Finding Your Voice : Making Your Resume Work for You

The role of a resume has always been subjective. It depends on the owner. Some serves as an identity of the candidate, some serves as the credibility certificate and most, as the communication skills of job seekers finds new low, as the only source of information on the jobseekers.

What is a resume by the way? Originally spelled as résumé, Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as a summary of a set of accomplishments. Answer.com says it is “a brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application”.

It’s time to take another look as one thing is for certain, resume is not your business card to be stored away by employers for future reference, and a resume is your personal assistant that should work for you!

Indeed, it is a summary of you and your qualifications, a tool and a marketing brochure of you and your career. It is true and it is persuasive in its approach and not just a mere template.

Its purpose is simple: to get you an interview!

Your readers

Yes, you have a reader, whether or not you realise it. A writer craves recognition from his or her readers. A sports columnists throws his views and opinions that should intrigue and trigger response to sports enthusiasts, while a political journalist would comment on the current state of the nation to the amusement or the dismay of newspaper readers with a nose for armchair politics.

Likewise, a resume is basically a piece of literature, albeit non-fiction of yours, that should pique the interest of your readers.

Who are your resume readers then?

Well, there are actually two stages of readers. On the first stage occupies human resource (HR) executives and HR Managers. The second stage would see readers such as the hiring managers (big corporations), department heads followed by general managers, managing directors and chief executive officers.

In short, it’s no ordinary bunch of readers you have there…and it shows how much the content of your resume is worth.

Most writers write with readers in their mind. A typical reader would appreciate this and that content; expect this and that issue, can digest this and that conclusion. It is no different with your resume.
The difference here is you have two set of readers. Here the first stage readers (remember, the HR execs and managers) would do a skim-scan, meaning they have no time to delve into details, just quick to the point on whether or not to shortlist you. This is where brevity matters.

Readers Objectives

Their main objective is two:

1. To disqualify as many candidates as possible

2. To shortlist listing candidates

The first objective certainly sounds nasty, but someone has to do it and an ineffective resume, i.e. totally unreadable and messy resume, no matter how great the experience and qualification is, may not appeal to these eyes.

Once cleared, your resume moves on to the second stage where the decision makers reside. Here, they know that the first stage had shortlisted the best possible candidates and their job has become simpler. They simply have to look at the qualification and match experience with requirements and specific needs, and find Best Possible Fit.

So bear that in mind. Your readers come first when it comes to sitting down and drafting that darned resume of yours. It takes a lot of courage to be honest and honesty is what selling many writers out there and there are no reasons why you resume should be different.

Professional Grooming

Personal grooming nowadays, believe it or not, is associated more with pets than human beings. This is not helped by the TV series or documentaries showing helpless canines and felines undergoing makeover and transformed into well-groomed pet.

Like it or not, your first impression during the interview includes how good you look, no matter how well you perform. Now, here’s an opportunity where you can be equipped with soft skills that will give you the added advantage during interviews or even other social occasions.

You will gain a better understanding on the importance of good grooming, individual skin & hair types and how to care for them, basic personal make-up skills, professional conduct and etiquette in a social and business setting as well as its positive impact in both their personal and professional lives.

Event: Professional Grooming

Date: August 11^th, 2010

Time: 10.00 am (registration at 9.30am)

Venue: Jobseekers’ Advocate Centre

29^th Floor, Wisma UOA II (opposite KL Convention Centre),

21, Jalan Pinang

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Target audience: HR Personnel & Job Seekers.

Trainers: Zarina Zainal & Samantha Chin of Inspiring Individuals

Participants will learn

A) Projecting a Professional Image

Professional Image vs Personal Image

Grooming Standards: Projecting the Professional Image

Wardrobe Styling

Body Types – Vertical & Horizontal

Lines & Designs

Psychology of Colour

Personal Hygiene

Hair Care & Styles

B) Etiquette

First Impressions

Meetings & Greetings

Business Etiquette

Social Etiquette

Professional Behaviour

C) Deportment

Posture

Sitting

Walking

Contact: Bertrand Chua at 03 – 2176 0024 or email at suisoon@jobsdb.com.my

Cover Letter: Huh? What is That?

Coming back to our Resume Q&A series, another most frequently asked question was about Cover Letter. What is it? When do one write a cover letter? What do you put inside the cover letter? Dead rat?

Before that picture this if you will: back when there was no internet, no mobile phone (there was but usually they are used to wedge car tyres on a slope) and worst, no satellite TV channels and you are already squirming.

Well, here’s the worst part. Those applying for job has to write in. Yes, write physically. Use pen or a typewriter to write a prose which basically says that you are looking to fill certain vacancies you saw in a newspaper and persuading them to give you an interview where they grill you to concede that you are not the right person for the job. Okay, I am kidding, but that was the cover letter used for…and here’s even more troubling part, you have to post them in what is now known as snail-mail. Those days it was known as snail-on-chain-mail, because it was even slower and sometimes they never even get delivered.

