Rather than promoting a specific format, here are a few practical points everyone can consider when writing a resume:

General Rules:

It’s not necessary to include references. If you must, place them on a separate sheet of paper and ensure the formatting matches your resume. Only add people who have given their consent and for whom you have a phone number and an email address.

Stick to the point. Don’t expect busy employers to read long-winded descriptions.

Make the most of your experience. Employers need to know what you’ve achieved in order to have an idea of what you can for them. Don’t be vague when describing your experience.

Be honest. Employers will feel more comfortable about hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your resume and lying and a falsified resume can cost you the job later.

Formatting:

Don’t overcrowd the page; allow for plenty of white space.

Keep it to one page if possible. Two pages are acceptable if they include relevant information.

Choose a font that is easy to read. You can never go wrong with Times New Roman.

Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.

Print your resume on white paper using a good printer with fresh ink.

Print on one side of the paper only and try to avoid photocopies.

Save a plain text version in case you’re asked to paste your resume into a website. If you copy and paste from a Word document, for example, some characters and formatting may not translate properly.

Writing:

Spelling:

Don’t use words you’re not familiar with. Play it safe and use a dictionary when writing.

Use spell check, but don’t reply on it. Carefully read every word of your resume. Then, have someone else read it. A “fresh set of eyes” often notices little typos.

Punctuation:

Place periods at the end of all full sentences.

Be consistent with punctuation.

Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.

Avoid using exclamation points.

Grammar:

Duties you currently perform should be written in present tense.

Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense.

Capitalize all proper nouns.

4.    Numbers and Dates:

Write out numbers between one and nine (i.e. one, five) but use numerals for numbers 10 and above (i.e. 10, 25.)

If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell it out (i.e. Eleven service awards won.)

Be consistent with formatting dates (i.e. 25 August 2010.)

Word Usage and Vocabulary:

Avoid common mistakes:

accept (to receive), except (to exclude)

all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)

affect (to bring about change), effect (the result)

Use action words (i.e. wrote reports, directed staff.)

Keywords:

Choose the right keywords. Hiring managers and recruiters may use an applicant-tracking system to search for keywords related to the job they’re looking to fill.

Review the job posting and mirror that language. Find words and phrases that describe what the company is looking for and use them as much as possible.

Use variations of keywords. (i.e. “accountant” and “accounting.”)

Reminders:

Don’t go overboard. It’s great to list your key skills, but an excessive amount will make it look like you’re exaggerating.

Follow the directions outlined in the job post.

Include your email address. If you use LinkedIn or have a business-related Twitter account or Facebook page, include the links.

Double check for mistakes. You can never be too careful.

Many Canadian charities have reported losing over half their support during the recent recession. As such, they are less likely to spend money on perceived “extras” even when such services may benefit their cause.

I have experienced this first-hand. Throughout my 15-plus years’ involvement with national and local non-profit organizations, I have done a considerable amount of promotional and fundraising work. However, in recent years I have witnessed groups forced to cut services, volunteers asked to take on additional responsibilities, and donors coming up with smaller contributions. People still care about these causes, they just have less extra money to donate. Consequently, charitable organizations are making do with less.

After starting my company in 2009, I came up with a way to lend a hand to struggling charities. A life-long Fraser Valley resident, I offered local organizations the opportunity to have certain services completed at no charge. It was a great success. We assisted nearly 10 groups, including one that makes beautiful handcrafted blankets for the homeless and less fortunate residents of our city. Due to the positive response, we decided to make every February Non Profit Promotion Month.

I invite local non-profit organizations to contact Red Pencil throughout February and have specific projects, including the writing of press releases, completed at no charge.

These services can help promote charitable groups, yet some of them can’t afford to retain us. They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. It would be fantastic if our writing could help attract donations and volunteers.

For details and a full list of services offered gratis during February 2011, contact Red Pencil through our website www.redpencil.ca or email me.

Over the last 2 years as we’ve struggled with economic downtown, networking has become essential. Marketing yourself or promoting your business by making personal connections is more popular than ever. I feel the emergence of social media outlets is in part a response to the sluggish economy. Professionals are seeking any opportunity to promote themselves; being able to do so for free is very enticing.

While some may argue that social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter are the downfall of making in-person professional connections, I disagree. It has been my experience (and that of many other entrepreneurs I know) that the internet has been the first step towards developing lasting business relationships.

When I started my company in 2009, I turned to the internet to connect with other professionals. Until that point I was accustomed to reporting to an employer, arriving at the same law office every day and only interacting with other staff. I knew many people in the Fraser Valley, but didn’t purposely engage in networking with the intent of furthering my career.

Initially, I used Facebook and email to connect online with people I already knew and tell them about my business. I then joined Twitter and several Meetup.com groups and began making intentional connections with local entrepreneurs.

As a result of developing relationships with people online I have gained business partners and been offered work, positions on boards of directors and opportunities to collaborate on projects. I have also developed a core group of fellow Fraser Valley professionals whom I regularly meet in person with the intention of supporting and encouraging one another in our ventures.

I also network through organizations who don’t originate online. Despite the plethora of internet networking opportunities, I still can’t emphasize enough the importance of participating in a variety of activities. Traditional organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and smaller networking groups continually offer valuable ways to meet potential clients and business partners. Furthermore, they often attract people who may not yet fully engage in internet-based socialization. In the Fraser Valley we are fortunate to have a large number of these groups, from the small and informal to the well-established.

Regardless of whether you’re sending tweets or chatting over breakfast, be sincere with your words and actions. People don’t want constant sales pitches; they want to get to know you as a well-rounded and thoughtful professional. In particular, if you use social media to push out nothing but blatant advertising, expect people to tune out. We are surrounded by advertising every day; networking and use of social media is different in that it’s centered on human connections.

To be an effective networker, seek connections from a variety of sources. Be memorable and professional, but be yourself. Don’t dive in with a sales pitch; instead, think of ways you can encourage or learn from other entrepreneurs and develop relationships of value.Your enthusiasm and expertise will be apparent, and that will attract people to you. Be curious, be authentic, and have fun!

Q. How can you make sure you are donating to a legitimate charity?

A. If you are uncertain of the legitimacy of a charity, you can check Canada Revenue Agency’s website which has a listing of all Registered Canadian Charities.  The website provides basic information about the charity, its finances and activities.

Q. What are the tax benefits of donating money?

A. An individual who donates to a Registered Charity is entitled to claim a tax credit equal to approximately 20% of the first $200 and 44% of annual donations in excess of $200 (the exact rates vary depending upon the province you are resident in).

The amount of the donation that can be claimed in a year is generally restricted to 75% of your annual income.  However, that limit is extended to 100% of your annual income in the year of death (and the year preceding death).  The limit is also extended to 100% of taxable capital gains realized on the donation of certain types of property.

A donation made by a corporation reduces the corporation’s taxable income. The tax saving realized will depend upon the type of corporation and the nature of its income.

Q. Do you need to donate to Canadian charities to receive a tax credit?

A. In addition to Canadian Charities, gifts to the following entities also qualify for a tax credit:

• Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Associations
• Certain non-profit housing corporations resident in Canada
• A Canadian municipality
• The United Nations or an agency therefore
• Certain prescribed Universities outside Canada
• A Charitable Organization outside Canada to which her Majesty in Right of Canada has made a gift during the year or the prior year
• Her Majesty in Right of Canada or a province
• A portion of tuition fees paid to private schools that teach religious studies
• The Canada US Income Tax Convention provides that donations to US charities can be claimed, up to a maximum of 75% of US source income reported by the taxpayer on their Canadian tax return.
• You may also be entitled to claim donations to US Charities of up to 75% of your net world income if you commute from Canada to the US to your principal workplace or business and if that represents your main source of income for the year.

