Archives December 2006

Guangdong bank’s new man

MICHAEL G. Zink, the former head of Citibank Korea, has been named the new president of Guangdong Development Bank.

Guangdong’s former president quit after a Citigroup-led consortium won a US$3.1 billion bidding war on the lender.

Zink, a Citigroup veteran with 19 years’ experience in the United States firm, has had corporate banking and executive management roles in New York, Cote d’lvoire, Gabon, Tunisia, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, and South Korea.

Citigroup has six seats on the 16-seat board of the lender in China’s southern commercial hub. One is an independent executive.

The appointments were approved at a board meeting on Monday, Citigroup said yesterday.

Citigroup, the biggest US financial firm, and its partners, won out against Paris-based Societe Generale SA, and Ping An Insurance (Group) Co in the 18-month-long race for a combined 85.6 percent stake in Guangdong Development Bank.

The New York financial services company, China Life, State Grid and CITIC Trust and Investment Co each holds 20 percent, while IBM holds another 4.74 percent and Guangdong Finance Investment Holding, an investment arm of the Guangdong government, holds 0.85 percent.

The bidding money was injected into Guangdong bank, the country’s 11th-biggest lender, yesterday.

Citigroup says it will help improve the internal governance, risk management, introduce lending expertise, and upgrade technological infrastructure.

“There’s lots of restructuring to be done in the future to make the lender a globally competitive one,” said the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

Guangdong bank is a test case for banking reform as regulators allowed the bank to sell a majority stake to private investors to ease its debt burden.

Zhang Guanghua, the former president, quit last Monday. He was reported to have joined China Merchants Bank.

Production Manager

Company introduction:
Our client is in a leading position today in Europ and the export market is developing positively. By focusing on design, function, flexibility and energy-saving solutions, they are creating the light fittings of the future. The manufactory center in China is developing very fast and more product lines will be transferred to China. They will give good opportunities for the experienced and potential talents here.

Responsibilities:
1.Be in charge of production, facility maintenance, products engineering and production planning ;
2.Drive quality improvement and on-time delivery. To supervise employees to attain the required standard of quality, quantity and delivery.
3.Review production manpower requirements and balance production lines efficiency to meet production plan and delivery requirements. To control and coordinate employees to reach the optimal utilization of personnel and material;
Ensure the manufacturing performance meets the requirements of the customer by improving production procedures, EHS performance, product process, and people management.
Control and reduce production cost while improving quality by training programs, cross training of operators, process improvement, etc.
4.Contribute to the overall company performance by active participation as part of the management team by daily communication with GM, suppliers and other departments
5.Bring 5S into effective and monitor daily performance of workshop
6.Build up a strong team of production by coaching and development of all staffs in production department

Requirements:
1.Bachelor degree majored in Mechanical, Electrical, Engineering or relevant
2.At least 8 years of manufacturing experience including minimum 3-5 years in managerial position in foreign manufacturing company. Experienced in lean production is preferred.
Professional leadership, teamwork and good communication skills
3.Strong analytical, organizational and panning skill required
Good command of English both spoken and written.
4.Cooperate with other departments and other Companies in the Group. And can do many things at the same time
5.Work well under pressure, quality conscious, a forceful (dynamic) personality.

* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English) to: ‘topjob_mn116sh@dacare.com’

One Click to a New Job

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just press a button and find a great new job? With all the job search tools available online, you can. New opportunities are only a mouse click away in cyberspace. The only problem is the competition can be tough with so many other space travelers taking advantage of the Internet to market themselves to potential employers. The key to success when responding to online job postings is using the right strategies to break out the pack and get noticed.

An estimated 80 percent of companies use technology to help scan resumes and store the data in keyword-searchable databases for future use. So how does a computer decide who stays and who goes? In simple terms – keywords! These electronic processing systems are designed to seek out resumes that contain specific keywords chosen by the recruiter.

What are the right keywords for the job you are seeking? You’ll need to spend some time researching job postings and help wanted ads for jobs that are closely associated with or nearly a perfect fit for your experience. Read as many job postings and job descriptions as you can find and start writing down words that you see over and over again. Then, incorporate these words into your resume(s) and cover letter(s).

For example, a recruiter is looking to hire someone to work in his manufacturing plant. He also needs the employee to operate the company’s computer tracking system and conduct quality assurance testing. He will likely choose the following words to seek out applicants: Manufacturing; Computer; Quality Assurance.

The inclusion of these keywords is important, but make sure not to overdo it. Today’s scanning technology is advanced and programmed to identify resumes that appear to duplicate a company’s job posting. If you basically cut and paste a job posting into your resume, it will not be considered and your name will remain in the company’s system in the red flag file. It is better to pepper in keywords as they relate to your experience.

