This company has 8 - 15% pay cut

This is a Singapore listed electronic company. They are contract manufacture. And here is the pay cut effective from 1st Jan 2009:

If your salary is lower than 2.3k then no pay cut
If your salary is between 2.3k to 4k: 8% pay cut
If your salary is higher than 4k: 15% pay cut.

Not sure the arrangement for those at borderline.

And there will be no AWS, that is no 13 month bonus, for 2008.

A 2003 NTU engineering degree EEE graduate with 2nd class lower. Now the salary is closed to 4k.

So lets not forget to take the poll on the right hand side for your bonus this year end!

Click here for more Salary & Increment information

Effective Project Management Course

Several recent independent research studies have concluded that around two thirds of the failure of projects has been attributed to human factor.

This course provides Project Managers and Project Leaders with the key building blocks required to maximise project successes from initiation right through to completion. It focuses on the critical 'people management' skills and behaviours that many traditional project management courses fail to address.

The key feature of the workshop covers a unique blend of traditional "process" related project management topics and NLP based "people" related topics, thus equipping participants with a powerful "toolkit" to ensure project success. Participants will be taken through a journey of self-discovery of their own preferred interpersonal styles and acquire skills that will enable them to dramatically improve their communication and influencing abilities.

Course Objectives
• Align your people and process skills to achieve project success
• Equip with a "toolkit" that enables you to successfully manage projects throughout their lifecycles
• Utilise effective project methodologies
• Know yours and your team members' preferred behavioural styles and know how to use this knowledge to enhance your leadership style
• Improve your sphere of influence within your project team
• Able to communicate effectively with team members and key stakeholders

(1) 5 to 6 February 2009 ► Register for this run
(2) 21 to 22 May 2009 ► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


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Is a Degree Worth the Debt?

No doubt that if you are going back to school, the tuition fee will cost you a bomb. Lets not forget about the living expenses and the opportunity cost (as you are not working). So is the debt worth for a degree? I think many of us have the same question, and in fact, there is no exact answer, as greatly depend on your study area, timing, and most importantly, your luck too. However, some data will help us to understand better:

Average US College Costs for 2007-2008 (in USD):
Private four year $23,712 (up 6.3 % from last year)
Public four-year $6,185 (up 6.6 %from last year)
Public two-year $2,361 (up 4.2% from last year)

So are the financial way to help you get your degree?

Financial Aid – loans
A college loan works just like any other type of loan and are made by banks, the government and even colleges themselves. You can mix and match various loans to pay for school.

Scholarships
In general, scholarships are awards that do not have to be paid back.

Grants
Grants are monetary awards offered to students that meet certain criteria that do not have to be repaid.

So is it worth?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, for each year between 1980 and 2005, earnings for young adults increased when education level increased. During the same period, earnings fluctuated among those with at least a bachelor’s degree and decreased among those with less education, thus contributing to the growth in the median income gap.

The 2007 College Board Study, Education Pays, reports that individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn over 60 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between a high school diploma and a B.A. is more than $800,000. In other words, whatever sacrifices you make to pay for your college tuition in the short term are more than repaid in the long term since having some college training or a college degree leads to making more money down the road.


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Get an EMBA with the University at Buffalo at SIM

You can now get Executive MBA - Part-time awarded by University at Buffalo, The State University of New York at SIM!

* The first AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) fully accredited American EMBA programme in Singapore
* Ranked by Business Week as one of the 'best business school' in the US. The School of Management's EMBA programme is cited as a 'top programme' as well
* Fully taught by senior faculty from the university's School of Management

The EMBA is designed to propel mid-career managers ahead by providing:

* Practical knowledge of the latest management decision-making techniques;
* A thorough understanding of the key functional areas of business;
* Opportunities to acquire and refine leadership and executive problem-solving skills; and
* Superior instruction by a highly qualified, experienced faculty.

Admission Criteria

* Five to ten years' management or professional experience
* A degree or an equivalent from a recognized institution
* Good communication skills in written and spoken English.

For more info: SIM website


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What is your year end BONUS this year?

If you are lucky enough, still have a job, what is your year end bonus? Some cases that I know are as follows:

One government financial related institute:
12 (usually no 13 month) + 2.5 (budget allocated from last year) + performance bonus (to be announced next year)

Some companies:
13 (regular 13 months) + performance bonus (to be announced next year)

One property related company:
Pay cut 15% (with some retrenchment)

Many semiconductor and electronic companies:
13 (still) + Force shut down and clear annual leave

So what is yours? A poll is on the right hand side.... key in yours and see what about others!


Click here for more Salary & Increment information

8 useful Tips for Going Back to School

Are you going back to school after many years of working? If you have been laid off, returning to school can help to explain gaps in your employment history. It also shows that there is a genuine interest on your part to improve your knowledge base and become a better employee.

Continuing education doesn’t just mean earning an MBA. It can include:
* Bachelor’s or master’s programs
* Professional certification programs
* Personal development opportunities

If you have decided back to school, then these tips from Salary.com may help you:

1. What Should I Study?
No matter what degree you have, you will be most successful if you enjoy what you are doing. Every downturn is followed by an upturn. It makes sense to arm yourself with knowledge, but be wise and choose something that truly interests you.

2. Finding the Right School
Your goal should be to find a school that is affordable, has a good reputation, offers programs appropriate to your needs, and is conveniently located to minimize your commute time.

3. Evaluate Affordability
Be sure to research any and all financial aid available to help you finance your academic endeavors. Also consider what programs your employer has in place.

4. Understand Where You Are Coming From
Adult learning is truly "learning with a purpose". Returning to the classroom is a way to navigate the path to a desired end result. Adult learners also bring with them a wealth of "real world" experience that they should eagerly share in the classroom.

5. Sharpen Study Skills and Maintain Focus
You will need to manage your time efficiently and effectively especially if you will be working full or part-time and pursuing your studies simultaneously.

6. Don’t Over Extend
It is important to remember that your health needs to be your first priority.

7. Meet with an Academic Advisor
An academic advisor is specially trained to help you stay focused on your academic path.

8. Consider Volunteer Work
If after researching how to bankroll a return to school you determine that it just isn’t affordable right now, consider volunteering for community programs in your local area. You can offer to help out in areas of your current expertise and potentially learn new skills. This can also help you to expand your network, giving you increased professional exposure and potential leads for new career opportunities.


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How can a family man with RM3k salary survive? How about Singapore?

If you are earning RM3k in Malaysia, and you have a family and you are the only source of income, do you think you can survive? This guy make a very interesting and yet accurate budget, you will be surprise that for a family to survive, RM3k per month is not enough.

Utility RM 100, SGD 100
Telephone + Broadband RM 100, SGD 50
Food (cooking) RM 775, SGD 500
Food (outside) RM 155, SGD 90
Car installment RM 400, take bus lah...
Petorl RM 300, SGD 100 (bus, MRT)
Insurance RM 600, SGD 300
House installment RM 750, Use CPF
Tution RM 80, SGD 100?
Children pocket money RM 20, SGD 100?
Children books etc RM 130, SGD 50?
Milk powder RM 50, SGD 50? (dont get a kid lah...)
Misc RM 100, SGD 100.

