Siddhartha :: essays research papers

Siddhartha was a young boy living in the wealthy part of India with his parents. His father, a rich and powerful priest taught him how to read people. At an early stage in his life Siiddhartha could understand people and could hold conversations with the best of even the elders. He was a very impressionable young fellow, and also was very handsome. Siddhartha was supposed to take after is father and be a Brahmin, He too was to become rich and powerful. By the time Siddhartha was a teenage boy he had already made up his mind that he had learned everything he could learn from elders and his teacher. He needed to find other ways that would help him find what he is looking for. Siddhartha hear the preaching of many priest. He developed this thirst for more knowledge, he seem to be a â€Å"vessel that was not full† PG 3 Siddhartha discovered that with all the teachings he learned from others just did not quench his thirst for knowledge. He was not happy and needed to go out into the world to find out who he really is. Siddhartha told his father he wanted to go wandering, seeking knowledge, and he wanted to take no possessions with him. He wanted to become a Samana, (a nomad). His father disagreed with him, and Siddhartha threw a tantrum. He protested his father’s disagreement by standing by a window all night long. His father eventually gives into Siddhartha’s wishes and agreed to let him go. His father says to him â€Å"if you find salvation in the forest, you should come back and teach me†. Pg 7 So Siddhartha set out on his quest for knowledge, his friend Govinda accompanied him. This remains me of when I was young, the age when I thought I knew everything. I got my first apartment, which made me feel like an adult woman, and I felt as if I knew it all. My mother was not happy about this and she voiced her disapproval. Like Siddhartha, I also threw a tantrum and was very rebellious. I locked myself in the bathroom hoping this would change my mothers’ mind, it did not, and she still disagreed. However, after sometime she finally gives in and approves of me moving into my own place. This was know as cutting the apron string. Siddhartha was still young and was soon on his way to discover the world.

Cemex Case Study Analysis

Global Competitive Strategies EXTERNAL ANALYSIS PESTEL ANALYSIS Political factors: -restriction and regulation of imports, exports and trade tariffs decide whether a company can compete globally: eg. GATT agreement in 1989, Mexico-open marketplace, enabled Cemex to expand globally. – governments may decide to nationalize or privatize the cement production; eg. Venezuela nationalized cement production. – political stability of a country will highly affect the performance of the industry Economic factors any firm in the industry is highly dependent on the economic performance of country/countries it operates in ( changes in expandable income, performance of firms within the country are affected). -emerging economies provide great opportunities for growth in the industry; expanding infrastructure. – fluctuating exchange rates also impact performance – rising costs of production and capital affect a firm’s competitiveness Social factors -Demographics: c an affect things such as the size of the labour force, the demand for housing, etc. all of which have an impact on the cement industry. Technological factors -The technology used in the production of cement is constantly evolving; innovations can impact cost and quality of products. -Innovations in technology of information systems have an impact on costs of distribution and provide added value for the consumers. Porter’s Five Forces (industry analysis)- The key determinant of a firm’s profitability is the attractiveness of the industry it operates in; 5 forces model assumes that industry attractiveness and the firm’s competitive position within the industry are influenced by 5 forces: 1. Entrance of new competitors: Barriers to entry are relatively high: a. High capital costs (capital requirements) + b. Low efficiency industry: the minimum efficiency level is aprox. 