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Do You Need a CV if You Run Your Own Business?
Do You Need a CV if You Run Your Own Business?
For the past 10 – 12 years I’ve been running my own business and as a result I’ve not updated my CV. However, a recent enquirer requested a CV in order to check my suitability for a role. It got me thinking, do you really need a CV if you run your own business? What alternatives can you use to demonstrate your skill set?
Business Website
Whenever we learn something new at Red Desk, we write an article about it and put it on our website blog. We share our knowledge with the business community and it demonstrates the type of tasks we can take on for our clients. We also update our website to reflect current clients and areas in which we’d like to grow. Please take a look at our services page for examples of our specialities including Business Support, Online Marketing and Web Content. Our testimonials page provides current and past reviews.
LinkedIn is the biggest professional networking tool on the internet. Those who use it can find a job, an internship, staff for their organisation, build connections with those in their industry or forge new professional relationships. Red Desk have a business page on LinkedIn and we post to this on weekdays and then we use our personal accounts to share this with our followers.
Don’t forget your personal profile on LinkedIn too. You are more likely to use this to network, and updating this regularly can help. Many jobs are posted on LinkedIn and recruiters visit profiles of those who have certain keywords and skills listed on their profiles. If you are wanting to attract certain clients to your business then think about what skills or tasks you might take on for them, ie excellent communication skills, time management, multi-tasking, detail-orientated, self-starter etc. This article gives some good tips on how to list your work as a freelancer.
CV
As and when you have time it is important to update your CV too. The reason being that not everyone will be satisfied with being shown your business website or LinkedIn profile. You will also find it useful to refer to if you need to fill in any job application forms. As a freelancer or business owner, not every job will be offered to you after an email chat and video call, some will insist on the more formal route of a CV or job application form. Indeed have some good tips on how to format your CV as a freelancer.
In short, yes you should have a CV if you run your own business but it is equally important to keep your website and LinkedIn accounts updated too. If you require assistance in any of these tasks then Red Desk can help. Just email mel@reddesk.co.uk
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Green Web Hosting
Green Web Hosting
In a follow up to our article “A Guide to Web Hosting”, we are now exploring the best green web hosting services, courtesy of Website Planet. So, if you are looking for ways in which your business can reduce its carbon footprint then this article will talk you through switching to a green web hosting company.
In the Website Planet article they have not only checked the green web hosts’ environmental policies but also tested their hosting features because there is no point compromising on service if you are preparing to switch. In their examination they were looking for:
- Quality and pricing
- Green initiatives
- Workplace initiatives
Top Place – GreenGeeks
As suggested by their name, GreenGeeks markets itself as eco-friendly. They boast a 300% carbon offsetting in the form of putting three units of energy back onto the grid in renewable energy for every unit they use.
In terms of hosting, they offer unlimited web space and bandwidth and a free domain name in the first year. Prices are at the top end of hosting companies when you renew but their features and green credentials might outweigh this for you.
HostGator
If you are looking for a low-cost hosting company that also has green credentials then do look at HostGator. They have been carbon offsetting for 12 years, in the form of purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset emissions produced by their servers and cooling systems.
You get a free SSL certificate and if you sign up for 12 months or longer, they will chuck in a free domain name. However, if you are looking for a hosting company that offers daily automated backups then you will need to look elsewhere.
InMotion Hosting
This hosting company has changed its data centre infrastructure by switching to a form of natural cooling to reduce its impact on the environment, something that not many other hosting companies have done. InMotion Hosting also have a tree planting policy.
Their three plans all include a free domain name for a year, unlimited bandwidth and disk space plus a drag-and-drop website builder. Although they are not carbon neutral, they do offer green initiatives so this coupled with their excellent customer service makes them a good contender.
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting has been working in partnership with CarbonFund.org to help offset their emissions. Workplace initiatives include:
- Remote working of staff
- Encouraging staff to carpool if they do need to travel
- Repurposing of old hardware when it is out of date
All of their plans come with hack protection. If you are a WordPress user then you can install their free A2 Optimized plugin to strengthen the login page and keep the core WordPress code updated automatically.
You can find more reviews of green webhosting services on Website Planet here.
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