One of the biggest challenges with running a business, especially when starting out, is funding staff.  For many years I’ve utilised the availability of students for my events, projects and office administration.

Event Staff:  Most TAFE or college students completing Event Management training are required to undertake some form of work experience.  To gain their certification, students from my local TAFE must complete 80 hours of work experience.  This has afforded me with a wealth of support for numerous events over the years.

What to Do:

• Contact your local training institution and ask for the Event Management head trainer

• Chat with them about your upcoming event(s)

• Make yourself available to present to the class.  This is a fantastic way to share valuable information about your events plus offer a work experience opportunity.

• Assign specific tasks to specific students.  Vague delegation will result in poor results.

• Give clear and succinct instructions.  For example, event registration is responsible for:

  • monitoring guest numbers
    
  • typing and printing badges
    
  • informing catering of numbers
    
  • welcoming guests
  • handing out badges
  • calculating final numbers

Office and Support Staff:  Throughout Australia, and perhaps in other countries, the government offers initiatives for businesses to provide school based trainees with work opportunities.  This government funded initiative is fantastic for strapped start ups as well as established businesses that require support without high staff overheads.

I’ve recently employed several school based trainees who help with tasks from WordPress posting, Aweber mailings, membership management, creating Facebook pages, administration and general office support.  Not only are these young people enthusiastic to learn more, many of them are tech savvy and bring with them a host of valuable skills.

How it Works:

As regulations differ from state to state and country to country these steps may vary slightly.

• Trainees work onsite with you or an assigned team member 1 day a week for approximately 48 weeks, depending on the type of traineeship. 

• You cash flow trainee salary for duration of traineeship.

• At three months and 12 months you receive a payment from the government.  Depending on the salary offered to the trainee, this funding may cover the entire 12 month salary.

What to Do:

As regulations differ from state to state and country to country these steps may vary slightly.

• Contact a local Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in your state.

• Ask for details about the School Based Trainees.

• Provide the RTO with a comprehensive job description(s).  Be engaging as possible to attract the attention of the most suitable candidates.

• The RTO will send through the applications for you to create a shortlist.

• Inform RTO of shortlist so they can arrange interviews.

• Interview candidates and make selection.

• RTO will walk you through the paperwork process.

• You now have a new team member.

Enjoy the process of growing your team.  Remember to be patient.  You will have to invest a little time in your new team members as they learn the ropes.  However once they’re up and running and have clearly defined roles you’ll be free to work on what you do best…building a fantastic business.

© 2010 Tania Usher International

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About The Author

Tania Usher is an internationally renowned marketing communication strategist, business coach, author, speaker and adventurer.  Her company Tania Usher International is dedicated to providing communication expertise and innovative solutions to accelerate results and positive transformation for entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide.  Tania aims to touch as many lives as possible with her authentic and ‘from the heart’ get NAKED approach to business where she strips back the hype to expose raw and uncut strategies for life, business and success.

Go now to http://www.taniausherinternational.com