In the present scenario most of the countries over the world have relied upon Indian software company and firms or Software Companies for the software development activities, as the country possesses a global competency in the IT sector.
The Software development company India comprises of businesses related to the production and maintenance of computer software. The roots of the Software Industry India lies in the IT phenomenon. Services regarding software such as training, consulting and maintenance are a part of this ever-growing industry. The Software companies is witnessing a rapid growth and offers lucrative job opportunities making IT a premium career option for the youth. Infact it is one of the fastest growing sector of Indian industry.
India is emerging as a Global IT superpower. The success can be attributed to factor advantage of high quality of software human resources. The Software Industry has succeeded in converting this comparative advantage to increasing exports. More and more companies are receiving the ISO 9000 certification and the day is not far when India will have the highest number of ISO 9000 companies in the world.
Indian Software Industry is estimated to be worth USD 1.2 billion. Unfortunately the growth has been limited to a few cities around Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Noida.
One problem that software companies in India are facing is that of outflow of IT professionals. This can be looked into by ensuring the conditions for investment and growth in the industry are safeguarded by political stability.
Wipro, HCL, Tata Consultancy Services, Satyam computer Services, CMC, IBM etc are some of the major Software development and software consulting firms or companies in India.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
How should I set up a job interview meeting?
The three main ways of making contact are telephone, email, and snail mail. If you call your potential interviewee, it might help to write down what you plan to say ahead of time. If you send something written, be sure to proofread your missive. It is especially important that you do not say or do anything that makes it sound as though you’re trying to get the person to hire you. While that would be nice, it’s not the point of the informational interview.
Telephone calls, emails, and letters basically follow the same structure:
1. Introduce yourself
2. Explain that you’re interested in the field in question, but that you would like to learn more about it through someone like your potential interviewee, who has a lot of experience and wisdom.
3. Give a specific reason you’re interested in talking to the potential interviewee - you’ll show you’re serious and focused when you, for example, tell the head of a public relations firm that you know her organization does a lot of work for environmental groups, and you’re specifically interested in that aspect of PR.
4. Ask if the person has time for a 30-minute meeting during which you could learn more about the interviewees’ work and thoughts about their career.
This whole process of contacting interviewees might make you a little nervous - if you’re new to the working world and low on the totem pole, calling up a business executive can be a little frightening. You may be especially hesitant because you feel like you have nothing to offer in return for that executive’s time. Relax. Most successful members of the working world have an intimate understanding of the networking system. They know that when they were inexperienced, seasoned professionals helped them out. And now that they’re the high-level executives, they’ll talk to you at a business conference or grant you a 30-minute meeting - with the understanding that when you’re a big shot, you’ll take a few minutes out of a busy day to advise a newcomer about your line of work. And, if that answer doesn’t satisfy you, remember that most people love talking about themselves and relish the experience of feeling like an important expert in their field.
Telephone calls, emails, and letters basically follow the same structure:
1. Introduce yourself
2. Explain that you’re interested in the field in question, but that you would like to learn more about it through someone like your potential interviewee, who has a lot of experience and wisdom.
3. Give a specific reason you’re interested in talking to the potential interviewee - you’ll show you’re serious and focused when you, for example, tell the head of a public relations firm that you know her organization does a lot of work for environmental groups, and you’re specifically interested in that aspect of PR.
4. Ask if the person has time for a 30-minute meeting during which you could learn more about the interviewees’ work and thoughts about their career.
This whole process of contacting interviewees might make you a little nervous - if you’re new to the working world and low on the totem pole, calling up a business executive can be a little frightening. You may be especially hesitant because you feel like you have nothing to offer in return for that executive’s time. Relax. Most successful members of the working world have an intimate understanding of the networking system. They know that when they were inexperienced, seasoned professionals helped them out. And now that they’re the high-level executives, they’ll talk to you at a business conference or grant you a 30-minute meeting - with the understanding that when you’re a big shot, you’ll take a few minutes out of a busy day to advise a newcomer about your line of work. And, if that answer doesn’t satisfy you, remember that most people love talking about themselves and relish the experience of feeling like an important expert in their field.
