Practical Ways To Save Money When Hiring Employees

The second chapter of the year is done. With 2019 in full swing, now is the time for business to open vacancies and focus on meeting their staffing needs. The hiring process can exhaust someone’s time, effort, and money. There is no doubt that hiring can be cumbersome!

On that note, here are practical tips that you can apply during hiring process.

BEGIN WITH THE INTERNAL CANDIDATES

One of the simplest ways to make hiring more efficient is to consider the talent within your company. Hiring internally entails that you do not have to worry about background checks or goodness of fit. Your current talent has already been coherent with the team and has already completed the reference checks.

If you are looking for a principal, perhaps you can source out from your current teacher pool! You just have to train him or her. Promoting existing employees will not necessarily help you avoid training. Instead, you are leading an employee to a smoother transition with his or her basic knowledge in mind.

SPEAK TO THE CANDIDATES THROUGH THE PHONE

Conducting multiple face-to-face interviews is a waste of time! Instead, you must filter out the applicant pile by conducting a phone interview. Screening through the phone is a quick, cost-friendly, and easy way to ensure that the employer’s basic requirements are met.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Once you weed out the bright from the dull candidates, you can reserve a slot for the candidate to meet the Hiring Manager. This way, the Hiring Manager can focus on more important tasks at hand.

CONSIDER HIRING INTERNS

Many companies and startups can agree that interns carry a huge value in the team. Firstly, hiring them is cost efficient. You give them the substantial experience they need for the “real” world while they provide you with their inexpensive services. Secondly, you can train a potential employee. You will know all of his or her strengths, weaknesses, skills, knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and work ethics. Choose your interns wisely.

All the hard work is done! Consider hiring an employee from the interns that impressed you.

SCHEDULE THE INTERVIEW PERIOD STRATEGICALLY

It is no secret that the hiring process takes time. Screening the potential candidates or writing a job description can already take up your entire day. To ignite productivity within the hiring process, you must arrange for all key players to commit to being available within a week-long stretch. Doing so will prevent you from having gaps between the candidate phone screens and the candidate meetings.

You will be able to make decisions smarter and sooner.

GET SOCIAL WITH THE CANDIDATES

Did you know that more than 90% of companies prefer to recruit through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn? Yes! Times have changed and you must too.

Have your Human Resources team (or do it yourself) analyze the social media presence of a potential candidate. You will be surprised with what you can uncover! This is a good strategy, especially if you are hiring employees in the Silicon Valley.

MAKE CLEAR AND CONCISE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Last but not the least, you must create clear and specific job descriptions. There is a higher chance of attracting the right candidate when you invest your time in making sure that job listings are detailed and precise.

State the skills and qualifications that you are looking for. Furthermore, you may state the qualities or behavior that are deal-breakers for you. For instance, the candidate himself will skip through your listing when the skills you are looking for are not parts of his repertoire. The candidates will have a realistic sense of what they have applied for.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Good luck with the tricky and complex period of hiring! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

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The Power Of Marketing: Oscars Edition

The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, consist of a set of awards given annually to recognize the creative and technical talents in the film industry. The show is spearheaded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The AMPAS is the organization that assesses one’s cinematic achievements through the votes of its members.

Interestingly, movies who won at the Oscars get an increase of about 38% more in sales. This translates to about US$35 million in box office dollars. This significant jump happened to the award-winning 2010 film entitled King’s Speech.

Now, let us focus on the actors. Do they get paid if they win at the Oscars? The award itself costs US$0. However, the effect of the Oscars in an actor’s portfolio and talent fee is positive. It can be boosted by 60% on average! Furthermore, winners get a gift bag worth hundreds of dollars.

The marketing potential of the Oscars is the reason why filmmakers, actors, and movie-making companies aggressively vie for these votes.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

CAMPAIGNS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE

To create an Oscar buzz, members of the film industry shelled out millions of dollars! Now more than ever, campaigns have been reaching an all time high. The mere campaigns for “A Star is Born,” “Green Book”, and “Black Panther” ran from about US$20 to US$30 million per film.

Netflix is in the buzz too! Promotional budget reach about US$25 million when Netflix campaigned for “Roma”. This was an uphill battle as some members of the Academy do not want a digital platform to win the Oscars. Nonetheless, its marketing strategies paid off as Netflix won multiple awards such as winning for the foreign language film category and directing/cinematography. It does not stop there! “Period. End of Sentence” also won in the documentary short category.

ADS ARE STILL SELLING

In spite of the social media widespread, advertisers are still dishing out to get ads on shows such as the Oscars. Despite the Academy Awards’ steady decline in ratings, ABC Network sold million-dollar ads as live shows are attractive to advertisers.

CNN media critic Brian Lowry told Business Insider: “If you’re a sponsor and you’re trying to reach any kind of mass appeal, you sort of grab at the platforms that can still do that. The Oscars is in the same way that sports have an advantage, if you are really into the Oscars, you don’t want to DVR it and watch the next day. ”

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It goes to show that having audience stream live shows plays an impact in marketing and advertising!

