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Top Cities for Gig Worker Opportunities

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While you’re sure to find opportunities to be part of the gig economy in just about any metro area, larger cities offer the most opportunities to earn a decent living. Of course, if you are looking for an online gig, you can work from anywhere. But today, we’ll look at some of the best places in the U.S. to live and work on your “gig.”

City Skyline

New York City, NY

The Big Apple offers many high-paying gig opportunities, and you can find some exceptionally well-paying freelance jobs in finance and law. The city also has numerous entertainment districts and eateries, opening the door to popular gigs like food delivery. Also unique to the city, according to New York City Consumer Affairs, is the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, which provides unique protections for freelance workers, including a right to a written contract, timely payment, and protection from retaliation.

When it comes to living in New York City, you might find some surrounding areas, like Newark, New Jersey, a bit more cost-effective.

  • The average rent for a New York City studio apartment: $1,718.
  • The median price for a home: $650,000.
  • Healthcare and grocery costs are on par with the rest of the U.S., but transportation and utilities are much higher.

According to the Cost of Living Calculator :

Cost of Living NY, NY

According to GigLaunch, popular freelance jobs in New York City include food and grocery delivery, rideshare, renting storage, vehicles and parking spaces, being a tech product tester, and dog-walking.

Miami, Florida

According to State-to-State Move, [Read more…] about Top Cities for Gig Worker Opportunities

Practical Resources for Migrant Workers in the U.S.

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There is a big difference between “Legal” and Illegal” immigrants although the media of late has tended to blur the distinction. Legal immigrants are in the country legally and have filed the proper paperwork with the government. Legal immigrants may or may not have the right to work in the U.S. either on a short-term or permanent work permit.

Illegal immigrants, on the other hand,  are in the country illegally, either through overstaying their Visas or crossing the border illegally. Illegal immigrants never have the right to work in the U.S. but often do so “under the table” or via other illegal activities.   Because of their lack of legal status, illegal immigrants may be taken advantage of by employers, landlords, and criminal organizations.

In the following article, we will assume that the migrant workers are in the U.S. legally.~Tim McMahon, editor

Migrant Worker Resources:

Migrant WorkersMigrant workers are valuable contributors to American society, filling jobs, supporting the economy, and contributing to the melting pot that is the U.S. Unfortunately, migrants are often overlooked and unable to access basic resources that many Americans take for granted. This resource digest provides a roundup of tools to help migrants in the U.S. [Read more…] about Practical Resources for Migrant Workers in the U.S.

Make Your Future With A Medical Assistant Career

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Medical assistants play a huge role in the medical industry. It’s an ever-growing field with many different job opportunities available. As a medical assistant, you will have the opportunity to support doctors and nurses by performing administrative tasks, clinical tasks, and secretarial duties. Plus, you will help them provide quality healthcare to patients. Here are some thoughts on making the decision to become a medical assistant.

Consider This Career Move

If you are looking for a medical career with little more than a High School diploma, then becoming a medical assistant might be the perfect move for you. As a medical assistant, you will have the opportunity to support doctors and nurses by performing administrative tasks, clinical tasks, and secretarial duties. Plus, you will help them provide quality healthcare to patients.

You can work part-time or full-time hours depending on what works best for you and your family’s needs. You’ll also get continuing education through conferences and classes that can help increase your earning potential and skillset. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $35,850 in May 2020.

Explore Your Options

If you like working in a fast-paced and high-stress environment, then this could be an excellent career option for you. This job can be very stressful at times, but it’s also rewarding when it comes to helping people receive quality healthcare.

There are many different aspects of this job that make it enjoyable including working with people who need your assistance. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities available for medical assistants today because it’s such a growing industry. You can work in a doctor’s office, urgent care center, clinic, or hospital. [Read more…] about Make Your Future With A Medical Assistant Career

Using the 9 Box Model for Evaluating Employees

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So, you want to improve your worker’s performance and tap them for leadership roles. The 9 Box Employee Evaluation System can increase retention rates and job performance.  It is essential to use innovative ways to improve productivity and enhance your workforce to have a successful business. Using the 9-box model is a simple tool that assists managers and HR administration in evaluating, categorizing, and improving employee performance.

