Relocation

Relocation Issues in Today`s Tough Job Market -- Who Will Pay?

2005-09-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

By Elizabeth Kirwin

In light of recent unemployment figures, and a continual downturn in the labor market, many unemployed professionals are finding themselves in a bind when their benefits or severance packages are depleted. It is not easy to compete with 300-600 resumes for one job. Those seeking jobs through postings on the web or through a professional recruitment service must consider a new place to live as well as a new employment situation -- if they are serious about the jobs they are applying for.

For 14 years, Steve Hall has made a career in connecting great companies with great people in the IT industry, which is famous for turnover. Job seekers and companies in the post-911, post-dot.com and post-Enron business environment rely upon Hall and Find Great People (FGP) International, for worldwide recruitment services. Find Great People relocates to a new office in late October with complete with state-of-the-art equipment at 150 Executive Center Drive, B-82, Greenville, South Carolina in October.

Steve Hall has been a recruiter with the same company since 1989. He counseled and placed job seekers in positions through the downturn of the early Nineties, when another war was raging in Iraq. Despite the fact that politicians and business leaders may not be calling this downturn a recession, from a recruiter’s standpoint, these are definitely tough times. “In April 2001, the severity of it hit everyone around the country,” said Steve. He continued, “Since April 2001, it’s like being buried in mud. You have rises and falls. For a month or two there is hiring, like the flame is lit – then suddenly it drops back. This all weighs heavily on the minds of those in the labor force.”

Some professions, like health care, seem to be booming. But others, like IT, are on a long swing down. Job seekers are looking for an edge to be more competitive. Steve Hall believes relocation issues may be one key to unlocking the corporate mentality behind hiring in these times.
“Differentiating factors between likely candidates for a job are important,” says Mr Hall. “Does the person have a two year or four year degree or a Master’s Degree? Is the potential candidate located within reasonable proximity, or will he/she have to relocate – and at whose expense? In
addition, what are the costs of bringing someone in for an interview?" As dastardly as it may sound, many companies are forgoing interview and relocation expenses for new employees since budgets are tight. “Let’s face it, relocation adds cost to a company’s recruiting efforts,” said Mr. Hall, “and the financial decision makers do not want to spend extra money on relocation.” So how do companies still manage to hire top talent onto their team? “They often look locally for employees first,” noted Steve. “Then a company may cover a one hundred mile radius, which is considered a commutable distance. Once these outlets are exhausted, they may launch a search in a multi-state area.” Knowing these tactics exist, perhaps job seekers would be better served to seek employment within these distances first. Or, if the job hunter is willing to relocate, then the individual must entertain the idea of paying their own relocation expenses. Costs for company relocation can range from $3,000 to $20,000. “Some companies are still willing to pay relocation fees,” said Mr. Hall, “because they see a good employee as a wise investment. But it is not uncommon for potential employees to pay for their own relocation these days.”

It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially for job seekers who are on tight budgets themselves after a six-month to one-year or longer stint of unemployment. But cutting costs for companies now means passing it on to the job seeker. Perhaps sensing desperation on the job market, companies have decided they can now ask this of potential employees, without even a nod of disapproval from anyone.

What is the best approach for the job seeker who is willing to relocate in order to continue to work in their profession? “Speak to your family or those you cohabitate with first before applying to other areas, and see how they feel about the move,” advises Mr. Hall. “Ask some important questions of yourself. For instance, Is it within your financial budget to consider paying to move yourself and your loved ones?” If the answer is yes to all of these questions, Mr. Hall recommends the job seeker proceeds with an interstate search. “Don’t wait until the job offer appears before weighing these considerations,” he reiterated.

Elizabeth Kirwin is a professional freelance writer and educator, based in Asheville, North Carolina. She has published articles natiionally in newspapers and magazines.

123 Moving Company | Household Moving Services | Auto Transport

2005-08-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

By Diane Johnson

About 123 Moving Company
http://www.123movingcompany.com

123 Moving Company, as an alternative to railroads for customers who were interested in moving their belongings across the country or local on the newly-paved roads. The new enterprise became known for providing safe door-to-door pickup and delivery. 123 Moving Company set the standard for the new enterprise: "To have the best Movers...and the best Services."

123 Moving Company is one of the nation`s excellent movers of household goods and other commodities requiring specialized handling. 123 Moving company`s growth has mirrored the growth of the country. 123 Moving Company introduced a succession of improvements in its equipment and service, and its market share grew steadily. best-recognized in moving, a distinction 123 Moving Company maintains to this day.

123 Moving Company, a transportation and relocation company based in California. where 123 Moving Company now also maintains its headquarters. As part of moving network. which is owned exclusively by full-time movers, 123 Moving Company is extending its proud of accomplishment as an innovator and a recognized provider of superior moving services to individuals and Business in America. We`re 123 Moving Company --Its the right move.

DO-IT-YOURSELF MOVE
123 Moving Company offer our new service, you pack, load, unload and unpack your belongings the way you want - but you don`t have to drive a truck. Our professionals will handle the driving for you. To assist us in providing you information about the services that are available in your area.

FULL-SERVICE MOVE
By choosing a full-service move, 123 Moving Company will take care of the entire moving process for you. From loading, driving, and unloading, we will get your belongings to your new residence - using the utmost care that 123 Moving Company is known for. We can even handle the packing and unpacking, if you choose. 123 Moving Company, you can relax and know your belongings are in good hands.

123 Moving Company Los-Angeles, California. Serving all USA States include Moving to Hawaii, We Move Local Moving, Long Distance Moving, out of State Moving, Cross Country Moving, International Moving, Auto Transport and Special Packing and Shipping anywhere around the world.

Moving States that Were Serving: - State to State Moving - Cross Country Moving - Local Moving - Long Distance Moving: AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA GU HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY PR
Moving Homes, Apartments Moving, Business Moving, Office Moving, House Moving Moving from Storage or to Storage.

About Us: Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should I call a moving company?

The earlier, the better. The more lead time you can give, the more likely we will be able to meet your preferred delivery schedule.

All moving companies, for their standard type of service, require alternate pickup and delivery dates. We`ll do our best, of course, to comply with the dates you prefer or the nearest possible alternatives. You will be notified in advance of the loading date for your goods and of the estimated date of arrival.

