Career 01 (Sep 08 - Mar 10)

[winston]

Are You Asking Enough Questions? By Jason Holland

How do you find out what you need to know? By asking questions, of course.

But in a business environment, that simple practice all too often goes out the window.

Whether you're intimidated by your boss, afraid to look dumb in front of a coworker, or embarrassed by your lack of knowledge, not asking questions can have serious consequences: failed plans, miscommunication, and stalled innovation.

Suppose, for example, you get assigned a new project by your superior. What you shouldn't do: Spend three days trying to figure out what she meant by "Look at the 2005 results" when you have no idea what happened in 2005. What you should do: Go back down to her office the next day with a specific list of items you need clarified.

Or imagine you receive an e-mail with an attachment you can't download. What you shouldn't do: Spend hours trying to figure out the problem on your own. What you should do: Consult the IT department or ask the person to send you the file in another format.

I'm not advocating that you ask people in your company to hold your hand 24/7. You do have to figure things out on your own and do your own research. But don't assume you know everything. And don't be afraid to ask questions - "big picture" or very specific - when you know you don't understand.

[winston]

7 Nerve-Beating Secrets to Getting Past Your Fear of Being Interviewed By Suzanne Richardson

How Not To Be Nervous:

1. Prepare yourself. As Cervantes said, "To be prepared is half the victory." Try to anticipate the questions you'll be asked or the topics your interviewer might cover. You'll feel a lot calmer if the questions aren't thrown at you out of the blue.

2. Picture yourself in your living room, sharing a glass of Riesling with the interviewer.

3. Chat with the interviewer for a few minutes before you begin.

4. Talk to one person. This is a universal communication rule. Whether you're writing an e-newsletter or speaking at a convention or giving an interview, don't think about all the people your words are reaching. Instead, focus on one person. Even if that person is imaginary.

5. Visualize your audience as a friend rooting for you to succeed.

6. Be yourself. It's a huge cliche, but it's true. Don't try to be some stiff Walter Cronkite copycat if that's not the normal you. Just be sincere and true to yourself.

7. Don't worry about messing up. Worrying about something that may happen is counter-productive. And even if it does happen (and it probably will), it's not the end of the world. As Terry said to me, "You're a human being. It's okay to mess up."

Now you may think that Terry's advice doesn't apply to you because you're never going to be interviewed. Well, I never thought I'd be on camera, and now I am. As Terry pointed out, "It's a video world." Chances are, to reach your customers or your family or even - if you work remotely - your coworkers and employees, you will be on video at some point. So it's a good idea to get past that irrational and blood-curdling fear of being on camera.

That said, here are two additional - more tech-savvy - suggestions from Terry for getting more comfortable on camera.

Buy a webcam. (Terry recommends Logitech, which has a 2 megapixel model that goes for under $100.) Then find other people who have webcams and talk to them. It could be your old high school friends back in Michigan... your grandpa in Hong Kong... or your business partner in California.

Create a video journal. Michael Masterson has recommended keeping a daily journal in writing. But Terry recommends using your webcam to record a video journal, as well. "Wouldn't you like to see yourself on camera when you were 10 years old?" he asked me. "What about 20 years from now? Think how nice it will be to see yourself as you are today." Plus, practicing in front of the camera is a great way to get comfortable with being recorded.
And that's the final key.

The best way to get comfortable being on camera is to get yourself on camera as much as you can.

[millionairemind]

Published January 22, 2009

Job security foremost on their minds
By LEE U-WEN

IT SEEMS like job-hopping will be less rampant this year amid the global economic downturn, if the findings from a new survey are anything to go by.

Ambition, a recruitment and contracting group based in Hong Kong, polled 200 people from its Singapore database via telephone from November to December last year, and 53 per cent of those polled said that they had no plans to actively look for a new job as the risk was too great given the current uncertain market conditions.

Just 12 per cent said that they were seeking a fresh start as they were fearful for their job security, while 35 per cent indicated that they would continue to be on the lookout for good employment opportunities.

According to Guy Day, Ambition's managing director for Asia, many employers have not halted their hiring plans entirely despite the expected slowdown in recruitment in 2009.

The study also noted that 'job security' and 'company stability' are two important factors on a jobseeker's list of criteria. 'Some candidates are reticent to make employment moves as they are fearful of potential redundancies as the 'last in, first out',' said the report.

On another hot potato - salaries - Ambition polled 40 chief financial officers in Singapore within the same period and 34 of them said that wage freezes in 2009 for their companies were either 'highly likely' or 'certain'. The remaining six said that increments would be 'very small'.

