A woman’s ability to form solid friendships is beneficial in the business world. It allows companies to maintain long-lasting relationships with clients; however, the way in which men and women do this differs. For men, clients represent the hunt – the end goal. The relationship a man forms with his client is based on how they can be mutually beneficial to each other. Women on the other hand, strive to be friends with their clients above and beyond the benefits the relationship could bring. Though both outlooks are successful, forming a friendship beyond a business connection creates an opportunity to expand the company’s social network, thus increasing the company’s opportunities to be successful.

Because women are such good relationship builders, creating a large social network is also often one of their strengths. A social network is an important asset to any company. A social network is important because it aids a company in “obtain[ing] and retain[ing] clients.” Networking helps a business owner meet new people. These new acquaintances could either know a potential client or be one themselves. As mentioned before, a business must always have a long-term vision, which usually includes a plan for growth. Thus, networking is an inevitable part of owning and running a successful business. Not only is networking important for building a client base but it is also imperative for building a base of contacts – people in the company’s field who are reliable.

Maintaining solid relationships and social networks requires a clear head and concise communication as well as the ability to see and manage the environment around you. On average, women “speak three times more than men.” Of course, more words does not always mean better communication, however, because women see the situation as a whole instead of simply being purpose driven, they are better able to express themselves clearly and concisely. Because of all these things, women have specific advantages in the world of business.

Types of Businesses Where Women Excel

Women who recognize their strengths and harness their potential have the possibility making their company highly successful. Yet, it is clear that women in the business world are faced with a unique set of challenges and are also equipped with particular advantages. Women face pre-established, negative perceptions and stereotypes. As business owners, they often neglect to have a long-term business plan and do not account for growth. They are also usually hesitant to incur debt, even if it might potentially further their success. Women are excellent relationship and social network constructors, are clear and concise when communicating and are formidable when it comes to managing their environment.

The business world is a large place and each area comes with its own challenges. It might be worthwhile to take a look at three such areas and a specific part of each one. For example, women understand the importance of interpersonal skills to effectively managing a company. Interpersonal skills such as communication, verbal and non-verbal, ease in forming friendships, delegation and leadership are paramount to expertly managing a business.

When it comes to women-owned businesses, most women often choose to start a production retail business. Many women often choose to become an entrepreneur in a production as opposed to distribution or other types of businesses. These companies provide benefits for owners who wish to maintain a balance between home and work.

Also, women make exceptional lawyers in negotiation situations. Lawyers in any type of situation must have the ability to maintain a cool head regardless of how heated an environment may get. They must be able to keep their eyes and ears open not just to reach the end goal but also to maintain all other details as well. When one pictures a lawyer the image that comes to mind is someone who is good at verbal communication – someone who can express the details of a case in a way that persuades a judge and jury, however, a lawyer must also be an excellent listener. A lawyer must be able to listen actively to their colleagues and their clients.

These areas of the business world, while separate, clearly share many skills. For example, social skills are necessary in order to be a manager, to be a production retail company owner and also to be a successful lawyer, especially in negotiation situations. By examining these three areas one can gain a clearer understanding of how women can and are excelling.

Also see:

Gender Challenges > Against All Odds – Women Excelling in Business

Business Management > The Importance of Interpersonal Skills to Managing a Company

Entrepreneurship > Production Retail – Balancing Work and Home

Entrepreneurship > Negotiation – Women in the Legal World

Here are 10 Tips for Effective Use of Customer Testimonials, Customer Testimonial Best Practice:

• Whether in print or online marketing, do not lump all of your testimonials into one section. Fewer people will read a page of testimonials than will read a testimonial if one is located at the top of every web page, sprinkled throughout your brochure, etc.
• Draw attention to your customer testimonials by distinguishing them from marketing copy using font, font size, pop-out text boxes, color, etc. If a photo of the customer that authored the testimonial is available, use it.
• Where possible, guide your customers in providing customer testimonials. Solicit customer testimonials by sending out customer satisfaction questionnaires, and write the questionnaires with customer testimonial goals in mind.
• On your web site, encourage customers to give you feedback (and acknowledge that what they say be used for marketing purposes). Provide a prominent link to a customer questionnaire, or simply a feedback box. Ask the customer to tell you what they think.
• Do not edit or alter customer testimonials (aside from technical fixes, such as correcting spelling errors). The most effective customer testimonials are real.
• Thematically pair customer testimonials with the place where they appear in your marketing collateral. For example, place a testimonial that highlights the ease-of-use of your product next to the section of your website or brochure that addresses ease-of-use.
• Use bold font, italics, etc. to highlight what you consider to be the main or most attractive point of the customer testimonial. Draw attention to the “thesis statement” of the testimonial.
• Where possible, solicit customer testimonials in multimedia formats. Photos, videos, etc. are highly effective testimonial formats. For example, the statement “we love our new patio furniture” is made highly effective by a picture of the family enjoying the furniture. A customer testimonial regarding the customer’s satisfaction with their new HR software becomes that much more real in video format.
• Include the customer’s real identifying information (ask for permission first), such as full name and job title. This highlights the fact that your customer testimonials come from real people, and help the reader relate to the author of the testimonial.



• Keep your customer testimonials fresh. By collecting customer feedback continuously, you will be able to keep your testimonials in line with any changes in the conditions of your customers’ industry or needs of your customer base.

If you want to make a good impression, both to your boss and your co-workers, follow a few simple rules and you will develop into a respected professional within the company. Being professional and always striving to move forward are characteristics one should have if they want to advance in their job. Here are a few other rules to follow:

Be Yourself

Remember that you are an individual. Consequently, you should not emulate bad example from older staff. For instance, you will be surprise to discover that some older staff does not normally come to work on time or that they normally go before the closing hour. Do not imitate them. They may have reason for that which you may not know. Besides, you may not know their position in the firm. So, imitating them can be inimical to your career. Always be yourself and be convinced in what you are doing.    

Respect Other Employees

When you are a new employee, there is the tendency for you to feel that you have arrived at the end of the world. Do not be carried away by the euphoria of being employed for the first time. It is just a step to the next level. Therefore, you should always try respect people who have been in the company before you. Being respectful does not mean having a low image of yourself. No, you should also take pride in what you can do and have a glorified image of yourself. The point is that you should not be saucy or disrespect other staff.      

Be Goal Oriented

As a first timer, you need to be goal oriented. Always plan what to do before you come to work each day and make sure that you achieve your goal before closing for the day. It is good for you to have a jotter where you will note down all you want to do before coming to work. This will help you not to forget anything.

Be Organized

Some people are not organized even in their career. They can mistake one file with another. This is very bad and a can spell doom to your career. The key to efficient work performed in a timely manner is all about organization.  Unorganized employee’s waste time looking for things and this does not look good in front of the boss.

Peace between Co-workers

The people you are working with should be your friends. In the real sense of it, every person you are working is a potential employer. You can never tell how the person will be of help to you. Therefore, try to be good terms with them so that they can be of help to you when you need them.  Never burn your bridges when it comes to anyone you work with.  We don’t know what the future holds and the world is a very small place.  You never know when you might see them again or even need something from them down the road.

Take a Professional Course

When you are employed newly the tendency is for you to forget everything about your academic life. This should not be the case. You need to take some relevant part-time courses in order to add to your resume.  In most organizations, promotion is done based on your academic qualification. By taking up some part time course you will be brightening your chances of getting promotions.

The above tips can help you to have a successful career as first time employee.

It is not abnormal for you to work towards getting to the next level in your profession. But one thing that you should understand is that your success depends solely on hard work. There are quite a number of books that provide a lot of tips for enhancing your career. Reading these books is very good and recommended but you should know that there is no easy road to success and all these tips provided do not guarantee 100% certainty. There isn’t a career enhancement tip that is scientific. But you can only increase your chance of getting to the top through the application of these tips. Below are some of the tips that will help you to better your chances of getting to the next level in your career.