If your pickup and delivery dates are critical due to such factors as a lease expiration or a real estate closing, you may choose an extra-cost service which will enable us to accommodate a more precise, reasonable schedule. You should discuss your specific pickup and delivery requirements with your 123 Moving Company agent, who can advise you regarding the types and costs of services available.

Diane Johnson, 123 moving Company IT manager http://www.123movingcompany.com

Corporate Housing: It`s Not Just for Business Travelers

2005-07-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

By dan the roommate man

Maid service. Cable TV. Concierge services. A bathroom stocked with all of the essentials -- shampoo, mouthwash, toothpaste, strategically placed towels. A gift basket. An ironing board. But you`re not in a hotel. Instead, you`re staying in corporate housing, a fast-growing market across the United States that`s proving to be more cost-effective for companies and more comfortable for employees. And the race is on for the most comprehensive and luxurious services possible.

If you`re on assignment for any length of time, a hotel room doesn`t compare to the flexibility and comfort that corporate housing provides. Corporate Housing is sprouting up all over the United States, as apartment developers add this profitable and much-in-demand option to their list of services.
But how long is long enough when you`re considering corporate housing?

Corporate housing, sometimes called temporary housing, is designed primarily for employees or individuals that require "long-term" (for a period of 20 days or more) housing due to relocation, disaster, or a lengthy yet temporary assignment. Although apartments, townhouses, and condominiums are the most common varieties of corporate housing, single-family homes are on the rise, as well. And corporate housing providers, increasingly aware that pleasing their clients often means accommodating their clients` families, are providing such amenities as cribs and high chairs, keeping in mind that business people occasionally bring their families with them on assignments, or share occasional visits. Some facilities allow pets, and one corporate housing provider even provides Disney bedspreads upon request.

In many cases, companies find that placing their employees in corporate housing is more cost-effective. And it`s a well-received alternative by employees, who are able to set up homes away from home, with their own kitchens, laundry facilities, and extra space. While they provide more flexibility for residents, corporate facilities often have many of the same service-oriented features as hotels. In some accommodations, in fact, a stay in temporary housing may resemble a mini-vacation of sorts. Corporate housing staples include TV with basic cable (additional channels are optional); fully
furnished rooms, including kitchens with microwaves, dishes, basic cookware, and silverware; local phone service; and linens. Many include washers and dryers, and those that don`t usually have on-site facilities. Maid service is often available, cable TV is often provided, and the list of creature comforts continues to grow in the wake of competition among various corporate housing companies. Ironing boards, answering machines, microwave ovens, and vacuums are a few examples.

Corporate housing is following the trend started by the business world it serves. It`s going high-tech. Oakwood Corporate Housing, one of the country`s major corporate housing providers, includes such options as printers, fax modems, multiple-line telephones, and -- for big and little children -- Nintendo game players.

Oakwood, which has a significant presence in California`s booming Silicon Valley -- a region attracting the brightest recruits from throughout the world -- offers a particularly unique package, called the "Asian Kitchen," to accommodate a growing proportion of its clientele. The package includes a rice steamer, teapot and teacups, soup and noodles bowls, rice bowls, and four pairs of chopsticks. And for those clients who plan to do some serious Asian cooking during their stay, a separate Asian Cooking Package includes a stir-fry wok, ladle, spatula, chopsticks, and cleaver. For clients who have traveled from overseas, it may not be home, but it`s pretty close.

According to K&M Relocation Network, which includes a corporate housing division, the cost of a fully furnished apartment is typically 30 percent to 50 percent less than the cost of a hotel room. For example, assuming that a one-night stay in a corporate apartment will cost you approximately $60, one night in a hotel could run as high as $120 or more. If you`re on a $3,000 business travel budget, you`ll get 50 nights in a corporate apartment for that price, but only 25 nights in a hotel before you`re out of money.

While these facilities are designed to resemble home-like environments, utilities -- including telephone, cable TV, gas, and electricity -- usually are included in the cost. To further illustrate the potential cost savings of choosing corporate accommodations versus an apartment, consider all of the little charges that add up when you`re an apartment-dweller: a move-in deposit, monthly rent, electricity deposit, monthly electric bill, telephone service deposit, monthly phone bill, furniture rental deposit when applicable, monthly furniture rental when applicable, housewares deposit, monthly housewares rental, weekly housekeeping service, monthly cable TV fee, and cable deposit/installation. Corporate housing, in contrast, charges companies one monthly bill, a consolidated monthly statement that varies according to the package selected by the employer or employee.

Employers also are finding that providing such facilities eases the stress of business travel or relocation. Studies have indicated that companies experience increased productivity from their employees when they are able to reduce their stress by living in an environment which closely resembles their normal living situation. The commute to work usually is kept to a minimum, entertainment opportunities are often present, and recreational activities are plentiful -- jogging trails, fitness centers, and tennis courts, for example.

But corporate housing providers realize they`ve got a potential market that extends far beyond the business travel. Many people are in need of temporary housing for a variety of reasons -- vacations, seasonal travel, emergency stays, traveling with children, or interim housing, for example. For all of these groups, temporary housing represents a more attractive alternative -- particularly for families -- because of the cost savings they may provide. Families who head to a restaurant three times a day, for example, may be alarmed at how quickly their travel budgets are drained; but a
family who instead heads to a nearby grocery store for staples will save a significant amount of money. After all, parents know that children will be far more receptive to the idea of cereal in the kitchen than eggs Benedict at the local restaurant. In response, multifamily developers, such as Gables Residential, increasingly are turning to corporate housing as a hot new avenue to generate business.

Since 1989 dan the roommate man has helped 1000`s of people find roommates. Need help? Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com

Midlife Career Change Can Feel Like Getting a Divorce

2005-07-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

By Cathy Goodwin

Most of us are aware that we need to grieve the death of a close friend, relative or favorite pet. We are beginning to learn that other events -- relocation, divorce, illness -- can also be experienced as loss.

Losing a professional-level career can also be a source of grief, anger and frustration. Starting a business is a death as well as a birth. You may feel as though you are getting a divorce after a twenty-year marriage. Here`s why.

1. Sometimes the career leaves you. The field wants "younger people." Or you have to change in ways that violate your sense of self.

2. Sometimes you leave a career that seems perfectly wonderful and fulfilling to those on the outside. "The money`s so good," your mother says, "and it`s not as if you`re scrubbing floors all day. Can`t you just hang in there and pretend you like it?"

