Trends on Graduate Employment

High Paying Jobs in Singapore during the Economic Downturn

2012-04-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

With Singapore being regarded as the booming hub for highly skilled talents and business growth in Asean, we take a look at the Top 10 High Paying Jobs that you can work to obtain during an economic slowdown in the region. Special thanks to the original source of the article which i stumbled upon at community.jobcentral.com.sg. which provided us with a comprehensive look at the 10 Best Paying Jobs in Singapore.

The List of Top 10 Best Paying Jobs in Singapore

Computer and Information systems manager

With average pay starting from $6,200, a Computer and Information Systems Manager manages a vital backbone of the company and as a result, enjoys great prospects. Strong administrative and leadership capabilities are needed and despite the technical nature of the job, effective interpersonal skills are important as this job requires a great deal of interaction with other departmental managers on finding the best IT solutions for the company. Academic credentials needed are good IT degrees, for example in Computer Science or Computer Engineering, while specific software knowledge would vary depending on the industry.

Editor (newpapers and periodicals)
To be an Editor, you need a superfluous command of the publication’s language. This is a challenging job with super tight deadlines but no matter how tight it gets, quality is paramount. Editors for newspapers and periodicals usually start off as journalists and then move up after gaining experience. The first step is usually the Editor of a Desk, such as sports or business. Editors determine the direction for the publication, assigning stories to reporters, editing, proof-reading and overseeing the entire production process. Qualifications will usually be a background in English (or Mandarin, Malay, etc), Journalism, Mass Communications or other humanities disciplines. For very specialized periodicals like scientific or trade magazines, you will need expertise in the respective fields. In Singapore, SPH is the biggest employer followed by other periodicals and publishing houses such as Times Publishing. Pay varies from $6,300 to $7,400.

Business management consultant
A management consultancy is a firm that provides an advisory service to the top management of companies. They are assigned various projects by the client companies whose exact nature may vary, from planning for a new market entry to strategizing the long term company expansion. Getting into a management consultancy firm, let alone the top ones, is not an easy feat. They seek the very best of each graduating cohort and competition is extremely fierce for the few positions available. There are generally two routes of entry into a consulting firm: with just an undergraduate degree or with an MBA. Those joining fresh from school with a bachelor’s may be given parts of an on-going project and eventually be involved in bigger assignments with more direct client interaction once they have proven themselves. Those joining with an MBA are given meatier roles. Kiss your social life goodbye as you don your consultant hat though the pay package may help in cheering you up. Fresh graduates can expect to earn as much as $5,000 with average pay ranging from $6,400-$7,200.

Legal profession (lawyers, advocates/solicitors and other legal officers)
Possess a highly analytical mind with persuasive communication skills? For those of you who think so, the National University of Singapore has launched the Approved Graduate Programme (AGP) for non-law degree holders to obtain a LL.B (Honours) in three years. To become a practicing lawyer, you also need to undergo six months of pupillage in a law firm and satisfy other requirements set by the Board of Legal Education. Opportunities also exist to work as an in-house legal counsel for large companies. Lawyers can expect to earn from $6,700 to $8,000+.

Research and development manager
Many multi-national companies base their Research and Development (R&D) centres in Singapore. R&D Managers are responsible for overseeing the processes involved in new product or technology development. Other than an advanced degree and/or experience, they also need to be strong administrators and organisers as well as clear communicators. They may also work in government research organisations and can earn between $6,900 and $8,200.

Futures trader and broker
Futures are contracts between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price at a fixed date in the future. Hence, it is a form of hedging, where the seller or buyer tries to manage his risk across his portfolio. For example, a coffee farmer can arrange a contract with a buyer who will buy his harvest at the agreed price a month from now. Such contracts are what Futures Traders or Brokers buy and sell while constantly trying to read which way the market is heading in order to make a profit. They may work as part of a bank or brokerage. Their remuneration is linked to how much money they make for their employer and the good ones can rake in a hefty amount in commissions and performance linked bonuses. Pay scale is in the mid $7,000.

Creative director (advertising)
With leading global advertising agencies like Ogilvy & Mather and Saatchi & Saatchi having bases in Singapore, there are many opportunities in the creative line. At the top of the heap is the Creative Director. The Creative Director manages the entire creative process of coming up with an advertising campaign/creative project and coordinates the work of different people such as copy writers, graphic designers and art directors. He or she requires excellent communication skills, superb organisational ability and a creative flair. There is no fixed entry to this job, which usually involves working one’s way up the ranks of the agency. If you are good, you can expect to earn from $8,500 to $11,000.

Physicians and surgeons
Physicians or General Practitioners (GP) are non-specialized doctors who provide primary medical care. Surgeons and other specialists are trained in a particular branch of medicine and provide secondary care, often after the patient has been referred to them by a GP. Surgeons perform operations and also prescribe pre-and post-operative treatments. To become a GP or surgeon, exceptional A Levels results and CCA records are required to enter medical schools locally and abroad. The road to becoming a doctor is long and hard; after obtaining a medical degree, you need to do housemanship, where you are attached to a hospital and undergo further training. Salary range? Anywhere from $7,000 to $11,000 and more.

Commercial airline pilot and flight instructor
Nowadays with the affordability of international air travel, almost everyone flies. The expense and time resources involved in training a pilot is very high. The result is a supply that is very inflexible, leading to comfortable pay cheques for trained pilots. SIA is the only local company that trains commercial airline pilots and the minimum academic requirements are GCE A Levels or a polytechnic diploma. Training locally and overseas takes about three years with a compulsory service bond of five to seven years. Experienced pilots can become flight instructors teaching the newer cadets. Another route is via the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Military pilots often embark on a second career after their retirement at middle-age. They undergo a conversion course and become commercial pilots. Remuneration for pilots is very attractive ranging from $9,400 to $19,500.

Fund manager
Think Fund Managers and Warren Buffett or George Soros comes to mind. Fund Managers are institutional investors who are entrusted to manage a fund pooled together by smaller investors. They devise the investment strategy to meet the objectives of the fund and track the daily trading of their portfolios. Their pay is linked to how well their funds do. Fund Managers can work for investment banks and other financial institutions or like Buffett and Soros, manage their own companies. Hence, it is no surprised that they are paid very well indeed: $12,400 - $20,400.

Credit and Source: community.jobcentral.com.sg

Top Paying Jobs in America for High School Graduates 2012

2012-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Obtaining a degree may pose a challenge to some especially during the times of economic uncertainty today. So people have asked if there are job opportunities for the moment for high school graduates in America? Well, we stumbled upon a website which listed down the High Paying Jobs in 2012 for Americans with High School certifications or graduates.

Top Paying Jobs for High School Graduates

For those who may have just graduated with a high school certification could still obtain lucrative job opportunities should they know where or which industry to look.

For most of the times, they would need to self-learn these knowledge fields themselves, but with the advent of the internet, it would be rather easy for them to access such information. Work experience would still play a vital role in determining the success of these high school graduates in the job market.

These occupations emphasize work experience and on-the-job training rather than formal education:

Computer software engineers -- $58,900

Computer/information systems managers -- $56,400

Computer programmers -- $55,000

Network systems and data communications analysts -- $49,000

General and operations managers -- $48,000

Database, network and computer systems administrators -- $48,000

High Paying Jobs for New Zealand Graduates

2012-04-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

With the job market becoming more competitive, it is vital for graduates to understand, and to be able to foresee seeking placements in industries that would offer them the best compensation for their years of struggling through university.

Being one of the smallest country in the world, in terms of population, New Zealand with a population size of 4 million people may not be considered as a big enough market for larger companies or businesses to set up shop. Hence this would have impacted the job opportunities available locally as well.

