EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES AND ISSUES FOR 2017 IN SINGAPORE

EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES AND ISSUES FOR 2017 IN SINGAPORE

A fresh new year is once again upon us. What is the employment scenario like for Singapore in 2017? What are the employers’ hiring intentions for the year? Will there be better days for those seeking decent paying jobs? Will the economic downturn experienced in 2016 be worse in 2017 and thus causing upheavals in the job market?

2016 Employment Market Overview

Unemployment rate and lay-offs hit a 7-year high. An estimated 68 300 residents – of whom 60 300 are citizens were out of work. Over 12 100 employees were retrenched for the period Jan to Sep 2016. More lay-offs are expected in the last quarter 2016.

Companies in the oil and gas, marine and the financial services sectors, bearing the brunt of the economic downturn, slashed the most number of jobs. HRM Asia cited banks like Standard Chartered, Barclays, Royal bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank exercised mass layoffs. Marine industry giant, Keppel, revealed it retrenched some 660 employees between June and September. Maersk shed 4000 jobs worldwide. Hospitality and casino operator, Resort World Sentosa, axed 400 jobs in June. Inchcape, Toyota and Suzuki distributors, joined the fray and released 120 staff including its CEO for South Asia.

Other big boys reducing headcounts included Yahoo, Rakuten, Goldman Sachs and the list goes on.

Retrenchment and unemployment figures released by the Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed the labour market is at its worst since 2009 in the 3^rd quarter of 2016. The seasonally adjusted overall unemployment rate rose from 1.9% in March 2016 to 2.1% in June 2016. The MOM has not released the statistics for the last quarter.

Economic Outlook for 2017

Will Singapore face a gloom and doom front in 2017? Not quite. Judging from the assessment by the IMF (Article 4 assessment), Singapore’s economy will not shrink and is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2017, supported by accommodative fiscal and monetary policies. Low energy prices and the ongoing global recovery can also help. In the near term, however, risks are skewed to the downside. Slower global and regional growth, global financial volatility and growth of political populism are hindrances to growth.

2017 Employment Market Landscape

According to survey polls, recruiting consultants and employers are cautiously optimistic about employee hiring plans in 2017. A survey among 620 employers found that 15% intended to hire and increase headcount, 7% planned to decrease and 71% expected no change. Another survey by a leading recruiting firm found that 36% of Singapore companies were planning to increase headcount in 2017.

The hiring outlook for 2017 is likely to be buoyant, partly, because the Government is proactively investing in three key industries – digital, information technology and healthcare. Hence, employers across these three sectors are likely to continue actively hiring to fill newly-created positions.

It is also noted that though employers are still hiring, they are more precise, discerning and cautious in their hiring practices. They seek out potential employees with specific talent who can add value and contribute aggressively to their bottom line. The focus is hiring the right talent.

Rather than fighting for a small pool of specialised talent in the open market, employers prefer spending money and resources equipping their existing workforce with the necessary tools and skills. Employers have lamented frequently about Singapore’s small talent pool.

On the wage front, recent salary forecast surveys indicate that more than 75% of employers are likely to implement salary increments in the new year, albeit moderately.

Whole New World for Job Seekers and Career Changers

For starters, brace yourself for some tough, challenging times ahead. If you are out of work for some time or fresh out of polytechnic or university, you need to try understand yourself better and what you have to offer to the world of work.

The job market has changed dramatically. Jobs don’t last very long and job security is more of a myth. Full time jobs are getting harder and harder to find. There have been a dramatic increase in the number of part-time, temp or contract jobs

Job hunting has become part of one’s job and is increasingly becoming a repetitive activity for the majority of job seekers.

You have to adapt to an ever evolving job hunting methodology. Job hunting has moved more and more online. Networking and social media have become a fantastic source of career information and job opportunities.

Next, you need to deal with any handicap that you may have. Lack of specific technical skills is one such handicap. The Singapore Government regularly reminds Singaporeans about the importance of   upgrading their skillsets through state-driven initiatives such as the Skills Future Credit Scheme. So, take advantage of such offerings. Another problem with Singaporean job seekers is their prejudice against small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Many are still unwilling to take up jobs in SMEs thinking that these firms offer little career prospects, lower pay and perks.