Hard Work

As a first time employee, your chances of growing in your career depends on how hard working you are. Generally, in everything we do in life we need to be hard working in order to succeed. Without hard work we will rarely succeed in whatever we are doing in life. The same is applicable to your career especially as a first-time employee. You need to create a positive first impression in your workplace. You can only create a good image of yourself in your workplace through hard work. Employers normally watch their new employees to see how they perform in the office. People that differentiate themselves through hard working will be noted. If there is any challenging task such people are called up to take up the task. The implication is that they will be promoted to a higher level quickly especially when they are consistent in their job.

On the contrary, if you create a bad impression at first instance by not being hard working it will be hard for you to change it. There is the tendency of the employer having negative impression about you. This may not be your actual self be you have marred your chances of getting to the next level by not being hard working.

Be Disciplined

Discipline is another virtue that you should cultivate as first time workers in order to get to the next level. You need to be disciplined in your job. Always ensure that you are punctual to work and close work when you are supposed to do so. Do not come to work anytime you like and go when you like. Let your employment letter be your guide. In your employment letter, the condition of the employment is clearly stated. Never you forget that and work according to it. Make sure that you deal with all the files that come to your table before closing work.

Taking Initiative

When you are finally employed, it is time to defend your degree. The only way to prove that you merit your degree justly is by being creative and taking the initiative in your office. In many firms promotions are given base on how creative and initiative workers are. If you’re brain dead in offering ideas that will help the firm to grow, the probability that you will be promoted is very slim. But you can easily be promoted when you are creative and active. The truth is that no employer will like to lose an intelligent employee who has contributed very well to the progress of the firm. Such employees are rewarded with promotion.

Be Hard Working

You do not need to be told that success is rewarding. The fact remains that there is no success without hard work. If you are hard working, you employer will definitely know and you will be rewarded for hard working with promotions or salary increment. So, if you want to be progressive in your career you have to be hard working.

Add to your Degree/Resume

Many people who have risen to managerial positions in some firms can boost their resume. While working as a manager, you can also take some professional courses. You will be given certificate at the end of the program. Present your certificates to your employer once you have received them. During the time for promotion such people that go the extra mile are normally promoted. No matter how hard working you are there are certain positions in a firm that are meant for people with some professional and academic qualifications. So, if you are dreaming of climbing to that level then you have to get the necessary certificates for that position otherwise you will remain where you are.

There are different ways you can add to your resume and list of qualifications. Besides taking part-time courses, you can also attend seminars. It will help you to grow in knowledge and also to increase your worth. Anytime you get a new certificate, include it in your resume. It will make your resume much more appealing to employers.

Gain Valuable Experience

Many employers we have today did not start as employers. They worked in many places before they reached the position they are in today. One of the best ways of growing in one’s career is work in many places. Do not stay in one firm for life. Always look for an opportunity get new offer. Normally, if you get an offer while you are working you will be given a higher position and higher salary in order to attract you. That means that you have climbed to another level in your career. But you have to be very careful in changing your career. Always move to more popular firms with potential of giving you a better future prospect and job security.

During this program, the apprentices are given some classroom related instructions, on-the-job training and also guaranteed wage structures. The above are means of attracting potential workers in order to train them and retain them. In other words, apprenticeship helps employers to increase productivity by working with employees trained according to their industrial standard, vision and mission statements. One good thing about apprenticeship program is that at the end of the program, apprentice who are able to complete the program successfully are given certification to show that they have been trained in the field they registered for. The good news is that the certificates they are given are widely accepted. It is therefore a plus to the apprentice.

In the apprenticeship program, the skills to be learned are determined by the industrial standard set by the employers or the sponsors of the program. The selections process as well as the duration of the program is determined by the industrial standards set by the employers.  During the program the apprentices are given some stipends throughout the duration of the program because they apprentices are also doing some work as they are learning. This is why it also referred to as on-the-job training by some people. The wages to be earned is determined by the sponsor’s industrial standard. The duration of classroom instructions given are also determined by the industrial standard of the sponsor or sponsors as the case may be.

