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Top Communication Tools for Your Remote Workforce

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Remote working has long been considered one of the perks for working for a modern, forward-thinking employee. But this year, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the number of people working from their homes, with many businesses (including Facebook and Google) expected to make this a permanent possibility for their teams. 

With teams working across different locations, it’s important to maintain strong communication. The right communication tools can improve collaboration within your teams, keeping them connected and engaged, maintaining your business’ productivity.

Improve remote communication within your business with these top communication tools for your remote workforce.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a popular solution for businesses. It’s free, provides a range of functions, and it integrates with your existing Microsoft applications including Microsoft Outlook. It’s an ideal tool for internal communications, providing chat functions and video calling, with the ability to set up guest access for external participants too.

RingCentral Office

RingCentral Office is fast becoming the leading solution for business communications. Providing video calling, VoIP services and an omni-channel cloud contact center, RingCentral is an all-in-one solution for keeping team connected. With solutions available to meet different budgets, it’s ideal for businesses of all sizes.

Slack

Slack is a tool that’s been used by businesses for several years now. It’s a simple application that can help teams stay connected wherever they are, ideal for project working. Providing faster and more effective solutions than email, it can easily be integrated with other applications too. Slack allows companies to work with other companies too – helping everyone keep track of a one-off or ongoing project.

Zoom

Zoom has been one of the most visible online meeting tools worldwide this year. People love how easy it is to use, and for businesses, it provides you with multiple tools to enable better communication online. Zoom enables different types of online meetings, allowing businesses to host webinars, Q&As, conference rooms and more. A lot of people are using Zoom due to its easy integration with mobile apps and more, allowing users to join video calls wherever they are.

InVision

Creatives tend to thrive in an office environment to allow them to work quickly, get feedback and deliver. When working remotely, this connection risks disappearing. Luckily, InVision provides an enhanced communication experience to help designers work on projects seamlessly and easily. Used by a lot of household names, including Spotify, Amazon and HBO, it’s a professional. cloud-based design tool capable of some big things.

Support Your Remote Workforce with Managed IT

If your business is looking for communications solutions for your remote workforce, working with a managed service provider might be the best way to go. A local IT company in Alexandria will know just the tools that will help your business grow and thrive. Managed IT services are effective and secure, helping you get the most out of your business. 

Questions to Ask Your Personal Injury Lawyer

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Depending on what your personal injury case is, you might need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you sue for personal injury compensation and make sure that all your rights and interests in setting negotiations with the insurance company. 

Before you hire a lawyer, there are some questions that you need to ask. 

Will You Be Able to Handle My Case?

The best lawyers know their areas of expertise. They won’t take on cases of clients that won’t get the attention they need. 

Make sure that your lawyer has the time, energy, and expertise to familiarize themselves with your case and that they are able to represent you in court. 

In What Areas of Law Do You Specialize?

It’s important that you choose a lawyer who focuses on personal injury law. The specialization matters because you need a lawyer who is experienced in personal injury law and knows the common defense tactics that are used by insurance companies. 

They will also know how to negotiate in accordance with what you need and can navigate some complex litigation procedures. 

Have You Handled a Personal Injury Trial Before?

Personal injury cases are often settled without the need to go to trial and still get the result you deserve. However, if your lawyer has no trial experience, it could be a disadvantage to your personal injury case. 

Lawyers who are willing and able to go to trial will have the experience and leverage to get the right settlement. If the settlement demands aren’t met, or you and your lawyer don’t think that what is being offered is fair, they can push for a fair settlement. 

An experienced lawyer can help with your personal injury case, and you can be sure that they will fight for your case until you get the result that you deserve. 

How Often Will You Contact Me About My Case? 

A red flag that you should look out for is if your lawyer sends a paralegal or an investigator to your first consultation. 

You want to speak to the lawyer who will be handling your case, not someone from their team. If your lawyer doesn’t communicate with you directly or often enough, it’s time to look for another one. 

How Much is the Contingency Fee?

