Three Things You Should Never Do in an Interview

The interview can land you the job or get you promoted. Sometimes we need help figuring out what things we should do and what we shouldn't do. Most of the time people give advice on what we should be doing but I would like to give you some advice on what NOT to do. Here are three things you SHOULD NOT do.

Never Go Unprepared: Never go to an interview without researching the company and understanding the nature of the job. Your hiring manager is going to ask you about how you fit within the company and fulfill their needs. If you don't understand the company and what it wants your not going to show you have value for them.

Never Go Not Looking Your Best: Dress to impress! Make sure you go looking your best with traditional business colors. Shine your shoes, dry clean your clothes and put on a nice tie. Make sure you are wearing black or blue suit. Check on your accessories like watch and belt to ensure they fit well.

Never Go Without Rehearsing: Think about what they are going to ask you and be prepared to answer questions about your past, experiences, and the type of work you did. The best way to do this is to look at the job description and ensure that you are aware of its requirements and how you fit within it.

Tips on How to Brand Your Small Business

Small business can be difficult if you are trying to compete against larger companies with powerful marketing departments. It isn't enough to hand out business cards and advertise if you don't have a catchy brand. Your brand will tell others what your business stands for and sums up your offering in a way that appeals to your core demographics. Developing your brand is easy if you follow a few steps below:

Step 1: Define what you are trying to accomplish: Have a business strategy in place and ensure you know what you are trying to accomplish. This will determine your strategic method and the image you need to achieve that message. For example, if you are a boutique store selling shoes then you will want to have a brand associated with unique offerings.

Step 2: Research your customers: Who are your customers and what do they like? If you understand your customers you will also understand what appeals to them and the type of brand image you should develop to attract them to your business. Try and create an image that best reaches your target market.

Step 3: Create a list of key phrases of what you want to accomplish and what your customers like: Put together a list of the main key phrases that describe your business based on your perspective and a list of what your core customers would like about your business.

Step 4: Narrow down your list to a key phrase or two: Cross example and compare your two lists and find a phrase or two where they match. The matching shows a place where you and your customers see eye-to-eye and should be bases of your brand.

Step 5: Break the two key phrases into a few words: If you want your business to be unique and your customers want it to be trendy then you should consider the two key points of trendy and unique in all of your business decisions and dealing with customers.

Step 6: Find a slogan: Using your few words to create a slogan will help people remember your business. Share that slogan on your advertisements, business cards, flyers, or anywhere else you showcase your business.

Service and Manufacturing Industries Support Each Other

The development of strong businesses within urban settings is supported by the mutual development of multiple type of industries that create complementary links and interests. According to a study in Chinese Geographical Science, service and manufacturing industries support each other in a way that encourages further economic growth (Yang, Liang & Cai, 2014). A type of synergy between the strengths of two different industries fuse together to foster new opportunities.

The study looked at data from 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007 and found that as clusters developed they moved from manufacturing to a more service orientation. Manufacturing was still a key and central part of the cluster but that the cluster took on a more dynamic service approach.

As service industry developed, they created connections with manufacturing that not only enhanced product offerings but also spun off new products. The example used in the study was how metals and safety clothing grew around a "fire" cluster. From this cluster, new types of businesses and products were formed that hedged multiple strengths.

Industry commentaries occurred because service and manufacturing spur greater linkages and competition that leads to the development of new products. The local capacity grows when two different types of industries find they have available "know how" and resources to launch new products.

We can also consider the benefits of pairing service industries with manufacturing industries to offer new revenue streams. For example, the development of a new network equipment that increases the need for IT services is warranted.

As these industries develop and create connections, we find that the local industries are led by a larger anchor business. In the study cluster 20-30% of manufacturing industries accounted for 75-79% of total manufacturing output while 50% of service industry contributed to 85% of total service output.

These large businesses seem to spearhead new connections. Smaller companies were used as support to fill in needed knowledge and service gaps.

This study helps us understand that service and manufacturing industries complement and enhance each other. There are larger companies that support smaller companies within the cluster. As the cluster develops it begins to take a higher service orientation as support services develop in a way that supports manufacturing. Commentaries between these industries often spark new types of products and businesses.

Yang, Z., LIange, J. & Cai, J. (2014). Urban economic cluster template and its dynamics of Beijing, China. Chinese Geographical Science, 24 (6).

China and "Non Market Economy" Status

China has been increasing in export and economic power for the past few decades. Few could argue the remarkable growth they have realized. The U.S. Commerce Department is pondering changing the status of the country from a non market economy to market economy that would in effect limit the calculation of anti-dumping duties on Chinese made goods.

Since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 it has been treated as a non market economy that allows for third nation prices to determine whether or not they are selling products below market prices. By changing this designation it would remove that consideration and potentially allow more Chinese products to move into the U.S. market.

The problem is that China isn't a free market system and does have a modern communist management system where strict control over labor and production is maintained. This means that many of their products are not produced at market prices where the natural mechanics of rising wages, costs, and other influences freely influence production.

Dumping occurs when a country is using aggressive pricing strategies that position a product below the market cost in order to gain entry into an economy. Sometimes this can be devastating and make local businesses close up their doors because they cannot compete at a loss.

Approximately 7% ($100 billion) of exports to G-20 countries from China are subject to trade restrictions. Switching the designation would make it more difficult to put import restrictions in place. It is believed that the total cost of dumping to the U.S. economy is much higher than what has been analyzed and restricted.

Currently reviews are likely to come to the same conclusions. In 2006 a review of their status found that they missed out on 6 factors to gain market economy status:

-Extent of money being convertible to other currencies
-Extent wages are determined by free bargaining.

-Extent of foreign joint ventures and investments are allowed.
-Extent of government ownership.

-Extent of government control over resources, pricing, and output of companies.

-Other factors as appropriate.

The Art of Negotiation and Politics

Negotiation is a mainstay of life that we engage with in business, life, politics and our personal relationships. Learning how to negotiate can make a big difference in the frequency in which you get what you want when dealing with people. The essence is knowing what you want and knowing what you are willing to give up, or compromise, to get it!

It is rare to find a winner takes all outcome unless you are owning all of the chips and leverage. Few people have all the power to force their opinions. However, it is possible to get more of what you want if you are willing to find commonality and mutual benefits with the person you are negotiating with.

Consider that there are two different parties to any negotiation (i.e. Democrat and Republican). One party wants one thing and another party wants something seemingly opposed. If we think out of the box we can often find that at the root there are essentially similar arguments but are sought after in different manners.

For example, healthcare is a big contentious issue. One group seeks a more universal healthcare system while the other seeks to reduce government spending. They are opposed to each other by the big versus little government philosophies. Yet the core issues don't change.

Politicians often argue over the size and cost of healthcare. It is an important argument but not the essential one. The essential argument is over the health quality of our citizens and which method we are seeking to implement that will help our citizens become more healthy in a way we can afford.

Focusing more on how to improve the health of our citizens is a common argument that if a well designed system is created is both cost effective and beneficial. Yet we don't go deep enough as patents, profits, pharmaceutical companies, and the economy are also part of what makes any system expensive. We skip over what contributes to costly healthcare and focus more on the argument.

To solve problems like this requires negotiation on a different level:

1.) Break down arguments to their root issues.
2.) Investigate and understand what causes those problems.
3.) Think of possible solutions to such issues.
4.) Ground check the argument with the opposing side to see if it is something they can support.
5.) Share potential solutions with all stakeholders involved in the negotiation.
6.) Be willing to give and take in the process as each side hashes out their concerns.
7.) Once the solution is achieved try and have both sides sell it to their stakeholders.