There are some sponsors that provide the classroom instruction using their private paid instructors. There is also another option in that regard. Some sponsors liaise with some state sponsored colleges to provide classroom instructions to their apprentices. There is no stipulated duration for the program. What determines how long the program is going to last is the nature of the work the apprentices are learning and also the training requirements of the sponsors’ organisations. So, while some apprenticeship program may last up to five years, some will not last more than one year. It is good for the apprentice to be aware of the duration of the program he or she is undertaking before he/she enrols for the program.

Apprenticeship programs cover so many works of life. It is left for the apprentice to decide on which field to enrol in or for the employers to decide on which aspect of their firm to train apprentice on. There are apprenticeship programs for people who want to train in electrical wiring, plumbing, appliances maintenance and repair and installation, bricklaying, pipefitting and automobile repair. Other areas include childcare workers, chefs, information and communication specialists and others. In fact there are as many apprenticeship programs as there are many fields of human endeavours.

Another way is by coaching wherein there has to be a much closer working relationship between the coach and the trainee. This is thus more intensive. Next is by projects, meaning the trainee joins a group with the intention of knowing the other parts of the industry or business thus exposing the trainee to other new jobs or skills. The success of the group in this method requires a lot of discipline. Another method is by job rotation. The employee being trained is given a number of different jobs oftentimes in different departments, with the intent of letting the trainee acquire new knowledge and a wider range of skills.

The success of an on the job training depends on many factors. Every company applying on the job training has the goal of imparting the job description efficiently and effectively. By efficiently, we mean that time and resources are utilized to the best by all those involved in the training. And by efficiently, we mean that the trainee absorbs well the knowledge and skills of the job being trained for. We then need to consider the creation of an effective on-the-job training program, whether it be a formal or an informal one. 

Careful planning and structuring should be done by the company giving the training program.  Issues on who will conduct the training, or as earlier mentioned who will coach the trainees.  Are they competent enough? Do they have good communication skills? Is he flexible and open to constructive criticisms? The coach must be able to develop a good rapport with trainee, understanding individual differences, besides being in charge and being the organizer of the planning and implementation of the training program – which has the goal of having all the knowledge, information and skills absorbed or learned effectively by trainees.

Next thing to consider is the materials or resources that are going to be used in the training. Use of materials should be well outlined, well defined and followed religiously in order that the trainees will be able to see the company’s standards as basis, and enabling them to perform the given job well.  Note the duration of the training; not only will the trainee be told of what the training program will do and the company’s expectations of them and the benefits they get in turn, but an agreement of the duration of the training program will also be discussed.

A Means of Knowing More People

It is said that man is a happy being with others. This means that man is a social animal. People who know many people easily survive in life and have their problems solved easily. Internship gives students an opportunity to meet more people. Even if you are not retained where you do your internship, you are still at an advantage. The junior staff and other people you meet while on internship are potential employers and MD. So, you are increasing your connection by doing internship. You can never tell where you will meet them again and how they will be of help to you.

Increases your Confidence

If you have done internship before, you have gained some practical experience and you have known how the labor market looks. This will give you a high level of confidence. You will have the confidence that you will be able to meet with the demands of any job after your studies since you have done creditably well even when you have no experience. You will be able to deal with the normal job ineptitude that is associated with newly employed.   

Means of Income

Besides gaining some practical experience you will also gain some money to continue your education. In fact some students embark on internship program in order to make little money. Though the interns are not paid as fully employed staffs, some firms do give them some stipends for the work they do.  The stipend may be small or big depending on how wealthy the company where you are doing the internship is.  You can still create some savings from it. This will help you when you go back to school. Some companies do give their interns some benefits that that they give to their own employees, such as a Christmas gift.

