Why You Should Join the New SmartDreamers Academy

Why You Should Join the New SmartDreamers Academy Sponsored Content SmartDreamers, a global provider of recruitment marketing automation software, today announced the release of SmartDreamers Academy, a one-stop learning center for all things hiring, talent acquisition, and recruitment marketing automation (RMA). This new feature will be made available free of charge to recruiters as they work to improve their hiring efforts and find more, better candidates, faster. The Academy will offer users a series of courses, each one split up into individual lessons, on a variety of recruitment-related topics, with a quiz at the end of each one to give users the chance to test their knowledge. After the initial release, new courses will be made available roughly every one to two months. http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhoYm8cNgX4 As the global talent market gets more and more competitive, HR teams are increasingly turning to new technology like RMA to help make their recruitment processes more effective. Unfortunately, just adopting a solution often isn’t enough. Users need access to reliable resources in order to do their jobs more effectivelyâ€"resources that can answer their questions about automating processes, defining and targeting candidate personas, choosing social media channels for employer branding, and other facets of modern recruitment marketing. This is where SmartDreamers Academy comes in: SmartDreamers plans to offer instructional content on each stage of the hiring process, including content marketing, outbound recruiting, data analysis, and other topics. The first module, Attract, will cover the basics of employer branding, with subsequent lessons (Engage, Convert, Measure, and so on) giving more in-depth analyses of key topics in the field. “We’ve spent years gaining expertise and accumulating knowledge about how to find, hire, and retain the best peopleâ€"and we’re extremely excited to have a new opportunity to share that expertise with our users,” said SmartDreamers CEO and founder Adrian Cernat. “Effective, data-driven recruitment marketing is easier said than done, but we believe that knowledge is power. From our perspective, the best way to empower HR users to ditch the job boards and effectively attract passive candidates is to give them a place where they can learn about every element of modern recruitment.” Founded in Bucharest in 2014, SmartDreamers has spent the past several years helping startups and enterprise companies alike to turn talent acquisition into a competitive advantage. By offering a recruitment marketing automation platform that centralizes and streamlines employer branding activities like targeting social media ads and tracking click rates, SmartDreamers helps businesses to build employer brand gravity and establish themselves as employers of choice within their fields. This new Academy feature will help HR users around the world to better understand the principles of recruitment marketing, putting them in a position to compete more effectively for top talent and get the most out of their RMA software. SmartDreamers Academy acts as an educational complement to an already robust suite of AI and RPA (robotic process automation) powered workflows designed to help recruiters attract, engage, and convert passive and active job seekers alike. About the author: SmartDreamers  is  a recruitment marketing automation platform that helps companies engage with candidates across the web, powering up their employer brands and building brand gravity in the process. SmartDreamers was founded in 2014 and currently operates in Europe, the US and the APAC region.    Find out more about SmartDreamers Academy and start the free online courses right HERE.

