Fresh off last year’s success, the Barisan Nasional Youth are back bigger and better than ever with the Barisan Nasional Youth Job Fair 2012. Expect location spots in cities such as Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Ipoh, K.Terengganu, Senawang and the grand finale will conclude in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin, Chairman of Barisan Nasional Youth said, “The encouraging and welcomed success of BNYJF’11 where over 1,000,000 participants attended across the country with an estimated 100,000 jobs offered has given us the ammunition and has persuaded us to make this year’s event more auspicious with greater added value for the masses across the country in seven different states.”
JobsDB will be promoting the largest job fair in Malaysia to both its clientele, which are possible employers and its 750,000 jobseekers. Acting General Manager of Jobs DB Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Mr. Steven Seek said, “As an event partner of BNYJF’12, we are able to present a great avenue for jobseekers and employers through a comprehensive job portal.” JobsDB will also be introducing Radar work style online profiling for the first time in a Malaysian job fair. This is definitely a key feature of BNYJF’12, where candidates can assess and know their work style to match-score against more than 600 researched positions when they register as participants during the BNYJF’12. A minimum 200,000 jobseekers will be allowed to access Radar profiling at no cost to them.
If you’re thinking of a career change, then this is your best chance to seize the opportunity. Job seekers are advised to come early with resumes in hand and be prepared for on the spot interviews with prospective employers.
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
What happens when women earn more than men?
An interesting piece we picked up to read recently was Xandria Ooi’s article for her ‘Sights and sounds’ column in The Star—entitled ‘Taking the reins, financially’. She writes: “You want to be independent, but you don’t want to come across as too ‘take-charge’ as that might be perceived as domineering. You want to be assertive, yet you don’t want be aggressive, lest you be labelled unfeminine. You want to be successful in your career, but you don’t want to celebrate your achievements too loudly, just in case men find you too intimidating to date or marry.”
“What’s worse is that if you’re not independent, assertive and successful, you lack the allure that men of the 21st century seem to desire in a partner. “We like women we can have intellectual conversation with,” said Bryan, a successful businessman in his 50s, over dinner last week. His comrades around the dining table, equally successful in their own fields, nodded their agreeement thoughtfully.”
“The fact of the matter is, while our boyfriends and husbands are enraptured by our savvyness, wit and intellect, the desire fades rather quickly if we are more savvy, more witty and more intellectual than their male pride can handle. What is important to note is that while there are women who may feel the need to constantly prove to the world that the glass ceiling does not exist, there are also many who are pursuing ambitions and goals for personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement; not to prove a point. The security and confidence that comes with knowing we can support ourselves is deeply rewarding and highly pleasurable.”
Read the full article here and do share your views with us!
Via The Star Online
“What’s worse is that if you’re not independent, assertive and successful, you lack the allure that men of the 21st century seem to desire in a partner. “We like women we can have intellectual conversation with,” said Bryan, a successful businessman in his 50s, over dinner last week. His comrades around the dining table, equally successful in their own fields, nodded their agreeement thoughtfully.”
“The fact of the matter is, while our boyfriends and husbands are enraptured by our savvyness, wit and intellect, the desire fades rather quickly if we are more savvy, more witty and more intellectual than their male pride can handle. What is important to note is that while there are women who may feel the need to constantly prove to the world that the glass ceiling does not exist, there are also many who are pursuing ambitions and goals for personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement; not to prove a point. The security and confidence that comes with knowing we can support ourselves is deeply rewarding and highly pleasurable.”
Read the full article here and do share your views with us!
Via The Star Online
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Is Your Job Killing You?
“Today’s infographic takes a look at work related stress and the impact it can have on a person’s day to day life. It states heart disease, depression, stroke, and sleep trouble can all start with high stress levels. Anything from a heavy workload to worrying about your job security can have you wound tighter than a two dollar watch.”
According to Delano Taylor: One in four workers believe they work in a stressful environment. This infographic isn’t complete gloom and doom. It also list ways to improve your work environment, ending the feeling of impending death when you cross the threshold of the workplace. I know it can be hard to be “that” guy, but it could potentially save your life.
[Via dailyinfographic.com]
According to Delano Taylor: One in four workers believe they work in a stressful environment. This infographic isn’t complete gloom and doom. It also list ways to improve your work environment, ending the feeling of impending death when you cross the threshold of the workplace. I know it can be hard to be “that” guy, but it could potentially save your life.
[Via dailyinfographic.com]
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
MOHR: It’s the wage, not unemployment, which is the issue
According to him, the unemployment rate in Malaysia is at 3.1%, which is as good as 100% employment, so the focus now is on the increase of wages.
“There are around 150,000 Malaysians who commute daily to Singapore to work there,” he said, adding that including those who live in Singapore, there could be around 200,000 Malaysians working in Singapore,” he said.
He noted that employment in Malaysia is good enough, and even quipped that there are enough opportunities for even foreigners.
Earlier in his speech, Dr. S. Subramaniam added that the current Economic Transformation Program embarked by the government is focussed on transforming Malaysia into a high income nation by 2020, whereby the country’s gross national income per capita will increase from RM23,700 in 2009 to more than RM48,000.
He was speaking to reporters after the launch of The People’s Edge Magazine.
Meanwhile, the minister lauded the magazine, published by Job Hunt Group, as it was devoted to the development of the nation’s human capital management. “I have had a quick look at the magazine and I can see that it is full of interesting information on the field of HR and human capital development where the latest trends, information, views and efforts in these fields taken by the government and its agencies and the private sector are showcased, discussed and analysed,” he said during the speech.
Job Hung’s Group Executive Director, Dato’ (Dr) Michael C.H. Wong, in his speech, noted that as a specialist in human capital solutions, the publisher saw a gap for a publication that addresses Human Capital management from a wholly Malaysian perspective.
“So, we took a proactive approach and invested in this direction to broaden our commitment, in ‘Developing Malaysia’s Human Capital’, which is our tagline for our Human Capital magazine, People’s Edge,” he said.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Asia Pacific: Hot bed for engineering jobs?
Apparently engineering haven is here, according to an excellent article by Ron Schneiderman for IEEE Signal Processing Magazine.
He noted that the Asia-Pacific region, or APAC, is home to more than 60 percent of the world's population and many of its largest and most successful high-tech companies. So it's not surprising that the region is a hotbed of recruiting for technical professionals--especially engineers.
“Intel announced in February that it planned to hire 1000 software engineers this year, many of whom will be in Asia,” he wrote, quoting Lori Weber, Intel's global hiring director who said that the company had already hired around 50 percent of its initial goal by recruiting a combination of experienced and college graduate candidates.
Without giving any numbers, Webersaid some of the newly-hired software engineers will be based in Shanghai and India. "We will continue hiring outside the United States as needed to support our presence in the overseas markets, which generate approximately three-fourths of Intel's revenues."
Shneiderman also noted that Microsoft likewise has more than 100 openings for mostly software engineers in China and almost that many slots for engineers in India.
“Apparently in response to an increasingly competitive environment in recruiting and retaining top technical talent (Google gave out 10 percent pay raises this year), Microsoft says that beginning in September it will offer raises in salary and stock awards to attract and retain staff. As CEO Steve Balmer wrote in an internal e-mail to Microsoft employees, "... the changes we're rolling out will help ensure Microsoft continues to be the place that top talent comes to change the world."
Check out more of the article at the magazine’s online site.
Job Tags:
Property Jobs | HR Jobs | R&D Jobs | Advertising Jobs | Sales Jobs
He noted that the Asia-Pacific region, or APAC, is home to more than 60 percent of the world's population and many of its largest and most successful high-tech companies. So it's not surprising that the region is a hotbed of recruiting for technical professionals--especially engineers.
“Intel announced in February that it planned to hire 1000 software engineers this year, many of whom will be in Asia,” he wrote, quoting Lori Weber, Intel's global hiring director who said that the company had already hired around 50 percent of its initial goal by recruiting a combination of experienced and college graduate candidates.
Without giving any numbers, Webersaid some of the newly-hired software engineers will be based in Shanghai and India. "We will continue hiring outside the United States as needed to support our presence in the overseas markets, which generate approximately three-fourths of Intel's revenues."
Shneiderman also noted that Microsoft likewise has more than 100 openings for mostly software engineers in China and almost that many slots for engineers in India.
“Apparently in response to an increasingly competitive environment in recruiting and retaining top technical talent (Google gave out 10 percent pay raises this year), Microsoft says that beginning in September it will offer raises in salary and stock awards to attract and retain staff. As CEO Steve Balmer wrote in an internal e-mail to Microsoft employees, "... the changes we're rolling out will help ensure Microsoft continues to be the place that top talent comes to change the world."
Check out more of the article at the magazine’s online site.
Job Tags:
Property Jobs | HR Jobs | R&D Jobs | Advertising Jobs | Sales Jobs
Friday, August 5, 2011
8TV channel Eyes On You - Eyes On JobsDB
Is Gen-Y known as a group of employees that tires bosses and managers because of their unpleasant working attitude?
Is Gen-Y is a group of more frequent job-hoppers compared to older generation?
Is Gen-Y has too much over-confident to request for high-pay without experience / skills and are contributing unrealistic ideas?
Well, there are too many stereotyped perceptions have placed into Gen-Y, but how true is it? Should we really look deep inside and analyse what the actual truth is?
8TV has come to JobsDB to do an interview on how employers perceive Gen-Y as far as employment and hunting for jobs is concerned; and why Gen-Y has been reflected negatively. Let's discover more from Gen-Y and employers in this coming Sunday (7 August 2011), 12pm on 8TV channel Eyes On You (凡事两极话) programme. Stay tuned!
Job Tags:
Sales Jobs | Admin & HR Jobs | Marketing Jobs | Bank Jobs
Is Gen-Y is a group of more frequent job-hoppers compared to older generation?
Is Gen-Y has too much over-confident to request for high-pay without experience / skills and are contributing unrealistic ideas?
Well, there are too many stereotyped perceptions have placed into Gen-Y, but how true is it? Should we really look deep inside and analyse what the actual truth is?
8TV has come to JobsDB to do an interview on how employers perceive Gen-Y as far as employment and hunting for jobs is concerned; and why Gen-Y has been reflected negatively. Let's discover more from Gen-Y and employers in this coming Sunday (7 August 2011), 12pm on 8TV channel Eyes On You (凡事两极话) programme. Stay tuned! Job Tags:
Sales Jobs | Admin & HR Jobs | Marketing Jobs | Bank Jobs
Monday, July 18, 2011
Oh boys, where art thou?
Looks like we are going to, or already are, get(ting) more females in the workforce if we were to judge from the entries in our universities.
The Star newspaper reported that more girls are getting places in universities than boys and this is worrying the Higher Education Ministry.
“It is not that the ministry is against female dominance at the local universities. But it is important to ensure a balanced growth for both genders,” the report quoted the minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as saying.
He said male students made up just 35% of the overall intake at the local universities this year.
“This problem needs to be immediately addressed,” he said adding that however, there was a “healthy balance” of male and female students for technical-based courses.
“But we need to work on encouraging male students to enroll for other courses, too,” he said.
“Other than that, we have a shortage of students enrolling for science and technological based courses this year,” Mohamed Khaled said, adding that 5% of available seats for such courses were not taken.
“We will try and fix these problems at the secondary school level and hopefully, we will be able to achieve our target in future,” he said.
The Star newspaper reported that more girls are getting places in universities than boys and this is worrying the Higher Education Ministry.
“It is not that the ministry is against female dominance at the local universities. But it is important to ensure a balanced growth for both genders,” the report quoted the minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as saying.
He said male students made up just 35% of the overall intake at the local universities this year.
“This problem needs to be immediately addressed,” he said adding that however, there was a “healthy balance” of male and female students for technical-based courses.
“But we need to work on encouraging male students to enroll for other courses, too,” he said.
“Other than that, we have a shortage of students enrolling for science and technological based courses this year,” Mohamed Khaled said, adding that 5% of available seats for such courses were not taken.
“We will try and fix these problems at the secondary school level and hopefully, we will be able to achieve our target in future,” he said.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
More substitute teachers wanted
All because of extended maternity leave for women, especially teachers.