Finally, survey findings including media releases from MOM about hiring intentions can be dizzying. You may not find comfort though 2017 holds a brighter and more promising future. The real challenge when you are out job hunting is moderating your expectations. The onus is now on you – only you can make that difference.

Successful Resumes Singapore

Career Management Institute

www.successfulresumessingapore.com

         

          

NEW YEAR GREETINGS FROM SUCCESSFUL RESUMES SINGAPORE

RESUME WRITING - LONG WAIT FOR A JOB

LONG WAIT FOR A JOB

Put your CV or resume aside and use a GOOGLE RESUME instead if you want to land that dream job ahead of others in the long snaky job queue.

The Sunday Times (Singapore) in its feature article on its INSIGHT Page on Sunday, 25 Sep 2016 highlighted updating one’s CV as this might help in speeding up getting an interview invite. Whilst this is true and correct, there is more than this during this dry job spell.

You need more than a CV or resume. A Google Resume is what you need including a strategically-crafted and professionally-designed personal branding profile – a marketing tool to sell the most important asset that you have and that is YOU, YOURSELF. If you are up against a fierce wave right in front of you that is beyond your control, you need to look for what you can control and drive it to your advantage.

What, you may ask, are Google Resumes and Personal Branding Profiles?

To know more, log onto www.successfulresumessingapore.com

Successful Resumes Singapore and Career Management Institute

RESUME WRITING: GETTING THAT JOB THAT I REALLY WANT

RESUME WRITING: GETTING THAT JOB THAT I REALLY WANT

The employment scenario isn’t getting any rosier. It may have gotten worse. The Straits Times reported that Barclays is cutting about 100 IT jobs in Singapore (see pic). This won’t be the last and salaried men and women should keep a close watch on their jobs. Be fully prepared just,in case you are told at 4pm to surrender your passes and files and that you have been locked out of the company’s ICT system. This can happen to anyone.

If you are back job hunting, be prepared for tough times ahead of you. Job hunting is hard – very hard for most people. More so for those who have been laid off and have not been on the job hunting trail for one or two decades. The pool of job hunters is growing faster than ever before. It is estimated that there are up to 250 applications for any given vacancy.

In the US, after 2008, 22% to 30% of all unemployed are spending more than a year looking for work. Any person who has been out of gainful employment for three months can be termed as having fallen into a chronic state. The fear is that if one is experiencing a state of chronic unemployment, one may join the next group termed as “The People Who Will Never Work Again.” The American print and social media have even headlined “The Long-Term Unemployed Are Doomed” when referring to chronic unemployment.

When it comes to hiring, employers have changed but job hunters didn’t. In good times, employers hunt one way and in bad times, they hunt another way. They adapt to the times and the environment. What about you – the job hunters? How do you hunt? Are you hunting the same way you did 10, 5 years ago in 2016?

Our professionals at Successful Resumes Singapore and Career Management Institute can help lessen that burden. We get great results. We have been doing this for over 20 years, and the fact that we have expanded and grown to six countries around the world is a testament to our success. We work closely with our clients to develop a unique and holistic approach to their career development.

Pick up your phone and call or email us now!

Web: successfulresumessingapore.com

Email: info@successfulresumessingapore.com  Phone: +65 6469 7100

WRITING YOUR RESUME: USING YOUR VOICE DURING YOUR JOB INTERVIEW

RESUME WRITING: DOES YOUR RESUME TELL OR SELL?

DOES YOUR RESUME TELL OR SELL?

HOW AN AMAZING RESUME CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Written by John Little, Managing Director, Successful Resumes Group International

An amazing resume will bring you results for years to come. Not only is it a priceless tool that will help you climb the career ladder, earn more money or enter the industry you’ve always wanted to work in, but it can also open up new opportunities you may not have even thought about. Having a well-written resume that highlights your best skills and experience is something that you can’t really afford to risk going without, particularly these days when competition for each advertised job is high.

