Monday, July 09, 2007

Talents Alone Are Not Enough For Life Accomplishments

Opportunities for jobs or use of ones talents do not just come to someone just because one is highly talented, knowledgeable or learned. Many have died with awesome talents and vast knowledge without having used them. Sad indeed!

Social mobility as a movement from one social position to another would mean that one may either move up or down the social scale. In today’s world, the mobility tends tend to be characterized more by a movement down scale. The talented, knowledgeable and learned are among the mass movement down scale. Social mobility tends to result more from structural changes rather than industrial success or economic developments.

According to Theodore C. Wagenaar of Miami University Ohio, in his book on sociology published by McGraw Hill publishers, the United States has long been an upwardly mobile society, primarily because of the dramatic rise in the labor market and in technological developments. He wrote that widespread immigration also has stimulated occupational advancement because immigrants usually may help to create more and better jobs. But according to Wagenaar, there has been widespread downward mobility in the United States, caused by deindustrialization, transformation of the economy from one based on manufacturing to one service.

He also observed that of the new service jobs are at low-wage end of the scale and that white-collar workers have been hurt by economic shifts, particularly in the face of massive corporate downsizing. It is so interesting to note, according to Wagenaar that today young Americans are the first American generation to experience widespread downward mobility, yet among this group are most talented, knowledgeable, and learned and aggressive persons! Wagenaar observed that to understand status attachment, one must take into account the structures of opportunity within which individual social action (i.e. occupational achievement) can occur.

In Africa, those who were first to take-up management positions in private sector, government, non-Governmental Organizations are known to have preserved job opportunities for their family members, friends and kinsmen. It is even particularly hard for the talented, knowledgeable and learned to be considered for jobs or even voluntary work with the NGOs. One talented and learned job hunter who went knocking at doors of some NGOs got similar responses that the employees of the NGOs were also looking for opportunities for their children, and if an opportunity was there, they would immediately hand them to them.

Many talented people, with no one to help them, and no finances would just wed their pillows crying. It is painful. And when the they seize an opportunity for a job, especially in the third world, they do not last. Other employees, including ones in senior management would become jealous and hostile to them. Though they are highly gifted, the talented are frustrated, are not given opportunities to further or explore their talents, and are not given opportunities for further training and time for self-development. And the talented would soon find themselves out of the companies or the public sector, dejected and demoralized. But who or what can come to their aid. Perhaps micro-finance institution may help them, but for a start, most of the talented in the third world may not even have what it take to qualify as a member of a micro-finance and be an effective member. It may help if more micro-finance and non-governmental organization that are transparent and that would target talented persons are created.
Opportunities for jobs or use of ones talents do not just come to someone just because one is highly talented, knowledgeable or learned. Many have died with awesome talents and vast knowledge without having used them. Sad indeed!

Social mobility as a movement from one social position to another would mean that one may either move up or down the social scale. In today’s world, the mobility tends tend to be characterized more by a movement down scale. The talented, knowledgeable and learned are among the mass movement down scale. Social mobility tends to result more from structural changes rather than industrial success or economic developments.

According to Theodore C. Wagenaar of Miami University Ohio, in his book on sociology published by McGraw Hill publishers, the United States has long been an upwardly mobile society, primarily because of the dramatic rise in the labor market and in technological developments. He wrote that widespread immigration also has stimulated occupational advancement because immigrants usually may help to create more and better jobs. But according to Wagenaar, there has been widespread downward mobility in the United States, caused by deindustrialization, transformation of the economy from one based on manufacturing to one service.

He also observed that of the new service jobs are at low-wage end of the scale and that white-collar workers have been hurt by economic shifts, particularly in the face of massive corporate downsizing. It is so interesting to note, according to Wagenaar that today young Americans are the first American generation to experience widespread downward mobility, yet among this group are most talented, knowledgeable, and learned and aggressive persons! Wagenaar observed that to understand status attachment, one must take into account the structures of opportunity within which individual social action (i.e. occupational achievement) can occur.

