Job seekers in their 30s need reality check

Jos seekers in their 30s need reality check (Sunday Times 27 Sep)

Job seekers in their 30s need reality check
Experts advise lowering pay expectations as jobless rate for those in 30-39 age group goes up
By Shuli Sudderuddin

When Ms Cindy Lim was retrenched from her job in logistics in April, she realised that she had to lower her expectations if she were to get a new job quickly.
Rising unemployment
The labour market report for the second quarter of this year shows that the jobless rate for the 30 to 39 age group rose to 4.7 per cent, from 2.9 per cent last year. About 24,000 people were out of work, compared to 14,600 for the same period last year.
… more
Initially, the 34-year-old, who has a degree in logistics and supply chain management from the University of South Australia, expected to be paid close to what she got in her old job.
But this was a downturn and she did not get many responses despite sending resumes to many would-be employers.
She eventually landed a job in customer service last month. It was recommended by a friend and she took a $1,000 pay cut.
‘We can’t afford to be fussy,’ she said, referring to those in her age group.
Indeed, a readjustment of expectations is in order as statistics from the Ministry of Manpower show that those in the 30 to 39 age group have been hit hard by unemployment.
The labour market report for the second quarter this year shows that the jobless rate for this group rose to 4.7 per cent, from 2.9 per cent last year.
About 24,000 people in that age group were out of work, compared to 14,600 for the same period last year.
This represents an increase of 62.1 per cent, versus 39.4 per cent (for those below 30) and 48.5 per cent (for those aged 40 and over).
The jobless ranks among the 30 to 39 age group were across all educational groups, in particular those with degrees, polytechnic diplomas and below secondary school education.
HR experts said they could be shut out of new jobs because of pay expectations – even as the economy has hit a rough patch.
Mr David Ang, executive director of the Singapore Human Resource Institute, said they ask for higher pay as they are at the stage of their lives when they may need to care for young children and finance a home purchase.
‘They may only accept lower-paying jobs for a period because of this,’ he said.
Professor Richard Arvey, head of the department of management and organisation at NUS Business School, noted that employers are now cost-conscious and there might be a ’sensitivity to hiring older employees as they’re more expensive’.
Some in their 30s may also be reluctant to consider venturing into new careers, observed human resource firms.
But Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, senior vice-president (Asia-Pacific) at Kelly Services, feels that the jobless figures may be rooted in structural unemployment from the loss of jobs in certain sectors, which did not recover quickly enough and bore the brunt of the global crisis.
‘It is not an issue of employer attitude towards a certain age group or demographic segment,’ he said, noting that business clusters like finance, retail and manufacturing have suffered in the economic slowdown.
A spokesman for the Workforce Development Agency said that as of end-August, 19,000 job seekers were registered at the career centres at the community development councils.
About 4,600, or slightly above 20 per cent, were aged between 30 and 40.
The spokesman added that there are problems unique to this age group, such as childcare, which can hinder their ability to go for training, for instance.
‘There can also be mismatches in pay expectations between them and employers,’ she added, noting that some also lack the skills, such as resume writing and interview techniques, to secure a new job.
From December last year to last month, the career centres assisted and placed about 13,000 job seekers, of whom about 20 per cent were in their 30s.
Experts reassure those in this age group that they are a valuable asset to any company.
Said Mr David Wee, managing director of Lee Hecht Harrison, which helps clients recruit staff: ‘Companies know that it is important to retain high performers in their 30s – especially those who may have spent several years within an organisation and have gained considerable experience and expertise.’
He advised 30-somethings to make themselves more marketable by upgrading themselves with new skills and being more open to fresh opportunities.
For those out of work, he said: ‘In these formulative years, working on a contract or temporary basis for a while may also be a way back into the workforce.’
shulis@sph.com.sg


Changing dynamics.

- wong chee tat :)

Why pretty women like ugly men...

My friend emailed this 2008 article to me a few days ago. 

Why pretty women like ugly men...

Jhoomur Bose / ibnlive.com
TimePublished on Tue, Mar 04, 2008 at 08:46 in Lifestyle section


Has anyone noticed how weddings and common cold are similar? Both are contagious and seem to be affected by weather change. Nothing else explains how suddenly most people one knows are either sniffling or sending out wedding invites. It could also be the biological clock.

