Finding the right job isn’t all fun, like playing at the mobile Intertops Casino Red. It’s hard work…..and it’s a commitment. You need to approach your job search with the right frame of mind.

Human Resource advisors offer a number of hints that can help job seekers find a job that will be both satisfying and rewarding.

Qualities

Job hunting can be, by definition, demoralizing. Unless you have an amazing set of skills that makes you unique, the chances are that you’ll be turned down more often than not.

That’s why you have to push yourself to approach every new job interview with a fresh and optimistic outlook. Psych yourself up before each interview by telling yourself “I’ve accomplished a lot in my life, and I’m fully capable of accomplishing this” or “this will be hard, but I can do it.” Remind yourself – out loud if you need to – that if this job doesn’t pan out it doesn’t mean that your whole life is a failure.

Write down a list of your best qualities and read them aloud prior to each interview. This will help you to keep yourself motivated while you build up your confidence. This type of outlook will come through in your interviews and will impress the interviewers – if not enough to get you a job offer one time than certainly soon afterward.

Applications

Don’t apply for every job opening that you see. You’ll lose focus and start to feel desperate. Take more time on fewer applications and put your energies towards jobs that you feel will be a good fit for your skill set. Investigate the businesses at which you intend to interview so that you come to the interview knowing a bit of background and being able to ask good, concrete and knowledgeable questions.

Shortcomings

Be honest about your shortcomings. Identify your strengths and your weaknesses and be honest about them, at least to yourself. When the question comes up in the interview (as it invariably will) that asks “What are your weaknesses?” be prepared to answer honestly but in a way that frames the weakness as a strength.

For instance, you might want to say that you don’t work well as a team member – but you don’t want to say that for a job offer that involves working on a team! You might say something like “I work best alone and that’s why I’m applying for this job – because you’re looking for someone who can take responsibility and work independently.”

You want to make sure that the weakness that you choose to discuss won’t interfere with the duties of the job in question. Again, this means that you have to have done your research so that you are knowledgeable about the company and about the job requirements.

Competition

There will always be competition and, while you shouldn’t obsess about competitors, you shouldn’t forget them either. You need to think about how you can differentiate yourself from other job seekers.

Make a list of your skills and experiences. Try to think about what’s unique about your background – special projects on which you worked, interesting conferences that you attended, papers that you presented, contacts that you have in your field, etc.

You want to demonstrate that you can make a difference. That your skills are a little different from others’. Be prepared to talk about your achievements and situations in which you stood out from the crowd. Was there a time that you solved a problem or navigated through a sticky situation? You don’t want to seem like you’re bragging but you do want the potential employer to realize that you’re someone special and that you can bring useful abilities to their company.

Passion and Purpose

Employers know that you’re interviewing because you need the salary. But if they get the impression that you have the ability to bring a sense of purpose to the job and can adopt the company’s mission as your passion, you’ll be more likely to receive the job offer.

It will also help you develop a connection to your work. You don’t want to feel like you’re looking only for a job that will put a roof over your head and food on the table. You want your days to be filled with purpose and that’s the message that you want to convey to the interviewer.

Networking

The Internet is a powerful tool for job hunters but probably the strongest job-hunting tool is still the network. Tell everyone that you know that you’re job hunting. Human Resources professionals, who interview new job applicants for a living, admit that the best thing that you can do to promote your chances of being hired is to network.

Even if your resume stands out in every way, and even if you answer every question in an interview in the “right” way, an employer is most likely to hire someone with references, especially if those references come from someone that s/he knows personally.

If you know people in the field, that should be your first step – talk to them and let them know that you’d appreciate it if they’d keep their ears open for job openings.

Make sure that you have references from your previous places of employment – even if those places aren’t directly related to the job for which you’re applying. The potential employer will want to know that you’re honest and responsible.

It’s always a good idea to keep up memberships in professional groups so that people know you and, when you do want to find a new job, you’ll have people ready to vouch for you as a member of the team (plus they might know of job openings as well).

Convey confidence and try to build a rapport with an interviewer. If you don’t get the job, think back – is there something that you regret saying? Something that you regret not saying? Remember those for next time.

Job hunting is a process but if you are willing to accept some advice from people in the field, you have a better chance of landing what you want.

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The undisputed fact of entrepreneurship is that most businesses fail. Success is rare, but it isn’t impossible.  When you start a business, you have to know that most companies fail. But what are the reasons companies go out of business?

Beyond Ideas

To be fair, failing in business is the only way to move forward.  When you look at the history of successful businesses, you will find that failure is part of their past.

If you are dead serious about building a successful business consider the following reasons companies succeed:

Visionary Leadership

Success starts with a vision. Your vision for a company which creates a product or a service is the beginning of your journey to create a successful business. A visionary leader knows why she is in business. She may not always know the next step, but she is thinking about the business every waking hour, focusing on moving the company forward. She might be busy putting out fires today, but she is strategic about the long-term goals of the company.

Everyone has an idea for a business. That’s the easy part. Successful companies are masters and transforming ideas into action items. Taking action is the first step toward business success.

