"Everyday is a learning experience." This should be your career motto.

This is a spur of the moment post, we admit, but it can up your career a mile. Read on.

Career growth is inevitable if one is always open to learning new things. The dogma here is very simple: no career development efforts, no promotion. Companies are often changing in order to meet the growing standards of the corporate world and employees are expected to go with these changes too. It is important that you exert some effort on your career development so you can become necessary to your employer.


We bet you're asking how, now. It's very simple actually. The rate at which you learn new skills must be higher than the changing needs of your company. That having said, since opportunities to move up are not that many, you should take the initiative to advance your career. Attending career workshops and skills trainings regularly will increase your knowledge at a competitive rate. Just think of it as an investment.

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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Because we still have a lot to say. Is it really now a job seekers market? How has the market been treating you?

It's now a news season of "Hiring expectations in Singapore are at their highest levels" and "Balance of power swinging back to job seekers". We're not trying to play the Grinch here, but we're really interested to know, do you agree with these reports?

Why are we asking again? The results of our latest survey aren't in sync with what the periodicals are reporting about the Singapore work world (Update: so far, out of 2000+ respondents, 80.43% or a total number of 2162 have answered no) and we can't get over this fact. Many of our social media followers also have the same sentiments: "no" comments from a good number of our facebookers and linkedin members, job seekers and career changers alike, are what made us want to visit this topic...again. So, are you one of them?

Surveys from recruiting specialists are harvesting the same results. The job market has begun shifting from being employer-driven to candidate-driven, according to Ambition. This agrees with what Hays has recently released : "Counter offers are on the rise. This trend is likely to continue over the next 12 months as employers fight to retain their key talent." These words still echo in our heads.

Companies worrying about staff retention denotes an improved job market. Hiring expectations are more than twice as high as they were a year ago, according to Hudson. Our jobs portal has experienced a boost in jobs this quarter too (specifically Accountancy Jobs, Banking Jobs, Construction Jobs, IT Jobs, Oil Jobs and Pharmaceutical Jobs) . We believe that the economy has improved a lot in terms of business performance, market outlook, hiring trends, and salary increments because we've experienced this optimism first-hand.

Opinions vary. It's not like periodicals are making things up -- the surveyors have explained their methodology and parameters properly. As for your in-agreement, maybe you just haven't found your momentum yet? Patience is a key term here, but don't get the idea that we're criticising your job hunting strategy. If you're up for it, we suggest you also try networking. It's the easiest way to access the elusive hidden jobs market.

Being unemployed gives one too much free time. Maybe that's what drives you to extreme frustration? One good thing to fight off career inactivity is joining training seminars and skills trainings. We know, these events come with a heavy price tag, but joining them has many benefits. Them being particularly useful in establishing credentials is just one. You might want to visit LearningDB.com and Career Events for options.

Job hunting is also about luck. Whether you agree with the surveys and our point in this post or not, we just want you to keep on trying. BTW, if you want to read the reports that we've made references here, please go to News Watch.

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

Need career tips? Career Advice is a great source of inspiration. From job hunting tips to career advancement discussions, Career Advice can help you with your dilemma. Bookmark www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex to get the latest tips from several experts in the industry.

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

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Looking to achieve career success? How do your employee skills measure up, then?

We're not fans of cliches and metaphors, but for today's opening, we cannot find a better alternative to this: Career success is a destination -- to get there, you are going to have to equip yourself with tools. Mawkishly sentimental? We know, but it proves our point very well. It's our stand on career development -- career success is inevitable for a person who recognises his personal passions, has goals, knows the importance of skills training and communicates well with his boss. These are the tools we're talking about.

But we're not describing career success as a luxury or something that only a few people, particularly those with affording powers, can have. Some of these "tools" come with a big demand for time and a heavy price tag, but everyone has equal chances in achieving career success. There's a way you can get them all without stressing yourself too much. How?

The main keywords here are goals and employee skills. Don't worry, identifying goals is not going to play a villain to your pursuit. It's just a matter of listing down your personal passions and seeing them against your desires for the future. Problem number one, eliminated.

As for the other keyword, well, there's a big difference between updating skills and learning new ones and we want you to take note of that before we proceed. How are your negotiation skills, writing skills, and communication skills? Do you lack these "big-three" or do yours just need improvement? Do this to be able to pick the right seminars to attend. In business, precaution is embraced before making investments -- workshops are a form of investment. They may be costly, but beneficial in the long run.

So, on a scale of 1-5 (5 as the highest) how would you rate yourself in terms of employee skills? Whatever score you have in mind right now, we want you to use it in evaluating which skills workshops are the most beneficial for you to join and in what quantity.

