Why Use Employment Agencies

By Shohag Max

Finding a job is not easy as most job-seekers know. It takes time, effort and planning. Effective job searching is a skill that very few can easily master. One the other side of the coin, employers realize that finding suitable employees, can also be time consuming and relatively expensive.

Employment agencies are dedicated to filling the need of both parties. Employers can use the services offered by employment agencies to save some of the time and strain on resources to find the right employee, while the job seeker has access to all the information, services that may be offered without any cost by many of the employment agencies.

When a specific skills set is needed, many organizations will enter into a contract agreement with placement services firms, who may also be known also known as recruiters. The recruiters conduct the search to find people with the desired skills, and matches potential employees with the vacancy. Potential candidates are screened before they are recommended for interviews with the employer.

There are different arrangements that can be made with employment agencies. For companies seeking senior-level managers, they may choose agencies that specialize in finding executives, or an executive search firm, that can sometimes be derisively referred to as a head-hunter. Executive search firms are usually retained by larger corporations, in much the same way that lawyers are retained, and called upon to perform required tasks.

Agencies involved in job searches must now abide by a code of ethics that are governed by regional authorities. A set protocol and standard procedures must be applied when conducting searches for higher level employees. Search agencies that are retained are usually private companies that specialize in specific areas. They may normally provide services for much of the private sector.

The arrangements made that employers make with executive search firms can be convoluted, but it can offer one big benefit to the job seeker, and in most cases it costs nothing, although there may be circumstances where the job seeker may choose to pay for the services offered by the agency.

Employment agencies may charge the company for finding the employee, or they may enter into arrangements that return a percentage of salary as compensation. The rationale may be that the level of employment correlates to the difficulties to be overcome in the employee search ostensibly indicating, that higher level employees with the appropriate skills set may be harder to find.

If you are able to find suitable employment, without having to pay any agency fees, by all means you should do so, but in some cases, agencies may ask the job-seeker for compensation for assistance in finding a job. Choosing a suitable agency depends almost entirely on your personal preferences and circumstances. More efficient assistance may come from an agency that specializes in your field of work, but with the shrinking degrees of separation, it may be possible to establish connections that are totally unrelated.

If you are looking for temporary work, it may be to your benefit to register with agencies that handle full time workers, and vice-versa.

Job searching can be a difficult process for many people, but employment agencies can provide some help. Employment agencies are also used to help businesses find the right candidates.

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What To Do When Your Boss Is a Butthead

By Bonnie Lowe

I’ve never worked for a boss I didn’t like or respect. Sure, some were better than others, but I never considered quitting my job because of a bad boss. Unfortunately, many employees aren’t so lucky.
If your boss is a total butthead, someone you’ll never get along with, admire or respect no matter how hard you try, there are a few things you can do.
Wait. Is your boss close to retirement or promotion–or even better–termination? If so, try to bide your time and wait until that happy event happens.
Bite your tongue. Keeping anger and frustration bottled up inside is not healthy, but neither is complaining about your boss at work. So if your family can tolerate it, vent at home instead. It’ll make you feel better even if it does nothing to help your situation. It may be tempting to complain about your boss at work, especially if coworkers are talking about the same problems. But resist that temptation! If your boss finds out that you are complaining about him, he’ll have a legitimate reason to take appropriate action against you and make your life under him worse than it already is.
Continue to work hard. Regardless of how your boss treats you, it’s in your best self-interest to continue doing your job to the best of your ability. Stay focused and think about how your efforts are helping the company as a whole. If you do a good job, you may get noticed by your boss’s colleagues or even his superiors. Maybe a better opportunity will arise.
Try to improve your relationship. If your boss is a complete butthead, this may be impossible no matter what you do. But if he’s only a partial butthead, perhaps it would be worth your time to try to make the situation better. After all, this person may have control over your advancement up the career ladder. And while quitting may seem to be the easiest thing to do, searching for another job, having to explain why you left your last one, and struggling to get a decent reference from an ex-butthead-boss may make leaving a difficult option for you. Instead, swallow your pride and try to understand your boss’s management style and personality and adapt yourself to that. For instance, if he’s a micromanager, give him constant updates and details on what you’re doing (even if you think it’s a waste of your time and he should just trust you to do your job). Effective communication is very important, and it works both ways. If your boss is unclear in telling you what he wants, ask questions until you know exactly what’s expected. During performance evaluations or one-on-one discussions, ask him what you can do to meet his expectations.
Go over your boss’s head. This is rarely a good idea. But if you’ve tried everything else, and you feel that your boss is making serious mistakes that affect the company (and not just you), consider talking to his superior. If you take this route, be prepared with specific examples and proof, not just accusations. And realize that this tactic may backfire on you (especially if your boss’s boss is also a butthead).
Leave. This may be a difficult decision for you, especially if you like your work, benefits, coworkers and company. But you must also consider your sanity (and that of your family to whom you vent). Carefully weigh the alternatives and if you decide that leaving is your best option, do it right. Don’t yell “I quit!” during a heated argument. Plan ahead–update your resume, start consulting with your network, look for another job. Your goal, if possible, is to have another job lined up before you tell your boss you’re leaving. And even then, resist the temptation to tell him off. Try to leave on the best terms possible and don’t burn your bridges. You never know when and where that butthead boss might show up in your future!

