The Top 25 VoIP Advances of 2009

There were more advances than true innovations in the VoIP world in 2009. That's because some of the most important developments had more to do with commercial and political maneuvers than with technical creativity. Still, such maneuvers often helped spread the benefits of VoIP as much as did technical innovation. And collectively, the advances brought some already-evident trends into clearer focus. A key such trend is the increasing integration of voice with other applications and services. Another is the intensifying interest in HD voice. A third is the growing interconnection of VoIP services, in part in response to the possibilities that end-to-end HD voice offers. With such trends as background, here, in no particular order, are our top 25 VoIP advances of 2009.

1) Google's Acquisition of Gizmo5
Google doesn't just want to give AT&T a hard time with Google Voice, it is also set to give Skype a hard time. It already offers Google Voice users unlimited calling to North America for free, a service that inspired AT&T to complain to the FCC. But that offering still required a landline or mobile phone to make and receive calls to and from the PSTN, or else a separate account with Internet VoIP provider and Skype competitor Gizmo5. Now that Google has acquired Gizmo5, it will be easy to integrate the two services. If that happens, users will be able to make unlimited calls to North America, and cheap calls overseas, using the same number they receive their calls on, all through a headset-equipped, Internet-connected PC. Even Skype charges for inbound and outbound PSTN calling.

2) INums Service Goes HD
The 2008 creation of iNums was one of the most important VoIP advances of the decade. iNums are phone numbers beginning with the new 883 country code that the ITU has approved for subscribers to VoIP services worldwide, rather than subscribers in specific countries or geographic areas as with traditional country codes. Eventually callers will be able to dial numbers beginning with 883 from anywhere in the world, and reach the VoIP subscribers to whom the numbers are assigned anywhere in the world. That will make the entire globe a local calling zone. iNums provider Voxbone is positioning its service as a way to glue disparate VoIP services together, giving them a consistent way to reach each other's subscribers, as opposed to the mishmash of user names, SIP URIs and other methods that they currently use. Voxbone's September announcement that its iNum service will support HD voice makes such connectivity even more useful. It means iNum subscribers will be able to make and receive voice calls with audio quality superior to that of traditional PSTN calls. As such, it will be yet one more driver accelerating the trend towards all-IP telephony.

3) Skype Goes Independent Again
Skype was born to disrupt, but its September 2005 sale to eBay made it part of a conventional corporation with conventional priorities. Its late-2009 sale by eBay to a group of investors left it again free of any priorities but to upset as many markets and services as it could. Most important, its founders are back inside the tent as investors, rather than on the outside peering in. All in all, the sale means Skype is again in a position to do what's best for Skype. That usually turns out to be good for users, if not for companies in markets Skype thinks need disrupting.

4) Fring Video Calling for iPhone, Nokia
A key strength of VoIP technology is the ability it offers to integrate voice with additional features and functions. One of the most obvious integration candidates is video communication. It's fairly common now for VoIP users to make video calls through their PCs or even desk phones, so the next important advance is extending the capability to mobile users. Fring made that advance with its introduction of video calling capabilities on iPhone and some Nokia smart phones. The downloaded application allows one-way video calls on iPhones, because those devices' cameras point away from the user, and two-way calling on Nokia S60 Symbian devices. Both fring and Skype users can make such video calls to one another.

5) FCC's Mobile Network Neutrality Push
Unlike with the terrestrial Internet, network neutrality didn't apply to the mobile Internet from the start. In fact, mobile network operators always set their own rules about which applications and services they would allow to run on their infrastructure. Thus it's significant that the FCC in 2009 specifically stated that mobile networks had to follow network neutrality rules. In theory, that would mean operators have to allow VoIP services to run over their data networks without restriction. Working out the technical details will be a complex task, however, since mobile networks have spectrum and bandwidth constraints that terrestrial ones don't. But in the long run, even cellular operators will see the benefits of running open networks, since it will let their customers access a variety of rich services that extend all the way to the handset.

6) XConnect's GSMA Tie-Up
Bringing rich services integrated with VoIP to the handset is as vexing a technical challenge as a regulatory one. A key requirement is being able to connect VoIP networks directly, to permit the end-to-end transmission of such services. That makes XConnect's tie-up with the GSMA particularly important. The arrangement lets XConnect's ENUM registry talk to the GSMA's PathFinder number translation services, so that VoIP and GSM networks can pass VoIP and other related rich media to one another directly. This will vastly expand the number of users who can communicate via rich services.

7) FCC's Push for VoIP Transition
The FCC's push to encourage the transition to an all-VoIP telephony network is at an early stage, but its potential impact can't be overestimated. The December 1 notice seeking comment on the transition asks for input on what types of policies and regulations may help or hinder the process, as well as on how to protect the public interest during the transition. The agency's involvement will provide an important public forum for dialog about the central issues surrounding the evolution of VoIP, and may even encourage traditional carriers to upgrade their networks faster than they otherwise would have.

8) Free Conferencing for 1,000 Users
Using free conference calling services is a good way for companies to impress customers, suppliers and investors with their dedication to frugality. But companies needing to hold large conferences were out of luck until Free Conferencing Corp. introduced FreeConferencing.com, a service that can handle 1,000 participants in a single call. That's a big jump from the 96 participants that FreeConferenceCall.com, offered by the same company, can deal with. The advance will bring free IP-based conferencing further into the mainstream than ever.

