Career change mistake to avoid no. 1

Don't let your efforts run into the sand. If you're entertaining the idea of career change, try to avoid these mistakes.

1) Not knowing oneself. One common mistake among career changers is they have too few clues on what they really want in life. Don't let this mistake ruin your tempo. Before identifying new work possibilities, construct a list of your values and skills. Use the list to find out which jobs are least likely to dissatisfy you. Just because someone you trust suggested you to enter a certain industry, that doesn't mean that leading your entire job search to that industry is the best move. You might just get disappointed, so do your homework first.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

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"I've been eagerly job hunting for months, but to little avail. What's wrong?"

One of the most common inquiries we get on Linkedin and Facebook. Is this problem also bothering you? We want to ask you a few questions.

First things first, does your resume highlight your skills properly? Are you sure? Employers will judge you not by your name or birthplace but by your skills. By how much you can benefit their companies. This is the reason why we're advocates of "specific resumes". Employers will appreciate it a lot if you send them a resume that answers their queries straight. Another benefit worth mentioning here is that it'll show that you have initiative. Too troublesome? You'll reach places with putting in effort!


Does your resume scream of over-creativity? If yes, this can be the one causing your slump. Make your resume stand out by highlighting your strengths and achievements and not by making it artsy. Even those applying for art jobs are expected to send a formal list of their qualifications. Leave your portfolio to present your creativity! No to fancy fonts or papers!

What email address did you use for your applications? Maybe now is the time to lose that "sassyempress101" address? Get a new one -- something professional sounding.

Did you include cover letters in your applications? Did you "tailor" these cover letters? Cover letters are supposed to increase your chances of getting the job, but adding a template one in your application can give you a lazy personal brand. You don't want that, do you? Put yourself in employers' shoes. Would you find a generic resume and cover letter interesting at all? Here are our tips:

• Address the HR manager with his name.
• Base the content on your research about the company.
• Include there the reason why you're the best fit for the job.

Did you also apply to jobs for which you don't qualify? Yes? Do yourself a favor -- stay away from this mindset. It feeds your need at the start, but making aimless applications can only frustrate you as much as recruiters. Employers make their job ads as detailed as possible for a reason -- it's for you to have things to contemplate on. If a job ad asks applications from individuals with X, Y, and Z qualifications only and you're lacking Y, it's not very smart to still pursue it. If you don't meet the requirement, wait for a suitable job opening to come.

Are you afraid to follow up? Don't. Assuming you're really qualified for the job, following up will increase your chances of getting it. For your next batch of applications, follow up by phoning after three business days.

Have you been applying ALONE? A large percentage of jobs are hidden. If you have contacts, use them to ask for help. Networking will help you keep in right touch with the job market. Never underestimate the ability of networking to help you find a good job.

Are you an avid user of social media sites? There are employers who google names. Play it safe. Think of your accounts on Myspace, Blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. Remove everything that's potentially damaging. Think twice before making new updates.

JobsDB.com Singapore would like to remind you that it takes a lot of work to conduct a successful job search. We hope this short commentary has helped you pinpoint what's causing your slump.

Another piece of advice! Start keeping a job hunting log. Keeping track of where you've sent your applications will help you know if you're doing something right or wrong. If nothing else, it's going to be a good wake up call.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

JobsDB.com Singapore is committed to helping every job seeker land a good job. Currently looking for a job? Browse our jobs database and see if anything is of interest to you. It doesn't matter what industry you're in -- our jobs portal caters to every industry there is in Singapore, from Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs in Singapore to IT Jobs and Singapore Hospitality Jobs. Let us lead your way to rewarding jobs in Singapore, jump start you career with us.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

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Job hunting...JobsDB.com Singapore style

We hope you're satisfied with the summaries we've done for the latest headlines that matter. The Singapore job market is doing great, right? We're taking today to instruct you on how you can make proper use of the momentum. Please consider employing these tips from us for better results.


How would JobsDB.com Singapore go about job hunting if it were to do it? These past few days we've encountered a lot of people on Linkedin and Facebook asking us this curious question. Which among our dozens of job hunting write ups on this blog carry our stand? Makes a point, really. We have this uncanny penchant for job hunting as a topic (if you're an avid follower of this blog... you know) and we've already written plenty about it, but even we are confused as to which to point as the main one. After almost a year of writing job hunting stubs, here IT is.

We view job hunting in four stages: choosing the right industry, creating your resume, preparing for job interviews, and lastly, choosing the best job offer. JobsDB.com Singapore would do these if it were to job hunt. As to whether or not you'll follow us step by step, is entirely up to you.

Stage one: Industry exploration
Cheesy title, we know. We can't think of any better way to name this section, really. Here's what we want you to do: find the job function that fits the best with your interests and skills. Don't worry, this won't eat time. You'll only need to list down your personal passions and see them against the available openings in your choice of trade. Feel free to use our jobs portal to do this right.