The Star newspaper reported that the Education Ministry needs more substitute teachers following the decision to increase the maternity leave for women.
At the last Budget session, the Government announced that women teachers are eligible to take maternity leave of up to 90 days, compared to 60 days previously.
“The number of days has increased. This means we need more substitute teachers, or an increase of at least 50%,” the report quoted Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong as saying.
He added, however, that the ministry was looking into ways to solve the problem.
He was speaking at a press conference after opening the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)-Teacher Education Division (TED) Conference 2011 here yesterday.
Dr Wee said substitute teachers were needed because teachers sometimes took maternity leave simultaneously.
“It is not easy to find substitute teachers,” he said, adding that although there were back-up teachers it requires careful planning and an increase in allocation.
The Star newspaper reported that the Education Ministry needs more substitute teachers following the decision to increase the maternity leave for women.
At the last Budget session, the Government announced that women teachers are eligible to take maternity leave of up to 90 days, compared to 60 days previously.
“The number of days has increased. This means we need more substitute teachers, or an increase of at least 50%,” the report quoted Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong as saying.
He added, however, that the ministry was looking into ways to solve the problem.
He was speaking at a press conference after opening the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)-Teacher Education Division (TED) Conference 2011 here yesterday.
Dr Wee said substitute teachers were needed because teachers sometimes took maternity leave simultaneously.
“It is not easy to find substitute teachers,” he said, adding that although there were back-up teachers it requires careful planning and an increase in allocation.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Jobs Opportunities in Iskandar
Are you from Johore or would you like to work there. Well, good news as there would be more than 44,800 vacancies for critical and high-skilled workers in Iskandar Malaysia from now until 2015.
A report from the New Straits Times newspaper noted that employers at the development corridor area had created 193,198 such vacancies through the JobsMalaysia work portal between 2009 until now.
State Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan was quoted as saying that the vacancies were in the manufacturing sector, the services sector and others.
"Based on the statistics, the development of Iskandar Malaysia had created more than 200,000 job opportunities.
"With the opening of Johor Premium Outlets, a shopping outlet selling branded items in Kulaijaya, and the Legoland International theme park in the near future, more than 2,000 job opportunities will be created," he said to a question by Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (BN-Pulai Sebatang).
Asojan also said the state government, through Iskandar Regional Development Authority, had come up with a comprehensive masterplan on the feasibility study of the development of Iskandar Malaysia.
"We have come up with an action plan to gauge the supply and demand of the local community in tandem with its human resources. It involves three main strategies -- human resource and talent development as well as building and preserving human resources."
According to the masterplan, there would be 850,000 work opportunities until 2025.
A report from the New Straits Times newspaper noted that employers at the development corridor area had created 193,198 such vacancies through the JobsMalaysia work portal between 2009 until now.
State Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan was quoted as saying that the vacancies were in the manufacturing sector, the services sector and others.
"Based on the statistics, the development of Iskandar Malaysia had created more than 200,000 job opportunities.
"With the opening of Johor Premium Outlets, a shopping outlet selling branded items in Kulaijaya, and the Legoland International theme park in the near future, more than 2,000 job opportunities will be created," he said to a question by Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (BN-Pulai Sebatang).
Asojan also said the state government, through Iskandar Regional Development Authority, had come up with a comprehensive masterplan on the feasibility study of the development of Iskandar Malaysia.
"We have come up with an action plan to gauge the supply and demand of the local community in tandem with its human resources. It involves three main strategies -- human resource and talent development as well as building and preserving human resources."
According to the masterplan, there would be 850,000 work opportunities until 2025.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Is Project Management the Career For You?
Have you heard of the 'Halo Effect'? The Halo Effect is the assumption that because a person is good at a technical skill e.g. designing, he will be good as a project manager. Many of you may already be 'accidental project managers' who perform tasks such as planning, scheduling, budgeting but view it as simply 'getting things done' whilst recognizing that you also rely heavily on luck, perseverance and strength of will.
While there is no magic formula for ensuring that a project is successful, most of project management is common sense. One should not feel daunted at taking on their first project - project management is not a 'black art', nor does it need to be a minefield of jargon and bureaucracy but there is a set of skills that every project manager should aim to master.
So what is the project management skill set?
1. Be a Leader and a Manager
When leaders share and communicate a common vision, they gain consensus for strategic goals, establish direction and inspire and motivate the team. Managers are results driven and focus on getting work done against agreed requirements. A good project manager will constantly switch from a leader to a manager as the situation requires.
2. Be a Team Builder and a Team Leader
In many projects, team members may not have worked together before. Therefore, it is up to the project manager to set the "tone" of the team, and to lead them through the various team development phases to the point where they perform as a team. Often the team members have their own line manager, and so the project manager has no implied authority - yet still needs to motivate the individual.
3. Be a Problem Solver
This is a skill that can be learned, it just needs a little "detective" work up-front! You will want to first identify the possible "causes" that lead to the problem "symptoms." Now, causes can come from a variety of sources, some are:
4. Be a Negotiator and Influencer
Negotiation skills are essential as the project manager needs to negotiate various aspects like scope of the project, the schedule, cost, team structure that is needed to complete the project successfully. Influencing skills go hand in hand with negotiation skills. Influencing is convincing the other party on the choice that project manager thinks is better than the other. For example, getting the team to work late on Friday to meet a deadline when they would prefer to meet their friends at the nearest ‘mamak’ stall. Influencing requires an understanding of the formal and informal structure of all organization involved in the project.
5. Be an Excellent Communicator
Project managers spend up to 90% of their time communicating. You will have to deal with both written and oral communications in the form of documents, meetings, reviews, reports, and assessments. A good mental guideline is "who needs this information, who gathers and delivers it, when or how often do they need it, and in what form will I give it to them." To summarize, all communications on your project should be timely, relevant, clear and complete.
6. Be a Good Organizer
Project managers have project documentation, minutes of meetings, project reports etc. They need to organize information well, organize meetings, put together teams and at times also organize media release schedules depending on the project. It's almost impossible to stay organized without having time management skills, so add this to your list!
