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Put Your Small Business on the Map — Marketing How-To

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Nowadays, in the Internet era, it’s so much easier to build your brand and make it stand out. However, marketing has become a sort of science since it requires knowledge, experience, and a lot of research.

If you’re starting your own business, don’t get scared — there are thousands of ways you can market what you do. It’s all about finding your own voice and using the right marketing tools to your advantage.

We’ve created a list of steps you need to follow in order to start your business on a high note.

Do Market Research

This is marketing 101 — you can’t place your product or business on a map if you don’t know who your target is. You should invest a lot of time and effort into deciding what is your audience like and who you want to attract.

Knowing your audience is crucial — once you know who you want to target, you can focus your marketing efforts with precision. Another pro tip would be to always check out the competition. We don’t encourage copying what others are doing. Analyzing what your competitors are doing can help you find some loopholes and missed opportunities you can use to your advantage.

You need to have patience because building your brand can take time. These are just some of the ways that can help you present your business in the best possible way.

Optimize Your Website to Appeal to More People

Studies have shown that users or potential clients will first visit the website of the business they are interested in, and only after they’ve gathered enough information will they actually go there. Because of that, it’s crucial for your website to be perfectly optimized.

If you’re not familiar with this practice, you can always turn to professionals in this field. An experienced SEO company in Cape Town, or any other city you’re in, can help you optimize your website for your target audience. SEO specialists know what to do to rank your website better among the organic search results and thus help it reach a new level of visibility.

Take Advantage of Social Media

Social Media Marketing has become a must when marketing is in question. People have immensely grown their businesses solely by focusing their marketing on social media. Don’t be afraid to invest some money into sponsoring posts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

This implies you should know what the best social media platforms for your business are. So, consult experts in the field, do some research, and be strategic. Social media platforms nowadays allow you to create and share content for the specific demographic you aim at.

Assemble a Strong Team

You want to be surrounded by a team of passionate and knowledgeable people. As the owner, you should also know what kind of people your business needs in order to be successful. Additionally, you can always team up with other entrepreneurs who might share similar ideas. This can only be beneficial for your business, and you will see it flourish.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

4 Tips to Improve Your Business’ Cash Flow

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If you have been successfully running a business for some time now, you must be experiencing a significant increase in your profit, which means that you’re going in the right direction.

As a business owner, you know how important it is to manage the cash flow of your business. All businessmen should keep track of their money, know where it’s going, and manage all expenses. Nonetheless, this job isn’t an easy one — you will be faced with many challenges, such as paying your bills in time or creating a payroll.

However, if you are having trouble increasing your cash flow, there are many things you can do. Luckily for you, we are here to help with a few tips that could improve your business’ cash flow and save you any possible trouble.

Improve Inventory Checklists

Although it might sound like a simple task, many businesses struggle to keep track of their inventory lists and checklists. The most crucial part of inventory lists is to take note of the items that aren’t moving as fast as some of your other products. Unfortunately, this could mean that you are spending a lot of money on these products, which hurts your cash flow.

Make a simple-to-follow checklist so you will have a clear picture of products that are hurting your cash flow. Get rid of those products and invest your money somewhere else.

Lease Equipment

Since you are trying to improve your business’ cash flow, it might not be the best idea to invest a lot of money in new equipment, especially if you’re working with technology. We are aware of the rising costs of tech supplies, which is why we recommend you to rent a PC or laptop to stay on top of your daily cash operations.

Leasing could prove to be an effective way to handle your day-to-day cash flow and decrease your overall expenses. Moreover, you can write off lease payments as business expenses in some countries. Make sure to see into that before you rent any equipment.

Offer Multiple Payment Options

If you offer numerous payment methods, you will receive quicker and more timely payments from your customers as they’ll have more options at their disposal. Do not limit your business to two or three payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, cash, and checks.

Innovative businesses offer an abundance of payment options, such as e-wallets and mobile payments, like PayPal, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and similar services. Try to think outside of the box and use electronic payment systems. This will make the payment process easier for your customer, as well as you.

Send Invoices Immediately

First of all, it’s essential to know how to write a good invoice. Try to state all the terms clearly and make your invoices easy to read. Your customers will appreciate invoices that save their time — nobody enjoys wasting time and figuring out what is what. Be clear about everything that’s important to you: payment due date, payment slip, accepted payment types, etc.