Business Talk Customer Purchases and Payments

Business Talk Customer Purchases and Payments It is important to have good payment processing systems in place. Poorly structured Point of Sale (POS) systems can cause businesses to suffer and even fail. In processing customer payments, certain things need to be kept in mind. Use an Efficient POS system Many POS service providers offer various packages which suit businesses according to their particular size, type, and needs. A good POS system allows for easy processing of orders and payments. Good systems are able to boost company sales, as well as allow for efficient tracking of orders, sales, inventory, and customer records. Efficient POS software not only assists and eases your daily transactions with customers; it also provides needful and relevant data that helps companies like yours assess business operations, enabling you to make decisions and changes accordingly. Depending on the services you choose, sales data can be tracked and computed easily, with simple adjustments applied for store promotions and discounts as well as sales taxes and other deductions. As for management resources, sales reports can be pulled up, showing data on cost, price, and profit analytics. Summaries on best and least selling products are immediately available. POS systems can greatly reduce time delays in data collection, enabling decision makers to act quickly to steer business operations and policy in the right direction. A properly efficient POS system should enable you to assess various possibilities and limits on price increases as well as limits on price reductions.   Software ought to generate data by a number of parameters such as by day and by price.   With information like these, management can avoid emotional pricing, a factor which Techopedia cites to be responsible for the doom of 46 percent of business start-ups in the United States. With quick and acc urate generation of data, companies can avoid joining the 56 percent of manufacturers who lag on sales forecasts by two weeks and more. As for inventory tracking, POS services can help provide real-time information on remaining inventory on hand, determining low stock quantities and providing info about available stock on hand. Never run out of stock again and meet customer demands each time. Allow Multiple Payment Methods The ability to offer various modes of payment is a crucial ingredient to successful business operations. Limitations in this area definitely limit the number of customers and sales your business can accept. Businessbee cites a study released by ComScore, stating that there are already more than 75 million online shoppers. The goal of any business should be to accommodate as many of them as possible. It’s critical to learn about all payment methods available and work on adopting them for your business. A 2013 Federal Reserve Payments Study disclosed payment trends in the U.S. from the years 2003 to 2012. The summary report states that shares of noncash payments made via card increased from 60 percent in 2009 to 67 percent in 2012.   Card payments also increased by $17.8 billion from 2009 to 2012. The summary recognizes that payments are becoming increasingly card-based and that debit card payments had the greatest increase in usage from 2009 to 2012. Still, cash and paper checks remain commonly used payment options as well. Businesses ought to have all these payment types available for customers upon check-out. Depending on the structure and host provider, processing credit cards and other payment methods is doable. Most POS Vendors like Shopify offer online shopping cart solutions for e-transactions. In addition to that, it is a must to incorporate merchant account features. Common Payment Processing tools are as follows. Online Shopping Carts Shopping carts display merchandise particulars, making it quick and easy for costumers to choose items for purchase. Good shopping carts provide clear product images, details, and even review, and are able to provide real-time inventory counts. Navigation ought to be easy and the check-out page should be clear and simple. Merchant Accounts Credit card payment processing involves fund transfers to a merchant account. The merchant is the business and the account is held directly with a bank. As a merchant, you assume responsibility for transactions occurring with your account and are bound to service terms and agreements with the bank of your choice. If you prefer to not open your own merchant account, third-party payment processors are available. Third Party Payment Processors These companies process credit card payments for you. Choose a host provider that offers multiple payment gateways. Paypal is mostly a basic payment option. Other payment channels include; Citrus Payments, Authorize.net, Dwolla, Braintree, Securepay, Stripe, and 2Checkout. Depending on the gateway you choose, fees may include any of the following; Set-up fees, Monthly fees, Per-transaction fees, and Flat rate fees or Percentage of transaction fees. Those that have both in-store and an online business presence should be able to process payments online and offline. Offline processing is where physical payments are made and where a card can be physically swiped during product checkout. Invest in proper devices that allow you to process payments on-site and even on the go.

Why Job Applications Ask for SSN (Social Security Number) - Algrim.co

Why Job Applications Ask for SSN (Social Security Number) - Algrim.co Why do employers want your social security number when applying for a job? Is it safe? What if I don’t want to provide it? What are my alternatives? All of these are great questions. And ones that you most likely have. Social Security Numbers (or SSN for short) is your personal government-issued identification number. It is the identification number for your true identity. Those who obtain your Social Security Number can be one step closer to being able to reproduce your identity or file for credit cards under your name. Making your SSN something that shouldn’t be publicly broadcasted. So why do employers ask for this information during your job application? Let’s jump into that now. Why Employers Ask for SSN Employers ask for your SSN because they’ll be performing a background check. Most employers do not perform credit checks as this doesn’t have anything to do with your employment or performance on the job. But they do care about your background. This consists of: Any outstanding warrants or previous arrests under your name. Any previous criminal records. Verification of your motor vehicle and license record checks. Verification of previous employment. Verification of your education history. If your employer insists on asking for your credit history, they should inform you of this before they issue the credit check. This is normally practiced by employers because a “soft credit check” may still affect your credit score. A criminal history may be something that could impede your ability to perform on the job. And it is important for employers to know in advance as it could impede your schedule and ability to drive results. Risks of Publicizing Your SSN Here’s a harsh reality, your SSN is most likely already out there. It is impossible in today's paperless world to not be publicizing vast amounts of personal information. The U.S. Postal Service is a key player in selling your personal information (fun fact, right?). While that isn’t going to make you feel any more secure. The reality is that you aren’t increasing your risks of identity theft by submitting your SSN to your employer. That said, should you do it? No, not if you don’t absolutely have to. Avoid sending your SSN through postal mail and if you feel it’s absolutely necessary, avoid sending your SSN through a job application or career portals as well. Why is SSN Asked on the Job Application? When an employer asks for your SSN during your job application process, it is unique. They shouldn’t. This is because there is no reason to perform a background check until they are going to move forward with your employment. That means after you’ve interviewed and when you’ve received a letter of employment (an offer letter stating your job title and offered salary). If your employer is asking for this information on your job application, you absolutely have the power to dismiss this information. How to Avoid Placing SSN on the Job Application If your employer is asking for this information and insists that it is a requirement, simply fill in the form with “000-00-0000” and this will inform your employer that they must ask you by phone or in-person for your Social Security Number. This may not avoid the fact that your employer still wants to perform a background check. If you have a criminal history and you’re aiming to avoid your employer from knowing that, this is not the method for doing so. All companies have strict policies on what’s required to be able to be employed. Including a drug test. This means all employees, regardless of their job title, are going to be required to provide this information.