Hence, we have compiled a list of the Top Paying Jobs in New Zealand for Fresh Graduates, to prepare them for a stable career life ahead.

Top Paying Jobs and Career Options in New Zealand for Graduates

Computer Specialists

If candidates hold a degree in Information technology or computer technical engineering along with some additional certified course, they can easily apply for higher designations in this field and can earn between $59,480 to $65,000.

Dental Hygienist

This is one of the fastest growing occupations which need some good experience in the same field. In this profession, candidates need to deal with taking X-rays, cleaning teeth and other kinds of dental hygiene solutions. People can earn a starting salary of $58,350 in this profession.

Radiation Therapist

These are the professionals who deal with Radiation therapy of the patients who suffer from cancers and tumors. Candidates in this profession require devoting good time in practice and training so as to earn higher pay scale ranging between $57,700 to $60,000.

Aerospace Engineering

This occupation deals with the maintenance of aircrafts and space vehicles and a degree in engineering technology is a must for the candidates of this field. Any kind of certification in a particular subject can facilitate the candidates to find a job with a better paying scale like $52,500 and above.

Fashion Designer

This line of work involves study of latest trends and applicants must hold an associate degree in fine arts for applying in the same field. From selecting a fabric to choosing the best colors, fashion designer fulfills all the requirements and earns an average salary package of $55,840.

Credit and source: New Zealand Business Network

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 10 (Finale)

2012-04-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Ultimately, talents and graduates line up to work with the companies and employers of the year, and the Google brand name is always prominent in the internet business. For any company or employer to be attractive towards drawing top talents, perhaps its time to focus on building the intangible value of your brand, like how Avinash Kaushik would explain with his experience of working with Google in this Series Finale.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 1: The brand.

My son Chirag will be four in a couple months. The first word he could spell without looking at it was G O O G L E. I think he was two and half.

I don't wear too many Google shirts, I don't have too much Google stuff. He had visited Google a couple of times, he loves walking around, looking at stuff etc. As a result he has this deeply favorable view of the Google "brand".

I was impressed. Remember this is a little kid (he can spell more things now!).

The interesting thing is that the Google brand has the same effect on people of all ages. There is a thriving cottage industry in sub optimal google thoughts, but for the most part people have a wonderful positive response when you tell them you work for Google (even as a consultant!).

My friend Blaire was telling me how she gets stopped and asked nice things when she is wearing the Google "girl power" t-shirt. That's branding.

People have a positive opinion of Google and it transfers to your sense of pride in your company. Goes to show if you just produce a good product it can translate into something remarkable (something worth remarking).

Google is amongst a select list of companies that will look good on your resume for some time to come, there is little doubt about that.

Phew, deep breath.

That's the top ten reflecting on my own experience as a consultant at Google.

There are other things that full time employees might list, the 20% time, or 401k or health insurance or otherbenefits.

A parting thought. . . .

Google is 10 years old. Just 10 years old. The top ten list above illustrates perhaps some of why it has become so good so fast. Some things above are hard to do, but most big companies (say Fortune 1,000 atleast) can easily do all of them. Yet they don't.

The net net of all of the above is, IMHO, that Google is a faith based initiative. If you treat your employees exceptionally and give them room to breath, then they will reward you exceptionally.

What about the future?

What the company and its people have accomplished thus far is simply astounding.

But it has yet to face a shock, yet to truly feel pressured, yet to miss earnings for a couple of quarters.

It will.

It is not a question of if, it is a question of when. Circle of life.

It faces many challenges. It is doing many things right and it is probably doing other things wrong, and it does not know it yet. Time will tell.

There is a famous quote used by the great Warren Buffett. . . .

"It's not until the tide goes out that you realize who's swimming naked ."

Google's greatness, and longevity, will be determined by not what it would have done until that point. But what it does when the tide goes out. Which perks go first, who makes the first sacrifices, what happens to the list of 10 above?

I am hopeful, based on my experience, that it will make the right choices.

Note: We would like to thank Avinash Kaushik for writing in such a detail and a pleasure to read about his 11 months work experience in Google, voted the most innovative company in the world. Thank you again and we are sure, the readers would agree.

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 9

2012-04-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Talents, especially the Gen-Y graduates are looking for a work place which puts emphasis on work life balance. For Google, it isn't a weird environment to have their employees enjoying themselves with cuisines from all around the world, or in this case, as Avinash Kaushik would explain, playing netball, exercising and playing sports within the company's compounds.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 2: It's a happening place. The energy, the vibe, the passion.

Cool projects + empowerment + size of impact = A energetic fun happening place.

Google employees are a passionate bunch, the have a energy to themselves regardless of how big or small their project is, and they are passionate. People work hard (and I might stress play hard, see below), and you feed off their energy.

There is this constant sense that you are doing something to change the world, there is very positive vibe.

A great example is Testing On The Toilet.

Yes you heard it right.

I can only speak for the mens restroom of course. As you stand (or sit :) you can't fail to notice that in front of you a page that teaches the importance of testing. Each week a new "episode". Techie stuff, python and sawzall and bigtable and loops and so on and so forth.

That would be inconsequential (just like the sign that says "wash your hands after using the bathroom"). But the amazing thing is that these docs, deeply technical as they are, are written with a great sense of humor. Often subtle, usually techie, always entertaining.

It is not unusual for even someone like me to just stand there and read the whole thing (sadly blocking traffic!). I don't understand everything they teach but I am consistently struck by how well written it is, and the passion of the people who take writing better code so seriously.

It's just a example of the energy that you'll see, passionate people trying to do the right thing with a smile.

As Martha would say "That's a good thing."

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 8

2012-04-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Consumers like to think that they are contributing their cash to responsible companies. The same with talents, where they expect to work with companies with a social conscious to give back to society. They want to ensure that they are helping the world, while helping the company to make money. Avinash Kaushik blogs about his 'Green' experience in Google.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 3: Doing Good: Green & .org

This might not resonate with everyone but it is very important to me. One of the reasons Intuit was so nice, they did so many good and charitable things.

I am a Northern California person, I am green, I buy everything in An Inconvenient Truth! :)

Google has lots and lots of green initiatives. From the solar panels on the car ports that are around the buildings. . . .

to initiatives like the greener cars (I know green car is a oxymoron) like the plugin hybrid. . . .

to the cup of juice that I pick up at breakfast. . . .

In small and big ways you'll see around the offices Google takes green seriously in a very real and meaningful way.

They also support great causes, like the matching program for OLPC (one laptop per child) when you could buy one laptop and one would be given free to a child in the third world. Google's match meant two laptops would be given out for the one you bought.

google.org is a very ambitious initiative to to make a immense difference in the world that we live in. Lots of companies are lucky to be blessed with great wealth. I am always biased in favor of companies that don't wait to make a difference, they take action right way. Be it google.org or WalMart and their CFL initiative or the, most ambitious of it all, efforts of the Gates Foundation.

At a personal level it feels good to be a part of a company that tries to make a difference (and some day Google will even lick the problem of how much power web servers consume!!).

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 7

2012-04-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Google takes pride of its employees' ideas and the scalability of their ideas when implemented as projects within the company. It is interesting to note that for experienced professionals or employees, they would prefer to have a platform for them to test their ideas out. For them its self-fulfillment and gives them new meaning to their work.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 4: The scale of your impact.

This one is my personal favorite.

Google is not quite as big as many companies out there, but in its space it has a huge user base for most of its applications (search and beyond). Anything you work on will probably touch hundreds of thousands of people – if not multiple times that.

It is such a awesome thrill when you see your work in the hands of so many folks on this planet.

I think of a small idea and collaborate with the team and bam (!) they make it a reality.

In a few days something that was just in your brain is now in the hands of hundreds of thousands of people!

I open the app and there is such a deep sense of gratification when I see parts of it that helped with ("mine! that's mine!").

But more than that there is a thrill in the realization that something I helped create takes out just a little bit of stress out (even if five seconds worth) of the Users lives, makes data just a smidgen easier to understand, make a tiny bit of difference in how their customer experience.

In many other companies it takes time to drive change (see #5 above), even then you are just a cog, and even then your power to touch people (end users) is limited.

The scale at which you can touch people and make a tiny bit of difference in their day to day life is huge at Google.

It is also very liberating that you can do the right thing, the products are mostly free so you don't have to worry about the vagaries of trying to do things that are fluff or driven by other interests. You can focus on the customers.

The impact, for you and me, results in a high, a very high high.

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 6

2012-04-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

There is a belief that big companies can still act small within, at least with their employees. With Google's very democratic, free and open culture, it is a proof that such an environment stimulates employees to experiment with new possibilities with the company. A normal scenario where employees are discouraged to take risks, Google tackles the issue otherwise by empowering them.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 5: Empowerment (The big small company).

If you are good at something, have passion to do it then you'll get empowered to go do it.

I know that sounds basic. It is not.

You could be just out of college and if want to then you'll get to solve some of the most complex challenges you would ever find. At other companies you'll get put into a hierarchy with layers and controls were for the first four years you might learn where all the files are.

I am being a bit dramatic, but not all that much.

In my second week there I was walking over to lunch with a young man and he was describing his work to me. He had been at Google for less than a year, straight from college and had completely rewritten one of the most challenging "code" during the last few months and his work had yielded dramatic results for Google.

He is good at what he does but I was simply struck by how a company this size would let someone so young and "untested" the task for solving such a complex challenge. And how awesome must it feel to know that you did that!

That's what I mean by empowerment.

[Google NYC campus building made out of legos, above.]

Google is not a very small company (GOOG). It is only ten years old, and it is a "big" company now. Yet it functions like a small company. People sit together, cross functional teams, and each group is holistically responsible for getting stuff done. Few layers, lots of empowerment.

It is a big small company. That is the secret.

If you want to bite of a humongo challenge, and I do mean humongo, then you can rest assured that you'll get a chance to do it. You have to be passionate about your cause and be competent at it. Your youth or old age, your big title or small one, your "tenure" at the company will rarely be barriers.

You want to get @#$& done? You can.

That's a good feeling.

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 5

2012-04-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

Surround Yourself with Brilliant People and a Supportive Workplace and you are bound to discover your talents for your company. In this case for Google, Avinash Kaushik explores the relevance of Google employees being mentored and to work with equally brilliant talents as a way to enhance their motivation to work for the internet giant and also to learn.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 6: The sheer amount of brilliant Google employees.

There is a myth that everyone who works at Google is smart / brilliant / genius / replace your own term here. That is not true. Not everyone.

You'll still be astounded at the hit rate of truly brilliant google employees to the sub brilliant ones (see Mom, I can be diplomatic!).

It really does not matter who you are and what you have done before. You could be the greatest at your own field, I assure you in your meetings and as you walk around you'll see and work with people who you think are genius.

It will keep you humble, and that is a good thing. :)

Here's an example. . .

This, as you'll surely recognize, is Hans Rosling. . . .

To people who have anything to do with data he is pretty much as good as it gets. His cube is ten meters from where I sit. When I see him I am as giddy as a school girl who has just seen Brad Pitt.

If you don't know who Hans is check out these two videos (a must watch for anyone who remotely things they present data or do data visualization):

He is scanning my book in the picture. Can you imagine how incredibly cool that is for a humble little web analytics author like myself? I of course insisted he keep it.

It is a lot of fun working with smart people because they push you to be better, because you are sure the collaboration will result in something beautiful. Even when you can't talk quite the same "language". . . .

That's from my white board. Phil is in the blue. I am the red. Notice his use of math as visualization. Notice my method of visualization. I smiled in the end, he is "Googlely" in his approach, me less so!!

[PS: That is the standard definition of what constitutes a bounce in scenarios where additional pieces of data exist - like exit clicks, event logging entries etc - and what the impact is on standard computation of Time On Site in those scenarios. How cool is that? :)]

Not everyone at Google is brilliant, but you'll constantly find people who inspire you and who you'll learn from. It is nice to have so many people who you'll genuinely respect.

Highest Paying Job in America with a Professional Degree

2012-04-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

With speculations that our world is rushing towards another economic downturn with the happenings in the Euro zone, many are pondering about degrees or professional qualifications to take to get their dream job with the highest paying salary. Well, we have listed down the top jobs in America, where for this category, it would require you to invest your time to obtain at least a degree in the designated professions.

This is the list of the Highest Paid job in the USA, as listed by Careerbuilder.com . Perhaps, this is a great guide for you, or your children to decide on their next professional degree or qualification.

Top Paying Jobs Overall

Physicians and surgeons -- $147,000

Aircraft pilots -- $133,500

Chief executives -- $116,000

Electrical and electronic engineers -- $112,000

Lawyers and judges -- $99,800

Dentists -- $90,000

Pharmacists -- $85,500

Management analysts -- $84,700

Computer and information system managers -- $83,000

Financial analysts, managers and advisors -- $84,000

Marketing and sales managers -- $80,000

Education administrators -- $80,000

Source: CareerBuilder.com

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 4

2012-04-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Google works to develop its employees so that they too can innovate to produce ground-breaking products for the internet giant. It is this empowerment concept that had made Google an attraction for people to work with them.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

# 7: Brain expansion opportunities.

For some reason this one surprised me. I don't know why.

This is not a uncommon sight as you walk into Google buildings. . . .

On any given day at Google there are brilliant people visiting and giving talks and lectures. Politicians, authors (even niche ones: me!), professors, bright young folks (me, long ago!), environmentalists, journalists, dignitaries, monks, Nobel prize winners, venture capitalists and so on and so forth.

I am astounded at the ability to have access to so many brilliant and leading minds. If I have some time then I can take an hour out, go listen to someone brilliant and stretch my brain on a wide variety of topics.

Check these out:

Google engEDU Tech Talks Channel Authors @ Google

After a while at any company your mind gets stale, you can't get out except for a conference or such. At Google you have alternatives.

This past year I have learned about microexpressions from Paul Ekman (be careful if you see me intently scanning your face!), saw the light when Barack Obama spoke, realized why John Chambers is so well admired, sat two seats away from Al Gore (the day before he won his Nobel prize!), had lunch with Guy Kawasaki, gave a presentation right after Ian Ayres (!!) and well I could keep going. I am sure you get the point.

At Google I am grateful to have the chance to exercise brain, get a new idea, learn something I otherwise would not have. It is priceless!

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 3

2012-04-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Google takes pride in letting its employees experience with the little things and hatch their ideas in a supportive and innovative environment. As Avinash Kaushik would explain his 'Micro Efficiencies' experience working for the internet giant, Google.

Source and Pictures : Avinash Kaushik

# 9: "Micro Efficiencies".

Google has all these "micro efficiencies" that are very clever and well thought out. Each in a small way makes life easy for someone working at Google, but taken in aggregate, in my opinion, add up to a big advantage for the company.

Here's a tiny example. . . .