If you want your customers to pay special attention to something, write it in bold or make the font larger. The point is to encourage early payments and discourage late payments, so offer incentives for early payments and charge late payment fees if possible.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Improve Your Living Space With a Home Automation System

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We live in modern times where most things are based on technology. Experts working in this niche constantly come up with improvements regarding the way technology is used worldwide.

As things are developing fast, apart from smartphones and smart TVs, today we have the opportunity to make our homes smart as well. This can be done thanks to a home automation system that is available across the globe.

You can install the system in almost any country in the world. In recent years, home automation in South Africa has become a trend, following a lot of countries from Asia such as Japan and China where this system already set strong foundations.

In the text below, we are going to explain what the home automation system is, and in what way it can improve your living space. Let’s go!

Home Automation System Basics

Home automation is a system that enables you to control many different things in your home over your smartphone or tablet. For example, you can regulate the lighting, temperature, security cameras, alarms, various devices, and more.

The system is based on technology that allows you to always have an insight into everything that is happening in your home. Moreover, you will be able to change settings of different appliances without necessarily being physically present. If you have no idea in what way a home automation system can improve your home, we have shared some examples below.

Security

All the alarms you have at home, be it burglary ones or the fire and smoke alarms, can be connected to your smartphone. The moment any of them turns on, you will get a notification regardless of where you are at the moment. You will be able to act on any unfortunate event by alarming someone who would come and take care of the issue while you are on your way home.

Convenience

You can probably imagine how good it would feel to be in your bed and regulate the whole room environment — move the curtains, turn the light on and off, regulate room temperature, and more. Apart from that, home automation can control your washing machine or heating system. For example, you will always know when the machine has finished with the program, so you can go and take out the laundry at the right moment without checking it every now and then.

Comfort and Peace of Mind

Apart from functionality, home automation provides you with a high level of comfort by allowing you to adjust your surroundings without making even a tiny step. Yet, the best part of all is that you will never again have to worry about leaving your house while you are away.

Your smartphone or tablet will always display the current situation regarding every aspect of your living space. You will know if there’s a light bulb on, or the machine suddenly stopped working. And not only will you know it, but you will also be able to fix the majority of small issues without having to come back home.

If you think that installing all this is not worth your money, we recommend that you try implementing it slowly. Try connecting the lighting first, and see how the system works for you. If you like it, you will easily make your smart home system even smarter.

 

Tips for Marketing Your Private Practice

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If you have a private practice, you have probably already gone through numerous procedures and paperwork that made your head spin. On top of that, you will now need to advertise your private practice to attract new patients. All of this can be a bit overwhelming and a strain on your budget.

Luckily, there are many ways to market your private practice without spending a lot of money. Moreover, these methods have proven to be successful, so you will not be wasting your time. Let’s go over some innovative and prosperous tips for marketing your private practice.

Make a Name for Yourself

When choosing a name for your private practice, you need to think of creative solutions, so your practice’s name is easily recognizable. Your first step should be to add information about your private practice into your email signature. For example, you should put your practice’s logo, name, website, phone number, address, etc. into the signature of your email. This has proven to be a useful and efficient way to inform interested parties about your practice while giving a plain email a bit of color.

Moreover, if you have time, you can start a blog about your practice. A few paragraphs a day, or every other day, can help attract more patients. Studies show that people feel drawn to businesses that regularly answer people’s problems, give advice, and have an active online presence.

If you need some help setting up an online platform for your private practice, you should seek advice from medical IT support — it’s quite beneficial.

Employ Google and Yelp

If you didn’t think there was more to Google than the search option, you were wrong. The Google My Business functionality has proven to be extremely helpful for up-and-coming businesses as a method of promotion and information. Owners can set up accounts for free, and the process is quite simple. A Google My Business account will show up in local searches, Google Maps, and Google+.

If you have ever used Yelp to look at restaurant reviews, you know that you can find some useful information about business and practices on this website. Setting up an account is a quick job, so you won’t come across any problems there. Future clients will check the site for recommendations and reviews, so hopefully, it will attract more clients.

