Times are hard these days, we understand. We’re also on the lookout for jobs and internships for you guys from time to time. Even more so for the desperate, it’s easy to mass send your resume out to companies, including job openings you don’t particularly take an interest to.
Today, we will put our focus on whether you should interview for a job you don’t want. We will be hearing from the wise words of Kevin Matthews, an experienced recruiter with 15 years in talent acquisition. He is also the managing director of KR Partners and founder & CEO of Candid-Intel.
#1: I mass sent out many applications during my job search and now I’m being called in for jobs that may not be the most suitable. Is it still worth taking the interview?
Firstly, it’s probably not a good idea to mass apply to jobs during your job search. I would advise you to get into the habit of being targeted as you will achieve better results that way. Now that you have gotten yourself in a bit of a bind with so many requests, don’t panic – go through each job that requested an interview and analyze three things before declining to attend:
Does the company or position match your current needs or aspirations? If your answer is no, skip the interview.
Are you sure you’re overqualified or not suitable for the position? For example, if the job description says they are looking for two years’ experience and you have seven, then you should probably skip it.
Is there anything you can learn from the interview? Interviewing, even if you’re unsure about the position or the company, can provide opportunities to practice your interpersonal and interviewing skills.
If you’re still convinced that attending the interview won’t be right for you, please respectfully decline with a short email.
#2: Is it alright to take an interview just to practice my interview skills even if I may not want the job?
“Well, I would advise if you’re unsure on the job or company that it’s still OK to attend and practice. However, if you’re 100% convinced that this opportunity is not right for you, don’t waste your time or the interviewer’s – conduct mock interviews with your friends to practice. That would be a better use of your time.”
#3: I was given a job offer and accepted it just before I was about to attend another interview. This interview was set up prior to the offer. Should I still take the meeting? Or should I decline to save everyone’s time?
Image Credits: Stocksy United
“My advice after spending many years in recruitment is to decline the interview and move on.
We all love to be wanted, but sometimes you have to know when it’s time to focus on the wonderful opportunity you have at hand. Running around the city and interviewing without a purpose is exhausting. Save everyone’s time and move on.”
#4: I’ve been offered several offers during my job hunt. Is this something I need to let a hiring manager know? Or is it better to keep this to myself?
“You are under no obligation to disclose whether you have been offered other job opportunities, its best to keep the information to yourself until you can gauge interest or compare offers – the hiring process is a bit like poker, so remember not to reveal your hand too early.”
#5: I’ve decided that the position is not the right fit for me. How do I politely decline the interview?
“Email is the preferable choice as many people are not comfortable declining an offer via the phone or face to face.
It’s important to remember to remain courteous in the email. Don’t be arrogant, remember you may have declined this opportunity but there could be future opportunities with the company or hiring manager that you want to be considered for. It’s advisable to remain professional and polite in your correspondence as it will leave a lasting impression.”
He seeks to preserve his family’s time-honoured wanton mee recipe by making the award-winning dish available islandwide #KoungWTM
Humble beginnings: from pushcart to humble stall in Geylang and now an outlet in a shopping mall
Enjoy the wanton mee in an air-conditioned environment
All the ingredients, from wanton to noodles and char siu, are homemade
Koung’s Wanton Mee, which has 56 years of presence in Singapore, is proud to announce the launch of its new outlet at JEM on 25 August 2020. This opening marks the brand’s first-ever foray into a shopping mall. Koung’s Wanton Mee was founded in 1964, just one year before Singapore gained independence. Its humble beginnings took root when it was just a pushcart; then, in late 1960s, it expanded and became a stall at Geylang Lorong 12. The stall operated for over 36 years before it moved to Geylang Lorong 13, where it stayed for 12 years. Then, it moved to its current location at 205 Sims Avenue circa 2013.
Bernard Koung, 39 year old second generation, began working at his family’s business at the age of 21, will be managing the new outlet opening at JEM. His parents have passed down their recipes to him, and he seeks to continue the 50-plus years of his family recipe. Recognising that many of the brand’s loyal fans have to travel from one end of Singapore to the another just to savour the wanton mee, Bernard has decided to launch a new outlet in JEM. Westies can now enjoy the dish with greater convenience, and in the comfort of an air-conditioned environment. Plans are in the pipeline to open more outlets in all regions of Singapore.
An offering well loved by Singaporeans and critics
The brand’s Singapore-style wanton mee is a hit amongst local gourmands, tourists and food critics. It is little wonder – all its ingredients are painstakingly made from scratch. The charcoal-grilled char siu is made with fresh quality pork, then marinated with its own homemade sauce. The springy egg noodles are made following a traditional recipe. The wantons are wrapped by hand, its generous filling a mix of fresh lean and fatty minced pork. Drenching all the ingredients are a fragrant blend of fried chilli paste and premium dark as well as light soya sauces. The dish is then topped with Koung’s Wanton Mee’s very own fried pork lard and oil, which lend an extra fragrance and a savoury punch. Both the dry and soup versions go at S$4.80 each.
The wanton mee has been featured in The Business Times’s CEOs’ Hawker Guide, and has also received numerous accolades such as the Certificate of Award for the Fine Culinary Skill, Encounter of the Kings and The Green Book’s Best Food Awards. Koung’s Wanton Mee is also a favourite haunt for many popular food bloggers such as Dr Leslie Tay.
About Koung’s Wanton Mee
Began as a pushcart in 1964, Koung’s Wanton Mee has over the years cultivated a loyal following of fans, winning over hearts with its delicious rendition of wanton mee. All the ingredients, from wanton to char siu and noodles, are homemade. Enjoy other accompaniments such as fried wanton, fried dumpling, fried wanton, dumpling soup and wanton soup as well. Its outlet at JEM marks its first-ever foray into a shopping mall.
Looking for a job is never easy. If you’re still on the journey to seeking one, don’t be dismayed. Keep trying even if you get no replies or unfavourable outcomes. The right time will come for you!
Feon Ang, LinkedIn’s Asia-Pacific vice-president of talent and learning solutions said, “We will be seeing a workforce that values professionals who have diverse skills, both in the area of digital skills and soft skills.”
She urges the public to start reskilling and upskilling in those mentioned areas, which applies to you whether you’re looking for a job or adapting to your current position.
#2: Network on LinkedIn
Image Credits: FaxBurner
“If you see something that interests you, like the panel or the experts that might be speaking at these (virtual) events, it is quite easy to reach out and say, ‘hey, I attended this, and what you said was interesting’,” noted Wendy Heng, Robert Walters’ associate director of sales and marketing in the healthcare and supply chain sectors in Singapore.
According to Ms Heng, networking is important when it comes to getting direct job referrals. Compared to assessing a stranger through their resume directly, employers usually trust what the referee says about the candidate.
#3: Try and ride it out
Image Credits: Ongig
If your financial situation allows, offer to take a pay cut and try for positions of a lower rank. However, do it with much care and consideration. This is because it might be a long way before you can climb back up again.
Ms Heng stated that some employers are wary of candidates that lowball the asking salary, as they think the applicant will leave the job once a better opportunity presents itself.
#4: Consider contract positions
Image Credits: BGC Group
As claimed by recruiters, organizations are careful about new recruitments and hiring managers are going through lengthier approval processes these days. As such, contract jobs are getting mainstream.
Michael Page’s Singapore managing director Nilay Khandelwal advises job seekers to not see the contract job as a stop-gap measure but a chance to turn it into a permanent position.
“Even in a contract job, we’re asking… what is the project going to be about, what are chances of conversion, what do I need to prove myself as well,” he said, adding that employers are thinking about their long-term needs too.
#5: Treat it seriously
Image Credits: JS Recruitment
As you may be sending out multiple job applications, record each one in a list with a hyperlink to the job description, Mr Khandelwal said. That way, if a recruiter calls you for the initial round, you are able to address what they want in your answers, rather than scramble to recollect which job you had applied for and subsequently give a general response, he added.
If you’ve landed yourself a video interview, congratulations! Mr Khandelwal expressed the importance of setting up the device properly before the interview. Check the sound and video quality at the spot you are going to do the interview at, and know how to work around the screen if disruptions occur.
On the day itself, dress professionally, he added. While there’s no need for a suit, put on a shirt at least. Put on your best smile so you don’t appear robotic.
Internships can be a good way for you to gain some experience in an industry you’re interested in but have not much hands-on experience with. If you’re up for an internship experience for at least three months this year, Fave, Shopee, and Big 3 Media have vacancies right now for you.
Have a look!
#1: Fave Singapore – Business Development Intern
Image Credits: techinasia.com
Allowance / Remuneration: S$850 – 950 monthly
About Fave Singapore
Fave is the next generation Digital Merchant Platform that empowers offline merchants to grow and connect with their customers in a whole new way. Fave is on a mission to accelerate the offline world’s transition to the digital economy by putting growth at the centre of their merchants, customers, people and partners.
The company connects merchants and consumers to deliver seamless payment experience and merchant rewards. It serves as a payment aggregator for the most popular cards and e-wallets (Grab, OVO). Integrated with other strategic partners, Fave offers merchants more value-add and customer exposure through marketing, data, financing, and operations. Merchants can now focus on what they do best for their customers because everything else is taken care of.
With operations across the region including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, this is a rare opportunity for you to be part of a larger Southeast Asian story. At Fave, the people believe that small and medium businesses are the backbone of the economy and have made it their mission to help offline businesses across SEA to go and grow online.
