did in high school if graduation was a few years ago and omit jobs you held 10 or more years ago, as the information is probably irrelevant to the position you're trying for now.

8. False information.
"Putting [that you have] a B.S. on a resume when you do not have one is 'BS,'" jokes Stephen Viscusi, author of "On the Job: How to Make it in the Real World of Work." Not only is lying on a resume unfair and dishonest, it's also not very intelligent. "Companies verify dates of employment -- often after you start. If you have lied, they fire you...Nobody wants to hire a liar. Nobody."

9. Unexplained gaps in work history.
While job seekers should account for these gaps, they should be careful with their wording. "One of the weirdest things that I ever saw on a resume... was a candidate who explained a 10-year lapse in work experience as being in jail during those years for killing her husband," recalls Linda Goodspeed, marketing recruiting manager at VistaPrint. In such a situation, she says, the best thing to write would be "left work for personal reasons," and the candidate would be able to explain the criminal record later.

10. A lack of professionalism.
Colored paper, cutesy fonts, links to personal websites and childish e-mail addresses all scream unprofessional and are a turn off to hiring managers. One otherwise qualified applicant didn't get an interview at Bandujo's firm solely because of the name in her email address: "weird2themax." "I recognize the advertising industry is full of talented, interesting 'characters'," Bandujo says, "but did I really want one who thought she was weird to the max?" No, he decided, he did not.

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Five Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make and you Should Avoid

One thing that all entrepreneurs have in common is that they all make mistakes. Unfortunately, time and again we see the same mistakes repeated by many entrepreneurs.
Mistakes.


Entrepreneurs Make #1 – Unclear Goals

Not having clear goals and a clear mission is like trying to drive through a foreign city without a map. he easiest way to avoid making this mistake is to write down your goals and strategies. Too often people can be thrown off course by innocently misinterpreting the goals and strategies. To assume that everyone involved with the business has a clear understanding of its mission can cause many more errors down the road.

In addition to writing down the goals of the business, be sure to write down measurements for success! Set your goals with timelines or milestones in mind and keep focused on meeting those objectives.


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #2 – Trying to prove you are Smart

The quickest way to make enemies is to try and prove you are the smartest one out of all the people you work with. Trying to prove you are smart is self-serving and has everything to do with ego; you will end up looking foolish for not listening to the advice of others in business.

No one has all the answers. Where you become smarter is when you realize that there are many other talented people who you can learn from. If you are fortunate enough to be surrounded by such a group of people, learn to be gracious and acknowledge and give credit to them for helping you along the path of building your business successfully.


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #3 – Greed

This may sound like a silly question but: are you in business to simply make money? Or, have you become an entrepreneur in order to march to the beat of your own drummer?

Becoming a successful entrepreneur involves the creative efforts on not only your part, but also on the part of others who contribute time and money toward your business. They want to succeed with you and are more likely to stay with you as long as they are valued---by you.

This means that you cannot keep the whole pie to yourself. Just because you might feel that you work harder than others do, does not mean that you are entitled to all the business equity. Think of it this way: with the help of others' contributions of time and money, what might the value of your slice of the pie be worth down the road?


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #4 – Hiring the Wrong People

Your business is not being set up as a social gathering and filled with all the people whom you like. Your business needs to be comprised of knowledgeable and talented people who are good at what they do.

Successful entrepreneurs concentrate on hiring the people they need---not just people they like.

Part of writing your goals and strategies includes creating job positions for people to fill. Without a clear-cut job description and list of duties for those areas, how would you know the best people to hire?


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #5 – Not Knowing when to Let Go

Many business owners refer to their venture as their “baby” and, in many ways, building a business is just like rearing a child.

As an entrepreneur, you are starting with a seedling of life that you will nourish and grow and the “child” begins to mature. Over time, other people contribute their time, skills, and money into the business and, as the business grows, the relationships change.

Be prepared to hand over responsibilities to others so that you do not suffer from “burn out.”


Important Points to Remember to Avoid Making the 5 Biggest Mistakes:

Coffee Cup Nespaper and cell phone

• * Develop and write down goals, strategies, and measures for success.
• * Give credit to others who are smarter than you.
• * Be fair with sharing the equity in the business.
• * Hire the people you need---not just the people you like.
• * Learn to give responsibility to others at the right time.

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