7. Be a Competent and Consistent Planner
If you fail to plan, then plan to fail! The skill of planning can't be underestimated, and neither can estimating! As a project manager you will certainly own the project plan, but there may be others depending upon the project. Two aspects need to be mentioned here: a. Plans are always documents, don't fall into the trap of thinking that, for example, a Gantt chart is a plan - it’s only a schedule diagram. b. Successful projects are delivered by successful teams. Always use the team to help create the plan unless, rarely, there is a good reason why not, such as commercial confidentiality, or contractual conditions.
8. Set-up and Manage Budgets
At the heart of this is the skill of estimating, particularly cost estimates. The project manager will need knowledge of financial techniques and systems along with accounting principles. Normally accounting and project management tools will help, but remember the garbage in = garbage out rule! Well, that just about summarizes the main areas. If you are new to project management, don't be too confused by all this. There are well understood methodologies, tools, guidelines, and procedures to help you on your way to developing the important life-skill of project management.
While there is no magic formula for ensuring that a project is successful, most of project management is common sense. One should not feel daunted at taking on their first project - project management is not a 'black art', nor does it need to be a minefield of jargon and bureaucracy but there is a set of skills that every project manager should aim to master.
So what is the project management skill set?
1. Be a Leader and a Manager
When leaders share and communicate a common vision, they gain consensus for strategic goals, establish direction and inspire and motivate the team. Managers are results driven and focus on getting work done against agreed requirements. A good project manager will constantly switch from a leader to a manager as the situation requires.
2. Be a Team Builder and a Team Leader
In many projects, team members may not have worked together before. Therefore, it is up to the project manager to set the "tone" of the team, and to lead them through the various team development phases to the point where they perform as a team. Often the team members have their own line manager, and so the project manager has no implied authority - yet still needs to motivate the individual.
3. Be a Problem Solver
This is a skill that can be learned, it just needs a little "detective" work up-front! You will want to first identify the possible "causes" that lead to the problem "symptoms." Now, causes can come from a variety of sources, some are:
- Interpersonal problems
- Internal sources
- External sources
- Technical sources
- Management sources
- Communication
- Opinions or perceptions
4. Be a Negotiator and Influencer
Negotiation skills are essential as the project manager needs to negotiate various aspects like scope of the project, the schedule, cost, team structure that is needed to complete the project successfully. Influencing skills go hand in hand with negotiation skills. Influencing is convincing the other party on the choice that project manager thinks is better than the other. For example, getting the team to work late on Friday to meet a deadline when they would prefer to meet their friends at the nearest ‘mamak’ stall. Influencing requires an understanding of the formal and informal structure of all organization involved in the project.
5. Be an Excellent Communicator
Project managers spend up to 90% of their time communicating. You will have to deal with both written and oral communications in the form of documents, meetings, reviews, reports, and assessments. A good mental guideline is "who needs this information, who gathers and delivers it, when or how often do they need it, and in what form will I give it to them." To summarize, all communications on your project should be timely, relevant, clear and complete.
6. Be a Good Organizer
Project managers have project documentation, minutes of meetings, project reports etc. They need to organize information well, organize meetings, put together teams and at times also organize media release schedules depending on the project. It's almost impossible to stay organized without having time management skills, so add this to your list!
7. Be a Competent and Consistent Planner
If you fail to plan, then plan to fail! The skill of planning can't be underestimated, and neither can estimating! As a project manager you will certainly own the project plan, but there may be others depending upon the project. Two aspects need to be mentioned here: a. Plans are always documents, don't fall into the trap of thinking that, for example, a Gantt chart is a plan - it’s only a schedule diagram. b. Successful projects are delivered by successful teams. Always use the team to help create the plan unless, rarely, there is a good reason why not, such as commercial confidentiality, or contractual conditions.
8. Set-up and Manage Budgets
At the heart of this is the skill of estimating, particularly cost estimates. The project manager will need knowledge of financial techniques and systems along with accounting principles. Normally accounting and project management tools will help, but remember the garbage in = garbage out rule! Well, that just about summarizes the main areas. If you are new to project management, don't be too confused by all this. There are well understood methodologies, tools, guidelines, and procedures to help you on your way to developing the important life-skill of project management.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Useful Free Online Website Analysis and SEO Optimization Tools
Note: Our sister company 88DB is hiring SEO Specialist/Internet Marketer and Creative Web Designer apply now »
A list of website analysis and SEO optimization tools to help you to optimize your website and move your search engine position higher. Use a combination of these tools to analyze and generally. to improve page rank, search engine position and link popularity.
GoingUP!
GoingUp! integrates popular analytics & SEO tools in one easy-to-use interface to see how your website is performing from all points-of-view.
Complete WebSite Stats
See your visitors, referring URLs and even search engine traffic!
Track Keyword Positions
See your SEO efforts by graphing keyword positions over time!
Actions & Goals
Set custom tracking events to see sales, downloads and subscribes!
Customized Dashboard
Show only the data you want to see with our slick AJAX interface!
Quarkbase
Quarkbase provides an easier way to find website information. You can find out how good a site is, get comprehensive website details, discover competitors and analyze them.
See people, traffic, similar sites, social comments, description, social popularity and much more website details.
Website Grader
Website Grader is a free seo tool that measures the marketing effectiveness of a website. It provides a score that incorporates things like website traffic, SEO, social popularity and other technical factors.
Website Grader also provides some basic advice on how the website can be improved from a marketing perspective.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Not Another Rejection!
Job hunting is fast becoming a survival battle of the fittest-both physically and mentally. With the job market now akin to a battlefield, job seekers are a suffering lot, with some having their pride and dignity wounded and some limping with pain and anguish in their minds.
We should all face up to the facts of the market. Like a marathon race, job hunting not only consumes time but energy as well. And only those who have the most determination and endurance will cross that ultimate finishing line.
Not many candidates have the stamina to finish the race, with some dropping out along the way. However, those who have fallen out cannot afford to stay wrapped up in a safety blanket at home to escape the harsh reality of the job market. You may only be hurting yourself deeper when the interviewer questions the gap or the long holiday you took while you were nursing your wounds.