How to entice…

Given your resume is one of the first pieces of information a prospective employer receives, it’s important to get it right. It’s their way of meeting you before they really meet you, so help them come to the right conclusion about what a perfect fit you are! Call them to action and make sure they call you to schedule an interview. Make your resume so tempting an employer will have no choice but to hire you! Or at least meet you in the flesh face to face, the actual hiring part is mostly about how well you’re able to perform once you make it to the interview.

Inspire the readers of your resume to want to meet you and want to get to know you better. Think of a resume as part of an elimination process. Prospective employers will scroll through hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes and will shortlist just a few. Having a unique and well-crafted resume will ensure you make the shortlist, and that means you’ve achieved half of your job seeking goal right there. Once you make the shortlist, then you’re in with a real chance at the job

Increase your success rate

Think of your resume as a reflection of how you’d like to be remembered. Does it highlight your assets and downplay your challenges? Does it definitely cover all your skills and attributes in enough detail as well as list and explain your employment history? This piece of paper works as your very best marketing tool, so make every sentence counts. Hiring a professional to do the job for you will make an enormous difference to your rate of success. Hiring Managers can generally tell the difference between those who have gone out of their way to developing a professionally written resume, and those who crammed the information together at the last minute themselves.

Contact for assistance

If you’d like assistance in crafting an impressive resume that will be hard for employers to refuse, please contact us to make an appointment.

Successful Resumes Singapore and Career Management Institute

INSPIRE • TRANSFORM • LEAD

Web: www.successfulresumessingapore.com

Email: info@successfulresumessingapore.com

STAY AT HOME PARENTS RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE - HOW TO CRAFT AND DESIGN YOUR RESUME

STAY AT HOME PARENTS RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE

HOW TO CRAFT AND DESIGN YOUR RESUME

Published May 4, 2016 | By John Little

Working at home as a stay at home parent can be tricky to explain on your resume. The biggest challenge you’ll face with returning to the workforce is how to sell yourself to prospective employers.  Should you mention your ‘Stay At Home Parent’ status or should you leave a gap in your resume?

Skills, skills and more skills!

Believe it or not, you’ve probably got even more to offer than a childless employee. You’ve now gained a multitude of life experience under your belt and have spent the past year or possibly longer fine-tuning your ability to multi-task, prioritise, communicate and no doubt you’ve also developed an incredible ability to stay organised. Why? Because you had to! You’ve likely also honed your exposure to logistical arrangements, your ability to run on time to a clockwork routine and your ability to work within a specific budget.

No gaps

A good resume should always be gap-less regardless of the scenario and it’s good practice to label your time raising your children as ‘parental leave’ regardless of whether you were paid or not. It’s also wise to label your time off as parental leave no matter if you were employed during that time or not. Rather than listing all the tasks of a stay at home parent on your resume, simply list ‘Parental Leave’, include the dates, and leave it at that.

Demonstrate currency

Pair your period of parental leave with relevant study in your field.  Clearly highlight on your resume how you’ve kept your skills up to date and the ways in which you’ve remained abreast of changes in technology or legislation that are likely to affect your work.  Study can include a lengthy qualification but also any variety of short course so long as it was run by an accredited training provider. Also include any voluntary or part-time work you completed during your time off.  Don’t disregard this experience simply because you weren’t paid or weren’t working in an office for example.

Use your squad!

Another trick is to network, network, network!  Leverage people in your network to source leads on positions. Some positions are never formally advertised. Others may be advertised but you may not get a look-in unless someone is able to put in a good word. Competition is high but employers may be keen to meet you if they hear about your brilliant work experience from a colleague or another person within your network.

Last but not least, celebrate! Landing the perfect position when making your return isn’t easy and it can take time. But just like for every other parent who’s been there before you, it will happen. So give your resume and job search the time and energy it deserves, and enjoy your success when the time comes.

CONTACT US. If you need assistance on how to craft and design your resume, cover letter, Linkedin profile or branding profile, please log onto www.successfulresumessingapore.com or email infor@successfulresumessingapore.com

Phone: +65 6469 7100

RESUME CRAFTED AND DESIGNED WITH YOU AND ONLY YOU IN MIND

GETTING THAT JOB THAT I WANT

ESSENTIAL TOOLS JOB SEEKERS NEED TO KNOW

ESSENTIAL TOOLS JOB SEEKERS NEED TO KNOW

Searching for a new job is a ‘nerve-wracking’ experience.

