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ANZA Netball: For the love of coaching

The stars were certainly aligned when ANZA Netball and coach Jolynn Loo joined forces, says Donna Williams.

ANZA Netball has been building up its coaching team for a few years, sending willing and devoted volunteers to coaching courses that Netball Singapore provide throughout the year. As part of this development, ANZA Netball decided to develop our coaches and players by bringing in external expertise. The arrival of coach Jolynn Loo came about through this initiative.

Jolynn is an accredited Level 2 Coach with over 10 years experience in coaching girls of all ages and levels. In 2014 Jolynn was the coach for the U17s Singapore National Team.

At ANZA Netball, you will find Jolynn on court from 9.45am–1pm, first as head coach for the 12-year-olds age group, followed by head coach for 14- to 16-year-olds age group. She is instrumental in developing the coaching plan for these age groups, coaching the coaches(!), and of course coaching our girls. She also helped out as the coach of 11-year-olds rep team that travelled to Perth earlier in the year.

We recently caught up with Jolynn to talk about all things netball.

Why and when did you initially start playing netball?

Haha, this is funny. The ECA that I joined at school was cancelled, so my teacher forced me into netball. I was 14 years old. I hadn’t considered it until then but loved it straight away.

What is your major playing achievement?

Singapore 19/U in 1999 and 2000.

When was your first coaching experience?

1998.

How old were you when you attended your first coaching course?

When I was 16.

What are your aspirations for coaching?

To develop a world-class team for international competitions.

What are you doing now apart from coaching with ANZA?

I’m coaching in two local schools ranging from 9- to16-year-old girls. Once in a while I coach my own elite netball club team – the Magic Marlins.

I’m involved in yoga too! It helps me to focus and be patient.

You just assisted the Vietnam National team and the Asian Championships last week. Can you tell us more?

Netball Singapore approached me to be attached to the Vietnam team to advise on any netball matters during the Asian Championships. This is the first time Vietnam has had a netball team participating in Asian Netball Championship. It was an eye-opening experience.

What is your coaching style?

Setting clear goals, working towards getting the girls to buy in on what they want to achieve, then supporting them as they do the hard work towards execution.

What are three top tips you have learnt from other great coaches?

Trust in your own coaching abilities; trust in your players’ abilities; and praise works wonders! Coaching should never be just a coach’s plan. It’s all about enabling all the strengths of the players and combining them into a bigger strength for the team to excel together. No one person should be left out in the team, from players to officials.

Who is the best coach you have worked with?

Julie Hoornweg. She is able to make a low-confidence player an awesome player on court. She never stops praising players for good work done. She is able to make any player think of solutions rather than be given the solution from the coach.

In your opinion, what is more important, physical or mental toughness?

Both I guess, they are inter-connected. But if you want me to choose, I choose mental toughness. At the end of the day it is mind over matter.

How important is a positive attitude?

I would say a big VERY! Without a positive attitude, you will never go far as a humble and respectable player. The ‘never die’ spirit will lift anyone from the bottom of the pit.

Is it ever too late to learn to play netball?

NEVER! There’s a Chinese saying that I grew up with, ‘one is never too old to learn’.

Thanks to Jolynn for taking the time to do this interview and for being a part of our team as we continue to develop and grow at ANZA Netball.

And they’re off!

ANZA Athletics is back and better than ever with a great start to the 2014/15 season, says Carole Smith.We’re very pleased to be back in full swing for the 2014/15 season of ANZA Athletics, having started at the end of August.

With 180 children registered so far, the committee is pleased with the turnout, given the forced early termination of the 2013/14 season. The children are already loving their Friday nights, with one boy commenting, ‘out of rugby, soccer and athletics, I love athletics the most!’ Go Athletics!

Whether the kids are Road Runners or Homer Simpsons in terms of their athletic prowess, the ‘personal best’ (PB) system, in which children receive a yellow PB sticker every time they beat their previous best result, provides an incentive for everyone to get out there and try their hardest. The children are trying so hard, in fact, that well over 2000 PBs have been achieved so far.

With 12 dedicated coaches on board, children are coached through their events, and are shown the correct techniques to use from High Jump lift-offs to hurdles foot placement.

Perhaps the best thing about ANZA Athletics is the sportsmanship that is brought out in the children, as they rally to encourage the slower runners to the finish line. This has been commented on particularly in relation to the Under-11 boys, who have been seen more than once running alongside one of their group encouraging him to finish the race. As parents, it’s wonderful to be part of such an environment.

