Changing Jobs in 2008: It Pays to be Gray

ExecuNet, an interactive membership organization for effective career management, has just released their exclusive 16th Annual Executive Job Market Intelligence Report.

Innovation, agility and execution are the key watchwords for both the employee and employer. For year 2008, a growth of above 10% within the executive employment market is still expected by search firm and corporate human resource professionals, albeit at a slower pace with quite a lot of uncertainty.

Among the predicted high-growth industries for the year are:

• High Tech + Defense/Aerospace
• Healthcare
• Business Services
• Pharmaceutical/Medical/Biotech
• Energy/Utilities
  

Executives of all ages expect large increases in their pay if they change jobs this year. Overall, executive pay is expected to increase by 6.2% in 2008. But average pay increases for executives who change jobs are expected to increase by well over 10%, regardless of the executive's age or experience.



The complete report is made available to all ExecuNet members, and you can also click here to download the 2008 Executive Job Market Intelligence Summary Report.

Free for life platinum credit cards

Platinum credit cards are nice looking, great to have, provides higher credit limit, lets you enjoy better customer services, and more. If you earn a 5 digits monthly income, or at the high end of the 4 digits monthly income, you might want to have this type of credit card residing in your wallet.

However, the annual fee of platinum credit cards is normally much more higher than gold credit cards, and easily cost you a few hundred ringgit. The RHB VISA Infinite even charges you RM1,000 annually for that. It would be nice if the annual fee can be waived for a lifetime without any condition set.

To avoid the hassle with the annual fee, you might probably want to look for a free for life (ffl) platinum credit card, if you intend to apply for one.

The list below are some of the free for life (ffl) platinum credit cards issued in Malaysia, which won't charge you for any annual fee:

• CIMB PETRONAS Platinum MasterCard (provides cash rebate on spending, also ffl to supplementary cards)
• CIMB Platinum Business MasterCard (provides cash rebate on spending, targetted to corporates)
• CIMB VISA Platinum (also ffl to supplementary cards)
• CIMB Mastercard Platinum (also ffl to supplementary cards)
• CIMB Direct Access MasterCard & VISA Platinum (targetted for graduates and professionals, also ffl to supplementary cards)
• UOB Lady's Visa Platinum (targetted for ladies, also ffl to supplementary cards)
• UOB Lady's MasterCard Platinum (targetted for ladies, also ffl to supplementary cards)
• EON Bank Platinum MasterCard

So, which one do you intend to take? Or which one you've already taken?

25 days to go for Beijing 2008 Olympics

I believe most of us are aware that the Beijing 2008 Olympics (a.k.a. Games of the XXIX Olympiad) will be held from 8-24 August 2008. It is now only 25 days more to go.

The theme is this international multi-sport event is as below:


"One World One Dream" expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colours, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace.

The 5 official mascots of the event, Fuwa embody the natural characteristics of 4 of China's most popular animals -- the Fish (Beibei), the Panda (Jingjing), the Tibetan Antelope (Yingying), the Swallow (Nini) -- and the Olympic Flame (Huanhuan).

When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.

Wishes all the best to Beijing and all the athletes, may the force be with you!