Category: Career

Starting any business is intimidating. There’s a lot to learn about the items you’re selling, the market you’re selling to, and how to market your product. However, plenty of other companies have been precisely where you are now: wondering how to bundle and sell items at a low cost. In fact, these industry giants know how to create and maintain a thriving subscription box service!

Let’s take a look at 5 of some of the most popular subscription boxes and why they work.

Bouq Co.: From Shark Tank to Flower Selling Moguls 

Bouq Co. founders John Tabis and Juan Pablo Montufar noticed an issue in the quality of flowers being sold in the industry and the shady marketing tactics online retailers would use. The Bouq Co. delivered farm fresh flowers directly to your door and didn’t hide the price until checkout. Through Montufars’ hydration process, flowers typically lasted 2 to 3 weeks.

Tabis and Montufar rolled out overnight shipping after receiving criticism from Shark Tank that your average consumer typically forgets birthdays and holidays. Now, you can purchase flower delivery for Mother’s Day and still ensure your mother gets her present! Plus, as a subscriber, you get 30% free shipping, flexible delivery days, and beautiful floras! 

Bark Box: Gifts and Treats for our Furry Friend

Over 63 million households own at least one dog in the United States. With that many dog owners, it was easy for founders Carly Strife, Matt Meeker, and Henrik Werdelin to come up with a solution to a problem dog owners didn’t know they had: finding the best toys. BarkBox services over 1 million dogs monthly and can attribute that number to clever marketing. BarkBox uses Instagram to promote their business. With plenty of cute dog photos, well-crafted dog memes, and pictures of happy dog customers, it’s no wonder people choose to follow!

Candy Club: Their Success Speaks for Itself

Who doesn’t love candy? Candy Club founder and CEO Keith Cohn likely asked himself that question when he started a candy subscription service in 2015. While candy doesn’t come in short supply, the variety can sometimes be scarce unless you go to a specialty store. Even then, there’s still the issue of geographic location, shipping costs, or rare snacks.

Candy Club has all of your favorites: gummy bears, chocolate-covered almonds and taffy but adds a unique spin. Plus, the monthly rotation of six 6-ounce candy cups keeps the box exciting and new. Candy Club’s secret isn’t the product: it’s the marketing. Through affiliate marketing, Cand Club has successfully garnered over 50,000 members and counting!

Itpy: Quality Deluxe Cosmetic Samples

YouTube beauty vlogger Michelle Phan started her own subscription service on the back of her already large fanbase and social media following. Their growth model focuses on driving subscriptions through Michelle Phan and other popular beauty Vloggers. However, their collaborative efforts with other beauty companies is what makes this box unique because they feature both small and large makeup brands. They have spent virtually no money on advertising and instead offers mentorship, access to studio space, and a larger platform.

Dollar Shave Club: Cheap, Yet Powerful Razors

While skimming this list, you probably said, “I know this brand,” which is a great sign for their marketing efforts. Dollar Shave Club, created by founder Michael Dublin and Mark Levine, came together over their frustration over the cost of razor blades, and who could blame them? With over 2 billion tossed razor blades per year in the U.S. alone, that cost really starts to add up.

Although they started their company in 2011, they didn’t see any real growth until March 6, 2012, when their YouTube video entitled “Our Blades Are F***ing Great” went viral, garnering 27 million views as of 2021 and 12,000 subscription orders. Through YouTube advertisements, they’ve continued to see massive success. Plus, their razors are actually “F***ing Great.”

Research can be grueling and time-consuming. Thanks to the internet, you can access an endless pool of information with a few clicks to get you started. People engage in research for various reasons. Whatever the case, knowing how to achieve your research goals is a necessary skill in the digital space. With the steps below, you can hone your skills and become an expert researcher.

Incorporate Appropriate Search Tools

When browsing the web, you can either use search tools or select credible websites. There are various web portals to use for your tasks. Currently, the most popular search engines include Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Google owns the largest database and provides an extensive selection of results. Using Google Scholar, you can easily find academic articles which rarely appear on general search results.

Getting the Most Out of Search Tools

Finding a reliable search tool is just a small step in the research process. To ensure that your search engine gives rich results, here are some tips:

• Be Specific

To sift your search, try to be as specific as possible. For example, typing “rocking chair” will give more general information than typing “wooden rocking chair.”

• Use Simple Words

Using the simplest form of the keyword for your search yields better outcomes. Avoid adding prefixes or suffixes to your words. For example, use “luxury” instead of “luxurious.”

• Take Your Time

The results appearing first might not match your expectations quality-wise. It is better to take some time and skim through the bottom results or those on subsequent pages.

