Logistics and Inventory Management

Being an OC-type of person, I think I would do well in the area of inventory management or even warehousing.  I like to put things in order and I guess this would entail a great deal of organizing and keeping within the budget. My area of study though, which is in environmental management, chemical engineering and waste process engineering is not quite relate to it. That would mean more training and specialized study to learn the basics, get more info, and know by heart the twists and turns of the trade. But whatever the reason, I still believe that I will do well in this area. 

I have had a little experiene in logistics management and I really see it as a fun way to work. You deal with various suppliers and customers: you try to fullfill your customer's demands and needs while you haggle over the price with the suppliers so you are able to stick to your budget. It's quite challenging and fun in its own way. 

If you are thinking of changing careers or just planning about your career path, this could be one of the things that you might want to consider.

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Of Plumbers and Pipes

I am no expert when it comes to plumbing but it does fascinate me how water and heating distribution inside the home could work and is made possible because of the careful planning within the plumbing system. This network of pipes and valves and stoppers one can never see as they are "buried" inside walls or floorings. 

But what if a problem arises, say you have a leak somewhere because the walls sudddenly became moist? If you are the DIY type, then the first thing to look into are the visible fixtures: faucets in the bathroom and kitchen, drainage pipes under sinks. If the immediate source of the problem is not visible, nothing seems to be wrong with i.e. faucets, then I guess it is high time to call in the experts. Who are you gonna call? Plumbing experts from plumbing lexington ky of course! Well, that is if you are in the Kentucky area.

Why the experts? Because they are experienced and specialized in this field. For example, plumbing repair lexington offers 2 years written warranty on repairs and even 10 years for new installations. And if something is wrong with your plumbing system at home, wouldn't it be just great if it is attended to on the same day? A good plumbing service will not let you wait longer just to get it fixed. A good plumbing expert will also tell you what the problem was, how he fixed it and how much it would cost. Transparency and professionalism are very important these days so be on the lookout for that too when choosing a proffesional plumber.

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Spice Up Your Career with a Cisco Certification

Nothing adds value and importance to your resume like a Cisco certification. Earning a Cisco certification in several specializations is possible by taking the certification tests. Registration is done through Pearson VUE and the test must be taken at any one of their worldwide testing centers. Before taking an exam, candidates must thoroughly train, study, and prepare; this can be done in many ways. Popular options include the Cisco-certified training resources, such as classes, videos, and textbooks, as well as www.testslive.com, an independent training program that offers a valuable practice exam, among other resources, which cover all aspects of each exam.

The exams differ in level of difficulty among fields; the exam length, type of questions, resources, and materials also differ. However, most fields include three types of certifications that can be earned. The first is the entry level exam certification, which requires knowledge of basic terms and concepts. It is required for the associate exam certification, while both are required for the professional certification and all three are required before the expert certification can be earned.

Cisco is often the vendor of choice for individuals looking to expand their knowledge for a variety of reasons. They allow participants to take any test(s) of their choosing; their structured certification program allows for minimum and maximum learning, based on the amount of time, work, and commitment an individual is willing to put forth. With this level of interactivity, participants can use Cisco to gain practical knowledge of a specialized vocation.

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Salt

It was in 2003 when I landed my first job as a technical assistant for a salt company. It wasn't a very big company but it was a good learning experience working with them. The training was also good, and I learned more about salt and it's importance in our daily lives. As a technical assistant, it was my responsibility to assist the marketing team in providing product support, especially the industrial side. It was a good experience to go to different industries to conduct product presentations and all that stuff. I also got to meet the President of the company, a stout Filipino-Chinese man who has good principles, a strong personality, and who chews al capone cigars since he cannot smoke them due to health reasons. He was a strict person when the situation calls for it but very good at negotiating and explained to me the principles of agimat and swerte, agimat being a Filipino word for amulet or charm and swerte, meaning luck and how you can use this two to reach your objectives.

I didn't last long in that company though because I saw that the job entailed more marketing work even on my end. I realized that marketing just isn't the right way for me, since I am not the type of person who asks a lot of questions or is good negotiating. But it was indeed a good learning experience and I am thankful. 

