A Review on Career and Life Lessons from Nelson Mandela

The late Nelson Mandela is one great influence of Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia. The world grieves and ruminates on one of the greatest leaders of our generation; he influenced people all over the world more especially to every SE country such as KL Malaysia, Bangkok Thailand, Jakarta Indonesia and many more. He lived his 27 years in prison for antagonism to apartheid prior to becoming South Africa’s first black leader. His spirit, sacrifice and honest devotion to the freedom of each and every one are a legacy that will live on forever.

Nelson Mandela had a deep wisdom that inspired lives. He was in a class all to his own. His truly modest nature charmed each person he met. Bill Clinton once said that, “Every time Nelson Mandela walks into a room we all feel a little bigger, we all want to stand up, we all want to cheer, because we’d like to be him on our best day.” Will Smith said “that just a few moments with someone like Nelson Mandela just fills you with so much inspiration and desire to commit to something that is so much bigger than yourself.”

While Nelson Mandela was so many things, to so many people, he left us with invaluable business, career and life lessons that will stand the test of time. To honor such a great man, we leave you with some of his words of wisdom:

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”
“It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea.” “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” “Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.”
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart.”
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
“Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity.”

Nelson Mandela is really an inspiration to each and every one of us. The lone honor worthy of such an iconic character is to yield his words to our core heart and pick up from them. Nelson Mandela will always be the meaning of true greatness.

The three things that employers want to see in your resume

Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia advice: what employers want to see in your resume?

That you care about the job you’re actually applying for

The initial thing an employer would see is if your resume is pertinent to the job that they are hiring for. How close do you live, is it sensible to commute? Does your title diligently fit the job? Make certain that you have fitted the manner you define your skills, experience and accomplishments to determine how they can take advantage of the job you’re applying for. Employers would not like to guess how your qualifications apply to their role. You have to make it clear.

That you have the qualifications to do the job

Employers often have complaints that the most of resumes they receive for their jobs are from applicants who merely don’t fit to do the job. Exceedingly numerous individuals believe that they can upsurge their probabilities of getting hired by applying to more jobs but it doesn’t work like that. Chances of being hired don’t occur by luck.

You raise your odds of getting hired by distributing out relevant, shaped resumes precisely to jobs that you fit for and would really like to do. Always review it many times before sending. You do not require meeting 100% of the requirements that job postings ask for, employers have been known to expand the qualifications required for positions to a ‘wish-list’.

Warning! Be certain that you have as a minimum 75% of the requirements asked for. Present them in easy-to-read sentences and bullet points, and emphasize your past accomplishments to demonstrate how you are a stand-out candidate who can outshine at the job.

That you have common sense

How will you make an impression to your work ethic or attention to detail, if you are sending in a resume to highlight your qualifications for a job, and that resume is riddled with typos or grammatical errors?

Never make employers have to work hard just to see what they’re searching for. Make sure to format your resume all in the same font in a presentable and easy-to-read layout. Include only information that is significant to the job you’re applying for.

Make it concise but it doesn’t really matter if your resume is one page or two as long as what is there is persuasive and helps shape the circumstance for your candidacy.

Warning! Don’t trust anyone under 30 at work

Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia finds this very interesting, how true is the study? Does it vary from ones culture and tradition, from people of the U.S. in the west to the people of Jakarta, Indonesia in SE?

You are older than thirty years old and you have immediately made friends with the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 22-year-old intern, you got yourself thinking you have the power to take him/her under your wing and later on tutor him/her the controls of the ways to navigate this eccentric professional world?

According to a study you must think twice. You must not trust him/her. At the first chance of a promotion S/he’ll sure to throw you under the bus. There have been many complaints recorded.

This is according the Relationships @Work study by LinkedIn, which says that more than two thirds (68%) of Millennials would sacrifice a friendship with a colleague for the sake of a promotion. By contrast, 58% of Baby Boomers say they wouldn’t even think of doing such a thing.

According to the Financial Post, LinkedIn spokesperson Kathleen Kahlon says the findings suggest Millennials have to claw their way to the top from their junior positions, and are quite willing to do so.

