Tapping the hidden jobs market

Okay. So far, our little survey has garnered 24 responses. Although this number is still far from being acceptable by professional polling standards, we cannot help but feel ready to already declare a winner among our choices. 41.7% said that the best option to take when one's job search was having troubles was *surprise, surprise* "tapping the hidden jobs market through networks". Far from the second place was the option of "considering temp jobs and contract jobs", with 29.2% approval. The third placer was the option of "considering another industry with similar demands" with 16.7% approval, followed by "trying harder" with 12.5%. Still, no one agreed to considering the option of "returning to school for MBA or attending career seminars".

If we were to answer this survey, we'd probably zero in our contemplation on the options of "tapping the hidden jobs market" and"considering returning to school". Eventually, after much musing, we'd probably end up choosing the latter . Ergo, we're quite disappointed that nobody -- not even one -- has the same views as ours. Not that we're implying that our industry insights are superior, but we probably just need assurances that people are finally recognising the "new trend", the one implying that human capital development is the most effective route to success in this day and age. Singapore employers should be the ones most mindful of this, but jobseekers of Singapore banking jobs, accounting jobs, engineer jobs, marketing jobs...everything should recognise its presence as well at the very least, so expectations could be met if you get what we mean.

Nevertheless, since it doesn't seem like we're still going to get additional responses, we might as well share already what we have to say concerning the discourse of the hidden jobs market and how to tap into its resources. Actually, the hidden jobs market could be tapped in many ways, both conventionally and unconventionally. Focus was given to networking because it seemed to be the most effective way, judging from our own experiences and past conversations with jobseekers.

It is a given fact that more than 50% of job openings in Singapore aren't advertised. There are still companies that believe in the referrals method of filling in vacant positions, the thing is. The only way to have yourself considered for these positions, given these circumstances, is knowing someone 'from the inside'. Frequenting networking events and joining professional clubs are both a good way to meet potential contacts. If you haven't considered these options for career advancement yet, you should do so asap.

Returning to school can also lead you to people who will make great contacts. Okay, that's one biased statement, but we guess you understand the point, right?

Do you beg to disagree? Speak out. We'll listen.

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We interrupt your regular programming for a brief announcement.

Unsurprisingly since everyone at sg.jobsdb.com is workaholic, there's a lot of things going on right now on our end. If you haven't visited our website in a while, you should do so ASAP to see our new look.



So how do you find it? Since this change is a first time in a long while, we are in a dire need of comments and suggestions. If you have something in mind regarding our new interface, whether it is positive or negative, just send it out.

To those who are curious about what this change implies, only the interface has changed actually. It's the same brand of convenience when searching for Accounting Jobs, Finance Jobs, Engineer Jobs, Admin Jobs, etc. Similarly, JobsDB, Job Alerts, Learning and all the other JobsDB services you've grown to love will still work to provide you convenience in your job search or career building.

So yes, we need your inputs.

Aside from this, we also have an ongoing contest. This time, it's very easy to win. You just have to spot taxis with JobsDB stickers wrapped around them and take note of their registration numbers. Prizes to be given away include MacBook Air, 8GB iPod Touch, Shopping Vouches worth $200, and Pairs of Movie Tickets worth $170. Visit engage.sg.jobsdb.com/SG/spot-and-win/ for more details.



Of course, we're still inviting Singapore employers to sign their staff up for Onboarding Workshop, a first time in Asia! Get them to speed up in half the time!

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What's up with the new 'Career Positioning' campaign?

We've been talking a lot about 'career positioning' lately, urging jobseekers to be targeted in their applications. Similarly, we've been busy asking career builders to get their goals straight once and for all. If you've been with us since the very beginning, you should know that this is being done with intent. And we're going to keep up with it for as long as it takes to get satisfying results.

Although we give as much importance to the virtue of variability as interactivity as far as this blog is concerned, we've come into a (rather delayed) conclusion that repetition is a good teacher. If you want to make people remember something, gentle reminders are the way to go.

But of course, we're aware that overdoing it could potentially lead to a decrease in the number of our followers. That's why we think of different ways to get the point across. Last Friday, we did a survey (Which is still open, BTW). The other day, we listed questions that some of our followers might be confused about. It's all about pre-suppositions... and hoping that your wild guess applies to some of the people within your social circles. And then, a conversation of some sort is born.