1 mil. tons a year + c. High transportation costs and logistics + – the benefits of generating economies of scale would be very high in the industry d. low product differentiation within the industry – -make global cement production fragmented, the four largest producers account for only 23% of overall demand e. the technology used in the production of cement is constantly changing; high R&D costs + f. ccess to distribution channels depends highly on the location of plants and resources; plants need to have competitive location + – if plants are near water distribution channels, the costs are significantly diminished 2. Bargaining power of buyers: a. Cement is very much considered a commodity or consumer product, variation depending on geographical region; buyer concentration is relat ively low, therefore buyer power is also lower. + b. Due to low supplier concentration and low product differentiation, buyer switching costs are relatively low and consumers are more price sensitive, which adds to the bargaining power of the buyers. the higher the bargaining power of the buyers/consumers, the lower the profitability of the industry) – c. Cement purchases tend to require a substantial amount of buyers’ income, therefore the performance of the industry is highly dependent on the economic welfare of the buyers and the performance of the economy in general. 3. Bargaining power of the supplier: a. Low concentration of suppliers means that suppliers have relatively low bargaining power – b. Low concentration of buyers means that buyer bargaining power is relatively low + 4. Rivalry a. Generally, supplier concentration in the industry is low; however, if you look at integrated cement production, suppliers are concentrated (aprox. 1500, out of which 4 are main global players). In terms of global players, rivalry is high. 5. Threat of substitutes a. Given the fact that cement is necessary for the construction industry and the development of infrastructure all over the world, it is unlikely that it will be substituted in the near future. Opportunities – huge growth potential in Mexico, due to demographics, attractive market characteristics and expected infrastructure development. Growth potential in all developing countries. – significant savings and less cash flow volatility as a result of cost synergies resulted from acquisitions such as RMC, Valenciana, Sanson and Southdown. †¢ Long-term growth markets: Cemex’s strategy is primarily focused on markets with highpotential for long-term expansion such as the US and Eastern Europe †¢ Cemex – Ready Mix USA joint venture: Cemex has the opportunity to consolidate its presence in the Southeastern region of the US through Ready Mix USA’s local management team and focus on customers Threats cement production is a very cyclical industry; highly depends on the economic performance of the country – increased competition from global players both on a national and global level. – Political instability: political instability in certain countries could have a negative impact on Cemex’s local operations †¢ Venezuelan nationalization: on April 3, 2008, the Venez uelan Government announced the nationalization of the local cement industry, aiming to take full operative control of cement producers in Venezuela through the acquisition of a participation within a range from 60% to 100% if required. On August 18, 2008, PDVSA, the state-owned Venezuelan oil monopoly, took operational control of Cemex Venezuela’s facilities. †¢ Higher exposure to the US market: as a result of the acquisition of Rinker, Cemex has strongly raised its exposition in the battered US building market †¢ Competition against major players: Cemex competes in its main markets with other world-class players such as Holcim and Lafarge †¢ Rising costs of basic inputs: increments in the price of energy (primarily electricity andnatural gas) have a direct negative impact on output and distribution costs. However,Cemex has implemented an alternative fuel program in order to improve its capacity toabsorb this type of fluctuations †¢ Risks associated to RMC integration: the incorporation of the RMC Group is the first integration of an international player into the structure of Cemex, which has to simultaneously coordinate new operations on a global scale mainly focused on ready-mix and aggregates, whereas cement has traditionally been Cemex’s core product. Global recession: in an international recessionary environment Cemex’s sales will be negatively impacted in its key markets INTERNAL ANALYSIS Core Competencies: -Production of cement is its core competency, but also good in the production of ready-mix concrete and aggregates. -Its ability to brand these products is a valuable asset and a sustained competitive advantage. Existing strategies and objectives Porter Four Generic Aquisition vs. Greenfield Cemex chose to enter foreign markets through acquisition rather than starting up greenfiled operation. The rationale behind this was that this strategy is cost effective and time saving. The estimated cost of acquisition for a cement multinational is much lower than building a new plant. Production and distribution systems are already in place and they are also acquiring the local management know-how which is both time efficient and cost effective way of entering a new market. Competitive Profile: how does the company match up against its competitors.