Social Media

Not surprisingly, social media has made its way onto our list. The impact social media has on people these days can be both positive and negative. In your case, you can turn it into something positive. Social networks, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin, are fantastic, free tools that you can use to advertise your private practice. Remember to post tasteful and thought-provoking content, as well as offering medical help and advice.

Local Networking Events

If you live in a metropolitan area, finding local networking events shouldn’t be too challenging. If you’re from a less populated area, find the time to travel to a bigger city near you to make contacts.

Events such as these are excellent opportunities to meet other industry professionals and build relationships that could help you steer your business in the future. Think about what you’re going to say and don’t forget your business card!

 

Top Reasons Why Educational Psychologists Are In Demand

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Can you believe that a student spends 900 hours in a classroom, and for two decades of their academic life, they 15000 hours in school? It seems like we spend a significant amount of our time in learning. Recall your time as a student, was your academic life trouble-free? Were your peers were having learning difficulties? How did they cope up with those hurdles? You will answer that teachers and parents helped. Teachers are the reason a child wants or does not want to go to school. The manner of teachers can develop an interest in learning or can make a student hate the classroom.

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The profession of teaching is noble but entails a lot of responsibilities for a teacher. A teacher has to teach not only the designed curriculum but also the emotional and mental well-being of a child. A teacher has many students to cater to, and they are usually overworked. In all this deadline and teaching chaos, sometimes students cannot share what is going on with them.

Just like we elders suffer from mental distress, a student suffers too. The only reason they cannot voice their opinions is because of the pressure they get to get good grades and be the best. The mental strain can slow down a kid’s performance, and in severe cases, they even withdraw from studies or indulge in self-harming activities. We all see some troubled students, either in our family or in our surroundings. Parents are often adamant about letting a third opinion slide in a while dealing with their kid’s future.

Do you want to help such children as a teacher, to overcome their learning difficulties and share what is bothering them emotionally? You shall opt for a psychology bachelor’s degree online while continuing your teaching at school, which can help you understand student’s problems and assist teachers and parents in positively dealing with them. Sadly, not many psychology majors choose to be educational psychologists, but they can help many students succeed.

Let us explore the reasons why educational psychologists are necessary for educational setups.

  • Highly needed

For decades, schools have been running without any professional help of a psychologist. The lack of educational psychologists has severely affected students’ and teachers’ well-being, which is why there is a great need for educational psychologists to fill the void. Many fresh graduates with interest in education psychologists can get the job within the first year. School psychologists or educational psychologists can earn a good fortune as every school needs their help to assess students, help them decide what to choose, and heal them emotionally.

  • Accepting challenges

Educational psychology is about identifying learning difficulties, suggesting solutions, therapies, and research new methods and techniques. On average, one school psychologist deals with 500-700 students. The ratio is too huge, and the number of students means a wide variety of problems and challenges. School or educational psychologists are trained individuals to get students to trust and listen to them. They assess the students and keep a teacher in the loop.

A teacher knows best about their students; they can tell the psychologist about the one needing urgent help. If the solution involves parents, they will schedule a meeting and get them to help their child.

  • A long-lasting impact

Educational psychologists have a significant and positive impact on the well-being of children, youth, and families. They assess the mental distress, lifts the emotional burdens, and help them get along socially. Parents are often unaware of their child’s emotional health. It is essential for them to know about their parenting methods and to make necessary changes wherever possible. An educational psychologist can help the parents understand the academic challenges of their child and provide them with alternative ways to improve and guide their children.

  • Potential skills

Educational psychologists deal with issues related to education. Traditionally, they work in public schools, can work in private schools, community centers, nurseries, private consultancies, and even at school-based mental health centers. Working at a variety of setups equips them with skills of dealing with children of every age. School or educational psychologists are not bound to one specific set up. Their expertise also involves consultation with every individual who somehow has its part in a child’s educational learning. From dealing with parents to dealing with a teacher, or a doctor, an educational psychologist can help many children and individuals related to their learning processes.

  • Attention to detail

When we are dealing with children, we cannot be negligent. Kids need a lot of attention and constant guidance. Teachers do not have the skills to identify the psychological troubles of a child. Sometimes the naughtiest child of a classroom can have signs of ADHD, or a child obsessed with arranging things in a certain way can be autistic. A teacher might not know the detail, but their observations often lie at the surface. An educational psychologist can help observe minute detail that can give any sign about some troubles with the mind and let the parents and teacher know about it. They let them know, but they also guide them about how to deal with such situations.

