job search tips Archives | MoneyDigest.sg

How to Remain Sane When Job Hunting

Adjusting to the motions of life can be overwhelming. It is challenging to muster up the energy to jump into the candidate pool or consider changing careers when you must juggle your personal and professional responsibilities. Incorporating the following tips can help you stay motivated throughout the process.

Start by knowing why you actually want a new job and why you need to secure a position now.

#1: FIND THE REASON WHY YOU DO IT

Why do you do what you do?

Understanding why you are willing to exhaust your resources to get a new job can help you focus on the end goal. It will allow you to enter the job search from a place of clarity and empowerment. Defining why you do it “now” will be your call to action to initiate the first step.

#2: VISUALIZE YOUR TARGET

Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable spot. Visualize a time when you were excited about a new job or when you were happy with your current one. Embrace those feelings and examine whether you still feel the same way now. Then, visualize yourself securing your dream job. Absorb the excitement and energy that comes with it.

Using visualization to identify what is important to you can help you overcome exhaustion or other negative feelings that come with job hunting.

#3: TAKE A BREAK

If you are feeling burnt out and discouraged, step away for a bit. Allow yourself to rest and recharge. Scrolling through listings, submitting online and in-person applications, and going through multiple rounds of interviews can be draining!

It helps if you can narrow down your search. Take some time to discern which position you are looking for instead of just spreading your CV and hoping that someone will see it.

#4: REVAMP YOUR CV

Simplify your resume to garner more attention. Look at the job description and make sure that there is a connection between you and the text. Lastly, pinpoint where you might have some weakness and improve on those areas.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#5: GET SOME HELP

Having a connection within the organization can increase your chances of landing a job, so expand your network. Maximize your connections by reaching out to former co-workers, mentors, lecturers, friends, and family members. Get the support you need to help you maintain your sanity!

#6: BE AN EARLY CANDIDATE

If you find a job posting that matches what you are searching for, do not waste your time and apply. Submitting your application immediately after the job is posted can help boost your chances of being noticed. Timing is everything!

If you apply in the first week that a job is posted, you have a much higher chance of getting the job and having your CV reviewed. Many hiring managers and companies look at applications that come in early.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

BOTTOMLINE

Whether you are looking for a new position in a different company or have been unemployed for months, looking for a job can be challenging. You may not be able to see positions that interest you or your efforts in connecting with the hiring manager can fail miserably.

No matter where you are in the process, job hunting can be exhausting. However, you cannot give up! You have to push through the highs and lows. Keep at it until you see the end in sight in the form of a coveted new role.

Sources: 1 & 2

The hidden job market: What it is and how to access it

You may have heard of the term “hidden job market” before, but what does it mean? And more importantly, how can you tap into it to find your dream job?

The hidden job market is made up of unpublished job opportunities. These are jobs that are not openly advertised, which means that you won’t find them through a standard job search. So how can you access this secret section? Well, networking is one of the best ways.

In this article, we will show you how to network effectively and use it to tap into the hidden job market.

What is the hidden job market?

As mentioned earlier, the hidden job market is a pool of job opportunities that aren’t advertised publicly. They’re usually filled by word-of-mouth or through networking. This means that if you want to tap into this market, you need to be proactive and strategic in your job search.

So how do you access the hidden job market? One way is by following hiring managers and keeping an eye out for opportunities that match your skills and experience. You can also reach out to your network of contacts and see if they know of any openings in a particular industry.

Why is networking crucial to access the hidden job market?

Here’s the thing: networking allows you to make connections with people who might be in a position to help you find a job. They could be people you know already, or they could be acquaintances who could introduce you to someone who’s hiring.

But it’s not just about finding a job. It’s also about building relationships and creating prospects. When you network, you never know what might happen. You could meet your next boss or business partner, or you could find out about an amazing opportunity that’s not even been advertised yet.

How can you use networking to your advantage?