By principle, this is not the least bit easy. And there's no assurance that the conversation you've successfully instigated will go on for more than a week. So, there. Our writing jobs are not easy and we can only hope for your undying participation.

Nevertheless, we don't intend on bumming you with a complicated discussion today, so don't worry. Actually, we're only tasked to inform you about the 'latests' from our editors at sg.jobsdb.com, in case you haven't visited in a while. Just recently, our editors uploaded press releases from Hays Singapore and Robert Half concerning their recent findings in the Singapore jobs market and the overall standing of Singapore jobs. In particular, banking jobs and financial jobs are those in the spotlight. If you're job hunting in this industry, you shouldn't be having a hard time.

The links:

Organisations hiring in the Asia-Pacific continue to face talent shortage

How to get on the board: Five skills you need for a successful finance career

Money and lifestyle issues driving career change for Singapore’s workers

More hiring at the top this financial year

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Options for jobseekers

Last Friday, we posted a poll about how one could improve his/her job search. The catch was, what if you had excellent qualifications and the skills to booth? You'd wonder... has the competition in the Singapore jobs market tightened so much that even 'price-catch' candidates (just to lay out the idea) feel ignored?

So far, we've garnered 12 responses. This number is a little bit short of quota, yes, but we're very grateful for the people who've participated. And so, the results are that most people agree to the option of tapping the hidden jobs market (through networks) and considering temp jobs and contract roles. Both got 33.3% response rates.

Somehow, we expected to end up with this kind of result. The hidden jobs market is a very good place to look into, and this is common knowledge. The advantage is that you'd be applying as a 'referred' person; when it comes to job search in Singapore, a back up is always welcome. On the other hand, with contract jobs, additional experience will be gained and there is the chance of getting absorbed in the company as a regular employee for a job well done.

Garnering a favorable 25% response rate is the option of considering another industry with similar skills demands. People probably know that there is difficulty in this option. Effort must be exerted to market yourself to the top companies in this 'new' industry. Describing your transferable skills can be quite tiring especially if you haven't done this kind of an exercise before.

Perhaps, the reason why the option of returning to school or attending some career seminars didn't get any response is because it comes with a price. Anyway, education is a form of investment no matter what angle you look at it. If you have the budget, then attend training opportunities and career seminars. If not, we don't want you to completely drop the idea, though.

'Try harder and wait' was included as an option because it has been proven many times that having patience pays when looking for a job in Singapore. Not a lot of people, it appears, believes in this though. Do you? We do.

We've decided to leave this survey open until a 100 people has answered it. If you haven't voted for an option yet, do so. Please also incline your friends and acquaintances to share their thoughts with us. Those votes would help a lot.



Alternatively, you may Click here to take survey

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What more could a qualified candidate do to improve his/her chances for a job?

There are few things sadder in this life than hearing from a jobseeker who has been having a hard time landing a job despite having excellent qualifications. A few weeks ago, we chatted with one on Facebook.

You know our ideals:

• A run-of-the-mill approach is a big NO, given the cut-throat competition for Singapore jobs. Writing a 'personalised' resume and cover letter for every job ad is possibly, the only way to get interview invites.
• You cannot get away victorious from an interview without preparing answers before-hand. Nor would you be able to impress by being late.
• It takes courage to follow up for the status of a job application, but if you do, you'd one up your chances. It would communicate your sincerity for the job.

All these... this jobseeker had already tried doing. And despite the efforts, nothing good had reached his/her end. Even this didn't do the trick:

10 Questions to ask if you still haven't found a job

Our formula for a perfect job search has been challenged the first time in almost two years.

Not that we're complaining. There's both a good and a bad in this scenario. On a positive note, this goes to prove that our efforts for achieving interactivity is working. On the other hand, much as we'd want to solve this jobseeker's problem once and for all, we don't know how to...yet.

The reason why we'd opened this up is we want to ask for your opinions. It is given that competition for jobs in Singapore is so cut-throat it can even challenge the belief systems of the most optimistic. Much more so when you happen to be searching for bank jobs, accounting jobs, engineer jobs, and hr jobs. And so, we ask you to take part in a short survey we made.