So, how can you toughen yourself to rise out of the rejection blues and get back into the race? Here are some valuable points to keep in your mental first aid kit:
Rejection is perfectly normal
Rejection is a part of daily life and everyone gets their fair share of rejection in every aspect of their lives every day. Therefore, job seekers need to understand that facing rejection while job hunting is normal. Rarely does a job seeker get hired through their first application. Think of job hunting as a learning process that aids you in your personal growth, because the more rejections you face, the more experience you gain, and the better you get at job hunting.
Being turned down for a job does not mean that you are a loser or that you are incompetent
While you may have gotten rejected at the end of the day, it does not mean that your qualifications are lacking because you weren't offered employment with the hiring company. Even highly experienced senior executives have been rejected for jobs. Often, hiring managers look at many other factors that may be out of your control while deciding on the right candidate.
Everyone goes through the same process as you did--even rejection
Understand that you are not that only one getting rejections for job applications. While you are out there flipping through the newspapers looking for a job, there are also others who may be doing the very same things at the same moment; the same people eyeing the job vacancy that you're interested in; the same people who get called up for the interview; but only one will eventually sign the letter of employment. And even the one who does may have gotten the job after ten rejections from other companies. Think about it.
Never give up
You may be just an application away from landing that job you wanted. So don't quit after just a few attempts, or even after a string of applications and interviews. Nothing good comes easy in life; you have to fight for what you really want.
Once you are standing up again after the rejection, analyze why you were rejected
For everything that happens, there must be a reason to it. Once you have gotten over the shock of rejection, sit down and start putting the entire jigsaw together. Did you not perform well enough during the interview? What could you have done to make it better? Or was it just the management's problem for not offering you the job? You may be qualified enough, but there may have been finer details of requirements that you did not know of. Try accepting the negative criticisms flung at you during interviews as constructive feedback.
Do not cut off all ties
Even if the hiring company did not pick you for the job, it doesn't mean that you should sever all connections to the company, or its personnel in charge of human resources. Instead, maintain a good relationship with them because it is not uncommon to be called up for another round of interview even if you were been rejected in the first round. You could even send them a thank-you note for taking the time to interview you. By doing that, you are selling a good impression of yourself; and perhaps the company may just contact you again should there be any job vacancy in the future.
When you've been called up for an interview, you've already been selected from a whole lot of others. So, learn to handle rejection and you will soon reach the finishing line of the race.
We should all face up to the facts of the market. Like a marathon race, job hunting not only consumes time but energy as well. And only those who have the most determination and endurance will cross that ultimate finishing line.
Not many candidates have the stamina to finish the race, with some dropping out along the way. However, those who have fallen out cannot afford to stay wrapped up in a safety blanket at home to escape the harsh reality of the job market. You may only be hurting yourself deeper when the interviewer questions the gap or the long holiday you took while you were nursing your wounds.
So, how can you toughen yourself to rise out of the rejection blues and get back into the race? Here are some valuable points to keep in your mental first aid kit:
Rejection is perfectly normal
Rejection is a part of daily life and everyone gets their fair share of rejection in every aspect of their lives every day. Therefore, job seekers need to understand that facing rejection while job hunting is normal. Rarely does a job seeker get hired through their first application. Think of job hunting as a learning process that aids you in your personal growth, because the more rejections you face, the more experience you gain, and the better you get at job hunting.
Being turned down for a job does not mean that you are a loser or that you are incompetent
While you may have gotten rejected at the end of the day, it does not mean that your qualifications are lacking because you weren't offered employment with the hiring company. Even highly experienced senior executives have been rejected for jobs. Often, hiring managers look at many other factors that may be out of your control while deciding on the right candidate.
Everyone goes through the same process as you did--even rejection
Understand that you are not that only one getting rejections for job applications. While you are out there flipping through the newspapers looking for a job, there are also others who may be doing the very same things at the same moment; the same people eyeing the job vacancy that you're interested in; the same people who get called up for the interview; but only one will eventually sign the letter of employment. And even the one who does may have gotten the job after ten rejections from other companies. Think about it.
Never give up
You may be just an application away from landing that job you wanted. So don't quit after just a few attempts, or even after a string of applications and interviews. Nothing good comes easy in life; you have to fight for what you really want.
Once you are standing up again after the rejection, analyze why you were rejected
For everything that happens, there must be a reason to it. Once you have gotten over the shock of rejection, sit down and start putting the entire jigsaw together. Did you not perform well enough during the interview? What could you have done to make it better? Or was it just the management's problem for not offering you the job? You may be qualified enough, but there may have been finer details of requirements that you did not know of. Try accepting the negative criticisms flung at you during interviews as constructive feedback.
Do not cut off all ties
Even if the hiring company did not pick you for the job, it doesn't mean that you should sever all connections to the company, or its personnel in charge of human resources. Instead, maintain a good relationship with them because it is not uncommon to be called up for another round of interview even if you were been rejected in the first round. You could even send them a thank-you note for taking the time to interview you. By doing that, you are selling a good impression of yourself; and perhaps the company may just contact you again should there be any job vacancy in the future.
When you've been called up for an interview, you've already been selected from a whole lot of others. So, learn to handle rejection and you will soon reach the finishing line of the race.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Clean Resume
It is important to keep your job application free from typo or grammatical errors. You may ask what is the big deal anyway with keeping your resumé error-free?
By not bothering to keep your resumé "clean", you are telling the person who reads your resumé that you could not be bothered to make extra efforts to check your spelling and grammar, hence you would be seen as "not being interested enough" in your job application.
A faultless job application will give no reason for the prospective employer to mull over petty mistakes that could have been easily avoided by clicking on the spell-check button.
By dotting all your I's and crossing all your T's, the recruiter will be focused only on your cover letter and resumé, allowing your application to be given due consideration.
Always make sure that you get your addresses right.
Get the proper address, i.e. the title of the recipient in your cover letter. Find out who will be the recipient of your job application. If you only know that your application should be sent to the Senior Manager or the Human Resource Manager, go the extra mile and find out who that person is. Call the company up or surf their website for more information. Personal touches never fail to touch, literally.
However, never ever spell the title wrongly or worse, to misspell the name.
