Category: Saving Money

The act or process by an individual, a family or small business, of taking a portion or percentage of weekly or monthly income and setting it aside by placing it in a savings account or other account such as a IRA to be used at some future date. Reasons for saving might include paying for unexpected events, medical expenses, child’s education, retirement lifestyle and other future purchases.

  • Work History Gaps Must be Dealt with Smartly


    Fill in all resume gaps

    Listing your professional experiences on a resume can be a difficult task, especially when considering the many elements a resume preparer must incorporate into the document, if it is to adequately serve the purpose it is meant to serve. Items like job titles, time frames, key responsibilities, transferable skills, and other such descriptions and attributes must be included and properly listed where and when appropriate. The process becomes even more difficult when these elements are in an individual’s work history.

    Potential employers will not have a way of knowing why there is a three and a half year gap in an applicant’s professional experience just by reviewing his/her resume. Moreover, the employer might wonder if you – in the case where you are the applicant – skipped over one of your past jobs because it does not meet the career objective you listed.

    It is also not unreasonable for a prospective employer to assume that you did not work at all during the omitted time frame; so it is not in your best interest to intentionally skip any information in your jobs history. Simply (honestly) explain any gaps. There are a few general rules about resume gaps that could help to guide you through:

    Rules of the ‘resume gaps’ road

    1. Any unaccounted-for time that is shorter than three months does not need to be explained. Having a 60-90 day period between jobs is not very unusual, and often goes unnoticed within the structure of a resume anyway. However, any gaps extending beyond three months should be addressed in your cover letter or an e-mail. Whether you had personal or professional reasons for not working, the gaps in your employment history need to be explained as you don’t want to leave the employer to make their own assumptions.
    2. Be honest! We can’t stress this recommendation enough. If you are honest with your potential employers, you might not have to worry about them checking your references, doing a background check, or surprising you with questions in an interview.
    3. Don’t exclude months of your employment from the job listing. You are better off explaining the gaps in your resume than trying to cover them up, and you’ll likely discover that honesty is really the best policy when it comes to your resume.
    4. If you have held jobs that are not applicable to your career objective, list them on your resume anyway. Rather than create gaps in your resume, explain why you held jobs outside of your chosen field in your cover letter, or in an email to your potential employer. Again, whether the reasons are personal or professional, explain yourself honestly and don’t leave room for assumptions on the part of your potential employer.
    5. Regardless of the reasons for the gaps in your professional history, it is important that the tone of your cover letter and your resume remain positive. Do not sound apologetic!– Life happens and you don’t need to be sorry for taking time off from work for good and/or justifiable reason(s). Be positive! And show your potential employer that you never lost focus on your career.

    Diligence, honesty and education pays off

    While we all agree that life often takes unexpected turns and understand that there will be circumstances which result in resume, we can always consider the following actions in order to stay competitive in our field:

    • Apply our time and experience to volunteer positions, community projects, consulting and/or freelance work.
    • Take a class at a community college or at the community center that improves your work-related skills and allows you to interact with people of similar professional backgrounds.
    • Read about new developments in your field, get a subscription to a professional publication/magazine, or get the newly published books that discuss changes or improvements in your profession.

    Most of all, be honest and stay positive, because you can’t change your work history, so do your best to show your employer that you are a perfect/best candidate for the job by focusing on your experience and your education, as well as highlighting your achievements and your qualifications.

  • About Chronological and Functional Resumes

    Use of a chronological resume

    The typical resume is a one-to-two page document summarizing an individual’s career objectives, professional experiences and achievements, as well as his/her educational background; and while there are numerous ways to format a resume, there are two basic resume styles. The chronological resume and the functional resume.

    As its name implies, a chronological resume is one that lists your experience and education in order, beginning with the most recent jobs or achievements. This type of resume is sometimes also referred to as reverse chronological resume, because the order of which items are listed begins with the individuals’ last or current employment details and continues in reverse order to the first or oldest employment details.

