Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Social Media Career Blunders
With Facebook, My Space, Bebo etc being used more and more by employers to vet employees there is now a list of famous blunders by staff. From Investopedia (read more http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0410/6-Career-Killing-Facebook-Mistakes.aspx) Inappropriate Pictures It may go without saying, but prospective employers or clients don't want to see pictures of you chugging a bottle of wine or dressed up for a night at the bar. Beyond the pictures you wouldn't want your grandparents to see, seemingly innocent pictures of your personal life will likely not help to support the persona you want to present in your professional life. Complaining About Your Current Job You've no doubt done this at least once. It could be a full note about how much you hate your office, or how incompetent your boss is, or it could be as innocent as a status update about how your coworker always shows up late. While everyone complains about work sometimes, doing so in a public forum where it can be found by others is not the best career move. Though it may seem innocent, it's not the kind of impression that sits well with a potential boss. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume If you say on your resume that your degree is from Harvard, but your Facebook profile says you went to UCLA, you're likely to be immediately cut from the interview list. Even if the conflict doesn't leave you looking better on your resume, disparities will make you look at worst like a liar, and at best careless. (Social networking can also be used as its own job. Statuses You Wouldn't Want Your Boss to See Everyone should know to avoid statuses like "Tom plans to call in sick tomorrow so he can get drunk on a Wednesday. Who cares that my big work project isn't done?" But you should also be aware of less flamboyant statuses like "Sarah is watching the gold medal hockey game online at her desk". Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically anything that doesn't make you look as professional as you'd like, can seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job. Not Understanding Your Security Settings The security settings on Facebook have come a long way since the site started. It is now possible to customize lists of friends and decide what each list can and cannot see. However, many people do not fully understand these settings, or don't bother to check who has access to what. If you are going to use Facebook professionally, and even if you aren't, make sure you take the time to go through your privacy options. At the very least, your profile should be set so that people who are not your friend cannot see any of your pictures or information. (These rules apply to Twitter as well, and you can also use Twitter to find a new job. Losing By Association You can't control what your friends post to your profile (although you can remove it once you see it), nor what they post to their own profiles or to those of mutual friends. If a potential client or employer sees those Friday night pictures your friend has tagged you in where he is falling down drunk, it reflects poorly on you, even if the picture of you is completely innocent. It's unfortunate, but we do judge others by the company they keep, at least to some extent. Take a look at everything connected to your profile, and keep an eye out for anything you wouldn't want to show your mother.
India fights corrpution with Zero Rupee
A novel approach to curbing corruption by officals and police in India is well underway. People who feel they are being ripped off by having to pay additional charges are now handing over what is called 'Zero Rupees' which is a replica of the Indian currency which is thicker than normal and is difficult to fold over - a common sign of corruption.
This is the brainchild of the 5th Pillar organisation, and more can be read here: http://india.5thpillar.org/ZRN and also here: http://zerocurrency.org/.
Bribery is a serious crime in India and so when a person hands over a zero rupee the recipient and potential fraudster feels embarrassed and ashamed.
Zero currency notes are being planned for other notorious hotspots of corruption.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Japan hit by massive earthquake
Devastating scenes from Japan. An earthquake measuring a massive 8.9 on the Richter Scale has struck Sendai region and Tokyo. A 33 foot high tsunami wave swept across the region earlier today. Many people are mising and the damage to land and property will probably be counted in billions.
This incredible graphic shows the time it takes for the tsunami wave to travle across the Pacific. South American nations have the longest warning time in this case. Ecuador has already started an evacuation along its coastlines.
Indonesia is also bracing itself for a tsunami, though thankfully nothing on the scale of the 2004 Boxing Day wave.
Japan is famous for its volcanoes and earthquakes as it sits at a key geological position on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Japan has an incredible amount of seismic activity each year and that is why Japanese homes used to be made of paper, and how they created skyscrapers that can swing and sway during earthquakes.
Tokyo's two main airports, Narita and Haneda are both closed at present, but hopefully it won't be long before Japan is back to normal and the bullet trains - designed to stop during an earthquake - are back running again.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
In the News...
SLOW PAY RISES FOR UK
Private sector pay at UK listed companies has risen at the slowest rate on record, a survey suggests.
Earnings rose at an annualised rate of just 0.5% in the three months to February, according to the Vocalink FTSE 350 index.
The rate is well below consumer prices index (CPI) inflation, which is currently running at 4%.
Manufacturing employees were hardest hit, seeing a sudden 0.6% shrinkage in pay packets during the period
UK MANUFACTURING ON THE UP
UK manufacturing in January grew at its fastest annual pace in more than 16 years, official figures have shown.
Manufacturing output was up 6.8% on January last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, its strongest pace since October 1994.