About the 9-Box Model

The 9-Box Model is used to compare, display, and analyze workers’ work potential and performance. You can view their performance with the help of a user-friendly performance map. It is a talent management template that assists managers and HR specialists in effectively recognizing leaders.

Learn About the Performance of the Employee

With the help of the 9 box model, HR professionals can learn about the potential and performance of their employees. During the discussion, they map the workers within 1/9 boxes mapped along the x and y-axis.

The workers’ performance is tracked on the x-axis in their current role, which can be high, moderate, or low.  The potential of the workers is calculated on the y-axis, on a scale from low to high. Although measuring performance is relatively easy, estimating potential can be difficult. A predictive index behavioral assessment can be used to judge an employee’s potential, and once that is determined, the employee can be placed in the proper track for advancement.  This tool helps managers prevent mistakes in evaluating potential. [Read more…] about Using the 9 Box Model for Evaluating Employees

Perks of Choosing a Nursing Career

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When people think of the hospital setting, the comfort provided in the hospitals, and the treatments served are all because of doctors and nursing staff. Though doctors are always credited for their efforts, people often forget to appreciate the nursing staff. The job done by nurses is not an easy one, the caretaking of the patients is all on the shoulders of nurses. Nursing jobs are fulfilling and there are several perks of a nursing career:

Variety

Nursing has extended fields, and it has variations of areas to excel in. Some people find it difficult to deal with trauma care units so they can change their area of expertise and get into a field more to their liking such as maternity or pediatrics. The endless variety makes it easier for nurses to find their perfect niche.

Job Security

Nursing jobs provide job security. Nurses are always needed in hospitals and in private practice. Hospitals are always hiring nursing staff thus they have a secure position and are always in demand. [Read more…] about Perks of Choosing a Nursing Career

Starting a New Business? Tips to Find Capital to Begin

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One of the best ways to avoid unemployment is to start your own business. But… coming up with a new business idea that the community will receive well can be challenging. Even more challenging is getting the capital to get the business running. Of course, many successful businesses have been started on a shoestring. I once started a computer store using only my credit card. I would then build systems to order. As the business grew I was able to expand my inventory and begin stocking frequently used parts. One problem facing companies that raise a lot of capital before they start is that they waste too much money and grow too fast to properly implement good systems. But if you do need to raise capital to get started here are a few suggestions.

Crowdfunding Campaign

There are many success stories of people who have gained capital funds to start their business through crowdfunding campaigns. The amounts vary depending on the product, as it needs to attract like-minded individuals to buy into the cause. With crowdfunding, communication is vital to push the idea to people who usually would not raise funds. However, you might want to keep looking for buying and selling regulation CF shares as you do not want one party to own all shares and own the business.

Fundraise From Family and Friends

Fundraising through family and friends in the first stages of starting a business can help elevate the burden of where to source capital. Before approaching them, cut down the list to only a few who you deem reliable and can willingly support you in your goal of running a business. Clearly outline the risks they’ll be getting involved in when they invest in the business, also, a business plan is a must-have.

Get a Loan

If investing with family and friends is not an option, getting a loan from a bank is a viable option. In many financial institutions, small business loans are available for startups seeking capital and are often offered at lower interest rates. However, it’s good to note that many financing institutions will require the business to be up and running before giving the loan. A good credit score will also help in securing a loan. If both are lacking, bring collateral for approval.

Angel Investor

An angel investor is a person who has the money to invest in numerous business ventures. With the right pitch, they would be willing to pay for your start-up. First, start by having a solid business plan and a pitch ready. The data should have future growth of business and why they need to invest.

Venture Capitalists

A venture capitalist is a more mature brand or company that will also make decisions for the business after offering capital. They often work with cash flow-positive companies that show an upward trajectory. However, your pitch should show why the business idea is a worthwhile investment in less than 5 minutes to secure the capital.

