Friday, November 29, 2019

8 of the worst business decisions ever made

8 of the worst business decisions ever made8 of the worst business decisions ever madeEven the most innovative and entrepreneurial companies can miss the mark when it comes to the decision of whether to cash in or cash out of a business opportunity. From the company that turned down the opportunity to buy Google for less than $1 million, to Blockbuster rejecting a proposal to join forces with Netflix, some costly decisions have been decided at the negotiating table.We teamed up with the guys over at Betway Casino and together looked closer at eight of the worst business decisions ever made. These negotiations had some of the most expensive consequences, undoubtedly leading to some very difficult boardroom conversations later1. Motorola doesnt do smartphonesMotorola welches one of the biggest mobile phone manufacturers in the world during the mid-2000s, with a market share of 22 percent thanks to their hugely popular Razr model. However, their lack of urgency in producing a smartphone not doing so until 2010 meant their share value fell from $72 in February 2006 to only $12 three years later, an 83 percent drop.2. The company that could have bought Google for under $1mBack in 1999, search engine Excite, one of the most well-known brands on the internet, turned down the opportunity to purchase Google for only $750k. Google went on to dominate the world and are now valued at around $367bn, while Excite were bought out by fellow Ask Jeeves for $343m in 2004.3. Decca turn down The BeatlesThe Beatles are the biggest-selling band of all time, having sold 178m records and counting. Yet, when offered the chance to sign them before making it big, Dick Rowe of Decca Records turned them down, insisting Guitar bands are on their way out.4. Blockbuster block themselves outBlockbuster had over 9,000 video and DVD rental stores worldwide during the 1990s, with an annual revenue of close to $6bn per year. At the turn of the millennium, new start-up Netflix offered them $50m t o help launch their new DVD-by-mail service. Blockbuster have since virtually died out, while Netflix have a market value of around $152bn.5. EDS miss out on becoming a trillion-dollar companyIn 1979, American IT company Electronic Data Systems were worth around $1bn and looking to invest in a small computer company to supply valuable software. Microsoft were one of the options, but EDS refused to meet a 23-year-old Bill Gates asking price of $40-60m. Microsoft are now worth more than $1tn.6. Mars miss a movie opportunitySteven Spielberg offered Mars the opportunity to feature in E.T., one of the most iconic films of all time, back in 1982, but they declined. Hersheys, however, jumped at the opportunity and agreed a $1m deal to push their Reeses Pieces product, with the subsequent exposure worth an estimated $20m.7. Yahoo turn down megabucks from MicrosoftWith a peak of around $125bn in 2000, internet pioneers Yahoo were already on the downturn when co-founder Jerry Yang turned down an offer of $44.6bn from Microsoft in 2008 to the annoyance of investors.The value of Yahoo continued to steadily decline, to the point that they are now worth just $32 billion.8. Digg dig themselves into a holeNews aggregator Digg rejected an offer from Google in 2010 that was reportedly worth around $200 million.Two years later, they were forced to accept a bid from Betaworks for only $500,000.This article was originally posted on YourCoffeeBreak.co.uk.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Important Criminal Justice Skills That Employers Value