Can't see the survey? Alternatively, you may Click here to take survey

We promise to share with you the results. For now, please help us to decide what to advice the jobseeker.

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career advice for the pessimistic (and for everyone else)

There are many possibilities in career and this is both a good and a bad thing. We all know that downward slopes in career are some of the most depressing in life and it happens that not all career professionals are as optimistic as sunshine. Browse through job boards and forums and you'll understand what we mean.

This realisation gave us a shake, needless to say. What's the best possible way to address this issue to help our readers who get easily depressed? This is a challenge we won't back out of, given that we can relate personally.

Okay. After a good hours of thinking, we've resolved that an average career professional can encounter at least 7 career issues in his/her life; namely (feel free to add, this is a 'career forum' after all):

• Job Search (including Resume Writing and Job Interviewing)
• Work Productivity
• Career Networking
• Job Dissatisfaction
• Career Change
• Salary Raise
• Job Loss

Regarding the issue of 'job search', we stand by our belief that a run-of-the-mill approach will not do you any good. Competition for Singapore jobs has been pretty cut-throat since the last decade and to stand out from a sea of equally competitive jobseekers is to EFFORT. Each job ad deserves a 'personalised' cover letter and resume from you. You won't get a job anytime soon if you think this is too troublesome.

Regarding the issue of 'work productivity', the key is scheduling your tasks and this is somehow related to 'Job Dissatisfaction'. Routines can be tiring, so in order to survive in 'heavily' office-based positions like accounting jobs, hr jobs, admin jobs, it jobs, and telecom jobs, a special scheduling of tasks is advised to be done. Which part of the day/week are you usually most active/alive? Schedule your most tiresome tasks during those times/days and set yourself to do the easiest during your slowest hours/days.

The reason why we're so much into 'Networking' is that it is useful in many ways. First, it can provide you extra access to jobs in case of a sudden job loss. Second, networking is a good way to get free career advice. So, sharpen your networking skills.

'Job Loss' and 'Career Change' are related to job search, but the catch is, you have to give the most focus on your experience -- so, experience as an advantage is the idea.

For the issue of 'Salary Increase'...actually, we only have two things to say: Research and Develop guts. The combination is a killer.

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All in one.

By the middle of 2010, we were at our prime, to an extent that saw us obsessing over word limits -- that we wouldn't call it a write up until it reached 600 or so words. In order to feed that desire for public service (and well, in an attempt to build a name in the blogging industry as well), we'd written with so much intensity. Everything was well: our followers were equally as happy as we were.

Nothing much has change since that time. The only thing about this blog that has gone into a critical decline is the level of interactivity. What was once a common place over here is now a rarity that we strive to get back every day. Yesterday's post is a testament to this desire and we just hope to attract more answers.

One proof to our 'alleged' hyperactivity during 2010 is the blog, http://accounting-jobs-singapore.blogspot.com/. It hasn't been updated for so long and of course, we acknowledge our faults. But here's the thing: if you are currently looking for accounting jobs in Singapore (and still find our DB complicated or troublesome), this is the website to bookmark.

We plan to make a blog like this for engineer jobs and banking jobs and finance jobs as well. Do you want us to pursue with the plan? Just drop a note and we'll tell you what we think right away.

And that's it. We're actually still straightening things out. Your feedback is going to be treated important.

RE the questions we posted yesterday, the answers are here:

1) 10 Questions to ask if you still haven't found a job
2) Foreign employment concerns and 'citizens come first'.
3) 10 Steps in Creating an Outstanding Online Resume
4) 5 Golden Rules of Good Office Etiquette
5)





6) Planning a career change? Find out if you're ready for such a big move
7) Coping with Job Loss
8) How to Ask Good Questions? It’s Not About You, It’s About Them

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Straightening things out. Please take part in our little survey...

We call this web space a 'career forum' rather than an 'ezine' chiefly because our moderation approach is experiential. We speak in layman's terms. We don't shy away from inviting everyone to talk back. We effort in connecting with our followers. We don't just talk about the nature of Singapore jobs, rather we invite you guys to go to our DB and apply. Intense interactivity is what we're after and although our little blog is still far from being a stomp or sgclub incarnate, we'd like to think that we're doing just fine. We hope to be as busy as those forums someday soon, so can you help us?

