KMES (Placement Division)

Placement assistance

KMES is involved in the management consultancy and placements activities for quite a long time

KMES placement assistance Unit was formed especially for the students with these objectives:

        To train and equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to increase their chances of securing jobs

        To create channels or links to assist students / members in their job seeking activities

        To provide students with the opportunity to be exposed to corporate world

Need a job? Let KMES help U!

KMES host immediate job vacancies from its partnering employers especially for its students. They can contact or email their resumes directly to the respective employers for the selection.

To further assist our members/students in their job search process, KMES provides the Resume Submissions service which is friendly and easy to use. Members / students will just need to fill in the resume form provided, and click ‘submit’ when completed. Their resumes will be forwarded to our partnering employment agencies for job consideration and selection.

Need more tips to assist you in your job search?

Following CAREER tips will be helpful in your career quest.

The job search process is a long one. A usual job search includes resume writing, job application and interviews. Negotiation can last from four weeks to many months. This is especially so in this tight job market. Jobseekers need to be realistic, persevering and keep an open-mind when it comes to applying for jobs and going for interviews. Below are some articles which advise you how to approach each stage of the job search process

        Want that job?- You must have determination, ambition, Confidence & Courage

        Getting started- Self assessment & job search

        Job application- cover letter, resume and interviews skills

        Put your resume to wok

        The impact of good resume

        Should you lie on your resume

        Action verbs to use for an interview/resume

        Important tips for your interview

        Top three interview questions to prepare for

        The basics of career advancement

        A changed world of job hunts

        Connect & Contact

Want That Job? You must have Determination, Ambition; Confidence & Courage

Paper qualification does not tell if you have the guts or the cumption to take your company's business to a new level. According to good recruitment consultants, interviewers are looking for signs of the above qualities. What exactly are they looking for and do you possess the qualities?

You need not be a super-achiever to be successful in a high-flying job. But successful people have certain qualities and traits that set them apart. Their academic and paper qualifications only help them to secure an interview. It is a collection of unique qualities and traits that get them the job they love and do well in. These unique qualities are:

DETERMINATION
When you are determined to succeed at your job, you are more likely to be engaged and committed to acquiring new knowledge and learning additional skills. Successful job entrants never assume that what they have learnt in their previous job is sufficient for success in their prospective job. The answers they give and questions they ask even at preliminary interviews speak volumes about their sense of determination.

AMBITION
Without ambition, you are a non-starter in the job hunt. If you do not know what you are aiming for, how will you know whether you have arrived at your destination? Only if you have made the effort to understand yourself and listened to feedback, would you know what you are good at and what you like doing. At the same time be conscious of what others give you credit for. Based on these observations, you can develop a plan for a successful career.

CONFIDENCE
Confidence comes from knowing you have the talent to do something which employers and customers value you for. It is based on knowledge, practice, preparation, and understanding what is needed in the job you wish to succeed in. It makes you sharper and competitive. Most importantly, you exude confidence when you communicate from a position of strength based on your talent. Your talent cannot be defined by academic qualifications and certifications alone. Veteran interviewers have seen enough candidates to spot the talented ones and know their worth.

COURAGE
You need courage to start in a new job. You also need courage to say that failure is not an option. Returning to your old job or setting your sights lower should never cross your mind as possible options. Courage is not the same as bravado. Don't assume that if others can do something, so can you. Knowledgeable interviewers often pose simulated situations to test your level of courage in managing the unexpected and handling the ups and downs of a challenging workplace.

THE NEW WORKPLACE
Performance often determines success at work. Key drivers of performance are job-specific task proficiency, demonstration of effort and maintaining personal discipline. These are often reflected in the levels of determination, ambition, confidence and courage projected in interviews. Experienced interviewers at reputable recruitment consultancies are good at spotting these qualities and identifying the right candidates to recommend to clients looking for highly motivated and driven individuals.

In today's business world, it is not enough to fill vacancies with good or outstanding candidates. Bosses need a new breed of determined employees to take their business to a new and higher level in the global playing field.

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Getting started - Self Assessment & Job Search

Mind preparation is one of the most important tasks in a job search. You need to start with the right frame of mind and attitude, otherwise everything you do will show your lack of confidence. If you believe in yourself, your prospective employer will also believe in you. But you will not be able to convince them if you are not convinced yourself. Attitude is what counts here.

Firstly you need to be clear on what you want. Write down your criteria for a suitable job.
 

Some of these may include:

• Good working conditions
• Opportunities for further training and development
• Working place that is close to home
• Better pay
• Career advancement opportunities

Searching for a new job is similar to buying a new car or a television. You work out what you want, how much you want to spend, and the type of features you would like to have.

The next step is to list the criteria which your future employer may be looking for. Most importantly, you should be clear on the strengths and skills which you are offering. Some questions you should ask yourself include:

• What formal qualifications are required for this job?
• What are my interests?
• What relevant experience and skills do I possess?
• What are my work related strengths?
• What makes me better than the other applicants?

Write down your answers to these questions. Do not forget to substantiate with your past achievements. Ask your colleagues, friends and family what they feel are your strengths. All the above, when combined, is your value proposition to potential employers.

By now you should have a good indication of what you want and what your potential employer is looking for. If you are still not clear about what a job entails, try to find someone in the industry or a past employee of the company. They will definitely be able to help you.

Job Search / Career Management
Let's face it. You cannot expect a job to fall on your lap the moment you step out of polytechnic. Generally speaking, there are several approaches that one can adopt as part of the job search process.

• Respond to job listings on the internet, in newspapers and on trade publications.
• Check with school placement offices.
• Apply for jobs with head-hunters and employment agencies.
• Participate in Job fairs.
• Post your résumé on e-Recruitment sites.
• Network with friends, relatives, acquaintances and professional organizations.
• Cold calls potential employers and send your resumes directly to hiring managers.

