Blog (EN) - Page 5 of 31

22Oct

4 preconceived ideas about the profession of accountant

There are a lot of clichés and misconceptions about almost all trades. But clichés have life is hard, they say. The profession of chartered accountant is no exception to this rule. The received ideas on this the unfortunate consequence of discouraging many young people who are nevertheless seduced by this profession. The work of a chartered accountant and dream of excelling in this field. It is the important to to dismantle a number of preconceived notions about this profession so that aspiring individuals can to this branch may have the courage to take the plunge … Through this article, we have listed some of these so-called truths about the profession of chartered accountant …

1. You have to be a math whiz to become a CPA.

This thought is anything but true. You don’t have to be good at math to become an expert-accountant. In fact, it is very common to come across professionals in this field who have done literary studies. However, it is still true that you have to like to manipulate numbers, the cross-check, interpret them to be a good accountant. This should not, however, lead to young people who want to become chartered accountants to believe the exaggerations that would want this profession can only be practiced by the aces of mathematics. You will need neither geometry or algebra. You will simply need logic and analytical skills analysis above all.

2. It takes eight years of study to practice the trade.

This is another misconception about the profession of chartered accountant. You don’t have need to have a baccalaureate plus 8 to become a chartered accountant. In truth, you need to follow 5 years after the baccalaureate and complete a three-year internship in a firm or company, before obtain the famous Diploma of Chartered Accountancy (DEC). These three years of internships are very rewarding in knowledge in the field of public accounting.

3. The profession is rather boring …

All professions have their own realities that oscillate between difficulty and passion. This is also the case of the profession of chartered accountant. Forget the image of the type with glasses crumbling under the numbers and the paperwork. This is not the everyday reality of the accountant. The accountant works for structures of very different sizes and sectors of activity: SME, VSE, ETI, startup, association, craftsman, trader, farmer… He carries out various missions where contact is of prime importance. It is a an exciting job that allows you to be in contact with different types of companies and fields various activities.

4. The ideal is to be at the head of one’s own practice.

This perception is far from reality because, not all accountants are interested in entrepreneurship. Many of them become teachers or work as salaried employees in
a company. Within companies, they generally act as controllers of management, financial analysts, CFOs, auditors, managers… According to Françoise Savès, president of the Board of Directors, the of the association Femmes Experts-Comptables, two thirds of the women graduates in this field choose this path. They graduate from DEC at the age when they want to be mothers. They prefer so she joined a company to better reconcile work and family life,” she says.

08Oct

How to overcome your dismissal ?

Like a love break-up, a dismissal is a painful event that is very often badly experienced. When this happens, the dismissed person’s morale is naturally at half mast. They are demoralized, even demotivated. They lose the desire to undertake new things, preferring to spend their days in bed. Some employees even reach the point of depression. But it’s not the end of the world. You have to take control of your life to move forward. It’s not easy, but it’s quite possible. Here we offer solutions to help you get back on your feet after a layoff…

1. Take your time

Like any painful event, dismissal is a difficult thing. It takes time to digest it and change course. You have to be realistic because this kind of situation is not something that can be forgotten in a snap of the fingers or in a few days. No one will blame you for feeling bad because you’ve lost your comfort zone, your colleagues and your bearings. One of the attitudes to adopt in this case is to take the time to “grieve” and not to rush into anything. Take your time and then move on. Life goes on …

2. Talk about it around yo

Confidentiality drowns out pain, as they say. Nothing could be further from the truth… After a layoff, there is no point in brooding over your anger and despair alone in your corner. You have to go out and talk about your grief to the people around you. This will greatly reduce your pain and take your mind off it. You can also share your feelings with a specialist coach or simply confide in your friends and family. They are the best remedy in your recovery process. Listening to them is an invaluable gift that will comfort you.

3. Don’t be too hard on yourself…

In case of dismissal, you don’t have to be very hard on yourself by blaming yourself. Experiencing a series of negative feelings is certainly understandable, but try to regulate them so that you don’t get depressed. Rather than being too hard on yourself, accept your situation while telling yourself that it is normal. It doesn’t make sense to spend hours thinking about how and why you got to this point. Move forward and think about your future and your future career ambitions.

4. What Doesn’t Kill Makes You Stronger

To something bad is good, as the saying goes. Tell yourself that there is an opportunity to seize in your situation of despair and that not everything is negative. You didn’t like your dismissal, but still try to see the positive side of things. As difficult as it may seem, try to see the opportunities in this unpleasant situation. Will the career change you’ve always dreamed of happen now? Will it be an opportunity to retrain? Develop new projects. You can only recover from such an experience, and you may be ready to get the job of your dreams!

