Answering Interview Questions For Job Change

To start with, let's accept the fact that a happy employee never quits, and a recruiter is not a fool to believe this statement. Every employee changes job for a reason. The reason can range from a variety of issues - issues pertaining to salary; supervisor; colleagues; management; company policies; market performance; branding; and many more that are, sometimes, personal and circumstantial.

Most candidates think that if they tell the correct reason, they could get rejected; hence resort to lying. However, lies don't help. The recruiters are trained to catch, and weed such candidates out of the selection process. Most people are perplexed as to why such a question is asked, because they don't understand the perspective that a recruiter wishes to gain by the answer to this question. Recruiters aim to hire employees, motivated by goals that are logical, long term, and mutually fulfilling. They also wish to understand the psychology and environment within which the employee must have been working. Environment and psychology have lately attracted a lot of attention with in job market as people have savored the consequences of not paying heed to them.

Unfortunately, most of the candidates look for a job change for all the wrong reasons. Listed below are all those wrong reasons, along with the explanation as to why they are considered wrong.

 For Better Salary: The biggest reason behind changing the job is dissatisfaction from the current salary. Quoting Salary as the sole reason for changing the job is never considered healthy. This shows that the candidate is not concerned with the job profile, and is greedy for only the short term desires. Such candidates reflect the tendency to hop, every time a better offer is thrown at them. Stability is a big issue with them. Most people are dissatisfied with respect to salary not because of their own lower salaries, but for the higher salaries of other people that they know of. It's the comparison, which creates the problems. No recruiter would consider salary as a valid reason if a candidate's salary is at par with the market standards, with respect to the industry, profile, and designation, the person is currently associated with. However, if in your case salary really is an issue, then you must frame your answers in way given below: "I am extremely satisfied with my role, and the company. Working with this organization has been a great learning experience. As evident from my resume, I am a very stable person, and for me, profile and the learning hold a great importance. However, given the market standards, my current salary is much lesser, and it has caused a little dissatisfaction. I have spoken with my company HR about this issue, and I am sure that they must have tried hard, but unfortunately, despite my consistent good performance and repeated reminders, they have not considered the possibility of giving me a raise. I am sure that they must have had their own valid reasons. However, I believe that I am ready for a salary raise. I applied with your organization, because the working environment and the learning process is the same in this company as well, along with the possibility of getting a better compensation, which would be as per the market norms." In this answer, you have actually addressed to a host of issues. You told the recruiter positive things about your current role and company, your expectations related to salary, your awareness and research about current market standards, and a valid reason for applying to this company. You have also justified your demand through research, while not demeaning the importance of long term goals, profile, and learning. This will definitely be considered.

 

Because you don't get along with your manager or team: Another major reason to look for a change is, when an employee doesn't get along well with the manager or the team members. Now, as a rule, an interviewee can't gripe about the current company, manager or the team members, because that would make recruiter suspicious about the candidate's own behavior, and ability to gel with people around. Even if you are the only right person in the entire company, a recruiter can't promise you a favorable environment in the new organization, and I believe neither can candidate himself. It also negatively highlights the people handling skills of the employee. An ideal advice to such a candidate should be to go back, and stop applying. Sit back, and think; analyze the situation. Realign the focus from "Who's wrong?" to "What's wrong?" If there is a problem with the manager, fix up a one-to-one meeting. Take feedback, and understand the expectations. Sometimes, rather most of the times, no one is culprit, except the differences in perspectives and expectations. Make the notes or the minutes of the meeting, and assure your manager that you would work on the shortcomings. 

Once both of you will be on the same page, I am sure that you won't have to look for another job. Let's talk about the differences with team members. I understand that the problem is bigger, because the biggest hindrance is your ego. The first and the most difficult task, is to put your ego aside. Once it is done, go and speak to them, but only in separate meetings. Try, and explore if everyone thinks alike about you. Find out the reasons, but don't talk about the issues that you face because of them. The key is to change your own behavior, reasonably of course, and starting a spiral of behavior change in the rest for you. As an interview coach and a soft skills trainer, I have mostly observed that team issues vanish very soon if there is leadership support. Leader must always be kept in loop while doing all this so that he or she knows, and recognizes your steps and efforts. At the end of the day, the leader will garner the credits for entire team's coordination and performance. Ideas proposed above, were for people, who have a long term career approach, and wish to make things better through right channels. For others, however, the best way is to keep lying until someone believes you.

When your current company is not performing well: Times are turbulent, and any company may face such a situation, any day. People, especially the recruiters, are aware about every company's performance within their industries. A highly foolish thing that most candidates do is to keep avoiding the truth. I have even faced candidates, who insisted that their companies were performing greatly, and they were changing only because of the better opportunities. Such candidates never make it through, because from the recruiter's perspective, either they are lying or living in oblivion. There are candidates, who openly criticize the company policies, and management decisions. Now, they might be technically right, but an employee is not supposed to be judgmental. What happened with one company may become the fate of another. Judgmental employees spend most of the time in analyzing things beyond their scope, and view every management process and decision with suspicion. Suspicions cause arguments, debates, and battles, and no one wants any of that. A recruiter expects the candidate to first accept the situation at hand, while maintaining a non-judgmental attitude. The ideal way of handling this is by saying, "As you know that the company, I am currently working with, is facing a turbulent time, and the employees have got a clear indication from the management; hence, I am looking for a job change in order to secure my future." But don't think that this matter would end like this. The trail of questions would be more difficult, however, can be made easier by rational thinking and preparation. Candidates should be prepared for questions like, "Where do you think your company's decisions went wrong, because of which such a situation came up?" "Do you think you could have done things differently, if you were the CEO? What were those things?" "What if, God forbids, something like this happens to this company tomorrow? Would you leave us too?" I will surely tell you how to answer the above questions, but some other day. 

