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Running a video production company from home during pandemic – An interview with Alex Safavinia

Sam Allcock
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Running a video production company from home during pandemic – An interview with Alex Safavinia

In 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted many different businesses across the globe. Lockdowns imposed in many countries have forced many businesses to operate from homes. While major vaccination programs are being carried out worldwide, new variants of the COVID-19 virus create new challenges. New surges of infections in some countries recently amidst a shortage of vaccination supply could mean that things might only return to normalcy in 2022. Fortunately, the light remains at the end of the tunnel.

In recent years, video production has taken a centre stage in marketing strategies of brands and businesses. Videos are effective in boosting online visibility by improving website traffic and rankings in search engines. The positive impact it has on search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine ranking (SERP) means that more and more businesses are investing efforts into video production. A very good example of a video production company is the Standby Productions!.

However, the pandemic affected many production houses as the lockdowns and social distancing rules hindered many activities, including video production, most specifically live action production. Studios are forced to operate from homes.

To get some insight into this dire situation, we interviewed Alex Safavinia, the CEO and Creative Director of Kasra Design.

https://vimeo.com/279505237

Kasra Design is an award-winning video production company that makes really interesting explainer videos in the form of animation or live action. Alex has been running this business for over 12 years and during the current pandemic.

Ok, time to jump into our interview. Here is our entire interview QAs:

How long has Kasra Design been around?

Kasra Design was established in the year 2011. The concept of online video production was still relatively new at that point, but it was gaining traction. With my background in animation, I thought it was a good area to venture into as more and more businesses were growing online and they needed effective marketing tools to promote their products and services.

What kind of clients does your company work with?

We work with clients from many different industries. Some of the big names that we’ve worked with include PepsiCo, Panasonic, Shell, Tokio Marine Insurance, the International Air Transport Association (IATA). We cover all continents and support a huge list of languages.

How did you cope with pandemic in general?

To tell you the truth, it was hard in the beginning when everything seemed so uncertain. We weren’t familiar with the concept of working from home and we were unsure if clients would reduce budgets in video production due to the challenges brought upon by the pandemic.

Does it affect your video production business? How do you operate currently?

Our team started working from home since March 2020. We quickly ironed out the issues in the initial phase by making sure that our employees had access to proper workstations at home. Live action production is limited due to the various social distancing rules put in place, but we saw a growing demand for animations. After all, video is still a very much sought-after marketing tool by businesses especially during this challenging times. People are confined at homes and they spend more time online so in order to reach out to them, video is still the best method available.

What are the challenges of running the business remotely?

In the initial phase, we had to make sure that all our employees have high-end workstations to work from homes because our work is greatly dependent on the latest hardware technologies and graphic cards. So, we had to move everything from our office to each employee’s home. As we’ve been doing this for more than a year now, our team have gotten used to collaborating online. At some point, we still miss having discussion face-to-face so the next best thing for us now is a Zoom meeting.

Does pandemic incur more cost on operation? (No, less so far)

Fortunately, no. It has in fact reduced our cost on operations as we don’t need a physical space. In addition, our employees save on travelling times and expenses. We can use the extras that we have to spend on things to improve business operations such as tools or software to make online collaboration easier.

Did pandemic affect your sales?

No. Quite the contrary. We saw a decline in demand for live video production but an increase of demand for animated videos. Animated explainer videos are still relevant especially when people are stuck at homes during lockdowns with nowhere to go. Online video is one of the best ways for brands to reach out to people. So, when they can’t opt for video shoot, the next best option is animated styles. Thankfully when it comes to animation, the possibilities are endless. It can cover literally every industry in the world.

Are you facing any problems with HR and hiring process? Do you get enough applicants during these extraordinary times?

Yes, we see new challenges with new hires as training becomes harder since we do not see them face-to-face. It takes more time to prep a new employee to manage the tasks.

We do receive more job applications than before as the pandemic has affected many businesses and job opportunities are scarce.

