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Why Recruiting Is Vital For Startups

On June 28, 2021

In Career, Leadership, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate

Although the recruitment process is a challenging and demanding task for startups, it helps them get the right people for the job. The success of the business is dependent on the initial team brought on board. They also define the company’s culture as it grows and develops over the years. Below are reasons why recruiting is vital for startups.

It Helps the Employer Understand the Employment Laws

Employment laws give the employer information about employment requirements to follow when recruiting. Ignorance of these laws introduces other risks in the business that may cause a closure. If one is not sure of recruitment laws, hiring a professional recruitment team can help employers understand the process.

The Right Team is Selected

Recruitment helps the employer select the right people for specific jobs. A startup may experience challenges due to budget limitations and the need to minimize the cost. A strong team will know how to deal with them and come up with an amicable solution—finding people with the same mindset for the company helps in establishing trust with the management that no matter what happens, the team is intact and focused.

Recruitment Acts as a Marketing Strategy

A startup can sell its brand to the public through recruitment. Taking this opportunity and publicizing job opportunities and their requirements to the people shows the organization’s transparency for people to build trust. In the end, the business grows as the brand is gaining popularity.

It Provides Consistency

The recruitment process in the early stages of a business paves the way for the following recruitment. The management should have a standardized recruitment process to ensure every individual work in the company is measurable. A consistent criterion removes biases, discrimination and reduces risks for security.

It Helps Organizations Write Accurate Job Descriptions

Recruitment helps the management clearly and accurately write the job description indicating the primary and the secondary duties, qualifications, and salary range. This information makes it easy to recruit employees that fulfill the job description.

Startup recruitment is a process to ensure the business has the right team to move to the next level and become competitive in the market. Although the process may be challenging and costly, it is worth it in the end. Take time and go through the highlighted reasons why recruitment is essential and search for more online.

Overrated Business Tips to Forget

By Nicholas Fainlight

On January 28, 2021

In Career, Education, Finance, fitness, health, Investing, Leadership, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate, Technology, Uncategorized

Wherever you go, people provide unsolicited guidance on how to grow, run, or start a business. Out of the pointers they offer, some are valuable, and you must observe them. However, others are misinterpreted, outdated, or just plain wrong for the business you’re running. Here are some overrated business tips to forget.

1. Your Service or Product Must Be Unique

Businesspersons are often advised to outline what makes them stand out. However, it is not necessary to find an exclusive approach to achieve corporate success. A subtle change may improve the entire experience.

2. Customers Are Always Right

Do you need to make the customers happy? Yes. However, if your main goal is to please people, you may end up in a world of unnecessary suffering. It’s best to pay attention to the things that bring you a long-term profit, not the things that take your energy and time.

3. Do Not Start a Business With Your Friend

Many people think it’s a bad idea to start an enterprise with a friend, but that’s not true—friends whose expertise supplements each other may build a thriving business. Establishing a company may be straining to the relationship; however, the benefits of operating with a person you trust may be worth it.

4. Promote Your Business on Facebook

Companies have acknowledged that paid advertising is the only path to increase your Facebook image, which is still one of the world’s best social platforms. However, it is not always the top place to use up your advertising budget. There are other more effective means to reach your audience for a much lower price per lead, for instance, on platforms like Pinterest.

5. Concentrate on Your Site Instead of Building the Brand

It is important to have a brand that reverberates with ideal customers. However, investing all energy and time in the “perfect” site is not how to make it.

6. Never Reject an Opportunity

It is tempting to “do it all” and take all opportunities that cross your path at the beginning of your business. Saying “yes” to all opportunities in your corporate encounters will stifle your time and dilute your brand.

7. Gather as Much Cash as Possible

Each business needs cash to start and grow; however, not all businesses must seek that through financiers. While funding may help some companies grow significantly, other lifestyle corporations are at an advantage without it.
Finally, despite all the advice that entrepreneurs receive, they should filter what is right for their business.

