UK Credit Cards

i am completely bored and tired of the united states. i have many goals & dreams for the future for myself, but i refuse to stifle my individuality to fit into the corporate world. i think it is ridiculous that a person needs to fit a certain “look” for many jobs to even CONSIDER them, even if they are completely qualified for the job. i also hate the mindsets & attitudes of most americans, as well as dealing with horrible economy & issue we face here. i truly feel as if i was meant to live somewhere else, almost like i dont belong here, even though i was born & raised in ct. i really want to move out of here someday, and im curious to know more about the UK. How exactly does it compare to the united states (in as many ways as possible) ?

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I have been in the UK for 8 years, studied for 4 years and have worked as a highly skilled migrant for 5 years. Skilled migrants in the UK have no recourse to public funds however they also contribute to the economy. I pay a higher income tax as a high earner but i feel the government keeps taking and taking and doesn’t give anything back to either migrants or citizens of the UK. The UK border agency has changed the rules for work permit 4 times in 2 years and changes are being made retrospectively against people already living and working in the UK. It is most unfair and I am not sure why they are doing this. The UK is one of the most expensive place to live… it is also one of the places with a lot of people on benefits.. I am seriously considering my options

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well of course I said the crap about finance is a very broad term and the finance field is the largest industry and I believe it will give me better career opportunities. The finance field is diverse and challenging and I am very interested in finance. etc etc
well the interviewer said “how do you know finance is diverse and dynamic? you never worked in the industry? And also apart from that finance is diverse and dynamic and you’re interested, specifically why do you want to work in finance?”
i was really speechless? can someone help me? i am sure some other person will ask me the same quesion.

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I am interviewing with a large investment bank/brokerage ex.Morgan Stanley, Bear, Lehman what is the best answer to the question why do you want a career in finance? Thanks.

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I have an interview for a finance program in high school. How would I answer them even if I have to lie about it to sound good? (probable interview questions according to others)

strenghth/weakness?

Why I want to be in it?

Why do I want a career in business and finance?

experience?

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The United Kingdom is facing the worst financial crisis in its history.

This is all about debt. Not just Government debt but Corporate debt and Consumer debt. By any accounting standard, they are all at nightmare proportions.

The last 12 years have seen an economy built, not on genuine growth in productivity, but on a Consumer spending boom that was financed by massive asset inflation and equity borrowing. All of this was made possible by cheap money from worldwide markets.

When this dried up, the asset bubble was exposed and the banks stood to make ruinous losses that would have decimated our economy along with many others. So we bailed out the banks with taxpayer-funded guarantees and all but nationalised them.

To use the analogy of a household that has massively over-borrowed; rather than go bankrupt, we took out a gigantic consolidation loan. This hasn’t cured the problem, it has merely deferred it to a later time.

So we have a situation of a fantasy economy. Asset values have been artificially protected from the reality of the market place. A reasonable mark-down of all affected asset values would be in the region of at least 40% from their current levels. So we’re talking losses running into trillions of pounds.

In the meantime, the BOE is printing money to buy Government Bonds so that we’re able to keep up interest payments on our massive borrowing which is increasing day by day. Desperate to stimulate consumer demand, interest rates have been slashed to 0.5% to enable homeowners to keep paying their mortgages and keep defaults as low as possible.

The banks, desperate to rebuild their balance sheets, are charging a premium on their mortgage products which is depressing the very stimulus effect that the BOE’s interest rate cuts were designed to promote.

One thing is for certain, there is no way we are going to borrow our way out of this mess.

Then there is taxation and Government spending. Taxation at its present level is far too high. It is siphoning so much money out of the real economy that the vast majority of households have little or no funds for discretionary spending. This is further depressing the economy resulting in job losses, hours cut back and downward pressure on wage inflation. This, in turn, reduces the tax take and puts additional burdens on the Exchequer with higher welfare payments and entitlements which increases the amount of money that the Government has to borrow.

Outside economic forces are not helping. The UKs balance of trade figures are truly appalling. Invisible earnings, normally the salvation of our B.o.T figures, has been dramatically hit by this crisis. For a long time now, we have been a net importer of manufactured goods from overseas. That’s even more pronounced now. But with North Sea Oil and Gas running out, we are becoming net importers of energy as well and this is reflected in higher petrol and diesel costs and higher prices on electricity and gas.

