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January 17, 2022

How to Win During the Great Resignation so Your Business Can Grow

If you are a small business owner, you may be feeling dizzy from all the economic news of the last year. Inflation is rising. Labor is in short supply, Americans are quitting jobs in record numbers and workers are asking for more from their jobs–more money, more flexibility, and more meaning. We expect these trends to accelerate into the new year.

To help you prepare as we head into 2022, we’ve gathered the HireMyMom team to round up the most common questions we hear and the answers from our team of pros. This Q and A style blog offers a window into what we see across clients and from our mom professionals. At the end, we include our best advice to make this strange moment work for your business. With knowledge about what’s happening and a solid strategy, your business could emerge stronger than ever and with your best staff.

Are people really leaving jobs, or is the Great Resignation a media term?

According to HireMyMom’s concierge team, the Great Resignation is genuinely underway. 

People are leaving their jobs in record numbers for a variety of reasons. Our recruiting team reports that people are parting ways with employers to earn more money and find better work environments. People who are being called back into an office full time or those losing work-from-home options or flexible hours are especially prone to packing up and moving on.

Kelly, who works on our recruiting team, said mom professionals tell her that working from home is no longer a perk but a requirement. She’s also seeing many highly-skilled women start a small business, so they have more flexibility to define their work lives. 

Many people used the time during the pandemic to reassess properties and take a fresh look at professional ambitions. 

Tesia, who also works in recruiting, recalled a woman she interviewed earlier this week. She said that had it not been for the pandemic and her experience working remotely, she never would have left her job. But, now that she’s back in the office, she misses the family connection and flexibility of her work-from-home job, so she’s looking for new opportunities. 

Our team is not alone in noticing the trend. According to data released by the Labor Department, about 4.2 million people abandoned jobs in October, which accounts for about 2.8% of the U.S. workforce. In September, a record 4.4 million people left a job. 

Is it really tougher to hire new people than it’s been in the past?

According to our CEO and Founder, Lesley Pyle, this is the most challenging hiring environment she’s seen in her 15 years of running HireMyMom.com. She observed that it’s truly an employee’s market. She said it’s more difficult to fill common jobs–like virtual assistant roles–than it was just a few months ago.

The National Federation of Independent Business Job Report said that 93% of small business owners reported few or no candidates for open jobs in November. And that was a slight improvement over the 95% of business owners who reported the same for October. 

Tesia said she’d seen this first hand, explaining that applicants are scarce for some jobs but stronger for jobs that offer higher pay and managerial responsibilities. High-quality candidates are getting snapped up quickly, she said.  

Overall, the Labor Department reported 11 million job openings in October and estimates almost 5 million more open jobs than people seeking work. 

Part of the shortage is that many mothers are still on the sidelines. According to the Associated Press, when the pandemic started in the spring of 2020, about 3.5 million moms with school-age children left the workforce, lost jobs, or took leaves of absence from work. 

And, many working women are still out of the workforce as child care and school schedules remain in flux. According to McKinsey & Company, one in three mothers may be forced to scale back or opt out of work because of the increased demands the pandemic puts on mothers.

What advice do you have for companies that need new employees or want to grow?

Building a team is one of the most important things you can do as a small business owner. Obviously, there are some headwinds as you start to hire. 

But, there are plenty of upsides, too. If you can offer the right combination of opportunity, pay, and flexibility, you could nab a superstar who has left another employer. The first step is to make your job stand out in a crowded market.

As you prepare to hire, here are a few tips:

  • Move quickly. Employers are snapping up top applicants fast. Hold off on posting your opening until you have a window of time to look at applications and move quickly on an interview and offer. It’s OK to take a few days to decide, but if you leave applicants hanging for weeks as you make your decision or get pulled in other directions, you are likely to miss out on your top choice. 
  • Make it easy to apply for your open role. Applicants with many options may not invest hours completing an online application or doing a skills test upfront. Save that for a final round of interviews. Also, consider if those activities actually yield better candidates and help you decide. If not–or if you aren’t sure–this may be the time to retire those practices.
  • Take a critical look at pay. Offering low pay will extend the time it takes to find the right person and reduce the pool of high-quality applicants for you to consider. Paying a bit more could save you money in the long term and reduce your turnover. 

 

Pay is tricky, but generally, higher pay attracts stronger candidates. Be realistic about the skills you are looking for and what the market is paying for those skills. You can talk with the pros at HireMyMom to help you find the proper pay range for your job. 

  • Be flexible. Candidates often look for flexible hours, which can mean many different things, from part-time hours to a shared job. For some applicants, it’s the ability to work different hours on different days. 

Before you post a job, think about what you need and be clear in your posting about your flexibility. The more flexibility you have, the greater the number of candidates you will likely attract. If you don’t think there’s much flexibility in your role, run your thinking by others and see if you can’t find some wiggle room to make the job more attractive to candidates.

  • Cast a wider net. As a small business owner offering flexible and meaningful jobs, there is a tremendous pool of workers that you can tap into–moms who are ready to leave the rat race and find work-from-home positions that meet their needs. 

To find mom professionals interested in remote job opportunities, partner with a niche job site like HireMyMom to access a dedicated pool of professionals looking for remote work. Because HireMyMom charges job seekers a fee to access job listings, all our job seekers are serious about finding work. And, the volume of resumes that flow in is more manageable than the numbers that arrive when jobs are advertised on free job sites.

And, follow these tips to help you tap into that resource.

What are you experiencing as you try to hire new team members? Drop us a line and share your experiences.

 

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September 6, 2021

How to Ditch Office Life and Land a Great Work-from-Home Job

After more than a year of working from home due to COVID-19 mitigations, you know that the work-from-home lifestyle has many advantages. The short commute, increased family time, and flexibility during the day are things moms appreciate. And, as the virus continues to spread, putting school plans up into the air, you may have additional reasons to love your home office and want to stay in it.

 

But, many employers are busy planning return-to-the-office strategies. If the prospect of returning to the office has you looking for another option that lets you work from home all the time, read on. After decades of helping moms like you make the jump to work-from-home jobs, here are my top tips for making the leap.

