<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><b style=""><font face="Arial Black">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; GET YOUR NEXT JOB FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR DESK</font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">You have been at your current job for few years and life has never been simpler with a daily routine and a steady pay check month on month. But are you really happy with your current situation? Are you missing on new challenges or bored with the monotony that has crept into your life. This is a situation almost everyone faces in their careers on more than one occasions. These are the indicators that you need to find that next job that not only challenges you intellectually but also brings in those extra dollars for the next vacation or a new investment.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">Here are 4 quick tips for you to start looking for that next great job discreetly without leaving the comfort of your home or work desk<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><font face="Myriad Pro"><font size="4">Job Boards</font><o:p></o:p></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">Don’t just use them to apply for available jobs. While it is the easiest way to apply for a job, you run the risk of your resume getting lost in the pile of resumes that recruiters receive on a daily basis. Try and find out the recruiter who has posted these jobs so you can reach out to them directly with a cover note as a personalised touch. Use LinkedIn to connect with the recruiters incase their contact information is not listed.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><font face="Myriad Pro"><font size="4">Industry News</font><o:p></o:p></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">Start following the newsfeeds and updates of those dream companies that you have always wanted to work with. Not only are you constantly keeping an eye out for relevant jobs for you, but you also get more insights into that organization which could the edge between you and lesser informed candidates at the interviews. <o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><font face="Myriad Pro"><font size="4">The Ex Colleague Network</font><o:p></o:p></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">Look beyond the recruiters. It is likely that most of your ex colleagues have moved to other firms within the same industry and can be am important link to the hiring managers at their companies. It always helps to stay in touch with them occasionally as they are constantly looking to hire known resources and who would lose an opportunity to resume the water cooler talk with you. Do not forget, they also get richer with the employee referral policies. So maybe its not a favour you’re asking for after all.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><font face="Myriad Pro"><font size="4">LinkedIn</font><o:p></o:p></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">There is no better platform today than LinkedIn to network if you are looking for your new job. Almost all hiring managers and recruiters of major companies are all present on LinkedIn for you to connect with. Sharing posts related to your work or adding to the discussions started by these industry experts always helps you stand out and you are already in the virtual pipeline of experts these companies would like to hire. <o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">While you’re at it, do not forget to activate the feature that let’s recruiters on LinkedIn know that you’re open to new opportunities.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">Also, you don’t have to wait till a recruiter posts a job for you to apply to. Often, recruiters do not post all the jobs due to many reasons. Get connected with the recruiters of the organizations that you want to work with and reach out to them with your latest resume. You never know, you maybe the first candidate for that dream role when no one else has even heard of it.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><font face="Myriad Pro"><font size="4">Industry Events</font><o:p></o:p></font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;"><font face="Myriad Pro">Attending industry events is the real deal when it comes to networking. You have key decision makers and also recruiters under the same roof at most of the events. From actively participating in discussions to meeting and greeting potential employers is a tried and tested method of pitching yourself for future jobs with them. While this may not lead to a job immediately, your business card will definitely go into their rolodex when they are making calls for their next hire.</font><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<font face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pier1 imports, a home decor retail major announced on May 19, 2020 that it was "winding down operations".&nbsp; &nbsp;In the middle of a pandemic and the ongoing online onslaught against brick and mortar retailers, one may consider this a casualty of these two causes.&nbsp;</span></font><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;">The pandemic no doubt drove the nail into the coffin, however the decline was long in the making.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;">Pier1 imports had a strong brand with a loyal customer following that appreciated the "high quality",&nbsp; "unique", "exotic", "variety" product selection, with a "fun" atmosphere, welcoming "smells" of candles and incense, friendly staff and a place that customers felt like shopping for Christmas at, the most "feel-good" season of the year.&nbsp; Some of these are attributes that an online retailer can never achieve, not even an Amazon. On the other hand,&nbsp;these are the very attributes that may have been competitive defenses in the brick-and-mortar world.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;">Despite these qualities, Pier1 ended up where it did as a result of years of neglect.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;">Customers who shopped at the store for "unique", "fun" finds from "exotic" locales, made by artisans felt that the store was no longer "innovative", and instead filled with "cheap" imitations. Many customers have expressed that t<span style="font-size: 10pt;">he goods were way over priced, and quality was questionable at best, comparing with competitors like&nbsp; Cost Plus World Market, Home Goods, and even Walmart, which does not exactly belong in the Home Decor specialty retail category. Furthermore, customer service and staff friendliness perceptions were on the decline.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">With these core brand attributes having eroded, online and pandemic onslaught or not, Pier1 was headed towards the exit.&nbsp; The pandemic conditions and the flight to online have only accelerated the brand demise that was set in motion by years of neglect. Brands need to stand out and provide value, no matter the environment.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;">As one customer succinctly put it "</span><font face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Not surprised. Their prices were ungodly high for nothing special".&nbsp;</span></font></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">**All quotes in the image are verbatim remarks of customers, as expressed on social media sites.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div>

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