careergong.com Job vacancies

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

How to Identify Scam Jobs

From the ad, the job reads like a dream. It’s in your area of expertise (yay!), paying a salary slightly more than the current rate (yippee!) and you can work from home (woo hoo!) fulltime. But as you reread the job ad, something just doesn’t seem “right” to you. Maybe it’s the typos or the AOL business reply address. For every real job posted online, there are dozens that are fake, meant to entice you to hand over your hard-earned cash. Here’s how to read between the lines and discover if the job you’re about to apply for is real — or not.
There’s no experience necessary. Even if you’re a fresh-faced college grad, you’re going to need some type of work experience (i.e. from previous jobs or even internships) in order to get hired. Be wary of ads that make it seem like anyone can do the job, because frankly, not everyone should be able to do any job.
The salary is too high. You’ve been out of work for quite some time, so when you read the job ad (and its salary), all you can think is, “Cha-ching!” But before you start dreaming of all that you’ll do with the money, do a little digging to see what the position you’re looking to apply for generally pays. Job scammers will post a much too high salary — sometimes thousands of dollars higher — to lure in desperate job seekers.
You need to wire money. A company wants to offer you a position but they’ll need you to process transactions for them. It doesn’t make sense, though, since you’re looking to work as a botanist, not a banker. In order to score a job, there should be no reason for you to wire money, process payments or even transfer funds.
You’re offered the job on the spot. You know that you’re a qualified candidate, but how does the hiring manager know? Hiring a candidate on the spot — and sight unseen — is a big sign that there isn’t a real job. Overzealous employers are generally a tip off that a job isn’t genuine. Actual employers take their time to research and get to know potential job candidates — going through many rounds of job interviews — before offering a position.
You’re receiving email from a non-business address. Legit hiring managers will have their company’s name as the ending of their email address (think: name@mashable.com) When a potential boss reaches out with an AOL, Gmail, Hotmail or any other non-company email address, though, red flags should be waving madly at you. Hiring managers and recruiters will send their correspondence from their business email address, not their personal one.
You’re asked to do an IM interview. Sure, we live in a tech-driven world, but today’s job interviews are still mainly conducted in person, via Skype (if the job is a telecommuting one) or via phone. When a recruiter contacts you and wants to do the interview via IM — or worse, via text — the job may prove to be a scam.
You’re asked for personal info. You’ve finally been offered the job position, but are then asked to supply personal information about yourself — such as your bank account and routing number. While a boss may give you several bogus reasons why they “need” the info — to run a credit check, to deposit initial funds into your account — there is never a real reason for a potential employer to ask for personal financial info about you.
The ad is written poorly. You noticed a couple of typos in the job ad. But then you also saw some mixed tenses and a description of the job that didn’t make a whole lot of sense. When an ad reads like it’s been translated, (or it’s unclear what the job actually entails) you can bet that it’s a job scam.
They contact you at odd hours. The business world operates 24/7. But hiring managers don’t. So if you’re consistently getting emails at 2:00 a.m. from a potential boss, take heed. For the most part, work emails will be sent — and answered — during normal business hours.
You have to pay for the job. Savvy job scammers are no longer demanding cash up front in order for a job seeker to get a job. They will ask for it in a seemingly innocuous way, such as asking potential employees to pay for their proprietary software or to pay monthly for insurance on a laptop they will loan you for work. You should never, ever have to shell out money in order to be hired to work.
When you’re job hunting, it can be easy to fall prey to a job scam. Stay one step ahead of the job scammers and you’ll find a legitimate job in no time.
For job vacancies, visit careergong.com and apply
Visit  10 signs a job is a scam for more info.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Job interview: Body language mistakes you're likely making by AMY LEVIN-EPSTEIN

(MoneyWatch) Heading into an important job interview can feel a little like going to battle. And you might prepare for it in the same way -- researching your "opponent" and then taking an upright "power" stance once you enter. Indeed, it's all about projecting an image of strength and competence. "Nobody walks into a job interview with the intention of being lazy, standoffish, or unlikeable," says Kelly Decker, president of consulting firm Decker Communications. But even a stellar resume can leave you looking lackluster. "When it comes to getting the job it's less about how accomplished you actually are -- and more about how you are perceived." Here are 5 mistakes most candidates make with body language:

Hunching over

In short, you'll look the opposite of enthused. "Whether seated in a chair or standing, many job seekers get too casual -- hunching, slumping or leaning to one side -- and the message gets sent to your hiring manager is that you are not interested in the job," says Decker. "Or worse, you send the message that you're not capable."

