Business
Considering a Career Change? 10 Questions to Ask Yourself
Considering a new career is no easy task. It's essentially like a mid-life crisis that gets you no matter how you look at it. The decision of career move is more critical during the pandemic when there’s already an acute job shortage. The multifarious effect of pandemic has limited the scopes of jobs in diverse industries across the country. As a result, there are a lot of things that should be considered before giving job switch a shot. Here are some essential career change questions to ask yourself.
Things to Consider before Career Change
What motivates you in your job?
To be realistic, most people work for the money. However, money may not be the only motivation for many. For instance, some people might build career to gain social status and prestige. For others, it might be about climbing the ladder to the top of the chain. Among the job-holders, not many people love doing what they do for living.
What you need to do is ask yourself, what motivates you to do what you are doing now? That way you will find your true calling and purpose of working.
Read Perfect Resume: 12 Effective Tips for writing professional CV
Why do you want to change the job?
This is a straightforward question. However, the answer might not be so simple. A lot of factors might trigger the want for a job change. The current job is something that you don’t enjoy doing, work is monotonous, there's a lack of growth opportunity and many more. Try and understand why you want to make the switch.
Some people tend to switch jobs one after another within short intervals, which waste their career potentials. Certainly, you don’t want to end up in a similar situation. So, it's better to understand what didn’t work in the first place.
What holds value to you?
This is more in line with the previous point except here you should think about what you want from the future. Understanding why you want to switch might give you an idea about the past constraints. But avoiding those constraints alone shouldn’t be your priority.
Ask yourself that what is the 'thing' that you are missing in your current job. Are you are trying to move out from a dead-end job? If yes, then surely you are looking for a job with a better career growth opportunity. Understand your own desires before you are looking for a new workplace.
Read Effective tips for hunting jobs during pandemic
What brings happiness to you?
“Find the job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a single day in your life” – this famous quote from Mark Twain defines the importance of finding happiness in what you are doing. Sure enough in this day and age and our economy, it's not easy to incorporate happiness and career prospects. But if you do plan on switching jobs, you might as well ask yourself, what can you do next that might bring happiness to you? The constant demand for monetary needs will always be there, but the idea is to make the most out of the opportunities at hand.
What is the scope of the new career?
If you are considering changing your profession, chances are you already have a new job or position in mind. What you need to do is assess what are the prospect and scope of this new job? Is it something that will provide a better opportunity for you? The answer to previous questions should better guide you here. Depending on your preference for a career change, you will be able to decide whether the offerings of this new job are worth it or not.
Read How to ace a Job Interview?
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
This is probably the most important long-term question that you need to ask yourself. What are your career plans? Where do you see yourself in 20 years? Is it some high-flying career or a simple yet happy life? It doesn’t matter what your goal is as long as you’re aiming it right. Having a concrete plan and vision for the future is important as it is the ultimate determinant of how you go about in your life.
Is there a need for additional qualifications?
When we generally see people considering a career change, it is one of two things. Either the person isn’t happy with their current job, or is looking for a better opportunity. If it's the latter, chances are there will be additional requirements for the position. You might need additional skills or educational certification to make the switch. The right thing to do in such a scenario would be to scout out the skills and qualifications required and focus on attaining them first.
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How will be the transition from the current job?
Switching jobs aren’t as simple as moving from point A to point B. There are a lot of aspects involved with the process and if you’re not careful, you might find yourself at a crossroads. It might be related to your location, prior commitment, and organizational regulation. A good number of things might act as a constraint as you make the transition. It's better to stay prepared for them.
What will the new career give you?
Previously we talked about where do you see yourself in 20 years and what brings happiness to you. However, those are aspects that are strictly related to your desires. It's not necessary that you what you expect would transpire in real life. The correct approach would be to assess what this new job is offering you and whether they are in line with your expectation from the job.
Read 8 Mistakes to Avoid in a New Ecommerce Startup in Bangladesh in 2021
Are you being realistic?
One fine morning, you might feel like leaving your job to become the CEO of Apple. Sure enough, you can dream of it, and with an excellent resume to back you up in the industry that might even be possible someday. But the drastic plan is not realistic. To consider a career change, you need to take a step back and analyze what is the cost and what are the benefits of this transition. Only then you’ll be able to assess whether the transition of career would be realistic or not.
Final Thoughts
Changing a career isn’t as simple as it might look. With all things said, it ultimately comes down to personal choice, preference, and happiness. We hope these questions will be able to guide you in the right direction and help you find your true calling in terms of career choices.
Read Free Online Content Writing Courses in 2021
Payoneer to begin trading under ticker symbol PAYO
Payoneer Inc. ("Payoneer"), the commerce technology company powering payments and growth for the new global economy, and FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: FTOC) ("FTOC"), a special purpose acquisition company, announced on Friday that they have completed their business combination. The business combination was approved by FTOC's shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting held on June 23, 2021.
As a result of the completion of this business combination, a new public entity under the name Payoneer Global Inc. ("the Company"), and its common stock and warrants, will begin trading today on the Nasdaq stock market under the ticker symbol "PAYO" and "PAYOW", respectively.
