Just earned your Diploma or Degree and eager to land your first job? Are you crossing over to a new industry to further your career? Whether you are a fresh job seeker or mid-career professional, finding a job in Singapore requires the right skill set as well as patience, perseverance, resourcefulness and strategic thinking.
What is the formula to find the job most suitable for you? How do you shorten the gap between obtaining your certification and getting a job? Here are 10 tips for job seekers who want to find employment quickly and start gaining work experience.
1) Enhance your employability skills
Employability skills are critical in today’s workplace. Interpersonal soft skills, such as the ability to handle professional disputes and manage emotions, as well as technical and digital skills can go a long way to enhance your career and industry-readiness.
2) Learn the art of cold emailing
Preparation is the key to effective cold emailing. Research about the contact person (eg. their job title, job function) and find a commonality between the both of you to break the ice quickly. You could indicate this commonality (eg. graduated from the same university, met in a trade event, etc.) in the email subject line to create a catchy heading.
3) Subscribe to job alerts
Job alerts inform you about job openings that match your current skill set and work experience. JobsCentral, jobsDB, JobStreet and MyCareersFuture are among the more popular job portals in Singapore.
4) Apply for job openings early
As soon as you see a job opening that you like, apply for it, and send your cover letter and resume. Employers normally consider applications within the first three weeks after the vacancy has been posted online.
5) Craft a well-written cover letter and resume
A cover letter serves as a summary of your qualifications that addresses the potential employer’s current needs and objectives. On your resume, accomplishments must be highlighted over your list of duties and responsibilities. Relevant skills and knowledge must be easily found in your resume.
6) Do informational interviews
Informational interviews are interviews with professionals working in the field that you are planning to break into. Inside information such as actual work scenarios and company culture can be of great help to you in your job search.
7) Set clear objectives when attending career networking events
Prepare a list of questions for employers and fellow job seekers, and show genuine interest in the people you meet during these events. Do not simply ‘use’ these new connections to get ahead in your career plans.
8) Check out the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Labour Market Statistical Information
To get a better understanding of employment vacancies in related industries or occupational groups, as well as unemployment figures, visit MOM’s Labour Market Statistical Information.
9) Tap into your network of connections
Your family and friends may also be potential sources or leads for job roles, companies or fields that you wish to explore further or begin a career in. You can easily follow-up on their commitments and they can provide you with immediate feedback on their leads.
10) Prepare carefully for the job interview
Draw up a list of questions based on topics that you would like to ask the hiring manager about, such as career growth opportunities and office culture. Write down 10 credentials (eg. qualities, skills, experience, certifications, etc.) that match the requirements of the job. Be prepared to cite examples of specific instances where you displayed a particular quality or skill.
With over 500 academic programmes for higher learning and professional certification courses for skills development, we provide opportunities for you to always stay relevant. To speak to one of our consultants, please call 8613 8989 or email us at [email protected]