How to Successfully Navigate Your Business through an Economic Downturn

by: Terry H Hill

An economic downturn is a phase of the business cycle in which the economy as a whole is in decline.This phase basically marks the end of the period of growth in the business cycle. Economic downturns are characterized by decreased levels of consumer purchases (especially of durable goods) and, subsequently, reduced levels of production by businesses.

While economic downturns are admittedly difficult, and are formidable obstacles to small businesses that are trying to survive and grow, an economic downturn can open up opportunities. A well-managed company can realize the opportunity to gain market share by taking customers away from their competitors. Resourceful entrepreneurs capture the available opportunities, from an economic downturn, by developing alternate methods of doing business that were never implemented during a prior growth period.

The challenge of successfully navigating your business through an economic downturn lies in the realignment of your business with current economic realities. Specifically, you, as the business owner, need to renew a focus on your core clients/customers, reduce your operating expenses, conserve cash, and manage more proactively, rather than reactively, is paramount.

Here are best practices that will help you to successfully navigate your business through an economic downturn:

Goals:

The primary goal of any business owner is to survive the current economic downturn and to develop a leaner, more cost-effective and more efficient operation. The secondary goal is to grow the business even during this current economic downturn.

Objectives:

• Conserve cash.

• Protect assets.

• Reduce costs.

• Improve efficiencies.

• Grow customer base.

Required Action:

• Do not panic… History shows that economic downturns do not last forever. Remain calm and act in a rational manner as you refocus your attention on resizing your company to the current economic conditions.

• Focus on what YOU can control… Don’t let the media's rhetoric concerning recessions and economic slowdown deter you from achieving business success. It´s a trap! Why? Because the condition of the economy is beyond your control. Surviving economic downturns requires a focus on what you can control, i.e. your relevant business activities.

• Communicate, communicate, and communicate! Beware of the pitfall of trying to do too much on your own. It is a difficult task indeed to survive and to grow your business solely with your own efforts. Solicit ideas and seek the help of other people (your employees, suppliers, lenders, customers, and advisors). Communicate honestly and consistently. Effective two-way communication is the key.

• Negotiate, negotiate, and negotiate! The value of a strong negotiation skill set cannot be overstated. Negotiating better deals and contracts is an absolute must for realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions. The key to success is not only knowing how to develop a win-win approach in negotiations with all parties, but also keeping in mind the fact that you want a favorable outcome for yourself too.

Recommended Best Practice Activities:

The Nuts and Bolts… The following list of recommended best practice activities is critical for your business' survival and for its growth during an economic downturn. The actual financial health of your particular business, at the outset of the economic downturn, will dictate the priority and urgency of the implementation of the following best practice activities.

1. Diligently monitor your cash flow: Forecast your cash flow monthly to ensure that expenses and planned expenditures are in line with accounts receivable. Include cash flow statements into your monthly financial reporting. Project cash requirements three-to- six months in advance. The key is to know how to monitor, protect, control, and put cash to work.

2. Carefully convert your inventories: Convert excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory items into cash. Consider returning excess and slow-moving items back to the suppliers. Close-out or inventory reduction sales work well to resize your inventory. Also, consider narrowing your product offerings. Well-timed order placement helps to reduce excess inventory levels and occasional material shortages. The key is to reduce the amount of your inventory without losing sales.

3. Timely collection of your accounts receivable: This asset should be converted to cash as quickly as possible. Offer prompt payment discounts to encourage timely payments. Make changes in the terms of sale for slow paying customers (i.e. changing net 30 day terms to COD). Invoicing is an important part of your cash flow management. The first rule of invoicing is to do it as soon as possible after products are shipped and/or after services are delivered. Place an emphasis on reducing billing errors. Most customers delay payments because an invoice had errors, and therefore, will not pay until they receive a corrected copy. Email or fax your invoices to save on mailing time. Post the payments that you have received and make deposits more frequently. The key is to develop an efficient collection system that generates timely payments and one that gives you advance warning of problems.

4. Re-focus your attention on your existing clients/customers: Make customer satisfaction your priority. A regular review of your customers' buying history and frequency of purchases can reveal some interesting facts about your customers' buying habits. Consider signing long-term contracts with your core clients/customers which will add to your security. Offer a discount for upfront cash payments. The key is to do what it takes to keep your current customers loyal.

5. Re-negotiate with your suppliers, lenders, and landlord:

i) Suppliers: Always keep your negotiations on the level of need, saying that your company has reviewed its cost structure and has determined that it needs to lower supplier costs. . Tell the supplier that you value the relationship you have developed, but that you need to receive a cost reduction immediately. Ask your supplier for a lower material price, a longer payment cycle, and the elimination of finance charges. Also, see if you can buy material from them on a consignment basis. In return for their price concessions, be willing to agree to a long-term contract. Explore the idea of bartering as a form of payment.

ii) Lenders: Everything in business finance is negotiable and your relationship with a bank is no exception. The first step to successful renegotiations is to convince your lenders that you can ultimately pay off the renegotiated loan. You must point out to your lenders why it would be in their best interest to agree to a new arrangement. Showing them your business plan and your action plan that includes your cost-savings initiatives, along with "the how" and "the when" of the implementation of your plan is the best way to achieve this goal. Explain to them that you will need their cooperation to insure that you can survive, as well as, grow your business during the economic downturn. Negotiated items include: the rate of interest, the required security to cover the loan, and the beginning date for repayment. A beginning date for repayment could be immediate, within several months or as long as a year. The key is to realize that your lender will work with you, but that frequent and continual communications with them is critical.

iii) Landlord: Meet with your landlord. Explain your need to have them extend the term of your lease at a reduced cost. Make sure you have a clause in the lease agreement that entitles you to have the right to sublet any or all of the leased space.

