Anna Hazare and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Many in the US and other countries, foreign to India, have been following the recent movement in India led by Anna Hazare and others with awe. Their effort to have the Jan Lokpal Bill implemented in India has taken on a seriousness that has been lacking for over 50 years.

I found some friends lauding the effort and commending the solidarity demostrated by Indians within a short period of time. Most participated as mere spectators with the understanding that what was happening in India did not affect them.

I believe corruption in any country affects every paerson.

Recently, former KBR Chief Executive Officer Albert Jack Stanley pleaded guilty in a Houston court to charges of bribery in Nigeria followed by a UK Lawyer who was involved in the deal.

According to an article in Bloomberg, two of KBR’s three partners in the venture have made deals to avoid U.S. prosecution. Snamprogetti Netherlands BV, a Dutch engineering firm, agreed in July to pay $365 million to settle criminal and civil charges. Technip, Europe's second-largest oilfield-services provider, agreed in June to pay $338 million to resolve all allegations it faced over the Nigerian scheme.

In the 2010 audit list on World Corruption by http://www.worldaudit.org/ India stood at 70 with New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore at 1 and Somalia at 149. It is unfortunate that India is a country regarded as a possible global economic leader ranked so high in this list.

It follows that whether one is an Indian, living in India or in a foriegn country or a citizen of any other country transacting business with India, you are affected by corrupt practises in India. YOU cannot transact business with or in India without breaking the laws of your own country. In the United States, the Foriegn Corrupt Pracrtices Act govern such acts: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/ 

Should not one question why an American company should have a challenge conducting business in India while an Indian company has no similar challenges. As a nation, every American, irresepective of their ethnicity should join behind Anna Hazare as the eradication of corruption will level the playing field to transact business in India.

For more information about the Jan Lokpal Bill, visit: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/what-is-the-jan-lokpal-bill-why-it-s-important-96600

Job Interviews - What is said & what is heard!

Things are not always as they seem ... especially when trying to make a good impression on a job interview. Here's a list put together by Roberto Aponte, of some typical phrases said at job interviews and what might have been heard. Hope you find a few laughs ahead and nothing that hits too close to home!

Candidate to Interviewer:

What was said: I'm a very fast learner.
What was heard: I don't have the experience you're looking for.

What was said: I would change positions for the right opportunity.
What was heard: Make me an offer.

What was said: I've been an independent business consultant for the past two years.
What was heard: I've been out of work for two years.

What was said: I'd rather not talk about salary yet.
What was heard: I'm hoping you make me an offer before I have to disclose my low salary.

What was said: I left my last position, because I wasn't being challenged enough.
What was heard: My last company didn't trust me with the higher level responsibilities.

What was said: I'll get back to you with the names and contact information for my references.
What was heard: I have to call around first and tell people what I want them to say.

What was said: My leadership style is very honest and very direct.
What was heard: I'm abrasive, have no tact and don't get along well with people.

What was said: I'm a perfectionist and very detail-oriented.
What was heard: I'm a micromanager and don't trust anyone on my team.


Interviewer to Candidate:

What was said: This is a very hands-on position.
What was heard: You'll have limited resources and be expected to do things that are beneath you.

What was said: You have an extensive work history and are highly overqualified.
What was heard: We're looking for someone younger and less expensive.

What was said: Thank you for coming in today; we have a few more people to see, and then we'll get back to you.
What was heard: You won't hear from us again.