Click the image to enlarge.

So Singapore version is about SGD 1540 (based on my calculation above).
I wonder is there any other Singapore version? Or you have any comments?

So if you drive and have kids in Singapore, I think really got to suffer. And those above are all basic stuffs, exclude some "luxury" like travel, facial, etc....... Also that is based on you use CPF for your housing installment.


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Managing Effective Corporate Insurance Programs

A global market place presents both opportunities and uncertainties for business organizations. However, business organizations competing in the global market are no longer insulated from the risk pervasiveness business landscape with lurking dangers of natural perils, terrorist attacks and bird flu pandemic.

This two day workshop provides insight of the prevalence of organizational risks and global exposures of business organizations as well as the understanding of the workings of the corporate risk management and insurance in the global context. The workshop is highly interactive with many active learning activities comprising of discussions, case studies and self-evaluation exercises.

Course Outline
Principles of Risk Management
• What is Risk
• The Evolution of Risk Management
• Purpose of Risk Management
• A Risk Management Process
• Contemporary Risk Management Concepts
• The Cost of Risk

Scope & Limitations of Corporate Insurance
• Insurance Market: Choice of Insurers & Intermediaries
• The Insurance Transaction: Coverage to Claims Settlement
• Financial Aspects of Insurance Companies and Reinsurance Mechanism
• Legal Fundamentals of Insurance and Insurance Policy Content
• Casualty and Liability Exposures and Insurance
• Automobile Liability Exposures and Insurance
• Workers Injury Compensation Insurance
• Commercial Property Insurance
• Business Interruption Insurance
• Marine Insurance
• Crime Insurance
• Miscellaneous Insurance

(1) 7 to 8 January 2009 ► Register for this run
(2) 4 to 5 June 2009 ► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


Click here for more NTU Course information

Kaplan Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program Preview

The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) program is the professional qualification administered and awarded by the CFA Institute, based in the United States.

The program is enjoying dramatic growth worldwide, which the CFA Institute attributes to the relevance of the syllabus, the rigour of the examination and the high standards of professionalism that it demands. In short, it is becoming the accepted benchmark for technical excellence in the financial markets.

Candidates must pass three levels of examinations sequentially. Each level is based on the same ‘body of knowledge’ and candidates face six hours of examination, a three-hour morning session and a three-hour afternoon session. Sittings for CFA® Level 1 take place twice a year (3 June and 2 December 2007). CFA® Levels 2 and 3 examinations are held once a year (3 June 2007).

While taking the CFA® program with Kaplan Financial will enhance your understanding of the material, it is important not to underestimate your commitment to self study when preparing for the CFA® exams.

Click here for the Preview Session Registration Form.


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Did your boss ask for good, cheap and fast?

If your boss ever ask you to be good and fast, and pay you low salary, or your boss ask you to find a supplier that is good, cheap and fast, then show this to him. I am sure he will keep quiet after that.

Look at this shop, they provide 3 kinds of services. Good Cheap and Fast. But, don't be too happy too early. Because you can only pick ANY two. So either good and cheap (but it won't be fast), good and fast (it wont be cheap), or cheap and fast (it won't be good). What a great poster!

So next time if your boss ask you to do the good and fast work, then you can only tell him, the salary must be higher, if not wiill not be good or fast.


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The Manchester MBA - Preview Seminar

Manchester Business School's Worldwide MBA programmes are delivered using a unique blend of self study and face-to-face residential workshops, fully supported via innovative e-learning, our online student community site and international centres. At the leading edge of dynamic business performance, our global management development programmes offer a hands-on approach to management education and career development. This will enable you to reap immediate practical benefits by applying experiential learning to practical real world business challenges.

To register: http://mbs.replyhub.com/info/register.php

The details are as follow:
MBA for Financial Managers and Finance Professionals
MBA for Financial Managers and Professionals Financial Managers and Finance Professionals or those seeking to move into a more finance orientated role from many sectors could benefit greatly from this long established, internationally renowned programme. Exemptions are available for those with certain finance qualifications i.e. ACA, ACCA, CIMA etc.

MBA for Engineering Business Managers
MBA for Engineering Business ManagersThis is the only top-flight international programme specifically designed to appeal to engineering business managers, whilst retaining the general management nature which defines an MBA.

MBA for Construction Executives
MBA for Construction ExecutivesThis world-class MBA is delivered by internationally renowned specialists in the field of construction management and has been designed in consultation with the leading industry professional bodies and companies.



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Implementing Hassle Free Budgeting with Excel

With the ever changing business environment, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of the development in the different business areas. Every functional head has his/her own feel and perception of the market based on his/her own experience and encounter on ground. It is so critical for functional heads to keep abreast of the latest business development so that they can confidently steer the company towards a specific goal with an optimal amount of resources.

Budgeting is an excellent way of finding out the optimism of the market as the business function heads put down their estimates for the new year. Although the number may not materialize as the business environment changes, the budgeted numbers serve as a valuable benchmark for the company to navigate itself through good times and bad times.

Course Outline
1. How to align the headers and sub-headers with the data input using existing formulas in Excel.
2. Transform the data input into a Data Cluster
3. Analyze the business units numbers using the data cluster and pivot table, a powerful analytic tool in Excel
4. Combine the Data Clusters into a Data Hub so that company’s budget can be presented in minutes without spending more money on new programs and hardware
5. Analyze the budget at all levels. Participants will learn how to use the report to drill down to the most level easily.
6. Prepare Dashboard, summary reports and charts using the Data Hub, the only single source of data for all.

(1) 15 to 16 January 2009 ► Register for this run
(2) 16 to 17 April 2009 ► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$1,000.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$800.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$900.00


Click here for more NTU Course information

What to Prepare for an Emergency Job Search

If you are really unlucky and requires an emergency job search, would you find yourself loss direction? So why not prepare for that, always prepare for the worst case, no harm right?

Here got some tips:

1. Network everywhere you go, all the time.
2. Check in with your "affinity groups."
3. Keep your resume current all the time.
4. Research the value of your skills.
5. Consider working with a headhunter.
6. Dust off your references.
7. Put things in order at work. <-- I not so agree... 8. Contemplate your next move. 9. Go for your dream job. Check out full article . Anyway, I think we all jsut prepare what is good for your own. And pray for the best.


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Corporate Risk Management Workshop for Global Business

In spite of the increasing global competition faced by business organizations, business is now also required to come to terms with the realities of the risk pervasive business environment. It is critical for business manage a spectrum of business risk ranging from natural and man made perils to catastrophes such as terrorist attacks or bird flu pandemic.

