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An HR expert weighs in on job-searching advice such as the need to stay in a company for at least 2 years and more

Currently on the hunt for a new job or internship? If you’re relatively new to job searching, you may be confused with the many pieces of advice out there. Here are some job-related articles we’ve written recently that you will find helpful:

Experts advise on the art of writing a resume to increase your chances of getting that interview
Experienced recruiter with 15 years in talent acquisition advises if you should interview for a job you don’t want
Tips for job seekers by recruitment experts from LinkedIn, Robert Walters, and Michael Page

For today’s article, we will be focusing on the wise words of James Goh, founder and CEO of ACCESS HR & Talents, regarding the common job-searching advice out there. ACCESS HR & Talents is a by-invitation-only job portal that promises a minimum pay of S$2,800 across the board.

Let’s dive right in.

#1: Stay at least two years in a company before you move on to a new opportunity.

“No. Ignore. This is an old belief system. The current climate has evolved. Staying two years at a company does not boost your chances in any way.”

#2: Talk about your strengths only during interviews, avoid bringing up your weaknesses.

Image Credits: PNGitem

“I agree with this. It might not decrease your chances to bring it up, but it will not increase it. Unless the interviewer brings the topic up, it would be safer to state your strengths primarily.”

#3: Accept all job interviews offered to you even if you don’t think you’re suitable for it.

“Yes. Most job descriptions are brief and not in actual fact of how the job would be. An interview offered would be an opportunity for both parties to tango and find out more. One might find herself being wooed by the actual job.”

#4: Stick to your chosen field only and accept relevant jobs.

Image Credits: Abacus Group

“No. Ignore. Many of my mentors who are industry giants, have worked in different fields and have “irrelevant” jobs in their resume before ending up in their current position. Senior partners, CEOs, founders, all had non-linear career paths.

There are many paths to success, and knowing what you are innately good at and having the intangible skills are the ingredients that will bring one to succeed.”

#5: Never try to explain the gaps in your work history.

“No. Ignore. HR departments and recruitment consultants are human too. If you have gaps for any reason, it is okay to be sincere and honest. It pays. Gap years are now less uncommon in today’s climate.

Many graduates and mid-career switches often have gap years to find out and deliberate over their next step. Your potential employer might even feel more confident about you after you have deliberated and are certain of the job you are interviewing for.”

#6: You should follow your passion.

Image Credits: jbklutse.com

“Yes but only to a certain degree. Passion is a first-world privilege. You cannot pursue passion if you are worried about where your next meal is going to come from. We are in a privileged position where most Millenials and Gen Zers are degree holders, not having to worry about rent or their next meal.

In the countries that I have worked in, such freedom of choice comes as a luxury. Your passion usually is a good indicator of what you will do well in. Passion breeds excellence. Excellence breeds success. And people pay for excellence. As much if possible, chase passion. And let success keep up with you.”

#7: It’s alright to apply for jobs you are under-qualified for.

“Crossing industries does sometimes work even if you do not seemingly have the relevant experience. But the basic paper qualifications that the employer will seek are usually set in stone, especially for MNCs. If you think you qualify for the job even if you are in the opposite spectrum of a potential employee, then go for it! But in terms of required paper qualifications, one should manage their expectations a little.

I know of a candidate looking for a role in a FinTech firm, however, he graduated with a history degree from London School of Economics and Political Science. He aced the interview and is now rising through the ranks in that particular FinTech firm in London.”

#8: Personalize your cover letter and resume to each company you apply to.

Image Credits: Human Resources Online

“This I personally believe to be true, albeit tedious. At ACCESS, our core belief is that there is more than one way to succeed. Many skillsets are transferable across industries. If someone is charming and does well as a salesperson, she would do equally well as an HR consultant. If someone is caring and articulate as a manager, she would do as well being a teacher. Similarly, if companies are from different industries or you are applying for a different type of placement, your resume should boast the qualities of your skill sets that the new placement and company would appreciate.

Some HR departments shortlist candidates only by looking at the candidate’s prior company and work experience, thus I believe it to be important to highlight certain skills which your new potential employer could be on the hunt for. A sales manager looking to go into teaching, for example, could highlight her subordinates’ achievements and how under her guidance led to those.”

Internships & Jobs: NTU, UOB Kay Hian, and Ezbuy are hiring

How’s your job search coming along? If you need help brushing up your resume, read our recent article on the art of writing a resume as advised by experts. Meanwhile, check out these new job and internship opportunities with NTU, UOB Kay Hian, and Ezbuy.

