How 3 People Turned Their Hobbies Into Businesses

How 3 People Turned Their Hobbies Into BusinessesEverywhere you look online, you see stories from people who claim to have turned their hobbies into geschftliches miteinanderes. But is it real? Can you actually make a living doing something that up until now has just been an in your spare time type of thing?Let me tell you about three people who have actually created successful businesses out of their hobbies. If you blend your passion for your craft with a desire to succeed, it can be done.Nicole Snow, Passionate KnitterNicole Snow used to be in the Air Force, so shes no stranger to discipline. When she left the Air Force, she decided to combine her passion for helping others with her creative talentsand Darn Good Yarn was born. Nicole imports recycled silk yarn from Nepal and India. Shes worked with her suppliers to create an improved product, and has realized a phenomenal 2,900% growth in just four and a half years. Currently, she employs more than 300 women in countries that befo re, had no sustainable jobs. Her employees have seen an incredible increase in their standard of living, and Nicoles business continues to grow.Christine Watanabe, Tennis MavenChristine Watanabe loves being on the courts. Shes also highly competitive, and accurate scorekeeping is important to her. There were no scorekeepers on the market that satisfied her, so she decided to design her own. She departureed with a drawing, kept working on it until she had the concept just right, and then hired a plastics engineer to help with the manufacturing. From start to finish, the project took about three years, and today, Score at Hand is on the market. Christine is totenstill on the court, but shes also in business.J.T. Smith, Board GamerJ.T. Smith helps people make board games without having to have thousands of copies manufactured. He firmly believes that even in the age of X-box, Play Station and Wii, theres still a market for conventional board games.He began by writing a web app that wou ld help people upload and proof their artwork. This way, a process that used to take weeks could be condensed into less than an hour. He never really intended to make money with the app.The thing is, it caught on, and just last year, Smith helped people manufacture and sell more than 36,000 board games. He never forgets that hes in business to make money, but he also never forgets that making money isnt the only reason hes in business.Maybe after reading their stories youll think about your own hobbies and interests and ask yourself could you turn it into a business?

What is Really Happening with Tech Writing Resume Sample

What is Really Happening with Tech Writing Resume Sample Figuring out how to center on the most significant portions of your career and experiences based on your present job seeking goals is challenging. You wont get paid, but youll acquire the most suitable experience and expertise to enhance your Resume. An individual with limited experience, but robust writing skills can collect a compelling resume. A whole lot of times there are particular abilities or knowledge that pharmacists want in a candidate that are tough to include in different pieces of your resume. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Tech Writing Resume Sample Our resume builder will provide you with tips and examples on the best way to compose your resume summary. Have a peek at these examples to choose which format is most appropriate for you. For instance, if youre attempting to say youre innovative and cutting-edge, a mora modern resume template may be best. The expert experience section of our how to compose a resume guide is another great resource should you feel that you still need more help. One resume template does not suit all, naturally. Download resume examples and get absolutely free access to all the resources you should create your best resume and accomplish your career objectives. Get the Scoop on Tech Writing Resume Sample Before Youre Too Late While experience does count, if youve acquired certification, you may still be considered for the work even if youve got an entry-level HVAC Technician resume. After a time, you can find paying and totally free jobs. In addition, you can look for HVAC technician jobs on Monster. If youre asking for work in a hospital or other sort of health facility, being trained in one of the several specializations supplied by the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is an extra bonus. The prior ones should adhere to the reverse-chronological purchase. Make sure you only consist of work experiences related to the po sition youre applying for. You also ought to refer to the work deutsche bundespost and observe the particular demands of the employer. Make your resume universally understood by employing industry-recognized terminology and explaining whatever recruiters might come across confusing. Finding the Best Tech Writing Resume Sample Get the sample resume which best fits your profile in order to receive ahead the competition dont hesitate to download our resume samples for various occupations. Not on what you would like back. Scannable resumes need specific page designs because computer scanners cannot read certain products. To read more on the subject of tech resumes (in addition to cover letters and the way to locate a job in the tech industry), have a look at the Vault Career Guide to the web and Social Media. You merely picked the incorrect tech resume format. The very first thing that you should do is to become certified as a Surgical Tech. My tech writing career hasnt been wo rth much. The Upside to Tech Writing Resume Sample LinkedIn is an excellent tool for on-line networking. Hopefully, you currently have a LinkedIn account. Resumes Your resume is a vital portion of your job search toolkit and its importance shouldnt be underestimated.