Not that we're forcing you to comment or promote our articles via your Twitter or what. But if you can, your efforts will help a lot. If you don't find our posts interesting anymore and you don't think they deserve re-posts and re-promotions, please help us to improve. Your questions can be an excellent source of ideas for discussion and who knows, we might be able to write something good about it. These ideas imply great possibilities that we can achieve together.

Perhaps, we should do it in reverse this time around. We have tons of questions in career bottled up that can probably spark healthy conversations. If it happens that some of you guys can relate, feel free to elaborate via the comments section and we'll reply right away. Here they are:

1. I haven't received an interview invite in a while although I'm active in sending out my resume. What could possibly be wrong?
2. What is EPEC and why do I need to read about it if I'm a foreigner and wish to apply for Singapore positions?
3. Is your resume error-free? What is your idea of a perfect resume?
4. I am being troubled by office politics? With this hindrance, how do you think I can continue going upward in my career?
5. Where can I find good training opportunities and career seminars?
6. Is it possible to switch careers to another field without getting stuck with facing consequences? Say from an accounting job to an IT job? Or an engineer job to an architect job?
7. How do you deal with job loss in a positive note? How can you make productive use of the excessive free time? Is social work a viable option?
8. Is there a 'correct' way of answering the "Is there anything else you would like to ask us?" question from a job interviewer?

You may also interact with us via our other social media accounts:


We'll be waiting for your response.

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No formulas. No boundaries.

Unlike in statistics, there are no ‘fixed equations’ in career. This is because we have different skills, interests and goals; no two career professionals are the same. So yes, do whatever it takes to succeed as long as it won’t hurt anyone.

Your career development plan doesn't have to follow a formula in order for it to be 'functional'. Whether you’re currently aiming for a promotion or a job seeker, let sg.jobsdb.com help you develop a good plan.

Here’s the thing: The more personal your approach, the better results you will get. Let’s start with the most basic aspect of career planning: think about the demands of the field or the industry you’re eying for job prospects. What difference will this make to your job hunting? Think along these lines:

Sales jobs = negotiation skills
Public relations jobs = presentation skills
IT jobs = computer skills.
Engineer jobs = precision skills
Design jobs/ writer jobs = creativity
Accounting jobs = expertise in dealing with numbers.

You'll know which among your skills you need to market more to land a job the soonest – that’s the thought. If you're already working, the benefit of doing this is it’ll pinpoint which from your skills you should prioritize in developing for faster career advancement and promotion.

Goals vary per individual. Listing down your goals will help you go further with your career pursuits. Having a clear goal in mind will keep you organized and thus, increase your productivity a lot. This is also a plus point for job hunters. Just imagine if your goals correlate with the pursuits of the company you’re applying to -- that's a match made in heaven.

Your small working preferences also matter so take the time to write them down and then see them against the overall demands of where you're looking for openings. These things may seem unimportant, but job seekers, truth is, they are in some way. A mismatch in interest can be toxic. Do you find a cubicle environment too constrained? Perhaps you prefer a laissez faire working environment over a corporate one? Or maybe you’re more into freelance work? Writing jobs, for instance, have plenty of dimension -- many industries offer such job posts. If you prefer freelancing, we suggest you consider writing jobs in the industries of IT, Media or Journalism as you might feel constrained under Banking or Medical Services. If you’re already working, doing this little exercise will help you decide on whether you need a career change or not to move forward.

We all want to achieve career success the soonest time possible, but we don’t suggest total ignoring of fun-causing elements just for this. When it comes to career development talks, work-life balance is out of the question. Career building is never easy and can be very tricky so be good to yourself. Whether you’re a job hunter or an employee, it’s for your good to include elements of fun in your schedule like an interest class or a regular bonding time with your family. Doing this will motivate and make you function better. Although they usually come with a hefty price tag, there are many benefits to attending interest classes. These events are an excellent terrain for networking, for one. Our families, on the other hand, are the best therapists for career stress, admit it or not.

