Written by
July 16, 2024

Holly jolly

Working during the holidays can be exhilarating, but more often than not, it’s also stressful, tiring and overwhelming. If you find yourself constantly overbooked or doing more than you should to make sure the holidays are perfect, it’s time to get some perspective and say no to some things so you can enjoy the holidays and your family more fully. Here are three tips on how to balance work and the holidays so you can create a less stressful holiday season and still achieve all your holiday goals.

1) Prioritize

Create two lists: one list of things you have to get done such as work tasks and a list of things you want to do such as creating crafts with your kiddos. Prioritize these based on your schedule. Now, we aren’t saying you have to give up one to do the other, but it does help to write it all down on a calendar so you can figure out what to do. For example, if you need to make cookies or wrap gifts this week then plan accordingly. If time permits and you are looking forward to making those items, that’s awesome! Give yourself permission to go back and forth between the different lists; if there is time left over at the end of the day then feel free to jump into wants from have-to without guilt. This method helps cut down on holiday stress which means more quality time with family during December!

2) Set Boundaries

We are all guilty of overbooking ourselves and over committing to work projects and holiday parties. If you find yourself in this position, it’s okay to say no to some things so you can focus on being with family and friends during the holidays. Be proactive and communicate your boundaries to others. There is nothing wrong with turning down projects or events when they conflict with important time off during the holidays.

What if I have already agreed to do something? As difficult as it might be, if there are conflicts between obligations that have already been agreed upon, then talk them out openly. If a project is too much work without having time for family or if a party will be too much without also having time for self-care, then there is not enough room in your schedule and you need to let go or renegotiate expectations. You’re not obligated; you’re choosing what matters most to you.

3) Simplify

Work and family should be able to co-exist, but this is easier said than done. The holidays are a time of celebration and togetherness, but it can be difficult to balance work obligations with spending quality time with your loved ones. Sometimes it helps to just simplify your schedule and what you want to do. Do you want to spend the time solely with family? Take off work. Do you want to get a couple of extra work projects done before the end of the year? Block off time where you will only be doing that and nothing else. Just remember, keep things simple and whatever you do not need to do, don’t do it! Save it until next year! And remember, don’t stress yourself out because you do not want to fall ill. Take time for yourself to rest and relax too. 

How do you stay stress free with work and family during the holiday season? Let us know!

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June 16, 2024

How to Get AND Stay Motivated

Motivation … It’s been one of the driving factors behind our coping mechanisms during these tough times. 

When we are motivated, we are rewarded in some way and this is what keeps us thriving. Staying motivated can be difficult, especially when we are constantly being thrown curveballs in life. COVID-19 is a good example of that. 

When it comes to reaching a goal, motivation is like a cheerleader – constantly encouraging you to move closer and closer to that finish line, cheering you on every step of the way.

The key to getting and staying motivated is to have a passionate purpose. There is always a WHY behind what we say, and what we do. If your WHY is driven by passion and heart, it’s hard to go wrong. However, passion and heart aren’t always conventional ways to make a living but as the expression goes; “if you do what you love to do, what you love will take care of you”.

Motivation counters fear and when we do something where the outcome isn’t known or could have a consequence to it that fear could grow to the point we end up changing our minds and pivoting down the “safer” path. 

Whether your goal involves your health, wealth or happiness, it’s important to take the first step and continue on with those steps until you reach your final destination.

 


Here Are 7 Quick Tips To Help You Stay Motivated

1. Set Desirable Goals

When deciding on the goals you want to achieve they should be goals that you are passionate about. When a goal comes from the heart, passion becomes the motivator. When you are doing what you love to do and it doesn’t feel like “work”, you’ll want to do it more often and you’ll work harder and more productively. 

Time and effort go hand in hand and often reap the biggest rewards here. As the expression goes “you get out what you put in.”

 

2. Write It Down

It’s important to write down your goals. When you take the time to put the pen to the paper you are reinforcing your goal not only from a conscious level but a subconscious one too. There’s something that can be said about the power of manifestation. Your mind is like a GPS, if you tell it where you want to go it will start creating opportunities and opening doors to help you get there.

 

3. Make It Known

When you make your goal known, you become accountable to yourself and to others who you make it known to. 

Social media has become a popular channel for goal setting and achieving. Whether you are setting out to get in shape, quit a bad habit or change your career path, making it “known” publicly can be a huge motivator. 

Often, friends, family, and even co-workers will react positively commenting things like;  “you’ve got this”, “you can do it”, “so proud of you” … these phrases for example can give someone not just the motivation but also the affirmation they need to know they are on the right path and doing the right thing.

 

4. Break Your Goal Into Steps

Goals, especially long term ones, are best achieved when laid out in actionable steps. You can break your goal down into segments for example. These segments could be time increments or before, during, and after phases. 

If you can break your goal into pieces, you’ll start seeing results faster because the one big goal becomes little goals and each of them take smaller increments of time and effort to achieve – which means you have that sense of gratification and sense of accomplishment sooner.

 

5. Track Progress

Tracking your progress is extremely important. Picture a marketing campaign without any conversion tracking. You have no idea whether or not you had a return on investment (also known as ROI). When you don’t track your progress, you fail to realize when you achieve your goals and/or milestones. It’s like walking through the woods without a compass – you can easily get lost and off-track. In the long run, this could cost you both time and money.

