Transacting through the tenets of e-commerce revolves around using the World Wide Web and other associated techniques like the electronic-mail.

Electronic commerce used between two business firms is known as B2B e-commerce. It can be an open for all variant like Commodities Exchange or a very personal variant like the Private Electronic Market. E-commerce specifically caters to the sale facet of e-business.

E-commerce can find large scale utility in online-shopping. Right from selecting a product on the online site to adding it to the cart and then seeking payment for it to channeling it through the shipping and handling department is all effectively handled by e-commerce wing. Content management systems and Enterprise and client information reporting are both ideally done by e-commerce. It also sees to proper functioning of domestic and international payment systems. For instance, Paypal and Neteller are two online money transfer units. Their functioning lies within the active domain of e-commerce.

E-commerce also lays in front of us a matrix of database, spreadsheets and documents. This again is a crucial segment of e-business. Imagine it this way. Over various computer networks spread across the world, billions and billions of paper files are kept intact constricted over databases minimized to computer chips. This is letting us tarry along with oversaturated world business.

Presently e-commerce primarily involves an enquiry and ordering of digital content for consumption through internet.

The increase in demand for goods and services in the western world has expanded world wide, this globalisation has helped less developed nations economies expand but has also influenced many different cultures negatively, diminished the intercultural communication skills required to understand different cultures. The need for business people, who desire goods from a different part of the world, to understand and identify with another culture has weakened due to the widespread use of the English language and the western worlds business values. Simpler cultures are now more complex and care less about helping each other and more about how the can gain hard cash from over seas trading even if it involves the destruction of the environment. The expansion of the western world has severely affected the needs for over seas business people to become proficient in intercultural communication skills. One of the main courses of business people to lack in intercultural communication skills is increasing advances in communication technology.

Most business people in today's society involved with overseas trading use a telephone or the internet to conduct most of there business. These communication creations by the western world have been spread world wide, this has lead to a less personal way of interaction. Users of a telephone or the internet can be who ever they want and have access to communicate with almost whoever they want. Lievrouw and Finns communications systems model, although not including the internet, demonstrates the involvement and control senders and receives of information have in a conversation using different communication techniques. The model shows that by communicating over the phone (or internet) the involvement and control of the conversion is moderately lower than face to face interaction, which would typically occur before western world technology advances. By globalisation occurring many cultures adopted more advanced methods communication, the telephone and internet prevent business people from visiting different cultures and understanding the different communication skills throughout the world. Globalisation and the wide spread use of the English language has also resulted in many cultures abandoning a lot of there original values and adopting the western worlds business views.

The typically believed western business values are concerned with money and how to make more. This value although having some minor positive effects, such as strong economy and high living standards, is predominantly seen as a negative value and has lead to changes in many different cultures. Before globalisation each culture would have a set of different values and a unique way of communicating with one another. Today however, because of the western worlds influence, different countries are adopting the English language and the western business methods. “This western ideal has lead to the destruction of environments in many third worlds”, this quote from the paper Whose business values?: Some Asian and Cross-cultural Perspectives demonstrates the effects of the English language and western values being adopted around the world. Before the influences of globalisation throughout the world, different cultures would have a different customs to survive through communication; however because of globalisation many of these customers have been removed. The wide spread use of the English language is a main cause of the lack of intercultural communication skills required by business people and does severely influence different cultures around the world.

Throughout the world the English language is becoming more and more will nonne and used, English is the language of the world market. By adopting the English language different countries around the world find it easier to trade on a global scale because of the lack of communication skills required to do so. By understanding the English language countries can use the “Negotiation process” to obtain desired goods without using to much time and without causing conflict between two cultures. “[W]ays of controlling the world market with the English language”, this passage, from the article The global spread of English is a seismic event in man's history by Matthew Parris, demonstrates that with the wide spread use of the English language the western business people have been given a lot more control in the global market. Nations around the world are being forced to adopted the English language if the wish to stay competitive in the world market, this has lead to diminished intercultural communication skills between business people and different cultures. The English language has been the main cause of cultural changes throughout the world, this has lead to business people conducting faster, less personal business, without having to learn other cultures different communication skills.

