Career Q & A

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Not sure where the jobs are?

Good times or bad, businesses have to continue and they will still need manpower to run them.  However, in the current dire economic condition, job vacancies are few and far between.  Job seekers should not rely solely on the traditional newspaper advertisements and online job portals.  Although these avenues will continue to be the key sources of employment prospects, job seekers will have to look beyond to explore other channels.

Coming out
With more people being affected by corporate restructuring and downsizing, retrenchments and lay-offs are no longer taboo. Job seekers should not feel ashamed of their circumstances. To begin on their job hunt, they are encouraged to mobilise their army of contacts such as friends and ex-colleagues, to help.

Network, network, network
Networking remains as one of the most effective job search strategies. These days, whenever a job opening surfaces within an organisation, the HR department would first circulate this piece of information internally and encourage staff referrals for suitable candidates.

Get first-hand information from business associates or ex-schoolmates about the latest job openings during alumni meetings, professional affiliation and recreational club events. A referral or favourable recommendation from a senior executive could also increase a job seeker’s chance of gaining an interview and landing a job.

Another networking avenue is professional networking portals such as LinkedIn, XING and Spoke. As these sites are popular with professionals, many head hunters and recruiters use them to network and source for potential candidates.

Know your recruiter
It pays to build a relationship and know your recruiter better regardless of the market situation. Recruiters are like financial planners; working adults should maintain contact with them. This is because a good recruiter would remember their candidates and be the first to contact them whenever there is a suitable career opportunity.

Help from community groups
Community groups such as the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat are very active in organising workshops and recruitment drives to assist unemployed professionals and women in their job search. These events equip participants with job-hunting skills and link them up with prospective employers.

Cast your net wider
Many organisations are using their corporate websites instead of various online job portals (e.h JobsDB, Jobstreet) to advertise job vacancies. This allows job seekers to apply for jobs directly with the employer who may not have made the vacancy public.

Career fairs and recruitment drives
In order to yield the best results from attending career fairs and recruitment drives, find out the available job opportunities at the event either from the event website or organiser. When at the fair, approach the recruiter or HR practitioner, give them your customised resumes and secure an interview on the spot.

Read between the lines
Amidst distressing news reports of shutdowns and retrenchments, there could be job opportunities in the newspapers. Sometimes, CEOs of performing companies would reveal that they are expanding and are looking into increasing their headcount.