Job dissatisfaction is the number one cause of career change. This can be avoided with proper planning at the beginning or for career changers, the second time around. We may not be career counselors by profession, but these are time tested tips that can point you to the right direction. Career planning for success is tricky so try to weigh in all these factors before making anything final. There's no harm in trying after all.

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desk managerment, part 2

To achieve career success, you will need your desk. And so, it is absolutely necessary for you to keep your desk as work-efficient as possible or spotless. It may seem unimportant but, a dirty desk can keep you from excelling in your accounting job or banking job or engineer job or telecom job.

Here's part 2 of our 'desk management' appreciation:

Replace your figurines with items that induce productivity. Pictures of your children or role models will inspire you just by seeing them and so, they are totally worth the space on your desk. We also suggest that you set up a bulletin board where you can post your goals and some items that carry good vibes with them like inspirational cards and flyers.

We also want you to organize the electronics items on your desk. Place your telephone on your left side if you are right handed or vice versa. This will make it easier to write notes. As for your computer, set the monitor right in front of you, but not too close, of course. A properly positioned monitor will eliminate stress on your muscles. It is more convenient to be looking at the monitor straight versus needing to tilt your neck to adjust.

And speaking of telephone notes, keep a planner! This will prevent you from jotting down important notes on multiple sheets of paper which can be quite messy.

You need more desk management tips? We have featured a book entitled "Detox your Desk" by Theo Theobald and Cary Coopin in our Good Reading section. For more information on the book, please proceed to www.jobsdb.com.sg/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/career-coaching-on-effect?ID=45. You can see the book's cover below. Our post yesterday has it.

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Yes, we're interested in desk management.

While desk management is not as popular a topic as office politics, the fact of the matter is, the fate of an important aspect in your life lies on your desk. You cannot excel in your accounting job or engineer job or admin job or it job (whatever is your job!) in a dirty workspace! You are supposed to treat the space an altar and so, do not let clutter take over it. Here is our take on desk management.

Your goal is to create a clear area right in front of you for increased productivity and peace of mind. Is it possible to achieve such a thing? Yes. So, the next time you find some free time, try following these:

To prevent paper clutter, employ a filing system. Start with choosing a drawer that is within your arm's reach; use that to house projects that need your immediate action. Do not leave papers on your desk, please. How about your old files? Plan a day to assess completed projects and then decide which files you need to keep and which you do not. As for magazines and mails, do the same thing. Find another drawer where you can place important ones for filing. Just a friendly suggestion: stop collecting magazines as they can eat a lot of space. If this cannot be avoided, keep your stash at home.

Frequently used items such as staplers, paper clips, and pens, deserve spots on your desk. Place them within your reach, so you do not have to stand up or bend. For organization's sake, we suggest you use a small box to keep these items.

To be continued.

About the image: Written by Theo Theobald & Cary Cooper, ’Detox Your Desk’ helps you fight back by purging your system of office toxins, so you can take control of the everyday stuff and calmly field whatever lands in your in-tray. Read more about it at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/career-coaching-on-effect?ID=45

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Rambling about career issues...yet again.

Golly gee. Before anything else, we'd like to thank those who helped to promote our last post on Twitter. Yes, the post below this one. It's just that... it's been so long since a post of ours got 10+ RTs. Goes to show we're still (actually) capable of sprouting smart career messages and that we haven't thoroughly bummed our followers with nonsense and rants.

Granted, we knew we weren't going to be able to come to work that Friday. And so, we gave this article everything, presupposing that it could stand as a discussion instigator for two days. Guess, it worked. Conclusion: We have to make sense more often.

Anyway, here's a little follow-up on some of the points we've established there:

POINT no. 1: Learning. We think we've already worded our thoughts on continuous education very well and a follow-up isn't necessary. But here's the thing, we're doing this for those who haven't been informed of JobsDB Learning's re-branding yet, to make them realise how it has become so comprehensive now.

And well, we want to make a segway (sub-promotion) about OnBOARDING WORKSHOP. This is a first time in Asia and those with HR Manager Jobs and Recruitment Jobs are greatly encouraged to consider availing seats in it for their employees. The tagline "How to get your new employees up to speed in half the time" should be enough as an encouragement as it speaks volumes about what this seminar is going to be about -- employee productivity and working smarter not JUST harder. Just imagine your savings if the seminar actually worked and made a mark to your employees.