Why bother doing this? Job mismatch can hit your career hard, so we don't want you to wind up having it as the major hindrance to your plans. What difference will this make? A lot. Allow us to use writing jobs as an example. Such careers have many dimensions -- there are writers in the banking field as well as in media. Technical writing jobs are very different from the writing jobs under the medical services sector e.g. medical transcribing. Do you get what we mean? If you're more into the technicalities of writing, you're better of in an editorial job. If you like being creative, copy-writing jobs under the media industry are for you.

Stage two: Resume writing
Our second most favorite job hunt tips topic, next to job interviews. Anyway, here are our ideas on resume writing. Read on.

If you already have a resume, our first task for you is to review it. Are the entries up to date? On the other hand, what we want fresh graduates to do is to write their first draft using what they've learned from their school counselors.

Done? We want you to review what you've done so far. Are there typos and misspellings? Correct them. Then, check if you've missed one or two of these must-include details in resumes: name, address, contact numbers, personal data, work history (including achievements and note-worthy experiences), educational background, and a summary of your professional qualifications.

Now, this is where it'll get complex. Because we don't believe in a run-of-the-mill approach., we want you to make edits for each of the job ads you're interested in. Base what you'll highlight in your resume from what the job needs.

How about cover letters? Yes! If nothing else, a cover letter is going to bring your resume into sharper focus.

Stage three: Preparing for job interviews
Why do we love writing about job interviews so much? Because of the topic's many intricacies. But don't worry, we're not going to bombard you with too much information here. We only have one word to say: Preparation.

What's with preparing? In order for you to answer with intellect and poise, you have to research -- about the company and their pursuits. By finding your way to the location and preparing your wardrobe a day before the appointment, you'll arrive at the interview on time. Now, are you getting the idea?

Of course what to do during the interview is another matter entirely. Here, the key is being attentive. Lend both your ears to the interviewer, so that you can make sure all your concerns are addressed. This will also make the interviewer feel appreciative towards you.

Also take note of your body language. It's normal to feel nervous, but hide it with a smile. Nothing beats being positive when it comes to impressing employers.

Stage four: Choosing the best offer
We've posted something about this topic on this blog recently. Do you remember? Here's our main advice: don't accept a job offer just because it's the first thing to come along. Weigh in all the advantages and disadvantages before signing anything. How would we evaluate job offers, if we were to do it? We're going to use these parameters:

• Salary. Which one gives the most respect to your qualifications?
• Which company do you think is the fairest in grading promotions?
• Which among your job offers include responsibilities that appeal the most to your interests?
• Which offers the best benefits?
• Which offers the best training opportunities?

We greatly encourage you to make use of these parameters. You may add more if you like.

We wish you luck! Want to read more? Here's a trackback for you:

`Resume writing guidelines, job interview tips, our thoughts on career change, and more...

`Ways to ruin a job interview

`Yet another job interview-related post from JobsDB.com Singapore. But this time, we're offering a BONUS with it. A big one.

`What to Wear on an Interview

`JobsDB Singapore's Resume Editing Tips

`Before you take a job offer... 10 questions to contemplate on.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

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"Talent" and the work world.

Let JobsDB.com Singapore start this post with a disclaimer. We're not in any way implying that being talented has a different overtone in the work world. Being talented stands you out -- just like in any other place or circumstance, it's what it does to you career-wise as well. So, what's the meaning of this post, then?

Have a good look at your resume. How would you rate yourself in terms of skills? Lacking or not, HOW are you planning to make yourself more talented?

Continuous learning is essential to career growth, remember? Versatility happens to be that one thing that employers give the most importance to in recruitment in this day and age of corporate breaknecks and posthastes. The thing that sets apart the concept of talent in the work world to being talented in school is that there's no "too little or too many" in the former. If you want to achieve career success, thriving from learning opportunities is the best strategy that you can ever pull off, in our opinion.

Alright, we admit, this is just another one of our posts on career development. But we have two good reasons to defend this stance: Reality check, competition is a constant in the work world and there will always be someone better than you. Whether you're a job hunter or career changer, this applies to you. As for our second reason, well, even though the Singapore jobs market is very needy right now (if anything else), do you think your skills are good enough to get you your dream job? What made us ask the question? According to human capital expert Edward Gordon, only 20 % of workers qualify for the jobs that are in high demand right now, we've read from the HR Blog. Learning, being the most effective counter strategy to this problem, should be your priority then.

And we're not alone in this, mind you. Darell Wee, Country Head of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has shared with JobsDB.com Singapore his views about this recently. Allow us to quote him: "How to develop - and keep talent - is a pressing issue for many employers around the world. It is also a matter for individuals to take on board too - how they develop and sustain their own talent. Managing one's own talent and career development is important too..." Christine Khoo, Managing Director of Recruit Strategy carries the same belief. For her, job seekers should always be open to training to learn new skills and do more networking to expand their job opportunities.

