Rhodes, 74, joined Citigroup in 1957. He graduated from Brown University and began to head a committee of international lenders. Through this committee, he negotiated debt restructurings for many countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Rhodes also served as Citigroup’s senior international officer and assisted the bank in their expansion into Central and Eastern Europe and China. He played a critical role in helping Citigroup and the banking system recover from the LDC debt crisis in the early 1980’s. He also helped to reopen Citi offices in South Africa after President Nelson Mandela was elected. His service with Citigroup has earned decorations and recognition around the world for his international financial diplomacy. Mr. Rhodes spent 20 of his career years living in Latin America and in the Caribbean.

After departing from Citigroup, Rhodes will spend more time and focus at the William R. Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance at Brown University. In 2007, Rhodes donated $10 million to the University and is a member of the Institute of International Finance’s Market Monitoring Group. He will continue devoting time to serving causes supporting free trade, cross-border capital flows, and as advisor to Citigroup’s own country heads around the world.

According to Richard Parsons, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Citi “Bill is a rare breed of banker, with more than 50 years of experience at Citi, We owe Bill a debt of gratitude for his service to Citi and look forward to continuing to utilize his expertise and receiving his counsel on a wide range of issues.”

“I have had the privilege of spending my entire career at Citi and the honor of representing the company during a number of critical phases in its history,” said Mr. Rhodes. “I am most proud of helping to develop the future leaders of this great institution. Further, I believe that Vikram has set the right strategic course for the company and that Citi is well-positioned for a bright future.”

Citigroup (NYSE: C) Vice Chair To Step Down was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The first thing you have to do is not panic. Assess the situation. How much money do you need to bring in? Knowing how much you need to earn will help you determine if the job(s) you are offered will be sufficient enough to make your time and effort worthwhile. There are costs associated with returning to work if you are a stay at home parent – for example, if you need to pay for childcare in order to go to work you may find that those costs eat most of your income, and therefore it doesn’t make as much sense to return to work. One way to eliminate this problem is to look for a job which only schedules you to work when your children are in school, or to enroll the children in an after school activity that is less expensive than babysitters or daycare.

Another way you may rejoin the workforce while saving money on childcare is to work from home. The consumer market industry is taking off right now. With the economy the way it is, most retailers are investing money to see what people are purchasing. So many consumer marketing industries are hiring survey takers to rate products, and spending habits. This can be done from home on your own time. There are many opportunities for legitimately earning money from home, especially if you have some specialized skills like writing, graphic design or web programming.

Another thing to consider when rejoining the workforce is the actual cost of going to work. The more professional the job you are seeking the more professional you need to look and the more education or extra training you may need. You may also have to lower wage expectations to make yourself more attractive than others seeking the same job. These are costs that can add up quickly, and if you are looking to supplement your current household income, these costs may be more of a burden then the job benefits.

You can survive this economic down turn. Just don’t panic, assess your situation and consider any hidden costs that may come up before accepting a job.

Things to Consider When Rejoining the Workforce was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

So you have the call letter for a job interview in your mail. Get going and do your homework done immediately. Find out all about the company, the job you applied for, the competitors, the products and all other relevant information by browsing the Internet, company literature, the annual report. Get the facts in your application right. If you perceive a weak area be prepared with convincing answers – if you spend enough time on it, you will find some. There is no reason why you should not be able to answer any question about you if you are prepared.

While preparing for the interview, get your perspective right. Pitch in hard for the job by showing your best side. By showing a good learning attitude and displaying qualities such as team spirit, ability to communicate well, ability to take upon responsibility and to think independently, you will make a positive impression on employers.

All your preparation for the job interview will pay because the interviewer will instantly know how serious you are about the job. One thing about preparation is that it shows in small ways. It is as simple as a layman who can make out the difference between a performing artist on the stage who has prepared and one who has not.

