Relocation of 200+ Japanese Factories from China to PH Starts

Photo Credit: Ventureoutsource.com

Japan is making sure that the bully will pay its due when time comes. The world is losing interest in China. The recent announcement of Microsoft to close its two factories and transfer to Vietnam could cost 9,000 Chinese jobs. The same thing can be devastating in the years to come as Japan announces moving at least 200 factories from China to the Philippines.

According to South China Morning Post, six Japanese and Taiwanese companies turned down China and preferred Philippines for their next factory locations.

“Japan’s biggest printer maker and electronics giant Epson has no plan to expand its production plant in China due to increasing labor cost and deteriorating quality”, Epson Philippines country manager Toshimitsu Tanaka told reporter. Epson is currently building its biggest manufacturing facility in its current site in Batangas. The completed factory will be Epson’s biggest ever with 10 hectares of total floor area. The facility will likely to operate next year according to Tanaka.

Based on the statement released by Nobuo Fuiji, head of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc., since last year there are some Japanese firms started moving their operation in the Philippines. They believe that Philippines is a growing country and it is competitive enough to cater big investments from them, according to PhilStar.

Japan announced last week that it is seeking permission from the Philippine government to use the country’s military bases to support US military pivot forces. The details are not yet clear but a possible agreement between the concerned parties can be done sooner or later according to a PH military spokesperson.

Japanese bicycle maker Shimano has just opened a P1.2B facility in Batangas, and dozens more factories are likely to follow according to the Japanese Embassy.

Mitsubishi Power Industries is another giant who is scheduled to move to Philippines according to latest news.

Japanese watchmaker Citizen also shut down its China factories and the fate has yet to be decided whether it will move to the Philippines or Vietnam.

Another 300 Chinese workers lost their job after electronic giant Panasonic closed one of its Chinese factories.

Both the Philippine business sector and the government is expecting a stronger democratic and economic ties with Japan amid growing Spratly tensions. Both countries, including Vietnam share the same views against China’s illegal land-grabbing activities in South China Sea.

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Her Dad Died Just Before Her Wedding But What Her Brother Did Left The Whole Room In Tears

Imagine the heartbreak of losing your father to cancer only months before your wedding day. Think of the pain and sorrow that would be mingled with joy on that day when the bride doesn’t have her father to walk her down the aisle and give her away.

Source: YouTube

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10 Underrated Jobs that Pays Better than Your Exhausting Call Center Chores

Photo credit GMA News

Side Note: The purpose of this article is to tell the readers about other money making opportunities around. Whether the people mentioned here became successful or not in their chosen career, it depends on individual’s education and financial management system. There are some who succeed and there are some who failed. The facts from this article is not from Internet but rather from personal and neighbor’s experiences. 

Many of us today are aiming to work in BPO because we believe that call center jobs pays higher than the minimum wage set by the government. Yes, it’s true. A level one call center agent can earn from 12K to 20K a month depending on the company and the location of the BPO.

In Metro Manila, most call centers offers at least 18,000 pesos per month. In CALABARZON region, a level 1 agent can earn from 12,000 to 16,000, while in Cebu, Bacolod, and Iloilo, a call center agent can earn at least 9,000 a month.

Working in call center is truly rewarding, but the physical and mental stress associated with it is also exhausting. You go to work at 12 midnight and listen to irate customers for the next 8 hours – this is what most call center agents do especially in technical support, billing, and collection accounts.

Anyway, for people who enjoy doing so, there is no question for success. Many professionals find their career path in BPO industry. Supervisors and managers in BPO earn much more than people with the same position in other business fields, like in food and housekeeping industry. A call center agent earns higher than McDonalds and Jollibbee managers.

What if you don’t have the ability to speak English but want to earn more than the call agents are earning? Is there any way? Yes, there is. These partially odd and underrated jobs do not need anything but special skills – and of course a little harder face.

10. Tomb Painter and Cleaner / 24,000 to 27,000 a Month
Although this job is seasonal, anyone who does this is actually earning pretty well. I remember 7 years ago when I was working as a Manufacturing Supervisor, one of my operators filed a 2-week unpaid vacation leave. When he returned, I asked him (Cris) what he did. He told me he painted tombs with his uncle for two weeks and earned more than 15,000. That was October 2008, weeks before All Saints Day.

9. Jeepney Barker / Dispatcher 24,000 to 30,000 per Month
If you think those noisy and annoying people at Jeepney stops are just kidding, you are wrong. They may be earning more than your monthly salary. For 5 pesos every jeep every five minutes, Tomy Caguimbal of Tanauan City is earning at least 100 pesos per hour. Working from 8 in the morning until 9 in the evening, he takes home at least 800 pesos a day of coins. He earns more on weekends while regular employees are taking their leave at home.

8. Embalmer / 24,000 to 35,000 a Month
Some funeral parlors need licensed embalmers while other does not care. An embalmer earns at least 800 pesos per corpse, and can prepare two to three bodies in one day

7. Mobile Phone Technician / 27,000 to 35,000 a Month
Being a mobile phone technician does not require any diploma or any formal education. Training is needed though and with continuous experience, one can repair a basic defect in 30 minutes or lesser. Jerry Descalsota of Bacolod City is earning at least 900 pesos a day in 8 hours of work-by-commission in a cell phone repair shop. Freelance technicians who do not share their earnings to employers are earning more.

