Horizon Point Consulting

Author: Guest Blogger

  • How to be Employed to Work at Home

    How to be Employed to Work at Home

    Written by: AnnaMaria Bliven, MBA, MA, of Work at Home Solutions 

    It was 2002 and my kids were coming to me for community sports fees, uniform fees, dance costumes, school field trips and even school registration fees (high school registration one year cost $150). With all this need for extra money, I had to do something because my household budget could not be stretched to afford these extra expenses for my children. This was the motivation factor that began an online journey that has led to thousands of dollars in income and extra income for my family.

    The journey to seek and find real online jobs started out much like you would expect. I fell for many online scams and was beginning to think that working at home was just a myth when one day I did an in-depth internet research to find out that there were actual real online jobs. In fact, it turns out there are hundreds of companies that have thousands of online job openings in several different industries.

    3-Simple Step Process: Seek, Find and Apply

    The journey to having an online job to work at home begins with a job search done using a search engine. You simply type “work at home …” and then a job title in the place of “…” So, the search bar would look like this: “work at home virtual assistant.”  Then, the screen will return a search results list of places on the web where online job openings for a virtual assistant is located. That is the “Seek” phase of the 3-Simple Step Process. The next phase in the process is “Find.”

    To “Find” the job opening, you need to look over the search results and select the website that matches with the job you are seeking to work. For example, in most cases, Indeed.com is the one job board that remote open job positions are in great supply. To see them, all you need to do is click on the Indeed.com website URL in the search results and then type “remote” in the location bar. That is when you will see all the work at home open job positions. From that list choose an open online job position you are most interested in that matches with your education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

    The “Apply” phase of the 3-Simple Step Process is similar to that of an onsite job except that for an online job application it may also include taking a skills’ assessment. In many cases skills’ assessment is a “go,” no-go” determinant for being called for an interview. The resume and cover letter (and perhaps the skills’ assessment) has to be such that the Human Resources talent seeker is impressed and contacts you for a job interview.

    How to Earn Income/Extra Income Working at Home

    Since 2002, I have worked jobs in Mystery Shopping, Travel Consulting, Writing, Editing, Customer Service and Faculty Evaluator all from the comfort of my home. In every one of these positions I worked, I earned bonuses, raises and promotions. In addition, I have made thousands of dollars working mini-jobs as extra income. So, you may be asking what you need to do to do the same thing I did. Begin your journey with a legitimate job and avoid the scams. The old adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”  You find the legitimate job using the 3-Simple Steps Process. To know the kinds of legitimate jobs that are online work at home jobs, you can spend hours of research or get my book: Work at Home with a Real Online Job. Visit my website https://workathome.solutions/. I will do my best to help you.

  • The Art and Science of the Side Hustle: How to Pursue Your Passions and Get Paid

    The Art and Science of the Side Hustle: How to Pursue Your Passions and Get Paid

     

    Written by guest blogger: Ben Eubanks, upstartHR

    I couldn’t sleep. It was 4:17am and I had stared at the clock for half an hour. Might as well get up and get started. I rolled out of bed with a big smile. It was my first day as the new owner of Lighthouse Research, and I felt like it was what I had always been preparing for all throughout my career.

    This scene played out a few months ago when I officially took over an HR technology research and advisory services firm, but I’ve been an entrepreneur for quite some time now. I started the journey back in 2009, and I have continued my various “side hustles” over the years. Looking back, it has been an incredible joy. I’ve taught myself many new skills, had the opportunity to work with and meet some very interesting people, and grown by leaps and bounds professionally.

    I completed some research in October 2016, and the number one thing that my audience was curious about was how to get into contracting/freelancing either as a part time or a full time opportunity, so I know this is top of mind for many people. Maybe you’re one of those people as well? If so, I’ll give you some helpful advice and insights that I have picked up along the way.

    Handling a Second Job/Gig/Activity

    As I mentioned, I’ve been doing something outside my “day job” ever since 2009. For most of that time, it has been the blog. However, I’ve also done speaking/training, HR certification study instruction for one test prep company, freelance writing, HR consulting, etc. Today I’m working part time as an HR consultant to help stay plugged into the HR community, because I left my practitioner position back in 2014 to become a technology analyst/researcher.

    Handling that second position is not always easy, but it’s doable. I have three kids (and another that will be born shortly). I go to church. I volunteer. I have other responsibilities, and I make sure they all get taken care of. Here are a few things to consider if you want to start your own side hustle:

    • Does your day job take up more than 60 hours of your week? If so, you probably can’t fit in additional work. It’s time to back that down, find another job, or put your side hustle dream on hold. Be willing to talk with your boss or explore other opportunities if it means you get to pursue the dream you’ve been holding back on.
    • Do you enjoy working on projects, connecting with new people, and wearing the “business” hat? I know that accounting, billing, etc. is one of the least favorite activities for many independent workers, but it is a part of life. Today there are many tools to help make this easier, from apps for tracking business mileage to online banking for keeping your business expenses/revenues separate from your personal funds.
    • Are you self-motivated? This is touched on below in the “passions” discussion, but it’s important that you can make something happen when it’s time to get to work. Some people don’t have the discipline to focus when nobody is standing behind them, and if that’s you, then you will have trouble making the transition to self-employment.

