Latest jobs. Beef up your job hunt!

Retrospection, December 2009: We needed attention to survive. Badly. Thus, we experimented with different things, from our writing to image. Which one worked? We suppose, we don't have to retell.

Indeed, the humor approach in writing, albeit in a twisted sort of way with the comments in annoyances and all, gave us what we wanted: a fanbase large enough to provide us a stable number of visits, a proof that we could hold on to at down times for motivation. All's well ends well...or so we thought until recently.

The problem hasn't ended. The place is still dry despite the list on the right hand side. The physical assurance of the list isn't enough to hush down our worries, apparently: we need participation from readers... a steady one. Maybe we failed to interest them with the topics? And so did we decide to make Singapore job updates a regular every Friday. Something that could appeal to anyone, a universal topic, nonetheless.

Because it's Friday today (never mind the time frame of this blog), obviously, we're going away from the career experts to let in job updates. Was that bad for an introduction? Anyway, the heart of this post is in the job alerts that we've yet to write, and so we don't mind. Now, will you give us the chance to present to you that heart?


This doesn't have anything to do with Singapore jobs and career building per se, but we figure it'll boost your motivation if we include this finding here. And at the start. Singapore has ranked 17th in a list of the most prosperous nations, compiled by London-based analytical centre Legatum Institute. Dominating the top ten are European countries with United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand taking the rest of the slots. Malaysia was the only South-east Asian country that made it to the top 50, taking the 43rd slot. Isn't that refreshing to know?

Now, off to the jobs. According to a latest study by DTZ research, the office sector in Asia Pacific continued to expand in the third quarter. Singapore in particular has made a strong recovery, garnering a 1.7% increase. What does this imply? For us, it means that the Singapore jobs market is really back on its game, vacancy wise. Singapore positions are back to being plenty, particularly those stationed in offices such as admin jobs, hr jobs, IT jobs, writing jobs, finance jobs, and management jobs. Do you think so too? How is it treating you in terms of job hunt?

This from The Straights Times: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in its twice-yearly macroeconomic review is expecting the services sector to lead the economy boost next year. Which means more bank jobs, hotel jobs, casino jobs, retail jobs, food jobs, and tourism jobs to expect...there we said it.

Of course, this will not be complete without citing top jobs from www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch. Judging by their vast numbers in our database, as of present, job hunters of electrical engineer jobs, web designer jobs, teacher jobs, PR jobs, secretary jobs, and transportation jobs are in for a smooth weekend of job hunt.

Other announcements...

Singapore Airlines will be conducting walk-in interviews at Grand Hyatt on Nov 6. We know... we've announced this already. We just don't want you to forget about this great opportunity!

Are you looking for fresh graduate jobs? JobsDB Campus has just been updated with a good number of entry level jobs. Visit to see the jobs and also to get career tips from experts. BTW, did you know that writing Campus a feedback could win you movie passes? The best email every month from a JobsDB member will win a cool prize of a pair of movie passes! Send you feedback at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/StaticContentFullContainer/Campus/campuscontact.htm. You can also send your email to marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg.

Survey update! Have you voted in our latest survey? We're asking "do you have your dream job?" No is leading by a mile; apparently, many are not 'in love' with their current jobs. How about you?

Next stop, featured upcoming events. Career Events and LearningDB.com are always working hard to provide you relevant career workshops and training opportunities to attend. Attend these two and you're on your way to success!

• 20 Nov -- Impress Your Prospective Employers with Your Resume by Career Events. Equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills on Resume Writing Skills to embark on your path of career success!
• 26 - 28 Nov 2010 -- The Millionaire Mind Intensive by LearningDB.com. You'll identify and reset your blueprint for personal and money success forever! right there, right then at the Millionaire Mind Intensive!

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.

Again... many thanks to The Straights Times, Today Online, and channelnewsasia.com for the updates!

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Requesting a Pay Raise. The trick.

"The more prepared and focused you are, the more likely it will be for you to achieve success." Very true. After some retrospection, we realised it was what helped us pass through the eye of the needle.

December last year, we were locked in the middle of a do or die struggle, trying to find a way of getting more people into our fanbase, something that would ensure us a stable number of visits. That time, reader's participation was a big gaping hole in our chests, the thing that was hindering us from going further into our GPOA, the Berlin wall of our Germany, in other words. The possibility of us surviving was thin due to lack of supporters. In other words, this place was dry.

Which made sense. Lots of. It turned out that not even our being the child of an established jobs portal was enough to get us what we wanted. And so we began looking around for strategies that could support our idealistic plans. The solution we came up with was a risky approach: to instead tackle topics with added humor so as to encourage readers to comment, a kind of 'we're friendly like that so talk to us' arrangement. Hence, the ranting and rambling, which we do until now. And we're still pleased at the results. Guess, it was a good choice after all?

Why settle with ranting when there are many other less annoying forms of humor out there? We suppose now's a good time to address this question. Two options: we can have a lengthy debate on the subject...or you can simply accept that it was all for the clicks, and move on. Well, more of 'being practical to be able to help more people in the future' kind of mind frame. We needed clicks to survive, and that was what we did. So we're still here, ranting and talking to you about our uncanny preference in humor (and keeping your career plans in tact).

