Managing Work & Studies

June 23, 2010

 

Financing your way through University is probably your toughest assignment before attaining your Bachelor status. Unless you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you will most likely have to work while pursuing your academic qualification. And if you are unable to manage these 2 priorities effectively, chances are – you may lose your job and hit the skids in your studies at the same time.

 

For those people who succeed; Congratulations! You had secured yourself a stable job and accumulated years of work experiences even before you attained your degree. Isn’t this marvelous? Don’t you want to get the best of both worlds? If you are planning to work towards this win-win formula, here are some things for you to think about.

 

Time Management

Good time management is about defining your priorities and scheduling activities.

 

  

Plot out a chart which illustrates what activities are important and require your immediate attention, and then work on your priorities accordingly. Always focus on activities that have an immediate and direct impact on your grades and work performance first. Then prepare a Gantt Chart to monitor your progress on the important projects that stretch over a period of time. Leave the unimportant and not urgent duties to the last.

  

Play Time

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. No matter how tight your schedule is, always leave a time slot for something you enjoy doing. This is an effective way to handle stress and rejuvenate yourself. Karaoke sessions, shopping, movies, fishing, working out in the gym, all these activities will spice up your day despite the hectic time table you have.

  

Rewards

Just like how your primary school teachers used to give you a star for scoring 100 marks in your spelling tests, you should reward yourself for all the effort you are putting in. A short vacation after examinations or a nice watch on your pay day can be ways to reward and motivate yourself. These can also be set as goals for you to work towards through the year.

  

Along the way, you could be encountering problems such as emotional blocks, sickness, miscellaneous events, etc, but in all cases, use the priority lists to focus attention. Try positive self-talks and rewarding system to overcome these hurdles. A glittering bright future awaits you.

Choosing Your Right Recruitment Partner

June 11, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many ways to land yourself a job, and one of the more efficient and effective way is to seek assistance from a staffing/recruitment agency. With their wide network of clients, these agencies are able to extend multiple job opportunities to you, at the same time sieving out suitable positions based on your experience, personality, interests and skill.

 

With the large number of recruitment consultancies in Singapore, it is never easy for you to choose and partner up with one. How do you know which one to choose and which one is right for you? Here are some tips that may help you out:

 

Background

 Find out how well-established the company is locally, and globally. Research the agencies thoroughly to know which are the clients they are supporting. A recruitment company with numerous offices over various territories in the world and within your country will definitely be a better option over one with only an office in Singapore.  

 

Reputation

Read the forums; look at the newspapers and magazines to find out if the agency is getting publicity for the wrong reasons. Word-of-mouth is also a good way for you to find out how other people perceive the company.

 

Branding

Look at the websites of the recruitment agencies to find out how professional the company is. This is usually a platform which potential clients and candidates will access to learn more about the company and hence, the website reflects how the company wants to portray itself to others. Having presence in social media (e.g. FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, etc) will also elevate the visibility of the agency among the younger generation.

 

Response

Agencies that are quick in answering phone calls and replying to emails will leave behind a good impression with candidates. Their replies should of course be polite and professional too. The efficiency towards you as a candidate will illustrate how prompt and proficient the agency is towards their client.

 

People

The way the recruitment consultant presents themself will best represents the image of the company. Equal to how the consultant assesses you, you should also pay attention and evaluate the performance of the consultant. Is the consultant dressed appropriately and professionally? How familiar is the consultant with the industry, profile of their client, job functions of the recommended role, etc? Does the consultant listen to your opinions and take on board your requests? Does the consultant provide suggestions on how you can improve on your performance in an interview? Ask yourself such questions to determine if this person has the ability to represent you effectively.

 

Having considered all these areas, you will be able to identify which recruitment agency deserves a copy of your CV. Recommendations and future partnerships may even take place, if they are strong in following up, and have the intention to keep in touch and retain talents like you!

Support For Single Mums

March 10, 2010

Single parenting is seldom easy.

Imagine having a job that is sometimes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and for the next 16 years of your life. This is the kind of fantastic commitment that single mums make. Whether a woman is a single mom by choice or because of getting divorced or the early death of a husband or partner, it is very hard to play the role of a both the parents.

Single young mothers often compromise further education or work experience as they balance the needs of a growing family with earning a salary or wage. Combine this with many nights of poor sleep in the early years and it becomes obvious while many young single mums are happy to receive help and support.