#1: Nanyang Technological University – Trainee, Research Assistant in Parent-Infant Neural Connectivity

Image Credits: NTU

Allowance / Remuneration: S$1,800 – 2,500 monthly

NTU’s School of Social Sciences has nearly 100 faculty members and more than 1,700 undergraduates who major in the four-degree programmes the school offers: Economics, Psychology, Public Policy and Global Affairs, and Sociology. There are more than 180 graduate students in their PhD and MA programmes (by research), and MSc programmes in Applied Economics and Gerontology.

The Baby-LINC Lab in the Division of Psychology is headed by Asst Prof Victoria Leong. The lab conducts world-leading research on interpersonal neural connectivity between parents and infants, using a technique called “dual-EEG”. During early life, social interactions between infants and caregivers “gate” learning processes in the infant’s brain.

In this project, the candidate will learn to analyse dyadic-EEG data concurrently collected from infants and their parents during naturalistic learning scenarios. The aim will be to examine how the parent-infant neural network is modulated by social cues such as eye contact and infant-directed speech in order to facilitate early learning. This project can be completed through 100% virtual coaching since a large amount of data has already been collected and is ready for analysis. However, should circumstances permit, hands-on training in EEG data acquisition may also be provided to enhance the trainee’s learning experience.

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
Basic proficiency in Matlab (preferred) or other programming languages
Good knowledge of statistics and statistical software packages such as R and Statistica (preferred)
Interest in neuroscience and/or psychology
Good attention to detail
Effective communication and report writing skills

Key Responsibilities

Assisting with pre-processing of EEG datasets (e.g. checking for errors, removing artefacts)
Video coding of infant and maternal behaviour
Statistical analysis of behavioural data
Recruitment and screening of participants
Coordinating day-to-day (online) research activities (e.g. recruitment and scheduling of participants)
Performing other related duties assigned in support of the research projects

How to apply?

Apply via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#2: UOB Kay Hian Pte Ltd – Operations Temp

Image Credits: MoneyDuck

Allowance / Remuneration: S$1,000 – 1,500 monthly

UOB Kay Hian Pte Ltd claims to be the largest stockbroking house in Singapore with a strong presence in key financial centres in the region, UK and US. They provide a wide range of services to a diversified client base that includes corporations, institutions, and local investors. Clients can rely on the brand’s knowledge of key Asian financial markets to improve their investment decisions and portfolios.

Job Qualifications

Must be able to commit for at least 3 months, Mondays to Fridays
OT is required for this role
At least a Diploma holder
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
No experience required, fresh graduates are welcomed

Key Responsibilities

This position will report to the Contracts Department, with the following duties:

Perform trade processing for Equities and Unit Trust
Checking of reports, data entry, and processing contra
Handle administrative tasks such as photocopying, faxing etc.

How to apply?

Submit your application to Angel Wong via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#3: Ezbuy – Human Resource Intern

Image Credits: Ezbuy

Allowance / Remuneration: S$800 monthly

Formerly known as 65Daigou, owned by EZbuy Holdings Limited, Ezbuy is a provider of online global shopping services. Founded in 2010 by a group of aspiring entrepreneurs, Ezbuy quickly rose to become one of the largest global shopping platforms.

According to the company, they currently provide global shopping services from China, USA, and Taiwan to more than 1,000,000 customers across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Job Qualifications

Poly students or university students are welcomed to apply
Possesses basic knowledge of HR procedure
Active, pleasant personality, and cheerful
Good team player and able to work under minimal supervision
Proficient in MS Office, especially in MS Excel
Excellent English and Chinese speaking and writing skills are advantageous (in order to liaise with the Chinese speaking associates)

Key Responsibilities

Monitor staff’s time attendance
Basic recruitment
Staff communication & correspondence
Employee welfare, benefits & compensation
Creating quarterly newsletter
Basic administration work
Communicating with vendor or supplier
Assist to fixed asset management
Ability to manage and organize data and information for HR and finance
Assist document filing and receiving, basic paperwork
Additional duties assigned by the Management from time to time

How to apply?

Submit your application to Emma via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#4: Ezbuy – Marketing Intern (Beauty Marketplace)

Image Credits: The Low Down

Allowance / Remuneration: S$800 monthly

According to the company, they currently provide global shopping services from China, USA, and Taiwan to more than 1,000,000 customers across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Job Qualifications

Ability to speak both English and Chinese – in order to liaise with Chinese speaking associates
Good skills in using office software including excel, ppt, etc.
Having photoshop skill will be advantageous.
Actively looking out for the latest trends.
Have good written and speaking skills.
Good understanding of beauty products.
Being fast and accurate.
Having analytical skills.
Being detail-oriented.
Able to adapt to different working environments.

