According to the Kaufman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, about 543,000 new businesses are started every month in the United States. As the economy continues to slowly recover, is now a good time to start that business you always dreamed of owning? Here are some thoughts from successful entrepreneurs and experts on what it takes to start a successful business:
To nail that job offer, try raising your conversational IQ
The single most critical determinant of whether someone receives a job offer is how well they handle the interview process. In addition to ensuring candidates have the qualifications, interviews also determine important, intangible factors that could contribute to the employee’s and the company’s success. This is all accomplished in about 40 minutes, the average time a typical job interview lasts.
Bad Boss: The signs are usually there when you interview
Ray White, global chief performance officer for social media consulting firm ICUC-Dentsu Aegis Network, took a job working for a boss who turned out to have an addiction to prescription medication and went “off the deep end” during an important client meeting. When he interviewed for the position, White said he “noticed her rambling and random comments but thought she was just really smart.”
Seeing is Believing: Visual Infographic Resumes
According to a University of Minnesota study, presenters who use visual aids are 43 percent more effective in persuading audience members to take a desired course of action. This study is part of a body of research that supports the view that visual presentation is more effective than text when it comes to persuasion. Yet the standard résumé has remained unchanged for the past 50 years.