Many Jobless Turning to Self-Employment to Survive Fallen Economy
In today’s economy, the ups and downs can mean that many unemployed are left in its wake. From customer service reps and auto mechanics to retail workers and executives, no one seems impervious to the dip that the economy has taken. With the unemployment rate now estimated to be at nearly 20% (including those who are still laid off but no longer looking for work), it can seem hopeless for job seekers. However, many unemployed Americans are now taking hold of the reigns and starting their own companies in order to survive. Here is the story of one of them.
Many women are choosing to start companies that are service based, including wedding planning, consulting, and selling home-based products like MaryKay and Avon. These are excellent options for women to harness their existing talents and to be able to make some significant income for themselves to support their family. Not only is it smart to go into business doing something they are skilled and experienced in, it usually has the added benefit of doing something they enjoy.
One such story from CNN shows the perfect example of someone who was a victim of the economy and has risen from the ashes to redeem herself and her career. Jennifer Thomas, a media consultant, was forced to leave her job as a TV news producer due to downsizing. She used the opportunity to start her own media consulting job and now caters to celebrities. She explained to CNN that taking those first steps can be very scary, but that with “generous friends and mentors, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance” it is entirely possible.
For new business owners like Jennifer Thomas, careful thought and consideration need to be taken when hiring staff to help expand the business and to delegate the day-to-day tasks to others. An incredible amount of trust goes into employees; making sure that the right people are being hired is key. For starters, getting an employment screening done (including a criminal background check) are extremely important steps that cannot be overlooked.
Many times, our employees are helping with sensitive portions of our business, including the handling of money, trade secrets, client interactions, and credit card information. It is therefore imperative that we take every precaution to pre-screen employees to be sure that they can be trusted. AccuScreen has helped companies for over 15 years in hiring the very best employees; those that can be trusted and who have no trouble passing a criminal background check.
Another problem that can arise when hiring employees is discovering later that they never received the degree they claimed to have earned. Other resume lies often discovered include employment gaps not reported, job titles and salary history exaggerations, as well as lies about certifications earned. When you are running a business where you count on your employees’ performance (and what company doesn’t), you need to do thorough employment screening and a criminal background check every single time.
Avoid hiring the “Employee from Hell” by using AccuScreen’s trusted, accurate, and thorough background check process. Use them every time. No exceptions.
