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

TO INSPIRE  TO TRANSFORM

HAPPY SG50 SINGAPORE

RBS EMPLOYEES FACE THE AXE

RBS EMPLOYEES FACE THE AXE

The Straits Times on 31 July 2015 reported that the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is believed to be axing hundreds of jobs at its Singapore operations as it scales back its business presence. RBS employs some 1500 here in Singapore and has yet to confirm the exact number of employees to be axed. RBS posted a first half loss of S$327 million.

Observers believe more global banks have been scaling back on their investment banking jobs and have offshored mid to back office operations elsewhere.

Another piece of bad news – oil and gas industry giant PMC Technologies from the US plans to axe 2000 jobs!

The employment market in Singapore isn’t getting any better. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported on 30 July 2015 that employment contracted and citizen unemployment rose to 2.9% in Q2. Economists and manpower chiefs cautioned that employment rates needed to be monitored closely especially as weak economic conditions continue to persist in the region and with fresh, young and qualified graduates from our universities joining the employment queue.

As the job market is getting more and more crowded and challenging, you need to ensure that you have a first class, outstanding resume with you standing out on your own resume. Resumes crafted by Successful Resumes Singapore are individually-designed, expertly-written, professionally-presented and employer-centric.

Success Resumes Singapore

www.successfulresumessingapore.com

Inspiring, Transforming the NEXT

Crafting employer-centric RESUMES for discerning people worldwide since 1992

RESUME WRITING .... TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL

Resume Writing … To Tell or Not to Tell

People with DISABILITY ….. People with SPECIAL NEEDS are often in a quandary when it comes to applying for jobs. They are faced with this inevitable problem. Should one or shouldn’t one disclose one’s disability. Some well-minded friends, relatives and even some professional career advisors suggest that these people hide their disability in their resumes or job applications

What’s your opinion on this?

Firstly, we should accord people with special needs due respect and understanding. Personally, I recommend “Be open about one’s disability” when writing one’s resume. Be truthful and transparent. And one can turn one’s disability into one’s strength and get hired.

Time and our social environment have changed. Employers, these days, are very discerning and caring towards people with special needs. So, go ahead and disclose one’s disability. Be transparent. Use one’s resume and, subsequently, one’s interview to truly showcase one’s true self, shortcomings, developmental needs and the necessary adjustments at the workplace.

When a person is truthful and transparent about one’s suffering from disability and open throughout the hiring/recruitment process, one won’t be fearful of being caught red-faced, thus, allowing oneself to concentrate on strategically planning and rehearsing for the interview. Being transparent would also mean the potential employer can put in place necessary adjustments for

the interview and, later, the workplace. It pays to “talk the talk and walk the walk”.

Successful Resumes Singapore

www.successfulresumessingaore.com

Inspiring, Transforming the NEXT

Crafting employer-centric RESUMES for discerning people worldwide since 1992

RESUME WRITING: WHY YOUR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR CAN DESTROY YOUR CHANCE OF SECURING THAT COVETED JOB ON OFFER

Though communication nowadays is trending more and more toward the casual end of the spectrum, some business settings still desire professionalism. You have been told umpteen times the importance of good spelling and grammar when you are out job hunting.

Do today’s hiring managers and employers still pay so much attention to spelling and grammar in your resume and cover letter? Yes, they certainly do! But why? Why are they still so sticky about correct spelling and grammar? Because:

1      First Impression

Remember, the first contact you make with the potential employer is always your written resume and cover letter. Poor spelling and grammar can destroy your chance of creating a first good impression. The hiring manager is in the position of power in the hiring process. The decision whether or not to invite you for an interview depends on him/her.

2     Importance of Written Communication

       Most, if not all, employers list effective communication as an essential criterion in the hiring process. Poor spelling and grammar can mean your ability to communicate effectively with the business community is hampered.

      Don’t Care a “Damn Attitude”

Employers, on the whole, take your attitude towards your job application seriously. Hiring is for the long haul. And if you won’t care less about proofreading and checking your spelling and grammar, it shows that you are not serious about the job you are applying for. If you display a “Don’t Care a Damn Attitude” so openly in your resume, why would the hiring manager bother considering you?

4    The Horn Effect

Hiring managers and employers, when seeing repeated spelling and grammar errors in your resume, may conclude you “lack attention to details”, show traits of laziness and lack of pride in your work. Psychologically, they assume you may also have other undesirable traits. This is termed as the “Horn Effect”.

5    Sitting Duck

Hiring managers are often overwhelmed by far more job candidates than they desire. Thus, if your resume and cover letter contain glaring spelling and grammar errors and if you constantly refuse to play by the spelling and grammar rules, you would have unintentionally turned yourself into a “sitting duck”. You put yourself on being the first to be eliminated.

So before you submit your resume and cover letter to a hiring manager, spend some time proofreading them and your emails for accuracy.

For more information on our professional resume writing service, log onto www.successfulresumessingapore.com
Successful Resumes Singapore
Inspiring, Transforming the NEXT
Crafting employer-centric RESUMES for discerning people worldwide since 1992

 

Episode 25: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility