How to Tell an Interviewer Why You Quit Your Last Job

How to Tell an Interviewer Why You Quit Your Last JobHow to Tell an Interviewer Why You Quit Your Last JobInterviewers typically want to know about why you left your last job and the reasons behind your decision to move on. Common questions include Why did you quit your job?Why did you leave your last job?Why are you looking for a new job? When you respond, youll need to give an answer thats honest and reflects your specific circumstances, but avoids negativity. That is, even if you quit because your boss welches difficult, or becauseyou disliked the company, now is not the time to share. What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know Interviewers like to ask this question because it reveals a lot about you, such as Did you leave this stelle voluntarily, or were youfiredorlaid off?Are you on good terms with the company?Does your reason for quitting seem valid or reasonable? How you answer this question offers a window into your on-the-job character and values. How to Answer Why Did You Quit Your Job? This can be a challenging question to answer. Perhaps you left your job due to long hours and impossible deadlines. If you do not phrase that carefully, you might appear lazy or unmotivated, which is offputting to employers. Your best bet is to keep your answer short. Be honest, but frame it in a way that puts you in a good light. Keep your response positive (no venting about your previous employer) and try to pivot to discussing why the job at hand isan ideal match for your skills, knowledge, and experience. If youre still working but about to quit, then alter your responses accordingly. Every situation is unique, so be koranvers to tailor your own response to fit your circumstances. Examples of the Best Answers To be honest, I welchesnt considering a change, but a former colleague recommended this job to me. I looked into the position and was intrigued by the role andby the company. What youre offering sounds like an exciting opportunity andan ideal match for my qualifications. ExpandWhy It Works This is so flattering to the company If you dont overdo the compliments, making it clear that this specific position brought you into the job market is appealing to interviewers. I was able to take advantage of an early retirement offer due to company downsizing and now I am ready for a new challenge. ExpandWhy It Works This to-the-point answer gives the facts without any tinge of resentment or negativity. I was laid-off from mylast positionwhen my job was eliminated due to downsizing. ExpandWhy It Works This is another just-the-facts response that does a nice job of avoiding emotions or negativity. I recently achieved certification and I want to apply my educational background andtechnical skillsin my next position. I couldnt accomplish this goal in my previous job. ExpandWhy It Works This answer makes the candidate seem like a real go-getter- eager to grow skills and toput those new skills to work. Employers find those traits positive. I l eft my last position in order to spend more time with an ill family member. Circumstances have changed and I am readyfor full-time employmentagain. ExpandWhy It Works While often in interviews its a good idea to avoid getting too personal, this is a good example of an acceptable reason to leave a company. Other strong answers to consider I quit my job because my supervisor retired. I felt that after many years of working in the office that it was time for a change and it seemed like the ideal time to move on.I resigned to focus on finding a job that is closer to home and will use my skills and experience in a different capacity.I didnt have room to grow with my previous employer.I have been volunteering in this capacity and love this kind of work. I want to turn my passion into the next step of my career.After several years in my last position, I am looking for a company where I can contribute more and grow in a team-oriented environment. I am interested in a new challenge and want to use my skills and experience in a different capacity than in the past.I am interested in a job with more responsibility.I was commuting and spending an hour each day traveling back and forth. I would prefer to be closer to home.The position seems to correlate with my skillset. Unfortunately, in my last job, I wasnt able touse my training and experiencefully.The company was downsizing and I thought it made sense to find another position before my job was eliminated. Tips for Giving the Best Answer There are all kinds of reasons to leave a job. Maybe you want more money, perhapsyoufeltthe company was in constant chaos, your new managernever provided guidance or direction, or you were laid off. However, not all of these responses should be raised during a job interview. You need to be honest, but also strategic in your response. Avoid any answers that reflect poorly on you. Here are some tips on how to develop a response that will be well received Be honestYou dont have to tell the whole truth. Just be sure to focus on the realreason you are leaving. For example, you can say you were frustrated by the lack of opportunities. Start by describing some of the things you accomplished, and then pivot to saying you were roadblocked as far as being able to accomplish more. Youll score nachschlag points if you can tie your answer back to why the job youre applying for is a better fit because youll be afforded more opportunities. Keep it short and positiveThis is one question where you might want to keep your response brief since there are a lot of minefields. A simple sentence- maybe two- is likely sufficient. If possible, try to frame your departure in positive terms. PracticePractice your responsesso you come across as positive and clear.Practicing (especially in front of a mirror) will help you feel more comfortable answering this difficult question. This is particularly true if you were laid off or fired. In a situation like that, give a short, clear, and unem otional response. What Not to Say Avoid negativityDo not speak poorly about managers, colleagues, or the company. You may speak negatively about a coworker only to learn thathe or she has a close relationship with the interviewer.However, you can speak broadly about corporate goals or mention that you disagree with the direction the business is taking. Be sure not to get personal in your response. Industries can often be small and you dont who knows who. Unprofessional commentsAre you bored at work? Underpaid or underappreciated? So sick of everything about the job? Nows not the time to let it all out. You dont need to overshare or get really personal about your motivations for departing the job. Make sure your answer is professional. Possible Follow-Up Questions What would your manager say about the circumstances around your departure?How extensive were the layoffs at the company? A short and simple response is best. No need to go into extensive detail.Be honest. If your re ferences are checked, fibs may be uncovered.Stay positive. Avoid complaints about the company, your coworkers and supervisor, or aboutthe circumstances around your departure. An emotion-free, factual response likely works best here.

