the spurt in economic developments up for a new surge finance jobs in India

With the spurt in economic developments up for a new surge finance jobs in India are now offering good career options. Its interesting to note that most of these jobs are centred around the metro cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore hence the impact of such jobs is widely felt in these cities. One of the factors which have bolstered the growth of finance jobs in India is the establishment of many international banks. Jobs in Finance industry also offer wide career growth to ambitious individuals.
Impact of Recession On Indian Banks:
In spite of economic recession and fall of large banks Indian banks were in a much better position. During recession, the U.S. Federal Reserve allotted nearly $30 billion of credit to different central banks of the country, whereas India's banks were in a sound financial position and required no bail outs or any kind of recapitalization unlike their counterparts in US.Since India's economy is expected to grow at a rate of 7%, banking finance is bound to play a defining role in boosting the sluggish economy of the country. In this regard, mention needs to be made of the steps taken by India government to unfreeze liquidity by cutting interest rates, which led to the downfall of cash reserve ratio, and statutory liquidity ratio.

These steps by the Indian government helped in reducing unemployment rate in the country. Over the years, there has been some remarkable changes in general finance jobs as earlier there was a culture of taking M.Com's or CA's but today majority of the finance jobs in India recruit MBA students from top business schools. Furthermore, finance jobs in India also look for talented persons with good skills and experience.

Investing For a 30-50% Return Per Year By Doing Equity Research

Equity Research

It seems amazing that you can get these kinds of returns investing. The idea that you have to take on a lot of risk to realise these kinds of returns is simply a myth. The real truth is that you need to know how to value a company and pick bargains. Any of the great fund managers can get 50% returns per year, or more, on small amounts of money. These great returns are over a long term period of at least three to five years.

How to Pick Winners - Return on Capital

The most important thing is to look for in an equity research the return on capital. A company that has an above average return on capital is in a very special position. They can generate more amounts of cash and then invest them in the business and get higher rates of return. To calculate the return on capital, take the companies earnings / dollars invested = return on capital.

The idea is simple. Would you rather invest in a company that needs ten million dollars to generate a one million dollar profit or would you rather invest in a company that can turn 10 million dollars into 50 million dollar profit in the same amount of time. The idea may seem obvious, but there are lots of companies and industries out there that have a very low return on capital and people continue to invest them.

Earnings Yield

The earnings yield is another most important thing to understand. To calculate, you take the earnings per share / price per share. The answer will give you a rate of return. You can take that number and compare it more easily to bonds and other investments to see if the return is good. The main point of the earnings yield is to tell you if the company is being sold to you at a bargain price or not. It may be a spectacular company, but still be priced to highly.

Getting the High Returns

It is really that simple. Find companies that have a high return on capital and that have a high earnings yield. The return on capital tells you whether it is a good business and the earnings yield tells you whether it is a bargain or overpriced. These two figures are really all there is to making spectacular returns.

What to Avoid

A lot can be said here. To get great returns, you must avoid, annuities, mutual funds, cash value life insurance, advice from brokers, and stay the course over a 3-5 year period of time. This is not a short term trading strategy.

Why You Can Beat a Harvard MBA Fund Manager

It may sound cocky to beat a great fund manager, but it can be done. The reason is that mathematically it is much more difficult to grow large amounts of money. Once you get your foot into investing, you must do your own homework and trust your own math. Nobody is going to tell you how to invest wisely. It just doesn't work like that.

The hardest part about reading this is actually believing that it will work, doing your homework, and staying the course. Everybody wants to believe there is a tooth fairy, but the truth is that there isn't one.

Operations Research Analyst Jobs - Are You Interested in a Career in Management Science?

Management science involves using complex analytical techniques in order to solve complex problems and to make improve decision making. Operations research has frequently been used by the military in order to develop sophisticated radar systems that they can use to search for enemy equipment and supplies when they are needed.

In the private sector, operational research is frequently utilised in order to maximise business opportunities, using computer modelling in order to determine the best course of action for a corporation. Large corporations are incredibly complex, and they will frequently need to manage a large amount of resources. Research analysts will find ways to utilize these resources efficiently, and they will come up with a number of solutions which they will present to the managers of the company, will then choose the best course of action.

These professionals are frequently involved in the top levels of companies making strategic decisions and allocating resources properly. Operations analysts will frequently run various problems in some areas through computer systems in order to estimate probabilities of success for a course of action or a business decision, frequently constructing mathematical models in order to describe the process.

An example would be working for an airline agency, using computer modeling in order to estimate flight scheduling, passenger demand, ticket prices, fuel prices, maintenance costs, and other variables in order to improve the decisions of a airline company.

The working conditions for operations analysts typically involve overtime in order to meet deadlines, although they will frequently average 40 hours or work a week. Most of their day is spent in an office environment working on high priority projects, which can be stressful.

Most of these individuals will have a bachelor's degree in a field such as computer science or engineering, and they will frequently be well versed in computer technology in order to create statistical models. Management scientist positions will grow slightly faster than the rate of population growth over the next decade, and most sectors of the economy will employ these professionals.

Financial Advisor and analyst Jobs - Not As Easy to Make Money As You Think

If you've been looking at financial analyst jobs, or trying to find out how to become a financial advisor, I've got news for you: it's not as easy to make money with this position as you think.

I'm a veteran of the financial services industry, having spent 7 years as a financial advisor. I was blessed to have built a thriving practice of over 200 client groups. I sold my financial planning practice and received a very nice payout for several years.

