Monday, November 17, 2014

Virtual Assistants - Still an Option?

My good friend Angel Lebak is a very successful Virtual Assistant with a specialization in Social Media. She does quite well and has for many years. As I mentioned in the past, finding a niche is critical. Take a moment to visit her site. She also does VA training/coaching - http://www.virtualassistantsocialmedia.com/forvirtualassistants/.

Many might say that VAs (real people) are going to be obsolete due to Apple's Siri and other comparable products in the future. http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/business/virtual-assistants-are-the-way-forward/index.html.

I do think Siri can assist with some of the tactical day to day responsibilities like setting reminders, scheduling appointments, providing directions. I don't think Siri can help with certain tasks that clearly need a human touch:

Job Title Examples:

  • Social Media Virtual Assistant: launching and monitoring Social Media campaigns on multiple social media channels
  • Customer Service Virtual Assistant: provide a warm, engaging customer service assistance for inbound and outbound calls
  • Bookkeeping Virtual Assistant: complete A/P, A/R tasks and reporting to keep a small to medium size business on track
  • Research Virtual Assistant: Online Research
  • Sales Support/Closing Virtual Assistant: Chasing/Closing Business

Below is a short list of VA positions that are currently being advertising on the internet. Study the requirements and if you qualify, apply. If you don't qualify start making a plan and execute to get you the experience you need.

Marketing Event Coordination - 1 year exp
Receptionist - 3 yrs customer service exp
Virtual Assistants and other positions

These are just 3 opportunities out of many. Take some time and search the website using keywords like "virtual assistant", "part time virtual assistant", or VA.

Remember, when you apply you have to speak to the job. Your resume, your cover letter, and the interview experience must all truthfully speak to your skills that make you qualified or closely qualified. Don't rely on the recruiter or hiring manager to make the "leap". Help them see why you are the best candidate. Don't forget to send a thank you note (paper or email) every time you have an interview!

Good Luck!
Garla

Monday, November 3, 2014

Many Telecommuting Jobs - UnitedHealth Group

Healthcare is one of the biggest industry with amazing growth in the last 10 years. This industry is expected to employ more than 16 million people by 2016. This is larger than the leisure and hospitality industry.

Based on my research, one healthcare company does a lot with telecommuting opportunities. As of Nov 1, United Health Group's website has over 262 job opportunities where telecommuting is required or may be allowed. Job titles include Clinical Administrative Coordinator, Claims Project Manager, RN Part Time Wellness Promotion, Social Worker Care Coordinator and many others.

http://careers.unitedhealthgroup.com/search-jobs.aspx?kw=telecommute

Also, as standard practice take a moment to read the company reviews from current and past employees. I used Indeed.com.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Career Advice - That helps you break through the door or the ceiling...

As many of you know, I recently decided to go back to work full-time at my area community college. While it is a full-time position, I am fortunate to have a boss that believes in work life balance and is goal oriented versus time oriented. As I explore my career paths, I ran across an interesting video that explains why women may not move up the career ladder like men do.

Conventional advice has failed us. We think breaking through the glass ceiling is tied to confidence or leadership skills but one expert believes that a key part of that formula is our inability to understand and master "business strategic financial acumen" aka understand the numbers and speak numbers to influence others.

Don't get me wrong, the soft skills (working well with others and the ability to get things done) is important but is not the most critical. Men are naturally coached and required to understand and be strategic about the business aspects in order to move up. For women this is secondary. We must ask for mentors and take the initiative to continue developing our financial skills.

Take a moment to review this video. For those just starting out on a career path check out the video at 7:22. Our expert has provided a great list of valuable skills that any business will be seeking regardless of their industry.

We naturally understand the business aspects of running our homes. Even when starting out in a career entry position, why do we shy away and act as though we don't have the business financial confidence? Running a home is running a business.

  • Budgeting, balancing the checkbook and managing income are all examples of managing financial principles on a small scale.
  • When you do an evaluating on the cost of hiring support (maids, nannies, child care, yard maintenance, camps, SAT Prep) it is in the same realm as reviewing profit and loss.
  • Your mastery of tracking bills, paying bills (A/R) and understanding your total expenses is a great foundation.
  • Forecasting your household income 2-3 years out against expenses to get you there is a skill that employers will value.

Share your financial experiences with an employer in terms that they will understand and watch the door open.

