Franchising - Some Negative Aspects

Although many people enjoy the benefits of franchising, there are still several disadvantages that a prospective franchisee needs to be aware of.

Buying into big and popular franchises is expensive. Their track record does not need much investigation since their outlets are most probably in every major town and city in the country, perhaps even abroad. Their popularity with consumers speaks well of the profitability of the brand. However, a prospect eyeing such franchises must be ready with a large amount of money or be able to make the necessary financial arrangements since the franchising fee alone can command a hefty price.

On top of the original franchise fee, royalties and a percentage of business revenue of the franchise must be paid to the franchisor every month. In addition, the franchisor may also charge fees for the cost of advertising and promotional materials. These will be stipulated in the franchise agreement.

On the other hand, buying a little-known and perhaps inexpensive franchise can be attractive especially to those who would like to start their own business but do not have the kind of money needed to buy a popular one. Prospects need to be aware, however, that just because a business is offering franchises is no assurance that its franchises will be successful. In some cases, franchising itself is the business of the company. In this case, the franchisor is only interested in selling as many franchises as possible regardless of whether the individual franchises will be successful or not. However, this is not to say that little-known inexpensive franchises are not worth looking into. Some of these may even prove to be a sound business concept that has just started. Therefore, all franchises, whether popular or little known, must be investigated carefully before making a final decision.

In franchising, although the franchisee owns the business, he is not an independent entrepreneur. He must follow all of the instructions of the franchisor, sometimes down to the smallest details, to ensure uniformity with all other franchises. Franchising does not allow the franchisee much control over his business because he has to adhere to an agreed method of operation. A tightly written franchise agreement gives the franchisee little latitude to deviate from the system of the franchisor. Some people may not be able to live with this arrangement for extended periods because the restraints being imposed by the franchisor may be too limiting for their own personal style. This is the reason why it is important for a prospect to match his intended business with his personality, preferences, and style.

There is always the possibility that conflicts between the own outlets of the franchisor and those owned by franchisees may occur, particularly if they are servicing the same general area. One may cut into the customer base of the other and franchisor and franchisee will ultimately be competing against each other to some extent. It is also possible that there are too many franchises of the same brand in one area that franchises are pitted against each other. This scenario happens when the franchisor did not give much consideration to market studies but only to the financial gain with many franchises.
Factors such as interest rates, willingness of banks to extend loans to franchises, the condition of the national economy, and competition come into play once a business starts to operate. The franchisee must be financially ready to absorb the negative impact of these factors.

An inevitable aspect of franchising is the conflict that may arise between the franchisee and franchisor once the former starts losing money. More often than not, the conflict results in litigation, something that will be costly to both parties in terms of both time and money. Tremendous efforts and resources on the part of the franchisor are needed to ensure the success of all its franchises. The bad news is that not all franchisors have access to such big resources, hence limiting their efforts largely.

Not all franchisors offer the same degree of assistance in starting a business and later on running it successfully. Some provide training just for start-up operations and the franchisee is left on his own after that. Others make assurances of continuous personnel training and support that they do not follow through on.

Deciding to get a franchise is good. However, its potential negative aspects must still be considered and addressed, because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. No franchisor is perfect, so it is up to the aspiring franchisee to objectively assess the profile of the target franchisor, and prepare for all the possible scenarios that might happen in the future


http://www.articleco.com/Article/Franchising---Some-Negative-Aspects/45586

How to Create a Video Resume

Employers are now starting to use more online services to seek employees for opportunities in their company

A video resume is a short video created by a candidate for employment and uploaded to the Internet for prospective employers to review. The video resume describes the individual's skills and experience and is is typically used to supplement a paper resume.

A video resume can be created by a professional or you can create your own. Some job search and networking sites (like LocalHelpWanted and MyWorkster) provide a means for users to incorporate video resumes into their profiles.

In a video Resume you will want to sell yourself to make yourself attractive to the employer.

Don't put false statement in the resume, be honest and this will build trust, with the company.

You may also use your video to showcase your work on sites like Localhelpwanted dot net. For example, if you paint houses for a living then show pictures or videos of the houses you have painted. If you are a graphics designer then show short videos of your graphics work. If you are a salesperson, show pictures of your sales awards. Employers hire you for the work you will do, so why not show them your accomplishments.

Tips to Create a Professional Video Resume:

Dress appropriately for the position you are applying for.
Keep the video short: one - three minutes.
Look at the camera . Practice in a mirror and memorize your resume.
Speak slow and normal and to the point.
Make sure the area behind you is free of clutter and that you are alone with no background noise
Start by stating your name (first and last).
Focus on your professional achievements and goals.
Sell your self in a professional manner as a good employee to the company and what you can offer the company in return.
List attributes of accomplishments. ( That pertain to the job applying for)
Never talk about personal goals with company goals.
Thank the viewer for considering you for employment.
Reference should only be giving out when asked for by the prospective employer.

Places to Upload Your Video Resume

Now that you have created you video resume what to do with the video resume and where to upload it . Career networking sites, like Localhelpwantedot net , have a section of your profile where you can include video. Or, you can upload your video to You Tube and link to it from there.

How to Promote Your Video Resume

Before you promote your resume online, ask friends or family to review it. They are more likely to pick up a glitch than you are. If it's not perfect, start over. Once your video resume is complete, there are several ways to promote it online.

Include a link to your video resume in your paper/online resume.
Include your video resume or a link to it in your professional profiles on Localhelpwanted com.

Send the link to your networking contacts.

Video Resume Don'ts

Don't mix your personal life with your professional one. If you have information on your MySpace or Facebook page that you'd prefer employers don't see, don't link your video resume.