Well, if you had enough of the above horror let me reiterate to you that cover letter have not existed and in fact, very much exists….a reminder especially for those who only apply job through job portal through ours. Let’s get to the questions

So, what is a cover letter in nutshell?

And introduction of yourself, and your intent in having an interview session. Here, you inform them who you are, which vacancy you are looking at filling, and what can you contribute to the organisation.

Contribute? Like Contribution Statement?

Precisely. Remember Contribution Statement from the previous Q&A? Use that here after introducing yourself, it will be a good prelude to the mail receiver before reading your resume.

In fact, some may even not read your resume because you have an impressive cover letter and an awesome Contribution Statement. But remember, you have to be true and persuasive, any smell of bull dung may motivate them to delete your mail. Unlike the old days of getting into rage, tearing your letters to pieces, balling them and aiming the wastebasket and missing it, all it takes these days is just one click and they would do it happily.

Do we really need to write a cover letter?

Not if you use the online recruitment services like JobsDB. Sure, we encourage you to use our search function, go through many job offerings and just click on your job of choice.

It also helps if you also write them a personalised cover letter, cite where you found the job posting (posted on JobsDB on [date]) and upload a resume tailor-made for that particular organisation.

Can you give samples of cover letter?

There are many online, but we encourage you to start from scratch. Here are few introduction paragraphs, just to give you an idea:

“I am writing to introduce myself to you as a student of International School of Construction (ISC). I'm responding to your advertisement in the local Employment News for want of a senior project coordinator for your on-site department.”

“ I am writing with reference to your advertisement in JobsDB.com for want of a Senior Accountant. I consider that my credentials and interests matches with your requirement and want to apply for the same.”

Or a simpler one like this:

“My name is Bob Tan and I am currently working in XYZ Bhd as a sales manager. I am writing in reference to your job vacancy posting in JobsDB.com for Sales Director position”.

For more info, you can write to me, rakeshkukmar@jobsdb.com.my.

Alternatively, you can come to our resume workshop. Details as follows:

Venue: Jobseekers’ Advocate Training Centre

Date: 14^th August, 2010

Time: 10 am – 1pm

To register, write to Bertrand Chua at suisoon@jobsdb.com.my or call us at 03 – 2161 0000.

JobsDB.com Re-establishes Position as Industry Innovator With “Dynamic Job Search on Map” and “Dashboard” design

Innovative and revolutionary new features to enable users to multi-task

Kuala Lumpur - 24 June 2010 – JobsDB.com, Asia Pacific’s leading job site, today launched a complete revamp of its website to give millions of jobseekers and employers an enhanced experience in their search for jobs or candidates. Its newest feature, “Dynamic Job Search on Map”, a location-based search interface, allows jobseekers to look at relevant jobs in specified locations. Users can view thousands of jobs on an in-built map on the fly, and these jobs will change as the search criteria is updated and the map is dragged. This feature is a first for any job portal in the region.

Efficient “Dashboard” Design

JobsDB.com’s new website aims to take the job search process to the next level. Focusing on user experience and improved efficiency, the proprietary system utilises a “dashboard” design which allows jobseekers and employers to perform multiple tasks on a single page without irritating page changes and pop-ups frequently experienced by web users. Through a split-screen display, named “Preview Mode”, jobseekers can view up to 100 job templates on the same page. Likewise, in “Resume Preview”, employers can open up to 100 brief or full resumes and process them under the same user-friendly design.

Industry Innovator

Since its inception, JobsDB.com has frequently enhanced its website with innovative and revolutionary designs. In 1998, it was the first to introduce “Job Alert”, emails customised to jobseeker’s search criteria, and the “Jobseeker-controlled Resume Release” function which safeguarded the privacy of its members. The “Paperless Job Fair”, also became a technological showcase for the company. These and other original designs have since become features adopted by the street and other jobsites in the region.

New features to be released in July

JobsDB.com will be launching its latest RMS (Recruitment Management System) with additional ground-breaking features in July.

Building Self-confidence In the Workplace

We secretly admire the doctors and medical practitioners who treats us for our many illnesses. He seems so sure of himself and is such a miracle because he can cure us of our tummy aches, influenzas and the occasional runny nose. There is a reason why we are so drawn to him and are able to connect with him. He has what we call "self confidence".

Confidence is a vital aspect of our day-to-day lives and is especially important in the workplace. After all, you would not be appreciative of a colleague who fumbles and trips over his words while doing a presentation. Unfortunately, not everyone was born with "built-in" self confidence. In fact, many of us had to work hard to achieve some semblance of confidence. People with low confidence and self-esteem often feel unappreciated and find it hard to succeed. The good thing is that it can be achieved with time and effort. Rome was not built in a day, so don't expect the same for yourself and do not push yourself to the limit.

You can easily distinguish a self-confident person from others. They stand tall and proud with their head held high and answer questions clearly but calmly. You will feel instinctively drawn to them because they inspire others around them. This automatically concludes that a self-confident person is often more successful than those who are not.

How confident are you to your colleagues? Take a breather and answer some of these questions to see if you need a crash course in building your confidence.

1. Do you always behave like how others expect you to?

2. Do you manage your behaviour based on what other people think?

3.Do you prefer to stay in your comfort zone and avoid taking up risks and challenging tasks?

4.Do you often find yourself scrambling to fix mistakes so that other people won't notice?

5.Do you feel yourself blushing in shame every time someone points out your mistakes?

If you answered "yes" to two or more of the above questions, then it's time you fix this. A person with low self-confidence is often self-destructive. Confidence is a mixture of courage, strength and the ability to pick yourself up when something fails.

Take pride in what you have achieved

Keep a log book or a diary and jot down all the achievements you have made. Perhaps you have closed a successful sales deal or have been recently promoted. Take note of praises and words of encouragement from your superior. For days when you feel down and demoted, flip through the pages and re-read some of your successes. They are a constant reminder that you can do it and are able to achieve more if you set your heart to it.

Be a go-getter

Set realistic goals for yourself and stick to it. Say "I will complete this project in a fortnight" and not "I think I can complete it in a fortnight". If you make a strong reinforcement to the statement, chances are your brain will register and you will be able to meet the deadline. Also, try to set goals that will highlight your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

Receive a compliment graciously

It is a natural instinct for Asians to be overly humble when someone compliments them. Don't be. Acknowledge that you deserve the compliment because you have worked hard for it. Smile and say "Thank you. It was really nice of you to notice my work. I'm very proud of it as well" and not "Oh, it was nothing. Anyone could have done it." The former shows that you are capable of handling tough projects while the latter says that you are a pessimist, plus it also gives the impression that your job is an easy-peasy one!

Positive self-talk

At this point, you have to start managing what goes in and out of your brain. Yes, you might have had a terrible experience at your last job and it has sucked out all of your self esteem and confidence. It is now time to let go and move on. Eliminate all negative self-talk and replace them with positive ones. One good tip that I've learnt is to stick colourful pictures on your wall, in your car, or any other places that are convenient to you. Stick a smiley face to remind you to smile. Put phrases of encouragement and frame them up.

Celebrate

Last but not least, celebrate to rejoice in the fact you have worked diligently to bring your self-confidence to another level. Allow yourself some fun. After this, stretch yourself a little bit more. Make your goals bigger and challenge yourself more. Take it one step at a time at a pace that's comfortable to you. Some people take three months; others may take up to six months or more. You will slowly notice a difference in yourself.

Resume Q&A: Making Contribution Statement

During the recent months, JobsDB Malaysia had the pleasure of conducting preliminary resume workshop (as opposed to full one conducted at our Jobseekers Advocate Centre) in few colleges in Klang Valley. Here are some of the popular Questions & Answers raised during those sessions, and we’d like to share them and our response to everyone.

Q: What is Contribution Statement?

We brought in the element called Contribution Statement, instead of the usual Career Objective. In these times of Knowledge Workers, an employee is beyond job definition. A unique contribution from job candidates should come from combinations of talent, passion, conscience and need. What can you bring to the organisation that is uniquely you, and would help fill in the gaps in the organisation, and perhaps even make it grow stronger.

Q: Do we need to make a Contributions Statement?

Here is a quote from the excellent book by Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo called, Great Work Great Career:

“People who are only looking for job have resumes. People looking to make great careers, have Contribution Statement”.

It further notes, “ a great career comes down to making a great contribution, to making a difference that matters to you and to the people you serve. Envisioning, defining and designing your contribution statement is the first step on the path to a great career”.

Q: Is it against the norm, instead of Career Objectives, you put Contribution Statement?

Not at all. Career objective is about the resume writer, his or her aspirations, and ambitions. Employers looking to hire a good candidate are more interested on what the candidates can offer to the company using his or her passion in life, talents, skills, rather than what they want to do with themselves. Contribution Statement also helps the hiring folks to summarise your resume and get to know you better before even meeting you face to face.

So, it is okay to have Contribution Statement instead of Career Objectives. If you are not sure, you can have them both, it’s not wrong.

Q: Can we have some examples of Contribution Statement

“Because my high-risk students are likely to drop out of my school, I will call on my background as an actor….To make my classes as entertaining as possible in order to hold their interest” – A high school Teacher.

“Most software projects fail because of constantly shifting expectations, so I am going to borrow from my background in coaching rugby…to help my team maintain their commitment to a goal while continually adjusting their approach to changing circumstances,” – Project Manager.

“Since the company needs better content digitally, and more exposure through media, I shall use my experience as a writer for many publication and contribute more creative contents and use my experience in the media to get the company additional coverage,” – Online content editor.

If you have further query, don’t hesitate to write to rakeshkumar@jobsdb.com.my.

If You are interested in participating in the next FREE Resume Workshop, on July 3^rd, 2010, contact Bertrand Chua at 03 – 2176 0024 or write to suisoon@jobsdb.com.my

How To Overcome Procrastination

Does this sound familiar?

