Business Viewpoint: Seeking assistance for a new kind of CEO - Tulsa World

The recently opened Center for Employment Opportunities in Tulsa is working to illuminate that path and help keep formerly incarcerated people from returning to prison by providing basic work skills to obtain full-time jobs.

As a Social Innovation Fund sub-grantee, CEO is funded by the federal government, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and George Kaiser Family Foundation.

CEO educates its participants, teaching them resume-building and interview skills, and coaches them on employer expectations in today's labor market.

But what makes CEO unique is the transitional job component. Within one week of enrolling in CEO, participants are working on a transitional job work crew and providing much-needed services for various public partners, including Tulsa County. Participants earn a daily paycheck and tangible work experience that CEO staff uses to leverage into permanent jobs in the community.

The numbers support the narrative. More than 118 individuals have graduated from the Life Skills Education class. CEO reports that 111 have participated in transitional work crews, and 52 placements have led to permanent, unsubsidized work.

The numbers are truly remarkable when you remember that the CEO Tulsa office has not even celebrated its one-year anniversary.

CEO targets those who are most likely to return to prison at the most critical time - immediately upon release. Nearly half of the enrolled participants are young adults, age 18-25.

The individuals in the program aren't the only ones who benefit from CEO. In addition to Tulsa County, the cities of Jenks and Sand Springs and the Metropolitan Environmental Trust have all benefited from the services performed by the participants. Companies that hire CEO graduates receive an individual who is trained to succeed as an employee and as a person.

Since last July, Tulsa County has benefitted from a CEO work crew of approximately six individuals for 6.5 hours per day, 5 days a week. Countless bridges across the county have been cleared of damaging sand and debris, and dozens of creek beds have been cleared to improve drainage and prevent flooding.

You may have read recent stories about the efforts to clean up the Bruner Hill area in west Tulsa County. I'm proud to say our CEO crew played a big role in that effort.

As CEO's impact continues to grow, it is my sincere wish that community participation grows with it. Now is the perfect time to form a partnership with CEO. I urge cities and counties around Tulsa to open their doors to this program, to help those who not only deserve a second chance but also truly strive to be better. In turn, they will see an improvement in the effort to beautify their communities.

Our country is known as a land of opportunity. We must remember that opportunity is for everyone, including for those who have made mistakes. The Center for Employment Opportunities in Tulsa works to ensure that those given a second chance are able to succeed.
Karen Keith is Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2. The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily the Tulsa World. To inquire about writing a Business Viewpoint column, email a short outline of the article to Business Editor John Stancavage at john.stancavage@tulsaworld.com. The column should focus on a business trend; the outlook for the city, state or an industry; or a topic of interest in an area of the writer's expertise. Articles should not promote a business or be overly political in nature.

View the original article here

Business optimism, hiring outlook rise in recent survey - Tulsa World

The findings from a recently released survey organized by Gov. Mary Fallin and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce compared favorably to a national average of just 28 percent of businesses planning to hire this year.

Additionally, 78 percent of business leaders polled in the survey indicated they are optimistic about the future for business in the state and are confident their business will grow, compared with 60 percent nationally.

Fallin said Wednesday that the report is the largest of its type ever conducted in the state and was undertaken to find more ways to create more employment opportunities and a better environment for Oklahoma businesses.

"We want to continue to help them add new jobs and build stronger, more successful companies to build Oklahoma's economy," she said.

The survey, conducted by Reliant, a Tulsa-based human resource company, allowed people to participate by filling out an online form. Dustin Pyett, communications manager at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said they're confident in the integrity of the data.

"Reliant has safeguards built into their proprietary software, and they have software in place to eliminate duplicate submissions," he said.

Reliant CEO Chris Wright said the company followed up with some submissions and specifically sent out invitations to participate via chambers of commerce and other organizations, though it's "impossible" to make sure that every single submission was from a business leader.

"If someone wanted to go to the trouble to pretend they were a company, there could be some of that information in there," he said.

However, Wright said he doubted there were many false reports, and the Department of Commerce noted in the report that the margin of error for report questions ranges from 0.9 to 1.6 percent, "which is a 95-percent confidence interval."

