It’s one thing to be stuck in a dead-end job, but quite another to lose that job and be facing unemployment. You start optimistically, telling yourself that it’s a setback or that the company will want you back within a week. The reaction is normal—denial is one of the stages of grief.

Unemployment And Its Negative Effects

You’re not necessarily grieving over the job loss itself. You may even be relieved not to have to go back. What you’re grieving is the financial security that your work afforded you.

You’re not in dire straits, as you can still collect unemployment benefits to put food on the table. What happens if those benefits start to run out, though? What if the job search is unsuccessful?

Will you lose everything?

Do you see how quickly the mood changes?

Welcome to unemployment depression and its effects on your mood and well-being. You can expect a range of emotions, from untamed optimism to spiraling bouts of despair.

Over time, it becomes harder to suppress the unemployment anxiety, and you’re bound to start feeling self-doubt. You might even convince yourself that you’ll never find paid employment again.

You’ll start to lose interest in things that you once enjoyed. It might be too much effort to visit your friends or call anyone. You may start to feel as anything is too much effort.

You might even be lying on the couch all day, binge-watching Netflix.

How To Deal With Stress Associated With Unemployment

One of the worst things to deal with during this stressful period is well-meaning friends and relatives. For someone whose never been in this situation before, it’s difficult to understand. They might tell you to “snap out of it” or assure you not to worry.

Try to take it good-naturedly, though. It’s intended to be comforting. If they’re insistent, let them know that everyone deals with things differently.

In the meantime, it helps to take actionable steps.

Start by assessing the situation. You want to find a job tomorrow, but do you have to? How much do you have to live on in the meantime? You might well be able to go six months before your next paycheck arrives.

Next, create a workable budget that helps you stretch your money further. Simple money saving tips like canceling subscriptions, dining in instead of going out to eat, checking your internet provider and gas rates to ensure that you’re not paying more for utilities than you should, and cut unnecessary expenses to find free ways to have fun.

Find productive pastimes to fill your time. Is there an organization that allows you to volunteer? Helping others gives you a renewed sense of purpose—you might even stumble upon a job interview at the same time.

Spend time each day actively looking for work. Then, devote some time to having fun, as well. Get up every morning and get dressed, as you usually would, as sticking to a routine be a great comfort.

Find a supportive community. The depression will make you want to pull away from others, which is counterproductive. Keep going to church or join a hobbyist group to keep up your social connections.

Tips To Search And Land A New Job

The job market today is intimidating, particularly if you’ve worked for the same company for many years. That’s okay. The right amount of confidence will allow you to ace any interview.

The key is proper preparation.

Start by polishing your resume. Consider consulting an employment specialist to highlight your strengths, if necessary.

Focus more on your business skills achievements. That you volunteer at the SPCA is nice, but the paper that you wrote on ways your company could improve sales is more pertinent to the professional setting.

Get your resume out there. Speak to people and let them know you’re looking for work. Apply for twenty jobs, fifty jobs, a hundred jobs—the more exposure you get for yourself out there, the better.

Less is more in terms of the resume, though. Most companies don’t look past the first page of the resume unless something catches their attention.

When you are called for an interview, do your homework. Research the company and understand the market it serves. What skills of yours will best serve this company?

What approach should you adopt? Is the company conservative or more casual? What projects have you worked on that match their needs as closely as possible?

Also, be prepared to say why you lost your job. Frame it in the most positive way you can think of if they ask. Don’t use this as an opportunity to criticize your previous company, though.

Adjust your attitude at the door. You want the interviewer to see that you’re confident but not arrogant. You shouldn’t have to tell them that you’re the best person for the job—demonstrate it through your actions, attitude, and confidence.

You probably know and are fully aware that the financial aspect of running your business is a big deal, especially if you want to be sure about your decisions and move forward with more confidence. The fact is, you have to stay on top of your finances, and staying on top means being meticulous with your accounts and knowing where your money goes – and where you are getting it as well. But if you are having difficulties managing your finances, it may be time to get the services of an accountant. An accountant can help you with a lot of aspects, and they aren’t just there to manage your accounts – they are there to provide you with advice and make sure you follow updated rules and regulations. If you are thinking of hiring an accountant for your business, here’s how you can select the most appropriate one.

