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Networking is still one of the most successful avenues for finding a job. and it’s not as scary as it sounds. Start by listing the names of all your friends, colleagues, teachers, relatives, and anyone you can think of who would be willing to talk about or help out with job opportunities.

Call, email, or connect through social media to all the people on your list. Let them know you’re looking for a job and you’d appreciate any advice or leads. If sending emails, attach an electronic version of your résumé so they can see your qualifications.

If your list needs a boost, get involved with local professional organizations, volunteer for local charities, or sign up with your school’s professional student organizations. If you’re interested in becoming an electrician’s apprentice, join a local electrician association. If you’re a college graduate, your alumni association can be a great resource for job openings, networking opportunities, and other job searching tips. READ MORE

The rise in importance of Latina-owned businesses in California is countered on a regular basis with significant barriers to growth here. That was a recurring theme at the recent Los Angeles Latina Roundtable, co-hosted by CA Fwd, which explored the successes and challenges of the community.

“When you take a deep look, you understand that Latinas have always been there and have always been a part of what’s driving the economy,” Salinas Consulting founder Maria Salinas said. “We have real desire to implement growth and we know that with growth there’s more jobs and a stimulated economy.”

Salinas’ words certainly ring true in the statistics.

To date, Hispanic-owned businesses contribute 650,000 jobs to the California economy, bringing in $100 billion annually. According to the latest Kauffman Firm Survey, Latina-owned businesses are the fastest-growing sector of the female-owned business market. Between 2002 and 2007, their businesses increased by 172 percent. READ MORE

There are so many factors that people worry about when looking for employment that they often lose sight of what truly matters. Some work their whole lives, and even excel at jobs that leave them unfulfilled.

Doing what you love is often overstated, but many don’t think about it as much as they should. You may be wondering what ‘choosing the right career’ entails, and how you’re supposed to feel once you’re doing it. To help you, here are four ways to know you’ve chosen the right job:

You Enjoy Coming In To Work

Every company has that one employee who comes into the office every day with a smile and a positive attitude. No matter what’s going on in their personal life, they see their job as a pleasant escape, rather than a burden. They’re happy to do whatever task is assigned to them, and they never seem to sulk. They love attending meetings, and are always the first to give their insights and opinions. In the rare case that they make a mistake, they’re eager to correct and learn from it. READ MORE

The National Hispanic University was created more than 30 years ago to educate first-generation college students from Latino backgrounds. Next year, the only school of its kind west of the Mississippi will close its doors.

NHU sits in the shadow of the East San Jose foothills in California's Silicon Valley. All the classrooms and faculty offices fit in one modern three-story building in the heart of a working-class Latino neighborhood. But the postwar elementary school right next door used to serve as the institution's hallowed halls.

"I came with my mom and we walked into an elementary school cafeteria, literally: the benches, the tables, everything," says Michelle Pelayo Osorio, about her first visit to NHU 15 years ago. "My mom said, 'This is where you want to come to school?' And I said, 'Let's give it a chance; let's see what it's all about.' " READ MORE

One of the benefits of networking is that it’s a great way of improving your interviewing skills. The logic is simple. If you want to become a better actor, act. To become a better writer, write. And to become better at interviewing, interview. Networking conversations are like low-stress, high-impact, self-initiated interviews. By having lots of these mini-conversations when you aren’t under pressure, you get better at explaining what you want people to know about you. And the more you do it, the more skilled and focused you become.

“But I hate small talk,” people sometimes protest. Then don’t engage in small talk. Talk about things of interest to you and others. One sure-fire way of feeding a conversation is to try to discover what’s of keen interest to the other person, then talk more about that. Offer some helpful ideas. Don’t assume, “Oh, she’s probably already thought of that.” Maybe not. And of course you can steer the course of the conversation by inserting information about your own interests also. READ MORE

U.S. Hispanics who earn $50,000 to $100,000—a.k.a., “upscale Latinos”—spend $500 billion every year, according a study released Wednesday by the Nielsen company and AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing, a national trade marketing organization that focuses on Latinos.