Fallin said the results of the survey were largely where government officials were hoping them to be.

Dave Lopez, Secretary of Commerce and Tourism, said the survey's goals were to help understand the needs of existing businesses, identify ways to help them and establish stronger communication between the business community and state leaders. Among businesses covered in the survey, 51 percent indicated they would expand or upgrade existing locations in the next three years, 28 percent will add locations and 60 percent will add new products or services.

Nearly two-thirds of business leaders said they believe the state provides a good climate for entrepreneurs.

The business leaders said they believe the state excels at the quality of higher education, access to business supplies, CareerTech system's work force preparation programs, affordable housing and attractive recreational opportunities.

However, they indicated the state needs to improve workers compensation costs, access to sufficient public funding sources and business incentives, assistance programs and tax structure.

"That surprised me a bit, since we were under the impression that we offered some of the best incentive programs in the nation," Fallin said. "It may be a matter of perception."

Leaders indicated their top challenges include customer loyalty and retention, increasing sales and growth, managing their reputation, the unpredictable economic climate and adapting to change.

The survey, conducted over December and January, gathered responses from 5,400 business leaders from all 77 counties. The respondents represent more than 250,000 jobs and more than 20 percent of Oklahoma's total work force.

Lopez said the Department of Commerce will continue to explore the survey's findings and will release additional information over the coming months on issues such as business climate strengths, opportunities for improvement, workforce, business expansion and infrastructure, government services and top challenges facing executives. He also hopes to conduct similar surveys every few years.

Original Print Headline: Survey finds optimism, hiring plans on upswing

Robert Evatt 918-581-8447
robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com

View the original article here

Business optimism, hiring outlook rise in recent survey - Tulsa World

The findings from a recently released survey organized by Gov. Mary Fallin and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce compared favorably to a national average of just 28 percent of businesses planning to hire this year.

Additionally, 78 percent of business leaders polled in the survey indicated they are optimistic about the future for business in the state and are confident their business will grow, compared with 60 percent nationally.

Fallin said Wednesday that the report is the largest of its type ever conducted in the state and was undertaken to find more ways to create more employment opportunities and a better environment for Oklahoma businesses.

"We want to continue to help them add new jobs and build stronger, more successful companies to build Oklahoma's economy," she said.

The survey, conducted by Reliant, a Tulsa-based human resource company, allowed people to participate by filling out an online form. Dustin Pyett, communications manager at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said they're confident in the integrity of the data.

"Reliant has safeguards built into their proprietary software, and they have software in place to eliminate duplicate submissions," he said.

Reliant CEO Chris Wright said the company followed up with some submissions and specifically sent out invitations to participate via chambers of commerce and other organizations, though it's "impossible" to make sure that every single submission was from a business leader.

"If someone wanted to go to the trouble to pretend they were a company, there could be some of that information in there," he said.

However, Wright said he doubted there were many false reports, and the Department of Commerce noted in the report that the margin of error for report questions ranges from 0.9 to 1.6 percent, "which is a 95-percent confidence interval."

Fallin said the results of the survey were largely where government officials were hoping them to be.

Dave Lopez, Secretary of Commerce and Tourism, said the survey's goals were to help understand the needs of existing businesses, identify ways to help them and establish stronger communication between the business community and state leaders. Among businesses covered in the survey, 51 percent indicated they would expand or upgrade existing locations in the next three years, 28 percent will add locations and 60 percent will add new products or services.

Nearly two-thirds of business leaders said they believe the state provides a good climate for entrepreneurs.

The business leaders said they believe the state excels at the quality of higher education, access to business supplies, CareerTech system's work force preparation programs, affordable housing and attractive recreational opportunities.

However, they indicated the state needs to improve workers compensation costs, access to sufficient public funding sources and business incentives, assistance programs and tax structure.

"That surprised me a bit, since we were under the impression that we offered some of the best incentive programs in the nation," Fallin said. "It may be a matter of perception."

Leaders indicated their top challenges include customer loyalty and retention, increasing sales and growth, managing their reputation, the unpredictable economic climate and adapting to change.