6. Re-evaluate your staffing requirements: This is a very critical area. Salaries/wages are a major expense of doing business. Therefore, any reduction in the hours worked through work schedule changes, short-term layoffs or permanent layoffs has an immediate cost saving benefit. Most companies ramped up hiring new employees in the good times, only to find that they are currently overstaffed due to slow sales during the economic downturn. In terms of down-sizing your staff, be very careful not to reduce your staff to a level that forces you to skimp on customer service and quality. Consider the use of part-timers or the current trend of outsourcing certain functions to independent contractors.

7. Shop for better insurances rates: Get quotations from other insurance agents for comparable coverage to determine whether or not your present insurance carrier is competitive. Also, consider revising your coverage to reduce premium costs. The key is to have the right balance-to be adequately insured, but not under or over insured.

8. Re-evaluate your advertising: Contrary to the other cost-cutting initiatives, evaluate the possibility of increasing your advertising expenditures. This tactic realizes the advantage of the reduced "noise" and congestion (fewer advertisers) in the marketplace. The downturn period a great opportunity to increase brand awareness and create additional demand for your product/service offerings.

9. Seek the help of outside advisors: The use of an advisory board comprised of your CPA, attorney, and business consultant offers you objectivity and provides you with professional advice and guidance. Their collective experience in working with similar situations in past economic downturns is invaluable.

10. Review your other expenses: Target an across-the-board cost-cutting initiative of 10-15%. Attempt to eliminate unnecessary expenses. Tightening your belt in order to weather the downturn makes practical, financial sense.

Proactively managing your business through an economic downturn is an enormous challenge and is critical for your survival. However, through well-planned initiatives, an economic downturn can create tremendous opportunity for your company to gain greater market share. In order to take advantage of this growth opportunity, you must act quickly to implement the above best business practices to continue realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions.

Copyright © 2008 Terry H. Hill

You may reprint this article free of charge in your newsletter, magazine, or on your website, provided that the article is unedited, and that the copyright, author's bio, and contact information below appears with each article. Articles appearing on the web must provide a hyperlink to the author's web site, http://www.legacyai.com

Terry H. Hill is the founder and managing partner of Legacy Associates, Inc, a business consulting and advisory services firm. A veteran chief executive, Terry works directly with business owners of privately held companies on the issues and challenges that they face in each stage of their business life cycle. To find out how he can help you take your business to the next level, visit his site at http://www.legacyai.com

Resume Services Available on the Internet

Author: Sarika Kabra

Anyone who has applied for a job and deliberated on what and how a resume is required to be written has faced the quandary of how to write a good resume; what to include, what not to include, how to draft it, what to give weightage to and what to downplay. For all of these people who have faced this resume writing quandary, help is at hand! The internet opens up vast vistas of information and help, which can guide you step by step thru the procedure of drafting this all important document of your sample resume.

Depending upon the kind of job you are applying for (read level of seniority or expertise and skill required), and the industry within which you are seeking that job, (say human resources, law, design, advertising, commercial art, government sector, information technology, or any number of different fields) you can get guidance. You can get help with what to put in your sample resume; and you are also given guidance on what to exclude; sometimes that can be as important! Saying the wrong thing can create as much of a bad impression as saying the right thing can create a good one after all. A resume is something that makes a first impression; make it count!

There are many services on the internet that give you very valuable assistance with how to structure your resume in an organized way. For instance you should set out your technical knowledge and qualifications as well as work experience first, which is what, after all is the most relevant part of your resume sample. You can learn how to tweak your resume in a manner that addresses the specific skills that would be employer is looking for, by listing your qualifications and abilities in the order or relevance. Sometimes the order of relevance is a better way to set out your resume rather than a chronological order (stating things in the order of occurrence), and you can get tips on when that could be a better idea.

A resume is a self-promotional document that should present you in the best possible light, so resume sample services on the internet can teach you how to draft the ideal one. While the resume should highlight all your relevant qualifications it should stop short of being a confessional, lest it also turn into your career obituary! You need to steer clear of turning your resume into a historical about you; think from the point of view of the employer and what he or she is looking for.

One more important aspect that you can get help with is the resume cover letter. You may well ask yourself if one is even necessary. You can learn what is required to be said in your resume cover letter: to give an overview of yourself and of the contents of your resume. A good cover letter should make a positive impression and spark interest as well as give an idea to a prospective employer of how you may be a valuable addition to their team.

Get What You Pay for With Network Freelance

Author: Rick Bisset


Networkfreelance.co.uk, the UK's leading online PR and Marketing freelance community, is taking the unusual step of inviting employers to pay what they feel is a fair price for the freelance professionals they recruit from the site.

Networkfreelance.co.uk is the first recruitment service where the employer decides how much, or how little to pay. The site is inviting employers who find a freelancer to leave a fair payment for the service they feel the site has delivered.

The site has a recommended scale of payment for employers. If an employer rates the service 10 out of 10 they are asked to leave £100, 5 out of 10 £50. These figures are meant purely as a guide as payment is completely discretionary. All employers are asked to fill in a survey about their experience and to leave recommendations for how to improve the service.

Richard Pendergast, networkfreelance.co.uk Director said, "We've always believed the flat fee model was fundamentally flawed and this is our way of offering a fairer alternative. We know it's a new concept so we've suggested examples to help employers decide on how much to pay.

James Birtwhistle joint Director commented, "We are asking employers to pay what they feel is a reasonable price for recruiting the freelance community members on our site. As a business we offer a unique service so we are seeking to match that offering with a payment system that is similarly unique."