 

6. Reward Yourself

As you reach each milestone, it’s important to reward yourself. From a young age, we are conditioned through rewards. Whether it was that piece of cake after you ate all of your dinner, an allowance after completing your chores or graduation to the next grade in school; a reward system has always been in place in our lives to some capacity.

Decide ahead of time what your reward will be as you complete each step towards your goal. The rewards can act as tiny celebrations to keep you motivated as you get closer and closer to what you want to achieve.

 

7. Invite Others to Join

Sometimes goals are better achieved if you have others participating with you. Fitness programs that involve 30-Day challenges are a good example of this. When you have someone else doing the program with you, you can lean on each other, support each other and celebrate together. The journey doesn’t feel so isolated in this case and it can become a fun social activity at the same time.

 

Finding Your Inspiration and Motivation


Motivation and inspiration are all around us. You can find motivational quotes, posters, artwork and calendars quite easily in stores and online.

You can also spend an afternoon creating a vision board for yourself. Vision boards have been known to help people manifest and achieve the things they want in life.

Finally, you can join support groups to help you stay focused on reaching your goal. If you surround yourself with like-minded people from beginners to pros, you’ll gain instant support for every step of your journey.

We have a Facebook Group at HireMyMom. The group is for like-minded Mompreneurs and we use the group to share job leads, tips on getting hired, resources, inspiration, and foster new friendships along the way. You can visit our community here. 

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May 16, 2024

How to Pay Your Team Fairly 

One of the most important things you’ll do as a business owner is building and maintaining your team. The people you bring on board can be critical players in the success of the business. Some of your team members may even become friends over the years. In any case, you and your employees are deeply invested in each other’s success. 

Pay considerations will always be a part of your relationship and your staffing strategy for better or worse. But, let’s be honest, pay conversations can be awkward. And, finding the right balance for pay is difficult. 

The good news is that understanding how to craft a compensation strategy, knowing the prevailing wages for a role, and understanding your personal pay philosophy, can make pay decisions and conversations easier. Because building your knowledge is the first step, the first portion of this piece focuses on pay fundamentals. The second half shows pay ranges for positions often filled by small business owners. Armed with more information about pay levels and compensation strategies, you’ll be ready to determine pay levels for your team with increased confidence.

Compensation Takes Many Forms

When thinking about pay, it’s easy to focus on dollars and cents. While money is a huge part of the pay equation, it’s not everything. Employees consider flexibility, hours, personal time, stress levels, and working conditions when thinking about pay satisfaction.

As an employer, your role is to create a competitive pay package that balances your need for profitability with the desire to attract and retain your staff. 

Market Pay

Market pay is simply the range of pay that a person doing a job generally receives. It considers the skills, training, and experience a worker needs to succeed in a job. Work that requires less training and fewer skills typically pays less than work that requires intricate tasks or specialized knowledge. You can find pay ranges for many of the jobs that small businesses often fill below.

The low end of the range reflects entry-level work, and the high-end connotes experienced workers doing the job. The portion in the middle is called the midpoint. The mid-point of the range assumes an employee of average experience making a solid contribution.

Market pay is generally expressed as a range. Market pay can be viewed as an annual or hourly figure. We focus on hourly rates here, as many small businesses use hourly pay rates, and hourly pay tends to be more common for freelance workers.

Below, market pay ranges are listed by job title, but the title does not always accurately reflect the skills needed to do the job and its tasks. Sometimes titles are minimized or inflated. That’s why it’s best to use tasks to determine pay, not the title.

Incentive Pay

In addition to base pay, many employers offer incentive pay or bonuses at set intervals. For example, an eCommerce company might offer a $50 bonus for any month in which sales goals are exceeded. These programs are often popular with employees and can enhance your revenue considerably while growing employee satisfaction.

Factors that Drive Market Pay

Market pay for each role varies based on the industry, labor availability, and geography. 

Hot industries often experience labor shortages. When labor is short, employers pay more to attract employees. For example, right now, the real estate market is hot, and there’s a great demand for people who have experience with real estate closings. Employers who need additional staff may pay more to find the right people for the job.

Geography is another factor that plays into wages. Because the cost of living varies so greatly across the country, wages vary considerably, too. For example, an office manager in Manhattan will be paid more than an office manager in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, even if the job is the same.

When you hire virtual employees through a partner like HireMyMom, geography is less of an issue because you have access to a national pool of candidates, and wages tend to reflect national trends instead of regional ones. However, if you have an office and want an onsite employee, geographic considerations can be significant.  

Developing Pay Best Practices 

It’s essential to know how much different roles pay, but it’s also necessary to understand how you feel about pay. Developing a pay philosophy for your business will help you frame these decisions in your mind. The first step is considering what matters to you in an employee.

You may decide that you prefer to work with entry-level people to keep costs down. That strategy can work well as long as you don’t mind giving more hands-on support to your team. Also, know that some of the people you nurture along the way may leave for more pay.  

The other end of the extreme is to hire the most experienced person you can find, even if that means paying top dollar. This strategy can work well if you know exactly what you want and expect your employees to hit the ground running. This approach may lead to more stability over time. But, some employers find a more stable workforce can lead to fewer new ideas.

The main point is that there’s not a right or wrong way in general. There’s the right way for you. The key is knowing your budget and your needs. 

Focus on Value

As you find and grow your team, it’s easy to get focused on bottom-line costs, driving you to make pay decisions that you subsequently regret. Rather than focusing on the cost of an employee,  focus on the value the employee brings to your business. The right employee or team can change your revenue significantly. Focusing on the growing revenue vs. the cost of the team will help you keep the big picture in mind.