Don't expect your video resume to replace your traditional resume. Not all employers are interested and others are worried about discrimination issues i.e. hiring candidates because of how they look and sound rather than your qualifications.



http://www.articleco.com/Article/How-to-Create-a-Video-Resume/45646

A leading USA online jobs portal

When I search for jobs at USA Online Jobs , I have come across some great job offers and have submitted my resume to various companies for review. I was lucky enough to receive several interviews. I have accepted a job with a big company in another area of the United States. I was more than happy to relocate and my family stood behind me one hundred percent. Because I used this job search site, I was able to select what job I would be interested in and in what location I would like to relocate too. Since I am a computer operator analysis, I needed to find employment with a company that still uses in house services.

I was surprised at how easy it was to use the USA Jobs site to search for a job in my field and also all the locations I could choose from without having to browse through jobs I was not interested in or the location. I say it took me about one month to find the perfect job and then it was just a matter of moving my family. The company also helped with this as well, they were more than happy to help pay for some of my relocation fees since they really wanted me to work with their company.

If you need a good place to look for jobs, I recommend USA Online Jobs because of the ease of use and the large database of jobs offered. Even if you are looking for a technical job or an office job, you can find many postings from employers everywhere. You can also have job listings emailed to you when something in your field becomes available. I really enjoyed this nice thing about the job site. If I was out for the day, I could look in my email to see if anything new was available for me to send my resume.

RESPONSE 1

I have to agree with you about USA Online Jobs, I also found the site very helpful in finding employment. I wanted to stay in my own area, therefore I did a search for employers in my city and in a field, I was familiar with just the same. It only took me a couple of weeks and I was once again working. It was nice to have everything in one area and I enjoyed having job announcements emailed to my inbox so I did not have go there every day.

I would have say this site has potential to become the number one job search site. I enjoy reading about other people who have had success finding work, therefore I had to stop by and tell you that I was also a success story because I used USA Online Jobs. It is always nice to know we can all find work with the help of the internet.

RESPONSE 2

I am now searching for work on USA Online Jobs and did not know until I read here, that I could have job alerts emailed to my inbox. I thank you for the bit of information. I am actively searching for work in the accounting business and really do not want to leave my home, so it might take me a little longer. My town is small, but I have seen that other areas around me have job opportunities.

I hope to be another success story in the near future, which I am confident I will be because there are many different locations to choose from on the job boards. I like to use a few other places as well, but I always seem to have more choices at USA Online Jobs. They seem to have a user-friendly site and I can navigate around it easily. I hope everyone has a favorable time looking for work on this site.

RESPONSE 3

I had to stop by and let you know that I found USA Online Jobs helpful towards finding a home job opportunity. I was surprised to see it there and decided to check it out further. I work for a medical practice with four doctors. I go to their office once every two days to pick up tapes for transcribing and then I return home where I work in my home office.

This was a great opportunity that I found at USA Online Jobs and had to share my story with you. I am not running my own transcribing business and making enough money to support myself without having to sit in a stuff office all day. I like the freedom I have and I would never have found this great job anywhere else, so I think the website is great and I agree with everyone else. It is a nice site to find the perfect job.


http://www.articleco.com/Article/A-leading-USA-online-jobs-portal/45917

Franchising The Risk Free Solution To Starting Your Own Business

Starting a business is tedious, expensive, and risky. It involves a lot of paperwork, market studies, coordinating with concerned agencies, scouting for the right place, and providing a significant amount of money for lease, initial inventory, furniture, and equipment.

However, nowadays, those thinking of starting a business have the option to start from scratch or simply get a franchise from reputable establishments. It is a fact that many success stories in business started from scratch and the vision of their founders. Starting from scratch is good if the business has something innovative to offer and can sell its products at a competitive and affordable price. It also must find the right business site, near its target market, and be able to advertise well in order to make consumers be aware of its products or services. This can take a long time, a lot of money, and uncertain market response.

On the other hand, considering the present aggressive competition in business, a franchise offers an enticing alternative. Franchising is a relatively new concept in business that caught the imagination of many business-minded people. In non-technical language, it simply means putting up a branch of a well-known company wherein the franchisee pays an agreed amount to the franchisor for the use of its brand name and identity. The franchise fee may vary according to the size of the franchisors customer base, popularity, and prospective profits. In addition, the franchisor offers its track record and effective business strategy. In the last few years, franchising became so popular that almost all successful companies have at least a few franchises. Many have even ventured into franchising overseas.

Despite the fact that big businesses demand a hefty sum of money as franchise fee, the benefits of franchising far outweigh its price. A good franchise offers a total package that includes site selection, lease negotiation, management and personnel training, and store design in addition to allowing the use of its trademark. It also provides continuing support on marketing, quality assurance, and troubleshooting to ensure that all franchises follow the same standards of quality. Hence, in retail outlets, processes are standardized, quality is assured, and customers are confident that they are getting their moneys worth.

Take the case of one of the most popular and successful franchises: McDonalds. Today, McDonalds franchise stores are everywhere, not only in the US but also in many countries abroad. When a customer walks into a McDonalds outlet anywhere in the world, he can expect the same high quality of food and service.

This is because one of the most significant advantages of franchising is that the retail will have access to the knowledge and expertise that enabled the franchisor to develop and expand its business. Since each franchise will adopt the same strategy that eventually developed from such know-how, all of them share and maintain a solid business platform. Their standard operating procedures (e.g., product pricing, recruitment, and marketing) have already been tried and tested such that many of the early mistakes have already been detected and addressed. Hence, the risk of failing is greatly reduced compared to an entrepreneur who is just starting to establish a business independently.

