SWOT Anaylsis on France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SWOT Anaylsis on France - Essay Example The government interferes in all business affairs, discouraging the businesses to take up further projects or innovate at their own will. The government provides protection to all the employees hence suppressing the competitive spirit required for growth. Furthermore, the system makes it highly difficult for a young talented worker to climb the corporate ladder unless he has the required experience and is part of the hierarchy. The political framework is semi-presidential i.e. both the prime minister and president show involvement in the workings of the system. The reason why this democracy stands out is its origination as a social democracy. The people are allowed to vote for their representatives while also being able to enjoy economic equality. Moreover, the French political system is associated with a noticeable economic advantage. Since the government controls all the businesses, i.e. all businesses have been nationalized, the working class gains in the form of cheaper healthcare and other benefits. To a certain extent, this form of governance also allows the business to consider the overall progress of the society thereby encouraging them to incorporate the best business practices that is going to benefit the larger population.

Pros and Cons of Capital Budgeting Measures Research Paper

Pros and Cons of Capital Budgeting Measures - Research Paper Example Examples here include the payback period and the accounting rate of return. The other techniques employed in the evaluation of projects are the discounted methods of appraising capital projects. In these methods, the future expected cash flows are discounted at the organizations cost of capital to determine the projects’ to be undertaken. In this approach, only projects with positive net present value will be undertaken in order of their profitability. The idea of capital budgeting before investments are undertaken is necessitated by the need to avoid incurring losses and to maximize the returns of a firm at the lowest cost possible. The budgeting process is also necessary because of the capital constraints that companies face. Due to capital inadequacy, companies and firms will not be in a position to undertake all the projects and therefore creating the need to only undertakes the most profitable investments (Baker, 2011). Failure to undertake capital budgeting process may c ause organizations to realize heavy losses and have going concern problems. In this paper, discussion has made on the pros and cons of the methods of NPV, IRR, MIRR and discounted payback method. I would prefer the use of NPV and IRR methods of capital budgeting in instances that we have independent projects with equal sizes. The two methods can thus be used interchangeably and would be preferred because they incorporate the risk and time values in their calculations. MIRR, which is an improvement of IRR, is also preferable in cases where we have projects having irregular cash flows and therefore provides a solution to some of the short falls of IRR. Investment appraisal should therefore be keenly undertaken by qualifies personnel and all necessary weights should be integrated when determining the best method to use. It must be noted that all the methods used in capital budgeting measures have some limitations (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). The best that should be done is to ensure tha t such deficiency does not impair materially the decision to be made. Net Present Value The NPV of a project is the present value of all the future expected cash inflows less the present value of the future expected cash outflows (Parrino & Kidwell, 2009). In this case, the future expected cash flows are determined currently and discounted using the cost of capital of the firm. NPV takes into account only cash flows and does not use the accounting profits or items like depreciation. It is commonly used by many organizations in their investment appraisal method. Most businesses and organizations that are interested in the viability and profitability of projects have normally applied the NPV method as a way of evaluating their actions. The wide acceptance of NPV is because it is easier to understand and to interpret the results even to those without financial knowledge. NPV has various advantages. To begin with, the method considers the time value of money and therefore shoulders the effect of inflation and interest rates that are likely to adverse affect the value of money. It must be noticed that the value of 1 dollar today may not be the same as the value of the same dollar in 3 years time because of time difference. The second reason for use of this method is that it gives the criteria to use in the selection of the projects to be undertaken. The firms may undertake investments with positive NPV’s because they have a net gain as opposed to those with negative NPV’s which results into losses. The investors or firms are

Breastfeeding vs Formula Essay Example for Free