 For an on site opportunity (in case of IT companies):There are two phases of IT recruitment - a desperate one and a non-desperate one. These times are largely governed by the requirements of particular skill sets, and the number of such requirements. During desperate times, IT companies do compromise on this term, in order to fulfill their project requirements. Candidates even have the courage to negotiate on the basis of on site opportunity with some companies. However, during the other times, when no such desperation exists, such candidates are rejected outright. The simple reason being that if the company you are working with, doesn't think of you as a deserving candidate to be deployed on site, how can they? It simply implies that for you, role, responsibilities, project quality, learning and development or any such organizational virtues weigh lesser than a simple on site opportunity, which is more of a short-term wealth accumulation mechanism. The
verdict is simple - 'you don't understand business'. While some may disagree, I have never shown a green signal to any such candidate. Change is a highly welcomed phenomenon, but only for the right reasons.

For an opportunity to work with a better brand: This answer is like a swamp; once you jump into it, you slide down with no comeback. Harder you try to come out of it, deeper you sink. The recruiter of a bigger company knows that he represents a bigger brand for which, there are valid reasons. However, he would be keen to know your definition and parameters of big brand. The term 'bigger brand' has different meanings for different people. For most, it is fatter pay packages. Some other shallow perceptions include larger teams, big market presence or share, swanky offices, and happening crowd. However, interviewer is searching for a person, who identifies and values true reasons like, well defined processes and systems, opportunity to work in cross functional teams, strong training and development platform, multifaceted learning opportunities, a bigger platform to showcase the performance, to gain enormous recognition, and finally, to achieve a comprehensive development as a professional human being. I hope you must have checked by now what factors you had included in the definition of 'bigger brand'. Remember one thing, though. No matter how strongly you establish the new company as a bigger and better brand, never ever demean your current organization. Always start your answer with praises for your current company, and the way it helped in your evolution as a professional. 

Being ungrateful is never appreciated. I once encountered an aspirant, who devoted 10 minutes to disgrace his first organization, and the many ways, in which it pulled his career down. My next question was, "But don't you think that this was the only company that gave you the first chance, and that too during recession, when most of the people were not offered jobs? Don't you think that, if not for that company, you, like many others, would have become a lecturer in some small engineering college in an inconspicuous town?" I know my questions carry a glimpse of my anger, however, the point to be noted is that he did not have any answer, and all he could come up with, was a sheepish smile.

There are weirder reasons like, the present company not allowing the pets inside the company premises, and this article won't be of much use to such candidates. But I am sure that this article will be circulated among those, who are truly trying to find the right answer to this inevitable question. In my next articles, I will discuss about the right reasons, which should instigate the job change. Till then, remember what not to say as an answer to this question.

Importing Of Holiday Season Cargo And Shipping

The December holidays are not yet here, retailers in the US are currently importing a majority of their goods from overseas in anticipation of the upcoming holiday shopping season. This occurs every year around this time. And many of these retailers depend on the best freight forwarders to help make their international shipping as efficient as possible.

A new report suggested that the importing of holiday season cargo is expected to increase in 2013. According to the report, there could be an anticipated 16.2 Million TEUs imported in 2013, up 2.5% from 15.8 Million TEUs in 2012. Retail importers in the United States are very excited about this news. Although the volume of containers being imported does not reflect the value of the cargo inside the container (and the value impacts retail sales revenue), this is very encouraging news. It is also predicated that holiday spending is expected to increase more than 11% this year.

Many analysts consider this report to be above their earlier low expectations that ocean freight imports were down after a lackluster start to 2013. Part of the reason that US imports were lower during the start of 2013 is due to higher than usual ocean freight rates.

One thing for shippers and retailers to consider during this time of the year is the usual peak season surcharge on imports that are shipped from Asia to the United States. This peak season surcharge is nothing new and is expected almost every year at this time, in anticipation of the holiday shopping season.

Consumers across the United States heavily depend on retail shopping during the holiday season in November and December. And the current trends suggest that more and more shoppers go online for buying their holiday items. So retailers should also plan their shipping and logistics online by working with trusted international freight forwarders who can supply instant freight shipping quotes online. With so many shippers offering free shipping, it is important that shippers receive their merchandise from overseas at a lower cost. That is why during the holiday season, a freight forwarder can consolidate your international freight. This will save you on the cost of importing the freight from other countries. In addition, these freight forwarders have built special partnerships so that you can receive special rates for shipping freight before the big holiday season. The point is that working with a freight forwarder can make a big difference in shipping.

Global Forwarding is you best source for International Shipping. Global Forwarding, a trusted Freight Forwarder and NVOCC, offers instant freight quotes online. It takes just 10 seconds and then you are ready to ship. They supply dramatic savings and outstanding service. You can instantly compare prices from leading international ocean shipping carriers and access deep discounted freight rates.

Organizations And Crowds In The Clouds

The present culture's perception tends to hold us back. The concept that a business needs a bricks and mortar location with people working there still dominates despite more people free lancing and working at home. Indeed, certain business endeavors stake their hope for success on location, hence the famous marketing mantra: "location, location, location."

The automobile is a good example undergoing a paradigm shift.. If you life the hood on today's automobile, you can find different power configurations. You can find the traditional combustion engine that has been around for a long time. You can find a hybrid power source that combines the combustion engine with an electrical power source. We are just beginning to see the full paradigm shift to the fully electrical automobile engine.

 
When we lift the hood of today's organization, we can see a similar migration playing out. The evolution to the new organizational paradigm is playing out on two levels. One is the makeup of the organization itself in how it is structured. The other involves the people who do the work of the organization.

It is fair to say organizational tweaking on both these dimensions has been going on for a long time. The traditional hierarchical structure of the organization still tends to be prevalent today. It has been tweaked to try to improve communication, get teams to work across the various functions on various matters and to try to get more people involved in the quality of output and customer concerns. Nevertheless, the hierarchy, by its nature, has built in barriers.

When people work in the hierarchical organization, their perception tends to be "I do my job and all the rest of it is none of my concern." This can obviously inhibit progress and strain positive development in a rapidly changing world.

Clearly, the biggest driver that is laying the foundation for organizational paradigm shift is technology, specifically the computer and the Internet. Work tasks can be immensely seeded up by computer numerically machines that add flexibility and increase quality output at the same time. The Internet has opened up the vast potential of the human side providing the portal for social interaction. The way we organize work and do work is undergoing a paradigm shift.

Two key parts of the shift that is occurring have evolved from computing and the Internet. One is the "cloud," and the other is the "crowd."