In an overcrowded, hypercompetitive marketplace where competition for coveted jobs is getting fiercer and more intense, job seekers need to search smarter, not harder. Job seekers have to be more savvy and adept in locating new job opportunities. Traditional tactics like looking at newspapers for want-ads to find dream jobs are fast losing applicability. Leverage on leading-edge technology innovation to boost and increase chances of winning crucial interview invites. As a matter of fact, use new smartphone apps or old-fashioned methods and anything in between if any of these can help move your career forward.

When planning a career move or upgrading your ongoing jobsearch, consider these tools and apps. These can systematically boost your chances of success in finding your next opportunity.

1.       Networking

According to a very recent “ABC News” (US) report, 80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking. Outplacement and alumni career services survey concur with the ABC News report – up to 65% to 85% of jobseekers found jobs through networking. This is extremely high indeed and all jobseekers must pay attention to and take heed of this platform. This group represents smart jobseekers. They fully understand that looking for and finding work require effort and work.

The majority of job vacancies is not advertised. This is the “hidden job market”. Smart jobseekers know how to find a way to get a foot in the door. They are fully aware that social networking, be it personal or online, yields far better results than spending hours and hours scanning job boards or newspaper want-ads.

To secure maximum benefits from networking, seriously consider:

·         Attending networking events and meetups consisting of jobseekers, business owners, professional associations

·         Utilizing rich network of former workmates, friends, relatives, neighbours, college chums

·         Participating as an active member of your professional association, social and community clubs

·         Maintaining contacts with employees of companies willing to pass on job vacancy information before the job is “officially posted”

Networking is simple but it’s not easy and it can be daunting especially for introverts.

Today’s and tomorrow’s economy is a social economy with collaboration and networking at its centre.

2.       Referrals

Every jobseeker should know by now that the right connections at the right time can help you land a good job. Who you know and who knows you really matter. Surveys by career management support agencies have reported that the greatest number of external hires came from employee referrals. Professional accounting firms Ernest & Young and Deloitte, for example, reported that close to 50% of their external hires comes from employee referrals. More and more employers offer incentives to their sitting employees for referring successful candidates. Do your research and get in touch with employees in these companies. You may get an invite to an interview without applying for the job. It is a win-win situation – you get the job and your contact gets a finder’s fee.

Apart from employee referrals, others who can recommend and refer you to hiring professionals include your alma mater, professional associations, community clubs, government agencies, friends, relatives and even your Member of Parliament (MP). Don’t be intimidated. It’s OK to ask someone you know for a job referral.

3.       Jobsearch Apps

Job searching has gone mobile. For the busy executive leading a hectic life with little or no time for job searching, don’t fret. You can search for your ideal job while on the go. Most jobsearch apps can be done with your mobile or tablet, though it can be somewhat cumbersome at times. Some advanced apps will match you with open jobs and this can certainly save you a lot of time. Surveys indicate that some 43% of jobseekers use apps on their mobile devices during their jobsearch.

Many apps are available for download for both iOS and Android devices such as JobsDB, Singapore Jobs Apps, Monster, Indeed, Glassdoor, Switch, Good.Co, and Simply Hired.

4.       Active and Robust Social Media Presence

The internet is home to some 115 social media networks and employing organizations. Both MNCs and SMEs use these platforms, especially LinkedIn, as a go-to source to seek out talent. LinkedIn operates the world’s largest professional network of 433 million members across 200 countries. It has acquired more than one million members in Singapore alone – representing 20% of her 5 million population. LinkedIn is an active and robust social network where members share information.

Other robust networks such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Instagram are excellent for connecting with employers and recruiting people. Apart from having a profile (which resembles a resume) rich in content and media, you should also share newsworthy articles regularly to help build your online reputation, presence, and connectedness within your network.

5.       Résumé Accessibility  

 Accessibility to the latest edition of your résumé anywhere is critical. Save and share your résumé document using iCloud, Google Cloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and mobile devices. You never know when you will be asked for one. Be prepared always. It is recommended that you carry hard/printed copies of your résumé in your executive briefcase. Imagine the great first impression you can create when you are able to hand over a copy immediately when requested for during a networking meetup. However, you need to ensure that the confidentiality of your résumé is not compromised.