Breastfeeding vs Formula Essay Deciding whether to breastfeed or provide formula milk is a major decision amongst new mothers. As simple as it may seem, the decision to breastfeed versus formula feed babies can be difficult and one of the most important decisions a mother can make. While there is nothing wrong with giving babies formula milk, breastfeeding should be the number one choice for mothers. As breast milk provides more nutrients, is naturally produced by mothers and is less expensive, breastfeeding is more beneficial than formula milk. When examining the benefits of breastfeeding as opposed to formula milk, breast milk tops the list with the nutrients and antibodies it provides. As breast milk contains antibodies that formula milk does not, this provides extra protection for babies against diseases and viruses. The first milk a baby receives while breastfeeding is colostrum. Colostrum is rich in nutrients and the mother’s own disease-preventing antibodies which may protect the baby from certain viruses (Kutner, 2012). Thus, breastfeeding babies contribute to building babies’ immune systems. As the breast milk matures, â€Å"the cells, hormones, and antibodies [in breast milk]†¦protect babies from illness† (Womenshealth. gov, 2011). This combination is unique to breast milk and is not contained in formula milk. On the other hand, some formula milk does contain more vitamin D than breast milk, which is essential in building strong bones. In addition, formula milk also contains fluoride which is important for healthy teeth. However, both nutrients can be provided to babies as a supplement if they are needed. Formula milk does not contain the antibodies that breast milk has which contributes to a healthier, less sick baby. Breast milk is produced naturally by mothers and is designed especially for babies whereas formula milk is manufactured. Since breast milk is unique to each mother and child, there is no worry about the baby having an allergic reaction to the milk or not able to consume it. Unlike manufactured formula milk, breast milk also decreases allergies some babies develop from being exposed to allergens from other milk products. â€Å"By postponing the introduction of allergens into the child’s body until they are more mature, the risk of them developing an allergy is significantly reduced† Netdoctor pg. ( 30-04- 2010). In addition, breast milk is also easier for babies to digest than formula milk. As the mother’s milk matures, it contains a natural balance of fat, sugar, water and protein to help [babies] continue to grow (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, 2011). Because breast milk is easier for babies to digest, breastfed ba bies are less likely to experience constipation and other gastric irritations as opposed to babies that are fed formula milk. On the other hand, since it takes longer for formula milk to digest, babies could go a little longer between feedings. However, mothers face a bigger risk of having a fussy baby because of gas and constipation as a result of the difficulties babies may have digesting the formula milk as opposed to the easier digested breast milk. Since breast milk is produced by mothers, there is a less likely chance of contamination than formula milk. Formula milk is manufactured, which leaves room for the formula milk to get contaminated by different bacteria that can be very harmful to a baby. Bacteria such as Salmonella can unintentionally get in manufactured milk and cause serious health issues for babies. In addition, there is no real way of knowing what products are used to make formula milk. Pat Thomas (2006) states, â€Å"Formula may also contain unintentional contaminants introduced during the manufacturing process. Some may contain traces of genetically engineered soya and corn. † Even though the package may list the main ingredients, there are other things used that may be unknown. By breast feeding, mothers have a greater control of what enters their babies’ body. As breast milk is produced naturally by mothers, breastfeeding is less expensive and more convenient for mothers than formula milk. Since the breast milk is produced by mothers, it is a free source of milk as opposed to the cost associated with buying formula milk. The cost of formula averages between $1,000 and $1,500 for the first year of a baby’s life. Schoenstad pg. 1 (31-07- 2009) Since a mother is breastfeeding, the need for bottles and nipples is not as high as opposed to the requirement of having bottles and nipples in order to feed babies formula milk. In addition, since breast milk contains antibodies that promote healthier babies, medical bills are lower. Breastfeeding is also more convenient for mothers as opposed to feeding babies formula milk. Unlike formula milk, mothers do not have to worry about measuring, mixing and warming the milk before feeding their babies. The breast milk is right at hand when it’s needed. Even for working mothers, they are able to pump the breast milk and store for a later time. Since the milk is already prepared, there is less worry that others may not mix the baby’s milk correctly. Breastfeeding also provides time for mother and baby to bond while allowing the mother to relax. On the other hand, feeding babies formula milk, allows others the opportunity to feed the baby while taking the pressure off of mom. Lawrence Kutner (2012) states, â€Å"One of the advantages of [formula]-feeding is that it allows fathers to spend more time caring for their baby†. However, mothers can pump and store breast milk to allow fathers and other relatives feeding time with the baby. Thus, by breast feeding as opposed to providing formula milk, mothers are able to save money while also saving time. In conclusion, as breast milk provides more nutrients and antibodies, is naturally designed for babies, cost less and saves times, the benefits of breastfeeding outweighs formula milk. The nutrients and antibodies produced in breast milk contribute greatly to a healthier baby. Because breast milk is produced naturally, it is designed especially to meet the baby’s needs and is readily available. Mothers do not have to worry about the high cost of formula milk and spend less time measuring and mix milk. As mothers breastfeed their infants, a bond is developed that outweighs any advantages formula milk provides. ?