The workshop focuses on the key issues of understanding and analysis of critical risk exposures in Risk Management with the help of various business scenarios including case studies. These selected business scenarios and case studies highlight the risk pervasive business environment faced by companies in their quest for new global markets.

A special feature of the workshop involves action learning with a “Risk Management Simulation” game. Participants will gain insight into how the prioritization of risks and systematic planning of improvement projects can reduce property loss.

The objective of this workshop is two-fold:
(1) To acquaint participants with the complexities and realities of managing business risk, and
(2) To equip participants with strategies adopted by world class companies in their selection and implementation of risk management and insurance programs.

(1) 15 to 16 January 2009 1 January 2009 ► Register for this run
(2) 11 to 12 June 200928 May 2009 ► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


Click here for more NTU Course information

Ten Tips to make your job Recession-Proof

Once again, another "common sense" article from Salary.com to tell you how you can make your career water-proof.... just kidding..... recession-proof. In other words, how to keep yourself in the job. Some points, though is very "common sense", I think we need to keep remind ourself. So pay attention to those I highlighted in bold.

1. Stay where you are – if you can : even if you are unhappy
2. Keep your skills current
3. Don't pull a vanishing act : show your face at all events
4. Make yourself indispensible : make sure that your boss is aware of recent contributions
5. Keep your attitude in check : even if you are unhappy where you are, try to keep smiling
6. Start networking now
7. Update your resume
8. Finish your degree
9. Broaden, rather than deepen your skills
10. Consider learning a trade or specific skills

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Delivering First-class Business Presentations

If you want to succeed in today's highly competitive business environment, you need to communicate well and present yourself successfully. The ability to deliver an effective business presentation to customers, peers, and corporations is an asset that everyone should strive to add to their portfolio in developing their careers.

For first time presenters as well as those more seasoned, delivering a presentation can be a make or break situation. It can accelerate careers or put the brakes on it depending how well you articulate your points. For many, we’ll think of a hundred-and-one reason’s to get out of it until the day comes when you just have to go up and get on with it.

The aim of this course is to take participants through the entire presentation process from a modern context in delivering business presentations. The course is very practical and loaded with examples and role-plays to get participants involved, and deliver an impressive presentation.

Course Outline
Understand who you’re presenting to
Focus the participants on understanding who they must deliver to and what the audience wants to hear.

Know how you’re going to present it and what they want to hear
Adopting a business style approach to particular material and understanding what your sudience really wants to hear from you.

How to build engaging content
Gain insight how to develop content in a compelling way for different presentation types and learn what should go in and what shouldn’t.

Using great business language to sell your message
Whilst emphasis is placed on volume, in business, it’s the business language we use that compels, captivates, motivates and sells rather than how loud we become. How we choose our words can leave lasting impressions on audience members and great care and awareness must be used in our choice of words.

Business Slide and Visual Design
Know the mechanics to developing fantastic visuals, cutting down text and delivery a great visual value-add to your delivery.

Presentation Logistics & Venue
Often overlooked by presenters, but too often becomes the main reason why some presentations come off badly, fail or look unprepared.

Dealing with Nerves
Understand the techniques to reduce nervous and enhance preparation.

Confident use of Body language
Strong confident language (non-verbal) says just as much as your spoken word and by carrying and delivering your presentation using choreographed movements greatly adds weight to your delivery.

Questions and Answer Sessions
How to tackle, rebut and bring successful closure during Q&A sessions and knowing how to structure it properly and remain in control.


(1) 13 to 14 January 2009 ► Register for this run
(2) 24 to 25 June 2009 ► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


Click here for more NTU Course information

Developing and Managing a Winning Customer Experience

Businesses are increasingly recognising the complete experience enjoyed or endured by their customers is critical to customer retention, profitability and growth. This dynamic two day Customer Experience for Managers training course addresses why the customer experience is crucial to business success. The course identifies elements of success and assists those wishing to build a business case, and develop and execute a customer experience strategy. The course also provides an outline of critical customer experience tools and techniques.

Find out why, in a recent survey, 95% of business leaders in Europe said that customer experience is the next competitive battleground! This was an increase of 24% compared to the same survey two years ago. 69% of consumers say that emotions count for over half their customer experience*. Why do 85% of senior business leaders say that differentiating on the physical is no longer a sustainable business strategy?*

During the course:
- Discover why Starbucks talks about the ‘third space’ when all they sell is Coffee!
- Discover why 44% of consumers say that the majority of their customer experiences are “bland and uneventful”.*
- Learn about Customer Experience award winners.
- Learn about what it takes to be a Customer Experience Award Winner.
- Define what emotions you are trying to evoke?
- Define the customer experience you are trying to deliver?

By the end of this Customer Experience Contact-point training courses, you will have learned how to:
- Build the business case for customer experience investment
- Assess your organisations customer experience strategy
- Develop a customer experience strategy
- Design a customer experience programme to deliver the strategy
- Develop your organsiation’s customer experience culture

Skills attained
- Evaluating Customer Experiences
- 360° Mapping of Customer Experience Touch-points
- Creating Strategic Customer Experiences
- Managing Customer Experience Processes
- Developing a Customer Experience Culture
- Customer Experience Personal Action Planning

To register:
(1) 20 to 21 January 2009 ► Register for this run
(2) 15 to 16 April 2009 ► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


Click here for more NTU Course information

The top 200 universities

Besides anything else, let us take a look at Singapore university... NUS rank 30 and NTU rank 77, both within top 100!

Top 5 are:
Harvard University
Yale University
University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
California Institute of Technology

To read full list: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/hybrid.asp?typeCode=243

And Hong Kong has 4 universities in the list, Hong Kong University (18), Hong Kong Chinese University (38), Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (53), and City University of Hong Kong (149). Strange, Hong Kong is not much bigger than Singapore, but can have 3 universities within top 100.

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Ten Recession-Proof Jobs, so called "iron bowl"

Recession is coming to town, or already in town. So which job is "iron bowl"? Salary.com gives top 10 choices as follows. However, personally I do not agree with it, at least not in Singapore. So lets take a look and see what could be the iron bowl in Singapore.

1. Accountant
2. Administrative Assistants
3. Customer Service Representative
4. Financial Analyst
5. Mechanical Engineer
6. Network Administrator
7. Police Patrol Officers
8. Public School Teacher
9. Software Engineer
10. Staff Nurse

For me.. only accountant, police, teacher and nurse (doctor) are iron bowl in Singapore. As police and teacher are government job, and no matter how bad is the economic, you cannot cut down on them. In fact, I think the demand for police will be increased, as jobless rate increase, crime rate will increase too. So for nurse, same arguements apply, people eat more unhealthy food, poorer living condition.

As for the accountant, I think they will be very busy, as people go bankrupt, and companies go burst, they will be super busy. But no matter what, everyone is going to take home less salary in recession.


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Want to learn "Money and Bond Markets"?

This course introduces participants to the various instruments used in the money and bond markets (including derivatives), and their use for investment and hedging. Provide participants with a broad, practical understanding of the money and bond markets so that he/she is comfortable in using the vast array of trading and hedging instruments available.