What is your view of the future of video production with the ever-increasing online businesses and technologies?

Video production will stay relevant as there is a growing number of businesses going digital. In fact, the pandemic has fuelled more businesses to accelerate their digital marketing strategies to stay afloat in the market.

What is your advice for businesses struggling with social distancing and lockdowns currently? (Adapt and change, employee health is important, don’t lose hope, innovate and adjust)

I know social distancing and lockdowns are hard for many businesses but we’ve got to innovate and to change according to time. The pandemic has brought upon the realization that nothing is predictable in the business world, so we’ve got to be able to adapt according to the changing trends. Also, employees are the driving force of any company so we must ensure that they are safe and healthy to continue contributing to the growth of the company.

Wrapping Up

The take-away from this interview is that although the unexpected happened, a shift in the methods of video production and the ability to innovate managed to keep many companies afloat, like Kasra Design. Thanks to new technology, it is possible to organize meetings online and collaborate on creative projects which usually requires face-to-face brainstorming session.

And of course, having a strong online presence will ensure the steady stream of clients when traditional ways of acquiring clients might be impossible.

Open Transport Initiative and MaaS Scotland team up for The Data Spectrum diagram

Sam Allcock
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Open Transport Initiative and MaaS Scotland team up for The Data Spectrum diagram

The Open Transport Initiative and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Scotland have teamed up to release a new diagram that is the first to align transport and mobility to data terminology already used by sectors such as banking, energy and smart cities.

‘The Data Spectrum for Transport and Mobility’ is the result of a detailed piece of work to adapt the Data Spectrum from the Open Data Institute to transport and mobility data.

Like many sectors, transport and mobility is currently undergoing a data and technology evolution.

Whether it’s accessible across a transport ecosystem, locatable by numerous mobility service providers or securely shared and interoperable between different transport accounts managed by a single customer, there has been a significant change in the way data is understood and managed.

To help with this process, MaaS Scotland – the industry association for Scotland’s Mobility-as-a-Service community – and The Open Transport Initiative have created The Data Spectrum for Transport & Mobility.

It will be of use to individuals and organisations in the transport and mobility sector who are looking for greater clarity on the emerging data ecosystem, providing a simple way of defining the range and types of transport and mobility data, as well as offering sector-specific examples.

It’s hoped that by improving understanding, The Data Spectrum will be the first step towards wider and more standardised data interoperability between transport providers, local and national transport authorities, MaaS platforms and their solution providers.

The Data Spectrum for Transport and Mobility is published under Creative Commons “by SA” license, meaning it is free for anyone to use and share.

For feedback or suggestions, email: contact@opentransport.co.uk 

Notes to editors

MaaS Scotland

MaaS Scotland is the focal point for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) activities in Scotland, establishing a formal network for the vibrant Scottish MaaS eco-system, and facilitating initiatives that will deliver the benefits of this transformational opportunity to Scotland.

A joint venture, operated by Technology Scotland and ScotlandIS, the network now consists of over 75 public and private sector organisations from across the MaaS supply chain in Scotland making it one of the largest networks of its kind in Europe.

The Open Transport Initiative

The Open Transport Initiative was set up to create and support the adoption of Open Standards for sharing data across the transport and mobility sector.

Its role is to:

  • Design, publish and manage the ONLY Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) specifications for transport account data interoperability
  • Work with governments, local authorities, transport providers, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms, software vendors and other organisations to support the use of Open Standards
  • Further the adoption of shared (smart) data across all transport modes.

4 Top E-Commerce Mistakes That You Need to Avoid Doing Today

Sam Allcock
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4 Top E-Commerce Mistakes That You Need to Avoid Doing Today

Running an online business is no joke. Some days you are on a considerable high and some days, you will find yourself scrambling for the next penny to success. Whatever the situation is, you must find the right tools and technology that can help propel your business in the right direction. While everyone will discuss and highlight the e-commerce best practices, not many people highlight the common mistakes that business owners do.

