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October 21, 2024

Balancing the Highs and Lows of Business and Remote Work

Work, just like life, is a rollercoaster. One second you’re at the top, feeling amazing. Next thing you know, something goes wrong, and you’re at the bottom feeling awful. Working remotely can have many perks, such as wearing whatever you want and spending more time with your family. However, because you work at home, far from your team, it can feel isolating, so these highs and lows can be hard to process by yourself.

Common Challenges and Benefits for Remote Workers Early in Their Careers

Transitioning to remote work can be a steep learning curve for newcomers. One of the most significant hurdles is combating feelings of isolation and disconnection from the team. Unlike traditional office settings, remote workers miss out on spontaneous conversations and face-to-face interactions, making it harder to build relationships and a sense of camaraderie. Additionally, they may struggle to establish a routine that balances productivity with personal time. The lack of immediate feedback and oversight can also be a double-edged sword. While it provides autonomy, it can leave remote workers second-guessing their performance and decisions, which can add stress, especially for those new to this mode of working.

However, remote work can also offer incredible benefits for early-career professionals. Working from home often eliminates long commutes, giving employees more time to focus on their work or personal life. Increased flexibility allows workers to manage their time efficiently, helping them balance work with hobbies or family responsibilities. Projects that once felt never-ending in an office setting may get done faster without office distractions, leading to an early-career boost in productivity and motivation. Remote work also encourages individuals to develop time management skills and self-discipline early on, which can be valuable throughout their careers.

Challenges and Benefits for Experienced Remote Workers

While more experienced remote workers may have overcome the initial hurdle of time management, they often encounter a new set of challenges — mainly revolving around isolation. One common issue is maintaining long-term motivation and preventing burnout. The novelty of remote work can wear off over time, leading to complacency or even disengagement. To stay inspired and invested in their work, seasoned professionals must continually find ways to challenge themselves and seek growth opportunities.

On the flip side, experienced remote workers often enjoy a higher level of autonomy and control over their schedules. With experience comes the ability to fine-tune daily routines, allowing them to optimize their productivity and work-life balance. Additionally, they may have the opportunity to work from anywhere, including different countries, giving them the chance to experience new cultures and environments while maintaining their careers. 

Another significant challenge is the potential blurring of work-life boundaries. Over time, seasoned remote workers may find it increasingly difficult to keep their professional and personal lives separate, especially if they’ve developed habits that allow work to encroach on personal time. For example, answering emails for just a few minutes after hours might turn into large chunks of time spent working on weekends and evenings. The work can feel never-ending, and handling that alone can be daunting. Yet, the flexibility of remote work also allows for better management of personal commitments, such as family obligations, exercise, or travel, creating a more customized work-life balance when managed effectively.

Establishing Habits for a Balanced Routine to Manage the Highs and Lows

Don’t wait for your wins and losses. Put strategies in place to help you celebrate, move on, or simply manage your day so that everything doesn’t feel so heavy. Start with a structured daily schedule that integrates work tasks, exercise, and personal time. Including self-care activities like meditation, journaling, or outdoor walks can recharge your energy and improve your mental health. 

Regular breaks are essential to prevent burnout and enhance overall efficiency. Setting realistic goals by breaking larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks can help keep you motivated and focused. Celebrating the completion of these smaller milestones can provide a sense of accomplishment and maintain your momentum.

Designing a dedicated workspace at home can also significantly boost your productivity. By designating a specific area for work, you create a mental boundary that helps separate your professional and personal life. This clear division can make it easier to transition between work and relaxation, ensuring that neither overtakes the other.

Engaging in continuous professional development is another crucial habit. Regularly updating your skills and staying connected with industry peers can keep you inspired and help you navigate the highs and lows of remote work more effectively. Lastly, establish a support network of fellow remote workers for sharing experiences and strategies, turning individual challenges into collective learning opportunities. These habits can help create a balanced and fulfilling remote work experience for both newcomers and experienced professionals alike.

How do you manage wins, losses, and the every day when working from home? We would love to hear your strategies!

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June 9, 2024

Exploring the Differences Between Leadership and Management

The concepts of leadership roles and management roles encompass distinct qualities, responsibilities, and impacts on an organization’s culture and success. Understanding the differences between leadership and management is crucial for effective team building, organizational development, and personal career growth. 

Defining the Core: Management versus Leadership

Managers focus on the tangible aspects of an organization’s success, such as process efficiency, resource allocation, and procedural adherence. They are the architects of the organization’s infrastructure, meticulously planning and organizing to ensure operational excellence. In contrast, leaders prioritize the intangible elements that drive progress and innovation. They are the catalysts for change, charged with inspiring and motivating their teams towards a shared vision. While a manager’s approach is structured and methodical, aiming to maintain order and consistency, a leader’s approach is dynamic and inspirational, seeking to cultivate an environment where new ideas flourish and employees are motivated to go beyond the status quo.

The Manager’s Domain: Stability, Control, and Execution

Managers are essential in establishing the framework within which teams operate, prioritizing stability, control, and the flawless execution of tasks. Their role involves setting clear goals, designing meticulous plans for achieving these goals, and closely monitoring the progress to ensure objectives are met efficiently. This domain thrives on a manager’s ability to solve problems decisively, make informed decisions, and meticulously manage resources to avoid waste and maximize productivity. By enforcing policies and overseeing the adherence to procedures, managers provide the necessary structure that underpins the functionality and efficiency of their teams. Their focus on the tangible outcomes of organizational activities ensures that operations run smoothly, reinforcing the foundation upon which innovation and growth can be built. 

The Leader’s Realm: Vision, Influence, and Change

Leaders embark on a journey to shape the future, wielding vision as their compass and influence as their tool. They champion the potential of what might be, harnessing the collective power of their teams to transform bold ideas into tangible realities. In this realm, creating a culture of trust, open-mindedness, and shared purpose is paramount. Leaders excel in encouraging their teams to step out of their comfort zones, fostering a space where innovation is not just welcomed but celebrated. Their approach to change is proactive and optimistic; they see obstacles not as barriers but as stepping stones for growth and development. By engaging with their teams on a deeper, more personal level, leaders ignite a passion that propels the group forward, making the journey towards achieving the vision a shared endeavor. 

Adaptability and Flexibility: The Manager-Leader Spectrum

The interplay between management and leadership skills forms a spectrum where adaptability and flexibility are paramount. Professionals who navigate this spectrum effectively know when to lean into the structured, process-oriented approach of management and when to embrace the visionary, change-centric ethos of leadership. This agility allows them to respond adeptly to varying organizational needs, blending strategic oversight with inspirational guidance as circumstances dictate. Cultivating such versatility involves a deep understanding of one’s own natural tendencies, strengths, and areas for development. It also requires a keen sense of situational awareness to discern when a more managerial or leadership-oriented approach is appropriate. Developing a balance between these two facets, and knowing how to transition smoothly between them, equips individuals to tackle challenges with a comprehensive toolkit, enhancing both personal effectiveness and the overall success of the organization. This dynamic capability underscores the value of viewing management and leadership not as binary opposites but as complementary forces that, when harnessed together, can drive exceptional outcomes.

It is important to note that not every manager is a leader or vice versa, but it is important when cultivating talent within a company to help advance those natural leaders into management positions.

 

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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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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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February 9, 2024

HireMyMom Success Story: Nicole Callaghan

Tell us about you and your experience finding work on HireMyMom

I’ve been looking for a remote position for awhile and was getting super discouraged. I was looking at all different platforms, social media groups, and more. I knew about Hire My Mom and kept checking the new job posts. Finally, I signed back up (the second time) and from my sign up day, it only took me 18 days to find the perfect job! I couldn’t be happier. I wasn’t using the platform to its fullest the first time. The 2nd time around, I uploaded a personal cover letter which may have been the difference. I am so grateful for finding my new job!

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

Check twice a day for new job posts. Be ready to apply right away and make sure you upload a personal cover letter and use a little bit of your personality.

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

Don’t get discouraged and don’t give up. There are so many options out there, especially today.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

Being a mom! Having a work from home job is my only option now because it allows me to run my household- laundry, dishes, cleaning and cooking AND be available for my kids. I cannot wait until this summer when they are home from school and I can be there for them!

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

I went to college for dance! I used to teach dance classes and zumba fitness classes alongside of working a 9-5 years ago. Once I had kids, I stopped to teaching because I barely got to see them!

 

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January 9, 2024

HireMyMom Year in Review: Thank You 2023 and Welcome 2024

First and foremost, from our HireMyMom family to yours, Merry Christmas! We hope that you are taking this time to rest, relax, and enjoy creating memories that will last a lifetime with your families. Sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in the holiday rush trying to buy everyone gifts and make food, but make sure you take a second for yourself to just breathe. This is also the time of year to reflect on all that happened.

For HireMyMom, in 2023 we accomplished quite a bit that we wanted to recap with all of you:

  • Lesley wrote over six articles that were featured on Entrepreneur’s website. Check out her profile here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/lesley-pyle
  • Lesley guest starred on over 15 podcasts!
  • The HireMyMom team attended three small business expos to spread the word about our company.
  • We surpassed helping over 30,000 small businesses in our 16 years as a company this year!
  • We shared 52 blogs that covered topics for job seekers and small businesses alike.
  • The HireMyMom team launched our two self-paced courses of Cultivate and Hiring Made Easy.
  • We started offering more Reels on our Instagram page to help our audience.
  • We started a TikTok page!
  • And we added new members to our Facebook group.

And so much more, but those are a few of our favorite highlights!

For 2024, we are working on expanding our social presence (so expect a LOT more TikToks) as well as revamping the kinds of emails we send to our audience. Our biggest change that we are most excited about for 2024 is that we are working on a brand new and improved website to enhance its functionality and offer new/better features for our audience. We are grateful to everyone who has provided feedback on our website, and we cannot wait to share this new version with you.

Thank you to all of you that are part of the HireMyMom community. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone in 2023; we met lots of new faces and reconnected with some old friends, all of whom we are appreciative of for your support.

We wish you and yours some very Happy Holidays. As your year comes to a close and you are able to reflect on all that you accomplished, we would love for you to share that with us! Tell us about all your wins, and share your goals for 2024 with us. Chances are, many other members in our community can benefit from hearing about your journey and where you hope to go in the future. Send us an email, or find us on social media to share. We would love to see your faces on TikTok especially!

Please remember to take some time for yourself and remember the reason for the season: your friends, your family, your past adventures, and your future endeavors. Thank you for sharing your year with us; we look forward to seeing you all once more in 2024!

 

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January 9, 2024

Success Story- Erika Sheets

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

HireMyMom was an upgraded experience from the start! I was impressed with the obviously curated collection of employers and opportunities, particularly compared with the grind of the standard job sites. I also noticed how much more responsive employers were, probably in part because they, too have a select audience. I am delighted to have found the perfect job at the perfect time thanks to HireMyMom!

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

Concise resume, personal note with application, find, connect with & message the hiring manager on LinkedIn

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

Successful remote work requires strong executive functioning skills, initiative and self-discipline.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

Introducing other to Jesus Christ

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

I read and retain at a very accelerated level

 

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January 9, 2024

5 Tips for Applying to a Job Listing that Doesn’t Include the Pay Range

You find an interesting job listing…

The company sounds great…

Your experience matches the company’s required qualifications…

This job sounds great! There’s just one problem: the job doesn’t list the pay range. What does that mean? Should you apply, or should you find a different listing?

Why do companies not list the pay range?

There are several reasons as to why companies post listings without salaries. These reasons range from employers hoping to avoid potential questions from current employees to trying to avoid a wage war with competitors. However, the number one reason normally has to do with finding the most passionate job seekers: if a company does not list the pay range, they hope to attract job seekers that are more interested in the role itself than they are the money behind it.

This can be tricky for job seekers, though, as money is obviously a huge factor, and no one wants to waste their time going through the hiring process if salary expectations aren’t the same!

So, should I apply if a job listing doesn’t include the pay range?

In the end, it all comes down to your personal preference. If the job sounds like your dream job, then go for it (and use these tips to make sure your application stands out above the crowd). If the job doesn’t sound like an absolutely amazing fit and you’re on the fence about it, maybe see what else is out there. There’s no wrong answer here! But, if you do choose to apply to job listings without salaries…

Here are 5 tips for when you apply to a job that doesn’t mention wages:

#1. Research what other, similar positions are offering. The job title can help you figure out what the industry standard of pay is for that position. If it’s not quite what you’re hoping for, then figure out what job titles you should be searching for instead.

#2. Go ahead and apply! Take a chance and see what happens. This might just be the position of a lifetime! If not, it’s a great learning experience. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back from applying to a potentially great opportunity!

