Recently in Incentives Category

We have already awarded two 12 week online interactive business classes to two Capital Region residents seeking to take the next step in their career, whether it be start a business, find a new job or career, or learn something new to help them in their existing situation.

We are delighted to be offering these free courses for 12 lucky recipients this holiday season in the spirit of workforce development, business startup incubation, and career training for those who have been let go or downsized.

To enter for a spot in the 12 Classes of Christmas contest, send an email to info@saratogacollege.com with your request for a free course, why you want to take the course, and what you hope to learn as a result of it. The courses included Modern Marketing Methods, Exceptional Human Resources and Entrepreneurship, among others.

The first 12 submissions will very likely also be the 12 recipients (the first two were inspiring people so we selected them right away), so get in your email request today!

If you are out of work, it may be time to make a list of the 10 reasons you don't have a job. Many people will blame the economy, layoffs, poor bosses, etc, but if you sit down and look at some of the other reasons you are out of work, you may discover that all the reasons you come up with are manageable and fixable.

Here are 10 reasons many people are out of work other than economic conditions

1. An unclear objective
2. A resume that lacks clarity
3. Lack of online presence on sites like LinkedIn
4. Expired credentials
5. Incomplete degree requirements
6. Lack of experience with new technology
7. Poor presentation skills
8. Not accepting jobs that are "beneath them"
9. Gaps in employment that aren't explained
10. Inflexibility in work schedule

All 10 of these items can easily be adjusted. You may want to consider checking out the Career Communications Concepts online learning environment through SaratogaCollege.com. Be one of the first 5 people to email us before 9/18 at robert@saratogacollege.com and you will be given free access to this 12 week career development course and guidance to help you find your next job.

Many people may tell you that you need to drop everything to start your own business. As evidenced in my own career and in those that I mentor, starting a business doesn't need to be the end of working for or with others.

Recently, two local students approached me about starting businesses. Both seemed very excited about their lines of business but knew that it would require a great deal of time and dedication. We have been working together on developing time management and resource management strategies to ensure they balance work and personal life as well the needs of their side businesses.

While both of these entrepreneurs want to eventually do the work they are doing full-time, they realize that it's best to let it grow naturally while keeping afloat through traditional employment.

If you are thinking of starting your own business and need that little push over the top, check out our Mentoring Through Intellectual Capital program

The past week has seen a flurry of activity as major league baseball teams have scurried around to find that one or two missing pieces they feel they need for a run to the playoffs. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cleveland and Texas proved to be some of the big players in this years trading frenzy. Many teams stayed out of the trading race this year as the cost of trading prospects was too high or there was no one on the market who was better than what the team already had in its minor league or major league rosters.

In business, when it's time for the holiday rush, a sales blitz, or other peak in business, it's often easy to get caught up in the game of landing that flashy new salesperson or hiring extra staff to get through a peak period.

Sometimes, the best solution for amping it up during peak periods is to value your existing staff even more; reward them with overtime, sales performance bonuses, or some other perks to give them the opportunity to meet the goals you seek. Indeed, sometimes right at home is where you can find the talents and people you are looking for outside.

At one of the restaurants I managed, we had issues with high amounts of food waste. Every night, we seemed to throw out quite a bit of food at the end of the shift, and also during the day when production was too high.

To combat the food waste on the night shift, I'd offer the staff the option to replace our brief meeting at the end of the night with a "brief eating" if all that was left over was enough food to feed the staff. In addition, we had to track spoilage all day during the day shift, and if we met the spoilage limit goals for the day, the people who worked during the day shift were rewarded with food on their next shift.

Within a couple days of instituting this policy, it worked! We threw away far less food, and the staff knew to balance wait times with production to ensure quality without waste.

It seems like I can't turn on my television anymore without being bombarded by facts about our how terrible our economy is doing and how much worse unemployment got that day. As a college student, this is pretty scary. When we were going into high school we were always told just to focus on getting to college and graduating because as long as we did that we would get a job no problem. It doesn't seem like college quite cuts it anymore.

Students are trying to find really creative ways of getting in with those major companies like one I heard about at Boston College currently going for his eighth Bachelor's Degree. But what about those of us who don't want to spend 10 years of our life in college? What do we do? Should we just hope we happen to save some CEO's life and have them owe us a favor like it happens in the movies? I think we all wish it were that easy, but there is something we can do for ourselves that doesn't even require effort. It's finding our passion.

I think the thing that is missing from a lot of students going out for jobs now is that they aren't passionate about what they do. They're majoring in things like business and engineering even if they hate them because they think they will make more money in those jobs. I can't lie and say that all jobs make the same salaries, but if you have more drive to do something you are more likely to reach the top of that career and that means more money.

I know I'm a little biased considering I'm planning on being an Art major, but I think in the long run taking a risk and going for a job that you might think will make less money but you really want to do will pay off.

A lot of my friends agree with me on this, but they are still majoring in something they hate. Why? Check back on Monday for more.

Kellie Rowan is a virtual intern for Braathe Enterprises. To find out more about virtual internship opportunities, visit http://www.braatheenterprises.com/internships

I'm offering a comprehensive Project Management online training program with real-time webinars and/or face to face meetings for those interested in satisfying the 35 hours of training/education required as part of the PMP exam process. The course can be completed in as little as eight weeks and portions are personalized to each student.

My first student began this week on her project management coursework. Covering all aspects of project management, this book utilizes a great text from Kathy Schwalbe and incorporates the formulation of an actual project plan by each participant, as well as a practice exam to prepare you for taking certification exams.

Here is the info on the book I am using from Amazon

"Best-selling author Kathy Schwalbe's Introduction to Project Management, Second Edition offers a general yet concise introduction to project management. This book provides up-to- date information on how good project, program, and portfolio management can help you achieve organizational success. It includes over 50 samples of tools and techniques applied to one large project, and is suitable for all majors, including business, engineering, healthcare, and more. This text uses a chronological approach to project management, with detailed explanations and examples for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing projects."

To sign up for this class, email us at info@saratogacollege.org

One of the best way I know to build rapport on a team or to strengthen your personal and professional relationships is to get out of the office and "break bread" with others. An even better way to reward others is by taking them out to an event that allows everyone to totally escape the day-to-day activities of the office.

For me, "going on tour" this summer with The Goo Goo Dolls and Michelle Branch by taking business associates, friends and clients to a great night of music is going to be a great way to give back to those who mean the most to me. I'm taking some of my clients to the show in Saratoga Springs, and also treated some of my interns and business associates to a couple other shows in the Northeast.

Given the nature of the concert, there will be little or no talk about business; only enjoyment of great shows and great times. With the variety of locales that the concert series is playing, I am able to reach out to a variety of people without having to book meeting space, overnight accommodations, or have excessive overhead for these incentive events.

Next time you take a look at your incentive programs or meeting plans, see how you can work a concert into your meeting strategy. Many venues (like SPAC in Saratoga) offer convenient places to meet up and convenient offers for small to large groups.