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Booming industries in Singapore

Singapore is one of the world’s leading countries in commerce and finance, as well as having been recently voted the top country for expats by HSBC. In fact, it is also the top voted country in the world for starting up a business because of the support available for entrepreneurs and their SMEs and SMBs. Added to that is the Singaporean work ethic and the success of financial tech companies currently holding offices there. It’s really no wonder that some of the biggest names in the world are setting up on the island.

Whilst recent years have seen a proliferation of tech companies across the world, there are some industries which are successfully thriving in Singapore. These include but are not limited to those listed below.

IT Services

Whilst this is a broad term for a huge umbrella of industries, there are some information tech services which are thriving more than others within Asia’s finance hub. For example, Twitter has headquarters in the city, a chain of international success stories such as Apple, Google and Microsoft have invested in offices, with Netflix opening their Asia division in Singapore next year. App creators and developers, cloud storage and cybersecurity are some of the divisions of tech which are really booming now.

The Singapore government knows and supports the value of tech industries and launched Smart Nation – an initiative to empower citizens through the use of tech and pervasive accessibility, to encourage growth in this key industry.

Automotive

Having pumped some serious money into R&D recently, the Singaporean government have encouraged experts from all over the world to research and develop all industries. One of the major players is the automotive industry, both Delphi and Bosch have set up R&D departments for the industry. With a workforce enriched with electronics and engineering, it is unsurprising that the automotive industry is racing to the forefront of successful sectors in Singapore.

Healthcare/ Biomedics

Again, the country’s provision for R&D makes Singapore a thriving hub of healthcare and many big pharma companies have offices in the city. SMEs from the medtech sector have been sprouting up all over Singapore, using the excellent support and resources to incubate their ideas before spreading to the whole of Asia. This means the markets in this area are very successful too, rendering it a solid investment.

Creative industries and arts

With the amount of tech developments happening within the country, Singapore is awash with creative agencies offering design services, game creation and development and animation to name just a few. The Singaporean government expect to see more of these companies as we head into 2017.

Arts and performing arts are respected in Singapore and have seen a steady increase in recent years, making it a cultural place, nurturing cultural interests.

Communications

Its thriving tech opportunities, educated workforce and the desire to be independent and self-sufficient have led to a proliferation of communications companies springing up throughout Singapore. From telecommunications to information marketing and internet comms. companies, the tech advancement in Singapore lends itself well to the ever expanding communications industry.

How To Lure New Customers To Your Small Business

CURATE A DETAILED PROFILE OF YOUR AUDIENCE

Catching the attention of your potential customers is an easy task if you know exactly what you are searching for. So, begin by defining your target audience. Be as detailed as realistically possible. Include descriptors such as gender, occupation, NRIC number/FIN, hobbies, age group, and civil status.

Say you are selling Harry Potter merchandise to teens and other millennials. You noticed that they are immensely obsessed with social media platforms. Hence, you used Instagram and Snapchat to identify your potential customers.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

PROVIDE AN INVITING ATMOSPHERE

Charming your customers start as they enter your doorstep or website. Flashy signs may draw them in, but your accomodating gestures will make them stay. Send warm greetings and show new customers around your vicinity. This will make them feel appreciated and special.

This is certainly true if you are in the food business. Ushering your hangry customers with a friendly service can help them calm down. I cannot remember how many times this happened to me!

OFFER TEMPTING FREEBIES

Display an offer that new customers cannot resist by providing free trials. Fitness centers often distribute flyers that signify a week’s worth trial or a discounted package for first timers. This is a cost-effective way to get good reviews and honest testimonials.

There is nothing more powerful than giving your potential customers a good glimpse of what is to come!

LISTEN TO THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS

As you converse with your potential and existing customers, it is important to actively listen to their wants. Do not assume that you know their preferences! Many startups fail because they are selling products with a non-existent demand.

This is why you must encourage constructive feedback. These may be delivered thru social media platforms, focus group discussions, and online surveys. Take the appropriate actions to improve the operations of your small business.

LAUNCH A REFERRAL SYSTEM

My career path was carved when I became an administrative officer in a contemporary yoga studio. One of the studio’s promotions, which endured throughout year was the “Refer A Friend Campaign”. It encouraged the existing customers to invite their friends over to receive up to 20% discount on their next packages. The more people they refer, the higher the reward gets. You may launch the same campaign in your small business.

Remember that people love to be acknowledge. Use that to your advantage!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

New customers are the tools that enable your small business to flourish. If you want to attract more customers, you must consider these people in every step of your journey.

Why I Failed At My Previous Job Interviews

I can vividly recall the rush of emotions that I felt upon receiving a pleasant message from an esteemed insurance company. At the crack of dawn, the HR department of the international company emailed me to meet up for an interview. I immediately agreed to a job interview at Raffles Place.

This was not my first rodeo, but I was overly excited. I had been dreaming about becoming a party of this company for the longest time. Unbeknownst to me, being overeager was a part of my downfall. You will come to that conclusion later on.

On the day of my interview, I solely entered a spacious room. The recruiter came in and handed me with two Psychological tests. With my background in Psychology and human behavior, you may think that these tests are easy to accomplish. I knew how to answer in a manner that is both genuine and acceptable. However, I was too excited that my mind blacked out she stated the instructions. The tangible gravity of the reality overwhelmed my spirit! She had to repeat the instructions again because I committed several errors. The situation was embarrassing! I compensated by extending our chatter. The excessive conversations made me seem desperate. Needless to say, I did not land the coveted job.

Although the recruiter did not mention the reasons why I got rejected, most of our application rejections are due to basic issues. This is why you must avoid these certain mistakes: being overeager, including documentation errors, and not caring about personal appearance.