Once again, the UK consumer is bearing the brunt of all this which is further depressing the economy while inflationary pressure on prices is increasing.

Now let’s look at jobs:

The Public Sector, for the most part, has been spared the job cuts it has coming but, rest-assured, they are coming. By my reckoning, at least 30% over the next 3 years.
The shake-out in the private sector hasn’t even started yet. Most employers have been willing to take the hit of keeping their employees on because they’re hoping for a re-bound in consumer confidence and spending. We’ve already seen how unrealistic that scenario is.

Last Monday (February 14th), we learned that the number of economically inactive people of working age has hit an all-time high of 8.08 million.

The number of under-employed and part-time workers has hit 7.69 million.

All these people qualify for State-funded support of one type or another. To say nothing of the social cost that is taking its toll on families and communities right across this Country.

This leaves 21.2 million people in full-time employment, but if you break that down you will find a significant percentage are working on one year contracts and around 4 million are working for the public sector. Make no mistake, our Country is sitting on a knife-edge.

Now let’s look at Treaties, regulation, laws and administrative burdens. In our global economy, every negotiation to implement a Treaty requires compromise and dilution of Sovereignty. Each Country seeks to uphold certain self interests and cedes other interests to arrive at a negotiated settlement.

The UK has done that with Europe, Nato, the UN, G7, G20 and many other agreements. This, in turn, has led to the imposition of regulations that govern many aspects of our economy, our criminal and civil laws, environment and trade. The consequent administrative burdens that we, as a nation, now face is so complex that even a minor policy change will require massive scr

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This is the second part to the QUESTIONS that UK voters need to have answered on tonight’s debate:

The first part can be found by clicking on this link:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtIBE_Qq2z1UDDGlkyHQCq0KT31G;_ylv=3?qid=20100429022854AA8FVoZ

The UK has done that with Europe, Nato, the UN, G7, G20 and many other agreements. This, in turn, has led to the imposition of regulations that govern many aspects of our economy, our criminal and civil laws, environment and trade. The consequent administrative burdens that we, as a nation, now face is so complex that even a minor policy change will require massive scrutiny just to ensure we’re fully compliant.

I feel sorry for local councillors, doesn’t matter which party they belong to. They’re trying to serve their local communities, keep costs down and improve the lot of their constituents. But the regulations being heaped on them, almost on a daily basis, is adding to their costs with no direct benefit to their communities and the electorate will penalise them at the ballot box, not knowing that it won’t make a blind bit of difference because the Councillors don’t have the authority to change these laws.

Regardless of who gets elected at the next General Election, they are going to be trussed up by these administrative burdens that were nodded through by the Labour Government. So our room for manoevre is severely constrained.

Finally, we come to the issue of growth. Where is it going to come from?

Remember, this isn’t 1979. As bad as things were then, we knew that major finds in the North Sea held huge opportunities for our Country. We were able to off-load State-owned industries to the Private Sector via a money market stuffed with cash and burgeoning economies in the Far East, Europe and America provided willing custom for these new highly productive industries, now revitalised with Private capital and methods.

That won’t happen this time. We can’t go back to the ‘80s, we’re in a very different world now.

How about Green jobs? Well even in the rosiest of scenarios, we’re only looking at around 200,000 jobs, all of which will be subject to fierce competition from every Country that is also trying to steal a march on this new technology. In the meantime, we’re likely to lose 3 jobs for every green job created because of the imposition of new carbon trading rules and environmental regulation.

Oh, and in case we are thinking that the UK might suddenly get an oil revenue bonanza from a major find in the Falkland Islands, think again. Brazil and other South American countries are not all that favourably disposed toward Britain at the moment and Argentina is now a democracy no longer ruled by a military junta. Our negotiating position is very weak and World trade bodys are far more likely to rule in favour of those Countries than the UK. We may see some revenue if oil is found but nothing anywhere near the scale we had from the North Sea.

So minimal export opportunities, no oil, the Consumer flat on his back, massive debts, crippling legislation and huge unemployment with no prospect for jobs growth and the potential for massive social upheaval.

How can Gordon spin his way out of this one?

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As the G8 summit in Italy draws to an end it is apparent that the top issues discussed, remains to be the three biggest issues around the world: the current economy, global warming and world hunger.

Their final draft statement seen by Reuters, addresses these different issues and their solution to it.