Lets Talk About Financial Wellness

Lets Talk About Financial Wellness Lets talk about FinancialWellness. Do you want to start building a successful financial future? In many ways, women are at a disadvantage from birth, today making 80.7 cents for every dollar a man makes, not considering the time we may take to raise children, or take care of aging parents that put us at a financial disadvantage. Stacia Morris is here to tell you it doesnt have to be this way. Not only is Stacia a FinancialAdvisor, but she also authored junges ding Money 101 (featured on ABC) and speaks about how women can build their financial future at any age. Join Stacia for this virtual conversation and ask her anything about financial wellnesshttp//bit.ly/2QdNwq8 One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individua l contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentierung technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time t o pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

Pursuing a promotion while pregnant

Pursuing a promotion while pregnantPursuing a promotion while pregnantIn the fall of 2018, I applied for a new role within my organization. It seemed like a great fit that would give me an opportunity realize one of my career goals. I thought, How can I pass this up? There was just one important factor to consider I was 5 months pregnant. But, I wasnt going to let that stop me from growing in my career.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIf youve been considering whether or not you shouldpursue a promotionwhile pregnant, here are a few tips on how I approached my situation and how you might, tooKnow Yourself and Your LimitationsAlong with all the new learning curves that come with taking on a new position at work, dont forget to consider that youll be taking on the additional role ofbecoming a mother. Thats taking on a lot of change and responsibility at once So take a personal inve ntory and decide if youll be able to handle it.If you have a partner, talk with them about the pros and cons, search your heart, and listen to your gut. Ultimately, know that taking on this promotion at this time in your life will challenge you to be the best version of yourself.Seek Advice, But Be Ready for Lots of OpinionsSolicit advice from peers and mentors who can help prepare you for what is to come. Its extremely valuable to learn fromother moms experiences, but when you open yourself up for advice, be ready for a lot of divergent opinions to come your way, too.You may find that women colleagues who continue to advance their career while also starting their family are generally encouraging and supportive. But, speaking from my experience, you may also encounter others who think youre making a big mistake by taking ona promotionand becoming a mother at the same time.Appreciate their perspective, but dont let it completely deter you from pursuing your goals. Take each nugget of advice that comes your way with a grain of salt and use them to educate and prepare yourself for the possibilities.Honesty is the Best PolicyBut Also Know Your RightsTaking on a new role while pregnant will be challenging for both you and your organization, so I approached the topic with as much honesty as possible when talking with my hiring director. That way, we were able to take a collaborative approach to plan for my maternity leave.Although youre not obligated to disclose your pregnancy and you may feel like youre running the risk that that information could be used to discriminate against you, know that such discrimination is illegal based on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1970.At the end of the day, its your decision, but if youre going to start a new position, think about whether you really want to start off those new working relationships by withholding information.VisitU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionfor more information and to understand your legal righ ts and protections, too.Ultimately, I am satisfied and proud of this career move. I found that taking on this promotion at this time in my life challenges me to be the best version of myself. I hope that I am able to show the women that I have the opportunity to work with and mentor that they dont have to make a choice between their career and starting a family. That they dont have to postpone their professional advancement in order to pursue their personal goals.Whats your take?Have you pursued a promotion or job change while pregnant? Are you thinking about doing so? Whats holding you back? What factors are you considering when weighing your choices to move forward? Share your experience in the comments below.This article first appeared on Bossed Up.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your produc tivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Alorica at Home Virtual Call Center Jobs

Alorica at Home Virtual Call Center JobsAlorica at Home Virtual Call Center JobsAlorica at Home is a customer careoutsourcing firm that employs thousands of home-based agents across the country. It acquired virtual call center West at Home in 2015 and runs its operations in much the same manner as West at Home did, employing virtual call center agents to provide customer service for its varied list of clients. Types of Work-at-Home Opportunities Alorica at Home hires its agents as employees, not independent contractors, so workersare guaranteed the nadir wage in their states. They receive inbound calls and perform services such as sales, customer service, billing, surveys, account management, online chat, and technical support. Bilingual call center and interpretation jobs are also available. Paid training is done online via self-paced tutorials. Pay and Benefits Pay for Alorica agents depends on the type of program you are in and the amount of time you work. There are four t ypes of programs Per-Minute Rate, Worktime Rate, Per-Call or Guaranteed Hourly Rate. No matter what, if your total earnings come to less than minimum wage, your pay will be bumped up to meet local minimum wage standards on a weekly basis. Agents typically earn between minimum wage and $10 per hour. Agents are paid every two weeks via check, direct deposit, or pay card. The company does not offer paid time off or pay for medical benefits. However, it does give employees the option to purchase medical and dental benefits. Agents must be available to work at least 10 hours per week. Applying To apply for a position, click the Apply Now button on the companyswebsiteand fill out the application. Set some time aside, because the application is extensive. Youmust be at least 18 years old and have a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED, but some college education is considered favorably. You should also be comfortable with a computer. After the application is accepted, applicants a re invited to do a series of online skill and behavioral assessments. After that, an offer may be issued. Following the preliminary offer, some positions may require a drug test and background check that will be paid for by Alorica. Once accepted for a position, there may be ongoing paid training about products and services that clients offer. Technical Requirements Agents must provide their own computer, landline phone service, internet service, and corded telephone. The requirements are much like those of other home call centers.Aloricas website lists the equipment and supplies youll need PC (no Macs)17-inch monitor or largerOS version Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows 101GB RAM minimumMinimum processor speed of 1 GHz or better on multicore processors and 1.4 GHz on single-core processorsMinimum graphics resolution 1024 x 768Sound card with speakers or headset for training audioHeadset that attaches to your phone for call processingDSL, cable, or fiber o ptic connection (no dial-up, satellite, or 4G wireless connections) Geographic Restrictions Alorica at Home operates in the United States only, but it doesnt hire in all states. Even in the states where it does hire, jobs dont apply to all counties or areas. Early in the process, the application asks for your state and lets you know whether you are eligible.

