Article: Certifications: Navigating the Alphabet Soup

Copied from http://news.efinancialcareers-canada.com/newsandviews_item/newsItemId-15606
Disclaimer at bottom of blog

In the financial job market, when it comes to education and credentials, the more the merrier. So how do you determine which are right for you? At a time when many job postings ask for a master's degree and/or a professional designation, earning both is important "if you want to see your resume go to the top of the pile," says Tom Robinson, head of educational content for the CFA Institute.

In a similar vein, Rosilyn Overton, graduate coordinator for finance degree programs at New Jersey City University, believes, "you really need a CFA and a CFP in order to be a complete" financial advisor to individuals. The Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner credentials "are complementary, but lead to different career paths," Overton says. Along with credentials, she agrees financial professionals need "a master's degree in something."

Which Credential Best Matches Your Personal Goals?

Navigating the alphabet soup of designations requires a clear vision of one's own career path. For example, a CFA holder will spend his or her time analyzing companies or managing portfolios, while a CFP holder will work one-on-one helping individual investor clients. "If you're a person who enjoys working with people and getting them organized and getting them doing the right thing, that is the appeal" of going the financial planner route, remarks Overton.

What's more, job responsibilities often change over the course of a career - even if you're not a "career switcher." Drawing a lesson from his own career, Tom Robinson says that in choosing between a master's and a professional designation, "you should think, where do you want to be in 20 years, and then work backward."

A former investment advisor, public accountant and accounting professor, Tom Robinson today manages people rather than money. He oversees 75 staff members who run the CFA program and continuing education programs for CFA Institute members. So, he says, "If I had the time right now, I'd probably go out and get an Executive MBA. Because those are the skills that I need right now."

Here is a rundown of key features of each program, including typical career paths, compensation, costs, admission and qualification requirements.

MBA Degree

MBA programs center around teaching general management skills, "preparing people who can lead organizations, who can lead and develop teams," says Michael Robinson, associate director for MBA admissions at Columbia Business School. While a majority of 2007 Columbia MBA graduates are employed in financial services, Robinson says the program provides a tool kit that can be used to advance in many different industries.

The 2007 class earned a median base salary of $100,000, according to the school's Web site. Tuition and fees come to about $50,000 per year for two years, during which full-time students also forego any salary. "It is expensive, but it's more than outweighed by the advantages that you get from the program," Columbia's Robinson says. Beyond the educational aspects, a key advantage is access to the school's worldwide network of alumni.

Robinson says Columbia will admit roughly 10 percent of program applicants this year, compared with 15 percent last year. (At Columbia as at other schools, the number of applicants tends to surge during business downturns.)

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

The CFP certification "is the gold standard when it comes to giving personal financial advice for individuals and businesses," says Overton. It requires passing a single 10-hour exam given over two days, plus three years of experience related to financial planning. The certification's subject matter includes retirement and estate planning, insurance, tax and investment planning. To be eligible to take the exam, most candidates must complete a post-graduate education program registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. (This prerequisite is waived for past or present CPA licensees, attorneys, CFA charter holders, and holders of a few other finance-related licenses or degrees.)

Pass rates for the CFP exam, after taking a "registered program," fall within the 55-62 percent range, Overton says. About 40 percent of CFP holders are employed by large companies like brokerages, banks and large insurers, while many others work for boutique financial planning firms, she adds.

A survey by the College for Financial Planning found planners earned a median of $136,000 after one to four years of experience, rising to $263,000 for 10 to 14 years. However, Overton says, "It's not unusual here in the New York City area to have CFP professionals who are making around $500,000 per year."

Chartered Market Technician (CMT)

Market technicians analyze chart patterns to forecast price movements for stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies or any other traded instrument. CMT charter holders must pass a series of three examinations administered by the Market Technicians Association and must have a minimum three years of "acceptable work experience."

Most CMT holders are traders who may work for a broad range of employers, says Philip Roth, chief technical market analyst at Miller Tabak & Co. Some trade for themselves or publish market letters, while others work for hedge funds or institutions, manage technically-driven mutual funds, or act as market-makers on an exchange. "People like me, an in-house technical sell-side analyst, are something of a dying breed," Roth observes.

