New Law about College Loan Forgiveness and Student Debt Repayments: Links & Information

As anyone facing repayment of a student loan without enough money to make ends meet knows: Student debt can be a major problem!

A recent law with changes in the requirements about student loan repayments make it easier to meet the gap if based on your income.

View video here.

This is especially helpful if you could not find a job, or your hours have been cut or you recently lost your job, but still have outstanding student loans.
Are you a teacher? Serve in the Peace Corp or Americorps?

On July 1, 2009 Income Based Repayment or IBR became law. What is this loan forgiveness law? Under certain circumstances -- any remaining debt after 25 years will be forgiven... or after 10 years if you work for a non profit.

Do you qualify? The income based section is based on the amount you earn and the number of people in your family. The public service portion depends upon where you choose to work after graduation.

Here's the link to the IBR calculator -- income based repayment calculator. Punch in your numbers for a quick look. Here's the link to the 29 pages of fine print & government bill that lists the jobs that qualify ((including licensed or regulated child care, Head Start, and State-funded pre-kindergarten, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting and full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations and health care support occupations as such terms are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

Student Loan Forgiveness

Here are links about student debt repayment information and the new law. It's been in the works for a while. Here's some important and helpful links for learning more about how to get forgiveness on your student loans based on your income.
Retrieve your amount of student loan debt here.

Find out more about student loan reduction qualifications here at this financial aid site

December 3, 2009 IBR Final Rules and Application Help


October 20, 2009 Update on Loan Forgiveness and Private Loans


August 6, 2009 Make Your Voice Heard and Learn More About IBR


July 10, 2009 Answering Your IBR Questions


June 30, 2009 IBR Applications Now Available


June 19, 2009 Take Action for Real Loan Forgiveness!


June 11, 2009 New IBR Video -- Ditch Your Debt Gremlin


May 26, 2009 Great News, Plus Q & A Update



April 8, 2009 New Podcast and a Chance to Help


February 27, 2009 IBR Calculator updates and new FAQ section


December 17, 2008 Fighting for Fairness and Access

The Power of Women in the Boardroom

A recent study shows important factors of women in the boardroom in helping a board of directors become more effective.

Important findings, the good:

• Perspective
• Dynamic
• Teamwork
• Less ego driven
• Good questions
• Challenging status quo
• Great energy, drive and commitment

Important findings, the weaknesses:

• lower self confidence
• either too passive or too aggressive
• tend to be perfectionists

Read the article 6 Perspectives on Women in the Boardroom, Plus 3 Tips for an Effective Board: FTSE 100 Breakfast Panel at the Glass Hammer for the full information.

Roni's Weigh Hits a New Milestone

Roni (Veronica “Roni” Noone) is an inspiration to many many women.

She's been blogging for several years at Roni's Weigh and Green Lite Bites and has really built a huge following. I think Roni's way of blogging, accepting a few ads but really being authentic and true to her readers has helped her to turn her blogging into a business. She got into it after she lost weight with Weight Watchers but wanted to become more healthy in her eating.

Today, she hit a major milestone.

After losing 70 pounds and keeping it off for several years, today she is running the Baltimore Marathon! As I type this, she just completed 11.5 miles of the 26.2 run.

It's really cool to follow her live on TwitPic after all the training and effort she's done to get ready for this.

Although her blog has a lot of information about food and staying fit, there's some great career points on there too.

Here she is at mile 12.

You can follow her on Twitter @RonisWeigh

Some of her other websites and blogs: GreenLiteBites BlogToLose SkinnyMinnyMedia FitBloggin'

From her bio:

Roni’s daily blog posts, tweets, and video posts have created a
fiercely loyal following of readers. On average, more than 3,500 people visit Roni’s Weigh, GreenLiteBites and BlogToLose each day. Roni has also gained notoriety by being quoted and published in many publications including: Women’s World, Wired and The Baltimore Sun. She’s also been a speaker at various events, including BlogHer DC - Reach Out Tour and BlogHer 2009.

Currently, Veronica is training for the 2009 Baltimore Marathon. In
March 2010, she will host the first ever FitBloggin’ conference in Baltimore,
Maryland - a place for new and seasoned health, wellness, weight loss and
fitness bloggers to come together for knowledge, personal growth and
networking.

She manages to blog at 4 places, hold down a job, train for a marathon, have a great family life with a 4 year old and husband... and create some terrific recipes as well. What can we learn from her? Life balance. Time management. Goals.

