All about personal development. Career Advice/LearningDB.com/Career Events

Inconsistency is something anyone who wants to achieve career success should avoid in all forms of action, whether that person is a job hunter or career builder. Career changers too. Personal branding is also an important aspect of job hunting and career management, what with the fact that building relationships is imperative if you want to advance and judgments are unavoidable in this realm of life. You won't want to commit something bad for the image you're projecting at work; even once can be detrimental to what you've accomplished so far. After all, personality tests are a staple in the recruitment process and they've long been an important entry in the books of HR professionals for a reason.

It's for this reason that behaviour-based interview questions have been developed and why some career experts and career coaches specialise in matching personalities and job positions together. Which is why much like in terms of resume writing, job interviewing, communicating and writing, JobsDB.com Singapore is always finding ways to get you educated about business images and how to project one properly. For today, we're set to introduce you to Career Events and LearningDB.com's roster of seminars on the topic, from business etiquette to dressing up for success.

Looking for a job and planning for career shouldn't just be focused on writing and communicating if one wants it to taste success in the end. Have you checked our career workshops and training opportunities? Career Events has long been offering seminars on professional image maintenance, with former beauty queens, Audrey Quek and Elaine Heng as facilitators. The same goes for LearningDB.com, just check the training calendar under personal development for the complete roster.

In the first place, it can be considered that life is built upon what other people see you as. Although browsing our offerings will take time and joining will cost you some bucks, it's definitely worth it. Excellence is a standard for Career Events and LearningDB.com, employing only facilitators with solid experience and who've already built names in their respective fields.

Let's go to the seminars, shall we?

Start off your 2011 with a bang by attending Unleash Your Image Power Through Dressing & Etiquette. Career Events' January offering will empower yourself with social and business etiquette which is crucial in demonstrating professionalism to help you gain a poised and confident manner. Beauty queen, Audrey Quek is going to facilitate, so attending is definitely worth it.

Enlist as early as now because first 10 sign-ups will receive a complimentary Flower Advisor voucher. Now, that's a winning opportunity you won't want to pass up! For more information, please call Pei Yan or Linc at 6861 1000 or email us at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg.

Career Events' schedule has been polished until March. So if you want to be advance, you may also enlist for Present with Confidence now. Another great learning opportunity for your personal advancement. And first 10 sign-ups will receive a complimentary Flower Advisor voucher too! Use the same contact information for enquiries.

LearningDB.com doesn't have anything scheduled this coming December, personal development wise, but don't feel down. There's always next year! For those in a hurry, please consider Polished Presentation Skills by Sandra Sandu-Reeves on Dec 9 instead. December is a very busy month for the facilitators of our HR Office Seminars, Microsoft Office Seminars, and Adobe Courses as well. For more information, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg.

Want more resources?

Career Advice has seminars on the topic as well. For further understanding, please consider including them in your plans. Director of Etiquette & Image International, Agnes Koh, has listed down her 5 golden rules of good office etiquette for the section. Practise office etiquette to improve your image. Read Agnes' tips at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career%20Guide?ID=278.

Good Reading has named “Building Character: Strengthening the Heart of Good Leadership” by Dr. Gene Klann as an excellent book to read for career builders. Consider buying the book for in depth discussions on the topic with situational examples. Read more about it at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/building-character.htm?ID=29.

Brenda Bence's Stay Consistent with Your Personal Brand is a classic article on Job Hunt Tips. Keep your brand in check after an interview. Read her tips at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/job-search-advice.htm?ID=202.

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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Looking for a job in Singapore?

One burning question: Do we make sense?

Insecurities. They make everything drop. Even a newly powered up bar of motivation. And right now, we're on the verge of a game over.

We've been exchanging emails with people for many months now. It hasn't failed to disguise our Esotericism yet, proof that to continue is a must. Did that surprise you? If yes, then it's just that effective in covering up our inborn deviance.

All's well in the world...err, not always. Just as there is a black sheep in every herd, there's one that's defamatory in every 100 mails we receive. This one that came in our mailbox on Linkedin last night is worth more than our usual 'shrug it off' reaction to insults.

It was unfair, to say the least. Insults are insults and can never be the same with constructive criticisms. Good thing we've the ability to see the silver lining on bad things, and said ability is preventing us from completly breaking apart.

Nevertheless, at least that was a good learning experience. Rest assured, we'll have it filed for future reference.

It's a curious thing that bad things usually strike us on a Friday, the day which we're supposed to be static, given that it's Singapore job updates day in our rulebook. Anyway, let's get to the jobs. It's probably just part of life and we better end the rants now before another one from our audience decides to drop a bomb. Now, that would be fatal, considering our current injury.

So, the Jobs in Singapore.

We don't see anything that job seekers of Singapore Hotel Jobs, Hospitality Jobs, Food Jobs, Casino Jobs, and Resort Jobs should be worried about: The Singapore tourism industry is doing really well. It's even foreseen by experts to experience more growth come next year. It's what the news is telling, and that's not surprising considering that Jobs in Hospitality have remained as top jobs in our database for many months now, since the middle of this year, echoing the openings of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands. So, they're pretty much covered...nothing to worry about getting caught up in vain or something to that effect.