Successful graduates of the program continue to hire CMT holders for trading roles. Jordan Kotick, head of global technical strategy at Barclays Capital, favors CMT holders, as does Dodge Dorland, chief investment officer at LANDOR Capital Management and past president of both the MTA and of NYSSA, Roth says.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

The CFA curriculum centers around fundamental analysis of companies and securities, plus techniques for constructing and managing portfolios that meet the needs of various categories of investors. Many CFA holders work for institutional money managers or for private wealth management firms, says CFA Institute's Tom Robinson.

The credential requires passing three exams plus a minimum of four years' investment experience. The institute recommends candidates devote between 250 and 300 hours of study time per exam. In recent years, between 30 and 40 percent of candidates have passed Level I, 40-50 percent passed Level II and 50-70 percent passed Level III.

A survey of members' total compensation for 2006 found equity portfolio managers in the U.S. with less than five years of experience earned a median of $205,000, rising to $499,000 for those with more than 10 years' experience. For buy-side equity research analysts, the corresponding figures were $149,000 and $325,000, with similar numbers for sell-side equity analysts. Fixed-income professionals reported lower compensation.

Networking for CFA holders takes place primarily through local analysts' societies, which are affiliated with the CFA Institute.

The experts spoke at a New York Society of Security Analysts "career chat" on professional designations and degrees.

Tricks to remembering names

Being able to remember names is a valuable asset in both the business and social arenas. It helps you build instant rapport with new contacts, and, as many companies place a premium on interpersonal and relationship-building skills, it makes a decidedly good impression on employers, too.

Read at http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/Careers/07/22/names/

The Big Payoff..its not just the income

Globe & Mail, Friday Nov 9, 2007; by Cathryn Atkinson

Quitting a job, taking more than a year off to go back to school, and dishing out $40,000 in tuition are undeniable signs of someone who desires and expects the significant life changes promised by MBA programs. But is it worth the sacrifice and cost?

Whether the master of business administration degree is meant to increase job satisfaction, broaden career opportunities, or bring the windfall of higher salaries and tantalizing benefits, the evidence indicates there is an impressive return on investment to be gained by taking the plunge, according to educators, business people and MBA students themselves........

 

Read more at link

The New Immigration Law: A dangerous piece of work

By Colin R. Singer

The Harper government is taking fire for introducing a controversial immigration bill that will drastically modify the process under which immigrants are selected to Canada each year.

Introduced in the March, 2008, federal budget bill and waiting a third and final reading before Parliament later this month, the proposed changes will provide Immigration Minister Diane Finley with unprecedented flexible ministerial powers to unilaterally decide who gets into Canada. She claims she needs this power in order to fix the backlog of some 900,000 (and growing) pending applicants for Canadian permanent residence.

Complete article at http://www.immigration.ca/permres-independent-c50.asp

LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover

A good guide to do a makeover to your LinkedIn profile

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html

Ten ways to use LinkedIn

By Guy Kawasaki

1. Increase your visibility
2. Improve connectability
3. Improve Google Page Rank
4. Enhance search engine results
5. Perform blind, “reverse,” and company reference checks.
6. Increase the relevancy of your job search
7. Make your interview go smoother
8. Gauge the health of a company.
9. Gauge the health of an industry
10. Track startups

Detailed info at http://blog.linkedin.com/blog/2007/07/ten-ways-to-use.html

PR miscellaneous point to be taken care of

• Change in applicant's status (marital/employment) should be updated with the PR application CIC office at the earliest
• After getting PR, a person has to re-land in Canada. For this, a person doesn't need to have a US visa. (case of person already in Canada and then re-entering Canada)

Validity of passport required for getting PR/Work permit

During a recent discussion the following point came into notice

• If you are applying for a 1 year work permit and your passport expires in 9 months, you will get a work permit for 9 months. You need to get your passport renewed and then get the rest 3 months of work permit
• Same care has to be taken in the case of PR

Changes to the Post Graduate work permit program

According to the announcement made on April 21, 2008 (available @ link ), there are some changes to the Post Graduate work permit program (details @ link). A recent seminar highlighted some points which are of concern to the Queen's MBA (or any similar 1 yr program) international students.