Read Visa’s Fintech Initiative for Bangladesh: New Opportunities for Start-ups?
Payoneer's global management team, led by Scott Galit, Chief Executive Officer, Michael Levine, Chief Financial Officer, and Keren Levy, Chief Operating Officer, will continue to lead the Company.
The transaction includes a $300 million PIPE investment from investors including existing investor Wellington Management, as well as Dragoneer Investment Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Franklin Templeton, certain funds managed by Millennium Management, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., and Winslow Capital Management, LLC.
"We are thrilled to be a public company and join forces with Betsy and the entire FTOC team," said Scott Galit, Chief Executive Officer of Payoneer.
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"Through our 15 years, we have built a global platform that is trusted by millions of customers worldwide, from aspiring entrepreneurs to the world's leading digital brands and are now the go-to partner for digital commerce, everywhere. We are just scratching the surface of the enormous opportunity ahead to help businesses grow and scale in the new global economy. This move
into the public markets is an important step on our journey to provide any business, in any market, the technology, connections and confidence to realize their potential."
Betsy Cohen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp., stated, "The Payoneer team has positioned the company incredibly well to capitalize on the expansion of global commerce, and we are proud to be their partner during this next phase of growth. Payoneer has a strong balance sheet with ample capital to expand its already broad suite of services, both organically, by deepening existing merchant relationships and continuing to build new ones, and through strategic acquisitions."
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Financial Technology Partners served as exclusive financial and capital markets advisor to Payoneer. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal counsel to Payoneer and Paul Hastings served as regulatory counsel to Payoneer. PwC served as Payoneer's auditors. EY served as Payoneer's tax and public markets advisor.
Citi and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial and capital markets advisors to FTOC. Cantor Fitzgerald also served as capital markets advisor to FTOC, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal counsel to FTOC.
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About Payoneer
Payoneer (NASDAQ: PAYO) is the world's go-to partner for digital commerce, everywhere. From borderless payments to boundless growth, Payoneer promises any business, in any market, the technology, connections and confidence to participate and flourish in the new global economy.
Since 2005, Payoneer has been imagining and engineering a truly global ecosystem so the entire world can realize its potential. Powering growth for customers ranging from aspiring entrepreneurs in emerging markets to the world's leading digital brands like Airbnb, Amazon, Google, Upwork, and Walmart, Payoneer offers a universe of opportunities, open to you.
Read Shammi Quddus: A Talented Bangladeshi Woman in Google, Global Fintech Industry
About FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp.
FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp. is a blank-check company led by Betsy Z. Cohen as Chairman of the Board and Ryan M. Gilbert as President and Chief Executive Officer formed for the purpose of acquiring or merging with one or more technology and financial services technology companies.
Perfect Resume: 12 Effective Tips for writing professional CV
Resume are like the first screening for any job. This is the first step that you take as a prospective candidate for any position. Needless to say, a resume and its contents may make or break your chance of getting a job. Regardless of how skilled or passionate you may be, if your resume isn’t articulated properly and sequentially, you have narrow possibility of success. Here are some useful tips that you should follow to write a persuasive resume.
How to write a professional CV
Don’t Write Everything
One of the common mistakes of writing a resume is that people tend to make it as elaborate work history. It can confuse the selectors. You may have worked as a content writer back in your college days but that has nothing to do if you are applying for the position of saying a software engineer. In your CV, mention your job experiences that are relevant to the industry you’re applying to and in line with the position.
Read:Effective tips for hunting jobs during pandemic
Highlight the Highlights of Your Career
There is a marketing term called ‘keeping things above the fold.’ It refers to highlight the important stuff so that it gets noticed easily. Among all your educational and work experiences, you should highlight the best ones. The key here is to showcase your achievement better for express consideration into the position.
Add a Supplementary Link
It's alright to curtail a little information and keeping things above the fold. But in some cases, the job may require you to state detail information regarding your past experiences about the job, cultural activities or social work. To prepare resume for such jobs, it would be better if you can have some ideas about that industry.
In such cases, we suggest you to build a portfolio website. A portfolio website can showcase all of your achievements as well as give a glimpse of your personal self. More importantly, you can simply add a link to your website in your resume.
Read Free Online Content Writing Courses in 2021
Simplicity is the Key
You will see people knocking some of the fanciest resumes out there in terms of design. But let’s be honest; fancy designs won’t get you the job. It’s always the content of the paper that matters, not the paper itself. We suggest you keep things simple and easy to navigate. Simplicity is the key here as it will not only look professional but will also help the employers to navigate to the important part.
Carefully Include Your Contacts
Gone are the days when we used to see addresses in resumes. There is no need for that anymore. However, you should include a phone number and a professional personal email as your contact in the resume. In addition to that, you should include all the potential places where you can be found on the internet like LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Make it Easy-to-Skim
When you are applying for a position, keep in mind that you are not the only one who is applying. There will be hundreds and thousands of similar applicants and it's safe to assume that not everything that you write in your CV will be read.
The reality is, your CV will get skimmed and they will try to understand what sets you apart and what relevant skills you have to offer.
Based on that, we suggest you make your CV skimmable. Write concise sentences that can give a broader perspective in a short phase.
Working on the bullet points
This point is in line with our previous point that the content of the resume should be skimmable. You may have worked a long time in a place with a lot of achievements, but that doesn’t mean you should include all of it.
An ideal section in a resume should have about 5 to 6 bullet points. Now it is up to you to curate the contents in a way to fit the ideal standard.
Read:How to be a Confident English Speaker?
Avoid Technical Jargons
Do not use technical jargons to showcase how much you know about our work. You might feel that it will set you apart from the rest and show the depth of your knowledge. But you should understand that the first person to read your CV might not be someone familiar with the technicalities like a recruiter o a high-level official.
We suggest you to avoid using technical jargons while writing a resume. It's better to design the CV in a way that it's understood by all.
Include Numbers
There's nothing like numbers to back up your claims. Whether it is to show how many clients you have served or your contribution to the development of your organization. Numbers and figures turn heads and give a recruiter a concrete idea about the impact that you can have on the company. With that said, don’t overcompensate with numbers. Keep things clean and professional. Remember that the recruiters are looking for a CV, not info-graphics.
Read Some advanced tech skills for a sustainable career in 2021
Education or Experience
One might often think that education is what sets a prospective employee above the rest. It may be true in a certain sense, but it is almost solely limited to entry-level jobs. We suggest you to highlight your experience before your education. Your hands-on experience in a similar setup will go a long way to ascertain your credibility than your GPA.
Include Extra Skills
The pandemic has created a lot of free time for office goers. We hope you used the time wisely to rack up some skills through online courses. Show off your skills and certifications in your resume as they will be added to your skillset, particularly the ones that are directly involved with your industry.
Read:How to ace a Job Interview?
Proofread
One of the common mistakes in resumes is the grammatical errors. Avoid them at any cost. We mean seriously, this point can’t be overemphasized. No matter how good your resume might be, if it has a typo or grammatical mistake, it will only drive down your credibility.
Take a good look for about ten times before you submit your resume anywhere and make sure it's compliant with all the requirements.
Bottom Line
A concrete resume is like getting half the job done in job hunting. So far we have suggested some effective and practical topics to write professional curriculum vitae (CV). We hope these tips will help you to better write your resume and secure that job you’ve been eyeing.
Read Best Job Searching Websites in Bangladesh
Virus outbreak in Fiji batters economy, tests health system
A growing coronavirus outbreak in Fiji is stretching the health system and devastating the economy. It has even prompted the government to offer jobless people tools and cash to become farmers.
The Pacific nation got through the first year of the pandemic without any significant outbreaks and just two virus deaths.
But an outbreak of the highly contagious delta variant two months ago has grown to the point where Fiji is adding about 250 new cases each day.
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The government has so far resisted calls for a lockdown, in part to try and protect an economy which had already shrunk by 19% last year after international tourism evaporated.
Nearly half of all jobs were connected to tourism in the island nation that’s known for its white-sand beaches, clear water and welcoming people.
“Business-wise, it’s very bad,” said George Bernard, who owns a business servicing fire extinguishers. He fears life will never be the same. “I’m just trying to survive,” he said.
A vaccination campaign is in full swing but has been hindered by misinformation that vaccines are unsafe or even evil. So far, about 29% of the population of just under 1 million have gotten their first dose, while 2% have been fully vaccinated.
Bernard, who has heard some of the rumors, said he is in no rush to get vaccinated. “Sometimes, I have second thoughts,” he said.
Nazia Hussain has been selling vegetables from her roadside stall, and she uses some of the profit to help her family members who lost their jobs at supermarkets and stores in the capital, Suva.
Read:Australia battles several clusters in new pandemic phase
“I have been doing this so I can save some money to do some shopping for my family,” she said. But business had been slow, and people had little money to spend.
Hussain said she’d believed the vaccine was a good thing and had taken the jab herself.
Fiji’s government has delivered nearly 40,000 packages of food rations to people who have been isolating at home or are in targeted lockdown areas. It has also allowed people to spend money early from their retirement savings.
A new program starting next month offers people who have lost their jobs and have access to rural land about $200 worth of tools, planting materials and cash.
“Applicant must be an aspiring crop farmer with an intention to take on full-time farming as a core activity,” the program states.
During the current outbreak, 15 people have died and nearly 7% of those being tested are testing positive, indicating the virus is continuing to spread. Australia and New Zealand have sent vaccines, money and medical teams to help Fiji’s overburdened health system.
Read:As variant rises, vaccine plan targets ‘movable middle’
Fiji’s government has directed people in some areas, including Suva, to stay home and only go out for essential purposes. It has also imposed a nighttime curfew.
James Fong, the country’s permanent secretary for health, told reporters that a complete, nationwide lockdown would spark a socio-economic catastrophe in Fiji.
But many worry that will happen anyway if the outbreak isn’t brought under control.