A Ms Elisa Jon will not be amused if you spell her name: Mr Eliza John. If you want to do things right, do it right the first time. Never think that it does not matter. All the small things will add up to a lot and a job application tattered with minor errors all over will be regarded as messy and disorganised, jeopardising your chances of getting the interview.
Get the mailing address right too. The last thing you want is for the application to be sent back to you. Even if your application gets to the recruiter, getting the address wrong or misspelling some words in the address underlines the fact that you are careless and could not even copy a simple address onto the envelop and your cover letter.
Also avoid simple grammatical mistakes. By writing `I are' instead of `I am' you are only exposing your poor command of English. Get your subject and verb agreement correct too. Relearn the basic grammar that you learnt way back in primary school and avoid the mistakes when writing your cover letter or resumé.
Remember, some extra efforts to ensure that your resumé is "clean" will not guarantee you the job but will help to increase your chances of being shortlisted.
By not bothering to keep your resumé "clean", you are telling the person who reads your resumé that you could not be bothered to make extra efforts to check your spelling and grammar, hence you would be seen as "not being interested enough" in your job application.
A faultless job application will give no reason for the prospective employer to mull over petty mistakes that could have been easily avoided by clicking on the spell-check button.
By dotting all your I's and crossing all your T's, the recruiter will be focused only on your cover letter and resumé, allowing your application to be given due consideration.
Always make sure that you get your addresses right.
Get the proper address, i.e. the title of the recipient in your cover letter. Find out who will be the recipient of your job application. If you only know that your application should be sent to the Senior Manager or the Human Resource Manager, go the extra mile and find out who that person is. Call the company up or surf their website for more information. Personal touches never fail to touch, literally.
However, never ever spell the title wrongly or worse, to misspell the name.
A Ms Elisa Jon will not be amused if you spell her name: Mr Eliza John. If you want to do things right, do it right the first time. Never think that it does not matter. All the small things will add up to a lot and a job application tattered with minor errors all over will be regarded as messy and disorganised, jeopardising your chances of getting the interview.
Get the mailing address right too. The last thing you want is for the application to be sent back to you. Even if your application gets to the recruiter, getting the address wrong or misspelling some words in the address underlines the fact that you are careless and could not even copy a simple address onto the envelop and your cover letter.
Also avoid simple grammatical mistakes. By writing `I are' instead of `I am' you are only exposing your poor command of English. Get your subject and verb agreement correct too. Relearn the basic grammar that you learnt way back in primary school and avoid the mistakes when writing your cover letter or resumé.
Remember, some extra efforts to ensure that your resumé is "clean" will not guarantee you the job but will help to increase your chances of being shortlisted.
Friday, September 11, 2009
7 Tips and Resources for Using Social Media - to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Normally 1 job vacancy can attract a lot job seekers apply, the HR department or related Head of department may not have time 1 by 1 go through the entire resume. And using the traditional way to apply job and submit resume and cover letter, the problem is you need to wait for the reply. Wait and wait and wait.
So how to make your resume stand out from other is very important.
Best use the social media, it will added value for your resume. If you build your social media resume properly, you’ll have more job opportunities increases. People cross by your social media site, if they find you are suitable candidate, they will contact you directly. Not necessary must be job vacancy, it can be some freelance works too (can earn some extra income).
By the way, don’t make me wrong, I’m not meant the traditional way is not good. It will be good if combine with the social media; it will make your resume more stand out from crowd.
The Social Media Resume: Making Your Mark in a Web 2.0 World
Very clear explain what social media resume is.
Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job
For those who are not familiar with LinkedIn, this is good for you.
HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume
This useful article is written by Dan Schawbel. Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success.
10 Social Media Job Search Tips
Tips for finding a job using Twitter, Blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Search Engine Marketing.
Using Your Blog as a Job Search Tool
Tips for how to use blog to find job.
Social Media + Job Search = Good For You
Useful guideline for how to build social media resume.
Using Social Media Tools to Enhance Your Job Search Strategy
So how to make your resume stand out from other is very important.
Best use the social media, it will added value for your resume. If you build your social media resume properly, you’ll have more job opportunities increases. People cross by your social media site, if they find you are suitable candidate, they will contact you directly. Not necessary must be job vacancy, it can be some freelance works too (can earn some extra income).
By the way, don’t make me wrong, I’m not meant the traditional way is not good. It will be good if combine with the social media; it will make your resume more stand out from crowd.
The Social Media Resume: Making Your Mark in a Web 2.0 World
Very clear explain what social media resume is.
Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job
For those who are not familiar with LinkedIn, this is good for you.
HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume
This useful article is written by Dan Schawbel. Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success.
10 Social Media Job Search Tips
Tips for finding a job using Twitter, Blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Search Engine Marketing.
Using Your Blog as a Job Search Tool
Tips for how to use blog to find job.
Social Media + Job Search = Good For You
Useful guideline for how to build social media resume.
Using Social Media Tools to Enhance Your Job Search Strategy
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Maximise Your Interview Opportunity
Maximise Your Interview Opportunity - A Job Interview workshop
Date : 26 September 2009, Saturday
Time : 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Price: S$28 (incl. 7% GST)
Venue: Level 5, Possibility Room, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore
Date : 26 September 2009, Saturday
Time : 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Price: S$28 (incl. 7% GST)
Venue: Level 5, Possibility Room, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Market Yourself at The Career Fair
Career fairs all have one common theme: it's a chance for companies to meet and screen a large volume of potential job candidates. Whether you're a fresh graduate new to the job-search process or a seasoned professional, you would want to strategically position yourself above many of the other job-seekers attending the fair. Keep in mind that career fairs are only just one small part of your entire job search process. However, if managed well, they can actually get you on route to your dream job. By following these strategies, you can improve your odds of not being screened out and should lead to increase your chances of obtaining a second interview. Here is some advice on how to maximize your time at the career fair.
5 Things to Take to the Career Fair
5 Things to Take to the Career Fair
- Copies of your resume (20 to 30 depending on the size of the event). Be sure it represents your knowledge, skills, and abilities effectively. Bring at least two for each company for which you have an interest in. If you have multiple interests or job objectives, make sure you bring enough of each version of your resume. You should also bring versions of your resumes that can be scanned.