Hays Singapore's latest Quarterly Report has shared that the industries of Accounting, Banking, Construction, IT, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain, and Property are to remain competent until the next quarter. Amidst the competition, there will be enough Singapore Banking Jobs, Accountant Jobs, Construction Jobs, Sales Jobs, Marketing Jobs, and IT Jobs for everyone. Another good news.

We're avid news readers. We've started the habit since ages and that fact is probably enough to make you believe our claim that Find Jobs is a good reference for the Singapore jobs market. And considering we've been fairly consistent on using it for introduction...

Anyway, a Singapore job update will not be complete without bits from the section. From the looks of it, job seekers are in for a very productive weekend of job applications. Indulge on these: Fresh Graduate Jobs, Medical Jobs, Secretary Jobs, Web Design Jobs, Property Jobs, and Engineer Jobs in Singapore. Don't hesitate to...



Other announcements you ought to read (and consider joining, or availing, or whatever).

FlowerAdvisor is offering something good for Christmas. Send your Christmas gifts to anywhere in the world via the website. Order today to enjoy 10% early bird discount!

And then there are the old standbys. the CapitaVoucher promo from sg.openrice.com and Dream Jobs are still open for your participation. Hurry up before winners are drawn!

The Millionaire Mind Intensive is already ongoing. This notice is supposed to remind you just in case you actually signed up and forgot. =) You might want to check out it's updated calendar for more training opportunities!

The survey on working preferences is still accepting votes. Have you shared yours? It matters. We'll use the data for our future career articles. Be part of that great thing. Go to www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore (at the lower left side) to vote!

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.


***Many thanks to todayonline.com, channelnewsasia.com, and straitstimes.com for the information!

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Bullet proof your resume / How to write an effective resume.

Resume personalisation explained further. Because it's as fact that more recruiters prefer personalised resumes over generic.

"Wrong." We'd heard our calendar call, just as we were about to write "resume writing is hard but manageable" onto this space, and before we knew it, we'd found ourselves cursing, and hitting the backspace tab furiously. That was a good ten minutes ago.

Ugh, don't give us that frown. Seriously, the realm of career is filled with interesting things. Plus the fact that a large part of our functions is based on a mailbox that works 24/7 and keeps on receiving career questions on job searching, job interviewing, career building, career management, and the likes. For the majority of others, it may not be the case. But you see, imagining things (and hearing voices) once in a while is perfectly understandable on our parts. We think it's also the reason why we've developed strange rambling tendencies. Like what you're reading right now.

Not that we're admitting to having a mental illness, though. Was that a bit too much for a starting joke? Even great personalities do that trick!

Anyway, before things get out of hand, the hearing voices part is just for the laughs, okay. But here's the thing, we still feel compelled to follow up on resume marketing. Although we respect our calendar as well as the value of diligence very much, it's feelings like this that make us want to indulge on sacrilege. Is that a symptom of mental illness?

Wait, you don't have to answer that. Just read on.

We know this strange need won't stop until it's been served. And so, the follow up will take place today (after all, the issue of bias has been solved already, thank you very much). The topic's intelligent, in the first place and it's not like discussing it will result to a wasted day. Call it serving a guilty pleasure or what you will, but this really must be done or else it 's going to eat us until, probably, next month.

And that's bad, considering we should always make sense.

Anyway, where did we end it? Right, the last post was about resume personalisation, particularly how to do it. The article turned out good, but it lacked specific guidelines. You know, for your easier reference and all...the motto? Because the Singapore job market is fierce and we don't want you to waste any time.


Basically, the idea is to personalise your resume to suit every job position you want to apply for, from the cover letter to the credentials section. We remember quoting career experts in our explanation to drive the point better. It went like this:

Editing your resume based on what's written on the job ad. Sound's simple, but not really. How should you go about the task?

Do the thinking for the employer. And so...

Show why you're the closest match for the job.

Focus on achievements and accomplishments, not responsibilities and tasks. But...

Don't forget to add some glee.

Now, the follow up:

You cannot do this without shifting first your perspective from "I need a job asap" to "How can I help 'this' company succeed". Although it may not seem like it, perspectives hold importance in the overall process of job search and must not be left out in the 'personalisation'.

Next is to digest everything in the job ad, so that you can show in your resume why you're the closest match for the job. Shooting off a ready made resume is nothing if not wasting time, in today's healthy but tight job market. The ad's title doesn't explain anything at all, if you look at it closely. So you must go beyond it. Maybe it'll inspire you if we say that our desire to get you guys to do so is what led to the creation of the Ad preview option on Find Jobs. Sweet, right?

Now, here's the part that needs specifics. How do you incorporate the details in the job ad with your credentials? It may not sound easy, but really, it's just about weighing in skills and achievements...to see which ones will give you the edge. According to what's written in the ad's requirements section, which of your skills and past successes will put you to the top of the recruiter's resume bulk if prioritised in the draft?

