Archive for the ‘Career Articles’ Category

What makes a good job interview candidate?

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

We know that by the time you are called to a job interview the organisation has seen your CV and believes you can do the job.

Then again so can all the other candidates. So how do you prepare for a job interview and just what do you have to do to stand out of the crowd?

Here are some top tips to bear in mind and which will help you impress on the interviewer that you are the right person for the job.

1. Be Prepared:

There is no excuse for not preparing properly for a job interview. You will have had at least a few days warning and quite possibly a lot more time. Research the company, review your CV and practice your answers until you can deliver them smoothly and naturally.

2. Focus on your strengths:

Remember that the organisation knows that you CAN do the job and they want you to confirm this to them during the job interview. Don’t let any negative experiences or a gap in your career for example, negate all the great work you have done.

3. Step into the Interviewers Shoes:  Read more... (418 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

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Posted in Career Articles, Finding a Job | 49 Comments »

Singapore To Set Up New Employment Dispute Resolution Process – Singapore Government

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Singapore To Set Up New Employment Dispute Resolution Process

Source: Government of Singapore
Posted on: 27th January 2010

Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong announced that an employment dispute resolution process will be set up in 2011. It involves the use of mediation to facilitate an amicable settlement between PMEs (professionals, managers, and executives) earning up to $4,500 and their employers on common employment issues.

Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower at STF Conference on Managing Manpower Challenges 2010, 26 January 2010 at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Mr Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress;

Mr John De Payva, President, National Trades Union Congress;

Mr Stephen Lee, President, Singapore National Employers Federation;

Tripartite partners;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

Tackling the Downturn in 2009

Exactly a year ago, I was at NTUC’s Workplan Seminar where brother Secretary-General Lim Swee Say was on stage rallying unionists passionately. He urged union leaders to work with other tripartite partners and to “upturn the downturn”. One year on, we can now look back and say that we have fought the battle well.

Economy recovering with tripartite collaboration  Read more... (1537 words, 1 image, estimated 6:09 mins reading time)

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Posted in Career Articles, Career News, Employers Articles | 48 Comments »

Rise in employment of Singaporeans and PRs – the temasek review

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

According to preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the unemployment rate among residents, who include citizens and permanent residents, fell from 5 per cent last September to 3 per cent in December.

The new jobs created led to a net employment gain of 43,000 among locals for the whole of 2009.

The Straits Times put up a misleading headlines on its frontpage – “big gains in jobs, mostly for locals.”

However, as MOM did not give a breakdown of how many new jobs went to Singaporeans and PRs, there is a likelihood that PRs are the ones who benefit most from the “soaring” job market.

A differentiation must be made between Singapore citizens and PRs who are ultimately foreigners who may return to their native countries eventually.

Citizens are the ones who voted for the elected government of the day to take care of their interests. Jobs must go to them first and not PRs.

Furthermore, MOM said nothing about the underemployment rate which includes workers on contract jobs and those who have given up looking for a job.  Read more... (482 words, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

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Posted in Career Articles, Career News | 2 Comments »

Three Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers – Sandbox Advisors

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

1) Begin with clarity

This habit comes first because it’s the most important. It’s also the most difficult for many people, because it requires you to do two very difficult things: think and say no.

You must first think and get clear about the job you want and the employers you want to do it for. This stymies many, because, as Henry James wrote, “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”

Second, you must say no to a huge number of potential jobs and employers, so you can focus your efforts on the “vital few” areas where you could get hired fastest.

This is difficult, because our instincts are to avoid closing the door on any possibility for work.

Thus, instead of telling folks that we’re looking for a position as an office manager with a mid-size law firm in Chicago, for example, we say we’re looking for something in administration or human resources at any company … and then we wonder why the phone doesn’t ring.  Read more... (654 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)

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