     

    A chronological resume is generally preferred by –employers, since they will want to know what job an applicant currently holds so that they can better asses his/her qualifications for the job in which s/he has interest. The same is true for an applicant’s education since a potential employer would rather know that applicant’s most recent scholastic achievement. By listing experiences and education in reverse chronological order, a job applicant shows his/her potential employer the overall career progress s/he’s made.

    Emphasis on employment history

    Such reverse listing also helps in determining the length of employment at each organization, and indicates any gaps in the individual’s career (in case of gaps, make sure to address them in the cover letter as to not lead a potential employer to believe that s/he is omitting information on purpose). If you are the job applicant, a chronological resume should list your current job, as well as two to four previously held positions.

    However, you should not skip any employment information intentionally; and if your employment history is long, or if you have held jobs further in the past that align well with your current career objective, you can address these qualifications in your professional profile or in your cover letter. Chronological resumes are the most commonly used style, and work best for anyone who has had some professional experience.

    When a functional resume is useful

    Functional resumes focus on the individual’s qualifications, not his/her career timeline, because this style of the resume highlights what skills that person has, rather than where and when s/he acquired or utilized them. In other words, if you are an applicant writing a functional resume, you would forego listing your experiences by job titles and, instead, your resume will contain sections titled by your skills such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction and project management, among others.

    This resume style is recommended for college students seeking internships or their first jobs out of school; for those with no professional experience; those who have not worked for some time; or for career changers. While potential employers will appreciate the overview of your skills, you should consider using a chronological resume if you have any professional experience; or you can even use a combination resume over the functional format.

    Combination resume: A hybrid of resume styles

    A combination resume, although not often discussed, has become a popular format in recent years; and as its name implies, it is a combination of chronological resume style and functional resume style. This hybrid style allows professionals to highlight the qualification they have that are critical for the job of their interest, while at the same time listing employment and educational history in reverse chronological order.

    A word of caution, however: Don’t try to do too much when using a combination resume, by going over board with the type and number of sections you include in your resume. It is best to keep the information listed – even in the combination format – to what is relevant for the job. The same rules apply for each style. Don’t exceed two pages; simply tailor your resume to your career objective and put your best foot forward in order to get the interview, and eventually the job you desire.

  • Where to Spend Your Office Furniture Dollars


    Office furniture dealers

    There are numerous places where you can shop for and buy office chairs, whether those places are operated by dealers, direct factory outlet owners or even from the well-stocked superstores which have risen in popularity during the 1990’s decade. However, before you start shopping there are a few things that you might want to know about some of the places you’d likely deal with.

    Many companies that purchase mid to high end office furniture will likely go through a dealer to furnish their offices; and dealers will normally sell chairs from one of the three largest vendors, after which they would compliment them with a number of smaller lines. Keep in mind that the advantages of buying office chairs from a dealer include their ability to obtain a variety of designs. Businesses that plan to order many office chairs will be able to bring a few models into their office for evaluation purposes.

    Buy direct or from superstores

    Buying office chairs direct is an option for companies that are interested in obtaining budget and/or middle ranged office chairs; and because direct vendors do not have the high costs of maintaining showrooms, purchasers will probably find office chairs that are priced 20 – 40 percent lower than the actual retail price. When a company buys multiple chairs, the price will get even better.

    Buyers must understand this caveat about obtaining office furniture pursuant to the “direct buy” method: when buying direct you will not be able to try the chairs out before making the purchase. So if you plan on purchasing office chairs through a vendor directly, be sure that you try out at least one chair before purchasing a significant number which you may find unsuitable after the purchase is made.

    A superstore will offer many advantages for companies that buy office chairs, because they buy in bulk, which allows them to sell their chairs at extremely low prices. In addition to this, the chair models they offer are available right on their showroom floor, which allows buyers to try before they buy. Also featured as a superstore advantage is the free and immediate delivery they promise with every purchase.

    Purchase type dictated by business needs

    Despite everything they offered by superstores however, they are considered by many companies to be a poor choice in office furniture providers. Why? Because the furniture they put on display is normally designed for home offices, and therefore does not offer the comfort and durability of the better designed furniture and models required by mid-size and large businesses. In addition to this, the selection tends to be limited more often than not.