Here, we are going to highlight a few of them to help you check and reassess things.

Choosing the wrong e-commerce platform

When you are determined to start your own online business, especially an e-commerce business, choosing the right platform is the key. The right e-commerce platform will help boost your business; however, the wrong one will end up pouring water over all your efforts. So, to make it big, you need to start analyzing and researching things. Note down what kind of products you offer, the kind of business plans you want to indulge in, and also the way the platform showcases your products.

Having no idea about the target audience

Marketing your products to random people might get you one or two lucky customers but it is not a sustainable business idea in the long run. This is where you need to define your target audience and what they can do for your business. Successful eCommerce sites know and identify their target audience and market their products to them. If you aren’t doing that, you are likely wasting your efforts and money on marketing, all for waste.

Invest in web design

If your e-commerce website isn’t scalable and easy to navigate, you are already going to lose out on a lot of prospects. Utilize a website design that offers room for future growth. The majority of the time, this is what people miss out on. If you want to expand your website and business in the future, you need to think of the same today. Integrate features and elements that can propel the growth of your business in the future. If you aren’t good with web development, get a professional to do it for you.

Complex Navigation

If your e-commerce platform is complex with too much happening on the home page, chances are that you are going to end up losing a lot of potential customers. Avoid using confusing or complex terms in your website and instead, keep the UX simple and minimal. This is enough to make your website stand out from the lot. Optimize the user experience so the customers can navigate through and find the right products for their needs.

Starting your e-commerce business is no joke. Not only do you need to be mindful of the products you are selling, but you also need to avoid doing the basic mistakes that take your business downhill. We have shared some of the basic yet quintessential ones, so make sure that you are mindful of the same before you end up starting your business.

3 Important Benefits of Attending Small Business Conferences

Sam Allcock
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3 Important Benefits of Attending Small Business Conferences

Regardless of the industry you’re in, there are probably at least a few conferences in your area each year that you can attend. As an entrepreneur, it’s important that you stay informed about everything that’s happening in your industry. You should also always be looking for ways to introduce your brand to consumers. You can do both of these things and much more at small business conferences.

Learn from the best

The beautiful thing about being an entrepreneur is that you don’t have a boss. You have the complete freedom to work on your own schedule and work on any projects that you want. Although you may not have a boss telling you what to do, there are some authority figures that you should listen to and take advice from.

Small business conferences are a great way to meet influential people in your industry and talk to them about various subjects. If you’re new to being an entrepreneur, feel free to ask people with more experience how they overcome certain setbacks and challenges. You should attend conferences to learn more about your industry and then use that knowledge to grow your business.

Market your brand to potential clients

Aside from attending the conference and listening to influential people speak, you can also attend the event as a vendor. This will allow you to market your brand to potential clients and reach new demographics. Attending a small business conference or trade show can be an excellent way to directly engage with consumers and get them interested in your company.

If you have any ideas for a new product or service, you can use the conference to promote it and see what type of reaction you’ll get. To do this effectively, all you’ll need to do is create a few prototypes for the new products. Certain companies also hire iPads in bulk for small business conferences. They offer discounts to attendees who test your prototype and leave feedback on a tablet.

If you want to be a vendor at an event, make sure you also hire a few people who’ll engage with people at your booth. This strategy may help you both increase your sales and develop successful products that you’ll sell in the future.

Networking opportunities

Nowadays, you can easily get in touch with customers, clients, and other business owners online. However, there is something special about attending small business conferences when it comes to networking. People who attend these events come with the intention of meeting new people and are much more open to talking than they’d be online.

Simply through socializing at the event, you may encounter people that’ll help you completely transform your company and take it to another level. You may discover new customer leads, start working on joint ventures with other businesses, and even get new supplier contacts.

In case you’re looking for new employees, the conference might be a good place to find them. Talk about your company and what you envision for it in the future. In case you spark interest of experts in your field at the event, they might consider joining your organization.