The Impact Of Globalization Business Essay

The Impact Of Globalization Business Essay Globalization: An Insight In recent years, swiftly escalating global competition, a sharp focus on quality, and an ever increasing zest and quest for higher productivity, led to new circumstances for a large number of organizations which are operating on a Global platform. Globalization (economic or otherwise) has lead to a total makeover of every phase of business. The scope of these effects ranges from manufacturing, to product development, vendor support, integration, upto logistics and even best manufacturing practices. Thus, globalization is a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges. Today, doing business at the global platforms is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity if businesses want to survive in the long run. About the Organization The organization chosen for this response is coded as VR Shoes Inc., a leading name worldwide in sports gear shoes. To protect the identity of the organisation, I have assigned it this name. I shall use the case at hand to demonstrate how, in a real life organisation, globalization affected the operations, code of conduct, strategy, trade union behavior, organizations outlook and response to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other aspects of business. The approximate time span, for which I have discussed the case, is from mid 1980s to the end of 1990s. The Dangers of Globalization: Leveraging the advantages of global out-sourcing opportunities so as to produce optimally-costing sports gear and shoes, alongwith sound investments into newer designs and marketing campaigns, VR Shoes drove to severe criticism for outsourcing products to nations where low wages, bad labor conditions, human rights violations were rampant. These were challenges, which VR Shoes had not envisaged as part of their Go Global campaign. (Locke, R.,2002). Initially, VR Shoes top and middle level managers refused to accept responsibility on account of the multitude of labor and environmental concerns raised globally by adversaries, human rights groups, and environmentalists. By early 1992, VR Shoes devised a Code of Conduct, which mandated that the suppliers observed basic labor and environmental norms as per the law of the resident country where plants and facilities were located. New and existing suppliers, both, were warranted to adhere to this code. This is directly attributable to the ef fects of global business mandates, which VR Shoes had to fall in line with. The Impact of Globalization: The impact of globalization in businesses has been discussed under the following nine heads: Globalization Challenges to Product Design Globalization Newer Training Regimes for Staff Globalization Increased Monitoring of Suppliers Supply Chains Relationships with Global Not for Profit Organizations Globalization Globalization Trade Unionism Globalization Meeting of Consumer Expectations Multi-National and Multi-Cultural Managements in Globalised Businesses Economies of Scale Globalization Globalization Challenges to Product Design In the 1990s, design was also thrown up by globalization as it took a quick seize of the Asia-Europe-America axis. Asian corporations from Japan and Taiwan acknowledged very early on the importance of design for their intensive marketing efforts. Consequently, VR Shoes Inc. opened contact offices in Asia Europe, which functioned as probes in their respective markets. Globalization Newer Training Regimes for Staff As part of the changes mandated by globalization efforts, VR Shoes created newer functional departments like those for catering to the specific needs of training for the employees. This was a grey area in the sense that VR Shoes had never considered a need for the training of its employees. Globalization efforts made the organisation to think on such lines. Some of the newer departments were finally clubbed under Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Department. As of now, VR Shoes has 100 employees specifically dedicated to ensure the compliance of labor and environmental norms. These are located in all countries where VR Shoes products are being manufactured. However, but for the impact of globalization, business in VR Shoes would not have evolved to cater to such an important aspect. Globalization Increased Monitoring of Suppliers Supply Chains Another effect which globalization of production activities resulted in for VR Shoes is its heightened monitoring of its suppliers who are located around the globe. This is necessitated by stiff global competition from rival players in this field. With suppliers located around the globe, and competition not allowing for any lapse in quality, whatsoever, organizations are fast realizing the need to keep quality tabs. Inspection is carried out by VR Shoes own production staffs who are deputed for this purpose from any facility in the world map.VR Shoes own labor specialists and third party consultants like PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) are also engaged in such activities. This level of serious and committed concern for quality is the offshoot of global competition and newer business ethics and norms. Relationships with Global Not for Profit Organizations Globalization Over and above developing internal skills, capacity, and expertise in standards and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), working on its vendors suppliers, VR Shoes has been active in supporting many different global Non-for-Profit organizations, which are directed at improving standards for employees in various under developed developing nations. For instance, VR Shoes is involved in the United Nations Global Compact, a program that seeks to promote CSR amongst international business organizations (Locke, R., 2002). Such relationships would never have been possible in localized business environments, which we had witnessed for centuries prior to the present day Globalization wave. Globalization Trade Unionism Trade unions are broadening their agenda items so as to include emerging issues like as engaging with international business giants organizations. This has made competition the absolute regulatory principle at the world business platforms. (Bieler, A, 2008). At VR Shoes also, in the ever on-going search for lower labor costs competitive business strategies, production has increasingly been restructured and organized on a trans-national platform across borders. Consequent to this, there is an increasing pressure to de-regulate labor markets. (Cohen, E., 2006) Globalization Meeting of Consumer Expectations Usually, consumers across the globe are better informed, have higher incomes and hence have more exacting requirements. This phenomenon compels business houses to strive and meet better product and service standards. This also happened with VR Shoes who had to continuously improvise and excel to meet the ever increasing quality and service needs of its customers. Multi-National and Multi-Cultural Managements in Globalised Businesses Another challenge faced by businesses and their managers is a multi-national business environment. A multi-cultural employment policy is needed to tackle employees from various countries, ethnicities, languages, religion culture. Their responses to reward, recognitions, motivational mechanisms etc. are very varied. In the case of VR Shoes Inc., the Japanese managers were disappointed with their Thai subordinates who didnt respond well to Japanese methods of building up corporate loyalty and motivation. But, as soon as they converted production targets into a game, the Thais excelled over Japanese peers! Economies of scale Globalization One of the advantages of globalization has been the fact that selling into a global market allows room for huge economies of scale. VR Shoes did successfully leverage this to beat rivals who were not truly global in operations. Challenges posed by Globalization to Data Management Information Exchange Many recent advances in mankinds ability to store, manage, process share information in digital forms has lead to a total reshaping of economies and social infrastructures of many countries around the world. (Information Technology and Globalization, 2006). Information is the emerging currency of global businesses. Moreover, its security is a worrisome challenge to global operations. Globalization is flattening the world. The threat to information while being stored or exchanged is getting real by the day. Already, China is testing U.S., U.K, and other national cyber-defenses. Economic systems may be distributed globally, operating in a variety of environments. (Olzak, T., 2008). There are specific threats to critical business secrets and databases. In the global business scenario, rival organizations seek to pry on their competitors and peers. Data security and management is thus fast turning into a business threat. However, Information technologies are the backbone of globalizatio n. Meeting the Challenges posed by Globalization to Data Management Information Exchange IT giants in global businesses are warranted by law that they must maintain and demonstrate compliance with a host of security standards, and guidelines. In the United States, the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) is the backbone. This act requires each federal agency to develop, document, and implement cost-effective programs to achieve information security on their systems (Olson, C., 2007). Some of the main postulates of the act are as under: Implement Repeatable Processes Based on Best Practices Provide a Comprehensive and Consistent View of the IT Ecosystem Implement Effective Change Management Automate Processes Facilitate Compliance Testing Globalization: Its benefits to the end user of VR Shoes In the particular case we discussed above, for VR Shoes Inc., the organisaton gained on many fronts and so did the society at large, as we discussed above. Nevertheless, I strongly feel that the winner at the end of the day is the End-User of the products being produced by VR Shoes Inc. Not only does the user get world-class products at local and highly competitive prices, but is also assured of good quality and is sure that the company follows safe manufacturing processes and does not use harmful chemicals. The competition ensures that users of the products of VR Shoes Inc. get fabulous after sales service from the leader in sports gear and shoes. In the stray event of a bad product reaching the customer, the global image of the manufacturer compels it to offer hassle free replacement of refund, whichever the customer demands. Not all this would have been possible in a regulated and closed business environment. It is a fruit of globalization, which is finally served to the customer. REFERENCES Bieler, A. Impact of Globalization on Labor and Trade Unions. http://openesf.net/projects/labour-and-globalization/ Cohen, E. (2006). Effects of Globalization on firms. Paris: Siemens Business Service Information Technology and Globalization. (2006). www.globalenvision.org/library Locke, R. (2002). Note on corporate citizenship in a global economy. Cambridge, MA: Industrial Performance Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Olson, C. (2007). Meeting the Challenge of IT Security Compliance in the Federal Government: BMC Software. Olzak, T. (2008). The Information Security Risk of Globalization. http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/adventuresinsecurity/the-information-security-risk-of-globalization-24341

