How to Get a Finance Job Without Experience

Finance is one such industry which is difficult to get into, especially for undergraduates and people switching from some other industry to finance. This happens because such candidates lack experience, which is considered as a key factor by finance companies for hiring new employees. Several resumes reach the interviewer's desk, but, only the candidates who either display reasonable work experience or have something exclusive, are called for the interview. It is during the interview, when a candidate without any work experience can create an impression on the interviewer, to get into the industry. Experts often get several questions on how to get a finance job with no experience from candidates who are interested in making a career in finance. Here is what they recommend.

Tips to Get A Finance Job With No Experience

Build a Strong Resume
A candidate's resume is responsible for creating the first impression on the interviewer. Hence, a strong resume with no typos, proper formatting, and accurate information must be built. Candidates who are unable to build a good resume must not hesitate from taking the help of professional resume builders. With a perfect resume, the candidate's chances of being shortlisted for the interview are highly increased.

Take up Internships
Candidates lacking full-time experience in finance, face difficulty in obtaining jobs. Generally, only entry-level finance positions are open to such candidates. As most of the entry-level positions do not require experience, the number of candidates with no knowledge of the work involved will be substantially high. To stand apart from the group, candidates can gain some work-related knowledge by taking up internships in finance companies. Internship will help the candidate understand how the finance industry works, what are the various departments involved, and how the work flows through these departments, to finally meet customer demands. When interviewers come to know that a particular candidate is well aware of the functioning of the industry, his chances of getting selected are more as compared to others.

Work for Different Internship Programs
Diversifying areas of internship helps the candidate in gaining perspective of different functions in the finance industry. For example, equity trading, bonds, portfolio management, commodity trading etc., are all individual areas of the finance industry, and each of them has a different kind of work involved. Working in different areas during internship can give a clear picture to the candidate and make it easy to choose a field in the huge finance industry. This will also be a plus point for being selected in the interview, as it will reflect the candidate's knowledge in various areas and his dedication towards the industry.

Build Your Network
Many finance companies offer internship programs to identify prospective employees for the upcoming year. A good performance during the internship can open the doors of companies for a well-performing candidate. Building healthy relations with full-time employees working in the company can be a good way of getting into the business. Apart from this, going for informational meetings with people working in the industry helps the candidate to learn about their companies and other relevant information. While doing so, candidates must maintain a formal approach and try not to be too aggressive. Calling up contacts several times or sending them e-mails five times a week can force them to avoid meetings, which will not be good for the candidate.

Read Financial News
Going through financial news may not seem interesting at the beginning to candidates taking their first step towards the industry because of their lack of understanding and knowledge about the whole subject. However, with consistent reading, candidates will be able to remain updated about the happenings in the finance industry, which can be showcased at the right time during the interview. Interviewers are generally impressed with such candidates who keep track of what's going on in the industry, even when they are not directly associated with it.

Learn Financial Terms and Jargon
During interviews, it is highly possible that the interviewer will ask the candidate meanings of various financial terms which are used every now and then in the workplace. Being equipped with the correct answers will leave a mark on the interviewer and increase the chances of being selected, even if the candidate does not have experience.

Prepare for the CFA Exam
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a reputed designation in the finance industry. A candidate needs to appear for three exams and gain four years of relevant experience to achieve this designation. Every level of exam needs the candidate to fulfill 250 study-hours. Therefore, any candidate appearing for the CFA exam is rated a bit higher than others, as finance professionals know what it takes to become a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Improve Communication Skills
A candidate who is able to present his thoughts in front of the interviewer clearly, is better than the ones who fail to express themselves properly. Improving communication and presentation skills will help the candidate to perform better in the interview. It is better to practice commonly asked questions so that any blunder during the interview can be avoided. An interview lasts about 20-25 minutes. It is during this short time period, when good candidates are selected and not-so-good ones are rejected. So, it is better to be prepared beforehand for the face-to-face session.

