Daily Career Connection

Maybe the idea of cold calling is new to you, or you’ve never considered it before for other reasons. Now might be good time to revisit it. It may be worth stronger consideration if you’ve been out of work for a while or if everything else you’ve tried has failed.

Statistics show that many job openings are never advertised publicly. If they are not filled by a recruiter, they are filled either in-house or by word-of-mouth, or some other form of networking. This is especially true for many of the more desirable jobs. People want to work with people they know, so their associates are usually the first to hear about vacancies.

If you’re already convinced that cold calling is they way to go but didn’t know how to do it, here’s a plan to help you get started:
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Are you a bookkeeper who has spent countless days cursing your boss under your breath while dreaming of the day you’ll be able to start a bookkeeping business of your own? Bookkeeping is a valuable skill and unfortunately many employers take this skill for granted and pay measly wages for a job that is the keystone to their entire business.

So how much money can you make if you started your own bookkeeping business? The short answer is probably much more than you’re making now.

Don’t just assume that because you are making $12.00 per hour at your current bookkeeping job that you should just charge this rate to your clients. You must take your overhead costs into consideration (such as stationery, utilities, travel time, etc.). If you don’t do this, you’ll end up in the red financially.

Before you make the leap to starting your own bookkeeping business, do some preliminary research by calling several bookkeeping businesses in your area and enquiring about their hourly rates.

You’ll discover that most professional bookkeepers charge anywhere from $15.00 to $50.00 per hour depending on the area where you live. Some bookkeepers prefer not to charge by the hour, instead formulating a flat rate to charge each client depending on the work that needs to be produced each month. This also helps them ensure a steady paycheck for themselves.

You’ll discover in your preliminary research that most bookkeeping businesses charge well over the average rate they pay their bookkeeping staff so they can still make a profit. You want to be making this profit too.

If you decide to start a bookkeeping business you will be in business to create a better life for yourself, so make sure you do your homework. Then you can curse out your boss to his face and start your own bookkeeping business.

Ready to start your own bookkeeping business? Click here now Secrets to Starting & Running Your Own Bookkeeping Business Check out our blog here

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Jaumann
 

Assertiveness is a unique tool for any manager’s toolbox or for anyone who can apply it in their daily lives. Assertiveness allows one to express true feelings or emotions and personal rights, as well as the rights of others. Assertiveness is for the most part is straight forward, honest and identifies personal needs to another person. There are people that have a knack for assertive communication where others can develop there own style as a learned behavior. Those who have supreme skill with assertiveness will reduce conflict in the workplace, at home and other social environments. Assertive behavior seems to be the stress reducer in awkward situations and usually becomes the peacemaker in chaotic environments.

There is a difference between being assertive and aggression. These two behaviors can cause confusion. When people are aggressive they are usually reacting to the given situation in a rude, derogatory, sarcastic manner that only increases the anxiety and stress of anyone involved. On the other hand assertiveness allows one to stand up for their feelings while respecting others rights and feelings in the process. This causes a neutral line of communication that does not escalate the situation. Assertiveness can give both parties the “benefit of doubt”. There is a philosophy that Humans naturally want to do the right thing. People don’t wake up in the morning and deliberately insist on causing mayhem. The trick is to be able to harness that instinct and apply it to a “win-win” situation reducing unnecessary conflict.

There is a population of people that naturally become passive to situations. These people are experiencing fear, and don’t really know how to communicate their feelings to the offender. The fear is the fear of losing or becoming dominated so, they pretty much avoid conflict. This can evolve into poor self-esteem. Passive behavior can be stereotyped as a “win-lose” but in reality everyone loses because there was no communication, only interpersonal conflict.
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In utmost sincerity, it has nothing to do with how much you like (or dislike) your boss; how much money you get paid (or don’t get paid); how much praise you receive (or don’t receive).

The good assistant knows it’s all about business. Whether you’re the assistant to the neighborhood drycleaner, an intern at a media factory, or the executive assistant to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, the good assistance knows it’s all about the business. Period.

In fact, the “job” isn’t to appease the employer, rally behind the team or make sure there’re donuts on Friday mornings. The “job” is always to consider, “Is it good for the company?”

If you ask yourself that question each time you hear idle gossip, each time your employer asks you for your honest opinion, or even if you’re answering calls, you’ll never go wrong by keeping that thought in the forefront of your mind.

The good assistant knows that the boss isn’t necessarily the person who signs your paycheck, or the person whose name is on the door. Your boss-your real boss-is the corporation itself. As an assistant, you have a higher calling than many of those even in upper management. You are likely privy to more information than even department heads. You likely know that a new candidate will be hired, or that a long-term employee will be fired, long before the information’s made public. You can never take your position for granted.

The good assistant knows there’s a fine line between ‘lunching’ with her colleagues and ‘hanging out’ with the gang. While she appreciates sharing encouragement with other staff members over a meal, she recognizes that nighttime social events could cause confusion among those same peers, especially those who are not mature enough to respect her clearly defined position within the organization. “Letting her hair down,” particularly among co-workers, could diminish respect for her in the eyes of others. To the good assistant, respect is key to her success, and she guards it carefully.

The good assistant knows when idle chit chat is fun and when it’s disturbing. She’s never in the company of others who are gossiping and tarnishing another’s reputation, but she’s good for a joke or two and even enjoys a harmless prank (that doesn’t detract from getting the job done).

A good assistant knows when to keep silent. She knows it’s not important for others to know what she knows, but it’s equally important for her to know what others know…and what they think they know. Yet she’s trustworthy to keep that info safe.

She understands that everyone has a bad day, and doesn’t pre-judge simply because someone’s made a thoughtless comment. And if she’s the offender, she knows how important it is to apologize - and be sincere when she does.

The good assistant is tactful, never tacky…and always reveals truth as she knows it to be…even if that truth is painful to reveal, and even more painful to hear.

She’s encouraging and helpful, and her compliments are seasoned with good taste and fine words…not simply sugar-coated to hide her true feelings. If she says it, she means it.

She has the admiration of others in the company since she’s proven to be valuable in times of distress, a pleasant breeze after “it” has hit the fan, and strong shoulder to lean on in times of professional strife and personal duress.

Her humor is always tasteful. And her poise is matched by her consistent attire, always clean and classy. Her wardrobe is not gaudy or trashy. You won’t get a glimpse of her underwear, and her cleavage is never revealed. To her, “Dress Down Day” doesn’t mean flip flops and bare midriffs, but means attire that is more laid back than usual.

Her nails don’t resemble eagle’s claws, but is well manicured and tastefully designed.

The good assistant does whatever comes next. She isn’t above emptying the trash, cleaning the kitchen or scrubbing the toilet when necessary.

She’s the heart of the organization, the face known to the public, the confidante to the person in charge, and the defendant of all those in need of support.

And lastly, while the good assistant knows that she’s a valuable asset to the company and that it simply can’t thrive without her, she’s gracious enough not to say it.

*For the sake of this article, the good assistant will be referred to in the feminine sense.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judith_Brown