Recession Proof Career With Government Contracts

By Nigel LeBlanc

As the economy is on the brink of recession, it may be a concern for many to build a career that is recession proof or to start a lucrative recession proof business. There are several options to consider capitalizing on financial opportunities but is there a way to get information and strategy to achieve this dream is a big question in itself.

One can find many commonly marketed money making techniques all over the web ranging from part time data entry jobs to affiliate programs and taking paid surveys to make quick money. But what results can be assured from these is something that’s more or less a question of chance and risk in trying out these. This is the time to make smart decisions and spend time on something that’s worth the effort and also promises a secure career or business even in this economic slowdown.

Those who have the product or service, expertise, knowledge and technology that can meet the requirements of the US government, can easily hope to cash in with billion dollar government contracts that can leverage small businesses to great heights. This is one of the most lucrative opportunities that provide a platform to many to start their own business or career and generate a continual source of income even during tough times.

It is a known fact that the US government buys commodities and services worth billions of dollars almost every year and this demand for such supplies does not end with the economic recession. This is the best way from where you can plan out your career or business by identifying your unique product or service that can be of use to the government and can potentially be supplied to the government using your marketing capabilities.

If you are on the threshold of your new career or business and do not know where to start, or are not sure if you could win a government contract with so many experienced competitors to bid for the contracts, you have 2 options - the first is to work as a sub contractor of another company that’s already landed with a government contract or the second option is to tie up with another company that is once again working on a government contract.

Both these options will help you gain the relevant experience, knowledge and expertise to push your own business successfully and independently in future government contracts. This will also serve as a good source of income and open more doors for lucrative financial opportunities.

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Tools of the Executive Search Trade

By Louise Garver

Your executive resume is prepared. Your cover letter is complete. Your career marketing plan is written. You feel ready to launch your search. Now what? How can you make recruiters and employers knock on your door and invite you to the “dance” otherwise known as the interview? Knowing the tools of the “executive search trade” can help you increase your visibility and make it easier for recruiters (and also employers, for that matter) to find you. Here’s how it happens.

Finding a shining star in a galaxy of information

During the softening of the economy from 2000 to 2004, the war for the best talent led to the birth of the Internet recruiting industry. Executive recruiters rely on technology to make their jobs easier through cutting-edge e-recruiting solutions that automate candidate sourcing. Today you are far more likely to be Googled by a recruiter than found on a job board.

Thanks to the Internet, recruiters now have access to a wealth of information on potential candidates. They can find the “right” candidates through data mining software and prospect or business networking databases such as those developed by Broadlook Technologies, Zoom Information Inc., Spoke Software Inc., The Cluen Corporation, AIRS, Sheila Greco Associates LLC (sheilagreco.com), LinkedIn (linkedin.com) and other similar services.

Data mining software is central to “passive recruiting” (candidates who are not actively searching for employment. Right or wrong, passive executive candidates are prized by executive recruiters and employers. The “super-sleuth” software scours the Internet for any information it can find on specific companies and the executives within those companies. This includes searching company sites, SEC filings, press releases, online articles, annual reports, personal web pages, blogs, and so forth. The information is compiled into a database for recruiters to review, providing them with data that can be leveraged in the recruiting process.

Further, the technology frees the recruiters’ time to develop relationships with executives. As Andrew Shapiro, of The Cluen Corporation, notes, “It is the ability to leverage insider knowledge that allows a recruiter at this level to build the required trust with a candidate-without it, no serious discussion about their career can take place.”

Tips for Executives: Getting on Recruiters’ Radar Screen

Executive recruiters and the firms mentioned above agree that recruiting at the executive level is often based on networking and reputation. One of the secrets to long-term employment is constantly being on the radar of potential employers and executive search firms. According to recruiters, you can boost your marketability and visibility by 1) offering an excellent career history, 2) becoming a recognized expert in your field, and 3) establishing strong professional networks. Remember, when searching, you are the product. Think of yourself as “You, Inc.”

As Chris Forman, Founder and CEO of AIRS, points out, “Nobody buys a product unless they can find the product.” Here are a few tips to boost your visibility in the marketplace.