01Oct

10 trades that did not exist 10 years ago

There are jobs that seem obvious to the younger generation, but they are not, did not exist ten years ago. It is a natural cycle that gives birth to new jobs while making others disappear. Thus, while some professions tend to disappear, others, on the contrary, have emerged in the last ten years, thanks in part to the development of the new technologies. According to the American forecasting organization Institute for the Future (IFTF), 85% of the professions that will be exercised in 2030 have not yet been created. Here are 10 trades that are appeared in the last decade…

1. The Big Data business

Big data architect, data scientist, chief data officer… The database market is at the origin of a large number of professions, which are highly sought-after today in start-ups and large companies. companies. Yet, in recent times, they were not on the agenda.

2. Chief happiness officer

Understand responsible for happiness in the company! It ensures the well-being of employees, their productivity and performance. It looks for solutions to make workers feel more fulfilled in their workplace.

3. Mobile Application Developer

The smartphone has become an indispensable tool, and thousands of applications are created every day. year to make our lives easier or distract us. IFAPME even offers a training course of developer of mobile applications for a two-year period.

4. VTC driver

Uber, Heetch, Kapten… “chauffeur-driven passenger cars” have almost supplanted cabs. traditional. The first applications were born in 2011 and have since been successful. increasing. The professions to which this new innovation has given rise have emerged recently.

5. Bicycle delivery man

Gone are the days of phone orders or drive passes: today, a single click on his smartphone or computer and your meal is delivered to your door in a few minutes. minutes.

6. Juicer

Just like delivery men, electric scooters have also been swarming in our cities for several years now. months. The juicer’s mission is to geolocate and recharge them.

7. Community manager

A true expert in social networks, he answers the questions of Internet users, creates spaces of exchanges and promotes the company and its products on the web. Most companies in have today.

8. Youtubeur

The 2000 generation knows them well and is very enthusiastic about them: Youtubeers are now a real craze. These content creators are now earning a living from videos, advertising and product placement.

9. Influencer

Solicited by brands for its notoriety, content or status, it influences the consumption habits of its community by promoting products via various platforms: Instagram, YouTube or Snapchat.

10. Web ergonomics

A little-known profession, but it is nevertheless the one in charge of optimizing the use of a website on a computer, tablet or mobile, by making its interface as easy to use and as pleasant as possible.

24Sep

Why does a recruiter check references?

In addition to the CV and cover letter, some recruiters may also ask candidates applying for their job offers for references. This is a fairly common practice. The fact that a recruiter asks you for the contact information of former professional contacts in order to ask them about your account does not mean that he doubts you. Nor is it an attempt to trick you, much less destabilize you. Don’t take it the wrong way. A recruiter who asks for your professional references is simply trying to get a better understanding of you to avoid casting errors. But what exactly does a recruiter want to be sure of through a candidate’s references? The point in the next few lines…

A reference request to check your CV …

A recruiter cannot be criticized for wanting to ensure the truthfulness of a candidate’s references on his or her CV, since many job seekers do not hesitate to lie on their CV by mentioning a degree they do not have, or experience they cannot claim. In short, all tips are good for some candidates. Simply get the job. In view of this, the first purpose of a recruiter’s reference request is to avoid falling into the trap of false information on CVs. Thus, it is not a simple style clause if some companies make reference requests. Moreover, according to Apec, in nearly nine out of ten cases, they verify the good faith of applicants based on their diplomas and/or professional experience. And when it is not HR or recruitment firms that do this, the verification is outsourced to specialized service providers (Everycheck, Cvérifié…), while waiting for artificial intelligence to take over and take care of confusing the cheaters.

A reference request to detect your personality…

In addition to the mentions made on your CV, the recruiter may also ask you for your references to verify the statements about your personality that you made during the job interview. These may include your strong and weak points, your progress or lack of progress in the company, your ability to work in a team, your reactions to certain situations, etc. The recruiter will also check other elements such as your hiring and leaving dates, the type of position and missions you have held, the reason for your departure, your professional skills, etc… “We know that a referent is often benevolent, it is up to us to read between the lines, to create a climate of trust, to go beyond a certain politeness,” says a recruitment specialist. This sometimes involves some rather surprising questions: would you entrust your children to this candidate? Would you hire this person again? Would you invite him or her to a restaurant with your spouse? In all cases, the objective is twofold: to check that you haven’t embellished your CV and to better define your profile to ensure that it matches the position, the company and its culture.

