Expat Issues-Aasra.

Job seekers need to be more creative and flexible

2012-01-26T01:08:00.001-08:00

n 2012, creativity and adaptability will be key to landing and keeping a job for many workers, as staff levels remain lean and employees are expected to respond to a wide variety of demands, experts say. Economists don't expect loads of job growth, but there could be opportunities in areas such as health care, professional services, retail and some manufacturing, says Harry Holzer, a public-policy professor at Georgetown University. Also, continuing churn in the labor market means that even in areas with few new jobs, there will still be openings when workers move around. Enlarge Image mw mw Thomas Kuhlenbeck Technical knowledge and experience will be required for certain spots. "For professional services you usually need a professional degree. In health you usually need some training," Mr. Holzer says. "Manufacturing needs some occupational training. Retail is different. It doesn't require specific occupational training, but it does often require some interpersonal skills." In addition to the standard prerequisites, employers will be looking for workers who are able to quickly adapt to new responsibilities as companies respond to changing economic and industry trends. So workers should highlight their creative skills to differentiate themselves, says Lawrence Katz, an economist at Harvard University. "Firms have so many job seekers per opening. They are going to want candidates with clear credentials, but also a little extra shine in interactive skills and creativity," Mr. Katz says. "They are less willing in a weak labor market to take chances." Here are other skills experts recommend workers should pick up and enhance. Technical literacy. It's important for workers at a variety of levels to be familiar with some of the technical, if mundane, processes that keep organizations running smoothly. Take the health-care industry. Providers are bringing on more technology when it comes to record keeping and billing. "A knowledge of electronic data handling is just a really big plus. That goes for receptionists to the doctors who are becoming employees of larger hospital systems," says Warren Bobrow, president of All About Performance, a Los Angeles-based skills-assessment consultancy. Workers also need to be good users of social media. There's a fine line between letting interested parties know about the latest news and bombarding them with too much information. Still, individuals shouldn't be afraid to use networking sites such as LinkedIn to make employment connections. Business acumen. As companies remain concerned about demand for their products and services, a wide variety of employees need to think about sales, experts say. Even those outside of marketing should care about revenue, and making sure customers are happy. Mr. Bobrow has clients in Colorado, an orthopedic practice with more than a dozen doctors, and those doctors don't become partners until client-satisfaction surveys are reviewed and good results are found. "They are in a competitive marketplace because so much of their work is based on referrals," Mr. Bobrow says. "The doctors realize that their revenue depends on all of them bringing in more patients and having patients come back." Being savvy about pleasing customers isn't about spin, says Ben Dattner, a New York-based organizational psychologist and author. Rather, workers need to illustrate the advantages of their products and services to please employers dealing with an ultra-competitive environment. "Try to get to know your customer, the market and figure out how you can put things together in a package that adds value," Mr. Dattner says. "Law firms are increasingly recruiting professionals who [bring clients with them]. The actual practice of law is becoming commoditized to some extent, but the ability to bring in customer relationships and be flexible is what companies are increasingly looking for." General proficiency. Companies are looking for workers who are flexible and can take on functions in various jobs as market demands change, says Greg Barnett, director of product development at Hogan Assessment Systems, a Tulsa, Okla.-based personality-assessment and consulting firm. That is, companies want workers who are "solid organizational citizens"—quick learners who are compliant, Mr. Barnett says. "People are being asked to do more," he says. "There are concerns when applicants are good workers, but not people who are able to learn and change direction and change their performance." Dan Ryan, principal at a Nashville, Tenn.-based executive search firm, stresses the importance of project management and communication skills, which also happen to be transferrable. "The ability of people at all levels to clearly communicate is not what it used to be," he says. People "who can do that very well can differentiate themselves." Write to Ruth Mantell at ruth.mantell@dowjones.com —Ruth Mantell is a reporter for MarketWatch. Read more at marketwatch.com.

