Engineering and IT Jobs

Friday, December 13, 2013

Quiz: Can You Deal With Drama During A Workplace Crisis?

 Drama in the office is never pleasant in a full-time job. What's more, it has the potential to continue on a daily basis - giving you unneeded stress. An article on our website has outlined the several ways to deal with drama caused by office gossips, negative and angry co-workers.


 
However, in order to really know if you're able to handle drama - internal and external - like the seasoned professional that you are, take the following self-quiz that tests your responses caused by drama from crises!




1. You're in the midst of a huge project when a colleague resigns. He leaves you holding his part of the project, which you know nothing about. Do you:

a) Ask him to tell you all about his project work before he leaves? If you can handle this, you'll stand to increase another feather in your cap!

b) Call him even when he's long gone to follow up.

c) Sit on it until a replacement is hired.


2. A vendor says your company's cheque payment has bounced and now payment is overdue. What do you do next?

a) Give them the number to your accounts dept.

b) Go and ask your accountant for an explanation?

c) Apologise and tell the vendor, "You'll get your payment ASAP"


3. Your boss is set to make a major presentation when his/her Powerpoint won't open.
Do you:

a) Run off to the ladies so you can let someone else deal with the mess.

b) Offer her your laptop to use, which -just in case- has a copy of the presentation.

c) Call the IT guy back at the office and ask him to coach you a solution through the phone.


4. The papers published a bad story of your CEO and you are the first to see it. What do you do?

a) You already knew this would be published and to defend your CEO's position, you've already drafted a letter to the editor. You then discuss with your CEO and communications team to come up with a unified response. 

b) Pretend you didn't see it and continue your routine as usual.

c) Pick up the phone, berate the editor and demand the paper to retract their statement.



Answers:
1) a  2) c  3) b  4) 1










Tell us your 2014 Career Resolution, and win vouchers to help realise it!

Have you ever set a resolution to take up a new skill, update your work wardrobe, or improve your public speaking to Do Better in your career? This new year, JobsDB Singapore is going to help you realise that! 





Simply post your ultimate Career Resolution for the new year and ask your friends to Vote for it on our Facebook Page! The entry with the most votes on 30 Dec will win $250 worth of related vouchers to help the winner realise his/her dream!

What's more, once our Facebook page reaches 25,000 likes, we will award one lucky voter with a $50 shopping voucher!

So go on, tell us your top 2014 Career Resolution and we'll help you accomplish it!

Contest ends 30 Dec.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

9 Essential Qualities of Highly Promotable Employees

Do you wish to get promoted sometime soon in your new job in Singapore? Well, according to an article on LinkedIn, the key to advancing in your career is based on your attitude.

Yes, not your qualifications, not your impressive skill sets, not what you should do (although it is important as well). It is your attitude that drives your achievements, successes… everything.
Here are some of the attitudes that make up an incredibly promotable people.

1)      They are humble
While arrogant people think they know everything, the humble person is always learning, asking questions, asking for help.

They share credit because they instinctively know that every success is actually a team effort. They are willing to take on any job, big or small, thinking that no job is beneath them. In the process, they prove that no job is above them.

They know that success isn’t about how high you can reach, but by how low you are willing to bend.


2)      They are willing to serve others, not just themselves
They’re also team players, making the atmosphere around their office better. They provide the tools, training and culture to help their employees do their jobs better and achieve their own goals.
They employee who is in it for himself will someday be all by himself. The employee who is in it for others may not get the limelight, but surely and steadily, the right people will notice.

3)      They are optimistic
Optimists are an asset to any situation, just because optimism is infectious. They add energy to meetings, businesses and situations and take more intelligent risks because they deal with what can go right. They believe with the right mindset and hard work, they can accomplish almost anything.

4)      They think about the execution part, too
Remember the colleague who was NATO (no action, talk only)? Well the best employees not only plan, but they develop, strategise and operate plans. And then –get ready for this- execute, adapt, revise and refine them. They’re the ones who are doing stuff and not just thinking about stuff.
5)      They think long-term
Real successes aren’t short-lived. People who make them are also able to consistently inspire, motivate and make others feel better about themselves – always. In time, they will be placed in positions where they can influence the long-term success of their team, and ultimately, company.

6)      They are self-aware
People who understand themselves, and in return understand others around them are self-aware. They are more accepting of the weaknesses and failures of others because they know how it feels like to fail.
They lead with empathy and compassion because they know how it feels to not receive any. They help solve problems for the team, company and even clients.