• Incorporate Quotation Marks

When you enclose a word with quotation marks, search engines can generate more specific results.

• Omit Unnecessary Words

By placing a minus sign before a word, you can find higher quality information as such words will not feature on your results page.

Identify Your Research Topic

When scouring the internet, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the numerous sources of data. Having a well-defined research topic is the first step to an effective research process. If you find it challenging to pick a topic, consider using https://essayservice.com/essay-topic-generator for interesting essay headlines. It is advisable to identify the main keywords to give direction to your search and avoid distractions. Experimenting with different keywords ensures access to detailed information specific to your headline.

Use Reputable Sources

There is a vast collection of online materials to use; some are factual, while many contain falsehoods. Using credible sources in your work helps build trust and strengthens your findings. Finding reputable sources involves identifying these sources and knowing how to evaluate them for possible bias. There are two main sources of research material: primary and secondary sources.

Primary sources include interviews, speeches, case studies, clinical reports, autobiographies, and dissertations, while secondary sources present content from a different source, whose author may not have participated. They include publications such as journal articles, e-books, literature reviews, and bibliographies. Combining both primary and secondary sources is necessary for a balanced paper.

Qualities of Reputable Sites

Whether you opt for primary or secondary sources for your work, it is imperative to identify reputable sites for your online research. Here are some pointers to a site’s credibility:

• Relevance

Generally, content is relevant when the date of publishing does not exceed ten years. Older articles tend to have outdated information that may have been proven wrong by new studies.

• Availability of Proof

Various elements like charts and result findings go a long way to validate a source, as long as they are a true representation.

• Author

Established authors have a large following and a name to protect. They put a lot of work into their projects to provide credible information.

• Origin

You can determine a site’s reputation by identifying its origin. Government websites, denoted by .gov, are reliable resources for your research.

• Purpose

What purpose does the content serve? Is it promotional in nature, or is it educational? Anyone can create a website and share one-sided information with the public.

• Target Audience

Establishing the audience can help you identify a reliable source. For instance, scholarly articles published for academic audiences are the result of extensive research and are a reliable source.

• Scope

Reliable sources like books are comprehensive enough to guarantee credibility in comparison to magazine articles, which contain limited information.

Prepare a Rough Draft

Once you have gathered enough material to start working, it is always advisable to prepare a rough draft. Apart from ensuring your ideas flow seamlessly, a rough draft ensures that you do not omit vital points as you write. A draft needs brevity and clarity to avoid doing double work and disorganizing your ideas.

Conclusion

Developing research skills takes time and effort but goes a long way to ensure you deliver quality academic papers and earn good grades. By following these guidelines, it is just a matter of time for any student to move from average performance to an excellent one.

When you have a breakdown of your HVAC system, the person you should call is an HVAC technician. Why the technician? HVAC technicians are experts in assembling and repairing HVAC systems. They have the knowledge, skills, and experiences of doing this work. While you might think it’s an easy step to becoming an HVAC technician, it takes time and dedication to go through the technician course and practicing the same to become perfect. This article will explain some steps on how to become an HVAC technician. Before we discuss the steps, let’s look at their roles, skills, and certifications.

Personality and Skills of an HVAC Technician

Before becoming a fully accredited HVAC technician, you have to learn the programs and have the skills of carrying out an HVAC system repair. You should have full mechanical skills, be physically fit, and have a detail-oriented personality. It would be best to be reliable to your clients and sell them service contracts. You have to explain to the clients why repairs and maintenance are necessary for their HVAC equipment. You also have to be well-spoken to explain the system’s details to clients who don’t understand such.

The Role Requirements of an HVAC Technician

First, an aspiring technician must have the necessary education then undergo the training to become an HVAC technician. After this education, a coming-up technician needs to attend a technical school or college to learn the HVAC program and get the certificate. Conforming to an article at https://hvacprograms.net/, it’s essential to find the best HVAC training accredited by organizations such as HVAC Excellence. There are also online programs that will prepare you for the apprenticeship. The shorter programs can last for only six months, while the longer ones can extend up to two years, making you earn an associate degree. 

Once you are done with training, you need to acquire a professional license before working as an HVAC technician. Where does one get these licenses? A state HVAC licensing authority will provide the license after approving you are fit for the job. While getting a license should be a straightforward thing, some, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) license, require training in handling and disposing of harmful chemicals. Some licenses will also require a technician to service a few items, while others are universal – the technician can work on several cooling components.

How to Become an HVAC Technician

While some individuals will opt for on-job training to acquire the skills, experts recommend undergoing the full HVAC technician training program to acquire all the skills. Studying under the approved HVAC programs makes you more competitive in the job market. Here is an example path of becoming a fully accredited HVAC technician.

Step 1: Get a High School Diploma – Takes four years

Any individual wanting to become a professional HVAC technician must study at least to a high school level. They should majorly concentrate on physics, chemistry, and other physical sciences to gain the much-needed knowledge. During their free time or after-school, they can assist the well-established HVAC technicians, thus gaining experience.

Step 2: Join an Accredited HVAC Program – Six months to two years

After high school, an aspiring technician can apply for a certificate, associate, or the advanced bachelor’s accredited HVAC program and comprehensively study the course. The candidates will learn refrigeration, load calculations, industry code standard, and energy management through this coursework. Other areas include air quality and conditioning and ductwork and piping systems. Here, the aspiring technicians will learn both theory and practical work and, at times, will work with already established technicians to understand the course better. You need to choose an accredited technical school or college for this program.

Step 3: Complete an Apprenticeship – Three years to five years (Optional)

It’s not a requirement to undergo this apprenticeship program. However, many upcoming technicians prefer taking the apprenticeship to hone their training and educational programs. There are specific companies that offer the apprenticeship, including the Associated Builders and Contractors and the Air conditioning Contractors of America. You will get paid while on apprenticeship, depending on the company.

Step 4: Become a Technician and Work in the Field – one to two years

It’s essential acquiring a stand-alone experience after doing the apprentice program. This stage confirms if you are job-ready and also exposes you to the technicians’ field. You could skip this step if you attended a job-ready program.

Step 5: Get a Professional Certificate and Start Working

To start practicing fully as an HVAC technician, you need to get a professional certificate from the approved bodies, including HVAC Excellence and Refrigeration Engineers and Technicians Association. 

The above are the simple steps of becoming an accredited HVAC technician. From the list, the steps are straightforward. You only need to choose the right technical school or college, get down for the program, and earn a practicing certificate. It’s a process that requires dedication to become the best.

Job interviews are usually more stressful than we expect them to be. Even when people have the best resume, when their experience is great for the position, they can still do not so well because they were not prepared, or they were nervous. Just like in college, it is sometimes more important to know what kind of questions you can expect, rather than trying to know everything. Of course, you need to know how to do your job, but knowing what answers to give to certain questions can be crucial for hiring.

When it comes to investment banking interviews, there is a set of questions that is almost always asked. These can range from your education, previous experience, future goals, and so on. Things like researching about the company and having a high-quality resume are important as well. To help you prepare for the interview for your dream job, we have made a list of tips that will help you stand out among your fellow colleagues. 

Know their company well

To be able to show why you are the right person for the position you are applying for, you must know what the interviewer would like to hear. When you know what the investment banking company’s vision is, it is easier to show them why you are the right person for the job. Learn what all they have achieved, and what their general strategies are. 

When you talk about your previous experiences, your education, your future goals, try to fit them into their vision. Talk about all the things that have made you suitable for their company. Of course, talk about other things as well, but, make sure you don’t go too far from what they would like to hear. Everyone likes when their new colleague fits in well. It is good for them to see that you have done your research, but make sure you are not overdoing it. 

Make a good resume

Most people think that making a resume is easy. You just have to write your information down, right? Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Writing a good CV can take a lot of time and effort before you have the perfect representation of yourself. The biggest mistake people make when it comes to resume writing is having one for everything. Since your resume is the first thing your interviewers will see, you must stand out. 

What is even more important is putting relevant information for the position you are applying for at the moment. As the Tier 1 Wall Street guide says, if you don’t present your information well, and if you don’t present the right information, you might not even get the interview. When you apply for an investment banking job, make your resume as analytical and banking-based as possible. 

Prepare a good self-pitch

When your interviewers ask you to tell them about yourself, it is important to have a short and effective story. This story shouldn’t be more than 200-300 words long, which is around one and a half to two minutes. In the beginning, tell them where you are from, what university or business school you went to. For this part, say only one or two sentences. 

In the next part tell them why you became interested in investment banking in the first place. You can talk about a specific person, event, or experience that has made you choose it as your career path. Then, mention what experiences have helped you gain the skills for the job you want. In the end, say why their company and group fit into your plans for the future. 

A good-self pitch can be crucial for your interview. Since this is usually the first thing they ask you, you can catch their attention and make them more interested in hiring you right from the start of the interview. 