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Earn Some Extra Money From Home

No matter where a person lives or who they are, chances are they find the idea of making extra money from home attractive. They may be looking for more funds in order to save money on home insurance, or they may simply wish to have something set aside for a vacation. By looking at the ideas below a person will realize that they have a few options.

1. Sell Crafted Items

Some people enjoy creating things. They may find great joy from knitting a blanket for infants or painting something to hang on the family room wall. If this is the passion for a person wishing to make extra money they should consider selling some of their creations. They can do this by setting up special auctions on the Internet, or by participating in local craft shows. If a person so desires they can do both.

2. Become a Freelance Writer or Editor

Not everybody wishes to spend their time behind a crafting bench. For a number of individuals, writing is more attractive. If a person likes to write stories or articles they may want to consider offering their skills on a freelance basis. Blogs may be on the lookout for people that can provide entries for them; businesses may wish for somebody to check the grammar from their latest press release. Depending on the level of skill and the amount of work that is done at one time, a person can make decent extra money for their own personal wishes.

3. Tutor People of All Ages

Another option for a person that wishes to make money from home involves tutoring people. No matter how old a person is, chances are that they struggle with a particular subject. A child or adult may need help with math or their reading comprehension skills and a tutor can help them understand. The person that wishes to tutor can set up a special area in their home where they can teach the people that visit. If this is not what they want to do, they can join a website that provides digital help on the Internet. A tutor can be flexible in the hours that they create and this is good for busy people.

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I Am a Freelancer

Living in a foreign country is not really that easy, especially if you don't know the language very well. Getting a job takes some time since you need first to hurdle the language barrier. While trying to improve my German, I am currently doing some online freelance jobs, most of them in the field of administrative assistance. Little did I know that an opportunity to improve my German and work in a realy technical environment at the same time will come way.

October 2010. It was initially an invitation to propose for a job, letting the client know what I could do and what my qualifications were. Since I didn't hear from them since then, I thought the job is no longer available.

January 2012. I got an email from the client, asking me if I was still interested. I called them up and got an appointment for an interview.

February 2012. I got the job and would only need to secure my work permit so I can start working with them as soon as possible.

I will not reveal yet which company it is since I didn't get my work permit yet but the business is basically all about pumps and dosing systems. I guess I will be learning more about many different kinds of pumps, coolant pumps included, when I begin working.

Who would have thought that it is possible to get such a job while doing freelance work? It really is not bad being a freelancer. You can decide how long you want to work and when you want to work. The pay may not be so big and not so stable compared to a full-time job but it is perfect for my situation. And who knows? Other good opportunities are yet to come. It just takes patience and diligence. Maybe I just got lucky? Still, I am very thankful!

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Courses Doctors May Find Helpful

Working in the medical profession entails a continuous learning process. When I say medical professional, I am not only referring to doctors who are practicing in hospitals and clinics but to doctors who are doing medical research and to those who are in the academe or doing consultancy work, sharing their knowledge, expertise and experience to fellow medical practitioners and aspiring ones. For doctors who are working in this field, a medical teaching course aimed at giving formal medical education training to help improve their teaching skills and styles is very good start. There is also another program called teach the teacher course offered by Oxford Medical in Oxford and London, which runs for only a couple of days, ideal for ST doctors, sprs, middle grades and consultants. From this course, doctors will be trained in the theory of adult education, perfect their presentation skills, develop and write structured learning objectives among others.

Another interesting course for doctors is the consultant interview course, an interview training course that takes place only in a day. This course trains doctors how to structure, prepare and deliver a medical presentation, and respond to any interview question, how to deliver exceptional responses to difficult questions in terms of management, leadership and current NHS issues, and practice in a mock interview among other things. There is also a three-day medical management course, which highlights the key management and leadership areas that practising doctors should be trained in. It focuses on the skills and awareness required to lead and manage within a medical team by varying management/leadership style, communicating and negotiating effectively and understanding how to make best use of the diversity of individuals in the team. At the end of the course, the delegates will then be able to write a business plan for developing the service, and having the ability to describe and discuss a range of issues which form the context for the development of services within the NHS.

If you want to be ahead of your career and be the best, taking a course or two will surely help.

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One Step At A Time

Getting a job in a country where you do not speak their language is a big challenge for me. Why? Because communication is very important, most especially at the workplace. To hurdle this challenge, first things first. Learn the language. And so learn I did. I went to a language school and there learned the basics and then went on to attend a six-week intensive German course. Then I realized I need to earn a Masters Degree if I wish to work in my desired workplace since my Chemical Engineer license is not recognized here. So I am attending Graduate School right now and going on my third semester. Thankfully, the program I applied for is taught in English so understanding the course content and the lectures is not a problem.

So what's next? Just wait and see? No, definitely not. To get a step closer to my desired job, I am planning to apply as a student assistant in one of the many institutes at the university. Hopefully, I will be accepted and then I could get my work permit from the Auslanderbehörde (Immigration Office). Once I finish my Masters, I will definitel apply to the many different environmental firms. I could even get one of those Night Audit Clerk Jobs while I am waiting for the right employer. It should be fun... And I get to practice my German with the hotel guests and brush up on my English with the foreign guests.

I haven't experienced doing the real jobhunting part yet so I don't really know how difficult getting a job here in my part of the planet will be. But I guess once I set my heart out to getting a job, I will be able to tell. Until then, I will just enjoy the fact that I have a very good husband who has an equally good job to support us. There's really no rush... I am taking things one step at a time.

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Direct Hire and Working Abroad

So you are a direct hire? You found a job overseas and you found it yourself. The pay is good, the airfare and work permit will be taken cared of by your new employer. You need not pay ridiculous fees because a recruitment agency was not involved in it. Your salary won't be deducted with all those fees from the agency. Well, good for you! But do you know that there are a few things that you still need to do before you leave the country? There are some who are directly hired overseas who don't know some of the SOPs in the Philippines when working abroad. I guess the only advantage that being employed via an agency is that they will take care of everything. So for the benefit of those directly hired overseas, here are some of the things that you need to do before you pack your bags.

The most common sense thing to do is to go to the nearest POEA Office in your area. They will be giving you a checklist of the requirements that you need to accomplish before leaving the country. These are passport, work visa or work permit, employment contract verified or authenticated by the Philippine embassy or Philippine consulate in the country of your destination. You are also required to undergo a medical examination by a DOH-accredited clinic or hospital and a pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS), which is conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

There are also some fees that you need to be aware of. 

POEA Processing Fee - US$100 or its peso equivalent
OWWA membership fee - US$25 or its peso equivalent
OWWA Medicare - Php900.00 

Once you have accomplished paying the fees and completed the requirements, you will be issued in return an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).  This is very important as it will serve as your exit travel clearance at the airport and immigration desks. The OEC also exempts any OFW from paying the travel tax and airport terminal fees. Along with the OEC is a free OFW electron ID card or e-Card. This will serve as your permanent identification card to facilitate your departure and access to services as OFW.

So there. I wish you good luck in your new job abroad.

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I Want A HIWI Job

I know a few friends from Graduate School who are working as a HIWI, pronounced as he-vi) and I can't help but wish I had a HIWI job as well. HIWI is short for Hilfswissenschaftler and means student assistant. I am interested in getting one but I still haven't found one yet. I know there are lots of HIWI jobs available at the university and if I am only patient and diligent at finding one, I could get one. I have a problem though because I am on a dependent visa and my residence permit says that I cannot work without the permission from the Auländerbehörde, the public authority responsible for aliens like me.

As a general rule, students from Non-EU countries are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week as a Hiwi, plus 90 full or 180 half days per calendar year and this has to be approved explicitly in the passport and the entry should be made in the residence permit. It would be nice to earn something on my own because that would mean getting easy personal loans should emergencies arise.

I can only hope for now. A friend advised that I need to look for a Hiwi job first and then I can apply for a work permit for that particular job later. Let's wait and see.

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Filipinos Working Abroad

Living the life of an expat has exposed me to some hard realities in life. But I know mine doesn't compare with the hardships other fellow Filipinos had to go through and endure just to give their families back home a better life. Because job opportunities in our home country are scarce, many Filipinos tend to look for greener pastures outside the country.