Separately, 100 people in Singapore who recently switched jobs were surveyed, and their average base salary increment was 12 per cent.

Mr Day noted that the percentage of pay rises for job-movers in the final quarter of last year dropped significantly, and forecasted that with more candidate supply than available job openings this year, salaries will 'broadly be flat' with those unemployed willing to accept cuts from what they were previously earning.

'Candidates with a job will obtain flat or low single-digit hikes to move. The only beneficiaries of more significant salary increases are likely to be gainfully employed and these raises will be modest when compared to years prior,' said Mr Day.

Still, the job cuts over the last three months of 2008 could yet have a silver lining. The Ambition report noted that the retrenchments have beefed up the talent pool in Singapore, many of whom have reasonable salary expectations and creating greater value for employers.

'Making predictions around future hiring patterns is extremely difficult right now as the visibility is low, but undoubtedly unemployment will continue to rise in 2009,' said the report. 'However, some companies are likely to cut back staff too deep and need to re-hire select positions to maintain their business operations.'

[millionairemind]

Executive positions getting scarcer in Asia, survey finds
Reuters
Published: January 21, 2009

HONG KONG: Job openings for executives in Asia are dwindling, notably in Hong Kong, where they are at a seven-year low, as the economic downturn proves severe and forces many companies to freeze hiring, a survey by the recruitment firm Hudson Highland Group showed Wednesday.

Only 18 percent of companies surveyed in Hong Kong said they would hire executives this quarter, down from 32 percent in a survey three months ago and the lowest level since early 2002.

The territory is being hit by its reliance on financial services. Job opportunities in the field are particularly low because initial public offerings and acquisitions have dried up, although demand for insolvency and dispute resolution practitioners is growing, according to the survey.

In Singapore, prospects are not much better, with 23 percent of companies there saying they would add senior staff members this quarter, down from 37 percent in the previous quarter. In Japan, 31 percent of firms plan to hire, down from 43 percent three months ago.

The survey covers Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore - which are all in recession - and China, which is experiencing a sharp slowdown after six years of double-digit economic growth.

There is still an acute shortage of managerial talent in China, yet only 34 percent of firms plan to hire executives this quarter, compared with 44 percent last quarter, the survey shows.

Across the region, hiring expectations are low in banking and financial services as well as in media, public relations and advertising, although in Japan the shift toward digital media is creating opportunities in media, according to the survey.

Investment banks have been cutting their work forces in Asia as part of global staff cuts, which has affected Hong Kong and Singapore in particular, although job losses there have so far been mild compared with those in New York and London.

Many jobs in the trade sector could also be vulnerable in Asia. Exports in Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong fell at double-digit rates in December from a year earlier and are expected to remain in a slump in the first half of this year amid weak consumer demand in advanced economies.

The quarterly survey by Hudson Highland Group, which is based in Chicago, covered responses from nearly 3,000 managers at multinational firms across industries in the four markets.

As job opportunities shrink, employers are under less pressure to raise salaries to attract good managers. Even in China, 15 percent of companies said they would not be increasing salaries for new managerial staff.

Half of companies in Japan, and a third of Hong Kong companies, say they will not increase salaries to attract new hires. Singapore firms are under more pressure, with only 10 percent of respondents saying they can freeze new employees' salaries, because filling critical niche roles remains competitive.

Bonus payments are being cut across the region, notably in Japan, where 35 percent of survey respondents said they would not be paying any bonuses.

[winston]

Brand Yourself for Career Success by Judy Downing

In today’s world, a successful career will go through many unexpected twists and turns. Being laid off or even fired doesn’t mean much if you can keep coming back stronger than ever. Branding yourself helps you stay in touch with what is happening and attract offers when you need them.

Your personal brand is all about how you establish and guide your reputation. If you haven’t thought about it, start with these five steps to create an effective and successful brand.

1. Decide how you want to be perceived.
People don’t have a lot of time to get to know others these days. Help them along by presenting an attractive, concise picture of who you are, what you can do for them, and why they should work with you. Catch their attention in 25 words or less and most people are willing to spend some time developing a relationship and exploring options.

2. Find your neighbors.
In the old days, people operated with their neighborhoods, towns, or cities. Today you can go global sitting at your computer. Remember that people still judge you by the company you keep. Be selective about what groups you join and who you link with online. You may find potential clients, employers, competitors, and partners. It’s all good as it all helps to establish who you are.