Networkfreelance.co.uk has over 500 members who register for free to use the site benefitting from the online community, forum, blog, newsfeeds and other elements, including recruitment, designed to support freelance professionals.

For further information log on to www.networkfreelance.co.uk.

Learn How to Answer Tough Interview Questions During a Job Interview

Author: Bryan Burbank


When going to a job interview there is going to be several questions that they are going to ask you and it is important to understand how to answer them so that you have the best chance to get the job. Going in for a job interview can be a scary thing because you are not sure how they will react to you and what you say. It is always important to be yourself and remain calm during an interview because the interviewer will be able to tell if you are nervous.

Learn How To: Get the Perfect Job

Remember that they want to know how you are going to fit into there company so make sure that your answers are how you can better the company without going overboard. It is a good idea that before you go to the interview that you look up some information on the company so you sound educated.

Learn About: Positive Work Habits

The first question you might run into is, "Tell us more about yourself?" You always want to be honest and upfront with your answer and see how the skills you have can fit best with the job that you are applying for.

Another popular one is, "What is your weakness?" Always be careful with this one because you do not want to sound like you are perfect or that you are hiding something so be honest but any weakness that you have tell them how you are going to get past it or correct it.

Just remember that when you are going for a job interview you need to be yourself and open and honest. It is always better to think about some of your answers before you go into the interview so that you do not have a lot of pause time and you may get confused.

Should You Use an Offshore Court Reporting Agency?

Author: Christine Harrell

Many industries are moving jobs to other countries in order to take advantage of cheap labor. The internet has made it easy to move information-oriented jobs, including court reporting. However there are serious concerns with using offshore court reporters.

Accreditation and Certification

A US court reporting agency has high expectations of training and conduct from their staff. Clients going through US agencies can expect a level of professionalism that may not be available from offshore providers.

Court reporting schools in the US are held to high standards of accreditation, ensuring their graduates have demonstrated proficiency with the work as well as an understanding of the ethics critical to their positions. Although many other countries have equally high requirements for their colleges, some have lax criteria which lead to poor quality education.

Most states in the US have mandatory certification programs requiring staff at a court reporting agency to not only show a certain level of skill but to maintain continuing education efforts so their abilities grow as new technology is introduced. Again, some nations have little or no credentialing so there is no way to judge the ability of offshore court reporters until it is too late.

Privacy and Security

A court reporting agency is privy to information of a sensitive nature. It might include proprietary corporate information damaging to a company if released to their competitors. It could contain personal information such as Social Security numbers or the ages and home addresses of children.

How private is that information? For example a subcontractor from the Philippines threatened to publish medical records of US citizens in an effort to pressure her client to pay her. An American court reporter who engaged in such action would lose the right to practice and could face criminal charges as well.

Even if the court reporter has the best intentions, how secure is the information against hackers? The global network that makes it easy to export information jobs also makes it easy to compromise that data.

Offshoring May Even Be Illegal

Most legal proceedings occur within the structure of federal, state and local regulations. A local court reporting agency can be expected to know and follow these guidelines, but the same cannot be said for a reporter in another country. If the reporter inadvertently violates the rules of the court, it could result in a mistrial or an improper judgment.

Using offshore court reporters in non-court matters can also lead to problems, such as the case of the medical records mentioned previously. A company not only might breach the security and privacy of their clients but might face legal action after violating privacy regulations such as HIPAA or GLBA.

Although offshore labor is valid for many industries, using offshore court reporters is simply too fraught with uncertainty to be a viable solution for courts or private companies.

Police Oral Board - Secret Weapon

Submitted By: George M. Godoy

It’s a good idea to practice your oral board answers, but what tools can you use to do that—and what tools give you an edge?

A video camera is a great tool. You need to see how you look to other people. What better way is there to get a good look at yourself? How about standing in front of a mirror? Both of these tools help you check out how you appear to others, but both miss the most important aspect of your oral board answers: what you say and how you sound when you say it.

Only one tool can give you what you need when you practice: a hand-held tape recorder.

Think about it. The Oral board, you talking, and the officers on the board listening. That spotless police badge you want to wear hinges on you picking up a tape recorder and hearing what's going to come out of your mouth in that unbelievably important situation!

I was contacted by a coaching candidate recently. He had made it to some oral boards and one Chief's Oral, but had not been successful. Now, an invitation to the LAPD oral board had been offered, so he wanted to set up a private coaching session.

After a few moments of talking with him, I was aware of something critical that was probably missing in his previous preparations. I asked him if he used a tape recorder to practice. He hemmed and hawed and finally, like 99% of the candidates I interview, said, "Well, no. But, I'm thinking about it."

I told him to use a tape recorder to hear how he sounded. After trying this, he got the message: his answers were garbage.

Applicants want a badge so bad they will do nearly anything ethically and morally to get it; except to use the most effective preparation tool around.

For some reason, they don’t get how valuable using a tape recorder is for practicing your answers. You can get your timing, inflection, and volume down pat; see where to cut material and how many uh's and duh’s fill the pauses; and last, but not least, to see if you sound like Donald Duck’s cousin.

To be successful at the Oral boards, you need to get married to your hand-held tape recorder. You need to hear what the Oral board members are going to hear. That little tape recorder will narrow the distance between you and the badge you want so badly!

The first thing a candidate says when he hears his voice on a tape recorder is always: ‘That's not me!’ Well, yessir, it is you. And if you want it to sound different, glue that hand held tape recorder to your palm and practice, practice, practice!

It’s a guy thing.