After the initial screening by the computer, recruiters take over and begin reviewing resumes for qualified candidates. Primarily, they will look for relevant experience and qualifications. That is why it’s important to highlight your accomplishments up front.

One happily employed Public Relations executive suggests throwing out the window any humble thoughts and hushing that inner voice that says you are bragging. Start your cover letter with a clear statement outlining your skills and abilities and try to put a different spin on your communications to stand out. For instance, her cover letter opens with: “Communications expertise. Results-driven media strategy. Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously…there are just some of the benefits I can bring to your organization.”

She knows this technique works because she’s used it to successfully land her last two jobs. As she says, “If you don’t toot your own horn, who will?” Experts agree that by stating your key selling points right off the bat, you are maximizing your resume’s chances of being placed in the “call for interview” file instead of the circular file.

Experts also say that the appearance and professionalism of your communications are critical. All too often, recruiters and hiring managers report finding typos and grammatical mistakes in the resumes and cover letters they receive. Before responding to even one more online job posting, take the time to edit your resume, proofread it and proof read it again. It’s also a good idea to ask someone else to review it for you.

Once you are sure your resume and cover letter have the right keywords in place, are aggressively advertising your skills and qualifications, and are error-fee, start pushing those buttons and let the opportunities come to you.

Job Hunting, Recruiting, Resume Help and Product News

Often when receiving a job offer, candidates are eager to sign on the dotted line. Maybe they¡¯ve been with out work for awhile, maybe it is an increase in pay, or maybe it is simply a better commute.

It is important to remember though, that the most important time in salary negotiations are those early meetings. Be prepared and act confident, it can mean a huge difference in your future lifestyle.

Here is some advice to help you land not just the gig, but the salary that you dream of

Give a Range

The general rule of thumb in negotiations is that the first person to name a number loses. Unfortunately, most people know this and it can quickly lead to nonproductive encounters. If you are in a position where you are expected to name a number, give the range that you are comfortable with. Research salaries in your area using sites like Salary.com. This will also allow the conversation to move forward so you can learn all the new costs associated with the gig.

Know the Costs

Make sure to factor in all the expenses your new position will require. Will you need a new wardrobe? Does it require you to pay tolls on your commute? Is there overtime pay? What¡¯s the health insurance like? Are you going to have to worry about your own retirement package? Total compensation is important in determining the salary that you require for accepting the job. Don¡¯t sell yourself short.

Be Bold

Fortune favors the bold. Especially if the bold has previous experience. Remember that managers are trying to keep their costs low. Salaries can often represent the largest cost within a company. If you have a target number in mind, always respond with something higher. Remember one key thing ¡ª If they say no, negotiations are not over. If they say yes, the negotiation period is finished. Many companies have policies that prevent salary increases over certain percentages. You may only grow 4-5% a year once employed by the company. During negotiations, this can be achieved in seconds. Be bold. You owe it to yourself and your family.

Consider Growth Potential

A high salary may mean nothing if you are not learning skills to use later on in your career. Sadly, the concept of a life long position is a disappearing notion. Always try to search out positions that will train you for your next job and improve your resume. If a job has a lower than expected salary, but a ton of growth potential and training, it may be worth considering, especially if you are lacking experience.

Outline Key Goals

Another strong tactic is to work out an outline of suggested accomplishments. Negotiate a follow up meeting for an early review at the 6 month period. When the time comes, be prepared to show how you¡¯ve accomplished each of the agreed upon milestones. You¡¯ll be able to make the case for a higher salary after proving yourself.

The Recruiter Bill of Rights

Our exploration of The Job Candidate Bill of Rights created by Accolo¡¯s John Younger gave us a chance to take an in depth look at what it is that job candidates want, expect, and deserve from recruiters and hiring managers.

The 11-week series led to discussion among candidates, but it also sparked some talk regarding the rights of the recruiter. Over at Confessions of an Executive Restaurant Recruiter they even took the candidate Bill and applied the rights one-to-one for the recruiters of the world.

We love the idea of a Recruiter Bill of Rights (and a hiring manager Bill of Rights for that matter), so we¡¯ve borrowed some ideas from the aforementioned Executive Restaurant Recruiter post, the folks at SittingXlegged, Guerilla Job Hunting, and recruiters that we work with. We¡¯ve also culled the depths of our own addled brains just for good measure to come up with our own Recruiter Bill of Rights:

1.Self-Evaluation: Job candidates will look themselves in the mirror and form an honest opinion of what they want out of a job and what they have to offer. They will also realize that maybe they aren¡¯t perfect for every single job on the market.

2.Homework: Job candidates will not go into interviews blindly. They will utilize the resources at their disposal to learn as much as possible about the company and the position.

3.Truth: Job candidates will provide the truth in regard to experience, education, accomplishments, etc. Lying on a resume doesn¡¯t help anyone.

