How You Can Find a Good Job in a Bad Economy

Posted by Money Tips Staff

The economic downturn that has affected the U.S. for the past several years has left many people high and dry … and out of a job.  While it may seem hopeless to you now, one of the biggest mistakes people who are out of work make is to assume that there are no jobs available.  Follow these tips to help you secure a good job for yourself, even in this time of doubt and uncertainty.

Your résumé.  If you are currently unemployed or stuck in a job that is going nowhere or doesn’t afford you the funds you need, utilize any downtime you have to update your résumé.  Include ways that you have been able to challenge yourself and ways that you have succeeded despite overwhelming odds.  Prepare a cover letter template that is easily adaptable for the variety of jobs you may be researching and that highlights your professional experience as well as the benefits any job will gain based on your specific personality.  Also take the time to ensure that it is clean and easy to read.

Research.  It is easier than ever to look for more jobs in a shorter period of time.  Utilize online resources such as job-hunting search engines that will deliver you nightly emails containing jobs that you may be qualified for.  However, it is important for your morale to be realistic and remember that thousands of other people probably use the same search engines that you do, keeping the competition stiffer.

Recruitment agencies.  If you decide to use one of these agencies, they will hopefully be able to offer effective recruitment strategies, but there is no guarantee that they will be able to find you a job as quickly as you might like.

Network.  Make your contacts from your professional and private life with more frequency than you have before by calling five people a day instead of five a week.  Follow up immediately on any job leads.   Arrange to meet with a potential source in person if you can. You are more likely to find the job that is best for you if you meet with people face to face.  And make sure to thank anyone you meet or who offers you a tip … don’t wait!

Stay positive!  This is the trickiest step of them all.  After you have devoted countless hours to updating your résumé, filling out job applications, following up with phone calls and emails, or even making an interview only to be rejected after all, you will undoubtedly realize that job hunting can be an incredibly demoralizing experience.  There are no easy ways to do stay confident, but you should continually remind yourself that there is a job out there for you, and that you are the perfectly qualified person for it.  Maintaining a positive attitude will help you when you do get a job interview.  Employers can sense desperation in a candidate and it may turn them off from you.  While it is challenging to keep up your confidence in yourself, it will pay off in the end!

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The Pros and Cons of Timeshares as an Investment

Posted by Money Tips Staff

Timeshares are handy for people who like to travel and who travel frequently, particularly if you visit the same places on a regular basis.  The concept of a timeshare is fairly simple:  multiple owners each pay for the right to spend allotted times in one property, often condominium units, typically for a week and usually at the same time each year.  For many people, the concept of sharing a property is difficult, even if you are fully aware that (theoretically, anyway) the time you buy is your own.  You may want to weigh the benefits versus the prohibitions when considering whether or not to invest in a timeshare.

Convenience is the biggest pro to consider when making your decision.  Owners in the timeshare are able to return at the same time to the same place every year with no hassle.  The staff who work at the timeshare take care of all the cleaning and maintenance, which means you won’t have to hire a caretaker.

Compare the cost of your weekly cost for a hotel room over the next several decades of vacationing.  Ultimately you will save more money by paying the timeshare fee up front, particularly if you figure that most timeshare property does not appreciate like other real estate.  However, you must keep this in mind if you are planning on selling later.

One of the biggest cons you are likely to encounter is the unethical practices of unscrupulous major industry players.  Sales staff are often aggressive and may not give you all the information up front that you need to make an informed decision.  If you are considering buying a timeshare as an investment, remember that timeshares generally do not appreciate in value.  However, in a good mark the value of timeshares is known to increase.  As an owner of a timeshare, you are not obligated to keep your timeshare for the entire allotted time of ownership.  You can sell your timeshare whenever you feel like it.  One of the biggest advantages is that you can rent it out as well, but make sure that you understand the rules of your timeshare first.

Remember that, when making a decision whether to invest in timeshare, that you keep other options open.  Fractional ownership is not the same as a timeshare.  “Fractional ownership” means that any asset is divided into portions or shares, and offers people more freedom, as they own part of the title of the asset and not just the time (as in a timeshare).   On the other hand, you may want to consider becoming a member of one of several residence clubs available.  These are usually highly luxurious, reminiscent of the service you would receive in a five star hotel, and require membership.  Some higher quality hotels run their own private residence clubs, which means that you can visit multiple properties rather than being confined to one place year after year.

When deciding whether or not to invest in a timeshare, make certain that you conduct plenty of research.  You must understand fluctuations in the real estate market and have an eye on the future.

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Why You Should Invest in Your Brand’s Identity

Posted by Elizabeth Retton

Branding is essential to the success of whatever products or services you offer the general public.  The entire point of establishing and maintaining a brand name is to connect with your customers and increase their awareness of you, and, as you work and hopefully prosper, create a foundation for lasting customer loyalty.  A brand expresses what your position is in the world, what makes up your value system, and, perhaps most importantly, the identity of your business.  Therefore investing in your brand’s identity is essential for your success.

First, you must have a complete understanding of what exactly is your place in the world, business or otherwise.  Your brand’s identity is more than a logo or a catchy tagline.  What is your backstory?  Your mission statement?  How do you want to be perceived?  How will you invest your personality into the brand?  Most importantly, what is your individual voice:  what separates you from the common herd?  Your customers want to connect with you emotionally.  The clearer you are on who and why you are, the more of an emotional connection you will forge.

Consistency is the watchword with branding.  Your brand’s identity should be functional, but it should also be packed with meaning.  Everything about your brand should refer back to your original mission, so the more you understand what this is exactly, the more easily you will be able to organize your thoughts, develop a strategy, and use your imagination to create an accessible brand for your customers to embrace.

Part of your brand’s identity involves the choices you will make with regards to font, colors, and images that will become a part of your logo or tagline.  When selecting a font, the first thing to consider is readability:  how will people understand what you are trying to communicate to them if they are unable to read the words?  Colors and color schemes are also essential.  What colors do you identify with personally?  Why do you feel that way?  Do a little research to see what researchers have to say about psychological functions in consumers when confronted with specific colors and color schemes.  If you plan on using an image as part of your brand, make certain that the one you choose is not already in use.  Once again, conduct some research in your area of the business world.  It also wouldn’t hurt to have a full consideration of a range of different products and services.  Look at the big boys and reflect on the simplicity or complicated nature of their brands.  Why do you suppose they have been successful?  What can you learn from them?

Your brand identity will take you far along the path to success, but that means deep reflection on the values you intend to portray.  This also includes places where you plan to brand:  will you use billboards?  Social media sites?  Online video networking sites?  Spellcheck and hunt for grammatical and mechanical errors.  Put on your best face.  Remember:  your brand is what the world will see!

Elizabeth Retton is a contributing writer for LogoMojo.com, where you can design a logo for your business.

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