Conclusion

A child is like a blank page, whatsoever we are going to write on it, is going to stay there. Students or youngsters in their learning stages are under a lot of stress from their parents and peers. The pressure is always about getting good grades, performing beyond their capacity, and often without acknowledgment or rewards. Teachers might understand their students, but they do not know how a student may deal with emotionally or mentally. An educational or school psychologist can help teachers, children, and parents understand the issues, how to cope with them, and how we can all grow and learn together. Learning shall not be a burden or something to be afraid of, but it shall be exciting and fun for a child.

 

Explore The Business Administration Jobs Trends As Affected By Covid’19

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The global pandemic is currently the primary reason why the whole world has lost its balance in 2020. The coronavirus has hit all the aspects of our everyday life, including the personal and professional parts of it. As the sudden spread of the fatal disease surprised the whole world, it grew exponentially. It is currently affecting 213 countries around the globe, as evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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The spread of this pandemic wildfire was undoubtedly unexpected, and hence most countries did not take precautionary steps in time. Most governments are realizing the severity of the issue after it had hit them with its full stride, without the presence of a vaccine, and the only known way to reduce the spread by implementing social distancing. Most governments of the world are facing pressure to continue a total lockdown in their relevant countries. This act has practically halted the lives of the country’s population and forced them to survive in a condition with extremely limited resources. Mainly it is the people with less financial means that suffer the most due to such a decision. As many people work on models such as daily wages to bear their living expenses. Yet, the lockdown has extremely limited the operations of the business world and made it miserable for poor people to live.

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO LAND A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION JOB?

Many individuals that lean towards the business industry focus on penetrating business administration jobs. For this reason, the individual needs to have an academic background in business. Further, it is essential for the individual to at least complete an undergraduate degree in business administration. It helps the person to gain all the formal knowledge about the job and its essential tricks and trade.

Apart from this, several undergrads often choose the path to obtain even more specific information in the field. This specialization usually carries out within a particular sub-field of business administration through the master’s programs (MBA). Many such MBA programs online are now being promoted substantially to make them more accessible to the masses. They are giving them a chance to gain expertise in business administration and land better jobs.

WHAT IS THE JOB OF A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR?

An administrator in any business is responsible for the everyday activities that take place in a company. The tasks of the administrator include managing the business’s operations in such a way that they align with its long-term goals. Such an individual is required to stay connected to several vital sub-departments. These include sectors such as technology, finance, human resources, and more. For example, the admin might be responsible for implementing innovative technology into the worker’s lives.

Similarly, the admin needs to conduct regular checks on the statistics of the business to maintain financial feasibility. Also, the relationship of the administrator with the workers is essential to gain valuable insights about the critical resource of the company. There exist many other such tasks that depict the importance of an administrator.

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS?

The job markets around the globe have become highly unstable under the current circumstances of the pandemic. The customers around the world are experiencing hesitance to operate under the restrictions. It is also causing numerous businesses, the problem of employees becoming hesitant to work under the circumstances that surround them. The lesser revenue generated by these companies, the lower the company can bear in terms of employee salaries. This is further causing the mass firing of employees at companies that are unable to bear the burden any further.

Administrative jobs are pivotal to any organization’s management and maintenance as a continuous working machine. Hence, these are vital for any company to operate productively. Although, the act of downsizing and shutting down companies altogether is causing a decline in the demand for administrative jobs. The case of both well-established companies and start-ups is similar; both types of companies have been consistently downsizing among their workforce to sustain their business. Most of these businesses are driving themselves into the ground due to a lack of physical acquisition of services.

WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESS SCENARIOS ARE EXISTING?

There are three types of companies that you will find in operation during this time. Some organizations are maintaining business and functioning as they used to. These can often be product-based companies with a considerably constant demand for their project. The administrative roles in such companies have changed for them to be more cautious regarding each decision and its consequences. The second type of company is such that they have opted to downsize their workforce to reduce operational costs substantially. This way, the administrative workers are required to work with a massive bulk of formalities, etc. Although the need for admin members is high in such companies, the eventual redundancy does attach a risk of getting fired.