It takes 4 days for Americans to start enjoying their vacations

It takes 4 days for Americans to start enjoying their vacationsIt takes 4 days for Americans to start enjoying their vacationsSteeped in a Protestant work ethic, Americans have a complicated feeling about being away from the office on their vacations, a new study shows. The study, commissioned by Apple Vacations and conducted by OnePoll, polled 2,000 workers and found that it took people a startling four days to stop thinking about work on their vacations.People were fraught about their well-earned getaways in other ways80% found it hard to get away from work to take a vacation, and left part of their vacation time unused37% felt guilt over leaving uncompleted work behind26% felt that taking time off for a vacation could get in the way of a promotionIt also seems that the younger you are, the guiltier you feel about taking a vacation. Almost half (47%) of all Millennials felt guilty about taking a vacation, versus 19% of people aged 55 and older.Expedia 2018 Vacation Deprivation Stud yA vacation study by another travel website, Expedia, also found American workers found vacations difficult to settle into, a low priority, and occasionally guilt-inducing.Instead of four days, the study found it took the typical American worker two to three days to truly relax on vacation.In 2018, the United States took the least amount of vacation time in the world 10 days. The only other countries that matched that number were Japan and Thailand.Americans left 4 vacations days unused.13% felt guilty about taking vacation time but guilt level is down 17% from 2017.40% of Americans have canceled a vacation because of work.For a country that enjoys an untold number of leisure activities, it seems that actual vacations the ultimate leisure activity remain a low priority for Americans. Call it FOMO for the office.

58% of managers give counteroffers to people planning to leave

58% of managers give counteroffers to people planning to leave58% of managers give counteroffers to people planning to leaveMany employees eventuallyjump ship at work, but some managers do what they can to make them stay - by throwing more cash their way.New data from global staffing firm Robert Half shows that 58% of top managers surveyed put counteroffers on the table when reports say that theyre resigning for another position, versus 42% who say they dont.An independent research firm surveyed more than 5,500 American hiring decision makers in different industries on behalf of Robert Half.Heres why managers whove given counteroffers want to keep those employeesTop managers who say they have put money on the table when an employee chooses to leave weighed inand were able to choose more than one option in the process.Dont want to lose institutional knowledge of employee 58%Dont want to spend time or money hiring a replacement 42%Dont want rest of gruppe to absorb extra workload 35%D ont want morale of team to suffer 34%But heres the kicker - even though some high-level managers give out counteroffers, the average amount of time employees who take them stay instead of leaving the company is 1.7 years. That isnt a whole lot of time tostick around.Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half, commented on the research in a statement.Counteroffers are typically a knee-jerk reaction to broader staffing issues. While they may seem like a quick fix for employers, the solution is often temporary. When employees accept a counteroffer, they will likely quit soon afterward, he said.

Home Office Requirements for Virtual Call Centers

Home Office Requirements for Virtual Call CentersHome Office Requirements for Virtual Call CentersWhen setting up a virtual call center to work from home as a customer service rep, telemarketer or tech support agent, you will most likely need your own home office equipment to get started. Typically it is the responsibility of the employee or contractor to purchase and maintain all the equipment needed. Though, there are a few companies like Apple that provide some of the equipment. As you consider the issues of starting a virtual call center, the home office requirements will likely top your list of concerns. Companies hiring for virtual call center jobsall have different requirements for office equipment, and so you will need to carefully check out the requirements for equipment in every job you apply to. But usually, the virtual call center agent must provide and maintain computer and phone equipment, software and phone and internet services. Technical/Office Requirements As a general guide, these are some of the technical requirements that may be expected for a home-based call center. Each companys specific requirements will differ. Desktop PC. Laptop PCs or Macintosh computers are sometimes notlage allowed. Some minimum requirements for computers often are1Ghz-2Ghz processorWindows operating system - Which version varies but keep in mind that newer isnt always better some companies are slow to adapt to changes.1GB of RAMSound card, speakers15 to 17 monitorVirus and spyware protection software and a working firewall.Software programs that may be required include Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word and Excel), and/or Adobe Acrobat reader. Broadband internet connection. DSL and cable are usually allowed but satellite, dial-up and wireless Internet connections are usually not. A wireless network inside the home is sometimes allowed, but many companies will require that computers are connected directly to the internet.Landline phone service. Cell, VOIP (i.e Vo nage) and cable phone lines are not often not acceptable, though cable is becoming more common. However, there are some companies now who dont require any phone line because the connection is all done through the internet. Of the companies that do require a landline, many require it be a dedicated phone line separate from your home phone. Calling features on the phone line, such as call waiting, call blocking and voice mail, are often not allowed or must be disabled. Corded telephone (with buttons not on the handset) if a phone line is used.Corded (not wireless) telephone headset with a noise-canceling microphone.Instant message account.Occasionally something like Yahoo Messenger is required but often companies have their own systems.Skype or another teleconferencing service. Occasionally this is required but it is free.Email account. A few companies require specific provider.Web browser.Printer. Not all companies require printers.Quiet, private workspace. Most companies will requi re that your workspace is in a separate room with a door and even a lock. Some equipment that could be required but typically isnt paper shredder, locked file cabinet, fax, and back-up battery power supply.?