#3. Ask what the pay is! Communication is ALWAYS the key. Ask right away. Establish if this is a good fit for yourself and for the company.

#4. Plan to negotiate your salary. If no numbers are listed, this means the discussion about pay expectations is much more open than listings that include numbers.

#5. Be reasonable, but make sure this is a good fit for yourself. If you learn the pay range isn’t quite what you want, make sure to figure out if the position is truly a good fit beyond that. Consider time management, budget, experience, etc. Is this a position that will help you grow and achieve your career goals? If the answer is no, it’s probably time to apply to another listing.

As mentioned above, applying to a job with no pay range listed is completely a personal preference. We’ve worked with job seekers that did not like applying to those positions because they felt salary expectations were always less than they hoped for. On the other hand, we’ve worked with job seekers that have negotiated an amazing wage that they might not have received with a different job.

Money is a big factor when finding a job, but it’s not the only thing to think about! How does this job fit within your schedule? Does it give you the freedom to learn and grow? Does the company offer benefits that outweigh pay discrepancies?

Make sure you look at the job as a whole and not just the pay — and let us know: do you apply to listings that do NOT include the pay range, or do you pass them over?

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January 9, 2024

Tips for Creating An Attention-Getting Job Seeker Profile to Help You Get Hired!

One of the most popular questions we get asked is: How do I create a great online profile / resume that stands out to employers? So, we’ve put together some examples of what to do (and what not to do). This is a great guide for those just getting started, but it’s also a great reference for those who have their résumés posted that are not hearing back from employers.

 

It’s important to note that employers cannot see your online profile / resume unless, (1) you’ve applied for their specific job or (2) you are a Platinum member which comes with a rotating profile on the home page. 

 

Ok, so let’s start simple…

 

What Not To Do

 

Your profile is how employers learn more about you. They like to see a headshot so they can put a face to a name with your information. Most importantly, they like profiles that are detailed with LOTS of information.

 

The profile below is an example of what not to do. There is no picture, and there is no information. Employers use your profile first, and then they turn to your résumé. It’s also a good idea to update your profile on a regular basis. That way, employers know you’re serious about looking for work. Set a reminder to review and update your profile periodically such as quarterly or every six months. 

 

Make sure to complete your profile! It’s totally okay to set up a test profile like the one below to see how things will look, but don’t forget to go back in and fix it later. This profile has a photo (that we’ve hidden), which is great, but nothing at all for employers to reference!

 

This next profile is another step in the right direction, but it needs more information. The profile has a photo, which is great, and a description, which is also great. But, this doesn’t speak to specific experience for an employer to reference.

 

What To Do

 

You’re probably noticing a trend at this point: provide a photo, write a description, and provide specific employment information. We reached out to some of our past top performing profiles for permission to share. Check them out below!

 

Hannah checked all three boxes: she has a photo that clearly shows her face, she has a description, and she has detailed information about her work history. Plus, she made it even easier for employers to check out companies she has worked with by providing their URLs.

 

Hannah shares: 

“I got my job with very quickly (within a week) after applying through HireMyMom! I believe the key was really that online resume and me emailing the company to stand out. I also mentioned their website and how much I loved what their business was about in that initial email. I believe anything to stand out like that is good…When I am looking for jobs my go to is ALWAYS HireMyMom.com. I also tell ALL my friends about it because I believe HireMyMom makes it so easy for moms to stand out in the online/remote workforce.” 

 

Now, we understand that some people do not want to share their photo online, and that’s okay! We suggest providing further information to interest employers so they are blown away by your experience and skills, like Sara’s profile below; Sara also went the extra mile to provide how many years of experience she has for specific skills.

 

There you have it! A profile does act as a résumé, so you should fill it out accordingly, but it also gives you more space than a typical résumé so you can go into a little more detail.

 

If you have questions or need help with your own profile, reach out to the team at HireMyMom — we are more than happy to help! We have several opportunities to help you level up! 

 

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August 7, 2023

6 Signs It’s Time to Quit Your Job and How to Resign Gracefully

There comes a time in every working professional’s career when you’ll want to quit your job. Whether you’re unhappy at your current job or you feel like it’s time to move on for a new challenge, you’ll need to resign gracefully. 

