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!
Facebook A Must For Job Seekers!
January 19, 2010
In a ‘one-question’ Adecco on-line survey, Facebook was the top choice for job seekers who were asked which social media or on-line platform they preferred to use to obtain career and job related information.
Of the 130 survey respondents, 20% stated that their top choice would be to use Facebook, with 17% preferring LinkedIn as their portal of choice to support career advancement. The survey also showed that 2% of respondents would choose a blog site as their first choice, with less than 1% opting for Twitter.
Social media platforms provide job candidates with various ways to support a job application or to help with their career development. These include researching a company that they may be wanting to work for, connecting with individuals already working with that company, or reading blogs to get a feel for what it is like to work for a specific organization.
Lynne Ng, Regional Director for Adecco South East Asia, commented “Social Media has become very important to today’s job seeker in helping them to obtain information about a potential employer and to see if they would fit into that particular work environment. By reading blogs and participating in on-line conversations, an applicant can be thoroughly prepared for a job interview and have a number of good questions lined-up for the interview day”
‘Second Serve’ For Kim Clijsters
September 5, 2009
Adecco sponsored Kim Clijsters
Adecco has recently sponsored Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters. Kim has returned to the international sporting arena after becoming a mother and is embarking on her second professional tennis career. If tennis is a game written in the stars, then it is hard to think of a more fitting ending to the US Open than Kim Clijsters holding the trophy aloft two weeks on Saturday. Two years after quitting the tour and 18 months after having her first child, the Belgian is back and, despite having played just two events, is regarded as a genuine title contender.
It would be a stunning return for the 26-year-old whose body, before the age of 24, had been worn down by her search for the biggest prizes. Though she won only one of her five grand slam finals – the US Open in 2005 – Clijsters reached the top of the game and was ranked No4 when she quit in 2007. In her two tournaments back, Clijsters has beaten four top 20 players, including the French Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and it took the world No1, Dinara Safina, and last year’s US Open runner-up, Jelena Jankovic, to stop her.
Her return has been a breath of fresh air for a women’s tour that has suffered in comparison to the men, where the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and the emergence of Andy Murray has kept things buzzing. The women’s game has struggled in the face of stinging criticism – some it from Serena Williams – that there must be something wrong if Safina is ranked the world’s best player even though Williams has won three of the last four grand slam titles. That the Williams sisters do not play all the obligatory tournaments has not helped nor has a series of drab grand-slam finals.
“It’s great to have her back,” said Jankovic, one of those who has held the No1 position since Clijsters’s retirement. “She is such a nice girl and it’s good to have her around again. She also was one of the few players who did crazy things on the court like me, like the splits, so it’s good to see her here again.”
The Belgian has beamed her way through a series of functions this week and to see how she has been greeted by players, coaches and fans alike shows just how sorely she has been missed.
The big question is how far her “second career” (she says comeback is not the right word) will take her. The way she played in Cincinnati and Toronto this month showed Clijsters has lost none of her power and her movement – always a key part of her game – is still excellent. Winning seven matches to take a grand slam title is a lot to ask, but wins over Kuznetsova, Victoria Azarenka, Marion Bartoli and Patty Schnyder proved she is not far away. “I am happy about the level I showed in Toronto,” she said. “I could have won [against Jankovic] and while I was frustrated and disappointed afterwards, it showed me again that my best level is not far off. A bit more practice and I should be right there again.”
“She won the US Open once so I think she knows how to do it,” said Kuznetsova. “She is the same as she was before. She moves well. You can see she hasn’t been all the time on the tour but she was playing great. I don’t know if you remember when she was out with the wrist injury [in 2004]? She won Indian Wells and Miami back to back. When she goes out and she comes back she always comes in shape.”
Clijsters begins against Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine, ranked 79, and there is the prospect of a fourth-round meeting against the third seed, Venus Williams. Second seed Serena, a potential semi-final opponent for Clijsters or Venus, is the obvious favourite to defend her title while Safina, who has lost all three of her grand slam finals, is in the opposite half.