Let's start with communication. The corporate world is run by distinct rules of socialisation. What could sway your friends into submission might not work with your boss. And then there's also body language or poise -- the work world is not just about speaking, you know. But don't fret, JobsDB.com Singapore's training arm offers seminars from communication experts. On August 12, for instance, Shirley Taylor and Allison Lester is scheduled to have another session of Successful Business Communication Skills. You can view other seminars here: www.learningdb.com.sg/calendar.htm#communication_skills

Negotiating is a part of doing business, and that's in any job industry. More so if you are or planning to join the industries of Sales and Marketing. LearningDB.com has plenty to offer for your negotiation skills too. Sandra Sandu-Reeves is going to have Winning and Retaining Clients in Tough Times and Polished Presentation Skills, again on September 1 and August 18, respectively.

They say that we are what we write. You're not a copywriter or an editor? That's not our point. The email is now a staple means of communication in the work world. And writing reports is a part of your job description right? It matters. Knowing how to express yourself properly in words will not just impress your boss, but also improve your personal brand in the office. October is a writing month for LearningDB.com. You might want to consider attending the following: Shirley Taylor is going to do another session of Energise Your E-mail Writing Skills on October 22. We also suggest you list down Writing Effective Minutes and Writing in Response to Complaints to your planner. Jolyn Chow will be having them again on October 15 and 14, respectively.

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

LearningDB.com also offers seminars on Customer Relations, Personal Development, and Microsoft Office. You might be interested. You can check the schedules here.

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

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

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Expert Advice : Best questions to ask on your job interview

We blog about everything really, from Singapore jobs to Singapore news, but there's no denying our penchant for career change, training seminars and job interviews. Have you noticed our blogging affair with these topics already? Well, we're declaring it now. =)

Why do we love writing about learning, moving on and interviewing? It's simple: for our market, they're among the most complicated concepts. Career change is never easy what with its many crisscrosses. As for learning, well, many don't know how crucial continuous education is in career development and blogging about the topic often is the best way to tell people this. When it comes to job interviews, we need not say how tricky they can be especially to first timers. There's the concept for body language, for one. And then, there's also the need to dress up appropriately and to answer and ASK questions properly.

Your eyes aren't fooling you. We really put the word "ASK" in that sentence. An ideal interview is when both parties take turns asking and answering questions; asking questions can add points to your personal brand as a job seeker. Can it be done? Yes. Singapore employers now give candidates a chance to ask questions as this will show them a lot of things e.g. initiative and whether or not the candidate is capable of career building.

We're encouraging you to ask questions on your next interview. When is your next interview, by the way? We hope this post isn't too late because you need to research for this to work. Nevertheless, here's what Jonathan Kwan, Principal at Kwantum Leap and a Career Expert, has to say when it comes to asking good interview questions.

What are good questions to ask? Jonathan has three rules:

Only ask questions you genuinely want to know the answer to.
Don't ask open-ended questions; try to be as specific as possible.
Always start your questions with a bit of a preamble.

Rule number one is no-brainer. Asking for the sake of "asking" (if you know what we mean), is going to give a blow to your credibility. The lack of interest will show...in your face. "We can tell almost immediately whether someone told you to ask that question to impress us, or whether you really want to know the answer", warns Jonathan.

What rule number two denotes is simple too: Don't overdo it! Show courtesy to your interviewer. Chances are you're not the only one he's scheduled to interview for the day. Make your questions specific to avoid giving him a hassle. "The last thing we want to do is have to use our brains and think really hard", advises Jonathan.

Rule number three is one and two combined. "Tell us what you have read, what you've heard, your opinion on the matter, or what others have told you, and then ask your question", Jonathan has said it best. This will give you the opportunity to bring up the research you've done. Plus points.

And don't be selfish, adds Jonathan. "If you want to leave a lasting impression, try to ask questions that they will care about." Remember: It's not about you, It's about them.

Easy, right? You can read our full interview with Jonathan @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Ask%20An%20Expert?ID=402. You might also want to read the following from Career Advice:

The Right Answers to the Most Common Interview Questions
Your Voice can Make or Break Your Job Interview - So Speak Well!
Interview and don't
12 of the Toughest Interview Questions

We'd like to ask, what resources do you use for your job hunting pursuits? For more jobs, you can visit our database. It doesn't matter which industry you're in. From Accounting Jobs, Banking Jobs and Finance Careers to Advertising Jobs and Sales Jobs -- we've got all Singapore's major job industries covered. If you're fresh from school, our fresh graduate jobs section and Campus can lend you a hand. Start here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

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

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

The economy is bouncing back. There's renewed optimism in the job market. To take the job offer or not to -- that's now the question. JobsDB.com Singapore gives you its evaluation parameters.


Let JobsDB.com Singapore begin this post with one of its favorite liners: Job dissatisfaction is the number one cause of career change. There's a reason why we sound like scolding mothers when we talk about job hunting and those things that go under it e.g. resume writing, making cover letters, preparing for a job interview. Job hunting is a crucial stage in career building -- pick the wrong job and you'll end up contemplating about a career transition after just a few months. There's nothing wrong with resetting, we know, but too much of it can be toxic to your career. Too much of "moving on" will give you a less-than-attractive personal brand -- the whole work world will see it a sign of flakiness and lack of initiative.

So, what about job offers? What we want to say is this: the job offers stage is still a guards-up stage. Don't accept a job offer just because it's the first one to come along. Salary in itself isn't a worthy basis too. Writing a resume requires that you revisit your career quirks -- evaluating job offers entails the need to do the same activity.

We're just making things complicated? Wrong. There's nothing that's not complex in the Singapore work world. We suggest you ask yourself these questions before signing anything:

Will the company ask you to submit certain documents? Will you have a problem RE that?

Think of your overall skills set and working experience. Is the offered salary good enough?

Or if you like the job but the salary is low, based on your impression of your interviewers, do you think that the company is fair enough in grading promotions?

Do you understand what the position being offered requires from you? Is it something that appeals to your interests? Is it something that you CAN learn to do?

Were the benefits discussed clearly? Why settle for a job that cannot accommodate your needs when there are thousands of other out there that can do that?

Like it or not, learning is essential to career growth. Was training discussed on the application? Accepting a job that doesn't offer learning opportunities is like signing yourself up for a dead-end destination.

How is the company financially? This is to avoid unnecessary worries about growth in the future.

Are you okay with the company's environment? If you're a laid-back type of person, a heavily corporate environment may bother you. And vice versa.

The job location also matters. Is the travel time too much?

What do you feel about the offer and the company? There's a reason why many people trust their gut feelings.

There's no such thing as a perfect job offer; these parameters will help you weigh in the advantages and disadvantages of each of your offers. If you think you need help, then get help. Speak to family members and friends -- a third party viewpoint can help you get things into perspective. Good Luck!

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

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

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The inevitability of career success to those who "move" for it. A commentary.

It's simple: It's inevitable for a person who recognises what he wants in the future, knows his career expectations all well, sees seminar opportunities as career assets, and has a deep understanding of his immediate superior to achieve career success. Are you looking for ways to move your career forward? Ask yourself these questions:

-Where do you want to be in the future?
-Do you wish to make more or is your current salary already okay?
-What do you think of taking on outside assignments?
-How do you see training programmes? Do you find them relevant to your career?
-What do you think of your current job responsibilities? Do you want to reduce them or add more?
-Are you aware of the latest happenings in your field?
-How is your relationship with your boss?

Those with goals are more likely to succeed than those without for the simple reason that goals keep schedules intact and organized. Having goals denote surety and organization -- two things that bosses have at the top of their "Like" lists. In today's unpredictable corporate world, employees who are not afraid of what lies ahead are the "assets". Question number one hints to this.

We're not denying that more people use salary than the thought of being able to experience genuine office camaraderie as the deciding factor in accepting job offers. That's why we've asked number two. Will a higher salary increase your productivity? If it's a yes (and we're assuming that it's for a good cause), then don't hesitate to send a request to your boss. But of course, you'll have to show first that you're qualified for it. You know what we're talking about.


Versatility is an employee plus point as well -- this is what number three denotes. But we're not suggesting you to force-open your schedule for out-of-town tasks for the sake of career advancement. If your schedule allows such tasks, then good for you. If not, then find alternatives that can also show your boss you're versatile. One suggestion is being more active in meetings.

We blog about everything, really, but there's just no denying that we have an uncanny penchant for career change and skills training for career growth. So, what do you think of career seminars? JobsDB.com Singapore believes that being a patron of seminar opportunities awards you an express lane pass to promotion boulevard. This will get you ahead in your company's skills race, actually. More often such events come with a heavy price tag, but you'll get your money's worth in the long run.

We've said it already: versatility is "a key". Being always ready to accept new tasks will show your boss that you have initiative, need we say more? But we're not suggesting you rush on to your current pending tasks to be able to this. Quality is also important here. A balance between quality and versatility is what we want you to aim to have. Find a way to make your current assignments orderly before taking on new ones.

Here's a good career tip: make it a habit to read the news. We've written sometime before in this blog that periodicals are a great career resource (the whole headlines that matter project came from this idea, actually). Doing this will cue you on when is the right time to do certain career moves e.g. salary talks, career change, and promotion request. This will also help you formulate sound (and reasonable) suggestions for meetings.

Yes, you're responsible for your own career, but your boss has something to do about it too. How is your relationship with your boss? If it needs improvement, you know what we want you to do: Talk to him. Now. Frequent communication, although may sound a bit too pushy, is actually one of the oldest entries in the book when it comes to career development.

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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A call for your opinion : Do you think it is now a job seekers market?

We're asking in our latest survey: Do you think it is now a job seekers market? Headlines like "Hiring expectations are at their highest levels" and "Singapore job market shifts from employer-driven to employee-driven" make it easy to say yes, what with their extensive explanations for proof. But since we're stubborn, we'd still like to ask, if you're currently job hunting, how are your pursuits going? Is the job market treating you like what the periodicals are saying? Does it match what the headlines are telling or against them?

A quick browse at News Watch is going to give you a feeling that it's definitely a yes. The reason behind us pushing forward with this post is that the result so far is very opposite. Out of 2000+ respondents (so far), 84.54% or a total number of 1657 have answered no -- that prospects are not yet good enough.

Many of our facebookers carry the same opinion too. They've been applying, but not getting appropriate response.


There has been a boost in jobs in our database -- what the periodicals are saying is true. If you have the same laments as our survey participants and facebook members, maybe, the momentum hasn't just reached you yet? Or maybe the new available openings aren't competitive enough in your opinion? It seems that many job seekers have raised their career expectations too, and this should be noted.

But either way, we don't want you to lose hope. Being unemployed gives you a certain feeling of rush, we understand, but patience can lead you to a mile.

And no, you're not doing anything wrong. Whatever job hunting strategy you're using, we suggest these adjustments: Set a limit in how long you'll do your job search online. Use the rest of your time a day to conduct other strategies like networking and visiting career fairs. Don't give up on your contacts -- you'll never know. To look for career fairs, you have two ways: You can search for such events online or visit your neighborhood's local office to get a list.

If you're willing, another good thing to do to fight off boredom is attending career events and skills trainings. You might want to take a look at the latest offerings from LearningDB.com and Career Events.

Of course there will be days that you'll be left with extra hours. Use these hours for fun activities. Waste of time? No, as doing this will help you stay on track.

Regardless of whether you think the economy has improved or not, these adjustment tips, albeit simple-sounding, can improve your job search. JobsDB.com Singapore wishes you luck with your pursuit!

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

Need more career tips? Career Advice is a great source of inspiration. From job hunting tips to career advancement discussions, Career Advice can help you with your dilemma. Bookmark www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex to get the latest tips from several experts in the industry.

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

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Management Workshop, Finance Courses, Marketing Seminars : For your Business Pursuit

We didn't expect our "entrepreneur mindset" post to bring in that many clicks, really. Entrepreneurship is tricky -- this just shows that many Singaporeans are willing to take challenges to achieve success. If you're one of those who've supported said post, you can call this as a thank you gift from us.

"Entrepreneurship makes you your own boss, but while this sounds great, the fact of the matter is, having no one but yourself to rely on can be scary. " We've said that in the post in spotlight. Taking on an Admin Assistant Job will help you prepare for entrepreneurship as it will teach you the basics of corporate management. But there's more to business preparation than that. There's the need to network too. Stories from experienced business people will give you hints on how you can run your business the smoothest way possible. And then there's also the need for you to attend special courses for the sake of acquiring "professional" and "legal" details.


Although you can already pick up plenty of valuable information by speaking with people with first hand experiences on entrepreneurship, attending skills trainings will mark a big difference in your business plan. It'll straighten your propositions out with time tested frameworks, to be more exact. Running a business has many dimension; it's an affair that requires knowledge on finance, management, marketing and public relations. Joining business courses is the closest thing to a college degree when it comes to mastering these dimensions.

So, where can you find such courses? You can start at LearningDB.com, JobsDB.com Singapore's training and development arm. LearningDB.com hosts several Finance Courses, Management and Leadership Workshops, and Marketing Seminars that you might want to attend.

Actually, we've featured LearningDB.com's Marketing Seminars here last week. Did you miss it? Fret not. We don't mind repeating things if it's for the good. Sandra Sandu-Reeves is going to have new sessions of Winning and Retaining Clients in Tough Times and Polished Presentation Skills on September 1 and August 18, respectively. David Goldwich is scheduled to talk about Win-win Negotiation Skills again on July 14.

As for Management and Leadership, LearningDB.com has Dealing with Difficult People and Situations. This workshop by Christian Chua will sharpen your decision making skills. Mark your calendar as Christian's scheduled to have another session of this on July 22.

As for Finance Courses, LearningDB.com has lots in store this July! George Goh will be having another session of his Effective Credit Control & Speedy Debt Recovery on July 12. John Ho is going to talk about Business Finance for Non-financial Managers again on July 19-20. Schedules for LearningDB.com's other Seminars on Finance (The Art of Collecting Debts Through the Telephone, Strategic Business Planning & Budgeting, Effective Business Cashflow - The Practical Way, Strategic Pricing & Costing) can be viewed here.

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

BTW, you might also be interested to attend Career Events' Outclass the Competition with Your Professional Image. This will already be on July 17, but registration's still open. Go ahead and sign up!

LearningDB.com also offers seminars on Customer Relations, Communication Skills, Personal Development, and Microsoft Office. You might be interested. You can check the schedules here.

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

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

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In the spotlight: Education Industry. Importance of Training. Skills Development. High Achievers. Positive Energy. "Changing Lives".

Skills training is essential to career development. If you're an avid follower of this blog and our Facebook profile, you should know that we believe in this statement by heart.

This is why JobsDB.com Singapore has Career Events and LearningDB.com. Our goal as a public service website is very simple: we aim to help as much job seekers and employees as we can with their endeavors. Thing is, there's no stopping the work world from changing and you have to be able to cope with this in order to stay relevant and bankable. In today's challenging work world, what employers look for is versatility -- having a wide skills set is a big plus point for job seekers. For employees, keeping skills updated is the surest way to a promotion. How to achieve such statuses? By frequenting learning events.

Our strong belief in the importance of learning in career is what brought us to the office of High Achievers, a known learning solutions provider here in Singapore for Industry Focus. Teacher jobs, professor jobs, instructor jobs -- it goes without saying that the Education Industry is all about changing lives. We've spoken to Julian, Yvonne, Hajar, and Michelle from High Achievers to understand what motivates them and ignites their passion.

Julian Wang, Learning Solutions Consultant, admits that there's difficulty in working for a company that believes in "Changing Lives", but he uses this as a motivation to perform better. "Compared to my previous jobs, working here is much more fulfilling, for they allow you to make mistakes, to learn and to move on." What else does he like about his job at the company? "The high level of trust, of mentoring, of the connection between effort and reward, and of inter and intra-departmental sharing is exemplary and remarkable. "

To be able to interact with many youths from schools is what Yvonne Kong, Lifeskills Trainer, likes the most about her job. "I love the fact that I can influence my students through my interaction and training with them and challenge them to move out of their comfort zones and seek to add value to the world!" JobsDB.com Singapore also thinks that being a teacher of time management skills, study skills, leadership skills, and etiquette is a great thing to do for a living. Yvonne also admires the collaborations in High Achievers and is very proud to declare that they really live up to their vision in their working together.

This "collaboration" is also what Hajar Ali, Admin Assistant and Michelle Manese, Accounts Assistant love about working at High Achievers. "I can get all the positive energy that I need in order to do well in my daily work. From my past experience working in other companies, I've never got the chance to see and feel the positive environment", says Hajar. Being a foreigner from the Philippines, Michelle values her new-found friendship with her co-workers a lot. "Having a lot of friends at work is what I really appreciate and I am very thankful that these people welcome me, gave me the chance to be part of High Achievers. "

The people behind the Training and Education Industry is very passionate -- you'll definitely learn a lot from them. Whichever field you're in or eying, don't hesitate to attend learning events as they are very beneficial to your career. Tomorrow we'll post what's new for LearningDB.com. Stay tuned!

Or maybe you've been inspired to pursue a career in Education? Our database has lecturer openings, teacher jobs, tutor careers and even librarian jobs that you might want to take a look at.

BTW, you can read our complete interview with Julian, Yvonne, Hajar, and Michelle @ www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/industry focus?ID=388.

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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The Entrepreneur Mindset

"The main motivating factor for me becoming an entrepreneur is having the freedom to choose what I want to do, who I want to work with and what kind of environment I want to operate in", says Wendy Kwek founder of Executive Directions Pte Ltd.

