The Perils of Online Posting

I was captivated by a CNN interview with an unemployed father named Eric Bell. Mr. Bell was laid off last spring and immediately took the shotgun approach to job hunting that I passionately argue against. As a mid-level manager with a solid employment history, Eric figured he'd simply post his resume online, send out a few hard copies, and wait for the job offers to come rolling in.

They never did (and I'm here to tell you that they rarely do).

What Eric Bell found out the hard way is what Nick Corcodilos (AsktheHeadhunter.com) has been telling us for years: only about 3-4% of jobs are filled by the big online engines like Monster, The Ladders, Career Builder, and others. True, posting your resume online is an essential tool in your job search toolbox; unfortunately, most of us believe that job searching begins and ends in cyberspace.

Oh, if it were only that simple. Many of my clients wait weeks and months for that job offer to materialize, and then they come to me. I'm usually the first person to point out to them the realities of job searching in today's complex and extremely competitive job market and that a comprehensive job search strategy is the fastest and most effective route to job search success.

In Eric Bell's case, I was impressed that he recognized the need to change his job search strategy and hit upon the optimal approach on his own; as Eric put it in his CNN interview, he stopped taking the shotgun approach and began an active (or targeted) job search campaign.

The Active Job Search
Posting your resume online is today's equivalent of pulling out the phone book and mailing your resume to every company in town. It's like shooting a shotgun into the air and hoping that one of the pellets lands on your target. It is far more effective to target and research companies, understand their needs and challenges, recognize the value you offer those companies, and target your sales pitch to their exact needs.

Sure, starting up a targeted job search is more time consuming than uploading your resume, clicking a button, and instantly distributing your resume to 1000 companies. But factor in the fact that less than 5 in 100 jobs will be filled this way, and that those 5 jobs will have hundreds -if not thousands- of applicants vying for the same position, and it's obvious which approach renders better results.

By targeting your sales pitch to select companies (preferably, companies whose views and culture you share), you will distinguish yourself among the thousands of other qualified candidates, you'll offer value that is directly aligned with your target company's needs, and you'll be able to express the immediate impact that you and only can deliver. In the end, your targeted job search will net you better and faster results and land you the right job with the right company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_R._Morris

Corporate Taxation - Singapore Vs Hong Kong

A key determinant for setting up a business in a given jurisdiction is the tax regime in force. In this regard, both Hong Kong and Singapore boast of being one of the lowest tax jurisdictions in the world. Detailed below is a comparative overview of the tax system in Singapore Vs HK.

Tax jurisdiction

Singapore

• Taxes are levied on a territorial principle i.e. companies and individuals are taxed on Singapore sourced income.
• Foreign sourced income (branch profits, dividends, service income, etc.) will be taxed when it is remitted or deemed remitted into Singapore unless the income was already subjected to taxes in a jurisdiction with headline tax rates of at least 15%.

Hong Kong

• Taxes are levied on the territorial principle i.e. only on income "derived from or arising in" HK and not on income sourced outside the SAR.
• No tax is levied on profits arising abroad, even if they are remitted to Hong Kong.

Corporate Tax Rate

• Singapore: Current corporate income tax rate - 18%. However, corporate income tax rate effective 2010 - 17%. Note: The effective tax rate is much lower - below 9% for profits up to SGD 300,000 and capped at 18% for profits above SGD 300,000
• Hong Kong: Current corporate income tax rate - 16.5%

Goods and Services Tax (known as VAT/Sales tax in other countries)

• Singapore: 7%
• Hong Kong: Nil

Capital gains tax

• Singapore and Hong Kong: Nil (Capital loss expenses are correspondingly not allowed as deductions)

Group relief for losses

• Singapore: Allowed
• HK: Not allowed

Withholding tax

• Singapore: Interest, royalties, rentals from movable properties, management and technical fees, and director's fees paid to non-residents (individuals or companies) are subject to withholding tax. There is no withholding tax levied on dividends.
• Hong Kong: Royalties, rentals from movable properties, and fees paid to non-resident entertainers or sportsmen for their performances in Hong Kong are subject to withholding tax. There are no withholding taxes levied on dividends and interest.

Double Tax Agreements

• Singapore: More than 50 bilateral comprehensive tax treaties
• HK: DTA network of 37 treaties

Tax Year

• Singapore: 1 January - 31 December
• HK: 1 April - 31 March

Filing tax returns

Singapore:

• Tax returns along with audited accounts must be filed with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore by 31 October each year.
• Note: Dormant companies (i.e no accounting transactions for the financial year) and exempt private companies (not more than 20 shareholders and shares are not held by another company) with an annual turnover of less than SGD 5 million are exempt from audit requirements and can file unaudited accounts.

Hong Kong

• Tax returns along with audited accounts must be filed with the Inland Revenue Department by 31 April each year. The auditor must be a member of the HK Institute of Certified Public Accountants and must hold a practicing certificate.
• Note: Dormant companies (i.e no accounting transactions for the financial year) and small corporations (i.e total gross income does not exceed HKD 500,000) are exempt from audit requirements and can file unaudited accounts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Jain

Comparison of Electro-Hydraulic Automation to Conventional Electric

Selection of appropriate electro-hydraulic valves and components depends upon the specific application and its system configuration. Type of fluid, force and pressure requirements, valve response, and other factors will affect system operation. For instance, seal compatibility must be considered with fluid type due to the temperature range of the operation and its subsequent viscosity effects. Additionally, lower lifecycle costs and higher output can be achieved with an understanding of the differences between electro-hydraulic power and traditional electromechanical devices. Precise control and smooth motion of large force applications call for fluid power, so the proper selection and sizing of hydraulic system components can lead to distinct advantages over traditional electric applications.

Electro-hydraulic Versus Electric Motors

Rotational motion can be handled adequately by electric motors. Cheaper and easier to control than hydraulics, conventional electric motors are suitable for linear force applications, quick direction changes, and light loads with few axes. Electro-hydraulic actuators, controls, and valves offer several advantages, however.

Electro-hydraulic controls are capable of moving and lifting heavy loads at slow speeds without the braking or gearing required in electric motors. They also produce less heat and consume less space than electric motors, in many cases. Concerning sizing, electro-hydraulics are sized by their average loads, whereas electrics must be sized by their maximum loads. For these reasons, electro-hydraulic pumps are of benefit with varying loads and directions, while the electric version make more sense in non-varying load situations with continuous motion, such as applications involving conveyor belts.

Electro-hydraulic controls may be located remotely, allowing weight and noise to be non-issues in applications which may concern them. The non-hydraulic motors, on the other hand, are typically located directly on the motion axis or in close proximity. The controls also have the advantage of holding constant pressure without the application of additional energy. Driving electric motors, in comparison, to apply constant torque can result in overheating. As in most things mechanical, understanding system requirements and limitations can be the key to unlocking many inherent benefits.

Electro-hydraulic Advantages

The choice of drive for power sources offers electro-hydraulic system designers many options. Key applications for industry can benefit from electro-hydraulic automation and control. Tuning tools and software are widely available to optimize throughput quickly and efficiently, in order to deliver increased production, longer machine life, and improved quality over many applications currently handled by electric motors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Wendland