And then we move into this choice's most painful aspect: annoyed readers. We've been a little boring with our write ups these past few weeks, allowing stress management, work life balance, career planning, time management, to rule the limelight. Haven't you noticed? Anyway, the reason for this little chat is that we just want to get things straightened out...because really, we think we haven't been clear with our new GPOA yet. November is going to be a month of revamps...and so, you have lots to look forward to, from training opportunities to career tips.

Perhaps it'll help if we say that our editors have excellent update plans for www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore. Another reason for you to check Career Advice and this career blog more often, we suppose? How excellent, you ask? Have you seen the new career guide on salary increase from Robert Walters Singapore? The one from Andree Mangels, Manager, Sales & Marketing recruitment division for the IT & Telco and Engineering sectors at the company? That kind of excellence. Speaking of which, we remember making a promise of featuring it on this blog within this week. We don't like making our followers wait for a long time...and so, this is it.


How to ask for a pay raise? We've been asked to comment on this subject a million times. Our take on this is that in order for the request to be granted, proper research and negotiation must be done. Sounds a little bit playing safe, but really, that's the way to do it. Too much of anything can be troubling, in this aspect of career advancement.

"The more prepared and focused you are, the more likely it will be for you to achieve success." Andree gets that argument into detail. Yes, these motivating words are from him. Research in what quantity and terms? What negotiation approach is the most appropriate for such a request? He's tackled it all in his 'How to get a pay raise' article. His tactical tips that can help working professionals secure the increase they've been waiting for are very thorough, but for our readers' quick reference, we've listed down the basic points below:

• Find out the current salary levels in your industry.
• Gather your past performance appraisals.
• Construct your arguments using the appraisals, noting your salary level findings.
• List down all the things your boss may use to say no. Practice with the draft.
• Be reasonable when negotiating. Settle with what you're comfortable with. Don't overvalue or undervalue yourself.
• Regardless of what the outcome of the negotiation may be, stay professional. No matter how emotionally satisfying, don't end the talk with threats.
• Send a thank you note. Let your boss know that you appreciate his considering of your request.

Worst case scenario. What to do in case of rejection? Andree has two words for that: stay positive. "Be proactive in creating the right environment and conditions to negotiate your next raise." Continue documenting your successes and achievements for a better "next time." He wants you to practice your communication skills and negotiation skills as well.

You can read the complete article at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/ask-an-expert.htm?ID=489. Related articles we suggest you check out too:

What Are You Worth?

Double Your Salary

And since we're already talking about money... Can we interest you with this seminar from LearningDB.com?

The Millionaire Mind Intensive

You'll identify and reset your blueprint for personal and money success forever! right there, right then at the Millionaire Mind Intensive! For more information, please contact at 1800 7822 377 / 65-6299 4677 or email info.sg@srpl.net.

Also, some upcoming finance courses from LearningDB.com:

Nov 15-16 -- Strategic Pricing & Costing by John Ho
Dec 10 -- The Art of Collecting Debts Through the Telephone by George Goh

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 and career building made easy. Tips for safe career transactions on the internet.

Today, we live in a world so attached to the internet and its conveniences that it can be difficult to remember this: once upon a time, job applications were done by foot and career planning was all about reading career books. Building a career was expensive, to say the least, with career books and newspapers serving as the main sources of bits to succeed. But at least, the grounds were safer, with lesser risks for frauds and scams.

Not that we're condemning the very thing that makes our existence possible (thanks to the internet, we're able to display public service as we know it), but really, the internet has made it difficult to spot which job ads are safe to apply for and which career tips are okay to follow. With the internet being free for all -- no money is needed to act out as a career expert online -- the watch line of precaution is close to being invincible. While www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore has everything from Singapore jobs to career advice, there's just no stopping its followers and members to seek for more resources that they can use for their pursuits, probably to make things faster. The rush is there to feed and we can only give so much.

What do we suggest career professionals and job hunters to do to brace this challenge? We've been asked to comment on this a million times, and today we're answering. Especially in sensitive affairs such as Singapore job search, salary increase, job offer considerations, and such, decision making can be as tricky as urban legends.

We've long recognised this problem, of course. Browse our 2009 publishings and you'll spot a certain post of ours about job hunting and career building using the internet as tool, which albeit short, still holds relevance up to this date. And that's why we've thought of following it up today, only, this edition is going to be more thorough. We're giving more space for career building concerns...to get things straight for once. This is so that, the next time our followers browse for career tips on the internet, they'll know how and what to filter.