So I'm speaking to you from experience when I say this: IT'S NOT EASY TO MAKE MONEY AS A FINANCIAL ADVISOR.

As a matter of fact, I would place this way of earning income high on the difficult-ways-to-make-money list.

Here's why.

First, you'll probably work for several years before you turn a real profit. When I say several years, I mean in the neighborhood of 3+ years to really find your groove and have things moving along like clockwork.

Second, you'll probably work lots of hours in the beginning. Working 60+ hours as a financial planner is not unusual in the beginning years of building a practice. There won't be a lot of time spent with friends and family. They get used to it, but why should they?

Third, it takes time to build seasoned relationships with your clients, where they come to trust you, know you and like you. People only do increased business with people they know, like and trust. Depending upon your personality, it could be easy (or not so easy) for people to get to know, like and trust you. Time is required.

Becoming a financial advisor is not a viable solution for money problems today, if you're looking to make money quickly. You'll probably be out of lots of money and time before you actually hit profit status, which can be true of many businesses out there.

The important thing is that you go into the financial services industry with your eyes wide open, and no stars in them.

I began my career in financial services with stars in my eyes, excited about being in a prestigious industry with lots of clout and respect and thought it would be fairly easy to build my practice. It wasn't. On some days, it required the proverbial blood, sweat and tears.

So tread carefully when considering financial advisor jobs. There is a higher profit, easier alternative (see below).

Valerie Love is a highly successful entrepreneur with LifePath Unlimited--where your destiny awaits. She is growing a global team of like-minded, profitable business owners who are committed to making money doing what they love, and helping others succeed in the booming personal and prosperity development industry.

Finance Jobs Are Back in The Market

Even as India continues with their hiring spree, the US market is reeling from the recession's deadly attack. The percentage of unemployment has now reached to ten percent - for the second time since World War 2. It begun to look more hopeful before it relapsed back into its depressing mode of op.

Millions of unemployed in the United States are of the sentiment that no recovery is on its way. The estimation lies in mid-2010 for the hiring to be resumed. Experts say that the unemployment rate will come down to a more normal three to five percent in the next four to five years.

The 1930's recession seemed to have relived itself in 2009, and it looks like it may finally be coming to an end, even though the recovery period is expected to remain around awhile yet. The recovery apparently isn't expected to be strong enough to breach the loss of jobs and revive small and start-up businesses again. It looks like the unemployed may be out of work awhile longer.

As of now the record for jobless people for six months or more, is set at a whopping five point six million. Few employers are being risk-taker enough to begin hiring once again. Salary packages have been slashed and raise-percentages promised are being postponed for awhile to come.

October 2009 was the twenty-second consecutive month that the United States economy has lost jobs. It is a depressing time to be left jobless with the holiday season around the corner and the shopping lists are being made. There is validation that joblessness is full on track, no matter what specialists or government bodies may say.

Based on a survey of company payrolls, the Labor Department said that the economy had shed 190,000 jobs in October alone. Another survey conducted on households showed that 558,000 additional people were unemployed last month from the month before it. The total count now is that 15.7 million American citizens are out of work.

Small businesses and start-up companies seem to be among the hardest hit with little prior financial stability to fall back on in times of difficulty.

As you know, accounts & finance jobs were the first to go out of the market when the recession hit with its deadly financial global meltdown, but research says that finance jobs are back! Whether or not there is a general ten percent unemployment rate, finance jobs are slowly creeping back into the market. Hooray to those in finance! Your luck is turning around.

The financial services sector is beginning to grow and hire and the accounts finance jobs, healthcare, IT and ITES sectors are also slowly going back into hiring mode. Companies are advertising for their hiring sprees and candidates in India are once again looking hopefully.

Broking Jobs - Could You Be An Insurance Broker

An insurance broker job is a "go-between"--they go between the business or customer and the insurance company. An insurance agent works for only one insurance company while an insurance broker represents and works for many insurance companies. An insurance broker specialises in finding the best possible insurance for the best price with the insurance company that will best suit your needs. Often a broker will come back to you with several policy options for you to choose from, as well as their expert opinion on which policy and insurance company is your best bet.

Insurance brokers usually have access to dozens, even hundreds, of insurance companies. Brokers do not charge their customers for their service; instead the insurance companies pay them a commission on the policies they sell to their customers.

In order to have a broking job, you need to be a licensed insurance broker and then gain experience in the industry. A good broker knows the insurance industry and can search the companies for policies for their customers easily and quickly. As a broker, you will be red-tape cutter for your customer, know all the jargon, processes and procedures of the insurance companies and help your customer understand the insurance policy by putting it into more layman terms.

Broking jobs exist in every aspect of insurance, but particularly auto and home insurance. There are some life insurance brokers available, but they are primarily found in home and auto insurance.

Broking jobs in the UK are overseen by BIBA--the British Insurance Brokers Association, of which all brokers are a member. This association helps to ensure that brokers are who they say they are--true brokers who represent many insurance companies instead of a broker who is really an agent for only one insurance company. The BIBA symbol is imperative if you are looking for a broker, or becoming a broker--people across the UK will look for this symbol as a method of legitimising your broking job.

The BIBA also offers training to ensure that people in broking jobs maintain their level of understanding of the insurance market in the UK. Brokers who take the courses are brought up to date on the most current trends, statistics and warnings of the insurance industry--all of which are key to having a broking job.

