Ok I got the Interview, now what?

Congratulations! You are in the second stage of your job search, the face-to-face interview. It is now time to prepare for the interview by doing some detailed homework. By homework I mean detailed research into several key areas of the interview namely:

1. The job description
2. The company and industry
3. The interviewer/s

You might scoff and say, "Pah! I'm a grown up and I don't need to do 'homework'". Wrong. Doing this background research will give you the important confidence you need during the interview itself and help you get the job!

Typical process Employers go through to fill Job applications

1. Position opens due to:
- current person leaves
- company is expanding
- current person is fired and/or retrenched
2. Manager submits request to his/her manager for repacement with Job Description (JD) document
3. Manager's manager approves and JD is submitted to HR
4. HR places ad in local paper/magazine (based on JD) or online job portal and/or hires a Headhunter who does the same
5. HR/Headhunter wait for responses until the designated deadline and reviews resumes based on JD
6. Headhunter/HR submits shortlisted candidates to manager for review and interview
7. Manager submits shortlisted candidates to his/her manager/peers for review
8. Manager's manager/peers interview candidate and if all candidates rejected process is repeated from step 4
9. If approved HR/Headhunter offers candidate contract for negotiation and sign off
10.If candidate rejects contract 2nd candidate is offered if suitable else process is repeated from step 4
11.If candidate signs contract he/she will start work after completing notice period

Minimum hiring process period till job is filled - 3 months (unless they are really desperate)

Tips on looking for jobs in the newspapers

In Retrenchopolis, fortunately or unfortunately for the jobseeker, there is only one paper that they can refer to look for jobs and that is the Recruit section of the Straits Times. Some tips to help you when you leaf through the pages:

1. The most number of jobs always occur on Saturdays so you can save your money and just buy that edition. The rest of the days pick up a free issue of Today.
2. Take your time to scan the pages. I suggest you do a quick scan followed by a thorough look through the second time around in case you missed anything.
3. Have a pair of scissors handy so that you can cut out an ad that you find interesting straight away.
4. Get ready a file or folder to keep the ad cutouts so that you don't lose any of them.
5. Once you have identified a few, prioritize them in terms of interest and submission deadlines.
6. Also note what the ads are asking for in terms of resumes, pictures, current salary, payslips, your first child, etc.
7. Save money and email the recruiters instead of snail mailing them. Email is entirely acceptable in this day and age.
8. In fact if the recruiter does not leave an email address it really does not reflect well on them and you should think twice before applying to a company still stuck in the last century...
9. Finally do not scoff at jobs advertised in the papers! More than 50% of my previous jobs were obtained via this channel.

How to make full use of Online Job Sites

Online Job Sites are pretty straightforward to use. Just follow these simple steps and you are set to go:
1. Sign up by filling in some of your details
2. Upload or input your resume
3. Set up your alert email to search for the jobs that you are looking for
4. Sit back, relax and wait for the emails to come
5. Occasionally some employers searching on the online Job Site would ask for your full resume

That's it! It's really that simple though they have some fancy names and variations for the tools that they have. If you have more time you can visit the site and try different searches to see what it turns up.

Understanding Headhunters

Before we talk about Headhunters one must understand their motivation. They are paid a commission which is usually a percentage of your salary or they are on a retainer fee with bigger clients. So how they 'pitch' you to their clients depends on what their relationship is with their clients and the fee structure they are remunerated on.

Those headhunters which are not on retainer will not get paid until the job seeker they recommended has been hired and they must stay in the job for at least x months. These jobs are usually for mid-level positions and typically companies give the job opening to multiple headhunters and let them fight it out. This is good for the company as they will get many resumes and there is less risk involved as they will only pay when the job is filled. Unfortunately not for the job seeker as these headhunters will just pitch as many job seekers they can to their clients hoping one will get hired. You can easily spot these type of jobs when you find multiple jobs with very similar descriptions.

For those headhunters on retainer they get paid a fee upfront regardless if the position is filled or not and they will get paid more once the job is filled. These jobs are usually for senior positions and these companies only work with one headhunter who provides a more end-to-end service. Is this type of headhunter better for job seekers? In some ways I guess as they have a track record and a longer term relationship that they have to maintain with their client.

A word of caution. These headhunters are working for the organisations who are their clients and not for you dear job seeker. Remember it is not you who are paying their fees but the client, so when you do contact headhunters please do so with eyes wide open!

How to build your Network

Tip 1
One of the easier tasks in job hunting especially if you are an extrovert. Go out and socialise! Have lunch with your friends, call your old schoolmates for a drink, chat with your ex-colleagues online, email your relatives... Tell them that you are looking for a new job and what you are looking for. Don't be shy to ask them to ask their contacts. You get the picture.