Technical questions

For these types of questions, there are no shortcuts. You have to put the energy and the time into studying relevant topics. If you can’t answer the technical questions well, the interviews can assume that you are not interested in the field. If you fail at this part of the interview, they will think that you are not analytically capable.

Make sure you cover topics such as valuation metrics and multiples, accounting concepts, equity value, and enterprise value, accounting concepts, and discounted cash flow analysis. Study M&A and merger models, as well as leveraged buyouts and LBO models. Depending on the company, you might want to go through some other things too. That is why it is so important to research the firm that you want to work at.  

“Fit” questions

All questions that are not related to company, market, or deal discussions, fall into the category of “fit” questions. These include “what is your biggest strength?”, “What is your biggest weakness?”, “what was your biggest failure?” and so on. You get the gist. The main point of these questions is for the interviewers to see how you see yourself. They want to know how you handle stressful and unwanted situations. 

For example, if they ask you what your greatest strengths are, some acceptable answers would be the ability to work long hours, leadership skills, attention to detail, financial/analytical skills, and so on. For the biggest weaknesses, you can say: second-guessing yourself and not always speaking up when somebody makes a mistake. 

Whatever negative thing you say, make sure you tell them how you have improved compared to the past. Nobody is perfect, we are all humans after all. But, the interviewers will want to hear that you like working on fixing your flaws. 

Preparing for any kind of interview will demand work. Make sure you do everything you can to prepare for it, instead of improvising. If you show up to the interview packed with motivation, knowledge, and confidence, you will increase your chances of getting the job majorly.  Research what the company does, how they do it, and what their goals are to prepare for a specific interview. Make sure you have studied the technical topics, know how to present yourself, and you will be good to go!

Options are great because they are highly flexible and can help you manage risk. When you’re trading stocks, it can be a little worrisome as the price may fluctuate. Luckily, options let you bet on whether you think the stock price will rise or drop, and instead of buying the stock immediately, options are contracts that allow you to trade stocks at the strike price or a price that is agreed upon Sell the contract to a different investor, and the option contract can be abandoned and left to expire with no further financial commitment. 

Here is what you need to know if you want to trade options right away.

Options Provide Multiple Options

Unlike what many people believe, trading options are not only for people who don’t want to commit or jump right into stock trading. If you are looking to profit from price movements during the short-term and trade among contracts, options trading is great.

 However, they can also be quite advantageous if you are a long-term stock investor. Buying a stock requires more initial investment than buying an option; options also give investors the time and ability to observe the flow of things. Since the price is locked, investors can lower their risk potential and are free from the obligation to purchase. “Call” options allow you to purchase shares at a set price later on. This is especially beneficial if you are interested in a company and have reason to believe that its stock price will be rising. If the price does rise, you will be buying the stock at a lower price than what it’s selling for, and if it doesn’t, the losses will be reduced to the contract’s price. 

Options also let you control the risks on your current stock positions. If you are worried about how the volatility of a company’s stock in the short-term can impede your investment returns, you can buy a “put” option for protection from losses. This option allows you to sell a certain number of shares at a set price. If the stock prices do drop, then this option would limit your losses and the returns from selling would counterbalance some of the losses. 

Choosing a Broker

Selecting the right broker is one of the most important things to keep in mind when starting your options trading quest. According to this list in this Trusted Broker Review, you have plenty of options to choose from: you should choose a broker that will provide you with educational resources, such as access to webinars, online courses on options trading, and individual guidance. Throughout your options trading journey, you should always try to get as much advice and knowledge as you can. Ask your broker if they offer paper trading accounts before getting started with the real deal. A broker’s customer service should also be considered. Choose a broker that has reliable customer service, whether it’s through a live chat, phone support, or email. 

You should also find out if they’re only available during the weekdays, have certain working hours, or offer 24/7 support. Take a look at their trading platform and find out if it’s functional and easy to use. Assess the tools that the platform and broker offer, their costs, and their breadth. Opt for quotes feed that are updated often, basic charting, as it will help you choose your entry and exit points, the possibility of assessing risks and rewards, and screening tools. 

Know the Requirements

Opening an options trading account may require more money than setting up a regular brokerage account. Before being granted permission to start trading options, brokers generally opt to know more about potential investors. This is because the process of predicting multiple factors can be complex. If you want to start trading options, you might want to brush up on the requirements. Investment objectives, including growth, capital, income, trading experience, personal financial income, like total net worth, liquid net worth, annual income, and employment information, and the types of options that you opt to trade should be provided to the potential broker. Then, the broker will assign you an initial trading level that allows you to trade specific options. Likewise, as explained above, you should put effort into evaluating the prospective broker. 