The report, titled “Upscale Latinos 2.0: A Renewed Outlook for High-End Marketers,” follows another publication last July by the same two groups that identified upscale Latinos as the most influential population group in marketing terms since the Baby Boomers.

According to the new study, the group tends to be bicultural, to skew younger, have larger families and are more likely to be dual income earners than non-Hispanics in the same income bracket. READ MORE

by Olga Camargo & Juan C. Avila

The most recent financial crisis brought tremendous economic pain to our community. The engine of our nation’s job creation, the business community, was brought to its knees and the chain of events that followed left people without jobs and some without homes. The scars in our community are still fresh with empty iconic buildings in Little Village on 26th Street constant reminders of the economic devastation suffered. While we are in the midst of an economic recovery, we must embrace and act on the most important lesson taught by the economic crisis: the crucial need for financial literacy, in order to begin rebuilding wealth.

This lesson is of particular relevance to Latino business owners who are at the center of our community’s economic growth and who not only bring innovation to the marketplace but also lead their employees. We’ve learned through our work with business clients that they take this lesson to heart. They’ve also expressed that they need access to the right financial information. With that premise in mind, we decided to write this column, which will cover topics ranging from basic financial information, to investing, to retirement, to best practices being carried out by employers to attract and retain talent. We will share objective information that will enable business owners to make better-informed financial decisions to better weather future economic storms.

In 2011 a Forbes article entitled, “Latino-Owned Businesses: Leading the Recovery” noted that Latino entrepreneurs were benefiting our national economy. Their fast-paced growth during a 10-year period was more than twice the national average and the trend was expected to continue for another ten years. To put this into perspective, Latino businesses are forecast “…to increase their total revenue contribution to the economy by 8% annually...,” from 2005 thru 2015, which is threefold the average for all businesses. It’s clear that Latino businesses are thriving and that’s the good news!

The bad news is that the majority of business owners continue to neglect their personal finances. Establishing a retirement plan allows some business owners to build a nest egg, save money on taxes, and shelter assets from most creditors (although alimony, child support, and federal taxes can be collected from such plans).

Business leaders that place a priority on their personal finances are also placing importance on investments in the workplace available to employees through retirement programs. Those same employers advocate the crucial need of financial literacy to their employees. Employees recognize their employers’ commitment to their financial well-being and that increases their employer loyalty.

So why aren’t more business owners taking advantage of this good business practice? Business owners are often too busy running their companies and don’t have time to spare. Many have been consumed with activities focused more on securing capital for their business and neglected their personal finances in the process. That said, some business owners were completely wiped out and left with nothing. The key today is for business owners to simultaneously prioritize both building their business and personal finances, and seeking appropriate professional advice.

About Toroso Investments, LLC

Juan C. Avila and Olga Camargo are Managing Partners with Toroso Investments, LLC. This article is
distributed for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal, tax,
accounting or investment advice. While Mr. Avila and Ms. Camargo have gathered the information
presented from sources that they believe to be reliable, they cannot guarantee the accuracy or
completeness of the information presented. Any opinions express in this article are those of Mr. Avila
and/or Ms. Camargo solely and do not represent the opinions of Toroso Investments, LLC. Furthermore,
the views, forecasts, and opinions expressed in this article are as of the original date of publication,
generally, but not necessarily, the date indicated; are subject to change without notice; may not come to
pass; and do not represent the recommendation or offer of any particular security, strategy or investment.
Neither Mr. Avila nor Ms. Camargo has any obligation to provide revised opinions in the event of changed
circumstances . All investment strategies and investments involve risk of loss. Nothing within this article
should be construed as a guarantee of any specific outcome or profit and none of Mr. Avila, Ms. Camargo
or Toroso Investments, LLC take any responsibility for any loss or damage arising due to any decision
relating to investments taken by you based on any statements, graphs, data, and/or information contained
in this article. Visit Toroso Investments>> http://www.torosoinv.com

Networking is perhaps one of the most valuable career-building skills a person can develop. When it comes to fleshing out your professional contacts, one of the best ways to improve your network is to introduce them to each other.

