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Avoid These Job Interview Red Flags

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.

Image Credits: unsplash.come

Sources: 1 & 2

NUS Business School has an online digital marketing course priced at S$1855

According to Research and Markets, Southeast Asia’s digital advertising market is expected to grow by 13.93% and reach over $15.3 billion.

This alone indicates the forecast and power of digital marketing that will evolve over the years alongside the modern consumer.

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!

Post-Covid Salary Trends in Singapore for 2021

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.

Employ SEO and SEM to rake in more revenue for your business

If you’re involved in the business field, there’s a likelihood you’ve heard of SEO and SEM. These terminologies are commonly tossed around, but what do they mean exactly? Is there a difference between the two?

Although the distinction can be minimal, if you understand how to execute them effectively and correctly, they can lead the organisation to extremely high traffic and growth.

Let’s look at the difference between SEO and SEM and how they can be game-changers for your company. Ready for results? Let’s plunge into this integral part of marketing for your business.

An overview before we begin

Image Credits: Inc. Magazine

The average person will most definitely click on the top few links in a typical search on Google, right?

That’s why the first page on Google search is where you want your website to appear. These days, human attention is short, and it’s essential to be the first few to grab your target customers’ attention before your rivals do. Here’s where SEO and SEM come to play.

They’re ways to promote the company so that your potential customers can access them on search engines, such as Google or Bing. If your company has a website rival, SEO and SEM are essential for more traffic to be guided to your domain.

Let’s explore their primary purposes to grasp these promotional tools better.

SEO otherwise referred to as search engine optimisation, is a concept that lets you organically appear in search results. While SEM, known as search engine marketing, depends on paid strategies to get you ranked on search engines.

Here’s a more insightful look into both approaches.

The four parts of SEO

Technical SEO – This focuses on improving your website’s technical aspects and constructing it to provide a fantastic user experience. It’s also part of on-page SEO.
On-page SEO – Involves tweaking the web pages themselves so that search engines can understand your title tags, content, internal links, and URLs.
Content SEO – Your content needs to match what the searcher intends to find. This is one of Google’s most important factors for its rankings. Consider these: keyword strategy, site structure, and copywriting.
Off-page SEO – Connect your website to other trustworthy and high-authority webpages through hyperlinks, PR, or different strategies, and the search engines will push you up the ranks over time.

Now, moving on to SEM.

SEM and PPC

SEM includes PPC ads instead of organic growth. PPC is also better known as pay-per-click. In the form of embedded advertisements, Google or other search engines can showcase your website and display them to your prospective customers.

Not all campaigns, however, are expected to yield results. To make your advertising stand out so that you get the best bang for your buck, you will have to see what your rivals are doing and choose your keywords wisely.

SEO vs SEM

Image Credits: Matchcraft

With every click your SEM ad gets, you have to pay.
In the form of clicks, SEM usually has immediate effects, while SEO takes much longer.
SEM advertisements give you more control over how they appear. This doesn’t apply much for SEO.
SEM provides you with data specifics so that you can quickly tweak your advertising for instant results. When it comes to SEO, that’s a bit more challenging.
Over time, SEO visibility expands, so the impact snowballs as you progress. With SEM, exposure comes to a halt as soon as you disable your advertisements.

Is one better than the other?

There is no straightforward answer as it falls on how your organisation is structured and what priorities you have at hand. But here are a few pointers to note:

What is your objective? You want to go for SEM if it’s a short-term one.
How is your current SEO health? SEM can be a great backer if it is already substantial.
Go with SEM if you expect that your company would have a higher consumer lifetime value. SEO could be ideal if it’s the opposite.
Did you have your sales and profits assessed? See if making a profit from SEM is practical for you. Go with SEO if it’s not urgent.

When it comes to driving traffic, either SEO or SEM is useful for your company. But why not use both? Most of the time, having the financial capacity to combine them will allow you to reap the benefits of both.

Here are some of the benefits of implementing both strategies:

Do you recall how we mentioned data was available only for SEM but not for SEO? Well, now you can use SEM as a tester for your SEO strategy.
Through incorporating remarketing strategies within your SEM plan, you will make your SEO efforts go the distance to convert those who didn’t buy before into paying customers in the future.

Final thoughts

Now that you know what SEO and SEM are all about, you can use your new-found insights to refine your competition strategy and make the best of both worlds to conquer the organic and paid regions. All the best in ranking your company site at the top of search engines!

The importance of creating customer avatars for your business

Creating customer avatars for your business should be part of your marketing plan. Remember that you want to nudge a lead or customer to the next level by smartly employing digital marketing.

Many start-ups deal with cold prospects in the beginning. To convert these cold prospects to fans and beyond, identifying your ideal customers’ profile is necessary.

This is where a customer avatar comes in handy. A customer avatar can also be referred to as a target audience for the laymen. We will use it interchangeably in this article.

Give life to your avatars with these components

To help you better understand your target audience, you want to give life to your avatars.

Tackling these components are useful – know their goals and values, the platforms they source for information, and their demographics. It’s also wise to think through the potential reasons why your avatars would reject your product or service.

There are many ways to gain the abovementioned information. You can conduct a study, schedule surveys, or have conversations with members of the public. But lest you think it’s do or die, that’s not true.

Go ahead and make the first cut while trusting your assumptions about your target audience. Once you have done enough research and gathered results, fine-tuning is all it takes to move forward.

Find your niche with the “but no one else would” trick

via GIPHY

Let’s zoom in on the finer details with the “but no one else would” trick. This trick will allow you to choose the right tools, platforms, and influencers to engage.

Take a look at these sentences:

My target audience would read [name of a book], but no one else would.
They would subscribe to [name of a magazine], but no one else would.
The company’s ideal customers would attend [name of a conference], but no one else would.

By answering the above, you will filter and narrow down on some hows and wheres of marketing. The main idea here is finding your niche, so it’s extremely targeted. You won’t want to be wasting any of your marketing dollars, right?

Use different customer avatars for various campaigns

Throughout the lifetime of your business, you will be running several marketing campaigns in a year. No one campaign should be precisely the same as the other.

If you’re simply using the same profile for each of your campaigns, you will quickly realise that it doesn’t work. To craft personalised content and offers, you need to establish who you’re marketing to.

Knowing your target audience will help you deal with the rest of your marketing components, including the type of content to produce, the social media sites to use, and what kind of advertisements you should buy.

You can create your customer avatar in just five easy steps. For the visual learners, this will help: