EPISODE 06~ TOP TIP: You can keep unsolicited merchandise as a free gift
IF YOU RECEIVE MERCHANDISE IN THE MAIL THAT YOU DIDN’T ORDER, WHAT TO DO? THIS IS AN ANNOYING MARKETING PLOY WHERE COMPANIES SEND YOU SOMETHING, HOPING YOU’LL AGREE TO PAY FOR IT. WELL GUESS WHAT? ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, THE NATION’S CONSUMER WATCHDOG, WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO KEEP THE MERCHANDISE AS A FREE GIFT! YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRY TO RETURN IT OR EVEN INFORM THE COMPANY THAT YOU’RE KEEPING IT. JUST ONE WORD OF CAUTION: IF IT’S A COMPANY YOU’VE DONE BUSINESS WITH IN THE PAST, THEY MAY STILL HAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER AND COULD BILL YOU, SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES. IN THE MEANTIME, ENJOY YOUR FREE GIFT OR DONATE IT AND TAKE THE TAX DEDUCTION!
EPISODE 06~ MAKE MORE: How To earn More Than A Million Dollars Editing Resumes
TELL US WHAT YOU WERE DOING PROFESSIONALLY BACK IN 2009.
I was a recruiter. I did resumes to get my candidates jobs. I had a little side business to help with writing resumes but nothing full time. Recruiting was the full time job I did. AND THEN YOUR HUSBAND, A TECHIE, FOUND FIVERR, THE WEBSITE WHERE FREELANCERS POST GIGS THEY’LL DO FOR AS LITTLE AS 5 DOLLARS. I KNOW ABOUT FIVERR BECAUSE I’VE INTERVIEWED ONE OTHER FIVERR ENTREPRENEUR. SO YOU DECIDED TO POST A GIG. DID YOU THINK ANYTHING MUCH WOULD COME OF IT?
My husband found FIverr back in 2010 when I was recruiting. It was just something in passing. I put a gig up there and orders started coming. I was making nothing in the beginning. Maybe $5 to $15 a resume. It was low. But I had no credibility or feedback. I was just starting out.
AT FIRST YOU KEPT WORKING AS A RECRUITER AND YOUR FIVERR EARNINGS WERE SET ASIDE FOR A VERY SPECIAL PROJECT, RIGHT?
We have been trying forever to have children. We started putting money aside for an adoption. We put every penny aside for that. We were trying to save $60,000 for travel and other expenses. I Worked on people’s resumes for about a year to a year and a half on FIverr and we got the money.
YOU ADOPTED YOUR DAUGHTER IN 2013. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Six months later my husband said “you should do this full time.” I stopped recruiting.
Starting in 2015 is when it really took off and we started focusing full time, really asking for referrals. Most of our money was made in the last 2 ½ or 3 years.
NORMALLY I WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE INTERVIEW TO ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT I CAN’T STAND IT! HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU MADE TO DATE EDITING RESUMES, LINKED IN PAGES AND COVER LETTERS VIA FIVERR?
We actually just crossed $1.2 million dollars on Fiverr. It’s important for people to know that you can make a million dollars. Fiverr can back that up. They earn the commission. It’s the platform they created for us. They bring in the clients and have developed an infrastructure to allow sellers like us to perform. Their customer service is amazing. You can’t start out expecting to quit your day job tomorrow but hang in there and it will happen. SO HOW HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED?
This is all I do. This is full time. I work in my pajamas at midnight, Take a day off and take my daughter to the zoo. Our daughter Karen is 3. She is our world. My husband has always been a consultant. He quit his main job and helps me take of messages and does his programming.
It has changed our life. We now work from home. Our daughter is in day care and will go to a wonderful private school. We travel 4 to 5 times a year. That is best part. Take our computers and work from a cruise or DisneyLand. We are able to experience a lot because of this. I am forever grateful to Fiverr.
And now we have raised enough money thru Fiverr for a second adoption that we hope will be possible.
I CAN VERIFY THOSE VACATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO REACH YOU TO ARRANGE THIS INTERVEW. BUT I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND. HOW HAVE YOU MADE SO MUCH MONEY ON A SITE THAT MADE IT’S NAME BASED ON $5 SERVICES?