    If you own or manage a mid-size to large office and happen to be looking for office chairs, any of the above sellers may be a great choice for you, although you might tend to shun superstore furniture. But you needn’t restrict yourself to the above choices since the Internet is another option at your disposal. Consider an auction site like Ebay, among sizable number of other Internet-based companies; but you can look in local trading newspapers as well.

    In search of the perfect office chair

    Office furniture in general, and chairs in particular are popular items and, with the growth of Internet use and with it the rise of home offices across the globe, office chairs have become a more demanded item, with some brands being better known than others. And with new chairs being designed, manufactured and put on the market at an increased pace, the perfect chair for you might just be out there and waiting to be picked up.

    But if it’s not, there’s no need to worry because all you have to do is decide which method of buying is best for you company and your needs and when your perfect chair comes to that location, you’ll be in business. There are many available methods of office furniture purchasing for you to choose from, all you have to do is find the one with features, comfort and price – quality office chairs – that best suit your purposes. Good luck!

  • Taking a Look at Discount Office Chairs


    If you’re just starting a new office or renovating your current office, you are going to need a lot of office chairs for your employees as well as for yourself; and while top of the line executive office chairs are great for your top level executives, it’s probably not within your budget to buy these high quality, highly priced chairs for all your workers, especially if you’re just getting started in business and need to preserve as much capital as possible.

    When steps must be taken to keep costs low, if not to a bare a minimum, buying hundreds of executive office chairs is simply out of the question. However, what might be more practical – and certainly more economical – under such budgetary constraints, would be to consider purchasing good quality discount office chairs, many of which are as sturdy, comfortable and as suitable for your employees as many standard office chairs.

    Discount office chairs are priced in a manner that allow for the purchase of a large volume without having to sacrifice on quality, comfortability or style; which means that a company making such purchases can have the best of both worlds in terms of price, as well as employee comfortability, and acceptance of the company’s office chairs. Because they are available at a great price, discount office chairs might be looked at as inferior products, but this is not the case, especially since they also provide the reccommended amount of back support for users.

    There are a number of online vendors and local merchants that will be delighted to provide you, as a new or renovating business owner looking for discount chairs to purchase in large volumes, great bargains. So when you are in the market for such items, make sure to shop around so you can see who offers the best deals. You may also be able to get a “reduced rate” reduced even further if the salesman is looking to build a long term relationship with his customers.

    There are numerous places you can get discount office chairs, all you have to do is look around in a diligent manner. Bulk rate dealers of discount office furniture can be found online, in local stores and even on auction sites such as Ebay. Discount office chairs are popular items because they are always in demand by business owners, since they offer the business owner quality and comfort for a price s/he really can’t beat.

    When shopping around for a discount office chair it’s important to make sure that good quality chairs are being sold at acceptably reduced rates, since no one wants to pay executive-chair-prices for chairs which should be sold at discounted prices. However, the most important thing to remember is to always make sure that you aren’t getting a cheap chair made with inferior materials and a bad design, with the name of a discount office chair.

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  • When Selecting An Executive Office Chair


    An executive office chair is the type usually top of the line; and are normally used by top executives in corporate offices and by certain important visitors in the waiting rooms of upper level management. It is very important that an executive office chair present a professional image of the company utilizing it while simultaneously providing a comfortable seat in which to sit.

    Executive office chairs are normally made of leather and fine wood; and many come with ergonomically correct designs that will help reduce the pains which are often associated with sitting for long periods at a time. Users of executive office chairs are offered adjustment mechanisms to help them fine tune their chairs in a way that will accommodate unique body types, as well as the various conditions around the office.

    Keep in mind however, that while body types of office employees can easily be obtained because those individuals are accessible to management on a regular basis, it is quite difficult to determine body types of potential, prospective and important customers to the business; making the above mentioned adjustment mechanisms – waiting room occupants can make adjustments for their own comfort levels – even more essential as added features.