Apart from these, the third type of company sees this pandemic as an opportunity to expand. Because the company faces lesser barriers to expansion by other competitors. Commonly this kind of mass recruiting is being conducted by IT companies, for example, Microsoft, Amazon, etc. since most of its work shifts to online platforms without any obvious drawback or lack of productivity.

The job trend then for administrative members in such organizations can be seen as effectively rising. As the company expands, with more human resources and equipment. The more administrative personnel is required at a company to handle the everyday needs of the workforce.

FINAL WORDS

Even though the global trend of jobs is slightly tilting towards the employment side, the nature of the administrative tasks seems as somewhat inelastic to the unemployment curve. The trend regarding administration jobs during the pandemic is an indeterminate one. As the demand for personnel with expertise in admin tasks is required anywhere, they have either mass recruitment or downsizing. To handle the formalities and manage such situations accordingly. We can conclude that even though the trend of administrative jobs is inelastic towards unemployment. The relative increase in global employment will expectedly increase administration jobs as well. It is considering that more and more companies are becoming receptive to working remotely. Online work is possible through various kinds of online platforms that facilitate business.

Do you have a gambling problem?

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If you’re concerned that your gambling hobby may have developed into an unhealthy addiction, you’ve come to the right place. As listed below are a few questions to ask yourself to figure out if you have a gambling problem.

Do you think about gambling numerous times per day?

If you find yourself obsessing about gambling, multiple times throughout each day, there’s a high likelihood that you have developed a serious gambling addiction. Especially if you think about gambling, more often than you think about your friends, family members, career and hobbies. If you find yourself thinking about making a bet, when you’re loading your dishwasher or commuting to work, it’s well worth seeking help for your gaming addiction.

Do you spend money which you’ve set aside for necessities on gambling?

If you start spending money which you’ve put aside for rent, groceries or your mortgage on gambling, it’s a sign that your brain has started to prioritize gambling over your life. Especially if you borrow money to gamble or use your credit cards in order to place bets. If you have spent money which is set aside for your necessities to gamble, it’s well worth seeking professional help as a problem gambler.

Are you honest about your gambling habits?

If you try to cover up the frequency of your gambling or the amount of money which you spend on gambling with your partner, friends or family members, there’s also a high chance that you’ve grown addicted to gambling.

Have you increased the amount of money which you spend gambling?

Many individuals who develop a gambling addiction, first started off betting small amounts and over time grew addicted to spending larger amounts. As most gamblers, keep seeking to experience the thrill which they first experienced the first time that they won a jackpot or a bet. Unfortunately it’s too uncommon for gamblers to grow tired of placing small bets and to gravitate to making larger and larger bets. Which will ultimately cause them to lose larger and larger sums of money.

Have you ever gambled in order to win enough money to clear your outstanding debt?

If you’ve gotten into serious debt as a result of your gambling addiction, you may have started to gamble larger amounts in the hopes of winning enough money to clear all of your outstanding debts. The issue with this strategy is that you’re highly unlikely to win the amount of money which you require to clear your debts. As the house always wins. Worse yet, if you do manage to win a large sum of money, you’ll be highly tempted to spend it on a large bet in order to multiply your winnings. Which could cause you to lose all the money which you had won in an instant.

So if you answered yes to any of the questions which were listed above, it’s highly likely that you have developed a serious gambling problem, which can adversely affect every area of your life. The good news is that no matter how addicted to gambling you are, it’s possible to recover from your addiction and to rebuild your life again.

 

How students can enhance their critical thinking

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Academic achievements and professional accomplishments are two completely different aspects of successes in life, you may acquire one, but lack the other. To achieve attainment that stays with you throughout, you must obtain both along with the competency, and one thing that `is common in both is your ability to think critically.

For years, scholars and analysts have stressed the importance of critical thinking in students to perform well in the education sector, corporate world, and personal life. Thousands of graduates lack analytical thinking, pressure handling skills, effective communication, strategy designing, and problem-solving skills. Consequently, they suffer at every level in life until they augment their objective analysis related to everything in life.

Not just fresh students, many professionals lack this ability. Today’s world is competitive. These skills and abilities are necessary to ensure the success of your interview, your standing in the current employment scenario, and to achieve significant raises and promotions as tangible benefits to receiving their degree. Critical thinking processes information consciously and analytically to identify biases, readjust perspective, and comprehend things better in an attempt to make intelligent decisions.