The cloud is a technological platform outside the organization's location where the nuts and bolts of computing technology can be placed. Placing computer hardware, software, applications and processing ability outside the organization's location allows for flexibility and accessibility not possible when located inside the organization. It allows organization members to access work information from anywhere, anytime (at the beach, airport or home). The concept of the cloud is a stratification of the largest cloud of all, the Internet.

The crowd pertains to people assembled through the Internet to do work tasks that can range from very simple to very complex. It is like outsourcing on steroids. Crowds are an evolution of outsourcing but because it is done utilizing the technology and accessibility of the Internet, it allows for infinite scaling and incremental use in time.

Crowds are a way of maximizing the value of social networks. The social network is the technological advance of water cooler communication. The water cooler in the organization has been a place for less formal communication. While groups can be established on social networks, crowd groups are more formal. Crowds have purpose, need structure and willingness to contribute. Roles need to be defined and results evaluated.

In combining the cloud and crowd, the organization becomes devoid of boundaries and relevant information and collaborative work can flow back and forth with ease. The work is not controlled by time constraints.

While the technology platform of clouds and the concept of work done by crowds are evolving concepts, the human side of this paradigm shift needs to be considered. Are those inside your organization ready to play in this kind of arena? What will motivate them to make the transition? Perhaps the biggest motivator will be the realization that the organization is providing help for them to learn how work will be performed in the future. Is the organization's leadership seeing the emerging value of clouds and crowds and is leadership helping the members to see it and embrace it, as well?

Clouds and crowds are pushing the envelope of organizational structure and operation. These realities are bringing us to the brink of a real paradigm shift in concept and action. In looking to the future.

Maintaining The Various Electronic Gadgets

The use of various electronic gadgets has simplified the way of life of people. There are so many tasks which are performed with the help of various gadgets. This has greatly reduced the manual efforts and incorporated an element of modernization. Various gadgets have found application in different households, industries and factories. The use of various modern devices has made it possible for individuals and establishments to get several benefits. However, it is extremely important for people to ensure that the gadgets they use are at par with certain standards. A gadget which is performing below a standard is not considered to be very suitable.

One very important thing which gadget users should keep in mind is about calibration. There are a number of experts who provide these services. Calibration services are basically the methods of evaluating and adjusting the values of a gadget for its precision and accuracy. Such a thing is done by comparing the gadget with another gadget which has an accurate and unvarying standard. These services are capable of checking, determining and correcting all the gadgets that use quantitative measurements. Many individuals and establishments rely greatly on these services. The method of calibration cannot accept any kind of faulty and shortcut processes. These services include validation, repair, preventive maintenance and electronic asset management.

Many laboratories, hospitals, measuring device manufacturers, aviation and testing industries, engineering institutions and processing plants undergo calibration. In order to ease the process, calibration instruments can be used. The use of these instruments brings a number of benefits. It can greatly benefit the manufacturers and consumers. Manufacturers can greatly increase their level of productivity, get a smooth flow of work and reduces wastage. The consumers will get the advantage of using high quality products. The business organization as a whole tends to become very credible by using these instruments. wastage Their brand becomes popular throughout and is promoted positively. The instruments should definitely be calibrated in these establishments so that the standards are maintained and the progress of the establishment is ensured.

Organizations should make all possible efforts to avail these services from a reliable source. If a reliable and expert service provider is approached for carrying out the process of calibration, the establishments can get several benefits. These service providers use sophisticated instruments for the process. They are capable of giving the accurate results. Proper actions can then be taken by the establishment. These services can be adopted at extremely reasonable costs. There is no need to spend huge sums of money in getting the instruments calibrated. The reliable services would ensure cost effectiveness to the establishments. It proves very profitable for the organization.

Benefits Of Using Height Adjustable Tables

You want to be more productive at work? If you do, then it would be useful if you invested in some good furniture pieces. Why? Well, it's because of the fact that furniture - as unimportant as it may seem - can actually offer workers with enormous benefits.

Now, there are many furniture types that you can use to your advantage. However, if you are looking for durability and affordability combined - you can give industrial furniture pieces a try. Why? Let's discuss.

Productivity and Efficiency Starts With Your Table/Work Surface

Think about this: which particular furniture piece do you spend most of your time on when working? Most probably, your answer would be the table. And this won't really be surprising, as your work surface is where you use your computer, make reports, finish spreadsheets, and do tasks needed for the day.

With these in mind, it can be safely said that if you're planning to get some furniture pieces - it would be best to start with your table first. And so, the next question now is: what type of table should you get? And the answer is: a height adjustable table.

Adjustable height tables are an innovative table design which brings ergonomics and durability at the same time. It offers users with various benefits, ranging from better posture, durability, comfort and many others. Being so, this can be a worthwhile investment that can actually help you become a lot better and even more productive at work.

Height Adjustable Tables and the Benefits They Bring

To make things clearer - here are some of the main features of height adjustable tables - and some of the benefits they bring:

Adjustable Positions - as the name implies, adjustable height tables can be easily adjusted according to the user's needs. People can use it sitting down or standing up, which means people can use it in whatever position they prefer.

For utmost efficiency, it would be best if you used adjustable tables that are made of industrial materials. With this option, you can expect to use your furniture for a longer time (resulting to greater durability and feasibility).

Ergonomics - height adjustable tables have been designed with ergonomics in mind. As such, users will be able to enjoy comfort, convenience and relaxation - all while working at the same time. Of course, the more comfortable you are - the better things will be for you.

Health Benefits - studies have shown that having the right posture will result to health benefits such as reduced back pains, increased blood flow, efficient burning of calories and many other advantages. These are what adjustable height tables bring to the picture.

Another advantage of having the right furniture (especially tables and chairs) is that it will reduce your stress. Remember: stress is one of the silent killers in the world - and if you are able to reduce it significantly, then that's certainly good news.

Affordability - depending on the manufacturer you're getting your adjustable tables from - you can actually buy them at very reasonable prices. Economically speaking, this means you'll be able to have more savings which you can then spend on other essentials later on.

Note: In order to maximize the full benefits of height adjustable tables - you will need to find a reputable seller or manufacturer to order your furniture from. This is essential. And with the right company or people helping you out, you'll be able to get aesthetics, durability and feasibility combined.