• Manage your web presence (online identity) the same way that you manage your financial credit statement. If you haven’t Googled yourself, do it and keep on doing it often so that you can see what others see if they search for your name.

• Create and post your profile on business networking sites such as LinkedIn.com to increase your visibility. (Creating such a profile, though, does not mean you are actively seeking employment.)

• Build a keyword-rich online resume with as many industry terms as possible to help recruiters find your information.

• If you are not a member of any professional associations in your field, consider joining and become actives to build your industry presence. This includes attending professional conferences and industry functions.

• Demonstrate your expertise by writing thought-provoking articles on relevant industry topics in your field for professional association newsletters and other publications-on- and off-line.

• Build your credibility, visibility and goodwill in the community by serving on community and civic boards.

• Contrary to popular opinion, posting your resume on a few job boards will not make it easier to be found because recruiters prefer passive not active candidates. Instead consider creating an e-resume, e-portfolio and blogging. They provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your work and interests-thereby attracting recruiters’ attention when they use online search tools to find executives with the skills they need.

Even if you are not actively seeking a new position, remember: you should always be prepared in case you do need to find other employment. The tips above can help you augment your efforts. Above all, maintain a strong reputation, manage your network, and develop relationships with recruiters you trust. As Forman notes, “Technology has not supplanted good old-fashion networking.”

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Everybody Wants to Know How to Invest

By Mika Hamilton

Those unfamiliar with the process of making and managing investments often have more than a few trepidations about investing in general. They figure that, since they do not know how to invest, they will never learn. Of course the horror stories of investors who lost their life savings on some bad deal don’t help people to feel any less secure when figuring out how to invest.

Fortunately “how to invest” can be taught and learned. “What to invest in” or “where to invest” is another matter entirely – if someone can tell you that, and be 100% correct every time, latch on and don’t let go because you have found the fabled Rosetta Stone.

So, how do you invest? A big part of the investment process will depend on how much money you have to invest. The amount will determine the best investments for you as well as the best methods of investing – whether you’re best off acting on your own or working with an investment counselor or advisor. If you have a small amount to invest, say a few thousand dollars, you may want to start small with an interest bearing account such as a CD. Higher investment amounts usually warrant bigger investments, but bigger investments are riskier as well. If you’re investing ten thousand dollars or more, it is definitely advisable to use the services of an investment counselor or advisor. This professional can show you how to invest your money as wisely as possible to get the best rate of return you can.

Those investing very large sums of money, one hundred thousand dollars or more, will have no shortage of those who want to show them how to invest. You may think that someone who has that kind of investment capital would already know how to invest, but there are plenty of folks who had forty bucks in the bank yesterday and suddenly found themselves recipients of insurance payments, lottery winnings, inheritances, and the like. These people are often easy prey for unscrupulous individuals in the financial industry and should immediately seek the assistance of a reputable broker or investment counselor to show them how to invest their money.

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Better Investing Made Easy

By Mika Hamilton

If there were one piece of advice that an investor could ask for, the question would probably be something like “What do I need to do to invest better?” Better investing choices are sought by investors every day. Some find them and succeed, others do not. The difference clearly lies in better investing, so investors are on the right track. They are, however, asking the wrong questions.

Instead of asking “How can I make better investments,” they should be asking “How can I discern better investment choices?” While everyone is looking for that one hot investment tip that will turn them on to the next Microsoft or Wal Mart type of investment, they should be looking into how they can discern those choices for themselves and thus make better investing decisions. All those people who did jump on Microsoft back in the eighties weren’t just lucky. Some of them were, but some had done their research and were able to realize that they were looking at an opportunity to invest in a company that would revolutionize the fledgling software industry.

Discerning choices for better investing starts with research. The savvy investor won’t just read the features in The Wall Street Journal or the articles appearing at The Motley Fool web site, she’ll read them and then do a bit of research on the company being discussed. The more an investor knows about a potential investment, the easier it is to make the decision whether to invest.

No one can see the future, of course, and there are plenty of companies that look like good investment ideas that wind up falling flat on their proverbial faces. Better investing is not about scrying into a crystal ball; however, it is about using your own powers of discernment to determine which investment is the better choice.

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