If marketing and purchasing are centralized, they result in economies of scale, which means lower costs and presumably higher profits. Moreover, all franchise stores benefit from the aggressive and sustained advertising, marketing, and promotional programs handled by the main management. The franchisor's business plan, operations manuals, and market analysis are also readily available, as well as the exact figure needed to fund the new franchise.

Assuming that the franchise is maintained according to the terms of the contract, initial investment can be recouped within a considerably short period. On top of the other benefits of franchising, the prospect of recouping investment early should be an irresistible come-on to any enterprising person.

The arrangement is also beneficial to the franchisor since it is assured of profits even with the franchise fee alone. The management of all franchises is centralized but the responsibility for the hiring of personnel and the day-to-day operations of each outlet rests on the franchisee. This leaves the central management free to focus on marketing thrusts and product research.

The concept of franchising is important because it gives the franchisee a chance to go into business for himself while enjoying the support and customer base of a mother company. In this arrangement, a safety net is provided for the franchisees investment since a good franchisor will certainly want to ensure that its good name in the business is upheld and that the new franchise will be viable for the sake of both parties. Moreover, the concept does not require direct experience from the franchisee. Therefore, it opens up a lot of access to various types of business that he might not have otherwise considered.

Indeed, franchising has become an important concept in business because it has proven that starting a business need not be difficult and risky. In fact, with franchising, it can be a piece of cake.


http://www.articleco.com/Article/Franchising--The-Risk-Free-Solution-To-Starting-Your-Own-Business/46374

How to Choose a Resume Writing Service

Having an attention-grabbing resume is one of the most important parts of the job search. Your resume and cover letter are your introduction to a potential employer; and without a strong introduction, you may never get another chance to make a good impression. As a result, the success of your job hunt can hang on how well your resume is written.

Maybe you are entering the work force after graduating from college. Or maybe you just need to find a new job. Regardless of why you are looking for work, a skilled resume writer has the power to help you get your foot in the door.

Why Should I Use a Resume Writer

Resume writing services are more than just a word processing or proofreading service. A resume writer takes your work experience, education, your strengths and weakness, and ties it all up into one little package. Although people usually think of their resume as a simplistic listing of their education and experience, it is actually more like a sales document. In order for your resume to effectively sell you, it not only has to be well written and visually appealing, but also has to present the goods you in the best possible light.

Sound easy Of course not. Why is it, then, that so many people attempt to write their resumes on their own You wouldnt try to write a legal contract when the outcome could impact the rest of your life you would hire a lawyer. By the same token, you should entrust your resume to a professional resume writer.

What Does a Resume Writer Do

A resume writers goal is to convince potential employers that you are perfect for the job. In order to sell your strengths, a resume writer will:

Discuss your career focus and gear your resume to your unique goals
Choose the best format to highlight your strengths
Write an attention-getting summary or list of objectives
Use convincing language to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses
Personalize your resume in a way that shows you off to your best advantage
Make your resume available in different file formats if needed
Make changes as necessary

Of course, a resume doesnt really stand by itself. Your career decisions, where and how you search for jobs, and the quality of your cover letter all impact how your resume is received. In other words, if you are looking for work in the wrong places, or dont introduce your resume properly in the cover letter, it wont matter how dazzling your resume is.

Resume writing services often offer a whole package approach to resume writing. To ensure that you land your dream job, your resume writer may offer additional services, such as:

Career consultation
Job search consultation
Cover letter writing
Resume distribution
Interview preparation

What Should I Look for in a Resume Writing Service

A good resume writing service is one that offers you everything necessary to get the attention of potential employers. When shopping for a resume writer, you should look for:

1. Convincing literature on their services. Whether you are browsing a website or looking at an informational pamphlet, pay close attention to how convincing the literature is. If they cant sell themselves, they likely wont be able to do a good job of selling you.

2. A good reputation. Dont forget to Google! If a resume writing service is worth its salt, you should be able to find good reports from happy customers. Even more importantly, if they arent any good you are almost certain to find complaints.

3. Experience. Your career is in your resume writers hands, so make sure you choose someone with experience. If your career is in a specialized field, you might even want to look for a resume writer who specializes in the field a writing service that knows the industry will also know what its employers look for in a resume.

4. Education. Submitting a resume with errors is embarrassing enough, but when youve paid to have it done right its downright tragic. Make sure your resume writer is educated and/or certified, so that you can be sure youre getting your moneys worth.

5. Personal attention. You dont want someone who is going to simply plug your information into a resume writing program you could do that yourself. In order for your resume to stand out, it needs a unique touch that can only be achieved if your resume writer has taken the time to discuss it with you.

Of course, when you are shopping for a resume writing service, dont forget to listen to your gut. You will have to work closely with the writer during the creation of your resume, so it is important to feel comfortable with him or her.

Hiring a resume writer ensures that your resume looks professional and gets attention. Although the expense may seem unnecessary, consider that you have already invested thousands of dollars into your education so that you could simply get to this point. When your entire career is at stake, dont throw it away over a typo or a passive verb! A resume writing service can help you make your dream job a reality.


http://www.articleco.com/Article/How-to-Choose-a-Resume-Writing-Service/47273

First-Time Managers: Who Really Has What It Takes

You've seen team members work hard and get results. You've watched individuals go above and beyond what's expected, and they show real potential for continued growth. So, naturally, their dedication will be rewarded with promotions to management roles.
But if they have no previous leadership experience, how do you know these first-time managers will have what it takes

While there are many books, articles, and seminars on what makes an effective manager, studies show that most people in managerial positions had little or no management experience or training before taking on their current roles. In addition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50% to 55% of workers who moved up to supervisory, managerial, or executive positions came from other roles inside the same firm.

"In many organizations, there's no transition plan," said Eileen Krantz, vice president of organizational development at Caliper, a management consulting firm based in Princeton, NJ. "One day a person can go from being on the team to being in charge of the team, and there was never a planned approach to how this changeover would take place."

