Starting out

How to use a recruitment agency to find a job

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 02:18:00 +0000

How to use a recruitment agency to find a job Anonymous (not verified)

You have been searching for that dream job for months, but it seems like there isn’t a suitable job out there for you. The job search process can be time-consuming and tiring. Wouldn’t it be great if someone else could manage the process on your behalf?

And someone else can. This is where recruitment agencies come in.

Many job-seekers go down the route of searching for a job on their own, and few know how to tap on the expertise and network of recruitment agencies to find their next job. The role of a recruitment agency essentially revolves around working with employers and job seekers to facilitate a successful job match. In short, recruitment agencies can be the key to unlocking great job opportunities.

How recruitment agencies work

To be successful in your job search, it’s essential to clearly understand how recruitment agencies work. Think of a recruitment agency as a partner in your job search. They can not only connect you with prospective employers but act as a guide, helping you to refine your resume, market you to employers and give you advice on your career path.

After submitting your CV or applying to jobs on their website, recruiters will contact you if there is a suitable match or potential job opportunity. Also, recruiters may reach out to arrange a preliminary interview to find out what your career aspirations and motivations are, and where you fit into an organisation for your current role.

Once a successful job match has been found, and you have an interview session scheduled with your prospective employer, recruiters may provide interview coaching and help you negotiate a compensation package with your prospective employer. When working with a recruitment agency, you know that someone is following up on your application.

Related: How to make a career change

You may also wish to choose a recruiter with whom you can build a rapport. Spend some time connecting with a few recruiters and interviewing them: for example, find out how long they have been with the company and how they usually market your resume and present it to potential employers. Network with colleagues and acquaintances to get recommendations and have them refer you to a recruiter.

There is no harm in connecting with more than one recruiter. Still, it is important to take note that getting double-submitted by multiple recruiters, i.e. having two different recruiters submit you for the same job, may damage the recruiter’s and your reputation as it makes you look like you’re trying to game the system and up your odds at an interview. At the end of the day, the question to ask is if you really need more than one recruiter, assuming that you do your due diligence to find a recruiter who is experienced, qualified, and knowledgeable.

Remember that working with a recruiter is a two- way street. You’ll need to build a good professional relationship with your recruiter. And you can help recruiters help you by making yourself employable – this means completing basic tasks such as updating your CV or cleaning up your LinkedIn profile. You may also need to be flexible by broadening your criteria for the new job and by being willing to compromise on interview timings.

Get the most out of a recruitment agency

There are many reasons why those searching for jobs apply through a recruitment agency. The main reason is that recruitment agencies can tap on the wealth of information and experience they have from working with companies across different industries and sectors.

As companies outsource hiring to recruitment agencies, they not only do the job hunting for you but have access to job vacancies that may not be advertised elsewhere. The best part is, recruitment agencies are free to use by job-seekers.

On top of that, you can also get insights into hiring requirements that are not listed or obvious in job advertisements. That would prepare you for your interview with a prospective employer and increase your chances of getting hired.

Finally, be honest with the recruiter and utilize their expertise. Try and identify what it is you’re looking for in a job and ask lots of questions. The more honest you are, the better they understand you and are able to help you find the best match.

Start your job-hunt now

Most recruiters are open to connecting via LinkedIn or through word of mouth recommendations. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them as they are constantly seeking out potential candidates. Recruiters often use LinkedIn groups to connect with and monitor potential candidates, so join professional and industry associations as well as alumni groups to get in touch with them.

Looking for a career change? Browse current job opportunities, submit your CV or get in touch with one of our consultants to find out how we can assist and support your job search process.

Alicia Tsi

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How to succeed at a new job

Naren Sankar — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 03:53:54 +0000

How to succeed at a new job Naren Sankar

Congratulations on your new job. Now that you’ve clinched the role you interviewed so hard for, it is time to make sure that this position works for you.

There are several ways in which you can make the most of this stage on your career path, so don’t forget about those first impressions that you’ll be making. While starting a new job is exciting, it can also be one that is laced with a degree of uncertainty.

Success, therefore, could be dependent on your actions in the first few weeks. Here is some career advice to start you off on the right foot to ensure you can be a valuable new hire.

1. Let everyone know who you are

Prepare ahead of time. Plan your opening lines before the first day, so you have a script ready when you encounter new faces. The script could include your previous employment situation.

Pay attention to your work environment and other people. Introduce yourself to people whenever you get the opportunity and listen to what they have to tell you about the company, the employees, the building, the surroundings, the internal network, and so on.