Sources: 1 ,2, & 3

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How To Throw An Inexpensive Rainbow-Themed Party

Rainbow is one of the most timeless, cheerful, and popular themes for parties. Rainbow parties can be used to celebrate birthdays, promotions, graduations, or reunions. It adds a layer of positivity that can give any bunch an excuse to have fun!

Combining all the beautiful colors of the rainbow can be intimidating for some. After all, you have to pack a variety of colors in one party. Do not fret! There are a few rainbow party ideas that can make your theme shine.

INVITATIONS

They say that first impressions last. What better way to make an impact than by making sending out some vibrant invitations. There are two ways to create a low-cost invitation. Firstly, you may get some paint sample swatches at your nearby hardware store. Cut these swatches into strips and glue them on the paper. Have your child write the details to add a playful touch. Afterwards, photocopy or scan this invitation and distribute.

Lastly, you may create a rainbow in an envelope. Surprise your friends by following this simple printable. You will only need two sheets of paper, including an envelope. This printable is free for download!

DECORATIONS

When it comes to rainbow-themed decorations, you can either buy or make your own. Start with the hanging decors – the streamers or buntings. You can make a DIY Zigzag Accordion Streamer cutting papers vertically in an alternate manner. Do this with assorted colors of paper. Nonetheless, you may purchase rainbow buntings for less than S$10 at Lazada Singapore.

Let us focus on the centerpieces of your table. Welcome your guests with attractive blooms dipped in colored water. Dye the water inside the vase, before putting the flowers. Be as creative as you can! Lastly, you may create Rainbow Salt Jars with your beloved kids. Simply pour salt on a piece or paper to cover about 1/4 of your chosen recycled jar. Then, let your children rub their chosen colored chalk back and forth across the salt. Pour your colored salt inside the recycled jar until your reach your desired look. This is a tactile activity that will delight your kids and amp up your party!

People who are not blessed with time can simply purchase online. You may check out Lazada Singapore for cheap decorations such as rainbow pinwheels, rainbow latex balloons, and rainbow inflatable foil balloons.

ENTERTAINMENT

Your games can either take the classic route or the contemporary twist. Firstly, you can facilitate a “Pin the Cloud on the Rainbow” or a “Pin a Horn on the Unicorn” while the player is blindfolded.

Secondly, you may use colored cereals to make your own rainbow. Watch your children create patterns using the different colors of Fruit Loops! Prior to this, you may conduct a “sorting” activity to let out a few snacking and giggling.

Lastly, you can purchase the six-dollar Inflatable Rabbit Ear Ring Toss. This product is made of high-quality PVC, non-toxic, and wear- resistant material. Begin the game by grouping the players into pairs. One player shall wear the rabbit ear hat. While, the other shall toss the rings into it. The team with most rings will win!

FOOD

My favorite part of any party is the food! When it comes to rainbow food, you may let your wild thoughts flow!

A. Rainbow Fruit Skewers are both delicious and healthy. Both adults and children can enjoy snacking on these sticks!

B. Rainbow Marshmallows are as tasty as it sounds! Simply put a marshmallow into a stick. Dip this in chocolate syrup and coat it with sprinkles.

C. Unicorn Ice Cream is as elusive as you may think! Recently, Cornetto introduced its latest flavor called the Unicornetto. It is easy to spot this flavor with its holographic wrapper! Inside its eye-catching wrapper is a cotton candy and marshmallow ice cream appearing in a pastel mix of blue and purple colors. In the middle of the pink cone is strawberry jam. What’s more? The toppings are pastel white and pink chocolate crisps. The mere act of typing these made my sugar rush! The Unicornetto costs about S$2.80 at selected 7-Eleven outlets islandwide.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

May your rainbow-themed party lead you to a pot of golden memories in the end!

Sources: 1 & 2

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Best Budget Bluetooth Speakers In Singapore

I work in a private preschool environment where singing and dancing is my bread and butter. Carrying essential tunes was made easier by wireless Bluetooth speakers. The future is cordless, that is something I am certain about. Just take a look at the Air Pods and the smart home speakers that can help you around the house!

Some experts may perceive Bluetooth speakers as of lesser quality than its counterparts, but this list will round up the decent ones. Bring your favorite music around Singapore with portable Bluetooth speakers that will not break the bank. Continue reading to find out more!

JBL CLIP II PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
Price: About S$68 at Harvey Norman Singapore

JBL is a brand that needs no introduction in the speaker-making industry! It has been dominating the scene not only because of its quality, but also due to its innovation. Among its latest innovation is JBL Clip II Portable Bluetooth Speaker.

With a size encompassing your entire palm, it is a small waterproof speaker that packs a punch! It offers a crisp mid and high sounds as well as a significant bass for its size. You can expect it to last for eight hours when you play songs at 50% volume. It comes in 8 different designs too.