First stop, safety tips for job hunters. According to career expert, Teena Rose, phishing -- an attempt to extract personal information through what appears to be authentic emails/ads -- is the one thing that job seekers must always be concerned about whenever they're browsing for jobs to apply for online. "Knowing what to look for and how to spot fraud (or potential areas for abuse) can be the best deterrent to ensuring you have a safe experience while conducting your job search", says Teena in her 5 Tips for a Safe Online Job-Search article at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/safe-online-jobsearch.htm?ID=174. The tips? Here they are, summarised for your easy reference:

Tips to make safe online job applications:

1. Be leery of submission invitations. "Always proceed with caution when you receive a cold-contact email from someone", says Teena. It's better that you do the cold calling. If the email does look authentic, call the recruiting agency in the email or visit their website before you respond.
2. Avoid responding to requests for personal information, such as a social security or credit card number. Often, reputable companies call when they need such information, not email.
3. When purchasing from a resume writing or resume submission service, for example, ensure information is encrypted upon hitting submit. Two signs of encryption: URL that starts with https rather than http and/or a padlock in the bottom right corner of your screen.
4. Read and understand the privacy policy of sites you patron. Websites have privacy policies for you to read them. Here's how JobsDB.com Singapore works for instance: www.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/StaticContentContainer/PrivacyPolicy.htm.
5. Tell! If it smells fishy, report it. So that other people will know too.

Working professionals are less likely to get caught in a scam than job hunters, but it's always good to be knowledgeable of precautionary tips when browsing for career tips online. Gut feeling plays an important role in the filtering, but please consider these reminders from us as well, as inspired by the thoughts of the career experts that our editors have featured on Career Advice.

Career building made easy:

• How to negotiate for a salary increase. Do it with proper research. Learn about the latest salary levels in your industry and use your findings to discuss your past performance appraisals. That should do the trick. Of course, the presentation calls for good communication skills. And negotiation skills.
  
• How to request for training opportunities. Your boss will appreciate the suggestions. If you come across career workshops and skills seminars that you think can benefit you and your colleagues a lot, don't hesitate to pass them to your boss for consideration.
• Good office etiquette? Don't gossip and before you do things, be conscious of your colleagues. Before you let out a comment, think: will it offend someone?
  
• How important is EQ in career building? In today's team-based work environments, it's important that you know how to deal with different kinds of people. It's a skill that can take you to career success when you use it properly.
• What's a good way to manage tasks? Divide your tasks into two: priority and lesser priority. Focus on your priority list, finish all the entries there, before you look into the other group. This is for organisation and time management.
• Is it time to make a career change? Is it your only option? Before you resign, make sure you've considered all your options or at least, already have a new job waiting for you.

Related articles that you might want to read:

Planning a career change? Find out if you're ready for such a big move

How to Get that Pay Raise

5 Golden Rules of Good Office Etiquette

How to excel in your career

GROWING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER

Career Development Basics

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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What's new on JobsDB.com Singapore. Singapore Jobs, Training Opportunities, Career Tips, and more.

New things to look forward to are nothing if not motivating. It's not surprising that the word "new" is considered a potent weapon in the realm of advertising, what with its capability to bring positivity. New job openings, from Banking Jobs and Accounting Jobs to Manufacturing jobs and Logistics jobs, renew hope for job hunters while new training opportunities and employee benefits do that job for career professionals. We admit to being boring these past few weeks, what with our concerns over stress management and all, and so... Yes, hoping to renew your interest on this blog, "what's new from JobsDB.com Singapore" is what we've decided to discuss for today during the brainstorm. Not that we're doping this for clicks, but well, you've requested and so shall we deliver.


So what does www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore have that's new? Singapore Jobs, it goes without saying. Our signatures say it all: Find Jobs cater to every industry there is in Singapore. Judging by their vast numbers in our database, those job hunting for Hotel Jobs, Engineering Jobs, Fashion Design Jobs, Construction Jobs, Insurance Jobs, Media Jobs, and Science Jobs are in for a good week.

For working professionals, our editors have just uploaded a new article on salary increase. Something we've always been asked to give tips on, this article containing tips from Andree Mangels, Manager, Sales & Marketing recruitment division for the IT & Telco and Engineering sectors at Robert Walters Singapore will put to light all your salary concerns and help you achieve what you want pay-wise. We promise to feature this more thoroughly one of these days -- today is announcement day, after all -- but here's a quick rundown of his tips for your easy reference. Or you may read the complete article at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/ask-an-expert.htm?ID=489.

Tactical tips that can help you secure the increase you have been waiting for:

1. Determine your market worth. Through news clippings, trade magazines, relevant employment ads, use research to justify your request.
2. Build a strong case. After all, you think you deserve it. With your research on current salary levels on note, build the body of your request using your past performance appraisals.
3. The art of negotiation. Sell your proposal and make sure that it's heard by using the right techniques in communication skills. Remember to be flexible. And keep your arguments in line with the goal.
4. Anticipate objections. This is where the flexibility factor comes in. In affairs such as this, it's good to anticipate the worst. List down the things that your boss may use to object, and write proper reasons for each. Practice on the draft.
5. Stay professional at all times. No matter how emotionally satisfying, never respond with threats or anything close to it. Always remember, he's your boss and you need him to climb the corporate ladder.

Have you visited LearningDB.com lately? These are new seminar offerings from JobsDB.com Singapore's training and development arm that professionals should consider attending. You should pass www.learningdb.com.sg to your boss asap because many things are scheduled to happen this coming November.

HR executives and HR directors are bound to get a lot from attending Hiring the Best Talent by recruitment expert, Janet Cropper. This half day workshop will cover strategies and techniques in recruiting and selecting candidates, to ensure 'the right person for the right job' is found for your organisation. Nov 1 is the date to remember.

