Career Guides and Jobs in Singapore - jobsDB Blog

Have you checked out our new Resources site?

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 03:11:00 +0000

Our Resources site has a new look! Reading and finding career tips and advice has never been easier.

Recently revamped, the Resources site now offers better navigation functions and a minimalist design for easy reading. Are you a student? Check out our Fresh Graduates page! Are you a job seeker looking for job hunting tips? Visit our Job Hunters page! Are you an employer? Find advice and tips in Employer Zone!

It's an all-in-one site for all the advice you need. Check it out now: jobsDB Resources

How Dating and Finding A Job Are More Similar Than We Think

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 02:55:00 +0000

Have you ever noticed how similar finding a partner and finding a job in Singapore are? In fact, the two are so much alike, a dating site in the US, eHarmony, is starting a job matching service based on this idea.

Source: Daniel Tewfik

While the two are very much alike, professionalism at work during Valentine's Day is best paired up with discretion - not drama and romance - in the office.

Take a look at our Valentine's Day etiquette tips that you can pay heed to, so that you can save yourself the blushes or from being the subject of gossip from your colleagues on the 14th of February.

Happy Valentine's!

Quiz: Can You Deal With Drama During A Workplace Crisis?

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 09:55:00 +0000

Drama in the office is never pleasant in a full-time job. What's more, it has the potential to continue on a daily basis - giving you unneeded stress. An article on our website has outlined the several ways to deal with drama caused by office gossips, negative and angry co-workers.

However, in order to really know if you're able to handle drama - internal and external - like the seasoned professional that you are, take the following self-quiz that tests your responses caused by drama from crises!

1. You're in the midst of a huge project when a colleague resigns. He leaves you holding his part of the project, which you know nothing about. Do you:

a) Ask him to tell you all about his project work before he leaves? If you can handle this, you'll stand to increase another feather in your cap!

b) Call him even when he's long gone to follow up.

c) Sit on it until a replacement is hired.

2. A vendor says your company's cheque payment has bounced and now payment is overdue. What do you do next?

a) Give them the number to your accounts dept.

b) Go and ask your accountant for an explanation?

c) Apologise and tell the vendor, "You'll get your payment ASAP"

3. Your boss is set to make a major presentation when his/her Powerpoint won't open.
Do you:

a) Run off to the ladies so you can let someone else deal with the mess.

b) Offer her your laptop to use, which -just in case- has a copy of the presentation.

c) Call the IT guy back at the office and ask him to coach you a solution through the phone.

4. The papers published a bad story of your CEO and you are the first to see it. What do you do?

a) You already knew this would be published and to defend your CEO's position, you've already drafted a letter to the editor. You then discuss with your CEO and communications team to come up with a unified response.

b) Pretend you didn't see it and continue your routine as usual.

c) Pick up the phone, berate the editor and demand the paper to retract their statement.

Answers:
1) a 2) c 3) b 4) 1

Tell us your 2014 Career Resolution, and win vouchers to help realise it!

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 08:51:00 +0000

Have you ever set a resolution to take up a new skill, update your work wardrobe, or improve your public speaking to Do Better in your career? This new year, JobsDB Singapore is going to help you realise that!

Simply post your ultimate Career Resolution for the new year and ask your friends to Vote for it on our Facebook Page! The entry with the most votes on 30 Dec will win $250 worth of related vouchers to help the winner realise his/her dream!

What's more, once our Facebook page reaches 25,000 likes, we will award one lucky voter with a $50 shopping voucher!

So go on, tell us your top 2014 Career Resolution and we'll help you accomplish it!

Contest ends 30 Dec.

9 Essential Qualities of Highly Promotable Employees

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 07:19:00 +0000

Do you wish to get promoted sometime soon in your new job in Singapore? Well, according to an article on LinkedIn, the key to advancing in your career is based on your attitude.

Yes, not your qualifications, not your impressive skill sets, not what you should do (although it is important as well). It is your attitude that drives your achievements, successes… everything.

Here are some of the attitudes that make up an incredibly promotable people.

1) They are humble

While arrogant people think they know everything, the humble person is always learning, asking questions, asking for help.

