The new year beams with career possibilities and job opportunities. As more and more stores have opened, many eager candidates have been given the chance to shine. These candidates bring their best behavior during job interviews. They give answers that the employer wants to hear and attempt to convince him that he or she is the right person for the job.
Knowing which interview red flags to watch out for can help you speed up the process of screening and hiring. You do not want to feel the costs of hiring badly, nor do you want to send the wrong message to an interviewer. Consider these tips.
#1: ARRIVING LATE FOR THE INTERVIEW
Tardiness demonstrates a lack of respect for people and their time. It is the hallmark of unsuccessful people. When a candidate arrives late, he or she gets flustered and apologetic. This type of person can keep meetings from starting, conduct customer visits following their schedules, and constantly say that they will be late for work.
With so many qualified candidates, why would an interviewer hire someone who is late? An employer must not hire someone who is late for the most important meeting of his or her career.
#2: LACK OF COMPANY KNOWLEDGE
Red flags are shinning when you show little to no knowledge about the company’s products or services, customers, and target audience. It is essential for a candidate to research on the company’s background as they prepare for the interview. Start by reading through the pages of the company’s website.
A candidate who has no knowledge about the company shows lack of preparation and interest about the prospective role. You may come across as someone who fits poorly within the company’s values and goals.
#3: LACK OF OWNERSHIP
Another red flag is a candidate who does not admit to any responsibility for his or her past mistakes. It is unpleasant if you blame your co-workers, bosses, and previous company for failed projects and more.
As an interviewer, you must listen carefully to the reasons why someone left his previous job. The right candidate will admit to errors, make thoughtful mistakes, and do their best to repair their problems.
#4: BRAGGING ABOUT OTHER OFFERS
If you want to convey that you are desirable, bragging about your other offers is not a good idea. Arrogance is not an attractive quality. However, mentioning about other offers may not always be a red flag. At the later stages of your job application, it is alright to be transparent when it comes to your other offers. You can say something like this:
Image Credits: pixabay.com
“I am very interested in the position you have offered me. Please let me know the timing and details for the next step, because I am also evaluating another offer.”
While some of us have a career that makes us feel energised every single day, most of us are in a job that we fantasise about quitting. Whether it’s the early mornings, the stress level, or the over-commitment of time, there are often a few common reasons.
If you’re feeling at a loss on what to do, this article will share some red flags you need to ponder over. Maybe it’s about time you quit your job and say “yes” to a better work opportunity somewhere else?
#1: Spending all weekend dreading Monday
Most of us suffer Monday blues, but if you are dreading Monday morning so much that it leeches all of the fun out of your weekend, quitting should take a front position on your mind. A career that drains and has to have you give up a well-deserved weekend isn’t worth keeping.
#2: Having deep hatred for your job
Image Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Do you hate everything about your job – your boss, your employees and, even your work tasks? It’s time to quit. Plain and simple. Yes, we understand that most of us are working to bring food to the table. But consider your mental health if you want to keep your feet on the race track.
#3: Getting passed over for deserved promotions
Have you been putting in extra time and effort to better yourself on the job but keep getting passed over again and again for a promotion? This is a real reason for concern.
Sure, it makes sense if the person who won the position is more qualified. However, if someone underqualified or entirely undeserving gets that promotion, maybe it’s time to pack up and go somewhere else where your skills are better valued.
#4: Feeling unappreciated and stagnant
Image Credits: Human Resource
Working with a management team who doesn’t appreciate your presence or contributions is dangerous for your overall sense of self-confidence. Simply put, you deserve to work at a place that takes you seriously.
Also, peeps who think they have stayed too long and become stagnant in their learning curve should rethink their position. A job is not all about money. It’s also about growth opportunities. It’s your chance to be a better administrator, consultant, or marketer (for example) than you were when you first started.
#5: Continually running on the work treadmill
From dawn to midnight and from Monday to Friday, work may constantly be plaguing you. Maybe it’s the worry or stress over deadlines, or perhaps it could just be the general fear of it overhanging you.
But if it’s always on your mind, even on rest days, it’s probably time for a change. Folks who find themselves venting about it endlessly to their loved ones should also take this as a warning sign.
After all, work is just work and shouldn’t invade your personal life to such an unhealthy extent.
Final thoughts
Image Credits: Monster Jobs
Deciding to quit your job is often very challenging, indeed. It can be even scarier for those who’ve been with the company for long enough to feel too “okay” to move.
However, if you think about it, having a job that fulfils you and makes you feel treasured has a more prominent part to play in retaining you for the road ahead. Well, sleep on it and make the decision when you’re ready.
An excellent way to get started is to begin browsing for job openings and sending resumes. When a suitable role presents itself, and you’re offered a contract, then you know it’s the right time to send in that long-awaited resignation email.
As we ring in the new Year of the Ox, there are several personal and professional milestones that we can climb. You are not alone in the battlefield of job hunting. While some interviews are pleasant, others can leave you disappointed. Throughout my career in the education field, I have been in both sides of the story.