 

Make a Plan

Start by considering what you want in your work-from-home job. Think about the things you enjoy about your current job and make a list of the tasks and responsibilities you wish to transfer to your new role. For example, do you excel at project management? Maybe you have an eye for detail and are a great proofreader, or perhaps you are a spreadsheet whiz or a design guru and want to use those skills in your next role. There’s no right or wrong answer, just the ones that make the most sense to you.

 

Next, catalog your skills and abilities. Think big picture here to identify the skills you have that can be transferred to another job. (Sometimes HR people call these transferable skills.) For example, if you set up webinars for your current company, identify the skills involved in that task–such as negotiating contracts, issuing invitations, managing conflicts, and carefully reviewing invoices. These capabilities comprise your set of transferable skills.

 

If you aren’t sure what you want to do or how your skills may translate to different types of jobs, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. HireMyMom offers resources to help.

 

 

Then, take the online Job Seeker 101 class offered by HireMyMom to learn more about the job search process. 

 

If all this has you feeling overwhelmed, find inspiration from a recent success story.

 

Create a Job Search Strategy

Now that you are ready to search for an at-home job, it’s time to find the right partner in your journey. If you’ve spent any time on the big job boards, you know how tough it is to find good-quality leads there. 

 

There is a better way. 

 

When you join HireMyMom, you have exclusive access to a curated list of legitimate work-from-home jobs. Moms love us because they know all applications are going to real businesses looking for help. Employers love us because they know they can find high-quality, highly motivated candidates who want to work from home. 

 

Yes, we do charge a small fee. But, that works to your advantage in five ways:

 

  • No commissions from job seekers. Once you find a job, all the money you earn is yours to keep. We don’t take a commission of your earnings. Often, free job sites are only free until you find a job. Then, they help themselves to 10% to 20% of your pay as long as you have the job. 
  • The fee keeps the number of job seekers down, so it’s easier for you to stand out in the crowd. It also weeds out those who are not serious job seekers.
  • Businesses prefer to use HireMyMom because job seekers who have paid the fee are serious about finding work. And the volume of resumes that flow in is more manageable than the numbers that arrive when jobs are advertised on free job sites. One business owner cited she received over 900 applicants in 24 hours on one of the free job sites. 
  • When you see a job post on HireMyMom, you can be assured it’s exclusive. We don’t pull jobs off the internet to fill our site. We only post positions that can’t be found elsewhere online.
  • You can feel confident when you apply for a job on the site because we aim to keep HireMyMom 100% scam-free. Our team reviews each job post to ensure that the company (or person) looking for help is legit. We have a list of red flags we look for, and don’t hesitate to say no if we aren’t confident.

 

Still have questions? Check out Why Does HireMyMom Charge Job Seekers. 

 

Find That Job

Once you have your strategy in place, designate time and space to identify job leads and apply. It can take some time to apply for jobs, so be sure to set that time aside and treat your job search like a job. Otherwise, it’s easy to get frustrated that you aren’t making progress.

 

One of your first tasks will be to update your resume. Small business resumes are different and more personal than corporate resumes. In addition, cover letters are a big part of the process. So, invest the time to get a solid cover letter base that you can customize for each opportunity. You can learn more about both techniques in the Job Seeker 101 class. 

 

Once you land an interview, start to practice and prepare. Ask a friend or family member to help you rehearse. Find a nice quiet place in your home and do a dry-run with the technology used during the interview.

 

As part of your prep, think about the questions you’ll ask. The right questions are an essential tool in finding out if the job is a good fit for your skills, interests, and lifestyle, so be prepared to ask the right ones. 

 

As you practice your interview, prepare a strong close. A strong finish can distinguish you from the crowd. Set yourself up for success with these steps:

 

  • Thank the interviewer.
  • Express your level of interest honestly.
  • Summarize why you are a great candidate.
  • Ask about the next steps and timing.
  • Send a follow-up email within 48 hours of the interview.

 

Avoid Common Job Search Mistakes

When you apply for several jobs, it’s easy to make mistakes that can cost you an interview and an opportunity. It may seem counterintuitive, but being picky about the jobs you go after can help increase your success rate. Casting too wide a net can lead to rejections while sending you into a frenzy of activity, applying for jobs, and following up with employers only to be disappointed. Remember, you want to find the right job for you, not just any job. Before you apply:

 

  • Carefully read the job description. Consider whether you are qualified for the bulk of the work and whether the position genuinely interests you. 
  • Tailor your resume for the specific job. Make the tweaks needed to fit the job description, but don’t do a total rewrite. Be sure to review your revised resume carefully.
  • Write a customized cover letter. Clearly express your interest and qualifications in the letter.

 

Finally, hang in there. Finding a job can be hard work. Don’t get discouraged. You’ll be working at your new home-based job in no time. When you find success, send me a note so we can celebrate together.

 

 

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August 16, 2021

Feeling Discouraged? How to Hang Tough and Find Job Search Success

Looking for a new job is exciting and can be fun. But, it can also be stressful and challenging, especially if you don’t get an offer for a job that genuinely interests you or if you’ve submitted several resumes with no luck. When this happens, it’s easy to get discouraged and quit. But, roads with potholes can lead to lovely destinations if you keep traveling. Persistence is the key to success in a job search. 

If you view the bumps in the road as opportunities to sharpen your job hunt skills, it’s easier to take the steps that can help you overcome the hurdles. Here are our best tips for working through the challenges and sticking out tough times during a job search.

 

Get Back to Basics

When you look for a job, your resume is an essential piece of the puzzle. And, let’s just put it out there–resumes are tough to create and difficult to polish. It feels awkward to sell yourself on one page. And, revising it multiple times can make you feel a little crazed. But, if you aren’t getting job nibbles, it’s time to give your resume some love. Here’s how:

  • Take a fresh look at your resume and make sure that it’s easy-to-read, simple, error-free, and professional. 
  • Ask a trusted friend or a former coworker to review your resume for errors. 
  • Share it with someone from a different industry and ask if she can identify the work and skills you are highlighting. This is an excellent way to see if jargon or shop speak has made it into your resume and might be confusing people. 
  • Add a few flourishes to appeal to the small business owners who will review your resume. 