6.    Business Cards. 

Business cards are one of the earliest forms of networking tools used by the business community. This may seem old-fashioned but business cards, bearing information about the company and the individual office holder, are powerful and important communication tools. Make cards available in every situation. Be prepared to hand your contact your card at the start or end of the conversation.

In addition to the usual information you want to share, include an email address and links to any social media profiles, like your LinkedIn URL. You can share your card from your mobile using CardDrop.

7.        Blog and Online Portfolio

Create and have your own blog or online portfolio to showcase your talent, expertise, experience, contributions, and achievements. If your blog or online portfolio is smartly and creatively designed and professionally managed, it can certainly make you stand out and get noticed by employers and recruiters. You can access easy-to-use tools such as WordPress, Blogger, Wix and Weebly to create a professional blog.

8.       Effective Email Signature

First great impressions count and your email signature is no different. Your email signature is possibly one of the most important branding tools you've not taken advantage of. With more than five billion emails sent daily, you need to put in effort to ensure your email signature stand out from the crowd. An effective email signature must include your name, role, business name, and educational qualifications, and best contact details. Use small, non-distracting images or logos and subtle highlights to make them stand out. Promote your social network pages as well.

9.       Company Websites

Career sections of company websites are among the best sources where you can finding targeted job listings especially if you know the dream organizations you are interested in working for. You can go directly to the source, search and apply for job positions online without going through a third party. Success rate in securing a job via this tool is far greater.

While you are at the company’s website, you should also check out the “About Us” section where you can find details about the company’s history, financial standing, products and services, HR policy and work culture. Such background information is extremely useful leading up to the job interview. Employers ranging from MNCs, SMEs, government agencies, universities and colleges to non-profit organizations post job listings on their websites.

10.   Temping or Internships

Temping or internships can help you with your long-term career goals. Such temporary roles can lead to permanent positions as long as you show up with the right attitude and play your cards right. If you are without work, finding a temping position or unpaid internship with a great organization is a great way to get your foot in the door. If not or if you are not upbeat about working for that organization, you will be poised for a great reference elsewhere. You can gain real work experience and a chance to see a company for its good and bad. Volunteering is also another great method for gaining much-needed, valuable experience and industry contacts.

As jobseekers, eager to find the best job opportunities, you often need to use a combination of tools including traditional ones such as job boards, newspaper and journal want-ads, job fairs and recruiting agencies. Each of these has its own strengths and weaknesses and you have nothing to lose by experimenting with some of them. Always bear in mind that in the midst of a very challenging jobsearch environment, first impressions count. You only have one chance to make a great first impression. Don’t blow it. Stand out from the crowd. Have the confidence to be unique, different and the strength to let your individual personality shine.

Article by Lim Larry, M Phil (Management), Chief Executive, Co-Founder and Consulting Principal of Successful Resumes Singapore Pte Ltd and Career Management Institute. He is an avid writer, blogger and conference/seminar speaker. Keep up with the latest resume and branding profile writing, and jobsearch trends and social networking strategies by connecting with and following Larry on Facebook, Linkedin, and Blogger.

Say hi on larry@successfulresumessingapore.com
Web: www.successfulresumessingapore.com

Successful Resumes Singapore Pte Ltd and Career Management Institute

The last job on Earth: imagining a fully automated world | Guardian Anim...

RESUME WRITING: HOW TO GET THAT JOB THAT I REALLY WANT

RESUME WRITING: HOW TO GET THAT JOB THAT I REALLY WANT

Front page news like the one reported by the Straits Times on 21 April 2016 (see pic) are becoming more and more common.
PMETs especially older ones and those in the manufacturing sector seem the hardest hit and bear the brunt amid rapid rise in layoffs.
So, what would you do if you happen to be one of those told to pack up and leave by 3 pm on that dreadful and awful day? Weeping and cursing, and blaming others won't solve your problem or find you a new job. In fact, such actions may work against you.
Relax and stay calm. Go for a short holiday and re-charge your battery. You must take a good look at and scrutinise your resume - that resume you have stored somewhere in your computer is your career passport. This is the only tool that can help you get that job that you really want. That resume must set you apart from all other competitors. Do you stand out from the crowd, and on your own resume? Do you think that it can convincingly sell you to the next employer?
For more info go to www.successfulresumessingapore.com
Successful Resumes Singapore
Career Management Institute