Before	Now
Job Offer required for applying for work permit	Job Offer NOT required for applying for work permit
Application for work permit to be submitted within 90 days of course completion	--No change/Same as previous--
Duration of work permit = 1 calendar year	--No change/Same as previous--
Work Permit has an employer's name on it	Work permit DOES NOT have any employer's name
While on Post Graduate Work Permit, if a person changes a job, he needs a new work permit (new work permit might/might not be post graduate work permit)	Person can change job. No new work permit required
At the time of application of work permit, student's permit should be valid	--No change/Same as previous--
Health insurance coverage under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)	No health insurance coverage
Passport should be valid till the date of work permit sought. Otherwise, work permit will be only till the validity of passport. However work permit can be extended (same type of work permit) after getting passport renewal for the remaining duration	--No change/Same as previous--
Labour Market Opinion (LMO) or HRSDC approval not required	--No change/Same as previous--
The job has to be in relation to the field of study	It can be ANY job--job need NOT be in relation to field of study

 Some questions related to the above changes

Q: What if my student's visa/permit expires before my 90 days limit?
A: The student's visa/permit can be renewed to get benefit of full 90 days period

Q: What is meant by course completion?
A: For courses requiring a thesis submission, the date of submission of revised thesis is considered as the course completion date. For courses requiring exams, the date of availability of the course's final total marks on the mark-sheet is taken as the course completion certificate.

Q: Can I apply when I am outside Canada to inside Canada office?
A: Not recommended. Someone else can send your completed application from inside Canada to an office inside Canada. A Canadian address is required on the form

Q: When does the 1 year period start?
A: The date of issue of the work permit marks the start of the 1 year work permit period.

Q: What if I go on a vacation during this 1 year period?
A: You are "eating into" your 1 year work permit period.

Q: What after my Post-Graduate work permit expires?
A: A normal work permit has to be applied. The company applies for it as it has to get a LMO approval. It is suggested that the company mentions on its work permit application form (submitted on behalf of the person) that the person was originally hired as a part of post-graduate work permit program.
Note: LMO approval takes about 6-8 months. So start the process through your employer taking this time into consideration...i.e. apply about 6-8 months before your post graduate work permit expires.

Q: What are the changes in the health insurance?
A: Earlier work permits carried a name of employer and the employees were covered under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) {for companies in Ontario}. Now since the work permit carries no name of employer, the work permit holder has to get the insurance himself. This might require him to buy from private companies. There is a provision of extension of his University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) till some months in future.
Note: More details are awaited on this point.

Q: I am already on a Post Graduate work permit. Can I still take benefit of these changes?
A: Yes. The work permit can be changes accordingly.

Q: What all is required for getting a work permit?
A: Details at link

Note: Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required for getting a salary. Once you get a work permit, the same can be obtained within few days.

Useful Link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.asp

Note: At the time of this blog post, the details of the new policy were not updated on the CIC web-site.

Disclaimer: The blog post author takes no responsibility for the correctness of the information posted here. The information can change or maybe applicable in a different manner for different people. Complete disclaimer at bottom of blog

Government of Canada introduces changes to work permits for international students, making Canada more attractive for skilled individuals

Vancouver, April 21, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced changes to work permits for international students who graduate from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondary institutions, making it easier to attract foreign students to Canada.

Effective immediately, and for the first time, these international students would be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has been extended to three years across the country. Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on location.

“The Government of Canada wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help them succeed,” said Minister Finley. “Open and longer work permits provide international students with more opportunities for Canadian work experience and skills development. This will, in turn, help make Canada a destination of choice, and help us keep international students already studying in Canada.”

The increased flexibility offered by the expanded program will benefit graduates and employers alike as the program will help international students get important work experience while responding to Canada’s labour market needs. Canada will benefit in the long run as the professional experience gained will help graduates meet the requirements to stay permanently in Canada

More at link

Made in India - Part 4 : Game changer..Tata is an empire of big ideas and very small cars, part

By MARCUS GEE , Globe & Mail, Canada

MUMBAI — The story of the world's cheapest car begins on a rainy day in Bangalore.

Ratan Tata was in the south Indian city on business and on his way to the airport. The head of India's most famous business empire told his driver to be careful on the slick roadway.