Keep Your Eye on the Long Run

The adage “you get what you pay for” certainly applies to employee compensation. When thinking about your pay strategy, don’t be tempted by the ultra-low rates you may see advertised by some services. 

Take the time to find the right person. You are looking for a partner to grow your business. Pay that partner for her expertise and keep an eye on the long run. Finding and keeping a dedicated master of her craft will save you time, money, and hassle. The wrong person or lots of employee turnover can lead to lost time, more expense, and headaches.

 

Compensation Ranges for Common Roles

RoleDescriptionAverage Compensation Range, per hour
Virtual AssistantCompletes a wide range of administrative tasks, including document preparation, calendar and email management, data entry work and other administrative duties.$15-35 – Average starting point of $22
Technical Virtual AssistantFocuses on supporting the technical needs of a small business.$25 and up
Client Success Manager / Customer Service RolesServes as the main point of contact for many small businesses by representing the company to clients and customers. $18 to $22
Social Media ManagerCreates engaging content that offers value to the audience and ultimately results in growth in followers and increased sales for the company.$18 to $35 
Account ManagerManages client accounts for a small business. Often has customer service, sales, and financial goals.$17 to $22
e-Commerce SpecialistProvides expertise in online sales strategies across platforms to increase digital sales and increase sales conversion rates.$20 to $28 
BookkeeperAccesses the company’s records remotely to record transactions, balance bank accounts, prepare and send invoices, manage bank accounts and maintain financial records. Prepares payroll and tax reports. $18 to $30 
Marketing / Public RelationsCreates and maintains a favorable public image of the business. Seeks to market and promote the business to increase sales and customers. May also handle crisis communication.$20 to $45
PPC / Facebook Ad ManagerDevelops advertising strategies and creates advertisements for Facebook, Google and other sites.$18 to $45
Project ManagementCoordinates and oversees all aspects of a project. $20 to $40
Email MarketingCreates a digital marketing strategy to reach customers and prospects via email.$18 to $35
Copywriter/Content Creator/BloggerWrites and edits articles, blogs, or copy for various purposes, including website, marketing materials, email marketing, and ghostwriting for business owners.$20 to $40
Online Business ManagerTakes over the daily operations of a business by providing project, people, and client management. Develops and tracks business metrics.$25 to $45  – Wages are heavily industry-dependent, with IT and medical expertise at the top of the range.
Business Development SpecialistIdentifies and pursues new leads and looks for ways to help the business continually grow.$25 to $40
Real Estate AssistantPrepares real estate forms and documents, works with clients by phone, sets up showings, helps prepare closing documents.$18 to $35
Legal Assistant/ ParalegalSupports attorneys, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.$18 to $40

 

Pay Changes Over Time

Once you have employees in place, set a regular schedule to reconsider compensation rates. Many employers have an annual pay cycle to consider each employee’s contribution and compare it to current market rates. This process helps you stay ahead of the pay curve and prevents you from suddenly finding that your pay practices are out of date.

Some employers increase pay based on tenure or cost of living changes. Generally, compensation professionals suggest sticking to contribution level and market trends rather than tenure when considering pay increases.

 

Questions?

At HireMyMom, we match employees and businesses every day, giving us a unique view of wage trends. If you have a question or need to fill a position, visit HireMyMom.com and consider using  HireMyMom’s Concierge service. Our HR Specialists can also tell you more about compensation trends and how you can craft an attractive pay package that makes sense based on your philosophy.

When you are ready to fill a position, our HR Specialists will do it all for you from start to finish and present you with the top candidate(s) sourced from a wide array of qualified applicants who will be dedicated to helping your business succeed and grow. 

 

 

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Written by
April 16, 2024

Small Business Finding Ways to Shine in the Darkness

Beauty is produced from struggling. Take a pearl for example. Without an irritant making its way into an oyster, it would have no reason to coat layer after layer of nacre on the irritant which after many years produces a beautiful pearl.

 

The same is true for the butterfly. Through the process of struggling to emerge from its cocoon, the butterfly gains power it needs to strengthen its wings to be able to fly. 

We are all in a struggle right now whether it be health, finances, isolation, fear or some other struggle, we are joined together through it. 

 

But like any struggle, there are pearls and butterflies to be found. Here are a few small businesses creating something beautiful through this struggle:

 

Big Sky Internet Design is a small family-owned website design company building websites for the Agriculture Industry since 1998.  Due to Covid-19 they discovered that many 4H, FFA, and other youth county organizations were not going to be able to hold their annual sale/auction due to the lockdown. Tom Bruch, owner of Big Sky Internet, decided that they could do something about that. They created easy and affordable websites for youth organizations to be able to have auctions online.  Now these students who have spent countless hours and sometimes large amounts of money, have a way to reach a market interested in buying their livestock. 

 

Dudley Court Press is a hybrid publishing house for authors. A couple of their remote team members homeschool their children. As “stay at home” orders became the norm, the rest of the Dudley’s team found themselves homeschooling as well. 

 

“The stress was palpable,” Gail Woodard, Dudley Court Press CEO shares. “We decided to devote half our weekly team meeting to sharing experiences and advice. The impact on the new homeschooling moms was so positive that we decided to offer a free, weekly Zoom-based Homeschoolers’ Support Group through April. Our first session was a great success with new homeschooling parents relieved to have ‘experts’ to chat with.”  