Here are the five ways students can enhance their critical thinking

CHOOSE A FITTING COURSE 

Some knowledge regarding the liberal arts is vital for anyone who wishes to up their critical thinking game; you must lookout for a suitable course that can serve your purpose in this regard. You should research and choose an appropriate institute that provides the most beneficial online liberal studies degree. A liberal arts course will anchor your ability to scrutinize ideas from multiple points of view, solve problems, listen actively, communicate efficiently, and think thoroughly, proffering a thorough understanding of the practices and instilling the essential skills. It is an all-embracing realm as it comprises a broad exploration of social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and the arts.

Most of the students are unaware of the importance of critical thinking in their initial years of higher education; therefore, they tend to focus on the traditional skill set that yields no gain in the future. An analysis of over 2,300 undergraduates at 24 institutions published in Academically Adrift reveals that 45 percent of these students demonstrated no significant development in skills including critical thinking and complex reasoning during their first two years of college. Hence, studying a liberal arts course can bring out the evaluative approach from the undergraduates that is beneficial in the long run.

LISTEN AND COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

Active listening and interpersonal communication skills are crucial to the evaluative approach. A critical thinker must have a thoroughly focused and engaged mind towards the speaker, whether verbally or non-verbally. An active listener carefully communicates the speaker’s message so that he can comprehend multiple perspectives, make rational, objective judgments, and efficiently convey his analysis. Moreover, you will also be able to communicate your point of view across an in-depth understanding of the other person’s perspective.

RESEARCH AND MODIFY YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Critical thinkers are required to a great deal of research to study a variety of point-of-views, do a proper investigation, and then adjust their perception accordingly. Whether it is a literature review, a study, a whitepaper journal, or a general analysis, a person who views the world objectively needs to read, learn, and explore. Critical thinkers require thorough research of every circumstance, be it situational factors, influences, and consequences. Reading different texts with diverse contexts can also help broaden the minds of students to think differently. Such sources of writing can include books and articles from several different cultures and novel scenarios.

IDENTIFY YOUR BIASES

Recognizing your prejudices are the most challenging skill of all since it is difficult for most. Although critical thinkers evaluate situations, people, and their choices objectively, at the end of the day, they are humans. They may possess bias for several things unknowingly. Therefore, such students must practice reading and research on their thoughts and assumptions. Students must investigate their beliefs to confirm their rationality; this will help them identify their own biases and consider objectivity.

DEVELOP FORESIGHT

Students can also polish their critical thinking by learning more about predicting or forecasting the impact of various actions or phenomena. Foresight is an advantage, whether you are investing in the stock market, insurance claims, trying to start your own business, and dealing with a personal relationship problem, or a job interview. Predicting things or consequences of their actions through a logical process can help students increase their critical thinking. Students opting for courses like investment analysis, budgeting, and supply chain planning, or courses related to actuarial sciences will help students to see things logically. It will help them predict what will happen for any actions taken about the given situation.

 

In a nutshell, critical thinking is the root of students in today’s world, and many students are unaware of the fact that it is an essential skill to their success in life. They need to cultivate and improve their evaluative intellect, analytical approach, interpersonal communication skills, and problem-solving ability to achieve life’s challenges. According to a study published by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 93 percent of employers claim that an undergraduate’s ability to demonstrate their critical thinking capacity and interpersonal skills makes them more eligible for the job. Therefore, students must opt for a liberal studies course to enhance their critical thinking. They may also identify their biases, listen actively, improve intrapersonal communication skills, and develop foresight to become efficient critical thinkers.

 

5 Qualities of an Effective English Tutor

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English is one of the six official languages used by the United Nations and remains the main method for linguistic communication internationally. It is used by almost 600 million users daily in the most visited websites on the internet. Be it in the sciences, business, tourism, or academics, knowing the language gives you a sure way to connect with others, wherever they may come from.

Being able to communicate fluently in English opens up many opportunities, especially if you plan to go abroad or work in a multinational company. And to increase your chances for career, business, and even personal success, you would need the help of an effective English tutor.