This is one of the most important questions that you need to ask your lawyer, especially if your injury has caused you to accrue a lot of debt. 

A good personal injury lawyer bases their work on a contingency fee agreement. This means that you only have to pay for the legal fees if they are able to win your case. 

The cost of the contingency fees will vary state to state, but they usually range from 33–40% of the compensation you win. Sometimes these fees can be lessened. 

Read your retainer documents thoroughly before you hire a lawyer and be wary of the law firms that offer contingency fees that are a lot lower than other law firms in the market.

Who Can Serve as an Expert Witness in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?

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In some law cases, an additional expert witness is suggested or needed to come to a conclusion based on the evidence provided. A doctor who is qualified and experienced can choose to become a medical expert witness. 

The usual way for doctors to become expert witnesses is by promoting their expertise in a specific medical discipline. This is done by registering with organizations that keep databases of expert witnesses. 

There are several expert witness networks that doctors can register with. Each one has its own eligibility rules and requirements for joining the network. 

Expert Witness Qualifications

In order to qualify as a medical malpractice expert witness, you will need to have a current, valid, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in your area of expertise. You will also likely need to be board-certified in a specific medical speciality and have specialist qualifications. 

A medical expert witness might also be expected to have been in active practice in their speciality area. They will also need to have relevant clinical knowledge and experience in the industry in the areas of medical practice that are the subject of the court proceedings. 

To become a medical expert witness, you will need to have knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education. This information can be used to help a court to understand the evidence that is presented in a medical-legal case, or to determine the facts of a case. 

There are also some practical requirements for being able to provide expert witness services:

  • Demand for your areas of expertise
  • The ability to follow and meet a deadline
  • A commitment to excellence in your field
  • No license revocations, criminal convictions, past writings that have been controversial, or judgements seen as poor
  • A flexible schedule that will allow you to make appearances at trials and depositions
  • An employer who will allow you to offer your services as an expert witness
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • A complete CV that will allow the retaining counsel to review your professional qualifications
  • A detailed fee schedule, or an expert witness contract
  • Excellent skills in organization, research, and investigation

Ethical Guidelines

An important part of being a medical expert witness is being familiar with the professional ethics involved in a medical or law field. 

Listed here are some of the most critical expert witness ethical guidelines that anyone who wants to offer their services an expert witness should be aware of:

  • Your review of medical facts and opinions should be truthful, impartial and thorough. There should be no information or views that favor the defendant or the plaintiff. 
  • Your testimony should reflect the very latest and proven scientific evidence and accepted practice standards that are prevalent at the time of the medical-legal case in question
  • You should make an effort to thoroughly assess and investigate whether the alleged substandard medical practice was in any way related to the adverse outcome
  • Your fee for your medical witness testimony should directly relate to the amount of time you have to spend on the case and should in no way depend on the outcome of the medical-legal claim
  • You should be willing to submit your testimony for review.

What is MEMS, and Why Is It Important?

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The world of technology is ever evolving. Yet, in order for us to continue to facilitate new technological advances, it’s essential to find new ways of pushing that growth, particularly within the field of space and medicine. One of the key areas for facilitating that growth is in the ability to manufacture miniature tools. This is where the world of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, comes in.

Microfabrication is the form of technology creation that uses miniature mechanical and electro-mechanical pieces. Due to the size of these elements and what they can create, MEMS has the potential to push both the space and medical technological fields beyond its current progress. However, in order to understand its full potential, it’s useful to know exactly what MEMS is.

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

MEMS technology handles the devices and structures produced via microfabrication. And it’s the size that differentiates this technology. The parts that are used here are typically much lower than one micron all the way to up just a few millimeters. But that’s not all, another thing to note with MEMS is that the structures used can be somewhat simple, or very complex with a full range of moving elements involving microelectronics.

However, it’s also important to understand that one of the key components of MEMS is that there is a mechanical aspect to it—regardless as to whether there is a form of moveability or not.