• Look at their experience

The first thing you have to do when looking for an accountant is to assess their experience. Ask them about their industry experience and how long they have been in the business, and ask them if they have experience with the kind of business you have as well. If your prospective accountant has long years of experience, it would usually mean that they have acquired a lot of practical knowledge and have worked with different clients. It also pays to ask them if they can provide you with references from both past and current clients so you can contact these clients and get a better idea of how your prospective accountant works.

• Assess their knowledge of updated regulations

It is also essential that you assess their knowledge of updated regulations. Your accountant needs to be up-to-date with the latest regulations and rules concerning taxation, different processes and practices, and even software. And there’s a balance to this as well; if your potential accountant has been practicing for a while, perhaps they have become too comfortable in their niche to stay in touch with the latest and newest innovations in their industry – so if you can find an accountant who has a good knowledge of the latest changes and regulations and with a lot of experience as well, this is definitely a good thing.

• Find out if there is a dedicated person handling your business’ accounts

If you are looking at a prospective accounting firm providing accounting and bookkeeping services, it would also be wise to ask them who will be handling your business’ accounts. Some firms simply pass each clients’ files around to whoever is available at the time, but if you want a more committed and thorough service, find out if the accountancy service can give you a dedicated accountant. It is important that you establish trust with your chosen accountant, so it’s best if you have one sole person handling your accounts so you can always turn to them if you have any concerns or questions.

Last, but certainly not the least, consider your budget. Whilst you may have it in mind to save as much as you can, know that what you pay for is usually what you would get. You should find the right balance between cost and quality, and with the right information, you can definitely benefit from the proper accountant who knows all your needs.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

Working from home means that you need to have a designated space for your tasks. A simple home office will make you focus on your work and avoid distractions. This way, you can improve your productivity and finish everything on time when you work in the comfort of your home.  Setting up a home office isn’t so difficult. You need to have a few things on your mind!

Source

Pick a calm room

The first step towards setting up a home office is finding the right space. The right choice mostly depends on the nature of your work. If you do a lot of video calls or phone calls, then you will need privacy. Pick a room that is away from noise and traffic.

If you need to meet with clients, then you should locate your home office near the entrance door. Or you can choose a room that has a direct entrance from outside. You really don’t want your clients to have to go through all your home and see a dirty kitchen or a living room full of toys to get to the office. If your clients have to wait for an appointment, add a spot with seating and magazines.

The size of the room is also very important. If you only need your laptop for work, then you won’t have any problem. You can turn the corner of your bedroom to a home office. But if your job requires equipment, you should designate a larger space. Think of the unused space in your home, such as the basement or attic.

Chair

A good chair is a bare essential for your home office. And no, you can’t get away with the chair brought from the dining room. Since you will pass most of the day in your office, you need a comfy chair that is specially designed for long hours of sitting. The right chair should be ergonomic and provide back support. Otherwise, you will have back and neck pain. And you don’t have to waste a lot of money to get a good chair. There are many budget-friendly options that you can consider, so read more reviews here.

Your desk needs to have the right height so that you can feel comfortable while working. Place the desk so that it faces the room. If the space is small, you can place the desk to face a wall. Be sure that you have a window near for natural light.

Lighting

Excellent lighting is very important for working. Make sure that your home office gets a good amount of natural sunlight. It is completely free, so locate your home office in a room that gets plenty of sunlight.

Organizing

Depending on your work, you might have lots of supplies and tools around you. During work time, you can get distracted by the clutter in your office. To avoid this, you should get some good storage solutions. You can use the cheap plastic storage boxes to sort things.

Every homeowner is stuck with the doubt: Is a home warranty a good solution? Will it save me money? This is a question that has a broader answer, rather than a simple yes or no. It all depends on your chosen plan, the current state of your appliances and systems, and if the company you work with is reputable. Read on and find out more!

Low maintenance costs

Your important appliances and systems that help you in everyday life can fail unexpectedly. Since they are crucial, you can’t postpone the reparation process.

This is especially important for more expensive appliances and systems. In some cases, the annual premium plus the out of pocket sum will take only a fraction of the cost that you would pay for an individual repair. Take the water heater for example. The fixing cost can be about $1,000, while an annual premium for a home warranty can range from $300 to $500. Add the service call cost that ranges from $150 to $200. You saved money with only one repair.

Do you really need it?