As usual in India's crazy traffic, the streets were full of dodging scooters, many of them carrying whole families: father at the controls, mother holding on behind, children riding on their laps. Typically, none of them were wearing helmets.

Suddenly, a scooter turned in front of the Tata car and lost control, sending a family of four spilling onto the pavement.

“No one was hurt, but we could have run over the whole family; we were just behind them,” remembers Mr. Tata. He had seen before how vulnerable scooter riders were in the traffic, “but that was the first instance that scared me.”

He began to think: How could he make driving safer for Indian families?

His first notion was to build a safer scooter. Trained as an architect, he made notepad doodles of new designs – a scooter with two wheels at the back, a scooter with a protective cage – none of them very practical.

Then he played with the idea of an open-sided “rural vehicle” with safety bars in place of car doors. He decided “no one wanted a half a car.”

Finally, he hit upon the simplest and most audacious idea of all. Why not simply build a tiny car – just big enough to carry a family like the one that crashed in front of him that day in Bangalore, but cheap enough for a scooter-driving family to afford.

Thus was born the one-lakh car.

Read more at link (Copyright, Globe & Mail)

Note: The article contains views expressed by original author

Made in India - Part 3: The world's subsidiary.. Father of outsourcing pushes India into the 21st century

By MARCUS GEE , Globe & Mail, Canada

On Aug. 11, 1966, Azim Premji got the phone call that would change his life. The 20-year-old was studying for summer exams at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., just two terms short of graduation. It was his mother on the line. His father, M.H. Premji, had died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of just 51.

Summoned home, he discovered himself in charge of the family business, a small vegetable oil concern called Western India Vegetable Products, Wipro for short. He found its methods primitive at best.

One of its lines was making cakes and shortening from peanut oil. Its buyers would test a farmer's peanuts by biting them to gauge how much oil they might yield, then make the farmer an offer. Mr. Premji, then just 20, had a better idea. Why not ask the farmer for a sample of his peanuts, weigh them to gauge their oil content, then strike a deal.

That simple step to upgrade methods and measure results laid the foundation for what Mr. Premji calls the Wipro Way. A cerebral, fastidious man who often seems more college professor than tycoon, he has built a $5-billion (U.S.) information-technology outsourcing company on a cult of continuous self-improvement.

In the process, he has helped invent an industry that is launching India into the 21st century. Once, when people imagined India, they pictured rajahs and beggars. Today, the icon of the new India is the bright young techie in his office cubicle in Bangalore.

Read more at link (Copyright, Globe & Mail)

Note: The article contains views expressed by original author

When changing careers, highlight transferable skills

(Article by Kim Isaacs @ Monster Canada)

A huge challenge career changers face is preparing a winning resume. After all, it's arduous enough when you have ample related experience. Writing this crucial document becomes even more painstaking when you're looking to take a completely new career direction.
Your saving grace: Transferable skills.

More at http://resume.monster.ca/9727_en-CA_p1.asp

Made in India - Part 2: Paving bedlam.. The man who wants to build a modern nation in an ancient land

By MARCUS GEE , Globe & Mail, Canada

HYDERABAD, INDIA — Entering the new airport in this booming south Indian city is like passing through a portal between different worlds.

Approaching from downtown, visitors travel along a road choked with cars, taxis, scooters, motorized rickshaws, ancient buses and the occasional hand-pushed cart. Women in saris dig at the median with crude hoes in an attempt at landscaping. Barefoot boys block a lane of the roadway with rocks so a creaking steamroller can lay asphalt.

Overhead, a new flyover that is supposed to transport travellers above the bedlam stands unfinished – like just about every public building project in India, way behind schedule.

At the access road to the airport, everything changes. Smooth, freshly laid asphalt leads past an immaculate 3,500-space parking lot lined by palm trees. A massive terminal building with a wave-like roof and towering glass walls rises in the foreground. All is new, clean and modern.

This is the world of G.M. Rao, the man who would rebuild India.

To first-time visitors, India sometimes seems like a place where everything is dirty or broken and nothing ever gets done. Their introduction to the rising “New India” is often a rundown airport with smelly toilets – followed by a ride in a rattletrap taxi through slum-lined streets to a city where the lights go on and off for lack of power.