A practice framed by the law…

Finally, it should be noted that the law regulates the use of the reference request to job applicants. The recruiter is not allowed to contact your references without asking for your authorization, ideally in writing. Moreover, it is a very good thing that you are asked for your references. Be prepared to accept calmly and seriously. “Don’t be afraid, it’s even a good sign,” says Claude d’Estais, a former HR and headhunter, now a professional mobility coach and author of several books on job search. “It indicates that you’re on the short list, because a recruiter is not going to have fun taking references from all candidates,” she adds.

17Sep

How to prepare for a job fair?

When you’re looking for a job, don’t minimize any opportunity to get the job of your dreams, because you never know… If you haven’t yet received a phone call for an interview, after applying to several job offers, consider attending a job fair. This is a great opportunity to meet potential recruiters. Still, to have a chance to catch the eye of a recruiter at a job fair, you don’t have to go just anyhow … Remember to prepare yourself well for this event which can be a determining factor in your career. What to do? We review with you the tips to use …

1. Take care of your outfit

It’s true that a job fair is not a classic job interview, but that’s no reason to present yourself to recruiters in old jeans with holes in them. Taking care of your outfit will always earn you points with recruiters. Shirt and shaved face for men, blazer and discreet make-up for women, a sober appearance is what you need to seduce a recruiter at a job fair.

2. Find information on participating companies

The mistake you should never make is to arrive at a job fair without first having taken the time to take all the information on all the companies participating in the event. Take all the information you need before you go to the job fair. This will help you find out which companies are of interest to you. What jobs are on offer? Knowing which company you are applying to will work in your favour.

3. Print your CVs in several copies

Since you are going to meet many potential recruiters, don’t forget to print a sufficient number of general resumes and bring your business cards with you if you have any. This will ensure that you don’t miss any opportunities to apply for a maximum number of offers and in many companies. Your chances will only be boosted…

4. Prepare your presentation in 30 seconds in chrono

Recruiters generally do not have a lot of time at career fairs to spend with all candidates. These are networking events. You need to take this into account by preparing a lecture that introduces you, your field of expertise and your experiences. It must be short, precise and effective. You will repeat it to introduce yourself to all recruiters.

5. Collect the cards

When you meet with the recruiters, don’t forget to ask each one for his or her business card. You will then be able to contact them again to ask if they are interested in your application. Who knows? You may be able to find a recruiter interested in your profile.

6. On the spot, think practical

Don’t forget to swallow something before you arrive at the job fair: you’ll be more concentrated if your stomach doesn’t gurgle during an interview. Also avoid smoking before or during the job fair: ashtray breath will put off recruiters.

10Sep

The 5 essential qualities of a high-performing employee

It is no longer a debate … All HR specialists now agree that the company is just as interested in know-how as it is in people skills. Moreover, the individual personality of each person within the company is a valuable source of diversity. However, whatever the personality of an employee, he or she must possess certain indispensable qualities that we will focus on in this article.

1-Being honest

Honesty is a human quality appreciated in everyone, but it is even more so in a worker. In fact, honest and reliable employees have the respect of their superiors and colleagues because they promise realistic goals. In fact, no one likes rough estimates. Those who are honest and accurate in estimating the time they need to complete their tasks and who report regularly on their progress project an image of efficiency and reliability.

2-Solution-oriented mindset

As an employee, you must be involved in solving the problems that the company encounters. You must not be a mere bystander who will simply observe problems and report them to your manager. Indeed, managers do not appreciate employees who pass on problems without suggesting any solutions. Alone or in a team, it is therefore necessary to spend time looking for long-term solutions. After all, problems are there to be solved and you are there to make the company work .

3-The sense of organization

The sense of organization also remains a quality highly appreciated in a worker. As an employee, you have to learn how to organize your work efficiently. Whether you choose to work at home, in the office or at the corner café, make sure you have a method of working and organizing. For example, when the workload builds up, you need to be able to set priorities without discussing every detail with your manager. In short, keep in mind that no manager wants to work with a messy worker.

4-Team spirit

There is a saying that goes: “There is strength in numbers…” This adage also applies to the world of work. Indeed, knowing how to work in a team is a very great quality in a worker. The manager will always be happy to see that there is a real one within the company. He will be pleased to see that the workers take the initiative to share tasks, solve problems and carry out missions that are entrusted to them in a collegial and creative manner. A close-knit team is a guarantee of satisfaction for a company boss and a positive atmosphere in the workplace.

5- Proactivity

Finally, one of the essential qualities of a worker is proactivity. This presupposes that the employee has the ability to put his or her own expectations and needs to one side, in order to reflect on the functioning of the company and its future evolution. In other words, for the worker, it is a question of being able to project himself into the future. This state of mind is highly appreciated by managers because it shows the worker’s willingness to collaborate with the company in the long term.

03Sep

Advantages of having lunch with your colleagues

The company where you work is not only your place of work, it is also somewhere where social relationships and friendships happen. For that matter, many managers are looking into promoting solidarity and a good working environment within their team because they are confident that it will have an impact on the productivity of the company. That is the reason why “eating together” with colleagues is something that companies really wish for. It has become something normal that generates lots of benefits. If you’re one of those people who eat alone in front of your desk, think about going to the cafeteria from time to time to take lunch with your colleagues. Having lunch, sharing a good meal with your colleagues seated around a table, is the perfect opportunity to talk about work and what we have done during the weekend. It provides exchanges and good spirit. According to the 2016 survey from Cornell University, it also stimulates teamwork.

This study revealed that most of the time, employees who eat together are more likely to work together than those who eat alone. Teamwork is not the only advantage that comes out of sharing lunch with colleagues: it is a good alternative to team building which is “ very costly, but mostly it requires a lot of employees to do activities with their colleagues during their free time” explains Kevin Kniffin, a behavioral researcher. With that in mind, many companies set up cafeterias inside their buildings to uplift that friendly practice and encourage employees to go there and sit at a table around colleagues.

However, you can’t force relationships among people because it could be counter productive. So, even though eating with colleagues has plenty of benefits, we shouldn’t force things to happen. It should come naturally… Actually just because you share a lunch with colleagues doesn’t mean that teamwork and harmony will get better and that workers will like each other better or work better together.

Quite to the contrary, eating by yourself could also be a good thing. Everybody is not always ready to handle conversations about each and others during lunch, which also represents a relaxing moment where you find yourself again. From this study from the University of Toronto, it is especially important to let people choose what they want to do. You can’t force anybody to be with others. Anyway, it is up to you to choose who you want to eat with. You can also choose both options and go back and forth as you want it, by eating alone once a week for example.

Whatever the case is, it is recommended not to be seen as someone who always mess up the mood and the atmosphere within colleagues. Be even in terms of choices. Your manager will always appreciate you being someone who come together.

27Aug

5 sentences to never say at work

The professional world is a universe that requires a certain finesse in speech as well as in behaviour in general. In the company, the words you use give an idea of your professional image. It is therefore a good idea to choose the right expressions when you are in a professional environment. Certain phrases are thus absolutely to be banned if you want to be considered a leader. But which ones? Forbes magazine interviewed Darlene Price (author of the book Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results) about those words or phrases that should be avoided at all costs at work. We take stock with you.

1. “It’s not fair.”

Your colleague has received a pay raise while you work harder than he does. This can indeed create some frustration. But complaining or brooding about your anger in the workplace would be counterproductive. Instead, take stock of the facts, build a case and present it calmly to the people responsible,” advises Darlene Price.

2. “It’s not my problem” / “It’s not my job” / “I don’t get paid for this”

This sentence is to be banished, because it shows that you do not have the team spirit, nor the sense of solidarity. This does not mean that you have to accept everything, but you must be more tactful in your refusal. Darlene Price says that if, for example, you’re overwhelmed and your boss asks you to take on an extra task, tell him that you’d be happy to help and ask what priority you should give to each of the projects you’re working on. And Darlene Price’s continued use of this method will show that you’re willing to invest in the team, while reminding him that he needs to be realistic in his expectations.

3. “I will try.”

The verb to try implies a certain reluctance or lack of commitment. It is perceived by influential leaders as a rather negatively connoted verb in professional exchanges. Imagine, for example, that you absolutely must mail an invoice before a certain time and ask your colleague to take care of it when he goes to his next customer. If he replies “I’ll try” you will feel obliged to do it yourself because the sentence implies a possibility of failure.

4. “But that’s the way we’ve always done it”

It should also be remembered that initiative is the hallmark of leaders. A good worker must be able to think outside the box to innovate. Employers value innovation and creative thinking among their employees. However, this sentence proves that you are stuck in your habits, rigid and closed, without any prospect of evolution. Change is not always negative: never be so adamant about a new idea or way of doing things,” advises Darlene Price.

5. “He’s a fool” / “He’s lazy” / “My job sucks” / “I hate this company”

According to Darlene Price, this kind of sentence not only reveals immaturity, but can get you fired. Making those kinds of judgments is always going to reflect poorly on you. If you have something to reproach someone with, let them know directly, tactfully and politely: it will prove your professionalism.