6 March 2010 was the day which ISIS (I’m Single, I’m Strong) was formed in Singapore. The group consists of single mothers who are willing to step out, regain confidence and that want to re-enter the workforce. Workshops for single mothers, as well as career consultations, go a long way to helping the mums be better prepared for job opportunities that arise.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from the work of ISIS, then please contact babybear@search.per.sg

Staying relevant in your career

February 25, 2010

In an increasingly competitive employment market, staying relevant is no longer an option but a necessity. Gone are the days of ‘deadwoods’ or workers who simply go through the motions of the job. These days, employers need and look for workers who can constantly add value to the organisation.

But what should workers do in order to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world of work?

According to Ms Lynne Ng, Adecco’s SEA Regional Director, staying relevant in the workplace demands planning and re-inventing of oneself.

Indeed, staying relevant should start even before an individual enters the job market. “At Adecco, we often meet experienced workers, including professionals, who spend years doing something that they do not enjoy. This is a shame,” says Ms Ng. “The way to remain relevant is finding a job that you are passionate about. If you love what you do, you will automatically want to improve your skills and knowledge constantly. Staying relevant will not be a chore but a natural progression.”

Before entering the job market

If you are an undergraduate, Ms Ng advises that you do some soul-searching and identify your areas of interest before embarking on a job hunt. What did you enjoy most while in school? Which subjects and projects were you particularly passionate about? Think about your vacation jobs or internship and pick out specific experiences that you found most inspiring. When you have all this information on hand, you will be better prepared to pick a job that you will enjoy. This should be a job where issues or problems will challenge you instead of get you down.

The initial years

The first few years on the job are important for establishing yourself. Ms Ng advises that young working adults expose themselves to do as much as possible during these crucial years. This will enable them to decide the areas in which they can truly shine. “The more you do, the sooner you can find your niche and establish yourself in it,” Ms Ng explains.

Re-evaluate yourself

As you progress in your career, always take an honest look at your performance and quality of work. Are they on track with what the organisation expects of you? Evaluate your competence and skills. Are they in line with what is required in the market? If not, determine how you can improve. Use your performance appraisal to direct you. Speak to your boss and regularly ask if what you do and what you know is in sync with the department and company goals.

Continuous learning

Staying relevant involves having up-to-date technical skills. Make sure that you are competent in the new skills that are required in your job. Keep abreast of new technology available by reading widely. Make skills upgrading a priority - this means accepting lifelong learning as a principle. Take classes online, pursue your degree or attend seminars or conferences that are relevant to your job or the one that you want. Pick a course that will complement your current qualifications; for example, if you hold an Engineering degree, a post-graduate qualification in Management, Sales or Business will beef up your knowledge base, making you a well-rounded professional.

Toughen up your soft skills

Improving on soft skills or acquiring new ones is essential to stay relevant on the job. In order to move up the organisation’s value chain, you need to have skills that set you apart from others. Soft skills that are sought after include those in leadership, project management, people management, communication and public-speaking.

Get promoted

A key step towards staying relevant is to get promoted. Clinching a promotion is testimony that the organisation recognises your contribution and potential. Getting a promotion is not easy, though. It requires diligence, relevant knowledge and skills, a firm understanding of the business and strategic positioning of oneself. Ms Ng suggests the following:

·         Think of new ways to add value. What else can you do to add depth to your current role? Can you take on greater responsibilities? Can you volunteer for a project that no one else has the courage to take up?

·         Create a position for yourself. Think about the role that you want to grow into. At your next appraisal, ask your boss what it would take for you to move up to that position; after which, work hard to mould yourself to fill that role.

·         Be the expert whom they can turn to for help. Equip yourself with industry knowledge and a strong understanding of the field that you are in. Build your credibility as the person whom your co-workers and bosses can go to for expert knowledge and insights

Move on

Stuck in a rut with no room for a promotion? Consider moving to another job but always make a calculated career move. Before deciding to resign, be certain that there is absolutely no room for further growth within your current company. Ensure that your new job offers you greater responsibilities in the area of your interest and that it will add value to your career profile.

When To Ask For A Pay Raise!

January 4, 2010

Even though the economy is showing signs of recovery, it may not be the best time for employees to negotiate a pay raise with their employers, says Edlyn Wee, branch manager of Adecco Singapore.

This is because for many companies, revenues have considerably declined in 2009 and they may need time to “make up ground” before returning to previous profitability levels. As a result, the market rebound may still not be enough for employers to begin liberally granting pay increases.