When you are trading options, you are provided with a great level of flexibility and risk management. Options trading is typically characterized by the ability to trade at a strike price with minimal to no obligations. They offer a wide array of benefits to short-term traders and long-term investors alike.

The global pandemic has left tons of people unemployed and continues to affect businesses from various industries. As we start to gather the remaining pieces and build a new life in this new year, job searches have wholly changed. As the glimmer of light begins to shine in this dark tunnel, plenty of variances still affect the economy.

If you are affected by this global crisis and now on the hunt for a new career or starting your job search, we’ve compiled several practical tips and techniques to land the perfect job for you in 2021. We’ve also included the top industries expected to boom this year, opening new opportunities for everyone. 

Industries That Will Grow In 2021

The hiring trend varies with the company size and industry demographic. It’s recommended to start the new year with a clear plan and a positive attitude, mentally, and incorporate it with an effective action plan. If you’re searching for a job, then you should consider checking the following industry as they are expected to grow in cash flow this year.

The following industry increases your chance of getting hired due to volume demand.

• Healthcare Industry

For instance, the health tech and healthcare industry continue to expand as the global crisis makes everyone health-conscious and technology-reliant. Checking the best travel nursing companies will help decide from there when job hunting. Whether you want a career shift, be a virtual medical care provider, frontline, or be part of the care jobs lost last year. 

• E-Commerce Industry

As the global pandemic affects significant businesses and establishments, the eCommerce industry has a higher demand to sustain everyone’s shopping needs. People start to resonate shopping online and switch for total convenience and comfort. 

For most businesses and companies that are already part of the digital trend, they’ll expect a growing headcount to sustain this year’s demands.

• Technology Industry

The technology industry has continued to see a massive increase in demand during the global crisis. They don’t depend on brick-and-mortar shops or require physical storefronts to operate. As everything is running online, most of their workforce is working from home. This industry will be the industry leader moving forward.

• Customer Service

The customer support and service industry will also expect a massive demand. It means an increase in representatives across various industries but most significantly on software services and retail. 

• Renewable Energy

As climate change continues to worsen, people from all walks of life are now spreading awareness about using renewable energy to battle the climate crisis. This industry will continue to make noise moving forward. Being part of this industry opens doors to various opportunities too.

How To Effectively Find And Land A New Job 

Whether you’re here for career growth, change, or planning to start a new career, searching for the right job is always the first step. These tips below will help you find and land the ideal job to meet your criteria and skills: 

Select the right application

You will be bombarded with tons of job posts from various sectors. As companies select the best potential employees, you’ll also need to be selective with whom you send your applications. Check if the job matches your aspirations and skills. From there, you can quickly identify whether this job is right for you.

Update your CV

Check your CV and update it with your skills set or employment history. This gives you a heads up to the potential job you are eyeing for.

Learn from your previous interviews

At some point, you’ll not be successful in your first interview. Take everything that will help you improve, and this is one of the skills you’ll ace moving forward. Once you are confident enough, with the perfect wit and skill set, anything you put your mind to, you’ll surely achieve it. 

Work experience

Jumping from one career to another requires experience to secure the position. If not, you can apply for a temporary position and, from there, gain the right expertise needed to be familiar with this job/career as this will gauge your suitability for the job. This will also allow you to check whether this career works for you or not. 

Learn new skills, enroll in a new course

Nothing comes in handy, and every success is sweeter if you put extra effort into it. If you want to learn a new skill, cut off some nights out and learn new skills. There are plenty of digital programs you can enroll in to gain new knowledge to leverage your skill set and career choice.

Expand your network

Expanding your current network enables you to meet exciting people, shift your mindset, and connect to your new potential employers. 

Think outside the box

It can be scary moving out of your comfort zone, but it indeed is worth it. You’ll never want to become fixated on a specific role when you can choose more opportunities to meet your requirements and skill set. 

Stay optimistic 

Taking care of your physical and mental health is vital during this time. Take the necessary supplements, exercise your mind and body and start taking care of yourself. This will help you remain optimistic despite the negativity enveloping the world.

Focus

Never give up, as most people take time to find and land a new job. It requires persistence, lots of it, and learning to adapt to various changes and overcome them. 

Seek help

Seek help. There are plenty of people and organizations willing to help you point your job hunt in the right direction. Several recruitment consultants help you set the right path towards your dream job. 

Conclusion

Limiting beliefs hinder you from succeeding. it’s all about gaining confidence and trusting your ability to find and land that perfect job you’ve been eyeing for. The aforementioned tips are as practical to anyone looking for a career shift or searching for a job this year.