20Aug

Top 7 jobs of the future that do not yet exist

A few years ago, many of the jobs that exist today had not yet been created. If you think that this dynamic of the birth of new trades will stop, you may be disappointed. Between robots, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, the trades of the future are knocking at our doors. Observers have finished convincing us that millions of jobs will be replaced by machines. At the same time, we will witness the birth of professions that will seem to come straight out of a science fiction movie. We are taking stock with you on some of the jobs of the future that do not yet exist.

1. Space travel guide

This is a profession that will emerge in the future as space tourism takes off. It’s not a bad idea to consider a career as a space tour guide. You’ll be responsible for accompanying wealthy visitors throughout their flight and designing the most exciting itineraries using your knowledge of the aircraft used in orbit.

2. Asteroid Miner

Digging asteroids to find certain minerals is an option for the future. This will address the scarcity of resources on the planet by exploiting those in space. This high-risk drilling will generally be undertaken by self-contained machinery, but in some cases, human miners will be called in as backup to ensure smooth operations.

3. Brain Content Manager

Science is dynamic and continually surpasses itself. In the future, it is envisioned that we will find ways to access your thoughts and memories through implants that link your brain to a computer. This new medical possibility will open the door to paid services to improve memory and even revise your dreams. Brain content managers will also be able to help a person sort through their memories and make a movie of their life for those around them.

4. Technology Ethics Counsellor

The role of robots and artificial intelligence has been widely debated. All the same, it is imperative to reflect on ethical rules so that the use of these new technologies does not come at the expense of human beings. In addition to teaching machines to decode the subtleties of our language, experts will have to confirm to the public that the necessary safety beacons have been put in place. The birth of the profession of technology ethics counsellor is then highly conceivable.

5. UAV manager

Companies like Amazon are planning to acquire fleets of thousands of drones to speed up their delivery service. Managers specialized in the purchase, programming, maintenance and supervision of these motorized swarms will therefore be in high demand on the job market.

6. Privacy manager

As smart devices become the target of an increasing number of cyber attacks, solutions are needed to protect private information. Online privacy advisors will be in demand. This expertise will also be valued by businesses and governments.

7. End-of-life coach

After the life coach, get ready for the end of life coach! The population is aging and this large cohort will need sensitive and empathetic counsellors. They will guide them in their choice of medical treatments and explore with them how to live their last days to the fullest.

30Jul

Africa: Industrialization is essential for job creation

In Africa, job creation is essential for sustainable development and inclusive growth in the continent. Vulnerable groups such as women and youth are disproportionately affected by the scarcity of decent work opportunities in Africa. Yet they are important links in the African population without whom development is not possible. Almost all observers maintain, and rightly so, that only industrialisation will make it possible to create the skilled jobs needed by young Africans. Thus, according to United Nations projections, Africa will experience unprecedented population growth and should account for nearly 40% of the world’s population by 2100 (i.e. as much as China and India combined) as against nearly 17% today.

Industrialization is becoming a response to the urgent need to create ten to twelve million jobs a year just to absorb new entrants to the labour market. It must, however, be an industrialization thought out and adapted to the African context.

Indeed, each country having its own characteristics, it is essential that each government envisage industrialization by taking into account in particular the natural resources at its disposal and the potentialities with which the country is endowed. Industrialization must be based on the creation of a favourable economic and social environment. According to Jonathan Le Henry, a consultant with PWC, African countries would benefit from “a common and integrated approach to industrial policy.

And the latter to specify that several levers must be activated to win the challenge of industrialization in Africa. It will be a question of capitalizing on natural resources to create new activities with higher added value, to rely on strategic partnerships to promote value sharing and technology transfer, to rely on the technologies of the industrial revolution 4.0 to achieve productivity gains, improve the level of competitiveness and better integrate into the value chain. Finally, the aim will be to create the necessary conditions for improving the business climate by offering an attractive environment for foreign investors and minimizing the burden of bureaucracy.

Such an approach could enable African populations to benefit from massive job creation. In the long term, the development of the African continent could be sustainable and beneficial to every African citizen.

At present, African industry generates only US$700 of GDP per capita on average, three times less than in Latin America (US$2,500) and five times less than in East Asia (US$3,400). And its exports consist of low-technology manufactured goods and unprocessed natural resources – which account for more than 80 per cent of the exports of Algeria, Angola and Nigeria, for example.

Africa, like Europe in the nineteenth century and Asia in the twentieth century, must therefore embark resolutely on the path of industrialization in the twenty-first century. To this end, the President of the African Development Bank Group, the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) have agreed to work together to help Africa design its industrialization agenda. Other initiatives are also emerging to bring the dark continent out of the shadows.

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