I N D E P E N D E N T   C O N T R A C T O R’S  P R O G R A M  (ICP)

The Women’s Employment Opportunity Project (WEOP) has provided women with technology-based solutions, training and skills to help them find jobs for 11 years. With Georgia’s unemployment rate at about 10 percent, finding jobs is a challenge. This year it is all about “Reinvention” and finding a way to earn multiple streams of income. When faced with downsizing and the process of long job searches, it is critical to seek innovative ways to remain economically self sufficient.

WEOP’s Independent Contractors Professionals (ICP) program focuses on developing business skills while also exploring contracting, freelancing and consultation with contract opportunities. The overall goal is to learn entrepreneurial skills that extend far beyond building a basic business plan.  It is the course, “Things your Mother Never Taught” you with engaging discussions.

In partnership with The Atlanta Technical College, this Fall, WEOP (Women’s Opportunity Employment Network) is offering an Entrepreneurial Certification Program.  The Independent Contractor’s Professional class offers two Continuing Education Units that focus on guiding participants toward economic self sufficiency. The program is designed to provide a solid framework to help understand the intricacies of prospecting for contracts and negotiation, technology, building an infrastructure and a range of topics for successful business ventures as Independent Contractors.

ICP professionals are innovators exploring potential business opportunities that focus on securing contracts, procurement opportunities, partnerships or special projects.  ICP professionals are described as a new generation of workers lending their skill level to companies and projects. This program will help them begin to think strategically in order to find clients and market their skill sets to the best advantage. It guides on how to prospect for clients and business opportunities online and the process of how to potentially qualify for minority business grants or government contracts.

The program introduces students to various technology platforms and software that can be used to network with prospective business sources. They will also learn to organize their work and maximize efficiency when dealing with multiple clients or projects. Each session features a Guest Speakers; including an attorney, a Federal Contracts Specialist, and a Project Manager who will share the basic skills and best business practices needed to manage work successfully. Students will also benefit from networking with each other. They may even hear about work opportunities in other industries as students share what they do.

What are students saying about the ICP course???…

“This course is very well organized. I thoroughly enjoy the interaction from the WEOP Founders, the professional speakers and the wonderful insight into the world of contracting opportunities for my business.”

-Andrieka J. Austin Journey Girl, www.JourneyGirl.org)

Student Surveys show…

“This is a wonderful and necessary opportunity…”

“This workshop was very well prepared and implemented. I truly enjoy the presenters and their presentations.”

“Very informative!”

“Good introduction to ICP.”

“Phenomenal!”

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Class evaluations reflect ‘Excellent’ scoring in the Instructor/Speaker’s knowledge of the subject, relevance of the information presented in class, visual aids and handouts, the overall rating of class topics, and meeting the expectations of the students.

Find out more about the WEOP ICP classes at: http://weop.org/business%20opportunities.html

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Women Employment Opportunity (WEOP)

www.weop.org

(O) 404.681.2497

Click Here to See WEOP’s ajcjobs.com Article

Click Here to See WEOP’s ajcjobs.com Article

The US current unemployment rates show that in regards to men and women, men have a full percentage higher unemployment rate than women.  Statistics also show that women are starting businesses at more than twice the rate of their male counterparts.  As well, women are more likely to have a longer business life span than men.  The conclusion can made that the growing success rate of women entrepreneurs shows that, generally speaking, women are resourceful, and better able to succeed, despite the odds. 

The key term is “odds.”  So why does it seem that women entrepreneurship is so successful?  This could be because as a woman, beating the odds is a part of life.  Women are often raised knowing that they had to work hard, study longer and excel significantly in order to receive any form of approbation in just about anything.  Women also have a natural survival instinct.  It is fair to say that both men and women have natural survival instincts but it is also fair to say that because many women serve in a nurturing role, their survival instincts can become greater in times of peril because they feel they have more to lose.  Not only do women carry the burden of themselves, they often consider their family in most of their decision making as well.  We have all heard the saying “make a dollar out of 15 cents.”  Women usually have a natural ability to make things happen and when the going gets though, women start thinking outside the box. 