Whatever your belief is about career learning, this post is our challenge to you. How much time and material resources are you willing to spend to "expand your job opportunities" as Christine has put it? Currently job hunting or not, we suggest you consider attending some of these seminars from Career Events and LearningDB.com.

Career Events offer affordable but rewarding learning opportunities for both job seekers and working professionals. Network like a professional is its August offering. Don't miss this chance to learn how to maximize your opportunities at any event! Sign up now @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/StaticContent/SG/CareerEvents/events/network.htm. For more information, please call Pei Yan or Linc at 6861 1000 or email us at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg.

From computer courses to those about professional development, LearningDB.com has plenty in store for you this coming August. Something for your writing skills: Sandra Sandu-Reeves is set to have another session of Writing Proposals & Reports on Aug 3. Aug 12-13 are the dates to remember for Dr. John Ho's Strategic Business Planning & Budgeting. We also suggest the following seminars from Sandra to improve your work efficiency:

• Polished Presentation Skills -- (18 Aug)
• Training Mastery -- For line trainers, HR personnel & managers (19-20 Aug)
• Mind Mapping at Work -- optimise your thinking skills (25 Aug)

Learning doesn't just come from frequenting career events. of course. Having said that, we greatly encourage you to bookmark this blog for job industries updates. Headlines that matter can be a lot of help to you. From MOM updates to survey results from the leading recruiters in the country, News Watch can give you what you need too.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

JobsDB.com Singapore is committed to helping every job seeker land a good job. Currently looking for a job? Browse our jobs database and see if anything is of interest to you. It doesn't matter what industry you're in -- our jobs portal caters to every industry there is in Singapore, from Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs in Singapore to IT Jobs and Singapore Hospitality Jobs. Let us lead your way to rewarding jobs in Singapore, jump start you career with us.

We're also a website for Career Advice. From job hunting to career development, our career resources section can provide you helpful tips. Visit www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex now to get tips from experts.

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Headlines that Matter - Job Industries Ed. Beef up your job hunting with these bits.

We've been researching hard for headlines that matter cycle nine. But due to the success of last Thursday's post, we've decided to press the publish button already. We HAVE to send these now.


What's going on in the HR industry?
Remember Joanne Chua? JobsDB.com Singapore has interviewed her recently about HR career issues. We've featured her on this blog last week too. Anyway, Joanne has discussed with us the Singapore HR market's struggles in 2009, from redundancies to retrenchments. Should you worry? Well, it's 2010 already and we're particularly confident about this industry for the coming months, what with the job market going full on recovery mode.

In which HR areas should you focus your search on for faster results? Good question. But we don't want you to worry about this at all. The fact is, top companies are hiring. Recruitment agencies are hiring HR specialists because of this. HRMasia.com has noted in a July 26 article of theirs that much like information technology, there's also a good number of HR jobs that can be outsourced. This is good news for HR professionals outside Singapore.

Is it good to venture into a career under the SME protocol?
Why not? SMEs are hiring. It just doesn't show because they don't know how to "attract" candidates properly, according to a July 26 article from The Business Times that discusses the latest findings of Strategicom.

Strategicom chief executive Wilson Chew has shared with The Business Times that talents give plenty of importance to long-term career progression in choosing employers. SMEs can offer such a thing, but most of them just don't know how. If you're interested in entering the SME protocol, go online to get more information! Find the websites of the SME's you're interested in to see if their pursuits match with yours. If you find one that fits to a T, go ahead and inquire about openings.

Banks are on a hiring spree.
There's no better way to name this section, really. The optimism bug has finally reached the banking and finance sector, with many banks already enacting ways to increase their man power. Vivian Ng, division director of Robert Half has shared with Today that she's seeing a 20 percent increase in banks' hiring moves especially in sales.

Which banks are hiring? Today has mentioned the following: HSBC, Citibank, DBS, and Standard Chartered. Both HSBC and Citibank are looking to recruit a good number of relationship managers and they're entertaining both entry-level and senior applicants for this plan. DBS, on the other hand, is planning to recruit sales staff in line with its regional growth plans. Standard Chartered's hiring plans are the most aggressive according to Today, with it looking to fill 2,000 vacant position over the next two years. OCBC Bank has also been mentioned in the report but no specific positions has been listed.

To apply, you have two options: you can go to our portal for banking jobs or visit the main websites of these banks. Good luck!

Manufacturing's rebounding.
The industry of manufacturing has seen a lot of falls during the recession. But increased activity is being experienced across the industry now, The Straights Times has reported last July 3. Workers are working overtime. Bosses are being more aggressive in hiring. Companies are buying new machinery and more space. This quarter is a good time to test the waters. You might want to check out these manufacturing jobs.

What's up in legal & compliance?
The banking industry's in a good standing; finance lawyers are in high demand. Robert Walters has shared with Today that salaries for these professionals are even expected to rise between 10-20 percent this year. In legal & compliance and looking for a break? Jump start your career with us! You can look for openings in our database.