This technology can also have a range of different names all around the world. It is said that in the United States the term MEMS is most commonly used. However, both of the terms Microsystems Technology and Micromachined Devices still refer to the same process.

What They Do In Development

In order to understand how this works within development, it’s essential to know the key elements of MEMS. The functional elements often concern miniature devices, actuators, sensors and microelectronics. The most notable, or which tend to be the microsensors and microactuators, are known as transducers. You can then better understand what this has to offer for development and growth.

MEMS structures have been used in a range of research and tests and the result has been that they have actually outperformed macroscale alternatives. But that’s not all; their production process offers a low production price per structure, so not only does MEMS offer a superior performance, but a more effective cost-per-device too.

As a step up from that, despite their very small size, they can actually perform to a level that surpasses what a macroscale counterpart could produce. This puts MEMS and microfabrication in particular at the forefront of technological innovation.

Conclusion

To summarize, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems or MEMS is the production of very small devices and structures through the process of microfabrication for fields such as space and medicine, among others. As a result of research and testing, it has come to light that MEMS can actually outperform their counterparts at a lower cost, making them an essential element in future industry growth.

A Guide to Sourcing Car Insurance Online

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We are living in a digital age and vehicle insurance, like most other things, can be sourced from the online insurance company, which means you do not have to drive to their offices and the policy can be acquired online, giving you instant cover when you need it the most. Not only can you obtain immediate cover, the premiums are generally lower than when dealing with a traditional insurance company; indeed, some online insurers issue a price matching guarantee, which means they will beat any valid quote you may have had from another insurer.

Types of Car Insurance

There are 3 main forms of car insurance, which are as follows:

  1. Class 1 – Known also as comprehensive insurance, this covers all forms of damage that might occur, whether through an accident, vandalism, fire or theft. Things like windscreen cover and roadside recovery can also be included in the policy and for a car that is around 2 years old, or less, you are advised to take out comprehensive class 1 insurance.
  2. Class 2 – You would be hard pushed to find a better deal than 2nd class car insurance from Rabbit Finance, a leading insurance provider with a range of affordable policies and with a secure online payment, you have immediate cover and the policy documents will be mailed to your home address. Class 2 is the most popular type of car insurance, as it offers many of the Class 1 options at a much lower price, and when you are looking for the best value, class 2 is the obvious choice.
  3. Third Party, Fire & Theft – The most basic of cover, 3rd party insurance only covers damage caused to a third-party vehicle, plus they will pay an agreed amount should the vehicle be destroyed by fire or stolen. If your car is old, then third-party insurance might be the best solution, as it is the cheapest. Here are a few life lessons you may not have learned at school.

Comparing Quotes

The great thing about online solutions is that you can easily compare quotes from a wide range of insurers and check to see whether they offer no-claims discount and named drivers, which does save you money. Some online insurers are so confident their rates cannot be beaten, that they offer you a price match guarantee, meaning if you can show them a valid quote from another insurer, they will match it.

Service All Hours

You can take out car insurance online at any time day or night and when you buy a used car in the evening, you can take out immediate cover that will enable you to drive the car home. Instant cover means taking no risks, as driving without insurance is against the law regardless of the situation.

If you have already had a few quotes for insuring your car and would like to see if you can find a better deal, search online for cheap car insurance and you should find an insurer that will beat your lowest quote.

Can my spouse get social security disability benefits?

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If you feel you are eligible for social security disability benefits, you should apply for them online as soon as possible. Social security disability payments can alleviate financial stress you encounter if you are unable to work due to your disability. 

If you feel this applies to you, you can find the online application for social security disability here

If you have made an application for social security disability benefits previously and it has been denied, you should consider hiring a social security attorney to help appeal the decision.

In this post you will find all you need to know about applying for disability benefits, who is eligible and the amount you can receive.

Who is eligible for social security disability?