Month-on-month, output increased by 1% as firms recovered from a weather-related drop of 0.1% in December. The figures suggest the economy is rebounding from the 0.6% contraction seen in the last quarter.
GERMANY BETTER THAN ENGLISH SPEAKERS?
Is Germany better at teaching university courses in English than universities in English-speaking countries?
Germany has been named as the most supportive country for overseas students, in an international league table.
Among the attractions for international students is the increasing availability in Germany of courses taught entirely in English, so much so that students can complete degrees without ever having to speak German.
In the international zones of these classes, students from Germany, the United States and China participate in seminars conducted by German professors speaking in English.
Source: BBC Business News
Private sector pay at UK listed companies has risen at the slowest rate on record, a survey suggests.
Earnings rose at an annualised rate of just 0.5% in the three months to February, according to the Vocalink FTSE 350 index.
The rate is well below consumer prices index (CPI) inflation, which is currently running at 4%.
Manufacturing employees were hardest hit, seeing a sudden 0.6% shrinkage in pay packets during the period
UK MANUFACTURING ON THE UP
UK manufacturing in January grew at its fastest annual pace in more than 16 years, official figures have shown.
Manufacturing output was up 6.8% on January last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, its strongest pace since October 1994.
Month-on-month, output increased by 1% as firms recovered from a weather-related drop of 0.1% in December. The figures suggest the economy is rebounding from the 0.6% contraction seen in the last quarter.
GERMANY BETTER THAN ENGLISH SPEAKERS?
Is Germany better at teaching university courses in English than universities in English-speaking countries?
Germany has been named as the most supportive country for overseas students, in an international league table.
Among the attractions for international students is the increasing availability in Germany of courses taught entirely in English, so much so that students can complete degrees without ever having to speak German.
In the international zones of these classes, students from Germany, the United States and China participate in seminars conducted by German professors speaking in English.
Source: BBC Business News
The decline of Western civilization?
I was watching Professor Niall Ferguson’s programme about the decline of Western civilization and how China had turned inward on itself circa 1500s and let the European nations overtake her as the most advanced nations on Earth.
He argues that the return to the natural order may be happening in the Pacific just now, as China has woken up to capitalism and with relish.
I also read in Time magazine an interesting article about how Germany has confounded the odds and is boosting economic growth even in times of hardship. Also the USA are actually projecting to growth faster than first expected.
Then it occurred to me what all three nations still do so well that to a large extent the UK and Scotland do not: MAKE things. Germany is a world class producer not so much of lots of goods, but rather of quality products. German precision engineering can be found in some of the best automobiles in the world. China are not only manufacturing a myriad of products and exporting them abroad, but they are also investing in education and transport. This will secure prosperity for the future.
Indeed it was also argued that the boom times of 1950s America was partly due to the massive investment FDR made in the 1930s by building the Interstate roads. Perhaps China’s massive high speed rail programme will pay dividends also for them.
Worryingly in the UK we have long hung up our manufacturing boots and focus on the Tertiary sector or the service industries. While this may be good as it builds soft skills it sadly is prone to imitation and also to move work to cheaper places abroad. Whereas at one time we built the best ships in the world on the River Clyde and Clyde Built was a stamp of quality people would pay good money for. Can we turn back the clock and offer jobs, apprenticeships and training to turn our workforce into highly skilled craftsmen and women? I fear if we somehow do not we will become a nation of call centre workers which while this is needed it is vulnerable to be outsourced to another country, as we have seen with many help lines and support lines being moved in the past to India, where labour is cheaper.
He argues that the return to the natural order may be happening in the Pacific just now, as China has woken up to capitalism and with relish.
I also read in Time magazine an interesting article about how Germany has confounded the odds and is boosting economic growth even in times of hardship. Also the USA are actually projecting to growth faster than first expected.
Then it occurred to me what all three nations still do so well that to a large extent the UK and Scotland do not: MAKE things. Germany is a world class producer not so much of lots of goods, but rather of quality products. German precision engineering can be found in some of the best automobiles in the world. China are not only manufacturing a myriad of products and exporting them abroad, but they are also investing in education and transport. This will secure prosperity for the future.
Indeed it was also argued that the boom times of 1950s America was partly due to the massive investment FDR made in the 1930s by building the Interstate roads. Perhaps China’s massive high speed rail programme will pay dividends also for them.
Worryingly in the UK we have long hung up our manufacturing boots and focus on the Tertiary sector or the service industries. While this may be good as it builds soft skills it sadly is prone to imitation and also to move work to cheaper places abroad. Whereas at one time we built the best ships in the world on the River Clyde and Clyde Built was a stamp of quality people would pay good money for. Can we turn back the clock and offer jobs, apprenticeships and training to turn our workforce into highly skilled craftsmen and women? I fear if we somehow do not we will become a nation of call centre workers which while this is needed it is vulnerable to be outsourced to another country, as we have seen with many help lines and support lines being moved in the past to India, where labour is cheaper.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Libya's Oil
With Libya descending into civil war oil prices look set to rise again. Who knows how long it will be before the crisis is resolved peacefully. Perhaps Colonel Gaddaffi will leave of his own accord?