Now that I am established, I charge way more per gig. I got resume certifications and have credentials to back up my pricing. I will do deals for teachers and others. But resumes for most executives, those can go for $300 to $500. It depends on the client and their specific needs.
And I don’t just edit resumes any more. The services I provide are resumes, Linked in profiles, cover letters and career coaching. Also, at this point, I think 50 to 60% of our business is referrals, so that part is easier than getting new business.
HERE’S A QUESTION THAT WILL BE HELPFUL TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EDIT RESUMES AND PEOPLE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THEIR RESUMES. PEOPLE PAY YOU GOOD MONEY FOR YOUR HELP. WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS YOU CHANGE ON PEOPLE’S RESUMES?
1. A resume needs to tell a story. Not just a list of tasks, but accomplishment-driven.
2. I create an introduction, a first paragraph that sells you, sort of the “elevator pitch” but on paper.
3. I add data and details. You should detail projects you’ve done and revenue you've created.
(To see a resume Charmaine has worked on “before” and “after,” check out the Episode 6
YouTube video, where I analyze the differences. Or click to see the “before” resume here and
“after” resume here.)
ALRIGHT, TIME TO SHARE THE WEALTH BY GIVING LISTENERS TIPS FOR HOW THEY CAN SUCCEED AT THIS LIKE YOU DID. FIRST, YOU SAY, UNDER-PROMISE AND OVER-DELIVER. THAT COULD APPLY TO ANY SERVICE JOB. EXPLAIN.
For example, you can promise to complete a project for a client in 3 days but then do it in two.
I THINK PEOPLE CAN ALSO LEARN FROM YOUR EXAMPLE AND GET CERTIFICATIONS THAT PROVE THEIR VALUE. WAS THIS A GAME CHANGER?
Get the training you need to be confident, charge what you’re worth and do a good job for people.
YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU STARTED PROACTIVELY ASKING FOR REFERRALS.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT SEEMING PUSHY?
When I deliver an order I will say “If you are happy with the order, please refer me onto your friends. If not, of course let me know, so I can improve the work I did for you. AND FINALLY, YOU SUGGEST GIVING PEOPLE SOMETHING FOR FREE. WHAT DO YOU GIVE AWAY YOURSELF?
I send free tips – unique job searching strategies, questions to ask during an interview and the lowdown about “Behavioral Interview questions.”
CHARMAINE POCEK, RESUME REWRITER AND CAREER COACH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST ON EASY MONEY! And please see Charmaine’s Guest post where she shared those same tip sheets she gives away to clients.
Guest Name: Charmaine Pocek
Guest Title: Award-Winning Resume Writer and Career Expert
Credentials: PhDc, MS, CPRW, CIEP, PRC
Guest Contact: fiverr.com/boomsa;
linkedin.com/in/charmainepocek
EPISODE 06~ SAVE MORE: How To Raise Your Credit Score in Days Through “Rapid Rescoring”
[LISTENER QUESTION] Hi my name is Jamie and I’m about to buy my first home and I’m worried about my credit score. Is there some way to improve my score before I apply for a mortgage? And how long will it take?
JAMIE, I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU’VE GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK UP ONE OF MY FAVORITE LITTLE-KNOWN STRATEGIES. IT’S CALLED “RAPID RESCORING” WHERE YOU HIRE PROFESSIONALS TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU. THESE PROFESSIONALS HAVE SPECIAL ACCESS TO THE BIG THREE CREDIT BUREAUS, SO THEY CAN CORRECT ERRORS ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT THAT ARE DRAGGING YOUR SCORE DOWN. AND THEY CAN DO IT FAST, LIKE IN 2 TO 6 DAYS.
RAPID RESCORING IS OFFERED BY WHAT ARE CALLED LOCAL CREDIT BUREAUS, WHO WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE BIG THREE CREDIT BUREAUS, EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN AND TRANSUNION. IF THERE’S SOMETHING UNFLATTERING ON YOUR REPORT AND IT’S TRUE, THERE’S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. BUT IF THERE’S A MISTAKE IN YOUR CREDIT FILE THAT IS UNFAIRLY HURTING YOUR SCORE, THAT, THEY CAN FIX. THESE RAPID RESCORING EXPERTS HAVE ACCESS TO DEDICATED PHONE, FAX AND EMAIL LINES AT THE BIG THREE, SO THEY CAN BYPASS ALL THE BUREAUCRACY THAT CAN MAKE CORRECTING YOUR OWN CREDIT REPORT TIME-CONSUMING.