How I am side hustling my way to financial independence

How I am side hustling my way to financial independenceHow I am side hustling my way to financial independenceIm side hustling my way to financial independence by selling these temporary tattoos for bachelorette parties on the internet.They are gold, sparkly and say ridiculous things such as bride tribe and wolf pack. Women buy them from me on Etsy at an insane markup and usually in packs of 15 or 20. They wear them on their faces and arms when they are out with their girlfriends celebrating the bride-to-be at a Vegas pool party, on the streets of Nashville, or in the clubs of Miami.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreI also sell printable scavenger hunts for bachelorettes to use on their bar crawls.unterstellung products sell at an even better margin. I make a simple checklist one-time and then have hundreds of people download for $7 each. They print them at home and I dont have to do anything after the sale.The only expense is my time up front to make the checklist and the minimal Etsy transaction fees. I much prefer selling the printables because I dont have to worry about shipping or inventory.Im on the path to financial independence and I think its silly that people will pay so much for throwaway products for one-time events. Originally, I got into this side hustle though becausethe money welches there.And, I didnt even have a bachelorette party for my own wedding.I guess you could call me an entrepreneur now and the crazy thing is that I was never like this before. I went from someone who didnt have the confidence to put myself out there, the type of person who would rather binge watch HGTV on Saturday mornings than work on a project, to a full-fledgedside hustler.Last year I made $40,000 on my side hustles on top of my day job. This was not my planned path to financial independence but its the quickest way there for me.My Jurney to Financial Independenc e Started In DebtI learned about the concept of financial independence retire early (FIRE) when I was paying down my student loans. My now-husband and I woke up one day and realized that we wereover $100,000 in debt.I say we realized it suddenly because before this time we honestly didnt know that debt was that bad. Everyone we knew had student loans, a car payment, and a collection of stuff financed on credit cards.We became super motivated once we realized how bad of a situation we actually were in.We made a series of financial decisions right in a row after this point that was critical to our journey out of debt.I sold my careliminating a car loanand a nearly $400 monthly car payment.We got engaged and chose amoissanite stonefor my ringinstead of a diamond (cost of $300 versus thousands).I went to tons of networking events and landed a job in Silicon Valley that required us to move but also came with a big salary boost.We sold nearly $5,000 of our financed furniture on Craigslist and then rented our house out to cover the mortgage.During this time we didnt eat out, said no to plans with friends (ironically I turned down attending a bachelorette party which ruffled some feathers), and we focused 100 percent on paying down our debt.With the increased income and our low expenses, we were able to pay off the debt in under 2 years. When we got married in December 2016,we were 100% debt free.Next, I Tried All of The Fancy FI StrategiesThe next logical step was to try out all of the fancy FI strategies that I had been reading about on the blogs for years but couldnt partake in because100% of our money was going to debt payoff.I was fortunate enough to have both the income and the employer plan that allowed theMega Backdoor Roth. I took real pleasure every time I called my 401k plan provider and asked them to roll my after-tax contributions into my Roth IRA. And, I practically giggled with joy when hitting my traditional 401k limit before year-end.The first time I performed a Roth conversion from my Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA I was a little nervous but I was digging it in a way that only FIRE nerds would understand.If I had to explain what I was doing to the financial provider, I was a little annoyed but alsosecretly pumpedthat I had learned what I thought were the secrets of the financial game.PS I screwed up the Roth conversion majorly by not knowing about the pro rata rule. Rookie mistakeBut, I still wasnt satisfiedYou would think that I would be content with this l to FI but I found myself growing a bit impatient. I was working towards the goal of saving 25 times our annual expenses and I felt that even our rapid progress to FI was too slow for me.We loved hiking in Colorado, good coffee, and international travel. We didnt love office lights, 24/7 work schedules, and limited vacation days no matter howluckywe were to have our jobs and great coworkers.I also wanted to save even more in tax-advantaged accounts once I hit what I thought was the max. My husband wasnt eligible for a 401k and I wanted to contribute on his behalf so we could double max out.I started researching to see what else I could possibly do to sock more money away. That is when I came across the Solo 401k and I made it my goal to create one for my business. I found out I could put away an additional 25% of business profits in tax-advantaged savings.The only problem is that I had no business. I didnt make any money on the side and didnt feel like I had the time or any good ideas to do so.Enter the Side Hustling Path to FII listened to a bunch of podcasts and somehow found the inspiration to give this side hustling thing a go. I had a hobby blog that was about our student loan payoff journey that I decided to monetize.Also, I wrote more strategic,well-organized blog deutsche bundespostssuch as a step-by-step instruction guide on how weDIYd our wedding flowersinstead of going with a florist, bringing the cost of flowers to less than $400 from $400 0.We had a budgetGame of Thrones-themed weddingand I reviewed the different companies and service providers we used and how we saved. These posts were monetized with links to a few products that I had used for the wedding and I received a small commission if anyone purchased them.The hardest part was trying to attract people who were looking for that information to the blog.Many people are afraid of selling but what I found is if you can attract someone looking for that exact information at the exact time they want it, youll never have to sell anything because that information is what the person wants right then.And as someone who does not like putting myself out there,I definitely did not want to do any selling at all. Attracting the right person at the right time was a tricky skill to learn though.I experimented with running Pinterest ads and used them to attract budget-inclined brides ready to DIY their weddings to my site. After some costly failures, I found the Pinterest strate gy that workedThe site quickly became profitable for me. I was able to introduce many new readers who came to my site for the wedding information to the concept of financial independence and retiring early as well which is a double win. I now receive emails from people who said the first time they ever found out about financial independence was from my site.The fire is spreadingI also started my side hustling Etsy shop and a podcast about financial independence during this time. On the podcast, weve interviewed over 150 people about their path to financial independenceincluding SteveThe podcast gave me even more ideas about side hustling and increasing my income as a strategy to FI.In 2017, I was able to achieve my goal of opening up a Solo 401k and saving 25% of my profits.I also contributed to the Solo 401k on behalf of my husband so he could hit his 401k match, after having him work for me on the blog. He is not a FIRE-person by any means but he wrote a post about how heno longer wants to buy a truckthat has been a hit with Google traffic. He is happily employed by my site as a very occasional guest writer.Whats Next for my Side Hustle?In 2018, my side hustling revenue topped out at $40,000. Although I still work full-time and Im a very career motivated person, I do feel great that I have more options on my path to financial independence. I know I dont have to wait until we save 25 times our expenses to try something new or different.Im actually much more intrigued by the idea of being an entrepreneur right now than I am about retiring early. It is possible to find fulfilling work that gives my husband and me the time and location freedom we desire. If I didnt like my job so much, we would probably be living the FI lifestyle now while continuing to build passive income or our first company.In August of this year, well be having our first child and Ive heard that changes things. I do feel good that we have a nest egg built up and profitable income streams co ming in as we move into this new phase of our lives.This article first appeared on Thinksaveretire.com.

