AMDG

In recent weeks, I have seen job candidates arrive up to an hour early for interviews. Other candidates have alluded to financial hardships while in the hot seat, and one person even distributed bound copies of documents describing projects he completed for past employers. These sorts of tactics aren't exactly winners. In today's ultracompetitive job market, even getting an interview is a feat. Yet recruiters and hiring managers say many unemployed candidates blow the opportunity by appearing desperate or bitter about their situations — often without realizing it. "People are becoming a lot more aggressive," says Julie Loubaton, director of recruiting and talent management for Atlanta-based Consolidated Container. "They often wind up hurting themselves." At an interview, you want to stand out for the right reasons. To do so, you'll need to leave your baggage and anxiety at the door. For starters, wait until 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time...

Think strategically about where to locate international facilities by comparing quality of workforces. The term “emerging economies” first appeared some 25 years ago as a means of distinguishing third-world countries that exhibit economic potential. While that remains a useful distinction for investors, HR professionals need to hire, train and retain workers with more than just potential. They need workers who can get jobs done. What countries among emerging economies fill the bill in a hypercompetitive global market? The obvious answers may not be the best ones, for in a rush to tap human resources of rapidly growing “BRIC” countries—Brazil, Russia, India and China—business leaders may be shortsighted. Long-range planning requires a bifocal view on human capital. While the talent, opportunities and challenges of BRIC countries may be in the foreground today, talent pools of other countries are rapidly gaining relevance. Other countries—Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland and Slo...