As advice blog The Art of Manliness explains, most people tend to network with the idea of building their own contact list and finding opportunities for themselves. By connecting your contacts with each other, everybody wins: READ MORE

Alejandra Castillo is the first Latina to head the Department of Commerce's Minority Development Business Agency. MBDA's aim is to help minority owned businesses gain government contracts, partner with government contractors and gain access to capital.

Castillo said the efforts are not "altruism" but a recognition that the fabric of the country is changing dramatically and that for the U.S. to remain globally competitive, it has to help grow minority businesses. In a meeting with Hispanic media, Castillo emphasized what minority business owners should know about the agency:

1. The government spends $1 trillion buying products and services, and the MDBA is trying to ensure more minority businesses can be suppliers of those products and services. Castillo said many Latinos have businesses that are sufficient to sustain the family but may have opportunity to expand to larger businesses. READ MORE

In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell discusses the role that "connectors” play in social epidemics. According to Gladwell, connectors aren’t just people who know a lot of people; they’re people with a knack for making friends and acquaintances wherever they go.

When trying to get their new businesses off the ground, most entrepreneurs would love their startups to become social epidemics. To be successful, they have to play the part of the connector and form relationships with the right people who can help them spread their message.

Building your tribe of potential clients, partners and mentors can be tough if you’re not a natural networker, but it’s not impossible. Here are three of the most valuable takeaways I’ve learned about building more meaningful relationships: READ MORE

Hispanic travel in the United States is growing at a faster rate than the general market and has an estimated annual economic impact of more than $56 billion. While travel and tourism in the U.S. have taken huge hits in recent years because of high unemployment and rising gas prices, Hispanics still continue with their family trips, spending more money per trip than the general population.

On average, Hispanics spend $785 per person on a trip while the general population spends $708 per person. Plus, Hispanics live in large households. Based on the latest Census, the average household for Hispanics is 3.6 compared to 2.4 for whites. It is also estimated that 51 percent of Hispanic households have children in the household, compared with 38 percent of the general population. And of those, 42 percent of Hispanic households have children under 8 years old, compared with 38 percent overall. READ MORE

One of the hottest trends in the Hispanic marketing industry is targeting “biculturals,” people who are equally comfortable navigating in two distinct cultures. The term is especially popular in describing second- and third-generation Latinos in the United States.

This group—which tends to skew younger than the rest of the population—is just as comfortable enjoying the cultural traditions of the United States as they are partaking in the ones passed down to them by their immigrant parents and grandparents. They have no problem shopping at Trader Joe’s for tofu and frozen yogurt and then traveling to a Mexican market for carne asada and fresh tortillas. READ MORE

For many people, simply walking into a room full of strangers can be terrifying—let alone one packed with potentially valuable work contacts … and maybe even a future boss.

But since savvy networking can be one of the best moves you can make for your career, it’s time to learn how to fearlessly bust through the doors of any work event—and own it.

That’s why we challenged three networking veterans to divulge the clever opening lines that will enable you to strike up a conversation with just about anyone, whether you’re mingling with hundreds of people at a convention center or a more intimate group at an after-work mixer. READ MORE

"Mama always knows best!" is a quote that every young mom remembers while growing up. Moms, young and old, often turn to their own mothers (and extended family) for advice and now Kellogg's(R) is extending that community by bringing Latina moms together with Dias Grandiosos.

Kellogg's is taking a fresh approach to reaching and connecting with Hispanic families through stories about food, family and culture from real Latina moms. The digital age is inspiring moms to look for family advice online just as often as they do offline, and Kellogg's(R) is answering that call with Dias Grandiosos, a new digital platform featuring recipes, tips, articles, and original content designed for Latinas and their families. Dias Grandiosos is a unique online community that focuses on empowering and inspiring Hispanic women by bringing them joy and optimism to their everyday moments.

With 80 percent of Latinas using the internet to inform their purchases[1], moms are constantly looking for additional resources to help in the decision-making process. Whether it is a new breakfast recipe or advice on how to convince kids to eat healthier, Dias Grandiosos hosts a wealth of information, making it easy for families to get recipes, inspiration, and solutions to make today and everyday great. READ MORE

The University of California has offered freshman admission to more in-state Latino students than white students for the first time, a change that reflects the state’s shifting demographics.