If being a part of a digital revolution in the fastest-growing region in the world excites you, read on.
Job Qualifications
Love communicating and interacting with people
Possess persuasive skills
Able to converse well in English and Mandarin
Highly motivated and goal-driven individual
Key Responsibilities
Cold-calling and conduct walk-ins for potential merchants
Acquire new local and multi-chained eateries to be on the Fave platform (e.g Favepay).
Build strategic relationships with merchants and educate them on utilizing the application.
Innovate and improve business strategies that meet the expectations of merchants, customers, and Fave.
Shopee is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia and Taiwan.
Launched in 2015, it is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure, and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and fulfilment support.
The company believes that online shopping should be accessible, easy, and enjoyable. This is the vision Shopee aspires to deliver on the platform, every single day.
Job Qualifications
Excellent in communication and enjoys interacting with people
Possess persuasive skills
Positive, team-player, and energetic attitude
Work well in a fast-paced environment
Knowledge of local food and beverage and/or retail industries will be a plus
Able to converse well in English. Able to communicate in Mandarin and Malay will be a plus
‘A’ Level graduates are welcome to apply
Students who can commit part-time, minimally 3 working days a week may also apply
Key Responsibilities
Acquire offline merchants for ShopeePay QR code payment acceptance
Acquire merchants via cold-calling and door to door sales pitching
Big 3 Media is a creative video production house based in Singapore that specializes in creative storytelling. Since 2008, they have ventured beyond the beaten paths to craft uniquely artful stories. They put themselves in the shoes of their clients, target audience, and the characters of their story, to see the world through a myriad of perspectives.
Big 3 Media has grown exponentially over the years. Not only do they have a sizeable team of committed and talented individuals and an ever-expanding clientele, the brand has also extended their area of expertise, in the form of new products and services, with the acquisition of new technology and partnerships with sister organizations.
Holding true to their Big 3 core values of being Creative, Empathetic and Better, the team never stops seeking improvement, experience, and knowledge in the creative process.
Job Qualifications
Diploma/ Degree in Writing/ Media and Communications or equivalent
An avid interest in Video, Advertising, Art and Design
Basic design skills are a plus (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop etc.)
A skilled writer who is able to produce scripts and concepts that are succinct and engaging
Prior experience in video production
Key Responsibilities
Assist senior writers in brainstorming and writing video concepts, about 2-3 concepts per week.
Assist in the writing of corporate video scripts, about 2-3 per week
Provide project support for Creative Services Team
Collaborate with other teams such as Art, Design, Tech & Production teams
How to apply?
Send your executive summary and updated resume to Cheryl-Ann via [email protected].
Know of an individual who’s looking for an internship with the better-known companies? NTUC LearningHub, PropNex Realty, and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre are hiring marketing, videography, and research interns.
Here are the deets.
#1: NTUC LearningHub – Marketing Intern
Image Credits: NTUC LearningHub
Allowance / Remuneration: 500 – 1,000 SGD monthly
About NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LearningHub was incorporated in 2004 with the mission to enhance the lifelong employability of Singapore’s workforce by providing high quality, innovative products, and affordable learning.
The training programmes provided by NTUC LearningHub comprise of Infocomm Technology, Professional IT Certificates, Soft Skills & Literacy, Workplace Safety & Health, Employability Skills System, Customer Service Training, Trades, Cleaning, WSQ Security, and Manufacturing Skills.
To date, it has trained close to 800,000 executives and working adults and has worked with more than 10,000 companies to identify training needs, define curriculum roadmaps, and deliver contemporary training programmes.
Job Qualifications
Currently taking a Diploma/Degree in Marketing or equivalent
Able to commit for at least 8 weeks
Well-equipped to work from home (possess wifi at home)
Key Responsibilities
Course Page Creation – Creates product landing page and links for registration and enquiries
Corporate Website Maintenance – Handles the updating of products content information and imageries
Outreach Efforts – Work with internal/external stakeholders to create/adapt digital, social and physical promotional collaterals for outreach and publicity
Customers Service – Respond to customers’ enquiries and feedback through digital and social media channels
Lead Management – Consolidate and upload leads through social media onto Hubspot for leads tracking and follow up.
Procurement Management – Handles procurement submissions and documentation
Any other ad-hoc duties required
How to apply?
Submit your application to Jolene Wu via this link.
With a vision of providing top quality service that customers trust, PropNex has gained a reputation for service excellence, eventually adopting the tagline “Service You Trust” in 2008, to best encapsulate the essence of the brand name.
This belief in service has propelled the brand to become one of Singapore’s largest real estate agencies with a sizeable market share in both the public and private markets.
Apart from providing brokerage services, PropNex offers consultancy services via several strategic business units—Project Marketing, Investment and En Bloc Sales, Business Space, Prime Landed, and Corporate Leasing. These strategic business units are headed by seasoned directors with years of experience in their relevant fields.
