Tag Archives: business

Entrepreneurship: Do You Have What it Takes?

boss_dayIf you haven’t noticed, the job market is changing. From a renewed emphasis on high-skilled jobs, like machine operators and registered nurses, to the growing number of opportunities for freelance work, there’s no doubt that the traditional path to career success has transformed.

For many, the route to achieving their dreams will be through entrepreneurship. The question for anyone considering making the jump to being a business owner is simple: Do I have what it takes?

Knowledge
Starting a business from the ground up is difficult enough, but if you don’t have knowledge about the product, service, or industry that you are getting into, the odds are increasingly against you. One of the wisest investments to make during the initial stages of entrepreneurship is growing your knowledge of the venture you’re about to undertake.

Whether that is learning more about the process of starting a small business, including loans and any licenses needed, or discovering how franchising works, having a solid foundation of information is fundamental to your success.

Do you understand everything there is to know about the product you’d like to sell or the problem you’d like to solve? If not, it’s probably not the right time to invest the energy and money needed to become an entrepreneur.

Passion
No matter the business you want to begin, you’re going to need an almost reckless desire to make it happen. With purpose and a passion to succeed, you’ll be able to overcome the various obstacles and trials that will come your way. Without that desire, the road to entrepreneurial success will be a dead end and leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth and a sense of failure.

There may be people in your life, even close family and friends, who think you’re crazy for taking this leap into the unknown. But, if you begin the journey with an unrelenting desire to see your idea through to the end, there’s no one who can stop you from achieving your dream.

One surprising reason the most successful entrepreneurs have a genuine passion for what they do: failure.

No matter the industry or the time period, from Henry Ford to Colonel Sanders to Soichiro Honda to Richard Branson to Oprah Winfrey to Elon Musk, the passion-filled pursuit of success through the adversity of failure has led the world’s greatest entrepreneurs to their accomplishments.

Support
Finally, one of the most common denominators among entrepreneurs who have what it takes is a support system. This group of people and the organizations that surround you during the entrepreneurial process play a vital role in both your short and long-term success.

Whether it’s a spouse who puts their trust in you, a friend who invests money in your venture, or a mentor who has been through this already, each are an important member of your support team. Not only are they needed to help you get through the challenges of starting your own business, but the saying really is true, ”Victories taste much sweeter when they are experienced with others.”

Find out if you’re ready to become an entrepreneur and which path is right for you. Check out this quiz from the Express Franchising blog.

Have you ever considered starting your own business? Are you currently an entrepreneur? Let us know in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Want a College Major That’ll Get You Hired?

college_major_webIf you answered yes, you may want to consider studying business, engineering, or nursing.

According to a new report released by Express Employment Professionals, college graduates who have a business, engineering, accounting, or nursing degree will have a much easier time finding jobs than graduates in other professions.

By the Numbers

More than a quarter of the survey’s 115 respondents said business was the best major for finding employment, followed by engineering, accounting, nursing, computer, and information sciences.

“Business is still a good bet for a college major, according to our survey,” said Bob Funk, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Express. “Once again, our findings tell us that if you earn a degree that’s associated with a particular skill set, you will do better in the job market.”

In the second year of the survey, business remains the top answer.

“I advise people deciding what to study to consider both what they’re passionate about and what the market demands,” Funk said. “If those intersect, they’re in good shape. The most important thing is to be informed about and aware of which degree can give you a competitive advantage, both in the short term and the long term.”

A Closer Look

For college-bound students, here are the full results of the survey:

What college major makes someone the most employable?

2014

2013

Business

27%

26%

Engineering

20%

16%

Accounting

14%

14%

Nursing

6%

3%

Computer and Information Sciences

5%

13%

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities

5%

2%

Engineering Technologies

4%

3%

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences

3%

8%

Marketing

3%

3%

Education

1%

1%

Math and Statistics

1%

1%

Science Technologies

1%

1%

Communications Technologies

0%

1%

Finance

0%

3%

National Numbers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salaries for these jobs are also competitive. Consider this: the second most in-demand major is engineering, which averages a median starting salary of $51,700 to $97,900. Computer science has a median starting pay of $56,000 while nursing’s median pay is $65,470 per year.

Do these in-demand college degrees surprise you? Have you had success with these jobs? Share your stories in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

5 Reasons to Start a Side Gig

200451597-001Are you a crafty person, a talented photographer, or someone who loves pets? If you have a professional skill or passion, you may want to consider launching a side gig. Side gigs, or side jobs, are commonplace for many of today’s workers. In fact, according to The Millennial Survey 2014 by Deloitte, 70% of Millennials – those ages 18-34 – want to start their own business. And, in a recent Movin’ On Up poll, 46% of respondents said they’d like to own a business but didn’t know where to begin. Whether it’s hosting a show at a local comedy club, operating a lawn mowing business, or selling handmade products, second jobs can be beneficial in many ways. So, here are five reasons why starting a side gig might be right for you.

Supplement Your Income
It can sometimes be difficult, especially if you’re unemployed and looking for a job, to make ends meet every month. Starting a side job can bring in extra income and offer new ways to make money. If you have a knack for knitting, painting, or crafting, for example, opening an Etsy site may help you earn additional income selling products you already enjoy making. Or, if you like pets, offering your services as a dog walker or pet sitter can also bring in additional income.

Good for Your Resume
Any time you can add experience to your resume, you should. And, when you add phrases like “Owned and operated a childcare business,” or “Tutored students in English,” potential employers will notice your drive, independence, and entrepreneurial spirit. It’s not always easy to run your own side job, and hiring managers will likely recognize the effort you put into your business as well as your flexibility.