As organizations are becoming leaner and flatter, moving into a leadership role is no longer a gradual process. Supervising others is a new responsibilityand a major challenge. A company's productivity and ability to retain committed employees depend largely upon the skill of its managers, and when people are promoted to management for the first time, it can be extremely overwhelming.

To Promote, or Not to Promote

Employees who may have been outstanding individual contributors do not always become top managers. Moreover, a person's current job duties could be entirely different from his or her new management responsibilities. Therefore, the very same skills that make someone appear to be an attractive candidate for advancement become less important once the person is promoted and must then manage others.

As John Hancock's field sales office in Atlanta, GA, increased its staff size from eight internal wholesalers in 2001 to its current staff of 22 internal wholesalers, the organization decided in 2005 to create two new management positions to help internal sales director Amy Addison with overseeing the team so that she could focus on bigger issues such as strategic planning. Rather than choosing her top salespeople, Addison looked at those individuals who showed the most management potential.

"I didn't choose two of my best," explained Addison. "In the past, I think a lot of us have taken [our] best performers and put them into management. First of all, my top performers didn't want to go into management, but in doing the reviews and some of the career conversations, there were two individuals who absolutely contained the skill set. They showed excellent potential and leadership ability, and I ended up choosing them."
Being Too Tough vs. Not Being Tough Enough

Even after finding the right people to fill management positions, a company can still run into problems if employees are not given clear descriptions of what their new jobs entail. As first-time managers often have misperceptions of what it means to be a manager, they may struggle to reconcile their initial expectations with a manager's real responsibilities. And the most common mistakes of new managers tend to fall into two categories: being too tough and not being tough enough.

Managers who are "too tough" in their approaches to supervising others rely on their authority to get things done. Ask these new managers what their roles involve, and they may start off by describing management's rights and privileges rather than its duties. Or they might simply say that being a manager means being "the boss."

"Some people might feel because they're in the position, they've been anointed manager," said Krantz. "They might say, 'I'm going to tell people what to do, and if they just do it the way I've always done it, they're going to be fine.' But it doesn't always work out that way."

Common Pitfalls for First-Time Managers:
Throwing their weight around too quickly.
Not knowing how to listen to others.
Being a "buddy" rather than a boss.
Letting friendships get in the way of managing performance.
Not knowing how to delegate assignments.
Saving the most interesting work for themselves.
Not knowing when to let someone go.
Not keeping the team or boss informed.
Concentrating on problems rather than opportunities.
Not working with other managers.
Being defensive to criticism.
Judging workers rather than behavior.
When Addison chose an internal wholesaler for one of the new management positions, she thought his optimistic attitude would motivate the rest of the team. However, once in the position, the new manager set a different tone.

"I thought this manager was going to be more laid-back than what he ended up being," said Addison. "He ended up coming across a bit heavy-handed, saying to team members, 'You guys have got to step it up' or 'We've got to get to this point, or else you all might be looking for jobs.' I'm not sure where that management style came from."

On the other hand, there are managers who are "not tough enough" because they simply may not feel comfortable taking charge in the way that they are now expected to.

"When someone moves from peer to manager, the rules change," explained John Carlson, president and CEO of Bridgton Hospital. "They are no longer buddy-buddy. They are in a position where they have to hold people responsible. And sometimes they either don't know how to do that or don't want to do that."
First-Time Manager Solutions

So what can an organization do to make sure people are set up to succeed

First, make sure you pick people who are competent and have what it takes to do the job.

But how can you do that quickly and simply By administering a validated personality assessment, you can determine if candidates have the attributes necessary for success. Are they able to assert themselves Rebound from difficulty Think on their feet Research has shown that the personality dynamics of successful managers differ from those of successful individual contributorsand, for that matter, from those of successful leaders as well. Understanding these differences can be critical in planning a career path for individuals within your organization.

Another indicator of success is past performance. However, it is important to not just look at traditional measures of an individual's skills and abilities but also see things from the expanded viewpoint of team orientation and leadership qualities.

In the past, has the candidate helped, coached, or mentored other people Spent time with coworkers who were having difficulty to help them improve In short, has he or she contributed to the success of others If the answer is "no," beware of promoting someone who is unlikely to meet your expectations in a managerial role.

Second, clearly communicate your expectations for the new role.

Will the candidate be required to start up a new unit Maintain and grow an already high-performing operation Turn around a failing group

You need to have clearly defined criteria for success, in terms of both the right behaviors and the right results. Also, be sure to provide a definite "breakaway point" from the previous position so the person can hit the ground running in his or her new role.

Third, provide management-orientation, training, and career-development programs before raising even outstanding individual contributors to management level in order to help them move more smoothly into their new positions.

Training can also be a way of reinforcing the candidate's buy-in to your company's goals, as well as enabling new managers to develop the competencies required for their expanded roles. Personality assessments used during the selection process can also help you tailor training programs to address specific areas for developmental improvement that may have been uncovered.

And finally, make sure your culture rewards managers.

What are the behaviors needed for success in a management role at your company How do you measure those behaviors And do you reward those behaviors If so, how If not, why not You need to make your expectations known and then reward strong performance before a first-time manageror any managercan be successful.

By taking the steps required to set an employee up for success, you will deliver a clear message. Companies that show their employees that their long-term development is a shared goal have a definite advantage in attracting the best applicants and keeping their top talent motivated, challenged, and loyal.


http://www.articleco.com/Article/First-Time-Managers--Who-Really-Has-What-It-Takes/47363

How to Write an Entry Level Resume

Whether you are just entering the workforce after graduation or you have decided to change careers, you need an entry-level resume that will help you get a job in a new field. Without industry experience, however, many applicants worry that their resume wont pass muster.