What’s more? You do not have to worry about dropping your speaker into the pool. This waterproof Bluetooth speaker will float!

UE WONDERBOOM
Price: About S$99 at Lazada Singapore

Coming from the realm of floating waterproof Bluetooth speakers is UE WONDERBOOM. In a nutshell, it is a miniature version of the UE BOOM 2. It boasts with a good sound quality, a robust design, and a waterproof feature. The WONDERBOOM is a perfect companion for both indoor and outdoor workouts due to its small size.

If you are the type of person who hates headphones yet enjoys hearing your favorite tunes then, the WONDERBOOM is an ideal workout companion. Due to its lightweight nature, you will have no qualms to bring it outside for a quick jog.

If you are the type of person who frequents the gym, you will not be afraid to drop it in your sweaty hands. It can withstand sweat! It is easy to carry around too.

ANKER SOUNDCORE FLARE
Price: About S$99 at Lazada Singapore

As a brand, Anker has a history of making great budget wireless speakers. While some experts are not entirely impressed with the Anker SoundCore 2, the succeeding Anker Soundcore Flare seems promising. Some people have declare it as the best budget Bluetooth speaker. Why is this so?

Firstly, it has a weight of 18.7 ounces and a battery life of 12 hours. You can easily bring your speaker in the workplace or in your car.

If you stretch your money further a hundred, you will get this amazing Soundcore Flare that can compete with the sound quality of the UE WONDERBOOM speaker.

TRIBIT XSOUND GO
Price: About S$49 at Lazada Singapore

It seems too good to be true, but this forty-nine dollar speaker will impress you with its balanced sound and attractive design. Let me start with the sound quality. At high volumes, it is near distortion-free. However, it has problems with complicated tracks and highlighting the bass.

Secondly, its attractive design focuses on its portability and waterproof feature. It claims to have an IPX7 water resistant rating. You may also keep it playing at a medium volume for more than 20 hours.

If you are someone who loves hanging out at the beach or by the pool while listening to countless tunes then, you could not go wrong with the Tribit XSound Go!

Image Credits: facebook.com/scopetechtt

With a myriad of Bluetooth speakers available in the Singaporean market, will you be able to filter out the good ones from the bad ones? Well, start with the budget Bluetooth speakers that are under S$100 and move forward from there.

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Ways To Waste Your Money On Designer Goods

#1: BY SKIPPING ON LESSER KNOWN DESIGNERS

It comes as no surprise that a luxury fashion brand novice is familiar with Chanel, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. Do you know other brands beyond these three? Some lesser known designers, such as Ermenegildo Zegna and Mary Katrantzou, have been flourishing for years. Are you aware of their existence?

You see, you may come across some quality products from designers that you have not heard of. It is important to focus on the quality and craftsmanship of a product before seeking out renowned designer brands solely for their namesake. Consider this tip on your next trip to the thrift shop!

#2: BY NOT CONSIDERING THE CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES

Being a fan of a well-known luxury designer is not a problem! You may look for cheaper alternatives such as bridge lines or lower-cost brands within the designer’s realms. Let me start with bridge lines. The term describes the collaboration between a high-end designer and a lower-priced retailer. Initially, the designer creates a collection. Then, the retailer will use its resources to manufacture the designs massively and affordably. For example, H&M’s collaboration with Alexander Wang produced cheaper alternatives compared to buying directly from the designer.

Next is the lower-cost brands. When scanning the racks of your favorite department store or thrift store, you will probably notice that some brand names seem familiar. This is because high-end designers thought of a way to tap the mass market. They offered lower-cost brands. Marc by Marc Jacobs and REDValentino are both lower-cost versions of the main brand, which gains you the same amount of prestige. Please note that these brands are often selling trendier items, made without the strict quality standards of the main brand.

#3: BY NOT CONSIDERING YOUR STYLE PERSONALITY

Throughout the years, we each develop a personal style or a clothing preference at the very least. Whether your style is attractive or not, everything is debatable. A worthy investment for me may be rubbing for you. Nonetheless, you are wasting money if you are taking away the personal elements of having your own style.

Do not lose individuality and uniqueness by investing on items solely for their brand names. People become obsessed with the designer brands that they forget what they are actually looking for.

#4: BY TAKING ON A DIY PROJECT

When purchasing a pre-loved designer bag or wallet, you must find the best one possible. Yes! You may love crafting or DIY projects, but a dirty or a broken item is not going to do you much good. A broken strap or a missing stud may be fixed by your local repair shop – at an additional cost. Are you really getting a good deal?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Maximize your dollars’ worth by checking the quality of the handbag or wallet. Pull out the lining and look for holes. Are there missing straps or details (e.g., gemstones or studs). Smell the item too! If an item has a lingering smell of cigarette smoke, you may skip on it. It is nearly impossible to remove a potent smell!

Sources: 1 2

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