All conference rooms are wired for everything you need to make your life easy. In my prior companies I had to reserve a projector, and mostly forgot, and carry my power bricks and my ethernet cables etc. At Google all the power adapters you need are in the conf room, Apple or ThinkPads, and there are two projectors in every conf room (and most have high bandwidth video conferencing) and did you see the dvi – vga converters? This makes my life easier in a small but significant way.

I also absolutely love the tech stop idea. If there is a tech support issue no need to open a ticket and wait for salvation from the help desk (though you can), you can simply walk to the closest Tech Stop and the Geek Gods there will fix any problem on the spot (and they smile and are super nice people). What a time saver!

Ditto for the Hardware Depots in various buildings. Need a mouse or head phones or a battery or power adapter or . . . any peripheral? Walk into the the Hardware Depot, scan your badge, pick up, walk out. Very convenient, huge time saver (no need to fill requisitions and do a long line of paperwork!).

There are so many little things that you'll find at Google that you'll come to appreciate, especially if you have worked for a while at other companies.

Micro efficiencies that result in significant macro efficiency.

# 8: A company that truly cares.

You sit on the outside and you read all the stories and your first thought was: "Yeah right! They do "all that"! Probably just to keep you at work and working like a dog."

To some extent I did too.

I was wrong, and so are you.

For any company it is easy to provide you with free food, get you shuttles to commute, have beer parties on fridays, decorate the offices nice, and have free drinks and Naked Juices. If it wanted to.

Typically what happens is that you get bored of the "cafe food" and the rest pretty quickly because often companies pay lip service to things like that.

At Google the food never gets boring because each cafe has a executive / sous chef and when you eat they'll come chat with you and ask you what you think of the food (to your utter shock the first few times). They actually care.

TGIF each friday at Google is something else.

The commute shuttles are very comfortable, have wi-fi and are frequent.

I am struck at how with everything there is this touch of extra, and that shows that the company does really care about you.

Here is another example that struck me. . . .

We live in earthquake belt. And it is not that hard to create a earthquake kit for yourself. Gallon of water, first aid kit, manually chargeable flashlight / radio etc etc. Not that hard, yet few of us have it.

A couple of months ago I saw the Google employees walking around with nifty backpacks. They were earthquake kits that Google created for and gave all its employees (not contractors, legally that is not allowed).

That was so nice. It even had water! The company did not have to do it, to me it was about going to extra step for their employees.

This is why Google employees are so loyal to their company, the company tries to care for them and the employees care back.

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 2

2012-04-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Avinash Kaushik recalls his experience of working with Google. He is now listing down the 10 Perks for working with the internet giant. From food, to employee facilities to flexibility, he has done an amazing work in sharing all that with us. So, this time he is going to talk about the food served in Google.

Source and Pictures: Avinash Kaushik

# 10: The amazingly fantastic food and impressive digs.

I am sure you have heard about the food, everything you have heard is true (and it probably understates the story).

Brett had always said one of the reasons I should work at Google was the food. My reply was "My level of gourmet is Taco Bell". :)

But he was right. I am convert (and much to Jennie's delight my level of gourmet is slowly moving up!).

Google has impressive food. It is not just that it is yummy, it is, but it is more that the diversity of the food and how fresh everything is and the number of cafes and dishes that you'll encounter only in the nicest restaurants.

I still can't get used to the fact that every day when I walk into a cafe the food is different and delicious and healthy and mostly organic.

Here's just one example:

Red beet "Ravioli" with tarragon, cashew filling and yellow pepper puree.

It was to die for. And that's from a Taco Bell gourmet!

If you are at the Googleplex try to go to Cafe No Name (I love that place – world fusion food) and skip Charlie's. In Mt. View I also like Pure Ingredients, Slice (raw, vegan food, great smoothies as well) and Pintxo 47 (tapas!), each is unique in its own way. Hemispheres in NYC is also excellent.

You can eat every day at Google and never get bored. And you eat healthy, while having a nice one hour relaxing lunch with your co-workers.

As to the digs, I live in the Valley but I have also spent time at Google New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and London. If you visit them I am sure you'll agree they are cool digs.

Space Ship One in B43 in Mt. View. . . .

Maybe it is how each person personalizes their environment, maybe it is the vibrant colors, maybe it is the energy of people bustling around, maybe it is the pure oxygen that is pumped into each Google building worldwide (a reporter actually asked me that!).

You'll find cubicles that are 100% aluminum foil wrapped, others that are homages to star wars, others to universities or pop culture or countries or customers or …… its a long list.

Here's a good example. . . .

This past week I was in Atlanta and on my way to a conference room when I was stopped in my tracks. On my right was a Zen oasis. Mood lighting, bean bags and comfy chairs, plants, six small water fountains making bubbling soothing sounds. Ten mins in there will recharge anyone before or after a few hours of work (or after every hour of work!).

It is fun to work in a creative environment where collaboration is encouraged by the open layouts and yet you are never far from a nice view.

Working with Internet Giant, Google - Part 1

2012-04-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Avinash Kaushik who had the opportunity to work in Google in Silicon Valley and he has written a detailed blogspot on his experiences and the perks of working with the internet business giant. This will be a 4 parts series towards Avinash's experiences with Google.

Source: Avinash Kaushik

It will soon be a year of working at Google and milestones are always a good time for introspection.

I have a lot on my mind but there was one thing in particular that I wanted to share with you all:

What it is has been like working at Google.

Interesting, fun, surprising, insightful, inspiring, impactful, and more such words. This post shares that experience.

I went into Google with my own filters and expectations on what the experience would be like and what I would end up doing.

Looking back the reality has been different in so many ways, even for a jaded Silicon Valley veteran of layoffs and cool companies like myself.

Before I get any further I wanted to mention that I am the Analytics Evangelist for Google. I am a Consultant (a "red badge" as I often remark!). There is little difference between roles and expected outcomes between a full time employee and a consultant – nonetheless there is a very different benefits structure at multiple levels for consultants (as Johnny Law dictates). I also don't have any holdings of Google stock, and, not being a full time employee, I also don't hold any Google options.

Also my experience is positive, there is a small community that seeks sub optimal stuff about Google constantly. You can bounce now because you won't find it here.

With that squared away, ever wonder what makes Google tick?

Here are ten insights from / cool things about / reasons for / delightful surprises from almost a year of working at Google:

# 10: The amazingly fantastic food and impressive digs.# 9: "Micro Efficiencies".# 8: A company that truly cares.# 7: Brain expansion opportunities.# 6: The sheer amount of brilliant Google employees.# 5: Empowerment (The big small company).# 4: The scale of your impact.# 3: Doing Good: Green & .org# 2: It's a happening place. The energy, the vibe, the passion.# 1: The brand.What about the future?

Let me share some of the reasons why I picked the above ten. . . .

6 Tips to Win Your Dream Job at an Interview

2012-04-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

If only you knew about what or how to prepare for an interview of your dream job. Well, below are 6 practical tips of things that you can prepare today, to give your prospective employers a good impression on what you can potentially bring to the company.

Source: SimplyHired Blog

Why is this position open? (Find out why the previous person left or if it’s a new role in a growing company)

What traits or experience would a person need to be successful in this role?

What are the top goals for the person you hire in this role?

What's your management style (or the management style of the hiring manager)?

What would you change about… the company, culture, department, etc.?

What are the next steps in this process?

Interviews can be daunting, but you can rock them with a little preparation and practice! Not sure how to make a great impression in an interview? Impress your future employer with these interview tips:

Prepare for the interview – Never walk into an interview without first doing your research about the company and position. This includes knowing what the company does and how they do it, recent news/press, and information about their competitors. Not knowing about the company is a turn-off for most interviewers.