4.Change: Candidates shall be willing to listen to advice given by the recruiter when advice is given in an honest attempt to help. Candidate will also be willing to make the changes necessary to make themselves a better candidate for the positions they¡¯re interested in obtaining.

5. Salesmanship: It¡¯s important to realize that while your dreams are meaningful, they¡¯re not always the top priority for a company. Candidates should commit to demonstrating how they can serve a company right now and selling themseleves as the right candidate for the job.

6. Communication: Hiring managers will keep open communication with recruiters on all matters pertaining to the job search. They will give timely updates when their needs change or when new positions open.

7. Commitment: Hiring managers will commit to hiring. If the right candidate comes through the door, mangers won¡¯t put off hiring just for the sake of ¡°seeing as many people as possible.¡±

8. Integrity: Job candidates don¡¯t have to accept every job offer that comes their way. However, coming up with a new set of demands each time is not a viable means for finding the right position or the right compensation, and it makes the recruiter¡¯s job almost impossible.

9. Follow-Up: It¡¯s something that candidates demand, but sadly they don¡¯t receive it enough. They¡¯re not the only ones, though. Recruiters also need to be kept abreast of the candidate¡¯s situation. Whether it¡¯s touching base after an interview or just returning phone calls.

10. Respect: It¡¯s the lifeblood of the job search, but nobody feels the other parties involved are giving them any. Candidates need to respect the time, efforts, and basic humanity of recruiters, and they should expect the same.

Over the next several weeks, we hope to break this Bill down just as we did the last. Hopefully it will give everyone a better understanding of the challenges facing recruiters, and maybe it will help candidates and recruiters work together more effectively than they have in the past.

Hong Kong jobless rate falls to lowest in almost six years

HONG Kong’s jobless rate fell for a fifth straight month in November to the lowest in almost six years, helping sustain the longest economic expansion in a decade, the government said yesterday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the three months ended November declined to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in October, the government said on its Website. That was the lowest since January 2001 and matched the median estimate of 13 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Banks, transport companies and retailers have stepped up hiring as the special administrative region piggybacked on booming growth on the Chinese mainland. Rising wages, and soaring stock and property prices are underpinning consumer confidence, helping Hong Kong withstand a slowdown in the United States economy.

“This reflects the healthy expansion in Hong Kong that has translated into the labor market,” said David Cohen, an economist at Action Economics in Singapore. “It should be supportive to consumer spending.”

Total employment jumped by 12,900 from a month earlier to a record 3.51 million. The number of unemployed slipped by 7,200 to 161,700, the lowest in more than five years, the report said.

The Brunswick Purchasing Mangers’ Index, a gauge of economic activity in Hong Kong, climbed to 56.3 in November, the highest in three years. The index of employment rose to an eight-month high of 54.3, suggesting companies may step up hiring in coming months.

A tighter labor market has forced employers to raise salaries to keep workers and attract new ones. Wages rose 3.3 percent in the third quarter – an increase that may start to feed into inflation, economists said.

“Labor costs may push prices higher in the next two years,” said Vivian Chiu, an economist at UBS AG in Hong Kong. Still, inflation “isn’t a big crisis at the moment.”

Hong Kong’s consumer prices climbed one percent last year, the first annual increase since 1998. The government forecasts inflation will accelerate to two percent this year.

On November 21, the government raised its forecast for economic growth this year to 6.5 percent from as much as five percent previously, partly because of rising domestic demand. The economy expanded 6.8 percent in the third quarter.

The city has created about 311,000 new jobs since unemployment peaked at 8.6 percent in July 2003, the government estimates. The benchmark Hang Seng index almost doubled in the same period, breaking 19,000 for the first time last month.

As a result, residents are spending more on everything from clothes to transport. Sa Sa International Ltd, Hong Kong’s biggest cosmetics retailer, on November 30 said first-half profit climbed 11 percent as sales jumped.

ERP Software as GDP Indicator for China

HONG Kong’s jobless rate fell for a fifth straight month in November to the lowest in almost six years, helping sustain the longest economic expansion in a decade, the government said yesterday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the three months ended November declined to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in October, the government said on its Website. That was the lowest since January 2001 and matched the median estimate of 13 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Banks, transport companies and retailers have stepped up hiring as the special administrative region piggybacked on booming growth on the Chinese mainland. Rising wages, and soaring stock and property prices are underpinning consumer confidence, helping Hong Kong withstand a slowdown in the United States economy.

“This reflects the healthy expansion in Hong Kong that has translated into the labor market,” said David Cohen, an economist at Action Economics in Singapore. “It should be supportive to consumer spending.”

Total employment jumped by 12,900 from a month earlier to a record 3.51 million. The number of unemployed slipped by 7,200 to 161,700, the lowest in more than five years, the report said.