Operation management tma worksheet

Second, Hazelwood has made investments in plant; they build a manufacture in London with 1 million productions of sandwiches per week but when they invest more by building Manton Wood they produce more by 3 million sandwiches. Also with new powerful machines, they could reduce the human resources costs because fewer tasks need to be done . Also the stock levels will be reduced so that this will be successful for the company.Third reasons lead Hazelwood Sandwiches to make investments in the product that customers are looking for quality, different types of Sandwich to compare it when they are abroad, So Hazelwood try to provide a high quality, healthy and delicious sandwiches in order to meet the customer demand. In addition providing different types of sandwiches to satisfy all types of tastes and modify old items or create new ones. Over all, there are many other reasons that lead Hazelwood to made capital investment . ln fact they are trying to gain competitive advantage to maximiz e the wealth of owners.They use different techniques to evaluate the investment opportunities, and then choose the best project. Moreover, Hazelwood maintain a brand name because of its sandwiches, Actually every company should investment in people, product and plant. Question 2 Hazelwood's investment decision techniques Investment decisions are important for the growth of the business because an investment includes financial resources for purchasing assets such building or equipment's which will bring economic benefit for the company. Those decisions are difficult and expensive to refuse once it has been ventured.Actually Hazelwood's uses various capital investment appraisal techniques to measure which project is more profitable. First method is Payback period which is the length of time that the investment takes to pay back the net cash inflows form the project. Projects will be selected according to the period the business sets and the shorter ones are preferred. The advantages o f this method that it's easy and quick to calculate or understood by users, avoiding risks and its good for the startup business to calculate the time needed to prepay the original investment.The disadvantages are that it onsiders about the time not the value of money, the relevant information such as the cash flows beyond the payback period are ignored and it doesn't consider maximizing the wealth of owners because it looks for the short project periods while longer beneficial project might be ignored. The second is Net Present Value includes all the money of an investment; It calculates the benefits from the investment against all the costs of this investment with allowance for the timing of them. The rule is to choose the project with the higher value and the positive ones not the negative ones.For its advantages, it considers about the objects of the business, maximizing the profits, it takes all the relevant cash flows in account and the timing of cash flow. For the disadvantag es, there are some risks for example a machine doesn't works, or that interests may lost in investment, also the problems of inflation which consider the loss in the purchasing power of money. The third is the Accounting Rate of Return which calculates the average operating profits over the average investment to earn those profits in the form of percentage.It's about achieving the target with higher ARR projects. The advantages that it represents a percentage and it consider the performance before it has performed. The disadvantages about using the accounting profits to measure the performance over the life of product, also different sizes of investments competing and using of average investment cause problems. Over all, those are the three investment decision techniques that Hazelwood uses in evaluation the investment opportunities.Each method ranks projects according to some compared features. With those techniques the most profitable project will be chosen. Question 3 Invest in p eople Investing in workforces is the lifeblood for any business, actually it's important to make investments in human resources because they are the main role of the business and attects it pertormance. Also well trained and experienced employees give advantage for the company because they are the workforce that a control the process in which the business operates.So the company should ensure that their employees are well trained, motivated and loyalty to their Jobs. Additionally maintain the satisfaction of the employee will raise the employee performance and focus to achieve the business objectives. Also this will improves their skills in doing the tasks. On one hand, Hazelwood provides flexible working environment: include the induction program which introduced the new employee to the organization and to its role, also programs that make the new employees feel they are a part of the team.Second, Family-friendly HR practices to understand the employee's circumstances such as the w orking hours for the mothers to look for their families and offers a paid time off for pregnant women's. Third, providing training and development opportunities which will enhance the commitment and improve the skills in doing the asks as fast as possible, also opportunities to take National Vocational Qualifications relevant to the food industry. Hazelwood try to provide facilities in the Job environment by providing gyms, hair dressers, shops, restaurants and cleaning services.In addition, the employee's expectations about the nature of work should be met. On the other hand, Hazelwood plain and monitor the performance of its employees to give them reward packages for their high performance. With those methods Hazelwood achieved to be the employee's brand that it's the choice of the employees because they know how to take care of their employees offer them good ay packages. As a result, Hazelwood decreases the labour turnover and reduces the levels of absenteeism also the costs of recruitment.Beside of Hazelwood there are other companies that invest in people in such as the National Bank of Kuwait; they believe that investing in people will benefit them in future. Actually 1800 Kuwaitis has been trained in 2012 and it will always provide training and developments opportunities to encourage their employees. Also ZAIN Company provides programs of training such as ongoing coaching, sending employees outside to complete their high education and induction. Last but not least T;D Team provides training and developments for the employees in order to improved their skills, performance and knowledge.Question 4 Workforce greatest assets For all businesses workforces are the role assets; In fact they are the people who achieve the company objectives. They should be looking after them starting from the managers, suppliers, employers, employee and all of them. Actually investing in people adds value to the organization especially for innovation companies such as Google be cause they rely on the experience of their human resources rather than nything else. The importance of workforces has different points of view. First the HRM function perspective which considers about managing people and carrying out their activities.It's responsible for ensuring that the people are in their right places with right skills by recruiting, selecting, developing and monitoring. HR believes that people performance affects the business performance so they provide training and development opportunities to maximize their performance. Also monitor the performance to ensure that they are on the right track and provides them with feedback. Moreover they provide reward systems to encourage them to achieve their targets and make sure that they are satisfied, motivated, appreciated and loyal to their Jobs.Moreover, this will build the organization's reputation as a social, ethical and responsible organization in order to gain a competitive advantage. Second the accounting functio n which considers about the financial accepts of the business. To achieve the HR function activities, the business should be able to afford the costs associated with those activities. Here the workforces are important because they guarantee bringing money to the business. But before going a step the business should think of the investment returns and risks.As if sending an employee to take English courses, how much of benefits this will bring in the future benefits. Moreover developing the skills of employees will raise the production levels as they have experience, finish the tasks on time and do it perfectly . So they will be able to develop or create new products or advanced technology. Also maintaining a positive reputation that will help them to raise money in the market and the financial advisors will advise the investors to invest in the business. Additionally, the company will gain a brand name which will decrease the costs of recruitment and advertising.