“Our numbers are going through the roof now. We must unite against this virus,” wrote Fred Wesley, the editor-in-chief of the Fiji Times. “Together Fiji! United we must stand!”
Effective tips for hunting jobs during pandemic
Our approach to normal life has changed since the arrival of Corona virus pandemic. As we get used to the concept of ‘new normal’, there are a lot of things that we need to unlearn and relearn. And one of the important aspects of naturalizing the new normal is job hunting. The Covid situation has forced companies to adopt new working and hiring policies which weren’t prevalent before. And if you want to secure a job in this changing environment, we suggest you check out our tips to better prepare yourself.
Some valuable tips to get a new job during pandemic
Prepare Efficient Resume
A resume can make or break your opportunity to get a job. It is recommended to prepare a professional resume. However, don’t send the same cover letter and resume for all jobs. Consider the requirements of the specific job you are applying for. And, then tone up your job applications accordingly. You can also take help from experts regarding how to write a good resume.
Read:How to be a Confident English Speaker?
Organize Your Workplace
In this pandemic, many people have lost their job; while many are being underpaid. And, some people are working as freelancers and staying at home.
The latter might seem to be a scope to reconnect with family and enjoy the coziness of home. If you are going through a similar situation, we suggest that don’t get carried away; rather focus on getting yourself organized with a proper workstation. Get into the zone of working effectively and efficiently. Thus, you can get hired for skill-based jobs on different outsourcing platforms.
However, if you are looking for a full time job, don’t let the lazy rut get to you. Follow our next steps to find a new job during pandemic under a reputed company.
Read Top FMCG Companies in Bangladesh: At a Glance
Stay on the Loop
With the Pandemic in effect, the world is changing at a faster pace than ever and so is the job market. You need to stay up to date with all the new changes that are happening around you and how they might impact the industry you are vying for.
However, you don’t need to keep track of everything. Know the basics like the thoughts of the leaders in your industry. Keep an eye on the companies who are hiring recently. Stay aware about what skills are in demand, and get prepared accordingly.
Read The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Freelancing Industry: Can You Sustain?
Maintain Up-to-date Work Profile
By the term work profile, we basically indicate to your LinkedIn profile. In the recent years, LinkedIn is considered as an established standard when it comes to hiring professionals regardless of industry. This is not only a place where you get job leads, rather get industry insight.
LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to showcase your skill set to the potential employers and industry leads. And even during the pandemic, most employers will be looking at the job seeker’s LinkedIn profile before anything else. With that said, now is probably the best time to create and maintain an updated work profile or portfolio on LinkedIn.
Read Want to start freelancing from Bangladesh? These are the best platforms for you
Increase Your Online Presence
As more and more companies and businesses are getting comfortable with the idea of online work scope, now is the time to build on that online presence. This is something that should go complimentary with your work profile. However, it doesn’t mean that you have to waste time on social media browsing.
Basically, what you need to do is, to visit various social forums – related to your industry – from time to time and showcase your skills. There are lots of hiring posts on different online social networking platforms. You need to scour them and drop your work profile link or CV where applicable.
Read:How to ace a Job Interview?
Be Accustomed to Virtual Life
The pandemic temporarily halted numerous offices; but not for long. Now-a-days more and companies are getting used to the idea of online conferencing. It's becoming increasingly apparent that a zoom meeting is almost as effective as a physical meeting. People can attain virtual meetings safely while staying at home, without facing the hassle of a physical one.
So naturally, whether you are working at someplace or looking to apply somewhere be prepared for tons of virtual meetings and conferencing. The better you shine in them; the better is your chance of scoring that job.
Read Quarantine Income Opportunities: How to Earn Money during Lockdown Period?
Continue Your Networking
In the new normal situation, physical job fairs and lead-generating meetings are not taking place. But should that stop you? How to get your networking game going? As everything regarding the official works is moving to the virtual world, so is your networking. And the most effective way to get the best out of this situation is continuing the process of networking online.
Keep yourself engaged in searching jobs in LinkedIn and other job sites. Try to attain the virtual job fairs. What is more? You can get immense networking opportunities through virtual seminars depending on the industry. Make a list and start attending them.
Read How to Earn Money from Mobile Photography?
Learn New Skills
Let’s be honest, the work-from-home scenario of the pandemic is providing you with a lot of free time. We understand the trouble of having to cope with the changing environment and other stress-related issues.
However, we suggest you to make the most out of your free time. Learn soft and hard skills following your passion and interest. You can prepare some industry-related gigs and/or show hands-on activities to the potential employers. This will not only bolster your work portfolio but also make you stand out from the rest candidates.
Read Free Online Content Writing Courses in 2021
Keep Applying
One of the common misconceptions regarding jobs and companies during the pandemic is that no one is hiring. During the pandemic, many businesses have shrunk across diverse industries. But, still the situation can’t hold all companies back from hiring fresh hands. Therefore why should you sit back?
Try to follow the job posts and leads on different job-searching websites as well as social networking platforms. Prepare efficient resumes and work profile/portfolios. Then, start applying to the positions that better suits to your caliber. The key here is to keep applying until something eventually shows up.