Q. Can one receive a tax receipt for donated goods or services?

A. A gift must involve a voluntary transfer of property.  Therefore, a gift of property “in kind” qualifies for a donation receipt up to the current fair market value of the property.

However, a gift of services is not considered property and, therefore does not qualify for an official donation receipt.

Special rules apply when artists donate their artwork.

When you donate property, you are considered to have disposed of the property which means that you may realize a capital gain.  Generally 50% of all capital gains must be included in your income.

However, an inclusion rate of zero applies when you donate the following types of property:

• a share or debt of a public company listed on a designated stock exchange
• A share of the capital stock of a mutual fund corporation
• A unit of a mutual fund trust
• An interest in a related segregated fund trust, and,
• Ecologically sensitive land

Ron Mulhern

UHY LDMB Advisors Inc., Chartered Accountants
#306 1688-152nd Street, Surrey, BC   V4A 4N2
Phone: 604.538.1611 x 114  Fax: 604.538.1633

1. Keep Gift Giving Reasonable:

In some workplaces everyone exchanges gifts for the holiday. This can easily get out of hand. Consider starting a “Secret Santa” or secret gift exchange, where each person buys a gift for one other person instead of buying gifts for everyone in the office. Set a low price range and stick to it.

by Dan4th

2. Keep Feeding Frenzies to a Minimum:

During the holiday season, food is everywhere, all the time. It’s hard to maintain a healthy, balanced diet when clients deliver boxes of chocolates or colleagues bring in cookies to share.  An easy way to avoid treat overload is to arrange a schedule that allows each person who wants to participate to bring something on a specific day. Furthermore, keep non-perishable gifts sent by clients for after the holidays when the cupboards are bare.

3. Don’t Let the Holidays Get in the Way of Work

As fun as the holiday season is, remember that you still have a job to do. Don’t let yourself fall behind. You might even want to try getting to the office before everyone else so you can get a head start on your day. It’s not always easy, especially at the time of year when there are more parties and events to attend in the evening, but when the holidays are done and you’re not playing catch up, you’ll be glad you did.

4. Be Mindful of your Workplace’s Holiday Culture

The holidays play a bigger role in some workplaces than in others. If your colleagues seem to be quite low key when it comes to celebrating in the office, consider that may be at the request or suggestion of your employer. If you want to get in the festive spirit with your co-workers consider getting together after work.

5. Respect your Colleagues’ Personal Beliefs

The workplace often brings together people of different religions and cultures. Not everyone observes the same holidays, and not everyone celebrates in the same way. Some people choose not to celebrate any holidays at all. Try not to offend anyone by forcing him or her to celebrate outside of their own tradition. You may mean well and just want them to “get in the spirit” the way you’re used to, but personal beliefs surrounding holidays can be a sensitive subject.

6. Behave Properly at the Office Holiday Party

Remember to behave professionally at the office party. Have a good time and relax but don’t drink excessively, dress too provocatively or party too hard. You may be friendly with your colleagues but you should still maintain a level of professionalism.

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:

1. Take a break.

• Ideally, take a week-long break between jobs to clear your head, relax and refocus.
• If that’s not possible, at least have a good night’s sleep so you’ll wake up feeling refreshed.

2. Do your research.

• Start by reading through your new employers’ website, especially any sections on their history or policies.
• Search online for back issues of their newsletters, annual reports or press clippings.
• If you have enough time, it is also worthwhile to check out the literature of your competitors to get a grasp on the “bigger picture.”
• Review your interview notes to recall the names and titles of people you met so you will be able to greet them appropriately.

3. Work full days.

• Find out where to go on your first day and what time you should be there. Then, arrive early and don’t leave until (or even after) most of your colleagues do.
• Pay attention to the work habits and schedules of your co-workers so you’ll know when and how to connect with them.