Indeed, these are the greatest perks in entrepreneurship. But establishing a business isn't as easy you think. Do you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship makes you your own boss, but while this sounds great, the fact of the matter is, having no one but yourself to rely on can be scary. This is why JobsDB.com Singapore believes that it's imperative that you gain enough working experience at a company, preferably as an Administrative Officer, before you pursue the goal. This way, you'll learn the gist of how companies work and encounter lesser problems while at it.

We're not discouraging you to pursue your entrepreneurship dreams, but instead, we want you to be fully ready for it. JobsDB.com Singapore has Admin Staff Jobs that you might want to consider. Reading our full interview with Wendy can also give you lots of ideas. It's here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career Guide?ID=391.

Good luck with your pursuit!

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

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

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The job market's on its way to stability. Are you considering a career transition too like the majority?

I'm certainly looking for more career opportunities, more prospects, especially in jobs that require me to venture out into the region or on a global scale. And of course it certainly helps if they offer me a higher salary, given that the economy is picking up." Lotus-lee Chin wants to take advantage of the improving job market, we've read from channelnewsasia.com.

And she's not the only one. It seems that more and more professionals are refusing 'so-so' (for a lack of better term) job offers, for 'great' ones -- by 'great' we mean, those that offer rewarding benefits (e.g. competitive salary) and opportunities for career advancement. The recession has taught Singapore a lot of things. For businesses, it's the importance of ethical decision making, it's been stated. For working professionals? Apparently, it's the difference between keeping a 'job' and living with a 'career'. Looking to take advantage of the improving job market, many are currently on the hunt for that rewarding stint.

"The optimism has driven Singapore professionals and workers to raise their career expectations." It's quite understandable why. After lay-offs, a scarcity of jobs, and companies closing here and there, who wouldn't feel the urge to move to a stable ground? We're referring to a career that offers security in case another hiccup happens. Have you been thinking of changing jobs for the better too just like the majority?

Hudson Singapore's latest release, which the aforementioned article from channelnewsasia.com was based from, reported an increased number of job rejection in the past six months. This was four points higher than the last time the question was posed on the third quarter of 2006, another report from The Business Times pointed out.

But it's not like employers aren't making counter-offers. 38% percent of the respondents told Hudson that their current employers had tried to bargain, according to a similar article from the Straights Times.

JobsDB.com Singapore has also published a report about Hudson's findings on News Watch. Our summaries are as follows:

• Expectations are more than twice as high as they were a year ago: just 26 percent forecast headcount growth in Q3 2009, compared with 57 percent this quarter.
• Many employers recognise they must increase salaries to retain top talent: 42 percent are prepared to offer increments of more than 10 percent.
• Employers are increasingly receiving job refusals from candidates to whom they make job offers.
• Higher salary expectations and offers from other companies are the most significant reasons for candidates declining job offers.
• More than half the employers surveyed say they have seen levels of work-related stress rise in the last year.
• An increase in the volume of work is by far the most significant cause of work-related stress.

So, what have you been planning for your career? Are you thinking of changing jobs too like the majority? Tell us your thoughts.

If your answer's a yes, what resources are you planning to use? Even if your contacts are out of the question, it can also help to register in our website. 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. You can apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

For more information about career changes, please visit our Career Advice Section.

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

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JobsDB Career Expo 2010 Highlights

Here's what you've been waiting for! Shots from the very successful Career Expo 2010! Also, stay tuned for our upcoming career expo next year:

JobsDB.com Career Expo 2011 : 25th– 27th March Halls, 402 – 403 Suntec Convention Centre, 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.

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Headlines that Matter | JobsDB Singapore || Cycle 8 *p2*

Part two of cycle 8. This is filled with 'great.'

SINGAPOREANS are in two minds about having foreigners in their midst. While many agree they are good for the country, a not insignificant number also feel they have been personally disadvantaged. -- The Straights Times, Jun 28

Singapore's a very promising land for foreign professionals and workers -- we've encountered plenty of them on social media sites like facebook and myspace. What do you think of foreigners? Do you agree with the results of this survey? JobsDB.com Singapore believes that your career success lies within you -- you shouldn't think of foreign presence as a threat to you career, but instead be confident about your skills. This is where the importance of learning in career comes in. Ensure that your skills are on a par with what the job market demands; then you'll not have problems.

Opportunities are equal for foreigners and residents. Your speaking from personal experience? Maybe the foreigner got the job because he was more qualified? There's no need to compete. What we want you to do is this: just focus on your own career -- in updating your skills, learning new ones, researching and the likes -- and you'll see that race isn't an issue here.