Read Best Job Searching Websites in Bangladesh
Patience is the Key
Remember we are all in this pandemic and it’s not like other times. So, a job query might take longer to get addressed or that interview might take more than a few weeks to happen. No matter what, the idea here is to not lose hope and be cordial in your queries. Being patient will ultimately reward you in the long run, not just in the job-hunting space.
Self-Care
This might not be directly related to job hunting itself but all the stress of the pandemic, working from home, and quarantine might induce fatigue and burnout. It’s completely natural to get stressed out in this tough time but what’s not okay is to continue that way. More than anything, you should give priority to your mental health and overall wellbeing. An optimistic mindset and healthy body can go a long way to prepare you better for the journey of job hunting.
Read:Passive Income Ideas in Bangladesh in 2021
Bottom Line
As the world normalizes the new normal, the job landscape is also changing and becoming a new norm for many businesses. The sooner you cope with this changing environment, the better result you get. We hope these tips will help you to get prepared for successful job hunting endeavors during the Covid pandemic.
Read What Is Passive Income? Pros and Cons of Passive Earning
Best Sites to Sell Used Electronics in Bangladesh
We live in an age of tech innovation where every day something new is being invented or introduced. Unlike most household items, electronic items tend to become outdated quite easily, and with that comes the need to replace them. But it’s often difficult to sell the used electronics at a fair price. Sometimes the seller is scammed as well. However, in retrospect, there are several sites where you can easily sell your used electronics without much hassle. Let’s look at the 5 best sites to sell used electronics in Bangladesh.
Top Bangladeshi platforms to sell your used electronics
SWAP
SWAP is one of the most revolutionizing platforms for selling electronic goods online. SWAP allows you to sell your product easily at the best possible rate in the market. Instead of wasting time through haggling with the customers, you can sell your product smartly via SWAP.
Read The SWAP story of Bangladesh's first reCommerce startup
The company was founded in 2020 amid the pandemic. The reputation of SWAP is increasing day by day for its exceptional service and innovative model.
The best aspect of SWAP platform is its exceptional security features. SWAP easily allows you to maintain anonymity and hold direct transactions with the platform itself. This secured platform focuses on electronics and automobile related products for the time being. Therefore, SWAP is one of the best places to sale your used electronic gadgets.
Read 8 Mistakes to Avoid in a New Ecommerce Startup in Bangladesh in 2021
Bikroy.com
Bikroy.com is one of the oldest buying and selling marketplace of Bangladesh. This platform was founded in 2012. Owned by a Swedish company called Saltside Technologies, the website has steadily built its customer base through a secure C2C platform.
bikroy.com has been organized with more than 80 product-categories for selling different types of goods. Not to mention, this is an exclusive marketplace for buying and selling second-hand goods.
To sell any item, you will be required to sign up with the platform as a user. During the sign up process, you have to provide contact details. After verification, the system will allow you to post a sell order along with your contact and expected price.
Read: Renowned online payment gateways in Bangladesh for domestic, international transactions
Moreover, bikroy.com offers an option of taking membership that comes with its own unique perks. For instance, you can have a separate verified page of your own with several advertisement opportunities. The advertisements come in different packages and help to highlight your product precisely. Overall, bikroy.com is an amazing marketplace to sell your electronic items safely and at a good rate.
Cellbazaar.com
Cellbazar was one of the first e-commerce platforms in Bangladesh. The platform was founded by Kamal Quadir, a serial tech entrepreneur who also introduced mobile banking in Bangladesh through bKash.
The platform is unique considering that it was one of the first of its kind in Bangladesh. In addition to being a C2C platform, Cellbazar also offers B2C transactions. The site is divided into different categories and you can easily choose the electronics category from the list. Besides being available in all the metropolitan areas of Bangladesh, Cellbazaar is also offering its service in all the divisional cities.
Read Visa’s Fintech Initiative for Bangladesh: New Opportunities for Start-ups?
The sign-up process is somewhat similar to that of bikroy.com. You also get the chance to promote your product through advertisement. They have different plans for direct clients as well as businesses. Cellbazar’s website is also compatible with all the leading payment gateways of Bangladesh. Therefore, transactions are usually secured and hassle-free.
Clickbd
Another well-known e-commerce platform of Bangladesh is clickbd. Often hailed as the first e-commerce platform of Bangladesh, the site popularized the concept of classified advertisements in Bangladesh. In its initial days back in 2005, the company was solely dependent on classified ads, and in 2011, they launched their website. However, over time the company has been able to grab a significant market share and is now one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the country.
Read 20 Most Promising Education Start-Ups in Bangladesh
In addition to having classified ads, Clickbd mainly focuses on electronics and gadgets. The site has different classifications for different types of electronics items. You can choose an appropriate category based on the type of product you are trying to sell.
The signing up process of Clickbd is super easy as the system will guide you through the entire process. We may found the website to be quite intuitive. This site provides options to modify and promote the ads. By virtue of its good traffic volume, this platform can be considered as one of the best platforms to sell your used electronics products.