Something new for IT professionals and those from other industries who want to improve their computer skills: Microsoft Office Productivity Buffet by Communication and IT skills trainer Sharon Connoly will take you on an intensive shortcut-filled Microsoft Office productivity journey. First session will take place on Nov 24.

For managers, team leads, and top executives: Scenario Planning by career expert Wilson Fyffe will provide an introduction, and in-depth examples of Scenario Planning at work. This two day workshop, to take place on Nov 24 and 25, is going to provide leaders tips on how they can better their performance.

Personal Excellence in the Workplace is another new offering from LearningDB.com. With Professional trainer Pamela Wigglesworth as facilitator, the seminar will help you develop the tools and techniques that will truly boost your effectiveness.

For more information on these seminars, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg. Other seminars to take place this November (just in case, you're interested to know):

• 12 Nov -- Effective Technical Writing Skills by Sandra Sandu-Reeves
• 16 Nov -- Polished Presentation Skills by Sandra Sandu-Reeves
• 24 Nov -- Activate your Listening Skills by David Goldwich
• 25 Nov -- Win-win Negotiation Skills by David Goldwich
• 26 Nov -- Dealing with Difficult People and Situations by Christian Chua

Find info at www.learningdb.com.sg/default.htm#November.

And of course there's Impress Your Prospective Employers with Your Resume by Career Events. For something as good as this, there's no stopping the promotions! The date to remember is Nov 20. For more information, please call Pei Yan or Linc at
6861 1000 or email us at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg.

Off with our other announcements...

uShoot, uPost & uWin ends on Oct 31. 5 days left to post your photo and vote for your favourites. What are you waiting for? Lots of prizes are to be given away at www.facebook.com/JobsDB.com.sg?v=app_160089750670773.

New survey! We'd like to know... Do you have your dream job? The majority thinks of being stuck in a rut. How about you?

D'you know that we have accounts on the most popular social media websites? Link to our fanpage is above. It's where we answer career questions and share other fun stuff. We also have www.youtube.com/jobsdbsingapore where we post career videos and a Linkedin group for networking purposes. You might want to follow us on twitter too at www.twitter.com/JobsDBSingapore.

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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Let's take a break! Office humor. *PLUS, job updates and uShoot, uPost & uWin.

Some of our views may be conflicting with those of other career experts, but when we say, 'drop the generic resume' or 'prepare for your outfit the day before your interview appointment', we mean it. There's nothing for us to gain by doing so aside from fulfillment. Everything's for your good.

Forgive us for sounding rather defensive there. It's not that we're quitting, but well, it's natural for writers to feel discouraged with "things" once in a while. This has been our case since yesterday, and so, during the brainstorm, we've decided to call this day a break.

That is, a break with a sense, of course. We've been pretty serious with our topic choices these past few days -- allowing stress management, leadership skills, work life balance, job interview, and even bits of resume writing advice to rule the limelight -- so we've decided to talk about something unique for today. Is the topic of office stereotypes unique enough for you guys? For us, it is. Yes, we're capable of discussing office humor.

But before anything else, here's a disclaimer: this is not meant to offend. Stereotypes are stereotypes and they exist to provide doses of lightheartedness to the otherwise boring realm of career. So here's our take on office stereotypes. We've come up with five. If you want to suggest some more, feel free to use the comments section.

It's been proven many times: the work world has its own stereotypes. If classrooms have "the clown" and "Einstein", offices have their own versions of these people. In fact, the work world has more. Today we're featuring five of the most popular office stereotypes. Just for laughs:

• The Office Guy. No, not the security guard. The Office Guy shines in a very unique way. He appears to be very kind, thus, his coworkers aren't afraid to take and take from him until he gets tired. But he won't show his fatigue... afraid to communicate a bad image.
• The Achiever. The most optimistic person in the office. He sends out emails even during weekends to prove that he's really working hard.
• The Grump. The opposite of the achiever, the grump finds the negative out of everything. In most offices, the boss usually holds this title, or maybe it's because of employee bias?
• Gossip Girl. The gossip girl is also the fashionista in the group. She seems to know everything that's happening in the office, so nobody won't want to mess up with her.
• The Slacker. One word: lazy. The slacker is most of the time late and doesn't get as much tasks done than the average worker.

Which one is you? Just kidding. We know there's more! Drop us a note at the comments section for your ideas. We'll feature them as soon as our schedule will allow another break post.

Now off to the serious stuff. Seriously now, we can't just let this day pass without offering you something beneficial. First stop, new job openings to consider applying for over the weekend.

The news hasn't offered us Singapore job market facts to muster on, so this bit's based on our database. From the looks of it, job seekers looking for Electrical Engineer Jobs, Teacher Jobs, Banking Jobs, Telecom Jobs, TV Jobs, Insurance Jobs, IT Jobs, and Web Design Jobs will be very busy applying, really. New Singapore openings to not miss... it's time for you to update your resume!

Aviation Jobs! Singapore Airlines will be conducting walk-in interviews on Nov 6 (Saturday) at the Grand Hyatt. Registration is from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Don't miss it!