The Committee is always seeking parental feedback, and none makes us happier than a new parent’s comment that ‘the format and organisation is exceptional.’ The Committee wishes to give all of the parents a huge pat on the back for all of their efforts every Friday night. The mantra of many sports is that it wouldn’t happen without the parents, but in the case of ANZA Athletics, it really is true. We are heavily dependent on parental involvement, and we are very rarely let down. In fact, we delight in how parents seem to take ownership of their particular task, and undertake it with a sense of pride.

The confidence which comes from participating in Athletics does have positive knock-on effects elsewhere. For example, one of the committee member’s sons has improved noticeably in rugby due to his running skills. Other children may realise that, given the opportunity, they are actually quite good at certain events, and set their sights on achieving an age-group record, or winning a trophy at the end of the season for a top three placing. All athletes (as ANZA Athletics children may proudly call themselves) who attend regularly collect medals and certificates at the end of season – yet another reason to take part.

And if parents are still left wondering whether it is worth their time and effort on a Friday night… well, at least they can be guaranteed tired (and hopefully happy!) children ready for bed on their arrival home.

There is still room in nearly all age groups for more eager participants. Come and join us!

Find out more on the Athletics page or register now at the half season price of $140.

OverEasy’s new menu

CITY: Already a favourite destination for after-work drinks and dinner, OverEasy has revamped its menu in a bid to secure its place as Singapore’s quintessential American-style diner. With Chef Teow Wei Kiat at the helm, the menu has expanded to include a number of new burgers, plus a huge range of other indulgent dishes – as well as a few lighter options.

Among the new dishes is an update of their Good Old-Fashioned Mac & Cheese (don’t worry, the old version is still on the menu too), ‘Mac & Cheeks’ ($24) – which sees creamy, homely macaroni & cheese mixed with Australian beef cheek that’s been braised overnight. Also on the cheesy side is the Grilled Three Cheese Sandwich ($16), which is exactly what it sounds like – a decadent take on the classic grilled cheese sandwich – and the Texas Chilli Cheese Fries ($16), served with Cajun spice, warm beef, chilli and cheese.

Since opening in 2009, the restaurant and bar has become known for its burgers, and the revamped menu does not disappoint in this department. All burgers are served on toasted brioche buns, with wagyu chuck blend burger patties. We tried the Big Blue burger ($26), complete with Kikorangi Blue cheese, sautéed onions, lettuce and red onion. Also featured on the menu is The Truffle burger ($28) – with Swiss cheese, sautéed onions, mushrooms and truffle mayo – and for those with bottomless stomachs, the Double Trouble burger ($32) is worth a try, which comes with not one but two patties. A small range of sandwiches such as the Grilled Chicken BLT ($20) and the Triple-Decker Club Sandwich ($18) are also available.

If reading the above is giving you heart palpitations, fear not – there are lighter options available too. The Farmer Chopped Salad ($16) is a delicious alternative to the more indulgent items on the menu, served with apples, blue cheese and aged balsamic vinaigrette, while the Santa Fe Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup ($12) provides a fresh spin on a homely dish.

Topping off the decidedly exhaustive menu is a range of desserts, like the Bourbon Donut Holes ($12), served with homemade fudge, and the Waffles with Mixed Berries & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream ($12), with strawberry and chocolate sauce.

With OverEasy already a favoured watering hole in the area, there are of course a number of speciality cocktails on offer too, like the fruity Te-Quil-A Mockingbird ($16), with Cimarron Blanco Tequila, lime juice and fresh pomegranate. Of the non-alcoholic options, those keen for the true diner experience will enjoy the Super Thick Classic Shakes ($12), which are available in six different flavours.

OverEasy Bar and Diner
1 Fullerton Road #01-06
Tel 9129 8484

View our listings for Bars, Restaurants and Cafes in the CBD

A magical Christmas night under the moon and stars with nůmama choir

Nůmama Choir invite you to a family evening of festive song under the stars in support of The Riverkids Choir in Cambodia.

Come along on Sunday 7th December and see the one and only nůmama choir perform an evening of uplifting tunes and Christmas classics inspired by the moon and stars.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go to RiverKids, which helps Cambodian children and families in danger of child abuse and trafficking.

When: Sunday 7th December from 7pm, singing starts at 8pm

Where: Hollandse Club Main Hall, 22 Camden Park, Off Adam Road

What: An evening of magical music inspired by the moon and stars & chance to get into the festive spirit with some sing-along classic carols. Food and drink available to purchase from the bar.