Jobs in the finance industry depend on the stock market. When the market is booming, jobs in the industry boom as well. And when the market takes a bearish turn, the number of jobs in the market also reduces. Whatever be the situation, getting a good entry-level job is not easy for candidates with no prior industry experience. However, keeping the above things in mind will surely help candidates in cracking interviews and taking their first step toward building a successful career in finance.
source : Buzzle

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Condominium living - Benefits of Condominium Lifestyle

The trend of Condominium living is growing nowadays around the world and most of the people prefer this option with much enthusiasm and positively. Condominium lifestyle is much trendy and easy going kind of living in the urban or metro areas as by this lifestyle you can enjoy all the benefits of modern living.

If you consider the typical fast life of professionals these days, they just go home to rest and spend most of their time at work. Condo living offers lots of benefits for these category of people. Exploring countless possibilities associated with condo living is exciting risk to deal with and that is the reason why more and more people prefer to live in these kind of lifestyle. If you are interested to try out something fresh or new and want a good transformation in your lifestyle than condo living is the best option for you.

By switching over to condominium lifestyle you get many of the important benefits. One of the major benefit of preferring condo lifestyle is you get your place at a premium location. It has been always noticed that the condo buildings or premises are always located at the heart of the city where you definitely get a better experience of living. Location of the house gives many benefits like traveling to workplace or other places gets easier, there is no problem of traffic which leads to less fuel expenses, availability of all things like departmental stores, hospitals, schools, gyms, common services and facilities like swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts, elevators, etc are accessible. Residents and members get the right of using these amenities. So you can enjoy these facilities offered if you prefer to stay this kind of lifestyle.

Another important benefit of this is Security. You get the guarantee of quality lifestyle by different security services of condominiums. For example you get the security service 24/7 to protect you and keep you safe as you are a member of that condominium. Also some modern premises have the security gadgets installed for the security purpose of the members.

Comparatively living a condo lifestyle is preferable as long as you have good resources and is the best option for people who wants to start up their life living in the urban cities like new professionals or students or newlyweds. Living like this is much comfortable and is affordable too if you consider all the services you are getting in return. Professionals who are mostly busy in their life and don’t get time for the maintenance of their home, can opt for it as here everything is carried out by the Condominium management company.

A Condominium Management company is a company which actually provides a real estate management service to the home owners. So the total management that is administrative, accounting, maintenance, and consulting is done by this company. So if you are the one who own a condominium property, it is always better option to go for a condominium management services so as to give it on rent or sell it.

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Add value to your business by developing a rock-solid value proposition

Small business owners need to nail their value proposition in order to add value to their businesses, according to long-time marketer and Sydney Small Business Centre founder Amanda Falconer.

“A VP – better know as a value proposition – is the bedrock of your entire marketing strategy, which is why it’s essential to spend the time absolutely nailing it,” she says.

One of the main reasons why many small businesses fail in the early stages is because they fail to distinguish themselves from their competition by not having a rock-solid value proposition.

Writing a value proposition for a business comes from examining its capabilities and needs, and then determining the unique value the business provides to consumers and how it aligns with the needs of the target market.

Having a solid value proposition in place sets the foundation for all the activities of a business, and is essential for sales, marketing and advertising.

“The value proposition isn’t something you’ll ever use outside your business, but it is the basis of everything you will say,” says Falconer.

To help small business owners determine what makes their business valuable, as well as their marketing strategy, the Sydney Small Business Centre runs public marketing intensive workshops.

Former workshop participant and founder of Wealthwise Education Kate Sheehan says that developing a rock solid value proposition was completely transforming her business and helping her identify what value her business needs to give to their clients.

Before the workshop Sheehan and her business partner David Novac felt under pressure from competition and unclear of what really made them different. The workshop helped them create a clearer focus and business model.

“We got clear on our value proposition with Amanda in the workshop, which got us thinking of how we could make our courses match our value proposition and be more readily applicable,” she says.

“We’ve really been focusing on making the lessons even easier to apply, and our graduates have responded really well to the changes.”

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Kansas City Janitorial Services – It Is Important To Your Business

Appearance is important. What people see when they first walk into your place of business has a profound and lasting effect on how your organization is perceived. First impressions are critical in business relationships, so it is important to strive to always make them the best you can. Hiring a Kansas City janitorial services company that understands how vital your image is to your business will make your job a whole lot easier.