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Start by building relationships with people who work at your target companies. Attend industry events and connect with people on LinkedIn. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. People are usually more than happy to give advice and initiate introductions. The bottom line is that networking is a powerful tool, and if you use it correctly, it can help you find job possibilities that you would never have otherwise known about.

Should you continue to network after you’ve found a job?

What if you’ve already found a job? Should you stop networking? The answer is a resounding no. Networking is one of the smartest ways to stay connected to people in your industry, and you never know who might have access to unpublished opportunities.

Think about it this way: networking is all about building relationships. And those relationships can come in handy down the road, whether you’re looking for a new position or not. So keep those connections alive, and stay active on LinkedIn and Twitter. You never know who you might meet.

As we close, the hidden job market is a term used to describe jobs that are not actively advertised. There are several ways to access the hidden job market and we highly recommend networking. Networking can help you connect with people who may have information about lesser-known job opportunities. So brush up your social skills, it’s time to get to work.

The dos and don’ts of job hunting while you’re still employed

You’ve been at your job for a few years and you’ve started to feel a little antsy.

You’re not sure what it is, but you know that you’re not fulfilled and you want more. So, you start to job hunt. But then you realize that what you need is stability, so you decide to keep your job and job hunt on the side.

Sounds familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people are in the same position as you. In this post, allow us to give you some tips on how to job hunt while still employed.

Do network carefully

When you’re job hunting, it’s important to be strategic about who you network with. You don’t want to open a can of worms, so be careful about who you reach out to for help.

Your best bet is to start with your network of friends and family. They may know of job openings that you don’t, or they may be able to put in a good word for you with their contacts.

But don’t stop there! LinkedIn can be a great resource for job hunters, and it’s a great place to start networking with people in your industry. Just be sure to stay professional and avoid asking for favors too early in the relationship.

Do consider a recruiter

Image Credits: flexjobs.com

When you’re looking for a new job, the last thing you want to do is quit your current one without having a new one in hand. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start your job hunt now—in fact, there are a few things you should do to make the process easier.

First, consider working with a recruiter. A recruiter can help you identify opportunities that may be a good fit for you, and they can also help manage the process of applying and interviewing. Plus, since they have relationships with hiring managers at many companies, they can often get you in the door faster than if you applied on your own.

Just make sure you choose a recruiter who is reputable and has experience in your industry. You don’t want to waste your time or theirs.

Do keep your job search private

One of the most essential things to remember while job hunting is to keep your search private.

Telling your current employer that you’re looking for a new job can put you in a very difficult position. They may see it as a lack of commitment on your part or even a sign that you’re unsatisfied with your current job.

So, how do you go about finding a new job without tipping off your current employer? The best way is to be discreet and keep your job search under wraps. This means not discussing it with co-workers, avoiding posting on social media, and not putting key company contacts in your resume.

Don’t quit your job without a plan

a man packing up and getting ready to leave

Image Credits: fortune.com

So you’ve decided that you’re ready for a new job. That’s wonderful! But before you quit your current job, there are a few things you need to consider.

First, make sure you have a solid plan in place. Don’t just quit your job without knowing what you’re going to do next. You need to have a strategy for how you’re going to pay your bills and support yourself until you find a new job.

Second, don’t burn any bridges. It’s important to maintain good relationships with your current employer, even if you’re planning on leaving. You never know when you might need them for a reference or networking opportunity in the future.

Finally, give yourself enough time to job hunt. Don’t just quit your job and start applying for random new ones the next day. It’s good to take your time and find the right position for yourself.

Don’t let your job search distract you from your current job

You might be tempted to spend all day on job boards and networking websites, but don’t let your job search distract you from your current job. The last thing you want is to get fired for job hunting on company time!

Make a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Dedicate a certain number of hours each day to your job search, and use the rest of the time to focus on your current work. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break from job searching and come back to it later.