6. Passenger Jeepney Driver / 30,000 to 35,000 a Month
These people are silent earners. Metro Manila Jeepney drivers are earning at least 1,000 pesos a day. “Mahina ang katawan ko pag uwi ko na isang libo lang kinita ko, pero di maiwasan minsan talagang mahina. Pinakamahina na ang isang libo”, Lito Vergara of Makati said. Lito has been driving Jeepneys for 12 years and already owns 3 jeepneys – all from his own sweat as a driver.

5. Shoe and Umbrella Repair Man 30,000 to 45,000 a Month
“Payong repair sapatos”, this is what they call someone who do this.

4. Handyman / 30,000 to 45,000 a Month
A handyman is someone who does everything from carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, etc. In a middle-to first-class subdivision, a handyman is always needed. A single call to a handyman that will fix your faucet, electrical outlet, or tiles would cost you at least 400 pesos in a couple of hours work.

3. Auto Denter (Latero) / 30,000 to 45,000 a Month
An auto denter or “latero” is someone who repairs the body of the vehicle. A couple of hours of auto denter’s work fixing your car’s fender can cost you at least 500 pesos. A skilled auto denter can assemble the Isuzu Elf’s whole body in 3 weeks for 35,000 pesos.

2. Home Service Massage Therapist / 30,000 to 45,000 a Month
Most massage parlors ask at least 300 pesos for one hour massage. Home service massage therapists are earning more and receiving bigger tips. Elena Gigantoni of Mandalagan, Bacolod City has been earning decent amount for five years in servicing first class subdivisions like Villa Valderama, Santa Clara Subdivision, and Ayala North Point. He takes home at least 1,200 a day for less than 8 hours of home service job.

1. Walking Ukay Vendor / 36,000 to 45,000 Per Month
This maybe your first time hearing this but, this person earns at least 1,200 a day. Although this is actually a business and not a job that pays you to work for others, selling ukay while walking with “kariton” is really rewarding.

Bonifacio Medina of Calamba City has been doing this for seven years and he doesn’t want to do any other things at all. According to him, selling at least 15 pants and 20 shorts a day is easy. Mark-up for each men’s pants is 45 pesos and 32 pesos for each short. Earning at least 1,315 pesos a day while walking at least 10 kilometers is a cool job for Medina.


The above lists of jobs are not for everyone, but if you are doing nothing and want to earn pretty amount of money, the above lists of jobs is worth trying.

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K to 12 Program to Leave at Least 80,000 People Unemployed by 2016

Sen.  Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo Party-List Representatives Gary Alejano and Francisco Ashley Acedillo filed a petition for the third time against implementation of K to 12 Program.

the group said that the K to 12 program or Republic Act 10533 violated the 1987 Constitution as the respondent officials failed to consult those most affected by its implementation—the students, parents, teachers and non-teaching personnel, especially in higher education institutions (HEI) who will lose their jobs once the senior high school program of the K to 12 is implemented, as there will be no freshmen enrollees.

The champions K to 12 Program consider it the sole solution to make Filipinos global competitive, but the opponents said it is an “elitist” solution because the authors did not consulted the people who will be badly affected.

According to Trillanes, no less than 56,771 school teachers (mostly from private colleges), and at least 23,828 non-teaching personnel are going to lose their jobs when the K to 12 Program is in full swing next full swing starting school year 2015 to 2016.

In separate news, Sen. Mirriam Defensor-Santiago said that P608.7 million worth of books will be a waste because these books will be obsolete once the K to 12 Program is fully implemented.

A possible closure of many vocational schools is also expected because of the stop-gap where there will be no freshmen enrollees in two years according to the group.

Trillanes further noted that the Philippines has already a crowded rooms and implementing the K to 12 Program will only make this condition worst as the government has a limited budget for more new classrooms.

The group is expected to have a massive protest on May 9 denouncing the implementation of the K to 12 Program and asking the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction.

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Who Are The Highest Paid Employees in the Philippines

Pinoy IT specialist (image credit investphilippines.org)

People who have extensive knowledge and specialized in IT/Computer are the highest paid employees according to the 2015 report released by Jobstreet.com.

Jobstreet.com revealed that employees in IT/Software and IT/Network Systems consistently ranked first and second on the lists of top paid employees in the country.

For junior executives (Supervisor/Teamleader), IT/Software jobs pay the highest salary with an average of P37,784 per month, while the same position on IT/Network jobs pays an average of P33,029 per month.

Lawyers with one to three years experience meanwhile ranked third with an average of  P27,033 per month.

The following is the lists of top ten highest paying jobs in the Philippines with the average monthly salary. Seven out of ten are related to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

1. IT/Computer (SOftware Development) –P37,784
2. IT/Computer (Network, System, Database Admin) – P33,029
3. Law/Legal Services – P27,033
4. Actuarial Science/Statistics – P27,032
5. Engineering (Electronics/Communications) – P26,379
6. Public Relations Communications – P25,153
7. Technical and Helpdesk Support) – P25,078
8. Sales (Telesales/Telemarketing) – P24,400
9. Training and Development – P23,762
10. Customer Service – P23,369

The report accumulated by Jobstreet.com is from the rates posted by employers mostly in Metro Manila area.