Expert recruiter, Jonathan Kwan, has shared the following ideas for Career Advice:

• Your most important information should be as high up on the page and as far left as possible.
• If education is your best strength, have that as your first section. If it's your previous work experience, then put that section first.
• The more you can use the exact phrases that are used in the job description, the better your chances will be.
• Don't explicitly remind the recruiter of the fact that you're not a perfect fit by giving them information that isn't relevant.
• For every single phrase you write, ask yourself what the message is you're trying to convey, what's the point.

For career changers, your transferable skills will do the job, so present them properly in your resume. Ergo, if it's a writing job, then greater focus must be put on one's writings skills and experience in writing however little. If it's a management job, then the edits should be focused on one's achievements as a leader, from small tasks to big projects. Then there's also the option of suspending the job search for some time to attend career workshops and training seminars. It's a matter of whether or not you're willing.

The goal is not to make your resume boring, though. Adding enough glee to even out the package is a part of the process. Hobbies may be seen as skills; including good ones, so to speak, can add up to your personal brand. Not all hobbies can do so, though. Here are examples of hobbies that can spice up a resume:

• voluntary work
• photography job
• performing arts
• writing job
• design work

Don't forget to recheck if your basic details are correct. May we remind you to update your contact info! Don't get too engrossed in your personalising and forget about this important thing.

More tips on resume writing? Please visit www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.

We'll be presenting our latest Singapore job updates tomorrow! Are you excited like us? Anyway, don't forget to visit this blog tomorrow for prospects. In the meantime, indulge on these: government jobs, temp jobs, bank jobs, HR jobs, medical jobs and accounting jobs in Singapore.

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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To quit or not to quit? Beating stress and acknowledging work life balance.

For some reason, we feel compelled to make a follow up on yesterday's discussion about resume marketing. It's not that we've nothing better to discuss for today, though, nor are we feeling guilty about something. Playing with words is a hobby of ours, but we're not careless. And besides, you know how strict our calendar is, right?

So are we succumbing to the temptation (because really, making follow ups is free press)? Ugh, no. Opportunities to write are sacred and our mailbox is always getting new career questions. You do the math.

Plus, we do like talking about stress.

Although it may not seem like it, we've been in love with the topic of stress management since ages. Granted, we haven't written anything about it since that great fiasco on work life balance a month ago. But well, does a busy schedule count as a reason? And then, there's also the fact that we work closely with a mailbox that's never at rest.

Anyway, we do admit to having been unfair with our topic choices these past few weeks, serving mostly job seekers. So, career professionals, both career changers and career builders, allow us to catch up with this.

We're no longer suffering from writer's block (or so we'd like to believe), so hopefully, although we're not experts to the topic yet as we are to job hunting, resume writing, and career management, we'll have you satisfied in the end.

One follower of ours has asked: Given good salary: Is it still worth to stay in a job, despite the stress? There's no definite answer to this question, we're telling you. And because no preferences are the same, evaluations should ONLY come from your work values and ideas of success. Never let others dictate. It's all about your career.

Also, although it has become tamer since late last year, it's still imperative that you consider the conditions of the job market.

Career Advice has everything, from job hunting to career planning. It enables us to play consultants on our social media pages to help our followers. Definitely, it's a good place to look for answers to common career questions. And if the question is about whether or not to quit because of stress, it's not just good place to consult, but an excellent one. The line up includes articles from certified career coaches, experts and consultants from here and abroad.

If you're a regular visitor to this blog, you should know that we don't like bumming our readers with too much information. All for their convenience and quick reference so they can get started right away. That SOP is what we'll be using to showcase the best of www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex when it comes to the topic of thinking of quitting because of stress.

So, shall we begin?

One question: Are there no other options aside from quitting? Before deciding the next step, we want you to contemplate on your situation.

Perhaps, you're just bored with your job? Not that we're saying you lack initiative to seek answers, though. It's just that the competition in the job market has gone so stiff, one ought to make decisions carefully.

If boredom is really your case, then don't. Autopilot Syndrome isn't that hard to combat in the first place. "Actively thinking about what is challenging and meaningful to you will inspire purpose in your work", according to popular speaker, Jody Urquhart. List down the things that make your job challenging. "In jobs, as in love, it's very important for the pendulum to swing back.You need to work to regain the exhilaration of the first stage", according to professional speaker, Patricia Fripp.

Or is your reasoning graver than that? Perhaps, it has something to do with career freedom?

"Give yourself a gift every day", career expert, Cathy Goodwin wants you to consider. Sometimes, thinking simple does more.

Quite obviously, our advice to the question is, "It depends". "Nothing good happens fast", according to Kamal Kant, a career coach and a favourite on Career Advice. Did your stress stem from the slowness of your progress in the position? Consider giving it more time. After all, a good salary is a good salary.

If quitting is really want you want to do, we suggest you do it with grace. Exit but still be friends with everyone. If nothing else, badmouthing can be detrimental to your job search. And yes, feel free to browse Find Jobs for Singapore Jobs as much as you like.

In line with these points...

How a recent survey by our editors about flexible working hours has turned is one proof that there's now an increased awareness for work life balance. If you're a traditional manager, please consider loosening your grip a bit to prevent efficiency problems.

We want you to read the following for further understanding:

GROWING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER

Avoiding the Autopilot Syndrome

YOUR WORK. A BLESSING OR A BURDEN?