Fall 2014 admissions data reported by the Los Angeles Times showed that 28.8 percent of California residents accepted to one of nine UC campuses were Latino, bumping white applicants as the second most accepted group and increasing Latino acceptances by nearly a thousand from the previous year. At 36.2 percent, Asian Americans still make up the largest ethnic group among accepted students.

The trend mirrors the group’s growth statewide, as Governor Jerry Brown’s latest budget summary forecasted Latinos would surpass whites as the state’s largest single ethnic group this spring. READ MORE

Why do some groups continue to cling to the American Dream in spite of the political polemics about people abandoning opportunities to better themselves because of the often touted income-distribution problem? This complex question can be answered in one word: faith.

A recent poll conducted by The Washington Post and the University of Virginia's Miller Center found that Hispanics in America, as a whole, have greater faith in their ability to achieve a better standard of living for themselves than whites and African Americans. READ MORE

Tough Latina women make up about eight percent of the U.S. population and their numbers are growing, they made up only two percent of the scientists and engineers working in those professions in 2010, according to a report from the National Science Foundation.

Luz Rivas, whose love of computers at an early age changed the course of her life, is determined to increase these numbers. She believes the interest and the confidence to get into technology and science has to start early. So after attending top schools and working in big companies, Rivas has gone back to her old working-class neighborhood of Pacoima in Los Angeles, California and set up an after-school program, DIY Girls. Its aim is to get more Hispanic young women into this career trayectory. READ MORE

People often have the perception that networking is only relevant to entrepreneurs who are looking to win new business. But I have long been of the opinion that whether you're a business owner, a middle manager, or an employee just starting your career, networking should be a big part of your professional life.

If you are serious about progressing your career then you need to be proactive. Scouring recruitment websites and job portals are a crucial part of job searches, but a significant percentage of vacancies aren't advertised. By connecting with the right people, you can find out about opportunities that you may otherwise have missed. READ MORE

La organización Gift of Hope se anotó otro éxito en la comunidad latina de Chicago al cumplir la meta de recaudar 24 “Becas por la Esperanza” para jóvenes latinos este pasado 13 de abril, 2014. El compromiso de Raiza Mendoza, Gerente de Asuntos Hispanos para la organización, llenó de moda y subió la temperatura de la ciudad de los vientos con las tendencias primavera/verano 2014 de la colección “Caracas” de Eva by Evelyn Swimwear. Presentes estuvieron representantes de algunas de las organizaciones comunitarias y educativas que recibieron estas becas gracias a los fondos recaudados por “A Summer Filled with Hope”. De izquierda a derecha enfrente: Kevin Cmunt, Presidente y CEO de Gift of Hope, Raiza Mendoza, Gerente de Asuntos Hispanos para Gift of Hope.

Gift of Hope scored a huge success with the Latino community by raising funds for 24 “Scholarships for Hope” in support of Latino education this past Sunday, April 13, 2014. The commitment of Gift of Hope and of Raiza Mendoza, Manager of Hispanic Affairs for Gift of Hope with Chicago’s Hispanic community shown brightly and heated things up at Sunday’s event which featured original Spring/Summer “Caracas” 2014 Swimwear collection by Eva by Evelyn Swimwear. The event was attended by various community and education organization representatives who were granted scholarship dollars raised at “A Summer Filled with Hope”. Photographed from left to right up front: Kevin Cmunt, President/CEO de Gift of Hope and Raiza Mendoza, Manager of Hispanic Affairs for Gift of Hope.

Cuban-American Barb Mayo describes a tanda like this: "It's like a no-interest loan with your friends." Mayo had never heard of tandas growing up, and it wasn't until she started working in sales for a cable company in Southern California that she was introduced to the concept.

"I worked with a bunch of Mexican women and they were like, 'Hey Barb do you want to do a tanda?' And I was like, 'What is a tanda?' — and they explained it to me."

Here's an example of how a tanda works: Ten friends, family or co-workers get together, and each agrees to give $100 every two weeks to the group's organizer. One person ends up with the whole pot at the end of the month: $2,000. This goes on for 10 months until everyone gets the pot. READ MORE