- A smile, a strong handshake, and a positive attitude. First impressions are vital. Approach an employer, smile, and offer your hand when you introduce yourself.
- A 30-second promo line. Hand the recruiter a copy of your resume and be prepared to expand on it real quick! Share basic information about yourself and your career interests and it should go something like this: "Hello, I'm Shirley. I'm a senior here at Genius University and I'm majoring in English. I'm very interested in a marketing career. As you can see on my resume, I've just completed an internship in the Marketing Division of the DB Company in KL. I've also taken some courses in business marketing and I'm very interested to talk to you about marketing opportunities with your organization."
- Information about the participating organizations. Gather all necessary information about the company and the job you desire. To maximize the brief time you have with each employer, you need to know how your skills and interests match their needs. And don't just concentrate on the heavyweights. There are often great opportunities with companies which you are not familiar with.
- Energy and strategy! Career fairs require you to be on your feet moving from table to table for an hour or so. Each time you meet someone, be at your best, as refreshed as possible. You also need to devise a strategy or plan of attack for the fair. We suggest meeting with your top choices first thing in the morning, interviewing with your other choices in the middle of the day, and returning to your top choices at the end of the day to thank them again for their time.
- Don't cruise the booths with a group of friends. Interact with the recruiters on your own. Make your own positive impression!
- Don't carry your backpack, large purse, or other belongings with you. Carry your resume in a professional-looking folder or in a small briefcase. It will keep your resume neat and handy, and give you a place to file business cards of recruiters you meet.
- Don't under dress. Conservative business attire is essential. Know what the expected attire of your profession is and dress accordingly because a career fair is a professional activity--perhaps your first contact with a future employer.
- Don't wing it with employers. Do your homework! Research the companies just as you would for an interview. You'll be able to tell on why you want to work for the organization and what you can do for them.
- Don't turn up late, especially during the last half hour of the event. Some employers may have come a long distance to attend the fair and may need to leave early. If you come late, you may miss the organizations you wanted to contact!
- Business cards from the recruiters you have met. Use the cards to write follow-up notes to those organizations which interest you the most because career fairs are all about networking. You can also network with your fellow job-seekers in terms of sharing information about job leads.
- Notes about contacts you made. Take paper and pen with you to write down important details about particular organizations, including names of people who may not have business cards. Take a few minutes after you leave each table to jot down these notes.
- Information about organizations you have contacted. Most recruiters will have information for you to pick up, including company brochures, CDs, position descriptions, and other data. You won't have time to deal with these at the fair!
- A better sense of your career options. If you have used the event correctly, you will have made contact with several organizations that hire people with your skills and interests. In thinking about their needs and your background, evaluate whether each company might be a match for you.
- Self-confidence in interacting with employer representatives. A career fair should have given you ample opportunity to practice your interview skills in a less formidable environment rather than a formal interview.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Interesting Employment Statistics
- 32% of employees who have a cold try to look busy but don't get much work done.
- More than 80% of college students admit that they would cheat to get a job.
- An employee who spends just one hour a day surfing the Internet when they should be working could cost the employer RM3,300 a year in lost working time.
- More than 95% of professional career networks have a complete listing of the best jobs in Malaysia.
*source: various online sources
Monday, July 27, 2009
4 Steps to Asking for A Raise
Do you feel that you deserve a higher salary? The fastest way to increase your income is to ask for a raise. But if you just ask your boss for a raise without giving him any reasons why you deserve one, you're less likely to succeed. These 4 basic guidelines can help you plan and prepare to explain to your boss why you deserve a pay raise.
Research
Start by finding out what the going rate is for those working in your field. Check out job listings for jobs similar to yours, and study published salary reports. If you belong to a professional organization, find out if they have salary information available. Be sure to factor in the number of years you have worked in the field and for your current employer. Settle on a range rather than a specific figure, and be prepared to negotiate.
Also, find out how your company is doing. Pay attention to the company grapevine or check business news and reports to gauge your company's financial health. If your company is facing financial difficulties, you are unlikely to get a raise, so you may need to wait a while till the time is right.
Prepare your evidence
You should emphasize how you have performed above and beyond your job specifications to justify why you deserve a corresponding pay increase. Approach this task as if you are preparing for a job interview or a major sales presentation. Write down any major accomplishments that you have achieved during your time with the company. Also note any additional responsibilities that you have taken on. Examples of evidence you might present are solid numbers of revenue you earned, costs saved, client testimonials praising your customer service, tight deadlines you've beaten, products and/or services you've improved, and so on.
However, do not cite your personal needs as a reason for needing a raise. This is not the time to bring up your mortgage or the payments for your new car. The salary your employer pays you is for value of the work you do, not the expenses you have.
Decide how you'll respond to a rejection
Before you even walk into your boss' office, you should give some thought to what to do if you don't get the raise. Will you continue to work for the company and ask again at a later date? Or will you look for another job that will pay you what you feel you're worth?
If you are otherwise happy at the company and plan to stay even if you don't get a raise, then ask your supervisor what you can do to increase your salary in the future – such as taking on additional responsibilities or improving your performance. Also, don't overlook non-monetary benefits such as additional leave, training and other perks.
If your decision to stay at the company hinges on whether you get the raise, resist the urge to frame your request as an ultimatum. Threatening to quit if you don't get the raise will make you look unprofessional – and your boss might take you up on your offer. Even if you are positive that you will leave if you don't get the raise, don't make this the focus of your request. And if your request for a raise is denied, accept the rejection gracefully, thank your supervisor for his time, and then go about your job search quietly and professionally.
Ask for a raise!
You've done your research and have a file folder of irrefutable evidence. You even have an exit strategy in the event of a rejection. Now is the time to ask.
Schedule a face-to-face meeting with your supervisor that allows plenty of time for you to make your case. Also, it makes it harder for your boss to say no when you are right there to overcome any objections. Let him know in advance that you wish to discuss your compensation to give him time to consult with HR and his own supervisor. Be polite but firm, and don't get emotional.