Tickets: Available from any nůmama choir member or email numamasingapore@gmail.com. $25 (Concessions 5-12 yrs $10, under 5’s free).

To find out more about the nůmama choir go to www.numamachoir.com.

Everything you need to know about the Fair Consideration Framework

Much has been made of the Fair Consideration Framework over the past year, which finally came into effect on August 1st. But what are the real consequences?

 

WHAT IS IT?

The Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) aims to strengthen what the Singaporean government refers to as the ‘Singaporean Core’ in the workforce. The Framework requires firms with more than 25 employees to consider Singaporeans fairly in the hiring process.

Firms recruiting new staff must advertise the vacancy on the Jobs Bank administered by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), and the job must be open to Singaporeans, comply with the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices, and must run for at least 14 calendar days. If employers are unable to find a suitable candidate via the Jobs Bank, then they may submit an Employment Pass (EP) application.

WHY DID IT COME ABOUT?

‘After the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, Singapore became even more attractive for people from around the world, and this led to an increasing number of people competing for the small number of jobs in Singapore’ says Regional Director of recruitment company Hays in Singapore, Chris Mead, adding that approximately 37 per cent of Singapore’s workforce is not Singaporean.

The FCF is seen by many as a ‘nudge’ from the government to remind businesses to implement fair practices when hiring. Similar frameworks have been in place for years in countries like Australia, the UK and the US.

Christopher Koh, Director of the Foreign Workforce Policy Department at Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) comments: ‘The FCF is intended to send a clear signal that the government expects all firms to adopt a fair, non-discriminatory mindset in hiring, and to develop the capabilities of their Singaporean employees.’

‘A deeper local talent pool is good for investors, and a key priority for Singapore – we will not have a sustainable competitive advantage without it.’

WHO IS EXEMPT?

Small firms with 25 or fewer employees are exempt from having to advertise on the Jobs Bank, as well as jobs which pay a fixed monthly salary of SGD$12,000 or more. However, they will still need to comply with the guidelines on Fair Employment Practices.

WHO DOES IT AFFECT?

For employers in Singapore, the Jobs Bank procedure has elongated the recruitment process by a minimum of two weeks.

‘When an organisation wants to hire someone, traditionally they need the person now – so any downtime, particularly for experienced or critical positions, will actually hurt the business. So there’s an economic flow-on for that,’ says Mead.

The MOM will also pay close attention to firms that have a disproportionately low concentration of Singaporeans at the PME (Professionals, Managers and Executives) level compared to others in their industry.

‘[The MOM] will engage such firms to understand the reasons behind their hiring trends and the basis behind the complaints,’ says Koh.

‘These may be due to legitimate skills gaps, in which case we will not take action against the firms but will expect them to transfer skills to Singapore citizens over time. In cases of firms found to have unfair hiring practices, and which do not rectify their HR practices, their work pass privileges may be curtailed.’

Prospective employees will also have to face longer waits, though this may differ depending on experience levels. Mead says that for mid- to senior-level talent (five or more years of experience and a $60k base salary), he hasn’t seen a decrease in the number of EPs being approved.

‘Yes, it’s taking a bit longer, but at that level we haven’t seen any slowdown at all. At the more entry to early middle levels, however, there has been an increase of Employment Passes being rejected.’

Mead agrees that the government should give fairer opportunities to Singaporeans, but adds that success still depends on your skills and experience, whether you’re in demand and what level you’re at in your career.

‘The Singapore economy this year will grow anywhere between 2.8 and 3.5 per cent GDP year-on-year. It’s in a sweet spot at the moment.’

‘Businesses this year are generally looking to grow, which means they need the right expertise to do it. So this is a good thing for jobseekers, and is a positive message. It’s about actually making sure they do the right preparation and connect with the right people.’

 

Useful links
Ministry of Manpower: ‘Fair Consideration Framework’
The Manpower Blog: ‘Fair consideration for Singaporeans: An important step forward’
The Manpower Blog: ‘Making a difference through the Fair Consideration Framework’

Welcome to ‘Sing City’: a Lifestyle revolution in the ‘little red dot’

Last week, I happened by chance upon some of the Newsletters, from 2010, when we had just launched Survival Chic (SC) Singapore’s first Lifestyle Membership.

These Newsletters were meant to give SC Members insider access to Singapore’s best food & wine, arts & culture, fashion & branding, lifestyle & leisure.

Frankly, I was a appalled. The list was beyond “selective”; it was actually just short… and the variety was decidedly underwhelming.