Not to worry when you are applying for an entry-level job, employers will expect you to have entry-level experience. However, a professional resume is still required, regardless of your level of experience. Here are the elements that every entry-level resume needs to have, as well as several tips for writing a winning resume.

Elements of an Entry-Level Resume

When browsing resumes, the majority of hiring managers simply scan the objectives and summary of each one before moving on to the next. This means that the information at the top is the first and possibly the only part of your resume that gets noticed. A resume is basically a sales pitch a one- or two-page description of what an employer will get if they hire you. And because hiring managers have very short attention spans, you need to hit them with your selling points as quickly as possible.

Contact Information

Nothing will hurt your chances faster than making a prospective employer hunt for your contact information. This information should be listed clearly at the very top of your resume.

Objectives

Believe it or not, this is the most important part of an entry-level resume. First, this is the first thing a hiring manager sees. Second, since your work history cannot demonstrate your chosen career path, its up to your objectives to tell employers where you are headed.

A bulleted list of focused objectives is a necessity. Instead of Position where I can exercise my creative skills, use, Assistant art direct position in the independent film industry in the New York City metropolitan area. Likewise, if you want a management job with good upward mobility, write something like, Management position with opportunities for advancement. Open to travel and/or relocation.

Of course, your objectives should be tailored to fit the specific job you are applying for if you really want it, that is. Telling the retail hiring manager that you would prefer a job in engineering is a sure way to get passed over!

Summary

Your resume summary is also extremely important if the hiring manager doesnt see what he is looking for there, he is not likely to look any further. Your summary section should contain a bulleted list of your most important qualifications. When you have more experience, this is the section where you will list the number of years you have worked in the field. For now, you will simply list other noteworthy qualifications you have.

Avoid summary statements that have become clich, such as saying you are detail-oriented. Too many other applicants will make the exact same claim. Instead, pick out the qualifications that make you valuable and unique. Remember, this is not only your sales pitch it is also your last chance to get the hiring managers attention before he moves on to the next resume.

Education

Typically, a resume lists work experience before education. However, the point of a resume is to highlight your strengths, not expose your weaknesses. If you have a good education but not a lot of experience, you can shift the focus by listing your education first.

Your education section should list your degrees with the most recent first. List the degree, followed by the name of the school. Your graduation date should also be included; if you havent graduated yet, simply put your scheduled graduation date. You should also include your GPA only if it is worth writing home about that is, if it is above 3.0. Otherwise, dont include it in your resume, but practice your answer for when you are asked about it!

Work Experience

Many entry-level applicants worry about their lack of detail in this area. Dont forget, though, that you are applying for entry-level positions, so hiring managers expect that applicants wont have a lot of work experience in the field. You can make your work history look better by describing each set of job responsibilities in a way that plays up the work experience. For example, if an after-school job included lower-level management responsibilities, make sure you note them on your resume.

Alternatively, you can use a functional resume format, which works well for entry-level applicants. The functional format allows you to arrange work experience according to skills that employers will be looking for. For example, if you are trying to break into journalism, but have no experience in the field, you might be able to highlight the desired skills elsewhere: under the skill heading Communication you could list your letter-writing duties as an office secretary, the research write-ups you had to do as a work-study student, and the reporting you did for the school paper.

The downside to the function format is that it is not always well received some employers and most recruiters prefer to see a listing of the jobs you have actually held. The combination format typically satisfies this requirement. This format still combines work experience into a Professional Skills section; however, it is followed by a bare bones listing of your work history, with only the job title, employer, and dates listed.

Other Elements

There are other sections that you can add to your resume to showcase your other qualifications. A section entitled Community Service demonstrates additional work experience, even if it wasnt paid. The Achievements section allows you to list awards you have received at school and work. Training and Certifications lists other qualifications you have, such as certificates or on-the-job training, which cannot be listed under the education section. The placement of these sections depends on the context of the rest of your resume, with the most important (or impressive) qualifications always going nearer to the top.

Last-Minute Advice for Writing Your Entry-Level Resume

Now that you know what goes into an entry-level resume, youre ready to start writing! As you work on your resume, however, remember these rules of thumb:

Be honest Whatever you do, dont succumb to the temptation to inflate your qualifications! The littlest white lie can cause you not only to lose the job, but also to burn that bridge before you even get a chance to cross it.

Cut to the chase Above all, hiring managers are short on time. This means that the fewer words you use, the shorter your resume, and the better its chances of being read. Dont use unnecessary words make each point as succinctly as possible.

Sell your strengths It is important to remember that the point of a resume is to sell your qualifications to the hiring manager. Your resume should display your qualifications prominently. Dont hide your lack of experience or make up qualifications you dont have just be sure employers can readily see what youll be bringing to the table.

As long as you follow these tips and include the basic elements listed above, your resume is sure to get attention. Remember, while a great resume alone wont land you a job, a sloppy or incomplete resume could cost you a great opportunity!



http://www.articleco.com/Article/How-to-Write-an-Entry-Level-Resume/49285

Advice for the Degreeless

A great American overachiever said once so profoundly, "Stuff happens." And so stuff does. Even if every child doesn't get left behind, there is no national plan to prevent teens from voluntarily or involuntarily abandoning academic endeavors right after high school or in the middle of college. According to the 2004 Census, only 27% of Americans over 25 hold bachelor degrees or higher.

Everybody knows the wages are rotten for those who take unskilled labor positions. Everybody knows you can't look your landlord in the eye after you chose to indulge in a steak dinner one night and are a few dollars short in the rent the next day. Everybody knows having no college degree forces you to accept working situations where you must choose between eating and paying bills. Everybody knows that the milkman can't afford a wife, children, and house anymore. Everybody knows the milkman now shares a bachelor apartment with a stranger named Skip from Mississippi who used to work in a local call center. Everybody knows a big blue bedspread divides their apartment.