Nymgo - International Voice Over IP

2011-12-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

Nymgo - International Voice Over IP

Nearly 40 % Europeans suffer from mental disorders

2011-09-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

Study: Many Europeans have mental disorder LONDON – Some 38 percent of Europeans, or 165 million people, suffer from mental illness or neurological disorders on a broad spectrum ranging from anxiety to dementia, a new study published Tuesday says. Most are not being treated, though some experts said many may not need psychiatric help. Ads by Google World Edu Fair Sep-2011Overseas Eductaion Fair.Study in uk,usa,can,aus,nz,sing & switzstudyabroad.worldeducationfair.com SchizophreniaUnique Mental Health Care Treatment Hope for Mental Health Issueswww.earthhouse.org Study in USAExperts in US Education. 1000+ Students Sent Every Year. Visit Uswww.Couchpotatomedia.in/USA Researchers at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology drew on previous surveys of mental health and applied specific criteria to determine how many people had a disorder. The data covered more than 500 million people in the 27 European Union countries plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway. More than 90 different mental and neurological problems were considered, including those often found in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to those often found in the elderly, such as the dementia in Alzheimer's patients, according to the study by the non-profit group. Using such a broad definition of mental health and neurological disorders might artificially inflate the problem, some experts said. "Not all of these people require psychiatric interventions," said Matt Muijen, a mental health expert at the World Health Organization's European office in Copenhagen who was not linked to the research. "The 38 percent is indicative of stress in society, not necessarily psychiatric disorders." Because researchers in other areas use varying definitions of what constitutes a mental health problem, it is hard to compare European rates to those elsewhere, he said. In the U.S., for example, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates about 26 percent of adults have some type of mental disorder. The rates of mental disorders didn't appear to be rising, compared to a similar study in 2005. The most common problems include anxiety disorders, insomnia, depression, alcohol and drug dependence and dementia. Experts estimated only one-third of people receive treatment. Other experts said the numbers of people with mental health problems appeared higher than what is commonly believed because most patients don't report their illness and because this study includes disorders in children and the elderly. "Although the figure seems shockingly high, this is the most rigorous study done in Europe," said Graham Thornicroft, a professor of community psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London. He was not linked to the study. "The real tragedy is that so few people with mental health problems receive treatment," Thornicroft said. Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, one of the study's authors, said many patients still face discrimination and limited services when seeking treatment. "Mental health disorders are Europe's largest health care challenge in the 21st century," he said. The study was published in the group's journal, "European Neuropsychopharmacology," and presented at its annual meeting in Paris on Tuesday. None of the study's authors reported a conflict of interest. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com. Posted 5d 18h ago | Updated 5d 18h ago You might also be interested in: Amy Winehouse died after detox seizure, dad says (USATODAY.com in LifeLine Live)

Potential Expats have little knowledge of the country they aim to make their own for a little while

2009-07-16T04:17:00.000-07:00

Potential Expats are clueless about India, read the following and understand why...the humorous way

The answers are the actual responses to the questions on the website posed by firangis who are planning a visit to India.

I personally liked the last one

Q: Does it ever get windy in India ? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? ( UK ).

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see elephants in the street? ( USA )

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Delhi to Goa - can I follow the railroad tracks (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand kms, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in India ? (Sweden)

A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in India ? Can you send me a list of them in Delhi , Chennai, Calcutta and Bangalore ? ( UK )

A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in India ? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe . In-di-a is that big triangle in the middle of the Pacific & Indian Ocean which does not.. oh forget it. ...... Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Goa . Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in India ? ( USA )

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into India ? ( UK )

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Indiana Pacers matches schedule? ( France )

A: Indiana is a state in the Unites States of...oh forget it. Sure, the Indiana Pacers matches are played every Tuesday night in Goa , straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in India ? ( UK )

A: You're a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Bangalore , and is milk available all year round? ( Germany )

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in India who can dispense rattlesnake serum. ( USA )

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Indian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q: Do you have perfume in India ? ( France )

A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in India ? ( USA )

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in India ? ( France )

A: Only at Christmas.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )

A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first

Q: Can I see Taj Mahal anytime? ( Italy )

A: As long as you are not blind, you can see it anytime.