Each and every day you go into your office prepared to take on the tasks you have been or will be assigned. As the day goes by you find yourself looking for every possible excuse to do something other than work on some of the tasks. You have made a considerable effort to remain focused during the day however you cannot seem to fight procrastination. Are you the only one with this problem? What can you do to break this bad habit?”

You are certainly not alone in experiencing this; unfortunately for us all procrastination is something that everyone deals with. There is no way to completely eliminate it from our lives. If we build time into our schedules for procrastination we’ll be in a better position to handle it right off the bat. Here are some tips to overcome procrastination:

1. Work on tasks promptly
Complete task as soon as practical, while you know you have enough time to do it correctly.

2. Change negative thoughts
Do not agonize over tasks. Instead, think of the enjoyment and the relief in getting the job done.

3. Break large tasks down
Make tasks more manageable and work on “getting started”. Try just tackling five minutes of the project and you might find you’ve worked longer than planned.

4. Become Enthusiastic
Muster up the motivation and enthusiasm about the job or task. Talk to the right people and get you reenergized.

How To Negotiate for A Better Salary

Graduates these days find salary negotiations to being a very difficult aspect and experience during an interview with a prospective employer. Indeed it is uncommon for one to want the job yet also at the same time need more money. To make things worse, having little or no experience being a fresh graduate does not help either during negotiations for a higher salary or improved package of benefits from a prospective employer. These graduates simply lack the ability to being more assertive towards the employer.

The remedy for this lies with the graduate itself in accepting that they may not get what they want. But this does not mean that they should simply give up and settle for less. Graduates need to get a clearer picture on what and how the negotiating process really functions. Aligning themselves to being more active will serve to make the graduate feel more in control and maybe even negotiate for more money in the process.

What are "Negotiations"?

Negotiation according to the oxford dictionary means to confer in order to reach an agreement. In simpler words, it’s when one meets and discusses a subject with another person or party, in order to reach a conclusive agreement. It is to be noted that the art of negotiation is based upon mutual agreement of issues, not confrontation. The end result should be a win-win situation for both parties.

Contrary to popular believe, negotiations do not start towards the end of the interviewing process, but instead begin when the graduate tells the company about themselves, their accomplishments and what they can do for the employer given a chance to work. Using active words in the interview to describe one’s accomplishments such as: I oversaw, I developed, I took charge of, I initiated, I followed up on, I actively contributed to, and I created, will only serve to the graduate’s advantage as it will increase the graduate’s "value" when the time comes to offer them a job. The ability to handle details whether minor or major, multiple projects or excellent time management and follow up skills will also contribute to increase the graduate’s value.

To negotiate does not simply mean that the graduate asks for more money from the employer. Graduates need to ask themselves a few questions prior to discussing the issue of salary, in order to know if they have a chance to get more. The idea of a negotiation is basically to reach a common outcome. That is why, asking a few questions may be necessary to see if there might be a way to reach a similar outcome and or a compromise. Among the types of questions graduates need to ask themselves are:

• What would be the lowest salary that I would consider accepting?
• What the salary range is for the job in question?
• What makes myself worth a higher salary?

In order to get information on salary, graduates could approach people who work in that particular industry or at that very company, libraries, trade associations and trade publications or even at job hunting web sites found on the Internet such as JobsDB.com

If already graduates have correct information or answers to the above questions, employers will most likely have some objections to request for more money. Some of the common objections are as follows:

• That other employees in their company are not making more
• That the graduates do not have enough experience
• That their budget would not permit it

It would therefore be a good idea before the interview for the graduate to think about how they would respond to these objections in a way that continues the discussion on a positive note without backing themselves into a corner. It is important for graduates to keep in mind that they are only asking questions, and not delivering an ultimatum.

Job Opportunities with new Coca-Cola Plant.

With the setting up of a Coca-Cola plant in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, expect creation of between 600 and 800 jobs within the plant and 8,000 more at the supplier and distributor levels.

According to media report, this was the pledge made by Coca Cola Company president (Pacific group) Glenn Jordan who noted that the investment was the company’s biggest ever made in Malaysia.

The “green” plant would be built based on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification which was an international standard for eco-friendly buildings.

The 123,024sq m facility, built on land acquired from TH Properties, is expected to start operations before the end of next year.

The giant conglomerate took only four months after discussions with the Prime Minister to firm up plans to set up a RM1bil plant in Malaysia.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this would help bolster Malaysia’s image as a favourite foreign investment destination.

“We promised them all the support that we could give, and the incentives as well, during discussions in Singapore. I am proud that we have been able to make this a reality within four months,” he said, adding that the investment would be made over a five-year period.

“Coca-Cola has been a global household name for a long time ... I still remember a movie (The God’s Must Be Crazy) where a Coca-Cola bottle fell from the sky,” he said.

36,000 M’sians unemployed last year

Over 36,000 Malaysians were unemployed between October 2008 and December last year, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan.