7)      They’re generous with information
Finally, the best people in life like to spread knowledge. They make sure that others in their team learn and gain experience that will be useful for life. In the process, a person who is a teacher will build strong teams.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

How successful billionaires see failure

Successful people not only learn from their mistakes, but also learn to accept failure as part and parcel of what they do in life. What can people searching for jobs in Singapore learn from these ultra-successful personalities? It's learning how to stand up after a fall. For example, after going through a failed interview or receiving a less-than-stellar performance review. Instead of wallowing in self-regret, do what these entrepreneurs do: dust off the dirt, learn from mistakes and get back to work.



 Here are some quotes by the people who've enjoyed immense success as well as failure.

"Everyone has had them [mistakes]. Bill Miller. Buffett has had some doozies. Peter Lynch. Everyone. You know who didn't have bad years? Bernard Madoff - until he got caught." - Ken Fisher, billionaire investor.


“Almost any mistake you can make in running a company, I’ve probably made.” - Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder.

"In fact, failure is one of the secrets to success, since some of the best ideas arise from the ashes of a shuttered business." - Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder.

"Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.” - Elon Musk, Tesla founder & Paypal co-founder.


Finally, learn how to actively manage your success and career path by conducting your own career review where you look back on your week, month and even your year.





Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thinkers to seek out for your team

A strong, collective team is formed by a diverse mix of thinkers and personalities coming together to do great work. Many jobs in Singapore aren't just isolated workers huddled in a cubicle - very often professionals work as a team to bring projects or an objective to fruition. Hence, employers do have to make a conscious choice when it comes to building their teams.


Thinkers to seek out for your team


According to Katya Andresen, the President and COO/Incoming CEO at ePals, her 6 top thinker types that she seek for her team are:

1. The Dreamer
He or she never ceases to imagine what's possible and can supply the team with an optimistic creative energy. A dreamer can thrive even in customer service or admin jobs, as he or she always stretches the bounds of what is considered achievable.

2. The Debater.
Debaters point out the flaws in your plan, question your assumptions and see the problems before others do. Their nature forces you to strengthen your arguments.

3.  The Disruptor
This personality challenges the status quo and breaks others out of their mental ruts. They're intellectually curious and lateral-thinking in nature who are first o spot competitors and untapped opportunities.

4. The Driver
Natural leaders at heart, they bring a crusading vision to the job at hand and supplies the forward momentum even when others can't seem to maintain their motivation or when team morale is down.

5. The Detailer
They focus on the practical parts, saving everyone from making mistakes and design flaws. Even the best-laid plans can be diagnosed by them to need improvements.

6. The Doer
He or she gets stuff done, period. They're a wonderful counterpart to the strategists because they can deliver work on time, all the time.


What kind of thinker are you and which kind of thinker would you like to be on your team?

Friday, October 25, 2013

Daily Q&A Lucky Draw on Facebook till 31 Oct



Want to win a $10 Ben&Jerry's ice cream voucher with just a few clicks of your mouse? Come play our Daily Q&A Lucky Draw on our Facebook till the end of October 2013 (weekdays only)!
 

At noon, we will ask a question that has to do with our INFocus October theme of part-time Hospitality, F&B and Retail jobs. Find the answer in one of our INFocus articles and with the answer, share the article which you got your answer from with the hashtag #jobsDBSG to enter! 

The winner will be announced at 6pm every weekend. Stay tuned and Good Luck!

T&Cs: Valid Singapore residential address must be given to us if you're announced as the Daily Winner as vouchers will be mailed over. Judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained after announcement of results.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The Most Awkward Rejection Letter Ever?

Warning: Do not try this in your actual job application.

A cheeky job seeker in the UK applied for a job at Cadbury for a Global Quality Manager role with a quote in his resume saying that he used to be a "super secret spy" and that one of his references was "Elizabeth *wink wink*" and the other, his eBay feedback.

The job seeker, whose Twitter handle is @jamieDMJ, attached a £5 note to his application with a sketch of an "everlasting chocolate bar." The note was returned to him with the Cadbury rejection letter, as shown below.




While this application tickled us and gave us a bit of a laugh, we do encourage job seekers to take their cover letter and resume-writing seriously as these documents can potentially land you the interview, or better still, the job of your dreams!


For great tips on resume writing for Hospitality or career advice on part-time F&B & Retail jobs, visit jobsDB's INFocus October.

 Also, find close to a hundred available Food & Beverage jobs at jobsDB Singapore!