Comparing this year’s SC Newsletters (sent out to 18,000+ Singapore-based Executives & Expats) the difference was mindboggling. The 30-35 events & invitations per week for our Members went from VIP access to the Singapore Yacht Show, to free Comedy Fringe Festival tickets – from special invitations to the World Gourmet Summit, to an Argentinean wine pairing, from French-Singaporean theatre, to a private launch with a top London tailor.

The temptation is to credit SC’s growth for this drastic improvement. The reality, however is that Singapore’s Lifestyle Scene is evolving, with several distinctive trends:

1) A ‘fast & furious’ entry of international players – from Art Stage to Michelin-starred chefs, from Formula One to Yachting giants…

2) A new local interest – and involvement – in arts, culture, F&B, and entertainment.

3) A new taste for experiences. While material goods like cars and designer handbags remain a staple for affluent Singapore-dwellers, recent years see increased investment in more ephemeral– and less tangible – indulgences.

Without a doubt, the Lion City’s Lifestyle Scene is on the rise. Our challenge at Survival Chic is to keep our Members ahead of the fast-changing curve.

Survival Chic is a 1-year Lifestyle & Dining Membership, that gives Members 30{ee938d54fc7876cbf95a9442c2eaa5c46f2412bf7dbba51f9ba3b6b032944fb2} off at 50 Top Restaurants, and Complimentary & VIP invites, every day. References readily available. Join here with any major credit card (NO need to have a Paypal account). or contact i@survivalchic.com.

Born in Georgia, Virginia Brumby is the director of Survival Chic, Singapore’s first & Premier Lifestyle Membership. She has lived, worked & traveled in 6 different continents (no wineries in Alaska ;)) and has written in prominent publications across Asia.

Turning Up the Volume – International Premier Tennis League (IPTL)

Come and experience world class tennis and cheer on the Singapore Slammers in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 2 – 4 December 2014.

The IPTL brings together past, present and future champions in a new ground breaking format which sees players including Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, Daniela Hantuchova, Bruno Soares, Nick Kyrgios and Tomas Berdych of the Singapore Slammers going head-to-head against the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Marin Cilic, Ana Ivanovic, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Carlos Moya, Eugenie Bouchard and Goran Ivanisevic, etc representing the Manila Mavericks, Indian Aces and UAE Royals in the new look tournament.

In a first for Singapore, teams compete in a code-breaking format consisting of five single-set matches – men’s & women’s singles; men’s doubles; mixed doubles; and past champions (legends) singles – combining world class tennis with music and entertainment, creating an experience that is sure to leave spectators hanging on the edge of their seats.

Day passes cost from S$49 to S$180 and 3 day passes from S$128 to S$490. As a special promotion for the members of the ANZA, the Singapore Slammers is offering a 15{ee938d54fc7876cbf95a9442c2eaa5c46f2412bf7dbba51f9ba3b6b032944fb2} discount off the official ticket price, when you use the promotional code: IPTLANZA

What: IPTL – Singapore Slammers
When: December 2-4
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Match Times: 4:00pm-7:00pm (first match up), 7:30pm-10:30pm (second match up)
Website:www.singaporeslammers.com
Tickets:www.sportshub.com.sg OR call StarHub Tix at 6333-5000

Click here to see Andre Agassi’s video on his upcoming participation on the Singapore Slammers team. Check out the other player videos on our YouTube channel as well.

See the ANZA Member Benefits page for details about the member discount on tickets.

The ANZA Guide to Singapore – Hotspots

Singapore has a wide variety of dining options and a venue decision can be a challenge.

Does your palate fancy Italian, Spanish or French cuisine, or a locally roasted coffee? Maybe you need to finish your work day with a kalamansi and coconut mint soda or something stronger at a vibrant cocktail bar with menu offerings of perfectly cooked succulent ribeye steak and grilled tigerprawns with lime butter.

ANZA’s Hotspots has it covered.

The featured food reviews are direct from the ANZA Magazine. You can find Hotspots under Entertainment – Bars Restaurants and Cafés. Latest reviews include Babette, Southbridge, UNA at One Rochester, Tao Seafood Asia and Fratini La Trattoria.

Are your favourite restaurants listed in the guide? Send your recommendations for new listings or send your review to guide@anza.org.sg.

 

Adjusting to Being a Dependent Spouse

The first time you are tagged with the label ‘dependent spouse,’ it can be a bit of a shock. Adjusting to being without an income, colleagues, family and friends in a new country can be a challenge. Here are a few things that helped me to embrace living in Singapore and come to terms with being the trailing talent of the family.