4. Look Good and Have a Positive Attitude.

• All eyes will be on you! Consider the way you will appear to others.
• Pay attention to grooming, dress tastefully and put a smile on your face.
• While appearances aren’t everything, dressing slightly above dress code and acting in a manner that says you are confident and happy to be joining the team will speak volumes about you.

5. Clarify expectations of you and take notes.

• Make sure you and your boss are on the same page about issues to be addressed immediately, how you should communicate and provide updates, when projects are due and how your performance will be evaluated.
• Write down names of key people, contact information and procedures so you won’t get stuck if no one is around to assist you.

6. Be flexible.

• Expect and embrace challenges; you’re bound to face them in any new job.
• Possess a flexible attitude to decrease both your stress and that of others who work with you.

7. Connect with others.

• Get to know the people you will work with regularly.
• Listen to what your co-workers have to say and resist offering opinions at first.
• Show appreciation for those who help you.
• Identify key players. Who are the decision-makers, stars and up-and-comers? Notice the traits they possess.
• Don’t engage in office gossip.
• Share credit with your colleagues.
• Observe your boss’ personality and operational style; interact according to his or her preferences.

8. Take initiative.

• As you finish initial assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, ask for it.
• Pay attention to projects that are important to upper management and valued by your colleagues.

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.

Learn what products and services are subject to rebates and exemptions.

The government’s HST blog lists a wide range of items and services for which instant rebates will apply or tax will not be charged. It’s worth examining to determine if any of the changes apply to your business.

If you currently charge 5% GST for services provided, they will be subject to 12% HST on July 1st. If you already charge both taxes, ensure your invoices reflect only one tax line (HST) after June 30th.

Be prepared to serve your customers.

If you provide products, familiarize yourself with which items are HST-applicable and HST-exempt. If you provide services, review your client list and ensure your accounting system is set up to charge out-of-province clients a correct rate of sales tax. If you provide services for clients in other provinces, they should be charged at their rate of GST or HST, not BC’s.

Consult the transitional rules.

Do any of your transactions straddle the July 1st HST activation date? This may be the case with professional services and real estate transactions. Ensure you charge HST for billings on or after May 1st for taxable goods, services or intangible property to be supplied after July 1st.

Assess how HST will impact your budget.

How it will affect your purchasing? Account for lower costs and double check quotes from suppliers to ensure any tax savings are passed to you.

Upgrade your point-of-sale system and accounting software.

Ensure that after June 30th they are set to start recording HST. Several popular software programs, including Quickbooks, have now released upgrades that will manage the tax update beautifully.

Hold on to that GST number.

Your HST reporting period is the same as your GST reporting period. You don’t need to register for HST with the Province; if you have previously obtained a GST number (for businesses earning more than $30,000 annually) it will become your HST number. However, if you don’t meet the threshold of $30,000 in annual taxable sales,  it may not be mandatory for you to register for GST/HST.

File your PST.

Regardless of your PST filing frequency, your final PST return is due on July 23rd. If you have overpaid PST, file a PST refund claim as soon as possible.

Attend a seminar and talk to your accountant.

The Canada Revenue Agency is holding HST-preparedness seminars and webinars at no charge which may be helpful for those who have questions about the new tax. If you have more specific concerns, it may also be worthwhile to schedule a meeting with your accountant.

Waiver:

The information and materials in this article are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal, accounting or tax advice or opinions on any specific matters. Laws and regulations change frequently and their application can vary widely based upon the specific facts and circumstances involved. Therefore you are advised to seek legal, accounting, financial or other professional advice prior to using this material for any reason whatsoever.

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. Checking out a new friend’s favourite films or sharing which authors you enjoy is a great way to learn more about one another and start a conversation.

2.  Use great photos or logos.

Use high-quality images when creating any social media profile. When setting up a page for your business, crisp logos and expertly-shot photos of staff or products will promote your professionalism, attention to detail and consistency.