9) Codec Wars
Codecs, which encode and decode audio and other media for transmission over networks, will play a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of VoIP. HD codecs let VoIP calls deliver superior voice quality, while video codecs make it possible to add video calling capabilities. Global IP Solutions (GIPS) has been an ongoing leader in HD voice codecs, and is pushing ahead in video codecs as well, as its deals with Yahoo and Japan's ANET show. At the same time, Skype in 2009 began giving its so-called super-wideband SILK codec, which transmits an even broader audio range than standard HD codecs, away free in order to boost the "ecosystem" for high-quality voice. The hotter the competition, the better it will be for the future of VoIP.

10) Android Integration with Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless used to be the most closed and protective U.S. wireless carrier, doing everything possible to keep unauthorized applications and services off of its network. In the last year or so, it made a radical and apparently earnest shift towards openness. The best test of its sincerity will be how it implements the deal it made with Google in October. Among other things, the deal will see Verizon Wireless selling handsets built around the Google-developed Android operating system, and running Google Voice as a built-in application. The deal also calls for the integration in unspecified ways of Google applications, including Google Voice, with the Verizon Wireless network. Depending on the details, the deal could end up being a key turning point in the U.S. wireless industry's evolution from closed garden to open field.

11) Proliferation of HD Voice Conferences
The advantages of HD voice aren't apparent from simply reading about them – understanding the benefits of the superior audio quality the technology brings is only possible through experiencing them. That makes active promotion of the technology a necessity, which in turn means that the various HD conferences and activities taking place, rather than being just another way to get paying advertisers and attendees, are playing a significant role in the evolution of VoIP as a whole.

12) Browser-Based Dashboards for Hosted VoIP
One of the most attractive features of IP PBXes is their so-called "dashboard" call handling software. The software, which pops up on users' computer screens as necessary, lets them make, receive and transfer calls via clicking or dragging and dropping. It also provides information such as presence or availability of other users on the system, the number of calls in queue and other such facts. In 2009, Vocalocity and Junction Networks' OnSIP both brought the same capabilities to their hosted VoIP services, via dashboards that work through PCs' Web browsers. Vocalocity's is called the VocalocityPBX Dashboard, while OnSIP's is called my.OnSIP. Though modest in the larger scheme of things, the advances further blur the line between hosted and premises IP PBXes.

13) Business Phone Service Starting at $10/Month
Given the economic climate, the cost of phone services is particularly important for small businesses. Thus the hosted service my1voice introduced in September was noteworthy for its price tag alone. For $10 a month, a company gets a phone number and various office telephony features, included call forwarding, simultaneous ring, dial-by-name and virtual receptionist. Although the entry-level package comes with only 150 minutes of usage per month, it sets a marker for providers looking to help small companies get off the ground.

14) Phone.com's Hosted HD Voice
As with many other telephony features, HD voice seems something only large companies can afford at first. Typically enterprises already have all-IP phone systems for internal communication, and adding HD capability can easily make inter-branch conference calls less fatiguing for workers. So it's another indicator of VoIP's democratizing influence that Phone.com has introduced HD voice capability in its Virtual Office hosted VoIP service. Such moves make the superior voice quality of HD calls available to even small companies with widely scattered employees.

15) Polycom's $6,000 Telepresence System
There are a lot of ways to make one-to-one video calls, ranging from Web cams on PCs to dedicated videophones. Even group conferences are possible, with participants appearing in different windows in Web browsers or dedicated client software. Conferences involving groups in meeting rooms are more difficult and expensive: Cisco's telepresence system can run a quarter million dollars or so. In June 2009, however, Polycom came out with a telepresence system for under $6,000. It includes hardware-based video codec, camera, microphone, remote control and cables, and connects to any HD-capable monitor. It makes the option of substituting video conferencing for travel practical for small companies as well as large ones.

16) Ribbit Mobile
Most virtual number services give users a new number. The users then have to ask all their friends and colleagues to call that number, and can have calls forwarded from it to any other phones or numbers they wish. But many individuals have already given their mobile numbers to everyone, which makes it hard to switch. The beta Ribbit Mobile service that Ribbit introduced in November offers an innovative and perhaps more useful take on the concept. It lets users keep their mobile numbers as their primary numbers, by forwarding unanswered mobile calls to Ribbit Mobile, which in turn forwards them to any other numbers they wish. The service also lets users make free outbound calls via a Web interface, with their cellular numbers appearing as the caller ID, thus saving them cellular minutes when they're at their desks. Ribbit Mobile also offers visual voice mail and speech-to-text transcription. A version for iPhone became available in late December.

17) Skype for Asterisk, Skype for SIP
Skype's push to become a serious tool for SMBs gained considerable momentum with the introduction of Skype for Asterisk and Skype for SIP. The Asterisk integration became a commercial product in September 2009, after having been available in beta for a year. Skype for SIP became available in beta in March 2009, with interoperability with ShoreTel and Cisco IP PBXes announced in September. Both represent significant advances towards making Skype as useful for businesses as it is for individuals.

18) Voice Integration With Google Wave
As noted, one of the great strengths of VoIP technology is its ability to integrate voice with other applications. Google Wave is one of the more promising such applications. It offers multiple ways for individuals to communicate and collaborate with each other both in real time and over extended periods of time. Among other things, it allows them to type messages to each other, attach files and photos, and access videos and maps. Ribbit contributed the ability to communicate by voice, via either live audio conferencing or recorded messages. It points the way to a future in which voice is just one part of larger applications and services, and perhaps not the most important part.