Hospitality vitality.
We've decided to focus our latest survey question on the hospitality industry for nothing. If nothing else, the hospitality industry in Singapore is very needy right now, due to the recent openings of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands. Our database is a testament to it -- both these tourism establishments are our clients. Resorts World Sentosa jobs and Marina Bay Sands jobs can easily be found in our database.

BTW, the hospitality industry welcomes professionals from other fields too, and so even though you're an HR professional or a technician, you're also welcome to apply. Resorts World Sentosa, for instance, is currently hiring people from the industries of human resource, sales and accounting.

What's new in the IT industry?
We've said it all yesterday. But here's a rundown: According to the latest Hays Quarterly Report, the sectors of energy, telecommunications and banking are currently in need of experienced IT professionals. Where to find openings? Our database is the most preferred when it comes to IT jobs in Singapore.

JobsDB Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Get the latest Singapore job market news by bookmarking News Watch. From MOM updates to survey results from the leading recruiters in the country, News Watch can give you what you need.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex. The latest jobs in our database can be found here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

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Singapore IT industry aspirants, READ THIS!

When it comes to stability, information technology rivals accounting and banking, really. It stood strong during the recession for nothing. This industry's worth praising for its constancy as an economic player, and we're taking today to announce something good for Singapore IT aspirants. Well, we're expecting it to exceed its jobs quota these coming months. There's renewed optimism in the job market after all. The positivity bug's spreading like crazy. The reason why we're calling upon IT professionals like you today is this.

The latest Hays Quarterly Report reveals that many IT positions are in high demand right now. The increase in number of large scale projects in the sectors of banking, telecommunications and energy has resulted in a big demand for candidates with strong technical backgrounds. Oracle, JAVA, C# and .Net specialists are in demand too as well web developers and IT project managers.

If you're in IT and you're currently looking for a job, of course, we want you to milk this opportunity. Use our database to apply for the most rewarding jobs in IT here in Singapore. Anymore advise? The usuals -- write your resume clearly, prepare cover letters, read our job interview tips to ace each of yours. We also suggest you consider these computer courses from LearningDB.com. Yes, you read that right.


Increase your computer skills even more for better luck in job hunting. Let us remind you that competition is a constant in the work world. Computer seminars often come in hefty price tags, but we're telling you, attending them can really up your search a mile. So, what does LearningDB.com has to offer when it comes to computer training? Plenty.

LearningDB.com's Advanced Microsoft Seminars are facilitated by Former NIE Trainers and CSC (Civil Service College) Trainers. For S$280, these seminars are great opportunities that you shouldn't miss:

• Microsoft Excel 2007 Advanced -- Learn how to perform time saving tasks on scenarios, reports and pivot tables effectively. Next full sessions will be on 05-06 Aug.
• Advanced Microsoft Access 2007 -- Learn how to manage data security in Microsoft Access 2007 in the most effective manner. The dates to remember are 15-17 Sep.
• Microsoft Word 2007 Advanced -- Learn how to work with large documents, handle mailing needs, and collaborate with others. Mark your calendar for LearningDB.com will be having full sessions of this again on 10-11 Aug.
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 Advanced -- Learn how to produce dynamic powerpoint presentations. Mark your calendar: 18 Aug.

Especially for those interested in programmer jobs and web design jobs, for only S$400(+/-) LearningDB.com's Adobe courses are a great investment. There will be new sessions of Dreamweaver CS3 Course on 19-20 Aug. For Flash CS3 Course, the dates to remember are 16-18 Aug. Our key facilitators are having their courses on Photoshop CS3 Fundamentals, Photoshop CS3 Advanced, and Photoshop CS3 for Print Design (Collaterals) again on 02-04, 23-25, and 12-13 of Aug respectively.

LearningDB.com also offers seminars on Management and Leadership, Customer Relations, Sales & Marketing, Communication Skills, Personal Development and Finance. You might want to check them out too. The website's training calendar will give you the latest schedules. For more information, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg.

And yes, even though you're not in IT, we also encourage you to attend these courses. Human resources or engineering, it doesn't matter which industry you're in. They'll look great in your resume.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

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How's your relationship with your boss? So-so? Here's a short career tip for you...

Although bosses like to be stoic most of the time, they will talk to you if you ask them to. So, instigate a conversation with yours. Ask him his goals and tell him how you are planning to go about those goals. See if your working policy matches his. If not, suggest ways to make them correlate. Sounds too pushy? Not really, if it's your career that you're trying to save, this is not something to be afraid of. Your boss might even adore your honesty.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

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Currently looking for a job? This is for you. What's going on in Singapore's job market.

We don't feature headlines on this blog on a regular basis for nothing. We do so for a very noble reason: we want you to realise that you can benefit a lot career wise from reading the news. Researching takes time, but likes from our followers take all the burnout away.

Reading the news is like consulting a fortune teller on which side to take to win the bet, so to speak. Job hunting is also about timing, remember? What better way to find timing than to consult those whose jobs are to be always on-the-know? Headlines that Matter has been on a hiatus for two weeks now, so here's to pay off the debt.