Veeco Instruments is hiring! SGD 3,000 Sign-on bonus (engineers). EP and S pass holders are welcome to apply! Info here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/V6/JS/JobSearch/JobSearch.asp?PN=JobListing&Companies=%22Veeco+Asia+Pte+Ltd%22.

Also check out other jobs at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

Next, uShoot, uPost & uWin. Contest ends on Oct 31. Only nine days left to submit your photo and/or vote for your favourites. Make a move now! Everything's here: www.facebook.com/JobsDB.com.sg?v=app_160089750670773 (Haven't Liked us yet? You know what to do).

Opportunities for learning! Latest from Career Events and LearningDB.com to attend:

• Impress Your Prospective Employers with Your Resume by Wong Kok Wah, Nov 20. First 20 sign-ups will receive a complimentary Career Guide book.
• Hiring The Best Talent by Janet Cropper, Nov 1.
• Effective Technical Writing Skills by Sandra Sandu-Reeves, Nov 12.
• Strategic Pricing & Costing by Dr. John Ho, Nov 15-16.

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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Essential leadership qualities for job hunters and career professionals.

Notwithstanding the fact that we haven't written anything about it for so long (see, we admit to having shortcomings), the topic of leadership skills is something we're very fond of as well, alongside our staples: job hunting, resume writing, and job interview. Speaking in writing terms, it's scope is wide enough to warrant a series: although it's not as easy to talk about as job interview what with the fact that it doesn't have that much 'subs' to muster on, many quotes about it have been developed over time and they are certainly great fillers, with 'great leaders are made, not born' gracing the number one spot of our mental list. Perhaps its most defining characteristic, however, is its versatility. Versatility in the sense that tips for managers on how they can better lead their team players, for instance, can be used by job hunters and career professionals as well, given proper appropriation and interpretation on their parts. Writing about leadership skills is like discussing job hunt tips and career advancement advice at the same time, really...

Which is not to say that we're feeling lazy today. It's just that, it's about time we offer our readers something on leadership techniques. As bloggers of career, we ought to be versatile in our choices, for our reader's sake and also our writing ability. And so, today, we present to you what we think of proper leadership and how career professionals, both job hunters and working, can successfully imbibe its essences in their career pursuits and career plans for success.


Leadership is best defined by stating examples, not necessarily comparative ones, but cases wherein the fact that good leaders are results-oriented are presented rightfully -- that a good leader is one who works for the results, not the praises. Our idea of job hunting and career building is similar: we believe that results will comes to those who have their eyes on it, to those willing to spend their every waking moment for it, with no unnecessary primps or doubts or whatsoever. The keyword to note here is FOCUS: 'give extra FOCUS to your resume writing in terms of stating your career objectives' and 'FOCUS your sight on your career goals, amidst work stress and despite the absence of work life balance in your life'. Along those ideas.

Career Advice has a couple of leadership articles on leadership techniques that job hunters and Singapore employees can also benefit from. Allow us to discuss them too.

"It is liberating and empowering to know that you've been entrusted with a major responsibility and that you've been given the freedom to fulfill it", says career expert Brian Tracy, in his Positive Expectations article, one of Career Advice's newest uploads. There are many different types of leadership, but this one holds the most appeal to us. Showing trust through giving instructions in limited quantities may sound a bit suicidal, but will work given focus. Customer service team leads and sales managers are greatly encouraged to try this approach in management, as they're from industries where everything depends on the number of outputs cast. A winning formula is created if other executives in the field are informed of it too. But how can job hunters and working professionals from other industries benefit from this?

Transformational leadership works in the idea of establishing a favourable type of relationship, one in which the members are given enough freedom to work on their own. If you've been having a hard time understanding your colleagues lately, this can be the solution. Maybe you've been stressing them out with to much, can-dos? Job hunters, on the other hand, can benefit from this by using the idea to understand the general way of thinking of an interviewer. So that they can better prepare themselves for the appointment. Because really, while it's advised to prepare questions for the interviewers as well, one shouldn't overdo things.

Kamal Kant's Growing a Successful Career article on Career Advice cites leadership qualities as important in the pursuit for success in the work world. "Knowing yourself in terms of strength and weaknesses obviously is important. More critical is being ready to respond to the right opportunity at the right time with the right combination of your knowledge, skills, abilities, expertise and experience", says the career coach. Job offers come easy to job seekers who know how to highlight their strengths properly in their resume and how to make use of their weaknesses to their advantage. Same goes for career professionals, only, what they're bound to get are additional employee benefits like a salary increase, or more training opportunities and career workshops to attend.

To possess the patience, determination, and resourcefulness of a good leader is to bring yourself closer to gold, according to Christina Yap, Consulting Director of Curriculum Vitae. "It will be a 'win-win'", she says in her How to excel in your career that she's shared for Career Advice. In today's job market where competition is tough, job hunters need these characteristics in order to stay motivated. Same goes for career professionals, with the work world as pressuring as it is.