 

Ben Walker is in a CEO peer group of small business owners. These business owners have been helping each other in their respective areas of expertise at no charge through webinars and online meetings.  He shares, “I’ve been helping one fellow business owner here with brainstorming how he can pivot his event staffing company and all his skills and knowledge into a new business. All of this has been done with absolutely no expectation of anything in return.” It’s just one small business owner doing what he or she can to help another business survive and thrive through this season.

 

Marsha Means, MA is a part of a team of coaches who are offering new Covid-19 support groups that are free to those who have lost their income ($10 for with an income). Marsha shares, “If you’ve lost someone to covid, or if you are anxious and overwhelmed, I invite you to join me and others to share, process, and to support each other as we face the loss, the fear, and global trauma all humanity is experiencing.”

 

Barkha’s Custom Sourcing specializes in sustainable and ethical sourcing of fabric. Currently, they are organizing a large donation of stock fabric to the Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals – Atlanta project. They’re a non-profit that is building networks in and around Atlanta — and all across the U.S. — to make sure our healthcare workers have the PPE they need to fight the battle against COVID-19. 

 

Barkha Malik, owner, shares, “While masks sewn by volunteers at Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals – Atlanta are not viable by themselves, hospital staff are using them over their N95 masks to extend their usefulness. These masks can be sanitized and reused.”  Anyone interested in sewing masks or getting involved to learn more about the Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals – Atlanta project by joining their Facebook group here.

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September 6, 2021

How to Ditch Office Life and Land a Great Work-from-Home Job

After more than a year of working from home due to COVID-19 mitigations, you know that the work-from-home lifestyle has many advantages. The short commute, increased family time, and flexibility during the day are things moms appreciate. And, as the virus continues to spread, putting school plans up into the air, you may have additional reasons to love your home office and want to stay in it.

 

But, many employers are busy planning return-to-the-office strategies. If the prospect of returning to the office has you looking for another option that lets you work from home all the time, read on. After decades of helping moms like you make the jump to work-from-home jobs, here are my top tips for making the leap.

 

Make a Plan

Start by considering what you want in your work-from-home job. Think about the things you enjoy about your current job and make a list of the tasks and responsibilities you wish to transfer to your new role. For example, do you excel at project management? Maybe you have an eye for detail and are a great proofreader, or perhaps you are a spreadsheet whiz or a design guru and want to use those skills in your next role. There’s no right or wrong answer, just the ones that make the most sense to you.

 

Next, catalog your skills and abilities. Think big picture here to identify the skills you have that can be transferred to another job. (Sometimes HR people call these transferable skills.) For example, if you set up webinars for your current company, identify the skills involved in that task–such as negotiating contracts, issuing invitations, managing conflicts, and carefully reviewing invoices. These capabilities comprise your set of transferable skills.

 

If you aren’t sure what you want to do or how your skills may translate to different types of jobs, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. HireMyMom offers resources to help.

 

 

Then, take the online Job Seeker 101 class offered by HireMyMom to learn more about the job search process. 

 

If all this has you feeling overwhelmed, find inspiration from a recent success story.

 

Create a Job Search Strategy

Now that you are ready to search for an at-home job, it’s time to find the right partner in your journey. If you’ve spent any time on the big job boards, you know how tough it is to find good-quality leads there. 

 

There is a better way. 

 

When you join HireMyMom, you have exclusive access to a curated list of legitimate work-from-home jobs. Moms love us because they know all applications are going to real businesses looking for help. Employers love us because they know they can find high-quality, highly motivated candidates who want to work from home. 

 

Yes, we do charge a small fee. But, that works to your advantage in five ways:

 

  • No commissions from job seekers. Once you find a job, all the money you earn is yours to keep. We don’t take a commission of your earnings. Often, free job sites are only free until you find a job. Then, they help themselves to 10% to 20% of your pay as long as you have the job. 
  • The fee keeps the number of job seekers down, so it’s easier for you to stand out in the crowd. It also weeds out those who are not serious job seekers.
  • Businesses prefer to use HireMyMom because job seekers who have paid the fee are serious about finding work. And the volume of resumes that flow in is more manageable than the numbers that arrive when jobs are advertised on free job sites. One business owner cited she received over 900 applicants in 24 hours on one of the free job sites. 
  • When you see a job post on HireMyMom, you can be assured it’s exclusive. We don’t pull jobs off the internet to fill our site. We only post positions that can’t be found elsewhere online.
  • You can feel confident when you apply for a job on the site because we aim to keep HireMyMom 100% scam-free. Our team reviews each job post to ensure that the company (or person) looking for help is legit. We have a list of red flags we look for, and don’t hesitate to say no if we aren’t confident.

 

Still have questions? Check out Why Does HireMyMom Charge Job Seekers. 

 

Find That Job

Once you have your strategy in place, designate time and space to identify job leads and apply. It can take some time to apply for jobs, so be sure to set that time aside and treat your job search like a job. Otherwise, it’s easy to get frustrated that you aren’t making progress.

 

One of your first tasks will be to update your resume. Small business resumes are different and more personal than corporate resumes. In addition, cover letters are a big part of the process. So, invest the time to get a solid cover letter base that you can customize for each opportunity. You can learn more about both techniques in the Job Seeker 101 class. 

 

Once you land an interview, start to practice and prepare. Ask a friend or family member to help you rehearse. Find a nice quiet place in your home and do a dry-run with the technology used during the interview.