Impress Your Boss
A side job can also impress your current employer. According to Kimberly Palmer, author of The Economy of You, “What I found is that increasingly, employers welcome and even encourage their employees’ side-gigs … they see their employees learning new skills, including valuable entrepreneurial, e-commerce, marketing, and social media skills, on their own time, and then bringing those abilities back to their main employer.”

But, if you’re currently employed, don’t let a side job get in the way of work. While your side job might be exciting, don’t ignore your primary job. And, don’t use your employer’s time or resources to work on your side gig. Follow your company’s guidelines for outside activities and remain respectful to your employer.

Creative Expression and Gratification
The initial motivation for starting a side job is often money. But, it may become something more as you realize the things you’re making or doing are allowing you the freedom of creative expression. If you’re a talented photographer, consider opening your own business. Start by offering your friends free or discounted photography sessions to build your portfolio, and soon you’ll enjoy the personal and financial rewards your new side business brings.

And, when your services or products help improve the lives of others, your side job may become a very gratifying part of your life. If you love teaching, find a subject you’re particularly knowledgeable in and help others learn it. For example, if you’re really good at a foreign language, you might look for tutoring opportunities at local schools. Tutoring students can bring in extra income, and you’ll also feel gratification for helping others succeed.

Learn New Skills
You don’t need to have a talent or skill in mind before starting your side gig. In fact, launching a side job may help you learn new skills. You may not be a great blogger, but if you start your own blog and research, educate yourself, and gain knowledge on the topic, your writing may grow stronger. If you like to design websites, but don’t know everything about the business, learn all that you can and gain hands-on experience. Study successful people in the industry, join community forums or groups, and watch what others are doing to be successful. Learning new skills can make you more employable. So, be willing to try new things. According to Palmer, “It’s so easy to launch a side gig today. If you have an inkling for something you might want to do, just get started.”

Don’t Give Up
Remember, not every side job will be the next big thing. But, don’t give up if setbacks occur. With every new business venture, there will be speed bumps along the way. The key to success is not letting those speed bumps stop you on your journey.

Have you started your own side gig? Do you have any tips for running a successful side business? Share with us in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Poll: Is Business Ownership for You?

MOV_POLL-ICONRecently, the Creative Job Report found that 55% of employed U.S. adults would choose to be self-employed if they could still pay their bills. The numbers were even higher for the Millennial generation, age 20 to 34-years old, with 67% saying they want to start a business. But taking the leap from wanting to start a business to actually being a business owner can be an overwhelming and thrilling process. With more than 500,000 businesses created monthly, we want to know if our Movin’ On Up readers are planning an entrepreneurial rung on their career ladder. Let us know by voting in our poll!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Poll: Do You Have a LinkedIn Account?

Job Seeking and Career Advice PollLinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with 250 million members. It’s a place to connect with people, build your professional online identity, and stay in touch with colleagues. LinkedIn allows you to discover professional opportunities, business deals, and possible new ventures for your career. A LinkedIn profile is your professional brand and, in a sense, your online resume. With that being said, it’s a great tool for job searching. In fact, an article from Mashable.com shows that LinkedIn is helpful when it comes to landing higher-paying jobs.

We want to know if you’re one of LinkedIn’s 250 million members. Let us know by voting in our poll.

Cheer Up Your LinkedIn Profile

cheer_up_March2014We all spend time reading other peoples’ posts and updates on social media, but when is the last time you skimmed over your own profile and updated your information? Do you need to refresh your profile by adding new skills and work history, or do you need to delete some old things from your profile? Here are a few quick tips to cheer up your LinkedIn Profile.

What is Your LinkedIn Profile Saying About You?
Is your LinkedIn profile leaving an accurate and good impression on those who view it? A CareerBuilder study shows hiring managers are using social media to evaluate candidates’ character and personality traits outside the confines of the traditional interview process. When asked why they use social networks to conduct background research, hiring managers stated the following: 65% wanted to see if the candidate presents himself/herself professionally, 51% wanted to see if the candidate is a good fit for the company culture, 45% wanted to learn more about the candidate’s qualifications, 35% wanted to see if the candidate is well-rounded, and 12% wanted to look for reasons not to hire the candidate.

LinkedIn is a great social media tool for letting people in the professional arena learn more about you, your skills, and your work experience. So, where do you start?

Update Your Profile Picture
First things first, start with updating your profile picture. If your picture is more than five years old, it’s time for a new one. Make sure your photo is a head shot of you in business attire, not a picture of you with other people. Don’t forget to smile!

Freshen Up Your Summary
If you don’t have a professional summary, you need to write one. Don’t ever leave your summary blank. In fact, don’t leave any field blank on your profile. Your summary is one of the first things an employer sees when they look at your profile, which is a great way to introduce and present yourself. Take a quick look through your profile and professional summary to make sure you’re showcasing yourself and your abilities. Your summary doesn’t need to be long or in-depth, but it does need to point employers in the right direction. Keep in mind, your skills and information are searchable so you’ll want to use key words and descriptions that align with your industry.

Clean Up Your Group Lists
Joining groups on LinkedIn is a great way to grow your network. If your interests have changed since you first joined LinkedIn and you’d like to learn more about a different industry or company don’t hesitate to join their LinkedIn group. Cleaning up your old groups and add new ones can help you cheer up your LinkedIn profile.

Follow New People
Do you have professional role models that you look up to? See if those people have LinkedIn accounts and request to follow them. Following those you look up to and seeing their updates on your LinkedIn feed can help encourage you in your job search and keep you motivated during your career journey.

Cheering up your LinkedIn and other social media profiles might be just what you need to get noticed. These edits and updates can be done in a short amount of time, so cheer up your LinkedIn profile today. Have you landed a job by using LinkedIn? Let us know in the comments section below!