1. Be honest
Lots of people love it here from the second they land; others don’t. While it’s good to stay positive, it’s ok to find it difficult and to say so. When I first arrived, so many cheery people told me how easy it is to live here. I found it really difficult. It wasn’t until I met someone who hated it here (and wasn’t afraid to say so) that I realised I needed to stop fake smiling, nodding and agreeing and admit that I didn’t like it. Somehow that helped.

2. Set a weekly entertainment budget
Don’t fall into the mind-set that if you aren’t earning you can’t spend. Your spouse’s salary should compensate somewhat for your loss of earnings, so allocate some money to spend on getting out and keeping busy.
If you do need to watch your pennies, there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself on the cheap:
Explore hawker eating: The basement of Tanglin Mall is a good place to start if you find the idea a bit daunting.
Explore the museums: The Singapore National Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum all have reasonable entry fees.
Join one of the lower-cost groups in ANZA, such as Casual Coffee, Playgroup or Tennis.
Explore the malls and window shop: Sounds frivolous but if you need to be out of the house in the middle of the day, they are cheerful, plentiful and air-conditioned.
Explore the Botanic Gardens, National Parks, reservoirs or walk the Rail Trail.

3. Adjust the rhythm of your day
If you find yourself sitting around at the end of the day waiting for your spouse to arrive home (before pouncing on them for conversation the second you walk through the door), plan something active to do at that time. Plan your outdoor activities for the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the hottest times of the day. It sounds simple, but the day I realised I couldn’t do the grocery shop on foot at lunchtime was a turning point in my relationship with Singapore.

4. Make connections
You will meet some amazing people here and most people are very open to forming new friendships. Even long-term expats need to keep meeting new people to replace their friends that move on. Don’t assume that you will run into people again – exchange contact details with people you would like to meet again. In the absence of a business card it is common to have a personal name card or you can simply exchange telephone numbers.

5. Become a part of the community
In order to be happy living here, you need to create your own community. Engaging in the formal communities that you encounter will make such a difference to how happy you feel about living here. Joining an interest group, attending events and volunteering are great ways to get involved.

ANZA has over 20 interest groups with meetings running almost every day. They are found in the What’s On section of the website. Not every event that you attend will be full of like-minded people, but persevere; each event draws a different crowd and being part of the community will make a huge difference to how you will feel about being here as a dependent spouse. Many events are hosted, so seek out the coordinator if you need someone to chat to.

We have hundreds of volunteers working on supporting our charities, running groups, organising sporting activities and working in the office. ANZA Action provides an opportunity to volunteer with ANZA’s charitable work and can match volunteers to local community organisations. Volunteering and being involved can provide purpose and an identity in the community, which has given me the sense of belonging here.

Top tips on breaking into the Singapore jobs market

Regional Director of Hays in Singapore and ANZA member Chris Mead shares his best advice on how to land a job in Singapore.

KNOW THE AREAS OF DEMAND FOR FOREIGN TALENT

Due to the ongoing skills shortage overseas talent is still needed to fill vacancies where local Singaporeans are in short supply. Employers continue to struggle to attract highly skilled and experienced professionals they need, especially in technical areas like IT, banking, construction and engineering.  

Employers need to look overseas if workloads are to be completed and Singapore is to remain competitive in the global business environment. However, it’s now more difficult for foreign candidates to gain work in Singapore, particularly when they are looking to move to the region and are not based here.

Expatriates are still in demand in certain industries. Banking is one example where foreign owned banks operating in Singapore need to hire for their parent company regulatory reporting team. For example, British banks in Singapore still need to report back to the Bank of England and other relevant authorities. These regulations differ to local regulations, and employers usually require candidates who have specific regulatory reporting experience.  Many locally based candidates do not have this prior experience, increasing the need for employers to look to foreign candidates.

 

KNOW THE DIFFERENCES IN WORK CULTURE

A lot of organisations in Singapore are adopting the western and a modern style of working. However, there are still cultural differences in Singapore that new employees need to be aware of. For example, work culture in Singapore was traditionally one of a high-power distance, which means there are clear authority structures and social status is defined by your position in the society and workplace.

Communication in the workplace

Unlike many other Asian countries, English is widely spoken in Singapore; ‘Singlish’ may have its domestic advantages, but in business standard English skills are essential. There are cultural differences in the way you communicate, if not the language used.

