guardian.co.uk, Thursday 21 July 2011 10.00 BST
Never leave an employer feeling the company is just one of many you are applying to: With competition for jobs at a premium, interviewees should ensure their answers to interview questions stand out. Avoid poorly-targeted and bland replies. Each organisation sees itself as unique and wishes to project its own identity, so never leave an employer feeling it is just one of many companies to which you are applying. Having made it clear what you admire about the company, explain how you meet its requirements and could contribute wholeheartedly to meeting its goals. Tailoring your replies in this way injects a personal touch that is convincing and brings results.
Antonia Clark is a Careers Adviser at London South Bank University
Israel's unemployment rate at all-time low
The unemployment rate has been steadily falling since the beginning of the year, from 6.1% in January to 5.7% in May.
Israel's unemployment continued to fall in May 2011, reaching 5.7% of the civilian labor force in trend figures - an all-time low, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today.
In absolute terms, the number of unemployed was 183,000. The previous low point was an unemployment rate of 5.9% in May-August 2008. The figures clearly show that the unemployment rate has been steadily falling since the beginning of 2011, from 6.1% in January to 5.7% in May.
The Bank of Israel recently commented on the encouraging labor market figures, saying that the economy was nearing full employment. This means that most of the civilian labor force that wants to work is working. For the economy to continue to grow and realize its growth potential, new working populations, which have not wanted to work until now, will have to join the labor force, i.e. an increase in participation in the labor force.
The nearing of full employment also mean that the labor shortage will increase employees' bargaining power, which could put pressure on salaries. This has not yet been seen, and salaries in real terms are still flat.
Israel's unemployment continued to fall in May 2011, reaching 5.7% of the civilian labor force in trend figures - an all-time low, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today.
In absolute terms, the number of unemployed was 183,000. The previous low point was an unemployment rate of 5.9% in May-August 2008. The figures clearly show that the unemployment rate has been steadily falling since the beginning of 2011, from 6.1% in January to 5.7% in May.
The Bank of Israel recently commented on the encouraging labor market figures, saying that the economy was nearing full employment. This means that most of the civilian labor force that wants to work is working. For the economy to continue to grow and realize its growth potential, new working populations, which have not wanted to work until now, will have to join the labor force, i.e. an increase in participation in the labor force.
The nearing of full employment also mean that the labor shortage will increase employees' bargaining power, which could put pressure on salaries. This has not yet been seen, and salaries in real terms are still flat.
Unemployment hits 25.7% in Pretoria
The unemployment rate increased to 25.7 percent between the first and second quarters of 2011, Statistics SA says.
“The unemployment rate increased by 0.7 of a percentage point from 25 percent in the first quarter of 2011,” Peter Buwembo, acting executive manager of labour statistics told reporters in Pretoria.
He was speaking at the release of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2011 which showed that unemployment levels increased by 174,000 people to 4,538,000 people in the second quarter.
Buwembo said the increase in unemployment was driven by people previously classified as inactive in the job market now seeking employment.
The increase in unemployment was thus not a result of job losses.
"If you don't look for work, you are inactive," he said.
This meant total employment was virtually unchanged at 13,125,000 people in the second quarter – an increase of 7000 jobs from the first quarter.
Total employment in the formal sector declined by 21,000 jobs from the first to the second quarter of 2011.
However, when comparing the second quarter of 2011 to the same period last year, employment in the formal sector increased by 110,000 jobs.
Jobs in the informal, non-agricultural sector were up by 34,000 to 9,198,000 jobs in the second quarter from the first.
However, the informal sector showed year-on-year growth of 27,000 jobs from the second quarter of 2010.
Of the 4,538,000 unemployed people in the second quarter, 3,093,000 had been unemployed for a year or longer.
Buwembo said those with an education level of less than a matric made up the highest percentage of the unemployed at 59 percent.
The expanded unemployment rate – which refers to people of working age without work and available to start work that week but who had not looked for work in the four weeks before the interview – rose from 36.5 percent to 36.9 percent from quarter one to two of 2011.
Under the expanded definition, 7,678,000 people were unemployed, rather than the 4,538,000 unemployed under the tighter definition.
Under the tighter definition, those classified as unemployed had to have looked for a job in the four weeks prior to the interview.
“The unemployment rate increased by 0.7 of a percentage point from 25 percent in the first quarter of 2011,” Peter Buwembo, acting executive manager of labour statistics told reporters in Pretoria.