They share credit because they instinctively know that every success is actually a team effort. They are willing to take on any job, big or small, thinking that no job is beneath them. In the process, they prove that no job is above them.

They know that success isn’t about how high you can reach, but by how low you are willing to bend.

2) They are willing to serve others, not just themselves

They’re also team players, making the atmosphere around their office better. They provide the tools, training and culture to help their employees do their jobs better and achieve their own goals.

They employee who is in it for himself will someday be all by himself. The employee who is in it for others may not get the limelight, but surely and steadily, the right people will notice.

3) They are optimistic

Optimists are an asset to any situation, just because optimism is infectious. They add energy to meetings, businesses and situations and take more intelligent risks because they deal with what can go right. They believe with the right mindset and hard work, they can accomplish almost anything.

4) They think about the execution part, too

Remember the colleague who was NATO (no action, talk only)? Well the best employees not only plan, but they develop, strategise and operate plans. And then –get ready for this- execute, adapt, revise and refine them. They’re the ones who are doing stuff and not just thinking about stuff.

5) They think long-term

Real successes aren’t short-lived. People who make them are also able to consistently inspire, motivate and make others feel better about themselves – always. In time, they will be placed in positions where they can influence the long-term success of their team, and ultimately, company.

6) They are self-aware

People who understand themselves, and in return understand others around them are self-aware. They are more accepting of the weaknesses and failures of others because they know how it feels like to fail.

They lead with empathy and compassion because they know how it feels to not receive any. They help solve problems for the team, company and even clients.

7) They’re generous with information

Finally, the best people in life like to spread knowledge. They make sure that others in their team learn and gain experience that will be useful for life. In the process, a person who is a teacher will build strong teams.

How successful billionaires see failure

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 04:09:00 +0000

Successful people not only learn from their mistakes, but also learn to accept failure as part and parcel of what they do in life. What can people searching for jobs in Singapore learn from these ultra-successful personalities? It's learning how to stand up after a fall. For example, after going through a failed interview or receiving a less-than-stellar performance review. Instead of wallowing in self-regret, do what these entrepreneurs do: dust off the dirt, learn from mistakes and get back to work.

Here are some quotes by the people who've enjoyed immense success as well as failure.

"Everyone has had them [mistakes]. Bill Miller. Buffett has had some doozies. Peter Lynch. Everyone. You know who didn't have bad years? Bernard Madoff - until he got caught." - Ken Fisher, billionaire investor.

“Almost any mistake you can make in running a company, I’ve probably made.” - Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder.

"In fact, failure is one of the secrets to success, since some of the best ideas arise from the ashes of a shuttered business." - Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder.

"Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.” - Elon Musk, Tesla founder & Paypal co-founder.

Finally, learn how to actively manage your success and career path by conducting your own career review where you look back on your week, month and even your year.

Thinkers to seek out for your team

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 09:43:00 +0000

A strong, collective team is formed by a diverse mix of thinkers and personalities coming together to do great work. Many jobs in Singapore aren't just isolated workers huddled in a cubicle - very often professionals work as a team to bring projects or an objective to fruition. Hence, employers do have to make a conscious choice when it comes to building their teams.

According to Katya Andresen, the President and COO/Incoming CEO at ePals, her 6 top thinker types that she seek for her team are:

1. The Dreamer
He or she never ceases to imagine what's possible and can supply the team with an optimistic creative energy. A dreamer can thrive even in customer service or admin jobs, as he or she always stretches the bounds of what is considered achievable.

2. The Debater.
Debaters point out the flaws in your plan, question your assumptions and see the problems before others do. Their nature forces you to strengthen your arguments.

3. The Disruptor
This personality challenges the status quo and breaks others out of their mental ruts. They're intellectually curious and lateral-thinking in nature who are first o spot competitors and untapped opportunities.

4. The Driver
Natural leaders at heart, they bring a crusading vision to the job at hand and supplies the forward momentum even when others can't seem to maintain their motivation or when team morale is down.

5. The Detailer
They focus on the practical parts, saving everyone from making mistakes and design flaws. Even the best-laid plans can be diagnosed by them to need improvements.