Recent interviews with several female entrepreneurs show a common thread, starting a business out of necessity.  Many of the women in the interview explained that they either lost their job or were looking to transition but could not find employment.  This sparked them to start their own business.  As one business owner explained “I was no longer bringing in an income after I was laid off but Visa, Target and the gas company didn’t care about that.  I had to find a way to make money for me and my family.”  This particular business owner has now been self employed for over four years and has no plans on reentering corporate America. 

Another common thread is using their natural talents to run a successful business.  Co-owners of a successful catering company explain that they started their business because of the income and because they wanted to do something they already loved doing.  Women have many natural talents; and many of them do them for free.  Savvy entrepreneur took the downturn of the economy as a way to turn those talents into profits.  Most impressive is that many did it without going back to school, getting certified or waiting for someone else to validate them.           

As difficult as the economy has been over the recent years, women entrepreneurs have found a way to make great progress.  By realizing that you have the ability within yourself to create your own success, you give yourself permission to reach your highest potential.

The diversifying of the business world is partially coming about as a result of the variety of people who are chasing their entrepreneurial dreams. In fact, one of the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs in America today is women. There are quite a few reasons for this. One of the biggest advantages of starting your own business is the flexibility it affords you. As an entrepreneur, you can create your own schedule, work from home, and even restrict the number of projects you can take on at one time. These benefits are especially meaningful for working mothers, a particularly fast-growing sector of the entrepreneurs club. When money is tight, women running businesses out of their homes provides extra income for the family and saves on daycare that might be necessary for a job out of the home.

A recent White House Report stated that women are enrolling in greater numbers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Women are also taking more advanced placement courses and are dropping out of high school at lower rates. All of this adds up to say that more women than ever have degrees and graduate degrees. As a result, women have better experiences to build off of for running a business than they ever have. They also have the credentials to earn more respect in the business world and in their chosen industries. While as we all know, education and business knowledge don’t always come hand in hand and many of the highest paid entrepreneurs in the country do not have college degrees, a degree does tend to lend you higher credibility, at least in the beginning.  This increase in higher education for women has led more women to become entrepreneurs.

With cloud computing, high speed internet, and almost everything being paperless, the ability to run a business out of your home, even if you work with others who are out of their homes, has increased dramatically over the last ten years.  Because working out of the home saves so much money in start-up costs, many women are running businesses out of their home from the start, with no intention of getting outside offices. The increase in today’s technology has made this possible, and taking advantage of this technology has allowed everyone, especially women (and those who may need to work out of the home for the family), to become entrepreneurs.

One of the reasons women entrepreneurs are a trend watch right now is because there are so many ways everyone can benefit from this growth! Women, of course, are at an advantage because the rise has created better access to financing for other women. Whereas forty years ago, business loans for women were difficult to come by, today there are many groups specifically dedicated to financing women entrepreneurs and encouraging them. It is actually an advantage to be a woman entrepreneur seeking financing in this economy because so many groups are looking to grow the woman entrepreneur sector of business. The Small Business Administration even has an entire office dedicated to women entrepreneurs.

Men and Women alike are wise to take note of the current trend because it can affect business plans and target audiences immensely. As social roles continue to change and men and women branch out, products and services change too. Just as the numerous aging baby boomers have created an industry for older age care services and products, the working mother is creating new industries. Grocery delivery is a relatively new example of how working mom’s have inspired a service. Know what’s happening around you is one of the key parts of keeping your business model and ideas current and relevant, and appealing to the people is what brings in new customers!

As Women’s History month comes to a close, it’s beneficial to recognize all the great strides women are making in the business world right now and to remember that this can have a far-reaching effect. The changing interests of society are always important to the business owner who wants to bring in new customers. The best road to success is to play to your strengths as an entrepreneur while making sure you are always fulfilling some need of the public. With that, you’ll always have customers.