He was speaking at the release of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2011 which showed that unemployment levels increased by 174,000 people to 4,538,000 people in the second quarter.
Buwembo said the increase in unemployment was driven by people previously classified as inactive in the job market now seeking employment.
The increase in unemployment was thus not a result of job losses.
"If you don't look for work, you are inactive," he said.
This meant total employment was virtually unchanged at 13,125,000 people in the second quarter – an increase of 7000 jobs from the first quarter.
Total employment in the formal sector declined by 21,000 jobs from the first to the second quarter of 2011.
However, when comparing the second quarter of 2011 to the same period last year, employment in the formal sector increased by 110,000 jobs.
Jobs in the informal, non-agricultural sector were up by 34,000 to 9,198,000 jobs in the second quarter from the first.
However, the informal sector showed year-on-year growth of 27,000 jobs from the second quarter of 2010.
Of the 4,538,000 unemployed people in the second quarter, 3,093,000 had been unemployed for a year or longer.
Buwembo said those with an education level of less than a matric made up the highest percentage of the unemployed at 59 percent.
The expanded unemployment rate – which refers to people of working age without work and available to start work that week but who had not looked for work in the four weeks before the interview – rose from 36.5 percent to 36.9 percent from quarter one to two of 2011.
Under the expanded definition, 7,678,000 people were unemployed, rather than the 4,538,000 unemployed under the tighter definition.
Under the tighter definition, those classified as unemployed had to have looked for a job in the four weeks prior to the interview.
Panel Discussion - A Career in the Arts
A panel talks to Loyola University New Orleans students about the pitfalls and rewards of having a career in the arts
Panel Discussion - A Career in the Arts from Loyola University on Vimeo.
Credits: Loyola University
Panel Discussion - A Career in the Arts from Loyola University on Vimeo.
Credits: Loyola University
Predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors
Washington: As another US university came under the scanner, the United States asked Indian students to be alert to the existence of "predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors."
"We are looking into this matter, we're following the case closely, and we're in communication with the Government of India officials on it," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Friday, a day after a raid on the University of Northern Virginia.
Based in Annandale, a Washington suburb, the unaccredited, for-profit private university has some 2,400 students of which 90 percent are from India, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, registered at three locations in northern Virginia.
The US embassy in New Delhi has briefed the Ministry of External Affairs and the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have been in contact with the Indian Embassy here, Toner said.
Declining to give details as an investigation is ongoing, the spokesman said "it's important to note that a hundred thousand Indians are receiving a good education at certified US institutions each year, and we certainly welcome the contribution of Indian students wishing to study in the United States."
"And of course, as always, we caution them to be alert to the existence of these so-called predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors," he said.
Asked how US consulates or embassies in India issued visas for study at such institutions, Toner again declined comment in view of "an ongoing investigation".
"They've taken action against this school, and we're in close coordination with the Indian Government as we move forward. But beyond that, I don't want to comment on details," he said.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has warned the Northern Virginia University that it could withdraw the school's authorisation to admit foreign students.
Agency Spokesperson Cori Bassett, however, would not say why the action was taken, saying it is part of a pending investigation. The school remains open and certified and will have the chance to rebut the government's allegations.
"We are looking into this matter, we're following the case closely, and we're in communication with the Government of India officials on it," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Friday, a day after a raid on the University of Northern Virginia.
Based in Annandale, a Washington suburb, the unaccredited, for-profit private university has some 2,400 students of which 90 percent are from India, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, registered at three locations in northern Virginia.
The US embassy in New Delhi has briefed the Ministry of External Affairs and the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have been in contact with the Indian Embassy here, Toner said.
Declining to give details as an investigation is ongoing, the spokesman said "it's important to note that a hundred thousand Indians are receiving a good education at certified US institutions each year, and we certainly welcome the contribution of Indian students wishing to study in the United States."
"And of course, as always, we caution them to be alert to the existence of these so-called predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors," he said.
Asked how US consulates or embassies in India issued visas for study at such institutions, Toner again declined comment in view of "an ongoing investigation".
"They've taken action against this school, and we're in close coordination with the Indian Government as we move forward. But beyond that, I don't want to comment on details," he said.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has warned the Northern Virginia University that it could withdraw the school's authorisation to admit foreign students.
Agency Spokesperson Cori Bassett, however, would not say why the action was taken, saying it is part of a pending investigation. The school remains open and certified and will have the chance to rebut the government's allegations.
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