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Possible Career Shifts To Conquer 3 Dying Industries In Singapore

Whether you are willing to admit that you are in a dying industry or not, it is a difficult disposition that several of us have to face at one point in our lives. If there are substantial evidences that your industry is doomed, perhaps it is time to weigh your options.

1. FROM PRINT MEDIA TO DIGITAL MEDIA

As my university professor have predicted, one of the industries that was negatively impacted by modern technology was print media. I am talking about the tangible reading materials such as magazines and newspapers. A good illustration of this seemingly dying industry is the closure of the Cosmopolitan Singapore last year. According to their 2014 Nielsen Media Index report, the racy magazine’s readership stood at 22,000. These low numbers did not win the hearts of many advertisers! Hence, everything went downhill from there.

More and more readers have turned into digital media with the rapid growth of larger smartphones (with wider screens) and efficient tablets. In 2012, a global study by Ericsson estimated that approximately 1 in 3 Singaporeans owns a tablet. These flat and handy devices provide a more convenient way to download and read digital publications.

If you want to part ways with the print media, consider turning to the “IT” crowd by joining the club of people who switched to the digital scene. Jobs such as freelance writer, social media manager, and graphic designer are up for grabs!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

2. FROM TRAVEL AGENCY TO TRAVEL BLOGGING

Be honest. When was the last time you booked a trip through a travel agent? I do not remember either!

Whenever I am book for my vacation, I do everything in the comfort of my own home. I start by looking extensively for the best airfare deals available. Then, I read several TripAdvisor or blog reviews about my intended destination. This is followed by a series of searching for quality accommodations at Airbnb, Agoda, and Expedia.

Why shall I hire the services of a middleman when I can go directly to the source and save more effort, time, and money?

These thoughts echoes the mindset of many Singaporean travelers. The exit of big travel agencies such as Five Stars Tours is just another sign on where this industry is heading.

With your wealth of knowledge and experience as a travel agent, you can consider to become a travel journalist or a travel blogger. Highly qualified individuals can enjoy a good salary and a free pass to various places in the world. Are you on-board?

3. FROM DEPARTMENT STORES TO FUNERAL SHOPS

Say you were a part of the salespeople who lost their jobs due to the closure of Isetan Wisma branch or Metro Sengkang branch. Consider diving away from selling vibrant products such as perfumes and swimming towards selling “lifeless” products such as coffins. You read that right!

Ironically, the death industry is one of the hottest industries right now. More graduates are now applying for the funeral sector as the younger generations are more dismissive of superstitions. Worry not about being called an undertaker because has been re-branded to “funeral director.” Sounds more sophisticated, right?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Note: The aforementioned dying industries are based on the predictions made by a recruitment professional, Adrian Tan of Singapore Business Review.

What Not To Ask In A Job Interview

1. HOW MUCH WILL YOU PAY ME FOR THIS POSITION?

Asking questions about wages and benefits in the first job interview may potentially send an inappropriate message. You may come off as someone who is more interested with reaping the rewards of the job, rather than coming off as someone who is serious about the position.

Every job seeker is curious about money matters. However, you must wait until the interviewer brings it up or until the later interview.

2. HOW EARLY CAN I GET PROMOTED?

According to Rebecca Woods, an HR Professional in Minneapolis, this is one of the most usual questions that job seekers shall avoid. Put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. You would not want someone who is expecting immediate gratification!

Instead of asking when are you getting promoted, Woods encourages applicants to familiarize themselves about the ways to reach occupational success.

3. CAN I WORK FROM HOME, INSTEAD?

Your top priority at job interviews is to sell yourself by showing what you are capable of. Do you think that asking special favors such as “working from home” can help you land the job? Of course not.

Unless the job description implies that you can work remotely, do not ask this question. You will be glad to know that some Singaporean companies allow their employees to work from home after they have proven how productive they were.

4. IS THE RUMOR ABOUT YOU…TRUE?

Never ask about the gossips that you heard or overheard. You are not only being rude to the interviewer but you are also engaging in a highly unacceptable behavior. Need I say more?

5. WHY?

People who are faced with questions that begin with the word “why” typically raise their defenses. For instance, “Why did the company fire so much people?” seems more confrontational than “I heard about the recent layoffs. What is your opinion about the company’s future?”

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Phrasing your questions in a friendlier manner can help your chances at getting your dream job!