19) Jajah Offers Tweet-Activated VoIP
In September Jajah came out with a method to let users initiate phone calls via Twitter. The announcement came a year after Phweet's introduction of a similar service. While the pair of offerings highlights the penetration of Twitter into every corner of the communication market, more importantly it demonstrates the almost unlimited flexibility that VoIP offers to mix and match applications and services. It also hints that even more exotic applications are coming down the road.
20) Cloudvox: Cloud Within a Cloud
Wholesale telephony platforms will shape the future of the voice communication industry over the next several years. Such platforms allow Web and enterprise developers to create their own voice applications, with no need for telephony programming expertise or the infrastructure to run them on. Instead, they'll be able to get telephony services from a cloud. Ifbyphone, Jaduka, Ribbit, Twilio and Voxeo are among the leading platform contenders. Cloudvox takes the concept one step further, hosting its cloud telephony platform on a cloud computing platform, and owning no servers or other hardware itself. As such, it represents the first telephony cloud within a cloud, but it probably won't be the last.

21) AT&T Offers Hosted Call Center Service
Hosted call centers have been making a lot of headway, mainly for their ability to serve agents in any geographic location. A measure of that success came in April, when AT&T introduced its own version called AT&T Hosted Integrated Contact Services. Even though hosted services typically cannibalize the revenues of major carriers' traditional services, the introduction is an indication that the flexibility and features of hosted services can be compelling enough to override such concerns.
22) Cheap Speech Recognition for Asterisk
Speech or voice recognition capability lets IP PBXes respond to callers' verbal rather than just keypress responses when negotiating multiple-choice phone menus. But such technology is quite a bit less affordable for small companies than for enterprises with expensive proprietary systems. Thus the availability to Asterisk users of the Vestec Speech Engine through the Digium store represents a significant advance in – once again – bringing advanced telephony capabilities to smaller businesses.

23) Verizon Wireless Kills Hub
The failure of a product might not seem like an advance. But the September decision of Verizon Wireless to stop selling its Hub, which it had only introduced in January, at least confirmed the overall direction of VoIP innovation. The $200 Hub, equipped with touch screen, provided voice calling as well as various Web services over Verizon Wireless subscribers' home broadband connections. It was also integrated with their mobile phones, so they could use it to send and receive SMS text messages. In addition to the price of the device, the service cost $35 a month under a two-year contract.
The Hub showed the limits of the traditional telco hardware-based approach to services. Because its features and functions were hard-wired into the device, it contradicted the trend towards making telephony a software-based virtual service that can run on any device. Its failure also reinforced the idea that the future of telephony is largely out of the hands of traditional carriers, and in the hands of innovators that, especially with the proliferation of platform services, can be anywhere.

24) Voice Recognition That Splits the Processing
On the surface, Promptu's ShoutOUT speech-to-text application doesn't seem all that unique. It simply lets users send text messages by speaking rather than keying them into their handsets. What's innovative is how it handles the processing. First it encodes the speech into data on the handset, and then sends it via error-corrected transmission to the server-based speech processing engine. That means the processing engine won't receive the kind of garbled audio that it might if the spoken words and phrases traveled over cellular voice circuits.

25) VoIP Intercoms
Many SMBs have lots of low-tech peripherals connected to their conventional phone systems, such as overhead paging speakers and front-door or loading-dock intercoms. Their reliance on such peripherals makes it harder to move to IP phone systems, because such a change would produce compatibility problems. CyberData Corp. provides mundane but important solutions to this problem by building VoIP-compatible versions of such peripherals. Its products will help countless small businesses move into IP telephony that would otherwise be stuck with their old-fashioned key systems.

How do you do (your handshake)?

What’s in grasping the hand of another? Most business folks understand that a handshake can be a key ingredient in meeting a potential client and creating a positive first impression with that person. But, do we really know why we are often given the advice to offer a firm handshake when we are growing up? We know that it does, but do we know WHY a handshake contributes immensely to the formation of a first impression? Research in the area of nonverbal behaviors suggests that there is a correlation directly between our handshake and our very personality. This might make that handshake even more important than we originally believed.

Diana Ivy and Phil Backlund, in their book GenderSpeak, remind us that being taken seriously is still an issue that haunts women job applicants more than it does men, unless those men apply for jobs in a field that has traditionally been dominated by women. One of the very first nonverbal behaviors we engage in at a job interview is the handshake. Whether male or female, we might be exposing more of our inner selves than we anticipate when we briefly clasp hands with another person.

A study published in 2000 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology notes that our personality is linked to the firmness with which we shake hands. Sure, we always knew the firm handshake was important, but here is evidence that tells us why. Research subjects who completed personality questionnaires associated with the study were not made aware that their handshakes were the key variable in the study. Each subject shook hands multiple times with researchers who would then evaluate those handshakes. Key characteristics, including strength, vigor, a complete grip, handshake duration, and eye contact, were found to determine the degree to which we tend to make a good first impression. Perhaps more importantly, personality qualities such as confidence, shyness, or neuroticism could be ascertained through that handshake. And, gendered handshakes were also included in the study.

Among the results was the finding that a firmer handshake by females can be positive, even though many women are concerned that they may appear to be overly aggressive when they use the firmer grip. Surprisingly, a man may be open to new experiences, which would be a positive personality trait, but the study found that he is more likely, then, to have a weaker handshake. The weaker handshake can then lead to a less-than-desirable first impression, despite the appropriate personality quality.