Essay --

2. Critical Literature Review We relate the methods with respect to the criteria. The plan of the suggested approach is replacement, wrapping and migration. 2.1Replacements of Legacy Systems Replacement is not one of the policies. It may make sense to complete reshape of the legacy system from scratch. Reshaping the application from scratch is costly risky and time consuming, but has a good thing that it fulfills the organizations demands by giving a solution according to need and demand. Replacement can take place either by a strategy or incrementally. If the legacy system has defined structures then replace it incrementally. 2.2Wrapping Strategies The wrapping is another approach used for the implementation of SOA from legacy code. The useful legacy code is sticked with code wrapper to be integrated into an SOA system if the legacy system has a high business value and good quality code, wrapping can be a good option. The problematic thing in this approach is that it does not change the fundamental features of the legacy applications that are being integrated. Wrapping will not solve problems already present, such as problems in maintenance and Upgrading. In many cases, studying the internals of the legacy system is important and white-box modernization tools are required. 2.3Overview of wrapping techniques Sneed [11, 12] proposed a tool supported method for maintaining legacy code within an SOA environment. Legacy code Segments that accomplish a desired service or data reform are identified using Clustering tools and a new component is built by them. The new component is set a WSDL interface, and a SOAP framework is used. The technique has been demonstrated by wrapping a COBOL calendar function extracted from the legacy ... ...antage is that it is time consuming skilled resources are necessary for this and source code is required. There is still no general migration technique that can be applied that solves all of the problems that a developer may face. The required goal can be achieved by combining two or more modernization strategies according to the advantages and disadvantages of every strategy in the context. The reuse of legacy system components and their exposition as services are not always easy. In certain situations their exposition, as services will have an increased risk and a greater cost than their replacement completely with a new SOA architecture. The problem of modernization of legacy system has no perfect solution. Choosing a strategy is based completely on the objectives of the SOA architecture the budget and resources available and required time to achieve the project.

Dengue in Malaysia Essay -- Health, Diseases

Dengue has now emerged as one of the major public health problems in Malaysia. It was first reported in 1901 in Penang and since then the disease has become endemic concentrating mostly in urban areas. The objectives of this study were to utilize the temporal-spatial model to determine high risk areas for the dengue outbreak. This study examined a total of 25000 confirmed dengue fever cases, geo-coded by address in the city of Subang Jaya between Jan 2006 and December 2009, were included in the study. The results were drawn from a measurement of the three temporal risk characteristics (Frequency, duration and intensity) in order to determine the severity and magnitude of outbreak transmission.The values of the three indices were considered high in a spatial unit when their standard values were positive. Measurement of the three temporal risk indices found that there were areas with significant high value for each of the temporal indices. This suggested that areas within Subang Jaya M unicipality had different temporal characteristics for dengue occurrence. The utilization of three risk measures enabled to identify higher-risk areas for the occurrence of dengue fever, concentrated in the city’s northern region. The correlation coefficient for all the three types of relationship was above 0.7. The value indicated that there was a strong correlation between each temporal risk indices. Even though case notification data are subject to bias, this information is available in the health services and can lead to important conclusions, recommendations and hypotheses. As a recommendation, the temporal risk indices can be utilized by public health officials to characterize dengue rather than relying on the traditional case incidence data. ... ...rrupted cases. This index gives an idea of the persistence of transmission and represents the average duration, in weeks, of epidemic waves that occurred in the given period. †¢ Intensity index (ÃŽ ³), characterized as the mean incidence of cumulative dengue cases occurring in consecutive weeks per epidemic wave that had persisted for more than two week. It can be expressed as: ÃŽ ³ = TI / OE where TI is the incidence rate during the given period and OE is described above. It assesses the severity of transmission, and is based on sequences of weeks with the occurrence of uninterrupted cases. High values mean time-concentrated transmission. The dengue cases were provided by MPSJ where dengue cases were summarized according to the housing area, on a weekly basis. Therefore, this study used a week as a temporal unit for better comparison on different indices.

