Weekly Round-up

A somewhat 'lacking in theme' selection of news stories this week. First-up a piece from the FT.com on European hostility to Google. Concern is focused on how Google's algorithms manipulate search results, how much personal data they store and how how they store and use the personal data that they have. If any of you are worried about what Google is doing with your personal data you can always use Summon, the library's search engine for all resources instead. :)

On the topic of social media, Facebook is looking to develop a video app and challenge Snapchat. FT.com Business School's section has some interesting articles this week,; firstly on whether Business Schools should teach modules on cities and urbanisation.The article argues that, given how many people now live in cities, MBAs should be studying the specific business opportunities that this brings. This week's interview with a woman in business is also really interesting; talking about networking and the importance of continuing education. On the theme of women in business, this article looks at the failure of the mining industry to recruit senior women executives and is definitely food for thought. Finally, will drone technology mean fewer jobs go overseas? An interesting argument but it doesn't sound like it will help unemployment.

(To read the Harvard Business Review blog and magazine articles you will need to register for a free account. It's very worthwhile and quick.)

Freakonomics: Event Special Offer for FT.com subscribers.

Those of you who have also subscribed to the FT..com using the institutional access should have got an email abut this  exciting event, but just in case you missed it!   The international bestselling book, Freakonomics, has changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. On Tuesday 27 May at Cadogan Hall in London, authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner will share a blueprint for an entirely new way to think smarter about almost everything. They will provide insights on how to think like a freak with Tim Harford, FT senior columnist and author of the million-selling “The Undercover Economist”. Levitt and Dubner see the world like no one else. Now you can too. Never before have such iconoclastic thinkers been so revealing-and so much fun to read. Tickets for this interview are on sale now for JUST £45, with a special discount of 20% for you, our loyal subscribers. A copy of Levitt and Dubner's book is included in the ticket price. Early booking is highly recommended. There are a strictly

Register Now

Programme: 18:00 Doors Open 19:00 Interview 20:15 Close Hosted by:  Tim Harford FT senior columnist and author of the million-selling “The Undercover Economist”

Quick round-up of Career tips

As I am sure we would all rather be sitting in the sun 'revising', this week's round up is a quite short and quick selection of career advice.

Firstly an excellent piece on how important it is to take time out to reflect on your career and job performance to allow you to evaluate and target improvement - definitely a top tip revision and doing coursework too! This article looks at setting career goals to ensure you don't lose focus or apply for the wrong roles. To finish up the (very) brief round-up, two articles on negotiation both at job interviews and in your career in general. Definitely a key skill.

New News Service & Ethical Business

Bloomberg is now providing a free newsletter,  the Bloomberg London Brief! A newsletter that is designed for busy professionals and students in the city. And the best of all - it's a FREE subscription. It will be an excellent way to keep  yourself informed about what's going on in the city and financial world. Don't forget how useful it is to keep up to date, both for your assignments and your career prospects

Please use this link below to subscribe:

http://bit.ly/b-brief

(And if you want a bit more Bloomberg, why not do Bloomberg Certification here at Middlesex? The course is free and supported by Sarah, our Economics Librarian. One MDX student did so well on the course they got a job offer!)

Moving to the news round up, this piece from the Guardian is on the environmental hazard posed by microbeads in facial scrubs and the search for eco-friendly alternatives, perhaps I a good opportunity for green entrepreneurship. Thinking about ethical matters, Sheryl Sandberg has become the second female billionaire to pledge to give away half her fortune to ethical causes. Other billionaires to do the same include Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Sara Blakely. This article from the Harvard Business Review also offers suggestions on how social entrepreneurship can have the biggest impact, it talks about how they can best grow their organisation and what challenges face social entrepreneurs.

To finish this ethical roundup, I have another Guardian article, this time arguing that the moral case for the minimum wage is not enough and that businesses must be persuaded of the benefits of paying their staff better rather than seeing this as a burdensome cost.

Welcome back from the holidays!

Welcome back from the Easter break. I hope you are not too stressed with the build up to exams, deadlines and the end of the university year. I'm starting this round up with a slightly different type of link. Yesterday, May 1st, was International Workers' Day, celebrating international workers, their rights and the trade union movement. It's also traditionally a holiday celebrated by left wing groups, including communists, socialists and anarchists. So, in case any of you would like to find out a little bit more, here is a blog by the LSE Library, recommending interesting books and resources on the history of International Workers' Day. On the same vein of workers' rights I have an interesting article looking back at the Rana Plaza Disaster a year on and another looking at whether the Garment Industry has changed. There are also two thought-provoking interactive articles the The Guardian: one looks at the conditions of garment workers and the other looks at how and what compensation has been awarded. For those of you planning to start your own business it's never too soon to think about sustainable, ethical and green ways on running your business. Looking at  ethical practice more widely, this article from The Atlantic considers how and why business fail to be ethical.

This article discusses why Amazon is paying workers to quit and why paying workers to leave can be a good tactic! Something to consider. Given many of you will soon be leaving and heading out to work or even the start your own companies, I have two articles, one on the 16 qualities shared by successful sport figures and business leaders and another on how to handle not hearing back after an interview. Finally if you are struggling with research for your assignments don't forget to come and see us on the first floor of the Library or book an appointment. If you are more worried about essay writing and revision, don't forget to contact the LDU. We're here to help you succeed :).

Have a good holiday!

Super short round up as you should all be enjoying Easter/preparing for exams. I hope it is all going well.

In case any of you are looking beyond assignments and exams, this is an interesting piece on writing down clear and measurable goals in your personal and professional life to help you achieve. University goes by very quickly and soon you will all be asking 'what next?', so try setting yourself some targets.And maybe we should all decide to be French with a limit to working hours and now a 'ban' on checking work emails after 6pm. Well the summary is not exactly accurate and this article clarifies the situation. Mind you, maybe it is a good idea to have work rule our lives a little less?

Useful sites & Informations Resources.

Here are some alternative information sources you should consider other than Google or the Library holdings here at Middlesex. With huge credit to Karen Blakeman's blog; her resources lists are awesome and extremely helpful.

When you are researching a particular topic or country setting up news alerts can be one of the best ways to ensure you capture really up to date information. If you haven't taken advantage of our subscription to the FT.com, do so now! There's information on registering here and also my blog post on how to install the app on your smartphone or tablet. I also have a post on Business News twitter feeds that are useful to follow. But you can also set up alerts on Business Source Complete or use Google and RSS alerts.

When you are struggling to find everything you need, please have a look at the 'Other Libraries' section on the Business and Management Library Guide and take advantage of the other resources you have access to.
Postgraduates, in particular, should take advantage of the British Libraries Business & IP Centre which gives access to Mintel and many other business databases. It's also designed to support Entrepreneurs, so those of you with ambition to start your own business should check it out. The British Librayr also produces very good Industry Guides which are well worth checking out.