I was able to interview talented teachers as a Directress and was able to sit through countless of interviews myself. When an interview turns sour, what do you do? You can either run away to other opportunities or settle for less than what you deserve. It is easy to walk away from a bad interview when you feel that you have more opportunities waiting in store. However, there are some people who have taken positions despite the red flags. These people are worried that they might not get another job. Given the current situation, I cannot blame them!
If you are caught in this situation, it is likely that you will feel emotionally and physically worn out as the months pass. Consider politely refusing an offer and search for better opportunities instead. On that note, here are some red flags that will make you run away from an interview.
#1: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER IS LATE
It is understandable that hiring managers will encounter emergencies from time to time. Being late for a couple of minutes is forgivable. However, not respecting someone’s time is rude and bad for business. Most hiring managers need to give themselves at least 10 minutes of prep before the candidate comes in. They use this time to read the C.V. and to prepare the application forms of the candidates. If your interviewer is late during the appointment, imagine how they will act as your boss.
#2: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER SAYS INAPPROPRIATE WORDS ABOUT YOUR PREDECESSOR
While it is appropriate for the interviewer to describe the current roles in the department or how the company is structured, be cautious when the interviewer starts to badmouth the person who left. Speaking poorly about a person they are replacing shows a view of his or her character. I cannot guarantee that the interviewer will not do the same thing to you.
#3: WHEN THE SCHEDULING IS DISORGANIZED
It is common to experiences a few missteps when it comes to the interview scheduling process. It is not simple to coordinate multiple people with strict schedules. Moreover, managers and leaders are often pulled into last-minute meetings. These are normal. However, you need to be concerned when they reschedule over and over again. This shows that they do not value your time or that you must adjust your schedule to accommodate to their needs.
#4: WHEN THE COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION HAS A HIGH TURNOVER RATE
Do your research before a job interview. Check LinkedIn to see what the working culture is like and which of your friends may have worked at the given company before. If the interviewer mentions that they are refilling the role for the second time this year, it is important to ask why. If the turnover rate is high in an organization, please proceed with caution.
#5: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER DISPLAYS OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR
Inclusion, diversity, and equity play a crucial role in a company. A workplace free from racism, sexism, harassment, discrimination, and political intolerance is ideal. In reality, these exists in varying degrees in different companies. Be observant when it comes to offensive behaviors during your interview. Exit politely, if necessary.
#6: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER IS CONFUSED ABOUT YOUR ROLE
Is the interviewer belittling your profession? Is he or she confused about your role? Be concerned! Your responsibilities and duties must be given to you clearly. The leaders and the rest of the team must be completely aligned with the company’s vision, mission, strategy, and roadmap.
By harnessing the potential of using marketing tools and technologies to connect with customers, you’ll be able to create vital strategies that will grow your business.
Overview of the course
NUS Business School, together with online education provider Emeritus, has designed a “Digital Marketing: Strategies, Models, and Frameworks” course to give you in-depth knowledge of understanding how customers behave with digital technology.
With this information, you can use the right methods to craft the best digital strategies for the broadest customer reach.
“This programme will bring together the art and science perspectives of digital marketing. It introduces you to an understanding of how customers behave with the immense use of digital technology, so with the help of psychology, you will be able to use frameworks and tools available to craft digital strategies to better reach, engage and retain customers,” said Dr Doreen Kum, Associate Professor, Marketing, NUS Business School.
Program details
Start Date: 23 February 2021 (Tuesday)
Duration: 2 months (4 to 6 hours per week)
Fee: US$1400 (approx. S$1855) (GST payable for Singapore residents)
Certification
For a two-month online course, S$1855 is not a small sum. Averaging out, a month will cost you slightly less than S$950. For those who can’t pay in full at one go, you will be glad to know that there are flexible payment options with instalment plans.
Executives looking to seek promotion with reputable certifications should seriously give this a thought. That’s because you will be awarded a verified digital certificate by NUS Business School.
Here’s what you can put up on LinkedIn upon course completion:
Course trainers
You will be taught by professionals like Dr Doreen Kum and Ang Eu Gene from NUS Business School.
There will also be presentations and interviews from guest speakers of crucial industries. This includes:
Ryan Lim, Principal Consultant & Founder, QED Consulting
Althea Lim, Group Chief Executive Officer of Gushcloud International
Aaron Su Director, Global Product Marketing, Republic of Gamers, ASUS
This is a great platform to connect with trainers and experts through video lectures and impactful assignments. You will also gain the perfect opportunity to engage in real-world practices with fellow participants on discussion boards.
If you’re determined to build a brand for your company, make use of customer analytics, or want to create better solutions for your clients, this course is designed for you. It can also benefit you if you have a career in:
Sales and marketing
Business and marketing
Public relations, brand and communications
Consumer-driven industries like banking and finance, healthcare, retail, IT products and services, education, and automotive
What you will learn
Module 1: Transformation in Marketing
You’ll look at how digitisation is impacting the marketing world and observe digital consumer behaviours.
Module 2: Reaching Customers: Digital Marketing Channels
Learn about various consumers’ journeys and personalities and examine different strategies for engaging them through media and content.