The non-profit organisation, funded by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), a number of statutory boards and Microsoft Singapore, runs infocomm technology-related classes at subsidised rates for people with disabilities. -- The Straights Times, Jun 28

Another good news! Disability shouldn't stop anyone from achieving career success. Good thing there is IAC which provides affordable training programmes to the disabled. Since they don't require field work and external exposures, IT jobs are perfect for those with disabilities. If you have or you know someone with disability, this is a great inspiration. Achieving top-class computer skills can be very beneficial to your career. Pretty much all careers under the IT industry is advisable for you, but these ones offer the best future: Web Design, Technical Writing, Webmaster/SEO, Programming, IT Support.

Should your weight count in promotions? Hospital chief's remarks linking weight to promotions spark debate. -- The Straights Times, Jun 26

We're pretty sure everyone has heard of this news bit already, but for the sake of those who've been too busy to check our the news lately here's what we're discussing in this section: weight for promotion. Does it ring a bell now? Comments by Alexandra Health chief executive Liak Teng Lit about weight being a consideration for promotion have become an issue to human resource practitioners. Mr Liak has argued that it's a must for health-care staff to lead a healthy lifestyle so that they can be good examples to patients.

It sounds reasonable (appearance after all, plays a role, albeit minor, in career development), but being underweight or overweight shouldn't be regarded as a penalty for us. What do you think?

A SURVEY by the Professional Risk Managers' International Association (PRMIA) highlights the challenges that risk managers face in meeting the Basel financial reform proposals. -- The Business Times Weekend, Jun 26, 27

Risk manager jobs are nothing if not stressing. This is specially true now that they are bound to face new challenges in an intensifying marketplace. We've included this news bit for your information.

According to The Hudson Report, 57 percent of respondents across all sectors forecast headcount growth in Quarter Three (Q3) 2010, compared with 54 percent in Q2. Just 4 percent anticipate a reduction in staff numbers. Over 500 executives across key business sectors were interviewed during May. -- JobsDB.com Singapore News Watch, Jun 29

More Jobs! Good news for job seekers. Hiring expectations in Singapore are at their highest levels! You can start in our website. 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. Jump start your career with us. Apply for jobs from our 20,000 job listings here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/en/Search/NewAdvanceSearch.

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

Want to get the latest headlines about the Singapore job market? We recommend you bookmark News Watch. From MOM updates to survey results from the leading recruiters in the country, News Watch can give you what you need.

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Headlines that Matter | JobsDB Singapore || Cycle 8 *p1*

Cycle eight. This time, we're not late. And because headlines are overflowing, today and tomorrow will both be headlines 'eight'. Don't miss the part two tomorrow. =)

Dressing well at work is vital for sending the right message, say consultants. -- The Straights Times, Jun 28

Especially in industries where impressions play a major role (e.g. Banking, Hospitality, Medical Services, and Administrative) dressing up is essential to achieving career success. You're not vain? Need we say that dressing up is one of the oldest tricks in the career development book? Like it or not, impressions start in the physical aspect. A scrawny front will out shadow how good you are inside. Such is also the case in job hunting. This is the reason why we're very particular when it comes to giving our job seeker readers wardrobe pointers. Wearing a professional attire is equals to great impression -- it gives you that trustworthy characteristic and thus, makes you more bankable to employers.

The thing that makes us like this particular topic is that, it's very complex if you try to look more into it. Dress codes vary between job industries and the term 'dressing up' has many dimensions. 'Dressing up' for Bankers, Top Executives and the likes is not the same as 'dressing up' for Entertainers and Beauticians, for instance. The key is knowing the image your industry demands. We mean, who would take a Banker in a party wear seriously?

Even if you work or are planning to work in an industry with limited external exposure such as IT, Customer Service, and HR, keeping up in your appearance is important. We say, dress up the safest. For men, the basic shirt and tie combo will do. Women can go for simple dresses. And then there's also the skirt plus polo combo.

Mind you, we're not yet finished sharing our 2 cents about this topic. This article has renewed our penchant for discussing career wardrobes -- we'll probably post a full article about this within this week or the next. In the meantime, the article can provide you tips.

LOW-WAGE workers will receive more incentives to go for training from Thursday, when the Government launches its Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme. -- The Straights Times, Jun 28

The scheme, which encourages low-wage workers to upgrade their skills through training, aims to ensure workers have a stronger foundation before they take on further vocational training. -- Channelnewsasia.com, Jun 28

We give plenty of importance to learning. Whether you're a Top Executive or a Skilled Worker or a Temp, it's essential to your career growth. Not all believe in this mantra, though and most of them are low-wage workers. We really like what the government has come up to solve this problem. Of course, low-wage workers will get interested to update their skills with promises of allowances and subsidies...which brings us to...