A home warranty plan is meant to give you peace of mind. But, you have to consider the reasons why you are buying it in the first place. There are many cases in which homeowners avoid buying the home warranty.

A home inspection will give you the answers. They will tell if your home appliances and systems work well. Based on that, you can make a proper decision.

To make sure that you really need a home warranty, check if any of your appliances have a warranty.

Get a reputable provider

Find out which are the reputable providers in your area. This is the first step towards saving money. Homeowners aren’t satisfied with some companies. Why? Because they insert some tricky conditions in the fine print. They can offer partial coverage, or make you wait for hours on the phone to contact them. And you certainly don’t want to lose your time and money in the process.

Covering important appliances and systems

If some of your appliances or home systems fail, you can face repair costs for up to a few thousand dollars. You can save good amounts of money with the right plan. Some of the most expensive home repairs are leaking roof, problems with the pool, malfunctioning HVAC, faulty electrical system, plumbing, septic systems. Also, let’s not forget about the costs of fixing important appliances such as dishwasher, washer, and dryer.

Make a list of all critical points in your home that might fail in the near future. You can exclude the ones that are new and are already being covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Including them means a double cost that falls on your side. When you have your list, compare to the plans that the providers offer to you. This way, you will make sure that your chosen plan is feasible.

Leveraging Instagram is crucial for freelancers who are looking for new customers in 2020. A platform that boasts millions of users each day can significantly increase your sales and revenue. But as a freelancer what steps should I take?

1. Understand the power of Instagram

Instagram is a simple to use platform that currently has 4-tabs. As we approach a more minimalistic future, social media apps that have a minimalistic application approach are taking more market share.

It is estimated that in 2022, Instagram’s monthly users will increase to 989.1 million. Just imagine as a freelancer taking a small portion of that pie? Furthermore, to retain their user’s interest in the app, Instagram continues to roll out new features to further enhance how a user interacts with their follower user on the social network.

Adding to that, Instagram is now becoming more and more integrated with its parent app Facebook, and we will soon begin to see a much older audience above the ages of 45 adopt Instagram as a social network. 

So without further ado, let’s begin! 

2. Convert your profile to a business profile

Converting your profile to a business profile allows you as a freelancer to display your contact number, address and email address. This is key to prospective customers – building trust as they can see that you’re clear and transparent and you’re not simply hiding behind a screen. 

To convert your personal profile to a business profile:

1. Open your Instagram app and sign in to your account if you already haven’t done so.
2. Tap the profile icon to go on to the profile tab.
3. On the top right of your device, tap the 3-lines icon.
4. Tap on settings from the menu that has just opened up.
5. If you have a Facebook account, we strongly recommend you to connect the FB account with your Instagram page.
6. The magic part: Enter in your contact information, email and a physical address (if you have one).
7. Then hit done, congrats you’ve now got a business profile for Instagram.

3. Set the right goals and objectives

Freelancers often create an Instagram page and assume they’re going to increase their sales by 3000% within a couple of days. Chances are that’s never the case unless you’ve got a big marketing budget.

A good number you want to go for is for every 200 organic followers, there will be around 1 sale. Bear in mind that Instagram, just like any other social media platform will have a lot of cold leads rather than hot leads.

Based on how often you post and the quality of your content, you’ll be able to see steady growth. The influencers you see that have amassed thousands of followers? Chances are they’ve been posting for years and have experienced a “snowball effect” on their viral content.

So set the goals and objectives based on the time and resources you have. If you’re posting once a week: then post once a week and see how much engagement you receive from your posts and how many followers you acquire. Then make your goals and objectives from there.

If you’re not seeing your goals being met, then start posting more frequently and finetune the quality of your posts. So you want to finetune your posts? Then read on!

4. Finetuning your Instagram content

Posting the best content, tailored to your audience is a matter of trial and error. Freelancers should post non-salesy content, but content that users can relate with.

You should post several posts and see which post receives the most engagement. When we say engagement, we mean likes, followers and views. What encourages engagement is when a user sees another user follow that same account – as mentioned before this creates the snowball effect and social proof that you want.

If you’re after social proof, it is highly recommended to get Instagram followers according to the country you’re targeting. Let’s say you live in the United Kingdom, you would want to buy Instagram followers in the UK.