So, the sensible thing to do might seem to be changing one’s style of shaking hands. Not so fast. We learn from these researchers that the handshake is a pretty automatic thing and quite uncomfortable to change. Each of us tends to have what we feel to be a natural handshake and trying to change that natural feel can seem very strange. It would appear that our handshake is as normal to us as many of the other nonverbal behaviors we enact and that may be just how our personality comes out in meeting others. Knowing what impression we are making on others might be just as important as actually making that impression.

The Theory of intelligence

I don't think I've ever heard the concept explained any better than this ... ....

'Well you see, it's like this .. . . A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo; and when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first.

This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.

In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that is why you always feel smarter after a few beers...'

Updated 18 hours ago · Comment · Like

6 Hot Careers for the Future

While it may be true that good things come to those who wait, the things bestowed on those who wait are often the leftovers from the people who hustle. That's what Lincoln said, and it's still true today. The future will be upon us the next time the sun rises. That's why, when it comes to jobs, the best things may come to those who take action now to train for tomorrow's jobs.


You don't have to be a soothsayer to know where some of the best jobs will be. The U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration has predicted strong performers in career sectors that will be shakers and movers in the coming decade. Let's look at six careers identified as winners, and the training you'll need to run from the front of the pack.


Business Continuity Planners


Disaster and mayhem are inevitable. Business continuity planners create logistical plans and contingencies to restore operations in the event of hackers, cyber-theft, or natural disasters. What would your IT department do in a swine flu epidemic or a crippling hurricane? Jobs for management analysts are predicted to rise by 22 percent during the 2006-2016 decade. Combine business experience with an online M.B.A. degree in management or resource planning. The median 2008 annual wage for business analysts was $73,570, with top earnings around $133,800.


Fuel Cell Engineers


Fuel cells convert hydrogen to electricity without the harmful greenhouse gas emissions typical to fossil fuels. They haven't yet replaced motors in cars, boats, or planes, and they can't yet power homes and offices -- but they're on the way. That's why the Labor Department cites fuel cell engineers as up-and-comers. You'll need an associate's or bachelor's degree in engineering to get started, and you can complete a master's degree with a focus on green energy to join the race for clean energy. The 2008 median earnings for electrical engineers were $82,160, with top-earners taking home $125,810.


Informatics Nurse Specialists


Welcome to the marriage of health care and information technology. Informatics nurse specialists gather, crunch, and disseminate data on patients, procedures, operational capacity, medications, and other critical numbers that keep hospitals, clinics, and laboratories at the edge of efficiency. Registered nurses are among the fastest-growing group of all professionals with an associate's degree. But you may need to add an online RN to BSN or master's degree with a focus on information technology to join this emerging specialty. Registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $62,450 in 2008, with a top end of $92,240.


Green Marketers


Green marketers are responsible for developing and serving consumer and business markets where the premium is on renewable materials and energy, healthy foods, and consumer products with a reduced carbon footprint. You may sell a new kind of light bulb or a car that runs on fuel cells. Jobs for marketing managers should experience a 12 percent increase between 2006 and 2016. You'll need a bachelor's degree in marketing or advertising, or an online M.B.A. degree along with classes in green energy or environmental science. The median 2008 annual salary for marketing managers was $108,580.


Database Architects


Future engineering professionals won't be working with the same software or hardware we use today. Businesses increasingly will depend on the creation, management, and security of data in an era where transactions -- and hackers -- become more sophisticated. That's why database architects are on the Labor Department's list of promising jobs going forward. While some database professionals can land jobs with an associate's degree, you're going to need advanced career training and certifications to remain competitive. Consider an online master's degree in technology or database management. In 2008 database managers earned a median $69,740 wage.


Wind Energy Project Managers


Why not lead, rather than follow? Wind energy is one of the emerging technologies, supported by government and industry alike. If you have a background in engineering or environmental science, consider heading back to school to earn an online M.B.A. in project management. Learn to make projections, schedules, and keep deployment on track. You'll be well-compensated, too. In 2008, engineering managers took home a median wage of $115,270.


No matter your calling, consider getting your career training underway. Companies are already hiring for these professions -- the future starts today

7 Things You Must Know About Your Customers

This same information is certainly important to know about your customers as well. But your customer bios should be slightly more extensive. Here are the 7 things you must know about your customers:

1. Their Name- Nothing speaks to an individual faster than their first name. Use it to build your relationship with your customer.

2. What they’ve Purchased- If you know what your customers purchased in the past, you have a good idea what they will buy again. (And won't waste your time promoting products of little to no interest.)

3. How Often They Purchase- Individuals who buy rarely from you may need additional encouragement…more marketing. Whereas, consistent customers may not need extra sales pitches, but might benefit from a newsletter or coupon.

4. How Much They Spend (on average)- Why spend precious time pitching products to customers that they can't afford? It might embarrass your customer, shows your lack of personal interest, and may cause customers to lose interest.

5. The Last Time They Purchased- Have you lost a customer without even knowing it? Who's still loyal? Who has strayed (and needs to be brought back)?

6. Each Interaction You've Had With Them- Documentation is important for obvious reasons. But being able to "recall" previous conversations will make your customer feel important and appreciated.

7. How They Feel About Your Business- Feedback from your customers is the best way to improve your products/services, meet your customers needs, and attract more customers.