Mr. Rao wants to change all that. The barrel-chested former jute trader who has made a fortune building airports and power plants says there is no reason on earth why India has to be a living museum for crumbling roads, half-finished overpasses and congested seaports.

To prove that his country can do better, he has just built a temple of aviation that rivals anything in China, Japan or Singapore. “We want to show that Indians can also build airports,” he says. “We want to show the world.”

If anyone can do it, it is Mr. Rao....

Read more at link (Copyright, Globe & Mail)

Note: The article contains views expressed by original author

Made in India - Part 1: The tractor maker who has John Deere on the run .. Mahindra and Mahindra

By MARCUS GEE , Globe & Mail, Canada

MUMBAI — Anand Mahindra was at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last year when Robert Lane, chairman of U.S. farm equipment concern Deere & Co., approached him.

"I've been to your dealerships and seen all your manuals," he told Mr. Mahindra, whose Mumbai-based Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has been taking on the maker of John Deere tractors in the U.S. market.

Well, replied Mr. Mahindra with a laugh, "that's good news and bad news."

The bad news is that the world's biggest tractor maker has put Mahindra & Mahindra in its sights. The good news, both for Mr. Mahindra and India, is that a behemoth like John Deere is worried enough to bother.

Indian manufacturers have never troubled the sleep of executives in the rich world. India is well known for its outsourcing and information technology skills - even, more recently, for the global shopping sprees of its acquisitive billionaires - but its manufacturers are minnows beside the sharks of China, South Korea and Taiwan.

Gradually, that has begun to change.

India's manufacturing industry grew at an annual rate of 9 per cent over the past four years, on pace with its booming economy. Boston Consulting Group predicts that India will be the 11th-biggest global manufacturer by 2015 and the seventh-biggest by 2025, up from 14th in 2005.

Read more at link (Copyright, Globe & Mail)

Note: The article contains views expressed by original author

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (for international students studying for min 8 months in Canada)

If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. (Source:a)

About the program in one snapshot (as extracted from various documents and links mentioned later)

1. Job Offer letter required for applying
2. Job has to be in the field of study
3. Employer doesn't need labour market opinion from Service Canada/Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)
4. Apply within 90 days of final mark issue
5. Get a letter of study completion from college or a notification of graduation
6. Have valid student permit at time of application
7. Person can leave Canada with new documents (point need to be checked further)

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program: The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience in their field of studies. This program allows all participants to work up to one year in the Montréal, Toronto or Vancouver areas, and to work up to two years everywhere else in Canada. (Source: a)

A work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program cannot be valid for a longer period than the length of your studies. For example, if you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a one- or two-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.(Source: a)

Who may apply for a work permit of up to one year under this program? (Source: b)

You may apply for a work permit of up to one year if you:

• graduated from a program of full-time study (of at least eight months) at:
  • a public post-secondary institution; or
  • a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec fit that description); or
  • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial law to confer degrees.
• have a job offer from an employer for a job that is related to your field of studies;
• have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit; and
• have not previously been issued a work permit for post-graduation employment following any other course of study.

 

Working after graduation—How to apply (Source:c)

If you want to work after completing your studies in Canada, you must apply for a post-graduation work permit, if you meet all of the eligibility requirements.

There are five steps to apply for the post-graduation work permit:

1. Obtain an application kit
2. Read the guide.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
5. Mail the application form and documents.

 

What is required in the job offer letter? (Source: d)

This letter must be an original letter on company letterhead and must contain the following:

1. Job title & job description (the job must be related to the student’s field of studies)
2. The education, skills and experiences required for the job
3. Start date of employment
4. Salary and other job benefits
5. Average number of hours of work per week
6. Address of the location of employment where student will be working

 

Sources:

(a) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp

(b) Applying for a Work Permit - Student Guide:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/pdf/kits/guides/5580E.PDF

(c) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-how.asp

(d) http://www.sds.uwo.ca/int/documents/postgrad_employer.pdf

 

Other Useful links:

• http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information/applications/work-students.asp
• http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/intstugrad.shtml
• http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp
• http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexams-temp.asp
• http://www.canadaworkpermit.com/faq/general.html

Disclaimer: The post just has information collected from different links. Certain information and procedures mentioned here might change with time and the blog-author takes no responsibility for any consequence emerging out of the information presented and if it is out-dated.