The survey, conducted over December and January, gathered responses from 5,400 business leaders from all 77 counties. The respondents represent more than 250,000 jobs and more than 20 percent of Oklahoma's total work force.

Lopez said the Department of Commerce will continue to explore the survey's findings and will release additional information over the coming months on issues such as business climate strengths, opportunities for improvement, workforce, business expansion and infrastructure, government services and top challenges facing executives. He also hopes to conduct similar surveys every few years.

Original Print Headline: Survey finds optimism, hiring plans on upswing

Robert Evatt 918-581-8447
robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

• The median starting salary for 2011 M.B.A. graduates is $75,000, according to GMAC.

View the original article here

The Biggest MLM Companies in The World

http://www.mlm-answers.psl91.com/ Who are the Biggest Multi Level Marketing Companies in the World Today? Although there are hundreds of MLM or multi level marketing companies that exist today, there are only a few that really make it into the big leagues. Are they worth joining and can I still make money is what many are asking.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

• The median starting salary for 2011 M.B.A. graduates is $75,000, according to GMAC.

View the original article here

The Biggest MLM Companies in The World

http://www.mlm-answers.psl91.com/ Who are the Biggest Multi Level Marketing Companies in the World Today? Although there are hundreds of MLM or multi level marketing companies that exist today, there are only a few that really make it into the big leagues. Are they worth joining and can I still make money is what many are asking.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

• The median starting salary for 2011 M.B.A. graduates is $75,000, according to GMAC.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at Thunderbird School of Global Management's Garvin School of International Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at Thunderbird School of Global Management's Garvin School of International Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

View the original article here

Business School Tips for Success - US News and World Report

Considering business school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an M.B.A. is right for you.

Smart Choices

In a rapidly changing economy, many business schools have changed their curriculum to welcome the global nature of the business world. Aim to get global experience through schools' overseas partnerships. At top ranked institutions, such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, students can head abroad for research or consulting projects. Harvard Business School offers immersion trips abroad over winter breaks. Students at Stanford Graduate School of Business can work overseas for at least a month to supplement summer internships.

There's no need to set your hopes on ultra-selective business schools to find global opportunities. At the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii—Manoa, students can pursue the China International M.B.A., which includes a nine-month study abroad trip at the Sun Yat-Sen University School of Business in Guangzhou, China. Through the Latin America-based Executive M.B.A. program at Thunderbird School of Global Management's Garvin School of International Management, students can take classes at campus locations throughout Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Miami, and Glendale, Ariz.

[Check out the Best Business Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Take advantage of the clubs and organizations available within your business school. Clubs can be a gateway to meeting influential business leaders at speaker events or crafting cutting-edge ideas. Using clubs as a networking tool can lead to future internship and job opportunities that may have not been available otherwise.

Schools such as the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Geogetown University offer annual events like Global Diversity Day to celebrate the various backgrounds of students enrolled in the school. Use these events to network with fellow classmates and alumni.

Getting In

Go for the interview: Applicants have many stresses to bear, and unfortunately, this is one they really can't unload. While many business schools require applicant interviews, some, including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, make them optional. But Dawna Clarke, Tuck's director of admissions, says that in almost all cases, turning down the opportunity for an interview is a big mistake. "There are so many skills and attributes that might not come across on paper. Making an effort to go to a school to interview shows that you're really interested in the school and lets you tell your story in a different way," she says.

Even if you have a tendency to bomb in interviews, it is probably worth the risk. "In my experience, people are more likely to leave a positive impression than a negative impression," Clarke says.

[Read more tips for preparing for your M.B.A. interview.]

Ask Alumni

It also pays to be extra diligent in researching a potential school. Clarke suggests that applicants track down alumni and ask them everything they can about the school. "It allows you to convey a better sense of why you want to come to the school," she says. One way to find graduates: utilize the alumni network at your undergraduate school.

[Discover the best jobs for M.B.A.'s.]

Reality Check

Although the economy has yet to fully recover, the hiring market for M.B.A. graduates remained relatively steady in 2011:

• According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 86 percent of 2011 M.B.A. graduates reported finding work, compared to 88 percent in 2010.