According to a news report by The Star newspaper, most of the unemployed were those who were laid off from the manufacturing sector which was most badly affected by the economic downturn, especially the 2008 recession in the United States.

“During the world economic crisis, our employment rate was affected too because most of the factories had to close down or were operating at lower cost by laying off many of their workers,” she said.

She also commended companies which had managed to maintain their workers despite posting lesser profits.

However, Maznah said the number of those who lost their jobs was still under control compared to the 84,000 laid off during the Asian economic crisis in 1997.

She was optimistic that the number would come down soon following the country’s encouraging economic performance last year.

She said the ministry managed to get some 29,000 of the laid off workers to be rehired while the rest were offered retraining.

She also advised those who were still jobless to grab the opportunities provided by the Government by attending various skills training programmes to further improve their skills.

PM: No gender-bias approach to employment

Employment into the public sector will be determined by market forces, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He believed the trend where there was more women than men in the public sector would continue into the future because female undergraduates out-number the males in universities, reported The Star newspaper.

“The criterion to join the public sector does not involve the gender issue, but more on the ability to meet the expectations of the Government and the public,” he said.

In Bentong, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said if a survey was conducted at the workplace, it would show that the productivity of women were equally as effective as the men’s.

In Petaling Jaya, Wanita MCA and Wanita Gerakan expressed disgust over the gender-biased statement by Cuepacs secretary-general Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin, who complained about the upward trend of female employees in the civil service.

4 Job interview “Don’ts” that you may have committed unknowingly.

Yes, you have had it up here with working people, lecturers, seniors, and some helpful blokes giving you advice on the "dos" and the" don'ts" of job interview. You are always ready, but you can slip.

Yes, there could be some serious no-nos you have commited without knowing. “But dude,” you may ask, “I am very aware of what I am doing and saying, how could I have done anything wrong”. Well, for a start zip up your pants.

See? You got panicky there, because you know you can commit mistake. We are not perfect. To err is human and all that you know. So, here let me share with you some of the things that you may have done in the past. Don’t do it again. Please.

1. Bitching about previous employer

So you equate your previous employer with Hitler or Stalin or even Hitler and Stalin combined with Miley Cyrus, a truly terrifying picture that is not going to help you at all with your prospective employer.

I understand if you view your previous employer with venom. Maybe they didn’t pay your last salary. Maybe they didn’t even contribute your Employers Provident Fund. Heck, they might even have taken away your “Hello Kitty” coffee mug.

But all this does not give you the license to spit venom about the previous boss during the job interview. Right?

Why not?

Because it makes you a schmuck, no different than your previous boss. Your, what-could-have-been, prospective employer will view you as a bitter, selfish person who will have no qualms to bitch about your interviewer to others if things go wrong.

Are you that kind of person? If no, why even want to uncoil yourself that when the interviewer ask you about the reasons for leaving previous place of employment. They don’t want to see you smacking the table, having seizure or steams out of your ears. Stay calm, and just say things like, you wanted to move on, or looking for better prospects. Old, clichéd reasons, but they still work.

2. Don’t show you are desperate for job.

Times are bad, you are broke and your pet cat know very well that you have switched to a cheaper brand cat food, and disgusted, it has hitched with your neighbour’s kitty. You desperately need a job and when the interview session takes place, you blurted out pleading to the interviewer you need the job badly to afford Whiskers again. Well, don’t be so blatant, will ya?

Why not?

Look, if you are just moving on you’d be cool about it and take your time switching job. But if you are desperate and you show, chances are you might be taken for a ride. You may not be getting the kind of paycheque your skills, expertise, talent and experience might deserve, with pet cat or not.

If you had issues with your previous employer, chances are you might head onto the same problems with your new one. Why? They hired you because you are cheap and therefore they can step on you. So, watch it, don’t go in teary eyed with dopey face. They will sign you in and ask the help to bring the chain and handcuff.

3. At the same time, don’t behave like they must hand you the job on gold plate.

Of some of the recent interviews that I have done with some employers, they (some off-record and I won’t say who) commented that many job seekers come in thinking that the job is theirs…and it should be offered on gold plate. They want all the perks, privileges and be driving a brand new Beemer in just few months time. Well, go ahead and walk in with that smug outlook of the outcome, and you will still be reloading your bus card for many more years to come.

Why not?

Dude, that denotes arrogance. If you indeed deserve a gold plate, you must have that credential. If you have none of them, then they won’t even offer the job on plastic plate. I mean, forget about the plate, you are not getting that job. So, I advised you to not to be desperate, but show some moderate amount of humility and modesty, especially if you do have those credentials then you will see. Then, the job is yours though you might have to buy your own gold plate.

4. Know what your potential new job is about.

Again, you’d be retorting, “Look Rakesh, I had enough of your preaching. I know what job I am about to do. Duh!”. Sure, you walk in for that mechanical engineering job, except you didn’t actually looked at the first word when they listed for the “Sanitary Engineer” job. No, sanitary does not mean “mental state”. Look it up, will you.