Bold, well-taken and current photos are also a must for personal profiles. They portray you in a positive way and send the message that you care about your overall image. Also, they’re practical! If your main photo is of your dog, baby, or you 20 years ago, it will be difficult for others to find you online as they may not recognize a profile as yours.

3. Include links to your website or blog.

Chances are, if you’re using social media to promote your business or market yourself, you already have a website. Make sure you place a link to it on each of your profiles! This is a free and virtually effortless way to draw traffic to your site, potentially generating more business.

If you blog for fun, share the link on your personal profile. Family and friends will notice it and be able to easily catch up on your latest poems, travels or book reviews.

by Franco Bouly

4. Keep it PG!

What would your mum or boss think if they saw your Facebook profile or latest tweets? Creating a personal profile is all about self-expression; however, it is possible for what you share to reach people outside your intended audience.

Be authentic, but keep this general rule; if it could get you fired or embarrass you if you’re asked about it offline, don’t bother posting it. Deleting content from the internet doesn’t guarantee it’s gone forever; why learn the hard way?

5. Develop friendships.

The point of social media is to connect with others. Even if you use Twitter or Facebook primarily for business networking, before long you’ll be chatting with new people. You may even be invited to in-person events. While you must still be mindful of your safety and privacy, taking internet-based relationships offline is not uncommon and does not have the stigma it once did.

6. Keep your profile up to date.

The internet enables information to be exchanged in the blink of an eye and sets the expectation for dynamic, up-to-the-minute content. Strong profiles are ones that get updated on a regular basis.

Whether you’ve brought in a new product or staff member, changed jobs, discovered a great TV show or had another child, share the news! Profiles with old photos or the same old details eventually become boring and easily overlooked.

This is especially important if you’re representing your company online. Frequent updates with rich information will keep you fresh in people’s minds and increase the possibility of them choosing to do business with you.

7. Set your privacy settings.

Using social media to connect with others is convenient, fun and popular, but the internet isn’t always a positive place. Establish boundaries for what you’ll share, with whom. Then, enable settings that reflect those boundaries and protect the privacy of you and your loved ones, particularly children.

Facebook has customizable privacy settings. Not only can you protect your profile from general Facebook users, you can choose to share information with some people in your contact list and not with others.

Twitter profiles and posts are brief and as such don’t require the same privacy settings; however, with the click of a mouse you can protect your tweets, requiring others to request permission before following you and seeing what you write. That way, you know exactly who is paying attention to you and can protect yourself from spam.

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.

Use an Application that Manages Several Services

Cut out time visiting individual websites; applications like Tweetdeck and Hootsuite are free, easy to configure and centralize use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other services. Benefits include:

• Simultaneously post one message to multiple accounts.
• Automatically shorten messages to fit Twitter’s 140-character maximum.
• Schedule posts to be published at the date and time of your choice.
• Connect the RSS feed of your blog so new articles are automatically shared to social media services.
• Built-in tools to post photos and shrink web links.
• Columns to view live feeds, direct messages and mentions of your name or topics of interest.

Taking centralization further, Digsby manages email and instant messaging along with social media. Zen Habits has even published an article explaining how to make Gmail the ultimate productivity centre. While it takes a bit of time and effort to configure, email, social media, instant messaging and Google applications like RSS Reader and Buzz can be utilized through the Gmail inbox.

Specify Social Media Time

Make better use of your time by not keeping applications open on your computer all day. If they’re running in the background, sounds or pop-up boxes can alert you to every new post, making the temptation to read them strong. I suggest scheduling when to catch up on social networking, for example 5 minutes before lunch and 5 minutes before the end of the work day.

Post High-Quality Messages

When you only have a limited amount of time to spend on social media, don’t waste it with messages about what you want for lunch. High impact posts containing useful, interesting information relevant to your business will maximize your efforts and gain you the most attention.

Forget About Reading Everything

Learn to scan, skim and skip; trying to look at every message published can get overwhelming. Start by only following those who offer rich, interesting content. Then, scroll through your live feed without reading line by line and only check out what immediately catches your eye.