If you are unsure if you could be eligible for social security disability, this depends on many factors. These factors include:

  • Your ability to work. If you are able to work at least part time and earn over $1,310 per year, it is unlikely that you will be considered disabled.
  • How long you have worked for in the past. If you have paid much social security over the years of your life, you are more likely to be accepted in your claim.
  • The type of disability you have. If your disability disqualifies you from working at all, it is more likely that you can claim social security disability. If you are able to work some jobs, but not all, this will reduce your chances.
  • Your spouse. If your spouse is also disabled, you will be eligible for a larger sum each month than if your spouse is able to work, or if you live alone. 

How much do my spouse and I get for social security disability?

If you and your spouse are both eligible for social security disability, you are entitled to a maximum of around $2000 per month, depending on your age. The older you are, the higher the amount will be, because it will mean you have paid more social security over your lifetime. 

If you are disabled and your spouse is not, you can be “deemed” a portion of their income to you. If your spouse’s income is high, this might make you ineligible for SSDI or SSI. 

The amount of social security benefit you receive entirely depends on the type of disability you have and the type of benefits you are applying for, as well as your household income.

Will my spouse’s income affect my social security benefit claim?

Your spouse’s (meaning someone to whom you are legally married and currently living with) income only affects your application if you are applying for low-income SSI or SSDI, which is given out on a case-by-case basis.

However, if you are applying for social security after retirement, your spouse’s income shouldn’t affect your application.

Your eligibility for social security disability benefits and other social security insurance rests on many factors including your medical history, age and marital status. If you aren’t sure whether you are eligible, the only way to find out is to make an application. 

If you feel this applies to you, you can find the online application for social security disability here

If you have made an application for social security disability benefits previously and it has been denied, you should consider hiring a social security attorney to help appeal the decision.

In this post you will find all you need to know about applying for disability benefits, who is eligible and the amount you can receive.

Who is eligible for social security disability?

If you are unsure if you could be eligible for social security disability, this depends on many factors. These factors include:

  • Your ability to work. If you are able to work at least part time and earn over $1,310 per year, it is unlikely that you will be considered disabled.
  • How long you have worked for in the past. If you have paid much social security over the years of your life, you are more likely to be accepted in your claim.
  • The type of disability you have. If your disability disqualifies you from working at all, it is more likely that you can claim social security disability. If you are able to work some jobs, but not all, this will reduce your chances.
  • Your spouse. If your spouse is also disabled, you will be eligible for a larger sum each month than if your spouse is able to work, or if you live alone. 

How much do my spouse and I get for social security disability?

If you and your spouse are both eligible for social security disability, you are entitled to a maximum of around $2000 per month, depending on your age. The older you are, the higher the amount will be, because it will mean you have paid more social security over your lifetime. 

If you are disabled and your spouse is not, you can be “deemed” a portion of their income to you. If your spouse’s income is high, this might make you ineligible for SSDI or SSI. 

The amount of social security benefit you receive entirely depends on the type of disability you have and the type of benefits you are applying for, as well as your household income.

Will my spouse’s income affect my social security benefit claim?

Your spouse’s (meaning someone to whom you are legally married and currently living with) income only affects your application if you are applying for low-income SSI or SSDI, which is given out on a case-by-case basis.

However, if you are applying for social security after retirement, your spouse’s income shouldn’t affect your application.

Your eligibility for social security disability benefits and other social security insurance rests on many factors including your medical history, age and marital status. If you aren’t sure whether you are eligible, the only way to find out is to make an application. 

Biotech Firm Cold Storage Giant Hit by Cyberattacks

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The year 2020 will always be remembered as a disruptive year, however, it’s not just for the global health crisis. As exponential change accelerated and people began working from home, cyberattacks also mounted. 

If you speak to anyone about what the top story was globally for 2020, and they are likely, to begin with, the COVID-19 pandemic. But so much more has happened. It will most definitely be remembered as the year that security events skyrocketed, and cyber incidents left many businesses looking for heightened internet security. 

From virus-related phishing links, telework mistakes, to new working processes to hackers, the coronavirus has created many new opportunities for cybercriminals. What is very clear is that security and technology pros have struggled in 2020 to respond quickly to the changing environment. 