Money Market Instruments:
Fed funds, repurchase agreements, Negotiable Certificate of Deposit (NCD),Treasury bill, commercial paper, Banker's Acceptances, money-market funds,

Bond Market Instruments:
Zero coupon bond, strips, Treasury securities, municpal bonds, corporate bonds, convertibles, callable & putable bonds, mortage-backed securities, pass-through securities, Collaterized Mortgage Obligation (CMO), Interest Only (IO), Principal Only (PO), Collaterized Loan/Bond/Debt Obligation (CLO, CBO, CDO).

Mathematics for Money & Bond Markets:
Will be incorporated in the seminar as the instruments are introduced.

Derivatives used in Money & Bond Markets:
FRAs, caps, floors, collars, interest rate & currency swaps, swaption,

Comparative study on the appropriate use of the various instruments

Structured Deposits:
Enhancing yields / increasing risk.

Speaker:
Dr. Kong Yoon Kee is a lecturer with the Division of Banking and Finance in Nanyang Technological University. He obtained his PhD in Finance from NTU. He also holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in Physics from the NUS and the Louisiana State University, respectively, and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Risk Manager. Prior to joining the academia, he has extensive experience in the banking and finance sector and has worked in leading American, European, Japanese and local banks. His wide knowledge and practical experience in financial markets and products include money and capital markets, equities, foreign exchange, forwards, futures, options, financial engineering and structuring and risk management. He has also taught MBA courses and CFA revision classes. At NTU, he is teaching/has taught Treasury and Risk Management, Equity Securities, Financial Management and Financial Markets and Institutions. His research interests include asset pricing and return distribution, investment strategies, risk management and Basel Accord implementation.

Who should attend?
Corporate treasurers, financial controllers, private bankers, investment advisors, auditors of banks/investment banks/fund managers, product controllers, operations executives, legal counsels/advisors, compliance executives

15 December 20081 December 2008
► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$390.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$312.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$351.00


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10 Tips for an Impressive Résumé

I never know that Jobscentral has a collections of such good quality articles, here is one on the tips for an impressive resume: http://community.jobscentral.com.sg/node/796

#1: Photo perfect : Wear business clothes when getting your photo taken, and don’t forget to smile!

#2: Fun with fonts : Business fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial are popular because of how they’re easy to read.

#3: Write in complete sentences

#4: Use Sub-headings

#5: Don’t decorate

#6: Image, Image, Image : Use powerful language to enhance and sell your skills.

#7: Top-down approach : Place your most outstanding achievement or quality at the top, after your basic information and schooling history.

#8: Paper problem : Go for papers with a plain, smooth finishing and are slightly heavier than plain copier paper for a professional look.

#9: Word or pdf? : To be safe, convert your résumé to the Adobe PDF format.

#10: Customise your résumé : Showcase your efforts by addressing your cover letter to the person-in-charge.

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10 Tips to a Better Performance Review in a Down Economy

Salary.com gives a 10 tips for a better performance review in down economy. But to me, these apply to normal time as well, and they are quite important, so should share with all.

1. Know Your Role
A great place to start is a detailed list of job duties or, if it is available, an official job description, from your manager or human resources department.

2. Be "Engaged" in the Process
Be an active participant in establishing your goals from the start. Focus on key objectives and define a plan that makes sense for you and your employer.

3. Set Goals that are Reasonable and Relevant
When establishing goals, make sure they are meaningful.

4. View goals as a project plan
Make your goals your mission for the year. Keep goals current, track progress and contributions, and update goals as appropriate to reflect any changes in your role or responsibilities.

5. Document your accomplishments
Document your accomplishments along the way and let your boss know when you have reached established milestones. If you reach a stumbling block along the way, seek advice on how to best resolve the issue.

6. Show an interest in additional training
Your employer will see that you want to improve the quality of your work and are interested in professional growth.

7. Check-in
Have an open dialogue with your boss throughout the year so you have a better sense of where you stand and how your progress is being perceived.

8. Share positive feedback
Feedback from colleagues and/or customers is also valuable when you are preparing for a review.

9. Demonstrate a Positive Attitude
Try to be "likeable" in a business sense by being pleasant, respectful and courteous to colleagues.
10. Utilize Performance Review Feedback
When you get constructive feedback during a performance review, listen to it carefully and objectively.


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Boss' Reaction During Recession

Do you notice your boss's face change recently when recession begin? If not, then you must take a look at this. Very funny. For me, I know that some boss face change then the stock market change. So remember always pay attention to the stock market, and keep quiet if the market is bad. If not....... you will be like the little yellow duck at the bottom of the page......

剛開始 begining.....老闆 Boss: Be good, you will be fine.

過了一週After a week...
要加油!!....
Must Work Hard man


過了一月After a month...
要給 林北 加油喔.....
Must Work Hard for Lim Peh u know!


過了一季 After a Quarter....
叫你要加油啦..... 聽到沒 ??
Can you hear me, you must work hard!!!


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Hong Kong financial salary

Besides Australia, Hong Kong is another Asia destination that is very closed to Singapore. Closed as in the distance between two are closed, food and culture are "similar". However, most job in Hong Kong are financial related, and many Singaporean also being hunted to Hong Kong. So how doest the salary in Hong Kong looks like.

Bank or investment related financial field. The level is like admin, analyst, ..., manager (where admin is the lowest, manager is the highest). The starting salary for admin is around HKD 30k/mth, analyst around 45-55k/mth.

As for the accountant:
Accountant (with 4-5 years experience) HKD 25k/mth.
Accountant (fresh graduate) HKD 8.5k -9.5k /mth

In general, the pay will be slightly higher than Singapore. Although the tax in Hong Kong maybe lower than Singapore (no GST), don't forget that the housing and food are much higher.


Click here for more salary information on Financial

Managing Talent

This module is specially designed to help you understand current challenges of managing talent in a knowledge economy. By carrying out a critical analysis of past perspectives, strategies and practices, you will examine the weaknesses of past approaches in managing people. Then, new approaches in planning, attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining talented people are explored.

Global talent deficit is imminent. And the war for talent is going to be fierce. Farsighted, leading edge companies are already stepping up efforts to effectively manage talent and transform people into real sources of competitive advantage.

“We believe that actively managing and developing our talent – that is, our
people and all their abilities and skills – is a prerequisite for success. We
have made talent management a strategic priority and part of our daily work.”

“Building an increasingly strong talent base with the right attitude and
enthusiasm is one of our most effective competitive weapons.”

Hans Stråberg
President and Chief Executive Officer
Elextrolux

24, 25 November and 3 December 2008
► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: SGD$980.00


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Writing Effective Minutes of Meetings

This is a practical course which focuses on skills required to record meetings efficiently and to write up the minutes of meetings accurately, clearly and concisely.