Job Search - Interview Background
Since you need to connect with the person responsible for the interview, it is helpful to discover as much as you can about that person as well. Is this your prospective boss or someone screening applicants? If possible, discover what the person is interested in and where he or she previously worked or went to college. Gather information that will help you establish an easy rapport.
Your quest for information can seem elusive without the ability to conduct an audit of the company’s financial statements or at least interview employees of the company. With a bit of networking, the latter might be more feasible than you would initially think. Several other resources will help you:
- The company website.
- Company statements and brochures.
- Newspaper and magazine articles.
- Reviews of best and worst companies.
- Employees of the company.
- Public records.
- Information held at local job search agencies.
Most popular Careers in Pakistan
Everybody is complaining about the slowed down local job market and lower wages in Pakistan. In fact it is true to some extent, Pakistan is also facing economic slow down like everywhere else in the World, but arguably the situation is not as bad as in some other countries like USA, Europe, Australia and Middle East.
No matter what is the economic situation in Pakistan, We will always send out a positive message to its visitors, because one should never lose hope and always should have positive thinking. Despite of all the economic slow down, there are still some careers that are in demand and rather are thriving, so here is the list of in demand jobs with a little brief:
Tele Sales Representative:
Tele Sales Representatives (TSR) are really in demand, we have calls from employers every day requiring TSRs, and they do not need them in small numbers like 2,3 or 4 they want them in large numbers like 10, 20, 30. As the title suggests TSR’s main responsibility is to drive sales by calling customer through Telephone. The skills required are excellent communication in English(Foreign Call Centers) or Urdu (For Local Call Centers). Some companies do not have strict educational requirements but graduates are preferred.
PHP Developers:
There is really a short fall of PHP developers in the market, the main reason being that most educational institutes do not teach PHP in their computer science programs. PHP is a really hot language for web development these days, every other open source is developed using PHP. Some of the most popular websites are developed using PHP.
Graphic Designers:
Creative Graphic designers are always in demand, they give shape to ideas and translate company vision into graphics. Graphic designers are required in the fields of print media, electronics media and on internet. The demand is endless, however the supply has a shortfall. There are only a few institutes that are producing good graphic designers.
We strongly believe that this area is being neglected by institutes and student as well and has great potential for a successful career.
Sales representatives:
This career should have topped our hot careers list; however since we wanted to highlight other career opportunities that were rather neglected, therefore this comes at number four on our top careers list. Sales people are always in demand; these are the guys and girls that drive all the revenue to the companies and are the a backbone of any company. Qualification requirements vary from product to product and company to company, however for a top notch career in a good company MBA is a recommended degree program.
No matter what is the economic situation in Pakistan, We will always send out a positive message to its visitors, because one should never lose hope and always should have positive thinking. Despite of all the economic slow down, there are still some careers that are in demand and rather are thriving, so here is the list of in demand jobs with a little brief:
Tele Sales Representative:
Tele Sales Representatives (TSR) are really in demand, we have calls from employers every day requiring TSRs, and they do not need them in small numbers like 2,3 or 4 they want them in large numbers like 10, 20, 30. As the title suggests TSR’s main responsibility is to drive sales by calling customer through Telephone. The skills required are excellent communication in English(Foreign Call Centers) or Urdu (For Local Call Centers). Some companies do not have strict educational requirements but graduates are preferred.
PHP Developers:
There is really a short fall of PHP developers in the market, the main reason being that most educational institutes do not teach PHP in their computer science programs. PHP is a really hot language for web development these days, every other open source is developed using PHP. Some of the most popular websites are developed using PHP.
Graphic Designers:
Creative Graphic designers are always in demand, they give shape to ideas and translate company vision into graphics. Graphic designers are required in the fields of print media, electronics media and on internet. The demand is endless, however the supply has a shortfall. There are only a few institutes that are producing good graphic designers.