Q: Do you have Toilet paper? ( USA )

A: No, we use sand paper. (we have different grades)

Expat Experiences

2009-07-11T04:46:00.000-07:00

Rivan Sanzilay, has been in Mumbai,India for more than a year yet she finds herself being stared at to the point where she feels a faint twinge of fear. It wasn;t that way when she first landed in Mumbai. The crowds were enormous( at least to her), the throng of people overwhelming and the smells assailing! It was an experience that the faint hearted might have found difficult to cope with.but cope she did. A year down the line, she still feels disoriented by the throng of humanity but she's learnt to deal with it. It no longer affects her as intensely as it used to before. But the fear remains.Stories of foreigners being raped in Goa and Delhi have made her wary. Though she doesn't seek out the protection of the expat crowd, she does have some friends among them nevertheless. But most of her friends are true-blue Indians and she has learnt to mingle freely among them. Of course, Language in India is not much of a problem. English is universally used unlike China where it's even difficult to find someone to converse with in the international toungue. rivan is beginning to get the hang of life in Mumbai. She enjoys herself over the weekends with her husband and friends while during the week she is busy tending to her upcoming tourism business. She has to survive here, it's an expensive city afterall especially for foreigners. She gets incensed easily at the prices quoted when she goes to buy stuff from the market so now she's decided to let her bai(maid) do the purchasing. At least she wont get fleeced that way! The only places she finds foreigners getting reverential treatment are restaurants, pubs and other entertainment joints. t disheartens her to see people being treated unequal, and she realises that even market driven societies have class barriers. Something that might not have come to light in a non-asian country!

As told to Johnson Thomas

Expat Expert Robin Pascoe in conversation with Johnson Thomas

2009-04-18T10:09:00.001-07:00

A writer, journalist and publisher who has authored three widely read books on Expat issues, Robin Pascoe shares her unique gyaan on problems of relocation with Johnson Thomas.

Why Expats? Don't human beings all over the world suffer from similar problems?
As an expat myself, I had inside knowledge of what went on in the minds of expats. Their problems are no different from others but the feeling of being an alien, the fear, the trepidation and the vulnerability of being in a new place and almost having to start from scratch are unique to Expats.
What do you talk about?
I talk to them about the challenges of being an Expat. The women want to feel validated that their challenges are real because they may have a husband who tells them that they are making it all up. The children need to understand that if Dad's traveling a lot, he's not traveling on purpose.
What difficulties do Expat kids face...?
Kids have identity issues about where they are from, especially when their families move around a lot. If you ask these third culture nomads where they are from, they havn't a clue.
But aren't Expat communities too small in number?
For the past ten years Expat communities have been growing at a faster pace and increasing hugely in numbers. India has a huge base of 50,000 Expats living in the country on work, while there are larger communities of Expats of Indian origin living and working all over the world. The numbers are increasing.
How do you plan to reach out to Expat communities in India?
Well, primarily my task here is to speak to the staff of multinational corporations and their families. I also have a few company lectures lined-up and then I'll be visiting the International schools and the women's clubs in the city.

Don’t Expat communities come from different cultures and communities?
Everywhere I have gone I have expected things to be different but they are not. Cases vary. One Expat spoke about moving to Europe a few months ago for a once-in-a-lifetime job, her partner agreed...yet once they got there, there were problems aplenty. A third culture kid who spent his life in Papua New Guinea, China, the US and the Middle East, had spent the least time in the country of his birth, New Zealand. Then he had to go to New Zealand on work and it turned out to be his most difficult posting. I get asked the same questions wherever I go. I generally focus on the internals- things that no one wants to think about. It's all about providing emotional support to those distressed by relocation.