Interviewer bored? How to turn it around, fast
Shy? How to show passion in a job interview
Fired? How to explain it in a job interview
Crossing your arms

This move has the same effect as hunching over, except it repels people even more effectively. "Crossing your arms is perceived as standoffish, defensive and even under-confident," says Decker. Instead, she says to "Pretend there is a string from the ceiling to the center of your head, helping pull you up straight -- and keep your shoulders down your back."

Keeping your hands in your lap

You don't want to "talk with your hands" the entire interview, but keeping your hands politely placed in your lap can make you look timid. "Most interviews are seated. If there is a table in front of you, rest your hands on top of the table so that you can more easily gesture and share your energy and enthusiasm," suggests Decker.

Frowning

When you're focusing on answering a question, it's easy to frown, but this move can project a variety of negative connotations. "The smile is the gatekeeper to likeability," says Decker. If the hiring manager likes you, they'll want to keep you around -- so crack a genuine smile when you can.

Avoiding eye contact

Eye contact is sometimes the key to connecting with an interviewer, and not making it is a lost opportunity. Make a point in looking everyone you meet in the eye. And try not to be rattled by a group interview, even if it's impromptu. "It's even more critical that you share the love and look at all of the people in the room. Spend five to seven seconds at a time making eye contact with each person," says Decker.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57604124/job-interview-body-language-mistakes-youre-likely-making/

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Reps Ask Agencies to Stop Collecting Fees during recruitment

Worried by the rising trend of employment scam in the country, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution calling on all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop collecting any form of fee for recruitment exercise.
The House also mandated its committees on police affairs, justice and public safety and national security to interface with the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies to stop this ugly trend.
Adopting a motion moved by Rep Abiodun Abudu-Balogun (APC, Ogun), the House urged its Senate counterparts to fast-track the passage of cyber crime prevention and called on Nigerians to be cautious and confirm the credibility of all internet job offers.
Abudu-Balogun in his motion expressed concern that "many Nigerians, as a result of their desperation for jobs, fall victims of fake recruitment advertisements on the internet," adding that such adverts "are usually posted by dubious persons purportedly acting on behalf of many public and private organisations."
He disclosed that such job scammers extort huge sums in the guise of "registration fees" from unsuspecting Nigerians, saying they even give names of international oil companies and security agencies.
Contributing Rep Nkiruka Onyejeocha (PDP, Abia) said scammers had used their facebook account to extort money from some of her constituents, adding that something urgent must be done to sensitize Nigerians.
 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

NIGERIA'S HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

The chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Employment Programme (Sure-P), Dr. Christopher Kolade, has bemoaned the rising rate of unemployment in the country, saying that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians are without jobs.... According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate averaged 14.60 per cent from 2006 until 2011, reaching an all time high of 23.90 per cent in December 2011. The NBS measures unemployment rate by the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.

...the World Bank noted that “Nigeria’s annual growth rates that average over seven per cent in official data during the last decade place the nation among the fastest growing economies in the world noting that the growth has been concentrated particularly on trade and agriculture, which would suggest substantial welfare benefits for many Nigerians. Nevertheless, poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth, implying social distress for an increasing number of Nigerians.

According to the World Bank, “job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population. The official unemployment rate had steadily increased from 12 per cent of the working age population in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2011. Preliminary indications are that this upward trend continued in 2012.”

the Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC) pointed to what it called “the growing unemployment rate and the rising number of poor skilled workforce” in the country. The Council, headed by Baroness Lynda Chalker, was inaugurated in 2004 as a presidential advisory body to attract global financial players into the Nigerian economy. Although not much positive impact could be attributed to HIIC’s efforts in Nigeria, the Council urges the government “to improve on its synergy with the other tiers of government and the industry in order to build basic education geared towards enhancing capacity of the workforce for industrialisation of the economy.”