3. You feel disloyal. After all, you`ve gained a lot from this career. For the rest of your life, you will view the world through the lens created by your training and experience. You will question assumptions, criticize, challenge, argue, prepare, organize, or negotiate.

4. Friends take sides. After you leave, some former colleagues no longer return your calls. Others try to engage you in a rousing session of "Aren`t they horrible," which you don`t want either.

5. Those left behind begin to feel abandoned. Are you leaving for a new love, an opportunity that will be livelier, more exciting, and yes, even sexier? Worst case: you`re leaving for a new career that your former associates find entirely unsuitable.

6. You have started projects that you will be unable to finish because your new life has no room for them. Anyway, without your former big-name affiliation, you have no credibility to raise them to a level you can present or sell.

7. Your new identity gains you access to new and exciting places, but people treat you differently. You feel naked without the old title on your business card.

8. The rules of the game have changed since the last time you were unattached. And this time around, you`re less interested in those "how to get lucky" sessions.

9. You spend more time in the gym. You spend hours walking the dog. You try new hair styles, dare to enter an art gallery, read your first self-help book and consider talking to a professional who bears little resemblance to Jennifer Melfi.

10. You`re starting to think, "Being on my own for the rest of my life may not be such a bad thing."

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., author of Making the Big Move, helps midlife
professionals navigate career and business transitions. "How Smart
People Can Derail Their Transitions" complimentary Special Report
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html . Contact:
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/feedback.html Phone: 505-534-4194

How to Sell Your House By Lease Options

2005-06-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

By Caterina Christakos

How to Sell Your House By Lease Option

Many people buy a house then have to move within
a few years, due to divorce, relocation or
financial difficulties. Without any equity
though, it can be nearly impossible to find
buyers and you still have realtor fees to contend
with. There is a simple, easy way to have your
payments taken care of for you and find a buyer,
so that you can move onto your new life quickly
and easily.

Homeowners can sell their homes by lease option.

What are the benefits of selling my house on a
lease option?

When you lease option your house, you sell the
right to purchase your home at a set price within
a predetermined period of time. During that time,
the purchaser of the lease option pays you a set
monthly fee. They pay what amounts to their
“rent” to you with the provision that they can
purchase your house within a certain period of
time and have part of the rent that they have
paid you applied to their final purchase price.

Q What are the advantages of selling my home by
lease option over listing it with a Realtor?

By selling your home in this way, you avoid
realtor fees and some other closing costs. You
also have a tenant who intends to purchase your
property. They will take better care of the home
than a renter would and may even fix it up a bit
for you. You also, naturally, have your payments
taken care of and keep the tax benefits of owning
your home, until the final sale.

Q How long does it take before your tenant/buyer
cashes me out?

A That depends on a number of different factors.
Many people with less than perfect credit can
rebuild their credit and receive a mortgage from
a mortgage broker within 6 consecutive payments.

Q Why don’t I just sell the house myself? If you
have little or no equity in your home, it will
not be considered a good investment by most
buyers.

Q What if my tenant/buyer doesn’t buy the house?
A It is important to pre-screen buyers to make
sure that they want to buy the house and are able
to buy it at some point in the future. However,
circumstances can change in someone’s life, such
as an unexpected job transfer, that make it
necessary to move. In situations like that, a new
tenant buyer would have to be found.

Caterina Christakos is an independent real estate
investor and facilitator. For more information or help setting up your lease options and screening
buyers email Caterina at Cchrist896@aol.com

From Bank Clerk To Entrepreneur

2005-06-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

By Carolyn James

What seems like a century ago, I left school and joined a well-known High Street Bank. In those days working as a bank clerk was a well-established route for many school leavers and perceived to be a proper job with prospects. It wasn’t long before I became disillusioned with the world of banking and sought a change of job. In complete contrast to my previous job, I became a clerk in the local hospital dealing with the injured and infirm, but it was a role that I found strangely interesting and rewarding. In today’s parlance, it is known as job satisfaction.

My career progressed rapidly and after working in a number of different departments I became Admissions Officer of a major regional hospital where I soon gained valuable front line experience. There is nothing more conducive to honing your powers of communication, persuasion, resilience and empathy than dealing with people when they are at their most vulnerable. Working in an Accident and Emergency Department definitely puts one’s life completely into perspective and is like being part of a TV medical soap opera.

My career came to halt when I met my husband and moved away from the area. I have to admit that back in the early 70’s marrying and having the obligatory 2.4 children was still the acceptable norm, although liberation for women was gathering pace. Being a conservative soul, I slipped into the mainstream and before I knew it I was the wife of a career man and the mother of two children living in a three-bed semi. Returning to work was not a consideration and this proved to be a sensible decision as my husband was posted to four different locations throughout the UK in the space of 6
years.

At the end of this period, the children were at school, our relocation days were over and we were finally able to establish some roots and settle down as a family. It was time to start considering my own needs and to plan a return to the mainstream work environment. This was not an easy thing to do after almost seven years of raising a family, but I plucked up courage and found myself back in the health care sector as a part time receptionist at my local doctor’s surgery, a role that I found very satisfying. My confidence increased and my job gave me a focus outside of my immediate family. I regained some independence, earned my own money and met a new circle of friends. At last I had an opportunity to talk about something other than children and I felt that the old grey matter was once again being stimulated!

After a while, the novelty of working in a doctor’s surgery wore off and I felt that I needed a fresh challenge. At the same time my husband also felt that he had had enough of corporate life and wanted to do something completely different. For a couple that had had a very structured life, the crossroads seemed to be particularly difficult to negotiate. After two years had passed and a couple of false starts, I decided that I wanted to pursue my own business interest with a little bit of help from my husband. He had pursued a portfolio career and had the time and expertise to help me develop my plans and make sure that I was on the right tracks.

The idea was quite simple and was borne out of my own frustration of finding quality lighting products locally for the home. Although we didn’t live in an isolated area, we still had to travel at least forty miles to find a lighting outlet that sold, what I considered to be, quality lighting. Upon further investigation, I found that there are many areas in the UK that are not well served with lighting shops and therefore I felt that there must be an opportunity to fill this gap in the market.