We strongly believe that this area is being neglected by institutes and student as well and has great potential for a successful career.
Sales representatives:
This career should have topped our hot careers list; however since we wanted to highlight other career opportunities that were rather neglected, therefore this comes at number four on our top careers list. Sales people are always in demand; these are the guys and girls that drive all the revenue to the companies and are the a backbone of any company. Qualification requirements vary from product to product and company to company, however for a top notch career in a good company MBA is a recommended degree program.
Job Interview Tips
Be Early
Make a winning impression by showing you are reliable and organized. Get directions in advance and take a test drive if you are unfamiliar with the area. Also, check out the parking situation or public transportation schedules. Allow enough time for traffic and unexpected delays.
It’s All About You
Review your resume thoroughly, but don’t memorize it word for word. When talking, focus on your skills and accomplishments and how they correlate to the position you want. Hone in on how your experience has prepared you for this job and what you can bring to the table.
Dress to Impress
Follow this simple rule of thumb: “It’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.” Even if the work environment is casual, your appearance still must be neat, clean and professional. Unless the interviewer specifically tells you to dress casually, a classic suit is always your best bet. Also, limit your use of jewelry, makeup and cologne or perfume.
The Name Game
Make sure you know the correct name and pronunciation of the interviewer. Listen carefully when the interviewer states his or her name and repeat it back when you say hello. Before you leave, ask for a business card from each person you met. This gives you the necessary information to write thank-you letters.
Hand It Over
A firm handshake is a sign of confidence, but avoid the bone crushing vice grip. Weak and clammy handshakes typically make a bad impression. Don’t forget to look the interviewer directly in the eye when initiating contact.
Body Language
Appear confident by sitting up straight and maintaining good eye contact throughout the interview. Poor posture may translate to low self-esteem. Refrain from fidgeting or chewing gum or candy.
Be Nice
You never know who you’ll meet in the parking lot, elevator or lobby, so be polite to everyone from the receptionist to the CEO. After all, they could have an influence in the hiring process.
Short and Sweet
Avoid long-winded answers. Practice in advance and you will sound more focused and polished.
The Sounds of Silence
While it may be golden, silence can be uncomfortable. However, jumping in with irrelevant comments just to fill up airtime will only make you look nervous. If you are experiencing trouble forming an answer to a question, wait a few seconds before responding. The use of “um, uh, like, well, err …” sounds well, um … stupid. Take your time and think before you speak.
Cold Hard Cash
Although salary is an important factor in your job search, don’t let it be the driving force behind your choice. In interviews, it’s more important to talk about why you’re the right person for the job. Do not bring up salary unless the interviewer asks.
Practice Makes Perfect
Rehearsing is not just for actors. Take time to review what you want to say by asking a friend to play “the interviewer.” By practicing your responses to typical interviewing questions, you will significantly reduce your stress level and improve your chances of making a winning impression on the interviewer.
Make a winning impression by showing you are reliable and organized. Get directions in advance and take a test drive if you are unfamiliar with the area. Also, check out the parking situation or public transportation schedules. Allow enough time for traffic and unexpected delays.
It’s All About You
Review your resume thoroughly, but don’t memorize it word for word. When talking, focus on your skills and accomplishments and how they correlate to the position you want. Hone in on how your experience has prepared you for this job and what you can bring to the table.
Dress to Impress
Follow this simple rule of thumb: “It’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.” Even if the work environment is casual, your appearance still must be neat, clean and professional. Unless the interviewer specifically tells you to dress casually, a classic suit is always your best bet. Also, limit your use of jewelry, makeup and cologne or perfume.
The Name Game
Make sure you know the correct name and pronunciation of the interviewer. Listen carefully when the interviewer states his or her name and repeat it back when you say hello. Before you leave, ask for a business card from each person you met. This gives you the necessary information to write thank-you letters.