When starting a business, remember that researching the competition, location, and old-fashioned hard work is vital to predicting profit.  Remember that not all market gaps seen in a community can turn profitable.

High School Is Sufficient For These Mainstream Careers

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Careers That Don’t Require a Degree

In school, they say you need a degree to get a good job. But that isn’t true, High School is sufficient for these mainstream careers. There are quite a few high-paying jobs out there that do not require a College degree. Often all you need is a high school diploma or its equivalent and sometimes not even that.

Plumber

A plumber is someone who deals with the plumbing in a home or building. This includes installing pipes, sinks, toilets, water heaters, and water-softener units. To become a plumber, you need a high school diploma, be 18 or older, and complete required training. Once you do this, you need to complete a plumbing apprenticeship and then get your plumber’s license, all the while getting paid to learn. Getting your plumber’s license will have different requirements depending on the state you live in. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters earned an average of $56,330/yr. in May 2020.

The BLS projects about 51,000 openings for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters each year over the next decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who retire. [Read more…] about High School Is Sufficient For These Mainstream Careers

Save Money by Getting Disability Insurance Through Your Work

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When you think of insurance through your employer, you typically think about health insurance. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is a growing trend for employers to offer other types of insurance as well. One of those is disability insurance. In this table (although dated) provided by the BLS, we can see that both long-term and short-term disability insurance coverage has increased over the years.

Disability Insurance

As the name implies, short-term disability plans are designed to replace lost wages for a short, fixed amount of time. Ninety-three percent of private industry workers are covered by a short-term plan. Generally, coverage is about 26 weeks.

If you are among the lucky ones whose employers offer the opportunity to have disability insurance here are some reasons why you should take them up on their offer. [Read more…] about Save Money by Getting Disability Insurance Through Your Work

What To Do If an Injury is Keeping You From Working

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An injury keeping you from your workplace can be especially difficult if it impacts your financial stability. This article highlights a handful of ideas for things to do when your injury keeps you from working.

Consider Alternate Ways to Make Money

When you have an injury that is preventing you from working in the traditional fashion, you might consider alternative ways to make money. After all, even if you make a fraction of what you would otherwise, making some money is still better than making none.

Work from Home. If you’re lucky enough to have a sympathetic boss, you might be able to convince them to allow you to continue your regular job from home. One advantage the pandemic created was normalizing working from home. Working on a computer doesn’t require your presence in the office, and having you work from home could be beneficial to both you and your employer, given that they wouldn’t have to find someone else to take on your responsibilities.

Freelancing. Alternatively, one of the best ways to make money away from a traditional workforce is to invest in freelance efforts. There are many potential areas that you could engage in freelancing, and often the best way to start is to simply dive into an area you enjoy. The more experience you have in a field, the more likely you are to get work. But as long as you are applying and are enthusiastic, you will probably find some work to get the ball rolling.

Pursue Compensation for Your Injury

If your injury is the fault of another party, such as your employer, then you might be entitled to compensation, especially if it is affecting your ability to work. In fact, [Read more…] about What To Do If an Injury is Keeping You From Working

Why Managers Should Receive Regular Soft Skills Training

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Your workforce plays a crucial role in your business operations. When choosing your employees, their qualifications, skills, and abilities are some of the things you consider. However, some skills may be overlooked during recruitment that would play a vital role in your business.

As much as technical skills are essential, it would also help if you considered soft skills. Soft skills are based on an attitudinal approach and how your employees relate with others. Soft skills are non-technical and include vital traits such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal relationships.

Soft skills focus on emotional intelligence, time management, and communication skills. Thus, it is imperative to ensure your management team has the soft skills required to handle your daily operations. Here are some reasons why managers need to have soft skills training.

Improved Leadership

You need your team to work together as a unit to increase productivity and efficiency. Working as a unit ensures division of labor and allows more task completion in less time. Thus, you need a credible leader to oversee team operations and ensure the team works orderly. [Read more…] about Why Managers Should Receive Regular Soft Skills Training