“The Millennials may feel they have to scrape ahead to get that coveted job and they’re going to do anything they can to do that,” she says.

The review of the study also found that one third of Millennials, vs only 5% of Boomers, say friendships help them advance their careers. One more verdict is that half of Millennials have certainly no problems regarding revealing their salary figures with co-workers, resulting to leave managers in the uncomfortable position of having to justify salary gaps. Sixty-nine per cent of Boomers, meanwhile, say sharing this information is a no no.

LinkedIn tweeted the stat about Millennials being basically evil:

But the infographic they created about the study makes no mention of that finding. Instead, it focuses on work friendships being super-awesome.

Amusingly, the Post reports that the study demonstrates Millennials do still value workplace relationships, with 78% – vs 28% of boomers – articulating the chance to socialize in-person with co-workers makes their place of work healthier.

What to do when your jobs a nightmare

Review your steps. There are three elucidations why this might have occurred: You were deceived, the job was a gamble right from the start otherwise you weren’t paying attention during the hiring process. It probably wasn’t the first reason, though – bait-and-switch job offers are the exception, not the rule, says Andrea Kay, career consultant and author of “Work’s a Bitch and then You Make it Work: 6 Steps to Go From Pissed Off to Powerful ”​ If you signed an employment contract that stipulated your job responsibilities and qualifications would be different, then you could claim there has been a breach of contract, but Kay says this loophole is more likely to occur in senior-level positions, if ever at all.​​

Talk to your boss. There is nothing more appropriate way to solve a problem than talking about it, says Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia. This is delicate, but if there’s any chance you might improve your current situation, your first step is to swing by your manager's​ office. “There are many outcomes you could ask for,” says Susie Moore, a life coach in New York City​. “You could ask for different work assignments, a new reporting structure, the possibility of moving to a different team entirely. Think carefully and know what you want before you ask, but remember that opportunities lay dormant if you don’t explore them.” Moore also emphasizes that your options depend on your manager, your role, the size of the company and your experience level.

Take a mulligan. Warning, in some cases, the tweaking needed is a new job. Conventional job-searching wisdom suggests you wait a respectable 12 to 18 months before jumping ship, and it's not wise to leave a trail of job hopping on your résumé. But if you’re truly miserable, begin your search again immediately. You could think of your predicament one of two ways, Moore says. “One way is from a résumé and LinkedIn perspective, where oh my gosh, it’s obvious you only worked a job for nine months,” she says. “The second way is to remember this is your life and your time on the planet. You shouldn’t spend too much time doing something that simply isn’t working for you.” ​​

Own your decision. If you hit the interview circuit, prep for the common interview question: “Why did you leave your last job?” If it’s an abrupt or quick change, then of course a new hiring manager will want to know why. Moore recommends honesty. “Lean toward the positive,” she says. “Something like, ‘The opportunity ultimately wasn’t right for me. I wanted something more in line with my skills and passion, and I hope they find someone more suitable for the role.’ What you don’t want to say is, ‘My manager was a fright show, and I had to leave.’"

Stand to your own culture and traditions. If you are working abroad, in SE Asia such as Jakarta Indonesia, KL Malaysia and Bangkok Thailand or in the West like in the US, do not forget your own culture and traditions while respecting their own as well.

Social Media Can Also Hurt Your Career

As much of an advantage social media can be to your career as, it can also do harm if you don't use it caringly. While social media becomes the cutting-edge branding strategy, networking technique, job seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, at the same time it is becoming the newest method for people to get job offers withdrawn, reprimanded at work and even fired, says Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia. Increasing number of employers are googling job candidates and current employees, and sometimes what they're finding is seriously detrimental.

It's comprehensible to deliberate what you post online is fragment of your personal life and not rather an employer should, or would, concern themselves with. On the other hand, the internet has no firewall between your personal and professional lives. It's all there for any employer who wanted to look. Thus you should at all times ask yourself if what you post is something you'd mind an employer seeing.

The TV test if you have heard of the "TV test" for how professionals should conduct themselves, they magnified. The test inquires, "Would I be comfortable if this opinion, statement, action, behavior, or association were broadcast on national TV (sometimes without context)?" Social media is the evolution of the "TV test"—with potentially ever- lasting results.

The internet is open to public therefore open to everyone to see. What you post on the Internet such as photos, status updates, tweets, blog posts, and comments on other people's blogs are all traceable and is not private, and it leaves a trail. It can and it will impact your reputation. The delete/edit button is a false sense of security, it can deceive you into thinking that it now gone, but the truth is that even the things you think you've removed can be retrieved or live on in search engines.

Don't say it online if you wouldn't say it to your boss. There are job candidates whose online profiles included racial rants, inappropriate photos, political diatribes, and comments about being hungover or playing hooky, these stuff will surely withdrew you from being employed. These are serious red flags for employers, and there's no scarcity of possibly career-damaging booboos, even some by sophisticated social media users

"Privacy settings" aren't fool-proof. While privacy settings can give you the illusion of privacy, they're not infallible. Warning! Proceed at your own risk!

That post might violate company policy. Many employers have social media policies governing what employees are allowed to post on social networks; make sure you are aware of your company's policy!

This is not to scare you off from using social media, this is actually the opposite. It can be a huge boost for your career, how, it is just by making sure you're being considerate about how you use it and understand the positive and negative implications of how you use social networks.

Get hired despite being overqualified

There are probably numerous whys and wherefores you’re looking for a job, may it be locally or internationally. Perhaps you had dreams of working in the city of Jakarta Indonesia or in Sydney Australia, wherever you please, qualifications are always a must. Are you a fresh graduate or maybe you were laid off, could it be you’re not happy in your current job or even in your career. In any reason whatsoever, each job search comes with its own set of its ups and downs. One reason could be that you find yourself overqualified for the positions you’re seeking.

Here are four tips to keep in mind if you’re applying for a job that you’re overqualified for, says Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia.

Don’t play down your qualifications. You could be drawn to the thought of ommiting some skills or experiences from your resume if they are more than what’s required for the position you want to apply for, its a warning not to do this. On condition that they are appropriate for the position, your skills will be a benefit to any employer, no matter if they are above and beyond what the job post asks for.

Don’t draw back from a job you’re really interested in. If you’re applying to or interviewing for a job that you are sincerely interested in, don’t let your qualifications refrain you from chasing it. The only reason not to apply is being underqualified is a reason, nonetheless if you meet- or surpass- the minimum requirements, then move forward.

Be ready to explain why you want the job. A potential employer who reviews your resume may contemplate why you are applying for a position if you are obviously overqualified for it. Be prepared to tell them. You should have upright reason for it- either it sounds like something you are passionate about, or you know it’s doing something that will make you content, if you’re applying for the job. Never give the impression that you are desperate and willing to take any job you can get. You must show the employer that you have a good reason for wanting the job.

Be aware of employers’ concerns and be prepared to ease those concerns. If you are overqualified, employers will hesitate to hire you. They might think you won’t be challenged enough or will get bored with the job or eventually you will demand a higher salary or a promotion soon after starting. When you submit your cover letter and during the interview, you must make it clear from the start your reasons why you are applying for the job, that you are mindful you may be overqualified, nevertheless, you understand that your position will require and a good reason for wanting the job.

Being overqualified for a position doesn’t automatically mean you should rule it out of your job search. If you are sincerely interested in the job, and you are eager to take a step back in your career path for of any kind reason, be ready to clarify that to a potential employer. If you think you will be contented with the job, and an employer comprehends the significance you would bring to their company, then it could be a good fit for you and the company.

Foreign investors wait to see who will be president in Indonesia

JAKARTA/TAIPEI - With at least one major company hesitant after a former special forces general made a remarkably strong entry into the fray, billions of dollars in foreign investment center on next month's Indonesian presidential election.