Is Centrepoint only in London?

Sam Allcock
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Is Centrepoint only in London?

What is Centrepoint?

From its origins as a night shelter in the basement of a church in Soho during the 1960s, Centrepoint has grown into a leading charity for young homeless people across the UK – and not just in the English capital.

It’s an organisation that can turn lives around, taking a proactive approach to youth homelessness in innovative and effective ways.

However, what has to be its most ambitious and urgent mission was launched earlier this year.

Its objective? To put an end to youth homelessness by 2037.

The charity, together with its partners, already provides support for more than 14,000 young people every year.

It does so by finding them accommodation, tackling health issues that may have led to their situation, and giving them practical help while they look for employment or, if they want to, get back into education.

What does Centrepoint do?

Homelessness comes with a whole set of problems which often aren’t solved just by putting a roof over someone’s head.

However, finding people accommodation is key, and Centrepoint runs more than 60 accommodation services nationally, working in 15 boroughs in London as well as in Sunderland, Manchester, Bradford and Barnsley.

Its work with young people is varied.

Paramount is ensuring they feel secure and they are healthy. The in-house health team works with young people on a wide range of issues covering mental health, drug abuse, nutrition and healthy relationships with others.

The charity’s main aim is for young people to be equipped with skills to be able to live and grow to their full potential, and it does this by providing education opportunities, training information, and guidance.

They’ll get support whether it’s applying to go to university or acquiring life skills such as opening a bank account or budgeting to manage their income.

There are classes to help individuals improve their basic maths and English, in addition to support to express themselves through drama, fashion, dance, music and photography.

Whether they need money for course fees or to help with childcare, travel to their workplace or a laptop for college, Centrepoint’s young people can access financial help in the form of a bursary.

Why?

Centrepoint has set itself the challenge of ending youth homelessness by 2037.

But why that date?  Well, because any young person born in 2021 will turn 16 in 2037, the year in which they may need help from Centrepoint.

Essentially, the charity’s wish is for youth homelessness to end by the time the next generation comes of age.

This isn’t something it can achieve solely as a charity tackling youth homelessness alone, and it is working with a wide range of people to help reach this key target.

One major initiative comes with the appointment of two new board members; British entrepreneur and investor, Javad Marandi OBE, and financier Jamie Reuben – both of whom have been appointed co-chairs of Centrepoint’s Growth Board.

The growth board is spearheading Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme (ILP), which is the most ambitious scheme ever to be undertaken in the youth homelessness charity’s 50-year history.

It’s a multi-million pound project that’s unlike anything else in the world, and is a major innovation in the efforts to stop youth homelessness.

It will enable the most vulnerable young people to build sustainable careers without a simultaneous burden of market housing costs.

Through ILP, Centrepoint’s commitment to building 300 homes across London and Greater Manchester aims to change the prospects of young homeless people.

Those aged between 16 and 25, who struggle with or are at risk of homelessness but whose prospects have improved with the help of Centrepoint’s frontline services, and have entry-level jobs or apprenticeships, will be able to live independently in modern, safe, and affordable homes paying rents that are capped at around a third of their salary.

In this way, Centrepoint is harnessing the creativity, entrepreneurship and lobbying power of a broad spectrum of partners, all united with the same aim of ending youth homelessness by the time the next generation comes around.

Solutions already having a positive effect include homeless prevention activity in Manchester, mental health support in Barnsley, parent and child services in Sunderland and routes into employment in Bradford.

Centrepoint may have started life in London, but it is working to end youth homelessness across the country and maybe even beyond, taking a new, exciting approach to a problem that should never impact anyone who is young and just starting out on their life’s journey.

Why Chinese youth are ‘lying flat’ as a form of resistance to CCP rule

Claire James
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Why Chinese youth are ‘lying flat’ as a form of resistance to CCP rule

A photograph from China is rapidly gaining traction as a symbol of the next generation’s irreverent attitude towards the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The young man in the photo is sprawled across the floor of the train carriage, head cushioned by a backpack as the doors open in front of him. Scrambling to board are the hectic crowds of the Beijing rush hour, wielding briefcases and harried looks, but the young man’s eyes are closed to the world around him.