Read Top 7 Truck Rental Apps in Bangladesh
Fastbikri.com
The last marketplace on our list is Fastbikri. Founded in 2017, this platform has acquired its position among the largest marketplaces for classified ads in Bangladesh. Interestingly, Fastbikri has a separate segment for electronics where you can easily sell your product.
One of the common features of any online marketplace is that the platform tends to charge a percentage from the sales. Sometimes, the marketplaces offer special ads schemes for displaying products on the trending page. If you want to avoid this process go for fastbikri.
Read Arogga: The Bangladeshi Medicine Delivery Startup Which Raised $200k
This website came around with a unique concept and provided a platform where clients can really sell their products without any charges. The policy of the site is simple. It aims to provide a platform where people can buy and sell products easily without facing any hassle or monetary inflictions.
The sign-up process is pretty intuitive and you can easily sell any goods here.
Read Mango Mania: The Fastest on Demand Mango Delivery Network by Chaldal.com
Bottom Line
The concept of building C2C platforms to sell used goods is not new in Bangladesh. As the number of online marketplaces has increased, the options for selling products have extended too. You can consider our discussed platforms to sell your used electronics products through safe and secure transactions.
However, risks are often associated while doing business transactions with a third party and/or exposure of personal information. So, it behooves upon you to review the associated rules properly before choosing any platform to sell products.
Read Truck Lagbe: Story of a Successful Digital Trucking Startup in Bangladesh
Offices after COVID: Wider hallways, fewer desks
The coronavirus already changed the way we work. Now it’s changing the physical space, too.
Many companies are making adjustments to their offices to help employees feel safer as they return to in-person work, like improving air circulation systems or moving desks further apart. Others are ditching desks and building more conference rooms to accommodate employees who still work remotely but come in for meetings.
Architects and designers say this is a time of experimentation and reflection for employers. Steelcase, an office furniture company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, says its research indicates half of global companies plan major redesigns to their office space this year.
“This year caused you to think, maybe even more fundamentally than you ever have before, ‘Hey, why do we go to an office?’” said Natalie Engels, a San Jose, California-based design principal at Gensler, an architecture firm.
Read:Asian shares track rebound on Wall Street
Not every company is making changes, and Engels stresses that they don’t have to. She tells clients to remember what worked well — and what didn’t — before the pandemic.
But designers say many companies are looking for new ways to make employees feel safe and invigorated at the office, especially as a labor crunch makes hiring more difficult.
That’s what drove food and pharmaceutical company Ajinomoto to overhaul the design of its new North American headquarters outside Chicago last year.
Ajinomoto’s employees returned to in-person work in May to a building with wider hallways and glass panels between cubicles, to give them more space and try to make them feel more secure. To improve mental health, the company transformed a planned work area into a spa-like “relaxation room” with reclining chairs and soft music. A test kitchen is wired for virtual presentations in case clients don’t want to travel. And a cleaning crew comes through twice a day, leaving Post-it notes to show what’s been disinfected.
“Maybe it’s over the top, but maybe it provides comfort to those that have sensitivities to returning to an in-person work environment,” said Ryan Smith, the executive vice president of Ajinomoto North America. Smith estimates 40% of the new headquarters design changed due to COVID.
Shobha Surya, an associate manager of projects and sales at Ajinomoto, is energized by the space.
“The office gives you a balance of work and home life,” she said. “You are more focused here and don’t have any distractions.”
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Surya said she’s also thrilled to be working alongside her co-workers again.
She’s not alone. Surveys show the thing employees miss most about office work is socializing and collaborating with colleagues, said Lise Newman, workplace practice director at architecture firm SmithGroup. Companies are trying to encourage that rapport by building more social hubs for employees. Some mimic coffee houses, with wood floors, booth seating and pendant lamps.
“Companies are trying to create the sense that this is a cool club that people want to come into,” Newman said.
Steelcase has divided one of its lobbies into cozy meeting spaces of varying sizes, separated by plant-filled partitions. Mobile video monitors can be wheeled in so that people working remotely can be included in discussions.
But after a year of working from home, some employees crave privacy, so Steelcase added more glassed-in booths for private calls and cocoon-like cubicles with small sliding doors.
Mark Bryan, a senior interior designer with Columbus, Ohio-based M+A Architects, expects a more fluid office culture in the future, with different places to work on any given day. Introverts might choose a small, private room; extroverts, a table in the office café.
Some office changes reflect a new commitment to hybrid work. Valiant Technologies, which provides tech support and other services to businesses, is letting its employees work primarily at home but has them reserve a desk for the days they want to come to the office. The New York company has removed rows of desks and put more space between the remaining ones. Employees leave their keyboard, mouse and headsets in lockers.
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Megan Quick, a sales associate with Valiant, said she appreciated the company allowing her to ease back into office life this month.
“It will take a lot of time for us to readjust,” she said. “Valiant letting us set our pace for returning makes me feel safe.”
Not every design change will stick. Last summer, when Steelcase started bringing back some workers, they pushed tables in the cafeteria far apart from each other and only allowed one person per table. It made the space so depressing that no one wanted to sit there, Steelcase CEO Jim Keane said.