Asking for a raise may seem daunting, but it's an important negotiation skill that you'll be able to add to your repertoire. Plus, when you are successful, you'll be earning extra money so you'll have a real reward to show for your efforts. So, be positive and ask for what you're worth!
Research
Start by finding out what the going rate is for those working in your field. Check out job listings for jobs similar to yours, and study published salary reports. If you belong to a professional organization, find out if they have salary information available. Be sure to factor in the number of years you have worked in the field and for your current employer. Settle on a range rather than a specific figure, and be prepared to negotiate.
Also, find out how your company is doing. Pay attention to the company grapevine or check business news and reports to gauge your company's financial health. If your company is facing financial difficulties, you are unlikely to get a raise, so you may need to wait a while till the time is right.
Prepare your evidence
You should emphasize how you have performed above and beyond your job specifications to justify why you deserve a corresponding pay increase. Approach this task as if you are preparing for a job interview or a major sales presentation. Write down any major accomplishments that you have achieved during your time with the company. Also note any additional responsibilities that you have taken on. Examples of evidence you might present are solid numbers of revenue you earned, costs saved, client testimonials praising your customer service, tight deadlines you've beaten, products and/or services you've improved, and so on.
However, do not cite your personal needs as a reason for needing a raise. This is not the time to bring up your mortgage or the payments for your new car. The salary your employer pays you is for value of the work you do, not the expenses you have.
Decide how you'll respond to a rejection
Before you even walk into your boss' office, you should give some thought to what to do if you don't get the raise. Will you continue to work for the company and ask again at a later date? Or will you look for another job that will pay you what you feel you're worth?
If you are otherwise happy at the company and plan to stay even if you don't get a raise, then ask your supervisor what you can do to increase your salary in the future – such as taking on additional responsibilities or improving your performance. Also, don't overlook non-monetary benefits such as additional leave, training and other perks.
If your decision to stay at the company hinges on whether you get the raise, resist the urge to frame your request as an ultimatum. Threatening to quit if you don't get the raise will make you look unprofessional – and your boss might take you up on your offer. Even if you are positive that you will leave if you don't get the raise, don't make this the focus of your request. And if your request for a raise is denied, accept the rejection gracefully, thank your supervisor for his time, and then go about your job search quietly and professionally.
Ask for a raise!
You've done your research and have a file folder of irrefutable evidence. You even have an exit strategy in the event of a rejection. Now is the time to ask.
Schedule a face-to-face meeting with your supervisor that allows plenty of time for you to make your case. Also, it makes it harder for your boss to say no when you are right there to overcome any objections. Let him know in advance that you wish to discuss your compensation to give him time to consult with HR and his own supervisor. Be polite but firm, and don't get emotional.
Asking for a raise may seem daunting, but it's an important negotiation skill that you'll be able to add to your repertoire. Plus, when you are successful, you'll be earning extra money so you'll have a real reward to show for your efforts. So, be positive and ask for what you're worth!
Monday, July 13, 2009
How To Use Non Verbal Communication To Market Yourself
Everyone knows how important it is to speak confidently, say the right things and show interest when being interviewed or even at a meeting with clients. However, in addition to what you say, one must know that what you do also communicates volumes of information about who you really are.
Experts believe that a large part of communication occurs non-verbally. That means that even a smile on your face and the firmness of your handshake when you say, "Pleased to meet you," says more than your words alone.
It is to be remembered that once someone forms an impression, the tendency is to look for evidence confirming the original opinion and to ignore contradictory messages. That means if you have created a positive impression the first time around, people will focus on things that support that favorable impression. If, however, you have created a negative impression, you will have to work twice as hard to overcome that belief from the minds of those who have that negative impression.
Tips on How to Make a Positive Impression Non-Verbally
Remember that everything you do creates an impression:
Experts believe that a large part of communication occurs non-verbally. That means that even a smile on your face and the firmness of your handshake when you say, "Pleased to meet you," says more than your words alone.
It is to be remembered that once someone forms an impression, the tendency is to look for evidence confirming the original opinion and to ignore contradictory messages. That means if you have created a positive impression the first time around, people will focus on things that support that favorable impression. If, however, you have created a negative impression, you will have to work twice as hard to overcome that belief from the minds of those who have that negative impression.
Tips on How to Make a Positive Impression Non-Verbally
Remember that everything you do creates an impression:
- your facial expressions
- the "look in your eyes"
- your eye contact (or lack of it)
- your hand gestures
- your posture
- the way you comb your hair
- the clothes (even the shoes) you wear
Making an Entrance
The most important thing to remember in creating a presence is to believe that you belong where you are and have something of value to offer. A characteristic of successful people is that they naturally expect others to respond positively to them.
- When entering someone's office, do not poke your head in the door. Walk in confidently. (Knock first, if appropriate)
- Anticipating a negative reaction sets the stage for an unsuccessful meeting. Therefore, enter with more confidence and have a positive mindset
- A strong stride, a direct approach, an upright posture and a sense of energy are extremely important
Body Language
What you do with your body can support and enhance the message your words convey–or detract from it.
- Whether talking with one person or an auditorium full of people, maintain eye contact. Otherwise the person or crowd you are addressing will definitely show no interest to what you have to say
- Keep your facial expressions relaxed and friendly. The idea is to keep the listener interested and comfortable with you and what you have to say
- When standing, maintain a balance to your stance. Do not slouch, or lean on things when talking to people. Always maintain an upright posture
- Move purposefully; it shows confidence. Do not walk into a room for instance as though you are about to steal something or as though you do not belong there
- Let your hands fall to your side after using them and avoid crossing your arms, or holding your own hands either in front of you or behind your back
Shaking Hands
Handshakes are an important physical means of communicating. An immediate, firm, confident and friendly handshake helps establish a positive tone for a meeting and provides a non-verbal opportunity to establish yourself.
- Involve your entire hand in the handshake. Make eye contact; without it a handshake is half as effective
- Women should shake hands with each other just as readily as men. Never allow an important meeting to begin without a handshake. To do otherwise is to non-verbally discount yourself
- Some men think it is impolite to extend their hand to a woman for a handshake. A savvy businesswoman relaxes the uneasiness by extending her hand to a man right away
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