The Brunswick Purchasing Mangers’ Index, a gauge of economic activity in Hong Kong, climbed to 56.3 in November, the highest in three years. The index of employment rose to an eight-month high of 54.3, suggesting companies may step up hiring in coming months.

A tighter labor market has forced employers to raise salaries to keep workers and attract new ones. Wages rose 3.3 percent in the third quarter – an increase that may start to feed into inflation, economists said.

“Labor costs may push prices higher in the next two years,” said Vivian Chiu, an economist at UBS AG in Hong Kong. Still, inflation “isn’t a big crisis at the moment.”

Hong Kong’s consumer prices climbed one percent last year, the first annual increase since 1998. The government forecasts inflation will accelerate to two percent this year.

On November 21, the government raised its forecast for economic growth this year to 6.5 percent from as much as five percent previously, partly because of rising domestic demand. The economy expanded 6.8 percent in the third quarter.

The city has created about 311,000 new jobs since unemployment peaked at 8.6 percent in July 2003, the government estimates. The benchmark Hang Seng index almost doubled in the same period, breaking 19,000 for the first time last month.

As a result, residents are spending more on everything from clothes to transport. Sa Sa International Ltd, Hong Kong’s biggest cosmetics retailer, on November 30 said first-half profit climbed 11 percent as sales jumped.

PROJECTMANAGER

Company introduction:
a number of successful operating companies with a worldwide coverage. With establishments in Europe (the Netherlands and Belgium) and Asia (Shanghai and Hong Kong) provide for each need in metal components: from standard fasteners to all other types of “custom made”metal- and or plastic components.

Job description:
1.Full responsibility for the projects overall.
2.give guidance to the planning manager, quality controller and purchase manager and report to the Project manager in the Netherlands.
3.Fully responsible for the project costs. Check the teams carefully and control the goods process.
4.Communicate with the purchase department in the Netherlands.
5.Responsible for contribute to a well organized processing of the goods with high lead-time of the projects.

Your profile:
1.Minimum education of BA (Bachelor).
2.Experienced on managing projects.
3.Well grounded through education or experience and have a commercial approach when it comes to problem solving.
4.Accurate and disciplinary, able to work individually as well as in a team.
5.Familiar with coaching but especially educating of Chinese co-workers as well as the Chinese culture.
6.initiative and are able to organize and plan your activities.
7.Fluency in English is required. You know how to use Word, Excel and Outlook
8.European with work experience in China is desired

* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English) to: ‘topjob_mn115sh@dacare.com’

PLANNINGMANAGER

Company introduction:
a number of successful operating companies with a worldwide coverage. With establishments in Europe (the Netherlands and Belgium) and Asia (Shanghai and Hong Kong) provide for each need in metal components: from standard fasteners to all other types of “custom made”metal- and or plastic components.

Job description:
1.Responsible for the total process planning of the goods.
2.Monitor and control whole process from preparing up to the actual samples.
3.Evaluate and directly report to the Project manager and Purchase manager in the Netherlands.
4.Moreover you need to act in a pro-active way in order to analyze possible problems and issue solutions in time.
5.Can interface between the quality controller and the purchasing manager.

Your profile:
1.Minimum education of BA (Bachelor).
2.Experienced on planning.
3.Well grounded through education or experience and have a commercial approach when it comes to problem solving.
4.Accurate and disciplinary, able to work individually as well as in a team.
5.Familiar with coaching but especially educating of Chinese co-workers as well as the Chinese culture.
6.Initiative and are able to organize and plan your activities.
7.Fluency in English is required. You know how to use Word, Excel and Outlook
8.European with work experience in China is desired

* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English) to: ‘topjob_mn114sh@dacare.com’

PURCHASE MANAGER (SOURCING)

Company introduction:
a number of successful operating companies with a worldwide coverage. With establishments in Europe (the Netherlands and Belgium) and Asia (Shanghai and Hong Kong) provide for each need in metal components: from standard fasteners to all other types of “custom made”metal- and or plastic components.

Job description:
1.Accompany, Educate, Give guidance to Chinese purchase co-workers who manage several projects as a team.
2.Check the teams and ensure to purchase the best products at the required quality and best conditions.
3.Directly report to the Project manager and Purchase manager in the Netherlands.
4.Responsible for contributing to a well organized purchase department with high lead-time of the projects.

Your profile:
1.Minimum education of BA (Bachelor).
2.Experienced on purchasing.
3.Well grounded through education or experience and have a commercial approach when it comes to problem solving.
4.Accurate and disciplinary, able to work individually as well as in a team.
5.Familiar with coaching but especially educating of Chinese co-workers as well as the Chinese culture.
6.initiative and are able to organize and plan your activities.
7.Fluency in English is required. You know how to use Word, Excel and Outlook
8.European with work experience in China is desired

* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English) to: ‘topjob_mn113sh@dacare.com’