Job Site Versus Employment Agency

For a job seeker, use both. You should not limit yourself to only one channel. In fact, you should try all relevant channels - apply direct, through your connections, job fairs and etc.

But as an employer, which is better?

Well, as a former HR Manager and now owning a job site as well as a recruitment agency, I’ll say it depends. The nature of the vacancy, budget and time are three main factors you should be concerned with. If I were a HR Manager again, I’ll use both because the main objective is to get the best talent. So, why should I restrict myself to a certain source or method of hiring?

Let’s look at some pertinent differences and find out the benefits and disadvantages of both methods.

Job sites or online job portals usually offer a job posting or resume access package or a combination of both. You post/repost a job. If you are lucky, you get a system that does pre-screening for you. You can either login or get your applications via email. You check through the applications, short list the ones you think are suitable and interview them accordingly. It’s DIY all the way although some sites offer help in posting the jobs on behalf of employers.

Job Site’s benefits:
• Cheap
• Get direct candidates
• Able to promote company’s brand to a large audience

Disadvantage:
• Time consuming going through all the applications
• No guarantee period offered

An employment or recruitment agency usually assigns a Consultant to take charge of your account. You provide all the necessary details such as job description and requirements, and even some information that may appear sensitive to be put inside a job advertisement. The Consultant work on the job by checking out their database, post the jobs online and whatever means they can find. The goal is short list candidates that meet the criteria of the job. Candidates will be interviewed or assessed accordingly (e.g. personality assessment or test) before they are forwarded to their clients/employers. In other words, taking over the “leg” work of a Human Resource Practitioner of a company.

Employment Agency’s benefits:
• Save time
• Pay only upon successful hire
• Guarantee period offered – free replacement if found not suitable or candidate resigned within a stipulated period

Disadvantage:
• More expensive than using a job site
• Service given not up to par

As you can see, both have their benefits and disadvantages. My advice is to use both but having said that, some common or general positions are best advertised on job sites as it’s cost effective.

Easy Money, Hard Money

"I want a job that is easy and can get as much money as possible. Tell me how to get that kind of job."

It's not irrational to think of money. After all, we do work for the money.

But it's irrational to think that money can come easily without you sweating for it. So, my answer to the above question is, "Be a gambler." It's easy and you do get a lot of money. But it's a high risk affair. High risks, high returns. Everyone knows it. Easy money, high uncertainty.

People like some amount of certainty (even though nothing is really certain but we like to think we are in control)

And that makes up more than half of world's population. These people study and they work hard and sweat to earn a living. "I trade in these skills and number of hours in return for this number of cash." Agreed. Signed. Certainty. Low risks, low returns.

Easy money with certainty? Fat chance.

What Is The Generation You Are Part Of Really...Take This Test

This is extracted from Penelopetrunk.com. Though it's an old article, I find it really interesting to use digital media engagement to assess which generation we are truly from. She interviewed Margaret Weigel, who has worked at Harvard and MIT doing research on digital media engagement. Weigel thinks that we should not judge people rigidly by the years they were born. She says, "If we want to define people by categories, it should be by behaviors because this is something each of us chooses."

So here is a test. Add up your points and find out what generation you're really a part of:

Do you have your own web page? (1 point)

Have you made a web page for someone else? (2 points)

Do you IM your friends? (1 point)

Do you text your friends? (2 points)

Do you watch videos on YouTube? (1 point)

Do you remix video files from the Internet? (2 points)

Have you paid for and downloaded music from the Internet? (1 point)

Do you know where to download free (illegal) music from the Internet? (2 points)

Do you blog for professional reasons? (1 point)

Do you blog as a way to keep an online diary? (2 points)

Have you visited MySpace at least five times? (1 point)

Do you communicate with friends on Facebook? (2 points)

Do you use email to communicate with your parents? (1 point)

Did you text to communicate with your parents? (2 points)

Do you take photos with your phone? (1 point)

Do you share your photos from your phone with your friends? (2 points)

0-1 point – Baby Boomer

2-6 points – Generation Jones

6- 12 points – Generation X

12 or over – Generation Y

Whoa lah...my score: 14. I might have scored more if I shared the same written language with my parents. My parents primary language is Chinese but mine is English. We simply don't write to each other. It's weird, I know..:P

So, what's your score? Do you think this is a good indicator?