If you think this post would be helpful for a friend, please share it.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Work From Home Job Listings - Interactrv

InteractRV is an web services provider to the recreational industry. There are 3 listings that are all telecommuting and full-time. They would great opportunities for parents seeking work-life balance. Based on my research this company is legitimate with a long-standing reputation. This company has a presence on LinkedIn and maintains its own individual website.

The 3 jobs are:

Graphic Web Designer
Paid Search Specialist
Customer Care Specialist

Recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are looking for resumes submissions that speak to the job. Your submission should include your experience that is a match but with keywords and phrases that match the job description. Don't send a "canned" response. Make it meaningful and relevant. Good Luck!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Where Are The Jobs?

The second part of this series is to identify where the jobs are and why they are important.

As a entrepreneur in this line of work, it has not been easy to find legitimate jobs with decent pay. We averaged 20-36 great Smart Moms jobs per year. Many employers found us but we were able to uncover the best jobs by spreading the word through the business community that there are millions of mothers throughout the US who are ready to work. We spread the word by speaking at conferences, job fairs, women's networking groups and advertising and incentivizing our existing client base.

This strategy is required for any business owner to build their business plus some. Truth be told, this marketing and sales work has tired me in the last 2 years. However, education still calls my name. I am still in the business because this message about this "amazing untapped workforce" still needs to be communicated to THE WORLD. This passion is in me and I will probably continue to spread this message until I die.

Moms are not able to find enough flexible work that allows them to be peaceful, patient, loving, encouraging parents AND be a contributing part of the workforce. Our next generation is molded and developed by our mothers (fathers too!) If moms are stress because they can't find flexible work or their existing work is too stressful, the children are negatively affected. Smart Moms' mission is to make it easier for parents to maintain a foot in the work world while performing their mission of quality parenting.

From the job seekers' perspective, many moms found jobs by spreading the word about opportunities among themselves. They talked to their girlfriends (especially those that were working), they asked their husbands or significant others for introductions, they reach out to friends and acquaintances in their social and political groups They even talked to their children's principals and teachers for job leads and advice. They used their network!

There are some amazing sites that post jobs that match the moms needs for flexibility. Here are some sites that you can browse and bookmark. If you are able, set up job alerts so you can be notified when jobs are posted that match your needs.

http://momcorps.com
http://tentiltwo.com/
http://wahm.com
http://flexjobs.com
http://elance.com
http://www.wahve.com/

Feel free to make comments to this post and suggest other job boards and sites that you know to be reputable. I will delete anything that is self promoting and cannot be verify as legitimate. So please save me some time and don't make recommendations you would not recommend to your grandmother.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Job Listing - SRC Bookkeeping 093014

As I mentioned, Smart Moms will periodically post jobs that are ideal Smart Moms and Dads jobs.

This is one.

SCR Group, a nationwide financial field services company, is recruiting for a bookkeeper in Raleigh, NC. Transaction processing using QuickBooks and a web-based application (Recovery Database Networks), as well as some human resource and other financial reporting/bookkeeping support to executives and staff as needed. Strong QuickBooks, Outlook, and Excel skills are a must.

Position requires 10-15 hours per week. Compensation will be in the $18-$22 per hour range.

Qualified candidates should submit resumes to Tawnya Louder at tlouder@scrgroupservices.com. Visit the LinkedIn Smart Moms page for a detail job listing at http://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-moms-llc.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Why Is It So Hard To Find The Right Smart Moms' Job? - Part 1

After working in a small business for over eleven years, finding the right job for myself and others has been a journey. Where are the jobs, how do we create more, and what is my part as a job seeker in finding the right job?

Let's tackle the easiest question for Part 1 - What is my part as a job seeker?

Leverage who you know and "KNOW" what you know. Network, Network, Network. Networking basically means help others and tell others what you are looking for. Be willing to make introductions, encourage and coach others. It will come back to benefit you in some way. I promise! Don't help others with an intention in mind but freely!

KNOW information/skills that you possess and know how it is valuable to companies. If you have served as PTA president - you know how to ask, make pitches, manage funds, do marketing and a plethora of other skills. If you have worked a part-time job for a while in a day care/retail, your customer skills are probably off the chart. You know how to manage hectic situations and calm the most irritated individual. There are just a few examples but explore your soft skills based on what you have been doing since you been at home. Trust me...you have more valuable skills than you think.

In a 2011-12 poll, 98% of employers rated communication skills as the top skill outweighing years of experience. Don't believe me check out this infographic:

ACTION: Make a list of the soft skills you possess that you know to be valuable. Note tangible examples of these skills in action. Use this list when you are sharing your value to your network.