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, “Career-Life Times.” Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

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Five Powerful Tips for Interns

By Bonnie Lowe

Interning is about more than earning money during summer break. It’s a wonderful way to gain work experience and lay the foundation for your future career. But to get the most out of it, you have to do more than just land the job, show up for work and collect your paycheck. Here are some tips that will help you get the full benefits of interning:
1. Pay Attention. This is more than a job, it’s a learning experience. And unlike school, this is the real world — where you’ll be spending the rest of your life after graduation! Your coworkers know you are new to this and will want to help you, but they can’t spend all day explaining things to you. So when they answer your questions or show you how to do something, pay attention. Also pay attention to what’s going on around you. How do your coworkers talk to each other? How do they treat the boss? What are their goals and concerns? Learn the culture and customs of the work world.
2. Find a Mentor. Whether it’s your supervisor or someone else you work with, find a person who is willing to answer your questions and help you learn. Ask about the job, the company, the career field. Find out what they did to advance in their career, and what advice they have for you. Establish a strong relationship. This person may be able to help you with your career long after you leave this intern job. But be fair and make this a two-way partnership that benefits you both. Don’t just take, give. Offer to help your mentor with special projects or other activities that may not be specifically part of your duties. Make yourself as valuable to him/her as your mentor is to you.
3. Accept Reality. You may get stuck with some work that you feel is beneath you, boring, or just plain pointless. You will probably not be included in the important decisions going on around you. But you are, after all, just an intern. The trick is to make the best of it by doing an outstanding job with every task you’re assigned. Then ask for more. Take on anything you can and show that you can be counted upon to get it done quickly and accurately. Even if it’s something dull like filing paperwork, your efforts will be recognized, appreciated and remembered.
4. Be Professional. Remember, you are in a work setting now and need to act professionally. Don’t show up late, chat on your cell phone, take extra-long breaks or bring your personal life to work with you.
5. Evaluate Your Career Goals. One of the best things you can learn from your internship is whether you’re pursuing the career path that’s right for you. Are you enjoying the work? Is it what you expected? Can you picture yourself doing the same kind of work and being happy with it for the rest of your career? If not, you should re-evaluate your career goals. Discuss your options with your career counseler when you return to school.

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, “Career-Life Times.” Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

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Houston-based Ursa Resources acquires natural gas and pipeline assets for $325 million

by Stibbs & Co., P.C. on November 12, 2012

The purchase of new assets is often a key strategy in the efforts of Houston oil and gas exploration firms looking to increase their market share. The Houston Business Journal reported that Ursa Resources, a local firm, has reached an agreement to buy assets from Colorado-based Antero Resources for $325 million.