Participants can expect to:
- Understand and appreciate the importance of well written minutes for their organizations and for themselves
- Learn the skills for record accurately and efficiently the contents of and directions taken at meetings
- Write minutes of meetings that are accurate, clear and concise and which meet the needs and expectations of the organizations
- Write minutes utilizing formal and informal formats for minutes
- Learn the appropriate minutes writing style using the correct grammar, sentence structure, tone and stylistic conventions of the English language

Methodology
The course will use a hands-on approach to maximize practice. Exercises will be given to reinforce understanding of every topic with actual examples provided by the organization. Participants will be shown good and bad examples of minutes writing and re-write the latter examples to improve them. Immediate feedback is given by the instructor after every practice session. Appropriate videos on minutes-taking may also be shown to stimulate discussion and to reinforce understanding.

17 to 18 December 2008
► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


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Ten NO NO during Job Interview

HEre is a summary of ten things not to do and not to say by the Job Interview Boo-boos by Jobs Central. Some are commonsense, but some.. especially the last one, we got to remind ourselves.

1. Do not use Singlish

2. Do not make personal remarks : It’s not your place to comment on your interviewer’s dress sense, even if he does turn up in a pink shirt and yellow suit.

3. Do not criticise yourself

4. Do not lie

5. Do not be late

6. Do not ignore personal grooming : The company is looking for someone to fill a position and they’d like to know that you’ll look the part if they hire you.

7.Do not give a limp handshake or avoid eye contact

8. Do not touch your phone

9. Do not be arrogant

10. Do not broach the $ubject : Bringing up the question of salary before the interviewer has even managed to pronounce your name properly sends a signal that you are a calculating moneygrubber.

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DBS retrenchment has begun: 450 ppl in Singapore lost their job, including 55 year-old managing director

DBS Singapore has started its retrenchment. More than 450 Singaporeans were jobless since yesterday, this include a "managing director" who is 55 years-old. Besides DBS, POSB also affected. The compensation is 1 month salary for every year of service. So 20 years, 20 months of salary. Previously DBS annouce to cut 900 staffs from Singapore and Hong Kong, and more than half will be from Singapore.

星展集团（DBS）从昨天开始展开裁员行动，在本地的超过450名受影响的员工。

在上个星期五将在新加坡和香港裁退900名员工，其中超过一半来自新加坡。

除了星展银行外，储蓄银行（POSB）的员工也受到这一波裁员的影响。

至于赔偿，集团也表示会根据业界的惯例，也就是每服务一年就赔偿一个月。

The above is from the http://www.zaobao.com/cs/cs081114_507.shtml

And According to http://www.nanyang.com/wap/article.php?id=901613&head=international

星展银行昨起一连两天展开大规模的裁员行动，公司弥漫着一片愁云惨雾，就连资深的董事经理级等高层这回也丢了饭碗。

首批职员昨天接获被裁通知后，下午就有人收拾个人物件黯然离开，包括一名55岁的董事经理，他在星展银行服务超过20年。他说，昨早如常上班后，接到人力资源部的电话，不料却是被告知遭裁退，让他十分失望。

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Australia software engineer salary

Singapore and Australia got many areas are much alike (besides the area). For example, their currency are closed to each another. Many Singaporean also immigrate to Australia. So how about the salary in Australia compared with Singapore? Here are some examples on what a software engineer earn in Australia Melbourne.

Case 1: A start up company writing games for the PSP, XBox etc. Annual salary of AUD 65k.

Case 2: Another start up company writing backup software. Annual salary of AUD 81k.

Well, pretty high isn't it? But lets not forget the tax at Australia also higher. In return, you get a better quality of life, bigger house and you can drive around. Car is cheap over there, a new one may be over 20k, 3 years old maybe over 10k (just enough to get a COE in Singapore).


Click here for more IT salary information

Writing Professional and Results-Oriented Email

This is a practical course focusing on internal and external communication via email. Participants are introduced to strategies, organizational patterns and language usage for writing email that communicates clearly, concisely, courteously, and thus is more likely to receive a favorable response from the reader.

Participants can expect to:
• Write reader-centered messages which focus on addressing the reader’s needs and achieving a positive outcome
• Learn how to organize email messages which are easily processed by readers
• Develop sensitivity to tone and the nuances of their written responses
• Craft sentences which convey their meaning clearly and concisely
• Choose appropriate words and expressions for communicating politely, professionally and in a friendly manner

Course Outline :
• Understand email communication: potential, reader expectations, pitfalls
• Write reader-centered, not writer-centered messages
• Writing subject lines that get immediate attention
• Structuring email messages for maximum readability and ease of response
• Organize messages using the pyramid principle to facilitate rapid processing by readers
• Understand the dual components of messages: factual and emotional
• Understand tone, style and formality
• Structure sentences which convey meaning clearly and concisely
• Pitch your responses at the right level of formality for the type of message and the intended reader
• Be sensitive to the negative connotation of words and its impact on readers
• Manage emotions in writing – avoid flaming
• Give feedback, suggestions and recommendations in positive language
• Key phrases and expressions for writing in a personal, friendly and polite manner

To register:
15 to 16 December 20081 December 2008
► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00

7 secrets for surviving a layoff in a down economy

Read this article quite meaningful http://www.cw.com.hk/article.php?type=article&id_article=2638, so if you are really unlucky one being layoff, this may help you.

1. Negotiate for the best possible severance package.

Don't think that you have to accept whatever severance package your manager or HR puts in front of you as is. Your severance package is negotiable, he says, so don't feel pressured to immediately sign on the dotted line. Take the time to read the severance package, even if it's 20 pages long. If your employer gives you a hard time, Bayer says to hold your ground and tell the manager that it's not reasonable for the employer to ask you to sign something without first reading it.

2. Don't second-guess yourself.

After you've been laid off, you feel vulnerable. When you feel vulnerable, it's easy to second-guess yourself and to sink into depression. What's difficult is resisting those negative thoughts. But for your own well-being and the success of your job search, you have to. Instead of dwelling on all the reasons why your employer might have selected you for a pink slip, Bayer says to remember that the fundamental reason you lost your job was because your employer was having trouble competing during this economic downturn, not because you're a bad worker.

3. Examine your finances.

Take a close look at your expenses and your savings to determine how much money you'll need to cover your expenses during the time you're unemployed.

4. Make job-hunting your new job.

5. Expand your search.

Making a long list of industries and organizations in those industries where you could put your skills and experience to use.

6. Approach online applications and search firms with caution.

7. Stop reading about the economy.


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Distinguished Business Leaders Series

Come and take this opportunity to meet and engage with Mr Kenny Yap, popularly known as "Kenny The Fish" who is credited for establishing Qian Hu as the leader in the ornamental fish business. Hear Mr Yap share his entrepreneurial experiences and Qian Hu's success story from humble beginnings to the leading exporter of ornamental fish in the world and Qian Hu's role in establishing Singapore as the ornamental fish capital of the world.

Join us for an evening of corporate sharing and networking.