”We are committed to increase investments in short, medium and long-term agriculture development that directly benefits the poorest and makes best use of international institutions,” the statement said.

While the richest countries in the world debate these issues, big corporate companies around the world have been trying for years to improve them in some way or the other.

Corporate Responsibility (CR), formerly known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been placing big multinational companies under extraordinary stress to honour and support the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit.

According to the UK Government’s Corporate Responsibility Report, CR makes business sense.

”Good business leaders recognise that Corporate Responsibility makes good business sense – it attracts the best talent, earns the trust of customers and the community and acts as a powerful investment for long-term sustainability,” said Ian Pearson, Minister of State Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

While countries around the world battle with one or all three issues as well as new concerns manifested from them, one of the biggest problems the UK is currently facing is the growing unemployment rate.

According the Office of National Statistics, the UK had a staggering two million people out of a jobs at the end of 2008 and in the last three months the unemployment rate rose from 6.5 pc to 7.1pc.
Corporate Responsibility takes on a new and more intense role when it demands job creation and skill training during the current economic climate.

Tesco’s plans to expand a store in Barton-Upon-Humber leading to the creation of 50 new jobs in the area, is an example of the kind of CR the UK job market needs.

Residents of Barton-Upon-Humber has responded positively towards their plans and corporate affairs manager, Nick Gellatly said that although recruiting will only start in next year, people from the area have already enquired about it.

”Nearer to the time, we will talk to the Job Centre Plus and set up a Local Employment Partnership to make sure that local people have the best possible chance of getting a job and people who have been unemployed have the best chance of getting a job,” he said.

Another example of this is with Sainsbury’s new store in north Essex where 23 new jobs were created.

The store in Halstead’s High Street was previously a Somerfield store and through the Sainsbury buy-over 70 jobs were safeguarded as well.

”We’re proud of our new store but the best part is meeting the local community. Everyone’s so friendly and we’re looking forward to making a positive difference,” commented Andy Deacon, Store manager.

Companies show their participation through endeavours like these, with on-going charity support or with projects like Vodafone’s Lifetracks programme.

The Lifetracks programme focuses on the youth of the UK, empowering 16-25-year-olds with the knowledge to make informed choices about work, study and training.

The programme involves engagement teams, workshops, help lines, a website and volunteers.

Vodafone’s aim with this programme is to assist 720,000 UK youngsters over a three year period and help 70pc of them into employment, education or training.

Vodafone has also created 3600 jobs in Berkshire at their Newbury HQ and spent £12m on products and services from West Berkshire’s local suppliers.
While the economic climate is currently a daily issue it does not mean that the environmental climate should take the back-seat until the economy settles down.

Natural disasters like floods and earth quakes are a direct result of global warming and will only increase economic turmoil if not pro-actively dealt with.

”This week the G8 nations came to an historic consensus towards concrete goals to reduce carbon emissions,” said US president, Barack Obama.

”Developed nations will reduce their emissions by 80 percent and we will work with all nations to cut global emissions in half. This ambitious efforts is consistent with limiting global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius. Developed countries, like my own, have a historic responsibility to take the lead,” he said.

The good news is that while our big corporate institutions need to focus their CR on job creation, this is not the only focus for some.

Coca-Cola who employ 4500 people in England, Scotland and Wales do their bit for the environment through ensuring that all of their UK manufacturing sites adhere to the highest environmental standards, by being ISO14001 certified.

The largest listed water company in the UK, United Utilities, who maintain water, wastewater, electricity and gas, are trying to improve the environment through their numerous projects.

They are currently involved with a project that turns biogas from sewage treatment into fuel for vehicles.

Another of their projects saved £6.7m through producing methane gas from sewage sludge in order to provide heat and electricity to run sewage systems.

Big corporate companies earn billions each year and to some extend certain global issues, like for example global warming, is as a result of pollution from billions of factories around the world.

That is why big companies owe it to the world to put money back into improving the economy, environment and social issues.

Hopefully the UK will see more CR projects, charity support and most importantly job creation within the next several months as companies start to see the importance of Corporate Responsibility in combating unemployment.

With the prospect of companies in the UK doing their part, citizens around the country can also assist with embarking on their own responsibility projects.

Through making accountable environment-friendly choices, by supporting charities and if at all possible creating a job opportunity for someone who desperately needs one, we can all put an effort into improving an aspect of everyday life.

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