How to fall in love with your job all over again

10 Tips to Moving Towards Career Freedom

A Balanced Leadership Style

And now, the real reason behind all the whatnot.

Yes, your guess is right. This has been done to serve as a companion piece to our parent website's latest survey. Have you voted? Again, we promote: What is the dominant factor determining your choice to join or stay with an employer?

• Salary
• Opportunities for Advancement
• Good Reputation
• Strong Corporate Culture

Salary is leading by a great mile. Do you think so too? Or did this post change your mind?

Cast your vote at www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore. Feel free to use the comments section if you want to elaborate on your answer.

Also...

To those who are wondering...our next Singapore job update will be this Friday. We WILL push through with the plan. We promise to satisfy your cravings for Jobs in Singapore come that day, so stay tuned. In the meantime, suit yourselves up with these: Retail Jobs, Telecoms Jobs, Hotel Jobs, Call Center Jobs and IT Jobs in Singapore. Don't hesitate to....



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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Get noticed by recruiters! Do more than write your resume: Personalise it. (resume writing)

It's a fact (a well documented one, at that. See Job Hunt Tips.) that many recruiters prefer personalised resumes over generic. It's for the same reason they prefer to do the task of asking interview questions in tricky patterns (although it takes time and concentration).

Have you been applying for jobs for quite some time now, but to little avail? Well, don't blame the Singapore job market for it or Find Jobs. We know...if it isn't so tough, you'll be at least handed some interviews. But it's not like there's no cure for a hibernating job search.

It's a matter of whether or not you're willing to do some adjustments. The job market can be bargained with, for it to loosen its belt a bit on you, through resume marketing.

Like employing edits on your resume for every job ad. Perhaps, it's time that you recognise the potential of personalisation in the resume writing aspect of job hunting. To garbage the run of the mill approach altogether, despite it being really satisfying and edit your resume to suit every job ad you think you're qualified for.

We've been reiterating this job tip on this blog since ages. And we have no qualms on sounding redundant just to drive the point home. For one position, recruiters browse through hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes. Why not do them a favor by writing your resume in such a way that it answers the job ad's queries directly?

Make yours stand out by personalising the content. What does the job position ask for? Which skills to highlight? Will a certain past work experience of yours give you an advantage if mentioned? Use those parameters to edit out the basic draft of your resume. Include a cover letter too for added appeal.

We have to admit that this career tip is a little bit complicated, but here's the thing: Many articles on Career Advice can help you with this. So you don't have to worry about committing a mistake. This post will back you up too. Because we're all for the convenience and happiness of our followers, we'll summarise what we've learned from all these articles for you guys. But first...

You may be wondering... why so serious? Something different to renew your interest. Not that our ratings have dropped again, though. In fact, they've improved these past few months.

What? We've ran out of rants to share? Partly yes. But more than that, we want to make today our most intelligent yet. We're set to talk about making adjustments in the realm of resume writing today, as you may have probably picked up already after reading the intro paragraphs. We might as well use the space to demonstrate how to do adjustments properly. We've done this before, so you probably get the drift.

So, let's start with the task at hand, shall we? We've decided to do this in a list, for easy reference. Well anyway, you can always visit the articles at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex if you think we've summarised them too much.


Editing your resume based on what's written on the job ad. Sound's simple, but not really. How should you go about the task?

Do the thinking for the employer.
Get noticed by approaching the task in their perspective. "Never, ever assume that busy readers will figure out your value", according to David Perry, co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0. And so...

Show why you're the closest match for the job.
Career expert and LearningDB.com regular, Sandra Sandu-Reeves wrote in her book Getting Ahead in Your Career: "Don't just shoot off a ready-made resume." If you're a regular visitor to this blog, you should know how much we agree with this statement of hers.

It's what resumes are supposed to do anyway: To show that you're worth the time interviewing. In today's job market where competition is as tough as ever, you have to be vigilant to get noticed. Show why you're the closest match for the job to ensure your slot in the interview list. But how can you do so?

Focus on achievements and accomplishments, not responsibilities and tasks.
Expert recruiter, Jonathan Kwan has screened hundreds of resumes already. An outstanding resume, in his standards, is one that literally leaps off the page. That having said, he doesn't believe that a resume is nothing more than a listing of work experiences. "What we're looking for are transferable skills, but more importantly, we're looking for your accomplishments and achievements. "

Achievements mean skills. Skills mean returns for the company. A candidate with skills and knows how to showcase them properly is what recruiters believe to be gold. But...

Don't forget to add some glee.
Adding a line or two about your hobbies is not a bad thing. In fact, it can increase your chances of getting the job. "You would be surprised the number of times people can get interviews simply because of something interesting they do outside of work", says Jonathan.

How about those who've built their careers from temp jobs? Follow those and...

List as your main employers the companies for whom you actually did the work.
Especially if you've done temp work for a multinational company. It adds up a lot to your personal brand.

If this strategy won't work, then we don't know what will. Perhaps, your industry of choice just isn't into accepting new recruits as of time. Or maybe you're being too picky and applying only to top companies? Don't.

Still, have you tried to use Job Alerts? It can keep your job hunt moving, so you won't lose motivation. Don't worry, it's free. When did MyJobsDB charge for its services, anyway?