In Africa, those who were first to take-up management positions in private sector, government, non-Governmental Organizations are known to have preserved job opportunities for their family members, friends and kinsmen. It is even particularly hard for the talented, knowledgeable and learned to be considered for jobs or even voluntary work with the NGOs. One talented and learned job hunter who went knocking at doors of some NGOs got similar responses that the employees of the NGOs were also looking for opportunities for their children, and if an opportunity was there, they would immediately hand them to them.

Many talented people, with no one to help them, and no finances would just wed their pillows crying. It is painful. And when the they seize an opportunity for a job, especially in the third world, they do not last. Other employees, including ones in senior management would become jealous and hostile to them. Though they are highly gifted, the talented are frustrated, are not given opportunities to further or explore their talents, and are not given opportunities for further training and time for self-development. And the talented would soon find themselves out of the companies or the public sector, dejected and demoralized. But who or what can come to their aid. Perhaps micro-finance institution may help them, but for a start, most of the talented in the third world may not even have what it take to qualify as a member of a micro-finance and be an effective member. It may help if more micro-finance and non-governmental organization that are transparent and that would target talented persons are created.

Accounting Career Tips

In the past several years, the accounting industry has transformed itself from one perceived as stodgy and static to a diverse, vibrant field that includes everyone from tax advisors to FBI agents, from CPAs to environmental activists. The business world's growing focus on strong, reliable, honest accounting practices has also led to an incredible spike in available accounting jobs, a renewed respect for the field, and steady salary growth. Here are some tips on how to stand out in the competitive field of accounting.

1. Be a Spreadsheet / Data Ninja - You'd be surprised, most accountants only have mid-level knowledge of Excel. As an accountant, you'll have a serious advantage over your competition by knowing arcane spreadsheet formulas. Master Excel VLookup and Pivot Tables until you can be proud to call yourself a Spreadsheet Ninja.

2. Make Time Management a Priority - Read up on the latest time management and productivity blogs and books. Put into practice tips such as going in to work early and defining your priorities for the day. It makes a difference and your boss will notice. By being laser focused at work, you'll get more done and feel more accomplishment.

3. Put Yourself Out There - Find a mentor or identify a role model. Join local accountant organizations. Attend networking events. Develop friendships with people at work. Continuously seek to understand what’s happening in the world, the economy and your organization.

4. Earn a Reputation for Being a Team Player - Learn about the business from the ground up. Make a point to talk to people face to face . Ask for ways to improve communication and process. Be proactive and anticipate needs of your manager.

5. Continue Your Education - Branch out. Accountants with a graduate certificate in consulting or accounting information systems rise to the top. There is high demand for accountants who have broader knowledge that encompasses areas such as sales, insurance, legal, and risk management.
In the past several years, the accounting industry has transformed itself from one perceived as stodgy and static to a diverse, vibrant field that includes everyone from tax advisors to FBI agents, from CPAs to environmental activists. The business world's growing focus on strong, reliable, honest accounting practices has also led to an incredible spike in available accounting jobs, a renewed respect for the field, and steady salary growth. Here are some tips on how to stand out in the competitive field of accounting.

1. Be a Spreadsheet / Data Ninja - You'd be surprised, most accountants only have mid-level knowledge of Excel. As an accountant, you'll have a serious advantage over your competition by knowing arcane spreadsheet formulas. Master Excel VLookup and Pivot Tables until you can be proud to call yourself a Spreadsheet Ninja.

2. Make Time Management a Priority - Read up on the latest time management and productivity blogs and books. Put into practice tips such as going in to work early and defining your priorities for the day. It makes a difference and your boss will notice. By being laser focused at work, you'll get more done and feel more accomplishment.

3. Put Yourself Out There - Find a mentor or identify a role model. Join local accountant organizations. Attend networking events. Develop friendships with people at work. Continuously seek to understand what’s happening in the world, the economy and your organization.

4. Earn a Reputation for Being a Team Player - Learn about the business from the ground up. Make a point to talk to people face to face . Ask for ways to improve communication and process. Be proactive and anticipate needs of your manager.

5. Continue Your Education - Branch out. Accountants with a graduate certificate in consulting or accounting information systems rise to the top. There is high demand for accountants who have broader knowledge that encompasses areas such as sales, insurance, legal, and risk management.