POINT no. 2: Improving on your networking skills. There are many benefits to keeping a healthy career network and its handiness when a need for a career change arises is just one. If you have career friends, your need for career advice will always be met and that's without a price. See why you should network?

POINT no. 3: Going the extra mile. Now, this is where we MUST make some clearings. Are we asking you guys to forget about vacations and devote all your time and energy to work? Not really; the idea of our point no. 3 is making the most out of your time at work, not ALL your time. Showing up on time always and doing your job properly will give you a reliable brand, which in turn, can aid you to a promotion.

We guess we need not elaborate on points 4 and 5? Do tell us if you have questions.

Again, thanks for the overwhelming feedback last Thursday! Some related articles for you to read:

How to excel in your career

Purposeful Action Leads to Success

The Key to Finding a New Career Direction

Prioritising Your Day To Accomplish More

Effective Communication

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Random thoughts... training and development, networking, relationship building, planning.

Continuing education is essential to career advancement. Acquiring new skills and updating your old ones are necessary so you can perform at a high level in your career. These new skills will prepare you to move to the next level or qualify you to better job opportunities, should a career change come to your mind. Good career seminars and trainings come with a price, but their benefits make every cent worth it.

Building a career network is another entry to add in your career development plan. Keep in touch with your former coworkers and professors. Provide them information on how you are planning to progress in your career and offer them help with theirs too. Keeping a career network can be quite handy for career change -- your contacts will be an excellent source of motivation when you embark on another search for Singapore jobs and some of them can point you to hidden jobs too, from accounting jobs in Singapore to telecom jobs.

Keeping an alpha-employee status is the surest way to career progress. How can you achieve such a status? Simple. By making adjustments. Go the extra mile. Take on additional assignments to impress your boss, for instance. The best employees are the most dedicated ones; doing your job to the best of your ability and showing up on time always will prove to your boss that you are reliable and thus, an asset to the company. As you develop alpha points in your office, your worth also increases.

You should also focus on relationship building. Be friendly and professional with your coworkers. We also suggest you socialize more so you can add more entry to your contacts list.

Speaking of your boss, another thing that you should add to your career development plan is how you can improve your communication with him. Do not hesitate to let him hear your ideas and concerns. The additional benefit of doing this is, your boss may know of a better opportunity within the company that you can transfer to for better future.

If you are unsure whether you can do all of these on your own or not, you can always consult a professional. sg.jobsdb.com is here to lend you a hand too.

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Post-celebration suggestions. #backtowork

As tough as wanting something can be, there's nothing worse than being confused or undecided in today's work world, given how fast trends come and go nowadays. This career advice is most relevant to jobseekers but career builders are greatly encouraged to already put a dot on those career issues that they've held for the longest time as well. The more solid your ideals, the less you will suffer the consequences of job dissatisfaction, lack of work life balance, and other similar career problems.

Jobseekers who are not yet members of My JobsDB are advised to sign up for the service now at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/MyJobsDB. Receiving access to Job Alerts is a major benefit of doing so-- imagine having the privilege of getting Singapore jobs delivered to your mailbox. And although Career Advice is available for viewing to anyone on the web, My JobsDB will inform you of its updates. It's similar to having a secretary, although this one doesn't come with a price.

Our message for career builders? One thing's for sure -- these day aren't the best for career change or any other move of similar depth. There have been news reports that the Singapore economy will experience downs in the coming quarters. But if you really must switch jobs (or do something drastic in your career amid the warnings of instability), we suggest that you read these career articles:

How to have job satisfaction at work

Resignation and Acceptance Letters

Changing Careers? How to Get Around the Three Major Mental Roadblocks to Success

Remaining Relevant in The Workplace

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

WE still have a hang-over. Yesterday was a blast.



GIF courtesy of http://www.ndp.org.sg

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We interrupt the celebrations to bring you this short note

So it's Singapore's birthday today. While everyone's at home with their families and relaxing (or preparing to watch the National Day Parade together later, either way), we are, unsurprisingly and sadly, in the office. The reason? It's so we can continue with our brand of public service. Not that we're complaining -- hey, at least the internet's faster here and we can be better connected with the goings-on -- it's just that we don't want to ruin the celebratory mood for you.