 

As part of your prep, think about the questions you’ll ask. The right questions are an essential tool in finding out if the job is a good fit for your skills, interests, and lifestyle, so be prepared to ask the right ones. 

 

As you practice your interview, prepare a strong close. A strong finish can distinguish you from the crowd. Set yourself up for success with these steps:

 

  • Thank the interviewer.
  • Express your level of interest honestly.
  • Summarize why you are a great candidate.
  • Ask about the next steps and timing.
  • Send a follow-up email within 48 hours of the interview.

 

Avoid Common Job Search Mistakes

When you apply for several jobs, it’s easy to make mistakes that can cost you an interview and an opportunity. It may seem counterintuitive, but being picky about the jobs you go after can help increase your success rate. Casting too wide a net can lead to rejections while sending you into a frenzy of activity, applying for jobs, and following up with employers only to be disappointed. Remember, you want to find the right job for you, not just any job. Before you apply:

 

  • Carefully read the job description. Consider whether you are qualified for the bulk of the work and whether the position genuinely interests you. 
  • Tailor your resume for the specific job. Make the tweaks needed to fit the job description, but don’t do a total rewrite. Be sure to review your revised resume carefully.
  • Write a customized cover letter. Clearly express your interest and qualifications in the letter.

 

Finally, hang in there. Finding a job can be hard work. Don’t get discouraged. You’ll be working at your new home-based job in no time. When you find success, send me a note so we can celebrate together.

 

 

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August 23, 2021

Five Strategies to Prevent Your Best Employees from Walking Out the Door

A stellar team can help move your business in the right direction. As a small business owner, you know that finding and keeping the right staff is critical for daily and long-term success. 

But, how do you hold on to your people when America is amid a “great resignation” that affects small and large businesses? 

As the pandemic wanes and people start to evaluate their lives and careers against a new backdrop, you want to ensure that your employees decide to stay with you. Understanding why people leave jobs and knowing a few key retention strategies can help keep your best employees on board, even when the job market is sizzling hot.

 

Understand Why People Leave Jobs

People leave jobs for as many different reasons as there are jobs. As an employer, some of the transitions are expected and outside of your control. For example, an employee who finishes a degree may decide to move on to a job in her field of study. Sometimes people have new family obligations–or family commitments change–and they choose to scale back or increase work obligations. Likewise, sometimes interests just change or curiosity drives people to try new things. 

 

In these cases, there’s not much you can do as an employer. Generally, the best option is to thank the employee for her service and end the relationship positively. Doing so means you are poised to continue a good relationship with that person. In some cases, the employee may return to you later or suggest an equally great friend as a resource.

 

However, some resignations are closely linked to employer actions and policies. Many times, employers are blind to the things that frustrate employees. For example, a lack of day-to-day flexibility or a strict vacation policy might send some employees packing. Employees who feel under-appreciated or sense conflict in the ranks also may leave.

 

The key is to know which issues are within your sphere of influence and which are not. If the problem is one you can control, proactive planning can prevent resignations and keep your all-star staff on board. 

 

Communicate Clearly with Your Team Members

Like so many aspects of life, communication is the key to a productive working relationship. To know what matters to your employees, keep the lines of communication open. It may feel awkward, but a simple call every few weeks to ask your team members what’s working and what’s not working can go a long way toward enhanced communication.

 

When you call, express that you are open to feedback and changes based on what you hear. Take input from employees in stride. When an employee is brave enough to share her thoughts and frustrations with you, respect the courage it took to speak up. If the feedback hurts or is contrary to what you expected, take a deep breath and vow to consider it.

 

When team members share frustrations, ask them to suggest ways to address concerns they have. An employee with a concern often has a solution in mind, which relieves you from solving the problem. If you hear the same feedback from several employees, encourage them to form a committee to address the issue and bring potential solutions to you.

 

In some cases, employees just want to be heard and know that you care. Making the call and asking the questions is an excellent step in that direction.

 

Share Feedback

One way to show your team love is to provide feedback on the regular. No need to wait for a performance review to talk about skill development. When employees see that you have taken the time to notice their work, provide feedback, and suggest new ways to grow, they know you care and feel valued.

 

When you see an employee struggling, encouraging feedback can make a huge difference. Likewise, when you see an employee thriving, mention that to her. Finally, if you sense an employee is bored or restless, finding a growth opportunity can help provide a challenge that keeps her engaged and highlights possibilities for future opportunities.

 

Recognize, Recognize, Recognize

In the workplace, recognition can fuel your team through challenging projects and encourage them to keep up the excellent work. It also serves as a reminder that you see each employee and appreciate the work they are doing. 

 

Recognition can be as easy as a phone call or an email that says, “hey, I notice what a good job you are doing.” Another strategy is to thank people at the end of a workday or after a challenging meeting.

 

Recognition can also take additional forms. Having a wide range of recognition tools makes the practice easier for you. But, when you manage a team of remote workers, the traditional ways of thanking your team and showing appreciation may be more difficult. Team lunches, impromptu gatherings, or stops at the local cafe for a quick “well done” treat are tougher to pull off when your team is scattered all over the country. 

 

Check out this blog for tips to make recognition a habit and to find no and low-cost ways to recognize your team.