THE RESULTS CAN BE DRAMATIC. I ONCE PROFILED A MARYLAND WOMAN NAMED VALERIE WHO SAW HER SCORE RISE FROM 598 TO 790 AFTER RESCORING. HER CREDIT REPORTS ERRONEOUSLY STATED THAT SHE HAD FAILED TO PAY OFF HER CAR LOAN. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IS THAT HER BANK HAD BEEN BOUGHT BY ANOTHER BANK JUST AS SHE MADE HER FINAL PAYMENT AND THE RECORDS WERE LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. RESCORING TO CORRECT THE MISTAKE ALLOWED VALERIE TO QUALIFY FOR A SIX PERCENT INTEREST RATE INSTEAD OF EIGHT PERCENT —THIS WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. AND HERE’S THE AMAZING POWER OF RAPID RESCORING. THAT 2 POINT DIFFERENCE IN INTEREST RATE MEANS THAT, OVER THE LIFE OF THE LOAN, SHE STOOD TO SAVE 72-THOUSAND DOLLARS!
RAPID RESCORING, ALSO CALLED CREDIT RESCORING, IS ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE, BECAUSE THERE’S A RECOGNITION THAT THAT’S WHEN AN IMPROVED SCORE IS MOST CRITICAL. IF YOUR SCORE NEEDS A BOOST, YOUR MORTGAGE LENDER OR BROKER CAN REQUEST RAPID RESCORING. UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S NOT AVAILABLE DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. TO HELP THEM FIGHT UNFLATTERING ERRORS ON YOUR REPORT, YOU WILL WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS BY POURING OVER YOUR CREDIT REPORTS, SEARCHING FOR MISTAKES, AND PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION THAT PROVES YOUR CASE.
EPISODE 06~ FIND YOURS: Why You Should Search Cities and Counties for Unclaimed Money
HEADS UP, PEOPLE! YOUR CITY MAY HAVE UNCLAIMED MONEY FOR YOU! UP UNTIL NOW, I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT STATE UNCLAIMED MONEY FUNDS AND HOW TO FIND THOSE, BUT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO OVERLOOK CITIES AND THE MONEY THEY SOMETIMES HOLD FOR THEIR CITIZENS. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS AT GOOD MORNING AMERICA, THE CITY OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA WAS HOLDING A BUNCH OF UNCLAIMED MONEY FOR PEOPLE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CITY HAD MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE FROM CITY CHECKS THAT WERE NEVER CASHED. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT PASADENA HAD DECIDED THAT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T CLAIM THE MONEY BY A CERTAIN DATE, THE CITY WAS GOING TO KEEP IT! SO MY PRODUCER AND I RUSHED TO CALIFORNIA TO TRY TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WE VISITED THE ADDRESSES ON THE CITY’S LIST AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD MOVED, WHICH IS WHY THEY HAD NEVER GOTTEN THEIR CITY CHECKS. OTHER PEOPLE DIDN’T BELIEVE US WHEN WE FOUND THEM AND SHARED THE GOOD NEWS. STORY OF MY LIFE WITH UNCLAIMED MONEY.
PEOPLE THINK IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! WE LEARNED HOW LITTLE SOME JURISDICTIONS DO TO REUNITE PEOPLE WITH THEIR UNCLAIMED MONEY. IN THIS CASE, ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OWED UNCLAIMED MONEY WAS THE PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, A FELLOW GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT’S ONLY 16 BLOCKS FROM CITY HALL! BUT THE CITY HAD DONE NOTHING TO TELL THEM.