How is your job hunting going? Do you find yourself agreeing with the periodicals? Or are your reactions the opposite? Here are our observations about the latest goings-on in the Singapore job market. Our references? The press releases and reports we've received from partner organizations from the last couple of months. Here's for you to find out if you're pushing yourself to a dead-end all along or whether or not you're searching for job openings in the right industry.

Construction
The Government has been active in employing ways to improve our civil infrastructure. The platform is generating a range of construction jobs, from those under architectural services to civil engineering. Need we say more? Jump start your construction career with us!

Accountancy // Banking & Finance
Among all the job industries in our portal, the ones for accounting jobs and banking jobs stood the strongest against the recent recession, really. Accounting and finance careers are really hot here in Singapore, but well, we believe this is the case in other countries as well. All companies need accountants and finance executives after all.

Whether you're a career changer or a fresh graduate, don't get yourself too worked out for these industries are very stable. Hays Singapore is seeing high demand for professionals within the banking and finance industry until next year. Singapore finance professionals have been named by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants as the world's most optimistic -- this is a good proof too.

Advise? Allow us to quote ACCA in a report they've shared to us. "Graduates must not lose sight of their goals. Graduates need to highlight their relevant experience, so when applying for work, try to think of examples of non-academic roles you have performed, such as holiday jobs, work placements and even committee roles for university clubs and societies. This will show you can adapt to different situations outside education."

Information Technology
Rivaling accounting and banking in terms of stability is information technology. In today's work world where the internet and softwares play a major role, programmers, application specialists and web designers are always in demand. And if you prefer contract jobs, the more reason why you should feel ecstatic towards your job hunting. There's a rise in demand for contract candidates experienced in SAP and development including JAVA, C# and .Net. Infrastructure, according to Hays Singapore.

Pharmaceutical
With a ratio of one pharmacist to 3,000 people, there's definitely a shortage of pharma professionals here in Singapore. We've read from The Straights Times a couple of months ago that the Singapore's pharmacy council is expanding its list of recognised foreign qualifications to fix the problem. They're also allowing fresh graduates from overseas to carry our their pre-registration training here.

One more factlet to boost your mood: According to the July-September Hays Quarterly Report, many pharma companies are planning on increasing staff over the next year or so in order to take advantage of reduced costs per hire. Feel free to use our database to look for pharma jobs in Singapore.

Sales
When it comes to stability, the industry of sales is out of question. Sales jobs are jobs for all season, if you may. Our jobs database is a home to lots of rewarding sales stints. You might find your dream position there.

Human Resources
Top companies are increasing their staff. Staff agencies are hiring HR professionals because of this. Go ahead and look for HR jobs in our database. But wait, before you send out your resume, we also have advise to give. We've interviewed Joanne Chua a Manager at Robert Walters Singapore recently, remember? To quote her: "An absolutely essential ability for HR professionals is the capacity to possess a genuine passion for people development. It is all about soft skills, as well as having a high level of emotional intelligence (EQ). As equally important, would be the ability to build and manage relationships whilst networking with different levels of people within the organisation."

Hays Singapore offers a more in depth forecast in their July – September Report. It can be found on News Watch. For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

JobsDB.com Singapore is committed to helping every job seeker land a good job. Currently looking for a job? Browse our jobs database and see if anything is of interest to you. It doesn't matter what industry you're in -- our jobs portal caters to every industry there is in Singapore, from Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs in Singapore to IT Jobs and Singapore Hospitality Jobs. Let us lead your way to rewarding jobs in Singapore, jump start you career with us.

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Networking. Because we still have a lot to say.

Last Sunday, we talked about networking and how much doing it could improve one's job search. Said post was received quite well. We're following it up today.

What about networking are we discussing today? The proper ways of doing so. Last post lacked tips -- many of our followers had observed. We're answering now.

What is "proper" networking for JobsDB.com Singapore? Two words. Exchanging helps. There's more to networking than exchanging phone numbers with others, so to speak. Makes us remember our thoughts on resume references. Anyway, proper networking is "building relationships"; it's all about people communicating how they can help each other career-wise. The idea is simple: The more you provide help, the more powerful your network will become.


How would you rate yourself in terms of people skills, BTW? We want to know before we proceed because networking is all about people and no networking tip will work on your if you need a ton of improvement in this particular area. Use your score to figure out which seminars you'll benefit the most from attending. LearningDB.com offers seminars on communication skills that you might want to check out. Career Events' offering for August is about Networking, just so you know.

We've come to know that many people attend networking events for the sole purpose of SELLING, either themselves or their product. Being different will make you stand out. We know, the main point of networking is getting more people to notice your profile and potential, but do this while being interested to other people too. Be people's referral source and they'll respond in kind by helping you reach more people.