 

Keep Pay and Benefits Current 

At the end of the day, your employees are generally working to support families. So, keeping pay and benefits current is an essential factor in retaining staff. It’s easy to forget about pay adjustments when you are busy doing good work with a great team. But, if your employees have been receiving the same pay for a year or more, it’s time to do some research. Here’s how:

 

  • Ask around to find out what like-businesses are paying for similar jobs.
  • Inquire about benefit offerings, including vacation time and flexibility.
  • Compare the data you gathered to your pay structure.
  • Make adjustments as needed. 
  • Communicate the changes–and the thinking behind them–to your team.

 

Be open about pay and benefits as you talk to your team members. Explain the research you did and the cost pressures you are facing in discussing pay. If you can’t increase pay or change benefits, be open with your team about that and explore whether other forms of compensation might be mutually acceptable.

 

Be Flexible and Offer Flexibility

As the pandemic winds down, people (especially moms!) may need new and different types of schedules. Be open to looking at and discussing new options. Offering a little additional flexibility in the short term could help you retain a valuable staff member for years to come.

 

How Do You Retain Staff?

I’d love to hear your tricks for keeping staff on board. Drop me a line and share your best tips.

 

 

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August 16, 2021

Feeling Discouraged? How to Hang Tough and Find Job Search Success

Looking for a new job is exciting and can be fun. But, it can also be stressful and challenging, especially if you don’t get an offer for a job that genuinely interests you or if you’ve submitted several resumes with no luck. When this happens, it’s easy to get discouraged and quit. But, roads with potholes can lead to lovely destinations if you keep traveling. Persistence is the key to success in a job search. 

If you view the bumps in the road as opportunities to sharpen your job hunt skills, it’s easier to take the steps that can help you overcome the hurdles. Here are our best tips for working through the challenges and sticking out tough times during a job search.

 

Get Back to Basics

When you look for a job, your resume is an essential piece of the puzzle. And, let’s just put it out there–resumes are tough to create and difficult to polish. It feels awkward to sell yourself on one page. And, revising it multiple times can make you feel a little crazed. But, if you aren’t getting job nibbles, it’s time to give your resume some love. Here’s how:

  • Take a fresh look at your resume and make sure that it’s easy-to-read, simple, error-free, and professional. 
  • Ask a trusted friend or a former coworker to review your resume for errors. 
  • Share it with someone from a different industry and ask if she can identify the work and skills you are highlighting. This is an excellent way to see if jargon or shop speak has made it into your resume and might be confusing people. 
  • Add a few flourishes to appeal to the small business owners who will review your resume. 

Based on your assessment of your resume and the feedback from your reviewers, make a few changes. As you revise:

  • Describe your contribution to success at previous jobs. Focus on the work you did and how it supported the organization overall. Think of the first bullet as a summary bullet. Here’s a sample: Grew sales by overseeing the development and implementation of marketing communication plans that addressed customer hesitancy while managing a team of three direct reports.
  • After the summary bullet, provide concrete examples of your experience that quantify your professional accomplishments. For instance, including a bullet that says “coordinated 150 meetings in six months to facilitate sales” is more potent than “coordinated meetings.” If you are having trouble putting numbers to accomplishments, talking it over with a friend or former coworker can help you develop those ideas.
  • Aim to add one-to-two bullet points for each year on the job. So, you may want to create six or more bullets to describe your accomplishments at a position you held for six years.
  • Remove experiences that are more than ten years old or not relevant to the job you are seeking. For example, if you are looking for a job as a virtual assistant, it’s ok to drop the lifeguarding gig you had in high school. Your resume is a highlight reel of your capabilities, not a detailed accounting of every job you’ve ever held.

 

Tighten Up Your Approach

With your spruced-up resume in hand, it’s time to narrow your job search. It may seem counterintuitive, but being picky about the jobs you go after can help increase your success rate for getting an interview. Casting too wide a net can lead to rejections while sending you into a frenzy of activity, applying for jobs, and following up with employers only to be disappointed. 

Remember, you want to find the right job for you, not just any job. Before you apply:

  • Carefully read the job description. Consider whether you are qualified for the bulk of the work and whether the position genuinely interests you. 
  • Tailor your resume for the specific job. Make the tweaks needed to fit the job description, but don’t do a total rewrite. Be sure to review your revised resume carefully.
  • Write a customized cover letter. Clearly express your interest and qualifications in the letter.

 

Polish Your Interview Techniques

Your resume and cover letter open the door for an interview. The interview is your chance to seal the deal by putting your best foot forward and showcasing all the skills you bring to the table. You want to project a professional image and be prepared to ask and answer questions. Here are my best tips for success:

  • Get dressed as if you are going to an in-person meeting. Although your interview is likely to be conducted via Zoom, it’s still important to dress as if you are going to an in-office interview. Wear professional clothes and make sure you are camera-ready.
  • Find a professional place to conduct the interview. You want to show that you are ready to work from home and have a set up to do so. Look for the best place around your house to set up your laptop and do the interview. A table or desk works well. Avoid your couch or bedroom, as it’s easy to feel too comfortable in those locations. Once you find your location, conduct a practice Zoom call with a friend or family member to try out your setup. Spend a few minutes getting the camera angle and light just right so you look your best. On your practice Zoom, make sure your background is not distracting.
  • Practice answering interview questions directly and get right to the point. Employers often tell us that candidates struggle to answer questions with the right level of detail and tend to over answer questions. It’s easy to ramble a little when you are nervous and want to make a good impression. Practice answering likely questions with a friend or family member so that you can nail the questions during the interview.

