Dear Jobseeker,


"Negotiable" is not pronounced as "Ner-go-shia-TA-ble". It's "Ner-go-shia-ble".


Thank you.


From the Desk of a Recruiter

*~*~*

This was a story shared with me by a fellow colleague and it struck me as pretty amusing. It is a common experience, hence it's worth a share.

Signing off,
Adeline
From the Desk of a Recruiter.

While arranging for interview.....

Jobseeker: This week not very convenient. Schedule is abit tight.

Adeline: Aiyo. What stage is your project at now? Implementation?

Jobseeker: Desperate stage... *Sigh*

Adeline: ....... ^^|||

*~*~*

One of the rare and few pleasantly humorous moments. 

For those who know of what is a SDLC would probably understand it better, but the punchline is not really that hard to get. 

I know I'm really mean by finding this funny after the fact, but still.... I garnered quite a few "Likes" and positive comments when I pasted this conversation on my Facebook, so I figured this deserves a blog post on its own. =D

Signing off

Adeline

From the Desk of a Recruiter

I won't be hiring this assistant soon, even if her resume boasts, "I'm a team player with 16 years of assassinating experience." - Cindy Donalson

Readers' Digest
(Referred by Qammie)

*~*~*

A close friend of mine shared with me this gem of a joke from Reader's Digest.

There's not much need for me to explain on the hilarity and punchline of this joke. Suffice it to say, please proof-read your resumes before blasting them out to potential employers. It's little hidden errors like this that kills your career.

Signing off,
Adeline
From the Desk of a Recruiter

Dear Recruiter,


I am Fresh Graduate from N** graduating with Bachelor of Computer Science (with Honors) . I am applying for Software Engineer position. My expected salary is 3,500 SGD/Mon.


As some companies are offering me some positions at the moment, I hope if you are interested in me please indicate me your intention within one week as possible.


From Fresh Graduate.


*~*~*


Dear Fresh Graduate,




If you think a Fresh Graduate setting a timeline/deadline for the Hiring Managers to respond to your job application cover letter is proper job-hunting etiquette, by all means please accept those companies who are offering you. I would wish them good luck and all the best. 

From the Desk of a Recruiter


*~*~*


This particular incident was written in a very agitated/bitchy pen sometime in 2009 when it happened. To those who might recall the Desk of a Recruiter back in that year, I was quite bitchy with my words here.

In any case, in view of the upcoming graduations of my friends currently attending local universities, this should be an interesting read. I do hope none of my friends or readers here make such a job-hunt suicidal mistake while writing their cover letters/job applications.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong in the context of the email. All jobseekers have in their rights to ask for any salary they seem deem fit. It wouldn't be the first time recruiters receive jobseekers expecting 50% increment.

It is that "setting of timeline" portion that kinda stretch the limits in a recruiter's tolerance. I'm not entirely sure I would even want to call this Fresh Graduate to assess his attitude when his email is so glaringly arrogant.

Geez, Mr Fresh Graduate, to be cruelly blunt, there's another several hundreds of your classmates and equivalent graduates who are as qualified or even better qualified than you, who write in better grammar, a more polite tone, more importantly shows better attitude, even if it is just written words.

I have more reasons to chuck your application aside after seeing your email than to even view your resume to see how fantastic you think you are to expect such a high salary range.

To all jobseekers, there is a time, and place where you can demand someone to respond to your email. Doing it fresh out of university for your first job ain't exactly a smart time to do it.

Like I said, people. There're better ways to do career suicide. Please don't do it this way.

Signing off
Adeline
From the Desk of a Recruiter

In the first quarter of first year in recruitment, I had this rather interesting experience with a jobseeker who came in from our neighbouring countries to seek opportunity in Singapore.

(Note: The English is minimally edited. I spoke in such pretty language back then. ^_^) 


<>


Adeline: May I know your availability?


Jobseeker: Hah? *pause* Oh... Social Visit Pass


Adeline: I mean, may I know your a.vai.la.bi.li.ty?


Jobseeker: Ah... So.ci.al Vi.sit. Pass.


Adeline: ... When can you start work?


Jobseeker: Oh, ooooh. Immediately.


Adeline: *sigh* Ok,  when will your Social Visit Pass expire?


Jobseeker: Im.me.di.ately!


Adeline: ... *facepalm*


*~*~*


The punchline of this conversation, this jobseeker holds double degrees from an esteemed university in the home country, one of them a Bachelor of Arts in English Language.

Having experienced this so early in my career in recruitment, I guess it was safe to say, I also stopped taking for granted that everyone is fluent in English in this world.

Welcome to Singapore.

Signing off,
Adeline
From the Desk of a Recruiter

PS: Amidst assignment and work craziness, this blog is slow in its updates. But then again, I wonder if anyone notices it. ^^"

Dear Jobseeker, 

I understand the need in ensuring your CV attracts attention. However, your choice of font color #FF0000 is pushing it. Thank you.

From the Desk of a Recruiter

*~*~*

Remember in the previous entry, I mentioned one of the two suicidal mistakes when writing their CVs? Yeah, this is the second one. 

Yes, there is a very strong need to ensure your CV attracts the attention of either the recruitment consultant or the HR officer reading. 

But... having your CV in full #FF0000 color is reeeeeally pushing the limits on making a CV "attractive".

To those of my readers who understand HTML color codings, you probably should know what color I am referring to.

In any case, this is the color I am talking about. 

Yes, it is bright red. 

No, I am not kidding when I say I received a CV in bright red.

And please, jobseekers, please, do not do a job-hunt suicide by choosing the worst color possible. There are better ways to do suicide during a job-search. 

Signing off,

Adeline,

From the Desk of the Recruiter

Dear Jobseeker, 

I appreciate your consideration in ensuring your CV is legible. However, font size 35 for the entire document is pushing it. Thank you.

From the Desk of a Recruiter

*~*~*

I do hope all jobseekers out there do not make this one of two suicidal mistakes when writing their CVs. Yes, there is a very strong need to ensure your CV is first and foremost, viewable on the screen of the recipient. 

But... Is there really a need to do up a 10 page CV with font size 35? *facepalm*

In case anyone is interested... This is a screen capture of font size 35. (Please click on the thumbnail to see the original size)

Why would ANYONE write their resumes in this font size is beyond me.

Signing off,
Adeline,
From the Desk of the Recruiter