Middle to higher management manufacturing jobs however have different rates. A fresh graduate Instrumentation Engineer can fetch up to P40,000 in American petroleum companies. Mechanical Engineers and safety Officers can make up to P50,000 in oil-related industries.

Jobstreet.com however stressed that the salary depends on the level of experience and the employer’s capacity to pay. The company also advises that newly-graduates should decide thoroughly before applying for a job.

Parents also advised to take a look at the current employment and job trends before forcing their children to study what they want.

DOLE said that the unemployment rate has decreased, but there is an increase in underemployment rate. This is due to wrong choice of course according to the agency.

Some of the highest unemployed/underemployed graduates are nurses, HRM-graduates, seafarers, and business-related courses like commerce, management, marketing, and entrepreneur.

People who are jobless but graduated any four years course are encouraged to work in BPO, the report said.

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Two Pinoy Nurse jailed in US after performing SEX in front of their patient

Two Filipino middle-age men pleaded guilty to the felony charge of inflicting mental suffering on an elderly person last February 5.

The US-based nurses, who were both homosexual, were sentenced to 325 and 365 days in prison, respectively, according to the report on San Diego, California Times.

Alfredo Ruiz and Russel Torralba, both 43, pleaded guilty on performing indecent acts in front of their ageing patient. The two were also sentenced to the maximum custody under a plea bargain and probation for five years, the report added.

At least 50 incidents of neglect on home surveillance video over 3-week period in 2011 have been charge to both nurses. The judge since then has barred the defendants from seeking employment as caregivers.

San Diego Times quoted Ruiz’s attorney, Dan Greene, as saying that the nurse had admitted that he is ashamed of his conduct.

Ariela Deicas, the victim’s granddaughter, lambasted the two men for mocking their profession and tearing their family “apart emotionally”.

Eduardo Deicas, the grandson of the victim however was not satisfied with the verdict. Deicas suggested that the two men, who caused emotional stress to their 98-year old grandmother “should rot in jail”

The Times of San Diego did not release the name of the victim as “it is not necessary and could only result to additional emotional problem for the victim,” the report said.

“A nurse is supposed to be vigilant,” San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Walsh said. He said nurses are also supposed to be sensitive and caring, given that people trust them to look after their parents, grandparents or children — people they hold dear.

Both men have lost their nursing licenses.


Source: Assisted Press CA.

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Who is smarter? Americans vs. Filipinos

I stumbled into this video and I thought this worth a little time to think about. Although this video is a little bit bias towards Filipinos, the humour associated with it is still worth watching.

The parts where Americans are speaking in this video are taken from a different video when a reporter asked random people on streets with random questions.

On the other hand, the author of this video asked mostly students (same people) with the same questions that were asked for the Americans.

The interviewer though failed to pick intelligent Filipinos as some of the very simple questions here are not perfectly answered. For example, one of the three Pinoys didn’t know who Kofi Anan is. The other one answered Yugoslavia when asked what country begins with U.

This video should not be taken seriously on determining who is smarter and who is dumber because every country have smart people and dumb people.

Just watch and enjoy though.

It would have been better if the interviewer on the Philippine side asked random people on streets instead of asking the same students. I’m pretty sure the result would have been devastating for Filipinos if people along Recto or Taft were asked.

It’s a shame for someone who is a university student not knowing who Kofi Annan is. I can forgive the Israel religion thing (Judaism), but not about the former UN Sec Gen.

Source: YouTube

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Beware of Goldxtreme: A New Gold Investment Scam is now in the Philippines

Goldxtreme is set to victimize greedy and the most ignorant Pinoys locally. This program is carbon-copied from the existing international scam emgoldex.

The owners of Goldxtreme think that running a HYIP programs like this would make them millionaires. Of course it is possible if more ignorant people will join.

Instead of asking a bigger amount, Goldxtreme only ask investors to spend 5,000PHP. Of course there are a lot of people who have 5K so joining is easier.

What about the risk?

Goldxtreme says it is registered with SEC and even posted a certificate (could be from Recto). Upon checking SEC website, there is no Goldxtreme registered in the agency’s database.

Having a SEC registration certificate could not assure someone that this program is not a scam. There were dozens of SEC-registered scam programs before like First Quadrant, Franc-Swiss Investment, Aman Futures, NBO-Global, and a number of monolines that closed recently.

Goldxtreme uses the same script and verbiage that most of the networking scams have been using then and now.

“Hello friend, I have a question. Are you happy just being an employee? Is it okay for you to work 8 to 10 hours a day? Is your salary enough for your household expenses? Do you really want to have a life that only revolves around your work, your salary, and your debts? Do you have savings for yourself when you get old?

And friend, I have another question. Do you want a business? Do you want to have an extra income? Do you want to earn even when you are sleeping? Do you want to have a dream house, dream car, dream vacation, and to pay all of your debts?”

The site promises more than 400% in return in just several days or weeks. The site mentioned gold but did not further elaborate on how gold is related to earnings.

Selling gold would not give someone a 400% return in few weeks, not even a year as the gold price is constantly changing (see below graph)

The program also uses terms that are sound encouraging to possible victim. For example, they changed “recruiting” to “group effort”, and “swap program” for “pyramid or binary scheme”

What is being swapped anyway? Nothing.

Five questions that this program may find difficult to answer.