Important Criminal Justice Skills That Employers ValueImportant Criminal Justice Skills That Employers ValueTechnically, criminal justice is a broad category for enforcing the law. Many attorneys are considered part of the criminal justice industry, as well as local law enforcement and federal agencies, such as the FBI and the CIA. As the world becomes a smaller place through world trade organizations and peace efforts through the United Nations, enforcing local, national, and international law is becoming more challenging. Remember, skills vary by job, so be koranvers to review these skills lists for a variety of different occupations. Once youve highlighted the skills acquired during your studies, internships, and prior jobs, youll be ready toinclude the appropriate skillsin your cover letters, resume, and job applications. What Are Criminal Justice Skills? Once again, criminal justice incorporates all that is understanding and enforcing the law. Often, we associate criminal ju stice with an academic field of study, such as a bachelors or masters degree in criminal justice. Often, criminal justice skills can be transferrable between two different roles/jobs in law enforcement. A criminal justice major could qualify you for an array of law enforcement roles, including a police officer, park ranger, paralegal, and forensics expert. Some criminal justice jobs, such as forensics, are more specialized than others. While some roles, such as fish and game warden or detective, are more physical. No matter which role you choose, there are a number of skills any employer will look for in someone with a criminal justice degree. Types of Criminal Justice Skills Applying Ethical Standards to Criminal Justice Issues Criminal justice professionals are on the front lines of maintaining and upholding the basic ethical standards of society. Across a number of related fields- from policing to park rangering- legal as well as moral ethics are paramount for success. A criminal justice professional should not just be well-versed in the details of the law but should also understand and embody the spirit of ethics. Basically, a criminal justice professional should have a sense of right versus wrong, even when those ethics are tested by difficult people or situations. If you select this vocation, theres a good chance youll end up in a position of power that demands public trust. Maintaining scrupulous ethics will help you model standards throughout your department or office, and help you influence positive outcomes and consequences whatever your chosen field. Accessing Resources with Crime DataAdapting to Changing CircumstancesPolicyAnalyzing Societal and Economic Factors Contributing to CrimeEthicsAssessing Models for Correctional FacilitiesComplianceAdherence to Safety StandardsProblem Sensitivity Writing A big part of fruchtwein criminal justice careers involves writing. Therefore, strongwritten communication skillsare essential. For example, you may need to create reports to get approval for a warrant. Or, you may need to keep key records of policy papers or create proposals for funding. In most cases, a well-written report could mean the difference between convicting a known felonor setting them free. All too often, cases are often lost (or go un-tried) because of poorly written arrest reports. Whether its to apprehend a criminal, demonstrate research findings, or convey any pertinent idea, a criminal justice professional must be able to communicate, in writing, the details of the issue at hand. Composing ReportsWriting Essays Supporting Criminal Justice PerspectivesWriting Research Papers on Criminal Justice TopicsCritical ThinkingProducing Presentation Slides Research A criminal justice expert should have strong proficiency in research, along with preparing research findings for sharing with colleagues and supervisors. This research could include the ability to access resources with crime data, assess models, a nd create charts and graphs. One also needs to be able to utilize data visualization software, interpret social science research data, and create presentations. You might be asked to analyze public policy and its impact on criminal justice. You also might be called upon to study and analyze the impact of reforms on criminal justice systems or to see how previous changes to policy has impacted crime. Either way, your research skills will be vital to your success. Case StudiesReading ComprehensionMemoryLegal Codes ProceduresInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningInvestigationBuilding ArgumentsAttention to DetailInterrogationInterviewing WitnessesNote TakingObservationDeveloping Hypotheses for Criminal Justice Research Computer Criminology and related jobs are becoming increasingly complex as techniques and systems evolve. Simultaneously, the field of cybercrime has opened up a world of more specialized demands within criminal justice, such as cybersecurity investigation/prosecuti on. Both cybersecurity roles and more traditional criminal justice roles need computer skillsto solve problems. Microsoft Office SuiteCrime DatabasesAutomated Finger Print Identification SystemsCrime Mapping SoftwareInternet Search More Criminal Justice Skills CollaborationComposing Criminal Justice Case AnalysesCreating Charts and GraphsEmploying Data Visualization SoftwareDebatingDecision MakingEvaluating the Efforts of Organizations to Control CrimeEvaluating the Validity and Reliability of Criminal Justice Research StudiesFacilitating Group DiscussionInterpreting Social Science Research DataLeadershipFirearms ProficiencyNon-lethal Weapons ProficiencyManaging StressMultitaskingOrganizationPhysical ConditioningProject PlanningPrioritizing TasksProblem Solving QuantitativeResearching Legal PrecedentsResearch Techniques for Criminal JusticeSAS and SPSS Software ProficiencyStatistical AnalysisTeamworkTime Management How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Relevant Skills to Your Re sume Each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description for every position youre applying for carefully and focus on the skills listed by that employer.Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter Often, law enforcement agencies care about why you feel strongly about enforcing the law. It can be helpful to provide a brief explanation about what event(s) in your life cause you to want to pursue a career in criminal justice.Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview You should also consider providing examples of how youve demonstrated these skills toward measurable success in prior work. And dont be shy about using these words in your interview and be prepared to share examples of how youve exemplified each skill you mention.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Why They Reposted The Ad After Your Interview

Why They Reposted The Ad After Your InterviewWhy They Reposted The Ad After Your InterviewINBOX This is my situation. I had a 4th round of interviews and it felt like things went very well. They said they had a few more candidates to speak with, but guess what? The HR person re-posted the job ad on her LinkedIn feed.Lets talk about how this is NOT the end of the road.I want you to see how successful candidates landed one interview after the next after the next, so they got into the fortunate position of juggling more than 1 job offer. Thats in our free job search training here.