How to Find Private Equity Jobs Working With Recruiters

It’s critical to know how to work with a private equity jobs recruiter if you want to get your resume in front of the right private equity hiring firm and to give personal brand broad distribution to a group of targeted private equity job recruiters. Here are some basic rules of the road to utilize to work for/with private equity jobs recruiters:

1. Understand that most recruiters are “retained” to find private equity job candidates that would be a good fit for a private equity job that they are work on. They are all busy looking for that “right” candidate – so, when you are on the phone with them make sure you have a career highlights script you want to review with them, which can be a summary of your background to date.

2. Always take a call from a private equity jobs recruiter – they are an important source for jobs and it is always in your best interest to have some meaningful dialogue with them about your background, compensation and/or optimum private equity job you are looking for.

3. Some of the specific points you want to discuss with a private equity jobs recruiter include: what their specific focus is in terms of jobs (hedge fund jobs, private equity jobs, back office financial services), will they treat your resume in confidence and not shotgun blast it out to companies and via the web, do they concentrate on a specific geographical are, what is timeline to hear back from them.

4. Identify a small number of private equity jobs recruiters that you want to work with who are focusing on private equity jobs and maintain some regular contact with them. Building a long term relationship with them is a good thing, as they have access to a steady flow of private equity jobs that you might not find via any other source.

5. If a recruiter contacts you about a private equity job then ask for a job description first and then analyze it to understand if it matches your skill sets; if not, don’t waste their time, as they will remember this moving forward and refer them to someone that you know may be a better fit or simply let them know your background is not a good fit.

6. Do refer your friends/associates to your recruiter network for any type of private equity job – they will remember you for the valuable referral and this will help to cement a relationship with them – it’s called building valuable mindshare.

7. Compensation is typically come up in conversations with private equity jobs recruiters – be honest with them about your current position (don’t pad your numbers!) and what you’d like to make for your next position. They can give you valuable perspective about what other peers are making in the private equity jobs marketplace.

8. Remember private equity jobs recruiters are paid a percentage fee based on the total compensation package that they negotiate for/with you – it is in their best interest to get the absolute best compensation package for you.

9. Always ask a private equity jobs recruiter where they will be sending and/or posting your private equity jobs focused resume; you don’t want your resume being posted across web sites without your permission or knowledge, for obvious reasons.

Part Time Jobs at Home Without Investment Do Exist!

Many of us are not interested in any kind of investment jobs so we are always thinking do real authentic part-time jobs at home without investment actually exist? Iam not talking about jobs like that of in investment consulting job. Actually, finding part-time jobs at home without investment become a major source of frustration and disappointment, with your searches resulting in moneymaking scams designed to take your money and leave you with little or no information and no real "work" to do, except maybe to promote the same scam you yourself just got suckered into!

Finding viable part-time jobs at home without investment truly do exist, and they can be found by reading review sites designed to weed out and expose the businesses that are out to get your money. Further research will help you discover work at home job boards where many truly authentic part-time jobs at home without investment are discussed by individuals who currently are employed and work out of their home. Some of the most common jobs are:

Administrative assistants -- these individuals work in a virtual office setting out of their own home to assist various businesses and organisations in their daily administrative tasks.

Customer Service -- these individuals take calls from customers of various businesses and services, placing orders, resolving billing issues, etc.

Freelance writers and photographers -- these individuals are assigned various assignments through businesses that require specific services and are paid according to each assignment.

Medical Transcription -- this area of work require specific training, however there is a substantial need for work at home individuals to perform these tasks.

Sales/telemarketing positions -- these positions are best suited for individuals who enjoy sales and have prior experience dealing with customers. These can be inbound or outbound calls. Product knowledge and training is supplied by the company you will be working for.

These are just a few of the part-time work at home jobs with no investment that do exist, and all it takes to locate them is time and determination. On-the-job training is offered upon hire and you will be trained either online or at a location determined by the employer. In the majority of cases training is paid. The only investment that may be required is setting up your home office which is an absolute necessity. As in any business environment, whether it be home or office, there are a few requirements for maximum function and efficient production. The basic items necessary are an up-to-date computer system with plenty of RAM and a dedicated Internet line such as DSL, or cable. Landline telephone and fax machines are essential for good communication. There are virtual fax services available now that allow faxing through e-mail if you do not wish to have a fax machine in your office. Make sure your work environment is quiet and conducive to a business setting, and preferably located in a secluded area of your home.

Finding a part time work at home job with no investment is much easier than you think! With the current high price of gasoline and inconvenience of having to commute out of your home, with a little savvy and sleuthing on your part, you will soon have the advantage of working in the comfort of your own home.

Entry Level Financial Analyst - 7 Surefire Ways to Land the Job

Entry level financial analyst jobs can be very competitive, especially in today's economy. However, just like with any other positions, there are always a few things that you can do in order to get the job that you are applying for.

Here are a few tips that you can do in order to get yourself an entry level financial analyst job:

1. Connections are important. Just like with any other positions, having a connection is very important in trying to get a job inside any company. Try to think of some family, friends, or associates that you might know who work for a company who could possibly be seeking for an entry level financial analyst position.

2. Fix your resume and cover letter. The first thing that employers look at is the candidate's resume and cover letter. No matter how smart or experienced you are, you may not be able to get yourself an interview if the employer is not impressed with your resume.

3. Be confident. Once you have finally gotten yourself an interview with an employer, do not blow it with your fear and insecurities. Be confident in yourself, because that confidence will somehow show during the interview process. If you are scared and insecure, your employer will see through that and will be turned off by you.

4. Dress for success. This can sound like a small factor, but believe that this is one of the most important things that employers look at during an interview. If you are dressed like a successful person during the interview, your employer is going to see you as a successful employee, and that gives you a better chance of being hired.