Are they receptive to you?
Oh Yeah! When I talk about parenting everybody's ears are wide open because it's easier to talk about your kids. But when I talk about marriage , it's a tad more difficult to break the ice. They want to talk about their marriage but because the Expat communities are small, they can't be seen talking openly about marriage …

Don't Expat communities lead a very nomadic exixtence?
There is a 25% turnover in Expat communities at any given time. The community is constantly changing. I talk to the Expats trying to prepare them to go home(wherever that may be)-'They all have to go home one day,' I say…

Is that such a major problem?
In fact repatriation is one of the biggest problems faced by Expat communities. It is the most overlooked dimension of culture shock. People do not like to think about it. They think it will be fine but it's not. They become strangers in their own country and that causes a great deal of distress.

Traveling spouses, international Human Resource practitioners, relocation specialists, and international school communities worldwide applaud Robin Pascoe’s pragmatic but sensitive approach to the joys and challenges of families and global relocation. Robin , an Expat herself, is a writer, journalist and publisher who has authored five widely read books on Expat issues and is today reckoned as ‘The Expat Expert’. She has also been interviewed in numerous international publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, Working Mother Magazine, Utne Reader, CNN, and others.
In this interview she shares her unique gyaan on problems of relocation. In conversation with Johnson Thomas.

Why specialize in Expats alone? Don’t human beings all over the world suffer from similar problems?
As a writer, journalist and publisher, an expat myself, I had inside knowledge of what went on in the minds of expats. Their problems are no different from others but the feeling of being an alien, the fear, the trepidation and the vulnerability of being in a new place and almost having to start from scratch is what Expats and their families experience when they have to leave their own familiar set-ups and go abroad for work.
My website went up about ten years ago. It was something new, nobody had that kind of help available online so that’s how I became the expat expert. I had also written two books previous to that. It all just seemed to happen overnight. The books kept coming, My website got a lot of response and companies like Santa Fe did well to promote the whole concept. My speaking tours around the world have been a great success. I go speak to International schools, women’s clubs, human resource people and Expat families all over the world.

What do you talk about?
I try to talk to them about the challenges of being an Expat. Specific challenges that Expat communities face when relocating to a new country or place. The women want to feel validated that their challenges are real because they may have a husband who tells them that they are making it all up. The children need to understand that if Dad’s traveling a lot, he’s not traveling on purpose. This is business.

What difficulties do Expat kids face...?
Kids have identity issues about where they are from, especially when their families move around a lot. If you ask these third culture nomads where they are from, they havn’t a clue. So I talk to the kids about their identity issues and to the parents about the challenges of dealing with these issues. The families are what I call silent partners in the relocation. They usually do not have any choice in the relocation. I also speak to corporations and urge them to pay more attention to the family side. If the families don’t go then the corporations will find it difficult to retain talent and this would in turn affect their business. I also speak to the Embassy staff in different Foreign Ministries. Any corporation or organization sending people to a foreign country on assignment, I go in there and speak to them about what needs to be done to strengthen family relationships, helping them cater to their specific needs in order that the assignment may be successful.

Who is a third culture kid?
The research for third culture kids began in India about ten years ago initiated by the US embassy. Third culture kid is defined as someone who has spent a significant amount of their developmental years in a culture outside their parent/passport culture. A global nomad is someone who has moved because of a Parent’s occupational choice. So Expatriates have problems that are magnified because they have lost everything that is familiar to them.

But aren’t Expat communities too small in number?
For the past ten years Expat communities have been growing at a faster pace and increasing hugely in numbers. India has a huge base of 50,000 Expats living in the country on work, while there are large communities of Expats of Indian origin living and working all over the world. The numbers are increasing as economies blend into one another and opportunities increase. Globalisation has made it much easier for people from one country to find work in another and vice versa.