Free Essays on Accounting And Financial Decision Making

Most executives and business owners ascertain company health based purely on the financial end result. However, impropriety does not always reveal itself on the balance sheets. In an article by Joseph T. Wells in the Journal of Accountancy the problem of cash register theft is addressed and illustrates the effect on a company’s financial health. In the article, an internal auditor was ask to investigate why on particular store had lost money for three consecutive years. The author, a fraud examiner, worked with the auditor to determine where the money was going and the method used to obtain it. The first clue was when refund slips were discovered that were for exact even amounts, which is not typical of refunds. It was found that the company’s accounting method of verifying net sales against bank deposits aid the culprit in the embezzlement of thousands of dollars in cash over the previous three years. If the company had at any time performed a horizontal analysis of income statements a red flag would have appeared because of increased refunds in comparison to sales. A former manager, no longer with the company, was soon discovered to be the culprit. The former employee’s personal finances were going to have to be examined in order to solidify the case and provide concrete evidence against the employee. There are three ways that these personal records could be acquired, through an attorney, through the police or both. The company’s CEO elected to have the police subpoena the former manager for all his personal banking information over the last three years. By examination the auditor was able to match the amounts from refund receipts to exact unexplained cash deposits in the former manager's bank account. One of the most surprising discoveries was more than $600,000 of the missing $800,000 total had been openly deposited into the manager’s account. The final outcome to the case was unfortunate and all too common. The Pros... Free Essays on Accounting And Financial Decision Making Free Essays on Accounting And Financial Decision Making Most executives and business owners ascertain company health based purely on the financial end result. However, impropriety does not always reveal itself on the balance sheets. In an article by Joseph T. Wells in the Journal of Accountancy the problem of cash register theft is addressed and illustrates the effect on a company’s financial health. In the article, an internal auditor was ask to investigate why on particular store had lost money for three consecutive years. The author, a fraud examiner, worked with the auditor to determine where the money was going and the method used to obtain it. The first clue was when refund slips were discovered that were for exact even amounts, which is not typical of refunds. It was found that the company’s accounting method of verifying net sales against bank deposits aid the culprit in the embezzlement of thousands of dollars in cash over the previous three years. If the company had at any time performed a horizontal analysis of income statements a red flag would have appeared because of increased refunds in comparison to sales. A former manager, no longer with the company, was soon discovered to be the culprit. The former employee’s personal finances were going to have to be examined in order to solidify the case and provide concrete evidence against the employee. There are three ways that these personal records could be acquired, through an attorney, through the police or both. The company’s CEO elected to have the police subpoena the former manager for all his personal banking information over the last three years. By examination the auditor was able to match the amounts from refund receipts to exact unexplained cash deposits in the former manager's bank account. One of the most surprising discoveries was more than $600,000 of the missing $800,000 total had been openly deposited into the manager’s account. The final outcome to the case was unfortunate and all too common. The Pros...