5. Show some personality. Nobody wants to hire a robot. Employers look for candidates who have an excellent personality who can get along with the other employees.

6. The future of the company. During the interview process, show your future employer that you are interested in the company's future, and that a few years from now, you are still a part of the company. Nobody wants to waste time and money, hiring someone who is going to leave after a few months.

7. Last but not the least, differentiate yourself. You want to leave an impression that can last for a while. You want to be the candidate that your future employer is thinking of even after interviewing a few of the other candidates. Show that you are different, and your employer is going to appreciate and remember you.

Outsource Back Office Data Entry and Typing Work to Increase Efficiency

With so many aspects to concentrate on you might not find enough time to implement and actually process your ideas. This would mean that when you are embarking on a business you have to limit your ideas so that your human resources can match up with the implementation of your ideas. This is the only way that you can move forward in this fast paced world. However, there are many ways in which you can move your business forward in a rapid way. A very viable solution to keep up with the pace of today's business and documentation requirements is to outsource some of your manual work and contract out manual work like Typing Services, Data entry work, editing jobs, and even Secretarial services.

Most of the office work that involves data entry or typing can be outsourced. This is a very viable option for companies that are in their developing stage. When you are starting your business you might not find the time or the manpower to take care of your paper work or your accounting or statistics. This work can be outsourced to various companies that take up Typing services and Secretarial services so that you can concentrate on the main task of promoting your company and growing at a rapid pace without having to slow down so that your back office jobs can match up. If you outsource the paper work of your business then you can solely concentrate on the expansion of your company while your manual and back office jobs will be handled by the company that you are outsourcing your work too.

Outsourcing your business has many benefits. This includes the reduction of the amount of time by in which the work is completed. If a project that you have taken up is divided into tasks, then the project will defiantly get done faster than if a single person is finishing it. In a business, processes like editing jobs or Data entry jobs, take up the most amount of time. However if you outsource this work then you will not have to waste time on finishing up on this kind of work and concentrate solely on your business. Also outsourcing jobs are much cheaper and requires you to employ less man power from your base company and also make the maximum use of your resources in core business. If you outsource a particular job to a company that specialises in that particular job then that particular work will not only get done in a shorter amount of time but also the quality of the work will be much better. This creates specialisation of jobs and improves the over all quality of your company. Today it is simpler to grow your business than ever before by outsourcing.

Effective Branch Manager Support and Guidance in retail operations

Performance and behaviour management is by far the most difficult aspect of any manager's job and the reluctance to 'grasp the nettle' when performance or behaviour issues emerge is certainly a concern in many organisations. But at the end of the day that is what managers are paid to do and not doing so will certainly affect service, team morale, sales and ultimately the bottom line.

Why does this reluctance exist, why do so many mangers back away from confrontation? The problems and challenges that need to be overcome are many and the common reasons and 'excuses' for not doing so are as follows:

It is Risky - There is a worry in the back of the manager's mind that discussions could turn into heated arguments and that they may open themselves up for harassment or bullying accusations. There is also a concern that team moral and motivation may be damaged by tackling an under-performer and that the team may even turn against the manager.

It is Complicated and Difficult- Performance and behaviour management is not straight forward, it is very seldom clear cut or black and white. It is 'grey area' stuff and often involves opinions, perceptions and subjectivity. As managers feel they cannot quantify and then justify their concerns clearly enough they do not attempt to do so.

It is Hard Work and Time Consuming - Many managers feel they do not have the time to sort out under-performers and that it is low on the priority list. "It is not worth the hassle" is a common comment to be heard.

Denial - Many managers are either blind to the fact that a person is under-performing or behaving unacceptably or they do not see it is a serious enough issue to address. There are even managers who believe that it is not their job to tackle performance and behaviour issues and that some day, someone will come along and do it for them.

Many of the aforementioned points tend to be excuses rather than reasons but there are a number of more important points that need to be taken into consideration:

Lack of Training - No new manager has any previous experience of performance and behaviour issues when they move into a manager role for the first time. New managers often inherit performance or behaviour issues from the previous manager and yet are not given relevant training for tackling these issues from the onset. Giving managers basic employment law training and the company procedures to read is not the 'practical' training they need and is certainly insufficient on its own. All managers need a thorough grounding in the use of the performance management tools and practice in their use. Job specs, probationary periods, reviews, counselling sessions, appraisals and the disciplinary procedures are all useful performance and behaviour tools when used correctly and at the right time. Yet this vital training is not made on someone's appointment, often it is made later in their careers when much damage has been done.

Courage and Confidence - Doing something risky, difficult and complicated requires both courage and confidence. Unfortunately many branch managers lack both. Even if managers are given the knowledge and skill to tackle performance or behaviour issues, they will not do so without these essential qualities.

The problems and challenges are undoubtedly great and many may see the issue as un-resolvable however there is someone available to branch managers who can help them overcome many of the problems and challenges and that someone is their boss the Area Manager.

Guidance, Coaching and Support

The area manger is the only person who can guide, coach and support branch managers in the addressing of performance or behaviour issues. They can un-complicate the issues and help managers build a strong case for presenting to an employee. The area manager can also help the manager minimise the risk of harassment or bullying claims by ensuring the correct procedures are being used and that the managers say the right things in the correct way.

More importantly a good area manager will 'encourage' and give the manager much needed confidence. The area manager is the only one who can do this but unfortunately in many instances this is not happening and by not doing so area managers are unconsciously (or consciously) influencing a reluctance to tackle performance or behaviour issues within their branches.