Many traditional office cleaning companies only provide surface cleaning. Vacuuming carpets, sweeping floors, emptying trash, dusting and washing windows just about cover their level of service. The key is to hire a office cleaning company in Kansas City that does more than surface cleaning. Look for janitorial companies that offer more advanced services like, grout cleaning, commercial carpet cleaning, concrete coatings and more. It is ideal to find a company that can offer handyman services to make minor electrical, plumbing and structural repairs and even complete remodels. This allows you even more flexibility and assurance that your place of business will always look professional and you don’t have to shop for an electrician, a plumber or a remodeler because they already work for you. There are even a select few that will also perform emergency service for fire and water damage cleanup.

Be sure to find a Kansas City janitorial service that will consult with you about your cleaning needs. Determine if you can rely on their expertise to give you sound advice and provide the services that you really need. By checking references you can learn how well they perform over a long period of time. If you check more than one reference you can see if the janitorial service tailors to each clients cleaning needs and specifications. You want a company that is able to customize their service to meet your needs.

Choosing a green Kansas City janitorial service, one that is environment friendly, can also improve your image both to your clients and your employees. Green cleaning is good for the environment plain and simple. And when your company is seen by others doing what it can to protect the environment, you will be held in higher regard in their eyes. Your employees will also appreciate the use of green cleaning solutions as it will lessen the amount of chemicals in the air and on work surfaces. Plus, using green products creates a healthy work environment that translates into healthier employees and fewer sick days.

As you can see, there is a vast difference between hiring a Kansas City janitorial services company that offers a complete service that benefits you and your company and one that vacuums, dusts and empties trash cans. Being able to find a company that can perform all of the necessary tasks in your business related to cleaning and building maintenance frees you up to work on your business. Since you will not be distracted by the dirt, stains and imperfections of your facility, you can focus your attention on the truly important parts of your business that make it more profitable.

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Tips for Better Business Trips

Being sent out-of-town to cultivate new clients, schmooze with big donors, run meetings, or do a million other things that could happen on a business trip can be difficult enough. Don’t make it more difficult for yourself than it needs to be. There are some very simple things that you can do to make your business trip much more pleasant.

Packing – This is the first step in your trip. You’re completely frazzled trying to remember all of that paperwork, clothing, underwear (can’t forget that!) and not to mention your toiletries. The best way to de-stress the packing process is to make a list a week or so in advance of everything that you will need to bring. Spend the next week getting your life organized and then consult that list as you’re putting your clothes into your lightweight travel bag. You really should only have this bag and a laptop, or other work, bag. In your suitcase pack clothes that you know won’t wrinkle, like a wool/cotton blend. That way you don’t have to stress about dry cleaning and/or steaming when you get to your hotel. Also, pack separates so you can mix and match and don’t have to bring a different outfit for each day.

Travel – Once you have packed your bags you will now have to negotiate the airport, bus terminal, train station, etc. As long as man has traveled from village to village trading furs for meat there have been travel delays. Obviously try to avoid unnecessary delays like driving to the airport in the middle of rush hour traffic, but don’t panic about the ones that you can’t control. Just allow for these delays and be prepared to handle them, don’t stress out about it. You stressing out and yelling at the customer service representative that you have a meeting and you have to be on the 4 o’clock to Dulles will not help anyone fix the problem productively. Try to leave yourself at least 3 hours wiggle room, however, the best option is always to arrive the night before your meeting(s) and/or conference.

Sleep – You aren’t getting nearly as much sleep as you think you are when you are on a business trip. Intentionally change your sleep rhythms especially when you are flying over a lot of time zones (make sure you sleep only at night and are awake, and exposed to light, during the day). It usually takes about a day to adjust, so schedule accordingly. If you are only going to be a million time zones away from home for a couple of days then do your best to schedule meetings during your home schedule in the middle of the day, so you know you’ll be awake. Also, book a hotel room strategically; away from bars, elevators, pools, after-prom parties, etc. Finally, eating right and exercise, especially if you exercise regularly, will help you fall asleep in a more normal rhythm.

In the city – Before you leave go to your local bookstore to buy a city guidebook. If you don’t want to shell out the cash for the travel guide then at least Google the city so you will know something. Armed with this research, you will be able to ask relevant questions and have conversations with your colleagues about something other than the meeting you left two hours ago. You will also be able to recommend restaurants, which is always impressive.

