From E-Commerce to Own Businesses

From E-Commerce to Own Businesses Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From E-Commerce to Own Businesses “I didn't want to leave my son, no matter how perfect the job might seem on paper.” * From E-Commerce to Own Businesses Tamara Budz was fed up with big sluggish corporates that didn't allow herto put her family first. A timely ultimatum at work was just the kick she needed to get started on a dream she'd had for ten years. Now, after a couple of bumps in the road, she's crafted the flexible career she longed for. Here's her story. What work were you doing previously? I was an e-commerce buyer for a large national home improvement chain. What are you doing now? I currently own two companies. I own an arts and crafts company called Twined, and a marketing consulting firm called Silver Shade Group. Why did you change? I decided that my corporate career did not provide me with the flexibility I wanted and needed to spend time with my young son. I've always been interested in arts and crafts. I used to create watercolour paintings in my spare time as a good stress reliever from my corporate job. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I was on my way home from a job interview. I thought all the way home about how much I didn't want to leave my son, no matter how perfect the job might seem on paper. Are you happy with the change? Yes! I'm incredibly happy with the change I've made. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the camaraderie that comes with an 8â€"5 corporate position. I miss going out to lunch with the same group every day, and silly office pranks and jokes. However, I'm glad that I no longer have to deal with the sluggish progress of large, bureaucratic organisations. If I see something in my business that's not working, I change it immediately, usually to the delight of my customers. How did you go about making the shift? When I left my corporate position, I applied to graduate business school. I'd been thinking about pursuing my MBA for about 10 years. When my boss left the company I was with, he told me to decide whether I wanted to pursue his job or leave to get my MBA. I chose the MBA. I started a little company that didn't do well and also did some marketing consulting work on the side while I waited for my MBA programme to begin. Once the course started, I focused on only that for a little while so that I could decide what I was passionate about and wanted to do long term. Near the end of the programme, I opened Twined, my arts and crafts company. I still take on marketing clients that are the right fit for my background and now run an online programme for my marketing business as well. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? I took a huge wrong turn by opening a ladies' consignment shop. It wasn't my area of expertise and it didn't keep my interest very long. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I'm lucky to have a husband with a stable corporate position that provides an income and our benefits. We also saved a lot of my income from my job in e-commerce so that I could pursue my MBA and leave that company. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The most difficult thing was constantly adjusting my expectations. By nature, I set very high standards for myself. Opening a new company requires more slack than I was willing to give. I expected to know everything out of the gate, and that’s just not possible. As a business owner, you have to make some assumptions about your customer in order to get started. Sometimes, those assumptions are incorrect, or just slightly off. You also have to be willing and able to adjust to actual needs of your customer as you learn them. My entrepreneurship professor told us that our business plans are out of date the second that they're printed, but it's still important to write them. I wholeheartedly agree with him. What help did you get? My family is incredibly supportive. My MBA team also provided so much support and help with my business as I was launching it. What have you learnt in the process? I have learned what I want and how to accomplish it. I want to spend time with my son and also to do fulfilling work. I accomplish that by working for myself and by taking on just enough clients to ensure they all still get my best work. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I'd been a little easier on myself. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? I would advise everyone to go for it. Find the things you want to do most and make them happen. It might look ugly for a while, or mean working two jobs when you are exhausted, but in the end it's worth it. What resources would you recommend to others? I like local and online networking groups. I feel like I've been able to help others on their journey and I've also received help from people who are further along than I am. Some of the people that I've met in my networking groups will be lifelong friends of mine. To find out more about Tamara's work, visit www.silvershadegroup.com. What lessons could you take from Tamara's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Best Professional Resume Writing Services in Boston