The assets include natural gas and pipeline resources. Further explanation of this particular acquisition will be revealed this week in Colorado at a county commissioners' meeting. Don Simpson, a landman from Ursa Resources, will discuss the effects of this sale, which includes more aggressive drilling processes than the former company utilized.

"We do plan to develop probably more aggressively than Antero," Simpson told the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. "We can drill at today's gas prices."

The Piceance Basin region includes many opportunities for drilling throughout western Colorado, eastern Utah and southern Wyoming, but activity has decreased in recent years due to the decline in natural gas prices. Along with this acquisition, Ursa Resources will also be building an office in Denver, said Simpson in a statement.

More local companies could make additional investments in oil and gas assets if drilling conditions improve, and business lawyers can offer the legal support needed to leverage new opportunities into beneficial contractual agreements. Research performed by Baker Hughes Inc reported a rise in the domestic oil and gas rig count, reversing recent declines. The total number of rigs increased by six to 1,806 during the week that ended on November 9, up from 1,800 the week before. 

The majority of firms were exploring for oil while the rest were geared toward gas exploration. Texas, North Dakota and Alaska made the highest gains in rig count while New Mexico and Arkansas lost some units.

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Report: United States will be leading oil producer by 2020

by Stibbs & Co., P.C. on November 13, 2012

The United States is expected to retake its previously held position as the world's top oil producer, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Only a few years ago, surpassing Saudi Arabia as a top oil producer may have seemed nearly impossible, but with the booming energy sector in Houston and the spread of new drilling methods and technologies, the oil and gas industry in the United States is in a strong position, experts say.

The IEA reported that this may occur by 2020. The report also expects U.S. energy use to decline by that year, as fuel-efficiency standards developed by the Obama administration have made an impact on managing the country's energy use and will balance out increased production. In one example, a legislative mandate requires newly manufactured cars and light-duty trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

The United States is expected to remain at the top of the energy industry through the late 2020s, according to the IEA's World Energy Outlook 2012 report.

The report also emphasized how various innovations in the U.S. oil and gas have revitalized the sector, reversing previous years of declining oil production.

"It basically means we're going to be making more money here in the U.S. off of oil production than has been anticipated," Craig Pirrong, director of University of Houston's Global Energy Management Institute, told the news source.

Growth nationally and locally in Texas will present U.S.-based companies with the opportunity to consider global business expansion and mergers and acquisitions in the attempt to unlock untapped reserves.

Such considerations create legal implications. Working with business attorneys at a local energy law firm in Spring, Texas could help Houston oil and gas exploration firms negotiate deals effectively, navigating the murky waters of acquisition law.

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Houston-based Pernix Therapeutics acquires two pharmaceutical companies

by Stibbs & Co., P.C. on November 14, 2012

While the Houston oil and gas industry does play a major role in this city's growing economy, companies in other industries are also enjoying expansion. Mergers and acquisitions can help push forward a company's pursuits and one Houston-based firm has recently announced a purchase that may ensure its continued success in the region.

The Houston Business Journal reported that Pernix Therapeutics Holdings Inc. has acquired two Mississippi-based pharmaceutical companies for approximately $101 million. The CEO of Pernix, Cooper Collins, said that this is the "most significant acquisition" his firm has conducted in its entire history.

The purchase includes Cypress Pharmaceuticals and Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals, which encompass a total of 170 employees with revenue passing $50 million this year. The deal will be completed by the end of 2012.

"The generic and branded businesses of Cypress and Hawthorn are an excellent fit for Pernix, which is expected to increase the company's revenues for the full year 2013 to approximately $135

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Vast Exploration Hands Back Qara Dagh Block

Posted on 16 November 2012. Tags: Groundstar Resources, Jay Garner, KRG, Kurdistan, Niko, oil contracts, Qara Dagh, Vast Exploration

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