Subscribe to JobsDB’s FREE Job Alert service and we will email all the latest jobs straight to your email. To subscribe to Job Alert, log in to your JobsDB.com Singapore account and click on the Job Alert tab.

Job Alert enables you to make your searches specific for the job positions you want to apply for. You can enter your own job keyword and/or choose the job category that matches your field of expertise. You also have the choice to refine your job matches in terms of Career Level, Qualification, Year(s) of Experience, Monthly Salary, and Employment Term.

The full versions of the career articles we've cited can be found here:

Guerilla Marketing for Jobseekers

10 Steps in Creating an Outstanding Online Resume

What are HR professionals really looking for in resumes?

How to build a temping resume

We wish you all the best in your job search!

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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Christmas offers come early at jobsdb.com.sg. For your training and development.

We've long reserved Mondays for the training and development aspect of career. And that's for a reason. We insist on following this rule if only because it's challenging and we like taking challenges. But more than that, it's our desire to lead all our followers, both job seekers and career professionals, to their ideas of career success, whatever they are. Idealistic but, that's just the way we are. We're stubborn like that.

Writing about career events like Singapore job fairs and training opportunities or career seminars is a sure hit. We know... But that's just a side benefit of our purpose.

Our desire to help is genuine. Plus, it's not like we'll be gifted money in doing so, anyway. There's nothing for us to gain by, as we always say. It's a matter of whether or not you'll do us a favor and bite our offers.

Not that we haven't produced a successful campaign yet, though. In fact, we're good at doing this already. And in the next few paragraphs, we'll be displaying that expertise. So, shall we begin?


Today, we're featuring the latest from Career Events and LearningDB.com. So get your pens and notepads handy as we list down what's in store for the coming weeks, before Christmas time and early next year. You might want to consider joining one or two of these or refer to your boss.

But wait, before that... Impress Your Prospective Employers with Your Resume was a big success! Thank you for attending!

So, can we interest you with another seminar from Career Events? If you missed the event, the more reason you should consider going to Unleash Your Image Power Through Dressing and Etiquette, to be facilitated by none other than, image consultant Audrey Quek.

Empower yourself with social and business etiquette which is crucial in demonstrating professionalism to help you gain a poised and confident manner which will take you into an elite setting. To be held on January 22 next year, this seminar will teach you the key components of a winning image and inform you of the most fatal mistakes in dressing up in business so you can avoid them. We encourage you to sign up as early as now! This is Career Events we're talking about: First 10 sign-ups will receive a complimentary Flower Advisor voucher.

For more information, please call Pei Yan or Linc at 6861 1000 or email us at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg. You can also find relevant info about the seminar at www.jobsdb.com.sg/StaticContent/SG/CareerEvents/events/Unleash-your-image-power.htm.

Just in case we've awakened your excitement with that promotion...the offerings for February and March have already been cast. More details at www.jobsdb.com.sg/StaticContent/SG/CareerEvents/upcomingevents.htm.

LearningDB.com is never out of training opportunities and it has something to offer to everyone. Are you a team lead? Whether you're looking to improve your own leadership skills or the communication skills of your staff, the website can lend you a hand. So pass this to your supervisor now before he sets his leave for the Holidays!

We're still accepting sign ups for The Millionaire Mind Intensive. If it's done via our website, admission's going to be free. So don't just let this great opportunity come to pass. For more information, please contact at 1800 7822 377 / 65-6299 4677 or email info.sg@srpl.net.

There's going to be two seminars on communication skills on December, featuring Polished Presentations Skills by Sandra Sandu-Reeves and Successful Business Communication Skills by Shirley Taylor and Alison Lester. For those aiming to sharpen their abilities with pen, we're set to sponsor new sessions for Powerful Business Writing Skills and Effective Technical Writing Skills on December 8 and 14, respectively.

December 15 is going to be quite special. Microsoft Office Productivity Buffet with IT expert Sharon Connolly is set to be held on that date. This workshop comprises a unique 'buffet' blend of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, focusing on helping you to do the tasks you need to do all day every day - faster and more efficiently! For a fee of S$365, it's more than worth it.

For more information on these seminars, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg. More details at www.learningdb.com.sg/calendar.htm.

Announcements! Because there's no stopping things from happening...

RE latest survey. The technical error has been fixed! You can now cast your vote smoothly at www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore! So, what is the dominant factor determining your choice to join or stay with an employer? Salary is leading by a mile. Do you think so too or beg to disagree? Again, feel free to use the comments section below if you want to elaborate on your answer.

RE new jobs. We admit to having been stingy last Friday. So to make up, here are the jobs that are in vast numbers in our database right now: Engineering Jobs, Insurance Jobs, Design Jobs, Finance Jobs and Accounting Jobs in Singapore. Start off your week with these and you'll never lose your motivation.

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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Looking for a job? More prospects to consider. *News about the job market.

We write in patters for a reason. So don't get the idea that something's preventing us from talking about other things on this blog aside from job hunting, resume writing, job interviewing, and career building. You know, the usual boring stuff. It's work, and you don't have to free our writing souls from anything evil.