Dress well – The moment you walk into the room, your interviewer is going to start making judgments about you, and the best way to impress them is to pay attention to your appearance. This means dressing professionally and being well-groomed and having impeccable hygiene.

Arrive on time – Even if you have a good excuse, your interviewer won't think as highly of you if you're late. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early. If you get to the building sooner than that, use that extra time to prepare for interview questions in the car—arriving more than 10 minutes early may make your interviewer feel rushed.

Act confident – Although being interviewed might be on your top ten list of most intimidating moments along with public speaking and skydiving, try your best to emit confidence! A couple ways to feign confidence is to smile, stand/sit up tall, make eye contact with the interviewer, have a firm handshake, and respond to those interview questions with enthusiasm.

Ask intelligent questions – By asking intelligent questions (and not questions you could find out from a quick Google search), you'll not only impress the interviewer with your interest but also set yourself apart from the competition. Such questions may include:

Say "Thanks" – As your mother might say, "Mind your manners!" At the end of your interview, don't forget to thank your interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. The next day, send a personal "thank you" note to each person you met with via email. It'll set you apart from the crowd.

With these tips, you'll make the best possible impression for any interview. Good luck in your job search and rock those interviews!

Having A Degree Doesn't Guarantee a Well Paying Job Anymore

2012-04-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

In this posting, the case study takes us to Singapore where a featured article shares about the reality that having a degree or professional qualification no longer guarantees one for a stable job or in fact a well paying one too. The competition with foreigners because of the rise of developing economies like China and India, are paving the way for my employers to outsource their assignments overseas for a cheaper rate. So, how does one remain competitive and relevant to the job market?

Source: The Star and Singapore Straits Times

A FORMER lecturer in America with a Master’s in music is reportedly working at a job here that pays only S$2,500 (RM6010) a month.

A retrenched sales executive was rejected for a temporary job as administrative assistant at a government hospital because he was “over-qualified”.

In his account to STOMP, the Straits Times online mobile print, the disappointed applicant said: “I sincerely hope that recruiters and companies (can) understand the pain we are going through...

“We are all out to earn a living and to put food on the table for our family.”

Last year, unemployed scientist Cai Mingjie, who has a PhD from Stanford University and a list of research papers, became a cab driver when he failed repeatedly to land another job. He still cruises the streets of Singapore.

In this land of dream jobs for one million foreigners who have flocked here over the past 10 years, such anecdotes – once considered unusual and rare – are becoming more frequent these days.

White-collar professionals are going through a rough patch certainly.

The wider story is that the changing world economy – aggravated by the mass influx of “cheap foreigners” – is rendering local graduates “over-priced” and “over qualified”.

Economic productivity is in continuous decline, and to survive in this expensive city, higher-educated job seekers are reducing their ambitions to settle for lower-level work.

In a way, Singapore is being penalised for its own success. For years, the government has successfully invested in upgrading its citizens.

Since my early teens, I had been repeatedly reminded that my future depended on getting a degree because it was the key to a successful life.

Some of Singapore’s exuberance faded 10 years ago as globalisation spread, and unemployment among the highly-educated began to rise.

Nevertheless, a varsity education remains a prized asset. In this competitive age, even a hotel receptionist requires one.

Everyone is upgrading. It has long become a national buzzword.

Up to half the Singaporeans who already have a diploma are flocking to the universities to improve themselves.

Some 18,000 Singaporeans are studying in foreign universities. The education budget is one of the highest, and of this, about 30% goes to tertiary studies.

The result has been a rapid rise in the quality of the work force.

Today, two out of three workers have a university degree (27%) or a diploma (39%), and the goal is to push it to 89% by 2020.

If you throw a stone in this city, it will more likely than not hit a graduate.

In the industrial era – especially before the global downturn – Singapore’s professionals were virtually guaranteed a job, often a good one, and this contributed to the state’s prosperity.

Today, the majority remains gainfully employed, making up Singapore’s affluent middle class. But the guarantee is long gone.

With the eclipse of manufacturing, many quality jobs were lost, probably for good, and life is getting harder for the PMET (read Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians).

The phenomenon is, of course, not unique to Singapore. In America, engineers have become hamburger flippers or insurance salesmen.

The PMET plight here is aggravated by the influx of expatriate graduates from abroad hungry for work for less money.

At the same time, Singapore’s productivity growth is in long-term decline, dragged down by the addition of two million foreigners.

The opposition Workers’ Party leader, Low Thia Khiang, said productivity in the past decade was an average 1% a year – down from 5% in the 1980s and 3% in the 1990s.

By allowing easy access to cheap imported labour, the government was partly to blame for the decline, he said.

The authorities have drawn up long-term plans to lift productivity, starting with higher levies on foreign workers and greater retraining help for locals.

For downgraded Singaporeans, the action means little.

They include some 600 graduates who have applied for a licence to drive a taxi, an increase of 23% over 2003.

“What a waste of talent,” said the Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao, which noticed that graduate-drivers were also becoming younger.

To government backbencher and trade union leader Halimah Yacob, the idea of retrenched degree holders driving taxis is “unavoidable” at times when growth is slow and jobs hard to come by.

Online news site Temasek Review said, in the past, only highly qualified expats and blue collar workers were permitted to work here.

“In the past few years, foreign PMETs have flooded the Singapore labour market, leading to intense competition with locals for jobs” and forcing down earnings.

Under the headline “Graduates dealt harder jobs blow”, The Straits Times, quoting revised official figures, reported: “Despite signs of a turnaround in the job market, university graduates are no better off. In fact, more of them are without jobs and taking longer to land a job.”

To avoid losing out, some youths are leaving out their post-graduate qualifications when they apply for a job, and it often works.

A blogger notes: “Remember that being ‘over-qualified’ won’t make the house payments; rather it can prove to be a roadblock to winning your desired job.”

The general decline is not lost on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Looong.

In a recent speech, he applauded “resilient Singaporeans” who had willingly taken on “any available jobs to support themselves and their families, and keep the unemployment rate down”.

Malaysian Education System Not Producing Thinking Graduates?

2012-03-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

An interesting write-up on the Malaysian education system as an example for not producing 'Thinking Graduates', hence may have resulted in the decline of successful job applicants in the past few years.

Source: The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Graduates emerging from the Malaysian education system fail to meet the expectations of prospective employers due to a lack of critical thinking skills and poor communication.

This has resulted in employers having to provide additional training to fit them into their respective job scopes. Many graduates also have to accept employment that does not correspond with their qualifications.

Malaysian-based education, human resource and recruitment consultants feel that there should be a sound foundation in critical thinking to be incorporated into the education system to prepare future generations for the employment market.

Manpower Staffing Services (M) Sdn Bhd country manager Sam Haggagsaid there was a distinct gap between what the Malaysian education system is producing and what employers are looking for.

"This has resulted in six out of 10 graduates from Malaysian universities taking as much as six months to find a job. The other 40% take even longer," said Haggag, whose company provides workforce solutions that include recruitment and training.

"Recruitment is a distinct challenge as the universities are churning out graduates who don't have the requisite skills to enter the workforce.

"From the manpower context, we find that seven out of 10 graduates who come to recruitment interviews fail the English [language] competency test set by our clients.

"The lack of proficiency in English limits their ability to communicate beyond the borders of Malaysia and this lowers their confidence and curtails their ability to add value in the workplace," he said in a statement.

Hong Leong Bank chief human resources officer Ramon Chelvarajasingam said many of the new graduates lack the critical thinking skills required to keep up in a world that is constantly changing and becoming increasingly competitive.