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, admitted that the spate of unemployment was giving her sleepless nights. Quoting the National Bureau of Statistics, the minister declared that “each year, about 1.8m young Nigerians enter into our labour market and we need to ensure that the economy provides jobs for them.”

Okonjo-Iweala blamed the ineffectiveness of government developmental programmes on the fact that Nigeria lacked the institutional capacity to harness the gains of the programmes. In her words, “When you look at Nigeria, for over 50 to 60 years, we’ve been working without the key institutions that some other people have. We keep making stopgap solutions. For 50 years, we didn’t have a Bureau for Public Procurement; for 50 years, we didn’t have a Debt Management Office. So many of the institutions that we have now are new and if you stand back, you’ll see there are still many gaps. It is now our job to try to fill those gaps.”

click here to read more

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Hiring Managers Reveal 12 Worst Resume Mistakes by Debra Auerbach

In the movie "Legally Blonde," the main character Elle Woods does some pretty memorable things to secure an internship at a law firm. One such stand-out tactic she uses is writing her résumé on pink scented paper. While her maneuvers worked to land her the job in the movie, in the real world, unusual résumés can quickly go from being memorable to a misstep.

CareerBuilder recently surveyed hiring managers, asking them to share the most memorable and unusual applications they've received. They gave the following real-life examples: 

  1. Résumé was written in Klingon language from Star Trek
  2. Résumé was submitted from a person the company just fired
  3. Résumé's "Skills" section was spelled "Skelze"
  4. Résumé listed the candidate's objective as "To work for someone who is not an alcoholic with three DUI's like my current employer"
  5. Résumé included language typically seen in text messages (e.g., no capitalization and use of shortcuts like "u")
  6. Résumé consisted of one sentence: "Hire me, I'm awesome"
  7. Résumé listed the candidate's online video gaming experience leading warrior "clans," suggesting this passed for leadership experience
  8. Résumé included pictures of the candidate from baby photos to adulthood
  9. Résumé was a music video
  10. Résumé didn't include the candidate's name
  11. On the job application, where it asks for your job title with a previous employer, the applicant wrote "Mr."
  12. Résumé included time spent in jail for assaulting a former boss

Costly resume mistakes
When asked to identify the most common résumé mistakes that may lead them to automatically dismiss a candidate, employers pointed to the following:
  • Résumés that have typos - 58 percent
  • Résumés that are generic and don't seem personalized for the position - 36 percent
  • Résumés that don't include a list of skills - 35 percent
  • Résumés that copied a large amount of wording from the job posting - 32 percent
  • Résumés that have an inappropriate email address - 31 percent
  • Résumés that don't include exact dates of employment - 27 percent
  • Résumés printed on decorative paper - 22 percent
  • Résumés that include a photo - 13 percent
"Your résumé is the primary deciding factor for whether you will land a job interview," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "It's important to project a professional image. Keep it succinct, personalize it to feature only skills and experience relevant to the position you're applying for, and always include specific, quantifiable results that showcase the value you can bring to an organization."

click here to read more

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Bridging the skills gap in Nigeria’s petroleum industry

More than five decades after Nigeria formally commenced crude oil exportation and production, and over three decades since the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) was established mainly for creating a significant pool of skilled Nigerians for the developing the country’s petroleum industry, it is deplorable that the Nigerian manpower content in Africa’s largest oil and gas industry remains at 40 percent.
Stakeholders have given reasons for this scenario. Allegations range from the preference of foreign oil companies for expatriate personnel instead of Nigerian personnel, whether they are competent or not, to claims by the oil companies that there are not enough Nigerians with the necessary technical skills suited for a technology-intensive oil industry.
The inability of Nigeria’s educational system to provide well equipped and adequate domestic technical manpower evidently substantiates the latter claim. The dynamics of the political and economic environment in which these institutions operate is partly to blame. Appointments to top positions in universities have been politicized.
The critical role of the Nigerian university system in generating efficient and adequate manpower capacity for the diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy cannot be over-emphasised. For decades the system’s ability to perform this role has been increasingly undermined by poor funding of the universities. Hence, their inability to acquire updated technology for training students and the poor teaching and research environment which has not been able to attract high-flying members of faculty with proportionate town and gown technical exposure.