 

Consider Training 

Applying for jobs with small businesses is a different ballgame compared to looking for corporate gigs. It takes a different skill set. And, like acquiring any new skill, training can definitely help. 

Enrolling in the Job Seeker 101 course offered by HireMyMom will arm you with the knowledge and skills to help you land your dream job.

Through a series of video modules, the series covers how to conduct an effective job search that lands more interviews. It also covers ways to dramatically enhance your cover letter, resume, and interviewing skills. Hands-on materials and additional resources help you apply the tips to your job search. By completing the course, you’ll gain the confidence you need to take the next step and land the job you’re seeking.

 

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you don’t get a job offer after a strong interview, try not to take it personally. Any number of factors can influence the decision. After you hear the news, send a follow-up note to the person you spoke with to thank them for considering you. Share that you are interested in future positions. 

 

Hang in there!

Finding the right fit and the right circumstances can take a while. Stick with it. Hold your head high, and don’t take it personally. A job search can be difficult, but the result is worth the struggle.

 

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August 9, 2021

Success Story : Tiffany Fulle

Tell us about you and your experience finding work on HireMyMom.

I was just starting my VA business on the side in January 2021 but I felt lost. I was looking for any and all resources that would help me be the most successful. I found the HireMyMom site mentioned on The Free Mama FB page. I’d never heard of it so I looked it up. I was shocked that there were so many legitimate positions available on the site. I signed up for the 3-day free trial on February 6, 2021 and applied about about 5 jobs right away. I had my first interview on February 10 and my second on February 12 with two different clients that I am still serving today (it’s June)! My husband was in a motorcycle accident in March (he’s okay now) but it catapulted me into working from home while he was recovering. I was so thankful that I could serve these clients while I was traveling back and forth to the hospital and be flexible with my kids schedules. I’ve continually applied for other positions and just landed my third HireMyMom client!!  I love them all even though they are all extremely different. This site changed my life, and I wish that I had found it years ago when I first had my babies (who are now 7 and 4) but I wouldn’t change the journey that we’ve been on. I’m just so grateful to have found it now. I also have told many of my friends about it! It’s a game changer!

What are your top tips for landing jobs on HireMyMom.com?

Have a strong resume or skills sheet, add a photo to it! (Hint: check out Canva.) Be a real person. We are not robots so be yourself when you interview. When you apply, make sure you read the descriptions and instructions in full and follow up with an email shortly after; this is your first impression with the potential employer or client, make it count.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your work from home journey?

Have courage to reach out and apply even if you feel you don’t check every box on a “skills needed” list. Value your soft skills as well as your hard skills!

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

My kids are my world, and I do everything for them. I’m 100% a better mom and wife now that I have more flexibility and control with my work.

What is something about you that many people don’t know?

I’m a Harry Potter nerd 🙂

Want to be one of our Featured Success Stories? Click here for our form!

 

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August 2, 2021

The Good, Bad & Ugly. One Woman Shares How The Pandemic Has Affected Her Career

A disproportionate number of women have left the workforce since the pandemic began compared to their male counterparts, with four times the exodus. After 2.3 million women dropped out of the labor force between February 2020 and February 2021, women’s workforce participation declined to 57%—the lowest it’s been since 1988, according to NWLC. 

Not only that, the current unemployment rate for women has more than doubled compared to the pre-pandemic rates, with many economists predicting that this workforce departure could set women back a generation. 

These statistics leave an impact of their own, but it is vital to remember that these numbers do have faces behind them. The good news is that there are networks and platforms out there that are specifically committed to supporting women and particularly moms who balance both careers and motherhood. 

Let’s take a look at one woman who, thanks to being a part of the Hire My Mom network, was able to go from looking to be hired to the person doing the hiring. Rhonda Dobbs’ testimony is an example of how companies like Hire My Mom can uplift women, and mothers, in the modern work world. 

Rhonda Dobbs, the CEO and Founder of Legacy Solutions Together, LLC—reports on her former job as the Inspectional Services Administrative Assistant. 

 

Do you feel your company did or did not help to support you through the pandemic? 

My previous company did not support me through the pandemic. I worked for a local municipality. We were laid off because the state shut down due to the pandemic. There was no opportunity to do administrative work from home, even though I offered to do so. The state did not want to continue to support staff because of fears of insecure access via the VPN.

 

What are some ways that you feel your company could’ve better supported you? 

The local government was not prepared to go remote, and so we were sent home with pay based on the Federal Government law, at that time, for the pandemic. I was left with finding something new in an extremely disparate time, or waiting for an undetermined amount of time to go back to a job that didn’t value what I brought to the table.

I decided to walk away, and first ended up as a 1099-contractor virtual assistant for two companies—Heartcore and Summit Support. Getting laid off and then gaining skills from those first two companies ended up being a blessing in disguise. It opened a new door, and I haven’t looked back since. 

I ended up getting the opportunity to be an independent contractor with a seven-figure company. The company is a woman-owned business offering coaching programs, summit launches, along with virtual assistants who support you from beginning to end. They taught me how to offer summit support, along with connecting me to an amazing client who is a six-figure earner of multiple companies. I learned so much from that client, who ended up being more of a mentor within the progression of my career. Our ongoing relationship is something I am forever grateful for. 

Learning that it doesn’t take a large amount of capital to start a business was a key lesson for me. Additionally, it takes a belief in yourself, a mindset change, the removal of negative energy, and intentional connections to help you pivot to the next level in life. I encourage people to self-educate themselves and never stop learning for both personal and professional relationships. Standing in your authority and knowing your value will make you unstoppable.