Remembering people’s names is important. Write down notes about them as soon as you meet them to help you remember them. If you forget someone’s name, don’t be afraid to ask them again. Always remember that it is normal not to remember everyone’s name the first time.

2. Ask plenty of questions

New hires should think about what they want to know before asking colleagues for help and advice. You should prioritise the information you need. If necessary, write down your questions, so you don’t forget them.

Ask your manager’s preference in regard to emails or face-to-face meetings. If you have a large number of questions for one person, consider scheduling a meeting instead of asking them over the phone. Invite your manager to a meeting, listing off the questions you have, and give them enough time to prepare answers.

Remember, nobody will expect you to know everything in week one, so if you are unsure about something, always ask. By asking questions, you will also gain newfound confidence in your new office.

3. Get to know your colleagues better

Lunch or coffee is a great way to get to know people around you. You should try to meet new co-workers and initiate asking them out for a drink or a bite. This will help you to get to know others better and establish relationships with them. Building a rapport with your fellow team members can take time, of course, but you can speed up the process by being more approachable right from the start.

4. Learn about your surroundings

Try to get to know everyone in your new office within the first week. Find out about the company culture and structure, and ask questions about how things work in each department. Don’t worry too much about making friends right away.

Just make sure you get comfortable with your commute and learn what kind of schedule works best for you. The layout of your new workplace may be confusing at first, but you’ll only get to know it better by moving around.

5. Look for some quick wins

Everyone will be watching you in your first few weeks, trying to figure out your strengths and weaknesses, so if there are any quick wins available, you need to make the most of them.

If you face a performance review after a month or two, it would be useful if you could illustrate something successful that you managed to achieve, even if it is something relatively trivial.

6. Find out about your personal goals

On the subject of achievements: once you have settled into the role, you should try asking your immediate manager about the targets that are expected of you.

This is a good time to ensure you set off on the right footing, and that you’re fully aware of expectations.

Knowing the job description and remembering positive encouragement from those in charge of you can make a huge difference in how you plan your days and put you on a path toward career growth with the time and experience in your new job.

7. Maintain an open-minded approach

Adapting to a new workplace and professional network can be challenging. Always ask questions when you need help or clarification.

Be flexible and open-minded in the way you approach the job. It is worthwhile to note that the office culture you signed up for in your previous role may be way off the mark with your new one.

8. Know where the boundaries are

You should set boundaries during your first month in a role. You should establish them before you feel too pressured about your overall job. Learn to say no so that you can focus on your goals.

If you are moving into a particularly high-pressure role, you need to learn very quickly how to manage your responsibilities, so you do not feel overwhelmed.

However, if your new role negatively affects you physically or mentally, especially on a regular basis, you may want to consider resigning from the position. (That is what the probation period is for.)

9. Three months in, are you achieving those quarterly goals?

When you reach the first 90-day mark, it is crucial to have a conversation about how things went and what you want to accomplish over the next few months.

Ask your manager for an informal review regarding what expectations he or she has for you in the next quarter, and get as much feedback as you can. Asking for feedback shows your manager that you care about the job and want to do well.

Ask if you are on the right track, and if there are some areas in which you need to show specific improvements. If you feel you’re underperforming in any particular discipline, take the initiative and focus on making improvements.

If you feel that you need more support or resources, quantify your reasons and speak up as well.

This is a good opportunity to find out if there are any blind spots that you may not have noticed, and to raise any concerns you may have.

10. You will inevitably face frustrations and mistakes in the first 90 days in your new job.

Do not let this discourage you. Focus on those goals you set for yourself previously. Believe in yourself, as that is the key to succeeding in anything.

Be fair with your self-assessment in that time frame, but it is just as crucial that you don’t beat yourself up too much.

A new job represents a major milestone, and it should be seen as an exciting, new chapter on your career path. By remaining positive, working to integrate, establishing strong relationships, and seeking guidance, you can make sure you get as much as possible out of this adventure.

Looking for a great job opportunity? Browse our latest jobs, submit your CV or get in touch with a Michael Page consultant to discuss roles in your field.

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How you can be highly effective in a role from day 1

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 06:58:07 +0000

How you can be highly effective in a role from day 1 Anonymous (not verified)

Back in 2001, Campbell’s Soup was in decline. The iconic, quintessentially American soup brand was facing a sharp drop in market value: while internally, its culture seemed negative, its employees unmotivated. And that’s when Doug Conant stepped in to take over as CEO.