Guys prepare for the Orals by thinking about their answers and then writing them down. For some reason, they think that because they wrote them down, their answers will magically come rolling out of their mouths in the Oral. But, trust me, they won't! Your brain and mouth just don't work that way.

If you want to prepare by writing something down, try this:

Write down your oral board questions on some 3x5 cards. You can use the Top 20 Asked Oral Board Questions found at PoliceExam911.com.

Practice your answers with the tape recorder.

Play back your recorded answers. If you hear something you don’t like, write it down on the back of the 3x5 card with that question.

The next time you’re ready to answer that question, turn the card over first to remind yourself what you don't want to say.

Let me tell you how critical this is. If you're not using a tape recorder to practice, practice, practice--rehearse, rehearse, rehearse--learning your material until it becomes second nature to you; you may as well not show up for your oral board.

If you do not spend serious time burning your presentation and your answers into your brain, you are wasting the oral board’s time and your time! Stop the madness and seek out another career. One problem though, you have to interview for other jobs too.

The candidate above has already lost some great opportunities. Had he faithfully used a tape recorder to prepare for his oral boards, he might have already begun his police career.

Some candidates think that if they practice too much their answers will sound ‘canned’. But, NO, it won’t! Practice will make sure your answers are planned, complete, and as perfect as possible.

Practice makes permanent.

"Luck is preparation meeting opportunity." One practice session with a tape recorder is worth speaking something out loud 10 times. Practice gets you to a point where your answers sink into your subconscious, and that's where the magic begins. Practice won’t let you be fooled.

I believe practicing with a tape recorder is so important that I will not coach a candidate if they aren't using one. It is a waste of my time and their money.

Believe me, your competition knows the value of using a tape recorder and they will fly past you, if you're not using one too.

After 22 years of police experience, here's what I know: to properly prepare to audition for the position of police officer, you must use a tape recorder.

Practice, practice, practice and you will have the power to catapult yourself into the Olympic Camp of law enforcement. You will have a great shot at the badge – and the chance to be one of the true American heroes. So, instead of posting on bulletin boards to find out where others stand in the testing process for this city, or that county; ask yourself this question:

What am I doing to prepare for the most important part of the hiring process: the Oral board?

If your answer isn’t the right answer, you may never pass the oral board, or score high enough on the list, to wear a badge. Never! Ever!

So…where's your tape recorder...?

How to Build a Successful Singing Career

Submitted By: Michael Oliphant

Are you a young hopeful singer looking to make your mark in the music business?

Whether you are a solo singer/songwriter , rehearsing your first band, singing karaoke, or just wondering about how to get it all going here is some advice that you might find useful.

Let's start with the central issue. How good you sound is much more important than how good you look. This will sound like crazy talk to some but it's essentially true. Singing is an aural art form and your success as an artist will rest mostly on how well you communicate with your listener. The best visual presentation in the business will not help you if you sound like crap. Or put another way, a blind person will not think you are a great singer no matter how well you are dressed!

Many wonderful singers started out with only the very basics of a good singing voice, perhaps just the raw ability to sing confidently and more or less in tune. Along the way they learned to bring out the best in their voice and to create a kind of vocal charisma, a unique musical identity that is instantly recognizable to the listener.

Firstly, don't think of yourself as a singer. Think of yourself as a MUSICIAN. The human voice is merely an instrument like many others and it takes dedication and skill to use it effectively. If you want the kind of voice that will stop traffic, the kind of vocal range that lets you sing in almost any key, the sort of voice that most people would die for then you have to build it yourself. Lots of raw talent is not enough in most cases and it can sometimes be a disadvantage.

Why? Because it can make you a complacent low achiever and lead you to believe that the world revolves around you and the greatness you are destined to enjoy if only the world would listen. A great natural singing voice is one thing but it's what you DO with it that counts.

As a singer you must develop your musical judgment. You will need to make good musical decisions every time you open your mouth to sing. Deciding how to sing a phrase, whether to build up a particular section or to lay back your timing into the bridge or if you should sing out the end chorus an octave higher with lots of licks all takes musical taste and judgment that nobody is born with. If you think of yourself as a musician first then you will be able to recognize these judgment skills in other musicians and be able to learn from them.

Singers should always be looking to push themselves. Expand your horizons by learning other instruments like guitar and keyboards or bass, drums or saxophone. The mere act of learning to play a bit on another instrument will teach you much about singing. It will also help immensely with your songwriting, but that is another rave.

Expand your horizons in other musical directions. If you sing hip hop then try singing a bit of country or jazz. Force yourself out of your comfort zone into areas you know nothing about. Throw yourself into the deep end of the pool until you feel the water flow over your head! Most musical styles borrow on the same vocal techniques but differ in how they are applied. For example, listening to how Michael Buble sings can give you an insight into phrasing and how to create tension and release in a vocal performance. Your understanding of this can be applied to almost any contemporary musical style you wish.

Don't fall for the old lazy argument that you are an original artist and you don't want to dilute your 'sound' with outside influences. The truth is that influences are what make you the singer you are and the great singer you will become. You must absorb all the information you can, pick as many brains as you can find, listen to the old players and try to figure out how they did what they did. If you have a favorite singer then learn everything you can from that person and then move on. Do not try to sound like them even if you can. You must learn to move beyond mere copying and into forming your own sound.

Above all, make this journey your passion. Leave no stone unturned in your quest to be a better musician and a great singer.

So, should you rush out and get singing lessons I hear you ask...