Maria Sharapova, who is back inside the top 30 after injury, is also a danger, but it is Clijsters who may just take centre stage.
(Parts of this blog first appeared in The Guardian at www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/28/kim-clijsters-comeback-us-open-tennis
Looking For A Great Career In Radio? Read About Glenn Ong & The Flying Dutchman!
August 14, 2009
Glenn Ong, Adecco’s Lynne Ng and The Flying Dutchman!
Adecco Singapore Team Members recently had a great lunch with Class 95 DJ’s Glenn Ong and The Flying Dutchman from the ‘Morning Express’. And what an interesting lunch it was as they talked about how they first got into radio and how their careers have developed over the years.
The Flying Dutchman (Mark van Cuylenburg) and known to many of us as just ‘FD’, began his DJ career with the ‘Rediffusion’ radio station in Singapore in the 70’s and fast became one of Singapore’s top broadcasters. He also helped establish the country’s events industry in the 80’s and 90’s as part of ‘The Music Force’ - a cutting edge events and entertainments team. FD told Adecco about his interview with Class 95 and how after an ‘extremely quick’ interview and audition he was asked on the same day to become one half of what went on to become ‘Joe and The Flying Dutchman’ in the much sought after Class 95 morning time slot.
Mark’s career has flourished due to the fact that he is great at what he does - and because he clearly has a passion for it! That passion and drive is so important from a career perspective. As a father to four girls, FD talked to Adecco about the importance of work life balance and spending time with his family at the weekends. He’s certainly practices better work, better life!
Glenn Ong is also one of Singapore’s best known radio personalities - with his radio roots going back to SBC and RCS. Back in 1994, Glenn was a ‘radio rookie’ and reported to Florence Lian who was a great inspiration to him. He told Adecco colleagues that he loves what he does and would never considering moving overseas as Singapore is his home and the media industry here just goes from strength to strength. Glenn told us that there are great opportunities here for new radio talent to shine through.
If you are a young graduate looking to break into the media industry - then you need look no further than the example set by FD & Glenn Ong - two media professionals that we’re proud of!
Staying relevant in your career
June 1, 2009
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, Regional Director, Adecco SEA, 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.
Making a successful career switch
June 1, 2009
Many individuals face the prospect of a career switch at some point in their professional lives. There are various reasons and motivations behind a switch in careers. According to Mr David Wee, Managing Director of Lee Hecht Harrison, a career consulting and leadership management firm, there
are many circumstances that prompt individuals to make a career switch.
Some people feel the need to switch careers as part of their personality and value system. Such individuals often strive to accomplish a variety of things over a period of time and are driven by change. There are individuals who find themselves in the wrong career and simply had to switch to another in order to find fulfillment. Another common reason for switching careers is redundancy. Some people found themselves to be out of a job suddenly and therefore, need to find a new position fairly quickly. It is important to know where new jobs are coming from. For some, a career switch may
be necessary to remain employed.
No matter what the reason or motivation, making a career switch requires careful consideration and planning.
Are you ready to switch?
Do you remember the saying “Time flies when you are having fun?” Conversely, when you are feeling miserable at work, time crawls to the point of being torturous. One clear sign that you are ready for a career switch is when you start to watch the clock more frequently. If you find yourself leaving the office ‘on the dot’ or worse, even before the official knock-off time, that could be a sign that it’s time to move on.
Other possible indicators:
• Dreading to go to work
• Frequently coming late for work
• Experiencing a drop in performance
• Having difficulty to concentrate and focus
• Participating less in meetings and discussions
• Finding faults and complaining all the time
• Actively looking for jobs
Planning your move
Switching careers may not be a tedious or painful step. With proper planning and a sound strategy, a meaningful and successful career switch can result. Mr Wee advises as follows:
• Firstly, you need to know yourself and understand what gives you for job satisfaction. For example, do you know which of your skill set do you still enjoy using? What interests you most at this point in your career? What are your most important values? Are your career demands aligned to these values?