It is not uncommon to read and hear employers of labour in the country expressing their dissatisfaction with the quality of graduates from Nigerian universities. Severally, practitioners in the petroleum industry have described Nigeria’s geology and geophysics graduates as “half-baked and unemployable” as they hardly comprehend the practical aspects involved in oil exploration and processing. Similarly, engineering students from Nigerian universities have had much difficulty competing globally because the academic curriculum and laboratories are obsolete, and the teaching faculty largely lack he required industry exposure.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Microsoft launches 4Africa scholarship program

In recognition of International Youth Day on August 12, 2013, Microsoft introduced the 4Afrika Scholarship program, through which the company will provide mentorship, leadership and technical training, certification, university-level education and employment opportunities for promising African students. Mentorship will be provided by Microsoft employees from around the world, and employment opportunities will include internships and both part-time and full-time jobs within Microsoft as well as with the company’s more than 10,000 partners across Africa.

Through the company’s 4Afrika Initiative and YouthSpark program, Microsoft has committed to helping millions of Africans get critical skills for entrepreneurship and employability. The 4Afrika Scholarship program is one way the company intends to meet that goal, by ensuring that promising youth have access to the education, resources and skills they need to succeed, regardless of their financial situation. To help redress gender disparity in higher education in Africa, the company is actively encouraging young women to apply.

Microsoft also announced that in the coming year, it will provide 4Afrika Scholarships to 1,000 youth to pursue associate degrees in computer science and business administration with the first participating higher education institution, University of the People, an American online university dedicated to the democratization of higher education which is affiliated with the United Nations, the Clinton Global Initiative, NYU and Yale Law School ISP.

Together with participating education institutions, Microsoft’s goal with the 4Afrika Scholarship program is to level the playing field for talented young African minds who might not otherwise have the resources, enabling them to get the education and skills they need to thrive in technology-related fields. The 4Afrika Initiative was designed to help ensure that Africa can become globally competitive, and investing in our highly motivated youth is a critical step toward making that a reality.

Students wishing to apply for 4Afrika Scholarships to attend University of the People must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma and proficient English, as all its coursework is English-language. They must also have access to the Internet to be able to participate in the online classes. To help address the connectivity issue, the company is making available working space in its Microsoft Innovation Centers in Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda and Botswana for successful applicants near those locations. In addition, Microsoft is working with various partner hubs across Africa to make similar arrangements for students in other locations.

Applications for 4Afrika Scholarships to University of the People can be submitted on the following site: www.uopeople.org/4afrika.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

10,000 jobs threatened as Shell, Chevron withdraw from OKLNG

The unemployment rate in Nigeria is set to rise further as Chevron Nigeria Limited and Shell announced their withdrawal from the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas Project, OKLNG, thus putting the fate of about 10,000 workers on the line.

The companies underpinned their reason for withdrawal to include lack of commitment from the Federal Government to pursue the completion of the project, the non-passage of the petroleum bill, PIB. However, Shell’s withdrawal still remains a doubt as they are yet to confirm their pull out. Likewise, the word is mum at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the principal partner in the project, which had been informed on the oil majors decisions, and had over the years had seconded a lot of its staff to the OKLNG project.


However, after almost a month of taken the decision, Chevron, in a statement signed by its General Manager, Policy, Government & Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said that the company effectively pulled out of the project on July 31, 2013, adding that efforts over the last eight years to mature the project have not resulted in a final investment decision, FID.

read more click here

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Take pride in your work, not yourself by Harvey Mackay

pride is being self-confident, but not egotistical. Pride is having a positive, can-do attitude because you will settle for nothing less than your level best.

