Opinion: Typographical errors top list of résumé mistakes

Personal passions

Rank of physical fitness, dining out and travel as the top personal passions among parents, according to the third annual American Express Platinum Luxury Survey, which surveyed respondents with an average of two children and an average annual household income of $472,000: 1, 2 (tie), 2 (tie)

Internet in India

Percentage growth in Internet usage in India between 2004 and 2005, according to a survey by eMarketer.com: 8.5

Estimated percentage growth in Internet usage in India in the next two years: 160

Illegal downloads

Estimated number of songs that were illegally distributed, swapped or downloaded off the Internet in 2005, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry: 20 billion

Unscheduled work absences

Rank of personal illness, family issues, personal needs, stress and entitlement mentality among the top reasons cited for unscheduled worker absenteeism in the United States, according to a study conducted by CCH Inc. and Harris Interactive: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Well-groomed men

Percentage of American males surveyed who do their own shopping for personal products, including clothes, accessories and grooming products, according to a poll commissioned by Mensgroom: 91

Percentage of men who said that being well-groomed makes them feel more confident when meeting new people, both personally and professionally: 80

International work for women

Percentage of companies worldwide that expect the number of female workers sent on international assignments to increase steadily over the next five years, according to a survey conducted by Mercer International: 55

Percentage increase in female workers sent on international assignments by U.S. companies from 2001 to 2006: 300

Percentage increase in female workers sent on global assignments by Asia-Pacific companies from 2001 to 2006: 1,500

Business-friendly states

Rank of South Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Washington and Florida as the most entrepreneur-friendly states, according to the “Small Business Survival Index 2006,” a survey conducted by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Investment issues

Percentage of U.S. adults who say they invest in long-term financial service investment products, including an employer-sponsored 401(k) or 403(b), according to the Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Personal-Finance Poll: 57

Percentage of investors who say poor corporate governance led them to reduce or divest holdings in a company: 36

Percentage of investors who say they can trust companies to provide complete and accurate financial information upon which they can make investment decisions: 49

Economic importance

Rank of the city of Paris, Greater London Authority, city of Los Angeles, city of Madrid and the city of Toronto as the world’s top five economic centers based on the economic importance of the countries in which they are located and the depth of the services that they provide, according to a report by Standard & Poor’s: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Idle Thought

“We find comfort among those who agree with us, growth among those who don’t.” —Frank A. Clark, writer

John MacIntyre is an author and former city magazine editor. His Figuratively Speaking column, launched in 1989, is published in more than 40 newspapers and magazines.