This is where those words “transferable skills” sneak into the equation.  Even though you have worked in one position for many years, it doesn’t mean that you have single dimensional work skills.  We all know far too well that the job description of your position does not cover half of the activities you do or did on the job or even at home.  Transferable skills are skills you have acquired throughout your life.  This includes skills not only from jobs but also outside projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, etc, that can be used in another career.  For example, the secretary at work doesn’t just answer the phone and take notes in meetings.  She is bidding for cheap airline tickets for upcoming sales trips, organizing the monthly birthday celebration for the office and keeping you up to date with the latest office politics.  Take the next 10 minutes and write down all the “extra” responsibilities you took on at your current or last job.  From this list grade yourself from 1 to 10 on how well you did them.  Next, grade yourself from 1 to 10 on which ones you enjoyed the most.  The goal is to find the activities that you did the best AND liked the most.  Not surprisingly, they are usually the same thing.  There is a proven correlation between performing well and activities we enjoy.  Once you have your list, use it as your guide to find your next dream position.

Writing that list might be an arduous task  for some of us.  Often times we don’t realize the additional skills that we have acquired over the years.  Going back to the example of the secretarial position, if you were really great in this position you must have learned and utilized exceptional customer service skills (a skill that is on many job descriptions these days, see our article on top industries).  You probably are a master of multitasking, working under extreme pressure and within deadlines.  You may have also mastered the skill of getting task accomplished within a diverse group.  These are all skills that are extremely relevant in today’s job market but you might not know you have them.  For the many of us that don’t take the time to truly analyze ourselves, look for outside assistance.  Talk to your friends and family.  Ask them what they think your skills are.  Their answers may surprise you or bring to life something you knew but just needed a little validation.  They will also be able to shed some light on skills that you have outside of your current or last 9 to 5.  These skills are extremely important as well.

With your guide in hand you now know what you have to offer, what you are great at, and what you enjoy doing.  You can now be on your way to the next chapter in your career.

To learn more about applying your transferable skills to your resume and selling your skills to an employer visit this article on careerbuilder.com about applying transferable skills.

Sales – This should not be much of a surprise.  As companies shift their focus to growth mode, they need more people out on the front lines driving revenue growth and that means they need to boost their sales teams.

Information Technology- We are in a full fledged technology era.  There is no profitable company (big or small) that isn’t utilizing or looking to utilize technology to run a more efficient ship.  IT professionals are needed now more than ever in order to keep companies viable in this ever shrinking world.

Customer Service- Companies know it is crucial to keep their customers “happy, loyal and spending.”  Due to this many of them are focused on building new client relationships and bringing in revenue, which means that there is an increasing need for the people responsible for these functions.

Engineering- Engineers will be in demand because they provide two key functions of an organization: They figure out how to make things more efficient (cost-cutting) and they help integrate new scientific discoveries into commercial operations (growth).  As well, the engineering industry is seeing many of its workers reach retirement age.  However, data from the American Society for Engineering Education, indicates that enrollment in engineering programs has declined.

Business Research/Development- Companies will be continuing to invest a large amount in business research and development because these positions “heighten brand awareness, facilitate key partnerships and identify expansion opportunities.” says Matt Ferguson, CEO of Careerbuilder.com.  In other words, they help cut costs and drive revenue growth.

Accounting/Finance- Accounting and finance workers, are in demand because all companied realize that if they don’t have a good handle on their financials their growth will be in vain.  Accountants and financial analyst “support company operations and keep the organization running smoothly,” Ferguson said. “We’re seeing more jobs added there and in other support functions.”

Healthcare- The healthcare industry seemed to be basically recession-proof over the last few years, and based off the fact that many baby boomers will begin to turn 65 this year, this industry will continue to rise.  Not only will the aging population begin to retire from the medical industry in droves, many of them will require more medical care.  Plus, this industry will see an increase in not just high skills professions but also positions that don’t require advanced schooling; the BLS reports that job prospects for pharmacy technicians, nurses’ aides, X-ray technicians and home health aides will continue to be in demand.