For example, are you a freelancer in digital design? Then post about your work and then follow it up with a testimonial from your customers. Post a mixture of your work, testimonials and what goes on behind the scenes of your work. This is an excellent combination to get you, new clients!

If you also want to acquire more customers at a rapid rate and have some money to spend, then reach out to influencers. Once you’ve agreed with a good price, don’t just send any content to the influencer, send them the best content you have and have the influencer tag you in their post and link your details in their bio.

5. Use Instagram’s Direct Messaging Feature

Instagram’s direct message feature allows pretty much anyone to contact you. If a potential client has any questions, they can message you in a single tap without the need of any other details.

On your posts, you should encourage a small conversation on Instagram’s direct messages, and that’s where most freelancers find their new customers – after building rapport. 

The direct message section allows you to also send images of what your potential client can acquire through your services or product. So be sure to take advantage of this.

If you’re not camera-shy, why not start a video chat with them? This will significantly increase your chances of winning over new customers, converting them from cold users to hot customers!

The wrap-up

In summary, place great emphasis on the quality of your page. Once you prioritise quality, the potential customers on Instagram will follow.

You won’t get overnight success from starting to use Instagram. But repetition and consistency will get you the success you want over a long sustained period.

Finding a way to locate new freelance jobs online is always beneficial for the freelancer. It can be difficult to always find work but there are places that help. One of those places is The Online Publishers “TOP platform” for freelancers around the world. From content creation to reviews and more, this is where freelancers can choose to start to make money online. Here are 3 reasons any freelancer should consider working with TOP platform today to start making money from home.

3. Choose Your Own Work

As a freelancer there is great benefit in being able to choose your freelance jobs. You can choose who you are going to work with and that means stopping work with whoever you want, whenever you want. For any freelancers out there today working online it can sometimes be difficult to find the work that you need. TOP platform is a space specifically to find freelance jobs and makes it easier for freelancers to work online from home today around the world. You can choose your own with TOP platform and you can choose what you are going to engage in, what services or goods to offer. But if you are ready for a platform that can help you and provide the marketplace boost like TOP can then take advantage of this place today. Sign up with TOP platform and get the best chance at finding the right freelance jobs for you that you are interested in doing. Find great work that you choose to do and find it today with the freelance jobs that TOP platform hosts for freelancers to find when you need to make money online.

2. No Experience Required

If you want to start with TOP platform then know that there is no specific experience that is required to get started. If you want to engage in content creation, journalism work, publishing, selling photos, doing reviews, trending services, SEO services, digital marketing expertise services etc, there are many different ways for you to start making money. The more goods and services that you can provide through TOP then the more freelance jobs you can ultimately find. How much you work or if you work at all is going to be up to you. TOP platform is simply the place that can help you to succeed. If you are interested in finding freelance jobs that you cannot find anywhere else then sign up with TOP platform to become a freelancer working through this space. It will be the best move that you have made to try and find great freelance jobs online that are unique to the platform. You do not need to go looking anywhere else for help with it. Start today because there is no experience required to do it. This means that there is no risk involved with joining on the platform. It is all benefit for the freelancer.

1. Do What You Love And Get Paid

TOP platform gives the tools and resources to those who need it who want to make money online. If you have been thinking about wanting to make money online but are not sure how then TOP can help. If you have skills in digital marketing and other areas then you can monetize those skills and earn today. TOP platform gives the right opportunity and the best tools to be able to secure those freelance jobs and make money online. Anyone can get started on doing what they love and getting paid for it. There is no better way online today to try and make money than going with TOP platform for it. This is where you can find great opportunity to work at doing what you love. If you love photos, doing reviews, creating content, there are plenty of ways to do it with TOP platform and make money online from it. If you want to be your own boss, do what you love and get paid for it, and start with a platform that offers no risk and no experience required etc, then TOP is your platform to start with. It is easier than ever to register as a freelancer with TOP and find new success online to make money online with freelance jobs.

Cash Flow Finance – A Quick Fix to Your Cash Problems

Are you hitting your target sales yet you don’t seem to have enough cash to keep running your business? This common problem plagues both small startups and big corporations. At some point, it seems inevitable to run into cash flow stress which could keep you wide awake at night. In most cases, cash flow problems are caused by the constant payment to suppliers and unpaid invoices. While you might be able to get some help from banks, you’d have to go through an exhaustive process. Thankfully, there’s a better way to address your cash flow woes.