13 Ways Your Personal Brand Can Benefit From Your Book - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

13 Ways Your Personal Brand Can Benefit From Your Book - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What is one tip for marketing a book or e-book in order to benefit your personal brand? The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Give It Away Give away hard copies of your book. It’s really easy for someone to see a link for your e-book and just ignore it. If you give a copy of it to someone, at the very least, he or she will gloss over it and potentially pass it on. If you really want to release an ebook for free, at least have people give you an email address on a landing page for the download link.  â€"Kumar Arora,  Aroridex, Ltd. 2. Make Your Publicity Rounds Before and after releasing your book or e-book, try to secure as many interviews with media outlets as possible. Reach out to publications that might be interested in your book, do interviews at your local NPR station or other radio station with a national audience, make appearances on national podcasts, and hold QA sessions with folks on Twitter or Reddit.   â€"  Firas Kittaneh,  AstraBeds 3. Publish on Amazon Many times when people publish an ebook, they only make it available on their company or personal site. But by publishing the e-book on Amazon, you get access to a huge audience, which can really help you when marketing your book.   â€"  Randy Rayess,  VenturePact 4. Get Testimonials From Best-Selling Authors Most best-selling authors will provide a  testimonial for your book or e-book if you ask.  Ive written several best-selling books (100,000+ books sold) and Ive happily provided testimonials for 16 other books (even some NYT best sellers)! Getting top testimonials for your book will enhance your personal brand and also give your book an added boost of credibility and marketability.  â€"  Kristopher Jones,  LSEO.com 5. Include It in Your Signature As people link to their LinkedIn profile, blog, etc. in their email signature, you should include a link to your ebook page (especially if its free). Your signaturecan be a great marketing tool, especially if you are enough of an authority on a particular subject.  â€"  Adam Stillman,  SparkReel 6. Write Related Articles The best way to market a book or e-book is to write related articles that directly or indirectly conveys a high-perceived value of your book. You can publish these articles on your own blog or use them to guest blog on sites that have your audience.   â€"  Syed Balkhi,  OptinMonster 7. Get Yourself Booked as a Guest on Podcasts A great technique for benefiting your personal brand while marketing your book or e-book is to get yourself booked as a guest on podcasts. Podcast hosts are always looking for great content to share to their listeners, and if youve got a great book and an interesting story, you can build your name and audience by capitalizing on different podcasts in your vertical.  â€"  Joshua Dorkin,  BiggerPockets 8. Write Content That Includes Snippits of the Book For any of our clients trying to promote books, we suggest writing articles in external publications that include sections of the book. At the end of the article, they can link back to a page where someone can download or purchase the book. This gives your reader some of the information upfront, but then draws them in to want to learn more about what youve written in the book.  â€"  Kelsey Meyer,  Influence Co. 9. Test Several Titles Writing a book title is like writing a mission statement for your personal brand. Its what youll become known for. Make sure to test several book titles before writing the book. Test book titles by running several Google Ads. Select the winning ad, write the book, and be prepared to have people introduce you  by yourbook title instead of  your first name.   â€"  Brett Farmiloe,  Markitors 10. Cite the Right Sources, Then Ask Them for Help All business books rely on the teachings of others. Articles youve read, founders youve met  and advisers you have inform all of your insights. As the saying goes, youre standing on the shoulders of the generation before you. Be  generous with citations and credit. When you publish your book, share copies with these folks. If you represent them well, theyll happily share your story.   â€"  Aaron Schwartz,  Modify Watches 11. Drive Pre-Orders Many bookstores look at the Amazon.com pre-order numbers when deciding whether or not to stock your book on their shelves. In addition, Amazon pre-orders are taken into consideration for bestseller lists, so youre killing two birds with one stone. Figure out how to launch your pre-order page as early as possible and spend a lot of time driving people there!   â€"  Windsor Hanger Western,  Her Campus Media 12. Build Your Social Media Following One of the best ways to promote a book is through your social media platforms. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are all very good for this. The idea is to gain friends and followers who are interested in the kind of content your book contains. Use social media to share helpful information, not just to market your book. That helps to build your network faster as people share your posts.   â€"  Shawn Porat,  Fortune Cookie Advertising 13. Add It to Your Email Signature One super-simple and quick tip is to add a link to your book in your email signature.  Think how much mail you send every day. It’s likely a lot, isnt it? Its  also  very  effective since recipients tend to read emails in their entirety, plus many will be curious to know more about you. Showcasing youre an author gives you instant credibility and prestige. Try it and watch the compliments roll in!   â€"  Nicolas Gremion,  Free-eBooks.net