Sarah Hathorn is a professional image consultant, certified personal brand strategist, speaker, and author. Her company, Illustra Image Consulting, works with high-achieving future leaders and large businesses by enhancing their corporate and personal brand image to take their businesses and careers to the next level.

How to differentiate yourself from peers and competitors is the question, and personal branding is the answer. Here are five key insights into why individual executives need to discover and market their own personal brands – just as large organizations must market their corporate brands.

#1 Success Today Demands a Magnetic Brand

The global economy has drastically altered our employment landscape and new rules apply. Even top professional jobs are unstable, so high achievers have to stay on the innovative edge of career opportunities. Today it is common for executives to change jobs every several years – not every few decades – because of lay-offs, downsizing, or the desire to work in a different and more exciting and rewarding environment.

Highly successful leaders and high achievers are now managing their own careers by discovering and leveraging a personal brand to attract greater business opportunities and career progress. Those who understand how to use this innovative business tool become the hunted – not the hunter – as they are actively sought out and courted for prized positions and leadership roles.

#2 Why Personal Branding Works

Large corporations like Starbucks spend millions of dollars to instill and nurture strong brand loyalty by communicating clear, concise, consistent advertising messages about their unique promise of value. Otherwise why do we spend top dollar on a cup of coffee at Starbucks when we could stop by McDonalds and pick up a caffeine boost at a bargain price?

It’s because we will pay a premium to identify with their brand – which encompasses a great store ambiance, specialty coffees, and that inviting and innovative cultural and social place where we can meet and mingle. We spend more in order to get more – which means we expect to be served not just a cup of java but also the emotional feeling and experience conveyed through their carefully crafted brand.

Personal branding utilizes the same principles of brand marketing to help professionals discover their authenticity and unique promise of value. As a personal branding strategist I tell my clients it’s like discovering your true self and then communicating it to a selective group of people so that you become the highly sought after celebrity within your area of expertise. Professionals typically only need to market their unique brand to a very selective and influential group of superiors, human resource professionals, or competitors in order to get “A-listed” on the “fast-track” to greater success. The rest happens automatically as people beat a path to your door.

#3 The Mirror Principle: Discover and Know Thyself

One of the most innovative business tools I utilize with my clients to help them discover their personal brand is the 360 Reach Assessment tool. Unlike other corporate 360 assessments, this particular branding tool allows you to receive anonymous feedback from your friends, family, colleagues, and peers – and get a true picture of how they perceive your brand attributes.

This allows you to discover and get to know not only yourself, but how others around you perceive you. Every successful professional understands that knowledge is power. This is also a great tool to enhance self confidence, because it really helps you to focus on where you can honestly claim your strengths – understanding that they are in your true essence. I coach my clients to focus on those personal strengths – unlike the approach taken by typical corporate assessments that place more emphasis on areas of weakness that may need improvement.

It’s important to discover your true self, but it is also powerful to understand and know how you are held in the hearts and minds of others. Your brand and reputation is identical. Are you communicating your brand message in a clear and concise way so that others perceive you the same way you perceive yourself? Participate in a 360 Reach Assessment process with a qualified brand and image strategist and you’ll discover new ways to market yourself in this new decade.

#4 Strong Brands are Never Stagnant

Once you have discovered your personal brand it may evolve and change as you mature in your position or change career directions. The best brands take on a life of their own over time.

Perhaps the three to five brand attributes that you marketed for a certain position in one firm may need to be slightly adapted to attract a new position in a different industry. You always want to stay true to your authentic self and your values, but you will find that your 360 Reach Assessment will give you numerous strengths that you can pull from in a flexible, adaptable way.

So always tailor your personal brand to the “targeted” messages that your new audience may need to hear. If you currently work in a creative field, for example, then being “avant-garde, creative, and quirky” may be a great brand persona. But if you find yourself later seeking employment in a more conservative industry, you may want to choose descriptors that resonate more with a traditional audience – such as “innovative, creative, self-starter.” A certified brand strategist can coach you to select the right brand attributes to create the desired brand message.