Thousands of scenes like this have been shared across mainland China, with images of dozing passengers emblematic of the “lying flat” movement (tang ping, in Mandarin) among Chinese Generation Z — a trending philosophy encouraging youth to ‘lie down’ in the face of exorbitant house prices, hopeless career prospects, suffocating social expectations and CCP overreach into their personal lives.  

In contrast to the activism of prominent CCP dissidents such as Guo Wengui AKA Miles Kwok, Chen Guangcheng, and Nathan Law, who have long angered Beijing by their loud criticisms of the Chinese state, this quiet form of resistance has been attacked by critics as just another example of youthful laziness.

Mr. Kwok, for instance, has made headlines as the subject of a sustained CCP-orchestrated lobbying campaign to have him deported back to China from the United States. From exile in New York, he has broadcast claims of corruption within the CCP, including allegations against Vice President Wang Qishan, a Xi ally and key figure in the party’s anti-corruption drive who sought to arrest him – among many other industry leaders – for failing to toe the party line.

But for those still under the thumb of the authoritarian regime, often the only forms of resistance available to citizens is covert activism and passive encumbrance.

The tang ping movement first gained momentum on Douban (akin to Facebook) via a shared manifesto, titled “A Guide to Lying Down.” It listed seven steps to embracing the tang ping lifestyle, including acceptance of personal shortcomings, seeking happiness outside of consumption, and prioritising immediate pleasure instead of long-term gains. Communities dedicated to the movement have since been quickly removed by state censors.

Tang ping runs counter to the pressure cooker lifestyle encouraged by the CCP and the “996” system. The term refers to China’s hustle culture, where people are expected to work 12 hours a day, from 9am to 9pm, six days a week. The 996 lifestyle was championed by Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, who once called the 72-hour workweek a “blessing,” and now is standard for white-collar workers. Disregard for labor laws has led to unchecked demands of overwork. Stories of people dying at their desks or suicide as result of sustained exhaustion are common.

According to Huang Ping, a literature professor at East China Normal University, lying down can be seen as the opposite of involution — an anthropological term referring to societies becoming trapped in ceaseless cycles of competition that was popularised on Chinese social media last year.

“In a relatively good social environment, people may feel involuted, but at least they’re trying,” he said to Sixth Tone. “If it’s worse, people will tang ping.”

Indeed, official state media is deeply concerned about the tang ping lifestyle because of its potential to threaten productivity. The CCP’s Youth Wing has disavowed the movement on Weibo, following similar commentaries advocating the benefits of hard work by many state-owned newspapers. CGTN, China’s state TV, has even enlisted the help of UK students to become pro-Beijing social media influencers, or what they call ‘media challengers,’ to counter this movement abroad.  

The implications of citizens resisting the common CCP view of its population as its most prized asset for immense capital production is consequential. China is embroiled in worsening relations with the West, an accelerated economic slowdown, and flagging birth and marriage rates. Earlier this year, the government reversed its two-child policy to allow couples to have more children, but fears remain that the policy change will do little to reverse the country’s aging population.

And a growing population will be needed more than ever, as President Xi Jinping announced that China will rely more on “internal circulation” for boosting its economic growth – a comment that was interpreted as China will have to rely on the health of the domestic market to boost its economy as the country is increasingly isolated from foreign trade.  

Yet “lying down flatists” believe that people are more than extensions of capital. Chinese netizens are seizing the moment to encourage “garlic chives” (韮菜), or the millions of white-collar graduates whose working existence has fuelled China’s economic revolution, to fight back against the ‘harvesting’ of the fruits of their labour by the the predatory political elite.

There is a growing silent majority of youth disillusioned by the ‘China Dream’ that condemns one to a life of hard work and sacrifice with nothing to show for it. Though invisible, those who lie flat have taken a stand against a system few dare to face.

