Most people use social media to connect with their friends and some Singapore companies are now using it as a recruitment tool.
Online marketing agency Oasis Interactive uses social media to reach out to its customers. Now, it is turning to social media to attract job seekers.
Earlier this year, it placed an online advertisement asking job seekers to apply through LinkedIn, a business-oriented social networking website.
Jason Low, director, Oasis Interactive, said: "The quantity of resumes have been relatively smaller. But in terms of the quality, it's very good because they're more relevant and more earnest in their job applications.
"The resumes that we're getting is not just (from) Singapore or Malaysia. They actually expand to Australia and United States as well. We have corporate accounts in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Delicious.
"It's natural for us to think that our potential staff would be savvy enough to look for us in these business social networks."
Oasis Interactive said they also use social media to keep in touch with ex-staff, some of whom have become their clients.
But some industry players remain sceptical that social media is a reliable hiring tool. They said it is more effective for jobs in technology-related sectors or for companies hiring junior to mid-level staff.
They added that it is usually the younger job seekers that are less averse to using technology to help them secure jobs.
Joanne Chue, HR specialist division manager, Robert Walters, said: "It's beyond just looking at the job description. It's about looking at the company's plans for development. It's about understanding the culture, things that you can't see from a website."
Ms Chua also highlighted another danger of using social media to look for jobs.
She said: "Who knows who's reading your profile, it may be the boss you're reporting to that's surfing on LinkedIn and the last thing you want your boss to know is that you're potentially looking out for job opportunities."
Industry players said using social media as a recruitment tool could help companies gather additional information about potential employees. But at the same time, it could also allow their competitors to access information on their hiring habits.
However, the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) said the HR industry still has some way to go before it can fully harness the power of social media as a recruitment tool.
Mr David Ang, executive director of the SHRI, said bigger companies are more likely to use social media as a recruitment tool as small and medium enterprises may not have the time or resources to maintain an online presence.
- Channel News Asia
Dec 13, 2009
More jobs and better pay likely next year
Upbeat is the word. The outlook on the job and compensation front for Singapore next year looks promising.
More jobs will be available and pay packages will improve marginally, several human resource consultancies report, offering a ray of hope even as they add a few words of caution.
Much of the optimism stems from an improved forecast for the Singapore economy, though bud- get constraints and conservative projections for global economic growth suggest that the recovery, while firm, is still in its early stages.
- The Straits Times
More jobs will be available and pay packages will improve marginally, several human resource consultancies report, offering a ray of hope even as they add a few words of caution.
Much of the optimism stems from an improved forecast for the Singapore economy, though bud- get constraints and conservative projections for global economic growth suggest that the recovery, while firm, is still in its early stages.
- The Straits Times
Dec 7, 2009
Hirings picking up
FIRMS are hiring again, and the new year should bring job prospects that match pre-crisis levels, according to a survey.
The latest employment outlook survey by the Singapore arm of global human resource consultancy Manpower Inc, released on Monday, shows that employers expect a third consecutive quarter of positive hiring, reported The Business Times on Tuesday.
The net employment outlook - the difference between the proportion of bosses likely to recruit more and those likely to cut jobs - rose to 26 per cent. This seasonally adjusted figure was nine percentage points up from Q4's outlook - and a sharp 60-point turnaround from the survey's negative result in Q1 this year.
Back then, Singapore had the worst overall employment outlook among the 35 countries and territories that Manpower surveyed worldwide. But its current outlook for the first quarter of 2010 surpasses all markets but India, said the BT report.
Of 699 employers interviewed across seven industry sectors in October, the majority - 65 per cent - expect to retain their present headcount in Q1 next year, while 27 per cent plan to raise headcount, nine points up from this quarter. But 5 per cent indicate they plan to cut staff strength and 3 per cent are unsure of plans.
Job prospects seem brightest in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors, which has a net employment outlook of 37 per cent. The public administration and education sector expects brisk hiring too, with an overall net outlook of 36 per cent. Services reported a net outlook of 31 per cent, while manufacturing also expect to add headcount, with a net outlook of 20 per cent in the coming quarter.
- The Straits Times
The latest employment outlook survey by the Singapore arm of global human resource consultancy Manpower Inc, released on Monday, shows that employers expect a third consecutive quarter of positive hiring, reported The Business Times on Tuesday.