Northeast Ohio ATHENA Awards for 2009

The Athena Awards were held on Thursday October 1 in Northeast Ohio.
From the Inside Business:

RECIPIENTS
Jacqueline Silas-Butler starts her day early to make sure children in Akron get the head start they need to succeed.

Jacqueline F. Woods established herself as one of Northeast Ohio’s most influential women while leading AT&T Ohio. Now in retirement, she continues taking risks, finding new challenges and helping a new generation of women.

Since 1982, the ATHENA Awards have celebrated women and men throughout the
world who have made a difference in their communities, their professions and the
lives of women around them.

The 10 finalists of Northeast Ohio’s 2009 ATHENA Awards come from a range of backgrounds: large corporations and nonprofit organizations, public service and private firms. But they also share a common bond. Through their leadership, they’ve made our region a better place to live and work.

ATHENA Award Finalists: Lisa Rose, Linda F.R. Omobien, Radhika Reddy, Kimberly Haws Falasco, Margaret Payne, Holly Harris Bane, Jacqueline F. Woods, Jacqueline Silas-Butler, Paul Clark, Heather Roulston Ettinger

Young Professional Award Winners: Lynnette Jackson and Katie Herbst

Northeast Ohio ATHENA Award Finalists Will Be Honored Tonight

The 2009 ATHENA Award finalists are:

• Holly Harris Bane, The University of Akron
• Paul Clark, National City now a part of PNC
• Kimberly Haws Falasco, Robert W. Baird & Co.
• Heather Ettinger, Fairport Asset Management LLC
• Linda Omobien, Omobien & Associates
• Radhika Reddy, Ariel Ventures LLC
• Margaret Payne, Retired, Kent State University & Director, Summa Health System
• Lisa Rose, Dix & Eaton
• Jacqueline Silas-Butler, Project GRAD Akron
• Jacqueline Woods, Former President, AT&T Ohio & Trustee, Kent State University

The ATHENA® Award finalists from Northeast Ohio will be honored tonight at the awards Dinner and Celebration at the Embassy Suites Cleveland-Rockside in Independence, Ohio.

Named in recognition of the Greek goddess of wisdom and courage, ATHENA International honors outstanding individuals who have achieved professional excellence, given back to their communities and helped other women reach their full potential by creating leadership opportunities for women here in Northeast Ohio.

Past recipients of this prestigious and nationally-renowned award have started and managed companies, launched products, repositioned brands and influenced business enthusiasts in myriad ways.

Celebrate Women's Leadership Day in Akron

Celebrate Women's Leadership Day in Akron on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. Mark your calendar for lunch right now!

The Women’s Network of Northeast Ohio will be hosting a new program of ATHENA International to celebrate Women's Leadership Day. You'll want to attend this event where an established woman leader will invite an emerging woman leader to join her for lunch.

Who are you mentoring right now that would benefit by networking with other emerging women leaders and established leaders in the Akron area? Or if you are an emerging woman leader what established woman leader in the community have you always wanted to have lunch with to get to know?

Author's note: Notice how I omit the words "old" and "young"? You get the idea!! Everyone loves the phrase established and experienced, but old is not the right adjective!

This unique new lunch will be chaired by Angelina Milo, Cohen & Company, Ltd.; Diane Johnson, Attorney at Law;Angela Fremon, Cole Industries; and Norma Rist, Norma J. Rist CEO Consulting, Inc.

The proceeds for the event will benefit Women’s Network’s Judith Resnik Scholarship Fund.

If you are mentoring an emerging woman leader, this is a wonderful opportunity to develop your relationship with her as well as encourage new relationships.

This Women’s Leadership Day Lunch will be offered the same day in many other cities. Watch the http://womensnetworkneohio.com and the November newsletter for the details. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend.

Finding an Alternative to a Job

It seems like getting a job is the main focus of everyone's idea to making a living. Jobs come and go.

Sometimes while looking for a job, it's very handy to generate some additional income. Have you considered something online? Because of some fairly recent changes in technology, you can earn some money by other means too.

What about have an on line business? Selling via eBay, Craigslist or other distribution websites might be one way.

Tapping into one of the largest advertisers in the world that didn't even exist before 1998 could be another. What am I talking about? I know you've heard of it. Just like Craig's List has knocked the stuffin's out of newspaper classified advertising by making it free to all but about 11 cities for jobs and one for apartments, there is a giant information company that offers most of its products for free and still makes tons of revenue. Google.