As one Weibo poster wrote, before it was deleted by censors: “You can’t stand up, but you don’t want to kneel down. Then you can only lie flat.”

Working offshore without a diploma: is that possible?

Sam Allcock
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Working offshore without a diploma: is that possible?

Do you want to work offshore, but have you not followed any training to work on a drilling platform? Then you are in luck, because for some jobs on the drilling platform you do not need any education and/or work experience. You can read about which jobs exactly in this article. In this article you can also read what you need to be able to work offshore without a diploma.

Offshore jobs without a degree

There are several offshore jobs without a degree. For example, if you want to become a Maintenance & General Roustabout on a drilling platform, you do not need to follow any training. This is not a technical profession, but a support function that you can also fill without training.

If you have not obtained a diploma to work offshore, this does not mean that you have to work as a Roustabout all your life. You can also grow without a diploma. You simply do this by gaining a few years of experience in the position of Roustabout, and then moving on to a slightly higher position. Once you have gained a few years of experience here, you may be able to progress to a slightly higher position. This way you have a good offshore career, without having followed any training to be able to work offshore.

Offshore jobs with diploma

Of course there are also offshore jobs with diplomas. This often concerns technical positions or positions with more responsibilities, such as a manager. You can also get these positions without a diploma, but then you have to work on a boat platform for several years. In this case, you grow on the platform by gaining the right work experience, not by following a certain training. It takes a little longer, but eventually you can get a higher position without a diploma.

Working offshore without a diploma and the VCA course

Working offshore without a diploma is certainly possible, but you do need a VCA certificate to be able to work on a drilling platform. You can obtain this certificate by following a VCA course.

Some employers on drilling platforms expect you to obtain a VCA certificate yourself. You can only get started with them if you have arranged that you have a VCA certificate in your name. In this case you often have to pay for your VCA course yourself. Other employers help you obtain your VCA certificate. They will register you for a VCA course, pay for the course for you and hire you once you have obtained your certificate. In short: working without a diploma is certainly possible, but you always need a VCA certificate to be able to work on a drilling platform. You can arrange this certificate yourself, but also with the help of your new employer. 

Courses in the offshore sector

There are also many courses in the offshore sector, an popular example of an offshore sector course is the OPITO HOIT Helideck Operations Initial Training. The aim and objective of this training is to understand more about the skills and requirements you need to perform an offshore helicopter landing. If you wanna have a more basic training, then a OSHA training course is also available in many countries.  

As the World Recovers from Pandemic Are You Thinking of a New Career Path

Sam Allcock
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As the World Recovers from Pandemic Are You Thinking of a New Career Path

Most of us have had our work lives and routines altered in some way as a result of the pandemic. So as the world starts to reopen and things return to some sort of normal, it’s causing many people to reevaluate their situation with regards to work.

If you’re thinking of making a change, whether that means exploring new career paths or simply staying in the same field but changing the way you work, there are lots of things worth considering. Jumping into a major life change without exploring the implications is rarely a good idea. We’re going to cover some of the career change options and their benefits below, so read on.

Attitudes to Working Are Shifting

Attitudes to work and how we structure our work lives are clearly shifting as a consequence of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns over the last year. For many, and some of them for the first time in their lives, have been working from home on a consistent basis. That means no commuting, no morning rush and none of the good and bad things that come with sharing an office space with others.

Some will have missed the day to day, in-person interactions. For others, they’ll have gained insights into the benefits of working from home. Others will simply have taken this massive global event to reevaluate what’s important to them and how their work lives are contributing (or not) to their general happiness and satisfaction with life.

Going Self-Employed in Order to Gain More Control Over Your Work Schedule

For many people, the chance to control their own schedule and decide when and how they work is what matters most after the pandemic. If that path interests you, you’ll want to consider becoming self-employed and working for yourself. For many this, simply means doing the same work but for themselves rather than someone else.