Each nation around the world has a different culture and a unique way of communicating with one another, the introduction of the English language and western business methods has severely affects these cultures and there way of life. Before the western worlds desire for more intercultural goods and services from different parts of the world, most cultures took care of themselves with a set of values or way of life. However with globalisation came more opportunities to avoided poverty and create a higher standard of living by cross cultural trading, this lead to the wide spread use of the English language and many cultural changes around the world. “[T]his factor has result in many cultures adopting a new way of life”, this quote is portraying how with the introduction of western business methods around the world many different cultures are forfeiting some of the old values, such as importance of family and your fellow man, and adopting new ones supporting intercultural trading.

As long as globalisation continues the wide spread use of a particular language will spread throughout different cultures, making it easier for business people to conduct business without the need to become proficient in intercultural communication skills. The western worlds business desires are resulting in the wide spread use of the English language and are altering many different cultures around the world. Business people around the world are finding it easier to sell and purchase goods around the world because of one similar language and advances in communication technology this has resulted in the need for many business people to not understand and learn how to communicate with different cultures.

In its 2006/2007 Industry Review, the OESA reported a 7.3 percent decline in the total world original equipment parts market in 2005 ($781.7 billion) compared to 2004 ($843 billion) after several years of growth, including a 10 percent increase in 2003. Over the longer term, the world market is expected to experience growth, and is expected to exceed $1 trillion annually by 2010. Domestic shipments of automotive and truck parts were reported by the Census Bureau as valued at $200.3 billion dollars, up from $174.6 billion in 1997. The growth rate in this period was 1.73 percent annually, sales are cyclical. In the 1997 to 2005 period, the highest shipments were realized in 2000. Shipments dropped sharply in 2001 as a brief recessionary period set in. By 2005 the industry had again almost reached its 2000 peak in this period.

The U.S. new car and truck market (as contrasted to parts) was one of only two major markets in the world to lose ground, with sales fading 2.5 percent from 16.95 million vehicles in 2005 to 16.52 million vehicles in 2006. Japan was the other declining market. Japanese demand fell 2.5 percent from 5.73 million vehicles in 2005 to 5.59 million in 2006. Western Europe, the largest automotive market in the world, managed to grow slightly during 2006-0.8 percent from 16.52 million units in 2005 to 16.65 million in 2006. The emerging markets of the world, on the other hand, experienced more robust growth-other European countries were up a combined 8.1 percent; Brazil and Argentina, 13.3 percent, and the other markets of the world, 14.6 percent. These anemic sales figures for new vehicles plus increasing pressure from auto parts suppliers in emerging economies were key contributors to the slow growth shown by domestic auto parts suppliers.

Exports from emerging economies countries have been growing at an annual rate of 20.1 percent, well above the export growth rate from more industrialized countries (12.7%). Automotive parts trade with China is an example of the impact imports from emerging economies can have. This trade has grown significantly. The United States imported $1.6 billion worth of auto parts from China in the year 2000. Seven years later, in 2006 the United States imported $6.9 billion worth of auto parts from China, an increase of 313 percent or nearly a 50 percent increase annually during the first years of the twenty-first century.

The objective of this report is to provide an understanding of the competition mechanisms between countries which are traditionally exporters - the “Old World” producers represented by European countries - and the so called “New World” countries which today compete for the supremacy of the traditional model of wine growing and production.

World Wine Producers

The distribution of the world wine producers is clearly detailed in the map below.

The Old World producers are located in Europe. France, Italy and Spain are the main producers, followed by Portugal, Balkan states, UK and Germany. The European countries are still detaining a dominant position and they accounted for 70% of world production and consumption in 1999 (by data acquired by Euromonitor).

The New World producers are scattered around the world and are represented mainly by: Australia, Chile, United States, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Canada.

World Wine Exports

The world wine export are still dominated by the Old World producers (see diagram below), with only three countries (France, Italy and Spain) which account for 60% of the world volumes exports in 2003.

Among the New World producers, the largest exports are coming from Australia, Chile and United States.

Another interesting characteristic is showed by the diagram below where the value of wine in exports market are growing at greater rate than volume.

France Productions, Exports and International Image

France accounts for 20.3% or the world wine production, with one third of domestic production exported to other European countries (UK, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands) and outside Europe (major clients are United States, Canada, Denmark and Japan).

In the most recent years, domestic sales of wine have declined constantly. The wine consumption is becoming more occasional. This is partially due to an aggressive anti-alcohol campaign and driving restrictions set by the local government, but also facilitated by a lack of marketing strategy: the wine market is loosing touch with the youth (the average age of wine drinker is gone up from 35 to 55) and young people are getting keener to beer or alcohol pops.