• Another important factor is knowledge of the market place and trends. What careers are in demand in the marketplace right now? Research and understand industry trends, the requirements of organisations within these industries or even another department within your current company. Can you fill that demand? What transferable skills can you bring to these new opportunities?
• Research and networking are important. Talk to people and learn as much as possible about the new career that you are considering.
• Once you know the career you would like to switch to and verified the demand, the next thing is to test its feasibility and consider other factors. Determine how much of your skills can be transferable. Are you switching jobs within a similar industry and job role? The further you move away from your experience, the longer the switch will take.
• While you might like to try something new, consider the risks involved. How versatile are you to face these challenges? How fast can you learn? How long can you wait? How long can the company wait before you are productive? How does your family feel about the switch? How can you position yourself correctly to the prospective employer?
Your Next Steps
Once you have done your research and gone through the thought process described, you are ready to move to the next step.
For a start, discuss your potential career switch with your family. Explain the reasons and benefits for the switch. Family support is important and can be very helpful in times of uncertainty. Determine that you are ready financially should the career switch not work out.
Next, you need to revise your resume, taking into consideration your transferable skills and the industry that you are aiming to enter. In making a career switch, prepare a functional resume instead of a chronological one. This highlights the transferable skills and focuses on your achievements based on these functional skills.
Mr Wee advises, “At Lee Hecht Harrison, we help our clients to first identify a list of skills they have acquired from their past jobs. We then help them to understand what is needed in their targeted jobs and compare the two lists. They are usually pleasantly surprised that they do have more transferable
skills than they thought they had. Using the same thought process, start to think about your own transferable skills and match them with what is required in the marketplace.”
It may be useful to take half a step each time, says Mr Wee. Focus on similarity. Move within a similar industry or into a similar role.
Avoiding the pitfalls
One common mistake in switching careers is the failure to plan. When individuals switch careers due to superficial reasons such as boredom or motivated by higher salaries offered in other industries, they are likely to act in haste without any proper planning. Such career switches are likely to fail, as
the individuals concerned would not have conducted thorough research on the industries of interest and they would not know how to go about ‘selling’ their skills to prospective employers. If they do secure a new job, they would soon discover that it is not the right fit and that they are just as unfulfilled
and unmotivated as they were in their previous jobs.
Another common mistake is not seeking proper guidance. In ensuring a successful career switch, individuals need to seek out their contacts and identify the people whom they can turn to for industry information and advice. It is highly advisable for individuals to speak to an experienced career coach.
According to Mr Wee, a career coach will help ensure that your plan is sound and objective. He or she will also help you ease the pressures of a job search, making sure that you do not jump onto the first opportunity that comes along.
Advice to mid-career professionals
For mid-career professionals looking to move, Mr Wee advises as follows:
• Capitalise on your experience from past jobs to help you determine your strengths, likes and dislikes.
• Think of the jobs that you enjoyed most and recognise those you like the least, and why.
• Think about the job scope, the responsibilities, your bosses’ management styles, the environment, the company and things specific to the industry and profession. What do you like and dislike about them and why.
• Think of what functional skills you have acquired and identify the ones that might be transferable.
• Market yourself appropriately through your network of contacts and make people see the value that you can bring.
Advice for young working adults
You may be a young working adult who, after 2 or 3 years of work experience, discover that you are in the wrong job. Mr Wee advises that you look back at your school days for clues and indications.
• What were your achievements in school? Which subjects did you enjoy most and excel in? Which subjects did you dislike? Why?
• What types of activities did you enjoy most in school? What role did you usually play in a team project? Did you work best alone or in a team?
• Did you enjoy a changing environment or prefer a structured one?
• Do you work best with numbers, words or pictures?
The above will give you valuable clues to finding the right field to move into.
Conclusion
A career switch can energise one’s career and bring a higher level of job fulfillment and motivation to the individual. However, one must be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices to ensure a smooth career switch. Careful consideration, proper planning and sound advice will help towards making your career switch as a successful one.