Initially no. What you should be doing is hanging out with other musicians, preferably better ones than you. Don't spend all your time with friends who are hacks with no intentions of doing anything meaningful with their music after the school holidays. This can be difficult if you have strong relationships with people you enjoy making music with but it is a necessary step in your musical education and growth. You must find great players to learn from. Most accomplished musicians actually enjoy mentoring young hopefuls with ability and drive. Finding some good players to learn from is the single most important thing you will ever do for your musical career.

Then, when you are ready, look to improve your vocal technique with some singing lessons. We can always use better technique but remember this. Vocal technique is important but it is a relatively small part of becoming a great singer. Most singing teachers teach similar techniques. They can correct technical problems and get you to sing exercises that help expand your range, improve your vocal control and agility which ultimately helps increase your confidence to sing. In an ideal world you will be able to find an excellent singing teacher right around the corner from where you live and you will be able to easily afford the lessons. This, unfortunately is not always the case.

Finding a singing teacher can be a difficult and time consuming problem. Don't forget that you are the one who decides if that teacher is right for you. It's important to have a rapport with that teacher. They need to be someone you can learn more from than just technique. Remember that 'musical judgment' I mentioned earlier? Find a singing teacher who can not only guide your vocal technique but can give you some insights into improving your musicianship, some advice in making those musical decisions.

Remember to be humble and realize that singing is an art that you can master with patience and great guidance. It's critical that this process brings out your own unique voice, not what your singing teacher wants, but the voice that you have inside of you.

If you cannot find a good singing teacher then consider doing an online singing course. Online singing lessons are more abundant now and there are a some good ones and some poor ones. Just steer clear of things like singing review sites - they usually recommend only the products they get commission for selling and are not to be trusted.

Above all, set your sights high but your expectations low. You must strive always to be better and not be afraid of change. Test yourself with new challenges and concepts, meet lots of like minded people and don't waste time. It's a precious thing that you cant recover and your willingness to set goals and achieve them will help create that singing career that you desire.

How to Write a Correct Actor’s Resume

Author: Angelo Pagan



Just as every other profession requires a resume, actors must have a great resume to be considered for acting jobs. The acting resume, just like a resume in corporate America, shows what experience and training you have, and gives an idea of the kinds of skills you possess.

There is a standard format that all acting resumes have. This is not a place to get creative – save that for the set! Professionals expect to see a resume that is structured based upon industry standards. Here are the basics that should be followed:

1. The resume should be printed on 8 x 10 paper, so you can staple it, with one staple in the top middle, on the back of your head shot. Alternatively, you can print your resume on your headshot, as long as you have the right inkjet printer.

2. Your name should be in the center, with your height, weight and measurements, on the left side towards the top.

3. On the right side towards the top would be your agent and/or manager information.

4. Next, you will list your credits. If you are auditioning for parts on the west coast, list your film credits first. On the left you put the name of the project, in the center you put your role, on the right you put the Directors name and/or production company (whichever is the most recognizable.) If you are auditioning for parts on the east coast, theater credits go first. Use the same format as listed above for film.

5. After the film credits (or theater credits, if you are on the East Coast), you put Television Credits, then Theatre as the case may be.

6. Do not list out commercials, unless it’s the only work you have done. Put Commercials – List upon Request.

7. After that you can list voiceover credits, internet projects, etc.

A common question that new actors have is, “Should I lie about work you have done?” The answer is definitely not! There is no reason to lie about work anymore. There are literally thousands of independent films being made every single day. Beginning actors can get roles on these projects in exchange for a copy of the project, a credit (which goes on your resume), and food. So rather than fill your resume with lies, fill it with legitimate credits. At the same time, you can hone your craft and meet others who are working hard to get into this profession, just like you are. You’ll make friends with lots of people, who someday might give you a paying gig!

Your resume should be one page long, easy to read, and reflect your experience. It should also be on your personal website. Having your own website is also an important part of getting your career started!

How to be a Recruiter - 5 Tips to Make it Easier

Author: Kimberly Schenk


You've decided you want to be a Recruiter and now you must begin. Where do you start? In this article 'Recruiter' is defined as a contingency fee or full cycle Recruiter. Also known as Head Hunters, contingency fee Recruiters are paid when their candidate is hired by one of their employer clients.

Here are 5 tips to help you become a successful Recruiter quickly.

1. Learn the Process. There are about 30 steps in the recruiting process. From identifying your candidate to getting the check, the process must be learned, followed and trusted. A good Recruiter knows where he/she is in the process at all times. Don't skip steps. Skipping a step or taking a step for granted can kill a deal.

2. The way a Recruiter manages the process to maximize placements is by mastering a few Recruiting skills. Employers and candidates alike want to trust their Recruiter. Those who establish trust get honest answers and cooperation throughout the process. When there are bumps in the road you'll use your Recruiter skills to guide all parties to the best outcome. Employers and candidates EXPECT their Recruiter to take the lead and make a deal happen. But they also want to feel they are in control at the same time!

The best outcome for an emloyer is hiring a candidate who has the skills a position requires and is a good personality fit for their organization. The best outcome for a candidate is accepting an offer from a company that provides what he wants and needs at the moment in his career. The outcome also makes the candidate feel like they are taking a step forward.

3. One of the top two recruiter skills is the art of asking questions. When a Recruiter knows how to ask questions well, they are able to manage both employers and candidates effortlessly. Here's a secret, Recruiters should be listening 80% of the time! When they are listening they're gathering information and information is power.

Information is what's needed when one side or the other has reservations about committing to a deal. Carefull use of information helps to close deals. Deals that should be closed and deals it's the Recruiter's responsibility to close. A large part of a Recruiter's job is asking questions.