Based on your assessment of your resume and the feedback from your reviewers, make a few changes. As you revise:

  • Describe your contribution to success at previous jobs. Focus on the work you did and how it supported the organization overall. Think of the first bullet as a summary bullet. Here’s a sample: Grew sales by overseeing the development and implementation of marketing communication plans that addressed customer hesitancy while managing a team of three direct reports.
  • After the summary bullet, provide concrete examples of your experience that quantify your professional accomplishments. For instance, including a bullet that says “coordinated 150 meetings in six months to facilitate sales” is more potent than “coordinated meetings.” If you are having trouble putting numbers to accomplishments, talking it over with a friend or former coworker can help you develop those ideas.
  • Aim to add one-to-two bullet points for each year on the job. So, you may want to create six or more bullets to describe your accomplishments at a position you held for six years.
  • Remove experiences that are more than ten years old or not relevant to the job you are seeking. For example, if you are looking for a job as a virtual assistant, it’s ok to drop the lifeguarding gig you had in high school. Your resume is a highlight reel of your capabilities, not a detailed accounting of every job you’ve ever held.

 

Tighten Up Your Approach

With your spruced-up resume in hand, it’s time to narrow your job search. It may seem counterintuitive, but being picky about the jobs you go after can help increase your success rate for getting an interview. Casting too wide a net can lead to rejections while sending you into a frenzy of activity, applying for jobs, and following up with employers only to be disappointed. 

Remember, you want to find the right job for you, not just any job. Before you apply:

  • Carefully read the job description. Consider whether you are qualified for the bulk of the work and whether the position genuinely interests you. 
  • Tailor your resume for the specific job. Make the tweaks needed to fit the job description, but don’t do a total rewrite. Be sure to review your revised resume carefully.
  • Write a customized cover letter. Clearly express your interest and qualifications in the letter.

 

Polish Your Interview Techniques

Your resume and cover letter open the door for an interview. The interview is your chance to seal the deal by putting your best foot forward and showcasing all the skills you bring to the table. You want to project a professional image and be prepared to ask and answer questions. Here are my best tips for success:

  • Get dressed as if you are going to an in-person meeting. Although your interview is likely to be conducted via Zoom, it’s still important to dress as if you are going to an in-office interview. Wear professional clothes and make sure you are camera-ready.
  • Find a professional place to conduct the interview. You want to show that you are ready to work from home and have a set up to do so. Look for the best place around your house to set up your laptop and do the interview. A table or desk works well. Avoid your couch or bedroom, as it’s easy to feel too comfortable in those locations. Once you find your location, conduct a practice Zoom call with a friend or family member to try out your setup. Spend a few minutes getting the camera angle and light just right so you look your best. On your practice Zoom, make sure your background is not distracting.
  • Practice answering interview questions directly and get right to the point. Employers often tell us that candidates struggle to answer questions with the right level of detail and tend to over answer questions. It’s easy to ramble a little when you are nervous and want to make a good impression. Practice answering likely questions with a friend or family member so that you can nail the questions during the interview.

 

Consider Training 

Applying for jobs with small businesses is a different ballgame compared to looking for corporate gigs. It takes a different skill set. And, like acquiring any new skill, training can definitely help. 

Enrolling in the Job Seeker 101 course offered by HireMyMom will arm you with the knowledge and skills to help you land your dream job.

Through a series of video modules, the series covers how to conduct an effective job search that lands more interviews. It also covers ways to dramatically enhance your cover letter, resume, and interviewing skills. Hands-on materials and additional resources help you apply the tips to your job search. By completing the course, you’ll gain the confidence you need to take the next step and land the job you’re seeking.

 

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you don’t get a job offer after a strong interview, try not to take it personally. Any number of factors can influence the decision. After you hear the news, send a follow-up note to the person you spoke with to thank them for considering you. Share that you are interested in future positions. 

 

Hang in there!

Finding the right fit and the right circumstances can take a while. Stick with it. Hold your head high, and don’t take it personally. A job search can be difficult, but the result is worth the struggle.

 

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June 7, 2021

Land the Perfect Job! How to Ask Questions Like a Pro and Close the Deal

You’ve found a job that you think you could love, applied for it, and an interview is on the calendar–congratulations! As you prepare for your interview, don’t neglect two crucial and often overlooked steps–creating the questions you want to ask and developing a plan to follow up after the interview. 

While these steps may seem unnecessary at first glance, asking questions about the job and the company are critical pieces of the interview process. And, having a solid follow-up plan helps show employers that you are a serious candidate. Here are my tips to help you ask the right questions and follow up in the smartest ways.

 

Always ask questions

An interview is an essential mutual assessment of an applicant and the job. Asking the right questions can help you make the most of the opportunity and decide if you want to move further along in the interview cycle. When you ask questions, you show that you are interested in the job and clarify details about the position and the core responsibilities. The answers can give you a better sense of whether or not this is the right job for you. 

For example, imagine you are looking for a job that lets you use and develop graphic design skills, and you are interviewing for a graphic design role. In the interview, you ask about a typical day and learn that most of the work does not include the type of design that interests you. Armed with that information, you can decide if you want to continue pursuing the role or look elsewhere. Self-selecting out early in the process can save time and hassle for both parties.

What’s more, asking smart, probing questions offers an opportunity for you to show off core skills. As you ask questions, you have a chance to showcase your preparation, your personality, and your ability to engage.

 

What to ask about the job

Generally, your questions will fall along two distinct lines:

  • Questions about the job.
  • Questions about the company.

During the interview, it’s tough to think of the right questions. Make the process easier on yourself by planning ahead and creating queries to keep in your notes and ask throughout the interview.

