A survey conducted by LinkedIn discovered that 86% of over 1,000 professionals in Singapore are making plans to find a new job in 2024. This a 15% increase from 2023!
Finding a job in Singapore’s competitive job market can be challenging if you are not taking the right steps.
While getting a job interview does not guarantee a job offer, getting an interview invite is sign that the company has noticed you. This is the first step to landing a new job! Some job seekers send out numerous resumes over a long-period job search journey, and yet only receive a small amount of interview invites. Why is that so?
“Why am I not getting more job interviews?”
The reason why you are not getting interview invites (despite sending out massive amounts of applications!) is likely because you are not optimising your job search for effectiveness. Some possible reasons why you are not getting more interview invites are that:
You are applying to jobs that are not relevant
You are not searching for jobs from the right channels
You are not making full use of tools to aid job search
You need to shift your mindset
Making your job search process more effective will get you invited to more interviews and finally land the job! Here are 6 small changes you can make to optimize your job search process so that you make job hunting more effective, and therefore efficient!
1. Be deliberate about the jobs you apply for
It can be tempting to apply to every single job posting that seems even a tiny bit relevant to your credentials - after all, there is no immediate harm done, and submitting many job applications can bring a sense of productivity!
However, unless you are really passionate about the position, we do not recommend applying to a position which you lack the skills and qualifications for. This is especially so if you are submitting a generic resume. At the very least, your resume should highlight how your soft skills may make up for the lack of technical skills and experience required for the position.
As you rack up more applications to irrelevant job, your application-to-invite rate will fall, and that can feel very discouraging, leading to job-search-fatigue.
Being deliberate in your job hunt will get you more interview invites because the companies and positions you apply for are more likely to be looking for someone who matches your profile. When you get an interview invite, you know that it is definitely for a role that you are interested in.
Be clear about your career goals and what you want your next career step to be. Use the filters available on the job boards and read the job posting and company description thoroughly before committing to “submit application”!
2. Tailor your application for each job
When your resume is not relevant to the position, your application is unlikely to pass through the Application Tracking System (ATS). Even if it does, you are not likely to be shortlisted due to lack of relevancy.
Job hunting only seems like a numbers game. In practice, it is always quality over quantity. You should be applying to at most 2-3 jobs per day if you are actively searching for job.
This gives you more time to sit down and analyse the job description and requirements and find out what the hiring managers are looking for. You will then have enough knowledge about the position to tailor your resume and cover letter, highlighting your unique strengths to capture the employer’s attention!
We suggest having a folder of resumes and key points so that you can quickly edit your resume to fit individual positions you are applying for.
3. Make use of different channels
A common way that you are applying for jobs is probably through job portals.
Some popular ones Singapore employers use are JobStreet (by SEEK), MyCareersFuture, FoundIt (Monster), etc. ScienTec recruiters post jobs on these portals as well as our site’s job portal.
Many job portals give you insights on how many applications the job post has received. With this information, you can gage how popular the job is, and assess you stand amongst other applicants. You can also adjust your expectations and application accordingly to stand out.
You should also apply directly on your dream company’s career page or LinkedIn. Using the #OpenToWork feature on LinkedIn helps recruiters know that you are looking for job opportunities, and also recommend your profile to recruiters. This makes it easier for companies to approach you for interview invites! Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is professional and up-to-date.
LinkedIn is also a wonderful tool to network and find out more about opportunities. If you come across any opportunities within your network, you can also ask your connection for a referrer. According to research, job seekers who get referred are four times more likely to get hired.
4. Reach out to a recruiter
You should reach out to a recruiter or apply to jobs posted by recruitment firms because this helps you get interview invites more effectively! Many top companies look for staffing solution providers such as ScienTec to help them recruit to personnel.
When you reach out to a recruiter, you get access to the pool of opportunities that the recruitment firm is currently hiring for. The recruiter helps you look out for opportunities that match your profile and requirements.
The recruiter also provides you with resume advice guides you on the next steps as you move through the interview process all the way to offer and placement. When you get the interview invite, they give you interview support and help you to showcase your full potential. Behind the scenes, the recruiters also help to highlight your strengths to the hiring managers!
Building a good long-term relationship with the recruiter is also ideal. When you are ready for the next step in your career, the recruiter can continue to support you in your search for the next destination!
5. Track your applications
Many job portals offer a dashboard where you can see the positions you have already applied for. However, it is not uncommon for the status on these job portals to not be updated to the latest status as not all companies log in to update the portal after speaking to candidates.
Most job seekers will also apply to jobs via different portals and platforms, therefore, no singular job portal's dashboard can serve as a "master-list" to the jobs you have applied to. These dashboards also will not include your own notes such as next steps, etc. Hence, having a system to track your job applications will help you to streamline your job search process.
A good tracking system will consolidate all key contacts and job descriptions, record CV and cover letter versions, indicate application progress and any contain other important information such as follow-up steps and interview dates. It should also hold your notes if the company has made any first contact with you.
To do this, you can make use of job tracking spreadsheet or excel document. Spread Sheet Point offers a free template with multiple tabs. You can also make use of other job application tracking tools such as Notion, Huntr, Teal, etc.
6. Do well for the screening call
Getting a screening call does not mean you will get invited for the job interview.
While phone screenings or video chats are not as formal as an official interview, it is still important to leave a good impression. Companies use the screening call to confirm that you are a potential fit before proceeding to invite you for an interview.
Let us circle back to why you should not mass apply, and ought to track your applications! Job seekers often spam job applications, thus when they receive a call, they cannot recall what exactly they have applied for. Although most recruiters and hiring managers know that candidates apply to multiple companies when they are job hunting, you might be signaling that this role was not intriguing enough for you to remember!
Job search can be frustrating and tedious, but we hope that these 6 tips will help you to get more interviews and find a job in Singapore’s competitive job market in a shorter time. Do not be discouraged, for better opportunities are ahead!