Questions and Answers
Im my opinion, the biggest aspect influencing the financial markets is globalization. That is not to say that that is the only factor, you also have an increased demand for commodities, and a whole lot of geopolitical uncertanty. To make things even more interesting, you have Al Qaida possing a huge unknown. Higher energy prices are act as an unrecoverable and unbeneficial tax on the economy, but you can take advantage of that by positioning into the right types of investments that benefit from expensive energy, same with commodities to rebuild the world's aging infrastrure and emerging BRICK economies (BRICK stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China Korea in case you didnt' know that. Globalization has to be the most powerful force affecting the financial markets right now though. That is because through globalization, we have a virtual guarantee of cheap prices for many years to come. That is because globalization is a highly counterinflationary force becasuse it supplies plenty of cheap labor. Right now, it is India and China, and when their standards of living rise causing their labor to get expensive, then cheap labor will shift to the next third world country… So you can really see how it is likely that in the future even Africa could become industrialized (and as a footnote, if you missed the movie Syriana which made an excellent point of this, places like the middle east will go nowhere because they refuse to get with the program and instead of developing their intelectual resources, they keep using up their natural resources to continue serving their political higherarchies IE, energy will eventually not come from there, then the'll be screwed.) But back to inflation and globalization. Just look at the bond market if you don't believe me. Yields on the long bond (30 year treasury) are lower than yields on the 2 year treasury. That is the bond market saying: "there is no inflation" in the future. Along with globalization comes the commoditazation of skills and knowledge. That is what all the outsourcing of tech jobs is all about. Same with manufacturing. The internet and the 747 plane have allowed for pretty much everything to be commoditized through easy access to information, and an easy means for delivery of phisycal products. Even the Financial Advisors job is being commoditized at a huge rate. Evidence is that now you can go to the Fidelity web site and buy bonds for a max of $500 mark up, no matter how large the principal ammount. Also MSRB has made it mandatory to post principal profit within minutes from a trade posting. Then, you have Ameritrade and its likes doing a trade for an unbeatable amount. So Globalization is upon us, and in the words of Darwin: "It is not the smartest, or the strongest who survive, it is the most adaptable who live…"
I was recently laid off (end of March). Being the primary provider in my family (I have a wife and daughter), naturally this was not a good thing.
I was working in retail management. I am a freelance graphic designer and am trying to take this as an opportunity to break in to my field. I majored in graphic design, and it is where my passion lies.
Does anyone have any advice for job hunters in the current job market? It's been over three weeks since the layoff, and I've only had one impromptu interview, and one interview scheduled for tomorrow.
My severance check from my previous job will only last so long, and the income I bring in from freelance design is not enough to supplement my wife's income.
Any advice from anyone recently laid off that has had success in landing interviews would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I just gave a speech on job hunting in the recession. Here is the information I wrote up (somewhat long but all important things). I cut some extra stuff out
A. Weigh your options – You may also want to research what are being called “recession-proof” industries. According to Quintcareers.com, the two types of industries that are “recession-proof” right now are “jobs in industries where people require services,” such as healthcare, law enforcement, and education and “jobs that save/make money for a company,” such as sales and accounting jobs. Companies are looking for ways to cut costs and save money, so these roles are imperative.
B.Be realistic – Know that you may not get your first, second, or even third choice of job in this recession. The best thing to do is to find a job that may act as a stepping stone to your ideal job. Take the time to further your education, learn the ins and the outs of your field, or network with your peers.
Ii.do your research
a.As of 2007, The Conference Board reported that 73% of job seekers primarily use the internet to hunt for a job. Especially in a recession, this is not the best and should not be your only resource. . Instead look for some other great resources:
b.Attend a job fair. This is an excellent way to meet multiple employers at once. Check your local newspaper to see when they are being held – they are always free for candidates.
C.Network with everyone you know. This is the least talked about but probably most successful jobseeker tool.
D.Do not be afraid to consider a temporary position, at least for a short term solution. Although temp jobs are typically the first to go when a company downsizes, they are also a safe way for companies to fill vacancies during the recession. This may be considered a risky move in the recession, but temp jobs are usually always available.
Iii.Prepare a great resume – most companies prefer a chronological resume, which lists work experience in chronological order starting with most recent. Make sure everything is clear and concise.
A.Include only necessary information: a recruiter spends a typical 20 seconds looking at each resume. Learn FAKTSA
1.Focus – make sure you focus your resume and clearly show what you are looking for and why you are qualified for it
2.Appearance – neat, clean, and professional. Use bullets: In a study by Career Masters Institute, use of bullets was the 2nd-highest ranked preference by employers, and density of type (paragraphs rather than bullet points) was ranked highly as a factor that would inspire employers to discard a resume.
3.Keywords – According to quintcareers.com, More than 80 percent of resumes are searched for job-specific keywords. Make sure when writing your work experience, that you list specific words that are key to your position. If you worked in retail, use words such as customer service, sales, cash handling
4.Transferable skills – Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life
5.Accomplishments – Recruiters like to see quantification in a resume. Accomplishments such as “sold $2,000 of merchandise per week, highest in region” or “developed system that saved 10% of advertisement costs” stand out and are desirable traits in candidates.
B.Do NOT:
1.submit a resume without proofreading. You may think one typo is not a deal breaker, but recruiters may decline a candidate based on error – shows lack of attention to detail.
2.include self-identifying information such as age, ethinicity, race, religious or political affiliation, marital status, # of children if any, or a picture of yourself.
3.think you do not need to explain discrepancies. Any gaps in employment, periods of job instability, and degrees that were never completed are all things that may show up as red flags to a recruiter, so be prepared to explain.
Iv.Set yourself apart
a.Polish your interviewing skills & practice. Write out information you want to include and ask someone to rehearse with you.
B.Research – NEVER walk into an interview without doing research on the company.
C.Make sure to create a cover letter, and ensure that it is tailored to the company.
D.Always send a personalized thank you card or email after the interview.
I am interested in learning how to implement various internet marketing strategies to help grow my business but have a limited budget and not enough time to sift through all the junk to find what really works. Does anyone now of a website that has comprehensive quality content and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
It just so happens that I found a website catering specifically to the marketing needs of small business owners like ourselves. Having spent countless hours researching online for educational resources and internet marketing techniques that I could implement myself, I was delighted to have stumbled upon this website.
I was reluctant to watch the video that you have to watch before signing up, but I am very glad I did. I believe that they have an agreement with other internet marketing experts to host their content. So basically, it is a hub of all kinds of programs and courses, very well organized and easy to navigate, that you would normally have to pay for individually.
Also, I was hesitant about the monthly membership fee, but because of their affiliate program, I am already making more money every month in residual commissions than what the membership fee is. To tell you the truth, I am more excited about the commissions I am making then actually implementing the strategies I am learning for my business. I ran some numbers and I figure I can make far more money in commissions than I can in my current business.
Actually, now that I think about it, they also teach a way to hire a five person full time marketing team comprised of foreign employees that you hire, manage, and pay via the internet for a fraction of what it would cost you normally. They have access to the membership site so that they can learn and implement the strategies. And with the residual commissions that you can make, even this becomes free.
So, by referring people to the site, you can not only have five full time employees dedicated to marketing your small business on the internet, but you can actually make much more money than what your salaries and membership costs are.
Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk 4/23/12: CISPA is the New SOPA
