Profiles
TAG | new job advice
12
Your first 100 days. How to make an impact – first impressions count
0 Comments | Posted by Guest in Careers, Commerce and Industry, Financial Services, IT
That’s it, you got your dream job – it’s your first day! Now it’s time to really show your new employer that they were right in hiring you for the role. What to do?
One word: Communication!
Why? Unless you build relationships with your manager, your manager’s manager, the team, stakeholders, colleagues and peers, you will not be able to get the job done effectively.
Your manager: Sit down with your manager to understand the short term goals that you can work towards in your first 100 days in order to make a significant difference. Understand the long term goals your manager and manager’s boss have for your role too. Pinpoint the key people who will help you achieve these goals; the influencers, the movers and the shakers.
Your peers and colleagues: Having lunch, coffee or even a joke at the water cooler will be time well spent to not only get to know your colleagues but more about the company’s informal culture. Ask questions, show interest and empathy.
Your stakeholders: Do the same if located in same place or phone, Skype or travel if based abroad.
My tip is to take notes from these types of interactions to revisit later. It will go a long way to show that you care and people will help you get your job done. Ask for feedback, share your experiences and think about what you want your new colleagues to know of you and how your message will come across.
These informal meetings will go along way to help you succeed and be viewed as a great new hire with great emotional intelligence.
Remember: Communicate, communicate, communicate!
30
Getting the job you really want
0 Comments | Posted by Guest in Careers, Commerce and Industry, Financial Services
It’s Sunday afternoon. Suddenly you have that sinking feeling…tomorrow’s Monday. Do you dread Monday mornings? If so, you may be in the wrong job.
Where do you start?
If you were about to embark on a road trip you would probably check your car’s engine and make sure the MOT is up to date. You would have a destination in mind and would plan your route on a map. Starting a job search is much the same. It involves assessing your talents, skills, interests and values, and knowing what you would like to achieve before you retire.
Begin with the end in mind
Ask yourself the big questions. What do you want to achieve? How would you like to be remembered? What will you say to your grandchildren about your successes in life? What were the highlights? This will give you the road map to you getting your dream job.
Perform your own MOT
Gathering information about yourself will give you knowledge and power. Ask your friends and family to give you feedback on yourself. Understanding what makes you get up in the morning and what is important to you is essential to narrow down and target potential employers. This is a lifelong process and your goals may change as your personal circumstances change. There are many questionnaires and tools available on the internet that may also assist with your self analysis.
Look back… not in anger
Everything you have done in work, education, sports, leisure, etc. required at some point or another, activities you loved and some you did not. How much satisfaction you derive from your work is directly linked to the percentage of activities you enjoy. Think about what you do well. When did you exceed your own expectations? What was the last challenge you overcame? How did that make you feel? Understanding your accomplishments, your value set and your strengths will give you the edge when meeting prospective employers.
Investing in this self analysis, even if it means extra time and effort, will help you eliminate those jobs that are not a good fit. There is a direct correlation between job satisfaction and the quality of one’s personal life and emotional health. Understanding yourself will help you “sell” yourself for the right job. Best of luck!
7
APAC Salary Guides for 2011
1 Comment | Posted by Chris Jay in Careers, Commerce and Industry, Financial Services, IT
Our latest salary guides offer market intelligence on hiring and remuneration across the financial services and commercial sectors in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Sydney.
We hope you find these reports informative. If you have any questions, feedback or would like to discuss any of the findings, please contact us directly.
2011 Singapore Salary Guide
Singapore’s reputation as a stable economy, with excellent infrastructure and talented professionals, has seen it pull out of the economic downturn fairly quickly and move into a prudently optimistic recruitment market. The city-state’s recovery is solid rather than stellar, but many sectors are now rapidly expanding and enjoying robust growth.
2011 Hong Kong Salary Guide
Across the board, 2010 was a year of robust economic recovery for Hong Kong. The city’s unique position as the gateway to China meant most firms were looking at expansion. This growth is set to continue in 2011 and companies’ hiring patterns will match their expansion plans. Businesses are not only growing their core areas; many are also investing in new areas to take advantage of the strong economy.
2011 Japan Salary Guide
There have been significant impacts on the Japanese market following the country’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in March. As the country works to recover, it is going to become increasingly important to sustain the Japanese economy. As well as looking after our own employees, we will be supporting companies in meeting their immediate resourcing needs, to ensure that where possible, their business operations can continue.
2011 Sydney Salary Guide >>
Overall, the Australian economy is solid in an ever-changing world. The nation came out of the global financial crisis at an impressive rate in 2010 compared to other advanced economies. There is a sense of stronger business and consumer confidence as 2011 progresses, which will naturally lead to investment in business growth and the people needed to implement expansion strategies.
31
Career advice top three career tips for 2011
0 Comments | Posted by Tricia Liverpool in Careers, Commerce and Industry, Financial Services
As a New Year is upon us – a time when people often re-think their career plans, I thought I would start my “career advice” on dos and don’ts for changing jobs.
The number of times I have come across people who tell me straight away that their main motivation is money, makes me cringe particularly when they have just started their new role! Also, those who expect perks before they have delivered anything amuse me the most …..
Yes, the job market is looking up particularly in Singapore, with salaries likely to increase this year, and bonuses similarly rising. However instead of asking what your employer can do for you, think what you can do for your employer in order to achieve such rewards.
So in summary here are my top three career tips:
1. Do think about what it is you are looking for in a role i.e. a new skill set; a broader scope; exposure to bigger/better products/services/clients. This makes it easier for a recruiter to ‘sell’ your capabilities to a potential employer to find a suitable and more importantly, a long term match.
2. Do treat your meeting with your recruitment consultant as a trial run for an interview with the client. E.g. be on time; dress appropriately; come prepared with relevant questions and sell yourself. If you are running late, try calling/texting to advise rather than assuming it’s OK.
3. Do think about timing when leaving/assuming a new position. There is nothing worse than a CV that spells “job hopper” and whilst you may think you have valid reasons for leaving each job every 3 months, an employer won’t understand – trust me!
Even if you just decide to adopt these three points when looking for a new job this year I am sure that you will have considerably more opportunity and also increased respect in the market. Singapore is very small and the best candidates tend to have a great reputation in it!