Investor Visa Of Eb-5 For Direct Investment

Investor Visa Of Eb-5 For Direct Investment. Enables the investor to apply directly for permanent resident status in exchange for a significant investment into the U.S. The EB-5 program is overseen by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") scrutiny. The standard EB-5 program, or "Stand Alone" investment option is the original investment program. A direct investment takes about 2-3 months longer to process the application, but from a businessman's perspective it is actually a far safer and more profitable option to go with the direct investment option as the chances of losing all or part of the investment is much lower, and the return on investment is a lot higher. Also, it is easier to prove compliance with the USCIS requirements when an investor goes with the direct investment route, especially when the investor goes with franchises of nationally renowned brands.

The requirements for the Stand Alone program are as follows:

1. New Commercial Enterprise. Establishment of a "New Commercial Enterprise (a venture formed after November 29, 1990). The investor himself need not establish the new commercial enterprise; he merely invests the funds into the new commercial enterprise. A "New Commercial Enterprise" can be any of the following:

a. A completely original business;

b. An existing business where the business is simultaneously or subsequently "restructured in such a way that a new commercial enterprise results;

c. Expansion of an existing business by 40% of its then current net worth and number of employees; or

d. A troubled business; an enterprise that has been in existence for at least two years and has incurred a net loss during the 12- or 24-month period prior to the priority date on the immigrant investor's Form I-526. The loss for this period must be at least 20 percent of the troubled business' net worth prior to the loss.

2. Business Structure. The business can take on a variety of legal structures, including sole proprietorship, partnership (whether limited or general), holding company (and subsidiaries), corporation, joint venture, business trust. The business can be publicly traded or privately owned.

3. For Profit Business. The business must be a For Profit enterprise, not a not-for-profit or charitable organization. Note, this definition does not include non-commercial activity such as owning and operating a personal residence.

4. Investment. The minimum qualifying investment for EB-5 is $1 Million. The minimum qualifying investment within a "Targeted Employment Area" or "TEA," is $500,000." Note, the reinvestment of a commercial enterprise's revenues cannot be considered part of a qualifying investment. USCIS requires that the funds be "At Risk" at the time of investment and throughout the 2 year qualifying period when permanent residency status will then be adjudicated; therefore, any redemption, repayment or use of revenue will disqualify the investor for permanent status. Note that any return on investment whether guaranteed or not may not be made to an investor from EB-5 capital investment funds during the period of conditional permanent residence.

5. Escrow. The EB-5 Visa applicant's capital investment must be truly at risk and not simply a loan.

There can be no guarantees on an EB-5 Visa Investment, the investment must be 'at-risk' as per federal guidelines. There can be no mention of redemption rights or guarantees. The entire capital must be at risk and therefore reserve accounts are also not allowed. The investor has to make sure that no distributions are taken from the investor's capital account. Profit distributions can be taken, but not distributions that diminish the investor's capital investment, which would prompt USCIS to conclude that investment was not sustained. Use of escrow agreements for purposes of the initial funding are permissible if the terms of the escrow agreement comports with 8 CFR 204.6(j)(2), which requires that the I-526 petition must be accompanied by evidence that the required amount of capital has been placed at risk. In essence, the escrow typically has a single condition, that the funds are released immediately upon approval of the I-526.

6. Targeted Employment Area. A Targeted Employment Area ("TEA") is an area that, at the time of investment, is a rural area or an area experiencing unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national average rate. A rural area is any area outside a metropolitan statistical area (as designated by the Office of Management and Budget) or outside the boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more according to the decennial census. The investor's Form I-526 petition must show that the area in which the capital investment has been made qualifies as a "rural" area or an area of "high unemployment as of the date of filing of the Form I-526 petition or the date of the capital investment, whichever occurs first. Moreover, two avenues by which someone can establish an area as a TEA are by providing the statistical documentation directly to USCIS (Economist's Report) or by obtaining a TEA determination from the state in the area in which the investment is going to be made. In every case, the TEA determination is made as part of an I-526 petition adjudication. The two evidential avenues to demonstrate that an area qualifies as a TEA in I-526 petitions is described allows an investor to (1) directly provide evidence of TEA eligibility or (2) seek assistance from the state government in providing the required evidence. Generally, evidence is provided in the form of a letter from a State-designated official that meets the requirements of 8 CFR 204.6(i).

7. Business Participation. The investor must actively participate in the Enterprise. Actively participate means playing more than a purely passive role in the new commercial enterprise. The petitioner must either be involved in the day-to-day managerial control of the commercial enterprise or manage it through policy formulation. If the petitioner is a corporate officer or board member, or, in the case of a limited partnership, is a limited partner under the provisions of the Uniform Limited Partnership Act (ULPA), he or she satisfies the requirement of engaging in the management of the new commercial enterprise.

8. Ownership. Any percentage ownership will do, as long as other requirements are met. This means an EB-5 investor in a direct EB-5 case may have U.S. partners, shareholders, members, etc. There is no set standard for percentage of ownership. For example, the investor can own and operate a U.S. business as a 10% owner, along with a U.S. citizen who owns the remaining 90% interest in the business. Other investors or even another alien investor can have ownership in the business as well. EB-5 investors can pool their investment into the enterprise, as long as the job creation requirements are satisfied. Where multiple investors are involved, voting power should suffice on policy issues should satisfy the standard for involvement in the business.

9. Pooling. Multiple Eb-5 investors can combine their money to invest in an enterprise. All investors must infuse the required amount into an enterprise and create at least 10 jobs. All jobs created by a pooling arrangement will be distributed evenly among investors. For example, if there are 3 investors and only 21 jobs are created, this does not mean that 2 of the investors created 10 jobs each and the third investor only created one job. It means that all three investors created 7 jobs a piece.