How To Balance Profit And Purpose In Business

By Nicholas Fainlight

On January 28, 2021

In Career, Education, Finance, fitness, health, Investing, Leadership, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate, Technology, Uncategorized

Entrepreneurs need to build business empires while still staying committed to their purpose. A significant number of business people struggle to commit to their purpose while still keeping their enterprises profitable. Businesses need to demonstrate their contribution to humanity while still growing their profit margins. Here are ways businesses can balance profit and purpose.

Go Green

In the past few years, many businesses have shown their commitment to adopting more sustainable production methods. No matter the size, every organization can play a role in reducing its environmental footprint. Surprisingly, the current generation prefers to buy green products. Therefore, companies that will demonstrate high sustainability credentials will gain numerous customers who want to buy green.

For instance, manufacturers can reduce carbon emissions by sourcing closer to home. When raw materials are transported for short distances, it helps cut both transport costs and carbon emissions. Besides, leaders who have a passion for conserving the environment can shift to renewable energy sources.

Find an Inspiration

Walk away from your comfort zone and start doing something new that challenges you. Learn from these things and find inspiration in them

Leverage Technology

Technology is changing every aspect of life, including how consumers interact with brands and how they buy products and services. For example, online sales have doubled in the past five years. Additionally, organizations are using machines to understand customer needs better. This means that businesses must stay on top of the latest innovations to remain competitive in their respective industries.

Share Your Success

Entrepreneurship is a murky journey characterized by ups and downs. Therefore, successive entrepreneurs should consider sharing their experiences with novice business people. When you balance profit and purpose, your impact is significant and tangible, and more consumers will want to be associated with your business.

Understand Your Purpose

Purpose goes beyond providing high-quality goods and services to consumers. It also means that your business prioritizes the common good of the community. For example, some companies such as Unilever have already developed a unique living plan to track their progress of minimizing their environmental footprint. Business leaders should devote time to learn about societal impact and how to improve it.

To change business operations to meet new expectations requires exceptional and visionary leadership. In today’s versatile business world, leaders who will adopt agility will be in a better position to achieve long-term success.

Social Media Marketing Through Instagram

By Nicholas Fainlight

On September 16, 2020

In Career, Investing, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate, Technology

Marketers using TikTok should consider switching to Instagram. The social media platform now offers Instagram Reels, which has many of TikTok’s features, including a way for new creators to find a following. Instagram’s Explore algorithm makes it notoriously difficult for marketers to have their Stories found. Brands can share their Reel to their Stories and their Profile’s Reels tab. Instagram users will also see Reels on their Explore page.

TikTok may not be around for long. A potential ban is leaving TikTok influencers asking their fans to follow them on other platforms. President Trump already signed an executive order barring U.S. companies from doing business with TikTok after Sept. 20th. American companies that violate the order could face a fine of up to a $1 million fine.

Marketers can get on Instagram Reels now and take advantage of new Instagram users influencers bring and the already one billion active users each month. Reportedly, Mark Zuckerberg is trying to lure popular TikTok influencers to switch to Instagram, which Facebook owns. Facebook has deep pockets too, deeper than TikTok, which is trying to keep influencers with incentives. Facebook’s rumored offer of bankrolling video clip production for influential creators to post their content exclusively on Instagram reels will be hard for TikTok to beat.

Only 28 percent of marketing professionals use Instagram. Expect this number to rise once Instagram Reels catches on as a way to reach a young audience with 15-second video clips with catchy music. Businesses have a chance to show off their fun side with authentic content on Reels. Humanizing a brand is an ideal way to build genuine relationships with their fan base. Features like Instagram Reels let brands showcase their personality.

Other marketers are considering educational content for their Reels. As Reels were released early in certain countries, brands have been sharing recipes and providing helpful tips. Sephora France already has popular makeup tutorial Reels. They encourage engagement by asking viewers about their favorite eye shadow color.