Module 3: Engaging Customers: Social Media
Harness social media as a tool to engage your customers and find out how to build a brand, curate content, and create a personalised experience.
Module 4: Targeting Customers: Planning for Paid Advertising on Digital Platforms
Create highly optimised, goal-oriented paid campaigns that follow up with post-conversion strategies.
Module 5: Targeting Customers: Advertising on Digital Platforms
Craft paid advertising campaigns on some of the most popular social media platforms, like Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. You’ll also learn how to market via email.
Module 6: Measuring Success: Digital Marketing Metrics and ROI
Marketing is nothing without the numbers. Familiarise yourself with an excellent framework for metrics and measurements that will produce a superb ROI through experiments and multi-attribution tracking.
Module 7: Planning and Executing a Digital Marketing Strategy
Learn how to create a digital marketing strategy from start to end through an optimised and complete framework.
Module 8: Technology and the Future of Digital Marketing
Everything comes in full circle when you look at marketing’s fundamental role in generating business growth and examining its future position regarding GenZ and technology.
“In addition to the up-to-date theoretical framework and foundation of digital marketing, you will learn and experience cutting-edge digital advertising and marketing methods that are highly practical. We are excited to bring you a unique combination of academic theories and practical tactics for your success in digital marketing,” commented Ang Eu Gene, Consultant/Trainer, NUS Business School Executive Education.
Case studies
Apart from the well-planned modules mentioned above, all course participants will also be exposed to real case studies. This includes famous brands like:
Dove
Porsche
L’Oréal Paris
Giant Supermarket
The Edison Hotel (a boutique hotel in Penang, Malaysia)
Upskill and upgrade
The “Digital Marketing: Strategies, Models, and Frameworks” course will equip you with some of the most powerful skills to leverage consumer behaviour and grow your business in today’s increasingly digitalised world. Through qualitative and quantitative work taught by industry experts, you’ll be ready to take your business endeavours to the next level.
Before we sign off, here’s a gentle reminder that the course commences on 23 February 2021 (Tuesday). Apply now before it’s too late!
As we move into 2021, the one big question mark hanging over the heads of job seekers and employees is: “Will I see a pay raise this year?” The post-Covid salary trends in Singapore are unlike most years. With the unprecedented economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, salaries and remuneration package planning is not as straightforward as before.
In most organisations, salaries are determined by employee performance, business performance, availability of talent, the importance of the role, the organisation’s reputation, and the economy – to name a few. As observed last year, the Singapore economy plummeted due to the drastic effects of coronavirus pandemic. Some lost their jobs, others received pay cuts, and many did not get any bonus payments.
As our economy makes its slow recovery in 2021, many companies are also recovering. They now have a better idea of reinforcing their businesses’ vulnerabilities, mitigating risks and creating long-term strategies to manage and emerge stronger from any crisis.
While the coronavirus crisis had drastically reduced job opportunities and salaries in 2020 – especially in trade and tourism, it has also shone a spotlight on growing industries. These include cybersecurity, software engineering, financial services and healthcare.
Nilay Khandelwal, Managing Director of Michael Page Singapore, says, “Singapore’s economy has turned a corner and remains a stable, secure and trusted hub, with seamless connections. As the economy recovers, investment into the market will flourish, and that would drive the demand for talent amid the business recovery climate.”
Michael Page Singapore’s Talent Trends survey report has found that companies are still willing to offer competitive salary packages to the right candidates – with 40% of employers cited plans to increase headcount numbers this year.
Given the economic demands, the sectors earmarked for the highest hiring activity are technology, healthcare and life sciences, banking and financial services, industrial and manufacturing, and FMCG. Here’s what you can expect for salary trends this year:
Tech jobs
Average annual salary increase in 2021 – 3.5%
75% of companies looking to give out more than one month of bonus
Average salary offer for new hires – 15% to 20% more than current or last-drawn salary
Healthcare & Life sciences jobs
Average annual salary increase in 2021 – 2.8%
57% of companies looking to give out more than one month of bonus
Average salary offer for new tech hires – 10% more than current or last-drawn salary
Banking & Financial Services jobs
Average annual salary increase in 2021 – 2.2%
75% of companies look to give out more than one month of bonus
Average salary offer for new hires – 10% to 15% more than current or last-drawn salary
FMCG jobs
Average annual salary increase in 2021 – 2.9%
62% of companies look to give out more than one month of bonus
Average salary offer for new hires – 11% more than current or last-drawn salary
Industrial & Manufacturing jobs
Average annual salary increase in 2021 – 1.6%
25% of companies look to give out more than one month of bonus
Average salary offer for new hires – 10% to 15% more than current or last-drawn salary
The Michael Page Singapore Talent Trends 2021 Report features insights and market sentiment in the Asia-Pacific region on prominent recruitment and talent-related topics including digital readiness, organisational design, flexible work, leadership, performance management and diversity and inclusion. The report also covers salary trends and insights from industry insiders. The results draw from a survey of 12 Asia Pacific markets, with over 5,500 businesses and 21,000 employees, of which 3,500-plus are directors or CXOs.