Low-Cost Operator

For most businesses, especially early on, money is always tight. Set a strict budget and stick to it.  Keep your expenses low. Never use credit for vanity projects such as office remodels. Keeping your costs low is a competitive advantage.

Fast Action Forward

Business is about competition. Your competitors want to steal your customers. They want you out of business. One less competitor means an easier life for your competitors.  Successful entrepreneurs know that speed to market is key to success. The faster you roll out your service, the more time you have to sell it. Work hard to work quickly to reach your market first.

Sales Focus

If you can sell, you are on your way to building a successful company. If you want to start a business and you are serious about success, you have to have a sales focus. You have to be the first and best salesperson in your business.

Master Networker

You are only as powerful as the sum of your network. Build a network of people who can help you build a better business. Reach out to fellow entrepreneurs, potential clients and referral partners, influencers, and mentors. Successful entrepreneurs have powerful networks behind them.

Profit Driven

Focus on profitability from the early days of your business. You may not have a profitable business right away, but you should always know your profit margins. Understand what margins you must maintain to be able to continue to grow your business.

Perseverance

As you build a business, there will be times when no one will believe that you can succeed. Customers might doubt you, your friends might doubt you, your spouse might doubt you, but you have to persevere. You have to push forward and keep believing in yourself and your business, even when nobody else does.

Quick Study

Every day in business is an opportunity to learn. When you make a mistake, you are learning. When you guess right, you are learning.  The key aspect of learning is to do it fast. Be aware of what is happening in your business. Assess the situation, note what you have learned, and move forward using your new experience.

Attract the Right Investors

Many businesses can’t succeed without investors. Successful entrepreneurs not only know how to attract investors, but they also know how to attract the right investors. When you seek out an investor you aren’t only looking for dollars, you also searching for a business partner and mentorship.

Commitment

One of the easiest things about business is to give up. There will be countless times when walking away from your business sounds like a great idea.  You might be running low on cash, or there could be a recession, someone could sue you. If you are going to succeed, you have to stay committed.

Productive Beyond Belief

There are countless ways to waste time. Successful entrepreneurs know how to stay productive. Understand that staying busy has nothing to do with being productive. You could spend a whole day learning about technology to help you improve a service, or you could spend twenty minutes on the topic, learn enough to take the next step and move on to the next project.

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The gig economy has made the prospect of becoming your own boss as enticing as ever, but starting a courier business requires more than computer and typing skills. If you want to be financially independent and work your own hours as a courier, you’ll have to put in the work.

While it’s never easy to start your own company, the process of becoming a business owner and hiring courier drivers can be simpler if you make smart choices and avoid common mistakes.

Profits on Wheels: Advice on Starting up and Managing Deliveries

A courier business can be a lucrative venture with low overheads. Still, knowing where to start can be tricky, but our 6 step guide should put you on the track to success in no time.

Step 1: Choose the Right Vehicle

Every courier service worth its salt needs a reliable source of transportation. Otherwise, you won’t be able to deliver packages on time and intact. Most full-time couriers drive cargo vans as they provide ample amount of cargo space, minimizing reloading amount and maximizing time.

Alternatively, you could buy a fleet of pickup trucks. You can choose to cover your truck box, but if you leave it open, you can deliver large items, like mattresses, if they’re protected and secure.

Step 2: Buy the Best Equipment

Most of your employees will be strong enough to deliver small packages, but if you’re transporting awkward boxes or heavy loads, you’ll need equipment. It’s better to buy dollies and hand trucks right off the hop to save your couriers from back pain or prolonged fatigue.

Don’t forget to buy courier management software and GPS tracking. With these systems, you and your customers will benefit from fast delivery and an up-to-date tracking number.

Step 3: Name and Brand Your Business

Branding is essential for all businesses as it tells others what you value. Before deciding on a name, check with the secretary of state to make sure your business name isn’t taken. Then, start buying your domain name and social media slugs to stay consistent across platforms.

After becoming a sole proprietorship or LLC, you can start focusing on the small details. Think about which colors, fonts, images, and slogans you want to use to represent your brand.

Step 4: Ensure You’re Insured

Get business insurance as soon as possible. Some banks or insurance companies will offer a full package plan that’s specific to your industry, but you may need to mix and match depending on your needs. Search for deals on vehicle and cargo insurance, as you’ll definitely need these.

If you don’t apply for insurance fast enough, you’ll soon notice that other companies won’t work for you. That’s because you’re considered a liability risk or a customer relations nightmare.

Step 5: Market Your Service

Without marketing, how will others know about your company? Start your marketing journey by asking your friends and family to share your courier service on social media like Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. Make a business page specifically for this purpose.

Online marketing and advertising is an effective, low-cost way to target business owners. Place marketing material on your delivery vehicles, so everyone can see you’re looking for employees.

Step 6: Save All Receipts

Self-employed individuals are responsible for tracking their expenses. Set up a separate business checking account to keep your personal purchases separate if you haven’t already. This will make tax time much easier as you won’t have to sift through one account yearly.

Keep your receipts, even ones you think won’t be used as a tax write-off, because you never know. Track miles you drive with a tracking app, as they can be written off in some cases.

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