Also remember that networking is a non-stop activity. By sharing your number to a person, you're extending your continuous support to him. He's expected to do the same and the relationship is off to a prosperous one. The keyword here is "Nurturing": Send an email to everyone in your network once in a while.

How can you diversify your networking group? This has also been put to our attention by one of our followers through last Sunday's post. We say, add people from your current industry, people from job industries that you'd like to get to know better and people you share interests with.

As for maintaining your network, here's what we have to say: Networking entails the need for organisation. Embrace a system to organize and all the names and numbers you've collected from others. Hey, an address book won't cost you a fortune.

One more thing: The key to successful networking is courtesy. Good manners go a long way, we're telling you. The work world is uncertain, so treat all of your contacts as if they're the most important people you know. You'll never know who'll ending up giving you the biggest break of your life.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. It's also a website for Career Advice. From job hunting to career development, its career resources section can provide you helpful tips. Visit www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex now to get tips from experts.

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The HR career route. Career tips. How to make your HR career switch. And more.

Browse through our archives and you'll have these observations: We're talkative (and we admit to that) and we've already written tons of write ups for banking jobs, engineering jobs and hospitality jobs in Singapore. You can't blame us, they're really hot. It's about time we feature something for HR aspirants. If your pursuits are focused on the HR industry, whether you're a fresh graduate or career changer, this post is for you to ponder on.


When it comes to career, there's no easy way out of things. HR jobs may not involve stressing writings tasks like editor jobs or logic problems like sciences jobs, but mind you, the HR path isn't going to let you in without preparation. Think along these lines: design jobs need creativity. Education careers need perseverance. Hotel jobs and food jobs require that you be more friendly and accommodating.

We know, career building is quite complex. That's why we've invited a professional from the human resources industry (and not just "someone") to join us today. Shall we begin?

Generally speaking, what do HR jobs require?
"The capacity to possess a genuine passion for people development", Joanne Chua, a Manager at Robert Walters Singapore and our guest for today thinks so. It's quite understandable why. Much like entertainment jobs and hotel jobs, HR jobs are all about soft skills and EQ competitiveness; the major responsibilities are focused on dealing with people. So, how would you rate yourself in terms of people skills?

Any other?
Actually there are many. Since we want to make things easier for you, here's a list. Joanne describes a competitive HR officer as one who:

1. has a keen sense of empathy and awareness
2. is flexible
3. recognises individuality instead of looking upon employees as a mass
4. is able to distinguish between the parameters of judging a right from a wrong
5. has the ability to deal with downsizing and restructuring

Tough? Yes, but don't get the idea that we're discouraging you to pursue your goals. And it's not like you're required to master all these skills. Again, we want you to evaluate yourself.

What do employers look out for?
Relevant experience is out of question, according to Joanne. She encourages fresh graduates to focus on applying to larger organisations since they have better resources for training.

How to compensate?
Making you aware of problems without suggesting solutions is unethical. So how did your evaluation go? Good or not, we suggest you consider attending these training courses from LearningDB.com. Don't worry, we're not going to bombard you with suggestions.

1. Emotional Intelligence at Work -- Leslie Choudhury is going to have another session of this on September 17. Mark your calendar.
2. Success Skills for Secretaries and Support Staff -- HR officers are support people and so, you'll benefit a lot from attending this seminar from Shirley Taylor. She's going to have this again on October 13.
3. Successful Business Communication Skills -- Something for your communication skills. Shirley Taylor and Alison Lester is scheduled to have this successful seminar again on November 18.

You can look for more options @ LearningDB.com's training calendar.

How about for career changers?
Your advantage is that you already have skills that you can use to succeed with your pursuit. According to Joanne, sales professionals and recruitment consultants are the luckiest career changers with regards to this aspect. But of course, everyone has equal chances for success. Please go about the first three questions to see how you can make yourself more bankable.

We wish you luck with your pursuits! Read more from Joanne @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career Guide?ID=406.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

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Let's take a break from all the serious stuff today and talk about cool jobs.

You've read the title. So, do you think fitness jobs are cool jobs? Or maybe you're the type who prefers editorial jobs over any other? We enjoy writing about cool jobs in as much the same way as we enjoy job hunting and career change as topics, really. So, yes, we'll really appreciate if you participate in today's discussion. What are your thoughts about cool jobs?

Our take on this topic? People have different tastes, and so when it comes to coolness, no "job is better than the other" for us. It all depends on the person's preference. This is what pushes us to keep exploring this concept on Career Advice, particularly on Campus.

If given the choice would you rather have a music career or a medical job? What's cooler for Andrew Green, a second year medical student at Duke-NUS, is quite obvious. "The medical and health care industry will always have lots of great opportunities for people who are keen to pursue a meaningful and rewarding career", we remember him telling us that. On the other hand, professional pianist, Katya Grineva, grew up admiring music, so if she were to be asked the question, she'd answer the former. Definitely. If we were to interview piano teacher Midorie Tjiawi again, she'd have the same views as Katya -- that we're sure of.