They have also won many prestigious industry accolades over the years, being the only real estate agency in Singapore to be awarded both the Singapore Service Class (S-Class) and Singapore Quality Class (SQC) certifications by SPRING Singapore in 2015. The S-Class and SQC Certifications are part of the Business Excellence (BE) framework by SPRING Singapore that provides a comprehensive set of management standards for business excellence.
Job Qualifications
Minimum GCE O Levels or its equivalent
Some years of related working experience in being a photographer and videographer.
Have an eye for beauty-related video creations, photography, as well as graphic design.
Able to handle the camera and video equipment.
Familiar with Motion Graphics / Animation will be advantageous.
Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Multimedia design software.
Proficient in Video Editing Software, Adobe Creative Cloud (i.e. Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop)
Possess good layout skills and good artwork knowledge.
Preferably, someone who is able to do artwork and graphic design work.
Must be able to prioritize, multi-task, and work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Possesses initiative and the ability to formulate ideas and opinions.
Preference will be given to candidates who can start work immediately or within short notice.
Key Responsibilities
Involve in video production, video editing, and post-production which includes the creation of video animations and digital artwork management.
Assist in video and photo shoots for company events, social media campaigns, and retail store collaterals. Applies to both indoor and outdoor shooting projects.
Maintain archive of images, photos, and previous works.
Using photographs and videos to support the overall design layout purpose.
Collaborate with the creative and marketing team to support campaigns from ideation to execution.
Perform any other ad-hoc work duties as and when assigned.
How to apply?
Drop your application to Rachael Kow via this link.
#3: PropNex Realty Pte Ltd – Digital Marketing Intern
Image Credits: PropNex Realty
Allowance / Remuneration: 800 – 1,500 SGD monthly
About PropNex Realty Pte Ltd
With a vision of providing top quality service that customers trust, PropNex has gained a reputation for service excellence, eventually adopting the tagline “Service You Trust” in 2008, to best encapsulate the essence of the brand name.
This belief in service has propelled the brand to become one of Singapore’s largest real estate agencies with a sizeable market share in both the public and private markets.
Apart from providing brokerage services, PropNex offers consultancy services via several strategic business units—Project Marketing, Investment and En Bloc Sales, Business Space, Prime Landed, and Corporate Leasing. These strategic business units are headed by seasoned directors with years of experience in their relevant fields.
They have also won many prestigious industry accolades over the years, being the only real estate agency in Singapore to be awarded both the Singapore Service Class (S-Class) and Singapore Quality Class (SQC) certifications by SPRING Singapore in 2015. The S-Class and SQC Certifications are part of the Business Excellence (BE) framework by SPRING Singapore that provides a comprehensive set of management standards for business excellence.
Job Qualifications
Diploma in Digital Marketing from a polytechnic or equivalent qualifications from other universities.
Must be able to commit for at least 3 months.
Familiarity with social media platforms will be advantageous.
Must be able to prioritize, multi-task, and work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Possesses initiative and the ability to write, formulate ideas, and opinions.
Preference will be given to candidates who can start work immediately or within short notice.
Key Responsibilities
Assist in copywriting and creative content marketing.
Handling social media platforms.
Perform any other ad-hoc work duties as and when assigned.
How to apply?
Submit your application to Rachael Kow via this link.
#4: National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre – Knowledge & Insights Research Intern
Image Credits: CNA
Allowance / Remuneration: 500 – 1,500 SGD monthly
About the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre
The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) is the steward of the City of Good vision for Singapore, where individuals, organisations, and leaders come together to give their best for others.
Through their programmes and initiatives, NPVC facilitates partnerships with non-profits, organizations, public sector bodies, and individuals to enliven the giving ecosystem within Singapore.
Job Qualifications
Penultimate or Final Year students in Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Business or other related fields.
Have extensive primary and secondary research experience (those with an academic publication is preferred).
Proficient in SPSS or other research software.
Good interpersonal and communication skills.
Curiosity and interest in looking for data and statistics that creates value.
Ability to sense-making and draw lateral connections across a large volume of data.
A keen interest in social issues and/or non-profit space.
Meticulous and detail-oriented.
Self-starter and an independent individual that possesses a high degree of discipline and commitment.
Key Responsibilities
Update and maintain intel database on various COVID-related groups and topics (such as Migrant Workers, Low Income, Mental Health) through data entry and data verification
Conduct secondary research, literature reviews, and/or policy reviews
Conducting fieldwork (either in-house or through market research agency)
Data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation of data
Developing reports to make recommendations for internal and external audiences to inform strategy and enhance practices
How to apply?
Send your resume to Jiahui via this link and indicate your availability to commit full time from now till 31 December 2020, or on a part-time basis. For part-time, do include the weekdays you’re available for work.