6. The Doer
He or she gets stuff done, period. They're a wonderful counterpart to the strategists because they can deliver work on time, all the time.

What kind of thinker are you and which kind of thinker would you like to be on your team?

Daily Q&A Lucky Draw on Facebook till 31 Oct

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 01:20:00 +0000

Want to win a $10 Ben&Jerry's ice cream voucher with just a few clicks of your mouse? Come play our Daily Q&A Lucky Draw on our Facebook till the end of October 2013 (weekdays only)!

At noon, we will ask a question that has to do with our INFocus October theme of part-time Hospitality, F&B and Retail jobs. Find the answer in one of our INFocus articles and with the answer, share the article which you got your answer from with the hashtag #jobsDBSG to enter!

The winner will be announced at 6pm every weekend. Stay tuned and Good Luck!

T&Cs: Valid Singapore residential address must be given to us if you're announced as the Daily Winner as vouchers will be mailed over. Judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained after announcement of results.

The Most Awkward Rejection Letter Ever?

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 07:08:00 +0000

Warning: Do not try this in your actual job application.

A cheeky job seeker in the UK applied for a job at Cadbury for a Global Quality Manager role with a quote in his resume saying that he used to be a "super secret spy" and that one of his references was "Elizabeth *wink wink*" and the other, his eBay feedback.

The job seeker, whose Twitter handle is @jamieDMJ, attached a £5 note to his application with a sketch of an "everlasting chocolate bar." The note was returned to him with the Cadbury rejection letter, as shown below.

While this application tickled us and gave us a bit of a laugh, we do encourage job seekers to take their cover letter and resume-writing seriously as these documents can potentially land you the interview, or better still, the job of your dreams!

For great tips on resume writing for Hospitality or career advice on part-time F&B & Retail jobs, visit jobsDB's INFocus October.

Also, find close to a hundred available Food & Beverage jobs at jobsDB Singapore!

Beat Mondayitis and get FREE ice cream while at it!

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 06:51:00 +0000

Join us in our quest to keep the dreaded Mondayitis away!

Be one of the first 888 to sign up for Job Alerts to redeem a FREE Ben & Jerry's ice cream treat on us.

Don't forget to give us your mailing address so that we can post the voucher to your mailbox!

Subscribe to Job Alerts and redeem your ice cream now!

View the results of our Employee Workday Profile Survey below.

The Employee Workday Profile survey canvassed the opinions of 379 employers and more than 4,300 job seekers in Singapore and uncovered the following findings:

• 44% of workers say they are least productive on Mondays
• 70% of employers in Singapore report that they receive more Medical Certificates (MCs) on a Monday than any other day of the week
• 72% say employees are most commonly late for work on Monday morning.

jobsDB MD Angeli Beltran interviewed on 938LIVE

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 06:37:00 +0000

As one of the leading job portals in Singapore, jobsDB Singapore has publicly addressed the issues surrounding MOM’s new Employment Pass (EP) rules to the media. Our Managing Director, Angeli Beltran, gave interviews to Today newspaper, the print and online versions of Business Times as well as on radio station 938LIVE’s The Breakfast Club discussing the impact of the new rules.

Hear a snippet of the radio interview below.

Read the full article here

Congratulations to our Job Alerts sign-up winners!

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 06:29:00 +0000

Congrats to the lucky winners who will walk away in style with $100 worth of shopping vouchers!

We'd also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the contest and subscribed to Job Alerts during the month of September 2013.

View the whole list here > http://bit.ly/1bGK5PG

Do check back regularly to http://sg.jobsdb.com/sg to participate in more exciting contests and campaigns!

Beating Mondayitis in the Central Business District

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 05:35:00 +0000

Our Beat Mondayitis cheerleading squad visited Raffles Place on the Monday morning of 7th October to help chase away the Monday Blues of people working in the CBD.

Their high-energy cheering and gravity-defying mid-air flips brought an otherwise dull Monday morning to life! Several passers-by stopped to take photos and videos of this special event that spanned over an hour from 8 to 9am.

The cheerleading squad also distributed flyers that notified the rush hour crowd of FREE Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with every Job Alert sign up for the first 888 subscriptions.

You can redeem yourself a Ben & Jerry's voucher too!
Visit jobsDB's Beat Mondayitis microsite now and be the first 888 to sign up to Job Alerts for a free ice cream treat!

More about Mondayitis
Pronounced Mon – dai – eye – tis

Mondayitis is a name given to describe fatigue, dreadfulness and general unhappiness commonly experienced by workers on Monday mornings. Also known as Blue Monday, the term 'Mondayitis' was popularised by online job portal, jobsDB, as part of their “Beat Mondayitis” publicity campaign that was launched on 30 September 2013.

Causes of Mondayitis
The cause of Mondayitis is brought about by the beginning of the work week where most workers are said to feel anxious, tired, and moody according to a jobsDB survey on work productivity in Singapore.

Effects of Mondayitis
The Employee Workday Profile survey canvassed the opinions of 379 employers and more than 4,300 job seekers in Singapore, and uncovered the following findings:

• 44% of workers say they are least productive on Mondays
• 70% of employers in Singapore report that they receive more Medical Certificates (MCs) on a Monday than any other day of the week
• 72% say employees are most commonly late for work on Monday mornings
• Mondayitis, on average, lasts approximately for 4.5hours starting from 7am

Also, we would like to congratulate the lucky winners of the Employee Workday Profile Survey, Gary Toh and Gerard Tan. They were presented with their custom-inscribed iPad Minis.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the survey!

INFocus October: Part-Time Hospitality, Food & Beverage and Retail

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 02:20:00 +0000

Find part-time job opportunities that are just right for you inside jobsDB's INFocus October where hundreds of available part-time jobs in Hospitality, F&B and Retail await your application.

We also bring you useful tips that can assist you in finding the part-time job that you want as well as handy career advice on how to fare better in your part-time job.

There's better out there. Here's where you find it.

Click here to visit INFocus October now!

The Right Way to Interview Job Candidates

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 10:10:00 +0000

Whether the candidate you’re about to interview is an established professional or a young job seeker, you need to impress upon him that your company follows high standards of professionalism. Whatever favorable impression you made through your job posting on one of the leading newspapers and job portals in Singapore, you have to build on when you conduct your interview.

Be on time
Keeping an interviewee waiting for more than a few minutes is a sure way to create a bad first impression for your company. If he makes an effort to arrive on time, he has a right to expect the same from his prospective employer. Be on time, and you get his respect right off the bat.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/1fxDEef

Different Approaches to Resolve Office Conflict

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 10:10:00 +0000

Your job search in Singapore has finally landed you the job of your dreams. You’ve successfully moved from being a job seeker to a professional and you’re now leading a team of hardworking career-driven workers. Then, it happens. A conflict between team members threatens to disrupt harmony and workflow. How do you get the two warring parties to reconcile and get back on track? There are many different approaches to resolving conflicts. Here are a few that should prove helpful.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/1cDSwIp

Take Team Building to the Skies

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 10:09:00 +0000

In just about any job advertisement Singapore newspapers and job portals carry, you’ll find words like “team,” “coordinate,” and “work with.” This only goes to show how just about every employee, no matter what his job, has to perform a role in a group of other employees. In other words, everybody is part of a team, and for that team to succeed, its members have to work together well.

In their effort to make their teams perform as cohesive units, managers are constantly looking for novel team-building programs. These include company outings, games during parties and other activities that mix fun with the objective of improving teamwork.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/17rarfV

Announcing jobsDB Singapore’s new partnership with Yahoo!

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 10:05:00 +0000

SINGAPORE, 13 AUGUST 2013 – Leading online job portal, jobsDB Singapore, had commenced its partnership with Yahoo! on August 1st to create even more opportunities for job seekers in Singapore to find jobs. The strategic alliance gives Yahoo! Singapore’s 5.5 million monthly unique visitors direct access to jobsDB Singapore’s website via a new dedicated icon on the Yahoo! Singapore homepage. This new partnership significantly broadens jobsDB’s reach, benefitting both job seekers and employers alike as Yahoo! is one of the most popular online destinations here.