What Should Be Included in a Resume for Dummies

What Should Be Included in a Resume for Dummies Type of What Should Be Included in a Resume Your resume should highlight the most indispensable abilities and experience thats related to the positions youre targeting. For inspiration about what to include on resume, it may be very helpful to examine examples of resumes in your position or industry. Generally speaking, an objective on your resume can be useful if it concisely describes your immediate employment goal, but it isnt an essential part of a successful resume. If youve got the sole objective in a sea of resumes, it only might provide help. If youre responding to an advertised position, indicate youre excited about the chance to discuss the way you can add to the success of the organization. While resumes are normally pretty cut-and-dried documents, there are methods to give hiring managers a better feeling of your nature and expertise without breaking a number of the standard resume guidelines, Augustine explains. If you opt to incorporate an objective, specify the sort of position you are trying to get. You might prefer to incorporate an objective in a job-search letter instead, especially in the event that you wish to be thought about for a wide selection of positions. Top Choices of What Should Be Included in a Resume Our Cover Letter Builder will reveal to you how If your CV is simply two pages but includes all appropriate info, that is fine too. Keep It Short Bios are much like the About Us section of your site in they will need to be short and sweet. Resumes are usually quite short often only about a page but they are frequently the very first chance youll need to make an impression. The What Should Be Included in a Resume Trap Be aware that there might be circumstances when including some of these information proves that youre a great fit for the job. Writing a resume is just one approach to advertise yourself for work. The peak of your resume should includecritical key phrases and a nahe daran sein snapshot of your core strengths, Leavy-Detrick states. Your resume should set you in a positive light. A Startling Fact about What Should Be Included in a Resume Uncovered You can be a bit vague here. For instance, your private situation may be ideal for a Certifications and Courses Completed section. Below are a few examples of the kinds of activities you may include on your resume. Nearly all resumes also incorporate a concise work history section. Who Else Wants to Learn About What Should Be Included in a Resume? When creating a web-based profile, if it be a LinkedIn profile, your personal expert site, a Visual CV, a work board, or any range of different venues on the internet to post your information it must appeal to a broader audience. The accession of unrequested or irrelevant information will probably lessen your odds of being called for an interview. Career Summary While many individuals understand the value of including a comprehensive empl oyment history as a portion of their resume, they frequently overlook the advantages of taking the opportunity to compose a career summary section. If youre looking for an internship at lululemon athetica, then it truly matters your interests include yoga. The What Should Be Included in a Resume Cover Up Be sure your resume contains everything the employer should be convinced that youre a fantastic match for the position. Overloading your resume with information that isnt really linked to your abilities or job-related talents is rarely an excellent concept, as it can get the employer or job recruiter to eliminate interest and continue on to the next candidate. If you dont supply the info needed for the hiring agency to learn your qualifications, you may not be considered for the job. Simply saying that you are interested in getting the job is not really compelling, but something that describes how you aspire to use your individual skills to fulfill a defined end in the employe rs industry can be very convincing. As an example, Wendys capacity to plan and price all elements of a 75-entree menu reveals her organizational skill which is vital in teaching. Choosing which to use is dependent upon the kind of job that you are applying for and your degree of experience. Although you might be interested in a number of opportunities when youre applying, the viewer generally only has one role they are searching to fill. Therefore its important to continue to keep your resume updated with the present format in demand. The Nuiances of What Should Be Included in a Resume A simple resume template is going to be your very best bet. You dont need to invent a totally new layout. Although resumes are composed using standard elements, theres absolutely no prescribed format is effective equally well for everybody. The templates are intended to be a guide to begin, but it needs to be expanded on to make it your own. Get the job that you want with a how to compose a resume format sample an illustration of job application that highlights your experience in various service conditions. Your resume formats jobscan is just one of the most significant parts of your job application. You should tailor your resume to each work application so that it responds to the particular necessities of the job which youre applying for. The application can be found at www.ybgli.org. New Questions About What Should Be Included in a Resume You dont need to include your house address, though there may be some situations when doing so would be recommended. There are a few things you shouldnt include in your resume. Taking the opportunity to work on your resume is crucial. Your resume may be screened by somebody in human resources who does not have any idea what it is that youre speaking about. Attempt to incorporate relevant keywords from the work description in your summary, since it will assist the recruiter easily realize that youre a superb fit for the j ob. Resumes are intended to show you have what it requires to do exceptional work in a specific position. They should demonstrate what you can do and not what you can not do, says Harrison.