Many have walked into the interview sessions without matching the job title with the organisation. You must have read that you must always do your homework before attending interviews. Some responsibilities for the same job wary from one organisation to the other. And don’t blame your dog’s dietary habit if you haven’t done your homework.

Why not?

Err…you are not the right person for it? Hello?

Hope you find the above useful and hope you have good sense of humour to take the occasional ribbing there. Happy job hunting and watch our space for more stuff. There is a Career Expo coming up on 7^th of May and if you register with us, you’d be entitled to lots of workshops and personal development trainings, and you might even get hypnotised. Now, close your eyes and says this “I am attending JobsDB Career Expo”. Repeat seventeen times.

I can be reached at rakeshkumar@jobsdb.com.my if you need help to dehypnotise yourself. Cheers.

Rakesh Kumar.

Editor, JobsDB Malaysia.

Drop in number of foreign workers

The number of foreign workers employed in the country has dropped by almost 500,000 over the past three years, The Star newspaper reported.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who disclosed this, said Immigration Department records showed that 1.59 million foreigners were issued work permits in various sectors last year, less than the 2.06 million in 2006.

“However, we are aware that this does not mean the number of illegally employed foreigners is also on the decline because unethical and irresponsible employers continue to engage these people without considering the negative implications.

“The oversupply of foreign workers must be addressed urgently and that is why the Government is in the midst of beefing up the management and monitoring of foreigners in the country,” he said.

In the report, Hishammuddin said that 100,000 foreigners were granted employment opportunities by the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants between October and December last year following appeals by certain industries.

“Last September, the Cabinet ordered the setting up of a special committee chaired by Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam to evaluate and approve applications which met conditions and guidelines so that the serious issue of worker shortages faced by the manufacturing sector could be resolved,” he said, adding that the committee was only a temporary set-up which had ceased to function as of December.

Fewer employers defaulting on EPF contributions

The percentage of employers defaulting on Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions dropped from 1.75% in the third quarter to 1.6% in the fourth quarter of last year.

The decrease showed that even during the economic downturn, most employers were committed towards contributing to EPF for their staff, its public relations general manager Nik Affendi Jaafar was quoted as saying in The Star newspaper.

“This could be due to the enforcement measures taken by EPF, as well as their awareness on providing a comfortable retirement for their employees,” he said in a statement.

He said 187 employers were fined between RM1,000 and RM7,000 under Section 43(2) of the EPF Act from October to December last year for not making contributions.

During the same period, 169 civil cases and 2,313 criminal cases were filed in court against defaulting employers.

The EPF also submitted the names of 221 company directors to the Immigration Department to prevent them from leaving the country as provided for under the EPF Act.

Tighter Aussie skilled migration scheme will affect Malaysia.

Malaysians will be among thousands of would-be migrants to Australia who will have their applications cancelled as part of an Australian government overhaul of the skilled migration programme, Bernama reported.

Australia’s Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans announced that Canberra was reforming the permanent skilled migration programme to make it demand- rather than supply-driven.

The report noted that highly skilled workers such as healthcare, engineering and mining professionals would be among those most sought after under the new scheme, the minister said in a statement.

He would set a maximum number of offshore general skilled migration visa applications made before Sept 1, 2007 that could be granted.

Evans said the major changes that he would be making included cancelling and refunding the applications of 20,000 prospective migrants currently living overseas and tightening the list of occupations in demand so that only highly skilled migrants would be eligible for a visa.

Expect A Higher EPF dividend

Good news for all. The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) dividend for 2009 is expected to be higher compared to the 4.5% paid out in the previous year.

The Star newspaper quoted EPF chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman as saying that this was due to the local share market’s stable position and good investment returns.

“A meeting on dividend rates will be held this month, while an announcement will be made in March,” he said.

Samsudin, who is also Putrajaya Corporation president, had earlier presented prizes to winners of a fishing competition held in conjunction with Federal Territory Day celebrations.

The report also noted that in December, EPF announced that it obtained RM5.5bil in profits in the third quarter of last year, an increase of RM696.32mil compared to RM4.8bil in the previous quarter.

2 Random Job Interview Questions Tackled pt 1

First, I thought of picking just tough interview questions for this article, but I guess that would be subjective. You can probably give an easy answer to the question, “what will be the best contribution you can give to the company?”, unless you give answers like, “my entire EPF”. Other candidates may be stumped. They might go, “Contributions? I did it in church last week…” and trail off in total confusion.

So, I thought let’s pick up some random questions and deal with it.

1. Question: Tell me about yourself.

After all the intros about yourself in social networking areas like Facebook, blog, website, toilet (graffiti), and suddenly you are stumped not knowing how to answer this. Here’s the deal: they really want to know who you are before they put you next to a cubicle of an employee who probably doesn’t like coffee. If you are a coffee addict, they would most likely not hire you. Of course, why they hired a coffee hater in the first place could be baffling, but that’s the nature of human being you see. Especially the long suffering Human Resource (HR) managers.