The above image displays the countries receiving oil from Libya. It will be interesting to see if Italy and Germany's economies are hit harder than the rest due to the fact they rely so much on Libyan oil.
Italy may be the next European nation to go into financial meltdown in the same way Iceland, Greece and Ireland have.
Fuel saving tips for drivers
Here are some tips given by the BBC on how to save fuel when driving to work:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12664047
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12664047
In the News...
JOHN LEWIS MAKES A PROFIT
John Lewis' profits rose by 20%, or £61.3m, to £367.9m last year but 2011 may be very difficult.
Chairman Charlie Mayfield described the figures for the year ending 29 January as a "strong performance". But he said 2011 would see the impact of higher VAT, rising unemployment, and higher food and raw material costs.
Staff at the employee-owned partnership will each receive a bonus worth an average of more than nine weeks' pay. The 76,500 staff will share a bonus of £194.5m, with bonuses worth 18% of partners' salary.
TOYOTA TARGET 10 MILLION SALES
Japanese carmaker Toyota has said it is aiming for global sales of 10 million vehicles a year by 2015, compared with 8.7 million in 2010.
The company is also targeting annual operating profit of 1 trillion yen ($12bn; £7.4bn) "as soon as possible".
CHINA TO INVEST $200 BILLION IN HOUSING PROJECTS
China will build 10 million low-cost homes this year at a cost of $200bn (£124bn), a government minister has said.
The move comes as soaring home prices spur complaints about affordability.
In January, prices of new homes rose in 68 of the 70 cities monitored by the government compared to a year earlier.
The spending is a part of a commitment to construct 36 million low-cost homes over the next five years.
CREDIT CARD FRAUD FALLS IN THE UK
Fraud losses on UK credit and debit cards fell to the lowest level for a decade in 2010 as awareness of the issue increased.
The amount lost still reached £365.4m, but this was 17% lower than the previous year, the UK Cards Association said.
The biggest drop was in the amount lost through cloned or skimmed cards, which fell by 41%.
But the amount lost through cards being intercepted in the mail was up 22%.
EDINBURGH AIRPORT PREPARES FOR WINTER 2011
At least £1.5m of equipment has been ordered to help keep Edinburgh Airport open during heavy snow next winter.
BAA Scotland airside and autonomy director David Lister announced the move at the Scottish Parliament's transport committee on Tuesday.
Mr Lister said that extensive studies had been carried out at airports in various countries to find ways of remaining open during extreme weather. The airport was closed several times in December and January due to snow.
PRESTWICK AIRPORT LOSE 40% OF PASSENGER TRAFFIC
Prestwick Airport has suffered a sharp decline in passenger numbers this winter, down by 40% in recent months.
Since Ryanair cut back on its winter schedule, the Ayrshire airport has shed about 40 staff, out of more than 400, some by compulsory redundancy.
The air hub has been boosted by bad winter weather, forcing diversions from snow-bound inland airports. But that has been overshadowed by Ryanair focusing traffic from north and central Europe on Edinburgh.
Domestic traffic has fallen steeply, and there are fewer flights linking to Stansted. Passenger traffic in January fell to 61,000 from 103,000 in January 2010. In the previous two years, passengers for that month were at 131,000 and 145,000.
Source: BBC News
John Lewis' profits rose by 20%, or £61.3m, to £367.9m last year but 2011 may be very difficult.
Chairman Charlie Mayfield described the figures for the year ending 29 January as a "strong performance". But he said 2011 would see the impact of higher VAT, rising unemployment, and higher food and raw material costs.
Staff at the employee-owned partnership will each receive a bonus worth an average of more than nine weeks' pay. The 76,500 staff will share a bonus of £194.5m, with bonuses worth 18% of partners' salary.
TOYOTA TARGET 10 MILLION SALES
Japanese carmaker Toyota has said it is aiming for global sales of 10 million vehicles a year by 2015, compared with 8.7 million in 2010.
The company is also targeting annual operating profit of 1 trillion yen ($12bn; £7.4bn) "as soon as possible".
CHINA TO INVEST $200 BILLION IN HOUSING PROJECTS
China will build 10 million low-cost homes this year at a cost of $200bn (£124bn), a government minister has said.
The move comes as soaring home prices spur complaints about affordability.
In January, prices of new homes rose in 68 of the 70 cities monitored by the government compared to a year earlier.
The spending is a part of a commitment to construct 36 million low-cost homes over the next five years.