Furthermore, the partnership will also allow jobsDB’s 22,000+ available jobs – from temporary vacancies to full-time jobs – to be viewed by Yahoo! visitors. This further establishes the job site as a preferred place for employers to reach the widest breadth of potential employment candidates in Singapore.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/1ecINdM

Traits and Skills of Successful Salesmen

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 10:03:00 +0000

Sales jobs may vary in many ways, but the skill set that makes for good salesmanship remains constant across all industries. Sales professionals who have honed these skills are the ones most likely to move up to sales manager and sales executive.

It doesn't take natural talent to be an effective salesperson. It takes the following traits that can be developed and skills that can be learned.

Confidence
This is by far the most important trait of the successful salesperson. You must believe in yourself and your product for your prospects to believe in you. When you project an aura of confidence, you convince others that that you are a person they'll want to deal with. Speak with authority and answer questions without hesitation, and you're halfway towards making the sale.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/1a4XkFQ

jobsDB’s MD, Angeli Beltran, Talks to Marketing Magazine About Our Refreshing Brand Revamp

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 08:56:00 +0000

Angeli is pictured on the cover of Marketing Magazine's July '13 issue
with TBWA\'s Creative Director for our account, Eddie Azadi.

jobsDB’s Managing Director, Angeli Beltran, was featured on Marketing Magazine’s July ’13 edition in their cover story of jobsDB’s massive brand revamp. The cover story on Asia Pacific’s highest circulating publication for advertising and marketing professionals further establishes jobsDB as a leading jobs portal and thought leader for Singapore job seekers.

The magazine interview chronicled the development of jobsDB’s brand revamp: from the intense pitching process in which TBWA\ won, to the crazy deadlines that both the agency and our marketing team had to meet for the entire campaign to be completed within one week.

Read the whole article here.

This article is either written or edited by jobsDB SG. If you would like to publish or link it on your website or publication, you have to write to marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg for permission. We reserve the right to take legal action if we find copyright infringement.

How Talent Management Can Drive Business Growth

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:20:00 +0000

Talent management is one of the critical tasks every company has to undertake in order to keep their best employees, regardless of the state of the economy. Under favorable economic conditions, employees find it easy to conduct a job search in Singapore, mostly through job finder websites, in the hopes of landing a better job. This makes it necessary for companies to devise ways to retain their best talents. During difficult times, companies have to show their determination to keep their best employees, to prevent them from leaving once the economy gets better.

An ACCA report titled “Talent Management in 2010: Foundations for Growth” discussed the importance of talent management, as well as the effectiveness of current strategies, and the challenges involved in planning and implementing talent management programs. The report contains the findings of a survey on talent management practices in the finance profession, conducted among 1400 individuals from 105 countries.

The Importance of Talent Management
The ACCA report states that “good talent management practices lay the foundation for business growth, and are at the heart of value creation in the knowledge economy.” Finance professionals, it was found, recognize the benefits and importance of well-implemented talent management programs. They see these programs as critical to the development of high-potential individuals, the identification of future leaders, and the planning of succession.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/1ecJ8gp

High Potential Programs: Boosting Retention and Maximizing Talent

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:17:00 +0000

The science of finding the right talent has evolved considerably from the usual practice of visiting every job website Singapore has to offer, consulting career centers, and interviewing qualified job seekers. More and more employers are looking to High Potential Programs to build employee capability, retain the best talents, and drive business goals.

According to the latest Hudson Report, 65.3% of employers currently utilize High Potential Programs. This serves as testimony to the fact that these programs are a sound business decision.

Tony Pownall, General Manager of Hudson Hong Kong, shares: “The war for talent is still very much on, so it is now more important than ever for employers to reframe their approach to talent management, re-evaluating the skills and capabilities required within their teams and build a talent pipeline that will assist in meeting the challenge of current and future talent shortages.”

“As a result, we’re seeing a higher incidence of employers using High Potential Programs to boost engagement and retain staff which is key to driving efficiency, productivity and minimising business disruption.”

