The Advantages Of Global Sourcing

Global sourcing is the practice of getting goods or services on a domestic or an international level across geopolitical boundaries. It often aims to exploit global efficiencies in the delivery of a product or service. To survive the competition both strategically and financially, modern-day corporations must manage complexities, improve their operative efficiencies and reduce costs. In this context, sourcing is an attractive proposition. It is commonly found that global sourcing initiatives and programs form an integral part of the strategic sourcing plan and procurement strategy of many multinational companies. However, the processes involving sourcing are way too complex, time-consuming and expensive. If not planned and executed properly, practicing such processes 'in-house' are likely to overshoot the budget of the company.

As the most rational alternative, many businesses have resorted to global sourcing companies. Apart from the promise of providing the clients with customized solutions for every single problem in-hand, such qualified strategic companies provide the businesses with myriad benefits. Let us take a look at them one by one:

1. Reliability

When we are talking about sourcing on a global scale, finding the right supplier is the first, and often most-difficult part of the process. Getting feedbacks about a vendor from across the seven seas seems very difficult if not impossible. Established sourcing companies use their existing relationships and previous experiences to ease out the process and therefore can help the corporations to find a reliable supplier.

2. Low cost labor Sourcing companies 'outsource' the labor-intensive processes to developing nations, resulting in access to cheap labor. Thus the cost of production is much lower resulting in reasonably cheap products or services.
3. Access to raw materials across boundaries

If a corporation in a particular country uses raw materials that is limited in that country, the business might lower its supply risk by sourcing the raw materials internationally, from countries where the resource is abundant in supply. This requires excellent relationships and apt clearances (and the cost associated with it) on the international boundaries. These dynamics are taken care by the third party vendors who act as one stop shops.

4. Quality of materials

Okay, so you got access to the raw materials. Now let's look at the next level of difficulty - the quality of the raw materials. Even when a corporation looks at cost-cutting, there has to be a minimum adherence to the quality of the raw materials that are required by the company in order to come up with reasonable good products. The sourcing companies ensure that their clients get their desired quality of raw materials as per the agreement with the client. This makes the companies and their staff worry-free and the corporations can focus on other important aspects of their business.

5. Scalability and Resource Skills

While building a new product or upgrading an existing one, local or global sourcing is a great idea. The business can assemble a dynamic team of experienced professionals depending on the magnitude of the solution required. Once the project is completed, the team can be dispersed. This way the cost of the company is also reduced as it does not have to recruit and maintain a group of professionals even when the events are not happening.

Thus, it can be concluded that firms that leverage these alternative operating models and global capabilities can be much more focused on value-added activities and other strategic objectives, thus positioning themselves to receive a greater return on their assets.

The Miami based sourcing company, http://ShopUST.com offers 30 years of experience in global sourcing. With relationships in more than 20 countries, ShopUST can offer reliable, low cost and effective sourcing services. Representatives are standing by to assist you and all quotes are free. Call us NOW at 800-878-1660!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Gil

How To Find A Job In Any Field Fast!

The type of job you find will depend on a number of things such as your interests, your skills and the specific business niche that you would like to enter. Keeping these things in mind, the most important thing is not to worry! To find a job quickly you must know your interests, skill sets, identify your target company, be able to identify problems, create value propositions, and submit your pitch to the appropriate person, then it will only be a matter of time before you find your ideal job. You will find more information on how to do these things in my detailed response below.

It's time to do inventory! Identify your skills, ideal industry, and your ideal company.

In order to sell yourself to an employer it is very important to identify your skills sets. Knowing your skill sets will help you determine how much value you can bring to a potential employer; this information will also increase the likelihood of you getting a job in your field. I recommend using a tool called the Skills Profiler created by Careeronestop.org. This tool will create a customized skills profile that will help you identify your skills and match them with 100 different jobs.

Once you have your skills profile and a list of recommended occupations derived from the Skills Profiler, then it's time to sift through them and pick out a minimum of 10 that are of interest to you. Next, head over to the Bureau of Labor statistics at Bls.gov and take a look at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. This publication will give you an overview of specific industries, careers, experience and education required for each job, typical work environments and career forecasts. It will also provide you with links to similar occupations.

By using the Skills Profiler and the Occupational Outlook Handbook together, you should be able to identify potential industries and careers that appeal to you. Once you have this information in hand, you can then begin to focus on identifying specific companies that you would like to work for.

Doing your research - Get the scoop on the companies that you would like to work for.

Now that you have identified your skill sets and potential career paths, it's time to start looking for specific companies that interest you. A good way to begin your search is by visiting the website of your local library. Most libraries have a subscription to a business database called Reference USA. This database will allow you to do customized searches for businesses meeting your selected criteria.