I want people....(to be)... proud of the work they perform. Here are ways to build the pride that I look for:
  • Build your reputation. Whatever you do for a living, your signature is on it. You can’t buy a reputation for doing good work; you must earn it. Reputation is one of the few assets that your competition cannot undersell or destroy. Would you buy a product or service from someone who didn’t take pride in their work?
  • Play your role. Everyone has a specific job to do, no matter how small it might seem to you. Do it to the best of your ability. Be a good team player. The boat won’t go if we all don’t row.
  • Be confident, but not cocky. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but you don’t have to tell the world. Keep your ego in check. A person who has the right to boast doesn’t have to. Self-esteem is a must for a prideful person.
  • Stay positive. Don’t let others bring you down, which is why I don’t hang around with negative people. Be friendly to everyone, including the people you dislike. As Michael Corleone said in “The Godfather Part II”: “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”
  • Build trust. The most important five-letter word in business is trust. Trust is central to doing business with anyone. People do not or cannot trust each other if they are easily suspicious of one another. When we trust people, we are optimistic not only that they are competent to do what we trust them to do, but also that they are committed to doing it.
  • Be knowledgeable. Learn as much as you can, and then keep on learning more. Knowledge is power.
  • Know that you don’t know everything. The way I like to say it is: I know that you don’t know, but you don’t know that you don’t know. You can’t know everything, but you can know people who do. The best remedy for conceit is to sit down and make a list of all the things you don’t know, but should know.
  • Do good. Be a nice person and polite to everyone. Help people who need help. Try not to be judgmental.
  • Be kind. The Golden Rule applies here: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Smile and ignore anyone who wants to be mean to you.
click here to read more

Monday, August 5, 2013

Thinking of starting a business? Think again! by JAMIE SALVATORI

I’ve been running my own small business for over a decade and I often speak with people who are thinking about starting their own business. Listening to their expectations usually results in my shaking my head later and thinking, “They have no idea what they’re getting themselves into!”
Running your own business is no fairy tale. It’s just about the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. It can be simultaneously frustrating and rewarding. It can provide the highest highs and immeasurable lows. One day, it can validate your struggles and you can feel on top of the world. The next, it can make you wonder how you could have ever been so wretchedly stupid.
Buckle up. It’s a wild ride.
Your business will probably fail. You’ll probably either give up or run out of money before your business has a chance of succeeding. To avoid the latter requires creativity. The former requires a thick skin, iron will, and endless determination.
Being your own boss is no picnic. As it turns out, your boss is kind of a jerk. He makes you think about the business nearly every waking minute of the day.
Your business plan is probably worthless. Going through the exercise of creating a business plan is a great way to ensure that you’ve thought about aspects of the operation that you may have overlooked during the “back of the napkin” stage, but thinking that anything will actually turn out the way you’ve “planned” is ludicrous. Be flexible.
Equity is everything. If you need money, go to a bank. Only exchange equity for something that you cannot get any other way. Thinking that a partner will make starting a new business easier is wishful thinking. As a new business, your only ally against established businesses is your ability to pivot and move quickly. With partners, every decision requires debate and is an enormous time suck. You must find validation of your ideas from within.
Only fools think anything is foolproof. Everything will go wrong. Just be prepared for when it does.
Making more money is not a good motivation for starting a business. Money doesn’t equal happiness or fulfillment. It’s difficult to be successful doing something you hate. That being said, the purpose of a business is to make moneyas it’s the only thing that separates a business from a charity. Welcome to the paradox!..........

Monday, July 22, 2013

3 Things Never to Say in a Job Interview

Discussing compensation is one of the more delicate parts of the job interview process. You might be asked what your salary requirements are, and freeze. Or you could be offered your dream job, but with a nightmare salary. 

Luckily, you don't need a degree in negotiation to successfully navigate this conversation. Mostly, it means not saying things that are akin to shooting yourself in the financial foot. Here are three phrases likely to sabotage any chance of getting paid what you think you deserve:
"What does this position typically pay?"
If you give this response to the "what are your salary requirements" question, you'll likely lower their offer before it's even made. In the same way that you can attempt to fudge your number when asked how much you currently make, your future potential employer may bend the numbers to their advantage when discussing the standard salary. You could also come off as lazy. "It shows you haven't done your research," says Colette Ellis, founder of InStep Consulting. You can find this information through sites like Glassdoor.com, or through friends and colleagues in the industry.
"Yes, that sounds good."
It's called salary negotiation for a reason -- an employee's initial number is typically just a starting figure. This is important to remember, whether the number sounds lousy or fair. "Be prepared to come back with examples of your skills and value that support your worth," says Ellis. They want you, so remind them of why and they may be willing to fight for you in the form of added compensation.
"...but I'm flexible on that."
This phrase essentially negates whatever number came before it. "Don't negotiate your salary target down for the employer by saying, 'I'm willing to accept less if that's not in your budget,' " says Ellis. Instead, make your case and if they can't come closer, ask about bonuses or stock options that might be on the table. The key is doing your research, and then simply having the confidence to ask for what you want.