Notable Attacks

Cold storage giant Americold, and Global firm Miltenyi Biotec have recently had to deal with cyberattacks; ransomware, phishing, an email error, and an application hack to name a few. 

Miltenyi Biotec reported a system outage that was caused by a malware attack, while the cold storage giant Americold, experienced a “cybersecurity incident.”

Miltenyi is a global company responsible for supplying SARS-CoV-2 antigens for research firms dealing with COVID-19 treatments. When Miltenyi’s IT infrastructure got hit, it caused issues with their data, and communication systems before their operations were fully restored.

In the meantime, a Securities and Exchange Commission filing revealed that a “cybersecurity incident” struck the network of Americold. Not only were officials able to contain the issue, but they instigated a new business continuity plan to keep the business operating.

These attacks seem as though they align with recent alerts received from the federal agencies and Microsoft. These warn that hackers are targeting those working on the COVID-19 response with cyberattacks and the healthcare sector in order to disrupt operations and steal data. 

It is important for healthcare entities to continue to prioritize improving their security defenses and ensure the effectiveness of business continuity plans so they are able to prevent falling victim. Dozens of other US health systems and hospitals have also faced ransomware attacks and subsequent EHR downtime. Some of these include: 

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services

They recently had to inform 10,000 individuals that their COVID-19 tests were compromised. A division of Public Health employees sent two unencrypted emails containing the data to an unauthorized user. The email messages contained patient details and were meant to go elsewhere. Additional training has now been provided to staff. 

Mercy Iowa City

Around 60,000 patients were affected because of a phishing attack through an employee’s email. The affected data potentially included sensitive personal information, including official records, medical treatments, and license numbers. The city quickly reinforced its security measures so it’s not only better protected, and monitored.

First Impressions Orthodontics

A ransomware attack potentially compromised the data of thousands of patients. The ransomware was detected in September 2020, and quickly contained, although suspected that patient data including vital health, official, and personal information was stolen before the case was controlled.

While it is often downplayed, having management for your security for businesses to take action and heighten their security protocol in light of COVID-19. Utilizing a managed service provider can ensure that the integrity of a business remains intact because you can guarantee you have the right measures of security in place.

Dan Snyder: An Entrepreneur Focused on Charitable Ventures

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As a self-reliant entrepreneur, Dan Snyder has always felt passionate about helping others, the value of team membership and his local community. Snyder was raised in the Washington, D.C., area and attended the Redskins, now known as Washington Football, games with his dad. Gerald Snyder was a big influence on the youngster, inspiring him to feel positive emotions about the team. Daniel Snyder purchased Washington Football Team in 1999 and was responsible for helping his team become prominent in the Washington, D.C., area, the Football League and other business establishments. Focusing on performing good works in the community, Dan Snyder influenced the team to raise sizable amounts of money for various charitable organizations. The team has also managed to gain merit as a valued sports franchise.

Daniel Snyder is recognized as an important philanthropist. In 2000, he connected his Washington Football Team with other prominent business owners when he created the Washington Charitable Foundation. His foundation continues to represent a positive force in the community with its emphasis on health and education. Mr. Snyder’s programs were responsible for donating approximately $29 million to various local organizations and private individuals. In 2019, the Charitable Foundation hosted more than 115 educational workshops and family events. Dan Snyder’s efforts helped many children improve their reading skills via his popular Read Program. Also, he started a wellness program dedicated to helping thousands of seventh-graders maintain their health.

The Charitable Foundation recently expanded the Loads of Love program focused on helping homeless people by installing laundry rooms in various buildings. The free program helps numerous children by providing them with clean clothing so that they can attend school without feeling self-conscious. Dan Snyder’s mission as a philanthropist has expanded to assisting people living in the Bahamas and Haiti. His philanthropic efforts involved helping people whose lives were negatively impacted by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 to delivering medical supplies via Washington Football team members. Furthermore, Snyder’s disaster relief efforts were known before 2016. Dan Snyder provided a substantial sum of money to help people during the Thailand and Indonesia tsunamis in 2004 Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Snyder supported building the Snyder Family Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center when he was a board member at the Children’s National Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. The charity assisted runaways and their parents. The Snyder’s received special recognition for their efforts at the Hope Awards Dinner sponsored by the Charles B. Wang International Children’s Award.