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Job Application Tips /Cover Letter/ Resume/ How should I write my resume?  

Your cover letter is your initial sales pitch to succinctly state that you have what it takes to do the job.
 

What should I include in a cover letter?
 

Your cover letter should address specifically what you can offer in the form of knowledge, character, skills, ability or experience relevant to the job. It is about convincing the employer that you are a good fit for the job.

How do I get my cover letter noticed?
 

Your cover letter will not stand out unless you highlight clearly two or three reasons why you are different from the rest. These two or three reasons should be attractive enough for the HR officer to decide to look at your resume. They are looking for the answer to "Why should we hire you?” Do not be tempted to write too much in your cover letter. Keep it simple with three or four short paragraphs. Keep your sentences short and concise. Emphasis relevant work or personal experience. You can also include polytechnic projects or assignments that are relevant to the job applied. Do not forget to check for spelling and grammatical errors. Finally, do include your mailing address, email address and contact numbers.

Resume

The sole purpose of a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) is to show the reader what you are capable of. It should be a concise write-up of your personal details, background and capabilities. Most employers will skim through all the CVs and put aside only five to ten that might be worth reading. On the average, an employer will only spend around one to three minutes on each CV. In other words your CV has to stand out from the others.

This does not mean that the CV should be full of graphics, colours or printed on colour paper. Some employers may feel that if you have to use gimmicks to impress them, then you probably do not have anything to offer. A good CV should look neat, professional, and be easy to read.

What makes a good resume?

Your resume should include details such as:

• Your name, address, and phone/pager/hand phone number(s)
• A career objective statement
• Qualification details
• Employment history (on the job training, holiday jobs, part time jobs,)
• Key skills and competencies summary (relevant and specific polytechnic projects or assignments)
• For males, your NS records and details
• Knowledge of languages
• Awards and Scholarships
• Special accomplishments
• References
• Expected Salary

How should I write my resume?

Use action verbs and phrases in your resume
 

We suggest that you use action verbs and phrases when describing yourself and your work. Action verbs create the perception that you are a go-getter and someone who gets things done. For example: Developed and implemented an e-commerce website for my company within three months.

Prioritize and highlight your relevant key skills and competencies
 

Prioritize and highlight clearly in your resume, your key skills and competencies that are relevant to the job and support with actual achievements. For instance, if one of your key skills is web designing, highlight one or more web designing projects/ assignments that you had undertaken.

Avoid being long winded
 

Your resume should not be too long winded and should be succinctly written in not more than three pages.

Appearance counts
 

Create a resume that is easy to read with a layout that is neat and tidy. Do not use a font size or font type that is difficult to read.

Be truthful
 

It would be wise to stick to the facts that you can back up with evidence. Do not state skills or competencies that you do not have.

Interview skills

Preparing for job interviews is probably the most important aspect. Do this right and you will breeze through it, go unprepared and you will fail miserably. Preparing for a job interview means getting your mind right and feeling confident. You have to show that you are the best person for the job.

Firstly do some research on the company and its products, know who their customers are and what the company's objective is. Once you have this information, and then make a list of the skills and knowledge which you possess that are valuable to the employer. You cannot "sell" yourself if you do not know the "product" you are selling well.

The next thing to do is to take note of your physical appearance. You need to dress appropriately for the job interviews. Do not wear anything too flashy. Neatness and appearing well-groomed is very important. The aim is to look professional without overdoing it.

Work out what you need to take with you. A copy of your CV, originals (and copies) of your qualification papers, copies of references, samples of your work (if applicable) and anything else that the employer may want to see. Make sure everything is well organized and neatly presented. Do not take a pile of paperwork that you have to sift through during the interview. That will give the employer the impression that you are disorganized.

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Put Your Resume to Work

We often say, "The road to a better job begins with a better résumé." Clearly the résumé is only the beginning. Once you have that résumé in hand, it's up to you to put it to work in the most effective manner possible.

Gone With the Wind is a great American novel. But would it have fulfilled its potential if only four or five copies were ever circulated? Your winning résumé presents you as someone who is capable of making a valuable contribution to a company. But how much good can it do if not enough people see it? Some people believe that if a résumé is really good, all they have to do is submit it to the company of their choice and wait to be invited for an interview and be offered a position. You may have an absolutely terrific résumé but that doesn't mean everyone who sees it will automatically call you in for an interview. Human beings are very subjective. A perfectly capable candidate may be judged "overqualified" for a particular position in one company while being considered "under qualified" for an identical position in another company by a different hiring manager.

Many would say the greatest twentieth century author for young children books is the late Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss. He was certainly the most successful. Yet his first book and perhaps his best-known, The Cat in the Hat, was turned down by over 60 publishers before someone finally realized its value. What if Dr. Seuss had given up after five, 10 or even 50 submissions?

That there is safety in numbers is an old saying. Suppose you have your heart set on going to work for one particular company but get nowhere with the person to whom you've applied. Sometimes it is possible to apply to another person within that same company who may also have sufficient authority to hire you.

Most people realize it is generally best to target many companies in hope of finding that right one that truly values you. The more résumés you circulate, the more interviews you'll get. The more interviews you have, the more likely it is you'll be offered a position. Systematic job seekers are able to establish a ratio of interviews per number of résumés and cover letters they send out. However, those with winning résumés and cover letters find that ratio improves substantially compared to when they were using their former run-of-the-mill résumé. Generally speaking there are six approaches that one can take as part of a serious job search:

• Responding to job listings on the Web and in newspapers and trade publications.
• Working with school placement offices.
• Working with recruiters and/or employment agencies.
• Posting your résumé for employers to see on eRecruitment sites.
• Personal networking with friends, relatives, acquaintances and through professional organizations.
• Contacting companies "cold."