However, if an employee is confident that his or her contribution is valued by the company, then he or she qualifies to ask for a raise, Wee says. She further emphasises that logic and reasonableness are key elements when approaching a manager for a pay increase.

“Most employees have a good idea of how well the company they are working for is performing - and this knowledge has to influence their approach for an increase. Again, worth and value are key here,” she says. “Someone that an employer sees as superfluous or a poor performer is likely to need to have a very strong case to receive a pay increase at this time.”

When employees seek a raise, they need to look at their previous pay increases and note the percentage of acceptable increments. Additionally, they should also try speaking to other colleagues who may be receiving pay increases as this will provide some guidance as to a company’s management approach to increases at that time.

Employers, on the other hand, will have to understand the ramifications of not offering a pay raise to someone who they value highly and who may join another company. “The cost of downtime and of training someone new can often cost more than it would have done if a pay rise had been given in the first place,” Wee says. Hence, managers will have to consider the overall performance from employees and the contributions they make as well as the total wage bills and the salary increment history of the person seeking a raise.

“If a pay increase is not possible then there are always alternatives that allow an employee to know that their work and contribution is appreciated. These may include extra holiday allowances, days off for overtime worked, further discounts on company products or services,” she suggests. “It’s important that whenever possible, communications around pay increases are handled face-to-face and not by e-mail or over the phone.”

This way, issues and challenges can be better understood and expectations can be better managed.

(This article first appeared in www.humanresourcesonline.net)

Resume Errors Can Damage Your Employment Prospects

August 7, 2009

Your resume is your personal sales tool for success in business. It’s the all-important stage in selling yourself and your skills to recruitment agencies and potential employers. Your resume will need to portray you in the most positive light.

Writing a resume for the first time can be intimidating. It is a challenge to create an effective resume that will help open doors to new career opportunities. Present an unimpressive resume and doors will virtually be slammed.

Here are five basic tips to prevent errors in your resume.

Consider the font used - Use a font size that is no smaller than 10pt to avoid having the readers strain his eyes to read your resume. Avoid large and fanciful fonts as they waste space, are distracting and difficult to read. Maintain consistency by using the same font throughout your resume.

Words with a message - Use action words that are results-oriented and highlight your competence and accomplishments. Words like ‘develop’, ‘manage’ and ‘execute’ will grab the attention of the reader and show that you are a go-getter. Another piece of advice is use buzzwords. Buzzwords are also known as keywords. These words have special meanings especially when it comes to showing that you know the business and that you are eager to share your knowledge with them.

Stick to the basics – Keep your resume simple. Avoid using text boxes or columns as they often do not show up well on other computers. When you are cutting and pasting information, be careful! It is very easy to misspell or misuse words or even lose words. To avoid crowded text, leave white space or use bulleted text to increase ease of reading.

Haste is fatal – I can’t emphasize more than enough the importance of reading. Read, read, take a break and read your resume again. Go through it several times after you have finishing writing. Do not be in the rush to want to send your resume straight. Your resume is your personal testament that you are the right person for the job. Spelling or grammatical errors will show your read that you are sloppy in your work with no attention to details. If you need, enlist your friend’s help to read through your resume and spot anything that you may have left out. You will be surprised at what others may find which you have missed. For more information on this, you can refer to the previous article posted titled ‘Read, read, read your resume’.

Stay on track – Include only information that is relevant. Your resume should highlight your achievements, abilities and strengths, and not your hobbies or interests. Confine your information to that which is work-related, demonstrates your career success and addresses your employer’s needs.

What Are You Worth?

July 28, 2009

All of us want to earn a little more for the work we do. In fact, most of us think we deserve to earn more. The problem, however, is that most of us are incapable of asking for it, even when we really deserve it. Negotiating for a pay increase is a subtle art that many people have never mastered or are simply too afraid to try.

Here are a few tips to help you get what you feel you deserve out of your job:

Know Your Worth – Many people take their own current salary as a baseline of what they can ask for. Instead of limiting yourself, do a little research and find out what other people in the same role as you are earning. You might find that you are worth more than you realise.

Pay To Keep You – Have you ever been approached to join another company? If you have, chances are you have kept this to yourself, but this can be useful in demonstrating your worth. If you have an external offer, you may want to consider being open about it with your company. Without giving away any details, let them know that you’ve received an attractive offer, but do not threaten or bluff. No employer wants to be given an ultimatum.