There’s no rush, and you don’t want to end up making careless mistakes because you’re stressed out. Stay organized and take things one step at a time—you will find a new job in no time!

Job hunting is always a challenge, but it can be even tougher when you’re still working. You don’t want to burn any bridges at your current job, but you also need to start preparing for your future. While it may seem like the ultimate experience to be looking for work and earning a living at the same time, there are a few additional hurdles that you must take into consideration. Take tactful actions moving forward unless your manager has informed you of impending layoffs and permitted you to utilize company time for job searching.

Steer clear of these 4 resume mistakes if you want to score yourself an interview

We trust that you’ve had a well-rested weekend. For some, it might be a busy one since we’re just less than two weeks to Christmas! Good times or bad times, there’s power in the season of giving so we hope you’ve gotten your Christmas gifting plans all sorted out.

Now, back to serious business. Yes, it’s the most dreaded Monday, and we’ve new additions to our usual career-related tips. Job seekers who have yet to score yourself an interview despite the number of resume sent-outs, the problem might be due to some resume blunders you’re making.

Read on to find out how you can avoid these four resume mistakes to score yourself an interview soon.

#1: Placing too much focus on the design

Image Credits: business.tutsplus.com

If you’re a designer and applying for a position in the creative industry, probably it would make sense for you to want to spend some time on the visual outlook of your resume. But the main point here is that some people tend to overdo it.

You’ve heard the saying, “less is more”, and in this context, it accurately sums up what you should do. Think about the functionality of your resume, including the audience and purpose. Busy recruiters do not have all the time in the world to admire your stylish resume.

Instead, it would be best if you depicted your resume in a way that helps the hiring manager:

Read with ease
Sift out your skills and suitability
Apply your in-demand skills to the job vacancy

A border design and some coloured text may appear lovely in your eyes, but it may not be for the head hunter looking at tons of resumes a day to pick out the right candidates with crucial competencies.

#2: Having chunks of lengthy texts

Image Credits: TemplateMonster

Even if we do not apply this mistake in this particular context, having vast chunks of unbroken texts can cause a headache for any modern readers out there.

You might have seen before in the news that some recruiters spend only around six seconds to read a resume. Six seconds?! In that short period, you will need to impress your recruiter as he or she scans through your resume.

To put yourself in the shoes of an HR personnel, think back on the amount of content you mindlessly scroll through your social media feed daily. Recall on what caught your attention and what did not. Even a well-written article can have a low readership count purely because of its formatting.

To assist the recruiter in shortlisting yours among the sea of resumes out there, breaking up texts into proper paragraphs and being fully aware of run-on sentences without punctuations can help. If it makes sense, use bullet points to grab the reader’s attention at first glance.

Also, section the content into headings and subheadings and bold them where necessary. This is to allow the hiring manager to locate essential information effortlessly.

#3: Missing out on brief role descriptions

Image Credits: Prime Advice

Wanting to fit all your achievements in a one- or two-page word document is understandable. While some things like designs are better left as simple, an outline for your role descriptions is necessary.

Think of it as a summary section to give the recruiter some background on these:

Who you’ve worked for
Nature of the said business
Where you fit into the organisation

Those who have worked for widely known global brands may not have to explain the nature of the business, but it’s still important to include some pointers about your department and your contributions to the company’s success.

#4: Not including facts and figures

Image Credits: iHire

One massive takeaway I’ve had while doing marketing is that numbers matter. Putting this lesson to practical use, it’s the same as trying to market yourself to land an interview with the HR department. As such, don’t leave out facts and figures.

To prove your worth, you want to use some numbers to convey the scale of your impact. Those who’ve led departments before, don’t just stop at “managed a team”. Insert the relevant numbers on the size of your team, the locations they cover, and clients or customers under their servicing.

This is especially useful if you’ve led massive teams across several locations and want to transfer this experience to a regional management position you’re applying for. With that said, even penning down that if you’ve led a small group of five can open doors and put you at the forefront compared to applicants who’ve no such experiences.