#5 The Exponential Benefits of Personal Branding

When high achievers and executives discover and understand their unique brand promise of value – and start to exude it – they begin to stand out from their peers and competitors. Since they understand and appreciate what makes them different, they also know what they can uniquely offer to an organization to leverage their employment status.

Here are a few benefits that accrue from using personal branding in a corporate environment:

• Be memorable and command higher salaries as a valued asset to the organization.
• Extend your brand by accepting new developmental experiences to provide personal growth and stretch your brand attributes – giving you a leading edge over your peers as you become more conceptual in your decision making and skill-gathering.
• Survive economic downsizing by marketing your brand attributes to key people to strategically ensure you are on the new “must-have” list
• Attract top talent to join your team as people begin to really understand your strengths, values and leadership vision.
• Leverage your strengths to become flexible and embrace changes that allow you to survive a tumultuous employment situation.
• Become better focused on understanding your ultimate goals and vision so that you start to make much better long-term career decisions.

This personal branding process is a must-have business tool for today’s professionals. Employers and companies expect it of those who are high achievers desirous of career advancement, so learn to understand your own brand essence and you can control your own destiny.

Kiera Pedley is a successful business women who helps other business women to succeed in business. She is the founder of several successful networking groups including Women In Enterprise an Australian networking group for women in business.

Networking is all about connecting with other people to see if you can offer something to them, be it a service or product, or referrals for their business. Building relationships is an essential part to networking and the most valuable.

Everyone at a networking event is there to sell their product or service. Unfortunately, networking events are not the best place to make a sale. They are however a great place to make connections – and connections are the key factor in growing a successful business.

These five points are basic networking fundamentals:

1. Presentation

People don’t buy your product or service, they buy you. If a prospect isn’t sold on you personally you have no chance of even beginning a sales transaction.

Your personal presentation is extremely important. Most people will make judgement on you upon first sight. If you are unsure about your personal image, speak to an image consultant to get that professional look. The very basics are to wear well fitted, good quality business attire. Ensure your shoes are clean, your nails are groomed, and if you’re a woman, your make up is neat and professional.

Your body language also tells a story. Ensure you keep your head up, shoulders back, with your arms by your side and a smile on your face. This indicates you are confident and approachable.

Another fundamental point is your handshake. A networking contact can be made and lost with a handshake. Your handshake should be firm, not floppy, but not overpowering. Make eye contact, and be confident.

2. Business Cards

Always make sure you take your cards to a networking event. There is nothing less professional than arriving without cards.

Your business cards should be professionally printed and contain your contact details. A good business card will also contain product or service information. An excellent business card is one that gets remembered, and studies have shown that coloured cards are far more appealing than black and white.

When receiving a business card, it is polite to read both sides of it. If you’re receiving a business card from an Asian contact, it’s polite to receive it with both hands, and treat it with reverence.

3. Give Value First

Trying to get business for yourself from people you have just met is unlikely to work. To form a valuable relationship built on good will and trust you must give value first without asking for anything in return. When you meet someone, ensure you ask about what they do. Then think of people in your contact list who might be able to use there services and pass them on.

4. Keep Details

When you do get details from people you meet ensure you write them down shortly after you have finished talking with them. Write down more than just their contact details, write down personality traits, family details, hobbies, memory joggers of the conversation or anything that actually helps to describe the person.

Jotting these ideas down on the back of their business card is a good way to keep the details handy. Also jot down any appointments or commitments to follow up that you’ve made.

5. Conversation

Having good communication skills are paramount to starting a good relationship. When talking to them ask them about certain things such as, where are they are taking their business next, how they got started in business, what challenges are them facing right now.

Not only do these questions make you seem genuinely interested in them and their business but it gives great insight on to how you can help them and take your relationship to the next level.

PS – if you’re not genuinely interested interested in their business, you’re doing yourself and your prospect a disservice. Leave it to someone who really cares.