Sorry, Recruiters: My Salary Is None Of Your Business

• 2-minute read •
I am trying something new this year. For me, it is a big step and a scary project but I'm doing it anyway. I am starting a job search even though my job is secure (as far as I can tell) and I enjoy it.

I can tell that I am unlikely to stay in this job for more than another year or two at most. There is no path to upward advancement here. The working atmosphere is pleasant but I am already at the top of the pay range for my job.

That's why I'm looking around. It's kind of like leading a double life. I enjoy my co-workers but I haven't said a word to them about my job search and I'm not going to.

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Starting Your Own Business – What You Need to Know

• 2-minute read •
More than half of working Americans are employed in small businesses – those classified as having 500 employees or less. As the unemployment rate continues to stagnate, current job seekers and others may be considering whether it makes sense to start their own business or continue to rely on corporations to keep themselves employed. While there is uncertainty in today’s job market, people consider starting their own business for other reasons too, including the freedom and flexibility offered when you become your own boss. And with the internet as a cost–effective marketing tool, people are finding the options to starting their own business more varied than they were decades earlier.

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Best-paying jobs for business majors

• 2-minute read •
Want to bring home a fat paycheck with just a bachelor's degree in business? Position yourself for one of these 10 high-paying business jobs.
Want to succeed in business with just a bachelor's degree? The key is focusing your education while you're in school—and networking both before and after you graduate.

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6 Reasons to Apply for a Job at a Small Business

There are lots of advantages to working at a small business -- if you have what it takes. You need to be ready for anything and willing to use a variety of skills, but working for a small business can help you in a lot of big ways.

Consider these six powerful reasons to apply for a job at a small business.

You’ll Really Matter

Small businesses offer employees an opportunity to be more than a cog in a massive organizational machine. With fewer people on board, everyone gets to do more and have a greater say in how things get done.

“Have your voice heard. Create an impact. Learn more about more,” says Michelle Geib of Xperience Days. “These are just a few of the reasons why you should work for a small business. When it comes to qualitative impact and personal growth, the ability for employees to have their opinions heard and implemented can be more rewarding than a paycheck at times.”

You’ll Learn a Lot

When you work with a small group of people, you get more face time with each of them -- including the big boss. “You get to learn from the top,” says Mayer Dahan of Dahan Properties. “Small businesses work closely together and you have a chance to learn valuable lessons directly from your boss.”

Cari DeCandia, director of business development at the National Autism Network, agrees. “One of the main benefits is being able to work closely with the creator of the company. It takes a person with many skill sets to create a company that can carry employees, and there is a great opportunity to learn more than the specified job description.”

You’ll Gain Experience Fast

Life at a small business is fast-moving. If you’re a hard worker and a quick learner, you’ll get new opportunities on a regular basis and gain valuable experience fast.

“An entry-level position in a small business is pure gold for a recent college graduate, especially if he or she is not entirely sure what they want to do with their career,” says consultant Alfred Poor. “Small business will make it much easier to be directly involved with more aspects of the company's operations. In a corporate setting, you may get walled off in a single department, but the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ requirements of most small businesses will give you more exposure to a larger variety of tasks.”

You’ll Learn to Be Efficient

Young startups often find themselves in crisis mode, having to deal with tight deadlines, small budgets, and lots of competing demands on their time and resources. Getting experience in this sort of environment can pay off for the rest of your career.

“Working in the small-business world trains employees to work with limited resources and
timelines,” says consultant Doug Mitchell. “No matter where you go during your career, you'll exude ‘get ’er done.’”

You’ll Get More Responsibility Faster

“Small businesses tend to be more nimble, and can make adjustments based on a worker's skills and aptitudes than a larger corporation might be able to do,” Poor says. “As a result, you may find yourself being given more responsibility and opportunities more quickly in a small company.”

You’ll Have Plenty of Opportunities for Personal Growth

With every employee invested in the company’s success, the payoff can be sizeable, says Chris Sonjeow of LoveBookOnline. “In most small businesses, each employee is directly or partially responsible for the bottom line, so when the company grows, it's easier to reap the monetary rewards. At the corporate giants, you're just another cog in the machine who can go overlooked.”