10. Job Creation. Every EB-5 investor must create at least 10 jobs as a result of his or her capital investment. A petitioner who acquires a pre-existing business must show that the investment has created, or at least has a reasonable prospect of creating, 10 full-time positions, in addition to those existing before acquisition. The petitioner must, therefore, present evidence concerning the pre- acquisition level of employment. Simply maintaining the pre - acquisition  level of employment is not sufficient, unless the petitioner shows that the pre-existing business qualifies as a "troubled business." The "troubled business" concept relates to the crediting of job creation through the preservation of jobs in an existing business that has incurred substantial net losses. "Full-time job" means employing a qualified employee in a position that requires a minimum of 35 working hours per week. Job-sharing arrangements, where two or more qualifying employees share a full-time position, will also serve as full-time employment if the hourly requirement per week is met. However, job-sharing does not include combinations of part-time positions even if when combined such positions meet the hourly requirement per week. This means you cannot just combine two part-time waitress positions and say you created one full-time position. Note that at I-526 stage, you just have to persuade that the requisite jobs will be created, not already have been created; but of course, at I-829 stage, you have to show that the requisite jobs. Finally, the investor would have to develop the business carefully in a way that remains in accord with the business activity that was approved by USCIS at the I-526 petition stage.

11. The Application. What is the I-526 petition? It is an immigrant petition submitted by Investor to USCIS evidencing that the all requirements of I-526 are met, specifically that 1) the investment fund has been lawfully obtained; 2) Conditions set forth in the business plan have been complied with; and 3) the particular EB-5 project should create the minimum number of jobs required, as well as information about the applicant's income and net worth and documents proving the lawful source requirements. The most challenging aspect of the application is that the prospective investor must provide detailed evidence

that they have already made or are in the process of making an investment in a qualifying U.S. business. Bank statements, asset verification, funds transfers, stock certificates, and other financial transactions must be submitted in order to gain approval. Evidence that the intended business will generate a minimum of 10 full time positions for U.S. citizens is also required. Suitable evidence may include I-9 forms, a detailed business plan, and credible operational projections. The comprehensive business plan must be included and should contain, at a minimum, a description of the business, its products and/or services, its objectives, financial projections, job creation analysis, and marketing plans. Key to the business plan is determining whether the capital investment has been made, that the proposed capital investment project is feasible, and that the requisite number of jobs have or can reasonably be expected to be created at the time of the Form I-829 petition stage. One of the primary reasons investors encounter challenges at the I-829 stage is due to the variances between the business plan that was approved at the I-526 stage and the actual capital investment and job creating activities that are documented in the Form I-829 petition. Deviations from the business plan in an approved Form I-526 petition are material to the adjudication of Form I-829 when the evidence demonstrating compliance with the capital investment and/or job creation requirements is significantly different than what was proposed in the approved Form I-526 petition.

12. Approval Action. Assuming I-526 petition has been approved, Investor and dependent family members need to take either "consular processing" at the American Embassy located in the country of residence, or file I-485 adjustment application for conditional green cards. The choice depends on several factors, and the more one thinks about the pros and cons of each type of procedure, the more complex it becomes.

13. Consulate Interview/Consular Processing. Consular processing is the procedure that Investor and dependents must go through if they wish to obtain a visa at the American Embassy located in the country of their residence. It involves paying Visa Fees and sending Immigrant Visa Applications and supporting documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), a division of Department of State. This procedure is required to ensure that the investor and their family members undergo medical exams, police, security and immigration history checks before the Conditional Permanent Resident Visa is issued. During the interview process the Consulate will address these issues, request that the investor provide a summary of what the nature of their investment is and discuss the information included in the I-526 application.

14. I-485 Processing. If the investor, their spouse and family are already based in the United States, an Adjustment of Status may be applied for by filing form I-485 with the appropriate USCIS office. I-485 adjustment processing is the procedure Investor and dependents have to resort to when there is a very good reason why the consular processing is not the first option. The I-485 may take longer than the consular processing. No interview customarily is required.

15. Source of Funds. This is often a very big hurdle for many potential EB-5 Investors to overcome and prove that the money or funds which are being used for the EB-5 investment have come from a legal and traceable source. The regulations set forth by the USCIS require that the foreign investor verify that the investment assets were gained in a lawful manner. This means that the investor must prove the funds were obtained from a business, salary, investment, property sales, monetary gift,inheritance, loan, proceeds from a sale of real estate or other assets, earnings from stocks or other investments,inheritance, gift and be legally traceable. The documentation to substantiate the source of funds includes tax returns, bank statements, salary statements, business licenses, and court records. Related to, but separate from, the lawful source of funds requirement is the requirement to trace the funds from the individual investor to the new commercial enterprise. In some cases, this is as simple as a wire transfer document from an individuals bank account to the investment enterprise. In other cases involving countries with restrictions on outbound currency transfers, this can be extremely complex, often involving transfers to multiple parties. It is important to note that the investment must come from the individual investor. An investment from a business entity, including a wholly-owned corporate entity, will not qualify.

16. Residence. Upon receipt of the visa from the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in the country the investor resides, the investor has 180 days to enter the United States to establish residency. Proof of establishing residency is done through obtaining a driver's license, social security number, opening a bank account, paying federal or state income taxes or renting/buying a home. The Investor may reside anywhere in the United States. Once residency is established the investor may work overseas if it is required due to the nature of their business or profession, but all permanent residents must remain in the U.S. for more than 6 months each year and unless the USCIS is informed in advance of an extended absence the U.S. government will consider them to have abandoned their permanent resident status. Legal permanent residents are subject to important restrictions when it comes to "Abandonment of residency" rules. Investors are permitted to travel abroad as long the trip is temporary and it is advised that a re-entry permit be obtained before departure. The conditional Green Card allows the visa holder and his or her immediate family to live in the U.S. for up to two years. Before the end of the two-year period, the visa holder must file Form I-829 to have the "conditional permanent resident" status changed to "lawful permanent resident" status. By becoming a lawful permanent resident, the visa holder is allowed to reside in the U.S. indefinitely. Establishing the residence should be done with the understanding that at any time the investor changes residence (address) within the U.S., such information must be reported to USCIS.

17. Green Card Status. Green Card holders are allowed to live, work, and retire permanently anywhere in the U.S. Other benefits of a Green Card, include: (1) Eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship five years after receiving the conditional Green Card; (2) Travel to and work in other countries as long as a residence is maintained in the U.S.; (3) Sponsor relatives for Green Cards applications; (4) apply for federal financial aid for education and pay reduced "in-state" tuition at public universities; and (5) no need to get additional permission from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to work or start a company.

