Blog Post

A new perspective

  • By tcbsolutions@gmail.com
  • 19 Jul, 2023

Sometimes a break is what you need

Hi, fellow readers. Today, I wanted to talk about something that is very close to my heart. Recently, I went through a mental health crisis, and it was one of the toughest things I have ever experienced. As a mom, wife, and entrepreneur, I understand that life can be filled with a lot of pressure, and sometimes, it can become too much to handle.

The recent pandemic, too, added to the already existing feelings of insecurity, and it felt like life was nothing but a never-ending maze. Being an entrepreneur makes things even harder because you have to find a way to balance it all - your income, your time, and most importantly, your peace.

I knew I had to take drastic steps to save myself. So, I reached out to my close friends and family, and most importantly, I stole some time for myself. I had to step away from my job, my baby (i.e., my business) for two decades to recapture who I was.

It wasn't easy because my finances didn't allow me to take a complete break from it all. But, I knew I had to find peace within the chaos. So, I took a break from my business and worked for someone else. I found a new rhythm, new people, and a new perspective on life.

It was scary at first, but I realized that it was exactly what I needed to do. I found things about myself that I didn't know existed, and I saw life from a completely different lens. It was a life-changing experience, and it taught me that sometimes, you just have to take a step back to understand life fully.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I want to put it out there if anyone reading this blog is going through something similar, please know that you're not alone. It's okay to take a break, to reach out to a friend or a family member, and to just take a step back from life to understand it fully. Life is a masterpiece, and sometimes, to understand it fully, you need to take a step back and see the bigger picture.

Thank you for reading this blog. Stay safe, stay happy.

Tawana Woods, Mom, Entrepreneur, Strategist
By tcbsolutions@gmail.com July 19, 2023
Perspectives of change.
By Staff Writer, CountrysBestResumes.com August 8, 2018
Job Interview thank you note sample
By tawana July 26, 2018
What is Emotional Intelligence?
By Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer May 7, 2018

10 Tips that reduces stress and increases your chances of being hired

Tip 1 - Calm Down  - Although the interview is important, your overall health is more. Interviewing is a mutual process. You are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you.


Tip 2 - Always Bring Samples of Your Work  - If you don't have any start calling your old job and get them. Always keep at least one ally at your job, you never know when you will need something. Before you leave a job, create a portfolio and make copies of your work but omit confidential business information.

Tip 3 - Do the Research  - Know what you are getting yourself into, this may not be the company you want to spend 40+ hours a week with for a year.


Tip 4 - Fix Yourself Up and Smile!  - First impressions are made in 30-seconds or less, don't miss an opportunity just because you got up late or did not neatly present yourself. Employers are looking for people who are organized, if you can't organize yourself, then how can you organize a project? Arrive 10-15 minutes early, smile at everyone - show you have manners.


Tip 5 - Cultivate Your References  - Prior to giving the names and contact information of people who you would like to say a kind word about you, make sure you ask them and drop a line or e-mail every once in a while, cultivate your references, you need them!


Tip 6 - Get a Group of Mentors  - Ask people to be your mentor, you should have a mentoring group, 1-2 people who can mentor you, 1-2 people who are on your level so that you can learn and swap ideas from each other and 1-2 people you can mentor.


Tip 7 - Use the Right Paper  - Always present a fresh copy of your resume on proper resume paper (minimum have two copies). Do not use colors other than Ivory or White. You will stick out if you use blue, pink, orange, etc., but most likely it will not be in the manner that is beneficial.


Tip 8 - Always have questions to ask  - Never leave an interview without asking at least 3 questions.


Tip 9 - Practice Interviewing  - If you are a client call us and we will gladly do a mock interview with you.


Tip 10 - Send a thank you letter within 24-Hours  - Always thank the interviewer for taking the time out to meet with you.


We provide free resume workshops to community based, educational and professional network organizations around the country call us and let us know how we can help your organization. Call us 800.409.8979

Go to Homepage  - www.CountrysBestResumes.com  

By Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer, CountrysBestResumes.com May 7, 2018

You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.
-George Horace Lorimer

 

FACT

  • Each year more than 18 million Americans lose their jobs unexpectedly.
  • On average, most of those who have lost their job will find a new one within five months.

 

Now that you have been laid off, you need to hurry up and find a new job,  right? Wrong. Before you exit the door, there are a few important things you must  do, a few loose ends that need to be tied up between you and your ex  employer.

 

Before you go out looking for a new job, you must make a plan of action, map out what you are going to do next. Add these items to your to-do list for your first week out of work.