For the next five years of Southeast Asia's largest economy, the July 9 election will decide who will run, it pits popular Jakarta governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo against the ex-general, Prabowo Subianto.

The two favor a more nationalist agenda, reinforced by popular opinions that the economy has for the longest time hinged on selling off its huge natural resources inexpensively to foreign buyers and that past governments have done little to nurture, and protect, local firms.

However Prabowo has looked upon as more viciously nationalistic, while Jokowi is seen as a hands-on, more competent administrator. According to a survey done by Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia, despite Indonesia's large pool of labor, relatively low costs and a growing middle class, many potential investors say they will wait until the election is decided.

Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group is at the top of the list of foreigners with great money to spend, the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer and one of the major suppliers to Apple Inc.

Terry Gou, Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group chairman, did not hide the fact during a visit to Jakarta in February that he liked dealing with Jokowi in deliberations about whether to bring his company's next giant investment to the Indonesian capital.

At the time, there was no complaint and that Jokowi was the clear front-runner in the election. He still is, but Prabowo has since been backed by the powerful Golkar party and opinion polls show the former general is catching up. A large percentage of voters are undecided, one survey has said.

Foreign direct investment in Indonesia was 270.4 trillion rupiah ($23 billion) in 2013, up about 22 percent from the previous year. But growth slowed sharply to 9.8 percent in the first quarter this year, the government has said.

Foxconn, listed as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd in Taiwan, is waiting for the new government to take office in October before deciding whether to go ahead with a $1 billion manufacturing project in Indonesia, a company source had said.

Key sticking points appear to be Foxconn's request for free land in Jakarta and Indonesia's convoluted bureaucracy.

"Regarding the incentives Foxconn has requested, there's no one they can talk to whose decisions will count," said a source with direct knowledge of Foxconn's situation.

"Indonesia is a huge market for Foxconn. Foxconn truly hopes there will be a clear direction in their policies after the election."

Benefits of being bilingual

Being bilingual literally pays off, says Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia. In a room filled with thousands of business executives and you will not probably find many people with the same educational backgrounds, industry experience or job descriptions however around two-thirds of executives will sure to have one thing in common.

Thirty-one percent of executives speak two languages, according to Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia’s poll of more than twelve thousand visitors while another 20 percent speak three languages, 9 percent speak four languages and 4 percent speak more than four.

Companies may conduct business overseas or may grab a larger market share at home, employers are progressively looking out for bilingual workers, or individuals with the aptitude to speak and communicate in over one language. Moreover, the latest CareerBuilder.com keyword search turned up more than 6,000 job postings in search of bilingual applicants. There were no reported complaints.

It is particularly in demand those employees who are bilingual in English and Spanish. According the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos are now the nation's largest minority group, accounting for half of the nation's population growth since April 2001. Even Bahasa Indonesia now is getting popular since, English teaching is highly in demand in Jakarta, Indonesia and other parts of the country.

This group carries big potential for profits. Hispanic buying power reached nearly $700 billion last year, according to estimates by HispanTelligence, a division of Hispanic Business, Inc. That buying power could reach as much as $1 trillion by 2010.

The demand for bilingual workers is most marked in the South and West, where there is the highest concentration of non-English speaking residents.

Employers are willing to pay big to catch and hang onto valuable bilingual workers. On average, bilingual pay differentials range between 5 and 20 percent per hour more than the position's base rate, according to Salary.com.

For instance, government workers in California who hold bilingual positions earn an extra $.58 an hour, according to the state's Department of Personnel Administration Web site. In Washington County, Ore., employees in "bilingual positions" who spend 15-20 percent of their time in "regular and frequent use" of their bilingual skills earn an extra $30 per pay period.

Federal government employees may also see a sizable jump in bilingual pay under a provision of the 2005 Defense Authorization Act. According to the National Association for Bilingual Education, the law approves up to $1,000 in monthly proficiency pay for bilingual active-duty military personnel. Civilians may earn special pay up to 5 percent of their base salary.