Date: Friday, 21 November 2008
Time: 6:00pm
Dress Code: Business Attire
Venue:
The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai
Function Room: Diamond Ballroom, Level 3
88 Henan Central Road
Shanghai 200002, China
Tel: 86-21-6335-1888

A stand-up buffet dinner will be served to all guests.
Please register your interest to attend the event with the following : http://www.overseassingaporean.sg/signup/PVG/21112008

Conceived as a high-profile initiative by the Overseas Singaporean Unit, the Distinguished Business Leaders (DBL) Series was launched in August 2006. It seeks to create a platform for interaction between Singapore-based companies and the Overseas Singaporean community. This is to enable Overseas Singaporeans to stay abreast of developments in the various sectors of the Singapore economy and that of the wider Asian region. The DBL Series would be of particular interest to Overseas Singaporeans wishing to find out more about the job and business opportunities in Singapore and the Asian region.

Qian Hu is an integrated "one-stop" ornamental fish business ranging from breeding of Dragon Fish, farming, importing, exporting and distributing of ornamental fish as well as manufacturing of aquarium and pet accessories and distributing them to local and overseas customers.

Mr Kenny Yap, popularly known as "Kenny the Fish", is the Chairman and Group CEO of Qian Hu Corporation, the only company specializing in ornamental fish currently listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange. Through his leadership, vision and passion for the industry, Mr Yap established Singapore as the ornamental fish capital of the world. He managed to turn a small, agrarian business to a public-listed company within a short span of nine years.

Mr Yap has a string of awards to his name - Public Service Award (PBM) in 2004, Ernst & Young's Service Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2003, Young Chinese Entrepreneur of the Year by Yazhou Zhoukan in 2002, one of the 50 Stars of Asia by Business Week in 2001, the PSB/International Institute of Management's International Management Action Award in 2000, and the Singapore National Youth Award in 1998. Mr Yap graduated from Ohio State University (USA) with a 1st Class Honours degree in Business Administration. He currently serves as the Chairman for the Ornamental Fish Business Cluster initiated by AVA and is a member of the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE). In 2007, Kenny was appointed by National Youth Council as the Chairman of the Youth Award (Entrepreneurship) Committee.


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Investment Insights Seminar + one in Chinese

It has been a roller-coaster ride for the equities market for the last few months. What can investors expect over the next few months? For the month of November, POEMS have invited their fund partners & analysts to provide investors with more market updates, insights together with investments tips.

If you are new to unit trust investment, join in Introduction to Unit Trust seminars. They will explain what unit trust investment is, and guide you through their online trading platform, POEMS, to show you how you could purchase your funds in a hassle-free way.

Details of the seminars are as follow:

14-Nov, 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Raffles City Tower, 6th Floor
How to avoid poor investment decisions?
Aberdeen Asset Management

17-Nov, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Raffles City Tower, 6th Floor
5 Signals to the end of this Bear Market
Schroders Investment Management

19-Nov, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Raffles City Tower, 6th Floor
The Outlook for America & Emerging Markets
Investment Director, Fidelity

21-Nov, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Raffles City Tower, 6th Floor
Market Overview Updates
Unit Trust Analysts

24-Nov, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Raffles City Tower, 6th Floor
Intro to Unit Trust Investments

To register, kindly email your particulars comprising your Name, NRIC, and POEMS account number (if any) to utseminars@phillip.com.sg.

The seats will be automatically confirmed, unless otherwise mentioned.

单位信托华语讲座 – 初级投资者

我们也有举办有关单位信托知识的华语讲座。通过此讲座，您将能够了解到单位信托是怎样的一种资产投资方式，以及它如何能够帮助您投资理财或积累财富。您也能通过我們的網上交易平臺购买单位信托, 享有1% 销售费, 同时监察您的投资组合. 邀请三位朋友一起参加, 每人获取一份礼品.

11月25日, 下午 12.30 – 1.30
莱佛士城
邮电：utseminars@phillip.com.sg
或拨电：6531 1555


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DBS cut 900 staffs in Singapore and Hong Kong! 6% work force

DBS Group, Southeast Asia's biggest bank, will cut 900 staff in Singapore and Hong Kong, or six percent of its workforce, by the end of this month to reduce costs, CEO Richard Stanley said.DBS today posted a 38 pct drop in quarterly profit, below expectations, aslosses from bad debts quadrupled.

To read more...

Add on: this may include subsidiary also, such as DBS Vickers...

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Effective Technical Presentations

At the end of the Effective Technical Presentation Skills course, participants should be able to quickly organize and present technical facts, ideas and recommendations to other technical professionals, non-technical managers and decision-makers in a clear, convincing, and understandable way.

• How technical presentations are different from other kinds of presentations.
• The three essential components of a presentation.
• Audience analysis and why this is a necessary step in a presentation.
• Organize information in a clear and concise manner.
• Create attention grabbing introductions and build instant rapport.
• Make your presentation flow with smooth and logical transitions.
• End on a memorable note with captivating conclusions.
• Avoid 'tech terror' by translating technical jargon into non-technical language.
• Avoid 'information overload' by limiting dry and boring statistics.
• How to explain technical data to non-technical audiences.
• Learn how to use stories and analogies to make technical information familiar and relevant.
• Techniques to sell ideas and persuade listeners to take action
• Techniques for varying vocal tones and body language.
• How to design and use graphics effectively to display technical information.
• Methods for overcoming fear and controlling nervousness.
• Respond to questions confidently, smoothly and appropriately.

3 to 4 December 200819 November 2008
► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


Click here for more NTU Course information

Razor Sharp Memory for Greater Productivity and Effectiveness

Developing a razor sharp memory is achievable and attainable by everyone. Age or any other factor does not hinder you. Having an excellent memory will make you more productive and effective within your organisation. You can remember anything and everything that you want, if you know how it is done.

If you think about it, practically half of our life is based on trying to remember something that we should do or should have done or something that we have to do. This is a tedious process and a major hindrance to productivity. Despite the fact that we have many audio-visual aids to help us remember – these are unreliable as compared to our hidden potential to remember with the limitless power of your mind.

In this workshop you will learn how you can customised the various memory enhancement technique to help you remember your work schedule, project management and day to day organisation of your office. You will notice that with a little commitment and having a right mental attitude, you will easily be able to remember all the major categories of information in your office and as an added bonus in your personal life.

The techniques taught is very similar to learning how to ride a bicycle. You need to actually practice with it before you can see any development in yourself. But the ultimate end result is that you will be able to remember if you try. The memory techniques taught will help to:

• Enhance the memory power for personal effectiveness
• Increase the retention power and absorption power to improve work performance
• Develop the ability to retain and recall names, facts, faces and figures
• Improve relationships and rapport building through the abilities to remember important customers and clients.

There are five levels of memory enhancement and these are progressive. These two day workshop will bring you to level three of the technique.