Best Professional Resume Writing Services in BostonThere are many places to find the best professional resume writing services in Boston. It may take a little research on your part to figure out which companies offer the best services in helping you with your job search. Here are some ways to find the best Boston resume services.The internet is a great place to look for professional resume services in Boston. You can look for them using an online resume service directory. This type of service directory has all the services you need to get started with your job search.You can also use the website of a staffing company to find the best professional resume services in Boston. They will be able to provide you with information about how they go about hiring and managing candidates. They will also be able to provide you with current listings of hiring needs in the area so that you can have a better idea of what you can do to help with the hiring process.Ask around at your local community e vents. This way you can get some ideas about the local resume services available. Sometimes these people may be able to suggest the best places to look for a job.Another way to find the best professional resume writing services in Boston is by going to your local colleges or high schools. When it comes to writing a resume, you may be able to meet a lot of the students who are interested in applying for an internship or even a job in your field. They can offer suggestions as to the best job opening that you should look into.Professional resume service companies also have local branches. The most common branches of this type of company are those that are based in Boston. If you want to see that Boston resume services they offer, the best thing to do is call their main office and ask for a list of those they serve.Most of the best resume writing services in Boston will offer you free consultation times to get you started. You can also find them by checking your local phone book under e mployment agencies or temp agencies. You can also find them on the internet through search engines such as Google or Yahoo.In order to find the perfect job for you, there are several things you need to know. These include looking at your available education and work experience, make sure you fill out all of the necessary forms correctly, and then get down to work.

Pokemon Go Style Job Hunting - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Pokemon Go Style Job Hunting - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It is very strange to find similarities between a mobile app game and job hunting but interestingly, there are many! Below are some lessons Pokemon Go can teach you about job hunting. Go Outside: You need to go outside to catch Pokemon. It is the same with job hunting too. You need to go outside, talk to people, go to networking events, visit old friends, and go to career fairs. You cannot only sit in front of your laptop and apply to jobs through career websites. You need to find connections to land interviews and eventually get that offer letter. Don’t forget the more you go outside, the more Pokemon you can catch and find a job at the same time. Set Your Goals: Are you planning to stock any Pokemon you can find or are you after the rare ones? Just like playing a game, you need to set your goals for job hunting as well. Are you looking to work in a specific position like Senior Financial Analyst in Equities Division or are you willing to take any job just to get your foot into the finance industry? If you are not sure what you are looking for, try to look at job descriptions first and match your skills with the jobs that you are interested in. You can also limit your job search to certain companies as well such as “only applying jobs at international companies”. Training is Key: Just like you train your Pokemon, you need to train yourself too. You need to make sure you have the right skills and/or certifications needed in the job description. You also need to train yourself for the interview process. You need to know how to answer certain questions in addition research the company well enough to persuade the interviewer that you are truly interested at working there. Don’t focus on only one thing: Don’t focus on only finding that specific Pokemon that you really want to have. Try finding others, too. Similarly, don’t just wait for that one specific interview or job offer. Keep on applying other jobs also. Maybe, you think your interview went very well and stop applying to jobs to wait for your offer but unfortunately, you may get rejected or the company may change its decision to hire someone. Don’t stop applying to jobs until you sign off the offer letter and get a start date.

The Pipeline Model Experience - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Pipeline Model Experience - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The sales pipeline model dictates that not everything works out as we hope. Some people can manage where they are, while others seek out a new direction. Remaining in place or moving to the next opportunity does not necessarily indicate that one path is better than the other. However, it is the attitude toward the current versus the new road that counts most. Being content to remain miserable is the worst approach of all. Monday, Monday How would you describe your frame of mind on Monday morning? Do you look forward to work or do you dread another very long week? If the latter, what may you do to change that thought? Most likely if you aren’t happy when Monday arrives, it’s time to consider an alternative plan. Making the most of a new course of action will do best by mirroring the sales funnel. Model the Sales Funnel It’s a shock for new sales representatives to have to predict the total amount of sales they will bring in for the company beginning with their first month of employment. Sales are unpredictable due to a wide variety of circumstances. Therefore not everything in the pipeline of possibility will make it through. On average, only about 25% of opportunities flow through the funnel to become an actual sale. To remain employed, the professionals strive to maintain an overflowing sales funnel. A variety of possibility is dumped into the pipeline serving as an experiment to see which works best. The Stay or Leave Funnel Making a switch in a career is a big deal because it affects multiple areas of your life. So the question becomes, what may you add to your current repertoire to make staying more appealing? Sometimes one simple change will ignite enthusiasm and motivation to continue. And when you can continually add new ideas, then you will likely have a long-term career ahead. Should you feel it’s time to change employment or try your hand at entrepreneurship, it will be wise to come to terms with the exact pieces you wish to avoid in the future. As you list these out, the next step is to write a list for what you must have in your next endeavor. View everything in-between as negotiable items. Once you are clear on what you want, the next step is to begin filling your pipeline of possibilities. Examine each to make the determination which best fulfills the majority of your expectations. Experiment with creative ideas to be certain you do not miss something exciting. The motto, “leave no rock unturned” applies in this case. Continue adding to the pipeline as you have investigative meetings and interviews. The education contained in the conversations will lead you to an improved path. As others see you continually working to improve circumstances, they will come to admire the strength found in your personal brand. The proof of whether you have found a better road will be in how you greet your forthcoming Monday mornings. Should you awake early to get started in your new endeavor, you know your decision was a wise one! Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

The Need For A Query Writing Resume

The Need For A Query Writing ResumeFor those who work online, they must be working on a query writing resume. They need to find a list of sample resumes online before they even start their job search. A sample resume will help them learn how to write a resume that is both professional and brief, as well as helpful for a job search.Since the majority of the sites will not provide sample resumes, it is up to you to find the information online. Query writing resumes are used to highlight specific job skills in your resume. This helps you reach the reader and the hiring manager and can therefore help you get a higher position at the company.First, you need to make sure that you are familiar with the types of queries that will be included in your query writing resume. There are two categories of queries, and the person who works for you needs to be able to figure out which category they fit into. The easiest way to do this is to take a pen and paper and write down a list of queries that y ou are looking for in a resume.In order to properly identify what you are looking for in a query, you should be able to identify the answer to one of the following questions: what do I know about the company? what am I interested in? or what do I want to learn more about? Your answer to each of these questions should determine the type of query that you write.For example, if you are looking for information about the business, you would write about the company, what do I know about it, what am I interested in, or what do I want to learn more about. If you are looking for a job at the company, you could list your skills, education, or hobbies.Once you have written out the basic details of your search, it is time to get them organized in order to keep them searching easier. You should now have a list of questions that you have been looking for. For each question, you should put a short description of the answer and include a link to the company website if the question is relevant to th e company.In addition to the information that you have listed on your resume, you should also include a listing of the job description that is listed in the opening. For example, if you are looking for a role of web designer, you should include the details about the responsibilities of the job, the site that the designer would work on, and any other details. By listing these details in the query writing resume, you are able to explain yourself clearly in the first few paragraphs of the resume.Creating a query writing resume is an important step in getting a job. It should be professionally written and create a good impression on the reader. You should also remember to include your contact information, whether it is your email address or the physical address.

Winter Jobs We Wish We Could Try At Least Once

Winter Jobs We Wish We Could Try At Least Once Winter blizzard Stella decided to give us a few more days of winter before spring comes in less than a week. We have no choice but to shovel one more time, attach those snow chains, defrost windows, and scrape ice off surfaces.Although most of the things we do during winter feel like chores, there are official, part time/seasonal jobs we actually think we’ll enjoy â€" while still getting paid for it. First of all, this depends on the location and nature of your post.These aren’t exactly the job of your dreams, but they’re definitely fun. Someone has to do them, and for us winter lovers, these are perfect opportunities. Don’t forget to make sure you’ve undergone proper training and have the equipment and clothing needed to handle harsh winter conditions.evalHere are some of the coolest These individuals are needed both indoors and out. Duties include assisting winter sports enthusiasts, being a skiing instructor and making sure the equipment and machines work well. You’ll be in charge of keeping everyone’s safety in check.4. Ice Sculptor/ Ice Carving SpecialistsDo you ever wonder who makes those ice sculptures at special events? There are people who really dedicate hours to make something beautiful out of a block of ice. Those who regard ice sculpting as an art will finally be paid for their efforts. Hours of hand-numbing carving and detailing deserve to be appreciated.Photo Credit- flickr.com5. Weather ReporterWeather reporters work year round, and you’re lucky if you get some exposure, both on TV and out in the cold or on the field during winter. A profession like this usually requires you to have a background in mass communications, journalism, broadcasting and meteorology. These individuals deserve so much more credit and admiration for working long hours exposed to all kinds of natural disasters and occurrences.6. Ice Themed Restaurant Dubbed as “The Middle East’s First Sub-Zero Lounge,” in Chillout Lounge you can put together your lov e for cuisine and winter while working at an ice-themed restaurant. As a guest, the interiors will definitely make you feel like you’re dining with the Ice Queen, fur seats and all. This particular place offers career options for ice carving specialists, sculptors, chefs,etc.evalIn the words of Queen Elsa, the cold never bothered us anyway. It no longer seems so bad to be snowed in, it just means you get another day indoors, cozy and with a cup of warm cocoa in one hand.Even though it’s time to bid these seasonal jobs goodbye, at least you’ll have the rest of the year to plan and scout out your next winter gig.