As you create your list, aim to ask open-ended questions that allow the interviewer a chance to respond fully. Be prepared to ask additional questions based on the answers you hear. Here are some sample questions to help you get started:

  • How does a typical day unfold? Ask about the percentage of the day typically spent on a particular task. Inquire about the company’s deadline philosophy. Does a deadline at the end of the day mean 5 p.m., midnight, or before people log in the following day? 
  • What are the communication preferences of the office? This line of questioning is essential, particularly when you are working remotely. Ask what tools they use for communication or if team huddles happen frequently. Ask if any project management platforms, like Trello, are part of the job.
  • What’s your experience working with contract employees and virtual teams? If you are applying to work remotely, you’ll want to know more about how this company operates. If the employer says this is new ground for them or just started the practice last year due to COVID-19, ask how things are going. Inquire about the challenges they’ve faced and how they overcame them. Ask about the benefits that surprised them when they switched to virtual teams.
  • What should I plan to accomplish in the first 30 days on the job? You want to get off to a good start, and having a roadmap of expectations will help you get a sense of the learning curve involved with the job.
  • Why is this role important to the business? This question will help give you a sense of how this role interacts with others at the company and why it’s crucial. There’s no right or wrong answer, but knowing if the position is more behind-the-scenes or front-and-center is an important distinction.
  • How does the growth trajectory look for this role? It’s fair to ask if the position has the potential to grow into something new and different over time. Again, there’s no right or wrong answer to the question–some people and employers want the consistency of an employee with deep expertise doing a particular job, and others are looking to fill an entry-level job for quick promotion. The key is knowing which applies and what you prefer.
  • Is this a new role or an established role that’s open due to a vacancy? This question can help you learn more about the role and the company. An opening due to a vacancy often means a more established job with well-defined tasks and expectations. A new role can mean an opportunity to put your stamp on a job.  

 

What to ask about the company 

Asking questions about the company offers essential insights and highlights vital skills that you can showcase. You get a better sense of the business, how it operates, and the office culture. 

In addition, it’s another way to show interest in the position. Asking questions about the company indicates that you are curious and interested. Most of the jobs available on HireMyMom are with small businesses that don’t share business background information online. So, the traditional Google search for business information is not likely to turn up much beyond customer-facing information. 

But, with the right questions, you can learn a lot about the business and what makes the company tick. Good questions include: 

  • How did this business come to be? Asking about the idea and circumstances that led to business formation can yield a trove of information. Don’t be shy here–most business owners enjoy discussing the journey that led them to their current position. 
  • How has the business changed over time? This line of questioning can tell you how long the business has been operating and give clues about the future.
  • What are the factors that make this business successful? Asking about the secret sauce can give you important clues about office culture and help you understand the hard and soft skills valued in the office.
  • What’s the office culture like? Asking how people describe the work environment can help you decide if it’s the environment you are seeking. For example, do people chat around a virtual water cooler, celebrate birthdays and share kid stories or is it a strictly business environment? Knowing what to expect in advance can help you assess if the office is the right fit for you or if you might find the environment uncomfortable or unappealing.

 

Plan for a strong close

With your questions in hand, it’s time to think about the close of the interview. A strong finish can distinguish you from the crowd. Set yourself up for success with these steps:

  • Thank the interviewer for her time and explain why you enjoyed talking with her. For example, you could say: Thank you for meeting with me today. I enjoyed learning about your business and this role. Then, mention something specific from the conversation that you found interesting.
  • Express your level of interest. If you are interested in the job, say so. Explain that knowing more about the job and the company has increased your level of interest in the role and that you’d love to join the team. If you are not interested in moving forward and are ready to say so, do so delicately. Something like: Thank you for meeting with me today. It sounds like the job opening you have is an excellent opportunity for the right person. But, based on our discussions and your need for skill X and hours Y, I don’t think I’m the right fit at this time.
  • Summarize why you are a great candidate. If you are interested in the job, briefly highlight the reasons you are a good fit for the role. Mention the specific skills you possess and how they could fill specific needs discussed during the interview.
  • Ask about the next steps and timing. Establishing a timeline can help make your wait for news easier. 
  • Send a follow-up email. Whether you are interested in the job or not, send the interviewer a follow-up email within 48 hours of the interview. In your message, thank the interviewer for her time and information, briefly recap your conversation and highlight your qualifications. End with a short pitch explaining why you are the best candidate for the job. Keep the message short, friendly, and focused. If you aren’t interested in the job, eliminate the pitch for hiring you. But, still, send the note as this person could become a valuable contact in the future.

Job hunting can feel like a roller coaster, and the interview is a pivotal step along the process. But, with a bit of preparation and some know-how, you’ll be well on your way to success. You’ve got this! If you’d like to connect with other job seekers for support and camaraderie, head over to our FB Community for a great group of new friends! 

 

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April 5, 2021

Why Does HireMyMom Charge Job Seekers?

It’s a FAIR question!
And probably the one thing may keep you from signing up on HireMyMom.
Am I right? You want to know why in the world you should have to pay to find a job.
We get it. We know. We hear you!

This is a very good question and one we are happy to answer so here are the reasons there is a fee to sign up on HireMyMom:

 

1. Unlike most job sites, we do not take any commissions from our job seekers.

  • Many so-called “free” sites don’t charge you to apply BUT if you are hired, you often will be paying 10-20% of your earnings back to the job site.
  • So if you got a part-time job on a “free site” that takes commission from your earnings and you make say $2,000 per month, you would be paying $200-$400 EACH month (10-20%) of that back to the job site EACH and EVERY MONTH!
  • With HireMyMom, your subscription fee can typically be recouped in the FIRST FEW HOURS of your new job.
  • On HireMyMom, what our Mom Professionals earn, they keep …. well except what Uncle Sam gets!

 

2. The small fee to sign up helps keep the number of job seekers to a REASONABLE SIZE vs a “free” membership where you are competing with THOUSANDS of other job seekers and are virtually INVISIBLE to hiring companies.

  • And remember if you are lucky enough to be hired by one of the “free” sites, you know what happens (see above)!

 

3. Businesses tell us they PREFER to use HireMyMom because we DO charge a small fee. When they post on “free job boards” they are inundated with hundreds or thousands of resumes and do not have time to sort through them all.

  • One business owner told us she got 900 applicants in less than 24 hours on a “free” job site! On HireMyMom, she got 24 applicants — MUCH easier for a small business to handle! OH AND she said the CALIBER of the CANDIDATES on HireMyMom was heads and shoulders above the “free” job sites. We think partially because we attract SERIOUS job seekers who put time and effort into their resume, cover letter and skills because they are READY to find a GREAT REMOTE JOB and don’t mind a small fee knowing there are NO COMMISSIONS to pay!

4. Unlike many other job sites, at HireMyMom we do not pull job ads off of the internet.

  • All jobs on HireMyMom are posted BY the employer and in most cases these jobs cannot be found anywhere else on the internet.

 

5. We aim to keep HireMyMom 100% scam free.

  • Each job that is posted goes through our approval process.
  • We research the company / person, look for negative reviews and other red flags before deciding if a job will be posted to our members. And there are many that do not pass the test and do not get posted.

 

6. By paying for a subscription, we also weed out non-serious job seekers who will apply for any and everything making it harder for you to stand out in the crowd AND harder for the hiring person to weed through 100s or 1,000s of resumes.

  • So you see, we aren’t trying to make a fortune on you to apply to unlimited jobs with zero commission fees.
  • We are actually setting you up to find a job QUICKER and with LESS HEADACHE for both sides.

So there you have it!

At least NOW YOU KNOW why there is a fee to sign up on HireMyMom!
Hopefully we’ll see you on the other side and be congratulating you in the coming weeks on your new job or clients!

Want to see some of the NEWEST JOB POSTS?

Ready to SIGN UP?

 

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March 22, 2021

5 Job Search Tips to Get Hired During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Guest Contributor: McLean Mills

Winter is headed out! And unlike Game of Thrones, it’s not the night walkers that everyone’s afraid of – it’s the second coming of the coronavirus and how it’ll stiffen job opportunities in 2021.  With many employers taking their workforce virtual during this pandemic, so too has much of the hiring process. 

Many Employers have taken all of their hiring efforts virtual and the skills they value in employees have heavily shifted as well due to the pandemic. To really optimize your chances of finding a job this new year, you’ll need to adjust your game plan to account for this unique job search landscape. Here are 5 tips to keep in mind:

 

1. Prepare for the virtual interview marathon

Virtual interviews are the new normal. To truly optimize your hiring chances, it’s no longer good enough to simply have a laptop with a cam ready. With the likelihood of tons and tons of virtual interviews headed your way, you’re going to want to optimize your setup and use top of the line equipment. This means a quality webcam, clear microphone, and professional office background behind you.

Of course, getting the right equipment is just the first step, performing well during your virtual interview is where it gets tough. You’ll want to become an expert with all the popular video conferencing software employers typically used. Practice beforehand with a friend or family member so you’ll really have things under control. Also avoid typical pitfalls like:

  • Avoiding eye contact by mistakenly looking at your computer screen and not the webcam 
  • Accidentally sharing your screen instead of activating your webcam
  • Bad camera angle and focus
  • Messy background and poor background lighting
  • Poor connectivity and buffering issues

Though usually not necessary, you’ll also want to be prepared to share your screen. Depending on the situation, you never know if it may be beneficial for you to give employers a live performance of some of the projects and things you’ve worked on recently. In fact, it’s this type of showmanship and additional effort that can allow you to distinguish yourself from other candidates during the virtual interviewing process.

 

2. Already recovered from COVID? 

Afraid that talking about your experience with COVID-19 will scare away employers? Think again! In a recent survey conducted by Resume Writing Services, 154 hiring managers were surveyed to gain a better understanding of how they were adapting to the pandemic. In a question that asked if they’d be more or less inclined to hire job candidates who have already got and recovered from the coronavirus, 67% of them said they’d be more inclined to do so.  Why is this the case? Likely, it’s because COVID-19 survivors are far less likely to get the infectious disease again. 

 

3. Emphasize your telecommuting skills and remote experience

Don’t forget to update your resume and LinkedIn! With employers forced to go remote with their workforce, any experience you have with remote work is a plus. The top video conferencing software according to a survey by ResumeGo on job interviews found Zoom, Google Meets/Hangouts, and Skype to be the most used video conferencing software – so be sure to mention them on your resume if you have experience with them. 

Document sharing tools like Google Docs and Dropbox, as well as remote soft skills like time management, strong written communication skills, and ability to adapt are all more valued than ever due to the pandemic. If you forgone mentioning these skills on your resume in the past, it’s worth to do so now.

 

4. Seek out growing industries and expand your horizons

Everything is less than ideal during a pandemic. Finding your dream job in your designated field might not be a realistic option at this time. To really optimize your hiring chances, it’s important to expand your horizons into other industries that are still doing just fine or even surging during this pandemic. Industries such as delivery services, Ecommerce, digital content services, home fitness, and obviously healthcare have been thriving as a result of COVID. Keep in mind that temporary jobs and freelance opportunities are also avenues to pursue.

 

5. Develop your skills

If you’re finding yourself with more time than usual due to the pandemic, it’s always a good career move to develop new skills that are relevant in your industry. Whether it’s getting an online certification or learning new hard skills that you can brag about on your resume, these are all ways of increasing your personal stock in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers. If you’re worried of an extended work gap as a result of the pandemic, taking this time to do something productive for your career is also a way of showing employers that you’re serious with your work.

Don’t stress out over not finding a job

Finding a job in the midst of a pandemic is tough – that’s just the reality of it. If you’re finding yourself struggling to secure interviews, that’s to be expected and not a cause for concern. Carve out time in the day for breaks and maintain a positive mindset. Things are bound to look up eventually.

 

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McLean Mills is a career coach and blogger. He was also a career counselor for the University of Florida. When not on the work grind, you can catch him rereading Harry Potter for the billionth time.

 

 

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March 1, 2021

How to Get a Returnship For Stay-at-Home Moms

By Christopher Manske

Many stay-at-home moms are unaware of the corporate resources that can help them return to the workplace.  Programs like this are called returnships because they are similar to an internship, but not for college students.   How do returnships work and what should mothers expect from companies offering them?  Are they beneficial and how can you find one?  For these answers and more, read on!

What is a returnship?  In its simplest form, returnships are training programs offering stay-at-home moms (or any professional returning from sabbatical) a straight-forward path for getting comfortable again with the pace and expectations of their new job.  The best returnships allow returning professionals to speed up or slow down as they accomplish specific goals on their way to a well-defined completion point.  Even if the word returnship isn’t in the title, like the Path Forward Return to Work program at Amazon, the offering focuses on attracting women who temporarily left the professional world to concentrate on family.