Once this need had been identified, the next problem was where to start. Opening my own shop was an option, but the economics of doing so were really not that attractive. Lighting is space hungry and the overheads associated with running a shop can be phenomenal. The other drawback was that whilst one shop would satisfy a few people, it didn’t really address the fundamental issue of providing a wide range of quality of lighting to as many people as possible as conveniently as possible. The answer lay on the Internet and via a mail order system, where people would not be bound by
geographical or time constraints.

As the concept developed, I managed to enlist the cooperation of a couple of lighting manufacturers. This was not easy, since there are few suppliers who are prepared to take time to listen to your idea, let alone help you when you are not able to offer them any tangible evidence that you can deliver in any way, shape or form. Having secured the supply of products with David Hunt Lighting and Le Dauphin Lighting, I needed to find out how to set up a website and develop a mail order catalogue. I actually began by looking for an accountant, which is testimony to my optimism about the
business empire that I was planning to build over the coming years! Within two meetings I had been introduced to a web designer and a marketing company, both of which were based locally. The brakes were off and before long I was immersed in a completely new world. After months of contemplation and planning, The Light Company (Direct) Ltd was formed and was rapidly taking shape. It was a further six months until all the pieces of the jigsaw came together and, on the 19 January 2004, the website was launched and the mail order catalogues delivered.

As with many new business ventures, the early days are the most difficult and I am spending all of my time exploring ways in which I can make people aware of the extensive range of contemporary and classical decorative lighting that is on offer. I have already decided to open a showroom that will double up as my office design studio and mail order room. Although compact, the showroom will be far more suitable than the lock up on an industrial estate that I am currently using. It is a leap of faith, but having come this far, it is one that I feel has to be taken.

It is certainly a long way from the Accident and Emergency Department. I have swapped a career in the NHS to become an entrepreneur, even though I do not believe that I have the archetypical qualities of such. I am still nervous about taking risks and I still worry about what the future may hold, but my course is set and there is no backtracking. Although completely unconnected, my years working in the health sector have proved to be useful particularly in dealing with customers and suppliers. It seems that good communication, combined with the ability to deal positively with people who are demanding across a whole spectrum of issues and events, are distinct attributes irrespective of your industry sector. In a perverse sort of way, this is the aspect of the business that turns me on and which fuels my enthusiasm to succeed.

Carolyn James is a founder Director of The Light Company (Direct) Ltd, a mail order and Internet business based in the Cotswolds selling high quality distinctive lighting.

Just A Series of Choices

2005-06-07T23:35:00.000-07:00

By Bruce Benskin

Steve’s a pretty regular guy – wife, 4 kids in their blended family, 12+ years of engineering experience, a degree, mortgage, car payments, some debt… and feeling depressed because he waited to look till the end. Last time he transitioned was 5 years ago for more money and he liked some of the people and it was simple…this time he’s heard some in his professional association have been looking for almost a year...and they weren’t lightweights. No wonder he’s sweating.

Steve’s wife can’t figure out why he’s so moody and angry…she doesn’t understand that Steve has feelings of rejection from a company he had been loyal to for 5 years. He had poured heart and soul into his projects. Even though he didn’t always agree with his manager’s direction, on a project he shepherded, he had been recognized for achievement. Gosh, only 2 years in and already a rising “star”.

In hindsight, Steve saw he had subtly butted heads on how the team was treated by management and that he made suggestions that “his bosses’ way” was backward. Things began to slip. It was more real when he didn’t get a merit raise. He didn’t fathom the basic tenet that consistent values with the management are fundamental to longevity. You see, Steve made an “easy” choice to compromise his work ethics and principles because he thought he was on the upside of lots of growth (money).

Choice #1 – Choose based on values – not only on personalities in the organization.

Now that his desk was cleared out, a few weeks to wind down was in order before he could mount the energy to start looking. After all, he deserved a break, didn’t he? It gave him time to think over what went wrong…to concentrate, to brood over the calamity that landed on him because others hadn’t done their jobs. It simply wasn’t fair…Jesse, their 6 year old, couldn’t understand why “daddy just sits in the den and won’t play with me anymore…”

Choice #2 – You have power to choose your reaction to difficulty. It was business, not personal, and even if it was personal, so what, get some support, get some direction, get some help to tackle this bump in the road and get on with life.

Steve’s wife finally pushed him to get his resume posted online…this is easy! What he didn’t know was the internet is only about 4% of the market and that less than 10% of the companies who have posted have ever hired someone from the internet. He has complacently fallen into a deadly trap believing quantity will always yield quality positions!

Choice #3 – Choosing to get a career by coincidence will seldom (read seldom as never) yield a role with expansive growth potential and long term satisfaction. It is not easy; it takes expertise, competitive edges of timing, better exposure and more powerful communications about capacity to win a position of your choice.

Eventually, Steve let a recruiter encourage him to “get his foot in the door” in a company a few states over. It was his only “egg in his nest” and a few steps back to where he had been 8-9 years earlier…and he’d have to leave Sundays and come back home Fridays since relocation wasn’t even offered.
But what choice does he have – it’s been 11 months since he was let go and savings have dwindled and he’s tired of being a stay-at-home dad.

Choice #4 – Choosing to take a job will only spiral down his career, his confidence, his perceived capability and his cash. Being talked into – that is recruited/sold – a cookie-cutter position versus taking a position that has been engineered around him. There should be no question.

Well, Steve has gotten accustomed to the commute and his efficiency apartment and really looks forward to seeing his kids next weekend. The job is just that – he’s surviving, but there’s no challenge…same-o every day. That recruiter called back to say he’s got another job like this on the East Coast – Steve hung up on him this time…about all the energy he could muster. Been feeling really exhausted.

Choice #5 – Choosing to ignore his body cues of exhaustion only leads Steve to depression and powerlessness and feeling trapped again. Choosing to have proper rest, diet, exercise and balance of life invigorates.

Steve’s 17 month anniversary is coming up – he’s looking a little haggard from the day-to-day grind. It’s Friday, about 2 and Steve’s boss wants him to come to the conference room…and the HR person is there…

Choice #6 – Steve can choose to run this cycle again…or choose to purposefully utilize his full potential by proactively marketing himself.

It’s Steve’s choice…it’s his career…it’s his life… Then, again, maybe it’s not Steve; maybe it’s you???

Bruce Benskin is a Regional Manager in Cincinnati for R.L. Stevens & Associates Inc. (http://www.interviewing.com), a career marketing firm and organization celebrating over 24 years of providing strategic marketing solutions for its clients’ career transitioning needs.