Once you have packed your soft skills well it is time for you to make the best physical impression. Dress well in clothes and colors that suit you (in conservative shades). Some clothes make you feel more confident than the others, so get those clothes out. Dress like a thorough professional in business clothes. Get your hair, beard, fingernails etc done. Use colognes or perfumes that are subtle and not too loud. Check your papers and leave for your interview early to avoid any unforeseen traffic delays etc. Land up at the venue early, relax and enjoy the process.

Be prepared to answer all the regular questions that interviewers ask such as why you want the job, something about yourself, how you fared in your last job, your strengths and weaknesses, why you think you are good fro this job, how you would be contributing to the job, why you want to work for the company, what you know about the company and the industry, whether you will be willing to travel, what is the salary you expect etc. Similarly be ready with your own set of questions about the organization. You may want to know your growth prospects, the hierarchy, job responsibilities, company’s future plans, company’s expectations from your job, training and other such questions.

Do not forget to ask about when they will decide on your interview results. Practice all the questions in front of a mirror or have someone ask you the questions while you answer.

Prepare your entry into the room as well. Walk in confidently but without being brash or overly aggressive. Smile, wish everybody, shake hands firmly and warmly. Speak clearly. Look at the entire interview panel in the eyes. Sit straight, be relaxed (not too loose and not too stiff). Keep your legs together (don’t shake them nervously), bend slightly forward (show receptivity, no slouching), use your hands if you wish to be more expressive etc. Do not say negative things, do not lie or fib (its simpler to say that you don’t know the answer), do not speak too fast or unclearly, do not drop names, make excuses, speak badly of ex-employers etc. Please switch off your mobile phones, do not smoke, do not be aggressive. Or shy.

Concentrate on what the interviewers are saying, ask them to repeat themselves politely if you have not understood the question, smile and be relaxed and confident. At the end of the interview thank the interviewers for their time and ask them the next step in the hiring process. Shake hands firmly, smile and make eye contact with everyone.

Follow up the interview with thank you letters to the interviewers and a call at the appropriate time to know the decision regarding your interview. But with all this preparation, there is a good chance that you would have bagged the job already.

Have a Job Interview Coming Up? Here’s How to Not Screw It Up. was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Your name and contact address on top of the page along with your contact details, phone numbers. e-mail ids etc. followed by the date of writing the letter. Below the date, print the name of the person to whom the letter is addressed. A word here. Find out the correct name of the person who is reading the letter and you will serve your cause well. Make sure that you have the name and the designation right (no spelling mistakes) because the slightest oversight here could make a big difference. People are very sensitive about their names and designations. A bit of research (such as calling the company to confirm the details) will do. Address the person formally with a Mr. Or a Ms or whatever is appropriate – do not ignore any Dr. or Professor wherever required.

Having thus put the employer in a pleasant state of mind, your letter must now proceed to make a real impression. Form letters will make no impressions on anyone, so customize your cover letter for each job. Keep the content of the cover letter simple and professional in tone and about half a page in length (stretching to a maximum of one page). Briefly mention the job you have applied for in the first paragraph and the source from where you have heard of the opening.

In the second paragraph briefly highlight the qualities that make you the best candidate for the job. Think creatively and write persuasively and crisply. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes and present yourself in a manner that would attract his attention. One way is to mention how you could add to the organization’s bottom line. Be careful not to repeat what is in the resume. Merely use a line or two to say why you are the best person for the job. A phrase that gives them the idea that you have done your homework about the company would leave them in a favorable state of mind as well.

It is important that you leave your personal mark so write it in your own words because that adds a touch of authenticity to it and makes it stand out from a lot of form letters. Having put together a neat letter make sure that there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. Check and recheck and get it proof read by a third person.

Add the most important bit i.e. closing the transaction by requesting time for an interview and mentioning the time when you would follow up. And having done that, please do follow up. Mention the enclosures after your signature.

How to Write a Cover Letter That Doesn’t Suck was created by and is property of American Consumer News.