The first announcement was sitting in my inbox with the subject line jubilantly declaring, “I am getting married people!” A week back the same friend was single and mingling. Before one could react to that news, another friend called and declared she had a marriage proposal and was “seriously thinking” about it. Again, in a week from having no suitors she was suddenly thinking matrimony.

In the course of describing how their sudden decision to tie the knot had come about, both friends declared, “I am very happy. But the guy is not very good looking,” and then somewhat defensively, “but he’s a sweetheart.” Congratulations later and having seen their to-be spouse’s pictures, one realized that both girls – despite being downright stunning to look at – were marrying men who were rather plain. It reminded one of an old adage, “Langoor ke moonh mein angoor.”

Now a recent study by Columbia University suggested that good-looking people prefer to date equally good-looking people, at times even people who are better looking than themselves. Yet here were two of my very good-looking friends settling for rather plain men.

It’s not just my friends either. Many celeb couples too seem to follow the norm of pretty-woman-average-bloke: Ajay Devgan-Kajol, Azharuddin-Sangeeta Bijlani, Priyanka Gandhi-Robert Vadra, SRK-Gauri Khan (he wasn’t a superstar then!), Juhi Chawla-Jai Mehta… Since these were all love marriages one could perhaps say love perhaps is blind. Both my friends however are going in for arranged marriages and love is nowhere in the picture.

Jog your memories dear readers and tell me, how many times have you heard someone comment, “She is not pretty at all, how did she manage such a hot husband?” Or the other way round, “Look at him, he’s not good looking at all, how did he get himself such a beautiful wife?”

Several conversations and some research later one found that indeed the popularly held belief was: Ugly (or not-so-good-looking) men bag the prettiest girls. But is it really true?

Before you read further, tell us what you think:

1. How important are looks when it comes to finding a suitable partner?

2. Do good-looking people have better chances of finding love or a spouse?

3. ‘Plain’ people have good-looking partners: Myth or reality?

NEXT PAGE >>> What’s HE got that I ain’t got?

It’s no secret that most matrimonial ads, especially for girls, will read thus: ‘Good looking girl, well-educated, homely, working, etc.” Even ads for boys today – after mentioning ‘earns in six figures’ – will say how he is tall, good looking, etc. Given that pictures exchanged in the arranged marriage scenario are mostly professionally shot, it’s a case of showing your son/daughter/yourself in the best possible “light”. And then of course there is Photoshop.

How important are looks when it comes to falling in love or finding a life partner and how does one ensure not being left behind single? When it comes to responding to good looks, many a research has proven that other than some cultural differences, most people react to a similar set of signals or criterion.

From the symmetry of faces (which means symmetrical, cute babies), the size of the hips (a low waist-hip ratio means more fertile women), how another person smells and the facial features (‘feminine’ women and ‘masculine’ men have more chances of ‘mating’), there are some standard things that most people find attractive. And most of them have to do with eventual reproductive ability and how good a dad/mom you will make.

However, when you are looking at dating someone or catching an interesting prospect’s eye at the office party, you are hopefully not thinking babies instantly. If we keep marriage aside for the time being: What makes some ‘plain’ men and women more of a hit with the opposite sex?

In a quick survey amongst friends and colleagues, 57 per cent of those polled said that plain people score more with the opposite sex because they don’t rely only on their looks and usually have other qualities going for them. Like using their brains or their sense of humour.

“He makes me laugh” is something many women list as one of the most desirable traits in a man. “He likes me for who I am,” is another one, which basically means you don’t go comparing your woman to a swimsuit calendar model or some such thing. Some women said that a plain looking man treats women better than a good-looking one. Why? “Because a plain looker doesn’t think he is God’s gift to womankind,” replied one girl.

Then there could be other not-so-pleasant reasons too… No woman, pretty or otherwise wants to think that her man will stray. In such a scenario a man’s lack of looks can at times become insurance against his cheating on a woman. It is also thought that since good looking people will probably too full of themselves – both men and women – they will not have time for another person in their life.

Of course when it comes to marriage and making babies, we’re talking a different ball game.