For example, a solicitor might choose to transition away from working at a traditional law firm and instead start operating as a consultant solicitor. There are organizations like  Passion for Law that make this kind of transition smoother. And there are similar pathways to self-employment in many other industries, not just law.

Making Working From Home a Permanent Arrangement

For others, the need to become self-employed is not such an important one. For them, they might be happy negotiating some sort of work from home arrangement that continues on from the way they were working during lockdowns. 

Lots of people have had a taste of working from home and don’t really want to go back to the office, but still want to work as an employee for an established company.

Following Your Passions

There’s a growing desire among many people to follow their passions. There’s nothing quite like a global pandemic to make you realize that life is short and if you’re going to follow those passions and dreams you’ve always had, it’s probably a good idea to do it now rather than later.

Of course, even this change should be managed carefully. Plan out your finances beforehand and don’t quit your current job until you have a solid plan in place for how you’re going to transition towards the plans you want to implement next. Doing it in stages and reducing your hours at your current job as you start building your passion project might be the best way to do it.

Looking For a New Job in a Post-Pandemic World

Finding a new job in the post-pandemic world, if that’s what you’ve decided you want to do, can be tricky. It might not be the ideal climate in which to be job hunting. But it’s also not as disastrous as you might think either. There is demand out there in the UK. Various factors, ranging from increased staffing needs in some sectors and rule changes for the hiring of EU workers relating to Brexit mean that there is a demand for employees.

Be sure to make use of the contacts you have as they might be useful in finding new positions before others do. You should also avoid quitting an existing job before you have a new one lined up because if you do struggle to find a new job, you might be without an income for an unsustainable period of time.

For many, now is the perfect time to start thinking about changes in their career. And if you’re thinking of doing the same, hopefully, the information and advice discussed above will help you make a success of whichever next step you decide to take in your work life.

What to look for when buying a house in 2021?

Sam Allcock
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What to look for when buying a house in 2021?

Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, there are so many factors involved in the process of buying a home. From choosing the right location to hiring a good estate agent, from getting pre-approved for a mortgage to deciding on a budget, there is so much to do! If you’ve been thinking about buying a house shortly, Grosvenor Billinghurst experienced estate agents in Cobham lists some of the most important things you should look for while buying a home in 2021.

The Location

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the housing market in the UK had its ups and downs. While the value of prime property in some areas dropped drastically, the demand for detached properties in upcoming suburbs and developing areas soared. So, if you want to buy a house in 2021, you need to choose the location wisely. If you buy a house in an upcoming area such as Surrey, Reading, Manchester or Cardiff, the value of your property will probably rise tremendously in the coming years.

The Size of the House

Are you looking to shift into a bigger home? Are you looking to buy a home to start a family? Are you moving out of the city centre to retire in the quiet suburbs? Based on your needs and requirements, you need to decide how big or small your house should be. Figure out how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need and have a fair idea of what size you want the house to be. While having a big home is great when you have a large family, it also requires a whole lot of maintenance and upkeep. On the other hand, a small home is easy to furnish, but there isn’t too much space for guests.

The Kitchen

Thanks to the pandemic, more and more people have started cooking at home. So, if you’re one of those people who have begun to enjoy a home-cooked meal, you know the importance of having a good kitchen. Is the kitchen big enough? Is there adequate space for all your appliances? Does the kitchen have enough storage? Examine the kitchen thoroughly!

The Garden and Outdoor Space

Who doesn’t love to see freshly cut grass, beautiful flowers and gorgeous landscaping from the comfort of their living room? Now, as more people have started working from home, the demand for a house with a garden, or just some private outdoor space, has become very common. If you’re thinking about buying a house in 2021, you should make sure to look at properties that have gardens, patios or private terraces. If there is another lockdown in the future, at least you won’t have to be cooped up in your home! Also, if you decide to sell your home later, you’ll get a much higher value for a property with a garden.