Working Mom Tips

Plan Your Own Priorities. There's one word you hear more often when speaking about the technique working mothers make it all happen: balance, says Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia. But Mark Strong, certified career coach, says there's another "b" word that may not be getting enough credit: "Setting boundaries for work and play-and actually sticking to them-is the secret to balance."

Keep Vision of Your Professional Goals. Working moms worry most about they're not playing on a level field with employees without kids. Nevertheless, for the greatest part, the similar guidelines apply. For instance, want a promotion? "Tell them you want the promotion," says Crawford. "Don't beat around the bush-let them know directly about your intentions." And, if your colleagues are able to work more flexible schedules than you are, that doesn't automatically make them more qualified: "Keep your skills sharp and look for new ways to contribute," says Good. "Find imaginative ways to get the job done." Your bosses know that, if they pass you over for the promotion, there's a chance you'll leave-and they won't want to risk losing an asset: "Why trade a valuable known for an unknown?"

Know Your Environment. Companies that truly support working mothers consider the little things, like a comfortable lactation room, Gerberg says. And Crawford takes it even farther: "Your peers and boss [should be sympathetic] when you have to leave to pick up your children at school or take them to the doctor-and you shouldn't have to fear you're jeopardizing your job," she explains. Before joining a company in the first place, she says, "Meet everyone you'll be working with and ask them to describe the corporate culture." Hint: Any references to flex time, generous maternity leave policies, and mothers in leadership positions are good signs.

Make the most of Your Time. Time management! More especially if you’re working overseas like SE Asian cities like KL Malaysia, Jakarta Indonesia or Bangkok Thailand. Make the most of it when you are with your kids--"fully connecting" with them, you’re your computer and phone off!--and, odds are, you'll feel less "mom guilt" when you can't be with them, explains Crawford. She also suggests planning ahead: "Make meals in advance as much as possible so, when you get home, you can spend time with your kids, not slaving away in the kitchen."

Count Your Blessings and have no complaints. You have a job, an income to support your family. For most working mothers, that's what we need to focus on--even if only because it has to be. But if not, remember that your current situation doesn't have to be permanent. You can ultimately use it to find a new job, ideally one that's more family-friendly.

And our experts say that's not all. If feeling pulled in too many directions, "embrace and celebrate that everyone wants more time with you," says Strong. And Gerberg agrees, referring to the target mindset as an "attitude of gratitude." While that sometimes feels much easier said than done, she says: "Remember to put on your own oxygen mask first because, if you take care of yourself, you can take better care of others."

Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia: Successful Career Assessment

The keys to successful career assessment are these simple rules and guidelines. You should achieve success in this career and vocational self-discovery process.

Do be mindful that assessments are accessible to help guide you to the right career for you. A competent career counselor can administer, score, and interpret these assessments. There are many free career assessments likewise are available on the Internet, however many experts doubt their trustworthiness.

Do compare online career assessments to perceive which ones will suit your needs.

Do keep your outlooks in check when you take free online assessments. You may reach some direction and guidance from these tests, nonetheless don't be too dependent on them for magic answers.

Don't discount the leeway that these free online assessments might advise you some career ideas and directions you had not ever assumed of and that are valued further assessment.

Do take numerous various assessments to aid you acquire more about yourself and to help you regulate which tests provide the most steadfast results for you.

Do print out and remember the results of the assessments you take online. Compare results, and understand if you can see patterns -- a "career snapshot" – starting to materialize.

Do trust your instinct. If a free online assessment conveys you something about yourself that doesn't appear to be true, disdain that information.

Don't depend on free online assessments only for self-discovery and career guidance. It’s a warning. Meet with a career counselor; college students and alumni typically have free or cheap access to counselors.

Do use career assessments with a selection of other self-discovery activities, like observing your strengths and weaknesses and the activities you enjoy the most and enjoy the least.

Do have fun taking career assessments. Self-discovery is almost always an enlightening and often entertaining process.

Do manage to travel, visit SE Asia, Jakarta or Bali in Indonesia, Dublin or Amsterdam in Europe. Find time to travel.

Westhill Consulting & Employment