Sources: 1, 2, 3

How to Keep Hiring Costs Low and Still Find the Right Candidate

Finding the right person for the job is what can make or break a company, especially if you’re a small startup. Singapore is one of the best places right now for fledgling IT companies given the increased interest in supporting infrastructure within the country and investing billions in new IT contracts in 2016. However, there are ways to find the best candidates without expecting people to travel, relocate, or even work in your office. If you’re willing to entertain the notion of a true modern day workforce, here are a few ideas about how to keep your hiring costs down and your productivity up.

Everyone Is Part of the Network

One of the biggest concerns that most managers have is that you’ll miss out on candidates if you restrict your search solely to online resources or interviews on camera. However, of all countries in the world, Singapore is the one where you should be just that. In fact, the Singapore Business Review reports that 74 percent of Singaporeans are connected to the mobile internet, a number higher than even that of North America, which is why the country is poised to win the Smart City race. Therefore, by keeping your search online, you’ll not only be tapping into a huge network of candidates, but it’s also a great way to see all the younger talent that is out there.

Today, you can also conduct interviews much more easily on mobile devices with the right providers. Don’t worry too much about whether or not your candidates will be able to deal with an on-screen interaction. The fact is that if they can’t manage to figure out how to join a video interview in 2016, then they’re probably not qualified to be working for you.

How to Use the Tools Available

Since the idea is to keep hiring costs down, you also don’t want to blow all your money on an overpriced conferencing system in order to conduct interviews or hold meetings. Therefore, a service such as Blue Jeans interactive web conferencing for IT is a common solution due to how affordable it can be for companies of all sizes. If you’re in the IT industry and you’re screening new hires, not only is it beneficial to use video to narrow down your search and make the hiring process go faster, but seeing how candidates deal with the situation is probably an indicator of how comfortable they are with new technology. If you’re dealing with someone who possesses confidence on screen during an interview, whether they’re in IT or not, it demonstrates an ability to adapt. If it’s an IT professional, they also should ideally know at least something about video conferencing today.

Traditional Hires Versus Remote Workers

What costs can you avoid when conducting your search for a new hire online? According to Monster Singapore, there are plenty of reasonable demands that a new employee can make if they’re being asked to relocate, including moving costs, temporary lodging costs, assistance in selling a current home, and more. However, there’s an easy way to avoid all of that and still procure the employee you want. This is a great example of how you not only can attract job seekers from further away than your local area, but also how you can potentially employ remote workers using solely the Internet. Video conferencing has made it possible to hire new staff from afar, an essential option to have in a competitive industry. Given that IT is one of the most popular fields to enter right now, making smart hires in the shortest time is absolutely paramount to the success of individual businesses. This is also a great example of how an investment in video conferencing technology can not only benefit your company when interviewing and finding qualified candidates, but also can be used in longevity, adding to the talent pool of your staff and making your projects even more successful. There’s no replacement for a good employee, and if you find someone who’s employable, regardless of how far away they are, you’d be wise to act on it. Unlike video interactions from years ago that required special equipment, today’s conferencing systems have embraced mobility in particular.

In order to be successful in any business, you need to be a free thinker who’s not afraid of new ideas and systems. This is especially true right now in IT, since it’s the industry’s time to shine in Singapore. Whether you’re a manager in a large company or a CEO in a small startup, branching out to include staff that’s comprised of remote workers or doing all of your interviewing via video is essential. Time is money, and you don’t want to waste yours doing things the old fashioned way. Hop on your mobile device today and start finding the best person for the job in half the time than it would have taken two decades ago.

5 Ways To Grind Like A Boss Even When You Are Not

You may not be a boss yet but if you start acting like one, you can just snag a chance at a beaming promotion!

I am not encouraging you to point fingers and demand orders to everyone at the office. Instead, I suggest that you act like the boss that you wish to work for. Not only are you serving as an inspiring role model for your own boss but you are also giving your colleagues a glimpse of what it about to happen when you climb up the ladder.

On that note, here are some tips to act like a good boss:

1. GIVE ATTENTION TO ISSUES

Always channel your inner boss by asking yourself if there are current issues that the management needs to address.

I remember a friend of mine who started as a receptionist at a fitness studio. She used to do the attendance by typing the names of each participant in the room. Imagine doing this for a class of more than 30 people. You can easily lose count! Then she discovered a faster way doing things by assigning each participant with a bar code, which they can scan before they enter the room. The management was really pleased. A year after that, she became the manager of the studio for more than 4 years.