 

  Synchronize Your Records

           First, be sure that you and your former employer are on the same page regarding what you feel is owed to you. Work closely with your manager, employment benefits manager, union rep and/or HR manager to determine what is owed to you.

 

            Record the agreed upon date of your termination or the date you submitted your resignation letter. Also read over your company hand book very carefully, anything you don’t understand call your former HR manager and have he or she explain it to you in simple terms.

 

            Be sure to make a copy of project plans you spearheaded, designs you made, templates you created. These documents will come handy as you interview and will also help to remind you of things you are good at, be sure to add your impressive documents to your portfolio.

 

Salary and Accrued Vacation Time

  • Make sure that you are not due any vacation time, if you received paid vacation, then you are entitled to pay for time accrued.

 

  • Call your state labor board and make sure you understand what the law mandates. Some states require that the employer pays you in full on your last day of work, others give the employer some slack. Some states mandate payment for unused vested vacation time, others may not.

 

Unemployment and Healthcare

  • A major issue most people must deal with is providing for themselves and their families. Finding out if you qualify for unemployment compensation should be the next thing that is taken care of. There are certain criteria that must be met. Visit www.dol.gov to find your local labor office.

 

  • The next issue to deal with is healthcare insurance. In the U.S. more than 64 percent or 177 million of Americans receive some form of healthcare insurance through their employer. Usually when a job is lost so is the coverage. However, you may be entitled to COBRA benefits, your health plan must give you a notice stating your right to choose to continue benefits provided by COBRA. You financially contribute to this fund. You must respond in 60 days or you may lose your right to the benefits.

 

Important Tax Forms

  • Who has your W-2? If you haven’t received your W-2 form by mid February, contact the IRS to request a substitute. You will be asked to produce your final paycheck for that tax year. Go to www.irs.gov for more info.

 

  • Consult your tax accountant and financial planners. There are many firms that handle rollovers at no charge to you. Some firms also offer tax planning that will allow you to minimize the tax bit while still using as much cash as you need to carry you until you land your next job.

 

Cash Flow

 

Now that you have found yourself in the middle of a layoff, it can go without saying, you should take a conservative approach to your cash flow situation. Pool your resources, you have more money than you think. Here are some conservative avenues to take into consideration:

    • Consolidating Credit Card Debt

 

    • Defer Student Loan payments – Ask for a forbearance

 

    • 401k rollover to a IRA or ROTH IRA ( consult a financial advisor )

 

    • Refinance Your home

 

    • Consult your tax preparer about certain options

 

    • Utilize your tax refund, have your accountant review previous returns for possible additional returns

 

    • Re-assess your household spending

 

    • Contact your creditors regarding reducing your interest rates

Moving On

 

  • Once we have come to terms with all matters emotional and practical, it is time to move on. We must decide where to go from here. First you must look at why you lost your job. Was the company downsizing? If so, is this a trend in the industry? How is the industry changing? Do you want to stay in the same field? Is a career change in order? If not, maybe this is a good time to spruce up some skills in order to make yourself more marketable.

 

  • Take the time to make some changes – research different careers and industries, learn new skills (you must show value to a potential employer) and improve upon the ones you already have, or perhaps consider relocating. Look forward to your next opportunity.

   

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy" - Martin Luther King


Contact a professional resume writer - 800.409.8979 - www.Countrysbestresumes.com

By Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer May 7, 2018

Tip 1 - Although the meeting is vital, your general wellbeing is more. Talking is a common procedure. You are meeting the organization the same amount of as they are talking with you.

 

Tip 2 - Know what you are getting yourself into, this may not be the organization you need to burn through 40+ hours per week with for a year.

 

Tip 3 - First impressions are made in 30-seconds or less, don't miss an open door since you rose late or did not perfectly introduce yourself. Businesses are searching for individuals who are sorted out, on the off chance that you can't compose yourself, at that point how might you arrange a task? Arrive 10-15 minutes early, grin at everybody - indicate you have behavior.

 

Tip 4 - Prior to giving the names and contact data of individuals who you might want to say a kind word in regards to you, ensure you ask them and drop a line or email now and again, develop your references, you require them!

 

Tip 5 - Always have things to ask - Never leave a meeting without asking no less than 3 questions.

 

Tip 6 - Practice Interviewing - If you are a customer call us and we will readily complete a deride meet with you.

 

Tip 7 - Send a thank you letter inside 24-Hours - Always thank the questioner for taking the time out to meet with you.