NEXT PAGE >>> It’s neither love nor is it looks…

To start with, most researches and surveys say that men lay more importance on their partner’s looks even if the said man is not as good looking himself. Women on the other hand look for stability and the qualities in a man that can give her that stability.

A 2007 research by Thomas Pollet and Daniel Nettle of Newcastle University that was published in the journal Biology Letters says that in the marriage market it’s a man’s riches and not his looks that are the most important criterion. To put it simply: He who provides, gets the pretty bride. Does that mean that a really ugly but rich man can get a beautiful wife? Yes, if you look at cases like the VERY rich Donald Trump and Melania Knauss. But that doesn’t mean the plain guys have no chance…

“Have a big car, make her laugh, spend money on her and anyone can win over any woman,” jokes a hit-with-chicks male friend has to say who doesn’t even have a big car. “Look pretty all the time, talk smart only when he wants you to and laugh at all his jokes,” smirks a lady friend who makes men go weak in the knees has to say. Neither of them is good looking. Yet both of them seem to have some characteristics in common: Both can talk well, dress up smartly, have a sense of humour and are very confident.

It’s the same with marriage: It’s not about not about the looks as anyone with a little common sense will tell you looks don’t last, gravity always gets its way. Of course some will argue that in today’s age of medical and technological advancement, looks can be ‘upgraded’ or changed. However, not everyone can afford to do a Demi Moore at 43 years of age: She allegedly paid a whopping $ 420000 and even got her knees fixed.

To make a marriage last it takes more than looks: It takes patience, understanding, mutual respect for each other and a willingness to look past (some) faults and irritating habits. It also takes a fair bit of compromise and even a willingness to share your money. And these basics are the same whether you are good looking or not. Once the looks fade, you’ve got to make the other things work.


- wong chee tat :)

Fix Corrupted Computer Profile in Vista

Vista Woes?

Just yesterday or so, a fren, A, came and asked for help as she had some problem with her Vista (Business) laptop. She was unable to access her administrator profile but able to access the guest account.

She then showed us (me and Y) the message which is somewhat similar to user profile unable to load.

Y suggested that to boot into the safe mode using F8 and worked it from there. So we boot the lappy into safe mode, and we go straight to the event log. The event log basically logged whatever problems (especially error) that Vista encountered. From there we could get a glimpse of what actually happened in the process and why she was unable to load her administrator profile.

Investigation!

Looking at error messages from the event viewer, we then knew that the adminstrator profile is corrupted.

A quick googling around, one of the fixes is to edit the registry settings without reformatting:
In short, you go to regedit (Start --> Run --> "regedit") and edit from there:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Surprised???

When we delved into the profile list in the registry, I was in for a little surprised!

In her computer profiles, there are a couple of profiles with different SIDs! Three of them are from the system.1 is her original administrator account, 1 guest account and another don’t know what account. Okay, this seems to be confusing! But it wasn't.

Let us analyzed below:

Her original administrator account has been renamed with a .bak extension and her guest account has been "promoted" to the administrator status. Well, the last three digits of the SID ended with 5xx. That seemed impossible right? The administrator account is therefore is visible (to us) but Vista will not allow you to load when the account is selected.

Okay, what's next?

Most important thing is that did she backup her data? If she did, then it would be easier to fix the system. Y asked her if she had any thumb drive or portable hard disk with her. She did not had and a while, she came back with her portable hard disk, and a simple transfer of files are done and it was time to "hack" or "fix" her system via registry modification as mentioned earlier. (Evil grin... hehe)

Fix it

Renaming the other profiles to .old or you can simply delete the profiles.
Unrename the .bak and allow the administrator account to be reinstated

Oh, btw, you will not be allowed to change the ".bak" extension to original (no .bak attached at the end) if your SID of both original account and other account are the same. Just see and compared the SIDs(numbers)!

If you goggled around, there are other fixes:
"There was 1 line for each profile. Crucially if a profile is bad there are 3 things worth checking
a) Ensure the key name doesn't end in ".bad"
b) Ensure the RefCount value is 0
c) Ensure the State value is 0"

Test it!

A simple renaming is done and rebooted the system. The laptop screen loaded and she selected the administrator account and she is able to load her original administrator account successfully! (Yay!)

-Special Thanks to Y for info and her help!

- wong chee tat :)