Spending some quality time to right the common resume mistakes pointed out in this article could lead to better results in your job applications. If you want the right response from your potential employers, then make sure you have a resume powerful enough to assist you. The last thing you want is to have a substandard resume as a stumbling block to your job search success.

And one last tip before you go, do customise your resume to the specific role you’re applying for and ditch the one-for-all cookie-cutter content!

Tips for job seekers by recruitment experts from LinkedIn, Robert Walters, and Michael Page

Looking for a job is never easy. If you’re still on the journey to seeking one, don’t be dismayed. Keep trying even if you get no replies or unfavourable outcomes. The right time will come for you!

To help you in your job search, here are some valuable tips from recruitment experts from LinkedIn, Robert Walters, and Michael Page.

#1: Reskilling and upskilling

Image Credits: HR Daily Advisor

Feon Ang, LinkedIn’s Asia-Pacific vice-president of talent and learning solutions said, “We will be seeing a workforce that values professionals who have diverse skills, both in the area of digital skills and soft skills.”

She urges the public to start reskilling and upskilling in those mentioned areas, which applies to you whether you’re looking for a job or adapting to your current position.

#2: Network on LinkedIn

Image Credits: FaxBurner

“If you see something that interests you, like the panel or the experts that might be speaking at these (virtual) events, it is quite easy to reach out and say, ‘hey, I attended this, and what you said was interesting’,” noted Wendy Heng, Robert Walters’ associate director of sales and marketing in the healthcare and supply chain sectors in Singapore.

According to Ms Heng, networking is important when it comes to getting direct job referrals. Compared to assessing a stranger through their resume directly, employers usually trust what the referee says about the candidate.

#3: Try and ride it out

Image Credits: Ongig

If your financial situation allows, offer to take a pay cut and try for positions of a lower rank. However, do it with much care and consideration. This is because it might be a long way before you can climb back up again.

Ms Heng stated that some employers are wary of candidates that lowball the asking salary, as they think the applicant will leave the job once a better opportunity presents itself.

#4: Consider contract positions

Image Credits: BGC Group

As claimed by recruiters, organizations are careful about new recruitments and hiring managers are going through lengthier approval processes these days. As such, contract jobs are getting mainstream.

Michael Page’s Singapore managing director Nilay Khandelwal advises job seekers to not see the contract job as a stop-gap measure but a chance to turn it into a permanent position.

“Even in a contract job, we’re asking… what is the project going to be about, what are chances of conversion, what do I need to prove myself as well,” he said, adding that employers are thinking about their long-term needs too.

#5: Treat it seriously

Image Credits: JS Recruitment

As you may be sending out multiple job applications, record each one in a list with a hyperlink to the job description, Mr Khandelwal said. That way, if a recruiter calls you for the initial round, you are able to address what they want in your answers, rather than scramble to recollect which job you had applied for and subsequently give a general response, he added.

If you’ve landed yourself a video interview, congratulations! Mr Khandelwal expressed the importance of setting up the device properly before the interview. Check the sound and video quality at the spot you are going to do the interview at, and know how to work around the screen if disruptions occur.

On the day itself, dress professionally, he added. While there’s no need for a suit, put on a shirt at least. Put on your best smile so you don’t appear robotic.

Now, go slay it!

What is the hidden job market?

Why is networking crucial to access the hidden job market?

How can you use networking to your advantage?

Should you continue to network after you’ve found a job?

Do network carefully

Do consider a recruiter

Do keep your job search private

Don’t quit your job without a plan

Don’t let your job search distract you from your current job

#1: Placing too much focus on the design

#2: Having chunks of lengthy texts

#3: Missing out on brief role descriptions

#4: Not including facts and figures

#1: Reskilling and upskilling

#2: Network on LinkedIn

#3: Try and ride it out

#4: Consider contract positions

#5: Treat it seriously

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