9 Tips to find your next job

1.Network! Think of the people you know -- relatives, friends, professors, classmates, co-workers at summer jobs, and others. Make more of an effort to meet with people, and use these conversations to ask their advice, to make them aware of your job search, to learn more about their jobs or their organizations, and to get the names of others who might be useful in your job search.
2.Target your Résumé. Make sure your résumé is targeted to the employers who receive it. Make sure your résumé is easy to read and the most important details stand out. Make more than one résumé if you are applying to more than one industry
3.Be prepared. You should have a copy of your résumé at all times. It is also a good idea to have fresh copies of your résumé prepared in case you are called to an interview at the last minute.
4.Create a contact database. Write down all the employers you contact, the date you sent your résumé, any contact made, people you talk to, and notes about those contacts. Keep a notepad with you at all times -- take notes as soon as you hear about an opportunity or when you leave an interview. Get into the habit of updating your database daily.
5.Learn how to talk about yourself. Throughout your job search you will speak with many people at different levels. You must be comfortable having conversations about yourself with other people. Keep in mind that you never know who may end up being useful to your job hunt.
6.Prepare an elevator speech. You never know who you'll meet in an elevator, in line at the coffee shop, or on the street. Know what your skills are and how to communicate them. You should be able to tell prospective employers and others you meet what you can offer. You should also be able to talk about how your skills relate to the industries that interest you.
7.Find out all there is about employers in your field. Remain current on any issues or developments in the field, read trade journals or professional publications, and read the newspaper. It is extremely impressive during an interview if you know about the latest merger or coup in the industry.
8.Follow-up with leads immediately. If you find out about a position late in the day, call right then. Don't wait until the next day.
9.Stay confident. Job hunting takes time and energy. Remain confident, but prepare yourself for challenges ahead. Don't get disgruntled if you are still looking for a job and it seems like everyone you know has an offer. Most students find their jobs after graduation.

RESUME TIPS

If you’re like most leadership professionals, you aren’t sure where to start when writing or updating your resume. You might search online for examples in your field or just start jotting down thoughts. Either way, the task can seem daunting, especially if you are trying to convey your true strengths, personal brand and competencies.
Within today’s aggressive career marketplace, the tone and leadership message of your resume must be carefully designed in order to generate an impressive presentation.
Consider the following five strategies when creating an executive resume that is designed to gain more attention and speed up your search:
1 - Position the Key Details First
All too often, critical information is buried on the second page of a resume. Remember that the top half of the first page is prime real estate for your strongest credentials. That’s where you’ll need a tightly worded summary that reflects your qualifications and closely aligns with your precise job target.
Profiles that gain the most attention include distinguishing information. This includes references to expertise in a target industry, accomplishments, prominent degrees and special abilities.
Here’s an example focused on achievement and leadership style, in addition to hard skills:
“Intensely motivated and forthright operations executive with an exceptional record of multi-million dollar cost control. Excel in highly charged settings requiring focused analysis, crisis management and tactical execution. Top achiever, Northwestern MBA and change agent who revitalizes operations through strong service, budget and staffing improvement.”
The benefit to using a profile is that the reader can quickly skim for relevant facts that screen you in, rather than out, during the hiring process.
2 - Include a Branding Statement
Do you remember some of the key slogans used by major companies to advertise their brands? Nearly anyone can recall taglines used by companies such as Nike or McDonalds.
Now the product being marketed is YOU. This means that these same marketing strategies can be applied to the materials you prepare for employers.
A branding statement, in particular, is a short sentence that serves the same purpose as a marketing tagline and is used at the forefront of the resume. You can develop this sentence by jotting down some ideas on what you bring to the table that others don’t.
Here’s an example of what an operations executive with a strong record of workplace improvement could use to sum up relevant qualifications:


“Driving crucial technology utilization, staffing, cost control and process changes that resulted in continual 90-plus percent improvement to operations dynamics.”
Remember to keep your tagline short and to spend considerable time tuning it to reflect your unique value proposition.
3 - Walk the Reader through Your C-A-R Achievements
Many people can assess the results of their work by looking at quantifiable figures and facts – but it’s the story BEHIND the accomplishment that really conveys your personal brand. The C-A-R (Challenge-Action-Result) formula was developed for precisely this reason and is often used as a guide for formulating career success stories.
Think of your past results and work style in terms of the situation you first encountered (the Challenge), what you did to address it (your Action), and what happened next (the Result).
Now, using this model, formulate each achievement into a concise story that reflects each of these components. Remember that these success stories are best represented in bullet-point format on your resume.
4 – Focus Your Message
Too often, a resume at the leadership level will contain so much detail that the overall goal gets lost. In addition, many executives find that they possess a wide range of core competencies that may lend themselves to different jobs.
If you find that your strengths lean towards more than one career goal or job type, so be it; create an offshoot of your original resume that focuses concisely on one position.
You will also need to consider whether the industry focus in your resume truly reflects your goals. Transitioning into another arena? Then remove industry jargon and acronyms that can hold you back in your search.
5 – Back Up Your Success with Testimonials
If you’re familiar with the 360 degree review process, where feedback about your core strengths is used to form a composite picture of your leadership abilities, then you know that what others say about you tends to reflect your true brand. A quote, in particular, can be a striking addition to an executive or senior management resume.
In the context of a job search, feedback from others can be crucial. In addition to supervisors, don’t forget that colleagues and clients can be a strong source for positive feedback.
After you’ve obtained these testimonials, pull out a shortened version to place on your resume as an endorsement. This information can be placed at the beginning or end of your professional profile, or within a separate section on the front page.
For example, a global sales executive can reinforce a brand message of superior results by including a quote from a top corporate officer on a resume, as shown below:
“Drawing on the collective knowledge of those around him, Ken facilitates team communication and collaboration, leading to our strongest year yet.”
As you can see, there are many angles from which to compose your executive resume. Developing a masterpiece that gets attention from employers’ top-tier hiring managers requires a well thought-out resume strategy. Remember to take data prioritization, content and a compelling presentation into account along the way.