Lowered domestic sales may result in a greater emphasis on exports, however the recent trend showed how French exports continue to loose market share to the New World (see diagram below).

Global Trade Atlas-Global Trade Information Source 2004

Considering France international reputation and image, it is useful to analyse its strengths and weaknesses, taking into consideration the important differences existing between standard and premium market.

Strengths:

France remain quality leader in the premium market; its international image express Sophistication, Tradition and Charm.

Weaknesses:

There are many weak points to be addressed . The puzzling classification and labeling, the unreliable quality, the rigid “appellation d'origine controlee” which dictates strict rules on methods of production (see more details on par.6.4) . Its international image is often seen as intimidating, boring and old fashioned.

Success of New World over the Old World: Key Factors

The following analysis aims to elucidate the main reasons accounting for the New World success over the Old World. We identified the following key factors:

• Taste of Wine:

  Many people like the sophistication of wine but not so much the taste; Old World provides a wine which taste need to be acquired (more acidic, dry and harsh) and the rigid appellation controlee does not allow manipulations (the only exception is the adding of sugar known aschaptilization) . The New World wine is by contrast easy to drink (less acidic, sweet and fruity), therefore appealing to a wider range of consumers.

• Labels:

  Traditionally the labels of Old World wine are very cryptic. They are in foreign language, denomination of wine is by place of origin (by naming the specific vineyard or “chateau” or the region where the wine has been produced, following the terroir concept as “unique combination of subsoil and amount of days of sun and rain during the growing season”). New World wine labels are by contrast easy to understand. They are in English, with indication of grapes variety (i.e. Chardonnay, Cabernet Savignon, Merlot), and additional information like taste description and meal suggestions. With enticing attractive labels, New World wine is just more accessible and easier to understand than European wines. Recently, some producers from the Old World has responded to the new consumer needs and starting to provide fully descriptive labels in english.

• Image and Brand:

  Old World wine hold a strong image only in the premium market The Old World needs to build a global brand and strengthen its international image for the standard market to compete with the strong image and wine brands created by the New World producers (places associated with sun, youth and fun).

• Wine Quality:

  The unreliable and too often irregular quality of Old World wine is finding difficult to compete with the very regular quality provided by the New World.

• High Fragmentation:

  The archaic structure of production which still in place in the Old World is characterised by small family vineyards or huge cooperatives
  supported by government subsidies (and traditionally more preoccupied with maintaining low price rather than achieving better quality). In both cases their culture is far from the marketing orientation needed in the modern wine market. New World production is offered by few big companies with high capital and strong marketing orientation.

• Expensive Production:

  The high fragmentation and little scale of production does make difficult for Old World producers to be very profitable: often the costs are too high, allowing no margins to spend on promotion, market research and product development. They must compete with the large scale production of New World , always very cost effective and with large margins to invest in research and promotion.

Evaluation of Different Strategies

European old world's producers are meeting on a regular basis to discuss alternative courses of action in order to fight back the ever more pressing competition exercised by new world's producers. Different strategies have been suggested in one of these discussions by the Bordeaux winemakers: we will analyse positive and negative sides of each proposed strategy.

Premium & Standard Wine Market

Strategy No.1:

“Stick to what we have always been doing and build upon our unique terrier. After all the world's wine critics, wine enthusiasts and our local customers remain discerning and are loyal to our wines”.

Evaluation:

It is important to distinct between Standard and Premium wine market.

Old World wines may have struggled to stop the advance of their New World competitors in the mass market - at least in non-producing countries such as the UK - but the premium market has largely remained dominated by French, and to a lesser extent, Spanish and Italian producers.

“In the standard market, France's obsession with tradition and maintaining the status quo will result in the bankruptcy and collapse of many producers who refuse to recognize the competitive nature of the global wine market” (M. Parker, Jr., 2004).

The approach would be successful in the Premium market where increasing demand of fine wine from such countries like Asia, South America, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia will make rise considerably top wine prices. The Premium market will see growing demand and profits. (Faced with declining margins from "standard" wines, New World producers are also shifting their marketing focus to premium products- examples are Chilean drinks group CCU, establishing a joint venture with French wine maker Château D'assault in 2001 for the production of super-premium wines in Chile and America's E&J Gallo with its recent efforts to enhance the equity of the UK's number one Californian brand, Wine Cellars, which has been re-launched under the new name Ernest & Julio Gallo Sierra Valley).