4. Mastering the art of Listening (skill #2) makes Recruiters money. Lots of money. When you listen well, people naturally feel heard. A by-product of feeling heard is people like you. And then they trust you. When it comes time for the other side to listen, they will. When you listen for thought process completion, the other party feels valued. There are many positive results and fuzzy warm feelings that can be traced back to listening. Having good listening skills is required to consistently make placements as a Recruiter.

There are times in many a placement process when it apprears the two sides may be approaching a wall and there is no way around that wall. Don't believe it! By listening thoughout the process you'll have the tools needed to keep inching both parties closer to what they both really want. Recruiters' have the responsibility of keeping the lines of communications open and clear. Your questioning and listening skills will eliminate frustrations and create happy clients and happy candidates. Your closing ratio will skyrocket!

5. Be a professional at all times. Speak slowly and clearly. Use proper English, not slang. Don't cuss. Be respectful. Be a good loser if things don't go your way. Know the full cycle Recruiting process. Stick to that process. Keep investing in your education and skill enhancement. Recruiting is not hard once you know what to do and how to do it well. The more you learn the less effort it takes to make a placement and the more money you'll make.

There are people in the industry who want to make the Recruiting process seem harder and more mysterious than it is. A desire to help others, common sense, the ability to follow step by step instructions, honesty, integrity, a basic understanding of business, and self confidence are what's needed to make a successful and happy Recruiter.

Effort As A Prerequisite Of Finding Jobs In The UK

Author: Thomas Pretty



Looking for jobs can be one of the most soul wrecking experiences in life, especially when you have been looking for an extended period with no success. With so many different jobs available in the UK today, for those who are uncertain upon which career path to follow, the choice can not only be difficult but also next to impossible. Not having a clear picture of which jobs to apply for makes the task extremely time consuming. Searching for jobs should most of the time be directed; if it is not you often find yourself just searching thousands of listings with no luck.

This should be your first concern; look at the types of jobs in the UK you think you will be eligible for or would like to do and then pursue them with vigour. To find which career you may be suited to you should take a serious look at the skills you possess. Not only your skills however, you should also take into account your education; many different UK industries need different levels of education and understanding the needs of these industries is vital. Education, despite official qualifications can be difficult to quantify, unless you possess applied learning in vocational fields, generic education can often leave you just as lost as when you started.

After you have made a decision on the types of jobs and the industries you are willing to work in it is essential to produce a CV. When writing a CV it is advisable to make it applicable to the types of jobs you are trying to secure. Make the most of your skills that suit a certain job role, being too generic can mean that employers will overlook your application readily. As well as presenting your skills, a CV provides employers with an indication of your personality and work ethic, if you produce an out of date and ill written CV, employers are likely to think that you have a poor work ethic and are not willing to put the effort into working. By comparison, sending an application that is excellently scripted and fully up to date shows you have the skills to dedicate yourself to tasks. These are characteristics that all employers are looking for.

After a CV the next stage of securing jobs in UK is to undertake the interview process. At this stage it is vitally important to present yourself properly. Always wear a suit; even if you feel that job will be easy to secure, wearing a suit shows that you are willing to make the effort and understand the importance of presentation. Interviews are all about first impressions so conduct yourself in a professional manner and be receptive to any questions. In addition you should show enthusiasm for the position, by showing you are passionate about your work can put you in good stead with employers. Most important of all however is to be yourself, by doing this you will be more comfortable in the interview and able to get your points across more successfully.

Searching for jobs is never an easy task, it is however an essential one. If you remember through all stages of your hunt to put effort in success will eventually be forthcoming. It is easy to lose heart, but by keeping your efforts up it is likely you will find the right job in the end.

Using What You Know About Coworkers' Pay

By Liz Wolgemuth
Posted June 19, 2008

Who doesn't wonder what coworkers make? Most employees view salary as more than a figure for negotiation—it's also a telling measure of their value and worth to an employer. A little more openness about salary would arm workers with the knowledge that they can ask for more, be satisfied with what they're getting, or at least know what to expect if they get promoted.

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Websites like Salary.com, Vault.com, and SalaryExpert.com have begun to tear away at the secrecy of salary data, and a new entry into the market aims to pull the cover back a bit more. Glassdoor.com, which launched in beta earlier this month, offers user-submitted salary information specific to positions and employers. The information is free, but available only when users submit their personal salary data or written reviews of their employer. Glassdoor reviews every submission, and its executives say that employers can also contest fictitious data.

Among the salaries submitted for Google, as of this writing 47 show its software engineers make between $50,000 and $150,000. The 43 submissions for Yahoo! software engineers show them earning $70,000 to $128,000. Much of the site's information is for the technology sector, and there are still too few entries for many companies to be useful. (An entry for a Pixar story artist shows they make bank—$155,000—but is that high or low for Pixar? It's hard to tell if there's only one piece of data to draw from.)

So while some users will log on just for the pleasure of peeping at what other people make, others will wonder how they can use the information to boost their own income.

Here are some tips:

Don't ask for more just because someone else is getting it: Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, you now know that your $71,000 salary as a program manager at ABC Corp. is pretty low. You know that at least two other program managers at ABC are getting bigger paychecks. You're irritated, sure, but you should resist the temptation to storm into your boss's office and demand: "Guess what I just found out?" That approach will almost surely backfire.

"I'm not a real advocate of gunning for a salary increase," says Linda Rolie, a career counselor in Ashland, Ore. Just because you now know that a coworker makes more money than you do isn't, by itself, a compelling or enticing argument for a salary increase, Rolie says. Candidates should stand on their own merits: the contributions they've made, the money they have earned or saved the company, their relationship-building skills, their teamwork. The goal is to present yourself and your appeal in a way that is well thought out, organized, and honest.