Family Lodging in Orlando Florida Options

2005-06-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

By Art McCarty

Family lodging Planning
Planning a vacation? Already know your destination or city? You might want to take a look at what will be going on in your destination of choice while you are there. To this end there is an easy way of locating city event information without contacting the city hall or getting a paper from the city delivered. The Event Guide Network is a wonderful website that gathers events and information happening in cities around the globe. There you will find information on events searchable by month and day in many cities, states, provinces, and countries. The event guide can help you determine
where you want to plan you vacation and make reservations for your family lodging.

Family lodging Deals Online
There are many deals to be had online. You need to conduct an effective search or knowing where to go and how to obtain reservations and bookings. Family lodging can save dollars and enable you to spend that saved money on other aspects of your trip. The internet is your friend when it comes to saving money and travel and family lodging is only one area. There are forums and websites dedicated to saving your cash and putting dollars back into your wallet. Some of these sites include:
Family Travel Guide
AIA’s Lodging for Vacations
Family Travel Network

If you are interested in conducting your own searches and finding some great sites and specials for your family lodging you can try the following excellent search engines.

Hotbot.com
MSN.com
Google.com
Webcrawler.com
Yahoo.com

Each of these sites is capable of returning many results based on any search you conduct. To help you search faster and smarter you might consider a search using keywords such as:
1. Family Lodging
2. Discounts
3. Specials
4. Attractions
5. Keywords specific to your chosen city or area
6. Travel
7. Savings

Family Lodging Tips
When booking your family lodging reservations online you should always:
1. Do your research in advance.
As always finding the best family lodging means planning in advance for your trip. Look for the best current prices on hotels for your desired quality range, dates, and destination using the search engines and websites listed in addition to those you find yourself. You can make multiple reservations online, but always check to see if there is a cancellation fee before you do. Take into account that you should be saving money by booking family lodgings.
Here are some of the places to check:
• Discount travel websites, such as Hotels.com, which give prices for specific hotels.
• Hotels.com which lists hotels sorted by best values. Family lodging specials are often listed to assist families in finding the best rates and deals on multiple booking reservations.
• AAA auto club members may access www.aaa.com to check on price ranges, discounts, and other benefits featured.
2. Consider days and season of travel.
• Keep in mind the days of the week you want to book your family lodging.

• Hotels will usually offer their best rates and discounts on weekends which include Friday, Saturday, and sometimes Sunday as well as holidays, except during special events. Convention and resort areas may be exceptions. Such as Orlando, Las Vegas, and Hawaii.
• As a result, hotels in these resort areas give bigger discounts during their off-seasons. Booking during these times can help save money in family lodging.

Finding Family lodging
Finding lodging for your family is not that difficult. Most hotels and lodgings offer rooms capable of 4 to 5 person accommodations. Should you require additional privacy or accommodations for larger families you can get adjoining rooms with a door between them. This is a feature of some hotels.
Simply call and request this option or inquire about accommodations to fit your family lodging needs. If none are available, check into local villas or suites for more value based options. Examples of hotels that offer special accommodations for families include:

Holiday Inn Family Suites
Wyndham Hotel and Resorts
Disney World Resorts and Hotels
Travel Lodge in Orlando
Poconos Ponnsylvania Family Resorts
Marriot TownePlace Suites

Military lodging
The U.S. Military provides travel and lodging to its service at a reduced or free rate under certain conditions that vary from branch to branch. Listed here is a summary of the information for each branch.

Army:
1. Central Reservations
TOLL-FREE: 1-800-GOARMY-1 or 1-800-462-7691
COMMERCIAL: (256) 313-2790
DSN 897-2790
2. Availability of Quarters and Dining 3. TRADOC Schools - Dining Availability
4. Major Military and Associate Installations Information - Worldwide relocation information on major military and associate installations for use by service men and women and their families during permanent change of station moves.

Navy:
1. Navy Bachelor Housing
2. Dining Facilities
3. Navy Lodge
4. Major Military and Associate Installations Information – Worldwide relocation information on major military and associate installations for use by Service men and women and their families during permanent change of station moves.

Marines:
1. TRANSIENT BILLETING QUARTERS
2. TEMPORARY LODGING FACILITY DIRECTORY – Facilites used for Family lodging and military lodging for short-term housing accommodations for military members, their families, and guests both on official travel and while on non-duty status.
3. Major Military and Associate Installations Information - Worldwide relocation information on major military and associate installations for use by Service men and women and their families during permanent change of station moves.

Air Force:
1. Family Lodging and Dining Facilities The information contained in the listings below describes the availability of Air Force lodging and dining facilities throughout the world for personnel in a TDY travel status.
—CONUS LOCATIONS
— OVERSEAS LOCATIONS
— Codes used in Conus and Overseas listings
— Glossary of References, Abbreviations, and Acronyms
2. Reservations & Lodging Facilities Directory
3. Major Military and Associate Installations Information - Worldwide relocation information on major military and associate installations for use by Service men and women and their families during permanent change of station moves.
4. Air Force Crossroads - Essential information on over three hundred military bases from around the world. Most of the information is provided by the bases themselves, giving you firsthand knowledge of the installations and their local surroundings.

Other:
1. OAG`s Hotels @ Per Diem - This new website offers the Government traveler up-to-date information on Hotels that are at Per Diem, and FEMA approved
2. GSA Best Available Military Lodging Values - The General Services Administration offers a web site for best available military lodging values that provides listings of lodging accommodations in cities across the U.S. You may also contact the GSA Hotline at (415) 522-4671.
3. Premier Lodging Program (PLP) - Under this program, the government contracts with lodging properties in specific geographical areas for military lodging, which guarantee rooms at a set rate within the established per diem.
If you are in a branch of the armed forces and wish to use military lodging or discounts you can acquire more specific information by contacting your commanding officer.

Military lodging General Information
Lodging under the military is not only afforded those servicemen in uniform but also to some contractors and civilians.

Information about Contractor Travel.
Information about Living Quarters Allowance.
Information about Military Lodging taxes.

Most military servicemen are eligible for per diem, a compensation rate for lodging. This per diem can be applied to a hotel for lodging expenses and there is a program available for hotels at the per diem cost. This program is known as Hotels at Per Diem.

