Career and Job Search Help Blog

Market Research & Launching Your Business Online

 

Being a small business owner can be tough these days. Often one of the hardest parts about opening a small business is conducting market research. Market research should always be done both prior to opening a business and while your business is running to stay abreast with current industry trends. Some of the questions people may ask themselves before opening a small business are:

• How feasible is your business idea?
• How do you know what your customers want?
• Who will your customers be, how do you get them to remain loyal?
• How much risk is involved?

You are basically trying to predict the future - which is not an easy task. Sometimes it is hard to know where to start. Some companies pay thousands of dollars to conduct market research. However, you can do your own research - at the library of course!

                                     http://tomfishburne.com/2009/01/glass-half-full.html

You are basically trying to predict the future - which is not an easy task. Sometimes it is hard to know where to start. Some companies pay thousands of dollars to conduct market research. However, you can do your own research - at the library of course!

On Tuesday June 26 from 6:30 - 8:30 the Business department at North York Central Library is hosting a seminar Small Business Success: Market Research & Launching Your Business Online . We'll teach you how to use some of our databases and other online/library resources to conduct effective market research. You can call the Business Department at 416-395-5613. Hope to see you there!

 

Summer Internships: How to Make the Most of them

Last year, a friend's son got a summer internship at the Ministry of the Environment. He worked in the laboratory. At the end of the summer, he knew that lab work was not his interest nor his forte. He has since switched to computer science and is loving it! Summer internships are a great way to gain work experience, make valuable contacts, and help you decide whether you would truly like doing a particular job or working in that specific environment.

If you land an internship, try to make the most of it! Some things to keep in mind:

1. Be on time, in fact, be early for work and all meetings. At the risk of sounding redundant, do a trial commute during rush hour before your first day of work. You do not want to be late on your first day of work.

2. Be proactive. If all you've been given for the past few weeks is filing responsibilities, talk to your manager and inquire about different tasks. Be realistic about what you should/shouldn't do in terms of tasks. Don't complain - complete your tasks professionally and with enthusiasm.

3. Ask questions. Don't assume that you know. Internships are two-way streets. Your manager expects certain things from you and you can expect to learn about the job/company. If you feel you have good ideas, bring them forward. Don't wait to be asked.

4. Be friendly (network!) and professional. After all, the employees are more or less working towards a common goal - the well-being and profitability of the company. Take all opportunities to build a professional relationship with your co-workers. Agree to any invitations to attend clients meetings, conferences, etc.

5. Try to have regular meetings with your manager; but, don't meet just for the heckofit. This is important for you because you want to get feedback and offer progress reports.

6. Make a list of goals. What do you want to accomplish by the end of this internship? Is it learning about the industry, new skills, networking within the company and industry, creating a portfolio? Write down your goals as well as the steps/milestones associated, and review them regularly. If you create anything - reports, documentation, and/or receive commendation, be sure to save a copy for your portfolio.

CultureLink Free 5-day Job Search Workshop for Newcomers

A career counselor from CultureLink will help newcomers who are Permanent Residents, Convention Refugees, or Live-In Caregivers with developing a professional resume, cover letters, job interview techniques, how to market your skills effectively, Canadian labour market information, networking/hidden job market, understanding work place culture, and other job search tools.

When: June 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, 2012

Where: North York Central Library, Room 2/3

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Call 416-395-5613 to register.

Success in the Workplace

Much has been said on how to create a winning resume, cover letter and how to conduct yourself at an interview; but, how much discussion is there on what to do after you land that job? How can you conduct yourself in order to succeed and move up in your profession or in the organization? How can you balance work and life?

Here are select resources:

       

Interested in eBooks? Several titles stand out: SuperCompetent: the Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best, Linchpin Are You Indispensable? (Yes, it's available in both print and electronic versions.)