Job Application

When applying for employment by mail a job application letter must accompany your resume. Often times an employer may be flooded by perhaps a stack of a hundred or more resumes on any given day. In such situations, getting an interview can represent a major break-through for the job applicant. The job application letter you write can and should be used to substitute for that all-important interview that you may not otherwise get, regardless of your qualifications. So, construct it wisely. Resumes at best part put forth only a rather simple table of data depicting your past work history and educational background for a potential employer's scrutiny. Lacking in a resume are many individual nuisances important to employers regarding the people they are about to add to their organization. Surveys of personnel directors of the five- hundred largest organizations show that the vast majority (over 80%) have agreed or strongly agree that they want to know: †¢ Your personality. What you are like and what you will be like as an employee? Why have you chosen to apply for employment with this particular company? †¢ What job are you specifically seeking? †¢ What makes you feel that your education or past experience relates to that job? †¢ Planning your job application letter: †¢ Think of your job application letter as being constructed of three parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion. The purpose of the introduction is to specify why you are writing and to say a few things about yourself, such as, where you are going to school and your major. The introduction gives you the opportunity to praise to the company for some specific quality it posses. This praise can serve to answer the silent question as to why you have chosen their company and also allows you to subtly display a personality technique that most people enjoy greatly, the ability to convey the feeling â€Å"I know you and I like you. † Caution though, praise must be specific because general praise has a tendency to sound insincere. The best line of praise should be to something in the company directly related to your line of work. Sometimes uncovering these facts can require a bit of research, please remember to learn the name and position of your intended reader. The body of your letter should be use to answer any questions your employer might have about how you feel that your education and background pertain to the job you are seeking. Here you want to draw connections from your past experiences and education to the specific skills required for the job you are seeking. †¢ In planning your letter's conclusion you must decide exactly how you intend to f ollow up your letter. Will you call within a specified period of time or will you await a telephone call or letter? You must bring the letter to a cordial but brief close. You must sound confident, yet never pushy. All ways ask for a follow-up interview. Remember, the letter you are sending along with your personal resume is your proverbial â€Å"foot in the door† with any would-be employer and often has to serve as your initial interview. Polish it carefully. Type job application XYZ Company 87 Delaware Road Hatfield, CA 08065 (909) 555-5555 george. [email  protected] com Date Dear Mr. Gilhooley, I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in the  Times Union. As requested, I am enclosing a completed job application, my certification, my resume and three references. The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education will make me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include: †¢ I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use applications †¢ I strive for continued excellence †¢ I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a full understanding of the full life cycle of a software development project. I also have experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as needed. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience. I can be reached anytime via email at george. [email  protected] com or my cell phone, 909-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity. Sincerely, FirstName LastName Writing an effective and powerful  job application letter is  an integral part of your job search and  crucial to winning a job. Not all job application letters will go directly to an employer. They may need to go through a  third party  such as an employment agency, recruitment firm or job network agency. This section identifies  8 different types of employment   or job application letters  Ã‚  you may need in your job search such as  prospecting letters  for cold calling,  letters to generate leads  through networking, and  letters of interest  to an employment agency:  Each  job search method  will require you to write a letter with  different content. You need to be able to create a message with irresistible appeal to your target market. An effective  job application letter  will position you ahead of the competition and the way you  apply for a job  will depend upon the  job search method you use. A letter in response to an advertised position  is the most common and therefore it is treated as a separate topic and is treated comprehensively in . Application Letter  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Advertised Job  and  Job Application Letter – Using Marketing Techniques. Both these sections are invaluable in content and a â€Å"must read† Your goal is the same, whether it is for  prospecting letters  or  job applications . This is to:- †¢ Grab  your reader's attention to entice them to read your resume and to get an interview or an employment lead. Your resume and your letter combine to make a powerful job application. It goes without saying that a good job application letter is pointless if your resume is not up to the same standard. See  Resume Writing. Depending on the recruitment method used,  the format of an employment letter will be the same. It is the  approach  that is different. However, make no mistake,  they are all  sales letters  or more commonly, in my view, inadequately called cover letters,  (see  Write A Winning Job Application Letter. To compile an appropriate letter for the job search method you are using you need to keep three questions in mind. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Who are you targeting? †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is the purpose of the letter? †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What do you want from the person you are writing to? If you are serious abou t creating self marketing job application letters, you will find valuable insights and techniques to write letter content for maximum impact in  job applications   – Using Sales / Marketing Techniques  and also  job application letters   for advertised job. Each section is extremely comprehensive for all job seekers, in fact it is invaluable. Content is unique to Pro-Active Human Resource Management. Please look at them and bookmark it for later use: Overview of different types of employment letters As stated, there are many types of  job applications letters used in job search. Here are 9 of the most commonly used letters:- 1. Job application letter directly to an employer in response to an advertised position. see  Write winning job applications  . The most important aspect of this type of this job application letter that  sets it apart  from other types of employment letters, is that it  must address the employer's stated criteria as set down in the job advertisement. If you don't do this then you are wasting your time and the employer's time. This same type of letter, with a slight variation in the wording, also accompanies your resume when you send it to third parties who have advertised a position and will do the recruitment   on behalf of an employer   (below. )   So you need to read the advertisement carefully to ensure you know who is actually doing the recruitment. 2. job application letters to employment agencies / recruitment firms An application letter to a  third party who has advertised a position on behalf of an employer and will act on their behalf in the recruitment process. Here you must talk to the agency/firm and refer to the employer as the agency's â€Å"client†. It is the agency you must influence to get a job interview with them in order to be referred to their client – the employer. This job application letter is a bit more difficult and the standard must be very high. The letter must address all the criteria advertised, however the advertisement will probably only tell you the name of the industry where the job is, not the employer. It is still a job application sales letter and you must use all the techniques shown in  Applications Letter – Using Marketing Techniques. nd  Write A Winning   Application Letter. Often the company will not be identified at this stage, research is not possible. If you do get referred to the employer you will know the company's name so you must prepare for the interview and do your research. Find out all you can about them and see sections on how to perform at the interview and what you may expect from an interview –  Interview Tips  and  Interview Process and Questions. 3. Letter of interest to an employment agency / recruitment firm Here you want to register for any positions that may come up in the future. This is discussed further on as a  cold call letter. 4. Resume letter Used primarily for people returning to the workforce or where a resume is not effective or appropriate. For example, where there are lots of gaps in their employment. It sets out your job history briefly without dates and then responds to employer's needs – this is crucial. You need to use all letter writing sections to write your resume letter. Note: It is a combination of a resume and an application letter. It takes the place of a resume. 5. Career change letter This is the hardest type of job application letter. It is often used by the more mature jobseeker who has gained a new qualification. A resume letter may be appropriate in some cases. If the jobseeker has had more recent employment experience in another job they must be able to recognise their transferable skills. Your resume is very important. A good resume writer will spend a lot of time with you identifying how to tie your transferable skills into your new occupation. If you don't have a good resume it will be more difficult to write an effective job application letter. An example can be found in  Sample Job Application 6. Job Application Form You are more likely to use an application form when you apply to an job advertisement over the phone and are asked to fill in an application form at the time of interview. Another   example would be for when you apply for casual work or blue collar work. Used in employment agencies that deal with casual labour   (labour hire companies. ) Preparing an application form correctly and neatly, and on the spot, so to speak, requires :- †¢ A  knowledge of what the employer wants, †¢ good handwriting All the information you will need to fill out the form at your fingertips. If you industry uses application forms as the primary means of applying for the job you will need to develop some skills and knowledge to make the process easier. Application forms put you at a disadvantage:- †¢ They make you put in   employment history in chronological order that may be irrelevant to the job you are applyi ng for. †¢ You may not have the opportunity to show you main employment skills/history, especially if you have been doing casual work or working while studying. They do not provide an opportunity to target the job to your skills and experience. So take your resume and give it to them anyway. Note:  If you register with an employment agency you may be asked for your tax file number, especially if it is for temporary employment. The next group of letters are  prospecting or unsolicited letters  for  cold calling,  (or cold canvassing ) found through research or from leads found through  networking. The are still referred to as job application letters , but the content is very specific. Cold calling means contacting   prospective employers who have not advertised a job. The jobs may be available but they are in â€Å"the hidden job market  Ã¢â‚¬  as I am sure you are aware. That is, they have not been advertised for any number of reasons. Looking back on the  three questions to keep in mind; 1. Your target group is  the prospective employers  you identified in yourresearch  who employ people with your skills and qualifications. (Discussed at great length in  Cold Calling. ) 2. The purpose of the letter is to  obtain an interview for any future vacancies. 