career Archives | Page 30 of 47

Impress Your Future Employer By Asking These Questions

Most of the Singaporean interviewers that I encountered gave me the opportunity to ask a couple of questions after they were done grilling me.

Asking great questions can help you stand out from the crowd! So, you better come prepared.

WHAT MUST AN IDEAL CANDIDATE HAVE TO THRIVE IN THIS ROLE?

You need not be a people person to have the significant realization that most people appreciate being actively heard. Opening with this question exudes that you have a basic grasp about what the role entails. And, you want to widen your understanding. Keep the conversation flowing by asking on the specific skills and qualities that are needed to become successful in this role.

If the interviewer responds in an enthusiastic manner, you may have an opportunity to discuss more about your background.

WHICH DEPARTMENT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING WITH?

This stimulating question lets you learn more about the organization. The interviewer will enlighten you about the company culture and your immediate colleagues. If you dislike the “type” (i.e., large or small group) of people who you are working with then, you may not fit well into the organization. A simple query such as this may help you to determine whether you must pursue the position or not.

Acting curious and interested can help you engage the attention of the interviewer.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING HERE?

Most people love to dwell upon the topics which revolve themselves. I am not saying that Narcissism is prevalent, nor am I saying that being conceited is normal. It is undeniable that we are typically interested in sharing our own thoughts and experiences. Ask this question to encourage the interviewer to disclose in a positive manner.

This question shatters the exterior wall of the company as it highlights the inner culture. It allows you to absorb certain information that is hard to assess from the outside.

HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY?

Some candidates have this “brilliant idea” that behaving politely and answering all the interviewer’s questions properly can land them the coveted position. They are wrong! Interviewers can easily forget you if you do not evoke their intellect.

To make your interview memorable you must take the conversation off script and ask sensible questions such as this. Towards the end of the interview, ask how you can potentially improve the company upon receiving the position. This query shows that you are envisioning a brighter future with them.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

5 Creative Ways To Earn Money This Yuletide Season

This is the season to be jolly. Parties, presents, and all the festivities do not come cheap! You can easily be trapped into months worth of debt if you remain careless. This is why you must find a few creative ways to earn extra money.

1. RECYCLE YOUR STUFF

Your unwanted pile of trash can turn into treasures thru a single environmentally friendly act – recycling. Some individuals, especially in developing countries, make a living by selling scrap. Do something similar by submitting your trash into one of Veolia’s recycling station. Veolia’s Cash-For-Trash Programme started in May 2014. Since then, various stations were set up within the HDB estates.

Papers can earn you about 10 cents per kilogram while, old clothing can earn you about 30 cents per kilogram. Aluminum cans can earn you about 50 cents while, metal tins can earn you about 10 cents. The distinct prices of your items depend on the quantity and material.

2. SPREE FOR FREE

Wouldn’t it be nice if the cost of your holiday shopping was generously covered? I know it sounds counterproductive to make money by spending money, but it is possible!

The people that shop for a living are called Mystery Shoppers. Mystery Shoppers are paid by the company’s marketing department to report about their experiences as they try the said company’s services or buy their goods. Accepting this job will entail getting paid for your time as well as for the items that you bought.

Eager to be one? Check out the current job openings at Gumtree.

3. WORK MORE THAN USUAL

I am going to impart one of the most efficient ways to make more money in the remaining days of December. This is none other than hustling at your current job. Work overtime and take extra projects. You may be tasked to widen the referral system or input hundreds of data. Just take on the task that no one else wants and receive appropriate payment for it.

4. WRAP FOR FEE

As the eldest of three siblings, I experienced wrapping gifts for several friends and family members. It is undeniably a chore that most people do not appreciate. This is why gift wrapping enthusiasts and alike can offer their skills for a fee. Purchase colored papers, festive ribbons, and gift tags in bulk to save more money.

If you can sell your service in a cheaper rate than what the shopping malls are asking then, you can easily hit the jackpot.