YOUR RESUME - A MUST-HAVE FOR THE JOB THAT YOU REALLY WANT

YOUR RESUME - A MUST-HAVE FOR THE JOB THAT YOU REALLY WANT
It is now made very clear and in no uncertain terms, a RESUME is a MUST-HAVE document in the jobsearch process. Wow! Now, it is a must for those vying for the UN's top job - post of Secretary-General must post their resumes for scrutiny. For more info on this, read the Straits Times report on Wed 6 April page A17. See pic on the left.
A great, effective resume is a TOOL with a single purpose - to win that important interview invite. It is also a marketing document that sells the most important asset you have - YOU, YOURSELF.
Do you have a resume? If so, is it up to that ground-breaking, value-packed, employer-centric standard? If yours is just the ordinary, it will remain ordinary. Let us partner and help you with your critical career decision and overcome that irritating and cumbersome barrier you face when applying for the job that you really want.
www.successfulresumessingapore.com
Successful Resumes Singapore
Career Management Institute

GETTING THAT JOB THAT I WANT

GETTING THAT JOB THAT I WANT
Media report after media report points to one key employment issue - "More Layoffs", "Middle-Aged Execs Caught in Double Bind" etc. Getting that job that I want becomes more and more elusive. Also, it takes a much longer time to land a job - some manage to find one after 12 to 15 months after embarking on the initial jobsearch.
The call for one to have a world-class, outstanding RESUME has also been voiced by the media, recruiters, hiring professionals, government-related job agencies. And we at Successful Resumes and Career Management Institute have been advocating this for decades. Your resume is your "Career Passport". So, it definitely pays to invest your time and some money on this document. 
Read more about my interview with the Straits Times on 'streamlining your resume' published by RECRUIT on Saturday, 26 March 2016.
Successful Resumes Singapore
Career Management Institute
www.successfulresumessingapore.com

RESUME WRITING

RESUME WRITING

HOW TO GET THE NEXT JOB

"The best applications win the interview – not necessarily the best candidates.”

In the job search process, the FIRST thing and the most important document that you really need is your RESUME or as some call it a CV.

Your resume is your career passport, so let us at Successful Resumes Singapore (www.successfulresumessingapore.com) help you create an amazing document that will get you in the door of any employer!

Never before has the old adage “you have one chance at a great first impression” meant so much.  Your RESUME is the first impression that employers will have of you.  It provides your chance to market yourself to them – to convince them that you are the most suitable person for their company.  Does your resume say what you want it to?

Successful Resumes has specialised in marketing people for more than 25 years. We know how to write and customise individualised documents that will WOW your readers and maximise your interview opportunities. We use a proven method to create compelling resumes that showcase your skills, experience and achievements to help you secure your next job or internal promotion faster.

For more details on how we can craft that astounding resume for you, log onto www.successfulresumessingapore.com

SUCCESSFUL RESUMES SINGAPORE

CAREER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

PERSONAL BRANDING

PERSONAL BRANDING
Creating that Smashing First Good Impression

Which is more important - taking the job interview seriously or first impressions?
During any job interview, you would have been pre-judged on your appearance, clothing and body language and your fate decided on even before the actual face-to-face interview. Your next employer would want you not only to take your job interview seriously but also to take care of your appearance and body language.
If you are confident about your appearance you will project the right professional image. In this age when job seekers face fierce competition for coveted positions, creating that smashing first good impression is paramount and should be taken seriously.
To find out more on how we can help you create that smashing good first impression, go to www.successfulresumessingapore.com
Email: info@successfulresumessingapore.com
SUCCESSFUL RESUMES SINGAPORE
CAREER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

COMMON NONVERBIAL MISTAKES MADE DURING JOB INTERVIEWS

Ladylike Charm: Carrying Purses

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR

On this auspicious occasion, we at Successful Resumes Singapore and Career Management Institute wish ALL our clients, business associates, partners and our loyal fans:
Best wishes for the holidays and happiness throughout the year. May the coming year bring you joy, love, peace, good health and prosperity.

www.successfulresumessingapore.com

GETTING HIRED IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE

DO YOU STILL NEED A RESUME TO GET YOUR NEXT JOB IN 2016?