Essay on Dreams Margaret Thatcher and willy

Essay on Dreams Margaret Thatcher and willy Essay on Dreams: Margaret Thatcher and willy Dreams can be life enhancing but they can also be destructive. Compare and contrast how dreams and dreaming are presented to us in these two plays. Dreams can give opportunity for a better life but can also be destructive. They can be partly successful shown through the character Marlene but can have devastating consequences for characters in both plays, especially in Death of a Salesman through the characters Willy and Biff. In the two plays, Willy and Marlene both dream of being successful in business but however, have a different perception of how to achieve this dream. Miller’s Death of a Salesman focuses on the American Dream, or at least Willy Loman’s version of it. Many people believe in The American Dream and its role in shaping peoples success. Willy had the wrong perspective of this dream, and believed the key to success was to be â€Å"well-liked† which would then open doors to business and success. He also thought, business men were risk-takers and adventurers like his uncle Ben. Willy is envious of Ben's success in the business world, â€Å"William, when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich!† - Ben's American Dream is the ability to start with nothing and somehow make a fortune. Marlene on the other hand, doesn't care if she's â€Å"well-liked† and becomes successful independently. This happened through the system of which was happening around that time, ‘Capitalism.’ This is a system of free enterprise. This means that the government doesn’t interfere in the economy and everyone earns their own money. This system was put into power by Margaret Thatcher in the early 80s. Marlene was Capitalist and was encouraged by Thatcher and worked hard for her own money and lifestyle. She is richer than her sister due to the system, as she was a Socialist. Also, the audience is presented with two different female role models; Marlene and Joyce. Marlene could be seen as a feminist role model – fighting against her female stereotype, and fighting for equality in the workplace where as Joyce is exactly the opposite, giving into the female stereotype of â€Å"mother†. At the same time both characters had to make sacrifices to their lifestyle in order to gain this dream of success. However, all of Marlene's hard work meant giving up her own child and family in order to pursue her success, leaving Angie in the hands of Joyce. This un-ables Joyce to pursue her dreams as she’s trapped in the entanglement Marlene put her in. A woman's American Dream is to have a full family, however this prevented Joyce from pursuing this - â€Å"i did get pregnant and i lost it because i was looking after your fucking baby.† Joyce and Linda are somewhat similar, as they both may dream of having a full family. Linda also wants to keep Willy happy. So, she therefore follows Willy’s dream - â€Å"She more than loves him, she admires him, as though his... massive dreams and little cruelties, served her as only sharp reminders of the turbulent longings within him† but she †lacks the temperament to utter and follow to their end.† Thi s dream of keeping Willy satisfied meant sacrificing the idea of a complete family, as she gives Biff and Happy an ultimatum; keep Willy happy, or they wouldn’t be welcome anymore. Willy does everything for his family but the entrapment of his illusional dream was beginning to tear his family apart because of the failure to reach his American dream, he begins to live this dream through his sons, Happy and Biff. Willy dreams of making them successful business men, as he says â€Å"Thats just the way i’m bringing them up, Ben - rugged, well-liked, all-around.† However, its because of this dysfunctional relationship thats begins to ruin the Loman family. Biff clashes with Willy as they both dream differently. Biff dreams of having a life in the

For Counselors How to Write a Strong Recommendation Letter for Your Student

For Counselors How to Write a Strong Recommendation Letter for Your Student SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips As a counselor, you play a huge role in helping students along the path to college. Throughout their four years, you support them in setting goals and making plans for after high school. When it comes time to apply, you write their letters of recommendation. Having worked as a college counselor and spent the past year as a grad student intern in a high school counseling department, I saw how much counselors do in the college planning and application process. I also saw the challenges of supporting large caseloads of students and writing hundreds of letters of recommendation, often around the same hectic time. Despite the mad rush, these counselors crafted eloquent letters customized to each and every one of their students. Based on my observations and my own experience writing letters for my students, I've compiled what I think is the most helpful advice for writing memorable and effective recommendations. I'll go over key content, structure, and style, as well as discuss what not to include in a recommendation letter. Since it's always good to keep your goals in sight, I'll start by going over the purpose of the counselor letter of recommendation. What are they for, and how do they differ from a teacher recommendation? What's the Purpose of the Counselor Letter of Recommendation? The counselor recommendation letter is givenserious consideration by admissions committees.Writing a strong letter of support is one more way that counselors can advocate for their students and help them achieve their academic and personal goals. While a teacher's recommendation may emphasize a student's academic abilities and attitude toward learning, a counselor can focus more on the student'spersonal growth and role within the school community.As a counselor, you can speak to the student's strength of character and interpersonal skills, as well as the student's goals during and following college. The best recommendations are specific and in depth, which can be a challenge for counselors with large