Paradise Foods’ energetic sales training and motivation meeting in Papua New Guinea, interview questions from one of the world’s oldest financial institutions, and a sharp drop in fuel prices for shipping.

Going for a song

Motorcycle-riding new Paradise Foods CEO James Rice is making an impression. He has been introducing his sales team to a US-style sales conference. The first ever national sales conference for Paradise was held last week, with 166 people attending from across the country.

‘Many have never been to Port Moresby before,’ said Rice. ‘We’ve invited every sales team member in the country to come in for an energetic sales training and motivation meeting’.

Such was the enthusiasm generated, they even came up with their own song, below. This part was certainly more PNG than USA:

Advertising a new position? Check this list of questions

How many times does a ball get hit in the average game of tennis?

Believe it or not, this is a question from a job interview from bank J. P. Morgan.

Financial services careers website eFinancialCareers has published all publicly recorded J.P. Morgan job interview questions from recent history.

J.P. Morgan is one of the oldest financial institutions in the USA and one of the world’s largest banks—their list of questions is equally impressive and covers a bit of everything, from mathematical problems to history and programming languages.

The range of questions is designed to provide insight into a candidate’s motivations, interpersonal skills and values besides helping to identify competencies and experiences necessary for the positions. Have a look to find some inspiration for your next interview.

The global shipping industry may need a good check up

There are growing signs that there is a global slowdown in shipping. One indicator is the price of bunker fuel, excess fuel left over after refineries have processed gasoline and diesel from the crude.

‘Bunker fuel prices serve as a proxy to the health of the global shipping industry,’ it has been reported. ‘If prices rise, that usually means the demand to fuel vessels is increasing, which in turn, powers container ships and tankers from the East to West, or West to East.’ The opposite applies if prices fall.

On 8 August, it was recorded that the bunker fuel price in Houston had fallen by 30 per cent in 30 days, 27 per cent in 27 days in Rotterdam (in the Netherlands), 18 per cent in 26 days in Fujairah (in the United Arab Emirates), and 29 per cent in 27 days in Singapore.

‘Most global cyclical indicators are showing business activity is flat or negative in the months ahead,’ the report noted.