Review: Brainbench.com

"I was requested by Edmund (my future employer... hehehe. I hope so...) to take asp.net 2.0 online test at brainbench.com and I think he paid some amount for this test because according to the site, this test currently cost $49.95. Hmmmm??? I got excited and got curious about what brainbench.com really does? Well, according to Edmund, it's an online testing site. Here's a review article about brainbench.com for everyone of us. Ok, got to go... I need to brush up my skills in asp.net now to be ready for the online exam... hehehe"

How Online Certification Tests can 

Improve Your Software Skills and Increase Your Market Value.

As the choice of software for knowledge workers increases, computer tests can help you stay ahead. Online education has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years - and Brainbench certifications will help you improve your software skills and provide you with tangible qualifications.

Brainbench has been a client of mine for a few years now, so I'm pretty familiar with what they offer. A turning point for me was when we started inviting our newsletter subscribers to volunteer to be interviewed. We include an interview in each issue, and what people have to say about their experience with Brainbench is fascinating.

Sure, there are all the IT workers who use the site and tests to brush up their skills in Java programming and a great deal more. But many other people use the tests (there is a choice of over 450 of them) to improve their expertise in simple tasks like typing, and everyday software like MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Explorer and Outlook.

Beyond that, there are tests for those other programs that many of us use like Photoshop, Pagemaker, Dreamweaver, FrontPage and more.

About the tests...

First of all, choose a test. Some are free, others have a price attached. (If you think you are going to be taking a number of tests, you're much better off buying one of their subscription packages.) Once you take a test, you will either pass or fail. But the best part is the detailed anaylsis they provide.

You'll know exactly where your strong and weak points are. And you'll know how you stack up against the skills of other Brainbench members. (The site has a membership of over 4.4 million!)

When you pass, you are certified. And these certifications carry a lot of weight. They are officially recognized by many of the largest companies on the world, like EDS, H&R Block, IBM, Manpower, Prometric, Qwest, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Verizon, Wells Fargo and hundreds of others.

And once you have a certification, add it to your resume, and mention it when applying for contracts, jobs or a promotion. (A lot more credible than simply saying, "Sure, I can use Photoshop.")

That said, taking a Brainbench certification isn't just about getting the piece of paper. It's also a great tool for helping increase you own productivity, standing among your colleagues and self-confidence.

Source: excessvoice.com

Running Your Homebased Business and Freelancing

"Just this year, I decided to do home-based freelance job. A little hard at the start since the competition is soooo high but with the help of my colleague I finally got the ball rolling. hehehe... To those who wanted to take a step forward in their career, believe in their skills, and want to start doing freelance jobs, here's a great article for you."

Running Your Homebased Business and Freelancing
Liz Roberts

A work at home business is a great opportunity to earn money especially for those who cannot afford to work full time like homemakers, handicaps, retirees, or even those having difficulty in finding an employer or has previously lost a job. By starting your own home based business you will acquire a profitable source of income for you and your family, and work at your own time and place.

In order to set up a home based business, most people started doing freelance work. Today, freelancing has become a very much feasible occupation since the demand for independent contractors has increased tremendously in recent years. Actually, most home based businesses run their business with the help of one or more freelancers.

What really is a freelancer? A freelancer is someone who is hired by a client to perform or accomplish a certain job needed either for a personal reason or/and most often than not, for business purposes. A freelancer works on a contract or per project basis and therefore does not require a standard salary like a regular employee does. Freelancers don’t require for employee benefits like social security, health care and others. However, he or she may negotiate with the client about how much is paid for a particular project.

Some freelancers may sign up a contract to one or more clients at the same time while others prefer to sell their finished work like freelance writers who sell essays, poems, stories, etc. to publishers.

The best advantages of working freelance is that you get to choose the task you want, you can set your own phase, and you can work at the comfort of your home.

The drawbacks is that you need to look for your own project and you need to take care of your own financial obligations like paying your taxes, providing your own health care, insurance and retirement funding. You are also responsible to provide for your own resources like the equipments and supplies needed for the job. You are also responsible to know and exercise your own rights as a freelancer as well as your obligations and limitations. If in case, you are sued due to legal claims or complaints, it is your duty to provide your own lawyer and get yourself out of the situation. Nevertheless, these drawbacks can be avoided by knowing your job, doing it right, being responsible, and playing by the rules.

If you have the skill and talent in any of those fields, why not try working as a part time or even full time freelancer? You might be surprised at how rewarding it could be for you. The most common and most lucrative fields in freelancing today include website designing, programming, content writing, editing, copyrighting, photography, encoding, illustration and book design, and other computer or internet related tasks.

There are hundreds of companies and home based businesses looking for a freelancer on the World Wide Web. Having a portfolio of your sample works will help you a great deal in landing great projects. At the start, you may have to prove your ability and competence but once you’ve done several projects that are outstanding and finished on time, you will start building a reputation for yourself. It won’t be too long before they seek out your services.

Don’t forget that written contract is best protection against any possible liability you might encounter. Your contract must clearly state the exact scope of your task, the time period covered, how much you will be paid, how you will be paid, and other points you and your client agreed on.

Lastly, your performance will either make you or break you. Being able to deliver your assigned tasks on time is crucial. However, don’t just do the job for the sake of completion. Be competent. Strictly impose discipline and diligence on yourself. Remember that each project you accomplish will be a reference point to your future assignments. And the more projects you get, of course, the better your earnings.

In time, freelancing work can be your stepping stone in starting your own home based business and by that point, it will be your turn to evaluate and hire your own freelancers.

Source : outsourcingtemps.com