The Structure

You can change the interiors of the house, you can renovate the place, and you can even hire an interior designer to completely change the look and feel of the property, but you cannot change the structure. So, before you decide to buy a house, make sure that you actually like the structure and the overall layout.

The Small Details

Are there any leaky faucets? Is the water pressure too low? This might indicate plumbing problems. Are the walls damp? Is the roof leaking? Are there any signs of leaking in the attic? This might indicate problems with the roof and the structure, which could cost thousands of pounds to repair. Are there any signs of mould? Does the basement have water damage? What is the quality of the wiring like? What kind of heating and cooling system does the property have? You need to look at all the finer details and inspect the house thoroughly, just to make sure everything is how it should be.  

While all the above-mentioned factors are of utmost importance, you need to keep a budget in mind. The vaccine has been rolled out, the economy is going to start thriving, and the pandemic seems to be under control, but unfortunately, no one is certain of what the future holds. What if there is a severe third wave that comes about? What if the UK economy crashes in the near future? What if you get laid off from your place of work? You need to sit down with a financial expert and figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend on your new home without living the rest of your life in debt! Once you have a realistic budget in mind, you should get in touch with estate agents in Surrey to find the perfect home for you.

How to Start Investing in Stocks

Sam Allcock
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How to Start Investing in Stocks

Stock is a popular type of investment that allows people to make money. To invest in stocks, you need to have a basic knowledge of the company’s stocks to determine what’s risky and non-risky investments. Before you can start investing in stocks, there are several factors you need to consider, which includes:

  1. Create Your Investment Plan

To invest in Stocks, you need to have a plan that will generally simplify your investment process. You should evaluate and understand the type of business stock, you want to invest in. There’s a lot of things about Stock investment and you should consider investing in a company you understand. Research and learn about investing in stocks, as well as the risks and benefits associated with it.

  1. Your Investment Budget

With any money, it will be hard to make any investment. So, be sure to evaluate and determine your investment budget. Evaluate your monthly expenses and deduct them from your income. What’s left is your investment budget. And thinking about it, there’s no way that you are going to invest all the money left on Stocks because side expenses still await you.

For example, you receive a monthly income of $5,000 but end up removing your expenses, which is $2,000. Then you need to divide the remaining $2,500 and invest a portion of it.

  1. Create an Investment Account

Before you start investing, you need to create a unique investment account that allows you to invest in Stocks. With an investment account, you can also invest in other investment options. You can read the FXTM review here to get started. 

Investment platform differs from each other based on services, features, and the fees they charge. Most of these investment platforms allow investors to access their services from desktop and mobile apps.

  1. Evaluate Stocks

It’s crucial for you to evaluate the Stocks you want to invest in. And you should also avoid investing in penny stocks, which very risky. If possible, endeavor to seek the help of other professional investors or make use of educational tools for beginners to learn about Stocks. You should avoid investing in businesses that you lack knowledge of.

While investing in stocks, you need to be able to track the previous record of stocks. Stocks with positive past records are always lucrative to invest in.

Avoid risky stocks that offer a massive amount of returns. How do you know this type of stock? These type of Stocks tends to have a bad record, which makes it hard to predict the outcome in the future.

Analyzing the outcome of Stocks allows you to understand more about the company, which initially owns the Stock. However, you should also try to find an investment that suits your budget. You can make use of the Xtrade review here to learn more about investing in Stocks.

  1. Don’t Give Up

No matter what happened, you shouldn’t allow yourself to give up. A lot of people find it strange at the beginning of their journey as an investor. You should make use of educational tools that will allow you to gain experience and progress as you learn about investing.

Whatever happens, take it as a lesson and find a suitable way of avoiding it in the future. You can also read the Roboforex review to get more ideas about the awesome broker.

Conclusion

Stock is a popular type of investment that allows people to make money. To invest in stocks, you need to have a basic knowledge of the company’s stocks to determine what are risky and non-risky investments. And the above tips are what you need to start investing in Stocks.

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