The net employment outlook - the difference between the proportion of bosses likely to recruit more and those likely to cut jobs - rose to 26 per cent. This seasonally adjusted figure was nine percentage points up from Q4's outlook - and a sharp 60-point turnaround from the survey's negative result in Q1 this year.
Back then, Singapore had the worst overall employment outlook among the 35 countries and territories that Manpower surveyed worldwide. But its current outlook for the first quarter of 2010 surpasses all markets but India, said the BT report.
Of 699 employers interviewed across seven industry sectors in October, the majority - 65 per cent - expect to retain their present headcount in Q1 next year, while 27 per cent plan to raise headcount, nine points up from this quarter. But 5 per cent indicate they plan to cut staff strength and 3 per cent are unsure of plans.
Job prospects seem brightest in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors, which has a net employment outlook of 37 per cent. The public administration and education sector expects brisk hiring too, with an overall net outlook of 36 per cent. Services reported a net outlook of 31 per cent, while manufacturing also expect to add headcount, with a net outlook of 20 per cent in the coming quarter.
- The Straits Times
Dec 6, 2009
Contract work a growing trend
WHEN she completed a one-year contract as a secretary in August, Ms Brenda Ang looked forward to securing a permanent job.
But the 41-year-old had no such luck despite a three-month search. Instead, she will start work tomorrow as a team administrator in a multinational company under a five-month contract.
'I was looking for a permanent job but, under current circumstances, it's very tough, even though the economy's picking up,' she lamented. She lost her permanent job last year when her expatriate boss returned home.
Her situation is not unique. According to a Ministry of Manpower survey whose findings were released last month, the number of term-contract workers rose to 197,200 as of June.
That was a 4.3 per cent jump from the same period last year, and made up 12.7 per cent of the total number of Singaporeans and permanent residents employed.
The duration for most of the jobs was less than three months. Such jobs soared 21 per cent from 72,200 last year to 87,400 this year. In contrast, the number employed on a permanent basis went up by only 0.8 per cent over the same period.
- The Straits Times
But the 41-year-old had no such luck despite a three-month search. Instead, she will start work tomorrow as a team administrator in a multinational company under a five-month contract.
'I was looking for a permanent job but, under current circumstances, it's very tough, even though the economy's picking up,' she lamented. She lost her permanent job last year when her expatriate boss returned home.
Her situation is not unique. According to a Ministry of Manpower survey whose findings were released last month, the number of term-contract workers rose to 197,200 as of June.
That was a 4.3 per cent jump from the same period last year, and made up 12.7 per cent of the total number of Singaporeans and permanent residents employed.
The duration for most of the jobs was less than three months. Such jobs soared 21 per cent from 72,200 last year to 87,400 this year. In contrast, the number employed on a permanent basis went up by only 0.8 per cent over the same period.
- The Straits Times
Dec 4, 2009
300 jobs for mature, empathetic Singaporeans
A SEARCH was launched yesterday for mature, friendly and empathetic Singaporeans to fill more than 300 vacancies in the new hospital in Yishun, the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH).
The positions are for housekeeping staff and patient assistants, who will help in the operating theatres, provide financial counselling and transport patients, among other duties.
KTPH, run by public-health group Alexandra Health, will open in phases. Its specialist outpatient clinics will start operating on March 28 next year, followed by the acute and emergency care centre and inpatient wards in September.
It will need about 2,500 staff members. Most of Alexandra Hospital's current 1,700 employees will move over in about nine months' time.
At the recruitment exercise yesterday, staff from the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) - a skills-based institute for jobseekers, employers and training providers initiated by the National Trades Union Congress - screened jobseekers.
They shortlisted some for interviews with Alexandra Health to be held at a job fair, which will be on two weeks later.
Most of the 400 jobseekers who turned up yesterday were aged over 40, and lived in the area.
Those who were deemed not up to the mark yet were referred to attend e2i courses, which will prepare them for the jobs.
The courses are fully subsidised for citizens and permanent residents by the Government and e2i.
The courses, which range from two to five days, will cover communication skills and hygiene habits, among other things.
What is more important is having the right "can do" spirit and the willingness to learn and to promote a healthy lifestyle, said Alexandra Health's chief executive, Mr Liak Teng Lit.
Jobseeker Brenda Tan, 38, a former preschool teacher, decided to apply for a role in serving patients, as the last two years she spent caring for her sickly father after quitting her job helped her realise that "caring for others is immensely rewarding".