19 to 20 November 20085 November 2008
► Register for this run
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


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100 Best MBA Admission Tips

Under current economy situation, I think the best option is to further study if you are being retrenched. Why? It is very difficult to find a job now, even you can get one, very likely the pay cannot be matched with your last drawn salary. And this will have a serious impact on your future, as people always refer to your last drawn salary to decide your salary. They are not going to refer to your last last drawn salary.

If you go for school now, hopefully after one to two years, the economy is get better by then, with the new degree and new skill. Start all over again. Here got a blog on 100 Best MBA Admission Tips All in One List. It sound interesting.

It talks about the selection of the school, GMAT tips, scholarships etc.. quite a complete guide. I think it will be greatly useful if you are going to get a MBA.


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Course on XML and Web Services

This two-day comprehensive course is aimed at introducing IT professionals to the fundamentals of XML and Web Services. The course effectively combines instruction on the principles of XML and the foundations of Web Services technology. The hands-on XML module focuses on key XML technologies, such as Document Type definition (DTD), cascading style sheets (CSS), and Extensible Style Language for Transformation (XSLT). The Web Services module focuses not only on Web Services concepts, technologies and standards, but also on the business value of Web Services. Case studies will be used to illustrate the business component of Web services and how organizations are reaping benefits through this technology.

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
• Create a well formed and valid XML document
• Design a DTD for XML documents
• Use a CSS to format an XML document
• Use XSLT and XPath to transform an XML document
• Gain an understanding of Web Services technologies and standards
• Understand business value of Web Services

RUN 1: 17 to 18 November 20083 November 2008► Register for RUN 1
RUN 2: 1 to 2 December 200817 November 2008► Register for RUN 2
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


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Malaysia Minister says "Prepare to lose jobs in Singapore"

Here is an article from The Star (a Malaysia newspaper):

The 300,000 Malay­sians employed in the island republic have been advised to gear up for retrenchment if the country continues to slide into a recession.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said that although the technical recession experienced by Singapore has not yet translated into unemployment, it was better for Malaysians to be prepared.

“If there is unemployment due to a recession, our workers will be hit,” he told The Star here yesterday.

“They need to work on retraining and acquiring new skills to ensure they have jobs during such times.”

He said that Malaysians accounted for about 30% of the foreign workforce in Singapore.

Dr Subramaniam said that many of the Malaysian workers in Singapore were unskilled and employed in the manufacturing sector.

Asked about whether the ministry had a contingency plan for such a situation in Malaysia, he said that Malaysia would have excess job vacancies as work presently being done by foreigners could be offered to locals instead.

According to economic data released by Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, the island republic will be the first Asian economy to fall into a technical recession.

A technical recession is generally defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction in economic output.

Dr Subramaniam, after an hour-long meeting with his Singapore counterpart Gan Kim Yong, said they had discussed various issues.

On instances of Malaysian workers being cheated in Singapore, he said that the Malaysian High Commission had received 1,250 com­plaints within the first nine months of this year.

Dr Subramaniam added that there was something wrong with the re­cruitment mechanism and the ministry would have to check on the matter.


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One stop office supplies

Happen to search around for a company or website that will provide service, wide selection of products (mainly printer), and offer great savings. One that I found and pretty impressive is Super Warehouse. It is one technology partner that are offering over 50,000 products, including printer , computer monitors, by the brands that including Apple, HP, Cisco, IBM, Sony, Canon, Epson, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, Xerox and more . For example, just to look at the hp laser jet printers , here nearly list down all the varieties of hp laser jet.

If you are looking for an alternative, you can find the lexmark printers as well, and many other brands. Also not only selling the printers, they offer supplies in one stop as well, such as the printer supplies . They stock thousands of Toner Cartridges and Ink Supplies and offer huge discounts on Bulk Printer Paper and Avery Label orders. Many companies thrive on printing capabilities. Consequently, a laser printer toner cartridge is important because it is replaceable, allowing our clients to continually utilize their printers or fax machines without any decrease in output quality.

But then here comes the problems, most of these suppliers provide any delivery in USA. And the price is very reasonable, so what can we do in Singapore, or in Asia. It appears that there isn't much similar stuff here in local.

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Effective Event Management

Events are part and parcel of the corporate life. There are all types of events being organized ranging from launch of new products to analyst briefings to customer functions to roadshows and press conference etc… A well-organized and effective event will help enhance the corporate image and increase sales potentials whilst a badly organized one will reflect poorly on the organization.

Many marketing professional learn the event organizing skills through trial and error in their career. This course attempt to provide them with the knowledge and skills acquired through experience.

This will be a practical course whereby you learn how to :
- set event objectives
- create an impressive and effective event
- put together a event brief
- select event management companies, partners, sponsors etc..
- plan, budget and control cost
- explore the options available in the market
- avoid the pitfalls

Through this course, the attendee will gain some practical knowledge on organizing an event and some of the pitfalls to avoid as well as understand the different type of events and their requirements.

RUN 2: 11 to 12 November 200828 October 2008
RUN 2 ► CLICK HERE to Register Online
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00


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Principles and Fundamentals of Facilities Management

With the high cost of inflation and the ever increasing demand for energy and other resources for the management of Built Environment, FM has become an important management disciplines for Asset owners and Developers to enhance the quality of service and value of their assets; as well as a strategic component for the success of its business organization. With globalized competitiveness in business operations, it is imperative for Building professionals, constructors and FM practitioners to appreciate and understand the scope of FM services, its roles and responsibilities, the implementation of FM services to achieve service excellence and to increase occupeirs' productivity, and the measurability and benchmarking of FM service provision to serve as control of quality and road map. This will help turn built environment into assets that have the lowest Life Cycle Cost of operation over its entire economic life span through the provision of efficient and sustainable facilities solutions.

The 2-day program aims to provide the particpants the knowledge of the Principles and Fundamentals of Facilities management for Built Environment, brief introduction of the importance of Sustainable FM for whole Life management of Assets, Performance measurement of the Building Performance and most important of all the future direction of FM practices.

RUN 1: 6 to 7 November 2008
► CLICK HERE to Register Online
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$780.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$624.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$702.00


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Creative Namecard - Part 2

Here I am going to show you more creative namecards. Like the one from a lawn care company, they do give you seed inside their namecard. How I wish this is from bank, then they will give you money in their namecards! And best is the divorce lawyer. The namecard can be splitted into two, this is perfectly design and very humour too. Not sure if any couple end up be together again due to this funny namecard.

LAWN CARE COMPANY

DIVORCE LAWYER
FURNITURE MAKER
The 3D chair also looks great right? I am sure these name cards are expensive. So maybe only for certain "high class" people that will spend the money.


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Creative Namecard - Part 1

Business card represents the image of a company. How strong is a company, can be easily viewed from its business card. Like the number of colors being used. The thickness of the card. How well is the designed etc. Look at these special designed namecards, I am sure you will have a good confidence on them after see their well designed creative namecards.