Why is this happening?

Asking for support and guidance - Many branch managers are certainly reluctant to approach their area manager when they experience performance or behaviour issues within the team. If the matter falls into the gross misconduct category then managers will contact the area manager (and HR function) in the first instance. But for 'grey area' performance or behaviour matters they tend to keep the issues to themselves.

The reasons for this are as follows:

Many branch managers feel:

* The area manager may see it as a trivial matter and not important enough to bring to their attention.

* That seeking advice and guidance will be seen in a negative way by the area manager.

* The area manager will go into fault finding mode rather than helping find solutions.

* The area manager may start questioning the branch manager's ability to do the job.

Many managers have in the past gone to their area mangers for advice and support on team performance issues but received such a negative, unhelpful reply that many were put off from ever doing so again, even when they changed to a different area manager.

There is also a feeling that area managers themselves do not know what to do either. "Bring me solutions not problems" is a common comment heard by branch managers when they have taken a 'people' issue to their area manager.

Offering support and guidance

It is a fact that very few area managers actively encourage branch managers to talk about their 'people' issues or are prepared to probe below the surface to identify possible performance or behaviour problems that may be affecting the business. There are many examples where area managers have placed managers in 'problem' branches without preparing them for the issues they will face or helped or supported them once they have taken up the position. Basically they throw them to the wolves and then leave them to get on with it.

Another common issue is when the assistant manager of the branch is turned down for the manager position. Very few area managers are competent in explaining why an individual was not appointed and give excuses rather than valid reasons. This results in the new manager having to experience considerable hostility and resentment from not only their deputy but from many of the team also.

Why do many area managers not offer support or guidance or dig below the surface looking for performance issues? There are a number of reasons for this.

Unconscious Competence

There is a saying that "Good Management will result in good people staying and not-so-good people either improving or leaving. Where as Bad Management will result in good people leaving and not-so-good people staying and possibly getting even worse".

During their time as branch managers, many area managers did not experience risky, difficult or complicated people issues. If they did, they often resolved them unconsciously. They just acted as good managers should, which resulted in the issues being resolved quickly. Ask any manager who is competent in performance or behaviour management "how do you do it or what do you do?" and you will probably receive a shrug of the shoulders and a comment like "I don't know specifically, I just do it" (Unconscious Competence)

Unconscious competence is not acceptable at area management level as a key requirement of the job is to coach and train branch managers in performance management. Area managers can only fulfil this critical function if they know exactly what is to be done and how to do it. (Conscious competence)

Conscious Incompetence

Unfortunately there are area managers in existence who 'know' they are not personally competent in dealing with performance and behaviour issues and will go to great lengths not to expose this weakness to others. (Conscious incompetence) These area managers tend to encourage branch managers to not make waves, maintaining the status quo and to tolerate rather than develop. They certainly do not dig below the surface in a branch seeking 'people' issues that may be affecting the business.

One of the most disappointing comments I heard from a seasoned area manager when asked why he was not supporting his managers was "I am not allowed to get involved as I am the next step of the appeal process".

A good measure of an area manager's competence is to look at the performance and behaviour of the area manager's branch manager team. It is pretty certain that if they cannot coach and encourage branch mangers in the tackling of performance and behaviour issues then you can be sure they themselves are not tackling branch manager performance or behaviour issues.

Possible Solutions

If a retail organisation needs to tackle performance or behaviour issues at branch levels, I believe they need to develop the skills and competence of performance management at area management level first as area managers alone have the authority and are the biggest influence on branch manager effectiveness.

Unconscious competent area managers need to become consciously competent so they can not only develop others but also develop themselves further. Conscious incompetent area managers need to admit that they are not effective in performance or behaviour management and be prepared to learn and develop the necessary skills. If they are not prepared to do so then they themselves need to be performance managed by the company. After all, Executives cannot demand that branch managers tackle performance and behaviour issues one moment and then not do so themselves when they need to. That isn't leading by example.

What is the CFA Designation?

The CFA designation, or Chartered Financial Analyst, is a high-level certification for professionals in the areas of investment and financial analysis. The program consists of self-study, along with three exam levels that measure almost every level of learning. Professionals must also meet criteria for time in the profession, as well as a high level of competency and ethics. The CFA program, offered by the CFA Institute, is global in its reach and has been in existence since 1962. In the financial world, a CFA designation is considered to be among the highest of professional designations. In view of these criteria, the CFA designation is beneficial for both the individual and the organisation in several ways, including the curriculum, the CFA standards and recognition, competencies, and in an overall sense at the organisational level. Before we examine each piece, let's discuss in more detail what the CFA designation means, which professionals hold this designation, and what organisations look for CFA designated charterholders.

Chartered Financial Analysts own their own businesses and work in highly regarded financial organisations around the world. The highest concentration of CFA's is in world-renowned financial organisations such as Deutsch Bank, ABN Amro, and Credit Suisse. Many charter holders have worked in finance for most of their professional careers, while some have been drawn to finance after a "first" career in another field. Because the designation is a global one, CFA's around the world have the same level of knowledge and nearly the same level of experience. In fact, some of the top financial organisations may prefer applicants for various positions to have the CFA designation.