Be very direct when communicating, but soft-spoken not aggressive. If you are someone who talks with a lot of gestures, be careful not to point at anyone with your index finger or pound your fist into your hand. Expect business to be conducted formally and take time to build personal relationships with colleagues and clients.  Wait to be told where to sit when entering a meeting room.  Do not publicly discuss disagreements about decisions – wait for a private meeting.

It’s also worth mentioning etiquette for business cards – use both hands to accept and offer a business card and take a moment to read the card – don’t just glance at it and put it aside.  And for meetings, turn up on time – not early, and not late.

Business dress code

For men, a jacket is generally not necessary, although you may need it in the air-conditioned offices! Dark trousers with a shirt and tie are acceptable business dress for men. For women, dress conservatively in trousers or a skirt reaching past your knees, and cover your upper arms.

Business entertainment etiquette and socialising outside of the office with colleagues

In general, there are few differences between Australia & New Zealand and  Singapore when it comes to business entertainment etiquette and socialising. In terms of gifts for clients, it is socially acceptable, and generally expected, that you would give gifts to clients at Chinese New Year and for the Moon Cake Festival.

Outside of these times, it’s culturally acceptable to give gifts provided they are acceptable and not too expensive, otherwise it could lead to embarrassment and the connotation that something extra is implied by the giving of the gift. It is not culturally accepted to give gifts of cash, with the exception of Hong Bao, where management give staff a nominal amount in a red envelope.

In addition, most publicly listed companies have strong anti-bribery and corruption legislation in place, so that all staff know what is acceptable.

In terms of entertaining clients, it is acceptable to take clients and potential clients to lunch but again this action needs to be within your company’s guidelines, and at a reasonably priced venue.

Socialising with colleagues outside of working hours happens regularly, but be aware that Singapore is a very small place and therefore you need to protect your reputation and your business’ reputation when you go out. Given the geographical size of our business district, poor behaviour can have long-term consequences for your career.

 

PREPARE FOR ARRIVAL

Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive cities so do some research on how much it will cost you to live in Singapore. If you’re coming from Australia or New Zealand, the low tax rates in Singapore will give your net earnings a big boost! However, your biggest expenses are likely to be rent, transport (if you buy a car), and schooling (if you have children studying in international schools). You can minimise rent costs by sharing a flat or living further away from the city center.

If you’re planning to come to Singapore first and then look for a job when you get here you can apply for an Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) from the Ministry of Manpower. If you qualify, this grants you a Social Visit Pass valid for up to a year so you can look for work. You can apply online – processing time takes about seven days.

You’ll need to provide electronic versions of these documents: a certified true copy of your tertiary academic qualifications, transcript, or your professional qualifications; a copy of your passport particulars page; and a recent passport photo taken within the past three months.

 

WRITE A GREAT CV

Your CV has 10-15 seconds to impress a potential employer so it is important to sell yourself using positive language and emphasise your key skills. It goes without saying your CV should include your name, address, email and mobile phone number. You would be surprised how many people miss these off, regardless of their level of experience or seniority.

Other details you should include are:

  • Education and qualifications: Include the institutions, courses and dates that you attended in reverse order, making sure to include grades at each stage; 
  • Work experience: Career history is also presented in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Place more emphasis on the most recent role and provide more information. Make sure to explain any gaps in employment;
  • Interests and activities: These should demonstrate your networking and organisational skills, and should be kept brief.
  • Be concise – Your CV should be no more than two pages long. Bear in mind that the recipient will have seen several other CVs that day and only spend on average eight seconds scanning your CV. Think about the parts you want to highlight, and remove any excess that would be better suited to discussion at interview. 
  • Be relevant: Whilst drafting your CV, make sure to read several job descriptions of roles which interest you. What particular skills do they look for? Can you demonstrate experience in this area? Use of keywords is very important, as the reader will scan for these during an initial skim of the document. Think about specialist terminology that can be used. Equally avoid mentioning the irrelevant, such as work in other fields or membership of unrelated organisations.
    Where possible tailor your CV to the job in question. Highlight the key skills mentioned in the job advert/description, or have two or three versions of your CV that feature different skills, experience more prominently, using the most suitable when applying for a job. 
  • Be positive: Positive language makes a big difference. You can instantly make your achievements sound a lot more impressive by using words like ‘managed’, ‘led’ and ‘achieved’ at the expense of ‘tried’, ‘assisted’ and ‘helped’. 
  • Be professional: Your CV should be in a common font, such as Arial, in size 10-12. Bear in mind that your CV will be read on screen as well as printed out. For this reason, lines, borders, boxes, pictures, colours and even italics should not feature. 

hays.com.sg