What should I expect from a returnship and the companies offering them? These programs are not simple to execute because they require the firm’s time and attention.  Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect companies offering returnships emphasize taking care of their workforce.  It also suggests the work is teachable and the firm desires teammates with certain characteristics more than they need highly specific skills.  Returnships are common in finance, but regardless of the industry, here’s what to expect from any solid returnship program:

  1. A meaningful wage.  This isnot an internship in the old sense of the word.  Companies expect to pay you for your valuable education and useful experience.  Sometimes that’s an hourly wage until the program is done and you’ve “graduated” to the full-time, salaried position you seek.  Other times, you’ll receive a salary right away and, upon completion, a bump in pay or a bonus.
  2. A clear progression toward an agreed-upon completion.  This isn’t busy work or fetching coffee.  Returning professionals receive a well-defined goal list which progressively gets more challenging so that, at the end of the program, both the company and the new teammate are confident about their success going forward.
  3. Flexibility.  Companies understand you’ve been at home tending to every last-minute emergency and unexpected family difficulty.  It takes time and discipline to separate from that and the returnship allows for the occasional distraction as you transition to your new role.  Remember how it took some adjustment to get comfortable staying at home?  It’s normal for that to happen again going back to work and excellent returnships help make the transition easier.
  4. Mentorship. A leader within the firm formally guides you and answers questions.  This person wants you to succeed and can easily answer most of your questions.  Companies taking this seriously will repeatedly dedicate specific time for you to sit down one-on-one with this leader/mentor.

What are the benefits of a returnship and how can I find one?  These programs have a lot of benefits for both the returning professional and the companies offering them.  Different organizations will have a variety of reasons why they find a returnship beneficial. Managing one of Houston’s largest investment firms, Lien Busby of Manske Wealth Management says, “We offer a returnship because we don’t want to have the typical dog-eat-dog, Wall Street culture.  If we hire within the industry, those candidates typically bring habits with them that won’t fit in with our team.”  She goes on to say, “We are glad to teach all the skills needed to be a successful Financial Advisor on our team.  But we’re not going to bring on someone who doesn’t share our values.  We’re convinced that a sharp, well-educated woman who left behind a paycheck for a few years to accomplish her personal goals will fit right in with our team because the best investment professionals put people first.”

Here are a few returnship benefits for stay-at-home moms looking to go back to work:

  1. Training.  It takes some effort to get into the new routine and training on your new job’s requirements makes that a lot easier.  It’s not reasonable for a company to expect you to know everything the first day, and returnships provide the buffer required to close that training gap.
  2. Stability.  Companies that invest in you with a returnship are interested in keeping you onboard for the long haul.  Hard-working, coachable moms can expect a lot more long-term stability at companies offering these programs.
  3. Financial security.  When you have a clear path to future promotions, it’s a lot easier to see that next pay raise and ultimately seize it.  Money isn’t everything, but your time and expertise deserve compensation and programs like this make sure you understand how your efforts will lead to a raise in pay.

In the end, finding these programs is as easy as a Google search.  All the major job search sites will be able to find the key word, “returnship.”  Whenever you are talking about your future job, explain that you expect to enter a program specifically tailored to provide a comfortable transition back to the workplace.  Corporate America has a lot to offer a stay-at-home mom returning to work, so take advantage of it!

 

A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Christopher Manske has been praised, published, or quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and many more.  His thoughts can be seen online at Yahoo! Finance, ThinkAdvisor, MSN.com, CEO World, and others.  Manske and his team have also worked directly with leaders at IBM, GE, Microsoft, Exxon, Accenture, Boeing, to name a view.  His book, The Prepared Investor: How To Prevent The Next Crisis From Affecting Your Financial Independence has been compared to Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and challenges Wall Street’s typical approach to investing during crisis.  For more information, visit www.manskewealth.com.

 

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August 17, 2020

How to Get a Work at Home Job Without Experience

It can be daunting to look for a job as you begin your career, transition to a new one, or return to work after life as a stay-at-home mom. Finding a legit, work-from-home job under those circumstances can be even more daunting. But, coupling your ambition to find remote work and a few tips can make the road easier. Here are our best tips for creating a game plan and finding online jobs, especially if you don’t have much (or any) professional experience.

 

Get Started

Even if you don’t have experience with a certain type of job or working in general, you still have skills. Taking the time to identify your skill set helps you to clarify the types of jobs that make the most sense for you to pursue.

For optimal success, take some time to really think about your skills. Consider hard and soft skills. For example, hard skills include things like writing or budgeting. Soft skills are generally less quantifiable, but very important — for example, people skills. 

When assessing your skills, don’t forget important mom skills like coaching, time management, conflict management, planning, and budgeting. These types of skills are very important in a number of jobs. Write out a list of your skills and use it to guide your thinking about the type of work you want to do.

 

Think About What You Want

Now, think about your own passion and desires with respect to work. Consider:

  • How do I want my work day to look? For example: Do I want to be on the phone for a good portion of the day or do I prefer head’s down, solitary work?
  • What do I like to do? 
  • What am I really good at?
  • What do people compliment me on?
  • If money was not an object, what would I do?
  • What’s missing from my current routine that I hope to find in a job?
  • Do I prefer being part of a virtual team or working solo?

 

Need Help?

If you aren’t sure what type of work you are interested in, check out the Top 10 Work From Homes Jobs for Moms for inspiration. This list can open you up to new possibilities you may not have considered in the past but could be a great fit for your skills, interests, and abilities. For example, Virtual Assistants are very popular now. They may not have existed when you last looked for work. 

 

Consider Additional Training

As you narrow down the type of job that interests you, take a look at the training and credentials needed to get a job in this field. Online training is available for a number of at-home jobs. Several free training classes are available in the resources section on HireMyMom. Here you can find training on how to start a virtual assistant business, work as a bookkeeper, a social media manager, a content creator, and more. 

 

Create a Resume

Now that you’ve identified your top skills and know the types of jobs you are interested in pursuing, the next step is to draft a base resume. While this can feel daunting, help is available. Check out our Cultivate course and other individual consultations offered.  Also, check out the Resume Tips for Moms Rejoining the Workforce on HireMyMom.com as a starting point. Here, you’ll find tips to help you build your resume.