GETTING HIRED IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE

Social media is here to say. It has revolutionised the norm many large, international recruiting firms and global corporations source for job candidates and process their applications. There are far too many options available for social networking. The internet is home to some 115 social media networks such as Linkedin,

Facebook and the like with over a million users worldwide. Social media offers speed, efficiency and the ability to target and attract a specific large number of candidates. It can provide additional resource information on potential candidates so vital in the recruitment process.

According to R Haefner, VP of HR at CareerBuilder, “Social media is a primary vehicle of communication today, and because much of that communication is public, it’s no surprise some recruiters and hiring managers are tuning in.”

Another survey by ‘Konetic’ found that 80% of HR teams use social media for sourcing new staff. Facebook, for instance, is used by many employers to promote their brand and graduate-employment programmes and allow potential candidates to network with their employees and recruiting personnel. Another point worth noting is, according to a survey by ‘Right Management’ 94% of job candidates used Linkedin as their top social media site for job hunting and this social media site was the preferred choice for two thirds of hiring professionals for sourcing job candidates.

Other than Linkedin and Facebook, networking sites such as Google+, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs are frequently used by recruiters and hiring professionals too. In a nutshell, social media and networking sites play a key role in the jobsearch and job sourcing processes. These platforms can’t be ignored. The prevalent use of technology in smart cities such as Singapore coupled with emerging advances in social media related technologies do incentivize individuals regardless of age to reach out and build their jobsearch network using social media. They can find people in targeted organizations and connect directly with people that matter most – people who can offer them jobs.

So, does the humble paper resume matter at all or is it still relevant in this social media age?

The simple answer is YES. Certainly yes. Simply because, the recruiting and hiring people still solicit your resume after having identified you as a potential from among the hundreds on social media. Postings and write-ups on social media cannot and will not replace the RESUME.

Moreover, it’s still the only tool you, the job seeker, have for making that good first impression with your next prospective employer and getting your right foot in the door for that all-important, make-or-break interview. The full-length resume is still the only marketing tool and the professional profile that can fully portray you accurately, focusing on your capabilities and achievements, and the most important asset you have to offer – YOU!

But then, do you ever feel that you are sending your precious resume into the abyss when you apply for an internship or new job? Don’t despair. Jumping into the lake won’t solve your problem, either. Smile, you may be among the more than 90% of applicants left wondering what went wrong. On an average, there are more 190 applicants per job advertised, and only about 10% of those applications ever receive an interview invite. If yours is not among this 10% cohort, then, perhaps, your resume is the problem.

So, it’s time that you got your RESUME seen, noticed and read by the real people that matter most – the Hiring Managers. It is worth your while, economically, to invest some time and money making your resume the best and unique one possible.

How? You may ask. Consider these seriously:

·         Don’t ignore social media. Make it part and parcel of your jobsearch process. Integrate social media into the jobsearch plan.

·         Be bold. Stray from the norm, the standard. If your resume is ordinary, it remains ordinary.

·         Content strategy is king. Apart from choosing and using relevant and appropriate key action words, you must showcase your career achievements, accomplishments and play down on “what you did at that job and what you did at another job.”

·         Keep your resume current, up-dated, accurate and world-class.

At Successful Resumes, we are total professionals in resume crafting and have been doing so since 1992. We have more than 23 years of experience on this job and astutely know how to move you to your next job. Our resumes are individually-designed, expertly-written, professionally-presented and employer-centred.

Your resume is your most important marketing tool for getting your NEXT job. Make sure you don’t blow it.

Article by Larry Lim, Chief Executive of Successful Resumes Singapore and Career Management Institute. Successful Resumes Singapore is an integral part of Successful Resumes International with its HQ in Sydney, Australia that has more 20 years of professional experience crafting world-class resume for the discerning. Visit www.successfulresumessingapore.com for more information.