Use salary data as a gauge: The hardest part of salary negotiating is that employees often don't know whether an offer is good, says Gregory Northcraft, a professor in the College of Business at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, and coauthor of Get Paid What You're Worth. Many people fear making a foolish choice—not negotiating for more and leaving lots of money on the table, or turning down an offer that was actually pretty high for the position and industry.

That means that getting a look at what your coworkers are making, or what the industry pays for your position, can help anchor your expectations, Northcraft says. When it comes to a job offer, you should know "whether you're in a position to push a little more or whether you're basically pushing them as hard as you're going to be able to," he says.

Make your research part of the conversation: This is different than making it the thrust of the conversation. You might try to introduce your salary research by noting that you've reviewed data on a website, and it appears that there is more room in your salary range. In a negotiation, Northcraft says it's entirely appropriate to ask what accounts for the difference in pay between individuals at the high end of the range and those at the low end—whether it's education, performance, experience, or some combination of those.

Note, too, that it may be helpful to acknowledge that some of the data you've found online could be inaccurate. Into its first week, Glassdoor says for every 10 submissions, it's rejecting about one to two reviews or salary surveys because they violate guidelines on naming names, are one-sided, or are clearly bogus.

Be sure you and your boss agree on your title and job description: You can't accurately assess the market value of your job if you think you're an advertising director and your boss thinks you're an assistant advertising director, although your title is officially "Deputy Idea Manager of Creative Media and Conspicuous Communications."

Salary.com says there's a good chance your employer has already assessed your "benchmark" position, so make sure you know the context for the company's salary decisions. It's also important to know which organizations your employer views as peers for pay comparison—these may be direct competitors, and they might be located nearby, according to Salary.com.

The Internet has lifted the veil on lots of previously private information—think of what Zillow.com did for home values—but the process of negotiating for a salary hasn't changed much. It's still in a company's best interests to try to hire or keep you for as little money as possible, and it's still in your best interests to ask for more with class, graciousness, and zeal.

"10 Immutable Laws Of Successful Selling"

"10 Immutable Laws Of Successful Selling"

By: Laurence Winmill

How would you describe yourself as a Salesperson? Talkative,Caring, Outgoing, Confident? Perhaps you regard yourself asa Trained Professional, or a Self Taught Enthusiast orperhaps you simply believe you were born with a NaturalGift. Whatever you believe there are certain characteristicsand disciplines that you must display with consistency ifyou are to become truly Successful as a ProfessionalSalesperson. Here are ten laws...

1. Customer Focused - People do business with people theylike and trust. In order to gain respect and trust you haveto build rapport with your customers. You must listen totheir "Wants" and then give them what they "Need" and thenunder promise and over deliver, exceeding expectations atevery given opportunity.

2. Attitude - It's Attitude that makes the absolutedifference. It is your number one differentiator, thequality that separates you from the rest. Attitude is thesmall word that makes the big difference and sets apart theWinners from the Losers.

3. Communication Skills - Train yourself to become a GreatListener. It's the exceptional listener that identifiesCustomer's Needs and Wants and then talks passionately abouthis or hers products and services in relation to thoseNeeds.

4. Empathy & Drive - You must have both these qualities ifyou are serious about Selling. You have to be able to putyourself in the Customers situation and understand how youwould be thinking and feeling if you were them. But thisalone is not enough; you must also have an in built desireto succeed at every opportunity. You are passionate aboutSelling and your desire for success pushes you above andbeyond ordinary results. You simply want to be recognised as"One of the Best at what you do".

5. First Impressions - You get one opportunity to make agood impression. The first 10 seconds are critical. Voice,Appearance, Presentation, Body Language and Words allcrammed into a 10 second introduction. Make sure yours makesa lasting impression.

6. Two Way Communication - The key to two way communicationis the ability to ask the right type of questions, whichbuild rapport whilst encouraging the Customer to talk abouttheir "Wants" and more importantly their "Needs". Youskilfully steer the conversation, probing the answers untilyou are certain that a " Need" has been identified.

7. Organisational Skills - Good Sales Professionals have tobe organised. They know the importance of Business Planning,Territory Management, Customer Prospecting and Profiling.They also understand that organisation is the key tobuilding a better business, because they always find time toexceed their Customers Expectation Levels.

8. Objective Learning - Focus on learning how to get betterat what you do. Read books, watch videos, network and useyour brain's full potential. Push yourself to new limits.Attend training sessions, join professional sellingorganisations and seek qualifications in subjects relevantto what you do. Become recognised as a Sales Professionaland fulfil your true potential.

9. Work Life Balance - Find time for family and friends.Have an interest outside of work and spend quality time withthose closest to you. Never lose sight of your roots, showreal interest in those around you and apply the same desirefor success in this area as you do in your professionallife.

10. Goals - Set yourself targets - Set them daily, weekly,monthly, annually, for life and review regularly. "A persongoing nowhere always get there", so avoid being this personby mapping out some realistic targets and goals. The keyword is realistic because when you get use to achievingtargets and goals, you'll effectively create a habit thatwill be difficult to break - and more importantly it's ahabit you will not want to break!

So there you have it, ten simple but highly effectivedisciplines for "Better Results In Any Selling Environment".Good luck and make your start today!

3 Effective Tactics Every Business Should Implement

3 Effective Tactics Every Business Should Implement

By: Allyn Cutts


3 Effective Tactics Every Business Should Implement

Do you remember your first day as a business owner? You were probably just like the rest of us... pretty darned happy and bit on the proud side. Yeah, back then we thought we could conquer the world. Now we're too busy conquering our own little corner of the world to pay a lot of attention to the rest of the world... unless it's to learn a few tips from successful marketers just like us who have made it big. Tips just like these... that will apply to every market - regardless of the product or service - are a great motivators to try something new. Yeah, you never know when the next idea will be worth a million dollars!