Google adwords is something many people are familar with. Adwords are those ads on the right hand of the Google search. They also show up inside many websites with related content. Paying for ads isn't what I'm talking about, but rather the other side of the program where Google pays you to display ads on your blog.

You can see a sample on the right hand side here.
What are the steps?
1) Figure out a popular subject area or topic
2) Set up a website (if you use blogspot or wordpress, it's free!)
3) Set up an adsense account in Goggle. You have to put your credit card in so that they can add money to your credit card. (There's a novel idea!! ha ha!)
4) Set your website up to include your adsense ads. This means a click adds some money into your credit card
5) Get traffic to your site by posting good content.

Sounds simple, doesn't it. Well it's more time consuming than that, but probably easier than any one or two more classes towards a masters. The only commitment is the time it takes to figure it out.

Leave me a comment if you're considering this and I'll send you some more links with good information.

What Are The 50 Most Important Interview Questions and How Should You Answer Them?

Not only does this blog post have the questions, it discusses the answers as well.

If you're in transition and interviewing for jobs, you'll want to check out these 50 Important Job Interview Questions, Why they are Asked and How You Should Answer.

A few years ago I remember asking a question, "Everyone encounters difficult people when working in a job. Can you tell me about a situation where you had to deal with a difficult person and how you handled it?" to a potential employee. The candidate really blasted her co-worker for about 5 minutes. She just ranted about the person. And without realizing it, she blew the interview.

My question wasn't to find out about wrong the coworker was, but how well the candidate handled the situation and could get work done while getting along with people in a work environment. Believe me, dealing with abrasive personalities is not how the supervisor wants to or needs to be spending their day.

Question 23: Give us an example of a situation where you faced conflict or difficult communication problems.

This is not the time to tell the interviewer how much you hate your current boss or colleagues!

It’s also not the point to launch into a tirade about how difficult people in your office are to work with and how many arguments you have.

So what are they looking for? They’re looking for someone who can rise above conflict and diffuse the emotions, finding a win-win solution.

Basically, recruiters want to employ people who will get on well with others, whilst still delivering the company’s objectives.

This type of question is your chance to demonstrate your interpersonal and team-working skills.

The interviewer will be looking for maturity and the ability to be able to keep your calm, whilst others around you are losing theirs. Don’t feel you have to provide an answer that gives you full credit for the solution – it can often be more powerful (if it’s true) to demonstrate how you worked with others to find a fix.

Practice your answer to this question. It can have many guises, but is almost guaranteed to be asked in some form.

Check out the other 49 questions, discussions and sample answers here.

Need to Change Careers? Attend this 12-Week, No Fee Job Seeker Workshop

Greg Watkins, President of the Capstone Search Group alerted me to a "no fee" Job Seeker Workshop in Columbus, Ohio on September 10, 2009 at 6 pm.

This Job Seeker Workshop runs for 12 weeks beginning on Thursday September 10th and running through December 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Feel free to forward this information to friends, colleagues or neighbors. The only cost to this workshop is $40 for the workbook materials; the course lasts 12 weeks. No need to pre-register, walk-ins are welcome.

Greg Watkins will lead this workshop and is donating his expertise to lead attendees through a detailed process of seeking a new career. Greg is a small business owner for 12 years in the Central Ohio area focused in the recruitment, coaching and outplacement discipline. The typical cost of this type of coaching would normally be in the thousands.

No other services are “sold” at this workshop; it is strictly a servant mentality and is being offered through Greg’s church. The workshop has graduated over 4,000 unemployed / under employed people over the last eight years. There are “scholarships” offered for those who cannot afford the $40 cost of materials.

The workshop promptly begins at 6:00 PM Thursday September 10th. Click here for a link to Google Maps to directions to the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church at 2300 Lytham Road,Columbus OH, 43220.

From what I understand from Greg, it is okay if someone misses the first class or a week or two during the session; however, it is best to make to as many weeks as possible as the material builds week to week. The church website linked here has week by week topics.

There is no pre-registration needed (just show up) and purchase of the materials is not required, but suggested. People are welcome to “audit” the class before purchasing the materials.

Click here for a printable job seeker workshop flyer with information. For more information contact Greg at: gwatkins@mriohio.com or call 614-486-1388 extension 102.

How Facebook Can You Get Fired!

Social media is great when used correctly. Click full screen to be able to read the small print.

Five Ways Facebook Can Get You Fired

View more presentations from Paul Dunay.