What do they want to know?

Qualities that will fit into the organisation, that’s all. So, if in your Facebook you describe yourself as “Lollypop loving person striving for world peace by posting various famous quotes and not crediting it”, then chances are you have to talk more, especially your love for uncredited quotes.

What should be the best answer?

Hey, here’s a chance to brag about yourself, go ahead and boast what you can. But…but don’t be obnoxious. Your ability to clip your nose hair without a clipper will not interest the interviewer…especially so if you want to do a demo. Sure, there are fine human qualities you possess, like your cheery outlook of life and your friendliness or anything that makes you a swell addition to the organisation instead of another anti-social coffee hater.

So, chose and present yourself carefully. If you are a team player, say so. If not, then you have leadership quality and please if you want to reaffirm that skill don’t say you are a big fan of Star Wars, in particular Darth Vader.

Good answer:

“…People always said that I have leadership qualities and true enough I have led many wonderful projects during my student days...”

Worrying answer

“Well…I am a good boy…I help old people, especially my parents at the old folk’s home…”

Answer that will send you to the exit door.

“I read many leadership books that help build my character, including ‘Mein Kampf’”.

2. Question: How can you contribute to the company?

Sure, I kidded about it in the opening paragraph of this article, but look at it again, it says, “What…” HR managers don’t want you to contribute “things” to the company, so don’t offer your preserved grasshoppers collection. It’s what part of you that can best benefit the company, and we are not talking about your kidney either…unless it’s legal to sell one to private enterprises here.

What do they want to know?

Look. They are taking you in, paying you every month with the best ability, and putting you amongst the best they got and you better have something to offer to this team in terms of capability, skills and experience. Your experience in killing domestic lizards using lime paste (this writer excelled in it when he was a kid) can in no way contribute to the team, unless they are pest busters. Even then the method is questionable and your team member may not be comfortable with you alternating the use of lime paste to killing little reptiles and mixing it to chew betel leaf. I am digressing, but you get the picture. Do you? No? Moving on…

What should be the best answer?

Think carefully. What was the part your former employer, or your college lecturers, fellow students or seniors they praised the most? That you have keen eye for numbers? That you are a great critic? Note that great critic here means someone able to come up with constructive criticism, not an obnoxious whiner. Use these positive aspects of yourself and translate them into efforts you can put in to make the current team stronger.

In short, remember the question about yourself? Yeah, rework on it and say that these traits will definitely be your contribution to the company. Instead of fan of Darth Vader, say that you will be part of The Force and that The Force will always be with you. Of course, if you get strange stares from the HR managers when you say that, it’s time to switch your strategy.

Good answer

“…I can bring my experience as a moderator during many debates we had in college and my aptitude for discipline to help with the company’s mission…”

Worrying answer

“Why contribute when I can distribute? I love to rap, ha-ha.”

Answer that will send you to the exit door.

“…I know how to deal with people, especially with my hands…”

Happy job hunting. Keep an eye on our website, www.jobsdb.com.my and don’t forget to check out other articles, upcoming events, etc. While you were reading this, someone else would probably have snatched your dream job. Try again.

Rakesh Kumar

Email: rakeshkumar@jobsdb.com.my

‘Administrative secretary’ Not Administrative Assistants.

It's a bit mouthful, but that's the way they wanted it. Administrative assistants involved in secretarial duties in government departments do not want to be called office secretaries.

They instead want their job title changed to “administrative secretary,” said Cuepacs president Omar Osman in a media report.

The Star newspaper quoted Omar as saying taht he had been getting feedback from government servants objecting to a circular dated Dec 21 renaming the job title from administrative assistant (secretarial) to office.

“They are unhappy about the new job title,” Omar said after a briefing on the new office secretary and assistant office secretary scheme at Universiti Putra Malaysia here yesterday.

Omar also hoped that long-serving secretaries with SPM qualification would not be overlooked in the upgrading exercise, adding that the group made up about 55% of those involved in secretarial duties.

40,000 retrenched in 2009

A figure not as harrowing as in some o f the developed countries, but about 40,000 workers were retrenched last year as a result of the global economic crisis between 2008 and last year, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Senator Datuk Maznah Mazlan.

She was quoted in the media as saying that the Government had launched the E-Kasih programme to offer training courses to those who were unemployed so that they could look for other jobs in the market.

“We are monitoring the situation and Malaysia has fairly well compared with other countries that were hit by the economic crisis,” she told reporters after handing out seamstress certificates to 199 people at Yayasan Murni, Pengkalan Chepa yesterday.

Yayasan Murni has trained more than 21,000 people since it was set up five years ago and almost all of them had secured jobs.

7 Things about Resume Writing (that won’t get you the job).

1. The resume gets you the job.

Nope. It does not. It gets you the interview. That is if you are shortlisted. No use moaning that you have a fantastic resume yet you didn’t get the job, as you were not even invited for an interview. Take a look at the resume again. Is there any goof up? Have you added your contact details properly? There might be an “S” missing in your email address. Or that you have changed your phone number due to stalkers. Have you updated the dates? Have you accidentally cut and pasted a passage from romantic teen vampire fan-fiction? Clean it up and try again.