Trends Affecting Recruiter Attitudes

TopMBA indicates the following trends..

• Globalization
• Salary Equalization
• Business upswing cycle
• Small companies employment trend

Details at link

All About Blu-ray

With the end of format war and winning of Blu-ray, its time we get accustomed to what Blu-ray really it..the article from Tech2 helps a bit.
-------

The format war is over, and Blu-ray has won. During the war the Sony camp was referred to as the Boys in Blue, while HD DVD were the Boys in Red. Slowly and steadily the latter became less and less of a contender, and then it happened: one of the biggest Reds (Warner) upped and left. After that HD DVD came crashing down, and the lights finally went out late last week.

So Blu-ray is our next form of optical storage, and it will become popular in India soon. Demand has to be created for the product – and this time let's please not dilly-dally, we always lag behind when it comes to tech stuff (whiny tone). We enjoyed some HD content through our PS3, and it looks insane. So it's about time.

Complete article at link

Consumers Can Sue Microsoft Over Vista

A federal judge said Friday that consumers may go ahead with a class action lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. over the way it advertised computers loaded with Windows XP as capable of running the Vista operating system.

The lawsuit said Microsoft's labeling of some PCs as "Windows Vista Capable" was misleading because many of those computers were not powerful enough to run all of Vista's features, including the much-touted "Aero" user interface.

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman certified the class action suit but whittled down its scope to focus primarily on whether Microsoft's "Vista Capable" labels created artificial demand for computers during the 2006 holiday shopping season, and inflated prices for computers that couldn't be upgraded to the full-featured version of Vista, which was released at the end of January 2007.

Complete news at link

Canadian Permanent Residents Vs H1B Holders

I found this in a mail from an immigration consultant. I am not sure how much this is true but it really is a good starting point!

Canadian Permanent Residents Vs H1B Holders
-------------------------------------------
While we apprise you of some of the interesting facts about Canada, we are excited to present you a crystal clear comparative analysis between a H1B Visa Holder in USA and a Canadian Permanent Resident based on the feedback received from many of our clients who currently hold an H1B status.

1.H1B visa holders can not change sponsoring employer whereas Canadian Permanent Residents are free to move between jobs and locations, work on contract as a consultant, which could result in tax benefits.

2.H1B visa holders are unable to start own business whereas Canadian Permanent Residents can commence their own businesses.

3.Many H1B visa holders face the risk of going back to their home country if their Green Cards are not applied before the 6-year limit or when H1B expires, such is not the case with Canadian Permanent Residents. No such risk exists. At the very outset, new immigrants receive a permanent residence visa (very similar to the USA Green Card).

4.H1B visa holders cannot sponsor dependents other than spouse/children, whereas, once you are a permanent resident, you can sponsor other family members also who are dependent on you (brothers, sisters, parents etc.)

5.If a spouse of H1B visa holders wishes to work, he/she has to arrange for sponsorship from potential employers; thus creating a barrier to finding employment, whereas in case of Permanent Residents, spouse can legally work in Canada, as he/she also has the Permanent
Resident status - no permits or authorizations needed.

6.Citizenship - is a LONG wait. First the green card and then many more years to citizenship. Whereas, in Canada 3 years of residence entitles you to apply for citizenship. Canadian Citizens does not need H1B to work in USA.

Pursuant to new IRPA a permanent resident only has to stay 2 years in 5 years period to maintain his/her permanent resident status.

ISB ranked 20 by Financial Times

Sound-mark /sound trademark

A sound trademark is a non-conventional trademark where sound is used to perform the trademark function of uniquely identifying the commercial origin of products or services.

e.g. Intel and the three-second chord sequence used with the Pentium processor;MGM and their lion's roar.

Source: Wikipedia link

Service Mark

In some countries, notably the United States, a trademark used to identify a service rather than a product is called a service mark or servicemark. When a service mark is federally registered, the standard registration symbol ® or "Reg U.S. Pat & TM Off" may be used. Before it is registered, it is common practice (but has no legal standing) to use the term (SM), for example TravelService^SM

A service mark differs from a trademark in that the mark is used on the advertising of the service rather than on the packaging or delivery of the service, since there is generally no "package" to place the mark on, which is the practice for trademarks.