In the office – Just do what you do best! Grab that laptop bag with all the files that you remembered to pack, because you wrote a list, and kick some business trip behind!

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Create Vinyl Stickers for Your Printing Business

You might think that commercial printing is just limited to the printing of images on paper and maybe other kinds of materials like boards, wood and metal. But the fact is as a commercial printer, you could also offer vinyl stickers. You can opt to print on them using the silkscreen process or you can buy a new and separate machine that can print and cut vinyl stickers. It is a relatively new development in the printing industry but it is getting widespread because of its many uses.

Some of the uses of vinyl stickers are for cars, boats, and any other outdoor uses. You can also use them to decorate glass panels in commercial establishments and even homes. These are very nice and if you are already in the business of commercial printing, you can add these among your products. You can also accept cutting services for those who do not have machine cutters.

So how do you make vinyl sticker designs?

1. Choose high-contrast images for your designs. They need to have clean edges, not those with edges that look garbled. The most vibrant colors work the best. If you want, you can also scan simple images like logos for stickers. Or you may want to create your own, such as witty quotes or expressions. Use computer software like Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator for this purpose. The file of the image should be in a JPG format.

2. The vinyl decal should be the exact size of the area specified by your client. So always verify the size before printer. Small stickers should very well fit into the size of the vinyl sheet. For example, if you are making a bumper sticker, your maximum width should be within 10 inches. The largest you can go is 10.5. It is easy to set the size; you just have to know the exact dimensions. But if you need to print a big size, you will have to cut it down into tiles and installation will be necessary.

3. After you have created your design, save it as a .jpg file. You can copy this design in order to make multiple prints. Just make sure that your designs are within the printing boundaries of your machine.

4. Before printing many copies, make a test run first in order to know if the colors are right and the design is what you have envisioned it to be. Doing a test print will allow you to correct the design or adjust the printer settings accordingly. This is important before going into mass production so that you will not waste material and energy for something that is sub-standard.

5. Some vinyl printer units come with built-in cutters. You can print and then contour cut your designs after you print. You just let the design dry a bit before running the cutter to make sure that there are no smears and smudges. But they are more expensive that printers. So if you don’t have a mechanized cutter, you have to do it manually using a paper cutter.

You can actually experiment with many different colors for your design because you can print any design on vinyl stickers. They would really be great additions to your commercial printer because their market is so much different than your existing clientele. As a printing company, you should evolve and innovate so that you will not stagnate in the industry.

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Tips for Running a Profitable Home Based Business

Running a home based business offers many advantages such as saving money on gas, tax breaks among other benefits.

However, the success of a home based business is pegged on several important aspects.

1.) Website – Invest in a domain name and website for your home business. A website is just like a physical location for your business. It lets people to access your business from around the world.

2.) Target market – Carefully select a market for your products or services. The more targeted the audience the easier it will be to meet their specific needs. Besides, marketing to a very wide customer can be so overwhelming and ineffective.

3.) Goals – Set realistic goals for your home based business. These goals should be based on what you can deliver without outsourcing. Once you determine your actual production capacity, you can always improve on the numbers gradually.

4.) Marketing budget – Keep aside some cash for marketing. Every venture no matter how small requires a marketing budget. Determine the amount of money you are willing to spend on publicity materials such as business cards, flyers, classified ads and so on.

5.) Tracking - Track all your marketing campaigns and keep a log of the techniques that produce the most paying clients. For instance, if your flyers produce more paying customers than classifieds, it will be wise to cut the cost of your classifieds to apply that money toward the flyers.

6.) Search engine optimization (SEO) - SEO helps your website's search engine ranking by associating it to keywords and links that will make the site easier to find online. Online shoppers searching for the products or services that you provide will see your website in the first pages of the website search. This has the potential to bring you more paying customers.

7.) Offline marketing – In addition to online marketing campaigns, use offline marketing to reach potential clients. Attend workshops and other networking events in your neighbourhood with flyers and business cards.

If well managed, a home based business can give you immense profits while at the same time giving you the freedom to be your own boss.

However, you should be advised that running a business from home is not for the faint-hearted! A home business requires you to be very disciplined in terms of time and finance management and this is where many people go fail especially in their first home based business ventures.

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