Chris Bates - Financial Advisor Founder of Wealthful

Chris Bates - Financial Advisor Founder of Wealthful Chris Bates Financial Advisor Founder of WealthfulPosted February 5, 2019, by Jenny Chris is an Aussie with English blood and has a serious love for adventure and travel. Nothing makes him happier than landseeing wildlife in the wild, and everything he values most in life is free (ironic for a guy in finance right). While hes thriving now, a career in finance welchesnt always smooth sailing, read Chris career story here...What is your current role and what does it involve?Technically, I am a Financial Adviser and Mortgage Broker but I see myself mora as an educator and coach. My role is helping people align their life and lifestyle with their finances. Inside the tin, I help people take action with financial advice to get better results with their time, energy and money.Tell us more about Wealthful and the inspiration behind starting itOne purpose, Wealthful is areally simple business. We help our clients (young families in 30s and 40s) make the right decisions and take the right steps financially to help them live a life fulfilled with True Wealth. We believe wealth is so much more than money and its everything we value around us. We have three services and I started Wealthful because I truly wanted to make a big impacton the future of young Australians. My true mission is to help countless people with sound principles they can implement to help them live more fulfilling lives. I have a long way to go but I am on the right path.Tell us about your study journeyI was always a bit conflicted with education because I always wanted to learn my way. I started to work at 14 and I have never stopped. When I schliffed school I went to Uni part-time but left to see the world and live in London. I have since done a number of Diplomas, a Graduate Certificate at Uni and now going to go back to finish my Masters.What was your first job and what do you think it taught you?McDonalds. It was brilliant and while I dont ste p inside there now, every kid needs to work. Working at a young age was a huge confidence boost and personally, I loved the structure that highlighted when you achieved great results. We would gamify the way we worked by setting challenges throughout the day to push ourselves. Perfect burger up in 32 seconds.What does a typical day at the office look like for you?It swaps around a lot but I do get to work out of a cool co-working space with just a backpack, thats all I have. I spend at least 30 minutes reading every newspaper, 30 minutes on LinkedIn producing content and engaging my community, the rest of the dayis spenton phone calls, between meetings, returningemails and chatting with my business partner and managing clients. I also like tokeep up my podcasts, attendevents andcatch up withothersI love to learn from.Why steps did you have to take to become a financial advisor?Back in 2007, I was in the UK and it was not right. I paid around 500 quid to do a course and I was advisin g clients within 3 months. This was one of the reasons we have some many failings in financial advice. After three months, I had no idea yet, I was giving bad advice and clearly needed more training.Whats the most interesting thing thats happened to you in your career? I have met thousands of clients and the most interesting thing is hearing their life stories. I could talk for days on my clients over the years, Ive seen and heard it all You have to genuinely like learning about people to be an advisor and my clients make me laugh every day.Name a career highlightI would say a career highlight is recently starting to see the business make aneven bigger impact on more peoples lives. Overall, I am very proud of my advice from day one, so a highlight to me is staying truly ethical and to my personal principles in an industry inherently not.Name a career lowIn years 0-5 as an adviser, I was regularly battling with the industry both in my head and vocally. It was and is hard for me to de al with what I saw and see. I got kicked out of the first bank for upsetting the bosses after I called out misselling of product and the second bank was the same. Everywhere I looked I was angered by what I saw. The low came when I almost quit advice altogether to follow my passion to become a safari tour guide in South Africa (I will do this one day).Name something you still dont knowFinancial advice is all about deeply understanding people, their motivations and their dreams. As I become more spiritually aware, older and wiser, I become a better adviser. I know I have so much more growth to come and its why I am so addicted to learning every single day.Whats the most important career tip someone has given you?Without doubt, it was to make sure you stick to your principles. I have always fought the fight for what I think is fair from a young age, whether it was friends bullied at school or people mistreating strangers. I cant not step in. A goodadviser once said to me, Chris dont e ver lose fighting for the principle, its what makes you, youWhat career advice do you wish someone had given you after you graduated high school?Take time to truly understand your true passions and dont be focused on getting your career locked in now. Go travel to learn about the world, others and yourself. But remember to invest in yourself every day to learn more and keep asking yourself what do you care about. Once you know that, make sure you dont follow the career that others around you want you to have. Find your own path, dont compare yourself to others and treat life as a journey, not as a destination.What are important qualities and skills should people have if they want to become a financial advisor?Genuine care for others. Enjoy conversation. Ability to think big. Feel fulfilled seeing others succeed.What is the standard salary for the field?Its hard to say. But I am confident that you will benefit financially in the long term if you invest in yourself and others.Whats ne xt for you?I want to help more people. Whether its books, through courses, or hosting events I have a mission to help thousands, maybe millions and so I am investing in my knowledge so I can.Is a career in finance your calling? Get the best headstart with our range ofFinance courses Enquire now and see where it can lead you.Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage BrokingStudy modeClassroomOnlinePayment optionsPayment planUpfront paymentEnquire Online Enquire OnlineFinance ResourcesFinance manager resumeFinance manager cover letterInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerBusiness ManagerOffice AdministratorManagement ConsultantOffice ManagerPopular Career Searchescareers in media and communicationscareers in disability servicescareers in dentistrycareers in child carecareers in emergency healthcareFinance CoursesDiploma of Financial PlanningEnquire Online Enquire OnlineAdvanced Diploma of Financial PlanningEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Commerce (Accounting)Enquire O nline Enquire OnlineCertificate IV Financial ServicesEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJennyRelated ArticlesBrowse moreFinanceRisky businessYou crash your car. You have emergency heart surgery. Your suitcase is stolen. Of course, these are all less-than-ideal situations but theyre all linked by an urgent need for one simple thing insurance.AccountingCAREER ADVICEFinancial career survival guideThe global financial crisis has affected nearly every industry, but few areas have been hit as hard as the banking and financial sectors.Who wants to be a millionaireIf you thought mining was the road to riches, think again - financial services are now taking over as Australias main source of millionaires.