Key Responsibilities

Communicate with beauty marketplace sellers to plan for campaigns and execute them with the guidance of the marketing team (in both English and Chinese)
Managing the beauty marketplace.
Creating new ideas to promote for sellers.
Managing and updating the website on the latest trends.
Analyzing sales, prices, and preparing recommendations.
Conducting research on the market competitiveness.
Critical thinking and able to work independently.
Assist in local marketplace operations.
Maintaining onsite assets such as campaign landing pages.

How to apply?

Submit your application to Tee Hao Wen via this link.

View the job post in full here.

Experts advise on the art of writing a resume to increase your chances of getting that interview

The job market is tough out there. But we’re glad to hear that more jobs and traineeships in the healthcare sector will be made available for fresh graduates and mid-career job seekers.

In fact, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Wednesday (Aug 26) that the government will implement new programmes to bring in business investments, support local entrepreneurship, and create “good jobs” for Singaporeans.

But job vacancies mean nothing if you aren’t able to land yourself an interview because of a poorly written resume. Hear from the experts on the art of crafting a resume if you want to increase your chances of getting that interview and eventually signing that job contract.

#1: Go beyond copying and pasting of your roles and duties

Image Credits: Soda PDF

“Resumes should clearly express your value proposition and achievements, and not merely a copy-and-paste of your roles and duties,” said Lim Kai Ning, the head of social impact at CareerSocius, a social enterprise that helps job seekers in Singapore ramp up their personal branding.

Harry Suresh, the founder and CEO of ResumeWriter Asia, a recruiter licensed by the Ministry Of Manpower suggests job seekers highlight their achievements.

“In their work descriptions, candidates list only their day-to-day responsibilities, which simply shows that they can do their job. Achievements, on the other hand, show they excel at it,” he said.

#2: Watch that length, style, and structure

Image Credits: ProViso Consulting

Length

While it’s advisable for you to list your achievements, don’t overdo it. Remember, you’re not writing an academic essay. “Some people submit really lengthy resumes with too many descriptors. The best resumes pack a punch and are succinct,” said Lim.

A maximum resume length of two to three pages is generally acceptable for a mid- to senior-level job seeker, said Suresh. “As a rule of thumb, the more concise a resume, the better.” For fresh graduates or those with lesser than five years’ experience, keep your resume within two pages, he recommended.

Style

“It is better to spell out certain abbreviations in full and not assume that all employers widely recognise them,” Lim said.

As for fonts, Suresh recommends using serif fonts such as Garamond, Cambria, or Georgia for longer documents or paragraphs of text as they look formal, professional, and easy on the eyes. A font size between 11 and 12 points for the body text is appropriate.

He also added that san serif fonts such as Lato or Helvetica are suitable. “These are less common than Arial or Calibri, and more likely to catch recruiters’ attention,” he said.

“You can also have titles or headers with bigger font sizes than your main content to guide the reader in differentiating between each section of your resume,” she advised.

Structure

“Key skills should be listed near the top of the resume; this is essential to communicate core skill sets to recruiters at a glance,” said Suresh.

#3: Prioritize the right information

Prioritize the right information in your resume

Image Credits: G2 Learning Hub

With so much to include, how do you prioritize the right information to include in your resume? Suresh directs job seekers to focus on their most recent roles as they are more likely to be relevant to one’s current career goals.

“For roles that are five positions or over 10 years back, jobseekers can often limit it to the job title, company, and dates.”

Lim said, “Ask yourself these two questions: ‘What value did I bring to my previous role?’ and ‘If someone had the exact same job scope as me, how were my contributions different from his?’. The crux is to tease out what makes you unique, and hence, a notch above the other candidates.”

“For someone who has held multiple positions over a period of time, highlight different skills and expertise across the various positions instead of repeating them.”

#4: What to leave out in your resume – salaries, photos, and school activities

Image Credits: AMCAT.com

Omit your expected and last-drawn salaries, unless it’s necessary as stated in the job post. “It might be better to negotiate it directly when the job offer is being extended to the individual or to disclose an expectation during the interview stage,” said Lim.

She also informs us not to include our photo if it’s not a compulsory action. This is to prevent any unconscious biases during the selection process. “They are typically required only for frontline jobs (for example, sales), or when specifically required by the employer during the application stage.”