You can read more from Brian, Kamal, and Christina here:

Positive Expectations

GROWING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER

How to excel in your career

Related articles that you might want to check as well:

Making Virtual Team a Reality

The Fundamentals of Career and Success

Reach Out for the Stars

The training and development arm of JobsDB.com Singapore, LearningDB.com, offers two great seminars on leadership and management. You might want to forward these links to your boss:

Dealing with Conflict by Ricky Lien
Dealing with Difficult People and Situations by Christian Chua

For more information, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg

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 Interview & Interview Tips. 13 pointers to help you impress for success.

It may seem like we're specialised in ranting and rambling, but believe it or not, 'get the facts straight' is a motto of ours as well, chiefly because we're required by our editors to make sense...always. Hard to believe, but yes, that's true. To be specific, it's a must for us to always write clearly and be direct in attacking the subject matter for the reader's convenience. And just in case you're getting to this conclusion, it's not like we've never noticed it until just now.

The most immediately striking thing about our blog, which we have a habit of citing as the main source of its charm, is the humor and the use we make of it. But while the reason behind our way of adding humor on this blog is understandable (because really, career planning can be stressing), we admit that sometimes we go a bit too far. We've garnered enough reactions to know. We'll leave the naming of the instances to you (use the comment section to pinpoint each to us, if you will). Again we ask, have we been giving you stress instead of joy with these overkills?

Which is not to say that we're feeling guilty. We have to make it clear...before you get convinced that we like setting ourselves up for guilt trips. We mean, it's not all bad. One of the areas in which our bizarre writing style proves a good strategy is the many career aspects it can concern, specifically stress management and learning in career. The purpose is two-fold. You learn in a fun way. Learning without stress. Along those ideas.

Wondering what we have in store for today? You should know (and keep in mind for future reference) that once we talk about job interview and job interview skills, we can't stop....err, what we mean is, we have difficulty in stopping. The topic's included in our personal favourites list alongside, resume writing, job hunting and career building, remember? Anyway, it's decided. We'll talk about job interview in general today... to play the topic straight for once.

Did we confuse you yesterday? We admit to being really confusing that time, so allow us to make up today. Have job interviews coming up? Take note of these to impress the interviewers.


As inspired by the interview experts at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex, here are our very own tips for acing job interviews.

1. No, you can't ad lib. Preparation is essential here. Research about the company so that you'll know how you can incorporate your goals with theirs. Of course, you should study your resume carefully too --reminisce how you've put to use your resume writing skills -- to accomplish this. We also want you to take the time to know about the most common job interview questions. You'll never know -- recruiters like using these questions because they make everything faster.
2. Prepare at least two questions for the interview. Researching will make your ideas for this relevant to the pursuits of the company. Don't ask something too obvious and don't say something you don't know anything about.
3. Dress up appropriately. It's an unwritten rule for job interviewees. No to party clothes and anything you're not comfortable in. You want to present yourself as professional as possible and anything too loud will ruin that entirely. Wearing something uncomfortable will distract you big. What to wear? We say, for both sexes, a neatly pressed polo shirt will do. If you have tattoos, please cover them for the interview. The company may see them as a sign of being unprofessional and can hit your personal brand hard.
   
4. Prepare an emergency kit. It should contain extra copies of your resume, pens and a notepad. Because you'll never know.
5. Punctuality! Show them your initiative by appearing on time. If you're not familiar with the location, find your way the day before the appointment. By being early, you'll arrive at your interview with a clear mind and be better off in selling yourself to the interviewer. The same goes for preparing what you'll wear.
6. Lend both your ears to the interviewer. Yes, this means, shutting down the phone for a while. Do this so that you can make sure all your concerns are addressed.
7. If you're a career changer, don't slam off your former employer. You don't want to be identified as someone who bad-mouths. If you're asked about your former employer, say that your reason for leaving is that you're seeking better opportunities. As for fresh graduates, we want you to be as positive as possible in describing your school experience.
8. Hide your nervousness with a smile. Nothing beats being positive when it comes to impressing employers. Offer a solid handshake and say thank you to the interviewer.
9. Answer with examples. To demonstrate your employee skills to the interviewer, show instead of tell. You can do this by making references to your past projects and assignments. This is the best way to show them how they can benefit from you. However…
10. Don't overdo! Verbal overload will give you an overconfident brand and you don't want that. Asking too much questions will harass the interviewer too. Always remember that the interviewer is the one in control of the appointment. Also,
11. Speak the truth. Background checks and reference calls aren’t considered as important parts of the recruitment process for nothing. Lying WILL come back to ask for a big pay off.
12. Appearing desperate is a major turn off. Try to dampen your need by appearing enthusiastic instead.
13. A thank you note can increase your chances of getting the job. A thank you note can mean two things for Singapore employers. One: that you're really passionate about getting the job. Two: that you know office etiquette. No reason to not do it, right? Not to mention, this won't cost you a fortune. Who knows, it can be the one thing that will separate you from your greatest foe for the position.

We wish you luck!

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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Impress the interviewer! Job interview advice. All about 'dressing to impress', communication skills, and asking the right questions.

