Business
Jobless in America? Find Work in Asia
When Don Phan was looking for a job last April, he thought he’d stay in New York. But when he was offered a position in Thailand, he decided he just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to witness rapid economic growth firsthand and capitalize on the country’s emerging private equity industry.
So he packed up and moved to Asia.
Phan, a 28-year-old American, now works as an investment consultant in the Bangkok office of Leopard Capital, a private equity firm founded in 2007 by Doug Clayton, an American expat who moved to the region in 1983 as a military officer and never left.
Phan is one of many seeking career opportunities far from home. Dismal economies in the U.S. and Europe and booming industries in Asia are prompting Westerners to uproot and move at least 7,000 miles away to find jobs, say recruiters and employees in the region. Recruitment firms say the number of resumes they’ve received from Westerners looking for jobs in Asia has surged by between 15% and 35% since the financial crisis hit in 2008.
“The job market in Asia is generally more favorable than in the West,” said Mark Ellwood, Singapore-based managing director of recruitment firm Robert Walters. “People know that there are many opportunities here, that Asia is a focus for companies and that relocating could translate into a good career move.” His firm has received a 15% to 20% increase in the number of resumes sent in by Westerners over the past three years.
People in all industries are looking East for employment. Professionals in technology, consumer goods, finance and functions including sales, marketing and operations want jobs, according to Kalpana Denzel, a Singapore-based consultant for executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. She and her colleagues have received a 30% to 35% increase in the number of Americans and Europeans who have contacted them, unsolicited, to express their interest in working in Asia.
“Years ago, companies had to incentivize Westerners to come to Asia with attractive expat packages,” Denzel said. “Now there is proactive interest on their part to come here given the growth, opportunity, and investment in this part of the world, coupled with the troubled home economies. Having Asia on your CV is seen as an advantage.”
Employers are more optimistic about adding staff in Asia than in other parts of the world, another attraction for Westerners. A recent Duke/CFO Magazine survey found that American chief financial officers expect employment across all sectors to grow only by 0.9% in the next year. In Asia, CFOs expect employment to grow by 7% over the same period.
According to Trading Economics, which tracks economic indicators for 232 countries, unemployment rates in Asian countries are considerably lower than in the U.S. While the U.S. posted 9.1% unemployment last month, China reported 4.1% in the first quarter of 2011, Hong Kong 3.2% in September, Thailand 0.4% in June, Singapore 2.1% in the second quarter of 2011, Japan 4.3% in August, and South Korea 3.2% in September.
Kenneth Wilson, a 40-year-old Scotsman, has experienced the disparity firsthand. Only one job has been posted in his field of Russian Politics in the entirety of the U.K. since he received his doctorate from Oxford University in 2005. “It’s got worse since the financial crisis,” he said. “Universities are making cuts rather than expanding.”
After fruitlessly searching for a teaching position in the U.K, the U.S., Canada and New Zealand, Wilson landed a gig in early 2009 — in South Korea. He’s now an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Dongguk University and has no plans to leave the country any time soon.
Finance people have renewed their interest in Asian jobs since the market turmoil of the summer. “When the financial crisis hit, we saw a significant increase in the volume of CVs from people based in America and Europe who perceived Asia as a safe haven in the crisis,” said Richard Boden, a Hong-Kong-based principal in the financial services practice for executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. “We are seeing the same situation all over again in the second half of 2011.”
For those just out of school, Asia is a place to gain experience. “People come out here because there is more activity and they want to be a part of it,” said Phan of Leopard Capital. “Here, young people are optimistic and can take on responsibilities that they couldn’t back at home,” like conferring with the boss on a daily basis.
This year, Leopard Capital got 400 applications from MBA students for 10 internship slots, said the firm’s founder Doug Clayton. About 95% came from Western countries including the U.S., Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Ireland. “I doubt we would have gotten that response four or five years ago when we started the firm,” Clayton said.
Entrepreneurs see opportunity in Asia as well. Felix Baden-Powell, a British 25-year-old, moved to Vietnam in February of this year to co-found Bloom Microventures, which extends micro-loans and introduces tourists to local entrepreneurs. He plans on staying at least another year, then wants to emulate the model in Laos and Cambodia.
The focus on Asia as a destination for job-seekers doesn’t look like it will abate in the near term.
“This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future,” said Ellwood of Robert Walters. “Especially if Western economies continue to stagnate and opportunities are limited in that part of the world.”
Write to Julie Steinberg at [email protected]
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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