After the George Floyd murder in May 2020 and the Black community’s call for support, Dan Snyder donated $250,000. Additionally, Snyder donated $100,000 to the local food bank in the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also helped create a COVID-19 testing site in Prince George county. His Washington Football Team donated $35,000 to restore the Ashburn Colored School located in Loudoun County in 2016. Snyder also helped the military and worked with the Gary Sinise Foundation. The foundation was responsible for creating a smart home for a paralyzed veteran, Capt. Luis Avila. Avila was also an enthusiastic Washington Football fan throughout his life. Capt. Avila’s paralysis occurred while serving in the U.S. Army.

Snyder won the Youth for Tomorrow’s Distinguished Leader Award in 2010. The organization sponsored a private residential school located in Bristow, Virginia. The school offered residential care for approximately 900 homeless children and teens from the District of Columbia and the Northern Virginia area.

In 1985, Dan Snyder founded Snyder Communications Inc. and was also the CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Snyder Communications Inc. expanded to become a worldwide organization comprised of 12,000 employees located in 17 different countries. In addition to his many charitable contributions, Dan Snyder founded the Board of Red Zebra Broadcasting LLC, an organization operating radio stations focused on airing Washington Football games and local programs. Snyder is also involved with advising business owners throughout the United States. Dan Snyder was recognized by the Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame for his numerous achievements. Dan and Tanya Snyder live in Potomac, Maryland. The Snyder’s are the proud parents of three children.

For more information about Daniel Snyder, visit: https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Snyder

Job Market Expands As Covid Fears Subside

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The job market seems to headline at least one story on the morning news every day. Yet, it’s difficult to understand what those statistics mean for you. Vicarious experience is often a less effective teacher than we would hope. Nevertheless, despite poor performance last year, things are turning around in many industries.

Key Highlights

  • Job Growth Is at Historic Highs
  • Unemployment Rates Have Fallen From Last Year
  • As the Economy Reopens, Experts Predict Further Improvement

The Most Important Developments in the Job Industry

We understand it. You don’t have enough time to parse through the financial headlines every evening. With a full-time job and a family, you’ve got more than enough on your hands. For that reason, we’ve put together a helpful little analysis. That way, you can get the most relevant information. All without having to read through a bunch of filler material.

A Dramatic Shift to Remote Work

First, we need to highlight something. In what is the most substantial transformation so far, now more people work from home than ever. When the nation locked down, many companies switched to this model. Nevertheless, once the country reopened, many of them continued with the new model. Thus, tons of people who worked in an office last year are working from home now. Therefore, if you want a remote work opportunity, there’s never been a better time to find one. Think of all the things you can do at home. For instance, you’ll have more free time. Instead of commuting, you just step out of the home office. That could be several extra hours per week right there.

Major Movements Away From Previous Employment Meccas

Along with this shift, many companies are moving away from major metropolitan centers. Even though the effects are residing, its long-term impact continues to be felt in New York City. From there alone, several of the nation’s largest financial institutions have moved headquarters. Of course, with each of these transitions, people’s lives are affected. Some of them pack up and go along. Others simply lose their jobs. Either way, the positions need to be filled. We think you might have a chance.

Vaccine Release Has Opened Many Retailers

After many long months, several vaccines have finally been released. During the heights of the pandemic, those were the Holy Grail of our hopes. Now, most of us can schedule one. Consequently, retail stores are beginning to open up. In some instances, retailers have gone from reduced capacity to full capacity. Along with the expanded business potential, the need for new hires is increasing. With multiple vaccines now available, immunization rates are increasing rapidly. Within a short span of time, social distancing will no longer be necessary. When that happens, we can finally go back to living our lives. Meanwhile, we promise to continue doing our part.