How to create your own job market: Three proven tips for success

Have you been looking for the right job without success? Maybe you ought to stop looking for jobs.
Instead, try looking for the employers. That’s the message from Kevin Donlin and David Perry, co-creators of the Guerrilla Job Search System. If you’re looking for a job and want to try something different, give their system a try – it’s proven to work, especially in today’s tough market.


More specifically, Donlin and Perry preach that if you contact the right employer with the right message, the right job may be created just for you.
It happens all the time -- even in today’s economy. Want proof? Here are three Guerrilla Job Search case studies and takeaway lessons for you:
1. Offer to help first and get hired later:


While not every company wants to expand hiring these days, every company wants to increase revenues, save money and increase profits. In other words, every company has problems to solve. And all jobs, in good economic times and bad, are ultimately created to solve problems.
The best employers -- the ones you want to work for -- are flexible and opportunistic enough to hire people who demonstrate that they can solve problems.
Michael Mingolelli, Jr., CEO of Pinnacle Financial Group, in Southborough, Mass., has twice created jobs in the past 10 months to bring promising employees on board. “These people approached us with a good value proposition to help us continue to grow our practice, and we made positions for them.”


Both prospective employees first contacted Mingolelli by phone and demonstrated their knowledge of Pinnacle. “They were very attuned to what we do and the type of clients we have,” he says.
Your takeaway lesson: Answer these three questions before approaching any employer:
1. What are their problems?


Put differently, if you were the CEO, what would keep you up at night right now?
2. What are their opportunities?


If you were CEO and could wave a magic wand, what would you make happen? What are the industry leaders doing?
3. How could you help solve their problems and/or capitalize on their opportunities?


Match your skills and achievements with your target employer’s needs. For example, if they need to save money and you’ve saved money, there’s a match. Quantify your results in dollars, numbers and/or percentages.
2. Prove you fit the employer's culture:


When contacting employers, try to match your message to their corporate culture. Otherwise, you’ll never connect or fit in long term.
That’s the advice of Annie Huidekoper, VP of Community Partnerships and Customer Service for the St. Paul Saints Baseball Team, whose corporate slogan is, “Fun is Good.”
Fun may explain how the Saints’ current Executive VP was hired for a role created for him, after he overnighted an introductory letter to owner Mike Veeck. What set this letter apart? “It was written with a Sharpie on a piece of frozen lutefisk,” says Huidekoper.
Nothing says “Fun” like lutefisk. And it’s 100% Minnesotan, like the Saints. A perfect fit.
Your takeaway lesson: Research an employer’s culture to know if you’re a fit. It’s as simple as picking up the phone. “Talk to people who have worked there and find out what’s important to that organization,” suggests Huidekoper.
3. Meet and get hired:


The more meetings you have with company presidents and other executives, the greater your chances of impressing someone enough to create a job for you.
After interviewing an applicant for a job that didn’t fit his qualifications, Jordan Solomon, President of Ecostrat, Inc., in Toronto, was impressed enough to make a counter offer. “This young man was too good to pass up -- he was eager, showed all the right qualities and I thought he would be a success. So we created a position and gave him a two-week trial,” says Solomon.
How did it turn out? “He ended up working for us for about seven years.”
Your takeaway lesson: Lightning won’t strike if you’re sitting in front of a computer. Try sitting across from an employer.
What company presidents would you most like to work for? I suggest you make a list of 10-20. Then contact them with offers to meet and discuss how you could help, based on careful research.
Employers are always on the lookout for smart people who can solve problems and fit with their corporate culture. “I would give anyone like that a chance, and if they were good, I’d create a position for them,” says Solomon

Actions speak louder than words

Actions speak louder than words



A fair idea acted upon is better than a brilliant one never acted upon. The purpose of any business is, simply put, to develop and make money. And how’s that going to happen if you don’t take action? Why do we have a corporate culture where an abundance of reports are written on how things should be done in theory and then – only sometimes – acted upon?






If you overdo the contemplating part you will never get anywhere.


Or worse acted upon to the detriment of not only the company but society as a whole. A contributing factor to the current banking crisis was academic people without enough experience having theories that unfortunately didn’t work out in reality. Confusius was right when he said that life is really simple but we make it complicated. And writing theoretical reports instead of acting is a very good example of that.


Sometimes reports are produced to avoid doing something that companies know has to be done, but really want to avoid. The reports then show share holders that they are doing something and become an excuse for not taking action until conditions are perfect. And they never will be. Passive companies are not going to be winners but active ones are. The only thing you will achieve by postponing action is losing time and money.


Don’t get me wrong, sometimes reports are needed to get optimal results. But for the majority of businesses in this world, does it really make sense to spend a lot of money on writing theoretical reports? What happened to common sense? Most things are actually pretty basic. How much money do you need to bring in to make profit? How will you get that kind of revenue? In most cases you don’t need to write a report to determine that. For most businesses a few meetings, discussions and agreement on a plan of action is sufficient. You swiftly notice when things aren’t working out as planned and then you just change tactics. It has actually happened that I have told companies that what they need is not a report on how to do it, but simply act to get more customers and increase sales. You can argue that I should have produced an expensive report instead of being honest, but you don’t keep clients that way. If you make them pay for what they do not need, it’s just a question of how long it takes before you loose them.