Another question: which is cooler, being an athlete or a beauty queen? A matter of gender preference? Not really. Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, would be in favor of athleticism. Why, she's Singapore’s Sportswoman of the Year 2009. We've interviewed her before, do you remember? We need not point out what beauty queens Audrey Quek and Elaine Heng would answer, if they were to be asked this too. Two points for beauty careers!

Here's a challenging one: magician job or yoga job -- which is cooler? They're both fun in their own rights, right? Hard? How about we give you some supporting facts to help you decide? "Practicing hot yoga helps me to live a more holistic lifestyle that keeps me fit, in tune with myself and grounded.", of course, yoga instructor Tana Lee is for yoga job. Backing up the magician job side is popular illusionist JC who loves his job because of his passion for otherworldly entertainment.

Because we still have a lot to say: finance jobs vs. radio broadcasting jobs? Whether you're a number lover or arts aficionado -- this will decide. Radio DJ Glen Ong would often make his own recordings on cassette tapes when he was young. It's quite obvious which side he's in for this. Gavin Zheng, Financial Consultant with NTUC Income chose to study Electronics Computer and Communication at Nanyang, so it's safe to assume he's a number lover. What about you?

Our point in this post isn't really complex: If you're a fresh graduate, we want you to explore your options and preferences before you choose job openings to apply. Don't decide to enter an industry just because it makes a lot of money. If you're already working, regardless of whether or not you believe in the concept of cool jobs, we hope this post can help you decide which destination you should take your career next for career success. If you're thinking of a career change, we're not stopping you...if it's the only option left.

It's fun talking about cool jobs, right? 'Til next time. These are our past posts about cool jobs that you might want to read too:

Of cool jobs and being a dog trainer

JobsDB Singapore features a cool job: Being a magician

Of Job Satisfaction and Yoga Teaching

Cool Jobs - Make Up Artist

BTW, since it's somehow related, please give us a few more minutes of your time to promote this: Would you want to work in Singapore’s vibrant Hospitality industry? What's your call? “No” is leading by a mile (2,513 out of 3,000+) … that Hospitality Jobs prospects aren’t still good enough. Do you agree? Vote now.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

JobsDB.com Singapore is committed to helping every job seeker land a good job. Currently looking for a job? Browse our jobs database and see if anything is of interest to you. It doesn't matter what industry you're in -- our jobs portal caters to every industry there is in Singapore, from Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs in Singapore to IT Jobs and Singapore Hospitality Jobs. Let us lead your way to rewarding jobs in Singapore, jump start you career with us.

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Networking is a great job search strategy. Improve your networking skills with these seminars.

We like giving job hunting tips on this blog (last Saturday's post was, in fact, about references, just to remind you). We're pretty sure you know what our thoughts about networking are already. Networking is the real secret of job hunting. Why secret? Although it's FREE, it seems not very many are doing it. The purpose of this post is to encourage you to incorporate this strategy in your career. It won't be hard, we'll help. =)


For the sake of those new to this blog, networking can do a lot to your job hunting, but there are two major benefits. Being unemployed gives you a distinct feeling of uselessness and your contacts can be a great source of inspiration and motivation to keep going -- that's the first. The second is quite obvious: your contacts can hand you access to the elusive hidden jobs market.

What we want you to do next is quite obvious: review your contacts list. How is it? Is it bad? Fret not, making phone calls is all it takes to get your list working again. Don't hesitate to phone your former offices to check whether or not you still have the correct numbers of your old supervisors and bosses. If you're a fresh graduate, what you should check are the numbers of your professors and your school's career counselor.

Of course, there's more to networking than that. The goal is to add more professionals into your list, so we encourage you to frequent career events such as career fairs and skills workshops. Needless to say, such events are a great terrain for meeting new people. Where to look for schedules, you ask? You can start @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore. LearningDB.com has plenty in line for this coming months (e.g. Strategic Business Planning & Budgeting, Successful Business Communication Skills, and Creativity at Work). Career Events too.

Hey, Career Events and LearningDB.com actually has seminars on networking. Attend these and receive two career benefits: the benefit of learning about making great connections and meeting other professionals (our point above).

With the overwhelming response Career Events received for 'Network like a Professional!' in November 2009, we're pleased to organize it once again for those who have missed the previous session. Sandra Sandu-Reeves is having this great workshop again on August 21. Learn how to INITIATE and SUSTAIN a good conversation with poise, presence and confidence! Mark your calendar. For more information, please call Pei Yan or Linc at 6861 1000 or email us at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg.

When it comes to communication skills, LearningDB.com has a lot to offer, really, but you'll get the best tips on networking from these two: Making Great Connections and Professional People Skills. For schedules, please check this training calendar. Need more LearningDB.com information? Please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg.

Career Expo 2011 is another great networking event that you shouldn't miss. We want you to update your planner with this now: JobsDB.com Career Expo 2011 : 25th– 27th March Halls, 402 – 403 Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore

Just a little note before we end this post: Networking isn't about getting contact numbers of people, but rather exchanging helps. Think this way: you're building relationships. Good luck!

