By: Audrey Okaneko

I have been fortunate to have had some awesome mentors over the years. Each one came to me in a different way and each taught me valuable business lessons.

I have often been asked how I came to find these wonderful people. There are so many places you can find mentors. Here are a few of my suggestions:

1. Is there someone in your company that you respect, admire and would like to learn from? If so, send them an email and tell them you would very much enjoy learning from them. Would that be ok?

2. Is there someone from another company that you’ve met that you would like to learn from? Again, ask them if they would be willing to help you. I’m often open to helping someone not on my team with some ‘boundaries.” For example, I won’t do a 3 way call but I will send you some resources to help you make that call. You just don’t know until you ask.

3. Is there someone you’ve met through a message board that you believe might be able to teach you? Sometimes you can just ask your questions right there on the board and this potential mentor will answer. Send them an email and let them know you value their opinion and you hope they don’t mind but you’ll be asking them some questions via the message board.

4. Do you belong to a social network group and someone there has been offering tidbits that you believe can be helpful to you in business? Send them a message and let them know you’d like to read more of what of they offer.

I believe a combination of men and women as mentors will offer you the best balance in learning. Men and women really are different. We all know the series of books Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. This series is all about the differences between men and women. Having both men and women mentors will help you see both sides of every issue. As a woman I actually prefer male mentors, but it’s important that I also learn from woman to keep myself balanced.

Make it a point to ask one or two people this week if you can learn from them. You’ll find that your business will grow as you learn and grow personally.

About The Author

Audrey Okaneko has been in direct sales since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or you can Become a Tupperware Consultant.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

By: Heather Eagar

So you’ve recently started searching for jobs in your field and have discovered an opening that matches your qualifications and career goals to a tee. The only problem is that you’re not sure how to create a specific resume for this job.

Don’t be discouraged if you feel this way. In all honesty, you are probably already one step ahead of those who believe that updating a resume is accomplished by adding the most recent employment/school/skill information where appropriate, saving the changes, and sending it on its way. Of course, you’ll need to dig deeper to create a great job-specific resume. So let’s look at a few ways you can get this done.

Study the Job Posting for Keywords

One great way to make the prospective employer feel that you are truly qualified for the position is by studying their job posting. By doing this you can find company-specific skills, job titles, jargon, certifications, and other keywords to be included in your resume.

For example, if you are applying for a position in healthcare, you might notice words like “imaging” and “pharma” show up in the job posting. It is a good idea to add these and other relevant words to your resume because they apply widely to the field. Likewise, if you’re in marketing, you might find words like “branding,” “campaigns,” and “trade shows” within the posting. These are also relevant and can be included to populate your resume with great keywords.

Visit the Company’s Website

Once you’ve studied the job posting for relevant keywords to use in your resume, it is a good idea to visit the company’s website. There you can learn even more about how the company’s goals can fit in with your specific career goals.

Some important information to look for on the website includes the company’s values, mission statement, and even their organizational culture. This information can help you better describe who you are, what you’re looking for, and how you think you can enhance their business with your skills and personality.

Strategically Combine Action Words and Keywords

Using action words in your job-specific resume is just as important as incorporating the keywords you’ve found through the job posting and website. In fact, the action words and keywords work together in your resume to create a picture of the type of employee you are likely to be.

For example, if you were responsible for the success of a major ad campaign at your previous employer then try to describe it by saying that you “developed and executed an intense 9-month ad campaign with the marketing team that resulted in a $1.2 million year-end profit increase.” The action words in this example were “developed” and “executed” and the keywords were “ad campaign” and “marketing team.” Using these action words along with others like created, planned, organized, recommended, advised, and trained – and of course your relevant keywords – will help you write a great job-specific resume.

Creating the right resume for the right job can result in you securing the position of your dreams. So take your time, do your research, and most importantly, have a good time writing a great job-specific resume.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Check out reviews of the top Resume Services in the industry at www.resumelines.com.

By: Denise Willms

If it’s hard to find time to create content for your website, while still running your business and spending time with the family, perhaps it’s time to consider outsourcing your content to a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is someone who writes articles, blog posts, or any other type of content for you… and you get to take all the credit.

Below, you’ll find some of the things you should look for when you’re ready to find the “write” ghostwriter for your WAHM business.

Good communication. How well does the writer communicate with you? When you ask questions, does she give you the answers you need, or quickly change the subject? You will want to look for someone who answers your questions clearly.

How long does it take her to respond to your emails and messages? Most professionals will respond to your inquiries within one or two business days.

A good ghostwriter will also turn the tables and ask YOU questions about your business, who’ll be reading the article she writes for you, and what you’ll be doing with the content.

Writer or writing service? Neither one is necessarily better than the other, it depends on what you’re more comfortable with. If your potential ghostwriter is working alone, what happens to your project when she gets sick, or falls behind? A writing service usually has a team of writers that can cover for each other when unforeseen circumstances arise.

Writing samples and references. Ask for writing samples. Does the writer use proper spelling and correct grammar? If you’re not sure, ask a friend to review the samples with you.

It’s a good idea to ask for testimonials, too, and references. Who has she worked with before? What kinds of projects has she worked on? Ask if you can contact her other clients and find out what their experience with this writer has been like.

A prepared and experienced writer will have samples, testimonials and references ready to share, so you don’t need to feel uncomfortable asking for them.

Does the writer offer revisions? Some writers don’t include revisions with their fee, others do. Find out how your potential ghostwriter works, and make sure it’s an arrangement you feel comfortable with.

Payment. Many online service providers ask for payment upfront, before they begin a project. This is their way of protecting themselves from clients who walk away with the content, without paying the fee. You can protect yourself too, by paying through a third party, like PayPal.

Go for a “test ride” first. When you think you’ve found a ghostwriter who might be a good fit for your business, you can try them out by asking them to write a short article or blog post, before outsourcing a bigger project like your e-book.

Cost. Good ghostwriters can charge anywhere from $10 to $100. However, the cost should not be the deciding factor when you’re looking for your perfect ghostwriter. It’s much more important that the writer can do the job you need her to do.

You could waste a lot of money on bad content if your writer isn’t able to communicate with you and meet your deadlines. If you can find a writer you feel good about working with, can communicate with well, and who can create the content you need, she is worth every penny.

Do you market to moms? Denise Willms is head writer of a ghostwriting service that specializes in creating original “mom content.” She is also the owner of www.WAHM-Articles.com, a directory of reprint articles for moms.

By: Tammy Embrich

Are you searching for that perfect telecommute job?

Have you been a fallen victim to work at home job companies?

You are not alone. The scam companies generously scatter the Internet. Unfortunately these scammers are getting wiser at scamming honest job seekers. These job seekers are shelling out money that they should be spending on food or household bills…making the scammers richer by the dozens.

Well, I have good news for you…

I’m going to share with you the top five things to look for in finding a “legitimate” telecommute job.

1. Does the company require a registration fee?
A legitimate job site will not charge you these fees. This is the number one sign of a run-of-the-mill home based Internet scam.

You are searching for a home job where the employer pays you…not the other way around.

Important: There are certain instances where a nominal fee is required…such as purchasing a foot pedal or a headset. These are all normal and required in order for you to do the job. In some cases you may be required to pay for a background check.

2. Is the website full of hype and spelling errors?
If you come up on a telecommute company site full of hype and spelling/grammar errors…click away, you can bet that it’s a scam site. And why would you even want to work for someone that presents themselves in this way? For one…I would be quite skeptical about wages with a site such as this. You will also find under all that hype (and usually in fine print) a hefty fee.

3. Does the website offer a telephone number or a working email address?
A legitimate company will always provide a telephone number or their email address, or both. They want to be contacted because they want to hire you. You can’t very well get the job if you can’t get in touch with them, now can you? That should be one of the first things you look for.

4. Does the job site require a resume?
A legitimate employer will want someone with certain skills and experience to do a specific job. Therefore, they will need a resume from you. Employers want experienced telecommuters that they know they can trust. This is where the resume comes in.

This is a good sign! So far, so good…if you find a job website that does not require start-up or registration fees, is free from hype and spelling/grammar errors, provides a way of contact, and on top of all this requires a resume, it’s looking pretty good. You’re closer to finding an honest work at home job.

Still one more important thing to look for…

5. Is the company vague about the job listing and promise outrageously high wages in a very short time?
I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines such as “Make $1000 per week-Simple work from home!” Don’t you think this deserves a red flag? Use your common sense here…there is no legitimate job that will pay you tons of money with little or no effort.

An employer that truly wants to hire you will tell you exactly what you will be doing and be upfront about the wages you will be earning.

Remember…if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Pay attention to your gut instincts! Always do your own research on ANY company before applying.

Below are some resourceful sites where you can do your research. You can also do a simple search just by typing the company name and the word “scam” into google.com.

fraud.org/
scambusters.org/
welcome.bbb.org/
ftc.gov/

Article Written By: Tammy Embrich

Tammy owns and operates two work at home websites, a work at home forum, a recipe site and three blogs.

She offers free work at home job leads for the job seeker, business work at home articles, tips, and more. You can visit Tammy at Work At Home and Work At Home Jobs

By: Jennifer Anthony, Resume Expert

Every day someone else enters the technology job market. Due to the ever-growing popularity of this field, technical jobs are getting more and more competitive. In order for your resume to be noticed above all of the others’ who are competing for the same position, it must stand out. Here are some tips to help position your resume at the top of the potential employer’s stack.

Create a Tech Section

Summarize your technical skills apart from the rest of your resume. You should also break this section up into separate categories such as software, hardware, networking, systems, etc. By doing this, you are allowing the hiring manager to easily find and scan your job specific skills.

Include Your Transferable Skills

Just because an employer is hiring for a technical position, doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for certain transferable skills as well. Let them know your strengths in areas other than technology. If you are a team player and have a track record of meeting deadlines, be sure they can see that in your resume. Summarize skills such as quick to learn and taking initiative, in another section of your resume.

Find a Happy Medium

Don’t make your resume too long winded, but don’t over summarize your experiences either. Find a middle ground by getting to the point while giving yourself ample credit by showcasing your accomplishments.

Gain Experience by Volunteering or Freelancing

If you are a newbie and lack experience, offer your services for free or deeply discounted rates to others. This will give you “hands on” experience that can be included in your resume. You can propose your services to charity organizations, local businesses, and friends if necessary. When you have completed the work, ask for a written critique so that you can add some of their feedback to your resume.

Focus on Results

Make sure to focus on measurable results and accomplishments you have achieved. Numbers tend to bring forward a more positive reaction than just descriptions in this case. Therefore, if you have percentages or dollar amounts, use them. Include things such as how you overcame challenging circumstances and how your work has been a benefit to past employers.

When applying for a technical position, your resume needs to present you in a way that gives the employer an idea of how adding you to their team will benefit their organization. Remember, it is not about what the employer can do for you, but instead what you can do for the employer. So while you are compiling your resume, always keep in mind the main question on the hiring manager’s mind, “What can this person do for me?”

Jennifer Anthony is the Director of ResumeASAP, offering professional and affordable resume writing services. If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional resume writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail.

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com