18. Time Period. It generally takes USCIS from two to six months to review a Form I-526 application. If the application is approved, the applicant will receive a conditional Green Card within six to eight months after approval of the I-485 or DS-230 application. These times can varying depending on the applicant's home country and the current backlog with USCIS. All EB-5 cases are adjudicated at the California Service Center. Upon approval of the permanent resident application, the investor receives "conditional permanent resident status". This means that the "green card" that the investor receives is valid for two years. During the 21 to 24 month window after approval, the investor must file an application to remove conditions on residence. As part of this process, the investor must prove that the investment funds have not been withdrawn and that the requisite jobs have been created or will be created within a "reasonable time." "Adjustment of Status" is also known as the filing of the form I-485.

19. Employment. Unless the Applicant has been admitted to the United States with a Non-Immigrant status that grants him/her the authorization to work and this authorization does not expire before the Adjustment of Status is granted, then the applicant must obtain the necessary authorization to work. Authorization for employment typically takes 60-90 days and processing times could be longer if background checks on the applicant are required. Employment without authorization at any time in the U.S. is a violation of immigration status and may jeopardize the right to adjust status.

20. Filing Fee: $1,500

Low Cost Franchise Opportunities From $ 10000?

It's an established fact that you don't need a lot of money to set up your own franchise. Today, there are several low cost franchise opportunities wherein you can invest your little cash and make reasonable profits. Here, you would find some help as you research various industries you can find a good deal.

Finding Your Own Business Franchises

Of course, it's good to start a business that is small to manage so that you can avoid the bureaucracy that is typical of established and popular franchises. You would have more freedom with respect to marketing; it would also be possible to tailor the business franchise to suit your specific location.

 Most low cost franchise opportunities require $10,000 to $50,000. Your research for a franchise deal should start online. You would find websites where there are lists of credible franchisors in the USA. In most cases, the lists would include companies that are already screened and certified as credible and profitable in their business operations. The reviews on franchise deals would help you to choose an affordable one that suits your preferences in terms of personal budget and passion.

 Profitable Low Cost Franchise Opportunities

At this juncture, it is worth stating that browsing through websites for available cheap franchises may not be enough. The first step to your success when you are planning to invest your little capital is to carry out an industrial analysis with respect to the current trends in the marketplace. This is the prime factor that would affect the bottom line of your business pursuit. Have it in mind that it usually takes much time to be able to identify and understand the implications of market trends in any industry under consideration, most especially if you are not working in such a sector.

Nevertheless, this is not to state that you have to spend time writing an industry analysis report. Searching through the Internet, you would find out that experts already have helpful details on market trends in various niches/fields. So, based on expert findings, here are some of the most profitable industries where you can find low cost franchise opportunities:

    Children's Franchises

    Education Franchises
    Senior Care Franchises
    Cleaning Franchises
    Food Franchises
    Fitness & Beauty Franchises
    Computer & Internet Franchises
    Home Services Franchises
    Healthcare Franchises
    Hotel & Travel Franchises
    Photography Franchises
    Retail Franchises
    Women's Franchises

There are proven results that you can make good profits in the above industries because there is a significant market demand for products and services that most companies offer. Once you find a good deal that that best matches your budget and interests, go ahead and fill in the request form of the company in order to receive free information on the way you can set up your own business.

Important Facts to Know

You can't just start a business without having some background information on it. Depending on the kind of franchise you want to buy, you need to find answers to some questions on any offer you may find.

Is there any hidden cost?

Is there any capped rent?

Are there any upgrade costs?

Does it involve any support for franchisees?

Is there any unpaid loan on the business?

If every aspect of the business is alright for you, you can take an advantage of the cheap deal. Make sure you understand the terms of the franchise deal before you sign up the contract.

Examples of $10,000 - $25,000 Franchise Brands

Healthier 4U Vending: it's a premier delivery system that provides healthy diets for people on the go. With $25,000 start-up capital, the brand lets you become an independent operator, and there are different investment levels within the franchise.

Prime National Credit Repair: with $20,000 start-up capital, you can profit from the large market demand on credit repair.

U-Turn Vending: it's a bulk candy machine for those who are interested in the vending business. Only $9,995 is required to obtain the franchise.

Dryer Vent Wizard: this is often employed in the inspection and cleaning of clothing dryers in homes as well as workplaces. $25,000 is required to start the business.

The foregoing examples are meant to serve as an eye opener as regard the unlimited possibilities you can find today as far as low cost franchise opportunities are concerned.

As noted earlier on, the need for proper understanding of the low cost franchise opportunities you find is very important before you invest your money in any of them. Indeed, a low cost business is quite easy to manage and grow.

Ethical Standards In A Turbulent Economy

During tough times ethical programs matter the most to organizations and employees. A strong grounding in ethical values help provide consistency to continue meeting organizational goals. Despite the obvious fact that implementation of ethical practices maintains a positive image on a company, employees have been seen to become highly unethical during an economic crisis. Organizations have observed and concluded that an increase in unethical employee behavior during economic downturn seems inevitable.

A turbulent economy forces employers to trim budgets with staff and maximize output with minimum resources. Employees experience stress during an economic downturn. This stress is due to reduced disposable income, fear of losing jobs, falling assets prices and hysteresis. This form of economy generated stress can lead to an increase in counterproductive behavior at work. As financial pressure increases due to unemployment so does the risk of unethical behavior in employees who might otherwise had never considered in engaging in illicit act of work. As unemployment rises and job losses continue, some employees end up fearing for their jobs and have greater psychological need for financial security. In some circumstances employers are forced to freeze salaries and reduce benefits. Given the above circumstances it is reasonable to conclude that on average the need for employees to engage in workplace deviance increase dramatically.

 
Most companies are forced to cut down on staff when times are hard, and that can include loss control and security officers. The loss of these prevention officers make it conducive for employees to engage in economic crimes such as corruption, bribery or even stealing. It is very unfortunate that as companies make a decision on cutting on ethical programs, they make it very susceptible to unethical practices. In times of crisis, success and survival is driven by a firms ability to use its assets in new and inventive ways. Ethics is about goodwill and reputation of both individual and institutions. Importance of such intangible assets should be emphasized to keep the business flourishing when everything else is down.