Dont Whine About Your Job. Do Something!

Don’t Whine About Your Job. Do Something! Originally Published here“My coworker hates her job. She keeps complaining to me. I have tried to talk to her about what she could do, but she is not listening.” “My husband keeps threatening to quit his job. He only comments negatively about his job and the people who work with him. I wish he would just do something.” “My friend was having difficulty with her schedule, but she didn’t go to her boss to discuss alternatives. She just quit. When I had a problem, my boss adjusted my schedule. My friend’s might have been adjusted, too, if she had said something.”As these comments from participants in my seminars indicate, tackling problems that affect our work lives can be difficult.evalWhen some people become dissatisfied with their work, they do nothing. Perhaps they don’t know how to proceed, or maybe they don’t believe there is anything they can do to improve the situation. Usually, the only action they take is to whine about their bosses, their colleagues, or the work.Unfortunately, complaining doesn’t accomplish anything â€" except having your friends, colleagues and others stay clear of you.Some, on the other hand, get so frustrated that they impulsively quit their jobs without having another lined up, or without even a plan for the future.Both reactions can affect your career negatively.However, there is an alternative that can help people evaluate their work situations.Answering the following four questions encourages people to take action and decide their next steps.1. Ask yourself, What is the real issue?evalIt is easy to say, “I hate my job” , but it is important to identify why.evalWhat is the real issue that is causing you to be unhappy?Be honest and be specific. Is it the type of work you do, or just one aspect of the job?Is it the commute, the money, your boss, the people you work with, or any number of other causes?One man I coached liked most of the facets of his job, but wanted to quit because he had to make frequent presentations. Another realized that her new position involved using unfamiliar technology, which made her feel uncomfortable and unqualified.1. Can you solve the Problem?evalNow that you have identified the issue, is there something that can be done? Is there a realistic solution?If so, what do you have to lose by asking for it?Make the case for your suggestion, including any benefits to your department or to the company.One woman realized that she liked her job, but it was the commute that was driving her crazy. She asked her boss if she could work from home two days a week. Once she assured her boss that her productivity wouldn’t be affected, she was successful in having her schedule changed. Remember that if you don’t speak up, chances are nothing will change.3. Are there advantages to this job?If you can’t solve the problem, think about what you are gaining from the position. Don’t just quickly say, “Nothing.” Here are four possible things to consider:â€"Is the job a stepping stone? Will you need the skills you gain from this position to qualify for a job on the next rung of the ladder? One of my early jobs involved working for a horrible boss. Yet I stayed until I had gained the experience I needed, and then I left.â€"Is there any education or training perk to which you have access? Some companies will fund part or all of your ongoing education. This can be a major benefit for many people.â€"Who are you meeting? Does the job allow you to interact with people and build your network? If so, it is possible that by having a strong network, additional job opportunities will come your way.evalâ€"Can you learn to manage your boss? Learning to work with difficult people is an important skill that almost certainly will be beneficial to you at some point in your career.4. Is it time to start a Job Search?Depending on how you answer the above questions, you may decide that it is time to start looking for a new position. You may even decide to change c areers.Any number of alternatives may now be available to you. This doesn’t mean you just quit your job.Generally, it is best to look for a new job Whether you decide to stay at your current job or to look for a new one, feel good about your choice. You are doing something: You have taken charge of your career.