    How to Monetize Your Passions

    The first part is obviously to know your passions, right? Yet I see so many people that start off with the thought, “How can I make some money? What’s hot right now?” That’s a torturous path, because you can only work so hard at something that you don’t truly care about.

    In my case, I started with something that was top of mind for me, but it also tied to an activity I love. Back in 2009 I earned my HR certification. During my preparation, I started writing my thoughts and study schedule online as a way to hold myself accountable. One week, I got off schedule due to a personal issue, and I received several emails from people asking where that week’s blog was! It was then that I realized that this was bigger than a project to keep myself on track—others were interested as well.

    After I received my certification, I took my study notes, added some lessons learned, and started selling it from my website as a $19 eBook. I’ve sold hundreds of those since 2009, and I actually took it down a few years ago when I started selling a higher priced course that expanded upon the eBook content. The fun part is that I don’t have any hands-on work involved in these purchases. I created them once, and now when someone hits my site or joins my email list, they learn about the courses and can purchase them without me having to do anything. The course is delivered automatically, and everyone walks away happy.

    That’s just one example, but hopefully you start to understand how this kind of business works. Questions? Feel free to hit me up at ben@upstarthr.com and I would be happy to help however I can.
  • 4 Tips for Landing the Internship That Will Set You Up for Your Dream Career

    4 Tips for Landing the Internship That Will Set You Up for Your Dream Career

    Written by guest blogger: James Mitchell of Intern Solutions

    In many cases, successful careers with great companies start with an internship. Internships are the best way to prove your value to the company through work ethic, determination, and demonstrations of your capability. Of course, getting an internship is not unlike securing a job. There is a process to follow that includes applying and interviewing, just like a permanent position.

    Even if you decide the company isn’t right for you, the lessons you will learn by simply applying and interning will give you the skills you need to land the job of your dreams. Here are a few tips on getting the perfect internship:

    1. Don’t Be Too Picky

    Yes, an internship that is paid and in the exact department you want to work with would be ideal. Unfortunately, internships, particularly paid ones, are very competitive. Your goal is not to end up in your dream department with a salary just yet. Rather, you should be focusing on getting into the company, regardless of department or position.

    Simply getting your foot in the door is a critical first step. Once you have entered the company on your internship, it will become much easier to move laterally into other departments when searching for permanent positions.

    1. Always Follow-Up

    Many companies will actually toss your resume if you do not take the time to follow up after applying or interviewing. It shows you are not too concerned about working for their company. After applying, follow up within the next day or two. If possible, do a little research and directly contact the person or people in charge of hiring interns. Tell them who you are, when you applied, what you applied for, and ask whether or not they need anything further from you.

    If you land an interview, be sure to send a follow-up letter, including anything you may have forgotten to mention and thanking your interviewers for their time.

    1. You Have Interview Homework

    Before an interview, you should always do research on both the company and the internship. You want to display a basic understanding of the company and job so that you can answer questions like “Why do you want to work for this company?” Doing your research also makes you look more prepared and more invested in securing the position.

    1. Never Bank on Just One Opportunity

    The modern job market is competitive. There are many other dedicated and educated people who want good internships just like you. This is not to say you should give up on your top position, but you should never focus all effort on just one. Pick a few internships that will apply to your dream career or are involved with the company you want to work for. Maintain hope for that top pick but create a safety net on the off chance your priority falls through.

    Getting an internship can seem overwhelming at first but after a few applications, you will quickly have the process down to a science. Do your research, prepare yourself, don’t be overly selective about which positions to apply for, and never take a chance on a single opportunity with just one company. Your dream job is out there; it just may take a little time to find it.

     

     

    About the author:

    I completed my first internship the summer after my freshman year of
    college and continued to do so every summer after that. Being an intern
    removed me from my college bubble, provided a good dose of reality, and
    challenged my self-discipline. In fact, I learned so much from those
    summers, I started a site dedicated to providing resources to interns,
    employers, and educators called Intern Solutions.

    James Mitchell

     

    Image via Pixabay by trudi1

  • APR’s Passion + Productivity = Give Back

    APR’s Passion + Productivity = Give Back

    Guest blogger, Travis Muszynski writes:

    I work for a company called APR in Opelika, Alabama. Although I’ve only been with the company for about three years, it all started with a few very smart people that wanted to make parts and software for their own cars.  The parts became products and before you know it, APR was born.  From that day on, APR has gotten to where we are through hard work, late nights, attending shows and simply doing what we love.

    We are known for high quality performance software and hardware for Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche.  The vehicles we modify range from entry level to over $100,000.  We have dealers all over the world and support many vehicles we will never see in the United States.

    Our products range from stage 1 software which can add up to 200 horsepower depending on the vehicle, bolt-on accessories, all the way to stage 3 kits, which add a lot more power and involve replacing the factory turbocharger with something a bit larger.

    For me, passion is something that makes you want to get out of bed and go to work, not for the paycheck, but for the enjoyment of doing what you do.  Passion sometimes wakes you up in the middle of the night with the next great idea that you MUST write down immediately before you forget it.  Passion causes our calibrators and software engineers to sleep occasionally under their desks so they can wake up and keep working on the latest problem or calibration.  This passion is fueled, ironically, by our love for high octane, fire breathing, turbocharged German cars.  For us, hearing the sound of a tuned, big turbo engine makes us giddy.  It’s that feeling of being forced back in your seat and knowing that you were at least a little bit responsible for making others feel the same way.

    Every day we demonstrate our passion and obsession for what we do.  We do this through every detail whether it be a CAD model, engineering drawing, a complex code change or a meticulous calibration.  The effects of our passion, are the products.  Not all products get to leave the development center and become an APR products.  If it doesn’t meet our standards, it will never see the light of day.

    Everyone that works here knows what it takes to design an APR product.  It does indeed require passion.  It also requires pride, caffeine, teamwork, heated discussions, collaboration, testing and drive to succeed.  Failure is a failed attempt to success.  It takes passion to drive through the failures to achieve success.

    Productivity, for my team, is tracked by the products we release.  The more products we release, the more potential for profit. Passion for the products will always drive productivity.  The issue at APR is not usually productivity.  Instead, it is keeping the productivity, productive.  With the amount of passion we have for the products we make, it’s easy to get distracted and pulled off track.  My main job function is to guide the passion and productivity in the correct direction and lead my team to timely product releases.

    Hiring great people is critical to passion and productivity. There are several factors that are important in APR’s hiring process. In our industry, it’s not difficult to find candidates that are passionate.  Just look for the guy or girl that is spending most of their spare time and money on their car or reading about the next thing they want to install on their car.  The type of people that work at APR usually have more than one car, at least one of them is a “project car”.  When a potential employee tours our facility, it is extremely easy to see their passion.  You see it in the gleam in their eyes and in their conversation.

    We also look to see if the candidate believes in and possesses our values. Our values include trust, extreme customer focus, extreme performance, and care more than just about yourself.

    “Passion (which fuels productivity) + APR’s Values (which encompasses giving back) = the perfect candidate for APR.”

    There are several ways to get existing employees excited and passionate about working here.  The most important thing is to let them know the work they are doing is meaningful.  What they’re working on today could lead to making someone’s dreams come true.  What they’re doing will give someone that feeling of being pushed back in there seat that we all love.  The work they just completed might make someone’s drive to work just a little more fun and could possibly create a domino effect that changes the mood and attitude of everyone around them.

    Another way to get an employee engaged and passionate is to let them experience the fruits of their labor.  We toss them a set of keys and let them take a car out for a drive and feel firsthand what they helped to accomplish.  Doing what we love gives that feeling to everyone that buys our products.

    Every day at APR I take it as my responsibility to let someone know how special it is to work at APR.  All positions here at APR are extremely important and allow the company to function.  There are not many jobs that give you this sort of experience and allow you to live out your childhood dreams of making cars go faster.  Every little boy has one of the same few car posters on their bedroom wall.  I like to remind my fellow co-workers that we get to design and build the products that will be on the future bedroom posters.  How cool is that?!

    As the company grows and matures, we have started to do things to give back to the community.  APR has taken on a volunteer incentive and begun involving itself in causes that are important to the APR staff members and the community.  We are so excited for our upcoming holiday event where we will be sponsoring girls, from the Lee County Sheriff Girls Ranch, with a gift for the holidays as well as hosting them at APR, LLC for a meal.

    APR has also partnered with a local nature preserve to lend a helping hand from employee volunteers to work on special projects that keep the preserve beautiful and functioning for the community.

    For years, APR has been involved with Auburn University’s Formula SAE team. This relationship has allowed APR staff members to mentor and foster the growth, development, and passion for the automotive industry with the team.  Because of this relationship, APR has hired and provided many internship opportunities for Formula SAE members. Having the opportunity to share these experiences and passion with the students has been very rewarding on all levels.

    Other small events we have been involved with include the Auburn- Opelika Touch-a-Truck Event and a supplies drive for the Lee County Humane Society.

    Giving back is a way of showing how grateful we are for the opportunities we have been given to do what we love for a living.  Our hopes are that the little things we are able to do to give back will be contagious and create an epidemic that will make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren.  Giving back is what humanity is all about.

    We also recognize that these volunteer opportunities allow our employees to better connect with the community, provide an opportunity for morale boosting and teambuilding, promote networking opportunities, and provide a way for employees and APR to give back. At the end of the day, volunteer work just makes you feel good and we would like to support that effort at our company.

    APR is a growing company that has had a very rough road to get to where we are.  We have worked very hard to get here, but without passion and being given opportunities along the way, it never would have been able to happen.  GO APR!!!

    Website: www.goapr.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APRMotorsport/timeline

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoAPR?lang=en

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/aprllc/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/APRVideos