We give free resume workshops to group based, instructive and proficient system associations around the nation call us and let us know how we can help your association. Call us 800.409.8979 – www.CountrysBestResumes.com

By Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer May 7, 2018

In a recent article published by the NY Times, a new trend has emerged among employers. A job seeker should add credit check to their list of things to do along with their resume revamps. Companies are now screening applicants backgrounds more often and more thoroughly than ever. Here is what employers are looking for:

  • On-time payment histories
  • Late payment trends in excess of 120 days
  • Bankruptcy
  • Lawsuits
  • Government Liens
  • Identity Confirmation
Thanks to scandals like Enron, many companies have added credit reports to improve their background checks and raise their hiring standards. Employers or screening firms can purchase credit reports for $8-$12. And due to tight restrictions and lawsuits regarding references, credit checks are becoming the preferred candidate quality barometer.
Background checks may include:
  • State Wide Criminal History Reports
  • County of Residence Criminal History Check
  • Worker's Compensation Claim History Report
  • Driving Records/Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
  • Social Security Number Trace and Validation
  • Employee Credit Report (PEER REPORT)
  • Federal Record Checks
  • Drug Screening
  • Applicant Assessment Testing

Employers evaluate the reports in different ways. Some look for a good payment history as a sign of responsibility. Others look for red flags that may cause someone to do things that are uncharacteristic to due pressure caused by large unpaid debt. For example, a bankruptcy may not cause as much alarm as a candidate who is 120 days past due on several bills.


What is good credit? According to Mortgage Links, a NY based mortgage firm, and Prudential Appleseed Realty, FICO scores above 680 are considered fair or good credit even during our current credit crunch. Under most government backed loan guideline, 680 is the base score for approval. New homeowners are classified in three main categories, A (680+), B (550 to 630), C (below 550). To check your credit visit: be sure to check with your state for a free credit report.

www.experian.com

www.equifax.com

www.transunion.com


Under the 1996 Fair Credit Reporting Act ( http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm ), companies can review credit reports of applicants and employees only with their permission. Typically, job applications include a yes-or-no check-off box. Saying no to a credit review raises the same red flags that bad credit does.


It is imperative to check and maintain good credit now, in some cases, your job depends on it.

If you have any information relating to this topic please contact us at customerservice@tcbsolutions.net . We want to hear from you.

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By Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer May 7, 2018

 One of the greatest mix-ups numerous individuals make while interview for a new job is they think all that is important to be effective at a meeting is to indicate you have what it takes to take the necessary steps. Nonetheless, as indicated by numerous spotters and procuring directors there is significantly more.

 

5 Secrets to Getting the Offer

 

Distil Value: List your significant expert achievements, utilize those achievements to legitimize your capacity and appropriateness. Keep in mind this is a business call, you should persuade an organization that you are an incredible speculation.

 

Excitement: Team work is imperative, don't simply say it yet give strong, comes about driven cases. Bosses need to know you'd go up against whatever it takes to enable the group to survive and flourish. Feature your great hardworking attitude, the measure of honors you have gotten, advancements, and so forth.

 

Sensibility: You should exhibit that you can work viably alone and also part of a group and ready to take bearing and feedback. Organizations are searching for specialists who coexist with others, whatever their individual assessments or convictions. Try not to speak contrarily about your present or past bosses.

 

Comprehend Your Industry: It's insufficient to tell a questioner you include involvement inside an industry, you should show demonstrated learning upheld by realities.


Outcome Driven: We all take care of issues: Problem solving is the most critical piece of any set of working responsibilities so recognize and review at meet common issues you have handled in past business. Give particular illustrations and quantifiable outcomes.


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By Staff Contributor, CountrysBestResumes.com March 30, 2018
The highest paying sectors for the past five years. 

OCCUPATION

Anesthesiologists

$208,000+ per year

Surgeons

$208,000+ per year

Orthodontists

$208,000+ per year

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

$208,000+ per year

Obstetricians and gynecologists

$208,000+ per year

Physicians and surgeons, all other

$206,920 per year

Internists, general

$196,380 per year

Psychiatrists

$194,740 per year

Family and general practitioners

$190,490 per year

Chief executives

$181,210 per year

Dentists, all other specialists

$173,000 per year

Pediatricians, general

$168,990 per year

Nurse anesthetists

$160,270 per year

Dentists, general

$153,900 per year

Computer and information systems managers

$135,800 per year

Architectural and engineering managers

$134,730 per year

Marketing managers

$131,180 per year

Petroleum engineers

$128,230 per year

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers

$127,820 per year

Prosthodontists

$126,050 per year

To learn more about our services go to Resume Services

CountrysBestResumes.com, 800.409.8979

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By Tawana Wood, CountrysBestResumes.com March 29, 2018
Fastest growing sectors for jobs in the United States.
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