Job Hunting Ethics: Candidate No Show

Candidate: Hey, thanks so much for helping me to get an interview. I know you've done a lot to help me...

2 days later - On the day of interview...

My client: What happened to your candidate? She did not turn up!

I called. I smsed. I emailed - and this is what I wrote...

Dear xxxx,

Trying to contact you via your hand phone but no reply yet. XXXXX notified me that you did not turn up for interview today. Would really like to know the reason. I trust you have a good reason because you seems to be interested in the post based on our past conversations. So, I find it strange that you did not turn up.

Kindly call me when you read this mail.

I would really appreciate it.

Thank you…:)

No reply whatsoever. I gave her another day. Usually in such cases, there are two possibilities. The first one is the candidate has a change of mind, something like a bride having cold feet last minute and decided to ditch the whole thing. Or it could be a genuine situation in which the candidate had an accident and was lying unconscious somewhere and thus, unable to make contact (In my entire recruiting career, only one case fell in the latter).

And it's rather easy to verify whether it's the first possibility or not. Use a different mobile phone to make the call.

In this case, I was rather disappointed that the call was answered and more disappointed when the line went dead upon hearing my voice.

Have some guts, girl! Say it and own it!

Why was it so difficult for the candidate to make a call and say she is no more interested?

This is not just a case of poor job hunting ethics, it's simply rude - lack of basic courtesy. Period.

If you can't keep an appointment with a friend, is it normal to get into a disappearing act?

No, you don't.

But I guess it is no big deal if it's an acquaintance. And of course, one incident like this won't hurt your career so much, would it?

Perfect Job?

I will be happy if I can just get my perfect job..

I will be happy if I can just find my perfect man..

We desire perfection. The day must go by as I had planned and when it did, oh...it's a perfect day! If it does not, it is simply a lousy day! So, what we are saying is this - "perfect" is when the result falls within our expectations. Anything less is imperfect!

But what if our expectations are flawed? That we do not have all the clues to know what is perfect for us.

A simple example is getting a perfect man. Most of us set out in life to look for the perfect man. When do we know whether the man is the "perfect man" for us or not? Is the measurement based on the fact a couple's ability to stay together till death do them apart? Is that it? Or do we really know for sure? Come to think of it, there's a lot of risks involved. At the point of decision, we simply weigh what's at stake and take a calculated risk or in most cases, simply based on a gut feeling. Do we know for sure? I guess not.

So, do we know what's the perfect job for us? We probably use the same approach.

Yes, we take our chances. All the time.

BN Youth Job Fair 2011

BN Youth wants to make a difference this year. To ensure the young generation is provided with enough job opportunities, the idea of organizing the largest career fair event ever came up. This job fair is going to take place from March 25th to 27th 2011. They are expecting 500,000 job seekers to flock to Putra World Trade Centre on these three dates and hope to break the Guinness World Record - an ambitious feat but not possible.

The companies participating in the fair are from various industries ranging from manufacturing, agriculture, services, hospitality, banking, engineering, IT, medical to civil service.

So to all the unemployed and job seekers that are looking for better opportunities, besides applying jobs via online, print media or through referrals, a good avenue is through career fairs such as this. Yes, if I were you, I’ll make sure I’ve a date with BN Youth Job Fair 2011 on these dates.

Besides meeting with prospective employers, there are other attractions that include on-the-spot creation of video resumes, resume clinics, internship opportunities, career talks and a 'skill enhancement corner'.

As always, admission to the event is free.

Good luck, job seekers!!

A Little Bit Of Love Doesn't Hurt

Today is Valentine’s Day! How the celebration was originated, no one really have all the facts but it’s now deem as a special day for lovers to show their affection and to express love to the special someone.

And some expanded the meaning of this day to include expressing appreciation and gratitude between good friends, bosses and colleagues and even between companies and their customers.

And why not?

Any gesture of kindness – whether a word of appreciation, a card, gifts and etc are welcomed by anyone. No one would resist more love. In any case, it’s the lack of it that we should be worried about.

A little bit of love doesn't hurt.

So, if you want to do something special for your colleague or bosses, go do it. The act might be as simple as saying a word of encouragement but it might just do its magic of brightening up someone’s day!

So, happy valentine’s day, readers! And thank you for stopping by….:)