Maybe it’s easy for me since I started my career in journalism and know how to get the information I need and then act to get results. And the same applies to business, I find the information I need, adapt it to the situation at hand and then get in touch with the people targeted directly. Always get access to minimum 35 percent of the people I contact. Frequently much more.


Writing reports is a Western phenomena that has unfortunately spread. Don’t know how many times I have heard about conglomerates, for instance in the Middle East, that have hired an academic to write reports. They mostly spend a lot of money on it but the reports conclusions are seldom acted upon. Wouldn’t it have been better to simply take action to improve, for instance, sales, acquiring new customers, developing products and collecting money? Doing that you would also bring in money.


Start-ups that spend months writing detailed analysis on how to best do what they are going to do frequently run out of money and have to close or, worse, go bankrupt.


Have always applied action style leadership to get results. In business I like to surround myself with action-oriented people. Naturally I do contemplate and analyse but my main focus is on action and I do believe that’s where we need to be in this world to achieve something. If you overdo the contemplating part you will never get anywhere. And how long will you be in business then? Every day thousands of good ideas are buried because people are afraid to act upon them. Got a good idea? Then act upon it!

7 WAYS TO BOOST HAPPINESS TODAY.

7 WAYS TO BOOST HAPPINESS TODAY.



By.Nauman Syed


1) Re-connect with an old friend


Pick up the phone and call a close friend who you haven’t spoken with for a while. Let them know that you’ve missed them and find out what is going on in their life. See what you can do to help them along life’s path.


2) Try something new


What has been on your wish list for an eternity? Pick an activity or subject you’d like to explore and take the first step in making it happen. Sign up for a yoga course, get a book on Greek cookery from the library and try a recipe, join the local tennis league. Start something juicy and exciting.


3) Pamper yourself


Taking care of yourself is vital to your happiness. Set aside some “me” time to do something you really love. Book a massage, hide out and read a book, buy a new pair of shoes. Treat yourself – because you’re worth it.


4) Smile more


The simple act of smiling is one of the most powerful ways to get a happiness boost. Smiling helps us to stick to Rule Number 6 (don’t take yourself too seriously). Practice a smile right now and try to keep them coming. If all else fails, stick on your headphones and listen to your favourite tune – have a rock out and put a smile on your face for 5 minutes.


5) Help someone out


Help someone in need without bidding or any expectation of reward. It might be standing up for someone who needs a seat on the bus, volunteering in a community project, or even just taking the time to listen to someone who needs it.


6) Plan an event


What do you love to do and who do you love to do it with? Do you need to organise a break with family, friends or your loved one? Are your favourite band in town next month? Can you book a trip to the opera with your best friend? Identify something you’d love to do over the next month or two and organise it now.


7) Set goals for the rest of the year


Now we’re into September there are three months left in the grand old year of 2009. Take out a business card, turn it over and write down the 2 or 3 most important things you’d like to achieve this year on the back. Be specific about what you’d like to do. Carry the card with you in your wallet to remind you of your commitments.


You can complete any of these steps today and none need take more than an hour. What are you waiting for?

THE VALUE OF A COVER LETTER

THE VALUE OF A COVER LETTER



By.Nauman Syed.


While many people devote time and attention to creating or updating their resume, many fail to devote the same amount of attention to writing the accompanying cover letter. The online September issue of Canadian Living (www.canadianliving.com) contains an article entitled “Land Your Dream Job”. In the article, Jenny Pruegger (Human Resources Expert, Transcontinental Publishing) states: “There is a lot of value in having a cover letter…But it shouldn’t be generic. Tailor it to the job you are applying for and your own experience…“.


The first impression a recruiter forms of you comes from your cover letter. Don’t give the wrong impression by writing your cover letter in a hurry, failing to focus on the value it represents. A poorly written, skimpy, or boring letter could immediately end up in the blue box.


Instead, have a plan. When writing the cover letter, always think about answering the employer’s question “Why should I hire you?”. Sell your experience, education, skills, and abilities — your unique assets. Cite specific examples pertinent to each job you’re applying for (ie. if they’re looking for a Sales Manager, provide examples in your career where you increased sales by X% or $xxx,xxx). If you have a great recommendation from a client or superior, or won a pertinent company or industry award, include that information as well.


Be consistent, ensure the message relayed in your cover letter supports the information contained in your resume. A great cover letter entices the recruiters interest in wanting to learn more about you, either by reading your resume or calling for an initial phone interview. So, when writing your cover letter, spending sufficient time upfront to plan your wording specific to each job and selling your value, will help to expedite the job search process by creating an attractive and informative first impression.


If you’re uncomfortable with writing or bragging about yourself, hire a professional Resume Writer who knows how to make you and your talents stand out. It’s a wise investment in your future


Here are 7 sure-fire ways to bring a little happiness into your life right now and beat the autumn gloom.

BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE.

BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE.



By.Nauman Syed.


Have you ever experienced the feeling, the rush, and the passion of being part of a winning team that is contributing and aligned to the organization’s vision, values and goals? There’s a buzz of enthusiasm, creativity, energy, camaraderie, teamwork and above all a real sense of purpose. One visit to the world famous Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, WA and you’ll get it. At the very core of their philosophy is empowerment; the astounding creativity, productivity and profitability that erupts when leaders are willing to be wholly committed to empowering their employees. Over the course of my career I’ve been a part of such a team and organization where leaders bring out the best in their people as part of the overall strategic plan.