1. What is the real product and how it is used to make profit? If it is gold, how can it make 400% profit in just few weeks considering the volatile nature of gold trading?
2. Where did Goldxtreme get the money to pay exiting members? Is it from selling products or from people who joined the program?
3. What happen if you remove the recruitment system? Does your product can support the survival of the program?
4. What is your refund/return policy?
5. What happen to the member’s money being trapped if you decided to close the program because people are not making new investments?

Of course the believers and the owners of this scam will find ways to deny these questions but the truth remains alive. There is no legal HYIP doing such enormous and too-good-to-be-true returns.

The main point here is conscience. Yes, you can make money if you are one of those people who invested earlier, but how about the people who just joined?

I predicted before that NBO would not last for a year and I was right. This program will not last longer. The site is just created and the domain was just registered last March. Gold has nothing to do with your investment. If you want to invest in gold, go to Ongpin, buy jewelries and resell it to make profit. This is a very good business if you want to get involved with golds.

Don’t give away your money to the owners of this program. Remember that for every Php25,000 you make, Goldxtreme is making Php 42,500 (less Php 7,500 referral fees), and 14 other people are losing Php 5,000 each.

Don’t feed the owners of this scam company and invest your money into programs with real products like Aimglobal, Royal Business Club, or any direct marketing programs.

The success of Goldxtreme will only probe how greedy, clueless, and ignorant the Filipinos are.


Contributed by Rene Silverio, Sunstar Marketing Analyst – Makati City 

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Emgoldex Scam: Massive Online Gold Investment Fraud Could Hit OFWs Badly

Disclamer: The purpose of this article is to warn Filipinos to think twice and do thorough research before investing. This is not to degrade the program but rather to help people not to lose their hard-earned money. Emgoldex is a HYIP investment program based on its marketing plan. It is not different from other hundred HYIPs which closed in the last 10 years. Please educate yourself and read this wikipedia page about HYIP. Remember that your negative comment about this page could not help people from losing their money so think professionally before bringing your anger into this page. Even if you are already an active member and earning, you still have the chance to educate yourself by reading the above link and some highlighted reference links below.

February 14, 2015 Update

SEC Releases Official Statement Warning Pinoys to Restrain from Investing into Emgoldex

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

Contributed by Maia Capra 01/22/2015 – Manila | The Philippine government has acted fast after reports have been verified that there are hundreds to even thousands of OFWs in Taiwan and Middle East who have been lured to the massive online investment fraud called Emgoldex.

A representative from Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Atty. Victor Beltran, told reporters on Tuesday that the agency has already sent press release to Philippine embassies in Middle East. Beltran says OFW should stay away from this massive fraud which uses gold as bait. It is a Ponzi scheme which uses traditional HYIP system.
US regulators in Massachusetts filed a complaint against Emgoldex operators in US and is currently under review. The whole document is available to download from the Massachusetts Secretary of State 

Emgoldex, an alleged investment company with offices in Munich, Germany and Dubai, but said to have been registered in Seychelles, has a mysterious identity. Beltran said, any company that focuses on recruitment rather than selling should be avoided.

“We must learn our lesson from NBO Global and other programs that closed last year. Emgoldex is bigger and more destructive than any of the previous investment scams so we must be cautious and keep our money inside out pockets,” Beltran added.

Colombia is the first country to totally ban Emgoldex operations. The mysterious company is currently under investigation in Panama. Several Panamanian banks have already warned people to stay away from the said pyramid scheme.

Emgoldex has been promoted online through social media and is active in the Philippines, but the government has only acted recently after full verification of the program’s destructive marketing plan.

“It is not bad for our OFW brothers and sisters to look for extra income, but we must analyze everything before we join and throw away our money. There is no legit and sustainable business that offers return which is ten folds higher than the stock market bonds  and foreign exchange,” Beltran said.

The agency is looking for more ways to ban the program inside the Philippines with the help of other government agencies like NBI and DTI.

Although some of the members are earning right now, there is no guarantee that the company will stay longer based on its vulnerable marketing strategy where earnings of old members are being taken from new members.

You may also read other International Review about Emgoldex as to why they think it's a SCAM.

EmGoldex Scam Charged With Fraud by Ethan Vanderbuilt
Civil fraud charges filed against US EmGoldex investors by behind MLM

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Reasons Why Employers AREN’T Calling You Back

You have been searching for a job, maybe for quite a while… You work hard at it, right?  Sure you do. But, for some reason employers aren't calling you back.

In fact, it may seem like a mystery. Do you:

• Sit at the computer day after day searching for openings?
• Email, fax, and post your resume to every conceivable opening or site?
• Check your voice mail and email constantly?
• Receive more “rejection” letters than acknowledgment letters?
• Wonder why employers aren't calling you back?

There is probably a good reason employers aren't calling you back – you might be surprised to find out why! Don’t worry, at least you aren't alone! Here are a six reasons why employers aren't calling you back:

1. Your contact information isn't correct.

I cannot count the number of times I email a resume draft to a client using the email they have provided on their original resume only to have it returned as nonexistent or just not them. Double check that all of your contact information is included on your resume and that it is correct.

2. You didn't include a cover letter.

A cover letter helps ensure that your resume ends up on the right desk. At the very least, you will be able to indicate what position you are applying for and/or to what department. If you are lucky, you can direct your information to a specific person for consideration.