And hey, it's not like we don't take breathers. If you're a regular visitor to this little space on the internet, you should know. Heck, we've done it many times before. Now, please assist us on proving that to the others.

No really. Kidding aside, breathers are a temptation for us, judging by the fact that our backdrop is one that's about a serious side of life that's never at rest. Is it time yet for an other breather? Are our readers already choking with seriousness? We always ask ourselves.

Granted, the kind of schedule we keep makes it almost impossible for the temptation to obstruct normalcy out of us. But still, it's getting harder every day to ignore, and we just have to share this before another one from our audience raises an eyebrow and complain about inconsistency.

So there. Sounds like we're just delaying the inevitable, but really, we're serious. We hate failing people, in general, much more our followers. That's how special you guys are to us.

And so we're stopping before it gets any more dramatic. Today's Friday, so we're supposed to be ecstatic. The latest buzz on Singapore jobs right here!

Despite the "stops" and all that have happened in certain industries, we don't see anything that job seekers, career changers, and working professionals should be worried about. Judging by what we've found out from news sources, it seems that the job market is really doing well and the echoing worries are probably just an alienated response to the still stiff competition for jobs.

Our findings?

The economy is seen growing by a good percentage in 2011, to be escorted by the services sector. Described as robust by experts, the industries of hospitality, education, transportation, and retail are in for a steady growth. It's safe to assume that there will be no shortage for hotel jobs, food jobs, casino jobs, driver jobs, transportation jobs, teacher jobs, and retail jobs in Singapore during the first quarter of next year and hopefully, beyond. Public service careers are also cited to be aplenty until 2011.

Good news for job seekers and career changers in the manufacturing and finance services sectors: Experts are expecting full recovery for these two come next year, supported by restocking activities of several companies and resilience of core banking. A spark of hope for those with careers built upon manufacturing jobs and finance jobs in singapore.

A boost for the aviation industry: Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport, Lim Hwee Hua has announced how she plans to address the expected shortage of manpower in the aviation industry in the next 10 years. The Aviation Manpower Program that will be launched next month is expected to attract, develop, and retain talent. Better prospects for aviation jobs?

More jobs! If you want to know what's going on in Singapore's working realm, consult Find Jobs and you'll get accurate figures. Not that we're desperate for clicks, though. Really, it's that accurate.

Alongside the staples that are accounting jobs, banking jobs, engineering jobs, and IT jobs in Singapore, the jobs that are currently in good numbers in our database are Singapore insurance jobs, building jobs, science jobs, media jobs, and property jobs. Check them out for more prospects.

Other important announcements!

Just in case you haven't noticed yet, our editors have just posted a new survey question. We'd like to know...what is the dominant factor determining your choice to join or stay with an employer? Is it salary? Or perhaps it's all about opportunities for advancement? Or maybe good reputation and strong corporate culture? Cast your vote now! Feel free to use the comments section below if you want to explain your answer.

New article on Career Advice. A balanced leadership style is what the work world of today demands. Senior managers and supervisors, are you guys up for the challenge? Read it at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/leadership-style?ID=512.

And because we won't get tired of promoting them on this blog. Is your entry ready for the Dream Jobs Contest? Seriously, how can anyone not have a dream job? Prizes are waiting!

Write also for sg.openrice.com's latest promo! Receive CapitaVouchers and a chance to win a pair of Moet & Chandon Champagne Flight Tickers worth $138 when you write at least 6 reviews.

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.


***Many thanks to todayonline.com, channelnewsasia.com, and straitstimes.com for the information!

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Steps to a successful job hunt. And freebies from JobsDB.com Singapore.

When The Millionaire Mind Intensive was posted at www.jobsdb.com.sg/Singapore, we were intrigued. When we were told that the aforementioned seminar would be free for people who'd sign up through LearningDB.com, we were actually kind of excited about it.

Our editors and their abilities to produce exciting stuff for the website.... they never fail to thrill us. There's also the Capitavouchers promo from sg.openrice.com, not to mention, the awaiting free books to those who'll attend Activate your Listening Skills, Win-win Negotiation Skills, and Dealing with Difficult People and Situations.

We're always looking for things to make you happy. It's just a matter of whether or not you'll 'do us a favor' and bite them. There's nothing for us to gain by. The benefiting is all on you. Click on each of those links we've oh-so-carefully peppered the first paragraph with and see what we're talking about.

There's a fairly good reason behind the promotions, but still, anyone who is into blogging would have cringe upon seeing the overload in the primera. Not that we're desperate for attention, though.

We've realised how much 'giving' our editors are a long time ago. It's about time you realise the same and be a regular participant of our contests.

Plus the fact that we also want to extend our congratulations to the winners of the JobsDB.com Coolest Desk Contest on this blog. What better way to open such a task but by advertising our newest promos... just in case you're hungry for more. If you haven't visited our Fanpage for a long time, the contest has just ended and we've awarded the winners Monday this week. With that...

We congratulate Audrey Lim, Er Long Koon, and Manuel III Gomez for a job well done!

Can we interest you with another contest? What's your dream job? was first announced on this blog two or so weeks ago. But because we're enthusiastic to get more entries for it, well, there's nothing wrong with repeating the announcements over and over, right? We've long shared our career fantasies on this blog....is your entry ready?