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Refer This Advice To Your Friends And Help Them To Find Career!

Make the Most of Business Trips

Now more than ever, business trips are a vital part of business life. Time spent away from the office doesn't have to be wasted, however. Smart planning can help you make the most of your travel time.

The first step in planning a business trip is to make sure that the trip is necessary. The following are possible alternatives to traveling:

• Use a different means of communication. You may be able to handle the same issues on the phone, in a letter, or by a video or tele-conference.

• Delegate the assignment. Send someone else to represent you. This can be a valuable learning experience for junior associates to develop greater levels of maturity and expertise.

• Wait. Be certain that you have a complete grasp on the situation before you rush off. If it's not urgent or if an important decision maker wouldn't be able to attend, schedule the trip for a more convenient time.

• Ask them to come to you. Try inviting the other party to come visit you. You'll save time and be more prepared to make a good presentation. If the trip is necessary, it can still enhance rather than detract from your productivity.

Consider the following to plan a time-efficient business trip:

• Delegate the arrangements. Have someone who's knowledgeable, such as an office assistant, travel agent, or company travel coordinator, do the legwork for you. Confirm your appointments before you have your flights booked, and avoid scheduling times that would have you arriving or departing around rush hour.

• Maximize your itinerary. Group appointments together, and find out who else is in the area that you can visit at the same time. Plan activities to keep you productive during layovers, such as reading, making phone calls, or conducting appointments.

• Be informed. Make a detailed appointment schedule with everything you'll need to know, including the date, time and location of each appointment and the directions to get there. Also list the name, address, phone number and E-mail address of each business contact. Try to get a home phone number in case you need to make contact after business hours about a change in plans.

• Be prepared. Make a checklist of business and personal items you'll need. Don't forget to consider the climate and weather. Business items may include files, writing materials, a laptop computer, phone cord, calculator, dictating machine and batteries.

• Copy your schedule. Keep a copy of your itinerary with flight numbers and departure and arrival times. Make sure it includes meal service and ground transportation information and the address, phone number and reservation number for your hotel. Give copies of your itinerary to your family and coworkers as well.

Start Your Own Admin Business

After 12 years of working in a corporate environment, desktop publishing assistant and account manager Cathy Kessler was getting bored and frustrated with the lack of flexibility in her job. So she decided to start her own home-based business as a virtual assistant (VA), and she hasn't had any second thoughts.

With employers cutting overhead costs, it's a good time to become a VA, according to Stacy Brice, president of AssistU, a Baltimore-based company that provides online training and coaching for VAs.

Get Started

Generally, starting a VA business doesn't cost much, says Brice. You need a home computer, but software and other supplies can be bought as required for client assignments. If your startup expenses exceed what you'd like to put on your credit card, Administration offers many loan programs, as well as information about grants and financing opportunities.

Set Rates

According to Brice, starting rates for a VA should not be less than $30 per hour to make a profit and cover all the costs an employer would pay in the corporate world -- including health insurance premiums, vacation time and office supplies. VAs should raise rates as their skills and value to clients improve, generally debuting a new rate for a new client. For an experienced generalist VA, rates top off around $65 per hour, but specialists in niche fields charge higher fees.

Kessler, who is based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has six clients in locations from New York to California on retainer for a minimum number of hours per month and several more regular clients that she charges hourly for occasional jobs.

Market Yourself

Because print ads are expensive and rarely hit your target audience, Brice favors networking as a better marketing strategy. Ways to meet potential clients include volunteering, teaching online and offline classes and attending networking events for trade associations and chambers of commerce.

Moreover, a Web site is essential to attract national clients, Kessler says. When developing your business site, she suggests scanning other VAs' Web sites and deciding what you do and don't like. Don't just post your resume and services offered; create a site that truly gives your potential client a good sense of your skills, experience and work ethic.