Posted by Mary Anne Thompson on October 21, 2011
The Spanish economy is in the midst of a long, deep recession, marked by swelling unemployment. After experiencing a decade of strong economic growth, the Spanish economy was hard hit by the recent global financial decline. Efforts to boost the economy through stimulus spending, tax breaks and loan guarantees have not reduced the unemployment rate, which stands at 21.29 percent, Spain’s highest in 14 years and the highest rate in Europe.
Unemployment in Spain is highest among women, young people and immigrants. Immigrants have been the most adversely affected, and many are even going home with plane tickets funded by the Spanish government, as the government finds it cheaper to send immigrants back than to continue paying benefit claims. Young people are also struggling, with an unemployment rate of more than 40 percent.
In a bid to boost the labor market, the government is offering employers tax breaks for hiring young people and long-term unemployed. The government has also instituted a number of reforms, including enacting an average 5 percent cut in public sector salaries, freezing public salaries and pensions, and filling only one out of ten vacant public jobs. These reforms have not been met without some hostility, as attested by numerous public demonstrations attended by tens of thousands. The government predicts the unemployment rate will decline to 16 percent by 2014.
However, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s latest Economic Survey of Spain predicts the effects of the financial crisis will be long lasting in Spain, intensified by increased private sector debt and declining investor confidence. The OECD expects unemployment rates to remain high for some time to come.
The Spanish government is confident, though, that this is the worst of the crisis, and the country will begin to see light at the end of the tunnel next year. There is much back and forth, and it is safe to say this situation is evolving. Jobseekers are urged to monitor the country’s economic situation. Certain job sectors will experience positive job creation long before others, and those looking to acquire work in Spain should continue to follow the country’s process as it fights to move out of this recession.
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Posted by Mary Anne Thompson on July 26, 2011
As the UAE’s economic recovery from the global recession gains strength, business confidence is slowly improving, which helps accelerate economic activity and with it, employment. Bayt.com reports in its Middle East Job Index that 32 percent of companies in the UAE are “definitely” hiring, while another 24 percent said they would “probably” be hiring. The survey also revealed the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the most attractive job markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
In the UAE, the advertising, market research, public relations, media and entertainment sectors show the biggest improvement in job opportunities, followed by engineering, construction and real estate. The oil and gas sector and retail, trade and logistics sector were not far behind, growing 17 percent. Health care, followed by fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and banking and financial services were the three industries with the lowest growth in the UAE.
The Middle East Job Index also reports that companies in the UAE are primarily seeking business and management graduates, engineering graduates and post graduates, and commerce graduates and postgraduates. The most sought after candidates have good communication skills in both Arabic and English; are flexible, cooperative team players; have good leadership skills; can work under pressure; and display trustworthiness and honesty.
Five Top Jobs in the UAE
Gulf News lists these professions as among the top jobs in the UAE:
- Event management: A popular tourism haven, the UAE is also a destination for large-scale events such as Formula 1, the Dubai International Film Festival and USA Sevens. “With visions of hosting the Olympics here, event management and its relevant divisions will have massive recruitment and staffing requirements — especially amongst the UAE nationals themselves,” says Nowshir Engineer, founder, executive director, EMDI Institute of Media & Communication.
- Renewable energy: The growing demand for new energy resources will require specialists to help find and develop these resources. Masdar Institute, the world’s first graduate research institution dedicated to alternative energy and sustainable technologies, is located in Abu Dhabi. Many other universities in the region offer undergraduate and graduate engineering programs in such areas as electric power, water and environment.
- Communications: The rise of social media has created increasing demand for communication and media strategists. Businesses now need specialists in areas such as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and vertical search. Local employers are seeking more enthusiasm, creativity and innovation in the way they communicate with their target audience.
- Business analysis: With government and financial institutions offering to support small and medium enterprises, it is now easier than ever for young entrepreneurs to start businesses of their own.
- Psychology: Career opportunities include social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology and individual differences. Psychology graduates often move into business, teaching, counseling/therapy and market research.