3. You need to make your purpose clear to the employer or contact.. Networking  is an even more effective job search method. However, job seekers tend to shy away from it. Nevertheless, it has been proven that job seekers want to know about cold calling, so if you feel you can learn skills to write a cold call job application letter, we fully recommend you also readNetworking for Success. It really is easy if you follow our proven method. Research shows networking is still extremely effective – in fact in a good job market it is most effective, especially in the IT and the mining industry, which has traditionally been an industry where people network. Some research goes as far as to say that over 85% of jobs are found through the networking). When you first contact people in your network by phone or letter you are not asking for a job. Rather your aim is to generate job leads. Once you get these leads you will then write a cold calling letter. 7. Cold calling job applications a. To an employment  agency or recruitment firm A letter of enqu iry to a recruitment/employment agency to register your interest in being referred to an employer for a job in your area of expertise. b. Direct to a company This type of prospecting letter requires you do a lot of research and you must demonstrate that you know what the company does and how you can fit into the organisation. You need to be very specific about the skills you can bring to the job and how you can contribute to growth of the company. Don't actually say how you can improve processes or outcomes, as this suggests that the company is not performing, but state clearly how such outcomes were achieved in past positions. 8. Networking letters You need two different types of   letters. 1. To a person in your network. Here you want to generate leads. Remember, you are not asking for a job, rather you are asking for advice. 2. You will probably then follow up with a letter of introduction to someone who has been referred to you through your network. This last letter is a cold call letter, but maybe referring to your source if appropriate. If you can do this (you need permission from the person who gave the lead), it is more effective. Writing these letters are quite different to any other job applications . Find out how to network effectively. Your first challenge is to get   your letter opened. Opening statements are very important. They start your letter with impact. Opening statements can be found, in  Write A Winning job applications  . A sample of each of these types of job applications   can be found in  Sample Job Applications Why you shouldn't use a one- fits- all job application letter By far the most common mistake job seekers make is to use  one fits all  job applications that they have copied from the internet or developed themselves as a generic letter and altered slightly. You will notice this company does not offer a generic job application letter (cover letter) service. Each letter you write must be personalised to that particular job and the company, which will require research. Even professionals with high level skills often want a generic application letter written when they order their resume. Most resume companies include these job applications   in their services. We don't, for all reasons stated in this section. There are excellent sample job applications   found on job search websites. However, most of these job application sample letters are directed at the â€Å"professional applicant†Ã‚   – especially for the high achiever or â€Å"would be† high achiever. Your job application letter is an example of your communication skills, so don't set yourself up to fail. Recruiters can spot a letter that has strung together from phrases from sample job application letters   and the sections you write will be entirely different. We see the same with resumes. Therefore, some application samples provided on this site are directed at the middle of the road job vacancies and skill level, and show you the process used, so you can develop your own letter writing skills. See  Sample job applications  . It is highly recommended that you read  Writing  Applications Using Marketing Techniques,  which shows you how to use effective content in your application letter. This section is invaluable and contains examples of   opening and closing statement examples and shows you how to ensure your job applications   use features and benefits. So no need to look for   â€Å"you beaut† sales pitches. The letter is strong on its own. As stated, what is common to all job applications is the need to sell yourself. It is easier to sell yourself if you have a professional background and harder if you are in ordinary white and blue collar occupations. However, no matter what level of job you are applying for you can still write  a job application letter using marketing techniques that catch the reader's attention, as long as you  address the employer's needs, and therefore their expectations. (Go to  Write A Winning Job Application Letter  to find out how to address the employer's needs). A good job application letter or employment letter, is useless if you do not have a resume that clearly backs up your claims in the letter. (exception career change letters. )   See  Resume Writing. If you want more guidance you should consider using letter writing software. Powerful opening statements and marketing phrases can be found  at  Amazing Cover Letters  Ã‚  You just need to address the employers needs, and this excellent software allows you, and encourages you, to do this. An â€Å"all in one package† that looks at occupations with a lot of competition and those with less,  that can be changed and personalised. Just ensure you actually find everything in the package as it has a lot of sections. If your resume is weak the best cover letter in the world will not get you a job. if you are not getting interviews  have your resume reviewed.