Tips from November 16, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss proper hiring practices. Take time to hire, if you need to hire immediately. Plan for at least 2-4 weeks for the hiring process. Taking your time ensures you have hired the right candidate for the position and didn't hire without much thought. Know what YOUR business needs. Someone with an impeccable resume and work history who does not fit the criteria you have for yourself for the position won't work for what you need for your business. Think and choose carefully. Take into account your company's culture. Make sure they will be a fit for your workplace skill-wise, as well as with the employees. Camaraderie is important, especially if they are going to be part of your business team.  Take at least a two step process to eliminate candidates. Do phone interviews with 5 candidates, and narrow it down to 2 or 3 for the final face-to-face interview. ... [Read Full Article]

Tips from June 27, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about background checks for new employees. One of the most important reasons to conduct a background check on a potential future employee is to eliminate those who lied on their resume.  With the economy struggling and people desperate to find jobs, it is important to hire those who are truthful and have the proper credentials. Before diving into potential employees’ personal records and history, be sure to look into what constitutes as a legal background check and which does not.  Being safe and preparing yourself is essential to avoid court and legal problems. Conducting a background check ensures that your employees will retain a sense of safety at the workplace.  Employees will be less stressed about the possibility of incidents at the workplace. It is very important for small businesses to conduct background checks to save money by hiring th... [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Taxing Financiers to Close `Unfair Loopholes' President Obama is turning yet again to financiers as a source of tax revenue to plug holes in his budget and what he sees as gaps in the tax code itself. Bloomberg.com Small Business and Middle Class Tax Relief Plan Unveiled The Obama administration has unveiled its long-awaited proposal for approximately $736 billion in tax cuts for middle class families and almost $100 billion in tax cuts for small businesses, all over the next ten years. Forbes.com Management and Financial Issues [Read Full Article]

Tips from Tuesday, March 24, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about where to post your resume. Work for a small business! 1. If you’re on the technical side of things, post your resume at http://dice.com 2. Always use the standard resume posting sites: http://careerbuilder.com/ and http://monster.com/ 3. Do not upload a standard cover letter. Write a new cover letter to attach to each resume and application. 4. Apply for jobs that match your true capabilities. Enough experience is worth more than a degree. Don’t be intimidated. Daily Overview: Put your resume on the major sites. Personalize cover letters, don’t be intimidated by a degree versus experience. Small businesses are what this nation was built from and are what will save our economy. You’ll likely end up working for one of them. So wh... [Read Full Article]

Tips from Monday, March 23, 2009 Today’s Small Business tips will show you how to write the best possible resume. Your resume has to stand out! Make it look pretty, not the standard Word template all those other job posters will use. Use numbers in describing previous positions. Percentages, numbers, accomplishments = easier and more real than big words. Use good spelling, grammar and punctuation on your resume or be overlooked instantly! Using the wrong words say a lot about you. Write a new objective per job application. No two jobs are alike! Use words from the job ad. Same goes for your 1 pg cover letter. Daily Overview: Your resume needs to stand out from everyone else! Make it look good in every possible way. Personalize! Small businesses are what this nation was built from and are what will save our economy. You’ll likely end up working for one of them. So when you get thi... [Read Full Article]