WE OURSELVES ALERTED PEOPLE TO MORE THAN 14-THOUSAND DOLLARS WAITING TO BE CLAIMED. THE OWNER OF A COMIC BOOK STORE HAD $270 DOLLARS COMING. THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT THINK HOW MANY COMIC BOOKS HE’D HAVE TO SELL TO MAKE THAT! WE FOUND A COUPLE WHO WERE OWED $1,750 DOLLARS IN REBATES FROM A RENTAL PROPERTY THEY OWNED. AND WE TRACKED DOWN A CONTRACTOR WHO PROBABLY OVERPAID FOR PERMITS AND WAS DUE MORE THAN 3-THOUSAND 3-HUNDRED DOLLARS! OFTEN CITIES TURN THEIR OWN UNCLAIMED MONEY ACCOUNTS OVER TO THEIR STATES FOR SAFEKEEPING. BUT, AS THE PASADENA EXAMPLE SHOWS, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AND THERE IS REAL MONEY OUT THERE BEING HELD BY CITIES.
I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD CHECK EVERY CITY THEY’VE EVER LIVED IN. BUT THERE’S EVEN MORE INCENTIVE TO CHECK IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN A CITY EMPLOYEE OR IF YOU HAVE EVER DONE BUSINESS WITH A CITY —LIKE THAT CONTRACTOR— OR BEEN SUBJECT TO A LOT OF TAX IN A CITY —LIKE THOSE LANDLORDS. THANKS TO THE INTERNET, IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE TO SEARCH. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE’S NOT A CENTRALIZED DATABASE OF CITY UNCLAIMED MONEY, SO I SUGGEST SEARCHING THE NAME OF THE CITY OR COUNTY AND THE WORDS “UNCLAIMED MONEY” OR “UNCLAIMED PROPERTY” OR “UNCASHED CHECKS.” GOOD LUCK!
EPISODE 06~ GUEST BLOG: How to Transform Your Resume and Start Getting Calls For Interviews
By Charmaine Pocek,
Award-winning Resume Writer, Career Expert, Former Recruiter
I write resumes based on what a recruiter is scanning for in those critical 5-10 seconds – and they land interviews, so start preparing now!!! There is a method to my madness, and it stems from recruiting for 15+ years and transitioning into a full-time resume writer.
The format you received, works. In fact it works MIRACLES! Do NOT create a PDF document – some older applicant-tracking systems cannot parse or upload PDF files. If you ordered a graphical resume, GREAT idea! Just use this to send via email or bring to your interview, but do not send via an ATS upload (HR System/online application). Click to see a sample of a graphical resume.
Why isn’t my resume only one page? Aren’t those better? NO, NO, NO!!! Maybe 15 years ago when applicants had to fax in resumes, and the 2 nd page got lost, but not now – showcase your skills! This is hard to do with only a page (some professionals can use 1-page resumes or newer graduates). Location: I live in Houston, composed of countless suburbs and recruited for a HUGE company with 20+ locations. If I saw someone applying to my location but lives 30 miles away, I would pass, immediately – no matter how qualified due to the commute. Keep it simple and list only your City, State to dodge commuting issues (if you don’t mind the commute)! So, if you are in a big city, leave off your physical address/suburb and just list the City, State and NO zip code ?
What happened to my content – it’s gone!! Resumes are not a list of duties/tasks, but a list of accomplishments! This is why you see me adding things to your bullets and rewording so much – showcase your achievements! The more data you add directly corresponds to your credibility! Even if you don’t have specific numbers, using “more than, approximately” can be substituted resulting in the same powerful impact!, Click to see how a professional resume writer formats resumes.
Which sounds better?
Increased sales in a competitive region. Increased revenues from $5M to $18M within eight months, exceeding quotas 110%.
Selected Highlights – isn’t this repetitive? You have about 5-10 coveted seconds to grab the recruiter’s attention. I pull data- driven highlights to the top and highlight this portion – the recruiter’s eyes are immediately drawn to this section which lists 5 of your most awesome accomplishments – this is one of the best parts of your new resume!
What is the deal with the Additional Credentials?
Why list Technical Skills – doesn’t EVERYONE use Microsoft Office? Probably – but, if you have a new recruiter searching for people to fill a job and they decide to add Microsoft and Office and Word and Excel to their ATS search, you just lost out of being considered – better to be safe and keyword optimize every chance possible!
Organizations? Sure! It shows you are active in your industry, connecting with others and networking. There are several new groups on LinkedIn you can even use. This shows initiative – see my examples on your resume.