Creation of an accessible French brand

Strategy No.2:

“Adopt Australian methods of wine production and branding for international markets. We must develop an accessible French brand, learning from British Diageo with their “Le Piat d'Or” or American Australian Southcorp with “Vichon”.

Evaluation:

Branding has proved to be a fundamental factor for the success of New World producers. In order for wine producers to develop an international brand for French wine French governmentrecently agreed to double financial support for the industry to € 15m (£9m). Consumer insights are inspiring the creation of accessible French wine brands that avoids the pretensions of the Old World to appeal to real people.

In particular in the UK, one of the major key markets for France wine exports, there has been an effort with the following brands and related advertisement campaigns:

• Burgundy'slogo and “Red Dress” ads

Press campaign: newspapers, food and wine pubs

Budget: £650,000

• Vin de Pays d'Oc : “It's all happening in the Oc”

Transformation campaign: address region's lack of clear identity, used in UK

Budget: £500,000

• Rhône “Think Red. Think Côtes du Rhône.”
• French Connection has become the fastest growing French wine brand; it is now listed as the number three French wine brand, and number 12 in the top 20 list of all wine brands sold in the UK (AC Nielsen).

The Global wine company (acquisitions and mergers)

Strategy No.3:

“Follow the example provided by French LVHM and Pernod Ricard and buy into the new world wines' position and marketing expertise (LVHM own Australian Green Point and Californian Domaine Chandon; Pernod Ricard owns Australian Jacob's Creek and South African Long Mountain)

Evaluation:

This is definitely the quickest way forward for Old World producers in order to acquire the marketing knowledge and strategic strength they so urgently need.

With growing consolidation in the global alcoholic drinks market, and given the highly fragmented nature of the wine market, there is strong possibility for further merger and acquisition activity in the new wine market (as new research from Euromonitor International have confirmed). Industry consolidation is likely to make life harder for the smaller local wineries in the short term. Lack of capital is a major barrier to growth for smaller players, and this factor drive them into acquisition by larger companies.

This trend will lead eventually to a new structure of the wine production model: we are going toward the global wine company of the future.

The new global wine company will have a truly global organizational culture, will develop a series of global brands at different price to meet consumer expectations, and will create extraordinary communication systems to support an enormously complex production and marketing interface.

Appellation d'origine controlee and competitive disadvantage

Strategy No.4:

“Seek the disestablishment of appellation controlee for many of our wine-growing areas so that we can develop the global French brand we need”.

Appelation d'origine controlee is the French system of designating and controlling both the geography and the quality of wines (as well as some food products).

Near the end of the 19th Century, French vineyards (as well as most all vineyards in Europe) suffered the devastation of vine diseases and pests accidentally introduced from America. European viticulture was very nearly destroyed before measures were found to deal with these problems.

In the intervening years, the available quantity of the fine wine was reduced to a trickle and French wine was in the highest demand. Fraud and adulteration were rampant and widespread until a series laws were passed in the beginning of the 20th Century aimed at ending these deceptions. The laws specify and delimit the geography from which a particular wine (or other product) may originate and methods by which it may be made.

The regulations are administered by a powerful quasi-governmental body, Institut National des Appellations d'Origine, or INAO, founded in 1935. Every imaginable facet from producer to consumer has been considered controlled or regulated and the use of AC terms on labels of French wine requires absolute compliance.

Evaluation:

We believe that this strict system of regulations lead to a competitive disadvantage for French and other Old World producers.

Competitive disadvantage deriving from expensive production (the mandatory use of expensive oak barrels to flavour instead of the cheaper oak chips widely used by the New World producers is one of the factor and also the rigid rules regarding the appellation upon which an Old World Chardonnay must be 100% compared to 85% for New World), not allowed manipulations in order to reach a better taste, and confusing labels practice previously mentioned. Furthermore, the historic reasons which lead to its creation are not justified today, at least with regards of its most severe rules and considering the standard wine market.

The Old World should seek the disestablishment of Appellation d'origine controlee at least for the lower category wine. Since in the Premium market the Appellation characterises the product as original and distinctive we would not consider this strategy as successful as in the lower market.

Protectionism versus being marketing oriented

Suggested strategy:

“We must protect our consumers from practices that undermine our European heritage; we need to use our political clout in the EU as well as in our own parliament”.

Evaluation:

We believe protectionism is not the answer.