Next, find a format you like to create your resume. (Several free templates are available online.) Use a resume format that diverts attention from your lack of experience or employment gap. For example, using a functional resume format highlights your skills. This an effective way to demonstrate to employers that, even though you haven’t recently held a job, you still have relevant expertise. This will direct the hiring manager towards the aspects of your resume that more effectively market your talents — such as your skills section or resume objective. 

For additional impact, ask a trusted source who is familiar with your work for a testimonial about working with you and include it. These testimonials can help you stand out from the field of applicants.

 

Tailor Your Resume for Each Opportunity

Tailoring your resume to each position you apply for is one great way to edge out the competition and make your resume stand out. Most job seekers use one resume for everything, so making yours more relevant to each position will help you get noticed and demonstrate to employers that you’re a perfect fit.

Having a base resume makes it easier to tailor your resume for each specific job opportunity. (Tip: Create a naming system for each resume you make so that you can quickly find prior versions to cut and paste new versions of your resume as opportunities come up.) 

 

Build Your Team

Most employers ask for and check references. To make sure you are ready for this step, identify people familiar with your skills and abilities and ask them to serve as potential references. Also, when you know a potential employer is going to call your references, be sure to reach out and let your references know what to expect. Fill them in on the job, the skills they are looking for, and help your reference prepare to make the case for why you are the best fit. (Be sure to thank them and let them know when you get the job!)

 

Create a Plan to Find Opportunities

Good news–you’ve reached the point in the journey when it’s time to officially start the job search. Having a plan will make you more successful. Consider our Cultivate course to help you fast track your work from home career and success! 

Set aside an hour or so each day to find jobs that interest you, tailor your resume and cover letter and apply. To find jobs that interest you:

  • Sign up as a Mom Professional on HireMyMom so you will have exclusive access to legit, work-from-home opportunities.
  • Research the types of employers that may need your skill set or offer the jobs you hope to land. 
  • Talk to friends, neighbors, and family members who may have leads.

 

Stay positive

As you search for a job, stay positive. Remember, you have a lot to offer. With persistence and flexibility, you’ll find a work-from-home job that helps you thrive.

I’d love to hear about  your successes, struggles and tips along the way. Please share your experiences by dropping me a line. 

 

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October 21, 2019

HireMyMom Success Story: Heather Swain

Tell us a little about you and your experience finding work on HireMyMom.

After a hard season of life, I decided to try and find a job where I can bring in some extra money while still being home with my son and not have to pay the insanely high costs of childcare. I saw an ad for HireMyMom, and I felt drawn to the site. Within my first day using the site I had two interviews scheduled and my first day as a VA is tomorrow!

 

What did you do previously?

Patient Advocacy. I have no previous experience as a Virtual Assistant. I have worked remotely on occasion at other jobs I’ve held, but nothing long term. I truly believe customizing my cover letters to mention how my past experience related specifically to each job I applied for helped me. I applied and also reached out via email to the contact listed on the job posting. The first job I reached out to this way is now my current employer! I fully believe that a customized email or cover letter and providing some information about yourself and your goals was the game changer for me!!

 

What is your top tip for landing a gig on HireMyMom.com?

Personalize your cover letter and always follow up. I think it’s so important because so many websites don’t provide that email contact information, and I believe if you have it, it’s worth reaching out to them to show you’re not only interested but that you’re willing to take charge and take a risk!! It can be scary to reach out to someone you don’t know, but it can come with big rewards as well!

 

What’s your favorite thing about HireMyMom.com?

That the employers are looking for help from women who are looking to better themselves and their families and understand the balancing act we take on as working mothers, especially those of us working from home.

 

What’s one fun or interesting fact about you?

I’m studying to become a certified aromatherapist.

 

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Want to be featured here as one of HireMyMom’s Success Stories?

Mom Professionals, please complete this form our Mom Professionals Success Stories.

If you are a Small Business / Employers, please use this form for Small Business Success Stories!

 

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July 25, 2019

10 Strategies To Land Your First Client As A Freelancer

Let me be one of the first ones to congratulate you on your decision to pursue your passions and share your God-given gifts with the world as a freelancer. While it’s not an easy journey, I can speak from over 20 years of experience that it’s a very rewarding one. 

One of the biggest hurdles to get over in this industry isn’t how to create a website, brand yourself or master social media but in landing your first paying client in what feels like a very crowded and competitive marketplace. However, with a well planned strategy, an attitude of determination and believing in what God has called you to do, I think you will find landing your first client can be easier than you think. 

Here are 10 strategies to help you land your first client as a freelancer. 

 

  1. REACH OUT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY

While this strategy will not work for the long term because let’s be honest, while most of your friends and family will whole-heartedly support your business and cheer you on, the majority of them are not going to be your target market or ideal client but that doesn’t mean you can’t share with them what you are doing. 

Maybe you just launched a graphic design business, for example. Let your friends and family know what you are doing and what kind of client you are looking to work with. You can shoot them a quick message on Facebook or an email. 

Here is a sample script you can use to get you started:

“Hi Sally! Hope you and the kids are doing well. I have loved seeing your vacation photos on Facebook recently looks like a really fun time! I wanted to send you a quick message to let you know I just started my own graphic design business. I create logos for small women business owners (attached is an example design). I know you may not be in the immediate need for a graphic designer but if you hear of anyone looking for one I would greatly appreciate you referring them my way. I would also be grateful your prayers and support as I embark on this new journey as a freelancer and of course let me know if there is anything I can do to support you too!”

When reaching out to people, it’s important not to be pushy or demanding. Make your messages personable, don’t send out copy and paste messages as they can feel cold and pretty easy to spot. The goal is to help spread the word about what you do in a non-salesy way and through these messages you may find 1-2 people through your warm market who are actually in need of the services you provide or can quickly refer you to someone who does. 

 

  1. ETSY/CREATIVE MARKET

As a freelancer you can create an account, online shop and list your products and services on sites like Etsy and Creative Market. Staying with the same example as a graphic designer, you could list logo examples available for purchase. Ensure your listings are optimized by thinking about how your ideal client would be looking for your service or product. It’s important to research the fees associated with these websites as while they can help you land a new client quickly they do take a percentage of the sale. 