Think Big!  – While they are rare, sometimes a situation will arise where you are offered a chance to move, but you are quite happy to stay where you are. If such is the case, it may not hurt to let this be known to your employer. While it is likely that the company will tell you that they cannot meet that expectation, you might be surprised with the counter offer that they come back with. You’re worth it!

Everything is a Negotiation – when negotiating, play your cards close to the chest and be smart. Don’t worry about being confident. Remember that you have a responsibility to yourself to be the best that you can.

Trust Your Instincts – While it is good to get some advice from a recruiter such as Adecco (if you are being headhunted) don’t rely too heavily on it and go with your gut feeling. If you feel that you can better the negotiations, trust your gut instincts and shoot for the stars.

Lastly, the thing to remember in any negotiation is to remain flexible, look at the whole package and not just at a single factor. Accepting a smaller increase could also include a guaranteed bonus or other forms of compensations that would boost the final number. So, now that you know, get out there and get what you’re worth.

Succeeding in Interviews During Challenging Times

July 16, 2009

“Tough times call for tough measures!” Are you a job seeker during this current economic climate? If you are, you must realize by now there are more candidates vying for a decreasing number of jobs. Naturally, you will now find it harder to get interviews, despite the high volume of resumes being sent out. You must think and act differently from conventional ways.

 Know what to do differently and be aware of what your new competitive edges are with every interview opportunity that you have. Having strong, core interviewing skills is now only a prerequisite. Whatever conventional wisdom you have on interviewing, you should do it with more intensity. You should customize your presentation for each opportunity with more planning, ingenuity, passion and drive. You simply need to stand out in a positive way.

Employers are likely to be more stringent in the process of selecting the qualified candidate for their organization. So showing that you understand the organization and will fit right in can make another big difference. For each interview, that means not only researching the company’s business, financial performance and history, but also its culture and industry. You should find out how to dress the part and what type of behavior is expected.

Some tips you can use during a potential job search include:

·         Really look at the company’s web site. Don’t just read it for background on the organization. Immerse in the details of the layout. Is it very traditional or more on the creative side? What about the tone? Is there a casual, breezy character to the language used or is it more reserved?

·         Dig deeper on the Internet. Search news archives, especially human resources trades, for stories that talk about the company’s philosophy and culture or that profile the company’s principals. Think of yourself as an investigative reporter working on the inside scoop.

·         Talk to people you know who work for competitors. People at competitors of the company you’re interviewing with may know more than you’d think—perhaps they’ve met people from the company at trade shows or conferences.

·         Ask people in your wider network what they know about the company. It never hurts to ask family, friends and acquaintances if they’re familiar with the organization. They may have personal knowledge of the company or can give you an introduction to someone who works there.

·         Don’t be afraid to call the company. Not very conventional but it is perfectly acceptable to call the receptionist in order to ask about such matters as the company’s culture and dress code.

Apart from doing sufficient research on the organization prior to the interview, how you answer some of today’s most asked interview questions can actually hinder or enhance your chances of making a good impression and securing a position. But with the right knowledge and preparation, every professional can ace even the toughest questions to make an excellent impression.

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions and how candidates should approach them:

·         Why do you want to work for us? Conventional reply , “Because I like people.” Instead, address what is in it for the company and even honestly describing what is in it for you – especially if it demonstrates your passion in doing so.

·         What can you do for us that someone else can’t?  Be specific and to the point. Talk about your record of getting things done, and highlight specific accomplishments on your resume. In addition, now you have to value add twice as much.

·         Why did you leave your last position? Be honest, but not at your expense. If you were laid off in a corporate downsizing, say so. Otherwise, indicate that the move was your decision, made in order to advance your career. Only now, with all this knowledge, it can only be better.

·         What are your weak points? Everyone has a weak point so don’t say you’re the exception. And in the same spirit, don’t provide an entire list of weaknesses. Simply describe your overused strength that is relevant to the job applied for.

·         If you could start your career again, what would you do differently? The conventional answer is “Not a thing.” You should present yourself as someone who enjoyed the ups in life and learned from the downs and will know how to maximize what you learned and benefit the company you are going to join.

You have probably been told before, “… The interview should not be about you,  but about the hiring company and its business” .The reality is that the company would want to know you, your values, views and what drives you. The key is to plan and research and be prepared for tough questions and remain focused and to the point.