Form Close Relationships with People who Offer the Most Value

When networking to further your career or promote your company, you’ll want to connect with people who subscribe to your posts or whom you follow. Eventually, you’ll likely receive invitations to networking groups, social media seminars and “tweet-ups” (in-person networking events for Twitter users.)

Be discerning with your time and friendship. Many fascinating people network online, and opportunities for further connection are ample. But squeezing social media into your busy schedule is enough without engaging in endless conversations with strangers and participating in every somewhat-useful event.

Develop a rapport with people whose expertise you could benefit from, do business with, or engage in mutual support as members of similar professions. Don’t ignore or be unavailable to everyone else in your online network, but don’t spread yourself too thin.

—-admin

If social media overwhelms you or takes up portions of your day that should be spent on other responsibilities it will become more of a burden than a benefit. Develop a plan of action by using the productivity tools available and being conservative with your online networking time. As a result, you’ll maximize its value to you and your business.

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. Should you pick and choose services or try to represent your company on as many sites as possible? Creating and maintaining social media profiles could easily be a full-time job, and most people don’t have an abundance of time. A strong web presence is important, but I believe it can be accomplished by using a few services well instead of many poorly. I’ll focus on the main four; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace.

Facebook is likely the most famous social media website, with approximately 170 million users logging in daily. It’s even an adjective now; I can’t count how many times I’ve heard the expression “I’ll Facebook it!” which could mean everything from posting a photo to sharing an anecdote. Therefore, I think representing your business on the site is a good idea.

Business-only accounts can now be established, or users can create “fan pages” that they maintain from their personal profile. Fan pages are the most popular, but if you want to promote your company without having a personal profile, a business account might be for you.

Fan pages can be set up in a matter of seconds and give you the opportunity to share photos, links and contact information as well as create events and send messages to your fans. Don’t think your business is exciting enough to have fans? Think again. Fan pages have been created for banks (status update: RRSP deadline approaching!) and door manufacturing companies, not just Disney and Microsoft.

Facebook also offers paid advertising. Users can create small ads and target them to a general audience or a specific demographic. Facebook ads also allow creators to specify maximum budgets and analyze marketing statistics.

Another popular site is Twitter, which has 75 million users. While Facebook users create in-depth profile pages and post messages and media to a news feed, Twitter profiles are brief (name, location, photo, 140-character bio) and 140-character status updates are the main focus. Twitter is commonly run through applications such as HootSuite or Tweetdeck which allow users to create and monitor follower lists and share links and photos; stayed tuned for a future article on social media management applications.

Some businesses may find Twitter to be better for making initial connections than Facebook; it is used by countless professionals who “tweet” throughout the day. Through Twitter I have connected with clients, established professional relationships and gained a great deal of exposure for my company. However, Facebook has been better for strengthening those connections, perhaps because it allows users to share more content.

LinkedIn is another valuable website. While Twitter offers a balance between business and fun, LinkedIn focuses on professional relationships and career advancement. Your LinkedIn profile can contain employment and education history, job skills and recommendations from clients and colleagues. LinkedIn targets individuals and directly promotes their careers.

MySpace, a precursor to Facebook, targets itself as “a place for friends” but is less popular now than it was five years ago. MySpace profiles are easy to use, highly customizable, and give space for detailed text, photos, videos and audio files; however the site is frequented primarily by bands and internet spammers. Unfortunately, MySpace is an unlikely source of legitimate attention or revenue.

I have profiles on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and regularly make connections through social media that benefit my business and my professional development. Fraser Valley Pulse also uses these networks, and others, to connect with local readers.  You will find a list of FVP’s social media network links on each page of this site.  While you may be tempted to create profiles on multiple sites, it’s important to consider the time you’re willing to invest and where you might get the best response. With social media, it’s better to use no service at all, or one well, than several infrequently. Updating your profile consistently is the key to a strong presence on the web.