CREDIT CARD FRAUD FALLS IN THE UK
Fraud losses on UK credit and debit cards fell to the lowest level for a decade in 2010 as awareness of the issue increased.
The amount lost still reached £365.4m, but this was 17% lower than the previous year, the UK Cards Association said.
The biggest drop was in the amount lost through cloned or skimmed cards, which fell by 41%.
But the amount lost through cards being intercepted in the mail was up 22%.
EDINBURGH AIRPORT PREPARES FOR WINTER 2011
At least £1.5m of equipment has been ordered to help keep Edinburgh Airport open during heavy snow next winter.
BAA Scotland airside and autonomy director David Lister announced the move at the Scottish Parliament's transport committee on Tuesday.
Mr Lister said that extensive studies had been carried out at airports in various countries to find ways of remaining open during extreme weather. The airport was closed several times in December and January due to snow.
PRESTWICK AIRPORT LOSE 40% OF PASSENGER TRAFFIC
Prestwick Airport has suffered a sharp decline in passenger numbers this winter, down by 40% in recent months.
Since Ryanair cut back on its winter schedule, the Ayrshire airport has shed about 40 staff, out of more than 400, some by compulsory redundancy.
The air hub has been boosted by bad winter weather, forcing diversions from snow-bound inland airports. But that has been overshadowed by Ryanair focusing traffic from north and central Europe on Edinburgh.
Domestic traffic has fallen steeply, and there are fewer flights linking to Stansted. Passenger traffic in January fell to 61,000 from 103,000 in January 2010. In the previous two years, passengers for that month were at 131,000 and 145,000.
Source: BBC News
Walmart in equal rights court action
Yesterday was International Women’s Day. So perhaps it is pertinent to highlight an impending court case in the United States between 6 female workers (or associates) and Walmart.
The women claim they have been overlooked wrongfully for promotion and pay increases during their tenure with the supermarket giant. If the case is proven successful by the US Supreme Court then it could change corporate history and perhaps at least in the supermarket industry provide equality for women.
This class action – which is when a small number of claimants sue on behalf of a larger group – it could result in a payout to over 1.6 million women Walmart associates.
The claim is filed in the famous 1964 Civil Rights Act which was passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and is more famous for trying to improve the rights and freedom of African Americans in the US.
So if Walmart loses the case then they could not only find their reputation damaged severely, but out of pocket to the tune of billions of dollars!
Walmart in equal rights court action
Yesterday was International Women’s Day. So perhaps it is pertinent to highlight an impending court case in the United States between 6 female workers (or associates) and Walmart.
The women claim they have been overlooked wrongfully for promotion and pay increases during their tenure with the supermarket giant. If the case is proven successful by the US Supreme Court then it could change corporate history and perhaps at least in the supermarket industry provide equality for women.
This class action – which is when a small number of claimants sue on behalf of a larger group – it could result in a payout to over 1.6 million women Walmart associates.
The claim is filed in the famous 1964 Civil Rights Act which was passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and is more famous for trying to improve the rights and freedom of African Americans in the US.
So if Walmart loses the case then they could not only find their reputation damaged severely, but out of pocket to the tune of billions of dollars!
The women claim they have been overlooked wrongfully for promotion and pay increases during their tenure with the supermarket giant. If the case is proven successful by the US Supreme Court then it could change corporate history and perhaps at least in the supermarket industry provide equality for women.
This class action – which is when a small number of claimants sue on behalf of a larger group – it could result in a payout to over 1.6 million women Walmart associates.
The claim is filed in the famous 1964 Civil Rights Act which was passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and is more famous for trying to improve the rights and freedom of African Americans in the US.
So if Walmart loses the case then they could not only find their reputation damaged severely, but out of pocket to the tune of billions of dollars!
Friday, 4 March 2011
Hamilton Grammar Secure Fourth Green Flag
Hamilton Grammar School was inspected on Wednesday 2nd of March for our fourth and final green flag for Eco-schools.
A lot of preparation was done and the inspection went well and the school were awarded the permanent green flag, only the second school in Scotland to achieve this.
It has been a lot of hard work by the pupils and ex-pupils who have created something truly special at the school.
Also Mr Dyer, Head of Science, has to take enormous credit as he was the main driver of the Eco group for several years. I know he and our Headteacher, Mr Stewart, are very proud of the pupils' tremendous achievements!
Congratulations once again to all the pupils involved.
A lot of preparation was done and the inspection went well and the school were awarded the permanent green flag, only the second school in Scotland to achieve this.
It has been a lot of hard work by the pupils and ex-pupils who have created something truly special at the school.
Also Mr Dyer, Head of Science, has to take enormous credit as he was the main driver of the Eco group for several years. I know he and our Headteacher, Mr Stewart, are very proud of the pupils' tremendous achievements!
Congratulations once again to all the pupils involved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