Languages – Doesn’t everyone know Spanish? NO! Being Bilingual is a huge asset! Show this off! I like to put bilingual/multilingual in the introduction and additional credentials. It sets you apart
Awards/Honors – It’s hard to brag about yourself, everyone feels the same way. Adding awards makes you unique! Ideas – Dean’s List in College, Employee of the Month, any sales awards, even a recognition from management or a thank you email. It makes a difference! Volunteer work? I don’t volunteer; there is no time! When I was recruiting, I had several managers insist on a very well- rounded candidate. By putting this ON your resume, you become less of a piece of paper and more of a human!
Examples: I LOVE animals, so when I saw SPCA on a resume, that person got a phone call. I worked for one Director who LOVES Disney. I had an underqualified candidate who wrote that she volunteered at Disney one summer – she got the interview and the job!!! Volunteering does not have to mean sitting on the board of a non-profit, just a monetary donation to the Red Cross/SPCA/, etc. is considered volunteerism!
Activities/Interests – WHY??? When I recruited, this was a GREAT ice-breaker for interviews. It also once again makes you human and not a piece of paper. Just make sure it’s nothing political/controversial – stick to sports, reading, family, outdoors, travel, etc. See the examples I listed. Isn’t my resume too much – do I seem too good or is it just over the top? NO! You are this awesome – get ready to start fielding offers!
*Note from Elisabeth: To SEE how Charmaine transforms
resumes, see the Episode 6 YouTube video, in which we look at a “Before” and “After” resume and analyze the changes she made. How to Nail The Interview and Get the Job
—Advice From a Top Recruiter
? RESEARCH where you are interviewing! In the interview, mention facts about the company. Memorize their website, spend hours on LinkedIn knowing who is interviewing you. Research in an interview turns into the upper hand.
? ASK QUESTIONS – make sure you have 5-10 questions ready to ask as well, written down in a notebook you bring with you. See below for some great ideas. If you don’t ask questions, 92% of the time, you will not be extended an offer.
? COMPLIMENT.
Who doesn’t like a compliment? I’m not advising on telling your interviewer they are good looking ? but you can mention – Congrats on the accomplishments/xx years with the company/release of xx project, etc.
? NEVER, ever, ever, ever, ever badmouth a former employee or firm. Even if you left on bad terms that were completely out of your control – turn this into a positive.
? Dress professionally! Wear a suit, End of story!
? Make frequent eye contact – this can be uncomfortable, but it shows confidence.
? Answer questions directly.
You will be asked SPECIFIC questions, give a SPECIFIC answer (see below for behavioral interview tips). One of the main reasons recruiters/employers do not move forward with candidates is their inability to answer a SPECIFIC question.
? Smile, OFTEN! Be upbeat and make positive statements.
? Arrive 10 minutes early, NO earlier (looks too anxious). Wait in the hall or a nearby facility if needed.
? NEVER ask about salary.
If you have a recruiter or an HR contact, it’s OK to ask them AFTERWARD, but never, ever ask a hiring manager (same about benefits). This is for later. Common Interview Questions and how to answer them!!! These are important, but most have been replaced with behavioral interview situations – see below. Why did you leave your last job? Second, only to behavioral questions, your tenure will be detailed – so have an answer for EVERY job change on your resume. Some common and believable reasons – I relocated too far from the position, they asked me to travel more, the company was bought out and now unstable, etc. Stay away from “I got a better offer.”
Tell me about this gap in employment – Always keep this positive. The gap can be because you had a family obligation or traveled!
Tell me about a conflict with a coworker or supervisor –
Whatever your answer, have one. It is unbelievable that a person has worked for a long time without a conflict. Just make it positive – focus on how you talked it through with them WITHOUT involving management, and it turned into a very positive long-term, beneficial working relationship. Why should we hire you? This is also still asked – so plan your answer and practice it. There is no right or wrong answer for this, but you need to sell yourself. This is usually asked by a colleague, not a supervisor in a peer-panel interview – so remember to not come off as superior.
What is a Behavioral Interview?