caseloads. The national average ofstudent to counselor ratio is 471 to 1!How can a counselor get to know all her students well enough to write a personalized letter? Most schools ask students to fill out a "brag sheet," or to answer self-reflective prompts like, "Discuss a significant experience that shaped who you are today" or "Share an obstacle or challenge you overcame and what you learned from it." These brag sheets, combined with college meetings, can reveal a great deal about the student. This material, along with observations and the relationship you've had with the student over her four years in school, can go a long way toward informing your letter. To help you and students make the most of these meetings and brag sheets,what's the key content that you need for a strong letter of recommendation? What Should Go Into a Letter of Recommendation? Intuitively, most recommenders know that they should talk about their students' strengths and how great they would be at college. Most recommendation letters say positive things about a student. Butwhat makes some of them stand out among the restand truly impress admissions officers? What can you do as a counselor to boost your student's chances of getting in? The most effective letterspaint a specific portrait of a student.Rather than listing everything under the sun, they zero in on key strengths and qualities. They use powerful words, give a high ranking, avoid cliches, and tell specific stories to prove their characterization of a student. A good recommendation speaks to a student's past achievements and indicates confidence in her future success. Let's look more in depth at how to accomplish each of these things. Highlight Major Strengths and Impressive Personal Qualities The most memorable recommendation letters tell a specific story. Youdon't have to list everything on a student's resume, or strive to present them as the most well-rounded candidate the school will ever see. Often, admissions officers are impressed by a student's commitment to developing expertise or cultivating skill in a certain area. Deep achievement is generally more noteworthy than general dabbling, and your recommendation letter can reflect that. Stella's greatest strengths are her sensitivity to others and commitment to social justice. A budding intellectual, Jon is fascinated by new ideas and has a tremendous capacity to weigh many different opinions at the same time. An excellent student and strong leader, Maria stands out with her strong inner voice and assured sense of self. From Potions to Divination to History of Magic, there's no subject that Hermione hasn't mastered through sheer cleverness, effort, and determination. (This one might only work for magical universities.) I'm not suggesting that you leave out major strengths of your students, as you want to paint a dynamic picture of them as multifaceted individuals. But you should highlight the most important ones and avoid writing a list of everything they've done and been involved in. Plus, simply repeating a resume says nothing aboutyour relationship with the student.By highlighting her passion for volunteer work, love of historical research, commitment to sports, or fascination with physics, you're giving insight into what drives a student to do what she does and how she communicates and demonstrates her passions to those around her, including yourself. To best narrow down your thoughts, I've found it helpful to brainstorm what comes to mind when I think about a student. Is she especially intellectually curious, compassionate towards others, or interested in other cultures? Does she excel at creative problem-solving or at energizing others in a group setting? Once you've chosen the most important qualities that an admissions officer should know, think aboutspecific anecdotes and examplesyou can give to prove them. Let her actions speak even louder than your words. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Give Specific Examples and Anecdotes Your recommendation letter should definitelyinclude examples.Think of examples as proof of what you're saying. You can say a student is intellectual or philosophical, but that doesn't communicate very much or explain how you know that. Additionally, you could describe a conversation you had with the student about the role of technology in relationships and how she challenged you with ideas you'd never thought about before. Not only do stories help the student come to life and differentiate her from others with similar qualities, but they also show that you have a strong relationship with the student. By showing that you know her well, yourletter carries even more weight.In the eyes of admissions officers, you become especially qualified to assess her and provide a meaningful statement of support. Since I should practice what I preach, here are a few examples of using examples! Noah has an outgoing and inspiring presence in our school. As the star of our school's spring musical, he impressed everyone with his beautiful singing voice and flare for comedy. I remember laughing along with the crowd during one of his monologues, wondering how he managed to already have such tangible stage presence. Monica is remarkable for her caring and kindness toward others. After noticing that some students didn't have appropriate winter attire during last year's polar vortex, she organized a Hope Chest and donations closet, where students could "go shopping" for free gloves, scarves, boots, and coats. She even designed the closet to look like a store, with fancy coat hangers and colorful shopping bags. This extra touch and attention to detail showed me how sensitive and attuned she is to the feelings of others. To best depict your student in a memorable way, you should be careful with your language.Powerful adjectives and statements of high rankingwill stand out a lot more than language that sounds generic or lukewarm. Use Powerful Language and Rankings I found word banks of strong adjectives to be helpful when composing and revising letters. When I first sat down to write, all the cliches bounded into my head, eager to be of service. "Let's