Monday, May 27, 2013

How To Make Your Dream Employer Notice You [4 Smart Ways]


Standing out from the crowd is not always easy, especially if academically you’re pretty average. There is always a plethora of younger, brainier, prize-winning ‘cream of the crop’ types vying for the best jobs – so why would an employer notice your application? Here’s some top-tips to help get your application considered…

1. Get Online
When did you last Google yourself or try to find your profile on Linkedin? If you’re seriously hunting for a job you should be regularly checking and maintaining your online persona. It should be complete, relevant and consistent between platforms.
You wouldn’t send a recruiter a half finished resume, so make sure that you’ve carefully completed your online profile. By filling out each section you’re maximising your chances of showing up in search results. Don’t just talk about what you’ve done…reveal where you want to be! E.g. If you’re interested in moving into a specific industry or sector mention it on your profile and be as specific as you can (without closing doors for yourself): “Looking for marketing/sales, product development roles for SMEs & fast growing enterprises within Tech/Media sector”
Things to avoid: Vague un-inspiring statements expressing only the benefits for you and not the recruiter: “my aim is now to find a role in the corporate world suitable for building on my skills and experience”
There are hundreds of platforms, networks & forums where you can create a profile. Perhaps choose 3 or 4 to host your profile to start with. Choose 1 large professional networking website, choose 2 niche forums or networks relevant to you and 1 other ‘personal outlet’ (e.g. a blog or twitter profile). All social profiles should be kept private.

2. Get Networked
Do you know the names of the hiring manager, recruiter, HR team at your dream company? You can easily find their professional profiles on professional networking sites. Do a quick people search and send them an introductory message to get connected. You can see which networks they’re in, and other profiles they’re connected with…and if they’ve got any status updates or comments announcing what type of candidates they’re looking to recruit!
All of these things will help you when writing a cover letter or prospective email. Also, it helps put your profile right under their noses…and if you’re profile is good enough maybe they’ll just invite you for an interview!

3. Get Creative
Obviously this comes more naturally to some, but being creative can poll-vault your average application right onto the laps of a recruiter. There’s the guy who created a website dedicated to asking ‘Google please hire me’, or the girl one who personally delivered a beautiful hand-made parcel containing their resume right to the desk of the CEO of a multi-national. Both worked but only because both were relevant, well planned & executed effectively.
But things can get carried away – heat sensitive resume paper that changes colour when touched… Seems a ‘touch’ desperate perhaps? If you want to do something wacky gauge your market carefully, perhaps try to find others already working within that company or industry and check their reactions to your plan, then make sure you implement it perfectly.

4. Get In-demand
When hiring someone it always is a plus point if they’re ‘in-demand’ – do they have other interviews or job offers on the table? The best people always do…so make sure that you’re courting a number of dream companies instead of just targeting one! Aim for your dream company (of course) but also consider their major industry competitors. You could ‘follow’ all the company profiles and take an active interest in industry news. When you score an interview make sure the interviewer knows you’re being shortlisted or offered roles with their competitors – it’ll make you irresistible!
Sian Fleming Jones is one of the directors at BusinessBecause.com – a website dedicated to connecting people before, during and after their MBA. On BusinessBecause there’s loads of MBA jobs and information about the MBA job market including an editorial series completely dedicated to getting the inside view on top jobs. Follow BusinessBecause on Twitter @businessbecause.