Companies lose a lot of money if an employee quits or is let go.Behavioral interviewing was created to allow employers to find out about your personality without asking questions you can memorize answers to before an interview. Managers/recruiters/peer-panels are trained to do this! Behavioral interviews catch you off guard. For employers, they are an amazing way to interview and increase retention, but for interviewees, they CAN be intimidating. Read on below for help!
How to prepare? Research common behavioral questions in your industry. Some of the types will be:
You notice your coworker on the phone playing Candy Crush while she could be working, what do you do? Your customer just called and was shipped the wrong order, and he can’t start a project. How would you handle this situation?
A coworker stole your social media idea and pitched it to management, getting full credit. How would you handle this? Behavioral interview questions are situational questions, so think of a situation you have been in —an uncomfortable one— and use that for practice. I have interviewed, it went well, not WHAT? Send an email thank you note, NOW! The same day, no later. This should be a simple but detailed note and is extremely important! Too much or too little detail can be a detriment. This shows excitement and follow-through.
Send references, even if they don’t ask. There are such strict HR laws that employers are limited to the types of questions they can ask a former employer. Providing references is a great way to show confidence. Be sure to include up to five professional and five personal references!
Send a hand-written thank you note via snail mail TODAY!!!
It works ? Call your recruiter and tell them how it went and further express your interest.
21 Questions to Ask In A Job Interview To Improve Your Chances of Getting an Offer An interview is meant to be a two-way street. What questions you ask can mean the difference between getting the job or not! Print this out and bring it with you. Remember, you are interviewing them as well! And don’t forget to ASK FOR THE JOB!!!
Good General Questions:
? What do you see ahead for your company in the next five years?
? How do you see the future of this industry?
? What do you consider to be your firm’s most important assets?
? What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?
? How do you rate your competition?
? What happened to the last person who held this job?
The role: Here are strategic questions that allow you to showcase why you are perfect for the job being filled and how you will be evaluated if you get the job:
? What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
? What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job? OR: Tell me about someone who has succeeded in this role – what were their key strengths (you can then compare yourself.)
? What types of skills do you NOT already have onboard that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?
? What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?
? Could you describe a typical day or week in this position?
The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?
? What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months?
? What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?
? How will I be evaluated at XYZ company, and how often?
The department: Asking about the department you may can help you understand more about the company’s culture and hierarchy:
? What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit into that structure?
? What are the career paths in this department?
? What have been the department’s successes in the last couple of years?
? How do you view your group/division/department?
? Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company
? At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask: What are the next steps in the interview process?
Do you have any concerns about my abilities to do this job? ASK THIS! You can “resell” yourself and address any concerns before you leave!!!!
Finally, just reiterate your interest, smile and throw in an additional compliment – GOOD LUCK!
Guest Name: Charmaine Pocek
Guest Title: Award-Winning Resume Writer and Career Expert
Credentials: PhDc, MS, CPRW, CIEP, PRC
Guest Contact: fiverr.com/boomsa;
linkedin.com/in/charmainepocek
EPISODE 5~ EASY MONEY PODCAST
EPISODE 5~ TOP TIP: Groceries go on sale at predictable intervals. Learn them and save!
Did you know that grocery products go on sale at regular, predictable intervals? For example, maybe your favorite cheese goes on sale every 4 weeks and your kids’ favorite cereal is discounted every 12 weeks. Another secret: often the same product is on sale at one grocery store this week and another one next week because manufacturers rotate the incentives they provide stores in order to goose sales of their merchandise. The trick is to learn to recognize these sale intervals and buy enough of your favorite products when they are discounted to get you through to the next sale.
EPISODE 5~ MAKE MORE: Where to sell your old electronics for the most money
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE MONEY BY SELLING YOUR OLD, UNWANTED ELECTRONICS. Consumer Reports points out that electronics don’t age well. so don’t be like me! hurry up! Make a plan to selL your old electronics NOW. If you want to get some money out of them, the younger the better. After that, you can donate middle-aged electronics or recycle ancient ones.
Here are several resources for selling used electronics:
first up, Amazon.com. Amazon buys a wide variety of electronics, plus CDs and video games. I did a little experiment and found their offers to be some of the most generous. they pay you with am Amazon gift card.
next, Best Buy. Best Buy offers an estimator tool online that’s intuitive and easy. plus the chain has 1,500 stores in North America, so you can easily drop off your unwanted electronics, instead of procrastinating about shipping.