THE government has announced a programme for low-wage, older Singaporean workers who lack basic English literacy. It is to help them build a stronger foundation before they can take up further vocational training under the Workfare Training Support (WTS) Scheme which kicks off on Thursday. -- The Business Times, Jun 28

While English literary may not be a have-it-or-die aspect in Singapore's work world, it can be considered an advantage. We in JobsDB.com Singapore are believers of the importance of skills trainings and career workshops (We're pretty sure you know that already) and we want to give kudos to the government for coming up with this scheme. With this, not only will they learn but also earn cash.

SINGAPOREANS place heavy emphasis on customer service, and an unpleasant call centre interaction would likely result in them switching to a better competitor, said a recent survey by communication services firm Avaya. -- The Business Times, Jun 28

This is one reason why Customer Service is a high value industry here in Singapore -- Singaporeans give importance to client relations. Yesterday's blog post was partly inspired by this news bit, actually. If you're a fresh graduate and you're planning to enter this field, it's imperative that you re-evaluate your EQ skills and negotiation skills to see if they're competitive enough. The same goes for career changers who are spotting this field. You might want to check these Sales and Marketing workshops from LearningDB.com for they can help you with your endeavors.

SINGAPOREANS are in two minds about having foreigners in their midst. While many agree they are good for the country, a not insignificant number also feel they have been personally disadvantaged. -- The Straights Times, Jun 28

Interesting findings. In cycle six, we've pinpointed what the recession has taught businesses: the importance of ethics. This here is about what the recession has done to employees and job seekers. This report's a contrary to what most are thinking, including us. The optimism has driven Singapore professionals and workers to raise their career expectations. What do you think about this? Have you raised your expectations too as a worker?

Finance professionals are now expecting more from their jobs as the employment market continues to heat up. Employers need to proactively address this trend, or risk losing their best people. -- JobsDB.com Singapore News Watch, June 2

The recession's done and now's a good time for salary talks. If you're working in the sectors of Accounting, Banking, and Finance, here's something that you can use for your goals. The latest salary guide for finance professionals from Robert Half is now available at News Watch. You might want to check it out here: www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/newswatch?ID=387.

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

Want to get the latest headlines about the Singapore job market? We recommend you bookmark News Watch. From MOM updates to survey results from the leading recruiters in the country, News Watch can give you what you need.

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

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Ways to improve your Sales Skills & Marketing Skills : Negotiation Skills Training & Presentation Seminars

The industry of sales & marketing is nothing if not challenging . Humans have a short interest span and this field is all about getting and retaining clients. Need we say more? JobsDB.com Singapore admires sales executives and marketing professionals, really. Hard work and extreme creativity are a must to achieve a stable standing in this field. Career success in sales depends on how good you are in impressing the public.


Looking to shift to a career in sales or marketing? Here's what you should know: While negotiating is a natural human ability, it's still imperative that you re-evaluate your negotiation skills. And if something needs to be done, take action asap. This is the field of sales & marketing that we're talking about. Satisfactory negotiation skills will not bring you any good in this field, we're telling you. The same goes for this industry's job hunters. What sales companies and marketing agencies look for are candidates of high caliber when it comes to selling and dealing with people -- it goes without saying.

So, how are you going to take action? You can always research (Career Advice can help you). But when it comes to updating skills, nothing beats going to career seminars and skills workshops. Yes, we know, most of such events come with a heavy price tag, but there are many benefits to attending them. Think this: skills trainings are fruitful career investments.

Where to look? You can start right here. LearningDB.com, JobsDB.com Singapore's training and development arm, recognizes these challenges in the sales & marketing industry and every now and then, organizes workshops on negotiating skills, presentation skills, among others. Why choose LearningDB.com? We only hires experts -- you'll definitely get your money's worth.

Mark your calendar for the next sessions of Sandra Sandu-Reeves' Winning and Retaining Clients in Tough Times and Polished Presentation Skills, Sandra is going to have them again on September 1 and August 18, respectively.

You might also want to attend David Goldwich's Win-win Negotiation Skills -- he's scheduled to have another session of this successful workshop on July 14. Something to preoccupy your thirst for knowledge while waiting for Sandra's seminars. For more information on these seminars, please contact LearningDB.com at 6861 1000 or email to learning@jobsdb.com.sg.

LearningDB.com also offers seminars on Management & Leadership, Customer Relations, Communication Skills, Personal Development, Finance, and Microsoft Office aside from sales & marketing. You might be interested. You can check the schedules here.

Of course, this is LearningDB.com. Attending means freebies (to follow)!

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.

Read More