Investment Management Industry Overview

Investment Management Industry OverviewInvestment Management Industry OverviewThe industry controls around $64 trillion globally (having grown by roughly 10 per cent annually over the past decade) and charges clients 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent for the privilege. Hedge feststellungs charge 2 per cent management fees and typically 20 per cent performance fees.No surprise then that operating margins in the investment management industry are more than 40 per cent, according to the Boston Consulting Group. The beauty of the industry, for its incumbents, is that as markets tend to rise over the long run their fees increase even though the cost of managing money doesnt. Overtime, according to some estimates, fund managers raise their fees by double digits, up to around 15 percent a year.The investment management industry is one of the few that broadly impact households all over the world, particularly now. As the population gets older in the core European Union countries, the old-age depen dency tarif is set to rise from 21 percent now to 50 percent in 2050 and pension deficits have increased, more people than ever are planning for their future financial needs. As a result, the industry is increasingly visible. Investment management has become an increasingly important part of the financial services industry in Europe. London, for example, is now one of the leading international centres for investment management.Still growingIn Europe assets under management grew by almost 400 1000 milliarden in 2007 the UK alone now accounts for around 7 percent of global assets under management, the third biggest home for managed assets behind the US and Japan. Retail fund demand has continued to increase nearly 50 1000000 households had $24 trillion invested in retail funds as of June 2007, up from $1 trillion in 1990. Despite the leistungspunkt crunch investment in alternative asset classes has also shot up. A survey by HedgeFund Intelligence said global hedge fund assets under m anagement reached $2.65 trillion at the beginning of 2008, a massive increase of 27 percent from the same period in 2007.But the credit crunch will biteHowever, the adverse economic conditions of recent times have caused problems for the industry. The credit crunch will lower returns in the short-term because there will be less leverage available to fund managers, not to mention the effect of the crunch on global stock markets. Many big investment banks, such as Citigroup and Merrill Lynch, were already selling off their wealth management departments before the economic downturn. As the credit crunch continues to bite and push returns lower, more big players could downsize their investment management offerings.The crunch may also bring about regulatory changes. In the US, for example, the Federal Reserve bailed out Bear Stearns because, if it failed, its entangled assets would have also brought down the edifice of modern finance. As a result harsher regulatory regimes will be introd uced to ensure fund managers cannot topple a financial system that it has taken centuries to create.The heat has also been turned up on fund managers who are making exorbitant sums amid a seriously tightening economy. While more people than ever are using food stamps in the US some asset managers, particularly hedge fund owners, are making massive profits.Even multi-multi millionaires such as Bill Gates and John McCain have criticised the super-rich for cashing in on other peoples hard-times. John Paulson, a hedge fund manager, made $3.7 billion in 2007 primarily through shorting the risky CDOs that have brought misery to so many. Paulson beat the best-known fund manager, George Soros, into second place with an annual income of $2.9 billion. In the UK alternative assets managers, particularly short-selling hedge funds, have been seriously admonished by the FSA for spreading liquidity scare-stories about UK banks.Pension reform and emergence of propertyThroughout Western Europe, pens ion reform has become a politically explosive topic - and one being watched closely by the biggest banks in London, Frankfurt and across the Atlantic on Wall Street. Several European Union countries are facing pension crises, mainly due to an ageing population. Europes state pension schemes are based on a pay-as-you-go premise, which means that money paid into the retirement plan by todays workers are passed through immediately to todays retirees. That means much more responsibility is placed on the current crop of workers to pay for a disproportionate amount of pensioners Older workers (aged 55 to 64) in the European Union are set to increase by 24 million between 2005 and 2030.And heres how investment managers might benefit in the years to come the governments plan is to strike a new model that shifts more responsibility to workers and away from state-run pension plans. Nations like France, Germany and Italy are trying to increase the retirement age as a way to encourage workers to look after their own pensions through defined contributions. Meanwhile, requirements for defined benefit contributions are being increased. As pension reforms are passed throughout Europe, those that enter the investment management industry will benefit. It is one of the reasons why investment managers, from Deutsche Bank in Germany to UBS in Switzerland, are touting a variety of investments tailored to younger investors.The show will go onInvestors will always desire yields, whether from short-term risky ventures or more secure longer-term investments. As a result, the industry can survive anything. After all, assets are always there to be managed. However, the next couple of years will be a tougher time for the industry as the risks surrounding financial markets and global economic growth remain on the downside. As a result investors, alongside other consumers, are tightening their belts to offset a drastically slowing global economy and a reduction in cheap credit while this c ontinues investors appetite for equity exposure and interest rate risk is likely to