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

JobsDB.com Singapore is committed to helping every job seeker land a good job. Currently looking for a job? Browse our jobs database and see if anything is of interest to you. It doesn't matter what industry you're in -- our jobs portal caters to every industry there is in Singapore, from Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs in Singapore to IT Jobs and Singapore Hospitality Jobs. Let us lead your way to rewarding jobs in Singapore, jump start you career with us.

We're also a website for Career Advice. From job hunting to career development, our career resources section can provide you helpful tips. Visit www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex now to get tips from experts.

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About resume references

Another spur of the moment advice. But it makes a point, and so here it is:

The references section of your resume is not a phonebook in which you can write anyone you want. Your fate as a job applicant lies in the people you put there, to put it bluntly. The basic rule in choosing employment references is, "the more you know the person, the better". But, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Choose someone who knows you as a "professional", not as a "friend". There's a big difference between the two. It’s always best to choose former managers or supervisors for this.


But wait, your references screening shouldn't just end there. Ask the people you picked if they are willing to provide you reference. Doing this also gives you the opportunity to check if the reference's phone number is correct. By ending it with references that are easy to contact, you are ending your resume with a bang. Trust us, a thing as simple as this can make you stand out amongst all the others.

JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

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Your opinions matter on this blog. Learning. Career Change. Job loss. Networking. News = Resource. Do you agree with our views on these?

First things first: This was inspired by a message we had received from Linkedin critiquing the validity of a certain post on this blog. Why do we give Career Advice, anyway? Every step in the career development ladder involves risks and practicality dictates that following "random" tips can be suicidal, but THIS is OUR blog. We think of this as an informal extension of Career Advice -- we write with all our hearts, after all. It's a matter of choosing which to follow and enact or not.

JobsDB.com Singapore's sworn goal is to help as much people, job seekers and career changers alike, as it can with their career endeavors. Having been in the jobs market business for years, we know what our posts should be about: every article should be responsive towards what our followers demand from us. There's no way we're going to miss that point, we're confident to say, because we listen. In the first place, this is the reason why we have ACTIVE profiles on Linkedin, Facebook, Multiply, and Twitter.

Have we missed something? In this post, we're calling for your opinion. When it comes to career concepts, we're very talkative, really. Let's talk. We want to discuss our views on the most common career topics with you. Read on.

Learning
We're pretty confident that we have the same views regarding this as most career counselors. Why do we always say that continuous learning is essential to career growth? Companies undergo changes in order to meet the growing standards of the corporate world; you have to keep your skills timely to stay relevant. Career Events and LearningDB.com were built from this belief -- nothing beats joining skills trainings and career workshops when it comes to the goal of updating skills. We also suggest you join job boards and organizations to learn from other professionals.

Career change
One of the most controversial career topics out there. When is the right time to move on? For JobsDB.com Singapore, it depends on the situation. Is career change your only option? Would doing so hit your family hard? We remember saying this in one of our Career Advice features: "A career change is a move that should be thought of in all seriousness. Before making the decision, you need to find out if you're fit for a career change." Questions to ponder on:

• Are you finished soul searching?
• Can you consider yourself "better" than most job hunters?
• Is your network enough to get you moving?
• Are you prepared for the stress?

Job loss
Being retrenched is not the end of the world -- we're confident that many would agree with us on this too. What to do after the loss? Now, this one's where we get mixed comments. For us the things to do after job loss of course, aside from looking for Singapore job openings again, are networking and joining career events from career fairs to seminars. We also believe that getting a contract job is a smart move after job loss -- for your finances and credentials.

Networking
We believe that in today's job world, it also matters who knows you. Do you also agree that networking is the real secret of career building? We have two reasons for believing this:

• Your contacts can provide you emotional support when you need it.
• They can give you access to the hidden jobs market too, should a career change come to your mind.

Using the news as a career resource.
Change is constant. This is the best way to keep yourself well adapted to what's happening around. Regularly reading news about your field and consulting experts are the best ways to get tips on how you can conquer your chosen career path. What do you think of this?

This is the reason why we have News Watch. Planning a career transition? Reading the news will tell you which industries are accommodating right now. For example, according to the July – September Hays Quarterly Report, employers will be looking to recruit the following skills: Internal Auditors, Finance Managers, Retail Bankers, Business Analysts, Compliance professionals, Programmers, IT Project Managers, Property Managers, and Sales Executives.


JobsDB.com Singapore
Singapore's finest resource for jobs
http://www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore

Looking for a job? JobsDB.com Singapore is the preferred jobs portal for Singapore Careers and Jobs in Singapore - From Accounting Jobs and Banking Jobs to Beauty Careers and Entertainment Jobs. Jumpstart your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

For career tips, we recommend Career Advice. From job hunting tips to career development guidelines, get advice from experts @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

Read More