HOW TO GET HIRED .... Raise your hiring prospects amid an uncertain economy

My article was published by The Straits Times on Wed 24 Nov 2015 on page C22 RECRUIT. Go to this page and read my article in full. It was also published on this blog page under a different title/heading.

NEW ENTRANTS TO JOB MARKET FACING MORE CHALLENGES

NEW ENTRANTS TO JOB MARKET FACING MORE CHALLENGES

“Unemployment rising for younger workers; firms wary about hiring in slowing economy”

“Actuarial science graduate Michelle Lew has sent her resume to more than 100 firms since last December, hoping to land a permanent job.

But almost a year later, she has not received a single job offer.” The Straits Times Monday, 2 November 2015

Sounds familiar? If so, you are not alone. The job market in Singapore has not been kind to fresh graduates seeking full-time employment and in fact others seeking a career change face the same headwind. The Ministry of Manpower, Singapore (MOM) reported that the under-30 unemployment rose to 4.3% in September 2014 from 3.9% in September in 2013. A survey conducted by recruiter ManpowerGroup in September indicated that companies have been cautious about hiring because of falling oil prices and a slowing economy. Advance estimates from MOM showed that unemployment for Singaporeans edged up 3.1% in September 2014.

Now, how best to beat the odds and secure that crucial invite to a job interview? Until and unless, you can secure that, you are no nearer to landing that full-time job. If you happen to be in this group being confronted by this dilemma, you should review and examine:

1.       YOUR RESUME: If you have not been invited to a single job interview after having sent out your resume to hundreds of organisations (including recruiters), then your resume ain’t working! If your resume is ordinary, it will remain ordinary and no one would bother to read it. Fix it before it’s too late! Your resume has got to stand out from the crowd. If you can’t do it yourself, then, consult and seek professional help. Successful Resumes Singapore and Career Management Institute can help assess the value of what you bring to each role and each company and phrase that vital information in a concise, persuasive manner to appeal to potential employers. Your resume has to be a PROFESSIONAL PROFILE that portrays you accurately, focusing on your capabilities and achievements – not just what you have done in the past, but what you are capable of doing in the future.

2.        COVER LETTER: Your cover letter is just as important as your resume. It adds focus to your resume. Your cover letter must tell the would-be employer the type of position you are seeking, and how exactly you are qualified for that position. Your cover letter can explain things your resume can’t.

3.       A GOOD REFERENCE: Positive comments from your bosses, bench mate, a fellow industry professional, a trusted mentor, former university professor, a volunteer coordinator at a community organisation where you serve, and a former work mate are critical to landing a new job. Building a list of references is not easy and be tedious, but if you don’t ask, you won’t get. You will be surprised that they will write great things about you – your accomplishments, personality, skills etc..

According to a recent survey by a UK organisation, ‘CareerBuilder’ 69% of employers changed their mind and hired the candidates after reading their testimonials.

4.       SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE: Social media is playing a far more key role in the jobsearch process that you would like to imagine. They do what the industry calls “back-end” check. Would-be employers do peep into your Facebook, Linkedin, Google+ and Twitter accounts to a get a glimpse of you apart from screening your resume and cover letter. Industry estimates that up to 40% of employers use social networks to screen potential job candidates. Are you active in social media? If not, it’s time you did.

5.       NETWORKING: Networking with employed professionals and industry experts do help job seekers to speed up on their employability. In the challenging jobsearch environment that you are facing now, it’s very important to know who knows you and whom you know. In another recent study by executive search agencies, networking was 46% effective at helping jobseekers find new employment. It was also revealed that 80% of available jobs weren’t advertised online or in print media. Instead, recruiters and hiring managers rely on social networks and inside contacts to find and attract potential candidates.

6.       GOOD PEER RELATIONSHIPS: An increasing number of hiring managers seeking to evaluate talent are turning to peers in your industry or profession for judgements about prospective employees. This approach to evaluating you is something you can’t control directly. So, it pays to mind your social and professional relationships and don’t burn the bridge when you leave for another employer.

Successful Resumes Singapore is an integral part of Successful Resumes International and together with our Australian, US, UK, NZ and Hong Kong companies, we have more 20 years of professional experience and expertise in crafting world-class resumes for the discerning. Each and every one of our resumes is individually-designed, expertly-written, professionally-presented and employer-centric. For more details log on to:

www.successfulresumessingapore.com

Successful Resumes Singapore

Career Management Institute

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