This latter method is the equivalent of what professional salespeople refer to as "cold calling," and while some salespeople don't care to do it, many successful salespeople realize it is an excellent way to make sales. Not the least reason being that many of their competitors won't bother to do it! Generally speaking, we have found that this is the single most effective job-search method for the largest number of people.

Let's now consider some of the other approaches:

 

Applying for advertised positions is typically where you'll have the most competitors. It is therefore essential to have a top-quality résumé as well as an effective cover letter. Your ratio of interviews to applications will also depend on the law of supply and demand. Positions for which the supply of applicants is high but the demand low will be more competitive than when the opposite is true. However even here, a winning résumé makes your odds considerably better than they might otherwise be.

Both recruiters and employment agencies rely very heavily on résumés, as this is how they first present job prospects to their clients. Therefore, if you want to be taken seriously by these people, it behooves you to have a winning résumé.

The quality of service students and alumni receive from placement offices of schools, colleges and universities vary greatly. Some do little more than post job openings while others help students write résumés and organize a systematic job search. Likewise, the quality of assistance students receive to write their résumés vary. A few placement people are professional résumé writers; however, they are very rare. Most of the time the student is merely given a few sheets of résumé-writing instructions or at best a "how to" book. If you are a student who has already taken the time to prepare his or her own résumé, you should consider if it is effectively marketing what you have to offer or merely makes you come across as just another body.

Because students and recent grads typically find themselves competing with large numbers of people in similar circumstances and often all at the same time of the year, they as much as anyone need résumés to tout the UNIQUE contribution each of them can make to a prospective employer.

The committed job seeker should by no means overlook personal networking. Nor should your network be limited to those you know. Rather, it should branch out from those you know to those they know to those they know, ad infinitum. That is why an introduction obtained through networking can be so valuable. It not only opens the door but serves to counter much of the initial mistrust that is endemic when we meet people today.

So by all means expand your personal network as far as possible and have plenty of copies of your résumé to pass along to people, some of which they can, in turn, pass along to others.

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The Impact of A Good Resume

Your existing CV probably makes an intelligent attempt to prioritize information but does not begin to do justice to the full range of your professional expertise in terms of roles and achievements.

Most people, when writing their resumes or CVs, err on the side of the conventional. In order for employers to single you out as the most intelligent applicant, your resume needs to a) tell a clear story, b) contain accurate messaging that expresses both your abilities and your potentials, c) show that you organize information well by the way your CV and cover page read. Remember, your resume and application letter really "speak" to a reader from the word go.

When none of these objectives is achieved, the CV feels ordinary. Anyone picking it up for the first time is more likely to feel tired than excited because they are going to have to work at finding out what this resume really represents?

Good CVs tell it quickly and clearly. Good CVs have such stunning organization that they arouse curiosity and admiration.

It is the lively detail you put into each job description that corroborates your main claims and shows that you understand what people will be looking for.

Any CV without this level of impact ends up as a dramatic underselling of your career potential.

Some questions in appraising your own CV:

1. Is your CV hard work for the reader?
Can someone tell within 10 seconds of glancing at your CV or résumé what you are about, what you have to offer, what the highlights of you track record are and what professional levels you have achieved?

2. Is the design professional and effective?
Have you created a simple, unfussy document that is the right length, with a universal Internet ready font (remember, this is the CYBERAGE!!!), not to the same template from a book or software program that everyone else uses and not so old fashioned that it makes you look dim?

3. Is the information architecture truly intelligent?
Have you prioritized and built information in a manner that a recruiter needs to know and relegates the less important details or does your CV bore people stupid with trivial information?

4. Is the career narrative focused and exciting?
In a great CV, it is possible to integrate chronology with function and create a brief but compelling narrative that creates a fascinating context that makes people want to know more. Impress them with your ability to communicate and attach highlights to history so that they do not need to search around the unsubstantiated superlatives that characterize some resume styles.

5. Does your CV position you properly for change?
Is there a career case made for what you want to achieve, with corroborating evidence and indicators of likely future performance, achieved in a subtle way without reference to embarrassing claims, objectives, profiles and sets of alleged skills?

6. Do you know how to write a brilliant letter?
One with perfect grammar, minimal repetition of the CV, free from clichés, more sophisticated than following the job requirements slavishly, summarizing your best points while addressing the stated and unstated needs, with a lively rhythm, capable of making people want to spend time with your CV?

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Should You Ever Lie On Your Resume?

Surveys indicate that anywhere from 23 to 45 percent of all résumés being circulated contain significant fabrications. The areas most frequently embellished are education and dates of previous employment. It is not hard to figure out why some people resort to this in a competitive job market.

People who resort to this are unaware that prospective employers are increasingly checking out all the facts cited on a résumé. An ever-increasing number of companies are now contracting out with firms who do nothing but check the veracity of résumés.

When people are caught in a lie, their chances of getting the job instantly drop to zero, while those who've already been hired using a less-than-truthful résumé are subject to immediate dismissal. And that's not all. In the US, employers have been known to file lawsuits against people who've lied on their résumés in order to recover expenses involved in recruiting, interviewing and/or hiring that person. And they've sometimes even won punitive damages. Clearly, lying on one's résumé is a risky and dangerous matter

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Action Verbs to Use For An Interview/Resume

These are some action verbs that should be used in your interviews and resumes. Actions verbs help create for you the perception that you are a go-getter and someone who gets things done. Using too much passive terminology will make you appear to be slowing moving and lazy.

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Important Interview Tips
 

Source: www.resume.com

This is a long article as it should be in order to give you useful pointers before going for your interviews. To help you read this more easily, we have divided the article into 4 sections, Before the Interview, At the Interview, Questions to Ask and Closing an Interview.

Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two job interviews you ever experience are going to be exactly the same. Therefore, no list of interview tips that either we or anyone else may give you is going to be equally applicable in all situations.

However, all interviews are sales situations with the job seeker in the role of seller. In recent years so much has been studied and written about effective selling and marketing that one could say that what had been the art of selling is now a science.

The interviewing tips that follow are based on the principles of effective salesmanship. Naturally some will be more applicable in your particular situation than others. The purpose of these tips is to help you prepare in advance for every interview. They are intended to help you orient yourself ahead of time as to what it is you have to sell as well as how you hope to make the sale.

Interviewers generally prepare for interviews and have an idea of what it is they are looking to "buy." It is possible, if the interviewer’s original concept does not describe you to a "T," that you might change the interviewer’s mind in your favor during the course of the interview. But in order to convince interviewers that what you have to offer is best for them, you must first be fully aware of what it is you have to offer and how and why it is best for them.

While you shouldn’t go into an interview unprepared and simply "wing it," don’t go to the other extreme and conclude that you can handle it all from a prepared script. Ultimately it comes down to just two principles:

KNOW YOURSELF, which does require preparation and with which these tips can help you, and...

BE YOURSELF, of which Shakespeare wrote, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night to the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Before The Interview

1.  Find out as much as you can about the company. Ideally you should know where it is headquartered, what its main products or services are, how big it is in terms of annual sales or number of employees, who its primary customers are and who are its main competitors.

2.  If you can find out something about the person or persons who will be interviewing you, that can also be helpful. Particularly their job title, how long they’ve been with the company, who do they report to and their reputation within the industry. Any interests you may have in common might also be of value.

3.  Make sure you have directions for getting there.

4.  Be familiar with your strong points - those attributes that you have that other applicants for the same position do not necessarily have. Or, to put it another way, be ready to give the interviewer reasons for hiring you and not somebody else. Be prepared. Write them down before you go on the interview. Then carefully and repeatedly go over them in your mind. They should serve to enable you to stand out in the employer’s mind. As in all sales situations, the features that characterize you should be translated into benefits for the employer. Suppose you successfully served in the military. That is a feature of your past. You can, for example, turn it into a benefit by explaining that your success in the military is indicative of the fact you are a good team player, something most employers very much look for. If you have specific computer skills, show how you can apply them to meet the employer’s needs.

5.  If you are entry level or a career changer, make sure you know as much as you can about the industry you’re seeking to enter and your future job function in particular. Keep up with the latest trade publications or professional journals. Be familiar with the latest trends as well as industry jargon and buzzwords.

6.             Think you’re right for the job? Then bring along tangible proof. Employers are scared to death of hiring the wrong person and know that mistakes in hiring occur all the time. Anything you can do to alleviate those fears definitely strengthens your position. If you had good grades in school, particularly in courses that relate to the position you’re seeking, you might want to bring along a copy of your transcript. Likewise any certifications you’ve gotten or other proof of training. Most people who’ve won an award can show proof of it. Perhaps you were written up in a positive way in some publication. Bring along a copy. Ditto for any letters of recommendation you may have as well as performance reviews or thank-you letters and notes of appreciation or other testimonials from customers or clients. Any accomplishments in community or volunteer work? Certificates of appreciation, perhaps? Show proof of that. Don’t forget situations where you were part of a group and received some form of group recognition. Finally if you can bring along samples of work you’ve done in the past or even a videotape of you in action that are in any way related to the job, it can make that extra bit of

difference.

7.  Bring along a list of three or four references. You might wish to read our section on References.

8.  Bring along a pen and pad in case the interviewer provides information you need to jot down.

9.  Though casual dress is becoming more common in many companies, unless you’ve been advised otherwise, it’s best to dress in conservative business attire.

10.           Be sure to allow ample time to get there, especially if you’ve never been to that location before. It’s always better to have to wait in your car or in a coffee shop than to arrive late. Be sure to telephone ahead if you are running late. If you’ll be more than a few minutes late, it’s generally best to re-schedule the appointment.

11.           Have the right attitude. Always keep in mind that you are going on the interview because you have valuable skills and other attributes (such as the ability to get along with others, a good work ethic, etc.) that employers need. You are facing the prospective employer as an equal. Employers need good employees at least as much as you need a good job. If this particular employer should decide not to hire you for any reason, it is a certainty that someone else will. On the other hand, should you come across as desperately needing the position in question, you cease to be the employer’s equal. You subtly convey the message that you don’t have all that much to offer since if you did, you wouldn’t be so desperate for this particular position. Be honest. Be open. Be yourself. If the position is not for you, that’s OK. Taking the wrong job is almost always worse than not taking the job at all. No one has the right "chemistry" with everyone they encounter. Get enough interviews and you’re bound to encounter someone who speaks your language and vice-versa. Always keep your head high and your eyes on your goal. Always aim for a win-win situation. If you show employers you can meet their needs and they clearly see that you can, then they will have every reason to try to meet your needs as well.

12.           Be yourself. Getting a new position can be likened to getting married. Both you and the employer need as much relevant information about one another as possible. Be prepared to present yourself in an honest, forthright manner. Being hired and then let go shortly afterwards because the hiring manager got the wrong impression of you is worse than not being offered the position in the first place. Ask yourself, do you just want any job, or do you want a position in which you can truly succeed?

At The Interview

1. Be sure to look the interviewer in the eye when greeting him/her. Shake hands in a firm but not overbearing manner.

2. Unless the interviewer immediately takes the lead, you may want to say something to establish rapport and break the ice. Comments on a picture or a piece of office furniture, the weather, a current well-known community or sports event can all be appropriate. Mentioning a mutual friend or acquaintance can be even better.