The new global economy and competitive system should eventually lead to the point of mutual recognition that high quality wine can be made in many different places around the globe allowing the consumers to decide which wine they like best. In today's global community we should be reveling in the diversity of wines available to consumers, and we should be doing everything we can to promote appreciation of the wines that result from different terroir, viticulture, and wine making styles rather than erecting protectionist trade barriers to the free flow of wine around the world.

World wine market: long term predictions

We would like to end this analysis considering a few interesting predictions formulated by Mr. Robert M. Parker, Jr., wine advocate and undeniably the world's most prominent wine critic (recently published in the October 2004 issue Food & Wine magazine).

“The wine Web will go mainstream”: there will be a full range of Web sites tailored to disseminate information about new wines and new producers supported by experts, consultants, specialists and advisors which will assume the role of today's wine publications.

“World bidding wars will begin for top wines”: World's greatest wines will reach a prohibitive price due to the increasing demand coming from new developing countries, i.e. Asia, South America, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. The most limited production wines will become even more expensive and more difficult to obtain.

“France will feel a squeeze”: “France's obsession with tradition and maintaining the status quo will result in the bankruptcy and collapse of many producers who refuse to recognize the competitive nature of the global wine market”.

“Spain will be the star, Southern Italy will ascend”: Both these countries continue to make regional wines as they have for centuries, but they have adopted the New World style to some extent to increase their share of the new wine market.

Spain will rise as a leader both in wine quality and creativity, benefiting from the combination of tradition with a modern winemaking culture.

In Italy the winemaking revolution has commenced and its rewards will become evident over the next ten years.

“Value will be valued”: Due to increased competition in the market, more high-quality and low-priced wines will generally be available.

”Diversity will be the word”: Quality wines will come from unexpected places like Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Mexico, China, Japan, Lebanon, Turkey and perhaps even India.

Conclusion

In the modern wine market the Old world producers are seeing their share of the exports market decreasing rapidly as they start to recognise the urgency to change their mentality in order to challenge new competitors with strong marketing orientation.

In the recent years, New World producers have successfully taken market share from Old World competitors through a combination of successful factors. These are aggressive marketing and effective branding, consistent product quality and reliable supplies.

The Old World future ability to counter the ongoing threat from New World producers will depend on adopting an extensive marketingapproach: size, branding, distribution channels and new mergers in order to benefit from the new global economy will all play a fundamental role in determining its success.

 

When you think of the 1920s, what “Big Mobster” comes to mind? Al Capone, born in New York, moved to Chicago to avoid a murder charge. Capone, notorious for evading the law enforcement, ran a huge crime filled organization. “During a fight in a bar he received a razor cut on his cheek, which gained him the nickname "Scarface"” (Tyle).Due to Prohibition, Capone became a bootlegger, (someone who makes and distributes alcohol illegally). Prohibition was a law which outlawed the production and sale of alcoholic products, in turn, making it easier to get but more expensive.

Being one of Chicago's most famous gangsters, Capone made millions. “Caponewas grossing some $100 million annually by the late 1920s” (McElvaine). Al Capone owned many “Speak Easies,” shops that sold alcohol illegally at a high price, contributed to his wealth. “He controlled more than ten thousand speakeasies” (Howes).

Even though Capone was talented at covering his tracks, he was finally arrested in 1931. Capone had been suspected of being involved of hundreds of unsolved murders, “The St. Valentine's Day Massacre is widely believed to have been carried out by Al Capone and his gang, although this was never proven in court” ( Lerner). Even though he may have been involved in many murders, he was not arrested for this. In fact in 1931 he was accused and arrested for income-tax evasion (not paying his taxes).

Even though Prohibition may have been one of the most unsuccessful events of the 1920s, it was not the only one. The Great Depression was one of the main contributors of the economic failures of the 1920s. Due to the artificial inflation of stocks by credit, the Stock Market crashed in 1929. The depression did not only affect the U.S., it also affected people as far as Britain, Germany and France. Even though the depression was devastating, “The Great Depression in the years of 1929 to 1933 brought some continuity but also major changes as well as public exposure to crime.” (Hanes).

Because of the Depression, crime also rose with the rate of unemployment. “As the various gangs competed with one another, the rate of violence increased” (Howes) Crime didn't only rise in the U.S. the effects of unemployment affected those same countries who were affected by the depression. Prohibition may have been one of the main factors to the rise in crime, but it wasn't the only thing that contributed to the problem. The rise in unemployment and starving people did as well.