write about how she's is a good student with a lot of dedication and a heart of gold!" they'd insist. Not only would these sound cheesy and unspecific, they also don't do much to differentiate the student from anybody else. Sorry, cliches. I know you were just trying to help. Maybe next time. When drafting, and especially when revising, your letter, be on the lookout forambiguous, generic, or cliche language.Then think about what words you can use that would be more impactful and communicate exactly what you want to say. Instead of writing about how smart a student is, do you want to comment on her creative problem solving or nuanced understanding of complex issues? Is she particularly innovative in her insights or thorough in her research? Some powerful words includeanalytical, insightful, curious, observant, innovative,ormastery (of a specific subject area).Others that fall more in the arena of personal and professional strengths includemature, flexible, generous, empathetic, leader, versatile, ethical, motivated, ambitious, resourceful, andstrong communication skills. Of course, these descriptors are not sufficient on their own. As discussed above, you want touse examples from observations or interactionsto illustrate what you mean. Two students might both be ambitious but in very different ways. You always want to differentiate the applicant from all the others and comment on what makes her unique. Ahigh ranking,furthermore,can also go a long way from a counselor, especially one who has worked in the school for years. Statements like these say a lot. Always ready with a book suggestion and eager to get to English class, Juan is the most literary student I've ever worked with in my twelve years at Cumberland High School. In terms of academic talent, passion, and drive, Kate is one of the top three students I've known in my ten years as an educator. In my decade counseling students at Forks High School, I've never met a student as self-aware or driven as Edward. Saying someone is "above average" doesn't sound too strong, though, so you should probably leave out a statement of ranking unless it's particularly glowing. Finally, your letter can speak to a student's potential and talk about what you envision her doing at college and beyond. Speak to a Student's Future Success Admissions officers are aiming to build a class of dynamic, diverse students with a range of talents and interests. They want students whose past achievements point to their future success. As a counselor who has likely seen the student grow and develop over a transformative four years, you can speak to her continued growth in college. Assure admissions officers that your students will contribute academically and socially at college. Speak to what you see them doing, and how they'll be a major asset to their community. If the student has struggled in school, you could speak to her potential for growth. Statements like these can usually come in the conclusion of your letter. Based on the incredible resilience Ashley has shown throughout the challenges in her life, I have no doubt that she will continue to handle anything that comes her way with strength, grace, and a positive outlook. Considering all she's accomplished as Class President, I am confident that Sara will have a strong voice and leadership role on her college campus. Even with his mysterious absences, Edward has risen to top of his class. I'm sure he will continue to excel academically during this next chapter of his eternal life (Twilight: The College Years). While all of these elements are key for your letter of recommendation, are there any types of content that you shouldn't include in your letter? I touched upon a few of them above, but let's review what could make your letter ineffective. What Shouldn't Go Into a Letter of Recommendation? To reiterate the point, simplylisting out a student's activities and achievementswould make for a weak letter. It's not personal or insightful, and it's a reiteration of information that's present in other parts of the application. While you should speak to significant involvements, you should do so in a personal way - what drives the student and how has she demonstrated her skills, interests, or personality. On a similar note, writing about quantitative data, like GPA or number of years involved in each club, won't add much to a student's chances. It's like confirming that the student attended your school, without actually giving an assessment or recommendation. When you go through your letter, be on the lookout for generic language that could apply to a number of students. Similarly, revise anything that'sambiguous or hyperbolic. Overblown enthusiasm could sound insincere, while lukewarm praise could sound forced. Make sure you're not listing adjectives without examples. When you read over your letter, it should add value to an application by providing insight and differentiating the student from other applicants with similar grades and activities. Finally, you don't want to use a template that's very similar for a lot of students, especially if they're applying to the same colleges. Nearly identical letters would make you lose credibility in the eyes of admissions officers, and then your letter would do little to help a student get accepted. Once you've brainstormed the qualities you want to highlight and stories you want to tell, it's helpful to draft your letter with aclear structurein mind. How to Structure Your Recommendation Letter Your recommendation letter should be one page. In exceptional circumstances, you might continue onto two pages, but generally speaking it should be one full page. Less than that could look like you don't have much to say about a student. That might be the case, but admissions officers will notice that and interpret it as they will. In the introduction, you should state your recommendation for the student. Say who you are and how long and in what contexts you've known the student. This shows that you're qualified to make an assessment. As Sofia's counselor for the past four years at Degrassi High, I have had the pleasure of watching her grow into one of