2. It’s cool to include your blog/website address

It’s great that you have a blogsite or website of your own. It may be about your pet subjects, like stamp collecting or your obsession with poodles. At the same time, think again. Is it going to help with your interview? There are high odds against the HR managers with affection for poodles, and even so they are trained to be unbiased, poodles or not. Or worse, you might be an amateur political analyst with vocabularies of a football hooligan. Forget about it, there is no better turn off than a very off-putting web/blogsites. You better remove them.

3. List all your hobbies/interest.

In addition to the above, think very carefully, how is it your love for collecting teddy bears going to get you that dream accounting job? Or would your penchant to party all night long over the weekend excite the HR managers to the point they hire you immediately as SAP consultant? If the interest corroborate with the job, like reading books if you applying the position of a journalist, or collecting technical manuals if you are a technician, it will be a great boost for your resume. Just make sure they are relevant manuals, not the one about making homemade bomb or something.

4. Fantastic design and great writing skills wins the interviewer.

Sure, if you are applying for the post of designer and writer respectfully. Even then, it’s the content that matters. Putting a cute picture of little pony on every corner at all pages is nice, but not if the HR has allergy to little ponies, even the pictures. He or she is only concerned with what you want to tell them, and tell them in simple manner as possible. Writing lines and lines of skilfully crafted prose would only drive them to either tear their respective hairs or your resume apart.

5. Completing Online resume form once is good enough.

You registered in online career portal like JobsDB, fill up the forms and click “done”. And you don’t go back for years and you end up thinking, “hey, I did upload my resume, filled up the online form, why the heck am I not getting any calls, or any mails”. Only the latest gets to the prospective employers eyes. If you last updated it back in 1999, chances are it is at the bottom pile rotting away to no one’s attention. Online resumes are sorted by computers first, so you have to be careful in what you are putting in there. You better take another look at that online resume of yours, especially if you are looking for IT technician position and you get mail saying that you have been called for an interview for nursing position.

6. Pix of you in cool pose is, err…cool.

No it is not. Just a usual passport sized picture would do. Ask the studio folks to give you a soft copy and insert it on the resume. We have seen some pictures which seemed to be more suited for matrimonial page than a job page. Go easy, willya? It’s okay if you don’t attach your pix if you think you have a face of a handsome horse. Who cares? It’s your experience, your skills, your education and your enthusiasm as an employee that matters…the HR manager can deal with your face later. You know what they say about don’t judge the book by the horse face.

7. There is a magic formula on resume writing.

Yes, it can be found in a spot marked with X in some strange island somewhere. Give yourself a break, there is no magic formula. Ultimately the magic is you, yourself and well, you. Resume guides online, workshops like the one conducted by JobsDB are merely helping hands. These help you to Find Your Voice. We don’t have a lab that makes magical formula that you sprinkle on your resume and voila! A Guaranteed For Job resume that works like love potion with HR managers. If you have what they want, and you have it there in the resume, you have greater chances of getting that job. If your resume is filled with words like “Abracadabra” or “The Force Says You Will Get Me The Job”, prepare for long, silent wait.

For more tips, guides, articles & announcements on career related stuff, check out www.jobsdb.com.my. Happy job hunting, and if you are not looking for one, wait for the head-hunters to look for you. The job head-hunters. What were you thinking?

EPU: Malaysia can hit growth of 5% this year

Let the good times roll. The Economic Planning Unit (EPU) is confident that the country will achieve an economic growth of more than 5% this year based on several positive indicators.

The Star newspaper quoted minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop as saying that one of the indicators was the shift from retrenchment to recruitment in the manufacturing sector since July last year.

He said business confidence and consumer spending was also on the uptrend as loan applications rose by 37.4% while approvals were up by 25% until October last year compared with the same period in 2008.

The report noted that the sales of passenger cars had also showed an increase at 40,569 units up to November last year compared with 36,254 during the same period in 2008.

“The trends are changing and we are confident that 2010 is going to be a good year,” he told a press conference after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Oxford Business Group on The Report: Malaysia 2010.

Better commuting in Shah Alam and Subang

Yes, the public transportation system in Malaysia is improving. Hopefully. Commuters in Shah Alam and Subang Jaya will be the next to benefit from the newly-launched RapidBET or Rapid Bus Express Transit system.

According to The Star newspapper, they will join commuters from Kota Damansara and Bandar Sungai Long in Kajang who became the first patrons of the RapidBET system yesterday.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat launched the new system at Kota Damansara yesterday.

The two routes are RapidBET1 bus from Kota Damansara to Pasar Seni via the Penchala and Kerinchi Links, and RapidBET2 from Bandar Sungai Long to Pasar Seni via the Grand Saga Highway.

RapidBET is the first of many initiatives from the urban public transport laboratory under the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) to be implemented.