3. You didn't make it clear that you meet the qualifications.

Use language the employer understands, not internal jargon, proprietary names, or acronyms. Spell out what you have done and can do clearly and objectively (not to mention convincingly)! Use numbers and other concrete examples whenever possible and appropriate.

4. You didn't follow the application directions.

Can you not read? Did you not understand? Did you not care? These are some of the questions employers will ask themselves about you… if they bother to consider your application or think about you at all.

5. You didn't follow up.

…And someone else did. Another applicant picked up the phone, emailed, faxed, or sent a hard copy of their resume after applying online. They know their resume was received, and impressed the employer with their follow up, communication, and organizational skills. These resourceful candidates were called for an interview.

6. The employer is still reviewing applications or has decided not to hire.

Relax, it might not be anything you did or didn't do! Employers are tending to take longer for the hiring process. Hiring and training someone is an expensive prospect and the landscape is changing just as quickly for employers as it is for job seekers.

Do all of the above and be patient! Have a plan and reevaluate it periodically, reading all you can about your industry and job search/career planning. I look forward to hearing that you got the job!

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What Are The Red Flags Employers Watch For In Job Interviews?

Getting through to the job interview stage means you appear to have the right experience and skills for the job on paper, but now comes the real deal breaker – whether you can communicate it effectively in-person and whether you come off as the right fit for its workplace culture.

There are typical red flags employers watch for in job interviews. Any one red flag can reduce your chances considerably, so here’s what you need to watch out for when conducting your next job interview…

1. Poor communication

This includes everything from talking too little, talking too much, or simply having poor nonverbal behavior like not looking people in the eyes or making the situation uncomfortable with poor body language. When it comes to Qs and As, a job candidate who can’t provide effective responses to questions that are necessary to assess experience and skills is a problem.

Be prepared to address every point you have on the resume. And when an employer presents a follow-up question like “Tell me more about …” – they are trying to dig deeper because there is an insufficient response. An inability to answer will leave the employer questioning whether you do have the experience and skills you say you have on paper.

2. Question of permanency

When an employer puts out a job offer, it’s going to be to someone they believe is committed to the job – not to someone who’s simply looking to fill in a gap in employment while planning to relocate or until a more fitting job comes along. Any reasonable job seeker wouldn’t present such a front, but sometimes casual conversation can lead you to say things that are better off not said.

Avoid talking about challenges in job searching or how you were looking for a job in fashion marketing, but somehow you’re now applying for this job in healthcare marketing. It brings to question if you’re really interested in the job the employer has to offer.

Also, avoid talk about any long distance relationships or that your spouse and kids remain in another state. The employer will question if your personal situation may impact your job loyalty down the road if a relocation package is not going to be part of the offer. And in they ask where do you want to be in three years, answer with a position that is commensurate with their jobs and growth opportunities.

3. Bad talk

The purpose of the interview is to demonstrate why you’re a great candidate for the job and what you have to offer. It’s not about letting your frustrations out about a boss you don’t like or people you don’t like working with. Any bad-mouthing simply brings on a negative message about your character. It’ll also make the employer question if you can manage workplace relationships professionally.

Often, bad-mouthing occurs when employers ask questions like, “Why are you leaving your current job?” or “Why did you leave the job?” Stay focused on offering a positive response that relates back to the goal of improving yourself and utilizing what you’re capable of offering.

4. Appearance

Yes, it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover, but in a job interview that is what happens. If you’re not dressed the part to look like you suit the job, it’s going to be hard for the employer to see it, too. It also leaves the employer to think that if you can’t even manage to present a well-groomed appearance for a job interview that you’ll be even slacker when on the job – and that’s not going to work, especially if this is a position where you may have interface with customers or business partners that require a professional appearance.

5. It’s all about the money

Salary is a factor in determining whether the job offer is ultimately right for you, but bringing it up too early in the interview process comes off as though you’re in it only for the money. And when you’re the one to bring it up, it puts you at a disadvantage. You create a situation where you need to reveal your desired salary before the employer offers insight to what it’s considering, which may end up being much lower or too high from what has budgeted.

The point is to first make the most impressive mark you can. If you’re the one they want, they’ll bring up the topic of salary and you’ll have an idea of what they’re offering, which you can then further negotiate so it meets your expectations.

Employers take into account many factors of interaction during the job interview – it’s not just about experience and skills you put on paper. Now, you can avoid all the typical red flags to keep yourself in the running.

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First Impressions Last: You Have 30 Seconds To Make The Right One

Justin Timberlake’s sense of urgency is clear. He’s only got four minutes to save the world. In your job search, you won’t be that lucky. First impressions are formed in less than 30 seconds.

Psychology Today says we process small clues, everything from tone of voice to posture, and in a snap we form a larger picture in our minds. This means that hiring managers may draw conclusions, and finalize their opinions, in under a minute.

One study found that people shown 20 second video segments of job applicants formed similar opinions to hiring managers who were given 20 full minutes with the applicants. Now, that’s a snap decision.

Beyond The Boardroom

The importance of first impressions goes beyond your hiring manager. When you get the job, you’ll need to impress your co-workers, vendors, clients, and so on.

Honestly, it’s just as important in the non-work world. How long does it take you to make a yay or nay decision when you’re introduced to a potential date?

The bottom line is that you need to keep your first impression top of mind and walk into each situation prepared for your review.