Yes, the value of a college degree increases every year. Even jobs that don't require a college degree are making it increasingly difficult for workers who don't have postsecondary education on account of the competition in the current job market. Registered nurses, for example, have the greatest figures for projected annual job openings, but this career requires at least three years of occupational study in such disciplines as science and mathematics. For unskilled applicants, this is a barrier that puts them right back at square one regarding not having spent several years attending college in the first place. In this case, there are alternatives like becoming a licensed practical nurse. You can attain certification through part-time training programs, which is helpful for those who cannot support themselves and perhaps a family and go to school simultaneously. Most information technology professionals look for applicants with previous work experience. So, even if an unskilled working attends IT job-training programs, those programs fail to provide internship opportunities or relevant work experience. If applicants choose to attend such training programs, they would do well to ensure that the program has a perfectly clear idea of what employers in that field require from potential hires. Overall, most unskilled workers without a college degree do not have the time or money to prevent themselves from choosing the wrong career path. Very often, unskilled applicants end up in customer service positions that require only a high school diploma. Most of the time, however, employees readily quit these positions because of the low pay received while suffering repetitive work, spying management, and irate customers.

Every American high school kid has heard others in class make unfunny jokes about the C's and D's kids who are future gas-pumpers. Equally, American educators take secret pleasure in scaring kids about being homeless and unhappy or working to death at McDonalds if they don't go to college. But don't worry. If you never started or finished college, there is hope. You don't have to assume you will eternally earn low wages while helping clueless bookstore customers understand why the bookstore doesn't sell first prints of Hamlet, or editing resumes for angry, out-of-work attorneys.

The following is a list of jobs in growing industries that pay more than $25,000 a year that are available to potential employees who hold an associate's degree or less, and do not require a lot of work experience. Together these 16 jobs are expected to create annually more than 700,000 jobs nation-wide

* Registered nurse, $48,090
* Customer-service representative $26,240
* Sales representative (non-technical wholesale and manufacturing) $42,730
* Truck driver; heavy and tractor-trailer$33,210
* Maintenance and repair worker$29,370
* Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk$27,380
* Executive secretary and administrative assistant$33,410
* Secretary (not legal; medical and executive)$25,290
* Carpenter$34,190
* Automotive (service technician and mechanic)$30,590
* Police and sheriff's patrol officer$42,270
* Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse$31,440
* Electrician$41,390
* All other sales and related workers$35,170
* Computer-support specialist$39,100
* Plumber, pipe-fitter, and steam-fitter$40,170

Also, the Top 50 Highest-Paying Occupations by Median Hourly Wages Occupational Outlook Handbook (2006-2007) lists the highest paying jobs for which a degree is not required. For these jobs, you only need some work experience and on-the-job training.
Its statistics were gathered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2005.
Some of these jobs are:

Air Traffic Controller
Cops of the skies, they vouchsafe that airplanes fly safely at distance from one another and regulate commercial arrivals and departures. If you are interested in this non-degree-requiring career, enroll in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) course and pass a test. Air traffic controllers earned $51.73 per hour or $107,600 per year in 2005.

Manager
Of course, this career path applies to a variety of professional fields. They earned a median hourly wage of $38.06 or $79,200 annually in 2005.

Industrial Production Manager
They manage the production of millions of annual goods in America. It helps to have a degree to acquire this position, but it is not imperative. On-the-job training is provided. They earned a median hourly wage of $36.34, annually $75,600, in 2005.

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
They abide by government policies and regulations to plan and direct said activities. You must have prior experience in this field, however. These professionals were paid a median hourly wage of $33.23 or a median annual wage of $69,100 in 2005.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
They control the equipment affecting the reactor power of a nuclear power plant. You will be required to have training and some college courses will be preferred. They earned a median hourly wage of $31.84 and a median annual wage of $66,200 in 2005.

First-Line Supervisors and Managers of Police and Detectives
They oversee the actions of cops. You must have related work experience to be considered. Their median hourly wages were $31.52 and the median annual salary was $65,600 in 2005.

First-Line Supervisors and Managers of Non-Retail Sales Workers
They manage the activities of sales associates and related retail workers. Experience is required. Their median hourly wages were $29.79 and the median annual salary was $62,000 in 2005.

First-Line Supervisors and Managers of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers
They handle the responsibilities of those who work as firefighters and in other fire prevention jobs. Experience required. They earned median hourly wages of $29.25 and a median annual salary of $60,800 in 2005.

Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Sales Representatives
Sales representatives attempt to get buyers to purchase products made by the companies for which they work. On-the-job training is usually provided, but a degree is preferred. Their median hourly wages were $29.21 and the median annual salary was $60,800 in 2005.

Gaming Managers
They plan and control casino operations. To enter this field you must have related experience. They earned median hourly wages of $28.82 and a median annual salary of $59,900 in 2005.

You may use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much income some of these career paths will bestow upon you respective of the city in which you live.

In short, the choices are out there, just keep the faith and, most importantly, be honest.

It goes without saying that we live in a win-at-all-costs culture as evidenced by the shameless mendicant down the street all the way to those who think quietly within secured chambers at the White House. It's easy to take one summer class at your local community college, and then write "some college" on your work application or "B.A. expected 2010" on your resume, or to cloak your degreeless self with how many educational course you have attended. And many hiring professionals assume you bring the educational qualifications for which they ask.