3. When answering a question, be sure to maintain eye contact with the person to whom you are speaking. This is important, as it is indicative of both sincerity and commitment on your part. If you’re being interviewed by more than one person, concentrate primarily on the one who asked you the question, but also look at all of the others, each for a few seconds.

4. Keep in mind that every interview is a sales situation with you as the seller and the employer as the prospect. You think you’d be great in this position? Fine, but so does most every other applicant. You are not selling yourself so much as your ability to do a good job based on a combination of your specific skills, talent, aptitudes, experience, intelligence, character, work ethic, reputation, personality, academic achievements and possibly other factors as well. It is important not to come across as anxious or desperate. Realize you have significant skills and other specific attributes that are of value, whether to the company with which you are now interviewing or another company.

5. As those who’ve had sales training know, the seller should assume the sale. When you are discussing what you would do in the job, speak as if you know you’re the one who is going to get the position.

6. Nearly every hiring situation has to do with the employer’s need to solve a problem. Find out why the position is vacant and what are the main problems the employer needs solved by you. You may ask how and why the position became open. Explain how you will (not would or could) solve the problems and how and why you will (not can or could) do a better job than the former occupant of the position.

7. You will be asked a number of questions. You may be asked to describe your weaknesses as well as your strengths. We all have weaknesses. However, your weaknesses ought not to reflect on your ability to do an effective job. For example, a terrific sales professional may be weak at handling paperwork. A gifted artist may be a poor public speaker. A capable writer may be poor with numbers, but a bank employee should not be. You may be asked why you left previous positions and what former employers liked and disliked about you. Again, whatever they disliked should be irrelevant to your ability to do a good job for the company with which you’re interviewing. (If not, why are you there?)

8.             Not every employer is a great interviewer. Do not depend on the interviewer to bring up all the issues that are significant to you and your ability to demonstrate what you have to offer. Here are some ask: questions you may need to

What are the main responsibilities for the person in this position?
What are the key attributes you are looking for?
What are the primary results you want me to produce?
What do you consider ideal experience?
What else can I tell you to help you evaluate my background?

In other words, you have to know what the employer’s needs are before you are able to demonstrate that you can fully meet and hopefully even exceed those needs.

What are the Questions to ask?

1. Only ask the questions if they will turn the conversation in the direction in which you want it to go. Suppose you have a major strength you believe might be relevant to the job but hasn’t yet been discussed. An elementary school teacher could ask, for example, if he or she would have the opportunity to utilize any musical ability they happen to have. A young attorney could point to his strong computer skills, etc. It is important to bring up anything that might give you an edge - anything that would make the employer think they would be getting more for their money if they hired you.

2. Be sure to show the interviewer any tangible proof of your ability that you brought.

3.     Besides questions intended to enable you to point to your strengths and what you have to offer, there are questions you can ask that serve to show both knowledge of the position and an interest in it.

Here are some examples:
 

• Questions about the specific nature of the business. For example, if it’s a law firm: What type or types of law do you specialize in?
• To whom will I report?
• Why did this position become vacant?
• Are there any specific problems you would need me to solve? (Then explain how you can solve them.)
• What changes do you foresee for this company (or department) in the near future?
• Can you share some insight regarding the company’s long-range plans and goals?
• Would you be willing to try me out on a freelance basis? (Ask this only if you don't think they're going to  offer you a regular position.)
• When would it be ideal for me to start?

4. DO NOT ASK ABOUT SALARY, VACATIONS, MEDICAL OR OTHER BENEFITS UNTIL YOU ARE OFFERED OR KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED THE POSITION.

5. Have your list of references at hand in case you are asked for them but don’t be the one to bring up the subject. Many companies do not check references until they have made someone a job offer.

6. Be confident. Present yourself as competent, capable and very professional, but at the same time, NON-THREATENING. Often people are scared to hire the wrong person for many reasons not the least of which is they perceive someone to be a potential threat to them in their present position. The last thing most employers are seeking is a person who’ll "rock the boat." Too often job applicants feel they need to come across as eager, ambitious "hot shots." It’s fine if you’re in sales and all that drive and zeal are going to be directed at customers and potential customers who are, after all, outside the company. But to give the impression you’re out to "take over" when you’re being hired for a supportive position is usually a big turn-off. Of course if you’re being considered for a managerial or executive position, it’s another matter, but even here some caution is advised as it’s important to fit into the existing corporate culture. A quiet, self-controlled inner confidence is indicative of a consummate pro. Keep in mind that people who appear non-threatening but are effective, capable professionals tend to be the ones who are frequently promoted within an organization.

The Close of the Interview

1.   Effective salespeople try to close every deal as quickly as possible. They frequently employ "trial closes" to see if it’s time to clinch the deal. Job interviews are usually somewhat more complex in this regard. The employer may have set up a two- or three-stage interview process involving multiple candidates, which would preclude a final close on the first interview. However, if the interview is a result of an unsolicited "cold" proposal letter you sent to a company, you may be the only one being interviewed and an attempt to close would be in order. Here is a trial close that would be effective in a wide variety of circumstances:

"I’m very much interested in the position, Ms. Jones, as it is precisely what I would like to do career-wise. I just need to ask you, based on where we currently stand, is there anything in my résumé or anything we’ve talked about today that might indicate to you that I would not be ideal for this position?"

If she says there is, then you’ve just gotten an important opportunity to clear up a misunderstanding that could cost you the position. If she says there isn’t, it indicates you’re either the frontrunner or at least a serious contender for the job. You can then ask, "Where do we go from here?"

2.   At the end of the interview thank the people for their time and indicate you look forward to being in

touch.

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Top Three Interview Questions to Prepare For

Bracing Yourself for the Tough Questions!

