HACIÉNDOME EL SUECO

Colin Powell's promotion did not just happen. Clifford Alexander, who was   Secretary of the US Army from 1977 to 1981,  explains how he held up a list of proposed generals because of lack of diversity. He then gave instructions to look at all records of eligible colonels to ensure ratings were based only on fair and equitable criteria. His board followed his directives and .... Colin Powell emerged on the candidate list. As he explains in the NY Times article  Colin Powell's Promotion: The Real Story  " He did not get anything extra and his white colleagues did not get anything extra either. The rise of Colin Powell through the ranks of the United States Army to brigadier general had to do with his performance as a soldier”. This is a great success story of a good diversity practice. I had heard about it a long time ago and today I mentioned it to some friends. Then I googled it and I was lucky to find this excellent article publish...

If you are planning to move to the European Union, you should know that i mmigration rules are not the same in every EU country. This is because most EU countries have both EU rules and their own national rules. In addition, there are exceptions to the  EU-wide immigration rules in countries like Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Common rules apply if you are a highly qualified worker or if you wish to study or do research in an EU country.  Nevertheless, applications must always be made to the authorities of the EU country you plan to move to. For full information about this topic and links to the country specific websites, please visit  The EU immigration portal . Each EU country decides on topics like the total number of migrants that can be admitted, all final decisions on migrant applications and rules on long term visas. In general, to enter the EU, you must present the necessary papers to the border authorities.  These could i...

When Hillary Clinton dropped out of the Democratic primary in 2008, she said during her  concession speach :  "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it and the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time," Eight years later, at th e  Democratic National Convention, she was named as the first female presidential nominee of a major political party in the US. In her keynote speach she mentioned: " Tonight, we’ve reached a milestone in our nation’s march toward a more perfect union: the first time that a major party has nominated a woman for president. Standing here as my mother’s daughter, and my daughter’s mother, I’m so happy this day has come. I’m happy for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between. I’m happy for boys and men—because when any barr...

In previous posts we have discussed the importance of obtaining the immigration visa, the relocation process, the expat letter, taxation and other preliminary topics. Once we arrive in our country of destination, there are some questions that can help us in our landing to make it as smooth as posible. It is important to ensure your family adapts to the new country and culture. Family: Nothing helps you more than knowing that your family is adapting nicely to the new environment so you can focus on your job. In this context, companies do very well taking care of your family and investing in anything that can facilitate their landing. However, it is essential that, for at least the first few weeks you devote time to your family. Do activities with them over the weekend and spend the first moments together. Also, do not be shy and ask your manager or contacts in the destination country to introduce you to other expatriates. In many cases, your...

La entrevista de trabajo es el momento clave en la mayoría de los procesos de selección. Desde el punto de vista del entrevistador los objetivos básicos son saber si el candidato PUEDE y QUIERE, es decir: Saber si el candidato tiene las capacidades y competencias para realizar el puesto de trabajo (PUEDE) Conocer si tiene interés en el proyecto y desarrollo profesional que la empresa le puede ofrecer (QUIERE) Cuando se cumplen estas dos premisas, se suele decir que el candidato encaja. Es importante tener en mente que el proceso de selección es un proceso de encaje. Si las capacidades o intereses del candidato son distintas de las requeridas, no será seleccionado, y este hecho no tiene nada que ver con la valía profesional de cada uno. El entrevistador suele tener experiencia en procesos de selección, y además normalmente ha preparado la entrevista a conciencia ya que ha invertido tiempo en describir la necesidad (perfil y puesto de trabajo), seleccionar los CV y ...

It is advisable to start preparing your return a few months before the end of your assignment. In most cases, the Expatriation is agreed for a maximum of 2 or 3 years. Then, you may be offered an extension but the total length is normally 5 years or less. T alk to your bosses and find out what they have in mind before you start planning for your return. If you are asked to stay and you reach an agreement to continue the assignment, all you have to do is make the necessary arrangements to extend your stay: Sign an addendum to the Assignment letter Confirm the validity of the visa during the extended period Notify the landlord of the lengthening of the rental, register your kids in the following school year,   etc. Once the extension has been ruled out, the time is ripe to plan for the return.   In regards to personal and family matters, remember: Giving advance notice to your landlord and preparing for you...

I was reading a very interesting article in Los Angeles Times about  the new U.S. administration's  initiative to close the gender salary gap, the so called Equal Pay Pledge - Click here to see the full LA Times article. According to this commitment, each company will conduct a yearly analysis of its pay practices, review hiring and promotion procedures and adopt practices aimed at closing the pay gap between men and women. IKEA, Facebook, Apple, Linkedin and Microsoft are amongst the companies that have already signed the pledge. Currently, women make up nearly half the U.S. labor force, "yet in 2014, a woman working full-time year-round in America earned only 79% of what the typical man earned". In the  European Commission website  you find that equal pay for equal work is one of the founding principles of the European Union embedded in the Treaties since 1957. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that ...