The government also makes available a free travel planner that contains the most comprehensive worldwide travel information available to the government or military traveler. You can acquire the free travel planner here.

http://www.islandhideaway.net

Negotiate Better Job Offers with This Twelve-Point Checklist

2005-06-02T23:52:00.000-07:00

By Ann Wilson

You’ve been through an employer’s interview process successfully and have now been extended a job offer. And you think the offer could be better. If that’s the case, read on to find out cutting-edge strategies that’ll help you negotiate a better deal.

1. There’s no need to accept the offer on the spot. Do express your appreciation for their offer and ask how long you can take to make a decision. Use that time to prepare your approach. Remember, they need you just as much as you need them. Come from a position of strength and confidence.

2. Be clear on your priorities -- know what’s critical to you personally and what’s not. Based on this, define your deal-points and deal breaking points. This should not be limited to your salary.

3. That brings up this important point -- negotiate more than just the salary. Maybe things like extra days of vacations, certain types of expenses you want taken care of, flexible working hours, etc, based on what’s important to you.

4. Be yourself. Don’t try to adopt a negotiation style that’s not you. Don’t try to be overly cooperative if you are aggressive by nature, or vice versa. Conduct the negotiations keeping in mind the industry, the position and the person you’re negotiating with. Always be tactful and considerate --
rudeness has no place in any discussion.

5. Be patient and willing to hold out for what you deserve. The whole process may require more than one meeting and could take several weeks. Don’t rush it. Also, be willing to walk away from an offer (unless you’re unemployed and in a desperate position). That’s a tried and true tactic that often
brings results, though you should be prepared to lose the offer if you do use this approach.

6. When it comes to salary, don’t be the first one to name a figure. Of course, employers usually make an offer first. If you are asked what salary you want, try to redirect the discussion. Say that you’ll look for a salary in line with what’s typical for such positions and that you’d like to discuss the offer as a whole before coming to specifics on money.

7. If the employer is not willing to go along with that approach, then quote a range. Say that you’re looking for something in the 80s or 90s, but the exact figure depends on the position, benefits and other factors.

8. Take care of fringe benefits. They can make a very important difference to your overall financial position and quality of life. Look at things like medical insurance, relocation expenses, stock options, paid parking, health club membership, etc.

9. Do your homework before you go in to negotiate a job offer. Know what salaries are typical for your position. Also, do your math correctly. You might find that earning an extra $10,000 might put you into a higher tax bracket resulting in lower take-home pay. Look at additional expenses the new job would involve -- relocation, more expensive commute, etc. Do this preparation beforehand; it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to think through everything while in the thick of negotiations.

10. When trying to negotiate a higher salary, state your current salary grossed up for all bonuses, commissions, benefits that you receive. Don’t limit yourself to just your pre-tax salary.

11. Be flexible. Negotiations are about give and take. You might have to concede some points to gain something that’s valuable to you personally. This is another way of saying ‘play fair’.

12. Stick to the truth. Exaggerating your qualifications, work experience, current salary, etc, is risky -- it is quite likely that the employer will find out and then the job offer may be retracted. You may even be fired from your job if they find out after you join them.

[IFS] comes through for its clients and employees in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan

2005-06-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

By PRWEB

Internet Financial Services protects its clients assets in the midst of the worst storm to hit Grand Cayman is nearly 80 years.

(PRWEB) October 2, 2004 - In the midst of Hurricane Ivan, [IFS generously opened its doors to all its employees, their families, key customers and even a few potential customers at its BritCay Building facility to ride out the storm. Although flooding eventually caused the evacuation of the BritCay building and relocation of key assets and staff to International Data Centers, [IFS was able to provide shelter to over two dozen people, most of whom completely lost their homes, vehicles and possessions in the wake of the storm.

With its highly skilled technical team, [IFS was able to assure offshore-redundancy subscribers that their data remained available and online at their alternate offshore Data Centers. "Customers having chosen offshore replication and redundancy solutions with us were not disappointed in the results during and after Hurricane Ivan. Global redundancy is the only proven method to ensure resilient service in the event of catastrophic disasters," says CTO Robert Eryou. [IFS was able to bring email access back online to customers before most had the ability to check it. Not a single email
was lost thanks to the [IFS mirrored web services strategically placed in alternate global Data Centers, purpose built to combat any Island-wide disaster that would severe Caymans` Internet connection, as was the case with Ivan.

“Although our efforts have been focused on our key customers, our families and getting supplies to/from the Island in order to assist the Cayman Islands government, make no mistake that [IFS is in business and ready to provide our services to the Cayman Islands business community.” said Managing
Director, James C. Knapp.

[IFS is a key technology infrastructure provider to offshore financial and government organizations. [IFS has secure Data Center locations in the Cayman Islands, Jersey and the Isle of Man and has provided globally redundant secure solutions to international customers for over 6 years.

Some of the services offered by [IFS include; Secure Data Hosting and Server Co-location, Managed Security Services and Intrusion Detection, Disaster Recovery consulting, seating and implementation, Global Data Replication and Redundancy, Internet development and shared hosting services.

[IFS Contacts
James C. Knapp, Managing Director
e-mail protected from spam bots
345-945-8607

Technical Support for International and Cayman Customers
e-mail protected from spam bots

# # #

Insider’s Guide to Snaring the Best Lease Deal

2005-05-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

By George A. Parker

Every year, thousands of business owners and financial managers are faced with the task of obtaining attractive financing for equipment their firms want to acquire. Snaring the best leasing arrangement requires only a bit of planning and a smidgeon of finesse. You can save time, land a better lease deal and make the leasing experience less of a conundrum by considering several important factors.

Plan Ahead

Before seeking lease proposals, invest a little time in planning and preparing. Establish priorities by considering the relative importance of such factors as lease pricing, balance sheet considerations, ongoing leasing needs and the necessity of the prospective lessor to have specialized equipment/industry knowledge. If the transaction is relatively insignificant in the overall scheme of things, a truncated planning process might be in order. If not, allow enough time to: 1) identify and pre-qualify lessors, 2) review and select a lease proposal, 3) allow selected lessor to conduct due diligence and get credit approval, and 4) to complete lease documentation.

Assemble an information package for prospective lessors that anticipates what they will want to know before submitting a proposal, including: 1) background information on your company and management bios, 2) three years of financial statements and interim financials, 3) a list of company trade and credit references, and 4) a description of the equipment to be acquired, including acquisition cost. Anticipate questions about your firm and disclose them in advance.