Hand It Over
A firm handshake is a sign of confidence, but avoid the bone crushing vice grip. Weak and clammy handshakes typically make a bad impression. Don’t forget to look the interviewer directly in the eye when initiating contact.
Body Language
Appear confident by sitting up straight and maintaining good eye contact throughout the interview. Poor posture may translate to low self-esteem. Refrain from fidgeting or chewing gum or candy.
Be Nice
You never know who you’ll meet in the parking lot, elevator or lobby, so be polite to everyone from the receptionist to the CEO. After all, they could have an influence in the hiring process.
Short and Sweet
Avoid long-winded answers. Practice in advance and you will sound more focused and polished.
The Sounds of Silence
While it may be golden, silence can be uncomfortable. However, jumping in with irrelevant comments just to fill up airtime will only make you look nervous. If you are experiencing trouble forming an answer to a question, wait a few seconds before responding. The use of “um, uh, like, well, err …” sounds well, um … stupid. Take your time and think before you speak.
Cold Hard Cash
Although salary is an important factor in your job search, don’t let it be the driving force behind your choice. In interviews, it’s more important to talk about why you’re the right person for the job. Do not bring up salary unless the interviewer asks.
Practice Makes Perfect
Rehearsing is not just for actors. Take time to review what you want to say by asking a friend to play “the interviewer.” By practicing your responses to typical interviewing questions, you will significantly reduce your stress level and improve your chances of making a winning impression on the interviewer.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Strategies for Success
Research on negotiating salary shows that up to 80 percent of job offers are negotiable but that only a small number of job candidates actually enter into negotiations of the job offer and salary with prospective employers. The main reason given is that candidates feel ill-equipped to negotiate and as a result are intimidated by the negotiation process. You don't have to be an expert negotiator to successfully negotiate a job offer. Knowing these basic negotiation strategies helps you to properly plan your salary negotiation and feel confident in the negotiation process.
Delay the salary discussion for as long as possible in the hiring process
The best time for negotiating salary is after a firm job offer has been made. Your negotiating power is at its peak when the company has been convinced of your potential value to them and has decided that you are the best candidate for the job. If the salary question comes up early in the interview process it is best to remain as non committal as possible and suggest that your salary requirements are "open" or "negotiable" until you have learned more about the job. If pressed to give an amount state a wide range within which your salary requirements fall. Avoid giving a specific salary figure on the application form and rather put "competitive" or "open to discussion".
Find out the value of your skills in the marketplace
Information is your greatest tool in negotiating salary. Research your competitive market value. What are other organizations in your field and geographical area paying for your skills and experience? It is much easier to persuade the company to agree with your salary request if your negotiation proposal is firmly based in hard fact such as what people with similar skills and in similar jobs are currently earning. You can research salary data in a number of ways including visiting various free salary websites, asking people in similar positions, calling professional and trade associations, asking recruiters and employment agents and looking at similar job postings.
Know what you are worth to this specific company
Understanding your company-value helps you determine your real bargaining power. What is your value to this particular company? Consider factors such as the supply and demand ratio of your skills and experience in this industry and area, the number of candidates the company has interviewed, how urgently the company needs to fill the job and the direct and indirect contribution to company profitability of this position.
Evaluate the entire compensation package
Benefits can contribute up to 30 percent of the whole compensation package. Include the benefits in your salary calculations to get a more accurate picture of the dollar value of the whole compensation package. Put a direct dollar value on benefits such as medical, dental and life insurance, company bonuses, profit sharing, direct expense coverage such as parking, phone etc, company services such as child care and paid overtime. Decide which aspects are important to you and what you can negotiate to balance the base salary.
Calculate a realistic salary range to negotiate within
Work out how much you need to earn to cover your expenses. For each expense work out the amount of money you need and the amount of money you would like. The total of each amount provides you with an acceptable salary range within which you can negotiate. You will use this data for your salary decisions. However during the negotiations it is important to base your salary request on your value to the company and your skills and experience and not on what money you need to earn every month. The employer is unlikely to be interested in your expenses. Begin negotiating at the top of your salary range to give yourself sufficient room for negotiation.