 

Source: Wikipedia link

Toshiba to give up on HD DVD, end format war

Toshiba Corp is planning to give up on its HD DVD format for high definition DVDs, conceding defeat to the competing Blu-Ray technology backed by Sony Corp, a company source said on Saturday.

The move will likely put an end to a battle that has gone on for several years between consortiums led by Toshiba and Sony vying to set the standard for the next-generation DVD and compatible video equipment.

The format war, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has confused consumers unsure of which DVD or player to buy, slowing the development what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high definition DVD industry.

 

Complete news @ Yahoo News link

Indian Tech Industry looking at 33% growth

Tech will contribute 5.5% of India's GDP in 2008, up from 1.2% in 1998

The Indian tech industry is expected to generate around US$64 billion in revenues in 2008--a 33 percent growth--while also having a significant impact on the country's economy.

Services and software exports are expected to contribute around US$41 billion with the domestic market generating more than US$23 billion, according to Indian tech industry body, Nasscom.

The Indian tech industry is aiming to hit total revenues for software and services of US$75 billion by 2010.

But Nasscom's 2008 Strategic Review shows the growth of the tech industry has had other benefits other than lining the pockets of India's mega-corporations.

As a proportion of national GDP the Indian tech sector will hit 5.5 percent in 2008, up from just 1.2 percent in 1998. It is also expected to contribute a net value to the economy of up to 3.9 percent.

A BusinessWeek article by tim Ferguson

Complete article @ link

Preparing for the GMAT Verbal

Word challenged? Here are some tips for improving your score on the verbal portion of the Graduate Management Admissions Test

Clearly, non-native speakers of English are at a disadvantage when it comes to the verbal portion of the GMAT. But even people who have grown up with the language don't have it easy. Experts suggest that while even the most proficient test takers polish their verbal skills to succeed, some test takers make the mistake of relying on their gut feelings instead of studying the material.

..

The approach most students take is to crack open a GMAT test book and sign up for a review course. There's no lack of material, because there are few surprises in the verbal section, explains Fanmin Guo, director of psychometric research at the Graduate Management Admission Council, which administers the GMAT, noting, "concepts have been very stable." However, he also warns that it doesn't make the verbal part any easier; the topics just evolve in a slower fashion

More from Business-Week at link

A Gala Opening to MGA Games 2008

The MBA Games 2008 kicked off with a wonderful introduction ceremony by all the participating 14 business schools* around Canada. But more than the introduction it was the cheering that was noteworthy. Each team brought with it all sorts of props to cheer their team/business-school-be it drums, clap-makers, cow-bells. The atmosphere was full of fun, energy and thrill.

After the introduction event, there was a small social event at a nearby pub. The place presented an opportunity to network and make contacts with students from universities around Canada. (Business cards was one essential item on everyone's 'what to carry to MBA Games' list!)

The second day is the most jam packed one with many academic and athletic events happening.

The host school has done a great job in organizing the huge event and their efforts seem to be falling into place!

Good Luck to all the participating teams!

* The following business schools are participating

1. Dalhousie Faculty of Management (Dalhousie University)
2. Queen's School of Business (Queen's University)
3. Schulich School of Business (York University)
4. Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa)
5. Ted Rogers School of Management (Ryerson University)
6. Desaultes Faculty of Management (McGill University)
7. Sobey School of Business (St. Mary's University)
8. Alberta School of Business (University of Alberta)
9. Odette School of Business (University of Windsor)
10. DeGroote School of Business (McMaster University) (Host School)
11. Sauder School of Business (University of British Columbia)
12. Université Laval (Université Laval)
13. Université du Québec à Montréal (Université du Québec à Montréal)
14. John Molson School of Business (Concordia University)

MBA Games 2008 - Here comes QSB

Everything is set for the MBA Games 2008 at Hamilton. The games start on January 3rd. The QSB team has been preparing since months to bring home the coveted Queen's Cup. Each constituent team of the QSB MBA Games team has been working hard to prepare for the tough competition at the MBA Games.

Good Luck QSB!