Choose the Right Leasing Company

The starting point for getting an attractive leasing proposal is in choosing the right leasing companies to bid. All leasing companies are not alike. Some specialize in specific industries, some in certain equipment types, and still others in transaction sizes. Leasing companies also vary in size,
capabilities, expertise and integrity. Do your homework to pre-qualify leasing companies that will bid. Lessor qualities to look for include: 1) knowledge; 2) reputation; 3) ability to perform; 4) helpful business contacts; and 5) a relationship approach. Try to identify at least three leasing
companies to bid.

As in any field, leasing professionals have varying degrees of knowledge and expertise. Look for leasing representatives and managements that have a good understanding of lease structuring, equipment issues, documentation, credit evaluation, the capabilities of their firms, your industry and other
leasing issues. Avoid lease ‘sellers’ with obvious limited knowledge. It is too easy to be led down the painful path of misinformation and misrepresentation.

Because the entry bar for setting up shop in equipment leasing is relatively low, it is important to locate leasing companies that have good reputations in the business. Check to see whether the bidding leasing companies belong to one or more of the major industry trade associations (e.g. ELA,EAEL, UAEL, and NAELB). While membership in these associations doesn’t guarantee high ethical standards, each of these organizations has standards and processes to review members’ unethical business practices. Contact relevant associations for references. Then, get several names of customers, banks and vendors to contact.

Along with good ethics, the ability to perform as agreed is equally important in considering leasing partners. Ask for and get financial information, background information on the key managers, a listing of recently completed financings, names and contacts at key funding sources for each leasing company being considered. Review this information and follow up with the contacts provided. If your industry and/or the equipment to be leased are highly specialized, make sure the leasing companies have completed several arrangements similar to the one you are seeking. Check lessors’ websites and brochures to make sure that the type of leasing arrangement you are seeking is specifically referenced and discussed.

Good leasing partners offer more than equipment financing. In many cases, lessors have met or worked closely with bankers, attorneys, CPA firms, business insurers, equipment vendors and investors. If the leasing company serves a wide variety of customers, some of these contacts can prove invaluable. Try to get a feel for the depth and breadth of each leasing company’s ability in this area.

Since you will be working closely with the selected leasing company and may have additional leasing needs in the future, why not choose a leasing partner that values relationships? Although it is not easy to identify relationship-oriented leasing companies at the quoting stage, check customer references to inquire about lessor follow-up, attentiveness, willingness to learn about customers and willingness to be helpful.

Get a Large Enough Lease Facility

Right-sizing the leasing facility can save a lot of time. Look for an arrangement that will cover equipment needs for at least the next six to twelve months. A helpful rule of thumb is to obtain a leasing facility that is at least 20% more than what is needed. If a leasing credit line is an available option, this can be a helpful tool in securing the right amount of lease financing.

Choose a Lease Term That Matches Equipment Use

The term of the lease should match the expected use of the equipment as closely as possible. If the term is too short, the monthly cash outlays for the equipment might exceed the expected benefits to be derived from the equipment (cost savings or revenue production). If you sign a lease that is too short that also includes fair market value end-of-lease options, and you exercise one of these options, you might wind up overpaying for the equipment. If the lease term is too long, you might lose the flexibility of upgrading to newer more desirable equipment. More than a few lessees have been stuck with equipment they no longer need, yet they still have a significant lease balance remaining.

Notwithstanding your preference, a shorter lease term returns the lessor’s investment in the equipment faster and lessors generally perceive a faster recovery to be a credit enhancement. You might be able to manage any mismatch between your preference and the lessor’s by obtaining favorable end-of-lease options. Seek end-of-lease options that include: 1) the right to return the equipment to the lessor; 2) favorable renewal options; and 3) favorable purchase options. Seek ways to limit what you are charged by requesting fair market value options that are “capped” (have upper limits) or favorable fixed options.

Look For Lease Flexibility

Obtaining lease flexibility can easily trump obtaining the lowest price. In fact, you can trim lots of money from overall leasing costs by having a flexible leasing arrangement.

First, make sure the lease allows you to include most of the equipment you intend to acquire. Also, check that it will be easy to add more equipment to the lease as your needs change. The better leases provide for multiple schedules under a master lease or the ability to amend existing leases to make additions. What if you no longer need some of the equipment? An early termination formula is useful in these situations. Generally, these formulas consist of present valuing the remaining rents. If the equipment has a strong residual value, try to negotiate a more favorable termination
charge by incorporating some of the anticipated residual value.

A flexible lease arrangement anticipates upgrades. Usually, at the time of equipment upgrade, the present value of rents associated with the upgrade can be combined with the present value of the remaining equipment rents to create a revised schedule. Other methods might be required in the event that the lessor will incur penalties or additional charges resulting from the way the lessor has funded the lease.

Will you be able to terminate the lease early without an onerous charge? An amount consisting of the present value of the remaining rents plus a termination charge no greater than 3% to 5% should compensate the lessor for early termination in most leasing arrangements. Where equipment has high residual value, request that a portion of the anticipated residual value be applied to reduce early termination charges.

Does the lease have flexible end-of-lease options? Clearly, if the lease contains a nominal purchase option, there is little need for additional end-of-lease flexibility. Otherwise, a good array of end-of-lease options is desirable. Request the right to return the equipment to the lessor without undue penalty or expense, the right to purchase the equipment at a fair or reduced price, and the right to continue leasing the equipment at a fair or reduced rent. Use of ‘caps’ in fair market value purchase or rental options can greatly reduce potential costs at lease end. Beware, however. Lessors may insist on fair market value ‘floors’ (lower limit) when they agree to ‘caps’.

It may become necessary to relocate the equipment to another site. Make sure the lease provides that equipment can be relocated without unreasonable penalties or charges, subject to notifying the lessor. Keep in mind that equipment relocation may create extra expense for the lessor, particularly if it is to be moved to another state or to multiple locations. Most lessors perceive multiple locations as adding additional risk to the transaction in the event they must repossess the equipment. As long as these considerations are taken into account, the lessor should permit relocation of equipment with reasonable notice and reimbursement of lessor’s direct costs and administrative expenses.