"New technologies and methodologies are forcing people to operate beyond their comfort zone.

"In our competitor nations, the young professionals are more advanced in critical thinking, innovation, thinking out of the box and have continuous development initiatives compared within Malaysia," he pointed out.

He added that today, most employers are looking for graduates with a high level of confidence who are exposed to niche areas outside of their academic studies.

"These new graduates won't give you textbook answers, but will, through their answers, display a global mindset and show understanding of moving trends in the world.

"Employers are usually prepared to pay a higher salary to get these 'global associates' onboard," Ramon said.

Prospect Consulting Sdn Bhd director Nina Adlan, who provides advisory services to educational institutions aiming to set up branch campuses in Malaysia, said she has observed 'a disconnect' between what graduates put down on their curriculum vitae and what they are like in reality.

"When we hire, we consider the way graduates converse and portray themselves to be more important than what's in the CV.

"What's the point in having good academic results when they can't communicate, can't conduct a proper conversation and have no confidence?" she said.

Haggag said one reason for the lack of confidence evident in young graduates is that educational institutions are not placing enough focus on equipping undergraduates with skills that will enable them to think out of the box and adapt to the demands of the working world.

"Among the reasons why those emerging from local education system do not meet employers' standards is the system itself.

"It is not dissimilar from that of the UK, which is teacher-centric and focuses on rote learning and swotting and places less emphasis on practical application.

"The system also focuses on individual achievement and less on team performance, so there aren't many opportunities for students to acquire interactive skills.

"It's the same in Malaysia, where the system is biased towards those who do well in exams, which is not necessarily the best way to gauge their employability," he added.

Nina said for Malaysia to produce more employable graduates, all parties involved in education should work together to create a culture that places a high value on critical thinking and creativity to replace the current one which focuses on information transfer and academic results.

An Internet check on the most frequently asked interview questions provides an insight into the "real world" out there with questions such as: What do you look for in a job? Why should we hire you? Define success at work? How do you feel that your education has prepared you for this job? to Why is a manhole cover round?

Nina said the grounding for the future generation to handle these and other questions and to be in a position to handle work situations without having to literally flip through a manual (if there is one), is to lay a strong foundation at the school level for them to be able to come up with strategies and solutions that can be unique and appropriate for each situation.

This, she insisted, would help pave the way to achieve Malaysia's quest to become a developed nation with the necessary manpower that would meet the industries' and the country's requirements

Getting A Job via Twitter

2012-03-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Stumbled upon this article about getting noticed and getting a job via Twitter. Perhaps social media channels should not be viewed as a distraction anymore, but more-over being used in the most productive manner and in this case, landing a job.

Source: Nicky Branagh of StudentBeans

So you’ve mastered the art of Facebook and amended your profile settings to private in order to prevent potential employers from getting an eyeful of those Carnage pub crawl photos. Right? Right. While a social network like Facebook isn’t seen as the best resource for job hunting, Twitter - Facebook's often misunderstood younger brother - can actually be the best place for it.

Why? Twitter is widely used on a professional basis and is a cheap way for businesses to communicate vacancies. Furthermore, it allows you to promote yourself to an expanding network of individuals and recruiters and join online conversations you might never otherwise have the opportunity of joining.

So what can you do to increase your chances of finding work via Twitter? We’ve come up with a list of top tips to help you in your hunt for a job when using Twitter:

1. Keep it clean

First thing’s first. If you’re looking for a new job and are hoping to attract the attention of potential employers, keep your content clean - much like you might keep your Facebook profile private. Many employers now do social networking background checks on potential candidates so be wary of your online presence and the type of image you are sending out. Whether you use your Twitter account for personal/business or strictly business use is up to you. There’s no harm in mixing it up, so long as you ensure your content is of the ‘employer friendly’ variety.

2. Be informative

Use your Twitter bio as a selling point. Keep it brief but inform potential followers of your area of expertise. Be sure to use a photo too - the more professional looking, the better. It is also wise to include a link to your website/blog (if relevant) so that employers can instantly find out more about you.

3. Follow the right people

Don’t wait for people to come to you. Search to find the people, brands or businesses that you’re professionally interested in and follow, follow, follow. They may not follow you back in the first instance but this doesn’t prevent you from engaging in conversations with them on a professional level so make people aware that you’re there (without pestering too much). And hey, there’s nothing to say you can’t follow Kanye West or Kim Kardashian too.

4. Post frequently

As tempting as it is to simply sit and watch others have Twitter conversations, doing so is of little benefit to you (entertainment aside). Start interacting with these people and answer questions they ask, if you can. The best thing about Twitter is how easy it is to engage with others so take advantage of this and make yourself known. You don’t always need to have direct conversations either. Try increasing your profile with links to useful articles or similar and retweet things that you think will be beneficial to your followers - you never know who might be reading.

5. Save searches

Of course, Twitter is not always guaranteed to deliver the goods as and when you want them. If you’re hitting the job search hard then use Twitter applications to your advantage so you can keep an eye out for any potential opportunities. Twitter apps such as TweetDeck or Hootsuite are ideal in this instance because they allow you to save searches for particular keywords and have any tweets that mention them collated in a separate column to your regular timeline.

So, for example, say you wanted to track any administration roles that might pop up on Twitter, you may save a search featuring the words ‘vacancy’ and ‘administrator’, which you can scroll through in your own time.

6. Search hashtags

Like saving searches, searching hashtags allows you to view tweets which have been specifically labelled with certain topics. You might want to try putting hashtags such as ‘#jobs’, ‘#recruitment’, ‘#hiring’, ‘#nowhiring’ in the Twitter search bar. If this isn’t fruitful enough however, you could be more specific with the type of job you’re looking for, by searching something such as ‘#journojobs’.

7. Interract

Twitter is networking gold so be sure to use it to its full potential. We’re not saying you should hound every single person in the profession you’d like to get into but keep up interactions to remind people of who you are. Twitter effectively enables you to eavesdrop on loads of conversations at once (and who doesn’t love that?) so be sure to get involved every so often and, if you can, direct people to some of your work through links.

8. Make long-term connections

Keep up communications with potential employers and you could end up with an interview on your hands. If you develop a good relationship online, you might also use this contact to get in touch with people they might know with professional openings or even use them as a source of knowledge to help you out with the job-hunting and interview process.

Twitter is what you make of it. If you haven't already done so, join today and follow us @studentbeans!

Life Working in Facebook

2012-03-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

One would like to imagine the life, working in Facebook. Well, TheNextWeb takes a look at some of the key employees behind the social media giant and how they claim to be working for the most innovative and fastest-changing company in the world.

Source: Paul Sawers, TheNextWeb

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Facebook generates $2bn in revenue, is valued at $50bn and has a global ‘customer’ base of 600m people. It’s fair to say it’s a pretty big company.

And to service a company of this size, you need a lot of people – 2,000 in Facebook’s case. But what’s life in Facebook like for those that drive the business towards world domination? For a little perspective, here’s a quick peek at another digital behemoth.

Much has been written about Google as an employer over the years. Tales of giant slides, all-you-can-eat buffet canteens and even a giant replica T-Rex skeleton have often been told, as life in the Googleplex is portrayed as the ultimate working environment.

And there’s little question that Google isn’t your typical employer. But don’t be fooled by cool offices – every single employee there will be working their socks off. Engineers may be given ‘innovation time’ to work on side-projects such as Gmail, Google News, Orkut and AdSense, but they’re highly educated, hard working and skilled people. The Googleplex is no playground…Google simply provides a fertile landscape for innovation to flourish.