5. SELL YOUR SNAPS

Have you ever been attracted to the images attached in the online blogs and other advertisements? Most of these eye-catching features were from the company’s stock images. Stock images consist of photographs that are usually licensed for specific purposes. Companies pay decent amount of cash for these.

If photography is a special part of your talent reservoir, consider selling your masterpiece. Companies are in constant need for images for their websites, brochures, cards, blogs, and other projects. Start by selling your snaps on Shutterstock. Each website works differently so read through the guidelines first before you commit.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Source: INC

How To Deal With Difficult Co-Workers

In this day and age, you can choose to create a massive wardrobe. You can choose to befriend the people who inspire you. Oh! You can even handpick the gender of your baby.

However, you usually cannot choose the people whom you will work with.

The fixed structure of the workplace allows you to interact with all sorts of people. Every workplace has toxic workers. It is inevitable! Dealing with these difficult people is challenging, yet very rewarding. Increase your positive coping skills by absorbing these tips:

Rise Above The Negativity

Some people love to create a bubble of negativity above their heads. They complain about almost every topic that exists. They feel overworked and underpaid. They do not like their bosses. Nor do they enjoy their jobs. They think their careers are on the brink of destruction!

If you are surrounded by Negative Steve and Negative Betsy, you have two moves up your sleeves. You can either avoid the negative bond or hear the person out. Avoidance is acceptable in this situation as you do not want to create a parasitic relationship (i.e., where one is dependent on the other). Take in the essence of what Tony Chatman, a corporate relationship professional, once said.

“If you bond with someone on a negative issue, they will feel that they have found a partner in their distress, and they will look for you every time they feel something negative.”

My significant background in Psychology supports these ideas. Once you bond with the negative co-worker and stimulate his or her rants, you act with validation. You make the person feel right and that the behavior is acceptable.

The other path opposes the first strategy as it employs active listening. You can initially listen to the complaints of the negative person. Decide whether these claims are legitimate or not. If so, offer assistance to solve the present problem. Know your limitations when giving advice. Suggest reading credible books, attending informative seminars, and consulting the professionals in the company’s Human Resources Department.

Prevent The Spread Of Infectious Gossip

Do you ever wonder how your every tiny mistake reaches your boss? Or, perhaps you are wondering how your embarrassing pictures reached the company’s Facebook group. Search no further than the Office Gossipmonger. Gossipmongers cannot keep their mouths shut when it comes to bad news. Instead of offering help, they seek to lower your credibility to stay ahead of the workplace hierarchy. They love to blabber about different stories as long as it does not involve them.

To prevent the spread of the infectious rumor, you must hold back on the private things about your life. Do not disclose an information that you do want others to know about. Remember that everything you say may be used against you. Donna Flagg, the author of Surviving Dreaded Conversations, highlighted that you must: “keep a safe distance so as to avoid getting sucked into the toxicity”.

As with anyone, there is a positive side to them. You can use them as a tool to spread an important information. If you want the workplace to act upon a specific issue, relay the “confidential information” to the gossipmonger. I am pretty sure that he or she will not be able to resist the urge to spread the message right away.

Learn How To Handle The Resident Bully

Workplace bullies employ emotional, physical, or sexual attacks toward their co-workers. Examples of wrongful acts include inappropriately criticizing one’s performance and taking credit for other people’s work. Consequences of these acts include dreading to go to work and public humiliation (i.e., due to being shouted or called at).

The upcoming fact took me by surprise! Statistics found that 1 in 4 Singaporeans have suffered from workplace bullying with the top aggressors being their bosses (62%) and their clients (21%). To make matters worse, Singapore was one of the few countries with the highest acceptance of workplace bullying.

If you are one of the unfortunate targets of the resident bully, deal with him or her by reading this article.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sometimes, prized abilities and proper work ethics do not go hand in hand. This is why toxic or difficult people exist at the workplace. You may not control how these people behave, but you can control how you will react to them. Think about this!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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

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