So, it comes as no surprise that a recent survey revealed that more than half of job candidates are less than candid on their resume regarding owning a college degree. If this habit of half-truth trickery is your plan, think again. More often than those who state falsehoods on their resumes, managers and human resource hounds do frequently investigate the validity of what you claim on your resume. Even if you are three hours short of graduating, let them know. If you are found out, they will surely interpret the discrepancy as an integrity issue and say thank you and goodbye on the spot. Also, be consistent with your answers if you write that you are a college graduate and are given a second opportunity to address the issue (i.e.grace period, even when asked again during an interview). Don't change your mind. You will be dropped.

Being honest about everything on your resume is particularly imperative when applying for glorious titles such as Vice President of Logistics, especially for multi-billion, multinational companies, as those who do the hiring for positions and places like these are even more likely to implement a more persnickety plan to prove the truth about what you claim on paper.

Take the leap of faith. Your college degree does not weigh as much as you think. In most cases, candidates with a remarkable background and strong chemistry with the company will achieve the positions they seek. It has been said by a trustworthy source that 70% of hiring arises from the good chemistry between candidate and company. A degree is not as important as this connection and work experience. You are more likely to get hired being degreeless but honest than misrepresenting yourself along a fragile bridge of canards.



http://www.articleco.com/Article/Advice-for-the-Degreeless/52691

The Stress And Anxiety Of A Reporter

Every long journey must face its consequential end - and so it is with the career of reporter. The journalistic odyssey of every reporter must eventually reach the end point... the last report from the field. The long years of tedious work in covering beats, going to different places, meeting different personalities and dignitaries all these have induced stress and anxiety even on the most hardiest news reporter.

As a reporter, a part of me rejoices while another part laments. It is really a difficult to swim in the polluted waters of politics and treacherous waters of truth-telling. However, with a deep sense of integrity and love for work, I managed to keep my head above the water. Eating death threats for breakfast, averting every danger while covering rally dispersals, and rendering more than the usual regular work hour just to substantiate and give justice to the news that people read and need. The stress and anxiety challenged not only my physical strength but also the stability of my emotions, and my commitment to the principles of journalism.

Amidst all the challenges of journalism, I always found strength in God who is the Truth. Taking the long, arduous road to the factual truth was truly worth it. It is not everyday that a news item can enlighten the masses to the point of inspiring them to take action. All the stress and anxiety of the work seemed to be of little importance compared to the fulfillment of having brought to the people the information they need.

Quite frankly, I went through heaven and hell just to find my own place in the competitive world of journalism. I, too, had to make sacrifices in terms of time and energy just to fulfill my calling. Like every journalist who tried to maintain integrity in work I, too, had to tread my own via dolorosa my road to suffering. Chasing one scoop after another, haggling to get the best shot and the most exclusive interviews among the Who's Who --- it was expected that I would sooner or later slow down due to stress and anxiety.

Many times, I have contemplated about my worthiness to be a reporter. Modesty aside, my journalistic record already shows that I have what I takes to see my articles in print. Perhaps, like my fellow writers who have finished the struggle before me --- I, too, have earned my right...to have a place in this world. Admittedly, there were times when I fell due to self-doubt and envy. But something within me gave me reassurance that I could stand together with the best of them --- if I could only stop comparing myself to others. Thankfully, I learned that being a reporter...being a writer is such a solitary work. In the same manner, I should also learn to judge my own work --- motivated not by the need to belong or to get approval from others, but for the sheer love of the craft and the desire for continuous self-improvement as a writer and journalist.

My experiences as a writer-reporter reminds me of the story about a man who found favor in the eyes of God. An angel of the Lord appeared to the man and said that he can have three wishes. The only catch was that whatever he wishes for, his neighbor will be granted twice of what he wished for. In reverent awe, the man fell on his knees and thanked the Lord for the blessing he has received. He first wished to have 1,000 heads of cow, and in effect, his neighbor received 2,000. His second wish was for a son, and subsequently his neighbor had twins. In a sudden bout of envy, he asked the Lord to gouge out his left eye so that his neighbor would lose both eyes. The angel of God was saddened by his wish and never granted the last request. Indeed, man must never fall into the trap of envy. Instead, we must strive for excellence while wishing good for our fellowmen.

As a reporter, stress and anxiety will always be present and should be treated as part and parcel of being a journalist. In summary, a reporter-writer must not only search after the truth. He must also be a force for good.


http://www.articleco.com/Article/The-Stress-And-Anxiety-Of-A-Reporter/54880

Marketing Yourself Successfully

Around the world the market for skilled people, for professionals, for generalists and specialists, is increasing exponentially. Ironically, at the same time the market is demanding only specific skills, knowledge, understanding, experience and qualifications, and these are often not the traditionally known ones. Remaining marketable in such fast changing and demanding times is now essential if an individual is to continue to be successful in their work. It is not enough to have traditional skill sets, nor rely on qualifications which have been superseded by more modern versions or completely replaced. To remain marketable it is essential to continuously, appropriately, and visibly, update your qualifications, skills, knowledge, and understanding. Additionally, in many business sectors you will need to demonstrate that your experiences are also current, varied, and relevant.

Successful providers of goods or services adopt what is known as the Marketing Concept. This, in essence, is the producing or selling organisation focusing primarily on identifying the needs and wants of the customer, rather than the operational capabilities of the organisation. This customer driven approach ensures that the organisation is aware of current and likely future customer needs and enables it to provide products that it knows certain customers will purchase. Of course, other factors, such as competitor activity and background changes in the marketplace, are very important, and will be factored in to the strategies. It is this approach that must be taken by the individual seeking to be successful in their careers.