And most importantly, avoid the pitfalls of interviewing, including telling your entire professional story during a warm-up question, talking poorly about former bosses or co-workers, being unrealistic about your weaknesses or not knowing enough about the organization or the position. The important message to convey is that you really understand the organization and would be the best candidate who can help them out of these challenging times.

Well Being In Times of Recession

June 24, 2009

Financial well being is an important factor in life especially in the time of recession. Hence, everyone would like to save as much as they can when possible. However, taking care of your health is just as important. As the saying goes, health is wealth! Here some tips on working up a good sweat without having to pay for costly yoga or gym membership.

Tips:

Don’t over eat at meals time.

Eat a balanced diet when you are hungry. Perfect combination of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and fats in the daily diet is the road to stay healthy.

Drink Water

Water intake keeps your mental health at its best as it is said to additionally increase the memory of the person. Drinking water regularly. It is economical, and it also keeps the health of the individual at its optimum.

Clean your house

Release the domestic helper in you. Start doing the housework yourself! You will find that it offers physical exercise that helps the person burn unwanted calories. Even bathing for your pet requires a lot of effort.

Walking

Avoid taking a cab or bus if the walk is 20 minutes away from your home or office. By walking daily, you increase your metabolic rate and this can keep you light on your feet. Alternatively, take the stairs instead of the elevator to get home!  

Cheers to work and health!

Building Connections Everywhere

June 17, 2009

Networking is the act of meeting with people face-to-face in a business context. It is a form of marketing and is often done after hours at networking receptions. The aim is to establish mutually beneficial relationships – one of which is securing a job.

In these times of downturn, networking is very important. Job seekers should be looking at many different ways of securing a job – these include registering with a staffing firm, monitoring both print and online media – and networking where instant introductions can be made and relationships quickly developed.

Benefits of Networking

·         Provides access to information about jobs that are not being advertised
·         Recruiters get to know you in advance for a potential job in the future
·         Gives an edge above the competition as you are personally recommended by someone the recruiter trusts. Hence, increasing the likelihood of you getting the job among the rest.
·         Gives you the opportunity to speak to key people in different companies, research about the market out there and understand where the underlying opportunities are.

Ways to Network

·         Talk to the people around you
The best place to start developing your network is with your family, friends and neighbors. But don’t stop there! Talk to your colleagues in your organisation as they are around you and are your closest link to obtaining information about the job market out there.

If networking in your organisation, there are two ground rules which you as an employee and job seeker should take note. One – your networking for new career opportunities should not affect your performance at your current job. Two – take note of your workplace culture for if looking for a new job is taboo, it is wise to keep the job search to yourself.

If you are a fresh graduate seeking for employment, your campus is a wonderful place to network. Most lecturers have some connections in the world of work that can help graduating students source for jobs. Other students in the campus are another group of people to network with. There are many students that conduct research on industries and career opportunities. Discussing your interests with these students may prove to be useful for you in your career search.

·         Pass out business cards
While this hardly seems like a secret, it is the easiest step to take to improve your networking skills. Take your business cards with you and hand them out to people you meet. Stash them in your pocket, your bag, your wallet, in your car and wherever possible. When you are not given one in return, you can kindly ask for one as you have made the first move.

·         Be involved
Being a member in your campus alumni, career interest group or personal/professional organisation can provide an additional means of discovering new opportunities and obtaining career leads. Members of such groups and organisations are usually from varying backgrounds and may be more than willing to share should a job seeker asks or mentions his/her career search.

·         Attend networking events
There are many networking events around and these include job fairs, events organised by Chambers of Commerce and specific networking events where people meet to discuss specific areas such as jobs opportunities in China and India.The advantage of networking events is that people can meet face-to-face in a relaxed and informal environment – making it possible for those offering jobs and opportunities to get an immediate feel for the talent available. In a one-on-one face-to-face conversation it is possible to get a quick opinion of whether someone could be a good fit

·         Connect yourself with social networking websites
Social networking websites are becoming an indispensable part of the job search where users can post their own professional profile, search for jobs and get connected with professionals from other organisations. Some of these websites include LinkedIn, My Space, Facebook and Twitter.

Note: Collecting business cards is not networking! Talking to people and seeing if there is a good connection and fit is! One of the great things about networking events is that you get to meet many people in a short space of time under one roof. If possible, always get details of who will be attending an event so that you can plan who to meet and how best to approach them. And of course, have an updated resume ready!

(Special thanks to Yin, Adecco Strategic Accounts Director, for her advice and contributions.)

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