 

  1. CREATE A WEBSITE

As a freelancer, it’s important to start branding yourself as a professional and a website is crucial to that strategy. A website allows your first client to find you easier online through Google searches and showcase your experience, skills and expertise. 

As you reach out to people to share your services you will find most will ask “What is your website?” because in the information driven age we live in, people want to see it and read it for themselves. It’s also not a good use of your time to keep explaining to people over and over what you do when you can direct them to a website where you have shared everything they need to know all in one place and can check out examples of your work through a portfolio.

Through blog posts you can give free value and solve problems to help you gain the trust of your next client who desperately needs what you have to offer. Create a blog board on Pinterest to showcase your blog posts in one place. 

 

  1. NETWORK LIKE CRAZY

There is no sugar coating that landing your first client will take some old fashioned hustle. Go to local networking meetings where you can build relationships faster face to face. Go prepared with a warm smile and a stack of well designed business cards and don’t make the business killing mistake of handing your business card to someone and not asking for theirs in return. Not only does this come across as self-serving but you need to go home with a stack of contacts that you can connect with on social media to keep building the relationship with. 

You can find local networking groups through Meet Up, Facebook and by searching your local Chamber of Commerce for events such as luncheons and mixers happening in your area. 

 

  1. CREATE A FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE

You will find that social media will play a huge role in your business and landing your first client. There are many advantages to having a Facebook Business Page like having the content indexed by Google and having the ability to run Facebook ads to target your ideal client. 

You can use your page to go live and give valuable tips to your audience that will help you stand out as an expert and build relationships with your audience while sharing calls to actions that direct your audience to what you offer.  

 

  1. UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE

Just like a Facebook business page, LinkedIn is indexed by Google and can help your ideal client find you. Maybe your profile is old and outdated? Now is the perfect time to update your profile photo, cover photo, title, skills sets, work history, etc. You can even publish some of your blog posts to your profile to give value and showcase your expertise. 

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, definitely create one and start putting it to work for you as a freelancer. 

 

  1. DON’T WORK FOR FREE

As a new freelancer, you need experience and testimonials to keep new clients coming in. And while it may be tempting to offer your services for free in order to build a portfolio and client feedback, I can assure you this is not a route you want to take. 

Doing free work can chip away at your confidence and self worth and believe me, not even the people closest to you will respect your time or talents if you offer to do them for free and by doing so you are just opening up a can of worms. Let’s say you create a free logo for your dear Aunt Sally who then tells another member of your family that you created a beautiful logo for her for free and “probably wouldn’t mind” doing it for them too. 

Hear me on this, value what you do and don’t discount your worth. If you want to have a goal of getting 5 testimonials for your website or Etsy shop as quickly as possible because you know it will help you get even more clients, great but do not work for free. 

You will find especially if you are a service-based business that people, usually under no ill intentions, will come to you and say “I just need you to do this one thing, take a look at this one website, I just need 15 minutes of your time” so it’s best if you learn early on how to deal with this. None of us get to the privilege to walk into a doctor’s office and say “I just need 15 minutes of the doctor’s time to look at this spot on my arm” so don’t allow anyone to steal time from you either.  

Tell Aunt Sally that you are willing to create a simple logo for her this one time at a discounted rate in exchange for a testimonial and give her a one time coupon code with an expiration date to create urgency to use on your website or in your shop but decide now not to work for free. 

 

  1. COLLABORATION

There are lots of business owners out there who are working with clients using their skills sets but need to hand off work that they either are not qualified to do or don’t want to do. For example, a person that designs websites very often has clients that need a logo, branding advice, copywriting services, graphic design work for other elements, photography, etc. The web designer needs to be able to refer their clients to someone who can take care of these tasks. By collaborating with other business owners you can create an endless network of referrals. 

Think about people in your field who would need to have you as a referral and reach out to them to let them know you would love to collaborate and also send client referrals their way too.

 

  1. COLD CALLING / EMAILING

Okay, I know just the sound of that may have made you cringe but hear me out. As a freelancer, especially a starting out one you will need to break out of your comfort zone a bit but that doesn’t mean you have to be sleazy or obnoxious either. 

The beauty of the online marketplace is the ability to generate leads while you sit at home in your yoga pants, coffee in hand and your laptop (I know all you introverts are saying “AMEN!” right now). There are millions of leads out there, you just have to be willing to go find them. 

If you are a virtual assistant, you can research small online business owners through social media or googling a few keywords of your ideal client like “Christian coach” and find lots of websites. This allows you to seek out who you want to work with and sending them a message either through email, LinkedIn, Facebook fan page messenger, etc. 

Yes, there will be people you never hear back from and yes there will be people who respond and say they aren’t looking for your services right now but so what. You never know when those seeds you planted in faith will come back to you. 

Here is a sample script you can use when reaching out to potential clients you find online:

“Hey Becky, my name is _________ and I am a freelance virtual assistant who came across your website. I love the passion you have for your calling and have no doubt the clients who work with you are very blessed to have your guidance. I read one of your blog posts __________ and it was so moving and inspiring.

The reason I write to you today is to introduce myself and to inquire if you are in need of a virtual assistant at the moment? My skills sets include __________ and you can visit my website to see my portfolio and testimonials www.________.com

Whether you are in need of my services at the moment or not, I am grateful for the connection and appreciate you taking the time to read this email. I have also connected with you on your Facebook page and sent a connection request via LinkedIn so I can continue to support you in the work you are doing. 

Thank you again for your time and consideration,”

The goal is to make a connection and build a relationship but can you imagine the leads you would generate if you sent just 5 emails per day to people you found online and wanted to work with!? Yes this takes work, time and a lot of consistency to keep showing up when your inbox goes empty, but I can promise you God will work to nurture these seeds if you will be brave enough to plant them in faith.  

 

  1. HIRE MY MOM COMMUNITY

Did you know for the past 12 years HireMyMom has been helping freelancing women and moms just like you find quality, legitimate work from home jobs and clients? By joining our community, you can confidently share your skills and look for high quality positions and clients as well as have access to more training and resources to help you build your business. Click HERE to learn more about what we have to offer and become a member today.  

Were these tips helpful? Connect with me on social media on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram!  I would love to hear from you. I know with consistent action you will no doubt land your very first client very soon!

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