Marketers who start using Instagram Reels early on will find the competition is low in the U.S. market. With many influencers jumping ship from TikTok to Instagram Reels, it’s a great time for brands to find influencers to develop branded Instagram Reels.

Remote Leadership Mistakes

By Nicholas Fainlight

On September 14, 2020

In Career, Finance, Investing, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate, Technology

Just when you think you have the whole leadership process figured out, a pandemic completely changes everything. Today, instead of face-to-face interactions, you are forced to conduct meetings and catch-ups on video calls. The most important thing is adjusting to the situation and learn how to motivate and manage your team remotely. Understandably, there are new skills you will have to learn. However, many leaders are continuously failing their remotely-working teams by making the following mistakes:

Lack of clear priorities, goals, and directions

As a team leader, you have to set clear priorities and goals to improve team performance. It’s not easy to do this remotely; however, ensure you review your team’s priorities and goals from time to time. An effective team will quickly outline goals, and a good leader will give team members clarity on their roles. Use virtual meeting platforms to update your team about any changes and hold catch-up meetings regularly.

Being Extremely Rigid

Today, most managers are tracking team members’ hours and monitoring daily activities to determine if the employees are working the agreed number of hours per day. Everyone can benefit from a flexible work schedule. Having a better integration of personal and work life can lead to a healthier, more productive, and happier team. As a leader, you should stop micromanaging and tracking how many hours an employee has spent on their screens. Instead you should focus on their daily achievements Give your team some space to breathe and don’t be so rigid. They know what works best for them.

Unproductive collaborations and communication

When working face-to-face, most collaborations and communications take place through informal conversations and interactions. However, this is not there with virtual teams. You need to find ways to foster better communication. The best option is to take advantage of online conferencing platforms such as Zoom.

Unconstructive, inconsistent and non-existent feedback

Giving employees feedback will motivate and improve their performance. It also keeps the team members satisfied since it shows you have their best interest at heart. Be consistent, offer suggestions on how they can improve, and coach them. Let your team learn from you, accept their feedback, and act on it. You can offer frequent feedback to your team through short video calls and creating one-on-one time with individual team members.

Tips To Help You Be Better At Networking

By Nicholas Fainlight

On August 18, 2020

In Career, Education, Finance, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate

Whether you’re running a business or trying to work your way up the corporate ladder, networking is something you’re likely going to have to engage with at some point in your career. Networking helps us meet other likeminded individuals that can help us strengthen our businesses and careers as well as learn more about success and failure. Of course, networking isn’t always easy. Most people aren’t fond of walking into a room and introducing themselves to a bunch of people they’ve never met, especially if they’re all intelligent and skilled business professionals. If you’re someone who struggles with networking or are going to your first networking event, here are a few tips to make things a little easier.

Be Informal

While you might have the urge to be as professional as possible, it’s important that you show potential customers and business partners the human side of you. If you be yourself, it’s more likely that a person will enjoy your company and then want to work with you. Of course, that isn’t to say you can’t talk about your career or business – sometimes people will decide to ask you about it and it’s perfectly acceptable to have that conversation. You just want to be sure you don’t come off too strong and that it isn’t all business, otherwise they may think you’re just trying to get a new customer.

Don’t Have A One Way Conversation

One of the most important aspects of networking is actually having a conversation – that means letting the other person talk while you listen intently, and then responding properly. While you may feel the urge to talk their ear off about you and your business, it’s important that conversations aren’t one way otherwise they may lose interest in you quickly. It’s also important that you don’t let them be the only one talking. Conversational skills are extremely important when it comes to networking, and if you’re shy then you won’t stand out.

Follow Up

If you feel that you’ve had a good time networking with someone, it’s important that the relationship doesn’t end when the conversation does. Be sure to ask them for their contact info. If they give it to you, it likely means that they also enjoyed your time together and chances are they’d be willing to get together again, which could lead to potential partnerships down the line. Everyone likes to connect differently, so make sure you’re available in various forms – phone numbers, emails, LinkedIn pages, Twitter – it’ll be different for everyone. Once you have this information, be sure to reach out the next time there’s a similar event to let them know that you’ll be there and that you should connect.