Ethical behavior does bring significant benefits to a business such as attraction of customers, skilled employees and investors. Thus it becomes very crucial that during an economic downturn, management should show that they value ethics as much as the bottom line. Frequency reference to code of conduct should be emphasized and compliance programs should be implemented. All employees should embrace corporate ethics and integrity. The implementation of ethics in a turbulent environment is a daunting task but neglecting ethical practices during tough times is business suicide.

 

5 Avoid Business Start-Up Mistakes

People are starting their own businesses. Whether from necessity, because they have just lost their job, or choice, to gain more income, start-ups are on the increase. However, statistics show that the majority of start-ups won't last 5 years. There are many reasons for this failure rate, but here are 5 reasons for failure that you can avoid:

Don't assume everyone wants or needs your product/service

Small business owners are often in love with their product or service. They can't see why everyone else isn't thrilled by their idea also. Look at the big picture: realize that what you offer is not for everyone. Don't waste time trying to sell ice to Eskimos. Instead, define your specific target market from the beginning, and sell only to them. The key is to focus on and target only those people that would want or need your solution to their problem. This avoids wasting money on advertising and marketing to people that are not really interested in your product

Don't use shotgun marketing

'Shotgun marketing" means putting a lot of stuff on the market, hoping that some of it will resonate with your customer and they will buy. The same idea is expressed as 'throwing stuff against a wall and seeing what sticks.' This is wasteful and inefficient, and may turn away potential customers.

Make a marketing business plan and stick to it. Know your customer, like stated in the paragraph above. Know what products they will need and use. Promote only those items. Instead of a shotgun approach, think of this as a high-powered rife with a scope.

Change your marketing business plan only when necessary, not at every whim or new idea that comes along. If something doesn't seem to work, try another approach, but don't stray too far from your core business. As an extreme example, if you are selling dog training tools, you could sell other dog products, but don't sell gardening products to the same market.

Don't be "penny wise and pound foolish"

You have to have some discipline in your spending. Money will disappear fast in any business. Keep a tight rein on expenses; know the return for what you spend, and prioritize accordingly. Don't buy the 'latest and greatest' gizmo just because it makes you look cool. But, on the other hand, don't refuse to spend any money to build your business. You need to invest money to grow money. Find a middle ground. Others can help by giving their opinions on whether something is worth spending on or not.

Don't devalue people

People drive your business, not contracts. Business is based on relationships, and the relationships lead to contracts and business. A good relationship can lead to good referrals and more business. But sometimes things go wrong in a business, and then you need to decide whether to follow the contract, or be flexible in order to save a business relationship.

Sometimes, for legitimate reasons, a contract won't be honored or fulfilled. While a contract is good and necessary, the relationship you have with your business partner is what is most valuable. You need to evaluate on a case-by-case basis what to do in each situation.

Don't be a late adopter of technology

Technology evolves and changes every day. Your customers keep up with the technology, and will notice if you don't. But, don't be a first-adopter; this can get you burned in the marketplace if you choose the wrong technology. Wait on the technology until it matures, prices go down and the early bugs are worked out before you adopt it. Examples of today's new technology are social media marketing, web 2.0 products, mobile apps and QR codes.

There are many minefields on the path to small business success, and that path is littered with the wrecks of promising start-ups. But by being aware of, and avoiding these start-up mistakes, you can increase the chances of your business succeeding and growing like you expect it to. 

5 Ways To Fund Living Overseas High Lifestyle

The cost of living continues to increase. It is sometimes manageable, but not everyone with a mortgage can afford living from paycheck to paycheck. It may be more affordable to live across the pond and require less money than you think. We all worry about how we are going to pay for all of our expenses wherever our lives take us, and we all need a little extra to pamper ourselves once in a while. Leaving our comfort zone to find another job is something we all dread, but there are multiple opportunities made available for our disposal; it is up to us to find them. Here we will share five ways to fund an easy lifestyle while overseas.

First establish what it is that needs to be shipped by searching for the best international shipping rates.

There are affordable rates offered to travelers worldwide, it is just a matter of finding the right price and proper care for your belongings. There are shipping companies that provide door to door shipping service, all you will need to do is book their service and they will pick up your luggage for you and send it to your destination undamaged. They can provide anyone with heavy packaging a low cost shipping method, with quality assurance.

According to Going Global, a business committed to informing working class travelers about international employment, listed the most affordable places to live overseas were: Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Costa Rica and Belize. Spending less is something that most American citizens want to be in the habit of and in another country it is possible. Things that are cheap for the traveler may be expensive for people living in the Philippines. As long as you have the sense to conserve and plan ahead, anyone can be able to make their money stretch in a new location.

What can I do to make a living in another country? It is important to be creative while venturing off in a new country. Think about some of the things you are good at that most people can relate to and make yourself available to those sources of employment. Roll up your sleeves and hustle while enjoying the fruits of your new community. Here is a list of some platforms for any traveler looking for a means of work.

Travel Writing and Photography

The Internet is making it easier than ever to share your story via photos and the written word, and people want to hear about it. Organizations like International Living are always in demand for traveling and foreign lifestyle articles. Some may even offer to cover traveling expenses. You do not have to be a professional photographer or writer to get your story across in a million words and crafty pictures. Sometimes a simple photo and a short article is something people enjoy most.

Teach your native language

As long as you have a degree, a certificate, or even experience working in education there will be opportunities to explore in universities, small schools or tutoring facilities. Native speaker teachers are always preferred as teachers in another country.

Sell goods online

Interesting and new products are always on demand, especially items that are not made available to people in the U.S. You could meet with the owner of the product and propose to set up a website or sell their products on eBay. Keep a portion of the profit and build revenue for the client. After all, money does make the world go round.

Work as a bartender or server

There is always a need for bartenders and waiters in busy towns and cities looking for English speakers, especially in popular touristy communities. It does not hurt to ask your hostel manager for some help about restaurants or pubs looking for new employees.

Develop your own tours for American tourists

Most travelers want to be able to understand their tour guide while out discovering the new foreign city. Being able to share with them your story about the town and its perks make for pleasant work and you get to make some new friends with every tour .

The opportunities are endless overseas. Don't sell yourself short for working for a grumpy old boss that always forgets to pay you on time in America. Work for yourself and start a new business in Costa Rica, teach English to kids in the Philippines, or give tours to tourists in Thailand. Anything you can think of has a demand for it, your new career in another country today.