Tip 2
Use online tools. Nowadays its much easier to network with your friends on the web:
1. Email your friends and contacts to say hi
2. Join online social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Hi5, etc.
3. Chat with your friends on Messenger, Skype, iChat, etc
4. Write a blog on your expertise like this blog for example
5. You can even play online games to make new friends, e.g. World of Warcraft, Maple Story, etc

Where to get Leads for your next Job?

Own network (Please supply your own):
- Friends
- Ex-colleagues
- Family

Headhunters (In alphabetical order, Retrenchopolis only):
- Aquent
- ChrisAllen Search
- Hudson
- Micahel Page
- PSD Group
- Recruit Express
- Robert Walters
- Talent2

Online Job Sites (In alphabetical order, Retrenchopolis only):
- JobsDB.com
- JobStreet.com
- Monster.com
- ST701.com

Papers (In alphabetical order, Retrenchopolis only):
- Straits Times Recruit Section on Saturday
- Industry or Professional publications

Go Direct
Yes you can even go direct to the company you are interested to join by writing in blind to the HR department attention the HR Director or alternatively visit their website and look under the "Career" section and do a search

The Process to get your next Job

1. Get the lead either from your contacts, headhunters, online, papers, etc
2. Understand the job requirements by reading the job ad or JD (Job Description) or by speaking to your contact/headhunter
3. Identify the main points the recruiter is looking for - these are usually the first few or they are repeated
4. Write a cover letter which clearly indicates that you have experience to get the job done with a few examples
5. Customise your resume by tweaking your Career goals and objectives
6. Mail the letter and the resume promptly and do not wait till the last minute
7. If you have the contact of the recruiter, call them or email to check if they have received it
8. Wait patiently and apply for other jobs

The Tools you need to to get your next Job

1. Customised Cover Letter in Word format - To answer all or most of the Job requirements in the ad (If there are not many matches, DO NOT WASTE your's and the recruiter's time)
2. Precise Resume in Word format - 1 or 2 page summary of your experiences which match the job (They DO NOT want your complete life history)
3. Internet access to research for Interview - Always read up on the company to find out more (There are literally TONS of info on the web. You might find out some problem the company is trying to solve with your hire)
4. Practised pitch for Interview - Rehearse in front of the mirror or with a friend (Especially for TOUGH questions like why did you leave your last company, why were you retrenched, what are your weaknesses, etc)
5. Follow up thank you letter to Interviewer - Simple email thanking them for their time (This shows that you are COURTEOUS as well as ON THE BALL)

Fastest way to get a new job

1. Referral from friends or relatives
2. Head hunters/Online jobsites
3. Newspapers
4. Writing in to companies directly
5. Pray really hard

10 Hints that you are about to be Retrenched

1. Your line manager and upper management avoid eye contact with you
2. HR avoid you and ask you to check with management for even basic requests
3. Your manager approves your leave requests without challenging them
4. You seem to have more time on your hands with less important projects to do
5. You find out about projects that you are supposed to be in charge of but are being run by somebody else
6. Your manager seems to find fault in everything you do
7. The number of emails you get in your inbox seem less than before
8. Your requests for additional resources for the project you are running are turned down without any reason
9. Your manager gives you a verbal and/or written warning for some vague reason
10.And the biggest hint is when your manager calls you into his room and his manager and HR are present

Top 10 Tips for Retrenchees

1. Refuse to give up hope! Regardless of what you think there will always be a job out there with your name on it.
2. Rediscover what you love to do. Take a step back and reflect on your passions and srengths.
3. Reject the urge to mope and feel sorry about yourself or blame others. Keep moving forward with no regrets.
4. Remember your friends and family. Rest assured they are the best support group you will ever have, period.
5. Recall and learn from your mistakes. Remember you learn from failure, not success.
6. Recuperate and relax. Take a break and revitalise your mind and body before your next job.
7. Realign your career goals. Develop a clear career plan with help from a reliable coach.
8. Research your targeted job or industry. Nobody recruits candidates who haven't done their homework.
9. Revise and refine your resume and cover letter. Remember these are your tools to get your foot in the door.
10.Rehearse your pitch before the interview. Repeat your 2-min elevator speech to friends, family, headhunters, your pets.

To be retrenched or not to be retrenched?

That is the question...

Are you like me, Super Retrenched Man (SRM)? Have you been retrenched so many times that you can't remember when was the last job your quit on your own free will? Welcome to the club. I have been laid off for at least 5 times in my career and I feel that it is time to give back to the community, to all your retrenchees out there who have suffrered the same fate as I. I would like this blog to be the place where you can vent your frustrations, share tips, get help and generally take your mind off your last retrenchment and along the way if you have fun so much the better cos we need some of our spirits lifted. So stop reading and start posting already!