Sometimes, no matter how much you have prepared yourself for the interviews, you might just hit the curb and receive sudden hurls of really tough questions from the interviewers. Such situations are entirely unpredictable. You could never know what kind of ball (straight, curved or spinning?!?!?) the interviewer is going to throw at you.

So, what do you do? Sit there, stare at him and start to feel the cold sweat down your spine? Or rather, you could briefly and politely handle those questions that might take you off the course, then very smoothly glide it back into the earlier conversation, be it company's benefits or your experiences and abilities. The ball is in your court - take control and steer the conversation back to familiar grounds. Do not evade the question completely or it may give the interviewer the wrong impression about you.

On one hand, there are questions that you could never prepare for. On the other hand, there are some standard questions that are rather predictable. Make sure that you know them at the back of your hands so that you could just rattle off from your lips smoothly and professionally. Here are a few Q&A samples for you to take special note of because interviewers simply LOVE asking them.

What is your reason for looking for a new job?
 

This is a guaranteed number one question in the interviewer's mind. Boring as it may be, you would have to answer it nevertheless. The interviewer is just doing the routine checks, to make sure there are no issues like you being asked to leave the present job due to certain reasons, which may not be appreciated by the interviewer as well. Keep your answer very short and sharp - say something like, "the career advancement possibilities are limited so I'd like to seek something better elsewhere". Give a diplomatic but honest answer.

What sort of job qualities are you looking for?
 

This is not easy but then again, it is not very difficult either. The interviewer is going to put a big red cross against your name if they find that you actually do not know what you are looking for. Think of a good answer to this question well in advance. You should be feeling "hungry" for the job and show it with persuasive words.

Do you have any questions that you would like to ask me?

The interviewer is giving you a chance to ask questions, so grab this opportunity. Make sure that you have already prepared at least three questions in mind and integrate those into the conversation. Ask sensible and intellectual questions pertaining to the job. Questions such as, "What are the most important issues that is requiring attention now in the department / company?" will project you as a proactive character, who thinks ahead for the department / company's future development.

Remember that you will definitely encounter tough questions during your interviews. Be familiar and thoroughly prepared for the "expected" questions and half of the battle is won. It is crucial to have the right attitude and be confident. Experienced interviewers usually sense your air of self-confidence; so brave the storm and hurdle through the tough questions.

What Entry-Level Workers Wish They’d Known When They Graduated
-- written by Leigh SN Huang

For many college students, taking the headlong plunge outside the safe, secure world of college life results in a rude awakening to some of the cold and cruel realities of the real-world rat race. We talked to some local graduates to see what they wish they had known about the real world when they graduated and what advice they would impart to those about to leave college. In addition, we also have the advice from a senior manager from a MNC, on what fresh graduates should be prepared for when joining the workforce.

Do an internship (professional / industrial attachment).

It is important to perform an internship to "give you a taste of what work is like and to let you experiment with different fields before it counts," one graduate observes. Emerald Bik, a 1999 NTU Business graduate says, "It is a real eye opener as you actually get a feel of the working environment and the demands of your bosses. If you prove to be an exceptional worker, you might get a job offer which means you are guaranteed a job even before graduation." Emerald is now working at the Public Service Division, under the Prime Minister’s Office.

In addition, Adeline C., a senior manager from a Sony company advises that undergraduates should grab the internship opportunity to" gain valuable insights about the company operations by observing how work is being done in the organization, learn something about organization culture, behavior and management styles."

Start looking for a job as soon as possible?

"If you have time and energy, start looking when you are still in school," advises Sharon Lau, a Hong

Kong business graduate, "The early bird catches the worms." Emerald agreed. "The main advantage of looking for a job while you are still in school is to get ahead of others, to secure a job with less competition."

Be prepared!

The real world is very different from college! "I am realizing that college life is a breeze compared to working adult life," observes Sharon. "There is just a different set of responsibilities entirely!" Those serious responsibilities can be daunting. Another note: "If you make a mistake in college, it's depressing, but you can take the course again. If you make a mistake at your job, you may never get another job in that area." The main difference between the real world and the college world, as agreed by many, is you are not accountable to yourself only (as in college, bad grades will only affect you.). In the working environment, you get paid for what you do, and your actions have several (sometimes major) implications. You need to be responsible and accountable as more people are depending on you and the decisions you make.

Another word of wisdom from Emerald, "Adjust your mindset." She cautions fresh graduates to be more realistic about your expectations, so that you won't be overwhelmed by the real world. Accept the fact that it is hard to form real friendships in your working place and to be more cautious about whom to trust. Be more flexible as there aren't any hard and fast rules in the "real" world; you have to adapt quickly and to learn new things everyday. No one can afford to be complacent.

Speaking from the other side of the coin, Adeline reminds fresh graduates not to take things for granted. "One pays to learn in college. On the contrary, in the "real world", one should not expect to be paid to learn. To put it bluntly, the company does not owe the employees a living. Even though there are some organizations that plan the career path of employees and provide good training, this should not be taken for granted and need not be the norm."

Learn to project a professional image in every respect, including business etiquette.
Know how to dress, dine, and converse in a formal business setting. "Be professional . . . from your dressing to your diction," Sharon advises. She observes that "in today's workplace, image counts more than anything. An employer wants to be proud of the way you conduct yourself. You can have all the brains in the world, but if you cannot interact well with other professionals, you will only go so far."

What Adeline expects from her new workers: Professionalism - do what is expected at the highest standard of the profession. It includes observing simple work rules like not being late for appointments, dressing appropriately for the right occasion, and of course, being well-versed in your scope of work.

Take time to think about job offers.
"Companies understand that you are looking for a position, and most of them are willing to let you think over their offer and other offers for a reasonable period of time," says one recent grad. Set YOUR own priorities, e.g. salary, future prospects, location, ideals, working environment and colleagues. As for Adeline, interest comes first. She says, "Love your job and you don't have to "work" for the rest of your life!"

Realize that you may have to take the initiative to learn on your own in your first job.
"I think a lot of people get overwhelmed when they first get a new job," observes Adeline. "You're not going to be trained in every single thing you do. You'll have to learn as you go," noting that many of her organization's new hires look lost.

Develop good communication skills, both in terms of written and oral skills.
Most employers place a high premium on how well employees express themselves, so make good use what you learned in school with regard to writing and presentation techniques.

Make the most of the teamwork skills you learned through group projects and sports.
"All the groups that we were required to work in [in college] were very helpful," notes Emerald. "Teamwork skills were stressed in almost every position now," she says. "Even in the interviews, they were always asking, 'Give me an example of a time when you were in a group and...'

Sharon spoke of one recruiter’s comment: Teamwork is essential no matter what area you're in. The recruiter didn't hire an extremely qualified man simply because of his 'not being a team player.'"

One point that graduates tend to overlook though is how to utilize what they have learned in school. What you learned is definitely valuable, but the usefulness of your knowledge will depend on your flexibility in using them. Some subjects we took in school are useful in a very indirect way. For example, Mathematics or programming helps us to think logically which a must in many workflow projects is definitely.

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The Basics of Career Advancement

If your company is taken over tomorrow and you are made redundant, are you confident you can find a new job with a good salary? How do you rate in the employability stakes?
 

IN TODAY'S working climate, people must take responsibility for their own careers and plan for their advancement to senior jobs. Take-over bids mean there are fewer top jobs available in an organisation and more competition for them. People are often reaching the highest level available in their organisation at relatively young ages and want to move to greater challenges. Many have limited time contracts and are constantly looking for other opportunities.

If you find yourself looking for a new job, how would you fare? Your main asset should be your employability-not only your expertise but your ability to move between organisations; your ability to work with new teams; your ability to embrace new technology; and your flexibility.

It is important to keep up with new developments in technology and business or you may be left behind and be unemployable.

Organisations look for achievers, with a proven track record; skilled team-builders and leaders; people who can delegate; people with good human relations skills; good communicators; innovators in all areas of business; people with a high degree of computer-literacy; workers with skills in the new technologies; people who can make the hard decisions; people who are cost-conscious; and enthusiasts for quality and client satisfaction.

How do you rate with these skills? Would you be the person they decide to employ?

Prepare for your career advancement. Success doesn't just happen-you have to work at it. If you are ambitious and want to advance in your career you must:

• Believe in yourself and see yourself as a winner. Accept leadership roles in outside organisations to help build your confidence.

• Get to know the corporate culture and the politics of the organisation. Attend meetings, training programmes and socialise with staff.

• Be prepared to make firm decisions, even if some are unpopular.

As soon as you have the facts, don't procrastinate-make fast decisions. Use talented people with the strengths to help you overcome your weaknesses. We cannot be good at all things so team up with people with different outlooks and skills. Find a mentor who can advise you on your career and act as a confidant in times of uncertainty and stress. Many top managers owe their success to listening to the advice of experienced people. Learn to ask basic questions and make a special effort to become a good listener and be prepared to take advice and counseling.

Get honest feedback and evaluate your performance continually. Be appreciative of people who speak their mind and tell you the truth. Don't make excuses even when the truth hurts.

Keep learning new skills and updating others. Experiment with new ways to manage and do things. We learn best by trial and error. Don't be afraid of mistakes but be objective about your successes and failures. Be seen as a loyal, forward-looking employee. Promote and support the organisation that supports you.

Build strong teams and give them your full support. When they are set up don't interfere unless they ask for help. As a manager your main role will be to coordinate teams.

Lead from the front. Be a good role model. Innovate and experiment with new approaches to work. Think beyond the square. Make the most of all the brains you have within your business and all the brains you can borrow. Maintain high ethical standards. Unless you set high standards you cannot expect your staff to follow. Continually improve quality standards while maintaining high outputs. Quality can always be improved if you run an open business and keep asking: "How can we do things better?"

Become a good communicator and a competent chairperson. Unless you are skilled at getting your ideas across you will never be a successful manager.

Build good relationships and alliances in the business and the political worlds. Who you know is often more important than what you know! Join professional societies and network with people in similar jobs. Professional societies set standards and help you network and organise training programmes. Make the most of every opportunity to develop your professionalism.

Plan and enjoy periods of leisure. Make time to enjoy with your family and friends. Take holidays and charge your battery so you return to work refreshed with new ideas.

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A Changed World Of Job Hunts
Courtesy-- By Kamal Kant

Paper qualifications are no longer enough to get you a job you desire. Even the local employment market has gone global. People not only travel to neighbouring countries but internationally in search of a job. With unemployment fairly widespread in many countries, developing job-hunting capabilities has become a vital life skill if one hopes to remain employed. Just like a degree or diploma has
become a pre-requisite for jobs, you need to invest in attending workshops on careers, resume writing and interview skills besides engaging a career coach to guide and help you navigate your job hunt.

Applying for a job you want means developing the skills and qualities that go with the job. But such skills and qualities are not developed overnight, so the earlier you start the process of thinking, strategizing and planning towards that job, the more successful you are likely to be. You need to learn the processes and considerations involved in the job hunt. Increasingly to be a successful job hunter, you require undertaking appropriate reflection and rehearsal to improve your job applications and performance at interviews. Ultimately your job application must be a winning pitch to get you that sought after job interview. At the all-important interview, you need to make it a predictable, manageable and successful event.

Standing Out From the Crowd
It is important to remember that an estimated half if not more of the available job vacancies are open to people from any discipline. Many job opportunities in the 21st century often lie in areas that have very little relation to the discipline or subject you may have studied! This means that opportunities open to you are very wide indeed. But on the same note, it even intensifies the competition for the sought after job. As a consequence, employers may have much more interest in everything outside your subject or discipline of study. Many job hunters find this hard to acknowledge when their subject or discipline has been the focus of study and the investment of much money in tuition fees, books and living expenses during the period of study!

What are Employers Looking For?
You are more likely to be a stronger candidate if you appear more knowledgeable about the skills and qualities required for the specific job that interest you. It therefore critical to research to sufficient depth and breadth the specific job and company you are applying so that you stand out from the crowd. Why? Most employers and recruitment consultancies are seeking minimum effort and minimum cost in their recruitment and selection. Make their job easier by ensuring the contents of your resume and what you communicate at the interview fits their requirement snugly.

Employers are looking for candidates who are ‘work-ready’ and willing to learn quickly on the job with little or no training with minimal disruption and botheration to colleagues and supervisors! Candidates who demonstrate a broad range of people skills, task-management skills and proactive positive personal qualities as well as subject matter knowledge generally have an edge in their job hunt. Employers value soft skills and often shortlist candidates who demonstrate these appropriately throughout the recruitment and selection process. Though soft skills are hard to measure or quantify, they oil the wheels of any work situation.

The Rising Tide of Soft Skills
Research has increasingly shown the employer desired soft skills include efficient and effective oral communication, ability to work in diverse teams, understanding what is active listening, competency to communicate in writing concisely and meaningfully, an ability to size up situations and define them as solvable problem definitions. Employers are also seeking people who are good at influencing, persuading and convincing others besides having a knack for developing relationships and sensitivity to diversity.

If you have the capacity to share knowledge, manage your time efficiently and effectively, an adaptive communication style and be a greatly likable personality, you will come through as a preferred candidate. All these are not easy to demonstrate in resumes and interviews. This is where you need to learn and develop resume writing and interview skills. A critical reason to attend workshops and seek coaching in job hunting!

Employment Marketplace Requirements
Research also shows that traditional intellectual skills are still important. This includes an ability to critically evaluate evidence and make concrete decisions, argue logically, apply theory to practice, model work situations and challenges qualitatively and quantitatively as well as challenge taken-for-granted assumptions. Organisations are also demanding from candidates an understanding and appreciation of how the organisation works and its culture. Personality attributes required for short listing include a good sense of self-reliance and resilience, adaptability, flexibility, creativity and a ‘sixth sense’ of awareness!

Getting a job in today’s workplace is no longer a no-brainer. It needs learning, training and coaching. Not investing in developing job-hunting skills and work place competencies is simply accepting that you may remain or become jobless and unemployable!
 

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Connect & Contact

Looking for a new job? Networking is one of the most effective ways to find it.

HANDS up, those of you who have stayed in the same job for the past decade.

Chances are, very few people today qualify for a long-service award, which indicates a changing work environment.
A recent survey on career choices and transition conducted by human resource consulting firm DBM confirmed this trend. Globally, the average job tenure has dropped from seven to six years.

Gone are the days of lifetime employment. Whatever the reason for switching, statistics reveal that employees change jobs at least eight times in their lifetime. What will make each move a success depends on the depth and breadth of your personal network.

Despite the growth in print and online job advertising, networking is, by far, the most effective way to land you a new position. People with personal and professional networks in place find the process less daunting than those who do not have a solid contact-base.

Here are eight tips for effective networking:

1. Networking is not about asking for a job.
Nor is it merely a process of passing around your resume. It is about relationship building, information sharing and making long-term career connections. Seek as much advice and information, and use the opportunity to review and update your resume and address book.

2. Do your homework.
Getting to know your network contacts, their companies and their industries will help to establish a relationship of substance. Scour the Internet, ask questions, read up, and gather as much information as you can. Try to maintain a 90:10 ratio of research to actual contact time. That is, for every 10 minutes spent with a contact, try to support that with up to 90 minutes of research on the contact and his company and industry. It will help you take charge and be a value-added contributor to the conversation.

3. Consider your personal network.
Think of the people you come into contact with — from your family members to your doctor — these relationships are invaluable door openers to expanding your network.

4. Join professional associations and become an active member.
Consider joining the national or regional chapters of industry or professional groups. Membership and active involvement in an association's activities can open the door to new job opportunities. These professional groups also provide a venue to showcase your talents and skills through various activities, projects and presentations.

5. Keep on learning.
Consider taking management and executive development courses to enhance your career development and network. Post-graduate programmes are increasingly becoming more tailored to the working professional. Each educational experience you open yourself to is another way to meet people who could benefit your network and career.

6. Promote and publicise your achievement within the company.
As Singapore is host to many multinational corporations with regional and global operations, it gives employees the opportunity to excel and be model employees to their overseas counterparts. By promoting your achievement in high-profile and successful projects in Singapore, you will open up opportunities for possible overseas posting or lateral movement within the company, or even a promotion.

7. Update your address book.
In this age of constant job movement and change, it pays to make a social call or to send a short e-mail message every now and then to a select number of people who may be able to give you referrals or job leads. It also provides an opportunity to keep that network going.

8. Use direct marketing to your advantage.
Direct marketing need not be limited to large companies bombarding consumers with flyers and product brochures. With some creativity and thorough research, you can put direct marketing to good use by targeting companies or industries you want to get into. Depending on the nature of your target company, explore different ways of catching their attention, and do not limit yourself to the traditional letter of application.

Whether you are looking for a job, considering self-employment, or just keeping your options open, networking is a lifelong tool that will help you at any stage of your career development. No matter which outlets you choose to tap, the key to success in networking is to stay active and keep your networks working for you!

NOTE: All the above articles are adapted from MDIS.

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