Suresh stated that those with over three years’ experience can omit CCAs, school projects, and other school activities. But for those without much experience, listing them down “may help demonstrate transferable and essential skill sets, such as leadership and interpersonal skills, which can’t otherwise be conveyed”.

#5: Choose the right tone for your cover letter

Image Credits: SweetCV

Lim advises job seekers to do their research on the company’s culture and style to determine the tone – whether casual or professional. “Cover letters are slightly more emotive and you can use the opportunity to showcase your purpose, passions, and strengths in a strategic manner.”

“Avoid using vague, passive words like ‘assisted’ or ‘supported’ that do not indicate much about your scope of contribution.” Instead, use action words like “initiated” or “revamped” to show your active role while working in the company.

As with all things, don’t overdo it. Exaggerating excessively may come across as inauthentic.

To add on to what Lim said, Suresh recommends using straight-to-the-point sentences and cutting out buzzwords – even articles (“a”, “an”, “and”, “the”) and pronouns (“I”, “me”, “who”) – for the best impact.

Take a look at these two sentences:

Directed team of 12, managing annual sales pipeline of S$12m
Sales ninja, responsible for growing the brand’s synergy

Which do you think is the better written one out of the two? If you guessed the first, you’re correct. According to Suresh, using action words and substantiating your claims with metrics will appear more credible and confident.

More jobs and traineeships in the healthcare sector will be available for fresh graduates and mid-career job seekers

The Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed in a press release on Tuesday (Aug 25) that about 7,500 jobs and 1,600 traineeships, attachments, and skills training opportunities will be available from now till the end of 2021.

“These vacancies and opportunities will help to fulfil current and future expanding needs for healthcare services, given Singapore’s ageing population,” said MOH.

Target audience

These job and traineeship vacancies are targeting fresh graduates from the healthcare training programmes and Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) graduates who are mid-career entrants into the healthcare sector.

Out of the 7,500 job vacancies, one-third of it will be for healthcare professionals including nurses and allied health professionals, while the rest include support care, administrative, and ancillary roles.

Interested to join the healthcare sector but have no relevant background in healthcare? Fret not. The jobs in support care, administrative, and ancillary roles are aimed at fresh graduates and mid-career job seekers without a background in healthcare.

There are also positions like patient service associates, non-clinical care or administrative positions, and managerial and executive roles. Relevant training for these roles will be provided for the right candidates.

Traineeships, attachments, and skills training opportunities

Image Credits: todayonline.com

For fresh graduates, you may consider applying for the SGUnited Traineeships Programmes. Mid-career job seekers can join the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme. The programme will last from four to nine months.

“Employers can consider hiring well-performing trainees and mid-career individuals at any time during or after the completion of the traineeship or attachment,” said MOH.

More options for mid-career job seekers

Mid-career job seekers who are keen on undertaking healthcare roles like support staff and executives in clinical and non-clinical roles can apply to the SGUnited skills programmes for skills training.

For job roles like healthcare assistants, therapy assistants, community care coordinators, pharmacy technicians, and health managers and administrators, the training period will be between six and 12 months.

Seven training partners will offer more than 1,300 training opportunities and classes will start progressively from this month. They include:

HMI Institute of Health Sciences
Institute of Technical Education
NTUC Learning Hub
Republic Polytechnic
Singapore Management University
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Temasek Polytechnic

These new opportunities will become available steadily over this year and the next. You may eye the new vacancies on Workforce Singapore’s MyCareersFuture job portal, job fairs, and recruitment platforms.

SGUnited Traineeships Programme for fresh graduates

Image Credits: todayonline.com

Earlier this year in April 2020, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) said in a joint release that recent graduates of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics, universities, and other institutions can tap on the SGUnited Traineeships Programme from Jun 1 to boost their employability.

The aim is to have up to 8,000 traineeship opportunities this year across various industries such as life sciences, engineering, and the arts, not just the healthcare sector.

Those interested in applying can do so on www.mycareersfuture.sg. Companies with job offerings may also advertise these positions with the hashtag #SGUnitedTraineeships.

Internships & Jobs: Christian Dior Singapore, Singtel, and Parkway Dental Practice are hiring

Have you been mass sending your resume out to companies? You might want to think twice. Yesterday (24 August), we wrote about whether you should interview for a job you don’t want. Kevin Matthews, an experienced recruiter with 15 years in talent acquisition, gave us some useful pointers regarding the issue. Click here to read.

Meanwhile, we chanced upon some juicy internships and jobs with Christian Dior Singapore, Singtel, and Parkway Dental Practice you might be interested in.