Healthcare Professionals Are Experiencing More Demand Than Ever

Of course, even though it’s effects are subsiding, the pandemic continues to rage on. If you happen to have health care credentials, demand is at an all-time high. Therefore, in some instances, people are earning triple what they did last year. For the same work, some hospitals are paying nurses over 300% more per hour. Currently, it’s unknown how long this situation will last. However, if you are a qualified healthcare professional, it’s a great opportunity. In the same span of time, a single week would earn you the equivalent of 120-hours pay. Plus, demand is up across the country. Thus, you can more or less decide where you would like to live. Suppose you’d like to see more of the West Coast. Then, there are plenty of job opportunities over there definitely.

Lots of Restaurants Are Hiring

During the national lockdowns, many restaurants were forced to close their doors. Now, market space has opened up. With the abundance of opportunities, we will see small businesses flourishing nationwide. When was the last time you tried a meal from somewhere new? Hopefully, you will get the chance to very soon. On top of that, you might snag a career position. Perhaps, you could do some IT work for one of the new businesses. On the other hand, you could work with the business more directly. For instance, let’s say you’ve got some accounting skills. If that is the case, you could be in charge of the company’s books.

Freelance Work Is Growing in Popularity

Nothing is more intrepid than the Spirit of an entrepreneur. Despite the prevailing economic circumstances, freelancers continue to break records. Have you ever considered opening up your own business of some kind? Most people do not even realize the opportunity is there. However, opening a business does not mean setting up shop in a brick and mortar store. Instead, you could offer a service. For example, do you happen to own a lawnmower? If so, you are only a few short steps away from registering a landscaping company. Suppose you need to generate customers. In that case, you can just go and knock on doors. Of course, you’ll need to follow local regulations. However, plenty of people would be happy to pay someone to mow their lawn. Even if they only hire you to get the HOA off of their back, It won’t be long before the business is booming.

A New Year Brings in Hopes of a New Beginning

If you are interested in jumping into the new and expanding job market the first thing you need to do is work on your curriculum vitae (CV).  Be complete, and honest about your education and work experience.  If you are unsure how to best structure your CV, look online for examples, or even a CV Template. Remember when you apply for a job, your CV is all that represents you in front of an employer, and it is the key to getting an in-person interview.

Scott Dylan and 10 Things to Look for in a Mentor

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Living in the digital age means that running a competitive business can be more of a challenge than ever before – especially given the fast-evolving nature of today’s markets. Today, as Scott Dylan knowns, running your own business requires a combination of hard and soft skills – skills that twist, turn, and need constant professional development to hone. There’s always more to learn, which is why hiring a mentor provides the perfect opportunity to step up your business. 

Not only can a mentor help you to access opportunities that you may not otherwise have found, but they can also help you to improve your confidence and support you on your way to ambitious goals. None of us will reach our full potential alone – input from others helps us to visualise different perspectives, which we can integrate into well-rounded business solutions.

Here, Scott Dylan, entrepreneurial mentor and founder of the private equity disruptor Fresh Thinking Group (FTG), shares his top 10 things to look for in a great mentor. 

What Makes A Good Mentor?

Scott Dylan explains that a good mentor will:

  • Expand your knowledge and resources, which will help you to become more efficient, make strategic decisions, and run effective marketing campaigns to generate good-fit leads.
  • Identify areas for improvement and help you to target these areas to improve your business performance. These are likely to be areas that you are blind to.
  • Ask thought-provoking questions to help you identify the direction you would like to take your business, stimulating your professional and personal growth.
  • Offer encouragement when the going gets tough. Your mentor’s enthusiasm and belief in your business will give you the confidence and positivity that you need to move forward.
  • Help you to develop good work habits and sharpen your work ethic so that you can prioritise effectively and stay on-focus, even at the most stressful of times.
  • Listen when you need to bounce ideas back and forth, offering honest opinions to help you reach the best solutions. Good mentors are good listeners – they are patient and will carefully consider all your concerns and questions.
  • Act as a trusted advisor, which is especially ideal when you have no-one else to turn to with intellectual property or proprietary information. They will provide honest insights in frank, transparent conversations, and offer constructive criticism to help you grow as an entrepreneur. 
  • Connect you with other industry players who may invest in your business, offer their expertise and skills, introduce you to further talent, or help you to reach your target audience.
  • Take a personal interest in your business. They will take time to get to know you as a person and understand how you think and act. When your mentor understands your passions and goals, they are better placed to act as an effective teacher and mentor you with your best interests at heart.
  • Take pride in their mentorship – a good mentor will be proud of how they have helped you to develop your business, which will motivate them to thoroughly invest themselves in your success.

Keep in mind that many mentors assist others for free – they often meet their mentees organically and enjoy helping an entrepreneur who is following a similar journey to them. As these mentees become more experienced, they are likely to return the favour by mentoring other entrepreneurs further down the line. 

But you shouldn’t simply ask someone to be your mentor, just as you wouldn’t straight up ask someone to be your friend. Finding a mentor is about naturally developing a relationship with the right person (or people). It’s about networking and surrounding yourself with the people who inspire you, people who are more experienced or knowledgeable than you in the areas that you’d like to develop. 

However, there are paid mentorship opportunities out there for those who are looking for more of a business arrangement when it comes to seeking a mentor.

How to Find a Mentor

Before looking for a mentor, it’s a good idea to identify exactly what it is you want your mentor to help you achieve. You’re more likely to achieve your goals if you know where you’re heading. However, you don’t necessarily need to have exact expectations – a general directional path can be enough, and your mentor should be able to plot further goals with you. If you’re not sure what you’d like to achieve, think about how you’d like to see yourself in five years, your role models, and any skillsets that you’d like to acquire. 

Remember that you don’t have to commit to anyone as a mentor straight away; you can follow candidates on social media channels and perhaps have an exploratory chat or two before making any decisions about who you will spend more time with. You may not even have to look particularly far – your existing professional network can be a great place to start. And you might not need to choose someone older and therefore ‘more experienced’. Peer mentoring can be equally as helpful.

If you think that you could benefit from the support detailed in this article, a mentor may be exactly what you need to develop and grow your business, help you progress through your entrepreneurial journey, or push you to support your team in the workplace. Not only is a good mentor motivated and energised, but they’ll make you feel motivated and energised, too. Tapping into an expert’s wealth of knowledge is virtually always a fantastic way to step up your services and/or business approach. 

And a final note – don’t ever think that seeking help from a mentor is a sign of weakness. Seeking mentorship is a sign that you are success-driven and looking for ways to further your skills.

For more business advice and guidance on mental health in the workplace, visit Scott Dylan’s blog.

About Scott Dylan

As the founder and key partner of the leading capital investment business Fresh Thinking Group, Scott Dylan is an established software developer and investor. He acquires and provides funding for companies in need of support on behalf of FTG and works with these companies’ existing teams to plot future-proofed success methodologies. Scott helps each of the businesses under the FTG umbrella to work together and benefit from shared top-level functions. His people-centred approach to business success allows teams to blend their skills and develop the newest strategies in tech and software. 

Primarily, FTG acquires healthy businesses looking for growth strategies, distressed companies looking for financial support, and start-ups looking for guidance to accelerate market penetration in hard-to-reach areas. Since its launch in 2018, FTG has grown rapidly and already has offices in Manchester, Leeds, and London. Some of FTG’s acquisitions include the on-demand laundry service Laundrapp, creative agency Brass, digital marketing agency Neon, app creator Cuhu, and leading logistics companies such as ParcelWise and GLB Transport. Outside of FTG, Scott has also worked with his partners to fund additional sector-specific groups, including Orb Group, Inc & Co Group, and Inc & Co Property Group.