Models to Grow Your Million Dollar Business - With or Without Employees

Featured speaker: Norma Rist, Norma J. Rist CEO Consulting, Akron Ohio
Topic: Models to Grow Your Million Dollar Business - With or Without Employees
Where: The Monarch Building, Lower Level 5885 Landerbrook Drive, Mayfield Heights
Northeast Ohio
When: Mon 08/17/09 11:30am - 1:00pm
Type of Event: Business
No registration required.
Questions: 330-865-5900

Check out the Job Hunting and Career Focused Resources at Your Local Public Library

The Akron Public Library has a tremendous resource for those who are transitioning careers, job hunting or simply honing their interviewing skills. I was blown away by the depth and breadth of these resources.

Although all of these handouts are available on line, it may be worth a trip downstairs to the business section because the library also has books about various industries and career areas. There are computers right there so you can research on line easily too.

It might seem to you that libraries are a thing of the past now that the internet is at your fingertips, but now more than ever we need help in organizing, culling through and finding the most relevant and important information for our specific needs. I'd say that the Akron Public Library's job hunting section did an outstanding job of it! For a close up look at all these handouts, click on Job Shop.

Click here for directions to the downtown Akron, Ohio location of the Akron-Summit County Public Library.


Other websites that may be helpful:
Job Skills

ATHENA International Panel Discusses the Unique Approach Women Have to Leadership

I had the pleasure of attending an inspirational evening on Thursday where Martha Mayhood Mertz, the founder of ATHENA International, came to Cleveland, Ohio.

During the evening, a panelist of successful women leaders discussed business, getting started, the difference women make as leaders, and key qualities of a leader in a “Distinctive & Transforming Approach to Leadership” discussion.

Shown from right to left in this photo:

• Denise Fugo, President & CEO of Sammy's, famous for weddings, banquets, meetings and catering in Cleveland.


• Debra Adams Simmons, managing editor of the Plain Dealer and board member of ATHENA International


• Rita Singh, owner of S&A Consulting Group, organizer/host of the event and the advocate who brought the ATHENA Award to India.


• Martha Mayhood Mertz, founder of ATHENA International, an organization dedicated to honoring, developing and supporting women leaders


• Barbara J. Danforth, president of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the YWCA and 2005 ATHENA Award recipient


• Margaret W. Wong, Cleveland immigration lawyer and national law specialist

Great Opportunity from Personal Branding Expert

This from Twitter and Facebook:

Dan Schawbel Anyone interested in a paid internship (must be soph/junior in the Boston area)?

Paid internship. Email him.


I've profiled him a few times. This would be a great opportunity.

Founder of ATHENA International to Come to Cleveland

ATHENA International Award receipient Rita Singh is bringing Martha Mayhood Mertz (pictured at right), founder of ATHENA International to Cleveland for an inspiring leadership event.

A dessert reception to be held on Thursday August 13, 2009 5-8:30 pm at Corporate College East at 440 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights will feature ATHENA International Founder and celebrated author, Martha Mayhood Mertz who will provide the keynote presentation.

A panel of noted speakers from Cleveland Leadership will discuss a "Distinctive and Transforming Approach to Leadership."

In addition, Martha's book "Becoming ATHENA: Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership" will be available for book signings.

Find out more about and register here for the leadership event in Cleveland. Sponsorship info is also available here.

Learn more here about ATHENA International, an organization that supports, honors and develops women leaders.

This is a "don't miss it" event!

Resources for Marketing Communications Positions

If you're located in Northeast Ohio, specifically the Akron or Cleveland area and looking for a marketing position, here are some great resources and links that may help:

• http://www.aafcleveland.com


• http://www.akronadfed.net


• http://www.akronprsa.org


• http://www.clevelandama.com


• http://www.cleveland.careerboard.com


• http://www.iabccleveland.com


• http://www.prsacleveland.org


• http://www.pressclubcleveland.com


• http://www.webassociation.com

Job Hunting Ideas for Recent Grads or For Those Transitioning to a New Career

Take some ideas from these posts for recent graduates or other job hunters preparing to enter the job market for their next step with their career.. If you in the mode of transitioning from college to career or you're an experienced professional ready to move into a new opportunity, take a few moments to check out these helpful sites:

1. Google Student Blog's Grad Tips: Every Friday, this blog posts tips for recent grads that help streamline the job search process. The entire blog (not just Friday tips) are great for honing your computer shortcut skills.
   