Okay, we won't. There won't be any mention of Singapore jobs today nor are we planning to ramble yet again about a career issue. The mere mention of accounting jobs, banking jobs and engineer jobs over here could stress you out and we know that. This post is just to let everyone know that we are -- however cynical we may be -- as static about the National Day as you. So, let's all say this together:



Enjoy your holiday!

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Think about it.

Carefully examine your current job and career situation. Are you unhappy and burdened by job related problems? Are your progressing?

Accounting jobs, banking jobs, engineer jobs, design jobs, sales jobs, medical jobs -- all jobs can answer to financial needs, but only some can promise to you genuine career advancement. Does yours offer a future? If yes, devise a plan to conquer its criss and crosses. If yours is a dead end job, we suggest you find a way to get your feet moving on a track with future ASAP. Are we suggesting career change? It depends on your situation.

Once you get yourself familiarized with career development, you will learn that it is not just about schooling and training. Education will allow you to fine tune your career development plan but that is it. You will also need to do some adjustments on how you perceive your job, how you deal with your co-workers and how often you communicate with your boss.

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Untitled.

Remember when we said we could get motivated even by the simplest of things? Sadly, we were unable to find a motivator (something!) to head today's discussion: We checked this morning and we found nothing interesting -- not even the recent decline of the manufacturing sector (we know, we should, but...) -- in our favourite newspaper, apparently. So what you will get today is a short feature, containing the most colorful advertisements at http://sg.jobsdb.com.

Hey, at least we are honest. Plus, we have not posted images over here since a long time ago. So we guess, this stance is perfectly reasonable and goes beyond us being lazy?

Okay, the true reason for us doing this is this: National Day Parade is just around the corner and we do not want to ruin the celebratory mood by bombarding you with too much Singapore Jobs and remind you of your current stresses--though, our DB has just received new accounting jobs, banking jobs, engineer jobs, IT jobs and admin jobs... just FYI-- nor do we want you to get worked up by rewriting another article from Career Advice. We want to warn our new followers of the fact that we have the habit of over-stuffing (check our Archives... last year circa December).





Another reason: We have completely ran out of topics to talk about. Care to suggest and relieve us of our problems?

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Reasons to stay COMPETITIVE

When you have a writer job, you feel crazy all the time. You have not slept for years because your brain is always working. In order to stay competitive, you have to constantly change your perspective.

That is why writers are arrogant and they refuse to admit defeat. Succumbing to writer's block even for a day feels like a big loss even when writers know it is not -- It is hard to shake that feeling that you could have tried better and might have been able to come up with at least 100 words. For your pride. For your readers.

We are pretty sure professionals from other industries -- specifically, those with medical jobs, manager jobs, engineer jobs, accounting jobs, and financial jobs -- have the same competitiveness. The Singapore job market has always been a rocky plain not only for jobseekers but also to career builders, to begin with. If you slack off, you will miss a number of great opportunities. There is not time for regrets.

Are you a professional in these industries or currently job hunting? These are the reasons for you to stay competitive.

ACCOUNTING: "My advice for those who wish to embark on a career in accounting is to really start early. This is because this is not a profession where you can start one day and expect to know a lot overnight. You will need to gain a lot of experience and knowledge from working with the people around you as well as developing your networks." ~Ms Elaine Chong of ICPAS.

FINANCE: "One shouldn’t be scared of rejection for it is part and parcel of life. When you become a Customer Service Representative or a Relationship Manager, I’m sure that you’ll face plenty of rejections and complaints from your customers. Working in this industry will quicken your maturity. At the end of two years with us, I’m sure you’ll emerge as a better person." ~Mr Philip Lim of DBS

ENGINEERING: "Innovative products – new gadgets and innovation really excites me. I love watching out for the next big thing to hit the market. Even if it’s just a fad – it just goes to show how easily people get bored and how limitless the human mind is at inventing." ~Loke Weng Yew of Dyson

Read more career tips at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex/Industry-Focus?ID=161

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Do you fit these job interview stereotypes?