The scenario that I shared above is a prime example of the negative consequences that can spring from being too eager and excited. Much like speed dating, a candidate that seems too desperate is a major turnoff. Constantly calling or emailing for updates is a waste of the recruiter’s time. Remain calm and wait patiently for a call back.

Secondly, most people commit typographical errors in printed and written documents. Even professionals cannot escape this wrongful pit!

While I was scanning through my old emails, I noticed that I misspelled a couple of simple words (e.g., “the” became “teh”) in an old application. This happened long before I started to make a living out of writing articles. However, its value holds true until today. The materials that you submitted signify an impression. This is why you must give a substantial amount of time to proofread or revise everything. For handwritten forms, do not forget to do the “i’s” and cross the “t’s”. Pay attention to details!

Lastly, you must dress to impress. Let us face it! We live in a relatively superficial world where physical appearance plays a huge part in our interactions. A recent study even highlighted that tall people get paid more. Look professional during an interview by dressing appropriately. Show that you respect the position that you are vying for by properly grooming yourself. Add a tad of moderate make-up if needed.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

We all learn from our personal experiences and job interviews are no different!

Sources: 1 & 2

Make A Lasting Impression To Land Your Dream Job

The minute that you walk into the door, the pressure is on! You have to make a standout first impression.

Be remembered in the best way possible with these helpful tips:

DRESS THE PART

Whether you are in favor of it or not, we live in a society where we are constantly judged by how we look and how we carry ourselves. This is why it is important to dress for success before entering the interview room.

For women, it is recommended to wear moderate makeup. Women who decorate their faces with makeup seemed to rank higher in trustworthiness and competence according to several studies. Moreover, a study in the American Economic Review found that women who wore makeup made 30% more than their co-workers who did not wear makeup.

For men, appearing to workout regularly makes boosts your appeal. Topping it off with the sleek clothes that you are comfortable with can affect the way that people perceive you.

HAVE A FIRM HANDSHAKE

As a sign of politeness, handshakes are internationally accepted and encouraged. Start the interview with a bang by having a firm handshake that lasts for 2-5 seconds. A firm handshake is in between the incredibly tight and limp handshakes. You want to convey that you are confident and excited.

ARRIVE ON TIME

It is ideal to arrive about 10 minutes in advance for an interview. This allowance will give you enough time to settle in, calm your nerves, and lounge at the reception area. Arriving too early makes you seem excessively eager. On the other hand, arriving late for an interviews makes you seem unreliable and irresponsible. You do not want that!

Commit to the optimum time by visiting the location before the big day. Identify the appropriate travel time and adjust your schedule.

SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE

Many individuals are very much prepared for the different interview questions. They have wonderful ideas and significant points to impart. However, some of these people speak either softly or loudly. These candidates tend to be skipped or overlooked.

Give your interviewer a reason to listen to you by speaking calmly and confidently. Interestingly, studies have shown that people who talk in a deeper voice are taken more seriously.

ACT CURIOUS AND INTERESTED

Acting that you are curious and interested can help you engage the attention of the interviewer. Share your ideas and experiences.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Then, ask stimulating questions to learn more about the organization. Doing so will help you determine whether you must pursue the position or not.

Sources: 1 & 2

Practical Ways To Stand Out As An Exceptional Employee

There is more to an exceptional employee than mere attention to detail and laser focus!

1. SOLVE PROBLEMS

You are happily employed at a small-scale advertising firm along with 8 employees. Your boss decided to gather all of you to discuss about the reinvention of your website. He asked your opinions about the potential problems that can occur with this shift. You raised a couple of issues including the lack of stock images. You immediately suggested to organize a cost-efficient photoshoot. Your boss was impressed!

As you can see, there is a fine line between highlighting and complaining about an issue. Pointing out the issue helps to get the attention of the people involved. However, it must not end there. You have to come up with realistic solutions to conquer the problems.

2. BE POSITIVE

In my experience, there is always that one employee who exudes a pessimistic mindset in the workplace. It can lead to lack of motivation and poor work etiquette. Negative thinking may also start to rub off on other employees and reduce the overall productivity. It is important to find ways to handle the pessimistic employees.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It is impossible to live in a world where conflicts do not exist. Stressful days are bound to occur as you need to meet the deadlines and work on a strict budget. Despite the emergence of these days, it helps to remain positive. A resilient employee is able to stay optimistic about the future and encourage others to share the same mindset even during the most difficult circumstance.

3. TAKE INITIATIVE

On a different scenario, imagine that you are a contributing writer for a large-scale lifestyle website. The boss assigns your daily topics but, you are free to come up with your own ideas. Your interaction with the team made you realize that your boss is passionate about Golf. You decided to do your research about the distinct sport. You wrote an article about it and handed it to your boss on the next day. Furthermore, you included 3 more topics that focused on the current trends in Singapore. Your boss was shocked – in a good way!

Outstanding employees do not wait for the tasks to be assigned. If there is an urgent need, they act upon it appropriately. They are proactive in other areas including communication. Instead of responding to a selected few about a project, they keep the whole team in the loop.

4. ACCEPT CRITICISM

I witnessed a petty office brawl between two supervisors before. They came from divergent departments and each of them had a point. However, the other one was fueled with aggression and took things personally. A mediator had to break the tension between them. Obviously, you must deal with the same situation in a mature manner.

Exceptional employees are able to tolerate conflicts and take constructive criticisms. Instead of displacing the blame to other people, accept the idea that you need to make some changes.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Committing a mistake is not a mark of a poor employee – failing to adapt is.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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