So how do great leaders bring out the best in their people? After all, business is all about making money, right? It’s about speed, bottom line, efficiency, cost, etc. Who can argue with that? However, equally true and vital for long term, sustainable results are direction, vision, principles, purpose and effectiveness. In other words it’s about people and leadership. From my professional experience and from the mentorship I received throughout my career, bringing out the best in people is accomplished through a journey of vision, clarity, transparency, creativity and recognition.


Creating a vision. The vision connects what customers care about to what the organization is passionate about giving. As mentioned in my last post, great leaders empower people to discover something the organization can be great at, something the organization can be passionate about and something the organization should focus on to maximize profitability. The vision is a view of what can be and what will be. The key is linking the vision to an inspiring, motivating direction and purpose shared by all who are involved. Involving the team to answer the questions … how will we get there? what will we do when we get there? how will we act while we get there? is a great way to gain commitment and it directly affects how organizations secure buy-in to achieve its mission.


Creating organizational clarity. Ensuring that the whole system is working together and supporting the vision. This isn’t about slogans on the wall or flavour of the month vision statements. It is about leadership that fundamentally agrees on the core values, structure, people, processes, goals, metrics, communication, decisions, rewards, and concepts that drive the vision. It is about leaders that walk the talk and constantly model and reinforce what is important to the organization. Organizational clarity provides employees at all levels with a common understanding, vocabulary and more importantly, it empowers teams with a true sense of autonomy and confidence.


Cascading the message. An environment of transparency is critical. Information flows and cascades repeatedly and simplistically throughout the organization so that all employees within every department remain aware, engaged, involved and committed. Goals and metrics that support the vision are communicated throughout the organization in various mediums, from daily departmental meetings to structured Town Hall meetings. Smaller group meetings are held throughout the organization to solve problems or come up with continuous improvement ideas. With this, employees share a common purpose and direction, know where the company is going and more importantly, know how they contribute to the success of the organization.


Unleashing the creativity. No matter the industry, give your teams the leadership they need to get started; a goal, a timetable and let them get to it. The engagement, input and accountability of your teams is invaluable to drive the overall vision and the goals that support it. You will be amazed at the level of talent, ability, creativity and enthusiasm that is inherent in your teams. It is up to leadership to be patient, and to believe in the potential of their people. Different people develop at different rates and the best leaders are always on the lookout for hidden capacities.


Reinforcing and recognizing. Create systems and procedures that reinforce the behavioural model valued by the organization. This includes the hiring process, the succession planning process, the performance appraisal process, the performance management process and the recognition process. Celebrate successes, take time to recognize the achievements and reinforce the vision constantly. The true value of bringing out the best in people is accelerated when the whole system is aligned to the vision. In other words, common purpose, common direction, common values and leadership that walks the talk consistently, everyday.


So how did Toyota rise from humble beginnings to a thriving global giant? According to David Magee, author of How Toyota Became #1 , Toyota’s amazing twenty five year run was achieved by respecting their people and by maintaining a focus on a business structure that encourages every employee to be actively engaged to pursue the organization’s vision and goals. This is why Toyota not only produces great cars, but also great leaders. Toyota’s management philosophy is focussed on maximizing the strengths of their employees instead of criticizing their weaknesses. Magee goes onto say that Toyota leadership expect their employees to go beyond what they are told and be creative in building quality into the process.


Bringing out the best in people is, without a doubt, the competitive edge for sustainable long term results of successful organizations.

उ सेलेक्ट थे सर्विसेस उ want

The U-Select offers a consultancy service to all types and sizes of organisations throughout Pakistan. We recruit for permanent and contract senior appointments and specialise within Sales,Marketing,Finance,Accounting,I.T
Mission:
Our strength lies in our ability to fully understand and empathise with the needs of both clients and candidates. We endeavour to fill the right jobs with the right people 100% of the time. Our specialty lies in taking the hassle out of our clients’ recruitment processes and providing them with quality candidates swiftly and discreetly through a recruitment process designed to meet their exact requirementsDo you wish that there were more than one of you to get everything done? Have U-Select take care of any or all your HR needs. Whether it is a specific HR project (perhaps an HR Audit) or to outsource part or ALL of HR, we can help. We PARTNER with you to provide solutions to your HR needs through services such as creating retention programs, handbooks or policies, outsource recruitings, compensations, contingency placements and more! Just tell us what your needs are and we’ll customize our services just for you!A business can become entangled in a complex web of tax rules and regulations . We can help align your tax strategies with your business needs, meeting compliance obligations wherever they arise. Multinational organizations now face more and more demands from different jurisdictions as individual authorities endeavor to collect taxes on cross-border activities.At. U-Select, we believe that dedicated international tax professionals are best equipped to tackle these demands, as well as uncover planning opportunities that can lead to enhanced financial performance. Broad capabilities. Our professionals focus on the critical field of transfer pricing, providing services ranging from comprehensive supply chain restructuring to transfer pricing planning to controversy management to aiding in compliance with documentation requirements.
Products:
1. Quality service, tailored to your requirements. 2. Value for money with competitive charges. 3. Satisfaction in the service offered or your money returned. 4. Qualified Staff to do the exact job required. 5. In-depth interviewing of all registrants, in order to provide a personal profile with each CV submitted. 6. Reference checking of all applicants. 7. Testing in the appropriate skill field. 8. Monitoring of temporary staff work standards