With Facebook, a similar balancing act is required. But remaining nimble, innovative and ahead of the game under the might of a multi-billion dollar corporate machine is exactly what they’re managing to do.

Mass exodus?

Business Insider reported a couple of weeks back that Facebook was suffering a mass exodus of employees. Was it because the company was starting to stagnate? No, it seems that the employees in question had joined before Facebook gave staff ‘restricted’ stock – which means they were all able to sell their stock on secondary markets and become very rich. Nothing unusual there then.

And a couple of days after that report, TechCrunch wrote that Joe Hewitt, a Mobile Developer at Facebook, had parted ways with the company. Hewitt gave a heartfelt farewell message on his personal blog that culminated in:

“Facebook was the longest I ever worked at one company, and the best employer I’ve ever had.”

We followed this up with Hewitt, to see exactly why Facebook is the best employer he ever had. And Hewitt’s take was an interesting one:

“You’ll often hear Zuck and others talk about how they want Facebook to keep its startup mentality. And the way they do it is to constantly encourage people to try new ideas and run with them, without any meddling from above. While some projects ultimately require approval before they ship, you can go very long stretches with total autonomy.”

Autonomy & innovation

Autonomy, it would seem, is integral to keeping things fresh, innovative and interesting. We’ve seen this with Google in the past, as employees have typically been allowed to use up to 20% of their working time on projects that are of personal interest to them.

Indeed, Hewitt also noted that some of his previous employers talked the talk when it came to innovation in the workplace, but they ultimately gave employees a very short leash to work on and would constantly reshuffle teams and give orders that sucked the motivation out of people. Facebook was different:

“Facebook always made me feel like the company was driven from the bottom-up, with the engineers and designers having the responsibility to drive the company forward, rather than waiting for management to tell them what to do. Who knows if that will change as the company grows, but as they grew from 250 employees when I started to over 2,000 now, I felt they did a good job of maintaining that atmosphere.”

Happy memories from Hewitt, who now goes on to pursue independent HTML 5 development projects.

Whilst we wouldn’t want to paint a false picture of employment utopia at Facebook Towers, it seems that Hewitt isn’t alone in his assertions that Facebook is an environment that encourages innovation and development.

Surplus of possibility

Mark Slee, a Software Engineer who has worked at Facebook since January 2006, agrees that Facebook is a great place to work because of the attitude with which the company approaches product development:

“Since its inception, Facebook has been driven by a culture of prototyping, shipping, and iterating. The result is an environment where the biggest limit on innovation is our own ability to get ideas implemented.”

Indeed, Slee notes that one of the biggest challenges is choosing from a surplus of possibility, which he feels can be frustrating at times. Slee continues:

“Even though Facebook is a technology company, we lead our decision-making with people, not code. Rather than developing technology for its own sake and then figuring out how to package it up into products that users might want, we start by imagining the most powerful ways we could improve people’s lives, and then drill into what technology we are going to need to realize that vision.”

‘Move fast and break things’

Pedram Keyani, Engineering Manager at Facebook, joined the social network in August 2007. His first impression was thatFacebook was engineering-driven and was focused on moving fast to build innovative products. And he was most surprised to find that Facebook’s motto of ‘Move fast and break things’ was very much real:

“From the open-floor plan to quick turnaround from internal tests to production traffic, Facebook has always been obsessed with moving fast and iterating on ideas.”

It seems that a big part of Facebook’s ethos is about being bold, making mistakes in the process and learning from them. Keyani notes:

“I learned a lot of lessons in that first year as manager, and made my fair share of mistakes along the way. But because of our emphasis on moving fast and being bold, my peers and mentors gave me a lot of support and helped me use mistakes as learning experiences to improve my skills. During my time at Facebook I was never gated by the company but rather my own ability to grow and adapt. That’s what I really think sets Facebook apart from any other company I have worked at, it is an environment that really encourages people to take on big challenges and step outside of their comfort zone.”

It’s also worth noting that Keyani was previously at Google, where he worked as an engineer for two years. And he has stated that his reasons for jumping ship and boarding the Facebook vessel were that “I began to realize that I wanted to have more autonomy to build and work on larger, higher impact projects than was possible there (at Google).”

In the first quarter of 2011, Google’s global headcount stands at over 26,000 people, which is two thousand more than it had at the end of the previous quarter. With 2,000 employees Facebook is big, but it’s no match for Google in terms of people power. In fact, Google had more than five times the number of employees in 2007 than what Facebook has today. And it’s for this reason that Google may well offer less autonomy than it once did – it’s simply too big now.

I’ve written before that Facebook is still a startup in terms of company culture, and this assertion is backed-up by these accounts.

In 2010, Fast Company declared Facebook the most innovative company in the world. That’s ahead of Apple, Google and, well, a lot of other pretty innovative companies.

The company’s ‘surplus of possibility’, as Slee puts it, should see Facebook’s headcount escalate in the months and years ahead if these possibilities are to be realised. The challenge then for Facebook will be to remain an autonomous and innovative environment to work in.

2012-03-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

Malaysian graduates need to speak good English and be able to write the language well in order to land high paying jobs. This can be seen as a demand by both local and global companies as Malaysia looks to become a fully developed nation by year 2020. Reality checks in now for graduates and there are options available.

Source: The Star

PETALING JAYA: It does not matter if you are top of your class or have a string of degrees, that dream job will not be yours unless you can speak and write well in English.

Feedback from local and international employers shows that verbal and written communication skills in English remain the most sought-after attribute in prospective employees.

According to a recent Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) survey, it is the most important trait employers look for when recruiting graduates.

The MEF Salary Survey for Executives 2010 revealed that 68% of the companies surveyed named communication skills as the top quality required in job applicants, followed by working experience (67%), interpersonal skills (56.2%) and passion and commitment (55.7%).

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said globalisation had changed the nature of jobs, making communication skills, specifically in English, a valuable asset for today's worker.

He added that this was an essential criterion even for professions traditionally seen as “backroom” staff such as engineers, technical personnel and scientists. “It is especially so for those working in multinationals and bigger firms,” he said.

“Today, our clients are worldwide. In factories, for instance, engineers are a different breed from the past,” said Shamsuddin.

“Now, they have to be involved in various aspects of business and interact with clients.”

Shamsuddin expressed concern that many local graduates today could not speak or write proper English, saying this was a reason why they faced difficulties getting jobs in the private sector.

Kelly Services (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Melissa Normanconcurred, noting that six in 10 graduates who attended its interviews could not communicate effectively in English.

The company is one of the top headhunters in the country.

Norman said it was important to master English as it was widely used among the business community, both in Malaysia and internationally.

The Kelly Global Workforce Index survey released in 2010 listed “communication skills” as one of the top five most desired skills within the corporate sector.

“We have encountered local graduates who are weak in spoken and written English and have limited vocabulary,” said Norman.

“These candidates can only manage to secure jobs in small-medium enterprises and small businesses.”

Various industry and business leaders also warned that the decline in English was affecting Malaysia's global competitiveness.

Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers President Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur said the young ones who could not communicate in English were unable to negotiate the best deals in business transactions or investments.

“We need to send people out to market our products, negotiate deals or get contracts signed. If they cannot communicate well in English, we will lose out,” he said.

Pemudah co-chair Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon pointed out that, contrary to popular belief, it was important for civil servants to have a good command of English due to a growing borderless world.

“The standard of English also affects the quality of the public sector as civil servants have to interact with international citizens and the business world as well as articulate Malaysia's stand on issues to the international community. These include negotiations on important agreements such as trade agreements.”