Boosting your Resume

Doing an internship program is a way of increasing the weight of your resume. If you have done many internship programs while you were still a student, you will definitely include them in your work history and this will make your resume appealing and attractive to employers.

The Benefits of Internship to Employers

/
It is not only students that benefit from internship program. The employers also gain from it otherwise they will not be using the interns. Internship program is a very good means of cutting cost on labor. Most of the time the interns do the same work that other employees are meant to do. Experience shows that sometimes most of them work even better than some staff. But they are not paid as real staff. They are just given allowances because it is believed that they are also learning from the company.

Means of Employing People

Some employers use internship program as a means of employing people. They will not like to conduct interviews again for new timers having established a working relationship with their interns or having trained them well. They will save money for training staff.

In most cases, the sponsors retain the apprentices especially those that have excelled in the program. Another reason why most employers sponsor apprenticeship programs is to help them cut cost on training. Training of staff takes a huge sum of money from employers. Sometimes, you will spend huge amount of money training a staff only to lose the person to another employer that offer him or her better salary. But this is not always the case with apprentice. The cost of their training is not high as compared to training a real staff. With the registered apprentice program the cost of training is partly provided by the federal and state government. After the training you can retain the apprentice. At least he or she can work for sometime before thinking of getting another offer.    

Another reason why employers sponsor such programs is that they can determine what areas they will like their apprentice to be trained in. The program also attract more qualified apprentice owing to the stipends they are given. Absenteeism is also reduced because the more the apprentice advance in his or her program the higher the chances of getting higher wage is.

Apprentice programs are open to anyone who meets the program requirements. You need to secure your admission first by applying for registered apprenticeship program. What determines the admission requirements is the industrial standard set by the sponsors. This is why the requirements differ from program to program. The federal law made it clear that the requirements must be predicated on the job. So, if you want to enrol in an apprenticeship program, you should make sure that you make enquiry on what is needed.   Check the local colleges in order to find out what is being offered.

Can you gain anything by enrolling in the apprenticeship program? The answer to this question is definitely yes. One thing is sure, at the end of the program you would have improved in your professional skills or you would have gotten any skills that will help you in your professional life. Another thing that you will gain by enrolling in the program is that it will increase your chances of getting higher paying jobs. Even if you are employed, at the end of the program your resume will have more value than it had before. Besides, you will be given a certificate at the end of the program.

Although a lot of employers and employees benefit from this business tool, on the job training does pose some advantages and disadvantages, too. The trainee will be more at ease and comfortable in the training environment especially if already an employee. It is less disruptive to the business as the trainee is still at work; production is active while trainee is learning. Training at the work environment gives the trainee familiarization to the equipments, making them know that the work they are learning are going to be done with the company’s standards since they get the training from coaches that have expertise and knowledge of the job. 

On the job training allows trainees to get acquainted with their co- workers, or if already an employee, enables them to talk to staff they don’t normally get in touch with.  Training allows the supervisors or managers to assess progress over a short period of time, and enabling them to determine any floss or problems and giving a quick resolutions right then.  One big advantage is that it is cost effective. 

A disadvantage of on the job training is the trainer might pass on bad habits while working the trainee. The coach, if not well screened, might not be able to implement the program to the best making it unsuccessful. The coach might not be given enough time to spend to teach the trainee, due to ‘duty calls’ or other responsibilities in his own job and therefore will not be able to attain the standard training that was planned. Thus, the training is considered half done.

After the training, an evaluation must be done to determine the efficiency and effectively of the training program. The trainee will be checked for general and specific understanding of the job, also whether tasks were performed according to company’s standards. A checklist while training is in progress would be a nice data to gauge the trainee’s performance and capability to do his new job. It is often better for the trainee to learn from less perfect performance and progress to a real successful performance. A certification of the training program is to be given to the trainee after completion of the training. This will help a company identify the qualification of an employee for future employment or for business expansion or simply serves as a quick assessment that the employee is now ready to continue to perform the job that he was trained and employed for.