And so, the announcements end there. Today isn't supposed to be about them, anyway but rather, about a curious question one follower has posted on our mailbox last Monday. We might as well start with what's really scheduled for today, before you lose the appetite to read more.

Okay.

"How do you define a job application that's spotless?" is our understanding of his query. We haven't answered something like this before, come to think of it. So, here it goes, explained in steps... from searching for Singapore jobs to accepting a job offer.

Our views resemble those of realists when it comes to the concept of job hunting. In our years of taking advice from different career experts, we've come to the conclusion that there's no such thing as a risk-less approach in looking for a job. And so the challenge is how you can avoid as much pitfalls as you can and reach the end still breathing.

If we were to job hunt, how would we go about it? With class. Heck, kidding aside, we'd go about it carefully. Research would govern our actions and anything unnecessary to come our ways would be ignored.

As simple as that may sound, our idea of a perfect job hunt is one that follows a fixed goal and involves lots of researching. Whether you're just starting your career or have been searching for employment for quite some time now but to little avail, maybe this step by step guide can help you.



Step 1: realising one's goals
For a job search to be successful (heck, any kind of career pursuit), there needs to be a destination that's eyed. Having difficulties with your pursuit? Well, do you follow a goal? In our understanding of the concept, goals setting is right there on the top and is something anyone who wants to achieve career success should do.

Your lacking of a goal could be the reason for your misfortune. Did you apply for two different jobs from the same employer? And so for those who are still on the first stage, we advise you be specific with your goals before you ready your resume for the fight.

Be specific. Setting your desires against your employee skills, which place do you stand the biggest chance to prosper? Is it in an accounting job under the hospitality plain? Or perhaps it's an engineering work in the telecom industry? Maybe you'd be better off in a writing job in the IT industry in Singapore rather than in Media? Will you need additional credentials via training seminars and career workshops to reach that plain?

Allow us to quote Licensed Counsellor, David Helfald: "The most important piece of advice I can offer today's job seeker is to first figure out, as best as you can, exactly what you want to do."

After realising your goals, you'll find it a breeze to go about resume writing and job interviewing. Which leads us to step two...

Step 2: looking for job ads
Don't apply to jobs you're not qualified for. Doing otherwise will put your personal brand on the rocks. You don't want to end up in black lists, do you?

If you're guilty of having done this before, stop now before it gets worse. Starters are greatly advised not to succumb to the temptation.

That's why this is step 2 in our book. Having a goal will keep your actions in line and prevent you from doing things that can take a toll at your pursuit.

There's a reason why employers make their job ads as detailed as possible. It's for you to have things to contemplate on. So, we say, always remember your goal. And also, the next time you use Find Jobs to look for jobs in Singapore, go beyond the ad title. Then make a list.

Our favourite quote from LearningDB.com regular and career expert Sandra Sandu-Reeves: "If you don't meet the requirements, wait for a suitable job opening. Aimless applications can frustrate the job seeker as much as recruiters."

Step 3: resume marketing
Whether you're job hunting for the first time or have been doing so for weeks or months now, this is our advice: Make your goal the foundation of your resume. Whatever you have right now, edit it until it echoes your goals. This will serve as your draft.

Draft? Yes, because if nothing else, using a generic resume won't do you any good. Personalise your resume to suit every job ad in your list, the one we asked you to do in step 2.

"Don't make the decision any tougher to hire you over the hundreds of other people that are just as eager and have been honing their resumes for years", says recruitment expert Jonathan Kwan.

If this won't work, then we don't know what will.

Step 4: job interviewing
We wrote about this yesterday. Plus the fact that job interview is one of our most favourite topics on this blog. So...do we still need to elaborate on what we want you to do here and how you can make your goals work for you in this aspect?

But because we're all for your convenience and happiness, we'll repeat them anyway. For all the aspects in this step, from the answers to what you'll be wearing, prepare.

Don't waste any time. Once you receive an interview invite, research about the company and its pursuit. Using the information, search for interview questions that may be asked by that company's HR specialists. Ace the interview with a stock of intelligent answers.

If you're not familiar with the place, find your way before the interview to avoid hassles. This is for punctuality and is something you should definitely do if your personal brand's built upon this character.

Your goal is what will lead you to success during the interview itself. This will save you from unexpected questions.

Words of wisdom from Ms. Aimee Young, Consultant at Robert Walters, "The conversation will essentially be about you and the company/role, so take your time, know your resume (and yourself) and know the company. If you are relaxed, you will be able to present yourself in the best light. "

Step 5: evaluating the job offers
If it's a career that you want to achieve, then we're assuming you understand the reasoning behind the inclusion of this step. Just because it's the first thing to come along, doesn't mean it's the angel that you've been waiting for all this time. Consider the odds too. Is the pay enough? Is the job description promising? Does the job offer advancement opportunities in the form of salary increase or skills training?

Ask yourself these questions before you say Yes. And most important, is it in line with what you really want to achieve in life?