Disaster And Incident Command System

Disaster system and structure works and quick respond.There is a disaster in waiting every moment, so it is of utmost importance to have a system in place that would tackle the challenges faced during any such emergency and provide the required help to the people in need.

This system needs to be available in all the departments of a particular business, practice and residential or commercial structures to make them foolproof from any emergency that can occur at any given time. Also, this system must have all the required equipments and people to pull off a rescue operation with high success percentage.

One such system which is followed in the US is called the Incident Command Structure or System (ICS). The ICS is particularly defined as a method that takes care of the 3C's (control, coordination and command) during an emergency. It could be better explained in a better way as a structure containing predefined rules, a certain number of experts, a fully equipped facility and processes which are used all together to cater response to emergencies of any complexity and type.

The Incident Command System is a well tested and trusted form of managing and reducing the damage caused by an uncalled for emergency. This method of limiting damage has been successfully used by many government and non-government structures, including hospitals and military. The system has also proved its worth in a lot of businesses as well. The major role of ICS is to significantly narrow down the damage caused to property and people during a case of an emergency as well as non-emergency disaster.

The ICS looks majorly into the planning, command, logistics, administration and operations during any particular emergency. Every part of the system is handled by an expert personnel, who takes care of the proper working of his respective are of interest. First of all there is the Planning Section Chief who collects all the required information from every other department and thus constructs a plan of action. Then, there is the incident commander who directs every person and every action. The logistic Chief caters to providing relief material at the facility in question.

The administration Chief looks into the finances during any emergency operation. While the Operation's Chief handles the staff and the residents of the facility in need of emergency help. Apart from these people, there are several others as well who get the operation rolling and inform the media and outside world about the happenings.

Effective Reasons Transformation Programs

A 2011 study was published by the UK government that showed 1,471 programs that averaged $167m in budget, with an average overspend of 27%. Therefore over $65 billion was committed to programs that had hit significant problems. The worst part was, one in six overspent by over 200% and went over time by 70%.

So what were the clear lessons from such a series of debacles, how can we identify the risks and then minimise their impact?

1. Methodology

How many times have you seen program or project specifications that require skills in lean, Six Sigma, Agile or another form of business school approach? The trouble is, these are not one size fits all solutions, despite their supporters.

In fact, the larger the program, the less likely they are to succeed. Why? Because the layers within such a program require an inherent form of elasticity in their management. It's not all about cost.

2. Complexity

The larger the program, the more the number of stakeholders, participants and suppliers. The more the systems employed by such parties, the more the communication becomes difficult.

Programs affect other people, processes and systems whilst creating their own. The impact of these new approaches can result in collateral effect. Another side of the issue is that large programs take time, people have careers to progress and it's not always possible to lock the same people in to deliver the end as the beginning.

3. Technology

Many programs are about upgrading technology whether it's machinery, information technology or information systems. Many companies still maintain old software because they know how it works and that the bugs have generally been worked out.

Building new systems requires a hitherto untested level of interoperability and whilst everyone is concerned about security, that can be threatened through server downtime whilst data is migrated, servers are upgraded, for example.

4. Governance

Embedding robust governance is believed to be the cornerstone of any successful program and, whilst it is certainly effective, changes or refinements can exacerbate the struggles that the program may be facing.

5. Quality Assurance

The standards achieved by a program are difficult to estimate accurately at the beginning, despite best wishes. This is not an excuse to let standards slide, more that an acknowledgement of the potential inaccuracy of the requirements aids the planning process.

6. Time

As programs progress, conditions can change, whether it's the market, technology or the other areas of the business. Clinging on to a failed program, come what may, or prolonging its life beyond a prudent business decision can sometimes be merely a matter of pride or ignorance.

7. The Budget

Although funds are allocated, they are often based on estimates, no matter how scientifically reached. These can be affected by a number of factors outside the control of the program and, as time goes by, it is likely that these factors will increase in number. For example, international supply chain restructures can always struggle in times of changing exchange rates over a protracted period.

What can you do?

Despite numerous books and treatises on successful management, flexibility is not a promoted approach. It veers away from the certainty that decision makers can crave, it flies in the face of the claims of many leaders and yet it is the single greatest tool anyone can bring to a planning process.

Secondly, it is vital to approach the programs in stages. Planning for discrete stages with quantifiable benefits and agreed gateways will assist in embedding a culture of commitment and also a tool to monitor the genuine benefits.

It's never easy, but planning with flexibility and approaching such challenges in a staged process is key to reducing some of the all too present risks in running large programs.

Construction Safety Is A Big Deal

Construction on its own is somewhat of an inherently dangerous trade. Construction workers are in environments with lots of people and equipment, and the chances of injury are higher on a construction site than those at the average cubicle- filled office.

How can construction workers have a safer work environment? There are several factors, and one of the most important is worker education. There are quite a few rules and regulations associated with construction sites, and making sure workers are educated about safety is crucially important to preventing injuries.

Although there are many types of construction, one method that is growing increasing popular is modular construction. Often celebrated for its ability to be built quickly and for its green benefits, modular is a great alternative to traditional building methods. 

On a traditional building project the materials are brought to the construction site and then used for the actual building. This leads to lots of excess waste, as well as being incredibly intrusive to the job site. These materials often take up a lot of space and are used by a multitude of contractors and subcontractors. This process leads to lots of coming and going, as well as moving materials around.

Modular construction is quite different in that instead of bringing all those materials to the site and working on them there, components are built in an off-site factory. This means that all the heavy lifting and hard work is done in the factory, which translates to no mess or dust at the job site.

Recent studies have also shown that modular construction is safer than traditional means. One study found that modular construction companies have a much higher adoption of safety practices.

After all the modular components are completed at the factory, they are shipped to the build site. Instead of having painters, electricians, framers and other specialized laborers, an installation team can have the project done in record time. Studies have shown that modular construction is completed about 40% - 60% faster than traditional construction methods. Most modularity built projects are completed in days, not months.

In conclusion, construction safety is very important. Many companies are seeing a direct connection between modular construction and safety. It's no accident that modular companies are safer and produce a high quality product.