Our signatures tell -- frustratingly, the only thing that we've been consistent on telling on this blog, one reader has pointed out-- what JobsDB.com Singapore is all about and what its sworn goal is in the recruitment process. That it's a one stop spot for job hunters and career professionals, which contains the latest Singapore jobs as well as expert advice from various career personalities. In all seriousness, though you may laugh at this confession, we have the same goal as our parent website. Doesn't it show in our publishings?

Anyway, yes, you've read those words right. A habit of hodgepodge-ing is certainly not a good thing for writers of career such as ourselves, but will you be surprised if we say that we're still learning? Give us more time. We promise to deliver something clear soon. In the meantime, just keep on reviewing us. Laugh, if you need too. It's okay. Criticisms are a part of a writing job and they denote subscriptions. At least we know, we're being read...and that is, on a regular basis.

This blog's charm comes from the fact that we also effort on entertaining you....we think. The topic of career may be tricky, but this is a blog after all, not a newsletter or a bulletin for press releases. There has got to be humor, and so that's what we deliver as a side-dish. The only conflict we see is that we tend to overdose on the fun factor at certain times, especially when the topic is close to us in certain aspects.

But don't get the idea that we're playing blind to the fact that being unclear in writing has a far-reaching consequence. Our blog is supposed to be the 'sociable' extension of www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore; but the reviews we've been getting -– to step from the realm of the moral judgment into that of the purely corporate –- are rather a downer. And so we feel inclined to prove ourselves worthy of the title.

What is today going to be about, anyway? You're right if your guess is something to do with a writing exercise. But of course, with a sense. It's a requirement for us to always make sense on this blog and we think we haven't failed the rule as of talking, thank heavens (or so we'd like to believe?) Anyway, our Tuesday-as-announcement-day proposal is still on the rake, just so you're curious, so this exercise doesn't have the least bit anything to do with testing our selling skills or whatnot. With the career topic of job interview as backdrop, we'd like to find out whether or not we're capable of writing without hodgepodge-ing. So, writing in focus, off we go.

We've grown to endear job hunting for a special reason -- and that's not because the topic is a click bate (although, we don't deny its popularity to casual blog surfers). The reason is that it's a very wide realm of career building: really, it can be divided into three stages, with each stage calling for 1000 words or more to be explained properly.

From the three, the 'before' stage is a personal favourite. It spans those things we just love to blab about over and over. There's the issue of dressing to impress, and then communication skills. Plus the fact that asking questions to the interviewer is another thing to prepare for entirely. That's why we keep on insisting that the word preparation isn't enough to summarise what needs to be done in this stage, unlike most other career writers. Because job hunters are expected to follow certain job interview rules -- rules that may not be physically available for reading, but are mutually understood by recruitment agencies and top companies -- specifics are needed.


To be able to dress to impress, one needs to prepare, yes. But prepare for what? Showing up in casual clothes, no matter how neatly ironed, isn't going to work as its a mistake according to these 'rules'. It's expected for job hunters to show up in a formal attire. Make yours formal enough to give you a professional image -- someone that can be trusted with tasks and things. Tattoos are also advised to be covered, and extra piercings, removed.

As for honing your communication skills, research to get ideas on what questions you'll likely be asked. If it's a banking job you're applying for, research on the latest goings on in the finance industry and also, about the bank employer. For other industries, go along that idea. But of course, we're not suggesting you ignore the 'staples'. Include them in your planning too. You never know.

Rehearsing is another thing. Career expert Terri Levine, in her The Top 10 Questions Most Often Asked article, has this advice: "Another great tip is to record your answers into a tape recorder and then play it back and see what it sounds like."

But going for staples won't work in the questions-to-ask-the-interviewer aspect, so... "Start by giving a bit of a description of what you know about the subject of your question", says Jonathan Kwan, Principal at Kwantum Leap in his It's Not About You, It's About Them article. What does this imply? You need to research, hard. "Following this format will give you the opportunity to bring up all the research you've done ahead of time and maybe even get some credit for it. "

Here are some Job Interview Preparation Do's that we've picked from the experts featured at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex:

• "Pronounce your words clearly, and one way to do this is to enunciate your words so you don’t sound like you’re mumbling." - Jessica Seet, Founder of Art of Voice.
• "It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed." - Aimee Young, Consultant at Robert Walters.
• "Always remember that the interview is a two-way process so have a list of questions you can ask your interviewer at the end!" - Shelley Tilson, Manager at Robert Walters.
• "Always be humble and friendly and LISTEN carefully to the interviewer for clues about what he is REALLY getting at." -- Harold Tan, Consultant at Vista Associates.
• "Keep it professional, and try to never put the interviewers in an embarrassing
• situation. It's not about you, it's about them." - Jonathan Kwan, Principal at Kwantum Leap.
• "You may want to say your answers out loud while looking in a mirror to see how you look and sound." -- Terri Levine, author.

Other job interview articles for you to read:

How to Ask Good Questions? It’s Not About You, It’s About Them

The Top 10 Questions Most Often Asked

What To Do Before an Interview

12 of the Toughest Interview Questions

Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions

How to excel at your job interview

We wish you luck in your next job interview!

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.

And because this is important enough...

If you have extra time, please pay Find Jobs a browse. Our database has just received new Company Secretary Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Tourism Jobs, Librarian Jobs, Automotive Jobs, Food Science Jobs, and TV Jobs.