Noting that the quality of English in the country had declined over the last two decades, former Human Resource Minister Tan Sri Fong Chan Onn warned that the country would lose out to its neighbours that did not teach English in schools previously.

“Thailand, Indonesia and China are making efforts to improve their English through their education system,” he noted.

How to Land a Job at Apple Inc.

2012-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

A dream job for many would be to work in a company where the legendary Steve Jobs had founded and had grew to become the cultural behemoth that it is today. The article explores the tips on how to land a Job in Apple Inc.

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Source: Seamus Bellamy of maclife.com

Many of us dream about working for Apple. Few of us ever will. Fortunately, for those who take the possibility of working out of the company's Cupertino campus seriously, a new insider's guide is chock-full of tips can help you get your foot in the door.

Gathering tips and advice from a number of Apple employees past and present, has put together a great guide that provides scads of advice for winning over Apple's HR team should you ever decide to apply for a position with the company.

Some of the tips include studying the company's culture, shunning technology not invested in by the company and doing a dry-run of an interview using questions you think an Apple representative might ask. While the tips are geared towards getting hired on by Apple, many of them would also serve job hunters well elsewhere, no matter what field of endeavors they're interested in. Even if you're happy with where you work right now, the feature is definitely worth reading, as it gives a great deal of insight into one of the highest profile companies on the planet.

What Employers Should Know When Hiring Gen Y or the Now Graduates

2012-03-29T00:09:00.003-07:00

Came across this slide from slideshare and saw how this author had summarized the traits that Gen Y graduates or employees are looking for among their employers. In the year where traditional employers find it harder and more challenging to retain great talents, this may serve as a good reminder of their employment guide.

Source: Slideshare

Understanding GenY demands for an ideal workplace in 2012

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Graduates Not Getting Paid Well Enough Deter Job Hunting

2012-03-28T21:21:00.001-07:00

Tis all about the money

Source: The Star

Many young people have responded to our columnist’s last article. Due to the lack of space, we have decided to publish only the letter below, but it reflects the sentiments of those who have joined the work force in recent years.

I AM like one of the “young people”, you referred to in your previous article. I am 25-years old and have had four jobs so far.

The first two positions were short-term contracts, the second of which was with a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The third position was with a training company while the fourth, which has so far been my longest is with a multinational media agency as a media planner.

I am an executive here servicing one of the biggest clients in the beverage industry, but I get peanuts!

I am expected to handle my client and be at their beck and call. My company charges them US$200 (RM611) an hour, while I get between RM10 -15 an hour! Many young people like me are overworked and underpaid.

How does that make me feel? We both know that labour is supposed to cost the company an average 48% of the company’s gross profits, but RM15 or even RM 20 isn’t even close to 48%.

Granted, 48% probably accounts for the whole team’s work ... but does this mean that there is such a vast income gap between upper management and executives?

When you mentioned in your article about talent recruitment/retainment, it is all just talk, don’t you think?

You see, while employers may complain about the standard of graduates these days, let’s get one thing straight — if you pay peanuts, what do you expect?

So, Mr Kam, I really doubt it is just about doing what you like and communicating that to your manager.

I believe it has a lot to do with the miserable salaries we get as entry-level executives.

If any employer wants long-term commitment, please show me the money.

ANGRY YOUNG MAN

Our columnist Paul Kam replies:

“In my last article “Commitment Anxiety” I talked about the things a young employee can do to find his place in the company before he decides to move on. I talked extensively about being noticed for their worth and how to get motivated when the goings get tough.

I must have hit the nail on the head as many readers could relate to most of what I said.

One of them wrote: “I am part of it - young, sometimes frustrated and restless but very motivated to find what’s best fitting to me. I am still on the search.” I believe you need to find out the source of your frustration and take it from there. The fact that you know you are very motivated is a good sign and you may need to find different roles within your company that can help you expend your energy.

This person feels he’s overlooked; “ I am also in the same boat but a victim of unrecognised talent. Jumping from one place to another in search of recognition for my pure hard work.” You should go through my article closely as I have made my recommendations of needing to market yourself. Be noticed, be creative and be communicative about your feelings towards work.

Another reader needs to understand why it’s monkey business; “I am an executive handling one of the biggest clients in the beverage industry but I get peanuts. Truth be told, many young ones are disdainful at the fact that we are overworked and underpaid.” Let me give you another perspective. Most organisations feel they do not know if they are hiring monkeys until the worker proves otherwise. The fact that you are still there should say a lot. Sometimes it serves to work for peanuts for a while and know that the experience will be the gems in your resume.

Internships to Improve Employ ability of Malaysian Graduates

2012-03-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Undergrads urged to use internships to gain skills

By ZAZALI MUSA
zaza@thestar.com.my

Source: The Star

JOHOR BARU: Undergraduates are advised to fully utilise their internship training programmes at companies and industries to gain as much knowledge and skills as possible.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said apart from universities, they could also gain knowledge from outside their campuses to prepare them for the working world.

He said while the practical programmes attended by the graduates might only last for only few months, this should not be an excuse for them not to gain something useful for them.

Skills training: Students at the The Pasir Gudang Industrial Training Institute (ILP) operating machine as part of their training.

“Pick up a thing or two from your mentors or experienced workers while you are doing your practical training at these companies or industries,” said Mohamed Khaled.

He said this in a press conference at the ground breaking ceremony of the 25-storey service residence condominium at Bandar Uda Utama near here recently.

Mohamed Khaled said while a university was a place for undergraduates to take up disciplines or courses to suit them for a working world, the process stopped there.

He added the working environment was totally different from the university days and what they learnt in university might not what they expect when they started working.

“Universities and industries should collaborate to produce human capital which will help to transform Malaysia into a high income nation,” added Mohamed Khaled.

He said industries and companies must be willing to share their expertise and knowledge with undergraduates while they undergo internship programme at the respective places.

Mohamed Khaled said the Government’s objective was to produce all rounder graduates who did not solely depending on jobs from the public and private sectors but those with entrepreneurial skills.

“We want to see our graduates to become job providers upon leaving their universities and create job for others instead of becoming job seekers,” he said.

High Demands from Local Graduates Deter Job Opportunities

2012-03-28T12:55:00.001-07:00

Graduates too picky on jobs

By ZAZALI MUSA, MARCH 2012

Source: The Star

JOHOR BARU: Jobs are plenty in the country but many fresh graduates are not realistic and remain choosy when it comes to seeking employment.

Hiring agent JobStreet.com chief executive officer Mark Chang said one of the most prevalent issues among them are high expectations on drawing good salary.

He added that others factors include a mismatch between the industries and the universities where many graduates are not marketable.

“Parents also play a part where they would rather have their children working closely to their hometown and not willing to part with them,” he said.

Seeking the best: Many unemployed graduates are out there looking for jobs, and some are choosy and bidding their time to find the right job.

Chang commented on this at a lecture called ‘Starting a Company: the JobStreet Story’ at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai recently.

The lecture series is part of the UTM’s programme to encourage its undergraduates to become entrepreneurs and job providers upon completing their studies.

He said that on the average, there were about 30,000 new jobs that were being offered on online job portals monthly in the country with many of the vacancies in the sales and marketing, IT, construction and manufacturing activities.

Chang said on-line jobs applications are getting popular in the region among job seekers and companies as it reduced certain work such as processing application papers.

“Applying online is just the first round of the job application process and it does not guarantee that employers will hire you immediately,” he stressed.

On whether a job seeker is able to secure employment, Chang said this depended entirely on the second round of the interviewing process.

He also advised the undergraduates to polish up their soft skills while studying as it would help prepare them for job interviews.

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zaza@thestar.com.my