#1: Christian Dior Singapore – Visual Merchandising Intern

Image Credits: curatedition.com

Allowance / Remuneration: S$800 – 1,000 monthly

Christian Dior SE, commonly known as Dior, is one of the world’s leading fashion couture houses. It symbolizes the ultimate in high fashion, luxury, elegance, and refinement. The company claims to have a culture that inspires excellence and a desire to develop and nurture the skillsets of their team.

Job Qualifications

The job qualifications weren’t listed in the job post.

Key Responsibilities

Enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the visual display in boutiques following guidelines and instructions given
Support in receipt and setup of props
Involvement in project coordination with suppliers for events and set-ups
Maintenance and upkeep of all visual merchandising materials
Providing administrative support to the team

How to apply?

Submit your application to Ashlyn Ang via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#2: Singapore Telecommunications Limited – Digital Executive #SGUnitedTraineeships

Image Credits: HRM Asia

Allowance / Remuneration: S$2,100 – 2,200 (project /contract-based)

Singtel is one of Asia’s leading communications technology groups, providing a portfolio of services covering next-generation communication, technology services, and infotainment to both consumers and businesses.

They have strategic investments in regional mobile operators – Telkomsel (Indonesia), Globe Telecom (the Philippines), Advanced Info Service (Thailand) and Bharti Airtel (India), which has a significant presence in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Africa.

Technology continues to reshape how we live and the company is proud to be nurturing talents for the digital economy. Here’s your chance to be part of an exciting traineeship with an opportunity to acquire professional and soft skills.

Job Qualifications

They are looking for young people with a passion to create a better future with technology, and the potential to influence others to do the same.

Degree in Business Administration or equivalent
Ability to manage complex projects, multi-task, be proactive, and handle uncertainty
Translate complex solutions and requirements to simple, easy-to-understand terms and actionable solutions
Multitask, handle projects from end-to-end with minimal guidance

Key Responsibilities

SME Engagement

– Identify and reach out to potential SME customers for the Digital Hub program.

– Provide advice on relevant digital solutions/ resources to address SME customers’ enquiries/ challenges. Educating and training SME customers on relevant solutions.

– Handhold and manage SME customers during the implementation process.

Business Development

– Conduct research in identified verticals to identify new prospects, evaluate SME potential digital solution gaps and recommend suitable solutions accordingly.

– Identify suitable vertical solutions by keeping abreast of the current industry trends and offerings in the market.

– Achieve set business targets by developing new businesses and seeing through the adoption of digital solutions by SME customers.

– Develop value propositions and conduct presentations to prospects.

Project Management

– Guide and assist customers through the implementation of digital solutions within the stipulated timeline and resources.

– Analyze data based on usage and digital solutions embraced by customers. Ensure customer satisfaction – sustainability in meeting their needs.

How to apply?

Submit your application to Rebecca Chan via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#3: Parkway Dental Practice – Sales & Marketing Associate #SGUnitedTraineeships

Image Credits: AsiaOne

Allowance / Remuneration: S$800 – 2,400 monthly

Parkway Dental is a group dental practice located at Pacific Plaza, within walking distance from Orchard MRT Station. Their team of experienced specialists and dentists is dedicated to providing the public with value and quality care.

Job Qualifications

Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident; and
Graduated in 2019 or graduating in 2020 from ITEs, polytechnics, universities, or other educational institutions (e.g. private universities and overseas institutions); or
Graduated earlier from above institutions and completed National Service in 2019 or 2020.

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate with patients on the treatment plan
Management of the company’s social media platforms (e.g Facebook, Instagram) and website
Creating a positive opinion of the company to a public audience through social media
Evaluate social trends so as to improve the brand’s current presence online
Brainstorming ideas on how to improve public opinion of the company
Use of online analytics tools to ensure that advertisements are targeted at the right audience

By the end of the traineeship, you should be able to:

Communicate with customers confidently with regards to their industry-specific inquiries
Use online analytics tools to improve the company’s advertisement reach-out rate
Catch social trends with ease

How to apply?

Submit your application to Christina / Aggie via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#SGUnitedTraineeships

For those keen in #SGUnitedTraineeships, Black Market Camera also has two recent openings.

They are predominantly in the business of the distribution, sale, and rental of photographic, video equipment, and accessories. They are continuously expanding their range of products and have ventured into a greater range of electronic products including drones (DJI, Yuneec), electronic stabilisers (DJI OSMO, gyro stabilisers for mobile phones and actions cameras), etc.

Click through the links to view more:

All the best for your application(s)!