So are you going to be speaking to the Expat communities living in India? How do you plan to reach out to them?
Well, primarily my task here is to speak to the staff of multinational corporations and their families. The Expat’s more or less have affiliations to multinational corporations. I also have a few company lectures lined-up and then I’ll be visiting the International schools and the women’s clubs in the city to talk to the Expat families. Over the years I have received many feelers from these communities for such interactions through my website and this visit fulfills that obligation.

Expat communities come from different cultures and communities? How do you tackle this anomaly while addressing their issues?

Everywhere I have gone I have expected things to be different but they are not. Cases vary. One Expat spoke about moving to Europe a few months ago for a once-in-a-lifetime job, her partner agreed that it was just too good an opportunity to refuse, so he happily supported the move. And went along. They talked long and hard about what options there might be...yet once they got there, there were problems aplenty. A third culture kid who spent his life in Papua New Guinea, China, the US and the Middle East, had spent the least time in the country of his birth, New Zealand. Then he had to go to New Zealand on work and it turned out to be his most difficult posting. Another Expat, an accompanying spouse who moved to Sri Lanka with her husband three months ago had to relocate again because of company restructuring. It was the most trying period of her young life. The problems are universal no matter which country I visit, the climates may be different and the solutions for each situation may differ but by and large the problems are generally the same. I get asked the same questions wherever I go. I generally focus on the internals- things that no one wants to think about. It’s all about providing emotional support to those distressed by relocation.

Are they receptive to you?
Oh Yeah! Depending on the communities. When I talk about parenting everybody’s ears are wide open. They want to know everything they can get because it’s easier to talk about your kids. But when I talk about marriage , it’s a tad more difficult to break the ice. They want to talk about their marriage but because the Expat communities are small, they can’t be seen talking openly about marriage …It would seem like their marriage was in trouble and everybody would know about it.

Don’t Expat communities lead a very nomadic exixtence?
There is a 25% turnover in Expat communities at any given time. The community is constantly changing. New faces come in while the old move to new destinations. I talk to the Expats trying to prepare them to go home(wherever that may be)-‘They all have to go home one day,’ I say…

Is that such a major problem?
In fact repatriation is one of the biggest problems faced by Expat communities. It is the most overlooked dimension of culture shock. Re-enter shock happens when going back into your own culture. People do not like to think about it. They think it will be fine but it’s not. They become strangers in their own country and that causes a great deal of distress.

Isn’t this a more recent problem?
No . it’s always been that way. In the earlier times people went home by boat which took anywhere from a month to three or even six months of travel. They had enough time to process the changes and so the shock at re-entering their formerly familiar culture zones were not as much as it is today in the jet age-where everything happens in a matter of hours. Of course the problem is even greater today. Expats who left their countries years ago find the changes on return too overwhelming to deal with and therefore flounder emotionally. I sometimes think of myself as a validator and facilitator giving them an opportunity to express their distress and come to terms with the changes.

Johnson Thomas

Books authored by Robin Pascoe

Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World
A Movable Marriage: Relocate Your Relationship without Breaking It
Homeward Bound:A Spouse’s Guide to Repatriation

Issues that affect Expatriates

2008-08-02T03:25:00.000-07:00

Handling "Expatriates"...Issues and Challenges...ARE WE READY?
Background

India plays an increasingly critical role on the world economic stage. Western companies have been hiring Indian professionals in large numbers for work in their own country or abroad; many people from other parts of the world now work regularly with Indian counterparts. At the same time, a growing cadre of expatriate managers and project leaders is being assigned to India in order to assist in building up operations there.

Understanding the term and its Origin

An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is someone temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing and/or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin ex (out of) and patria (country), and is sometimes misspelled as ex-patriot or short x-pat, due to its pronunciation.

The term is often used in the context of Westerners living in non-Western countries, although there are many instances of Westerners living in other Western countries, such as Australians living in the United Kingdom, or Britons living in Spain.

The difference between an expatriate and an immigrant is that immigrants (for the most part) commit themselves to becoming a part of their country of residence, whereas expatriates are usually only temporarily placed in the host country and most of the time plan on returning to their home country, so they never adopt the culture in the host country. While Europeans or North Americans living in the Middle East and Asia may marry local people and have children, most see no advantage in adopting citizenship of their host countries, usually because they consider their stay only temporary. In countries like Saudi Arabia, expatriates are required to live in segregated compounds, meaning that integration into their host country's society is not an option.

Challenges...and Concerns

When you hire an expatriate the challenges are multi-fold. Assigning employees to posts outside their home countries raises both strategic and tactical issues for global firms.

At the strategic level, global firms need to ask:
Are overseas assignments right for our business?
How can we contain or reduce the related costs?
Would an expatriate be a better choice than a local hire?
If assignments are critical to meeting global business demands, how can we facilitate mobility and ensure equitable treatment among similarly situated employees?
Currency and mode of payment for these people.
How to charge income-tax?
How to protect their interests in case of exploitations?

At the tactical level, firms must consider how to select the right people for the assignment, manage performance and communication issues, and ensure that expatriates are successfully repatriated or reassigned when their assignments are done.

More then that, when you hire someone, you are not only hiring his knowledge and expertise but also his culture, social beliefs and values.

Just an example : In my previous two companies we had two and five expatriates respectively. They never use to mingle with others and generally tries to be on their own. Some were also of the opinion as if this is a "punishment" for them.

Learning from Others...Global Trend...with Reference to Western Countries It is all about Global Experience

As per one of the survey done in 2005 it is found that the number of expatriates is increasing. This is despite the move towards using local hires, particularly in key markets such as Asia. The growth of expatriate numbers can be explained by the need for global leadership development within multinationals, which encourages key talent to gain international experience. In addition, there is an increase in the use of globally nomadic employees (i.e. employees with no home country)

Expatriate benefit trends

Companies tend to keep expatriates in the home country retirement plan throughout the assignment. However, global nomad employees who move from country to country on varying assignments will more commonly be in an international retirement plans. The majority of multinationals now provide attractive international medical plans for their expatriates. US employers expect employees to pay towards the cost, whereas other multinationals will typically pay the full cost. Overall, US employers tend to provide lower levels of benefits than European (and other) employers, however US employers provide a wider range. Most companies, (US, European and other), do not provide special treatment for loss of benefits when they localize an employee from one country to another.

Benefits Policy for Expatriates

In another survey, 1 in 10 companies surveyed reported that their expatriates have explicitly expressed dissatisfaction with their benefits. Not surprisingly then, almost all companies agreed that addressing benefit arrangements for expatriates is a medium to top priority. Arriving at a globally consistent approach for expatriate benefits has proved challenging, and almost ¼ of companies still do not have a specific benefit policy for their expatriates. A further 30% do not have formal expatriate governance procedures in place and 60% have no process to measure the success of an assignment. 10% of respondents admitted that they have never reviewed their policies on benefits for expatriate employees.

"One-size fits all" approach is no longer realistic

Companies who have relied on expatriate policies in the past are finding that a "one-size fits all" approach is no longer realistic. The demographic and nature of international assignments has changed, and companies have to adapt policy to reflect this new diversity among expats. For companies who have expatriate benefit programs, there is increased pressure to differentiate by region ( e.g. Asia Pacific, Europe, etc) or by category of employee (junior, senior exec, business need for transfer etc)

Conclusion

Handling expatriates is still a challenge both at strategical and cultural front. "Cross Cultural" adaption is the key and there should be some legal protection for expatriates both from host as well as parent company.

These are my views and thoughts, you can have different opinion. However, it would be nice to receive your feedback and comments.

Composed by: Sanjeev Sharma
(Chandigarh - India)
(Mobile: +91-9876328841)
Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com/)