   One of the first things that happens after you graduate and move away from your network in school is that you don't have your "brain trust" sitting in the next room. Google's Student Blog can help you discover new and faster ways of using Googles array of aps like Google Docs, and short cuts to using Gmail. It's like having your favorite computer nerd who knows every trick sitting next to you.
   


2. The Resume Girl : Lots of great thoughts and tips. Sign up for her newsletter and Facebook Fan page too. It looks like she's eager to provide some one-on-one coaching, which can be really helpful if you're stuck.
   


3. How to decide which job offer: Okay, okay. It seems like you're just trying to get an interview or find someone to talk with you about a possible position. But soon, could be very soon, you'll be faced with making a decision about taking an offer. Here's some good advice of things to consider other than just commute time, vacation package and salary.
   


4. Tips for various job hunting situations: Every situation is different, each person's story is different. Here is a site with many variations on a theme.

Women Leaders in India: first female parliament speaker

India already has a woman President, and now the first woman speaker.

NEW DELHI, June 3 (UPI) -- A member of a lower caste in the now outlawed caste system, Meira Kumar, Wednesday was unanimously elected the first woman speaker of India's parliament.

The 64-year-old lawmaker from the Congress party, whose coalition government was returned to power after last month's elections, will hold the country's top Constitutional post, the Press Trust of India reported. She was elected unopposed.

A resolution in parliament naming her speaker, which was moved by Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress-led coalition, was approved by a voice vote in the lower house of parliament. Leaders of all major opposition parties also had similar motions proposing her name for the post.

Kumar, a member of the Dalit community, is a former Indian Foreign Service officer and also had been a federal minister.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who belongs to the minority Sikh community, said Kumar's selection is a historic moment for the country, and praised her service as a distinguished diplomat and 25 years in parliament, PTI reported.

Kumar said she would make every effort to ensure the dignity of the lower house and its members.

She is the daughter of the late Jagjivan Ram, a former deputy prime minister of India.

India already has a woman President.

Ins and Outs of Internships: Study of 125 Companies Who Hire Interns

Considering an internship? You'll want to read the this recent study of 125 companies internship practices and pay rates in this 42 page PowerPoint report of the 2009 study.

Created by the Employers Resource Council and Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, it was designed to provide Northeast Ohio employers with important information regarding internship employment practices to help them better attract, retain and develop new talent that will stimulate their long-term growth and success. I think that it also can help interns better understand what a company is looking for and how the process works.

It includes answers to questions like:

• What are the primary reasons the organizations use interns?
• What is the benefit to the organization?
• How much do organizations pay?
• What are the non-pay benefits that interns get?
• How do companies find the interns?

Check out the 2009 ERC / NOCHE Internship Pay Rates & Practices Survey.

Create a Brand Strategy to Help You Position Yourself

I think it's important to have a personal brand strategy before you begin job hunting when you want to build your career. It's fine not to have one if you just want a job to earn some money for a while.

But if you're in the early stages of building your career, or in the midst of a career transition, having a brand strategy is one of the key ways of helping you create a clear path for yourself.

Ask yourself these questions when building your strategy:

• What do I want to accomplish?
• What am I good at doing?
• What am I passionate about?
• What skills & knowledge are companies looking for?
• How do I want to be described when someone describes me to a potential job referral?

Jot down the words that entered your head when you read those questions. This is the beginning of a mind map, which is a way to capture feelings, thoughts and images all on a piece of paper. It's a great way to begin to organize your strategy on positioning yourself as a brand.

3 Words that Contain the Secret of Getting the Next Job

Networking.
Networking.
Networking.

According to this report, 73% of executives get their next job by networking.

Only 3% by cold calling, researching companies... and only 1% by just sending out resumes.

Use online networking. Face to Face networking. Who do you know? Who do they know?

The 600 Seconds That Can Make All the Difference at a Job Interview

First impressions count! And even more so at a job interview.

You can improve your odds of success by mentally rehearsing the first 10 minutes.

Walk through your posture, your handshake, your accessories and especially your answers to the most common questions traditionally asked at the beginning of each interview. Practice. Practice. Practice.

What are those most common questions? No, I don't mean questions about the weather or if you had trouble finding the location.

Find them here in the 10 Biggest Minutes of Your Interview article. Thanks to executive recruiter Jim Walton at Black in Business for leading me to this article.

You're a Mentor Too -- Even if You Don't Realize It!

Great article on mentoring by Indie Business blog's Donna Marie. No matter what your age or your experience level, you can always reach back and give someone a hand.