Of the many overseas contract jobs offered, construction, health care, HRM, and factory workers top the list. Filipinos looking for construction employment usually go to the Middle East, Guam, even Africa. Hotel and restaurant jobs are aplenty in Macau and the Middle East. Manufacturing jobs are available in Taiwan, China, Middle East, and Asia. Health, beauty and personal care jobs are available in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, UK and the USA.

Looking for better opportunities outside the country is also difficult because the competition is tough. If you want to get a good position, you need all the qualification that you could think of. But for the common Juan, even a job as a laborer will do just so he could work abroad. Sometimes life can really be unfair so let us not forget the people that has helped the Philippino economy all these years... the Filipinos working abroad.

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Corporate Slave No More

It has been a while since I worked in a corporate setting and I must admit that I sometimes miss the challenge and the rush that a corporate environment presents. I remember my first job as a technical assistant for a salt industry. The company was medium-sized corporation and operates in major cities in the Philippines. The job was basically one of the various forms of sales jobs and although my main responsibility was to take care of the technical aspects that the clients may have, it all still boiled down to selling. I didn't last long in the job though because marketing or selling just isn't my forte.

Then came my second job as an assistant campus minister and although it was totally unrelated to my profession, I totally enjoyed it because I got to explore that creative and spiritual side of my being. The job was only temporary though because an opportunity to work in a beverage industry as a chemical engineer came.

Then from 2004 (?) until 2007, I worked at the Quality Assurance department as QA Packaging Technician. I really enjoyed that job because our batch was the pioneer and we saw the plant's growth and development. I had to leave work in 2007 though to follow my husband in Japan.

Today, I am a happy part-time work-at-home mommy and wife, and graduate student. I sometimes miss working on a regular basis and receiving a regular monthly salary but I love where I am at the moment. I know that the opportunity to work will just arrive and so I am basking at the present.

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Do You Have A Cool Job?

COOL is a very subjective term.What is COOL to me may be different from what is cool to you. So that even if I say that my job as a full-time wife and mommy and part-time student and blogger IS cool, many people would perhaps raise an eyebrow. I think a cool job is one that will enable you to express your personality while doing something you love and getting paid for it, otherwise, it’s a hobby. Don't you agree?

But human as we are, we would sometimes dream of that one job  that is just inherently cool -- and these are those jobs that we dream about on days when we want to knock down our office cubicle walls and run screaming from the office. Some of the jobs that I find cool and really pay are: rancher, professional golfer, cruise director, personal trainer, blogger, journalist, photographer, flight attendant. In my childhood, I once thought of becoming a flight attendant because of the perks: free trip around the world. But because my height is lacking, I could settle for airport jobs where I get to meet different folks from different cultures and be able to assist them in their needs.

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Where Do Chemists Work?

Or chemical engineers for that matter. Many people were asking me where I would work after I graduate from college with my Chemical Engineering course. Some were skeptical that I would land a good job at all, considering the fact that there aren't much chemical industries in the Philippines, and if there are, chemist or chemical engineer positions are already filled up. I am not in it for the money though but for the experience and the opportunity to practice my profession.

Many chemistry and chemical engineering students these days would also be wondering where they will work after they graduate. There are lots of options actually. Some of which I have listed below:

1. Chemical Industry: Majority of those with chemical experience are employed in the process industries, from food, paper and metallurgical processing as well as in petroleum, pharmaceutical, fine and heavy chemical industries.

2. Food Research Industry: The aim of this industry is to develop new products that will help sustain the food supply.. It is through this industry where new processes and systems are developed, like hydroponic systems and hybrid systems.

3. Government Laboratories: Chemists and chemical engineers play an important role in monitoring and protecting the quality of the environment and fulfilling their regulatory responsibilities. Many also do research that is aimed towards fulfilling social needs.

4. Academe: Many chemists and chemical engineers also opt to teach. Most universities require a PhD degree holder majoring in this area and juggle their time between teaching classes, doing research graduate students and fulfilling administrative works.

There are lots more but I am afraid this post has gone long enough. So there really is no need to worry that you would end up jobless. All it takes is for you to know where to find those jobs.

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