remain subdued. This will impact liquidity, meaning managers will have less cash in their funds than they have been used to over the last few years. ConsolidatingThere have already been well over 150 mergers in the investment management industry in the last 20 years. Recent consolidation activity includes the merger of BlackRock and Merrill Lynch Investment Management, buyouts of Jupiter from Commerzbank and of Gartmore from Nationwide Mutual. A further spate of consolidation is in the offing amid tough economic conditions. Experts believe institutions with low price-to-earnings ratios, or struggling with poor asset quality, will sell-off their investment management businesses to find more capital. The credit market turmoil has already sidelined some private equity deals and could lead to fire sales of distressed assets. Indeed, M&A activity within the investment management industry was at an all ti me high from January to March 2008 in terms of deal volume. In the first quarter of 2008 53 deals were announced at a cost of around $9.6 billion. The acquired assets under management totalled over $704 billion. By contrast in the same period of 2007 45 deals were announced representing $544.9 billion in acquired assets under management.Convergence The European investment management sector is currently experiencing massive convergence between traditional and alternative investment styles. Hedge funds, private equity funds and traditional asset managers are competing increasingly closely as the lines between the asset classes become blurred. Investors increasingly understand how to invest and which investments could generate higher returns in a regulated environment. Regulators have realised this and are now offering traditional asset managers new flexibility as long as investors remain protected.The search for the alpha has aided the process. Traditional asset managers have been bu ying hedge fund boutiques for some time. But now the difference between these businesses and their core investment strategies are disappearing. Long-only managers are also using regulatory devices such as UCITS III to offer hedge fund products for retail investors and other products to widen the choice for their institutional investors.Meanwhile, alternative asset managers are reaching a wider audience among investors through regulated fund vehicles and eschewing offshore domiciles of the Caribbean and the British Isles for EU member states such as Luxembourg. The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), the international hedge fund industry body, recently suggested Hedge funds are now considered part of the mainstream of the investment management industry. There is even convergence among alternative assets. Private equity houses and hedge funds are frequently adopting similar investment strategies. Cheap credit, low volatility and rising equity markets encouraged hedg e funds to enter the private equity market until the middle of last year.mora strategically, hedge funds are increasingly ring-fencing capital for illiquid investments, similar to those made by private equity. Recently they have deployed these investments up and down the capital structure, including second lien and mezzanine debt products. Private equity houses have acquired undervalued assets and businesses through public market deals. Many experts suggest this could lead to further growth in hybrid alternative investment firms.The shift from equities to bonds to equitiesAfter the dotcom bubble burst at the turn of the millennium, equity markets became erratic as stocks were challenged by a mixture of corporate scandals and weak economic growth. As a result funds moved from equities to bonds. According to some estimates, pension funds moved 40 billion from equities to bonds in 2004. However, strong economic growth and weakening bond yields since then has instigated a shift back to equities. But, experts suggest, investors in stocks lulled by periods of low volatility can be hit hard. As the recent economic crisis has shown, things can change quickly and even the strongest of stocks can plummet. In the UK during the 1970s the last time stagflation hit and editor of The Sun Larry Lamb immortalised 1979 as the Winter of Discontent equities on the whole performed very poorly. Then, as now, investors flocked to more secure bond funds, primarily investing in government debt as opposed to risky junk bonds.Still, bonds arent always a stahlkammer-haven in times of strife. The trick for investors, says one fund manager, is to Keep a diversified portfolio comprised of stocks and bonds. Even 100 percent safe products arent always safe, as most managers will tell you. The trick is to spread the risk.The challenge of exchange traded fundsDescribed as the Wal-mart of the business, exchange traded funds (ETF) are increasingly undermining the traditional business model of investment management funds. According to Morgan Stanley, ETFs had $74 billion in assets under management in 2000, but by 2007 this was up to $700 billion. The growth will not stop there, with Morgan Stanley estimating that $2 trillion will be invested in ETFs by 2011. And it is no surprise. Nearly anything investors believe will perform well in the future can be bought in the form of an ETF, which is a portfolio that can be bought on the stock exchange and costs much less than a traditional investment management firm. The more investors pay in charges, the less money they are likely to make according to experts. As a result, ETFs will remain extremely attractive to investors. More than just investmentMore than ever investment management companies are focusing on more than just investing. Business decisions such as marketing and distribution, global growth, and technology integration are becoming increasingly important factors in the success of investment management firms. While th is Guide will focus mainly on developing a career on the investment side of the investment management industry, we will also spend some time discussing the growing alternative career opportunities relating to these non-investment business issues.

