Archive for March, 2007

Self-Employed? You Need a Business Plan Too!

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

You know the saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. If you are working for yourself, even if you operate out of a tiny one-room office, or an office in your home, you need a business plan. A person who wants to be in a business who doesn’t have a concrete plan is like a computer without an operating system. Creating a business plan can do wonders for the organization of your business, as well as the success of your business.

Studies have consistently shown that those who work with a plan reach their goals more so than those who do not. Coming up with a plan of action creates a focal point for you and those who may get involved with your plan in the future. This plan will help define the purpose of your business, the type of industry that your business will represent, and the future goals of your business. Not only that, but your business plan will act as an analysis of the potential or existing market for the type of products or services that your company will offer.
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Why People Are Going the Self-Employment Route

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

Switching from employed to self-employed can be a huge change. Things that you are so used to, including benefits and a steady salary, are no longer a reality when you go the self-employment route. You’ve probably read about the disadvantages that many self-employed people face; working longer hours and cash flow problems just to name two. Yet there are many potential advantages. For example, being self-employed through an Internet enterprise can yield plenty of money with very few hours of work. It all hinges on your ability and willingness to succeed. The most important thing to have when becoming self-employed is self-motivation and determination; with these you can easily experience many advantages when working for yourself. Besides the obvious advantage of perhaps a shorter workweek, there are many others. Here are a few examples of what they may be.

Independence

One major plus that pleases many self-employed people is the fact that they are more independent; they are their own bosses. They feel free without someone else as their boss. Without other people leaning over their shoulders telling them what to do, they have a sense of autonomy. Of course, this is only an advantage if you are capable of being your own boss. It takes a lot to stay on track without a boss telling you what to do and keeping you there. You may not feel as established at first, but time and effort can make you a very successful boss. So remember this before making a final decision regarding self-employment.
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Jobs and Older Applicants

Wednesday, March 14th, 2007

The modern world has seen many plant closures and massive layoffs. In some cases, older workers receive “buyouts” or early pensions. In many cases, though, they are just given their notice and a month’s pay. Those older workers then discover that it can be hard to get a job due to their age. Some (many?) employers prefer a younger workforce, not realizing the benefits that come from hiring some of us “old” ones.

Fortunately, employers are starting to see the potential of older and much-experienced applicants as can be seen by the statistics below:

  • In Australia, Bureau of Statistics showed that between the period of August of 1989 to that of August of 2003, the workforce aged 15-24 lost more than 380,000 jobs to older workers. Aside from the fact that most of Australia’s younger generation became full-time students, employers favored the older applicants.
  • In Netherlands on the other hand (by December of 2000), over 500,000 thousand of their employees are 55 years old and above. This figure had been increasing steadily since 1995.

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Importance of Creating a Business Plan

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

Business success is as unpredictable as the waves in the sea. However, if you have a plan, you will be able to prepare yourself for the ups and downs of running a business.

You need a plan of action to help you communicate to others who will join you what the purpose of the business is. Your business plan will also serve as a tool in which you will convince lenders that your business idea is a feasible and marketable one.

Business plans can help save you the trouble of pursuing a futile venture, because they are designed to help you analyze your business idea. In order to complete your business plan you will be conducting quite a bit of research.

The type of research you will be participating in during the planning stages of starting a business include examining annual reports of other companies that sell similar products or services, conducting surveys on various consumer groups, and establishing test markets.
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Entry-Level Jobs 101: 4 Must-Know Tips

Monday, March 5th, 2007

For many people, success in the job market requires starting from scratch. This means learning the basic and fundamental principles of working, and how to establish a good working relationship with your colleagues and supervisors, as well as customers.

In order to do this, one often must submit themself to an entry-level job. This refers to a job that requires minimal skills and expertise, with no experience requirement needed. Because of its nature, entry-level jobs are characterized by low salary and physical work.

More often than not, people who are in entry-level jobs have very low hourly rates and sometimes are on a part-time basis. Examples of these “starter” jobs are those who are working in a fast food restaurant, customer service, cashiers, etc.
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