Always start your salary negotiations by thanking the employer for the job offer and highlighting your enthusiasm for the position and the company. Keep a positive attitude throughout the process of negotiating salary and make requests rather than demands. Know your true value and be confident of your ability to get the best job offer you can.
Go to Negotiating Your Salary for a complete guide to negotiating the job offer including free practical salary negotiation resources and tools.
Source: http://www.articleheaven.com/article_598511_36.html
Earn strategies to achieve in the classroom and in your career.
If you are among the thousands of students attending college to develop skills and behaviors for your career, then consider this opportunity to develop a strong foundation for achievement in college, career and life. The Student Life Skills classes (SLS 1103 and SLS 0005) at Florida Community College provide the essential content needed for students to succeed for college and beyond. These courses have shown to significantly increase the academic success and retention of college students. Students who take these courses persist in college and succeed in completing their degrees more often.
How can you develop these skills? Add Strategies for Success in College, Career and Life or Foundations of College Success to your next schedule. You’ll gain a unique advantage in the classroom and the workplace with the survival and success skills taught in courses offered at Florida Community College.
Topics of the course include:
* Goals and priorities
* Voice mail and e-mail etiquette
* Maintaining commitment
* Dealing with successes and failure
* Communicating with individuals at work and at college professors, superiors, subordinates and peers
* Verbal and non-verbal communication skills
* Teamwork and decision making
* Learning skills
* Conflict management and resolution
* Leadership styles and skills
* Financial and debt management
* Long-term planning for career, education and wellness.
You’ll find a tremendous amount of information delivered in an active, engaging learning environment. Not only will this class build your success skills for your college work, but it also will give you a foundation of behaviors, habits and skills that will enable you to succeed and thrive in the working world.
Your desire to succeed is the only prerequisite. Register for SLS 1103— Strategies for Success in College, Career and Life or SLS 0005 Foundations for College Success — or see your advisor for further details and information to help you decide which course is best for you.
Delay the salary discussion for as long as possible in the hiring process
The best time for negotiating salary is after a firm job offer has been made. Your negotiating power is at its peak when the company has been convinced of your potential value to them and has decided that you are the best candidate for the job. If the salary question comes up early in the interview process it is best to remain as non committal as possible and suggest that your salary requirements are "open" or "negotiable" until you have learned more about the job. If pressed to give an amount state a wide range within which your salary requirements fall. Avoid giving a specific salary figure on the application form and rather put "competitive" or "open to discussion".
Find out the value of your skills in the marketplace
Information is your greatest tool in negotiating salary. Research your competitive market value. What are other organizations in your field and geographical area paying for your skills and experience? It is much easier to persuade the company to agree with your salary request if your negotiation proposal is firmly based in hard fact such as what people with similar skills and in similar jobs are currently earning. You can research salary data in a number of ways including visiting various free salary websites, asking people in similar positions, calling professional and trade associations, asking recruiters and employment agents and looking at similar job postings.
Know what you are worth to this specific company
Understanding your company-value helps you determine your real bargaining power. What is your value to this particular company? Consider factors such as the supply and demand ratio of your skills and experience in this industry and area, the number of candidates the company has interviewed, how urgently the company needs to fill the job and the direct and indirect contribution to company profitability of this position.
Evaluate the entire compensation package
Benefits can contribute up to 30 percent of the whole compensation package. Include the benefits in your salary calculations to get a more accurate picture of the dollar value of the whole compensation package. Put a direct dollar value on benefits such as medical, dental and life insurance, company bonuses, profit sharing, direct expense coverage such as parking, phone etc, company services such as child care and paid overtime. Decide which aspects are important to you and what you can negotiate to balance the base salary.
