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8 Tips for a Successful Start at a New Job

Friday, July 16th, 2010

It can take four to 14 months to find the right job, and fewer than 90 days to lose it. Statistics show that dismissals of professionals and managers are a direct result of a failure to understand and fit into a company’s culture.

During your first few weeks on a job your boss and colleagues will form their most lasting impressions of you. While no reasonable employer expects perfection, as long as you prove yourself to be intelligent, versatile and willing to learn, people will be happy you joined their team and want you to succeed.

Here are a few essential tips to help you get off to a great start:

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Preparing for the HST

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

HST. String those three letters together lately and you’re likely to get a strong response, regardless of what you do for work or where in the province you reside. Like it or not, the Harmonized Sales Tax is set to come into effect on July 1st as planned. At that time, BC residents will experience a learning curve as they get used to what is HST-applicable and HST-exempt.

Many of us also bear the responsibility of ensuring a smooth transition to the HST for small businesses we own or manage. So where can we get reliable information, and how can we prepare? Here are a few key tips I discovered after speaking with Kate Amangoulova, a CGA from Langley, and reading the Provincial Government’s HST Blog.

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Creating & Maintaining a Great Social Media Profile

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Whether you’re already online and looking to improve your social media image, or you’re considering jumping on the Facebook or Twitter bandwagon, these 7 tips will help you establish an interesting, effective profile.

1. Fill out sections completely.

Twitter, by nature, is succinct; posts are only 140 characters long, and profiles are basic. In contrast, Facebook offers many opportunities for sharing information about yourself.

Often, people don’t bother to fill all the sections of Facebook profiles out. While it may seem unnecessary, the purpose of social media is to share and connect with others.

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Social Media Productivity

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Last night I was at a local networking event. As the topic of conversation turned to social media, I remarked at its usefulness for making connections and promoting businesses, but noted keeping up with the various platforms could be a full-time job itself!

Blogs and tools such as Twitter and Facebook are commonly used to gain exposure for companies and form relationships with potential clients and professional contacts. Although the value of a strong online presence is recognized, many professional find social media time-consuming. Often, adding one more thing to our “to-do lists” can seem daunting. Thankfully, there are many options for simplifying online networking and managing multiple social media profiles.

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Which Social Media Tool is Best for Your Small Business?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

There are an abundance of social networking sites on the web, from the ubiquitous to the obscure.  But if you’re considering using social media to promote your business, which sites are right for you?

Like many others, I use social media to promote my company and connect with peers and clients. But are my efforts worthwhile, and what should I keep in mind when I’m “talking shop” online? Whether you’re thinking of using social media for your company or you already do, follow along with me as I explore these questions in my next several articles.

With so many social media platforms available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

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Tips For Setting Business Goals

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

As you begin the goal setting process, I recommend making notes that will help keep your thoughts organized and give you something to refer back to. How you write them is up to you; choose what suits your lifestyle and is easy to keep track of.

Evaluate your Needs
In order to plan appropriately, consider where you want to end up. Quite simply, what’s the point? Once you have your overall needs in mind, setting specific goals will help you meet them.

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Tips For Filing Your Taxes

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Some of our readers may be confused as to why we’re talking about taxes in February. While 47% of Canadians wait until April to file their taxes you can actually start filing your taxes as early as February 15th, today!  Getting organized early may get you a larger refund or a smaller balance owing, since many people who wait to file at the last minute often find missed write-offs at a later date.

We turned to local small business accountant, Jo Jo Imai, to get some tips on filing our taxes and keeping organized throughout the year.  

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