Will unions come to Silicon Valleys well-paid workforce

Will unions come to Silicon Valleys well-paid workforceWill unions come to Silicon Valleys well-paid workforceNo American tech giant like Facebook or Google has formally unionized, but a recent Quartz feature has argued that this is a near future that may happen.Interviewing two grassroots activists groups, Tech Workers Coalition and Tech Solidarity, the author, Michael J. Coren, found that unionizing had been on itsmembers mind. Tech Solidaritys founder Maciej Ceglowski told Quartz explicitly that collective action, one of the tenets of unions, welches the goal of the group, which has hundreds of members attending its weekly meetings. With their unique skills and internal knowledge, tech workers are in high demand, and unterstellung activists groups believe that tech workersgreatest organizing power is when they threaten to walk out the door.This got us thinking what would unionization really change for Silicon Valley?What Silicon Valley wants More political powerThere are several c lasses of workers in the tech world. The largest is contractors, like security guards and janitors, who successfully unionized. Higherwages and benefits are what drove the unionization campaign for tech contractors. In January, 3,000 security officers for Facebook, Cisco and Genentech won recognition as members of Service Employees grenzberschreitend Union-United Service Workers West. This followed successful SEIU-USWW negotiationsfor other tech contractors like shuttle bus drivers and janitors.But for tech workers like engineers and managers, who have some of the highest-paid jobsand thebest company perks, money and benefits are not the motivating appeal of a union. Instead, political involvement is the driver.After the Muslim travel ban was proposed by the White House, these activist groups were motivated by the power of collective action toget more political power and change tech companies ethical bottom lines. A senior Oracle employee resigned after his CEOjoined President Donal d Trumps transition team, and an IBM employeequit after the presidents proposed Muslim ban.And no wonder immigration is an issue very close to Silicon Valley. The tech industry is one of the greatest sponsors of H-1B visas for talented workers from other countries. Thats why tech leaders including Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Marissa Mayer started Fwd.us, a politically active group dedicated to fixing immigration and criminal justice reform.As always, though, the interests of workers and managers are not always aligned.H-1B visas for foreign workers are the flashpointOne of the reasons why these major tech companies have yet to unionize is that it would end the disruptive culture many Silicon Valley startups say they need to innovate. Facebook, for example, was founded on a culture of move fast and break things. That includes a work culture that would be anathema to unions long hours, for one thing.Intel co-founder Robert Noyce warned that remaining non-union is essenti al for survival for most of our companies. If we had the work rules that unionized companies have, wed all go out of business. Noyce believed that unions caused deep, deep divisions be-tween workers and management which can paralyze action, an unwanted outcome when venture capitalists funding startups want results yesterday.And so previous attempts at unionizing at Silicon Valley companies have failed. In 1982 and 1983, Atari workers failed to unionize. Unions pesky demands for better wagesare seen as efforts todrive up operating costs, which is why certain unionization campaigns face hostility. Similarly, IBM workers created a union-like group called AllianceIBM, but the company disavows the existence of any unions. About six months after an Apple employee tried to unionize its retail workers, certain Apple managers were made to receive union awareness training.In 2002, Professor Alan Hyde wrote a paper on organizing laborin Silicon Valley, and suggested that uniting under ethnic o r gender lines at individual companies could be the path forward to unionization.Organized labor groups might well conclude that its future lies with newer immigrants rather than with older IT professionals who never affiliated with labor organizations . Could the ethnic pride and energy of Silicon Valleys immigrant communities fuel successful organizing for programmers, as it has for janitors?Hyde may be on to something foreign workers have a lot to complain about in the tech world. Not only do existing employees reject the need for diversity, but critics of Silicon Valleys use of H-1B visas, cite the National Academy of Science report that says the tech industry loves the visas because they allow the companies to pay lower wages to foreign engineers.Either way, it look like Hyde was rightin his prediction about immigration providing the spark to light the fire towards some kind of unionization movement. After the White Houses executive order on immigration, 127 companies, includin g Apple, Google and Uber,signed an amicus brief opposing it, citing harm to their businesses as a reason The Ordermakes it moredifficult and expensive for U.S. companies to recruit, hire, and retain some of theworlds best employees. It disrupts ongoing business operations. And it threatenscompanies ability to attract talent, business, and investment to the United States.Whatever side of the debate youre on, theres no question that having a voice in the immigration debate is crucial for these companies and their workers. The only question is how Silicon Valley gets there - and whether companies are willing to trade off some cultural traditions like long workdays.