View the original article here

Business Opportunities & Ideas in The World Economy

Home - Federal Business Opportunities: Home
www.fbo.gov/
Federal Business Opportunities · IAE · eGov · USA.gov · Home · Getting Started · General Info · Opportunities · Agencies · Privacy ...
Worlds Hottest Franchises and Business Opps | RedHotFranchises ...
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The Worlds Hottest Franchises and Business Opportunities! The hottest franchise information and business opps are waiting for you at Red Hot Franchises!
Small Business Opportunity - Small Franchise Business for Sale
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Small Business Opportunity - Browse the Small Business Opportunity site and learn about the top small business opportunities and franchise business ...
Small Business Opportunities helps entrepreneurs start a biz
www.sbomag.com/
Small Business Opportunities magazine offers easy money making ideas for entrepreneurs: start your own business, work at home, franchise or biz opp for ...
Business Ideas - Business Idea Center | Entrepreneur.com
www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/index.html
Find hundreds of full or part time business ideas that you can start today. ... to new ways to get green: The 10 trends that will define opportunity next year.
Business Opportunity Classifieds - Home Based Business ...
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Small business and home business opportunities, ideas, news, and resources for small and work at home business opportunity seekers. Classifieds, ideas, tools ...
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_opportunity
A business opportunity (or bizopp) involves the sale or lease of any product, service, equipment, etc. that will enable the purchaser-licensee to begin a business.

View the original article here

Research and Markets: World Hematology and Flow Cytometry Market Outlook: Growth Opportunities and Business Expansion Strategies - Business Wire

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/f45bad/world_hematology_a) has announced the addition of the "World Hematology and Flow Cytometry Market Outlook: Growth Opportunities and Business Expansion Strategies" report to their offering.

“World Hematology and Flow Cytometry Market Outlook: Growth Opportunities and Business Expansion Strategies”

This report will help current suppliers and potential market entrants identify and evaluate emerging opportunities in the hematology and flow cytometry markets during the next ten years. The report explores future marketing and technological trends in seven countries; provides market share estimates, test volume forecasts, and instrument placements; compares features of over 60 analyzers; profiles leading competitors and emerging market entrants; and suggests specific product and marketing opportunities facing suppliers.

During the next ten years, continued advances in molecular diagnostics, monoclonal antibodies, lasers and IT, as well as growing understanding of immunologic forces regulating systemic diseases, will have a profound impact on the hematology and flow cytometry markets worldwide. New molecular diagnostic and monoclonal antibody tests will facilitate existing procedures and provide basis for sensitive, specific and simple assays. The introduction of smaller and easy-to-operate laser systems will further expand applications of flow cytometry to routine clinical laboratories. Further advances in IT will reduce the cost of instrument manufacture, service warranty, and permit development of self-troubleshooting, autocalibration and other advanced features. Presently tedious analyses of chromosomal abnormalities, DNA content, and lymphocyte subsets will become more automated and routine.

The report contains 700 pages and 250 tables.

Key Topics Covered:

I. Introduction

II. Worldwide Market and Technology Overview

III. France

IV. Germany

V. Italy

VI. Japan

VII. Spain

VIII. U.K.

IX. U.S.

X. Major Product Development Opportunities

XI. Design Criteria for Decentralized Testing Products

XII. Alternative Market Penetration Strategies

XIII. Potential Market Entry Barriers and Risks

XIV. Competitive Assessments

Abbott Beckman Coulter Becton Dickinson Bio-Rad DakoCytomation Horiba Iris J&J Diagnostics Nihon Kohden Roche Siemens Sysmex

XV. Appendix: Major Universities and Research Centers Developing Hematology/Flow Cytometry Technologies and Applications

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/f45bad/world_hematology_a

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The Biggest MLM Companies in The World

http://www.mlm-answers.psl91.com/ Who are the Biggest Multi Level Marketing Companies in the World Today? Although there are hundreds of MLM or multi level marketing companies that exist today, there are only a few that really make it into the big leagues. Are they worth joining and can I still make money is what many are asking.