To remain marketable, to be successful in finding new opportunities, to make good progress in whatever field you have chosen, you will need to adopt the marketing concept to yourself. This means researching what your customers or clients want. If you are intent on staying within your current organisation, you must research and establish what are their current, but more importantly, future people needs, what skills, experience, expertise, qualifications, are they seeking from their key people. To highlight the importance of this, consider what an external applicant, applying for a post in your organisation, would do. Correct, research and present themselves in a way which matches the needs of the organisation as closely as possible. If you are planning to change organisations, or sectors, or to set up a business, the same applies, you must identify the current and future needs of your chosen target. If you do not, then it is highly likely that your profile will not meet their needs.

This is the most essential first step. You will need to consider which markets you are targeting, which customers. In other words, which business sectors and which organisations, or which clients and customers if you are setting up a business. This is not an easy task but it is critical that you do this well. If you are planning to remain employed then much information is readily available, directly from organisations and from business sector trade organisations, indirectly from sector reports, educational research, educational institutions who provide sector or profession specific courses, educational departments of professional associations, marketing companies, government departments. The danger is that many of these information providers may themselves not be up to date with the latest developments and trends, so you will need to cross-check most information. If you are planning to set up a business, then you will need to carry out market research on your potential customers or clients. Armed with information on the current and forecast condition and the current and future people or services needs, of your target markets, you can then move on to the next step.

The essential second step is to carry out an analysis of your current skills, experience, qualifications, and ongoing development activities. The best and most simple tool to do this with is the SWOT analysis: identifying your strengths and weaknesses and then the opportunities available to you and the threats that face you. You can do this alone, but it is much better to seek help from others, such as a coach, mentor, human resource specialist, line manager, or friend who can give advice and support objectively. When you have identified your strengths consider how these can be enhanced. When you have identified your weakness (in relation to your target customers needs) you should plan how to reduce or eliminate them. In both areas, this will probably mean taking on personal and-or professional development activities, which we will discuss below. Opportunities will need to be assessed in two stages: firstly those available to you now, given your current profile, and secondly those that will be available to you after you have made yourself more marketable, by enhancing your strengths and taking positive action to eliminate or reduce your weaknesses. Threats are also best assessed in two stages: firstly those currently facing you, and secondly those that are likely to arise in the future. As you can see, identifying your current attributes is a major task, but one that is highly valuable and essential if you are to move forward successfully.

As we are illustrating in this article, your most valuable transferable skill may well be that of being willing to continuously develop yourself. That aside, there are other attributes that will be highly valuable. Whether you are considering moving into another business sector, or setting up your own business, then in the process of carrying out the SWOT analysis, you should add a category where you can list your current transferable skills. These are skills, experience, qualifications, knowledge, that you already possess and which will be valuable in your new work situation. These attributes can range through the hard to the soft, and can include contacts, experiences, specialist expertise, passion for certain type of work, qualifications, internet skills, foreign languages, and so on.

After you have completed the analysis of your targeted markets, and of your current skills, the next step is to draw up a development action plan that will fill identified gaps, enhance strengths, reduce or eliminate weaknesses, prepare you to take advantage of opportunities and equip you with the means to defend against threats. Preparing a personal professional development plan is a major task and should not be taken lightly. Advice and guidance should be obtained from appropriate sources, even if this is simply to research current best practice, by using the internet and-or textbooks. Your plan should be designed to develop yourself in a way which results in your profile matching that of the target markets. It is unlikely that you will achieve a complete match in a short space of time, but you must start the journey with that in mind. Considerable help is available, from professional associations, sector specific educational qualification providers, private business schools, public colleges and universities, and can be studied in distance learning, classroom, or on the job formats. Some development areas are widely useful, such as courses in general business and management, quality management, project management, and marketing, whilst other subjects can be highly useful if identified as a specific need, such as risk management, event management, financial awareness, strategic planning, and customer relationships. There are, of course, many more that could be essential development areas.

In addition to the necessary personal development activity, there are other avenues that should be explored. These include: networking, which is seen in some sectors as a valuable marketing tool for employed and for self-employed people; building a presence by publishing articles, in relevant journals or internet directories or publishing a weblog, or even writing and publishing a book on your business specialism; taking on public speaking; joining and participating in local branches of professional associations. These are but a few of the many ways of promoting yourself, which can be explored in more depth through research on the internet.

The message here is very simple. You must take action. Whatever your marketplace it will be highly competitive and highly demanding. You will need to be actively managing your participation, your self-marketing, in order to be amongst the successful participants.

There are some common pitfalls that can damage the process. The main danger areas are: Allowing current workload to prevent you from taking the action described here. You will almost certainly never be less busy, its the way of the modern business world that the amount and the pace of change is continuously increasing, and this translates into workload; You are tempted to focus on technical, operational skills, rather than broader, more conceptual skills, such as interpersonal skills, negotiation skills, or strategic approaches; You become committed to a position because it was easy to obtain. If this happens it is unlikely that the attraction of the post will last; You limit your opportunities by trying to match your existing skills with opportunities; You limit your opportunities by carrying out little or insufficient research; You limit your opportunities by not looking beyond your current business sector; You procrastinate and dont take action. All of these are fatal mistakes. You must avoid them and take positive, realistic action, now.

Making yourself more marketable, more attractive, more credible, more interesting, is an essential skill in todays highly competitive, complex, and fast-changing business world. The need to show evidence of continuous personal and professional development is no longer expected of the few, or in certain professions only. It is now mandatory in all business sectors, and in all organisations, be they private or public, commercial or non-profit making. The most successful individuals embrace this requirement and add it to the range of skills that they equip themselves with, and then develop it with passion and commitment. To make yourself more marketable you have to take that task very seriously, and commit appropriate effort and energy to it. If you can also add passion for continuous development and learning, the rewards will be considerable.



http://www.articleco.com/Article/Marketing-Yourself-Successfully/55582