During the 1920s crime rates soared. They were and still are some of the highest rates in U.S. History. Unfortunately crime wasn't only committed by civilians. One major scandal that was committed by the government was the “Teapot Dome Scandal.” “The scandals involved public officials who had taken advantage of their position to gain something for themselves” (Howes). These officials happened to be friends of Harding. This scandal was investigated by Senator Thomas J. Walsh. “Walsh's investigations eventually revealed that Doheny and Sinclair had together given Fall approximately $404,000 (about $4 million in 2000) either as loans or as investments in Fall's New Mexico cattle ranch while he was serving in the cabinet” (Kutler). In the end “Fall” was convicted of bribery and became the first presidential member to go to prison. Daugherty and Denby, other government officials were forced to resign.

Even though the 1920s may have been one of the greatest eras in U.S History, it was also one of the most dangerously corrupt. Having major crimes and gangsters didn't help either. Also having some of the highest crime rates didn't help shed light on this dark era. But even though crime may have thrived, people never stopped fighting it, fighting for what they though was right.

"The customers want that choice to do something that is compassionate and helpful to others with their purchases," says Paul.

Indeed, a Hartman Group study has determined that at least 73 percent of American consumers are confident that buying Fair Trade products has a strong positive impact on the world and most are quite happy to pay the 10 percent premium

What a label reading "Fair Trade Certified" means to the workers who grow, make, pack, and ship the products, and for those of us who receive them, is that it's guaranteed that they are receiving fair wages and fair time off--as in a wage, vacation time, paid sick days, and working hours that are recognized as "fair" with respect to the work they do in the eyes of the international community of developed nations, including the United States.

The Certification also rewards the businesses that produce the goods. These will receive roughly a 10 percent premium per sale, which is charged to the consumer at the point of sale. This premium gives them money to grow their businesses and to put into their communities in order to make them wealthier.

Worldgoods Fair Trade recently opened a new store at 1228 Main Street, Olde Town Crossing, in Green Bay.

"Choosing a renovated historic building in the lovely downtown [Olde Main] district rather than opting for new construction was a no-brainer. If you look at the "greenest" option as well as the overall shopping atmosphere, this was the best choice for our gallery to move, for aesthetic and environmental reasons. Come see how beautiful it looks filled with ethically sourced Fair Trade art and gifts!" exclaims Paul.

There are other reasons to get excited about the dynamic Fair Trade business boom.

According to California's Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, "In making small scale farming more profitable, Fair Trade discourages deforestation and preserves traditional intercropped farms that prevent erosion and protect wildlife.

Fair Trade also requires drastic reductions in agrochemical use, forbids the most harmful chemicals and promotes other environmental stewardship practices, so you know that the Fair Trade Certified espresso you are enjoying is not just good for the people, but for the planet as well."

There are many candidates, who, when asked cannot express themselves about their qualification or experience. What can be done with them who do not have good communication skills? In this case, a winning resume is needed to win over. Most of the people have wrong impression on the employer. They think that the employer would select only the qualified persons and would let less qualified persons out. But this is not the case. The eye-catching resume is what comes handy. Writing a winning resume is one of the reasons in getting a suitable, desired job. When you produce the "best" resume and assure the employer that you are suitable for that specific job, and then chances increase for your placement.

What is a resume and how to write a winning resume?

Resume is a mini-statement describing about your personal information, your qualification and experience. Writing resume needs skills and creativity. It should be written in such a way that it should leave an impression on a reader. Follow the basic guidelines; let your resume shine on surface of the corporate ocean, and be the immaculate sailor of corporate ship! To begin with, mention your Objective, then Qualification, Professional Skills, Work Experience, Education, Honors, and Others.

1. How to write resume basics:

   Write by using simple language and simple format, e.g. font: Times New Roman, size: 12. But it should be professional

2. How resume should appear:

   Resume should appear normal, but can use light colors, such as off-white, gray, or dull brown. Preferable color is white

3. Optional Data:

   According to Affirmative Action laws, it is illegal to put personal information such as race, religion, marital status, etc. while writing your resume, also avoid salary expectations and your photograph

4. Styles of Resumes:

   There are various styles depending on your experience. The two basic styles are Chronological Resumes and Functional Skills Resumes. Variations of these resumes include business themes, professional, academic, and so on.

A striking resume will surely grab the attention of employers, which must also include your promise of work towards the organization.