1. Create a Special OfferA special offer is exactly that... an offer that is special. Normally, customers would not be able to purchase this product or combination of products, and once the products are gone... sorry! You don't have to go out and order a bunch of new products to put together a special offer. It don't take a whole lot... just use what you've got. Grab a few items that are related, group them together, discount the price, and your customers will be excited to be getting a good deal. Think about it from your standpoint... you've sold three or four items rather than one. Yeah, combination offers are winning deals for everyone!

2. Address the Small Customer GroupsNiche markets are everywhere, right under your nose! Within the customer audience that you serve right now are groups of people who share common traits. Think about it... maybe you have a group who speaks Spanish, a group of teens, and a group of middle class family men and women.Evaluate these classes of people, and discover the unique needs and desires they share. That will set you up to customize your advertising campaign directly to them. It’s not hard to take your current ads, and make a few changes to adjust to the niches. They’ll be impressed that you understand THEM, and the increase in your profits will be the best thanks you can get.

3. Set Up a Winning Referral ProgramSuccessful marketers develop the ability to turn their customers into advocates. Often, they don't even have to directly ask customers to refer them to others. Their willingness to go the extra wins customer loyalty and support. Naturally, satisfied customers refer their friends and family to the place that will take good care of them.

Quality service and is the first step toward referrals, but you can easily take it one step further. Studies show that every satisfied customer tells three people about you. What would happen with a little incentive added to the picture? Yeah, a lot more. Give customers who refer friends a thank you - whether it's a discount, special gift item, or a simple thank you card - and watch the referrals spiral!You can get two birds with one stone by implimenting customer surveys. A few quick questions about what the customer does and doesn't like about your product, followed by a request for the names and addresses of friends and family who would benefit from the product, and you're all set to go with the contact information of a prospective customer!

5 Winning Strategies For MLM Success

5 Winning Strategies For MLM Success

By: Allyn Cutts

5 Winning Strategies For MLM Success

1 Find Your NicheSure you want everyone to benefit from the opportunity for freedom you have to offer, but face it... not everyone has an interest in extracting themselves from their comfort zone. Successful MLM marketers are willing to step out on a limb, and to change themselves. No, it’s not for everyone.Who are the people most likely to be ripe for a change? Identify your prospects, and target your marketing strategies toward them. Don’t waste time and energy casting your pearls before the swine. Invest where it counts.

2. Invest In Low Cost LeadsBigger isn’t always better, though we tend to think so! Small ads, postcards, and other low cost advertising methods are powerful advertising agents. They’re small, too the point and effective... generating a higher than average percentage of inquiries.Leads are crucial to MLM success. You don’t necessarily have to make the sale with the advertisments. Making contact is just as important. Your advertisement may simply direct them to your Website where you gather the contact information you need.

3. Stir Up DesireMost people have dreams tucked away deep inside. Many have lain dormant for many years. You never know who it is that will respond to your advertising campaign, but you can be sure that it’ll take an emotional connection to spark them to action.Emotional advertising is effective because it puts people in the seat of the purchaser, or in this case the MLM marketer. They get to feel the bonuses and freedom of financial success. They can experience the joy of being their own boss, with a few cleverly written words.

4. Call To ActionThe best time to encourage a prospect to make a commitment is NOW. Immediate action is they key to claiming the sale or signing up a new member. Think about it... when procrastination takes part in the picture... nothing much gets accomplished. Sure, they’re going to get around to it someday, but usually someday never gets here.

5. Follow UPWhat happens when a prospect doesn’t bite the first time you put the bait in front of them? Well, that’s pretty much up to you. They can sit around and eventually forget all about the offer you dangled in front of them. Or... you can keep a line of contact open that constantly reminds them of the opportunity that is just waiting for them to snatch up.Implement follow ups and you’ll increase your success rate by 50 percent. Check back every month for a while, then every 6 months. A lot can happen in life during a six month period. You never know just what changes might spur them into doing something else with their life... you want to be there for them at that perfect time

10 Ways To Keep Visitors At Your Site Longer

10 Ways To Keep Visitors At Your Site Longer

By: Eugenijus

The more time people spend at your web site, themore time you'll have to persuade them to buy yourproduct or service. Below are ten powerful ways tokeep visitors at your web site longer.

1. Provide your web site visitors with content theycan't read anywhere else. People will stay longer atyour web site to read the original content.

2. Remind your web site visitors they can print outyour content. They may browse around your onlinestore while it's printing.

3. Offer your web site visitors a freebie if they takethe time to fill out your online survey. They'll be atthe site longer and might b.uy something afterwards.

4. Offer your visitors free software that they candownload right from your web site. While they arewaiting they might read your ad.

5. Provide a huge online directory of informationthat your visitors could search. The directory mustcontain information your visitors would want.

6. Make sure all your web pages load fast or yourvisitors will leave fast. Time is precious; they won'twaste it waiting for your site to load.

7. Tell your visitors what's offered at your web siteat the very beginning. If people are confused aboutwhat's being offered they may leave too early.

8. Publish your web site professionally. People willget turned off and leave if they see a lot of spellingand grammar mistakes.

9. Make your site text easy to read. Most peoplewon't strain their eyes trying to read text that is toosmall, light or bright.

10. Use headlines and sub headlines all over youryour web site that will grab visitors attention. It willattract them to explore your web site longer.