We want you to read these career articles for further understanding:

Knowing yourself & knowing how to create your own good luck and keys to career planning

10 Steps in Creating an Outstanding Online Resume

How to excel at your job interview

What are HR professionals really looking for in resumes?

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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Answer interview questions properly | Job interview advice from career experts

It's just that sometimes, it burns. Talking about career is never easy anyway, what with its many intricacies, but you probably get the drift. We've received compliments from people many times before, saying that we make the task of discussing career building, job hunting and other career topics look so easy to do. Heck, we still do. But the reality is, we're no different than others in thinking that nothing's easy when it comes to this realm of life. Whether or not we'll produce something great out of a career topic is a matter of mood and our experience with it.

So there goes our explanation to the issue of why we're not consistent. Don't raise an eyebrow at us. Well, maybe we're just playing critics to ourselves again, but this confession needs to be let out, really. We don't like failing people, remember?

If it's so hard (that we have a library of rants just for it), then why do we keep on doing it? You may be asking...

Because no matter how stressing, it fits us the best. And we're right in assuming that it'll keep us preoccupied rightfully. To this date, it does its job well of preventing us from feeling job dissatisfaction and taking the risky career change path. You know we're not into that option... we know you do.

Now that we're done clearing things out, what do we have in store for you guys today?

Although we work in a very strict schedule, sometimes we give way to other things. When there's an overwhelming demand over 'something' is one such instance. You see, our mailbox and this blog work side by side, for the comments and all, so that we'll know what has begotten another hard day at work. Receiving many questions for a single topic in a short span of time sparks red alert, that we have to answer 'it' the soonest possible. Like right now, as advised by the mails we've received yesterday.

This must have been due to our special feature on Impress your prospective employers with your resume, a seminar on resume writing by Career Events last Monday. But oh well, we're quite happy for the reactions it has garnered, so despite the looming difficulty, motivation's pretty much covered and you can expect a good outcome for today.

Let's proceed to the task at hand, shall we?



Many people have asked: How about dealing with job interview questions? How can we impress our prospective employers in this regard? It's a career discussion that we've been tackling on this blog since ages, really. So...what's up with this conspiracy? We admit to nothing. We're getting things straight for once today.

Job interview questions range from common to odd. So our idea of preparation is to go beyond what's expected. Don't just base your preparations on the job ad you've been called for an interview. Allow us to give you some ideas.

The funnies
" If you could write the description for your dream job, what would it be?"

Let's start with the odd ones. The absurdity is beyond comprehension, but many have experienced it, so you might as well prepare yourself in this regard of job interviewing too. Career Advice has an article on this topic by HRNext.com. Read to see examples.

What's our say on this? To answer funny interview questions correctly, be creative. Open mindedness is also a must. Throwing back a witty retort to such a question will give you the edge. However, be subtle with it or you'll appear cocky. Needless to say, that's a bad thing for your personal brand.

The psychologicals
"If you had to fire a friend, how would you go about it?"

Creativity is the in thing among HR professionals and executive recruiters nowadays, what with the fact that asking creative questions draw out the best responses from interviewees. Behaviour-based interview questions may be tricky in general (it gets many speechless, really), but it's not impossible to nail them down.

The key is honesty. Doing otherwise, although may be ego-feeding, poses the danger of inconsistency and you won't want that. Looking for a listing of such questions on the internet, like this one from career expert Lynda Ford, can help a lot with your preparation.

Here's a suggestion: Using your resume as backdrop, try to answer each of the questions that Linda has listed. This will give you a library of comprehensive answers that you can use, come the actual interview.

The personals
"Why did you choose to study Marketing?"

Personal questions may be the easiest to answer in the fold, but you also have to be careful in your choice of words and experience to share. Raise a censor and share only those bits about yourself that are relevant to the position you're applying for. Don't bum the interviewer. Focus on your achievements and how you've gone about problems. Those are what they want to know.

The commons
"Why did you quit your former job?
"How do you see yourself five years from now?"

The questions you most expect to be asked fall into this category. It's never easy to impress in a job interview, so prepare for these questions as well. Do some research, needless to say.

There's no key to answering these questions, but it's always advised to be honest. "A lot with this question is in the way you answer rather than in what you say. Be positive and confident rather than defensive and unsure", says career expert, Shelley Tilson. Read her complete advice at www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career%20Guide?ID=444.

Bonus
Something that has become a staple in our job hunting write ups: Ask questions as well and you'll impress. Interviewing is a two way process, so have a list of questions to ask the interviewer at the end. Shelley has provided examples in her article. Check them out to get ideas.

Here's additional advice in this regard from recruitment expert Jonathan Kwan, "If you want to impress someone, the last thing you want to do is simply talk about yourself, and ask questions that only you care about. If you want to leave a lasting impression, try to ask questions that they will care about."

Related Career Advice articles:

Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions

10 Funniest Interview Questions

The Top 10 Questions Most Often Asked

Questions That Determine Types of Behaviour

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

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.

***edit (because we find this satisfying to do). Though it's a public holiday today, are you not planning to hold down your job search? Yes? This bit is for you. New Advertising Jobs, Engineering Jobs, PR Jobs, Telecoms Jobs, Education Jobs, and IT Jobs in Singapore have just been added to our database.

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