In order to begin study for the CFA program, a candidate must meet a minimum level of experience, education, and competency in the field. First, a candidate must have a Bachelor's degree or U.S. equivalent, or meet a variety of work-related experience requirements. In other words, the candidate without a B.A. must have at least four years qualified experience in the field or a combination of education and experience that equals four years. Internships or part-time assignments do not count toward the experience levels. In addition, each candidate must understand and adhere to very strict rules of Professional Conduct and Candidate Responsibility, and must re-certify to the rules of Professional Conduct on an annual basis. Although it is not stated as a requirement, a CFA candidate must understand enough English to study the program and take the exam in that language, as the program is not available in any other languages.

The question at this point is why is the designation important to individuals, organisations, and consumers? We will discuss each of these aspects during this series, but it's a good idea to have an overall picture of the benefits. An individual with the CFA designation has a highly competitive edge for employment in the financial industry, not only in his or her own country, but around the world. And in a period of financial uncertainty, it may very well be that an organisation will hold on to its CFA's during periods of contraction because they do not want to re-hire those levels of competency and experience. Because of the broad based, experiential curriculum, which we will also discuss in the future, a CFA charter holder has knowledge that is applicable in every day situations. In addition, because of the network of CFA charter holders, each individual has access to up-to-date information regarding financial markets all over the world.

At the organisational level, a CFA hire has already been held to an extremely high bar in terms of experience, education, ethics, and professional standard. A hiring manager who is looking at two candidates with equal education and experience may have an easier choice if one of the candidates is a CFA because of this level of professional standard. As we will see with the curriculum structure and competency levels of the program, your organisation can build its leadership bench with CFA charter holders. For example, the CFA will probably have not only technical competency but also the ethical and leadership competencies that are needed to move your organisation forward.

In terms of the consumer, consider where your organisation is in regard to customer service. If you are a financial organisation whose analysts and investment counsellors touch the public, then the CFA designation is a definite plus. Because of the CFA designation's high regard in the financial world, you can use it as a marketing tool to attract and retain new customers. You can point to the trust that the consumer can have in your CFA's because of the high standard of ethics and professional conduct required of them. You can show clients that in today's uncertain financial world, your organisation is acting in an ethical, above-the-board manner because of its preference for professionals who hold the CFA designation.

As I have mentioned, some of the world's top investment banks and financial providers choose to employ professionals with the CFA designation. These CFA's work with the public and also in internal roles related to investment, analysis, and financial forecasting. So consider this from the organisational point of view. If you are attempting to top grade your organisation and benchmark it in relation to the highest performing financial institutions in the world, then the decision to begin sponsoring for the CFA designation and employing individuals with the designation will be a good one.

Entry Level Investment Banking Jobs

Investment banks have a traditional aspect called "investment banking," which helps clients with their capital market transactions through professional advice on small- or large-scale mergers and acquisitions. Investment banks help the clients on their major financial decisions that would surely affect their wealth or the business of the client. The clients trust the bank to be able to uphold its ideals of being an honest and stable institution that would handle their activities in utmost secrecy. The clients trust that the bank would never divulge sensitive information to other clients or competitors. Thus, the field of investment banking can be truly delicate. When clients lose their trust on a company, this will bring the company down.

The deals of the investment banks are on the hands of their competent employees. One little mistake on an employee's part can cost the bank and the client millions. Working in an investment bank truly involves a lot of risks, but professionalism will see the entrant through. To better achieve the best for their clients, it is often necessary to work extra long hours, which can have sudden shifts in mood from elation of a success in the transactions to frustration and stress on difficult ones. Getting started as an entry-level professional in the field of investment banking can truly be hard. The ones who have succeeded must have used the various experiences gained as their stepping stone.

Being an analyst is usually the easiest way to land a career in investment banking. Those employed on entry-level analyst job positions should work hard to understand even the trivial aspects of the investment tools and develop their analytical skills. By doing so, the simple analyst will be eligible to be promoted to higher levels such as that of an associate.

Because of the sensitive nature of this field of work, landing entry level investment banking jobs is generally very difficult, and the processes involved can be extremely competitive. The pay also tends to be far less than higher positions; however, this is usually expected for any entry-level position. The general rule is that the more compensation the employee gets, the more responsibilities and liabilities are on his shoulders. What is important for an entry-level job would be the experience. Quality learning in the entry-level investment banking job would gauge the value of the professional for the next level. Maximizing what one learns will, in turn, maximise the value of the next levels' earnings, which would lead to better employment opportunities.

However, professionals in entry level investment banking jobs should not be disheartened because a quick research on banking statistics will show that compensation is bound to double after the third level, especially if the professional has acquired a master's degree in business administration. Therefore, the investment banking profession should be regarded as a continuing learning process for the entry-level professional.

Fast and accurate professionals in entry level investment banking jobs mean fast and accurate investment transactions. This is the very essence that the client expects.

Private Equity Job Opportunities Abound

There are a lot of good job opportunities in top private equity firms. This sort of firm invests in companies that are not traded publicly. One can find various types of private equity investments such as Leveraged Buyouts (LBO) and Mezzanine Financing and Venture Capital (VC).

In private equity, it can be challenging to find capital, which is critical for making deals. Focusing on the debt side of financing, as Mezzanine investors do, gives more seniority than keeping equity shares in a company. Because of their focus on debt and preferred status over equity shares, such investments often contain a lesser degree of risk; hence the return on these type of investments can be smaller than what one finds from an equity based investment.

Venture capital seeks to help a company grow by launching new goods or services. VC firms raise smaller funds, while LBO firms may raise multi-billion dollar funds. This kind of activity happens during the "seed round" or early phase of the life cycle of a company. Later on, the company will focus more on the expansion of it's market. The supporting of founders is not something the VC industry is known for doing. When thinking about the structuring of investment deal terms, a lot of VC firms have the reputation of behaving like vultures. This is why entrepreneurs often steer clear of venture capital investments. Founders tend to notice their role in the company becoming reduced to single digits even after the company's expansion goals are met.