“An important lesson is that, yes, it has to be safe, but also has to be inspiring,” he said. “People are actually going to expect more from offices in the future.”
How to be a Confident English Speaker?
We need to learn English language to meet the demands of globalization. Confident English speaking is considered as one of the basic requirements whether you are looking for a job or pursuing higher studies in a prestigious educational institute abroad. With the help of internet technology, you can learn the skill of speaking fluent English and it’s really fun.
Some effecctive ways to be a confident English speaker
1. Start speaking & pronouncing correctly
Many English learners often stop just after learning the vocabulary. As a result, even after knowing hundreds of words, they can’t even pronounce the words correctly. How to overcome this challenge?
While you learn a new word, it is recommended to know the purpose of the word. Then relate it with your surroundings and keep uttering yourself. You can write it down on a paper or share it with your friends and family.
You can also take help from a mentor or expert to know whether the pronouncing is right or not. Thus, you can learn sentence formation with the word and its correct pronunciation.
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2. Speech shadowing
It means to speak in imitation of a certain native speaker. This process is naturally observed in the children’s behavior, as they often try to copy their parent’s gestures and postures.
Similarly, you can consider idealizing any English movie star or singer. First, try to lip-sync when watching the subtitles of the video. Next, pause the video, record your voice and then just listen. You will be surprised to hear your own words. Following this process repeatedly, you can speak English fluently almost like the native speakers.
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3. Thinking in English
Before speaking English, people tend to rearrange the words in their mind in the respective mother languages. Then, they try to translate those words into English.
This process will make you late to respond to your conversation. Even if your non-English accent is understood, communication will be uninterrupted. Therefore, you have to master the skill to think in English. The ability to think in English will enhance your spontaneity while speaking English.
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4. Read English Loudly
While reading any English book or magazine, try to read aloud. And, speak loudly to yourself in English. Reading aloud will allow many new words to enter your brain one by one. It will enrich your vocabulary and help you to be a confident English speaker.
5. Follow the natural flow of the English language
Imagine, instead of having a different accent, the regional people can sing the popular songs correctly. Everyone becomes accustomed to the rhythm, speed, and melody of the lyrics of the songs while listening to the songs all the time. And that's why it is recommended to watch English movies and listen to English songs for learning English. Understanding the natural style of English words, you will be able to speak English just like the native speakers.
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6. Use different 'English Learning' apps
Nowadays the most enjoyable way to learn English is to use different mobile applications that are designed for the English learners. Some of the popular apps are Speaking24, Speaky, and HelloTalk. Using such free apps, you can find a partner to practice your English. Practicing Spoken English with a partner will increase your confidence to speak the language fluently in real life.
What is more? You will be able to learn new English words and grammar through various quizzes and fun games.
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7. Follow English Learning Tutorials
You can find the endless collection of tutorials on YouTube and English teaching websites. For instance, you can learn the use of diverse practical words, like name of body organs, kitchen items, etc in English pronunciation through YouTube videos.
Different lessons will help you the learn speaking English step by step. You can also judge your skill by attaining different tests provided in the websites.
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In a nutshell
Being a Confident English Speaker is a big deal when you are off to achieve acceptance in job, business, or higher studies. As a matter of fact, the solution to all of your problems depends on how well you make your listeners understood your message. In that case, this powerful skill can easily facilitate you in grabbing your dreams.
Islami Bank holds 38th AGM; approves 10% cash dividend
The 38th annual general meeting (AGM) of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited was held Sunday (June 27, 2021) on a virtual platform.
The meeting approved a 10% cash dividend for shareholders and the financial statements of the bank for the year ended on December 31 last year.
Also read: IBBL Dhaka North Zone holds seminar on Shariah compliance
Professor Md Nazmul Hassan, chairman of the bank, presided over the meeting.
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and CEO of the bank, Professor Mohammad Gias Uddin Talukdar, chairman of Shariah Supervisory Committee, JQM Habibullah, deputy managing director and company secretary, also joined the meeting along with the shareholders.
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Renowned online payment gateways in Bangladesh for domestic, international transactions
In Bangladesh, the digital payment methods are getting enhanced popularity day by day. As the country is moving towards a high internet penetration rate, now-a-days a good number of people prefer the internet banking to traditional offline banking system. This process has been accelerated by the rapid adoption of digital transfer and payment gateways in most of the leading stores and businesses in Bangladesh. The popularity of digital payment can be attributed to its user-friendly application, fast transaction, security, etc. In this article, we have discussed some of the best online payment gateways in Bangladesh.
Top 10 online payment gateways in Bangladesh
SSLCOMMERZ
Founded in 2010, SSLCOMMERZ is the oldest and also the largest digital payment gateway of Bangladesh. The initial plan of the company was drafted back in 2008 and it officially started its journey with DBBL in 2010 and BRAC Bank in 2011. Since then, the company has provided payment solutions for a range of businesses including banks and corporates.
The initial setup cost of SSLCOMMERZ is 15000 BDT. The internet banking commission rate stands at 2.5% for Visa and Mastercard and ranges from 2%-4% for various types of internet and mobile banking transactions. The platform is fully compliant with PCI and DSS and doesn’t collect any information that the customer doesn't give explicit access to.
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PortWallet
The PortWallet gateway is one of the fastest and smoothest payment gateways in Bangladesh. The platform is one of the only to have an inbuilt API system and different internal process channels.
They have 2 different services, Starter and Business which costs an initial fee of 5000 BDT and 20,000 BDT. Other than that, the annual fee for a business solution is 24,000 BDT. However, the commission rate is on the high side with 3.5 % t0 3.8% on credit and debit cards and 2.5% to 3% for net banking. But the upside here is that there is no charge if you need to issue a refund. Due to its secure API integration, the platform offers the most secured system that is compliant with the PCI and DSS system.
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Aamarpay
Another local company in the payment gateway of Bangladesh, Aamarpay has been leading the platform due to its low commission rates and high-performance service.
The company has four different plans – aamar SME, aamar B2b, aamar Enterprise and aamar Corporate. Depending on the plan you choose, the initial setup fee ranges from 4000 BDT to 15,000 BDT. In addition to that, Aamarpay has a host of API that makes your transactions secure with proper safety measures.
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Shurjapay
Shurjapay is one of the first PSO license recipients by Bangladesh Bank. The company operates with both customers and merchants to provide a secure transaction gateway.
Shurjapay has a sign-up fee and integration fee which totals to 20,000 BDT for corporate and 15,000 BDT for the education platforms. The charge is a bit high compared to the other players in the market but, there is no annual maintenance fee involved. They charge a flat 2.5% for corporate cards and 1.5% for education. The net banking charge for corporate is 3.5% and 2% for education. They also have a multi-level verification process which makes the transaction more secure than ever.
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Paddle
Another prominent payment gateway that operates globally is Paddle. They work with both B2B and B2C. They work exclusively on SaaS making them a comprehensive player in the global transaction market.
The best thing about Paddle is that there is no sign-up fee and neither are there any monthly charges. A certain percentage of the transaction is deducted as commission and other than that, there are no additional fees. You will however need a VAT and sales tax document to sign up with the platform.
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Easy Pay Way
Easy Pay Way is the most flexible plan when it comes to pricing for different businesses. To start, they have 4 different plans for Basic, Starter, Professional, and Corporate. The setup charge ranges from 5,000 BDT to 20,000 BDT. For the corporate package, the commission is on quote meaning you will be able to get a flexible rate depending on your transaction.
Easy Pay Way also incorporates several features that are otherwise not seen in other ventures. They have dedicated risk validation, auto verification, payment validation as well as courier API to make your transaction more secure driving away any kind of fraudulent activity.
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2Checkout
2Checkout offers multiple solutions for businesses. Not only are they one of the leading payment gateway, but they also offer a seamless global transaction with high revenue generation. You do not need any sign-up or annual fee to use this platform.
The commission rate on the platform is also moderate with a 3.9% charge and a cross-country fee of 1.5%. You will need to have a valid trade license along with VAT certification to sign up with the platform. They use all the established shield framework and refund requests are honored for up to 30 days.
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Fast Spring
Fast Spring is one of the most reliable payment gateways when it comes to international transactions. If your business receives money from a foreign country, you can easily set up this gateway.
The best thing about Fast Spring is that there is no long-term contract involved with it. There is no signup fee as well as no commitment involved. The commission rate is determined based on the transaction limit with an 8.9% commission plus 0.75$ as a minimum and 5.9% and 0.95$ as max. The refund fee is stated at 5$.
You will need a host of verification documents like GST, Driving License, and VAT registration number to sign up with them.
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Stripe
Though you can operate on this platform for Bangladesh, you will need to have a foreign company registration to qualify to use this platform. They offer both, a payment gateway and payment processing.
Unlike other foreign transaction and remit platforms, they do not have a singular commission rate. You can expect a 2.9% on credit and debit cards. 1% on currency conve4rsiona and instant payments with 3.9% for international sales.
You will need to have documents complying with the country of origin of the business to be compliant with the platform.
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Paypal
One of the most notable platforms for B2C transactions across the globe is Paypal. Unfortunately, the service is not available in Bangladesh unless you have a foreign company registration. The unique aspect of Paypal is that they offer peer-to-peer transactions that are not available on other platforms.
There are several commission-structure based on the type of transaction. You can expect around 2.9% plus 30 cents on the online transaction, 2% on border cross, and 5.0% (domestic) to 5.50% (Cross-border) on micro pricing. To sign up with Paypal, all you will need is a valid address identification. The company is fully PCI compliant so you don’t have to worry about your data.
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Bottom Line
The payment gateway platform in Bangladesh is diverse with many key players across the board. Some of them are fully focused on domestic transactions, while others focus on foreign transactions as well. Regardless of the field of operations, the companies we mentioned here are some of most popular online payment gateways in Bangladesh. The stated commission rates are subjected to change depending upon respective company policies.
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