Monday, May 20, 2013

Continuing education sustains competitive advantage of businesses


Continuing education is a key strategy many companies use to equip their employees with new skills and knowledge. According to a 2011 study by Dr. Divina M. Edralin, a company usually spends around P1.2 million annually for training and development.
Why spend on training and development?
For many companies, it’s a question of not only survival, but also maintaining the so-called competitive advantage, or that which makes a company better than, or at the very least, comparable to, its competitors. In a fast-paced global economy filled with flux and folly, a company must be ready to adapt at any moment. And this is where training and development comes in as a strategy.
The study cites improving work performance, enhancing creativity and problem -lving skills, as well as developing employee capability to contribute in enabling organizational flexibility to adapt to change. These are some of the reasons why companies choose to train their employees. With a well-trained workforce, an organization can more easily retain its edge, allowing the company to perform at its best......

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Important Role of Female Small Business Owners


While opinions are strong—and they vary—one thing all should be able to agree on is that entrepreneurship and business ownership are good things for women. In fact, if recent research is any indication, more women entrepreneurs is a good thing for everyone in the community: men andwomen.
Let'stake a look at the numbers: There are more than 10 million businessesowned by women, employing more than 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales. Not only that, women-led businesses are one of the fastest growing types of the small businesses—a rare bright spot in today's sluggish economy. The number of women-owned businesses increased nearly 60 percent since 1997. Lastly, according to the National Association of Women Business Owners' (NAWBO) 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Survey, 2013 looks to be the "Year of the Female Entrepreneur," with women business owners' optimism at high levels (81 percent) on the opportunities that lie ahead.

A Multi-Million-Dollar Idea Born on Bed Rest while pregnant


As the chief executive officer of a multi-million dollar jewelry design company and an active philanthropist, Kendra Scott's work never stops. But when you ask this busy woman how she describes herself, she doesn't hesitate in saying, "I'm a mom first."
"I created a company that allowed me to be a mom and that was my number one priority from day one," Scott said..............
"Mompreneur" Scott came up with the idea for Kendra Scott Design about a decade ago. On bed rest while pregnant with her first son, she began tinkering with gems and making jewelry. The bold idea struck her to create her own collection. 
"I really felt like there was a white space in the market in the jewelry industry. There was very, very overpriced things that I couldn't afford at the time or very inexpensive, cheaply made that kind of fell apart when you bought it," Scott said.
A longtime fashion lover, Scott at 19 launched an online hat company called "The Hat Box," along with two retail stores in Austin, Texas. After five years, the challenges of the business proved too much and she moved on.
She decided to roll the dice again in 2002 with jewelry.
At the time she was a first-time mom with a newborn baby and a husband, who was out of work. Despite those odds, she withdrew $500 from her bank account to buy some stones and make her own jewelry. She bet on herself and created Kendra Scott Design out of the spare bedroom in her Austin home. 
"I can't tell you how many times I was told 'no.' I can't tell you how many times people said, 'Oh you'll never make it. There's so many jewelry designers out there,' " Scott said.
She first convinced local stores to carry her designs. After years of pounding the pavement, she gained traction and caught the attention of major department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's.
Her jewelry today is sold at more than a 1,000 boutiques worldwide. Celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara have donned her designs. With seven boutiques across the U.S. including its flagship Austin, TX store, her small business has grown to 125 people.
click here to read more http://www.cnbc.com/id/100724099

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Policies for youth employment: A global framework to tackle the youth jo...

The current jobs crisis has hit young people especially hard. The ILO urges policy makers to work together with social partners to address this alarming situation. The 2013 edition of the ILO's Global Employment Trends for Youth report analyses a number of key policies and action that can be taken. Gianni Rosas, coordinator of the ILO Youth Employment Programme and co-author of the Report, calls for "a strong focus on growth and jobs, including through a more coordinated macroeconomic response at national and global levels".


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

An obituary: the job website


An obit for Job boards … or is it? In the latest edition of The Global Recruiter, our Strategy Development Director, Felix Wetzel, laments the tendency to define job boards as merely internet versions of the print classified model and calls for this myopic view to be laid to rest. He gives a glimpse into the future potential of recruitment as one of the most exciting digital industries in the world today, and warns against being restrained by status quo:...........
This is the job board model of the future – a marketplace for anything job or career related. Put quite simply, a recruitment marketplace where workers and hirers interact. It’s about people finding people to work with – not companies finding talent...........

Pageviews past week