career Archives | Page 29 of 43

Overcoming The Common Interviewer Biases

An interview for a possible job opportunity or salary increase is ultimately founded by an interaction between two or more individuals. Due to the nature of human behavior, both the interviewer and the interviewee are subjected to Psychological biases and errors.

What my background in Psychology has taught me is that these biases can be conquered. Awareness of the different biases is the first step!

AFFECT HEURISTIC

In Psychology, affect refers to the person’s overt display of feelings and emotions while heuristic allows people to make judgements swiftly and efficiently. Putting these two together will produce the Affect Heuristic. The Affect Heuristic is an error in judgement due to interpreting the world based on the person’s current mood.

For instance, if the interviewer had a horrible day due to domestic conflicts then, he or she may project negative feelings onto you.

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This error goes hand-in-hand with the negativity bias. Negativity bias happens when individuals give more emphasis on the bad experiences rather than the good ones. Hence, you have to be careful with the pattern of your feelings and thoughts!

CONFIRMATION BIAS

As the name suggests, Confirmation Bias is the tendency to listen solely to the information that approves one’s preconceptions.

Say your parents instilled the idea that superior employees are products of local universities only. As an interviewer, you encountered aspirants who graduated from private schools such as PSB Academy and EASB. You may be more inclined to apply your preconceptions to make false judgements about their abilities.

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Spend a substantial amount of time in evaluations to overcome this bias and increase rater’s accuracy.

ANCHORING BIAS

Anchoring Bias is the tendency of some people to rely heavily on the first piece of information they receive. For instance, you are negotiating your salary. The first offer that you make will establish a spectrum of “reasonable” possibilities and the following counteroffers will be anchored by that initial offer.

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Negotiating a salary is a conversation that aims to reach an agreement with someone whose interests are not perfectly aligned with yours. Make your first offer count despite of the Anchoring Bias by researching all the necessary information such as the average pay for your position.

CONTRAST EFFECT

Contrast Effect is the “magnification or reduction of perception as a result of previous exposure to something of lesser or greater quality”. A candidate who understands the essence of this effect will immediately volunteer after a poor candidate in order for his or her ratings to be optimum.

Reduce the Contrast Effect by delegating a standardized criteria where you base your decisions on. Thus, your interviews, discussions, and evaluations must all be structured.

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May you apply your knowledge of these common cognitive biases to your next interview! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

4 Singaporeans Whose Jobs Are Far From Boring

Whoever said that all Singaporeans are talentless and boring have not met these extraordinary people:

DR. MARTHA TARA LEE

Sexuality and sexual health are issues that are often ignored in our Asian households. We have a difficulty in discussing these issues openly even to our closest family members. In this case, ignorance is not a bliss because it can lead to ambivalence, tension, and frustration. People who are in desperate need of counseling are often hesitant to seek professional help due to the taboo attached to “sex”.

Dr. Martha Tara Lee is one of the few individuals who addressed these issues head on (no pun intended). Founder of Eros Coaching, she is a Clinical Sexologist, who has been helping single and married individuals since 2009. She provides services such as coaching on sexuality and intimacy as well as customized sexual education workshops. Eros’ past events include “More than Conquerors – 6 Weeks of Skills Acquisition for Men” and “The Art of Feminine Presence”.

Learn more about Eros Coaching’s services, events, and rates by visiting eroscoaching.com.

NICHOLAS FOO

As the only Asia-based LEGO Certified Professional, Nicholas Foo builds impressive gift items and large scale sculptures using LEGO materials. LEGO Certified Professional are not employed by LEGO but, they are trusted business partners with the right to market and sell the iconic blocks company’s products and services. Basically, Nicholas is a LEGO master artist!

This passionate Singaporean artist is the founder of the Blackbulb, a company founded on the values of quality, creativity, and fun. Watch his team in action as they assemble three vibrant pieces for LEGO.

MARK “SABOTAGE” ONG

Mark Ong, better known in the artistic universe as SABOTAGE or SBTG, is one of the most innovative sneaker artist on the planet. He became well-known to the public after winning a sneaker customization competition on Nike Talk Forum.

Notable due to his scientifically precise brushstrokes, SBTG has a loyal following which adores his spunky style of cut and paste. His talent eventually caught the attention of celebrities such as NBA’s legendary Kobe Bryant and Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn. When asked about what drives him to work each day, he simply said: “I stay motivated by constantly making an effort to deliver value and make a difference in people’s lives in every platform I can.”

To get your very own SBTG customized sneakers, you will have to pay about S$250-800!

CARA NICOLE “SYRENA” NEO

Cara Nicole Neo turns the beautiful fantasies of many into a reality by transforming into her alter ego “Mermaid Syrena”. Since 2013, she has been performing as a mermaid for children’s parties and corporate events. You will probably be shocked to know that her clients pay around S$500 per hour.

Her glamorous yet challenging life as a mermaid continues as she opened the Singapore Mermaid School. Watch her in action as she teaches Xiaxue how to become like a mythical sea creature:

Who would have thought that working odd jobs can pay more than some of the 9-5pm mundane jobs?

Source: mustsharenews

What Not To Ask In A Job Interview

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

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

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

2. HOW EARLY CAN I GET PROMOTED?

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

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

3. CAN I WORK FROM HOME, INSTEAD?

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

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

4. IS THE RUMOR ABOUT YOU…TRUE?

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

5. WHY?

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

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

Sources: 1, 2, 3

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

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

Everyone Is Part of the Network

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

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

How to Use the Tools Available

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

Traditional Hires Versus Remote Workers

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. GIVE ATTENTION TO ISSUES

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

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

2. TAKE THE INITIATIVE

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

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

3. HANDLE PRIORITIES WELL

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

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

4. MANAGE YOUR MONEY

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

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

5. EVALUATE YOURSELF

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

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

Image Credits: pixabay.com

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