ASME Pressure Vessels Video Thomas Pastor Medal Winner

ASME Pressure Vessels Video Thomas Pastor Medal Winner ASME Pressure Vessels Video Thomas Pastor Medal Winner Video Thomas P. Pastor, Melvin R. Green Codes & Standards Medal WinnerThomas P. Pastor is vice president of code services for HSB Global Standards and leuchtdiode the development of several knowledge-based databases used to provide code technical support to over 3,000 ASME certificate holders and inspectors. He formerly worked at Combustion Engineering where he was a member of the structural analysis group responsible for performing load analyses of nuclear reactor internals subject to seismic and loss-of-coolant events.An ASME fellow, he has served on the societys Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code committees. He currently serves on ASMEs Council on Standards and Certification as well being a member of the Board for Pressure Technology Codes and Standards, among others. He earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut, Storrs (UC onn).Learn more about Thomas P. Pastor and the ASME Melvin R. Green Codes Standards Medal. The copyright of this program is owned by ASME.

Every Small Company Needs a Compensation Strategy

Every Small Company Needs a Compensation StrategyEvery Small Company Needs a Compensation StrategyEvery Small Company Needs a Compensation Strategy ChildersWhile many small geschftlicher umganges have a solid business plan in place, they often falter when it comes to implementing a compensation strategy. That is unfortunate.As a result, its easy to offer too much or too little money to compete for the best talent. Even worse, some businesses neglect to have a compensation strategy in place that reflects their overall strategy and values.Katie Busch of HR Communication Consultants in Boynton Beach, Florida, says small businesses need to keep their salary structure current, while also offering a competitive advantage over other small businesses in the same market.Many small businesses mistakenly believe that having a compensation program in place isnt something they need to worry about until their company gets much bigger, Busch says. They often believe having a compensation plan will limit their ability to make good business decisions in regards to employee pay, but often the opposite is true.To create a comprehensive compensation strategy for your small business, consider the following stepsLook at the job and its location. Salaries for small businesses are not necessarily based on the same data used by large companies. When determining a jobs market value, job location is oftenas important as the job title. The Small Business Administration recommends doing an online search using keywords such as Administrative assistant, salary range, your location to determine how to better understand the market for particular jobs in your area.Experts recommend taking it a step further. Look at where youre competing for talent, says Tim Low, Senior Vice Presidentof Marketing at Payscale.com in Seattle, Wash. For many positions, especially in technology, companies may be national, rather than regional.The takeaway if youre seeking candidates who live outside of your immediat e area, be sure to utilize a salary relocation calculator to help determine fair compensation.Be transparent about your compensation strategy. In the past many businesses believed that talking about compensation should only be done behind closed doors, but Low says that successful small businesses today believe in an open pay policy that reveals a compensation strategy that is committed to investing in top talent.Being honest and candid about your compensation practices and how you benchmark salaries can have a positive impact on trust and employee morale, Low says. Consider implementing salary ranges. While not all small businesses feel as though they are ready to implement salary ranges, Low says that creating pay ranges can be good for your business.By establishing a salary range, you can show employees where they are starting on the range, and illustrate how they have room to grow, he says. If an employee is at the top of the salary range, you can talk to them about a growth tra ck, and how they can thrive at your company, perhaps by getting the skills and training needed to be a manager.Anticipate employee expectations about raises and bonuses. Low says many small businesses are moving away from annual reviews, preferring instead to offer more frequent feedback. This strategy is particularly important for retaining Millennial employees.Many large companies including IBM, Microsoft and General Electric are leading the trend by replacing annual performance reviews and offering employees more frequent informal reviews, where they can set and update quarterly goals and offer opportunities for individual growth.At Grady Britton, a creative agency in Portland, Oregon, Paige Campbell, the agencys president and partner, says employees receive quarterly rewards based on performance including a bonus day off or a long leisurely lunch paid for by the company.Employees and work teams are also celebrated throughout the year when they have demonstrated superior performa nce. If someone has done an outstanding job they may receive a mid-year raise, we wont wait a full year to acknowledge their achievements, Campbell says.Get creative with rewards. Busch says one of the first rewards she encourages small businesses to implement is a simple thank-you given to an employee who has exceeded expectations.Its especially important to verbally acknowledge an employees contributions in a group situation that also serves to demonstrate to other employees your companys expectations.