The next recruitment exercise for jobs in the hospital will be held in January next year. For more details, call the e2i hotline on 6474-3777.
- mypaper
The positions are for housekeeping staff and patient assistants, who will help in the operating theatres, provide financial counselling and transport patients, among other duties.
KTPH, run by public-health group Alexandra Health, will open in phases. Its specialist outpatient clinics will start operating on March 28 next year, followed by the acute and emergency care centre and inpatient wards in September.
It will need about 2,500 staff members. Most of Alexandra Hospital's current 1,700 employees will move over in about nine months' time.
At the recruitment exercise yesterday, staff from the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) - a skills-based institute for jobseekers, employers and training providers initiated by the National Trades Union Congress - screened jobseekers.
They shortlisted some for interviews with Alexandra Health to be held at a job fair, which will be on two weeks later.
Most of the 400 jobseekers who turned up yesterday were aged over 40, and lived in the area.
Those who were deemed not up to the mark yet were referred to attend e2i courses, which will prepare them for the jobs.
The courses are fully subsidised for citizens and permanent residents by the Government and e2i.
The courses, which range from two to five days, will cover communication skills and hygiene habits, among other things.
What is more important is having the right "can do" spirit and the willingness to learn and to promote a healthy lifestyle, said Alexandra Health's chief executive, Mr Liak Teng Lit.
Jobseeker Brenda Tan, 38, a former preschool teacher, decided to apply for a role in serving patients, as the last two years she spent caring for her sickly father after quitting her job helped her realise that "caring for others is immensely rewarding".
The next recruitment exercise for jobs in the hospital will be held in January next year. For more details, call the e2i hotline on 6474-3777.
- mypaper
Dec 2, 2009
More jobless in June
THE proportion of residents here who are employed fell for the first time in six years, because of the financial crisis.
The proportion of those aged 25 to 64 who had a job fell to 75.8 per cent in June this year, from a peak of 77 per cent a year ago, an annual survey by the Ministry of Manpower found.
This was largely due to job losses suffered by those in the group with the prime working ages of between 25 and 54, the ministry said yesterday.
Despite the downturn, the employment rate of older residents aged between 55 and 64 remained at the record high of 57.2 per cent reached last year. Overall, 5.9 per cent of residents were jobless this June, up from 4 per cent a year ago.
The weak economy also meant that income for those who held down jobs has stayed largely flat this year, after strong gains in the previous two years.
The median monthly income among full-time workers rose slightly by 0.5 per cent to $2,600 in June this year, from $2,590 a year ago. Part-time workers' median income rose from $600 to $620 during the same period.
But that for all employed residents dipped by 1.2 per cent, from $2,450 to $2,420 in the same period, as more people were hired part-time this year, the ministry said.
The number of contract workers grew by 4.3 per cent over a year to reach 197,000 in June this year, continuing a rising trend noted since 2006.
This growth rate exceeded the 0.8 per cent increase in the number of permanent employees in the same period.
This reflected the economic uncertainty, the ministry said.
- mypaper
The proportion of those aged 25 to 64 who had a job fell to 75.8 per cent in June this year, from a peak of 77 per cent a year ago, an annual survey by the Ministry of Manpower found.
This was largely due to job losses suffered by those in the group with the prime working ages of between 25 and 54, the ministry said yesterday.
Despite the downturn, the employment rate of older residents aged between 55 and 64 remained at the record high of 57.2 per cent reached last year. Overall, 5.9 per cent of residents were jobless this June, up from 4 per cent a year ago.
The weak economy also meant that income for those who held down jobs has stayed largely flat this year, after strong gains in the previous two years.
The median monthly income among full-time workers rose slightly by 0.5 per cent to $2,600 in June this year, from $2,590 a year ago. Part-time workers' median income rose from $600 to $620 during the same period.
But that for all employed residents dipped by 1.2 per cent, from $2,450 to $2,420 in the same period, as more people were hired part-time this year, the ministry said.
The number of contract workers grew by 4.3 per cent over a year to reach 197,000 in June this year, continuing a rising trend noted since 2006.
This growth rate exceeded the 0.8 per cent increase in the number of permanent employees in the same period.
This reflected the economic uncertainty, the ministry said.
- mypaper
POSB to hire more older workers to help customers
A PILOT programme to hire and train those aged 45 and above to assist POSB customers, especially seniors, has been so successful that the bank is doubling the number of people on it.