The Private Equity Model of the Future

Some reports note the traditional private equity models are no longer sustainable. The days of using financial engineering (i.e. using greater leverages and arbitration involving larger exit multiple) as a means to get a higher return are over. Alternately, driving profitable growth and generating good returns in undervalued but excellent companies will be the focus.

Careers in International Private Equity Investment

The potential for employment working with international investments will be an important indicator to watch over the next ten years with particular focus in Asia and India. Private equity investments will surely increase in countries like India and China, that have experienced rapid growth. They will also do well in places such as Australia, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia. These countries are rich in resources.

Necessary Job Skills

While financial executives should have a background in accounting, those who lack this background might be able to still get a position in the private equity filed. Those firms that are backed with private funding often place a higher premium on skills in operations rather than accounting. Cash flow driven by sales growth and operational excellence is more important to firms than that created by financial reporting.

People who have a good overall business background are the best candidates to work in the private equity accounting field the long haul. One should expect to posses experience in operations, leadership skills, ability to communicate well, financial modelling abilities and a charismatic persona that can inspire groups who find themselves highly pressured to do well.

Quantitative Research Analyst Jobs

Quantitative analyst, or quant analyst, is a person who works in a financial institution. It may be anything from banks to investment centers to a hedge fund. The main job of the quant analyst is to research and design statistical or mathematical models and then implement them all the same. Quant research plays a major role in growth of the firm.

This profession is said to be introduced in late 1930's when investors started to make use of mathematical models to determine the prices of stock. Today, this job has undergone tremendous change and relies on heavy usage on technology for which a person needs to have expertise and requires skill set.

A quant analysis job requires good mathematical skills. A person should master programming languages and should have a very good marketing sense. It is said a person who has got a PhD is more apt or suited for a quant analyst job. These days, majority of the financial institutions are becoming more mathematical and this is the reason why they are hiring candidates having pure mathematics or physics as their majors in graduation.

A quant analysis apart from working out financial health of the organization also works on various aspects like risk analysis, forecasting, trading support etc. It is thus, a specialized job in which you simply cannot afford to make mistakes. This is suited for a person who enjoys numbers and love to play with them.

It requires a candidate to have a long term focus and who is able to interpret the historical data easily. An ideal candidate is one who has knowledge on math, finance, programming and statistics. The demand for them is on the rise and this is one of the major reasons why management schools are creating new PhD programs.

Stock Broker Career

Do you have an interest in the daily activities of the stock market? Do you understand or want to understand what makes the stocks of a company rise and fall? Do you have the diligence to continuously improve yourself in one particular field even if you believe you are one of the best at what you do? Do you have the heart to help your clientele reap the most out of a transaction? If your answers to all these questions are yes, then maybe you should try looking into the building a career as a stockbroker.

As a stockbroker, you would give advice to your clients according to your expertise and tell them how they can gain the most out of each stock they purchase. It is your analytical skills and your knowledge in the stock market that would determine if they made the right investment or not. Your credentials are banked on the accuracy of the predictions that you make. It would be in the best interest of your customer if your focus is not on the commission you gain from each of his transactions, but how much he gains regardless of how much you might loose. Your career will greatly rely on the integrity you maintain and the trust you gain from your customers, because their decisions are based on the information and the advice you give.

Working for a brokerage firm, you can become an analyst if you have an extensive knowledge of the stock market. If you are just starting in the industry, you will probably be just a trainee. You can also build your career on specific fields as an Insurance Advisor, Investment Banking, IT-Securities Industry Specialist, Registered Broker for Commodities and Futures, Institutional Broker or Retail Broker or in Trading Equities or in Trading-Fixed Income

How to Find Private Equity Jobs Working with Recruiters

It's critical to know how to work with a private equity jobs recruiter if you want to get your resume in front of the right private equity hiring firm and to give personal brand broad distribution to a group of targeted private equity job recruiters. Here are some basic rules of the road to utilise to work for/with private equity jobs recruiters:

1. Understand that most recruiters are "retained" to find private equity job candidates that would be a good fit for a private equity job that they are work on. They are all busy looking for that "right" candidate - so, when you are on the phone with them make sure you have a career highlights script you want to review with them, which can be a summary of your background to date.

2. Always take a call from a private equity jobs recruiter - they are an important source for jobs and it is always in your best interest to have some meaningful dialog with them about your background, compensation and/or optimum private equity job you are looking for.

3. Some of the specific points you want to discuss with a private equity jobs recruiter include: what their specific focus is in terms of jobs (hedge fund jobs, private equity jobs, back office financial services), will they treat your resume in confidence and not shotgun blast it out to companies and via the web, do they concentrate on a specific geographical are, what is time-line to hear back from them.

4. Identify a small number of private equity jobs recruiters that you want to work with who are focusing on private equity jobs and maintain some regular contact with them. Building a long term relationship with them is a good thing, as they have access to a steady flow of private equity jobs that you might not find via any other source.

5. If a recruiter contacts you about a private equity job then ask for a job description first and then analyze it to understand if it matches your skill sets; if not, don't waste their time, as they will remember this moving forward and refer them to someone that you know may be a better fit or simply let them know your background is not a good fit.

6. Do refer your friends/associates to your recruiter network for any type of private equity job - they will remember you for the valuable referral and this will help to cement a relationship with them - it's called building valuable mind-share.