How Productive Am I at Work

How Productive Am I at Work I was born a morning person. I am one of those people who have a lot of energy in the morning, but tends to crash around 4:00 p.m. For 4 semesters I taught an 8:00am class to college students. As a college student, even I didn’t take 8:00am classes! So I know that a lot of my students were annoyed by my overly enthusiastic discussions on career strategies at that early hour of the day. Does being a morning person make me feel like a happier and healthier person? I never really thought about it. I do, however, like to be productive, so I decided to see which of the following traits I met on this list: http://www.businessinsider.com/12-things-killer-employees-do-before-noon-2012-8. Clearly, doing all these items would lead to a more productivity. The question is, how do you accomplish them given the reality you are in? Given what is currently happening in our lives, we may not have the ability to accomplish all of these items. Can you get a full 8 hours of sleep, exercise in the morning and still get to work on time? It is possible for some, but not for others who may have children to tend to or other morning responsibilities. My suggestion is to take action on the ones that are in your control. For example, we can all write down ‘to do’ items or items in your mind before going to bed. This may help you sleep better. I believe it helps the brain relax instead of working so hard to remember them. Another item we can do is to tackle the big items first. Oftentimes we put off the biggest task of our day until we have to address it. This task might seem overwhelming to us. It feels better to cross off a bunch of small items from our to-do list. It gives us a sense of accomplishment. However, if you tackle the big project first, you will have most of your energy at your disposal helping the task go quicker or easier than you originally thought. Review the list of tasks in the article and assess the ones you are currently following. Of those that you aren’t, ask yourself which ones you can implement. As with implementing any new behavior, start small. Try adding one item and see how it can work for you and your schedule. You might be surprised which tasks help you become not only more productive at work, but happier during the day.

The Writing Qualification Resume

The Writing Qualification ResumeWriting a writing qualification resume can help you get better job opportunities and with them, higher pay. With so many jobs out there to fill, a writing qualification resume may just be the thing to get you noticed and get that big job. Keep reading to learn more about how you can successfully use your writing qualification resume to get hired for a position.When it comes to getting hired for a job, the first thing you need to do is write a writing qualification resume. While this sounds like something that doesn't need to be said, it is the number one key to success. That is not to say that if you don't create a good writing qualification resume, then you will never get hired, but that you can do much better.Qualifications are important, but they are also relative. Your knowledge and experience count for a lot, but what really matters is how well you apply what you have learned. The best part about writing a writing qualification resume is that you are able to find out what employers want to see in you and help you build a resume based on that. It is definitely worth your time to take the time to work through your skills and abilities.When it comes to writing a writing qualification resume, make sure that you focus on the following things. First of all, make sure that you include your education or training that you have obtained. Don't forget to include professional experience, such as volunteering, which is a must for many positions. Don't forget to list any publications you may have written or articles you have published.Next, when it comes to your writing qualification resume, think about what you are looking for in a job. This is a very important step because employers are looking for someone who is strong in the basics, but has the ability to learn new things. Make sure that you address this point when you are creating your writing qualification resume. You want to stand out as someone who can move up and learn new skills .In addition to this, make sure that you add some awards or recognition you may have received, and those that your work colleagues may have recognized you for. Having awards on your resume shows employers that you are proud of yourself and that you have worked hard. If you have shown achievements in the field, you should list them. Take the time to put in this information because they may be called upon in the future.Finally, you need to know what you are looking for in a job, and make sure that you add to it when you are listing your experience and accomplishments. While your writing qualification resume is obviously your first chance to get noticed, the employer already knows what you are looking for. You want to make sure that you stand out from the rest of the applicants, and this can be done by adding something special to your resume that shows that you have not only achieved something great, but you have also added something to your resume.Last, but not least, when it comes to writing a writing qualification resume, make sure that you list any scholarships or training that you may have obtained. Although this is nice to know, it does not necessarily guarantee you a job, and you will need to show that you have put some work into it. So make sure that you list all of the things that you have achieved, and add just a little bit of information on each of them.