If you are an Indie Business owner, rest assured that the next generation of entrepreneurs is watching you. They are looking to see you try new things, to observe what works and what doesn’t work. They’re watching what you say and what you do. They’re receiving guidance and direction from you when they visit your website, your blog, your Twitter page, your Facebook page, your YouTube page.

I think you're a mentor even if you're not an independent business owner.

During difficult economic times when it seems almost impossible to find a job of your dreams, helping others along the way is actually the key to making progress. Like the old saying "What goes around, comes around."

Job Hunters in Northeast Ohio

You may be interested in this link to the JobMagnet.org website.

The JobMagnet.org advanced manufacturing employment portal served Northeast Ohio employers, job seekers and students from June 2007 through December 2008. MAGNET thanks the hundreds of employers and job seekers who have used the JobMagnet.org database over the past 18 months.

I know that the unemployment figures in Northeast Ohio range from 9.3% in Summit County to 14.3% in Trumbull County.

Good luck to everyone searching for jobs and to the employers who are trying to stay in business when orders for products and services are reduced as a result of the economic downturn.

This may be the time for starting a business. I believe I heard from someone that the Chinese symbol for Change is also the same symbol for Opportunity.

Athena International Leadership Summit Hosts Women's Organizations in Panel Discussion

On Monday I attended the ATHENA International Leadership Summit where women's organizations discussed women in leadership. Interesting and dynamic discussions developed and I enjoyed learning more about each organization's role and leadership programs.

Brand Yourself On Line Using Social Media, Social Networking

While job hunting, branding helps you to position yourself in the market place. What type of employer are you trying to attract and how do you want them to think of you?

So how do you do that? Dan Schwabel invited Jacob Share as a guest author on Personal Branding has 50+ Tips to Brand Yourself Online


While some of the tips are HUGE and take months/years to perfect, you can start today by leaving insightful comments on blogs that pertain to your industry and field.

Just visit Google Blog Search to find blogs that deal with your subject matter. When you find the blog, read the post and leave an insightful reply. Don't just leave comment that is a mini ad for you and your services.

Two Women Business Owners Market their Own Business

I recently met two women who are business owners and are making the most of inexpensive marketing techniques:

Read more about the 4 inexpensive marketing techniques Crystal Robinson uses to market her SlimmerWithin business.

Read more about how Bella Rokhman helps people. Bella Rokhman owns ABC International Employment Services, Inc of Solon, Ohio USA.

Returnships (Think Internships) Help Women Returning to Workforce

Have you been out of the workforce for a while? One of the reasons cited for women making less than men on average is that many put their careers on hold to help raise the family, manage the household after a career move to a new state, or to help take care of aging parents.

Now there is a faster way to return to the workforce, thanks to a new program developed by Sara Lee's Brenda Barnes. Trendsite's Marti Barletta in Something Sweet From Sara Lee says:

Returnships will resonate with anyone who temporarily left the work force, or wished that they could have. Your brands will benefit -- I predict you will see them tossed into lots of shopping carts.

According to an article in Forbes magazine:

Sara Lee, which operates brands including Ball Park, Hillshire Farms and Jimmy Dean, can't promise full-time positions for the participants at the end of their returnship. The company laid off 300 of its 1,200 staffers in April; 100 of them worked at the headquarters. But there's always a need for talent, Barnes says. Women (and men) who want a slice of the pie should submit applications this fall for a February 2009 start.

Thanks for the info Marti!

What "Advice" Would You Give to Someone in College Before They Go Into Business?

At a recent mastermind group, several business professionals came up with this list of keys to career advice:

• Think globally (Learn Chinese!)
• Listen.
• Ask the right question to the right person at the right time
• Find your passion
• Be humble
• Do what you are
• Acknowledge your weaknesses and play to your strengths
• Be a continuous learner
• Don’t fear change. Take advantage of it and view it as an opportunity
• Change if you're not having fun -- careers, companies or positions.
• Be an expert in your field
• Develop your “people” skills.

What is missing? What is outdated? Please post your thoughts!

Small Business TV interviews owners at Cleveland's business conference

COSE interview

Each year in the fall The Cleveland Chamber of Commerce's Council of Smaller Enterprises (better known as COSE) puts on a wonderful business conference with many seminars, workshops and exibits.

In October 2008 I was interviewed on Small Business Television SBTV.com during the COSE business conference.

You can watch the whole interview with me at SBTV.com's website where they have posted many business owners' interviews.

If you're thinking of starting a business... or you're already running one, I'm sure you'll find some insights and strategies that will be helpful.