PHYSICAL TRAINER
COUPLES THERAPIST
DENTIST

Do you feel that you trust them more now? Got some more which I am going to show tomrrow.

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Rapid Prototyping for Rapid Product Development

The course will explain the working principles of the mature technologies and compare their strengths and weaknesses. Video presentation of the SLA, Polyjet, SGC, LOM, FDM, SLS and 3DP processes and parts made by theses processes and several other processes will be exhibited. Industrial examples from various applications (including aerospace, automobile, jewelry, coin, biomedical engineering, etc.”) will be illustrated.

Opposed to a conventional machining process which takes away excess material from a block of work piece, 3-Dimensional Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (3DRPM) produce parts by building one layer upon another in a horizontal manner. This offers many advantages over machining limitations such as the capability to produce complex and difficult-to-machine models (e.g. A sphere in a thin-necked bottle, straight corners of pockets in typical engineering components, small, intricate jewellery ring). Jigs and fixtures are also no longer needed.

Because 3DRPM is linked to CAD/CAM systems, it is able to produce a component in a short turn around time. As a result, it has great potential, especially for today’s products, which have very short product life.

There are currently no less than 30 different 3DRPM namely, Stereolithography (SLA), Solid Ground Curing (SGC), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Fused Deposition Modeling, Direct Shell Production Casting (DSPC), Multiphase Jet Solidification (MJS), and EOS’s EOSINT Systems. Among the newest systems are CAM-LEM’s CL 100, Shape Deposition Manufacturing, Acrom’s Electro Beam Melting and Aeromet Corporation’s Lasform Technology.

RUN 1: 30 to 31 October & 3 November 2008
► CLICK HERE to Register Online
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$1080.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$864.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$972.00


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Marketing is a Life Skill

I find this is interesting, so should share it here...

1) - The unique selling point (USP) is something that supports brand position.

2) - Never compete on price.

3) - Always pick a targeted, narrower market.

4) - Focus on how you can dominate your niche. Niche positioning is part of branding.

5) - A brand does not cost you millions to build, but you must give your customer something to believe in.

6) - You must have a long term vision for your marketing efforts.

7) - Marketing results are emotion-driven, not logic-driven.

8) - Marketing support is more important than marketing itself. Don't underestimate the power of marketing support.

9) - Your promotional message must cover multiple media.

10) - It is NOT what U want, it is what the market want.


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One-day Japanese Business & Cultural Seminar

Course Objectives
- To learn Japanese culture
- To understand Japanese business style, business mind and national characters
- To understand tips and knacks to socialize with Japanese well
- To learn useful daily greetings

Trainer
Ms Kazue Kaneko
• Graduated from Kobe University, worked in Osaka and Tokyo for 2 years
• Completed Japanese teaching methodology intensive course in Bryn Mawr collage in the US
• Taught Japanese for two years at University of South in USA
• Obtained MA of Japanese applied Linguistics in the University of New South Wales, Australia
• Took up part time Japanese teaching during the MA course above
• Taught Japanese at a Singapore polytechnic, a private language school and a government ministry
• Business development manager and Japanese teacher at Nihongo Bashi Pte Ltd for two years. Took charge of courseware development.
• Founded Japanese Language & Cultural training providing company, J-Biz Communication. Director –cum- Instructor
• Part-time instructor at Nanyang Technological University
• A member of Japanese Language Teachers' Association in Singapore

RUN 2: 5 November 2008
► CLICK HERE to Register Online
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$350.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$280.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$315.00

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Speed Reading for Greater Business Productivity

The knowledge-based economy of this new era demands the individual to allocate more time and resources to learn new things and learn them fast. What has been learnt becomes outdated equally fast as well. There is a need for the student of today to develop self-fulfilling learning skills, which will propel him into this new era. The key to success lies very much on the ability of the individual student to learn the information fast.

This program gives the participants an overview of how to improve reading speed and comprehension. If their reading speed is doubled, half of every hour spent reading their journals, memorandum, articles and other reading sources could be more profitably used for important revision and other activities. It is a fact that people who read faster tend to comprehend better. This workshop will also cover the dynamics of how the human brain and mind perceives information and processes it. By understanding this, they are better able to focus their attention to what is being read and comprehend it better.

Course Outline
• Fundamentals of Speed Reading
• Finding out how you read
• Understanding mind’s perception
• Eye Exercise
• Discovering your individual learning pattern
• Using “finger/pointer” technique of speed reading
• Training the eye to follow words quickly
• Improving vocabulary by guessing words
• Learning how to remember what you have read
• Increasing reading speed to 1000 words per minute
• Using “Peripheral vision” technique to speed read
• Learning “adaptive reading” for reports and technical materials
• Learning to idea scan what has been read

RUN 2: 3 to 4 November 2008
RUN 2 ► CLICK HERE to Register Online
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00

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Understanding Sales for Engineers

You’ve been in the technical field for most of your career until the movement to management. Now the expectations and business drivers have shifted and no longer are you building the products – now you’ve been tasked to sell them.

Many times, engineers and technical people find themselves assuming this type of role after some years and for some the transition is smooth. Yet for other’s they find the bevy of new soft silks, demand to drive revenue, expand the customer base and be more market centric sometimes overwhelming; and not something they enjoy.

This course is designed specifically to help engineers or technical personnel without prior knowledge of selling make the transition from a technical role to a sales role. Participants will be fully grounded in the all the latest principles in sales. After this course, participants will be versed in different selling techniques and strategies that will allow them to go out into the market and generate leads resulting in sales, and more importantly come to accept their new role and enjoy the challenges.

Course Objectives
• To understand the fundamentals of sales.
• How to use the techniques in a practical environment
• To identify and apply traits of successful salespeople
• Understand the ‘back-to basics’ of sales

RUN 2: 30 to 31 October 2008
RUN 2 ► CLICK HERE to Register Online
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: NTU@one-north campus, Executive Centre
Fee: Standard: SGD$590.00 NTU Alumni: SGD$472.00 Group (3 & above): SGD$531.00

Case Study: Managing “Greek” Risk around Earnings Announcements

Steve Meizinger is a Director of Education at the International Securities Exchange with twenty years of Equity Options trading experience. Steve has worked at three different U.S. options exchanges, facilitating trades between professional traders and customers and has been an Equity Options Specialist on the trading floor. Through those roles, Steve learned how to adapt to changing trading environments and implemented many different options strategies, which he now shares with the rest of the options-trading community. Steve has written articles for the Options Industry Council and travels throughout North America teaching options strategies. Steve serves as an instructor for ISE and the Options Industry Council. Steve has a B.S degree in Finance from Rider University in Lawrenceville N.J

Managing "Greek" Risk around Earnings Announcements
October 14, 2008, 7:30pm Singapore Standard Time
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Trade the Aussie: Trade your View of the Australian Dollar Relative to the U.S Dollar
October 7, 2008, 7:30pm SST

Managing "Greek" Risk around Earnings Announcements
October 14, 2008, 7:30pm SST

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