7. Compensation is typically come up in conversations with private equity jobs recruiters - be honest with them about your current position (don't pad your numbers!) and what you'd like to make for your next position. They can give you valuable perspective about what other peers are making in the private equity jobs marketplace.

8. Remember private equity jobs recruiters are paid a percentage fee based on the total compensation package that they negotiate for/with you - it is in their best interest to get the absolute best compensation package for you.

9. Always ask a private equity jobs recruiter where they will be sending and/or posting your private equity jobs focused resume; you don't want your resume being posted across web sites without your permission or knowledge, for obvious reasons.

Offshore Back Office Support Solutions - Backing Your Business

The meltdown in world's economic scenario and high costs of on-shore manpower has routed the way of business towards offshore Back Office Support Solutions. From small scale industries to the giant players of industry are turning towards outsourcing back office support. This not only saves them costs but provides timely and market oriented results as well.

Most of us think that offshore services span telemarketing and customer support. The realm of contact services is beyond that and very extensive. No wonder, Customer support can help your business reach new heights and explore new horizons of market success.

Back office services include website building (design & development), software development, document management, campaign alerts, data activities and others. Various spheres of industry like retail, healthcare, medicine, finance, insurance and media communications are outsourcing them.

The benefits of BPO outsourcing are immense. They provide 24/7 services which eliminate your worry of missing out on some important information or leads. You save infrastructural, admin costs and other in house finances. With them you get an authentic, reliable and time tested support to boost your business and gain a competitive edge over competitors.

You do not have to concentrate your time or ingrain your efforts on less strategic and time consuming back office processes. Also, you do not have to manage a complete team and keep a check on outcomes. Outsourcing give you a complete track report status of what they have been doing to improve your business and how it could be expanded further.

After such niceties about outsourcing back office support, let's figure out some risk factors involved in the procedure. Before taking help of BPO, it is suggested to take a view of technology they are using and their infrastructure. A Customer Support Center should be resourceful both in terms of manpower and facilities. Their IT support should be commendable and capable of providing timely on site or remote solutions within cost and time parameters assigned.

Look for their quality certification and how they imply quality assurance in every process. They should enforce quality checks and adhere rigorously to quality standards. They should carry out and implement their solutions bolstered up with market research and experience.

Career as a Personal Financial Adviser

Both financial analysts and advisers are responsible for providing financial information to clients so that they can make appropriate business and investment decisions. The job responsibilities of both professionals will vary due to their investor relationships.

Securities analysts will usually work for banks and insurance companies, making investment decisions and determining company values in order to estimate future earnings for shareholders. Some analysts are responsible for selling shares for a company, often called institutional investors, and others are responsible for selling securities for their clients.

Most financial analysts will specialise in a particular type of security instrument, such as commodities or municipal bonds. They will have to keep abreast of any latest changes in company ratings or global situations that will affect companies share price and investment holdings.

Financial advisers and quantitative analysts are responsible for helping individuals invest their money wisely, often planning for both short and long-term goals. Some planners may help the clients with retirement, while others will provide tax advice or information on estate management.

Wealth managers are responsible for helping clients who have a lot of money to invest, managing the portfolios of very rich individuals such as billionaires.

The working conditions for financial advisor jobs can be fairly stressful, as they often involve long hours and travel. Most analysts will work overtime in order to meet the needs of their clients, although personal finance advisors usually have more regular hours.

Most analysts and advisers must have a bachelor's degree in order to gain employment with a financial institution, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is responsible for licensing agents.

Career in Financial Services

A career in financial services is a lucrative career option today as job opportunities in financial services are growing rapidly in India. There is an increasing need for the financial expertise as a career in financial services includes various areas like corporate finance, commercial banking, insurance, investment banking, money management, real estate and financial planning.

Financial Services Jobs

Jobs in corporate finance involve working for a company to find sources of capital, making acquisitions, growing the business and planning for its financial future. Key job areas are treasury, cash management, financial analysis, credit management and controlling. Major job areas in commercial banking are loan issuance (credit appraisal, accountant management), leasing, mortgage services, trade credit, credit card banking, trust services, international finance and overall operational handling.

There is a big demand for the insurance professionals in India. Main job areas include agency and broker-ships, actuarial services, risk management, claims adjustment and service management. It includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, project finance, structured finance, trading, management of financial assets, trade of securities and financial advice.

Major job areas in money management include portfolio management, investment advisory, sales, hedge fund trading and mutual fund analyst. The real estate sector includes commercial and residential real estate brokering, property management, real estate appraisals, construction and development. The financial planners help the people to plan their financial futures including taxes, investments and estate planning issues.

Skills Required for a Career in Financial Services:

Jobs in financial services are available in government agencies and various corporations, national and international banks and financial institutions. It is a prosperous and secure career option. The candidate needs to apply his skills in quantitative analysis, strategic financial planning, investment management and sales. The applicant should have good mathematical skills, computer skills, knowledge of latest computer technology, analytical skills, leadership skills, communication skills including listening and writing, integrity, problem-solving and decision-making skills and organization skills. Proficiency in any foreign language is considered as additional qualification.

Qualifications Needed for a Career in Financial Services:

The eligibility criteria for creating career in financial services vary from post to post. Some of the posts need a bachelor's degree from any discipline.

The bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or economics is needed for financial managers. However, master's degree in finance, economics or risk management or a chartered accountant is more preferred in many organisations.

The duty of workers in financial services is full of mental and physical stress. A few may suffer from excessive workload.