 

Were there any technological tools that were newly implemented into your remote workday that you feel were especially helpful?

If yes, how was it adapting to using these new tools, and did your company provide resources and support?

Working remotely actually gave me the opportunity to learn even more digital skills on a wide variety of apps such as Teamwork, Google Workspace, Slack, Voxer, WordPress, Zoom, Webinar, as well as in Acuity and Client Retention processes.

HeartCore provided support and training for each of the platforms. I also did self-education to become more versed in using the platforms. With all of this experience, the  biggest win was becoming the CEO and Founder of Legacy Solutions Together, LLC. I am walking in my purpose and developing the greatness in me and others!

This is just one perspective. There are varying degrees of what a woman must defy in the negative circumstances in a 2021 work world. Regardless, it is important to note that a McKinsey analysis has shown that women’s jobs are nearly two times more vulnerable than men’s.

McKinsey research has also found that gender diversity is the key to a business’s financial success. Companies that fell in the top quartile for gender diversity were 25% more likely than those in the 4th quartile. Following Rhonda’s example from above, we can see how companies supporting their employees, with the tech tools and training they need, can keep women in the workforce, and the workforce in action.

 

 

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July 26, 2021

5 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging career paths one can take. There are many considerations that go into starting a business so it’s important to understand both the benefits and risks of this career path. It can be helpful to take into consideration the habits of the most successful entrepreneurs, especially for business owners that are just starting out. 

They set “SMART” goals 

While any type of goal setting is a great way to help one reach their ambitions faster, setting “SMART” goals, in particular, can be a helpful strategy for entrepreneurs. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. When an entrepreneur makes a SMART goal, they are setting themselves up for success because they have a more clear path of how they will reach their overarching ambitions, whether that is personally or professionally. 

For example, an entrepreneur may say they want to increase their revenue for a certain product by the end of the year rather than setting a goal to increase revenue overall. This depicts a SMART goal because they are focused on a specific area of the business, making this ambition more attainable. Furthermore, by making a timely goal, the business owner has a timeframe in mind and can make intentional steps to reach this deadline. SMART goals are proven to be more effective than simply setting a larger goal because it can sometimes be overwhelming to attain certain bigger-picture ambitions. This is why by having shorter-term, more attainable goals, it is easier to stay motivated as each smaller goal is achieved.

 

They continuously network

Entrepreneurs understand that making connections is fundamental in business. Networking can come in many forms and successful entrepreneurs oftentimes think outside the box when meeting new people. The COVID-19 pandemic not only shifted the way in which business owners had to operate on a day-to-day basis, but changed the way in which connections are made. 

For instance, while some entrepreneurs may have been able to participate in trade shows or Chamber of Commerce events prior to the pandemic, in-person meetings came to a halt due to the need for increased safety measures. While traditional networking may have taken place in person, successful entrepreneurs learned to adapt and network digitally. Networking is critical in business as it allows entrepreneurs to stay on top of current trends and meet key players in the industry. Successful networking also can serve as a form of marketing or yield client referrals to create even more business opportunities. 

 

They are always reading 

It is commonly known that successful people are constantly reading. This is why many entrepreneurs prioritize and understand the importance of reading on a regular basis. Deciding which books to read can be overwhelming as there are a plethora of options available. Furthermore, reading can take up time and entrepreneurs are usually extremely busy, especially when just starting out. Taking time to read quality books that are industry specific can be a good starting point and can help narrow down choices. Making a habit to read books as an entrepreneur can improve brain function, enhance creativity and reduce stress. 

 

They have a money management system in place

Being an entrepreneur comes with a significant amount of responsibilities, including having a financial plan in place for both professional and personal finances. Sometimes it can be tempting to combine personal and business finances however, some of the most successful ensure they have a money management system in place for tracking purposes. Making an effort to keep business finances separate from personal finances is a habit of successful entrepreneurs because this allows them to have a better understanding of their business expenditures and therefore, they can determine the best ways to spend money from their business. 

Furthermore, successful entrepreneurs will oftentimes set up adequate safeguards to protect both their business and personal finances. Having financial peace of mind allows entrepreneurs to focus on growing their businesses and can provide much-needed protection in times of uncertainty. An important way to protect both the entrepreneur’s business and personal finances is to carry a sufficient amount of life insurance coverage. Having a life insurance policy is particularly important for entrepreneurs because they are responsible for many different aspects of their business as well as their personal finances. For example, if an entrepreneur has family members that rely on income from their business, it’s important to ensure that if anything unexpected were to happen, their family has financial safeguards set in place. 

 

They make time for themselves

Successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of hard work but they also value taking time to regroup. It can be hard to take a pause as an entrepreneur, especially considering all of the hats they wear. However, prioritizing self-care and taking a pause can actually prove to create more growth in day-to-day business duties. A few ways some of the most successful entrepreneurs make time for themselves include:

  • Exercising
  • Making health a priority
  • Enjoying a hobby
  • Taking a vacation
  • Getting a good night’s rest

The most important person to keeping business operations running smoothly is the actual business owner. This is why successful entrepreneurs make it a habit to prioritize their overall wellness. 

Being an entrepreneur comes with a unique set of responsibilities and challenges. However, owning and operating a business can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding experience. Understanding the habits of some of the most successful entrepreneurs can set other entrepreneurs up for long-term stability and a successful business future. 

 

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