We have only ourselves to blame for the lack of organisation on this blog. We didn't listen to our editor's pleas a year ago; now, we are -- no reason to sugarcoat it -- suffering from repetition, lack of innovation, and boredom with regards to our writing job. Granted, we are naturally weird so it is easy to motivate us, even things as simple as video games can get the job done. Still, the thought of being irresponsbile stings like citrus to an open wound and the fact that we cannot do anything about it just makes things worse. We have to admit, this is one of the reason why we are currently very stressed -- the realization got us on the rocks.

Anyway, those are not rants. Those are attempts of explaining why our posts these days lack humor -- something very uncharacteristic of us if you ask our long-time followers. At least, we know our responsibilities, right?

Nevertheless, before we pull out more rants, the plan for today is to feature the newly re-branded JobsDB Campus and its hardworking writers. Hey, it's not the first time we featured http://campus.sg.jobsdb.com/ over here since its re-branding, so you should already know how fun it has become.

We've talked about job interviewing many times, but we've never thought of tackling the task of writing about it in as humorous a manner as this one by Tan Pei Si at http://campus.sg.jobsdb.com/SG/2011/06/07/the-stereotypical-job-interviewee.html. We recommend those searching for fresh grad jobs and student jobs to read the article so to avoid falling into a stereotype that will weird out any interviewer and may lessen your chances for the job. Whether you are looking for an entry level accounting job or engineering job, this one's a good reference to prepare you.

Here are other interview resources for you to consider:

Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions

How to excel at your job interview

Avoid the Top 10 Interview Mistakes

Your Voice can Make or Break Your Job Interview - So Speak Well!

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Let's start this month off with seminar offerings.

You know, it isn't only students (who are in danger of failing) who can write 500 words or more in less than 15 minutes. It's a form of magic that professionals with writing jobs -- whether a media job or technical writer job -- can do too. We do it a lot, you know.

Okay, enough with the "you knows". But seriously, much like how those with accounting jobs can mentally compute 4-digit numbers with ease or how those with civil engineer jobs or architect jobs can sketch structures even without a ruler, writers can still come up with coherent words despite being stressed . Today, we're very stressed, but we'd like to think we're currently phrasing our thoughts fine. Are we?

Anyway, we don't want to have this turn out like last Thursday when we barely made a point and just filled every nook and cranny with rants. Granted, we tend to be very enjoyable to read when ranting, but still, there is no discounting the fact that we have a job to keep: We have to keep you guys interested.

Since today is the very first day of August (Yay! A new month), the best route to take is to list down the upcoming training opportunities from JobsDB Learning. We've already emphasized far too many times how important career seminars are in the task of career building. Attending such events is essential if you want to achieve success, so to speak. Signing up for at least one of these can be beneficial for you career:

Build winning teams | 0.5day(s)

Microeconomics in the ASEAN Region | 2day(s)

Microsoft Word 2007 Advanced | 2day(s)

Microsoft Office Introduction 2007 | 1day(s)

Microsoft Excel 2007 Basic to Intermediate | 2day(s)

EQ Techniques - To Improve Personal Effectiveness At Work | 1day(s)

Inspire and build teams | 1day(s)

Microsoft Excel 2007 Power Functions 1 | 2day(s)

Photoshop CS5 Fundamentals | 3day(s)

Microsoft Access 2007 Basic to Intermediate | 2day(s)

How To Be An Inspiring & Motivating Manager | 0.5day(s)

PMET Career Skills Workshop (11-12 Aug) | 2day(s)

Conflict Resolution | 1day(s)

Letters of Credit– Understanding the Pitfalls | 2day(s)

Effective Business Writing | 2day(s)

Microsoft Excel 2007 Advanced | 2day(s)

Microsoft Excel 2010 Advanced | 2day(s)

How to be driven | 0.5day(s)

Cashflow success | 0.5day(s)

Building Relationships for Success in Sales | 1day(s)

Energise your E-mail Writing Skills | 1day(s)

Developing an Effective Employee Handbook Workshop | 1day(s)

Microsoft Outlook 2007 (Email Module) | 1day(s)

Details can be read at http://learning.sg.jobsdb.com/sg/course_by_month?month=08&year=2011. And oh, we'd like to hear your feedback.

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