But what makes an English teacher effective? Here are some essential qualities:

  • Expertise in the Subject Matter

Above all, an English teacher should have extensive knowledge of the language to sufficiently meet the needs of the students. Mastery of the subject matter inspires confidence in those who rely on the tutor to enhance their own language capability. It helps them open up and be more immersed in the learning process.

A knowledgeable tutor can also identify the gaps in the student’s language skills and formulate a training plan that will best bridge them. It will help the students reach their full potential the soonest time possible.

  • Ability to Adapt to Individual Needs

Every student is different from the other, each with a different base skill level, unique personality, and even varying expectations. As such, there is no single teaching approach that will fit all.

An effective English tutor can adapt to this unpredictably changing requirement of every student. It is the student’s need that will determine the most effective teaching approach and not the other way around. It is this personalised learning environment that attracts many students to avail of the services of a tutor in the first place.

  • Interpersonal Skills

To make the most of each session, the tutor needs to have a rapport with the student. This connection depends mostly on the ability of the tutor to have a positive impact on the student through their interactions. It can be something as simple as showing enthusiasm or energy during the sessions. It can also mean the ability to recognise the nuances each student has and react accordingly. The bottom line is to establish a good relationship that will inspire the students to give their best.

  • Being Approachable

Many students who genuinely want to learn would have many questions during sessions. An effective English tutor must be open to answering these questions with patience and openness. Being approachable and a willing source of knowledge encourages students to be more curious and interested in the discussions. It will also remove the inhibition of some students who are hesitant to ask about topics they find confusing or unclear.

  • Passion for Teaching and the Language

Imparting knowledge is not an easy task. There will be days where finding the motivation to take on another day of teaching is difficult. It is during these days that a tutor’s passion for teaching or for the language will give the much-needed boost. Day in and day out, a passionate tutor will find ways to be effective and impactful.

The world is growing smaller and smaller as technology continues to find ways to connect people. Now, more than ever, the need to communicate regardless of culture or location is essential, and so is the need to learn the English language.

 

Signs that Your Business Needs to Hire an Employment Lawyer

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Sydney is the Silicon Valley of Australia, as it has become a hub for startups and tech companies. But the city is also a great place to start your business even if you are not involved in IT. The economy is stable and vibrant, the weather is great, you always have a pool of talented workforce, and the residents have deep pockets.

According to data, as of 2015, there were more than 480,000 registered companies–both SMEs and large–in Greater Sydney. Small and medium businesses account for over 99% of Australia’s economy.

However, small businesses do not really see any need to hire an employment lawyer in Sydney. The one mistake that companies always make is they treat the legal profession like the medical field. They do not call a lawyer or a doctor unless they find themselves in an emergency.

Instead, they ask for legal advice from their friends, colleagues, or fellow business owners. As a result of this narrow perspective, the solution they come up with has a high risk of backfiring.

Here are some signs that you need to hire an employment lawyer right away:

  1. You are facing a potential lawsuit — A business is a target for a lawsuit, and a number of them are frivolous. It means that they have no basis in law and would likely be thrown away by the prosecutor. However, without any legal advice, the business ends up settling for a large sum of money. In the same vein, there are legitimate labour issues best left for the employment lawyer to sort out. Do not rely on your HR to iron out the problem to avoid aggravating it.
  2. You find yourself stuck on a labour question — Speaking of labour issues, you can definitely say that no business starts off trying to break all regulations and rules deliberately. However, the employment law in Australia is incredibly complex, and you might stumble and fall along the way. It is why you need an employment lawyer at the outset to help you navigate the legal labyrinth.
  3. Someone challenges your employee handbook — The employee handbook is the bible of the company. It is the basis of HR to lay down policies and regulations covering the workers. The employment lawyer will help review the handbook and perform oversight functions to ensure that everything is above board. When you know that you are not doing anything illegal, you can better face any challenge to your company policies and rules.
  4. Department of labour officials show up at your door — It does not mean that you have nothing to hide, but you are not fully equipped to deal with all the legal technicalities that might have warranted a visit. Let your employment lawyer deal with them and make sure you are protected.

Keeping an employment lawyer in Sydney is a good business move. Think of the professional fee as an investment rather than an expense. It is more cost-effective to avoid legal troubles than try to get out of one. The attorney can give you sound advice to avoid the legal pitfalls you encounter as you try to grow your business.