the most successful students in her class. James: inventor, sci-fi fan, coder extraordinaire. In my twelve years as a counselor at High School High, I've never seen a student more passionate about technological innovation than James, who has a skill for computer engineering far beyond his years. In the middle two to three paragraphs, you can dive into your assessment of the student, using the content and techniques talked about above. Highlight her impressive personal qualities, and talk about her growth. If there are any important challenges the student has had to overcome, you should share that as well. If the challenge is especially personal, I would double check with the student that she feels comfortable sharing that information. If you can tailor your assessment to the specific college, all the better. For highly selective colleges, you could attest to the student's ability to thrive in an academically rigorous environment. You could speak to her collaboration, communication, or leadership skills, to her flexibility or ambition, or to her resourcefulness and resilience. One of the most ethically driven and global minded students I've known in my 12 years as a counselor, Laura founded the Amnesty International Club at our school and worked tirelessly to involve her fellow students, faculty, and community in her campaigns for human rights and international justice. Tufts University, with its renowned international relations program, would be an ideal fit with her interests and goals for the future. As a creative, mature, and self-directed learner, Ana would thrive in Brown's environment, where she could explore her passion for science and build a rigorous curriculum that would match her goals. Finally, in the conclusion you should restate your support for the candidate. Provide a vision of what you see her accomplishing at college. Conclude with an invitation for admissions officers to contact you with any questions or for any further information. Be intentional with how you conclude your letter. Will readers be left with a strong impression of the student? Did your letter communicate exactly what you wanted to say? To review, let's go over the do's and don't's of writing a letter of recommendation. Key Points The best letters take time and thought to personalize, which can be tough to come by when you have hundreds of letters to write. By honing in on the key content and structure of good letters, you can streamline the process for yourself and cut out approaches that waste time or produce mediocre letters. Below are the key points that helped me the most when writing recommendation letters for students with all different interests, plans, and personalities. Do Be asspecificas possible, highlighting a student's major strengths and impressive personal qualities. Show, don't tell.Be demonstrative with stories and examples, rather than just descriptions. Use powerful, enthusiastic language and statements ofhigh ranking. Be careful not to use phrases that could be interpreted negatively. Talk aboutpersonal challengesthe student has overcome. Give your vision for how you see the studentcontributing to her college community. Don't Restate everything on a student'sresume. List quantitativedata. Describe a student without having examples to illustrate your points. Use generic, ambiguous, or hyperbolic language. Leave out essential insightsinto the student's character or motivations. Sound lukewarm or downright critical. Go too long or too short. Copy and paste from other letters. As a counselor, you're an indispensable part of a student's journey of self-discovery and post-high school planning. While all those letters can feel overwhelming, you're also one of the best people to advocate for your students and expertly write letters of recommendation that will help them get accepted to their dream schools. What's Next? What makes a strong letter of recommendation here?Check out ourfull guide and new examples here. For more insight on writing letters of recommendation, check out theseexamples of great college recommmendation letters from counselors. And to see what not to do, read these examples of bad recommendations from counselors (coming soon). 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Analysis and Recommendations for the Resolution of Operational Essay - 2

Analysis and Recommendations for the Resolution of Operational Problems at EMPLOI - Essay Example EMPLOI or Employment Opportunities, Inc. is a staffing service provider established 13 years ago. Upon inception, it specialized in providing temporary staff for office related positions such as office clerks, data encoders, and administrative personnel. Three years ago, the company was sold to its new owners. Although EMPLOI has been operating with sufficient profits to sustain operations for the last 3 years, the new owners have not yet been able to recover their initial investment when they acquired the company. The current CEO believes that strategic actions need to be undertaken to solve operational problems in order to increase revenues thereby increasing profits from operations so that the owner’s initial investments can slowly be recovered. Moreover, aside from deployment of office staff, the CEO believes that diversifying into the blue collar worker market is an opportunity that EMPLOI should explore as there is the huge demand for this type of workers. This paper tak es a look at the operations of EMPLOI, identifies problems and recommends solutions to those problems. Because of her Marketing background, the Admin & Operations Manager is also the Marketing Section Head. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of EMPLOI as well as prospecting for new clients together with the Business Development Officer. The HR & Admin Section Head is responsible for recruitment of personnel for the company’s manpower pool as well as for deployment to client companies. She is also responsible for internal HR & administrative functions for the EMPLOI office. The Accounting Section Head is responsible for payroll for all deployed personnel as well as the company’s business accounting requirements.