Calculate a realistic salary range to negotiate within
Work out how much you need to earn to cover your expenses. For each expense work out the amount of money you need and the amount of money you would like. The total of each amount provides you with an acceptable salary range within which you can negotiate. You will use this data for your salary decisions. However during the negotiations it is important to base your salary request on your value to the company and your skills and experience and not on what money you need to earn every month. The employer is unlikely to be interested in your expenses. Begin negotiating at the top of your salary range to give yourself sufficient room for negotiation.
Always start your salary negotiations by thanking the employer for the job offer and highlighting your enthusiasm for the position and the company. Keep a positive attitude throughout the process of negotiating salary and make requests rather than demands. Know your true value and be confident of your ability to get the best job offer you can.
Go to Negotiating Your Salary for a complete guide to negotiating the job offer including free practical salary negotiation resources and tools.
Source: http://www.articleheaven.com/article_598511_36.html
Earn strategies to achieve in the classroom and in your career.
If you are among the thousands of students attending college to develop skills and behaviors for your career, then consider this opportunity to develop a strong foundation for achievement in college, career and life. The Student Life Skills classes (SLS 1103 and SLS 0005) at Florida Community College provide the essential content needed for students to succeed for college and beyond. These courses have shown to significantly increase the academic success and retention of college students. Students who take these courses persist in college and succeed in completing their degrees more often.
How can you develop these skills? Add Strategies for Success in College, Career and Life or Foundations of College Success to your next schedule. You’ll gain a unique advantage in the classroom and the workplace with the survival and success skills taught in courses offered at Florida Community College.
Topics of the course include:
* Goals and priorities
* Voice mail and e-mail etiquette
* Maintaining commitment
* Dealing with successes and failure
* Communicating with individuals at work and at college professors, superiors, subordinates and peers
* Verbal and non-verbal communication skills
* Teamwork and decision making
* Learning skills
* Conflict management and resolution
* Leadership styles and skills
* Financial and debt management
* Long-term planning for career, education and wellness.
You’ll find a tremendous amount of information delivered in an active, engaging learning environment. Not only will this class build your success skills for your college work, but it also will give you a foundation of behaviors, habits and skills that will enable you to succeed and thrive in the working world.
Your desire to succeed is the only prerequisite. Register for SLS 1103— Strategies for Success in College, Career and Life or SLS 0005 Foundations for College Success — or see your advisor for further details and information to help you decide which course is best for you.
How to Boost Your Career in a Weak Economy
With companies in the United States laying off employees left and right, raising our unemployment rate to the highest it’s been since late 2004, working for a big company is no longer a guarantee of steady employment. Even workers who have dedicated twenty years or more to the same company, expecting loyalty in return for loyalty are being laid off in favor of less experienced, cheaper labor or in favor of offshoring those same tasks.
With gas prices soaring, many employees who haven’t yet been axed are opting to seek out employment alternatives that will allow them to work closer to home, or better yet, from a home office entirely. Then we have Generation Y, which has been tapped to be the entrepreneurial leaders of the future. The face of the U.S. workforce is changing. We are rapidly becoming a culture of independent thinkers, shying away from traditional molds of what careers used to be. No longer is it common for a professional to stay with one company for the life of his or her career. Working for one company will typically get you a cost-of-living salary increase, and maybe a bit of a merit increase. By switching jobs, you can leverage your experience and negotiate a higher starting salary.
Given these facts, it is clear that the new focus is not on your employer, but on your talent and your career. Your first priority must be to seek out those opportunities which develop and challenge your skills. To this end, it only makes sense to lean more towards a model of contract employment. Workers can freely move from one project to the next, without having to worry about dealing with office drama or politics, gaining a variety of experiences that can be used to build an impressive portfolio. Job burnout can quickly be solved by moving on to a new project with a new company. Companies are alleviated from the burden of keeping employees on staff who are not productive for fear of being accused of wrongful termination, as well as not being responsible for offering extensive benefit packages to lure employees to work for them.
Source: http://www.articleheaven.com/article_598759_36.html
Improve Your Career in Any Economy
Like many other areas of business, the tech industry has weathered the occasional slump over the past few decades. It's only natural that the fate of techies is closely linked to the tides of the business. However, in any economy, weak or strong, some people prosper and advance while others suffer the consequences. Understanding why can make all the difference, whether you're looking for a job, trying to keep the one you have, or are audacious enough to want to advance your career regardless of the climate.
The conventional wisdom, typically unspoken, is that when times are tough you just grin and bear it. Merely surviving is the best that you can hope for. Advancing is just too much to ask. To that, I offer my own bit of wisdom. Nonsense! (I actually had a more colorful phrase in mind, but discretion got the better of me.)
The principles of business do not alter based on a strong or weak economy, and people will always be people. What this means to those of us with careers to manage is that what works when business is good will also work when things are slow. In fact, in many cases, they'll work even better. In order to understand why, let's strip this down to the bare bones issues.
Getting Down to Business
Businesses exist to make a profit. People work at companies to make a living. Although enterprises are run by a class of creature known as management, it turns out that the ranks of management are, in fact, populated by people. As we've already observed, people work at companies to make a living. So, making money, both from a personal and corporate point of view, is a top priority that does not change based on market conditions.
Human nature is another constant. People have a desire for power, the need for personal fulfillment, and egos to maintain. When you add all of this up, you come up with some facts that are immutable constants in the business world. Of course, we'll be taking advantage of these to make sure that we continue to eat on a regular basis and have the spare money we need to keep our families happy and our compilers up to date. So, let's take a look at some of the more obvious points. The following actions will increase your value in the eyes of the company and / or your superiors:
* Increasing company revenues
* Decreasing company expenses
* Helping your superiors further their career
Source: www.sitepoint.com/article/improve-career-any-economy/
Business and Executive Coach
Listening to the news and many CEOs, you would think the country is in a depression. At a minimum, these reports put listeners into a depression. While I’m willing to let a few individual businesses slide because of what they do (e.g. residential real estate in Miami), if your company is not growing the way you want it to, and/or margins are shrinking, the problem is inside your company. If you believe otherwise, you are deceiving yourself. In many cases, even in sectors where the group as a whole is doing poorly, you should still be able to do better than you’re doing. Just like Warren Buffet does in the stock market, you need to jump on opportunities when the market is down and be aggressive, not defensive.
Some great examples:
*
I recently met with the Managing Partner of a mid-sized accounting firm who confided in me that he just came off a record year and did not believe his company could sustain the pace. He was already seeing a slowdown. However, one of his competitors, who also is my client, is having another record organic growth year.
*
In the fitness and health industry, many companies see a drop off in memberships and attribute it to people spending less on “extras.” I have a client whose year-over-year growth this summer was 49%, and gross margins have expanded as well.
*
Another client of mine has a business that services the airline industry. You would think they would be doomed. Yet based on their order backlog, they expect 33% growth this year.
*
Staffing industry executives tell me their industry is down 30%, and many are laying off staff and otherwise cutting costs “until things get better.” I know of one company in the same market that entered the staffing business and in the last 2 years. They are growing in the high double digits and opening offices in several new states, having identified and pursued a segment of the staffing industry that is booming.
Source: executivecoachhms.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/7-tips-to-boost-your-business-in-a-down-economy/
With gas prices soaring, many employees who haven’t yet been axed are opting to seek out employment alternatives that will allow them to work closer to home, or better yet, from a home office entirely. Then we have Generation Y, which has been tapped to be the entrepreneurial leaders of the future. The face of the U.S. workforce is changing. We are rapidly becoming a culture of independent thinkers, shying away from traditional molds of what careers used to be. No longer is it common for a professional to stay with one company for the life of his or her career. Working for one company will typically get you a cost-of-living salary increase, and maybe a bit of a merit increase. By switching jobs, you can leverage your experience and negotiate a higher starting salary.