Tips For Building A Great Resume

By Nicholas Fainlight

On July 18, 2020

In Career, Education, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate

Having a stellar resume is one of the most important aspects of applying for jobs. The hard part is actually building one. A lot goes into building a resume and you’ll likely hear many different things about what makes one great. It’s important that your resume is easy to read and that it highlights your relevant experience in a clear and concise manner. You might even want to seek out professional help when building or updating your resume to make sure it’s up to snuff and gets past the computers that screen resumes and into the hands of a hiring manager. Read on for a few tips to help you build the best resume you can.

Research Examples For Your Industry

A great place to start when building your resume is researching examples of great resumes that other people in your industry have used. This can give you a good feel for the type of experience you want to include and how you want to describe the roles or projects you’ve worked on previously. When looking at examples, you’ll notice that the best examples tend to be brief and simple to read for anyone looking at them. You’ll also notice that they tend to include numbers. Numbers are good because they help an employer get a better sense of the value you can bring to the position you’re applying for.

Put The Most Important Information First

Depending on how long you’ve been working, you may have a lot of relevant experience to put onto your resume. While you may want to share all of this experience with potential employers, it can end up causing your resume to be bloated with information which may ultimately lead to a hiring manager passing on it. You want to make sure that the information on your resume is only the most relevant information to the role you’re applying for and that you put that information at the top of your resume so it sticks out to employers. If you’re applying for a customer service role in an office, you likely don’t need to include that warehouse job you did in college.

Proofread

This might seem obvious but you’d be surprised how often employers receive resumes that have grammatical errors and the like in them. Before sending your resume off, be sure to proofread it several times. You should go through it yourself but you can also use various proofreading programs and tools on the internet. Ultimately, it may be best to have a few colleagues or friends who you trust to take a look at it and see what they say. An outside source is more likely to catch mistakes and unnecessary information than the person who worked on it.

Tips For Making Online Grad School Easier

By Nicholas Fainlight

On July 12, 2020

In Career, Education, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate, Technology

Attending grad school is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking to further their education and become more successful in life. You’ll find that many students choose to attend grad school online because many go later in life while they have full time jobs or are starting families. In today’s day and age with issues such as COVID-19 affecting the world in many ways, even more students are beginning to attend graduate school from the comfort of their homes. Attending school in any capacity from home can be stressful but it doesn’t need to be as difficult as you might think. Here are a few tips to help make attending online grad school a little easier.

Make Sure Your Computer Is Up To Date

If you’re going to be doing online graduate school classes it’s extremely important that you not only have a computer, but that you make sure it’s up to date and functioning properly. You’ll be dead in the water without a properly working computer and making sure it’s up to date will give you far less headaches. Nobody likes turning their computer on first thing in the morning and having to deal with surprise updates when they have to submit something or attend an online seminar. It’s also important to make sure your internet connection is up to snuff as well, otherwise the whole process may be a slog.

Establish Your Work Space

One of the most difficult aspects of taking online classes is doing your work from the comfort of your home. While that may sound nice, it can actually be more difficult than you might think. It’s easy to get too comfortable when at home and get distracted from your work. You’ll want to treat your online classes as if you’re physically going into the classroom. Try to continue doing any routines you might usually do when going into a physical classroom – if you shower every morning, make sure you do that now as well. Make sure your workspace is clean and avoid distractions such as television or social media websites.

Practice Self Discipline

This goes along with establishing your workspace, but having self discipline is of the utmost importance when doing any type of work or learning from home. It’s extremely easy to get distracted, whether it be by your favorite websites, chatting with friends or watching the television. You might be inclined to try and power through your lessons and get ahead of where your class is currently at, but it’s important to take things a step at a time. You’re going to have a lot of materials to digest and if you don’t let yourself absorb the material and truly understand it, you’ll end up struggling later down the road.