However, before you can start your search, you must identify what your selected search criteria will be. With Reference USA, you can search by company name, executive titles, business type, geography, phone number, business size, ownership, and financial data. I recommend searching for private companies with 50-100 employees. By searching for smaller private companies it will be easier to reach the decision makers. Also, small private companies tend to place more value on your skills set and can easily and quickly implement your ideas into the existing frameworks without having to worry about red tape or corporate approval.

Moreover, in addition to allowing you to do customized searches, Reference USA will also provide you will information on current job openings of companies within your search results. It can also give you information on their competitors, provide you with the management directory, as well as give you the names of nearby businesses and more.

Create value - Identify your unique value proposition to each company.

Now that you've identified the companies that you would like to work for, it's time to create your value proposition. In order to create your value proposition, you must first do research on each individual company that you would like to work for. If you want to create value for a company, you must first identify areas within each company for which your skill sets would be of benefit. Ideally, this comes from identifying problems within the company. Finding problems within each company that you can solve requires that you do your research. This includes gathering information about the company's history, products and services, customers, and their competition.

You can gain the information you are seeking from a variety of sources. Typical sources include the company's website, SEC filings, online reviews, the Better Business Bureau, and talking with current and past employees, and customers. Once you have this information, then you will be able to gain greater insight into the internal workings of the company. Ideally, you should look for patterns in the information that you have gathered. For example, after looking at the online reviews of the company, do you find that all of the customers or employees are complaining about the same thing? If so, this may be a clue into a problem that you can solve for the company.

Submit your job proposal: Making your pitch to the right person and the right time.

After doing your research, you may find that some companies do not have current openings advertised. If this is the case don't worry. Everyday people are quitting, getting laid off or retiring. Also, while every company may not have a current vacancy they all have current problems that they have to deal with. You are solution to their problem. In some instances, companies may not even know that they have a problem until you bring it to their attention. Should this be the case, you are in the optimum position to have the company create a position for you.

If you find a company that you would like to work for that does not have a current job opening, then I recommend creating a one page job proposal for the person that you would most likely report to rather than sending in the standard resume and cover letter. The one page job proposal does two things. The first thing that is does is identify the problem that you have discovered within the company. The second thing it does is to position you as the ideal solution to the problem without having to worry about competition.

In closing, to find out more about creating one page job proposal, I recommend visiting 1-page.com. Once you have submitted your one page job proposal and the company requests more information, then you can send in your standard resume and cover letter tailored to their company that highlights your accomplishments, skills and experience. I hope that this information has been helpful.

Identify your skills, target your company, identify a problem, create a value proposition and submit it.

Good Luck!

Visit My Site And Get My FREE eBook: 101 Tips For Ex-Offender Job Search Success

For the past 13 years, Sheila Savage has worked with ex-offenders to help them find suitable employment. To get more information about ex-offender employment and job searching please visit http://www.lifebydesignconsultants.com

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Using Career Narratives To Get A Job

You will need to create many stories throughout your job search to showcase your knowledge, skills and abilities. The first type of story that you will want to create is the career narrative. This type of story tells the potential employer who you are at your core and reveals why you are unique compared to other job candidates. This is considered by some to be your unique selling proposition. If done correctly it will reflect your personality and value system to the interviewer.

The story that you create for your career narrative can be about anything; but usually it involves a significant event, challenge or obstacle that you faced in a work environment which details how you overcame it and what lessons you learned. In the course of writing your story you will come away with a better understanding of who you are as a person. You will also be able to draw more stories from this experience that can be used during your job search that will highlight some of your other positive work characteristics and traits.

Keep in mind that you are not limited to creating one career narrative. It is best to create several ones that illustrate different aspects of your personality and accomplishments that you can pick and choose from. When creating your story it is important to be aware of the fact that the person listening has the power to hire you based in part on the personal revelations they receive after hearing the stories that you tell.

Here are a few pointers for getting the most out of your career narrative. First, keep it short so that it can be easily remembered and retold to others involved in the hiring decision. Second, link your past accomplishments to future goals that you have set for your career. Third, do not inflate your career narrative. It is important to remain authentic, reciprocal and transparent when relaying your story to the interviewer. Keep practicing your story with friends and family until your presentation begins comes across as both humble and personable.

Visit My Site And Get My FREE eBook: 101 Tips For Ex-Offender Job Search Success

For the past 13 years, Sheila Savage has worked with ex-offenders to help them find suitable employment. To get more information about ex-offender employment and job searching please visit http://www.lifebydesignconsultants.com

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

Create Compelling Resume Stories To Get A Job

Most people are not aware that they can use their resume to tell a story. Traditionally, resumes have focused solely on job duties and responsibilities and not on accomplishments.

However, in today's competitive job market your career accomplishments should be at the heart of your resume story. As a rule, you should create different stories for each resume that you submit and tailor them to the positions being sought.

It is also important for you to give some consideration to your organization and planning skills. Both of these skills will be essential in helping you create a compelling story. In order for your story to be effective it must focus on the results that you achieved for your previous employers. This will give the potential employer an idea of how you would perform at their company if you are hired.

When creating your resume stories include a summary or profile at the top of the page and use bulleted lists throughout the remainder of the document. Keep in mind that most hiring managers and recruiters typically spend thirty seconds or less scanning the resumes that come into their office. This is why it is important to keep the statements in your resume story brief.

It is important to use as many keywords as possible when creating your story. Review the keywords in the employer's job descriptions several times and sprinkle them throughout your resume story. Be sure to emphasize how you have previously demonstrated the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities that the employer is looking for.Moreover, use descriptive high impact adjectives and verbs that will help the potential employer visualize how you would perform in their company if hired.

Once you have finished creating your stories it is important to get feedback from family and friends. Ask them what they like and what they dislike about reading them. Solicit feedback about how you can improve them. Once you are satisfied submit your resume stories to the employers that you have targeted.

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Home Based Business: Are You Ready?

Everyone seems to want to work from home these days - and why not? Your neighbors set off at dawn, fighting the weather and the traffic. You roll out of bed an hour later, pour yourself a cup of coffee, stroll down the hall and settle in for the day.

Running a home based business is a great life and a terrific way to achieve that illusive work-life balance but before you quit your day job, here are four things you should ask yourself to see if you're ready to work from home.

Are You a Self-Starter?

Let's be honest. Some people work best when they have the automatic accountability of knowing that their boss or co-workers might drop in any moment and ask how that project they're working on is going. When you work from home, especially when you are your own boss, no one is going to notice whether you're working or playing games on your computer.

To work successfully from home, set your schedule and stick to it. Know what your deadlines are and how much time you will need to complete each task so you meet those deadlines. Make sure you are getting enough work done every day or every week to show concrete progress. If you aren't able to motivate yourself to work even when no one is watching, you aren't ready to have a home based business.

Are You a Social Butterfly?

When you work from home, you're working alone and that can either be a welcome relief or sheer torture. Work is part business and part social. Work is where we meet our friends and most of us meet our life partner. If your personality leans toward the introverted, you may welcome the solitude of working from home but if you are a born extrovert, the lack of interaction may affect your job satisfaction.

To counter the loneliness - and network your way into new customers - make sure you seek opportunities for collaboration. Join the local Chamber of Commerce or a service club and volunteer to serve on a committee. Attend networking events and follow-up with everyone you meet.

Are You Easily Distracted?

Home is where the heart is. It's also where the refrigerator is, and the laundry, and the kids, and the dog - wait, what was I saying? To be successful working from home, you need to focus on the task at hand.

Sometimes, other people pull you away from your work. When people find out you work from home, suddenly they have the idea that you are always available - to wait for a repairman, pick up a package, babysit a child - or just sit down for a visit. Sometimes it's hard to convince your spouse, your child or your best friend that you're working when you're working from home.

Toss in that load of laundry, but make five client calls before you move it from the washer to the dryer. Play games with your two year-old, but arrange for a sitter to give you blocks of uninterrupted work time. Take the dog for a walk but set a time limit and return to your project refreshed.

Are You Able to Turn it Off?

When you run a home based business, you have flexibility about when you complete your work and that helps you accommodate the needs of your family. However, when you work from home, it can be tough to stop working at the end of the day. You find yourself sitting down for just a moment to check email and suddenly you look up and it's three hours later.

Set a goal for yourself of what you will accomplish each day. When you have accomplished that, shut the door and walk away. It's harder when your office is in the corner of the living room or the bedroom or at the dining room table but if you can't close the door, pack away your work and tuck it out of sight until morning. Remember, you're working from home to gain work-life balance. Don't give that away by not being able to "turn off."

Linda Crowder founded Focus Forward, LLC to coach small business owners, nonprofit directors and job seekers to achieve their goals. For more information about your work from home business, visit http://www.focusforwardllc.net.

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The Importance Of Staying Hydrated On The Road

As a truck driver the last thing that you want to have to do is make a bunch of scheduled or unscheduled pit stops along the road. Many truckers intentionally curb or control how much they are drinking during the day limiting their intake of liquids often by less than half of what is recommended.

It is important to realize that dehydration can cause serious health issues over both the short and long term. It is also important to realize that not all liquids actually hydrate your body in the same ways and some can actually lead to an increased risk of dehydration.

Symptoms of Dehydration

In addition to health issues, which will be discussed later, people that are dehydrated also have various issues that can impact your ability to be a safe, effective driver. One of the key symptoms of dehydration is increasing drowsiness and fatigue, both issues that are problematic when you are driving professionally.