The Eyes Have It

Good posture and strong eye contact are key physical attributes to think about. Dressing appropriately is always high on the list impression triggers. And good personal hygiene? We don’t need to mention that, right? Bed Head may be a great line of beauty products, but actual unwashed hair won’t cut it.

On the flip side of that, too much personal hygiene can be a bad thing. I once interviewed a job candidate whose perfume was so strong I had to keep leaving the room to get fresh air.

Relax

Take a deep breath. We've all seen people who come off as stiff or even arrogant in an attempt to make a good impression. Take a breath and try to relax. The more relaxed you are, the more naturally confident you’ll appear.

Be Attentive

Ask questions and listen to the answers. Making other people feel like the center of attention is a great way to become desirable yourself. People love to talk about themselves, help them out by asking questions and listening to them attentively.

Watch Your Language

We’re judged not only by what we say, but also by how we say it. In the business world our language is viewed as a sign of intelligence, education, and culture. This doesn’t mean that being overly formal or sounding like a walking dictionary is a good thing. It’s not. But neither is sounding like you didn’t finish elementary school.

Shake On It

You hear this all the time: you’ve got to have a good handshake. Yet people still struggle with this simple act. Get it right! All the good work you’ve done can be undone in an instant if you offer a limp, clammy, or fingers only handshake. Make your handshake firm and solid. Period.

There’s an old saying you only get one chance to make a first impression. Now we know that the one chance comes and goes in an instant.


Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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Great Places In The Middle East To Work Abroad

The benefits of living and working abroad are evident to anyone who has ever considered the move: increased salary and employment opportunities, ‘package’ perks, lower living costs, and often – depending on where you’re from – much nicer weather. While it’s not a quick or easy decision to make, becoming an ex-pat can deliver career-boosting work experience or even just the chance to save a little cash for the future. Here are a few of the best places to work abroad in the middle east:

1. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Continually topping the charts for quality of living, the UAE has built up a steady community of ex-pats over the years and there are lots of reasons to keep them coming. With tax exemptions and brilliant ownership rights if you own a start-up, foreign companies really have a chance to blossom here. Add to this Dubai’s bubbling social scene, vast networking opportunities and attractive lifestyle and it’s no wonder the country offers such an appealing package.

2. BAHRAIN

Bahrain’s oil-based economy was booming long before any of its Gulf neighbors but recent times have seen much diversification into tourism, heavy industry and banking. Known as one of the most liberal states around these parts female professionals are particularly well-received with a number of women high up in public service and business. Skilled candidates can also expect some of the best work and benefits packages in the world, while local branches of major international banks will make international trade for your company much easier.

3. QATAR

The capital of Qatar, Doha, is one of the most affordable places to work abroad, with accommodation and living costs significantly lower than those of cities in the UAE. Areas such as real estate are receiving attention and cash flow, despite the major gas and oil industries, while the ‘Education City’ project just outside the capital is encouraging collaboration between academics and business, in a variety of different fields. With the unemployment rate in 2011 at just 0.5 %, this is a country with wealth and prospects to be tapped.

4. OMAN

Oman has much to recommend it to the foreign worker: good safety records, stunning countryside, welcoming locals, and political stability.

Salaries are not subject to income tax, Muscat offers decent global banking facilities and positions in the medical, education and oil industries are all available for overseas candidates. Recent legislation has also made it possible for foreign nationals to buy property here, with reasonable housing prices offering a real long-term investment.

5. JORDAN

While Jordan may not have the powerhouse economy of some of the neighboring states, its tourist sector is thriving, its people are particularly encouraging of skilled immigrants and its living costs are surprisingly low. Education is a big buzz word here, and as English is so prevalent, native speakers are always in demand, leading to good teaching posts which often come with arranged housing and other perks. The school system also has an excellent reputation and the crime rate is minimal, if you’re looking for something a bit more permanent.

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Work Abroad, Is This For You?

If working abroad is a viable option for you, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience and comes with a unique set of challenges. Moving your home (and possibly family) thousands of miles away to a foreign country is not a decision to take lightly. As with any other huge decision, it takes careful thought and broad research to make sure it’s the right choice for you (and your family) – but where do you begin in deciding if this is right for you?

I have combed through many recommendations from the countless expat candidates I’ve interviewed and compiled research from international relocation experts to create a concise guide to help you decide. So, if you’re considering working abroad, take a look at these tips:

PERSONALITY FIT

If you haven’t already had the experience of working internationally, then you will need to consider that there are researched and proven predictors for success as an expatriate when it comes to personality types. Tom Cooper, executive director of EAP at Cleveland Clinic, shares:

Overall, if you approach life and work with openness, curiosity, and acceptance, if you focus on the things you can influence/impact, and if you share the values of mutual support and pro-active communication with your organization, you will do well as an expatriate.

If you can “go with the flow,” you will deal effectively with the inevitable logistical and bureaucratic issues which arise. If you have tolerance for ambiguity, you will avoid some of the stress that comes with rushing to judgments. You will quickly find that although our Western culture emphasizes individual priorities, other cultures promote the needs of the community, larger social groups, and “belonging.” In time, you will find this a supportive context, too.

MAKE A QUESTIONS LIST

Find out from your initial research what is important to ask before your interview process begins. From religion, to food, to relocation expenses, to transportation – the list is extensive. Even something as basic as the days of the work week can vary from country to country. So, start the list now and keep adding to it as you have discussions with others. Be sure that people in your life know you’re considering opportunities abroad, and you may be surprised by who they can introduce you to and options they can recommend for you.