When You Change Your Mind After Accepting a Job Offer

When You Change Your Mind After Accepting a Job OfferWhen You Change Your Mind After Accepting a Job OfferYou were offered a job and you gleefully accepted. But, now youre having some second thoughts.Maybe your circumstances changed or youre no longer convinced that its the right role for you. Or, perhaps a different opportunity you werent expecting landed in your lap- and theres no way you can pass it up.Regardless of the specifics, youve found yourself in the unfortunate (not to mention sticky) situation of needing to tell an employer youve changed your mind. Sonow what?Heres what to do when you change your mind after accepting a job offerBe absolutely sure about your decision.Before you plattl up the phone or start drafting a carefully-worded email, theres an important first step that you absolutely cant skip make sure you have zero doubts about the decision youre making.The only thing worse than changing your mind once about a job offer is changing it all over again and begging t he employer to take you back (which, in all honesty, they likely wont do). Bottom line, you need to be absolutely positive about your choice before you break the news.Provide as much notice as possible.Youve made your decision- you need to retract your words and let the company know that you wont be accepting the offer after all. Obviously, you shouldnt leave that employer hanging. Your change of heart isnt something they should learn about on the day you were supposed to sign on or show up for work.Its best to give them as much notice as is reasonably possible. The mora lead time you give them, the more time they have to find someone to replace you. As you know, the hiring process can take a while- so they deserve as much of a warning as you can possibly give them.Additionally, if youve already signed a contract with your offer, its important to check the fine print there. There might be some regulations on how long of period you have to back out of the offer or how much notice you re required to provide.Choose the best communication method.I get it- this isnt a conversation youre looking forward to having. But, as nerve-racking as it might be, the most courteous thing is to let the employer know in person or, at the very least, during a phone call.These real-time communication methods allow you to more adequately explain your reasoning, and also give the opportunity for a more immediate back-and-forth conversation. Plus, this direct approach demonstrates a level of courage, courtesy, and professionalism that wouldnt necessarily be captured in an email.With that said, its smart to follow up this conversation with something in writing (basically, a simple email reiterating the fact that, as discussed, you can no longer accept the offer). That way, you have written documentation in case any issues arise. Better safe than sorry, right?Offer a brief reason.Again, this discussion is awkward. That makes it tempting to sugarcoat or tiptoe around the point. However, y ou need to be direct and start by explicitly stating that you are backing out of the offer you had previously accepted.After that, you should offer some sort of reason for why youve changed your mind. You dont need to go into all of the sordid details, but the employer shouldnt be left wondering if it was something they said or did that sent you running for the hills. You can keep this vague (even if its something like, I received another unexpected offer that I just cant pass up), but you should provide at least some sort of closure.Stand your ground.You already have one foot out the door, but that doesnt mean the employer wont attempt to negotiate and get you to stick around. Keep in mind that this isnt a negotiation (threatening to back out of a job is no way to start that process anyway- especially after you accepted the original offer). So, you might need to make it painfully clear that no amount of convincing is going to change your mind. This just isnt the right opportunity f or you at the moment.Express gratitude.Yes, this situation can feel a little tense and uncomfortable. But, keep in mind that this is no fault of the employers- they havent done anything but extend you an offer that was obviously decent (or you wouldnt have accepted it in the first place).Dont lose sight of the fact that they provided you an opportunity, and thats worthy of some genuine appreciation. Remember to offer a heartfelt thank you, both at the beginning of the conversation and at the end. Let the employer know that you really do appreciate the offer, even if you can no longer accept it. Its a great way to leave things on a slightly more positive note.The most important thing you can do after needing to back out of a job offer youve already accepted? Learn from it. Needing to do this once is understandable, but its definitely not something that should become a habit in your career. Make sure you give yourself the time and space you need to carefully consider an offer before y ou formally accept. Doing so will save prospective employers (and you) a lot of stress and headaches.