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Research and Markets: Amazon.Com Inc In Retailing (World) - Understand the Opportunities and Threats Facing the Business - CNBC

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The Biggest MLM Companies in The World

http://www.mlm-answers.psl91.com/ Who are the Biggest Multi Level Marketing Companies in the World Today? Although there are hundreds of MLM or multi level marketing companies that exist today, there are only a few that really make it into the big leagues. Are they worth joining and can I still make money is what many are asking.

View the original article here

The Biggest MLM Companies in The World

http://www.mlm-answers.psl91.com/ Who are the Biggest Multi Level Marketing Companies in the World Today? Although there are hundreds of MLM or multi level marketing companies that exist today, there are only a few that really make it into the big leagues. Are they worth joining and can I still make money is what many are asking.

View the original article here

The Biggest MLM Companies in The World

http://www.mlm-answers.psl91.com/ Who are the Biggest Multi Level Marketing Companies in the World Today? Although there are hundreds of MLM or multi level marketing companies that exist today, there are only a few that really make it into the big leagues. Are they worth joining and can I still make money is what many are asking.

View the original article here

Business viewpoint: MLPs fuel the needs of energy infrastructure - Tulsa World

The increased energy production coming from developing basins or shale plays needs to be transported to refineries and other storage and distribution destinations to ultimately reach the consumer in a safe, efficient manner. This means additional pipeline infrastructure must be built to transport crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and eventually biofuels.

Pipelines are the safest, most efficient and reliable mode of transportation capable of moving large volumes of liquid energy, making them the preferred choice for moving the energy that our nation needs.

New pipeline systems require a great deal of capital to build. Over the next 20 years, substantial investments will be required to expand our nation's energy infrastructure and accommodate increased domestic energy production, especially for crude oil. Our country's ability to successfully transport, store and distribute our growing domestic energy production is dependent on companies structured as master limited partnerships, MLPs.

Many of the nation's pipeline companies are structured as MLPs. These are businesses that access the public equity markets for capital and are treated for tax purposes as partnerships. The MLP structure helps keep capital costs low, which facilitates funding of large-scale investments including pipeline, storage and distribution infrastructure.

The MLP structure has other significant benefits, as well. It provides Americans, through the public equity markets, the opportunity to invest in companies with large, capital-intensive projects such as pipelines, storage and other energy infrastructure. The quarterly cash distribution paid by MLPs is particularly attractive to those on fixed incomes.

Along with the construction of new pipeline systems, MLPs are also focused on organic or "bolt on" growth projects that enhance their existing infrastructure. Whether it's building new pipelines or enhancing the existing system, MLPs are hiring direct and indirect employees to work on these much-needed infrastructure projects. Even during the recent economic downturn, many MLPs were responsible for creating thousands of domestic jobs by hiring new employees and contractors.

Since 1987, Congress has limited the types of businesses that can be structured as MLPs to those involved in capital-intensive industries that generate the majority of their income from specifically defined qualifying sources of income, such as the storage and distribution of energy resources. Pipeline companies building new and expanding existing infrastructure to accommodate increased domestic energy production is exactly what Congress envisioned, and the tax structure has clearly promoted investment in our nation's energy infrastructure.

MLPs not only support U.S. energy infrastructure needs, they also provide much-needed sources of investment income for a significant number of Americans nearing or in their retirement years.

In Washington, it appears that all corporate tax provisions are under increased scrutiny at this time. Congress must ensure that it continues to support the long-term energy infrastructure needs of our country while protecting the steady income source MLPs provide to retired Americans with any tax changes considered.

Original Print Headline: MLPs fuel needs of our energy infrastructure

Michael Mears is president and CEO of Magellan Midstream Partners LP, a Tulsa-based master limited partnership.

The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily the Tulsa World. To inquire about writing a Business Viewpoint column, email a short outline of the article to Business Editor John Stancavage at john.stancavage@tulsaworld.com. The column should focus on a business trend; the outlook for the city, state or an industry; or a topic of interest in an area of the writer's expertise. Articles should not promote a business or be overly political in nature.

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Research and Markets: Grow Globally: Opportunities for Your Middle-Market Company Around the World

Stock Futures Gain, Yahoo in FocusReuters

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for equities on Wall Street on Wednesday. Yahoo will be in the spotlight …

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