On a similar note, consider what you are going to leave behind; should you relocate? Identifying what you would likely miss most will help you then generate an action plan on how to address these factors in your new city and help you focus your initial research.

RELY ON INSTINCTS

If at all possible, visit the location you are considering moving to before making the decision to relocate. Besides the obvious reasons of experiencing the city firsthand, you may also be financially responsible for relocating back if you don’t stay for the required period of time. While you’re there and speaking to people who have been there, go with your gut on whether this feels like the right fit for you at this point in your life.

CONSIDER FAMILY

Who, if anyone, will you be bringing with you? A “trailing spouse” of an expat should always be factored into this decision. What will he/she do? Research the employment visa situation in the region, especially if your spouse intends to find work. If you have children who are of school age, additional research will be required regarding the local school systems.

While research concludes that successful expat adjustment into the new position and new culture is directly related to being a match for the position, and believing in the mission of the organization, family/marital factors have also been proven to play a critical role. In fact, for decades, “family issues” have been attributed as the leading cause of unsuccessful international assignments.

Proven success factors include a willingness of the entire family to relocate, a stable marriage (if married), along with adaptive and supportive family members. It’s imperative that you are honest with yourself about the state of your family and the likelihood of your family being easily adaptable to this new environment. It is also important that you and your spouse both have a cultural empathy and low ethnocentrism, meaning being very open-minded to this new culture.

EXPECT UPS & DOWNS

It’s very important you know that your expat experience will have its ups and downs. Research shows there is typically a “honeymoon period” during the first few weeks in a new city. Once you’re settled in and getting into the rhythm of daily life, you will more than likely experience some culture shock as you continue to acclimate, and that’s completely normal.

If you approach this opportunity with an open mind, and if you are prepared with some coping mechanisms, you will wind up much more content with your decision.

DIG DEEP

What is the real reason you’re interested? EAP professionals have explained that expats who are running from something at home (marital issues, depression, and financial problems) will typically maintain these struggles, and they may possibly worsen when in an unfamiliar area; a new city is not going to fix your personal challenges. So, be sure you are relocating for a positive reason, not trying to escape from a negative one.

There are many reasons to consider relocating to Abu Dhabi for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Here are three key reasons we have identified as the most common among our most successful employees:

• Enhance your Career by gaining international and “start-up” experience as we work together to open a world-class hospital.
• Embark on an Adventure as you are enriched by a vibrant culture while living in beautiful corporate housing and having easy access to travel within a unique region.
• Impact the Global Community by making a difference within the healthcare field and to the critical care patients in this part of the world.

If you want a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you’re ready to begin an extremely rewarding career in a beautiful country, check out current open positions here.


Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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Why Teach English Abroad?

Maybe you’ve just earned your degree as an English teacher, or maybe you’ve been teaching for some years and are starting to feel that your career isn’t progressing as fast or as well as you’d hoped. You might even have the same misgivings about your present job, even if it is not in an academic field.

Whatever your situation, you will find that teaching English in Europe can not only be a stimulating and enjoyable challenge, and a wonderful cultural experience, but it can also be the sort of “gap moment,” allowing you to develop a fresh approach that will further your career at home. Here are just a few of the benefits:

1. MORE PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEARNER’S DIFFICULTIES

Whether or not you’re an English teacher, you will quickly find that teaching English as a Foreign Language is just not the same as explaining English to native English speakers. Moreover, since you will probably be teaching adults (which is the case for the vast majority of English speakers teaching in a temporary position abroad), you will get much more immediate and direct feedback about their learning difficulties than you would with children.

Also, unless you are already very fluent, you will have to gain at least a fair mastery of the local language. This will help you understand the difficulties of learning new languages, which will help you better teach your students. You will see their questions through your own eyes. This sort of sympathy can help you better devise learning strategies for your classroom.

2. INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENT METHODS AND LEARNING STRATEGIES

Although the basics of language learning are the same all over the world, each country seems to have its own national flavor in developing them. You will be presented with official programs, classroom strategies, the use of different audiovisual and IT media, and teaching or professional philosophies that may be very unusual for you. All of these aspects will add to your own experience as you will be asked to apply them in your own teaching activities.

3. CHALLENGE OF YOUR CAPACITIES FOR TEAMWORK, CREATIVITY, AND ADAPTABILITY

Working in a foreign culture requires a lot of flexibility. Not only will you have to adapt to new educational systems and approaches, but you will also be expected to work as full member of the teaching staff. There are quite often a lot of meetings, extracurricular activities, and administrative tasks that may be asked of you.

Moreover, if you are teaching adults, you will be placed in classroom situations ranging from general language classes in the evening to business or other specialized classes with made-to-measure schedules and programs (which also may mean frequent driving or public transport to get to the companies themselves).

And if you are indeed working in-company, you will acquire a lot of experience with the vocabulary and procedures applied in various business and industrial sectors. All of this will require you to bring out your highest organizational and human relations skills, as well as your ability to take initiatives and be creative in developing individualized curricula for classes of from one to up to 25 students or more.

4. MORE REFINED PERSONAL CULTURE

French author Marcel Proust once said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” That will be one of the most valuable benefits you will get from teaching or working abroad. You will be thrown up against new ideas, new social structures, new laws, even new food.

More importantly, your upbringing will quite probably be challenged by the outside view of what people think about your country and your fellow countrymen. You will be asked about where you are from, and have to explain the hows and the whys of your society’s structure, function, culture, lifestyle, and beliefs. You may be very surprised, perhaps even shocked, at the reactions to your answers, but you will also come to compare your home country to the ones you visit and work in.

All of this will give you those “new eyes.” You will take home not only new techniques and ideas to use, but also the habit of discussing and questioning what is being done, and offering solutions for improvement.

As you can see, the advantages of teaching abroad are numerous. This sort of experience will greatly further your career because you will have obtained new skills that will help you diversify your work, develop your adaptability, and enhance your leadership qualities. All of this will add extra flavor to your work when you get back home, as well as that very special touch to your resume.

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5 Tips On How To Deal With An Annoying Co-Worker

GRRRR! Is this person dedicated to make you mad? You know this person, every interaction with them leaves you ticked off and annoyed. They may do things that simply flip your switch or leave you spinning for the rest of the day. An irritating co-worker can do anything from bugging you because they smell bad to saying demeaning things to you. The range of behavior can be vast. How do you deal with someone so they don’t completely spoil each day at work?

Here are some tips to help you with this situation:

1. REALIZE IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU

While it may seem like the person has a personal issue with you, most of the time a person’s behavior is more about how they feel about him or herself. Try as best you can to not take what they say personally. They may not even be aware of what they are doing or even why they are doing it. They are more interested in their own experience.

2. AVOID THEM

You’d be surprised to realize that if you put your mind to it, you can probably cut down on the amount and frequency of your interactions with this person. Even if they parade into your office, be too busy to stop what you’re doing. Ask them to e-mail or leave a note with their request or information. When you reduce your interaction with someone it often improves your interaction with them. You are reducing the impact to you personally when you reduce your contact. Less contact = less opportunity to irritate.

3. FIGURE OUT WHAT REALLY IRRITATES YOU

You may not know why they bug you, so it’s best to figure out what specific behavior they do that get you going. I used to have a person descend on me and make all kinds of demands while eating into my day in a very big way. I finally realized she didn't really understand my job versus her job since she was kind of new. Knowing that helped me figure out a plan to curb her impact on me but you can’t fix something until you know exactly what you’re fixing.

4. MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN

You may discover that, even with reducing your contact, your interactions are still unproductive. You will need to put together a plan to improve things. You first have to look to yourself at what you can do differently that may help. Can you change how you respond? Can you delay your reaction with a clear head so you can figure out how to respond most effectively? Are you doing something that causes this person to act a certain way to you?

You can only control what you do, so it’s best to look to yourself first. Naturally, you may need to engage with them, but you can’t control how they will react or if they can even make the changes necessary. Even though you may feel like a victim, there are still actions you can and should make that will help.

5. ENGAGE THEM PROFESSIONALLY

No matter how they may be acting toward you, you want to maintain a professional approach when dealing directly with someone difficult. This means you don’t accuse, blame, or make sweeping assumptions. You and your language should remain focused on behavior, not attitude. You want to be able to articulate what the impact is on you and how that translates into a business problem. You need to be prepared to identify specific examples so they can translate what you say into an instance they can relate to. When you do approach them, make your discussion private to spare any poor reactions from public embarrassment.

The path through our career is never that simple or straight. It would be great to think that when we are hired that we do our work, enjoy the people we work with and get promoted. You will run across irritating peers at various times and it will require you to do some thinking and planning to improve your work life.

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5 Tips on How To Deal With Difficult Co-Workers

The average full-time employee spends more time at work with co-workers than at home with friends and family. This can make for an unpleasant situation when we have one or more co-workers that we dislike.

However, it’s in everyone’s best interest to try to reach some common ground and make the work environment at least tolerable. So, how can you deal with difficult co-workers?

5 Tips For Dealing With Difficult Co-Workers

Here are some tips to help you deal with a problem work associate:

1. Be The Better Person

If you find that a co-worker is always breaking bad on other employees and has a proclivity for office politics and gossip, try to distance yourself from that person. If you happen to share an office with the scandalmonger, try to only talk about work-related topics that are not personal attacks on others in the office.

2. Keep A Positive Attitude

No one wants to be around someone who’s always negative and in a bad mood, so even if your difficult co-workers try to bring you down think about the positives in your job. If you’re struggling to see the silver lining think about what this job allows you to do outside of work. Perhaps your income provides you with a few discretionary dollars that can be spent on a favorite hobby.

3. Ignore The Person

We’re at work to do a job, so focus on the tasks that must be accomplished and network with other people at your workplace who aren’t quite so difficult to be around.

4. Take Action

Sometimes people don’t realize that they are perceived as being negative or being a gossip. In a non-confrontational way, pull the person aside in private and tell them that you’re really trying to be positive at work and could use their help. This tactic might be subtle enough to invoke a change in their behavior.

5. Make The Most Of It

There’s no rule that we have to be best friends with our co-workers. You may find that you work with someone who you just can’t grow to like and that’s OK. However, come to the realization that you do need to try to be professional and treat the difficult person with respect and civility. Continue to focus on your work and see if there’s something that you can learn from the difficult person, even if it’s just the fact that you don’t want to act like him.

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