The Benefits Of Running A Charitable Business

The Benefits Of Running A Charitable Business When we talk about becoming a charitable business, we are not necessarily saying you should set yourself up as a charity (although that may be a viable option for you). We are talking about becoming more charitable in nature, thinking outside of your profit margins, and giving something back to the world. There are a number of benefits by doing so. Consider the following as examples. You will improve your company’s identity. Setting yourself apart from your competitors, your brand image will become synonymous with your charitable nature, earning trust from your customers, staff, and investors. You will attract newcomers to your business, those people who, like you, want to know that they are making a difference in the world. This may be the people you recruit, as recent studies suggest today’s millennials are growing up wanting to make an impact in the world. You will attract new customers, those people who will value your ethical practices. And you will attract the attention of the media, putting your company in the spotlight after you have proven your charitable credentials. You will feel the personal reward, knowing that you have made a difference to the world. There are so many things within the day that can take up your time, but let’s face it, some of what you do offers very real value, other than to raise your bank balance or to adhere to policies. By being charitable, you are making your working day more worthwhile than it might otherwise have been. You are helping others, in whatever capacity your giving supports them. Aside from the exposure you receive by being charitable, aside from the sense of pride you feel yourself, you can genuinely make a difference in somebody’s life, and that should override everything. So, those are some of the benefits, but how can you become charitable? Well, you could start your own charity, as we mentioned earlier. Through funding sources from investors and online services such as Globalfaces Direct, you can directly help the lives of others by making the sole purpose of your business charitable. It may be a second-hand furniture store, where the majority of your profits go to a particular cause. You might want to set yourself up to support a particular group, such as the homeless, the elderly, or something around a health issue. You could send a message to others, spreading the word about a particular need in the world, and raising money to make a difference. On the other hand, you can offer support to other charities from the sidelines. You could donate some of your profits to a particular cause. You may be able to hold sponsored events where money raised goes to others. You should also talk to your team, find out what causes mean something to them, and then rotate your fundraising efforts to support each cause in turn. There are other ways to be charitable. You don’t need to set up a recycling company to commit to ethical practices within your operations. You can show kindness to both your employees and customers, going out of your way to care for particular needs. And you can give old equipment away to charities who would benefit from them. By being charitable through some or all of these ways, you and your business will reap the benefits as a consequence. That’s something to think about today.

Live Career Event - June 9th - Hallie Crawford

Live Career Event - June 9th Live event: Survive the Job Crisis: Creating Career Possibilities for Yourself in Three Short Steps Theres no doubt about it the world can seem like a scary place right now. And for many of us, what is especially unnerving is the way the unemployment rate continues to rise. If you are one of those fearful of losing your job, have recently been laid off, or are searching for your ideal career this presentation is a must-attend event. Career transitions can be trying; and even more difficult during a job crisis. In this FREE workshop, you will learn how to successfully manage whatever career transition you are currently facing. In this presentation, I will give you the three critical steps you need to take right now in order to survive the job crisis. I will show you how to create possibilities for yourself despite the tough economy. If you want to find out how to survive, and even thrive, during these tough times, join us! What: Get2Work! networking meeting at Mount Pisgah UMC in Alpharetta, GA When: Tuesday June 9th at 7pm Where: A019 (South Campus) *for directions click here* Led By: Rey Versola Click here to email Rey **This event is free and open to the public! Please feel free to bring your friends, family and anyone else who can benefit.** Career Coach and Career Speaker