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Posted by Mary Anne Thompson on May 6, 2011
Germany has a straightforward, though highly regimented, visa application process. The country is a member of the Schengen region, which allows travelers to receive one visa for travel to all member countries. However, travelers must apply at the consulate of the country which is the main destination. The countries covered under the Schengen Agreement include: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
If a traveler intends to visit more than one of the Schengen visa countries, he must apply for the visa with the country in which he intends to spend the most time. If a traveler does not have a main country to visit, he must apply for the visa with the country that he will enter first. Fees for Schengen visas are harmonized among all member countries and are presently set at 60 EUR.
Is Your Passport Too Full or Too Old?
Germany imposes very specific rules on the appearance of the documents in a visa application.
- In order to apply for a visa, the applicant’s passport must have at least two empty pages.
- The passport must have been issued within the last ten years. A passport older than ten years that has been extended for a period exceeding ten years from the time of issuance cannot be accepted.
- Be sure to follow all applicable rules and contact the nearest German diplomatic mission with any questions while completing the visa application.
The German Federal Foreign Office provides a list of countries whose citizens are required to apply for a visa to enter Germany along with links to downloadable visa application forms.
Posted by Mary Anne Thompson on April 28, 2011
Canada: Cost of Living
Canada’s standard of living is on par with the most prosperous nations in the world. Historically, the cost of living in Canada’s largest cities has been considerably less than in those of the United States and Western Europe. Recently the picture has changed, however, as the volatility in the currency market between the US dollar and the Canadian dollar keeps the relative cost of living between the two countries in a constant state of flux. The Mercer consulting firm’s Worldwide Cost of Living Survey compares 214 cities against New York, and currencies are measured against the US dollar. The latest report found Vancouver to be the most expensive Canadian city (75), followed by Toronto (76), Montreal (98) and Ottawa (136).
The latest ECA International Cost of Living index has increased rankings for Canadian cities, due to a strengthened Canadian dollar. The ECA index also ranks Vancouver as Canada’s most expensive city.
Overall, consumer prices in Canada are rising, according to Statistics Canada. The most recent release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that seven of the eight major components in the CPI, with the exception of clothing and footwear, recorded increases over the past year. In addition to higher prices for gasoline (4.8 percent), consumers paid 1.7 percent more when purchasing passenger vehicles. Shelter costs increased by 2.9 percent.
Posted by Mary Anne Thompson on April 7, 2011
Japan’s Interviewing Process Focuses on the Team
Japanese companies consider the hiring of a new employee to be a group project. All job applicants, then, should be prepared to face the group during the intense interviewing process.
Panel Interviews
Most applicants are likely to participate in panel interviews. In this situation, the applicant may be seated in a chair in the middle of a room, with two to four interviewers seated several yards away behind a large conference table. The applicant, with no table or support in front of him or her, should maintain good posture with knees together and hands folded in the lap. Appearing both calm and polite are essential to interview success.
Applicants Often Interview Together
In other types of interviews, there may be a small group of job applicants meeting together with two to four interviewers. In this situation, it is essential to show not only leadership, but also the ability to work within a team. This can be accomplished by allowing the other applicants to participate in the interview and discussions, and looking at and actively listening to the other applicants, while not always yielding the floor to them. It is important to take initiative within the group’s conversation without appearing overbearing.
Respect the Senior Interviewer
Job applicants should try to identify the most senior person in the room and acknowledge that senior person with brief but consistent eye contact. Remember, the most senior person may not be the one asking the questions. The best tactic is to carefully listen to the person asking questions and give the questioner initial eye contact and body language responses, then move on to include everyone else in the conversation.
Be Prepared to Defend Your CV
The applicant’s resume or CV will be scrutinized intently during the interview. It is common for the interviewer to go through the resume or CV point by point to confirm information. Should this occur, it is best to remain patient and consistent in answering questions. Frequent job changes are not a plus in Japan, so changes may require explanations. Gaps in time of employment may be noticed as well, so the applicant should be prepared to explain them. It is also not unusual for many personal questions to be asked in an interview, such as marital status, intentions to marry and information about parents. These should be answered courteously and briefly.
The Use of Business Cards
At a formal Japanese company interview, there may be no opportunity to exchange business cards, but you should bring some just in case. Follow the body language of the interviewers to determine whether or not to present your business card.
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