Career & Job Search

[Mustank]

Hi all,

 

I've been a member of MCF for donkey years, since 2002. I've enjoyed the sharings, the joustings & of course the BBQs!

 

Today, I am career job search & attraction specialist. But this thread is not to advertise my organization. The job market is not looking very friendly. I am here to help provide some inputs in any career related questions you might have. I'll try to answer (Along with others I'm sure) as best as I can if I know.

 

Some Background

 

25 years corporate experience of which 15 years as a recruiting leader. I've led regional/ international in-house recruiting teams for household brands along with several years working in agencies. I've recruited thousands, interviewed tens of thousands and seen probably close to a hundred thousands CVs in that time. From receptionists to CxOs.

 

 

So, let me know how I can help. Happy to...

 

Cheers

 

 

target target up ah!!!!!

I think M Ravi needs some advice. He is looking for the post of PM

 

i laugh until pengz!!!!!!

[Wyfitms]

 

There is BS and there is BS. There is exaggeration and there are lies.

 

The exaggeration bit is tolerable and most candidates don't know better. It is not the fault of the candidate, but the fault of the guidance he has been receiving. For that we forgive him and close an eyelid. It is easy to determine the extent of this exaggeration in the interview.

 

The lying bit however is a whole different kettle of fish. It is very easy to validate, verify and crosscheck. For lies, you will get no quarters and puts your integrity into question.

 

Cheers..

 

It is not typical.

 

I have worked with hiring managers who insist on not hiring people of his own nationality. (This is reverse discrimination already). I have Asian hiring Non-Asians, Non-Asians hiring Asians.

 

Yes, there will be black sheep. Like everywhere and in everything else..

 

PS. I am neither a recruiter or property agent, though they have my respect.

 

Cheers..

 

wow finally someone that actually respect a property agent !

 

my question is how come i keep getting calls from recruiters to offer me jobs for which i have no experience in

 

or offer me jobs at the same level, i.e. not a promotion. why would a crew be interested to jump ship to another similar ship and still be a crew?

 

 

[Kusje]

 

wow finally someone that actually respect a property agent !

 

my question is how come i keep getting calls from recruiters to offer me jobs for which i have no experience in

 

or offer me jobs at the same level, i.e. not a promotion. why would a crew be interested to jump ship to another similar ship and still be a crew?

 

 

 

 

More money, better work location, better company name and if your current boss sucks, a chance at a better boss.

Edited February 4, 2015 by Kusje

[Carben68]

 

wow finally someone that actually respect a property agent !

 

my question is how come i keep getting calls from recruiters to offer me jobs for which i have no experience in

 

or offer me jobs at the same level, i.e. not a promotion. why would a crew be interested to jump ship to another similar ship and still be a crew?

 

 

 

I believe that anyone who is willing to put in the sweat should be respected. We all have families to take care of, no job is too humble to achieve that goal. So hats off to property agents..

 

There are 2 parties at fault for the reasons you mentioned. The recruiter and you.

 

The recruiter didn't do a good job. Not unexpected, as the recruiter is actually a human being behind that email address. He will fail, he will succeed. There are excellent recruiters and there are downright lousy ones. Same as in every industry. He could also be reaching out because he doesn't know your situation. Perhaps you might want to jump ship because it is sinking? (It pays to listen well when such things happen.. recruiter are usually very connected people and may already know your ship is sinking and now trying to pick out the ones that can be salvaged)

 

It is your fault (possibly, I don't know you well enough) because you are not positioning yourself well or clearly enough and/or to the right group of people. This is obviously inconclusive but this might be it. That said, I have been contacted for roles I was qualified for 10 years ago. So it happens, but less.

 

Cheers..

Edited February 4, 2015 by Carben68

[Enye]

 

Hi Enye,

 

It is not anecdotal, it is experiential. It is not typical doesn't mean it doesn't happen, as I have indicated in the post.

 

I was a recruiter for the last 15 years. Now I am a career job search & attraction trainer.

 

Cheers

Hi carben68,

 

Practically there is no difference between anecdotal and experiential

 

No offense but similarly I also won't trust the advice of property agent with 15 years exp who now gives property seminars for a living.

 

I am out of this thread

 

👋

[Carben68]

Hi carben68,

 

Practically there is no difference between anecdotal and experiential

 

No offense but similarly I also won't trust the advice of property agent with 15 years exp who now gives property seminars for a living.

 

I am out of this thread

 

👋

 

I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway. Not my intention.

 

Cheers..

[Wyfitms]

 

I believe that anyone who is willing to put in the sweat should be respected. We all have families to take care of, no job is too humble to achieve that goal. So hats off to property agents..

 

There are 2 parties at fault for the reasons you mentioned. The recruiter and you.

 

The recruiter didn't do a good job. Not unexpected, as the recruiter is actually a human being behind that email address. He will fail, he will succeed. There are excellent recruiters and there are downright lousy ones. Same as in every industry. He could also be reaching out because he doesn't know your situation. Perhaps you might want to jump ship because it is sinking? (It pays to listen well when such things happen.. recruiter are usually very connected people and may already know your ship is sinking and now trying to pick out the ones that can be salvaged)

 

It is your fault (possibly, I don't know you well enough) because you are not positioning yourself well or clearly enough and/or to the right group of people. This is obviously inconclusive but this might be it. That said, I have been contacted for roles I was qualified for 10 years ago. So it happens, but less.