    One thing to be mindful of however, is when compared to standard office chairs, the executive chairs tend to cost a lot more. This is an expected consequence of any top-of-the-line product, and executive office chairs are no different, especially since they are made of much finer material than the typical plastic frame and cloth covered cushion the standard chairs are made of. Many retailers who deal exclusively in executive office furniture allow buyers to customize their own chairs.

    Almost all executive office chairs offer a design that contributes to the best in comfort. Even some standard chairs will come with a padded seat, pneumatic seat height adjustment, adjustable tilt tension, adjustable arm rests, lumbar support, and dual wheel castors as well. You can even get an extended warranty with most chairs; but executive office chairs come with all those features plus a number of additions which justify the price and prestige.

    No matter what body type you have, there are executive an office chair for you; and even though big and tall body types can present unique challenges (depending on the height) executive office chair manufacturers have special chairs for them as well. Executive office chairs are very comfortable and offer the user comfort whenever s/he sits down. They offer plenty of padding for the back, and these chairs are ideal when it comes to professionalism with a dash of quality and comfort.

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  • Cheap Prices and Buying Tips


    Low-budget items

    If you own or manage an office-based business (accounting, law, real estate, etc.), the price you pay for a good office chair should be in the range of $250 to $350; and even though the price of top-of-the-line office chairs can range in the thousands of dollars, they are usually no more comfortable than a $300 dollar chair. One reason for this is the high cost of the particular brand name tacked on to the item and not the item itself.

    Many office businesses are forced to operate on a budget and, as such, cannot afford to spend a lot of money on office chairs, especially when less expensive chairs are available for around 100 dollars per model. One example of where lower-priced chairs can be found is Global and Wallace, a company which often has the lowest-priced (or best low-budget) office chairs available. However, as a low-budget office chair buyer, you should be aware of the pros and cons involved.

    Ask about repairs & discounts

    Whenever repairs are required for your office chairs, you should ask if parts can be replaced; and if parts have to be shipped to your office, you should also find out who is responsible for shipping charges, as such charges be quite expensive. On the other hand, if shipping is not required you’ll need to find out about delivery, including date, time and whether the delivery company is owned and operated by the selling company or an independent company.

    Discounting is very prevalent among office furniture dealers, such that even if your purchase is limited to only one office chair, you can still get up to a 30 percent discount off the suggested retail price. As a condition of such discounting, the more office chairs you buy you can expect to get ever increasing discounts on those purchases.

    It is therefore always a smart decision to buy your office chairs in bulk; especially if you have a lot of employees, in which case you’ll save hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars. Saving money is something everyone likes to do, especially when it comes to their business offices and the furniture which must necessarily adorn it.

    Trials

    Another aspect of office chair purchases has to do with trials, in the sense that when you intend to make a substantial purchase of office chairs at one time, you should ask for a few trial chairs to be brought to your office prior to your decision to close the deal. This way, you can get your employees input by letting them vote for the chairs they like best; because even though a standard chair will be sufficient for most people, it may be necessary to purchase other chairs as well.

    For example, taller people will need special chairs, as well as those employees who weigh a little more (or a lot more) than the average individual. No one chair will work for everyone, as the human body comes in various different shapes and sizes.

    Maximizing comfort

    You can purchase your chairs either locally, or online based on your preference; but due to the increased selection available online you may be able to get them at cheaper prices, although you still have to worry about shipping charges. Buying locally allows you to physically feel the chairs, sit in them and test their sturdiness; and in this sense buying local may be the best; even if you are buying many different office chairs it may be beneficial but delivery will still be necessary.

    Those planning on getting the most from their office and employees should look into the most comfortable office chairs for the money. Employees will feel and work much better with comfortable chairs, which is reason enough to make the investment while getting the best quality chairs without having to lay out extra dollars for a manufacturers brand name.

    As a token of our appreciation the free ebook titled, Storytelling Marketing can be yours if you have any interest in the art of storytelling. All you have to do is download it here, enjoy the reading and learn how storytelling can be a powerful ally in any business or marketing pursuit!

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