3. Be active.
Networking and relationship-building is a great way to get known and to stay current. Think about joining fewer groups and doing more with each one. Ask and answer questions, start your own conversation, volunteer for a leadership position. Remember that “givers get.” Helping someone else when things are going well for you can pay huge dividends later on.

4. Start now.
If you haven’t already started developing your personal brand, do it now. Create your 25 word summary and sign on to some of the online social networks like LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) or Facebook (www.facebook.com). It’s free. It’s easy. And opportunities will open up as you go.

5. Build your brand as your go.
Worried that branding will take too much time or that you won’t get it right immediately? Don’t be. Start now with your best effort. Make changes and tweaks as you see what works and what doesn’t. Whenever you do something that fits with your brand, make sure you let all of your new friends know about it.

Personal branding can be an amazing tool for helping you navigate the career you deserve. Managed properly, it can also be great fun and immensely rewarding.

[winston]

When Common Sense Gets in Your Way By Michael Masterson

When you're at a crossroads in your career - when your heart tells you to go in one direction, but your family and friends are trying to convince you to take a more practical path - what do you do?

In his very good book, The 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss says that when it comes to deciding how you want to spend your life, the two most important things to remember are:-
(1) The timing is never right and
(2) Ask for forgiveness, not permission.

1. The timing is never right.

"For all the most important things, the timing always sucks," says Ferriss. "Waiting for a good time to quit your job? The stars will never align and the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time. The universe doesn't conspire against you, but it doesn't go out of its way to line up all the pins either. Conditions are never perfect."

2. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.

"If it isn't going to devastate those around you, try it and then justify it," says Ferriss. "People - whether parents, partners, or bosses - deny things on an emotional basis that they can learn to accept after the fact. If the potential damage is moderate or in any way reversible, don't give people the chance to say no."

So if you're torn between pursuing a wild dream and following the common sense advice of people who care about you, what do you do?

I say... go for it! When I have followed my heart on career decisions and ignored the well-meaning advice of others, I have done very well.

Make your decision and then "sell" your loved ones on the value of being supportive of your new venture. Make an honest, enthusiastic sales pitch highlighting the many ways that following your passion will benefit them... not you. Make promises. And keep them!

"Someday is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you," says Timothy Ferriss. To that I would add this: The only thing worse than "someday" is "later."

[winston]

Here are some techniques you can use to be expertly assertive in almost any situation you'll encounter at work... or in your personal life:

Always speak in a civil manner.
Be specific when asking for deadlines or clarification.
Be clear when voicing your opinion, and be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Don't do anything you don't agree with just to avoid conflict.
Disagree with ideas or suggestions, not people. Don't make it personal.
(Source: Inc.com)

[winston]

It's Good to Know: The $1 Salary

CEOs often take a symbolic (and well-publicized) $1 per year salary. The heads of the Detroit automakers did it when seeking a bailout. Apple's Steve Jobs and the founders of Google do it too. Of course, they get other benefits: options, shares, and use of the company jet, to name a few.

It's paid, as you might expect, in a lump sum. And, just like a regular paycheck, an appropriate amount is taken out for state and federal taxes, usually less than 10 cents.

But guess what? Because of federally mandated minimum wage standards, the $1 per year salary is technically illegal.

(Source: Slate)

[kennynah]

no one works for free.... these people who publicly declare $1 symnbolic salaries are just "evading" taxations..

[winston]

Don’t Fall Victim to Office Gossip By Michael Masterson

Office gossip is like junk food: You can pretend you don’t like it, you can even publicly denounce it, still you know you can’t completely resist it.

But try. Like so many things in life, office gossip is a temporary indulgence with long-lasting, undesirable side effects. For one thing, it damages team spirit. This is no small cost if you are concerned with team productivity. For another thing, it demeans your stature. Even your co-conspirators will think less of you for doing what they themselves know they shouldn’t do. If you consider the kinds of activities you can engage in at work, this falls into the lowest category. It’s not only unproductive, it’s destructive.

Make yourself this promise today: Gradually you will indulge less in this bad habit. Start by desisting from gossiping yourself. The next step is to maintain a neutral position when someone brings it to you. The ultimate step is to be able to discretely change the subject without seeming like a wet blanket.

If you find you’re having trouble watching your tongue, try this: The next time someone attempts to get you to join him in badmouthing a colleague or employee, imagine that your comments are being broadcast to the entire company through a speaker system. Speak as closely to the truth as you can, but try not to say anything that you wouldn’t say in front of everybody.