This was announced yesterday at a recognition ceremony for the first batch of 60 participants of the POSB Active Neighbours programme.
It is one of three key initiatives under an agreement between POSB and the Council for Third Age (C3A): hiring elderly workers, providing financial education and giving privileges to seniors.
Some 1,200 applied for the 60 positions offered earlier this year. Successful applicants underwent a three-day training workshop and have been working since July.
The participants, mostly retirees or full-time housewives, work up to 10 hours a week - mostly on Saturdays - for $8 an hour.
Their job includes combing the queues to find out what transactions customers want to perform at POSB branches and directing people with simple transactions to automated machines and assisting them.
They also help elderly customers with transactions, filling in forms and using bank technology like ATMs.
Mr Rajan Raju, the head of DBS Bank's Consumer Banking Group, said the programme had made elderly customers feel more comfortable with dealing with the bank.
He also said that many of the Active Neighbours are so involved with their jobs that they have asked to work longer hours, and that the bank would look into this.
Next year, it will train some of them to conduct some financial literacy workshops for seniors.
Madam Betty Lee, who had 17 years' experience in customer service before her retirement, is among the Active Neighbours.
She works at the bank's Suntec City branch on Saturdays, serving everyone from executives to the mall's cleaners.
Said the 62-year-old: 'I enjoy meeting all these people. All these customers come from all walks of life and their needs are so diversified.'
Speaking at the event yesterday, the guest of honour, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng, noted that Singapore still has some way to go to hit its 2012 target of having 65 per cent of the people in the 55 to 64 age group employed.
Mr Lim, who is in charge of ageing issues, said later that many smaller companies seem to be waiting for new laws, or for others to take the lead, before acting.
But he hoped examples of what companies like POSB have done will encourage other firms.
C3A's chairman, Mr Gerard Ee, said of the bank's initiative: 'It tells people it is okay at 67 to go back to work. It's exciting, it's fun. It tells other employers this is the way to do it as well, that there are people in this age group who can be an important asset.'
Those interested in applying to be Active Neighbours can visit any POSB branch from tomorrow.
Those who applied in the past need not do so again, as the bank will review their applications.
- The Straits Times
This was announced yesterday at a recognition ceremony for the first batch of 60 participants of the POSB Active Neighbours programme.
It is one of three key initiatives under an agreement between POSB and the Council for Third Age (C3A): hiring elderly workers, providing financial education and giving privileges to seniors.
Some 1,200 applied for the 60 positions offered earlier this year. Successful applicants underwent a three-day training workshop and have been working since July.
The participants, mostly retirees or full-time housewives, work up to 10 hours a week - mostly on Saturdays - for $8 an hour.
Their job includes combing the queues to find out what transactions customers want to perform at POSB branches and directing people with simple transactions to automated machines and assisting them.
They also help elderly customers with transactions, filling in forms and using bank technology like ATMs.
Mr Rajan Raju, the head of DBS Bank's Consumer Banking Group, said the programme had made elderly customers feel more comfortable with dealing with the bank.
He also said that many of the Active Neighbours are so involved with their jobs that they have asked to work longer hours, and that the bank would look into this.
Next year, it will train some of them to conduct some financial literacy workshops for seniors.
Madam Betty Lee, who had 17 years' experience in customer service before her retirement, is among the Active Neighbours.
She works at the bank's Suntec City branch on Saturdays, serving everyone from executives to the mall's cleaners.
Said the 62-year-old: 'I enjoy meeting all these people. All these customers come from all walks of life and their needs are so diversified.'
Speaking at the event yesterday, the guest of honour, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng, noted that Singapore still has some way to go to hit its 2012 target of having 65 per cent of the people in the 55 to 64 age group employed.
Mr Lim, who is in charge of ageing issues, said later that many smaller companies seem to be waiting for new laws, or for others to take the lead, before acting.
But he hoped examples of what companies like POSB have done will encourage other firms.
C3A's chairman, Mr Gerard Ee, said of the bank's initiative: 'It tells people it is okay at 67 to go back to work. It's exciting, it's fun. It tells other employers this is the way to do it as well, that there are people in this age group who can be an important asset.'
Those interested in applying to be Active Neighbours can visit any POSB branch from tomorrow.
Those who applied in the past need not do so again, as the bank will review their applications.
- The Straits Times
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