Parker Bridge Recruitment Malaysia

01/06/2016

30/05/2016

What is it our Mothers used to say? There’s no time like the present. If you’re bored in your job or just plain scared to try something new, opportunity won’t just knock at your door. You have to make it happen. First things first - make sure your CV is in perfect order. Check out this article which clearly shows how to put together a CV that’s not going to blow your mind. What is it our Mothers used to say? There’s no time like the present. If you’re bored in your job or just plain scared to try something new, opportunity won’t just knock at your door. You have to make it happen. First things first - make sure your CV is in perfect order. Check out this article which clearly shows how to put together a CV that’s not going to blow your mind.

Content is king! Do’s and Don’ts that will ensure your CV is bigger on detail than style!

Most of you will be familiar with the phrase ‘style over substance’. In the case of your all important CV this refers to one that is wonderfully written, waxes lyrical and is beautifully ‘designed’ with a plethora of graphics and frilly bits—but the actual content, once you drill down to the nitty gritty, amounts to very little.

Apart from the obvious failings of the SOS CV (you’re unlikely to get to the shortlist if we can’t figure out if you can a) do the work or b) have the experience) it’s important to understand why a CV needs to be structured in a certain way and why the bells and whistles, whilst exciting, do not work in the job application process.

An appropriately structured, plain English CV works in two ways. Firstly in today’s digital age, where more and more of the initial job application process is automated, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are the norm. Your CV is likely to be run through an ATS long before it reaches the intended recipient. If the ATS is unable to scan your CV and get the right information, there is no way your CV is ever going to get in front of the right people.

Secondly, with the advent of job boards like SEEK and Trade Me giving you the facility to upload your CV to their database, it becomes even more critical that your CV meets the criteria so algorithms can match your relevant data to those amazing roles.

To ensure your CV is ATS friendly and just as importantly, people friendly, we have compiled a list of do’s and don’ts.

Do structure your CV using the following headings to ensure all critical information is captured in order of importance.
Name and contact details
Personal statement
Skills
Work history – we are looking for career progression and ideally increasing levels of responsibility. (Do mention volunteer work. Being dedicated and proactive enough to volunteer to get experience is a wonderful attribute!)
Achievements
Education
Interests and hobbies
Don’t lose sight of the fact that whilst the content is critical, your CV should be presented in a professional manner. Consistent spacing, differentiate the sections and using bold and italics (but not underline) will guide the reader through your CV and hold their attention on detail you deem critical. Avoid tables, frames and text boxes and unnecessary graphics.

Don’t use fancy fonts no matter how lovely they look. Stick with system fonts so you can be assured your CV will look exactly how you planned when it reaches its destination.

Do make your accomplishments stand out. Recruiters and potential employers get hundreds of CV’s, so making it easy for them to see your achievements is only going to work in your favour. Use the Harvard format—paragraph your work history and responsibilities using standard bullets (not fancy) to highlight the challenges, what action you took and the end result.

Do make sure your CV has keywords. There is some argument these days that keywords are dead but you can rest assured, quality content is still king.

Do use your spell check! After all, you might know what you meant to say but the ATS doesn’t!

Do get someone else to read your CV before you submit to make sure it makes grammatical sense.

Follow these tips and your CV will fly past and if all goes well, arrive exactly where you want it to be!

28/05/2016

9 Things to bring on a Job Interview

1. Documents
Carry copies of your education certificates and proof of employment. You might need to attach it to the forms. Or the interviewers just might want to see it.
2. Work Samples
Your work shows out your capabilities and skills live, compared to you talking about it and verbally trying to explain it because nothing speaks louder than your work in an interview.
3. Interview Details
Carefully take down the details the name of the interviewing manager, address, time and any directions or guidelines you might have been given like whom to ask for upon arrival.
4. Pen
Interviewing managers hate candidates who are irresponsible enough to forget to bring their own pen. And make sure the pen works fine and smooth. You don’t want to be struggling and coaxing a pen to work when you need it.
5. Resume & Passport Size Photo/ ID card
You are going for an interview, not for a tea party. You need to carry clean and tidy copies of your updated resumes. Add in copies of your passport size photographs/ ID card, some companies do ask you to paste them on the application form.
6. Reference Letter
It is always good to carry at least three reference letters or letter of recommendations. You can support yourself on that when relevant questions are asked during the course of the interview.
7. Cell Phone
8. Keep your cell phone with you at all times this way you can stay in touch and handle emergency situations while your interviewers can inform you of any delays or problems. You can also call up the office asking for help to find the place.
9. Grooming tools
Appearances speak a lot, and no matter what who says, it does matter. In fact, it makes your first impression. So always carry your grooming tools like mirror-comb and mini-make up kit in your bag.

26/05/2016

How to secretly interview for a new job?

When you’re trying to leave your current job for bigger and better opportunities, you have to walk a fine line. Unless you have a hugely open relationship with your boss. Here are five ways to stealthily secure a new job.

1. Don’t show up to work in your interview work
2. Turn off LinkedIn Notifications
3. Don’t print your resume at work
4. Conduct all your correspondence via personal email
5. Make your fake illnesses as vague as possible

24/05/2016

9 things that really annoy hiring managers!

1. When you don’t understand the company or product
2. When you don’t ask questions. It shows disinterest and lack of effort.
3. When you’re too persistent. “Emailing multiple times a week, stopping hr reaching out to every employee.”
4. When you don’t follow directions. “The job says to email and not call or maybe that a cover letter is required”
5. When you get the company’s name wrong in your application materials.
6. When you don’t include links for easy reference.
7. When you don’t follow up after an interview.
8. When you make up an answer. First of all, your interviewer can probably tell, and secondly, she will not be impressed.
9. When you are too casual. “Keep emails professional and always include greetings and sign-offs, not just one-liners sent from your phone.”

21/05/2016

Impress questions to ask an interviewer

1. Can you describe a typical day in this type of role?
2. How long have you been at the company and what makes you stay?
3. How would you describe the work environment and corporate culture?
4. What are some of the goals for the company in the short and longer term?
5. How would my performance be measured?
6. What types of career opportunities may open up down the road for a person starting out in this type of position, assuming they perform well?
7. What are some of the company’s initiatives regarding learning and development?