3rd Gazelle. Gazelle accepts mostly Apple products. apple products are like the Lexus of the electronics world because they hold their value. one thing i like here: you can choose to be paid via check, PayPal or Amazon gift card.
4th idea: BuyBackWorld. This site buys laptops, tablets, cell phones, cameras and more. If you accept buybackworld’s offer, the site will send you a label for free shipping.
and finally, who knew, but Target takes used electronics: target has partnered with a company called Nextworth. this partnership also offers easy estimates online. you then choose whether to ship your item for free or take it to a participating Target store .
there are plenty of other websites for selling used electronics, but theses are some of my favorites. so what kind of money can you make? i can tell you that when i got estimates on MY fairly lame electronics from those overflowing bins of mine, these companies offered me a total of $172 not bad for 10 minutes worth of work!
In this week’s you tube video I take you to my basement and show you what products of mine sold, which didn’t, and how much i got for them.
if you have products that won’t sell, many charities take middle age electronics and actually put them to use by giving them to people in need. Here are some resources:
American Cell Phone Drive. This organization donates all types of used cell phones —or the proceeds—to local charities and you can even choose which charity your donation benefits.
Dell Reconnect. This partnership between Dell and Goodwill is the biggest of them all, accepting all brands of computers plus computer accessories in any condition. If they’re usable, Goodwill connects them with people who need them. If not, Dell recycles them.
eBay for Charity. Here you actually sell your used electronics, but then donate the proceeds to a charity of your choice.
or if you’ve got truly old electronics, you can still do a good deed by recycling them, so toxic components don’t end up in landfills.
Best Buy. The mega store also offers recycling options for most any kind of device with an on button. There are kiosks near store doors for small items and you can take larger things to the customer service desk.
Call2Recycle. Here’s the answer for rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Type in your zip code on their website to find a drop-off location near you.
TIA E-cycling Central. This site offers a map where you can click on your state and get a listing of recycling opportunities near you, including those offered by local cities and towns.
EPISODE 5~ SAVE MORE: Creative ways to join a gym for less.
• Look for Daily Deals. Never join a gym without A QUICK CHECK OF GROUPON AND OTHER DAILY DEAL SITES. Gym memberships and other exercise classes are one of their most common offers. There were 534 exercise deals on Groupon alone when I checked.
• Pay as you go: Better, yet, don’t join at all. Sometimes it makes more economic sense to get an exercise “class card” or pay daily rates as you go, especially if you’re unsure how committed you are. Paying daily or month-to-month may cost more, but it will actually save you money if you decide to bail out.
• Try Apps that pay for wellness:
Apps like Welcoin AND Pact WILL pay you to exercise, WHICH YOU PROVE BY SENDING PHOTOS OR LINKING THEM IN WITH SOMETING LIKE A FITBIT. ON THE Wellcoin AP, you earn points you can then use to purchase products LIKE gym classes. Pact ACTUALLY GIVES you cash! WHERE DO THEY GET IT? FROM OTHER MEMBERS WHO FAILED TO MEET THEIR GOALS! IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY, YOU GET AN intangible motivational value.
Exercise Your Health Insurance. many INSURANCE COMPANIES now offer some sort of gym benefit as part of their plans. For example Aetna says it offers discountS at more than 10,000 gyms. And United Healthcare reimburse PLAN PARTICIPANTS $20 each month IF you visit one of its LISTED fitness centers at least A DOZEN times.
• Go to the Hospital. That’s right, many hospitals have fully-equipped fitness facilities where they welcome the public. Best of all, most do not require ironclad long term contracts. For example, ONE HOSPITAL IN Washington, DC offers memberships for $80 a month. And ANOTHER runs all sorts of fitness series, from Aqua Aerobics to Zumba, for about $8.50 a class.
• AND FINALLY THERE’S Fitness Financial Aid!: IF YOU STILL DON’T THINK YOU CAN you can afford a commercial gym, The YMCA offers financial assistance and says it never turns away members who can’t pay. There are 2,700 YMCAs ALL ACROSS AMERICA.