If your plans are to go world wide with an idea, tailor to your customers needs, with the book a friend and I are writing, we factored in the three main things that people like to see. Fights, explosions, and a good deep storyline. We got all three of those things, although we might not hit all the markets right off the bat, as time goes on, we plan to go world wide, hitting all the major hot spots as well.

Thinking big is what Caesar, Napoleon and... Don King did. Caesar had accomplished taking over three quarters of the world, as did napoleon, and Don King fixed three quarters of the fights on HBO boxing. That's thinking big. As we entrepreneurs, take a step forward into the world of corporate Earth, not just America, we need to think about buying into our competitors stock, gradually buying more and more as time passes on so that eventually we'll own them.

Thinking bigger then big is something that we don't do often, as we need to have that fortitude in us that says, "Yes, here we are! Like or not, we will succeed where you failed." and that my friends, is the meaning, to me at least, of thinking big.

There are definitely a lot of great things about working on cruise ships. But the truth is, reality doesn't stop just because you're working on a cruise ship.

It may be a different form of reality, but it's still reality!

I worked as a Musician, Band leader and Assistant Conductor on 4 different cruise ships over 2 years, so I will cover some of my experiences over several articles in the hopes of making your cruise ship career more pleasant and rewarding.

See The Sights!

One of the greatest things about working on cruises is getting paid to travel all over the world! I've been to so many beautiful places. I've traveled through Alaska and the Arctic Circle during their summer, and what a lovely, surprising experience it was to be on deck in a light pants and sweater! I thought I'd have to wear a parka!

On the flip side, I can remember touring the Caribbean islands from about January to April. I was getting so used to it that I couldn't understand why the Canadian news said it was snowing in my hometown during March! Duh!

I've been to so many exciting and vibrant cities, including:

• St. Petersburg, Russia,
• Oslo, Norway,
• Helsinki, Finland
• Istanbul, Turkey

I've toured exotic, and picturesque countries like:

• Italy
• Romania
• France
• England

I've explored ancient biblical cities like Ephesus, and strolled the thoroughfares of the legendary city of Pompeii. I felt like Indiana Jones.

Sorry, now I sound like I'm bragging! But I will always have these adventures to cherish, no matter what.

Investigate Beforehand

I would recommend buying a few good tour and travel books, way ahead of time. That way, you will have time to go through them and make out a list of what you really want to see. Get the most current editions, because things are always changing. If you use older editions, you may disappointed to find an interesting restaurant or shop or something that you planned to visit is no longer there, for example. Watching travelogues is a pretty good idea, too.

Remember that you are usually only in a given port for one day. Of course, because you are working on the ship, and the circuit you are traveling tends to repeat itself every 7 or 10 days (normally), you will be in that given port almost once a week, so you can try and spread out your touring plans.

When I was in St. Petersburg, it was an overnight stay, but initially we only got there once a month, then later on it was about once every two weeks.

Volunteer As A Tour Escort

You can, of course, go wandering off by yourself (but not alone…I wouldn't recommend that…always travel with a group for safety), but one of the most effective and safest means of touring is to volunteer as a Tour Escort with the Shore Excursions department.

Basically, you are required to "babysit" the passengers on tour, make sure that they are ok and no one gets lost, perhaps answer questions if you can, etc. I had a knapsack filled with supplies like wet naps, Kleenex, bandages, etc. that was given to me by the Shore Excursions Dept.

Just remember you are NOT a doctor or tour guide! Tour guides know the places you are visiting like the back of their hand; that is their job. Sometimes passengers will ask you the ancient history of the land…how are you supposed to know that?

However you are an ambassador of a sort for the cruise line…so be polite, and give people a good impression of you. You may not have to wear your uniform while on tour, but you still have to wear a name tag. I never had any trouble during my experiences.

You may also have to fill out a report form, basically giving your opinion and rating of the tour. Kind of like being a judge on American Idol!

Try to find out as early as you can about volunteering…there is usually a waiting list for the really popular tours, and also a seniority thing going on. Those who have been working on the ship longer than you, or are perhaps more "important", will probably have first choice. Put your name in anyways, because you never know.

Being a Tour Escort is a great way to be part of a professional tour, one that has been researched and planned by the cruise ship, so you may get to see things in a way that you wouldn't if you just went off by yourself (again, which I wouldn't recommend doing alone).

Hope this was helpful for you! I will have more articles, so check in often!