 

Cheers..

 

For a recruiter who contacted me the first time, i can give the benefit of doubt

 

but there are recruiters who i spoke to a few times before, detailing my job experience before, and they still call me a few months later introducing a job which has little relevance to what i do

 

not sure if it is because they do not understand the industry well?

 

anyway, i am a very friendly person, so most of the time, i will refer them to people that have the right experience for the job

 

maybe i should consider becoming a recruiter...

[Carben68]

 

For a recruiter who contacted me the first time, i can give the benefit of doubt

 

but there are recruiters who i spoke to a few times before, detailing my job experience before, and they still call me a few months later introducing a job which has little relevance to what i do

 

not sure if it is because they do not understand the industry well?

 

anyway, i am a very friendly person, so most of the time, i will refer them to people that have the right experience for the job

 

maybe i should consider becoming a recruiter...

 

Hi Wyfitms,

 

You have actually stumbled on a golden opportunity. You have discovered that the recruiting industry is broken. Now if you know how to make order of this chaos, your competitors will be stuck in the storm while you're free to make your choices. The things is now, you are stuck in that storm as well. So it does look confusing, irregular and unprofessional.

 

Cheers..

[Kusje]

 

For a recruiter who contacted me the first time, i can give the benefit of doubt

 

but there are recruiters who i spoke to a few times before, detailing my job experience before, and they still call me a few months later introducing a job which has little relevance to what i do

 

not sure if it is because they do not understand the industry well?

 

anyway, i am a very friendly person, so most of the time, i will refer them to people that have the right experience for the job

 

maybe i should consider becoming a recruiter...

 

So you should already have your answer.

 

They call you because you give them the right person for the job. You should ask for commission.

[Vhtfhwlego]

I really wonder why of all these years I have never had any success application thru recruitment agencies (expect one) yet direct employer can recruit me on the spot.

 

 

I conclude at the end of the day it's just business for some.

 

If can secure candidate for the customer as soon as possible and hope that the candidate don't move on in 3 to 6 months = success.

 

 

First stop, recruitment agencies would never like to promote any candidates which have a history of job hopping. Because if candidate hop during the “warranty period”, RA will have to go thru the list all over again.

 

 

And when RA’s clients is a MNC, candidates which are overly aggressive, not compliance to regulations, will be strike off without presentation to the client.

 

 

When it’s a SME, these candidates will be presented as “street-smart” individuals and pass on as entrepreneurs.

 

[Duckduck]

 

So you should already have your answer.

 

They call you because you give them the right person for the job. You should ask for commission.

 

haha just like property agents call u abt ure condo, then ask if know anyone else in ure condo wanna rent or sale...

Edited February 4, 2015 by Duckduck

[Khyber]

Hi Ben, its nice of you to open this thread. I have a question what the senior executive people who would like to go and apply for junior management role do to be even considered. Lets just say this person has all the pre requisite but has not done the role before.

 

Thanks

[Wyfitms]

 

So you should already have your answer.

 

They call you because you give them the right person for the job. You should ask for commission.

 

haha yeah. but sometimes they say can only give me $500 voucher... so stingy.

 

i share much more than that when ppl refer me

[Vid]

Hi Ben, its nice of you to open this thread. I have a question what the senior executive people who would like to go and apply for junior management role do to be even considered. Lets just say this person has all the pre requisite but has not done the role before.

 

Thanks

 

You referring to Desmond Kuek or Ng Chee Peng?

[Carben68]

Hi Ben, its nice of you to open this thread. I have a question what the senior executive people who would like to go and apply for junior management role do to be even considered. Lets just say this person has all the pre requisite but has not done the role before.

 

Thanks

 

Hi Khyber,

 

It is important to quickly differentiate between seniority (as in rank not age), qualification, wants & experience.

 

In the example you gave,

 

It is a senior ranking person who wants ("Would like to") to apply for a lower ranking position. He is qualified ("Has all the pre-requisites) but does not have the experience ("Has not done the role before").

 

If it is an interest (ie wants) to take on a new type of job, despite it being more junior than his current rank. There will usually be concerns about staying power still. That because, rightly or wrongly, the usual perception is that this person is taking on this role because he/she has no other options. But will leave as soon as something more suitable (Senior) comes up. Add this to the fact that they is likely quite a number of candidates going for that job, it is an uphill battle. His/ her lack of actual relevant experience doesn't help either.

 

It could happen if this is a short term contract role and the company does not have to worry about the commitment of the person since there is no long term need for it. And feels that there is transferrable skill.

 

Cheers..

[Khyber]

Ben,

 

I am sorry if I have misled you with the word "executive". What I meant is actually lower rank (for example senior engineer or senior accountant) trying to apply higher rank (which considered a junior management role such as section manager i.e engineering manager or finance manager). Thank you.

[Dfx16]

Hi TS, how do u find those who only got high school qualification but is doing petty well for eg. Senior manager or GM of big establishment

 

I read somewhere this group of people are in great demand now as they can think out of the box to find success

 

Are they in great demand now?

 

I for one only shortlist those with good working attitude with or without paper qualification and I won't hesitate to terminate their services if they can't proof themselves within 6 mtns

 

I think most of those without paper actually manage to stay longer with me

[1fast1]

How come you only interview ladies? What kind of job is that?

Sounds like @Jamesc was looking to fill a lucky lady's vacancy rather than she filling his.