Is there a sufficient notice period at the end-of-lease for you to indicate your desire to renew the lease, purchase the equipment or return the equipment? The notice period generally ranges from one to six months, with three months being typical. If you violate the notice period, the lease kicks into an automatic renewal period, usually one to six months. You should seek notice and automatic renewal periods that are short, to avoid unintended additional lease charges. If the lessor is unwilling to negotiate this provision, you can manage the situation by making sure the notice
requirement is fulfilled within the allowed time.

Look For Competitive Lease Pricing

Lease pricing is a function of many factors, including: market rates, perceived lessee credit risk, lessor competition, equipment collateral quality and equipment re-marketing prospects. Get at least three lease bids, if possible. At the end of the day, lease pricing is market driven. A properly completed present value analysis will bring into focus comparison of diverse proposals otherwise difficult to make. Make assumptions about the equipment residuals and incorporate all anticipated costs and fees. Take into account the amount and timing of the periodic rental payments, any advance
rental payments, security deposits, cash collateral, interim rents and commitment fees. To achieve an accurate analysis of cash flows, you should incorporate any tax charges/benefits as they are to be realized.

If you are concerned about the impact of the lease transaction on your firm’s financial statements, compare the impact of each proposed lease on the balance sheet and income statement (if lease accounting is not your forte, get a qualified accountant involved). For example, if your company is sensitive to adding additional debt to its balance sheet, a capital lease should probably be avoided. As you can see, there are several ways to evaluate lease proposals and to compare lease pricing. The important thing is to use an analysis method with consistency and to choose the method that
best fits your company’s priorities.

Understand All Fees and Penalties

Leasing proposals vary in the types and amounts of fees and penalty charges. Some common lease charges include: commitment fees; documentation charges; charges for attorney fees; and charges for UCC financing statements. Additionally, some leases might contain penalty charges for late rental payments or early lease termination. These are only a few of the possible fees and charges. It is important that you go through the lease proposal and lease agreement to identify likely charges. If fees or charges are significant and likely, you should incorporate them into your pricing analysis.

Understand the Lessee’s Major Responsibilities and Obligations

Most lease proposals cover the basic terms of the lease, but are silent regarding many of the obligations and conditions normally included in the lease agreement. Lessors usually will not negotiate the lease agreement before receiving a signed proposal letter. While negotiating lease terms might not be customary or practical at the proposal stage, requesting a copy of the lessor’s standard lease along with the proposal letter is a good idea. In their standard agreement, look for any onerous or non-standard terms that would otherwise eliminate the proposal from consideration.

There are lease provisions that are common to almost all ‘net’ lease agreements, including: 1) prompt payment of rent, taxes and other required payments; 2) equipment & liability insurance; 3) equipment maintenance and upkeep; 4) tracking and reporting relocation of equipment; 5) freedom from any liens or other encumbrances against the equipment; and 6) return of equipment. Less common lease provisions, such as financial covenants or requiring personal guarantees might not be competitive or might result in you rejecting a proposal that is otherwise attractive. Review the proposal letter and the lessor’s standard lease agreement to insure that they are free of provisions that are problematic.

In all cases, it is important that you have the right to terminate the proposed transaction if you and the lessor can not come to terms on the lease agreement, especially if onerous terms appear in the lease that are not covered in the lease proposal.

Conclusion

Snaring the best lease deal and relationship need not be like getting a root canal. With a dash of advance planning and a few well defined objectives, you can find a good match. Remember to establish your priorities in making a decision on lease proposals and allow enough time to go through the proposal, lease approval and documentation phases. Also, while lease pricing is usually of utmost concern, make sure you consider other factors that can increase costs or create problems.

George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (“LTI”). Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in equipment financing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at: www.ltileasing.com.

What`s a Career Coach? Do I need one?

2005-05-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

By Deborah Walker

You may have noticed one of the latest trends in career
management is to have your own career coach. It`s not really a
new concept. Executives have known for years the value of
investing in the expertise of a career professional. You may
still wonder, "What`s a career coach?" and more importantly, "Do
I need one?"

The best way to illustrate the value of a career coach is to
compare them to personal trainers. Anyone can go to a gym and
work out. Having a personal trainer is not a prerequisite to
fitness. The value of a personal trainer is that he/she helps
their client achieve their fitness goal quicker and with better
results. Similarly, a career coach accelerates the job search
process resulting in significantly higher starting salary.

A job-search campaign demands specific skills such as resume and
cover letter writing, networking, interviewing and negotiations.
The best jobs don`t necessarily go to the most qualified, but
rather, to those with the sharpest job-search skills. An
effective career coach provides expert advise, insight and
training on these essential skills giving their clients a
tremendous competitive advantage.

The most effective job-search campaign has a strategic marketing
plan and focus. No corporation would launch a new product
without a marketing plan. Every phase is carefully orchestrated
to maximize sales results. A career coaches can help you develop
an action plan designed to 1) uncover more job leads, 2) secure
more interviews, 3) maximize interview results, 4) increase the
number of job offers, and 5) significantly increase your salary.

Not all job seekers need a career coach. If you already have
headhunters calling you with job leads, you`re probably OK on
your own. Here are some situations were job seekers could
benefit from the expertise of a career coach: 1) changing
industries, 2) moving into management, 3) changing functional
roles (like accounting to sales), 4) relocation to a new area, 5)
unstable work history, 6) been with the same company for many
years, 7) over or under qualified, 8) over 50, or 9) lack
confidence in your salary negotiation skills. Another way to
tell if you need a career coach is lack of positive results. If
you aren`t getting responses from your resume postings or you
aren`t getting called back for second interviews, a career coach
could most likely help you improve your skills and get your
campaign moving forward.

If you decide to invest in a career coach, here are a few things
you`ll want to look for. A career coach should be an expert in
the field of career management. Ask about their background and
how they stay abreast of national employment trends. A career
coach should understand employer buyer motivations. Ask if they`
ve ever sat in the hiring seat. A career coach must be a good
listener. If he/she talks more than listens, your objectives won
`t be heard or understood.

Like the athlete running a race, your job search is a competitive
event. Prepare to win first place in your job search. As every
runner knows, second place doesn`t take home the prize.

Deborah Walker, CCMC provides Career Coaching and Resume Writing
to executive job seekers nationwide. Accelerate your job search!
Get your Free job search skills analysis at
mailto:Skills@alphaadvantage.com visit Deborah at her website at
http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com or email her at
mailto:Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com