Given these facts, it is clear that the new focus is not on your employer, but on your talent and your career. Your first priority must be to seek out those opportunities which develop and challenge your skills. To this end, it only makes sense to lean more towards a model of contract employment. Workers can freely move from one project to the next, without having to worry about dealing with office drama or politics, gaining a variety of experiences that can be used to build an impressive portfolio. Job burnout can quickly be solved by moving on to a new project with a new company. Companies are alleviated from the burden of keeping employees on staff who are not productive for fear of being accused of wrongful termination, as well as not being responsible for offering extensive benefit packages to lure employees to work for them.
Source: http://www.articleheaven.com/article_598759_36.html
Improve Your Career in Any Economy
Like many other areas of business, the tech industry has weathered the occasional slump over the past few decades. It's only natural that the fate of techies is closely linked to the tides of the business. However, in any economy, weak or strong, some people prosper and advance while others suffer the consequences. Understanding why can make all the difference, whether you're looking for a job, trying to keep the one you have, or are audacious enough to want to advance your career regardless of the climate.
The conventional wisdom, typically unspoken, is that when times are tough you just grin and bear it. Merely surviving is the best that you can hope for. Advancing is just too much to ask. To that, I offer my own bit of wisdom. Nonsense! (I actually had a more colorful phrase in mind, but discretion got the better of me.)
The principles of business do not alter based on a strong or weak economy, and people will always be people. What this means to those of us with careers to manage is that what works when business is good will also work when things are slow. In fact, in many cases, they'll work even better. In order to understand why, let's strip this down to the bare bones issues.
Getting Down to Business
Businesses exist to make a profit. People work at companies to make a living. Although enterprises are run by a class of creature known as management, it turns out that the ranks of management are, in fact, populated by people. As we've already observed, people work at companies to make a living. So, making money, both from a personal and corporate point of view, is a top priority that does not change based on market conditions.
Human nature is another constant. People have a desire for power, the need for personal fulfillment, and egos to maintain. When you add all of this up, you come up with some facts that are immutable constants in the business world. Of course, we'll be taking advantage of these to make sure that we continue to eat on a regular basis and have the spare money we need to keep our families happy and our compilers up to date. So, let's take a look at some of the more obvious points. The following actions will increase your value in the eyes of the company and / or your superiors:
* Increasing company revenues
* Decreasing company expenses
* Helping your superiors further their career
Source: www.sitepoint.com/article/improve-career-any-economy/
Business and Executive Coach
Listening to the news and many CEOs, you would think the country is in a depression. At a minimum, these reports put listeners into a depression. While I’m willing to let a few individual businesses slide because of what they do (e.g. residential real estate in Miami), if your company is not growing the way you want it to, and/or margins are shrinking, the problem is inside your company. If you believe otherwise, you are deceiving yourself. In many cases, even in sectors where the group as a whole is doing poorly, you should still be able to do better than you’re doing. Just like Warren Buffet does in the stock market, you need to jump on opportunities when the market is down and be aggressive, not defensive.
Some great examples:
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I recently met with the Managing Partner of a mid-sized accounting firm who confided in me that he just came off a record year and did not believe his company could sustain the pace. He was already seeing a slowdown. However, one of his competitors, who also is my client, is having another record organic growth year.
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In the fitness and health industry, many companies see a drop off in memberships and attribute it to people spending less on “extras.” I have a client whose year-over-year growth this summer was 49%, and gross margins have expanded as well.
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Another client of mine has a business that services the airline industry. You would think they would be doomed. Yet based on their order backlog, they expect 33% growth this year.
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Staffing industry executives tell me their industry is down 30%, and many are laying off staff and otherwise cutting costs “until things get better.” I know of one company in the same market that entered the staffing business and in the last 2 years. They are growing in the high double digits and opening offices in several new states, having identified and pursued a segment of the staffing industry that is booming.
Source: executivecoachhms.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/7-tips-to-boost-your-business-in-a-down-economy/
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