2. TAKE THE INITIATIVE

Good bosses have initiative and enthusiasm. Showing that you are dedicated to do every task and are taking control of your responsibilities would make people feel that you are an asset to the company.

Even without the guidance of the management, there are some simple things that you can solve by yourself. Do not waste time and get things in motion.

3. HANDLE PRIORITIES WELL

Business owners and supervisors have lots of things on their plates. Because of our competitive environment, several things pull them on different directions every single day. This is why they must handle the significant priorities first before moving on to the non-essential tasks. Do the same thing!

Start by keeping a list of all your daily tasks. Move the items up if they are really important. When a new project comes along, ask yourself about its importance and organize accordingly.

4. MANAGE YOUR MONEY

It is essential for a boss to understand the fundamentals of managing money including budgeting. A budget is your understanding of the materials needed as well as its costs – be it in the currency of money, time, and people.

Practice the basics of money management by budgeting your personal household expenses. Also, make sure that this is aligned to your financial goals.

5. EVALUATE YOURSELF

Performance appraisals help the management decide whether or not they shall give you a pay raise or a career advancement. Go inside the mind of your boss by reflecting upon your previous feedback or review. Know which areas you need to improve on and which areas are your strengths.

Do a self-assessment every few months to remind yourself about the changes that you shall make.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

How To Recognize And Beat Work-Related Burnout

The national values instilled as a society coupled by the relatively high cost of living in Singapore led to the “hardworking” culture that is embedded in almost everyone’s veins. With the amount of commitment that most people have towards their jobs, they can occasionally experience an unpleasant consequence called Burnout.

Coined in the ’70s by the American Psychologist Herbert Freudenberger, Burnout refers to the outcomes of relentless work stress and high ideals. Work-related burnout and its co-morbid problems commonly lead to absenteeism due to sickness. For instance, you have been spending more time at the office to get more things done but ended up being physically and mentally unwell. Going beyond the limits of your body is just counterproductive to your well being and finances. This is why you must recognize the telltale signs of work-related burnout. Here are some of them…

4 SIGNS OF BURNOUT

Image Credits: pixabay.com

1. LACK OF MOTIVATION

Have you been fantasizing about swimming on the beautiful Bondi Beach? Or are you wishing that tomorrow is a “newly proclaimed” non-working holiday? Well, wanting to run away from your work is a common sign of burnout.

2. COGNITIVE PROBLEMS

Burnout can cause cognitive problems in memory and attention. You can experience slip-ups such as messing up on normally easy tasks, forgetting to remember simple things, and having a hard time focusing.

3. FATIGUE

You are always tired. Need I say more?

4. NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

If you are wondering about whether what your doing is appropriately compensated and if it has any significance, you are experiencing “reduced accomplishment”. It is a common symptom of burnout that can affect anyone who has been working too hard including elite athletes and renowned surgeons.

4 WAYS TO HANDLE STRESS

Image Credits: pixabay.com

1. SEE YOUR FRIENDS

Sometimes, changes in the working environment and tangible support from others can help with the problems brought by the workplace stress. Consider spending some time with your friends or the people who make you smile. You may be putting off some of your tasks (for the meantime) by doing so but is it not the whole point of destressing?

2. HAVE A “ME” TIME

Since burnout is influenced by mental clutter, learning to relax and removing the distractions for an ample period of time can ease your negative feelings. Put your work assignments or projects down and do something you really enjoy. Set aside at least 10 minutes of the day to yourself.

Listen to your favorite love song, book a spa appointment, eat your favorite dessert, purchase new video games or try on different shades of lipsticks. You deserve it!

3. EXERCISE MORE

Exercise has physical and psychological benefits such as reducing stress, anxiety and depression. It can also improve one’s quality of life, self-concept and self-efficacy. So get pumping! Run outside the house or gather a group of friends to start a regular exercise routine.

4. GET QUALITY SLEEP

When you are tired and sleep deprived, you are less patient, less concentrated and easily irritated. As sleep deprivation can increase your stress, it is advisable to get quality sleep.

Nothing beats the feeling of waking up refreshed and rejuvenated after a good night’s rest. It does give you the boost you need to deal with the hurdles that the new day can bring. Give your body the restorative rest craves for. At least 6-8 hrs of sleep is ideal for working adults.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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