At a size estimated to be between nearly $4 billion and some estimates indicate up to $300 billion, the crowdfunding market is a game-changer. Innovative companies are using crowdfunding for new ways to self-finance of course.

Peer-to-peer lending platforms such as Prosper, Lending Club and Funding Circle are also providing consumer and small business credit where banks and other institutions are no longer taking as active a role.

Real estate crowdfunding is a tool useful in financing endeavors such as build-to-suit, distressed property re-hab, and strip mall renovation. Check out Groundbreaker, Crowdstreet, and RealtyMogul to see the full ray of projects that are crowd-financeable.

And crowdfunding isn't just about raising capital...

Is there a perfect job? What would and how could it be? What is Wabi Sabi job search?

As headhunters, i.e. corporate matchmakers bringing together the right candidate for the right position, you might expect to hear us say that there is a perfect job. But really no job is perfect on its own, no company is perfect in isolation, and no candidate represents the pinnacle of perfection.

The Wabi Sabi concept is abstract and hard to pin down but has been boiled down by some as "everything is imperfect, incomplete and impermanent". This applies to jobs, bosses, companies, products, and, well 'everything'.

So rather than expecting a perfect job, spend real time being introspective and identifying what you are good at that you love to do. Now look for a fantastic match between you as the candidate, and the company and the opportunities associated with a specific role. If you can find the synergy in the imperfect parts, you may have just about found your perfect job. What does this look like?

 

Company perks can be the metaphorical espresso shot in your employees' coffee. In the Ceridian 2013 Pulse of Talent survey, 47 percent of workers ranked job rewards (monetary or otherwise) as the most important driver of engagement at work. Companies recognize this, and 60 percent of those surveyed said they currently offer non-monetary rewards for jobs well-done. Perks, however, shouldn't be the sole reason employees stay with a company, nor should they be the only reason new talent comes on board. Perks should reflect company culture, not define it.

The Googleplex...  

According to the 2013 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey, 25.5 percent of 1.3 million college graduates were looking for work. How does any company attract the best of that talent before it gets snapped up by the competition? Learn how some of the best talent recruiting efforts make a difference in the quality of people that connect with your business.

The Most Traditional Approach is Not as Effective

The typical way a company makes contact with new grads or students preparing to graduate is through college job fairs. People sit in booths waiting for students to show up and express interest. While most businesses with an employee recruiting program use this approach as their focus, it's not as effective on this generation of college students as branding.  

Branding Your Company's Culture...