TED Talks Every College Student Should Hear

By Nicholas Fainlight

On May 26, 2020

In Finance, Investing, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate

Graduating from college is an exciting, uncertain time. For many grads, there is a world of uncertainty about achieving success in their desired field, even for those who have already secured employment. Today, there a number of ways to be inspired, from self-help books and mindfulness apps to inspirational public speakers. Perhaps the most well-renowned source of expert opinions comes from the TED organization.

TED talks stem from a conference focused on technology, engineering, and design. It has gradually evolved into short speeches written by professionals, for professionals. The aim of the original founders still holds true today – to spread inspiring, thoughtful messages about a variety of topics in a nonpartisan, nonpolitical way. Thousands of TED talks later, audiences around the world have access to a unique library full of insightful tips and tricks about navigating through life.

For college grads who have anxiety about entering our current job climate, there are many good speeches reminding them of the value of living in the moment. One example is Andy Puddicombe’s lessons about meditation and taking a break from everything for ten whole minutes a day. Sian Leah Beilock offers tips on getting out of our own heads when faced with a stressful situation. Remind ourselves that we are flawed human beings and let ourselves relax about the things we will instinctively know how to handle.

Many college students remain undecided about career aspirations, despite having chosen majors. It helps to be reminded that it’s ok to not have it all figured out just because you’ve graduated. Emilie Wapnick explains that it’s completely normal to have multiple interests, even ones that might be fleeting. Not many people have one true calling. She encourages people to seek out their interests, even if it veers away from any pre-set plan. Life is short and it’s important to not have regrets down the road.

For people who think that work means an unpleasant, daily grind, Scott Dinsmore reminds us all that work can be something that you love. While it may be true that not everyone is awarded the same freedom of choice, if you are lucky enough to find a job you truly enjoy, don’t turn it down because of other seemingly important societal reasons. As an added bonus, by doing what you love you have the power to inspire others as well.

6 Benefits of Frequently Changing Companies Early In Your Career

By Nicholas Fainlight

On April 24, 2019

In Career, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate

The average worker in the United States holds approximately 11 jobs during their lifetime, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number is likely to increase by several jobs for younger workers, who seem less committed to longevity with their employers. This change in how long someone stays with a company is a direct result of there being plenty of opportunities to choose from in addition to healthy competition amongst companies to offer employees the best salaries and benefits. That said, here are some of the key reasons it pays to switch jobs early in your career.

Acquire more skills

One of the greatest benefits of switching jobs is learning new skills, according to Pay Scale. These are crucial and transferrable skills, such as writing, negotiating, making decisions, and solving problems, that can help you get better jobs in the future.

Avoid career burnout

When you stay at a job too long early in your career, you’ll tend to become more mechanical in how you perform tasks. In fact, Forbes further explains that your ideas will tend to diminish the longer you stick with one job.

Helps self esteem

Face it, as a talented professional, you have various goals you want to achieve during your career. You have a better chance of reaching them by switching jobs more frequently when you’re first starting out. For one thing, you’ll become exposed to more challenging tasks as you advance into higher-level positions. You’ll also experience a greater sense of accomplishment.

Enhances industry scope

It’s a good feeling when you can perform your job efficiently and get recognized for your efforts. Unfortunately, if you stay in a job too long, you risk falling behind on new trends or happenings in your industry, according to Forbes.

Expands your network

The more jobs you have when you’re young, the greater number of contacts you’ll make. These are people who can mentor you or help you advance into executive roles in the future. These business contacts can also be a launching pad for future business endeavors if you have a predilection toward entrepreneurship.

Increases pay and benefits

Often times, people get stuck in careers because there’s no room to move up. This issue tends to stymie both career growth and income. Although you’ll have to gauge various salaries and benefits in your industry, you can often get significant bumps in salary when you make both lateral or upward progressions in new jobs.