While adversity can help you become more successful, here are six red flags to look out for in the workplace:

1. You aren’t being treated fairly by your boss or coworkers 

If you feel like you’re constantly being passed over for opportunities or are being asked to take on more work than your colleagues without getting recognition for it, it can make for an unpleasant work experience. If you have cause to believe you’re being unfairly treated and regularly pressured to say ‘yes’ in the workplace, then it may be time to move on.  

2. Your job no longer challenges you

If you feel like you are no longer making an impact with your work, or that the work itself is no longer interesting or exciting, it may be time to consider quitting your job. If you’ve done everything you could to find new challenging projects and asked your manager about taking on new responsibilities with no success, consider your exit strategy.

3. You feel like your skills aren’t recognized at work

You may start to realize that your skills aren’t being put to good use at your current job, or you aren’t being recognized for your hard work. If this is the case, then it may be time to look for new opportunities where you can develop résumé-worthy skills and grow as a professional.

4. You’ve lost passion and interest in your work

Are you no longer feeling inspired or excited by the projects at your job, or you aren’t seeing any potential for career growth even after discussing the situation with your manager? If this is the case, it may be time to consider quitting and moving on to another company where you can find fulfillment.

5. You don’t enjoy working with the people at the office, from your coworkers to your boss

Is your job negatively impacting your mental health or personal life despite setting professional boundaries? If you’re still dreading going to work even after you’ve changed positions internally or taken on other projects, this is a sign to quit. 

6. You feel disconnected from your company’s mission, goals, and values

If you don’t feel like your company is making a positive impact in the world or there seems to be a disconnect between your belief system and what your company stands for, then it may be time to quit. When considering new companies to work for, do your due diligence to find one that aligns better with your values, work ethic, and career goals. 

If you’ve already been working on the side, consider turning your side-hustle into your full-time career or starting your own business. Working with a business coach or mentor could provide you with the direction and the support you need to make the plunge.

The good news is, when something doesn’t work out, try seeing it as an opportunity to seize rather than a failure. Finding the right job can take time, so make sure you stay active to boost your morale while you job search.

Why should you write a resignation letter?

Writing a professional resignation letter is key to formally informing your company of your intentions to leave and smoothing out your leaving process. Doing this will also increase your chances of getting recommendation letters and positive reviews during reference checks future hiring managers may conduct. 

If you’ve already accepted a job offer while employed and now find yourself needing to inform your current employer that you’re quitting, be sure to respect your contract’s clause on giving advance notice. This could be as little as 2 weeks in advance but could also be a few months.

So before you change your LinkedIn profile to announce your new position, make sure your current employer has received your resignation letter either during a face-to-face meeting or by email (if you’re working remotely).  

How to write a graceful resignation letter

When it comes to writing a resignation letter, be sure it’s clear and concise and stick to one page or less. Here are three tips to write a professional resignation letter:

Use professional resignation letter formatting 

To ensure a professional formatting, follow these six steps: 

  1. Include your name and address at the top of your letter
  2. Left-align the date under your address (this date will officially start your resignation notice period)
  3. List the company address in full
  4. Address your letter to your manager by their formal title along with their last name (it’s acceptable to use their first name if you’re on a first-name basis)

Remember to write out the number of weeks’ notice in full words rather than numbers, like this: “two weeks’ notice”.

Be clear about your intentions

Open your letter clearly by stating your intent to resign as well as the exact date you plan on ending your time at the company. This helps your manager better prepare for the weeks leading up to your end date as well as after you leave.

In the body of your letter, you can provide reasons behind your resignation. Although this is optional, it can be useful and appreciated, especially if you’re on good terms with your boss.

End on a positive note

If you do decide to share your reasons for leaving, be sure to keep a positive attitude. If you’re leaving because you’re unhappy with the management or your coworkers, it’s best to selectively omit this from your letter, even if these are legitimate reasons for leaving your job.

You should always stay professional and thank your manager for the opportunities you’ve had at the company. Express gratitude for the opportunities you’ve had in the past to grow and develop yourself during your time there.

 

Dominique Vatin is a Staff Writer and Resident Career Expert at Resume Genius, where she writes about everything from how to make a resume to acing your next interview. When she isn’t helping job seekers find higher-paying, more fulfilling work opportunities, you can find her whipping up various cakes at home or planning her next hiking adventure.

 

 

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