Other symptoms of dehydration include:
• Dry mouth
• Excessive thirst that may come and go
• Chronic types of acute or low grade headaches
• Stiffness and cramping of the muscles
• Confusion and disorientation
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded
• Difficulty urinating or strong urine
• Chronic lower back pain (kidney area) as well as chronic urinary tract infections (UTI)

It is really important to keep in mind that while these are the common symptoms of dehydration, they are also the symptoms of a lot of other health issues as well. It is always a good idea to get these types of symptoms checked out by your doctor to make sure there isn't another underlying health issue that could be detected early to ensure you have the widest possible range of treatment options.

The longer that these symptoms are present, or the more chronically dehydrated you are, the greater the load that you put on your kidneys and circulatory system. This can lead to an increased risk of specific types of kidney disease as well as poor immune response of your body.

Decreased water content of the body, particularly the cells of the organs and the blood, decreases their ability to work, repair and function. Low concentrations of water in the blood can led to a condition known as hypovolemic shock that can be life threatening. This can happen when the blood volume drops suddenly or over time and your blood pressure falls dramatically. When this happens the blood is not circulated through the body, oxygen supply to the cells is cut off, and the brain and central nervous system can stop functioning leading to coma and, if not treated immediately, death.

How Much Is Enough And What Counts?

For the average person drinking about 8 full glasses, which are at least 8 ounces in size, per day is typically enough if you are not exercising or in hot conditions. However, if you are sweating or if you feel thirsty you should drink more. For those that excise regularly or are in hot or dry conditions drink more water and more frequently. This would include driving in a hot truck or running with the window down if the air conditioner isn't working.

If you are trying to stay hydrated or experience the symptoms discussed above when you are driving, don't count beverages such as coffee, energy drinks, sodas or anything else with caffeine as part of your 8 glass total. The reason you don't want to count them is because they contain stimulants and, in the case of soda and some energy drinks, a lot of sugars. Drinking these types of drinks may help with hydration, but you will then have to deal with the symptoms of over consumption of caffeine and sugar, which are often very similar to the symptoms of dehydration. Also, next time you are tempted to reach for a soda in the truck stop take a minute and read the label. You will be surprised at the chemicals and additives in your favorite drink that you may not even know what they are.

Water, either bottled or tap, is a great option to just sip as you are driving. If you aren't a water fan try some of the new single serving sugarless sports drink mixes or water flavoring packets that are generally well liked by most people. You can also drink sugar free types of sports drinks that have extra electrolytes which can help prevent cramping and many of the physical symptoms of dehydration.

Food, especially high moisture foods like apples, watermelon, oranges and grapefruit as well as raw vegetables can all help to boost your water intake throughout the day. These wouldn't count specifically towards that 8 glass goal but they are a great way to add extra water and also give you a healthy snack.

A good habit, and one that many athletes, sports doctors, coaches and trainers recommend is to drink a large glass of water just before going to bed and immediately when you get up. This simple habit ensures that you are always going to have at least a quarter of your water intake requirements covered and it helps to allow your body to function effectively.

A career in truck driving is waiting for you, please visit https://www.truck-school.com/apply-online

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

Tips for a Worthwhile Business Travel

When you are traveling for business, it is best to iron out the basics-such as packing, hotel reservations, car services, plane tickets and what not-so that it is not another task that you have to do on top of the business that you have to take care of. If business plans are important, then planning your trip merits planning as well. If all these are mapped out smoothly, not only will you be able to have a worry free business trip, but it is also possible for you to have a fun time during your trip.

1. Research about the place beforehand. Knowing more about the city you are visiting could help you manage your time or maximize the vacant time that you have while you are there. Let's say you are going to a convention. Knowing about the other events that will take place will help you go to as much events or conferences as you can during your stay there.

2. Packing light in a carry-on bag gives you one thing less to worry about. Not having to fret about your luggage check in does not just make your trip less worry-some, but it also saves you time both upon your arrival and departure. This gives you more time to prepare for your trip's agenda, or some last-minute shopping before your departure.

3. Be nice to the locals. This rule is not exclusive to business travels only, but it will do you a great favor if you are nice to everyone, especially the locals, or pretty much everyone else. If you exude camaraderie, people tend to become more helpful to you. The front desk staff will be more forgiving if you lose your hotel key, you'll breeze through security easily, and you can event gets a few tips from the locus about the best places to visit for leisure if you are on a tight schedule.

4. Meet with people you have connections with through social media. These days, meet ups, (or to use a term that is more localized on social media) are very common. This serves as a mini-convention for people who share the same interest of line of business. Sometimes, new business ideas come up during these meet ups. It helps you know more about the industry, widen your network, or simply make new friends.

If you are frequently our for business, whether it's for a business plan, a convention, or a simple meet and greet with clients, make sure that you make it worthwhile, and you take home more than what the original agenda is.

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