Cash Flow Financing

An increasing number of business owners turn to alternative lenders to ease up their cash flow. Cash Flow Finance helps you get back on track by providing your business with sufficient cash capital, enabling you to have enough cash for your everyday operations while ensuring that your business operates smoothly. Business finance specialists do an excellent job of tailoring their financing plans based on the unique needs of your business.

If you haven’t had much luck with bank loans, then now is the best time to look into cashflow finance. One huge advantage is the ease of application. The entire process is a breeze, especially if you compare it to all the paperwork you have to prepare when taking out a bank loan. And you probably know how frustrating it feels when the bank doesn’t seem to care or take any action. With Cash Flow Finance, the application process is straightforward and stress-free.

Use Invoices to Your Advantage

Another reason why you should consider cash flow financing is that it lets your invoices work to your advantage. While this may sound strange, it’s actually common practice. Debt factoring is a process that involves the sale of unpaid customer invoices, also known as accounts receivable. Your debt factoring provider can pay a certain percentage of your invoices so you can get a quick cash infusion. The provider will also take care of chasing payment from the customer, so you wouldn’t have to wait any longer. After the customer pays the invoice, the provider will provide the remaining amount minus their fee.

For many businesses, this offers a win-win situation. You can address your cash flow problems right away without having to wait for your invoices to get paid. If you have plenty of customers who tend to pay late, then this proves to be an excellent solution for your business. While you end up getting less compared to waiting for the invoices to get paid, this could be all you need to free up your cash flow and get things in proper order again.

Choose Wisely

Of course, you need to find a reliable lender if banks haven’t been of any help. Keep in mind that not all cash flow financing providers are created equal. Some may appear credible, but dig deep enough and you might find plenty of complaints about their services. For this reason, be diligent in finding a reputable company that has been in business for a long time. Experience plays a critical role in your quest to find the best and most trustworthy debt factoring provider.

If you need some quick cash for your business, you can always rely on Cash Flow Finance for assistance. No longer will you have to wait for your bank to return your calls. And no longer will you have to wait for customers to pay invoices. Allow these business finance specialists to take over and provide you with sufficient cash infusion until your business can stand up on its own once again.

No matter how much research you do into a customer or company, there is always a risk that they won’t pay their bills. Even trusted, long-term clients can surprise you and leave you in the lurch. It is an all-too-common situation and can be financially devastating.

When it occurs, you can do one of three things: cut your losses and write off the bill, ceasing trading with the customer, collect the debt yourself, or hire a debt recovery agency. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you need the third option. Many people worry a debt recovery firm will be too expensive. Or they fear losing control of the process. Here are some signs that show you the time is right to call in the experts.

1. Your Customer or Client has Disappeared

You had a great relationship with a company while you were working with them, with plenty of contact on the phone and by email. Now, when your bill is long past due, they seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth. Your calls are unanswered. Mail is returned. You cannot get a response from email. You may even have visited their business premises and found them empty. Debt recovery agencies have the skills and powerful techniques to track down lost clients. They will find your debtors so you can claim the money you are owed.

2. The Debt is Past Due

It is a good idea to work with a debt recovery firm as soon as possible since it is harder to reclaim money the longer it is owed. But sometimes debts can mount up. Call in a debt recovery firm if a debt is over 90 days overdue. It is tricky to claim the money after this amount of time, but a professional firm will have a much better chance of success than your in-house team.

3. Cheques Have Bounced and Payments Been Refused

Customers that promise to pay and send in a cheque that bounces are due a call from debt collectors. This is a strong sign that the customer does not intend to pay their bill.

4. They Avoid Communication

If the person you need to speak to about a debt is always in a meeting, or the manager promises to call you back and then never does, it is a good idea to hire a professional collection firm. You do not have time to waste calling and emailing, only to get nothing in response. They are trying to stall you in the hope you will give up and go away. They probably have no intention of paying.

5. Payment Plans are not Respected

You speak to a customer who explains they are having financial difficulties, so you arrange a payment plan. Maybe they pay a couple of instalments, but then you receive nothing more. These customers are playing for time, trying to keep the bill unpaid for as long as possible so it is harder to collect. It’s time to work with an agency to make sure you get the money you are owed.