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Two career points to ponder: 'Career workshops are investments.' & 'The best time to develop your skills is right now!'

Review what we've written last week and you'll get this observation: most of the articles circled around the topics of stress management and work life balance. We're not denying. We did that to promote some of Career Advice's newest uploads, chiefly, but there were also ramblings added in tribute of a blogging principle of ours. What's that principle? That we don't forget our shortcomings. Granted, we've considerably improved since that eventful day, but well, there's the 'the career realm is never at rest' notion that hinders our egos from leaving everything behind just because you guys won't notice anymore. Of course, we won't stop improving ourselves, career topics wise, just like you shouldn't stop learning skills and seeking training opportunities and career seminars to join for the sake of career success.

So, did you like that sneaky transition? Well, it's not like the topic of learning doesn't have anything to do with busting stress jitters, what with the fact that such career events are designed not just to educate and attending will get you to interact with many other people. Right, seminars are elements of work life balance. This is another good reason why working professionals should always be on the lookout for learning opportunities. Job hunters, as well.

Many are hesitant to hear us out on this because seminars come with a price, literally. If you're one of them, here's the thing: the word investment exists for a reason. You pay a price now, to reap better fruits later. Those who recognise this notion and know how to make proper use of the investment will be rewarded, it goes without saying.

Now, why do we call this strategy an investment? First, it has a purpose. And second, because of the fact that although they come with a price, career seminars offer many benefits from which you can shape your pursuits for success. It's not like you'll be paying for nothing.

For the general working population, the biggest benefit of attending learning events is that it'll keep them at par with the movements of the corporate world. No matter how big the changes in their respective companies, they'll be at least ready for the new tasks at hand. From being just a skill, basic knowledge in IT, for instance, is now an advantage in recruitment, if not a requirement. Keeping your computer skills updated will lessen your risk of getting laid off and maximise your potential for getting a promotion. That's the basic idea.

For job hunters, it's all about keeping a marketable self. We've been discussing the concept of marketability and job hunting on this blog for as long as we can remember, so if you're a regular visitor, you should already know the point. Because competition is tough, the only way to make yourself stand out is to equip yourself with several employee skills that companies can benefit from. Now you may argue, 'others are doing it too, so what's the point?' Do it on a regular phase to show employers that you have initiative. It's all about practicing success skills.

What about those with budget constraints? A good alternative to attending seminars is taking on contract jobs. Not only will it up your credentials but also give you extra income. Or if you're up to the challenge, why not do both? After all, you've got enough free time to be able to balance both pursuits.

Fresh graduates are the ones who will get the most benefits from attending workshops, with versatility at the top of the list. In today's work world where student work experience counts, skills workshops are a great addition to a fresh grad's list of credentials.

So, what now? Why don't you start the week by planning the learning aspect of your career. We want you to look for seminars to attend for the coming days and the next week. We've instigated the discussion. We feel inclined to give you suggestions to muster on, of course. And here they are, courtesy of Career Events and LearningDB.com:

Career Events' November offering is for job hunters. But career professionals can benefit from it as well. Maybe use it to pave their credentials to a promotion? Attend Impress Your Prospective Employers with Your Resume and equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills on resume writing to embark on your path of career success! For more information, please call Pei Yan or Linc at 6861 1000 or email us at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg. Hurry up! First 20 sign-ups will receive a complimentary Career Guide book.

LearningDB.com has the following in store for the coming weeks. If you're interested, reserve a slot now. Since this is LearningDB.com, attendees will be getting free books and other freebies. The more reason for you to call or drop us a mail.

• Oct 19 - Effective Technical Writing Skills by Shirley Taylor - For your writing skills!
• Oct 21 - Making Great Connections by Shirley Taylor and Alison Lester - For your communication skills!
• Oct 28 - Secrets of Successful Project Management by Peter James Gilliland, PMP - For your leadership skills!
• Nov 15-16 - Strategic Pricing & Costing by Dr. John Ho - For your business skills!
• Nov 16 - Polished Presentation Skills by Sandra Sandu-Reeves.
• Nov 19 - Achieving Peak Performance by Improving Your Memory by Nishant Kasibhatla.

For more information, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg.


And because we're all for our readers' satisfaction, we're answering another Career FAQ today. In line with our discussion topic for today, here's the question: Why the need to hurry? We've pretty much answered the question by posting that photo, but we have this feeling our readers will get more inclined to follow if we back the point out with a career expert. "Nothing good happens fast," says career coach Kamal Kant in Growing a Successful Career article on Career Advice. "Don't wait to attend a communication or career workshop or look for a career coach until you're fired, short on cash, burned out, and need a new high-paying job in less than a month. The best time to develop your communication skills and plan your career is right now - when you are still employed!" Inspiring? Read more from Kamal Kant at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/SUCCESSFUL-CAREER?ID=463.

In the words of Annie Yap, Managing Director of AYP Associates, "In order to stay on top of things, we have to constantly equip ourselves with new knowledge, keep an open mind and be flexible to change so that we can successfully adapt to new environments."

Keep on upgrading!

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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