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/13bkXut

Eight Ways to Keep Your Best People

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:12:00 +0000

You never know when one of your key people will come up to you to express his intention to join another company. When you least expect it, you have to visit a Singapore job portal to look for a job seeker who can replace a departing employee.

There’s never any guarantee that you can keep this from happening, but there are ways to increase your chances of successful retention.

1. Communicate Employees always appreciate transparency. If you keep them in the loop about what is going on within the organisation, both good news and bad, you make them feel important, and that is key to employee satisfaction.

2. Educate It’s important for your people to know that you’re willing to invest in their future. Provide them with training programs and opportunities for career advancement, and you earn loyalty points with them.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/15rsAKI

What to Consider Before You Make a Counter Offer

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:07:00 +0000

A key member of your team has expressed his intention to resign, and you don’t want to lose him. Should you visit a job portal or one of those job search engines to look for a replacement, or should you make a counter offer? If you feel less inclined to take the job posting route, there are steps you have to take before making that counter offer.

Talk to the resigning employee
This serves a dual purpose: to express your regret over his decision, and to find out his reasons for resigning. What are his views on the job, his coworkers, and the company? These bits of information will help you move on to the next step.

Identify his concerns
After talking to the employee, you’ll have a clear idea of his reasons for resigning. Study these carefully: do they have to do with money, career growth opportunities, the workplace environment, work relationships, or personal matters?

To read the rest of this article, visit http://bit.ly/14WKEzX

Secure the Top Talent in Sales and Business Development

noreply@blogger.com (jobsDB Singapore) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:04:00 +0000

Among the Singapore jobs vacancies, spots for sales agents in particular are proving harder and harder to fill, as the war for talent reaches boiling point. People with sales experience and business development skills in information technology (IT), fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), life sciences and banking are highly sought after by employers looking to boost profits and maintain a competitive edge.

In line with broader labour market trends, mobility in sales and business development roles is high. A general employee lifecycle is between 18 and 24 months. For generation Y, it can be as short as 12, or even 6 months. Hence, one of the biggest challenges that employers of sales and business development professionals face is talent attraction and retention.

Here are some tips to help ensure employers can secure the best talent.

1. Acknowledge the talent shortage
Some senior managers maintain the perception that there are many jobseekers to choose from and it is an employers’ market. However, with 1.9 percent unemployment in Singapore, this is not the case. For some companies, sales and business development roles can remain vacant for up to six months. Once this is realised, the need to have a tailored talent attraction and retention strategy in place becomes obvious.

2. Focus on the key skills
In this talent-tight market, employers must keep an open mind when considering new hires for the company. Look deeper into the experience of a candidate, rather than rejecting them straight away because they do not match all of the required skills sets. Industry experience and inititiative play a big part. Also, while some candidates might not have years of experience, they might be enthusiastic and willing to learn. Once they are given the opportunity to learn and grow, they will succeed in their roles fast.

The most successful sales professionals usually possess a positive “can-do” attitude and well-versed communication skills. This means that they listen to customers closely, provide the right solutions, and are able to articulate the benefits of the products to the customers. They also need to have a high level of energy and be able to think strategically. If a jobseeker does not have relevant experience, but has these qualities, he might just be the next sales star.

3. Act fast
Interviews and approval procedures can take time. It’s important to bear in mind that if you take a while to get back to a good candidate, you run the risk that they might have accepted another offer and moved on. The lesson is: once you identify a talented individual, act fast and secure them immediately.

4. Nurture the talent you have
Once a new member joins the team, it is important for employers to bring them up to speed as soon as possible. Give them clear targets and strategies, and let them know the expectations from the onset. It will be good to give them break-down targets in first, third and sixth months and reward them once they meet these targets. This helps to keep them motivated and engaged.

Jobseekers in Singapore do not only focus on a competitive remuneration package, but also the training and career advancement opportunities provided. Business leaders need to think strategically and make sure they attract and retain the best talent to propel their business forward.

Secure the Top Talent in Sales and Business Development Article by: Richard Farmer, Director of Professionals, Randstad