In Conant’s first few months as CEO, he restructured the leadership team, established a 10-year recovery plan – and put the company back on the road to profit. Perhaps even more importantly, he improved company culture by connecting with employees and helped create a more positive overall atmosphere.

He is an excellent example of what it takes to be effective in a new role, even in the first few weeks and months. While we may not all be changing the course of an entire company, some learnings can be taken from his actions and those of other highly effective team members, that can be applied to your own start in a new role. Here are a few tips for success.

Week 1: How will I fit into the culture?

Once the interview stages have gone by and the salary negotiations are well behind you, what can you start doing right away to be highly effective? First up, collate your interview notes and re-read the job description, for a refresher on the task ahead.

Get plenty of rest before day one. Ideally, taking a long weekend away, or spending a day hiking, can help provide you with a mental ‘reset’, to restore your energy and enthusiasm for the adventure ahead.

In your first week, do the basics to get settled in. Find the printers, stationery, meeting rooms, and who to call if your computer crashes before you hit the save button. Then upon your initial chat with your boss, discuss the early priorities for your role, with a sense of timing. It can provide a cross-check for when you arrive.

The first 90 days are more than simply a probation period to pass through. They exist for both sides to see if the initial connection from the interviews translates well into the real, day-to-day demands of the role. Most importantly, can you deliver on what came through in the hiring process? And for you, is it truly a professional and cultural fit? While no job is perfect immediately, look for any warning signs that it might be far from what you expected.

Month 1: Listen and learn

In the first 30 days, your priority should be to ask good questions, listen intently, and connect the dots. Learn what people are saying and what they’re not saying. Find out what your predecessor did or didn’t do well, and the effect that had on the wider team. Determine the new improved processes you can put in place: and find out the priorities are for your new role.

The initial weeks are also a great time to figure out how best to work with your immediate supervisor. You spotted a good manager from the interviews: now is the time to lay the foundations for a successful working relationship. Get a sense of what it will take for your team to succeed by establishing baseline performance metrics, noting your manager’s own metrics. If you’re leading a team, observe team dynamics, and note the conditions in which the best work occurs.

Jane Jackson, a career management coach from Australia, notes that in terms of achieving big wins in your first 90 days, it’s important to focus on efficient onboarding – plus soft skills such as connecting with people. Early on, you need allies beyond your boss to get the early wins: build links by connecting on LinkedIn with those you’ve met during the interview process, being enthusiastic, and keeping a positive attitude.

Getting to know the people you’re working with is important – in particular, understanding how your role relates to theirs’, and how you can each help the other succeed. In a poll by Monster.com asking what the most important thing an employee should do during the first 100 days, only 6% answered: “get to know your team”. While clearly, you’re not there to socialise, don’t underestimate the power of relationships in helping you settle in, and prove effective in your new role.

Essential 30 Day Action: Meet with as many stakeholders as possible: introduce yourself, ask questions and listen, listen, listen.

Month 2: Plan and apply

Moving into the next month, start to apply your own experiences, and your style of doing things, to creating action plans, and ticking off your objectives. Establish new processes that are missing, and flag these improvements at future discussions. Early on, being sure to start on smaller projects that can be solved easily and quickly – the early wins will get you in gear for the bigger wins later on.

Take the initiative by setting up meetings with your manager, whereby you share your plans and seek direct feedback as to how things are going so far. Doing this at around 60 days in can give you enough time to correct your course if something is lacking focusing – plus it will show initiative, awareness and ownership of the outcome.

Understanding what was achieved to date in your role – both good and bad – is essential to planning out what needs to be done next. Acknowledging and building on positives from your predecessor will positions you as a team player, and give you valuable insider information as to pain points in the role. Note that while politics is unavoidable, it won’t serve your purposes: just remain constructive and focused on your objectives throughout. Jane Jackson has good advice for staying neutral.

Doug Conant, who now works at the Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute, had this to say about taking on a role that involves leadership: “Leaders have a bias for action. When they’re listening, it may not feel like they’re accomplishing anything. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he notes. His advice in three steps? “Listen, Frame, Advance. Asking the question, ‘How can I help?’ gets you started.”

Essential 60 Day Action: Schedule a meeting with your manager to get feedback.

To 90 Days: Consolidate your actions

In your third month in the role, implement your plans and kick off your major projects. Now is the time to take all your prior experience and knowledge, and to apply it to your new framework. Look back at what you’ve done over the last 90 days, and keep track of the wins you’ve gained. A list of accomplishments can be a good motivator and starting point for the next few months. Plus, now that you’ve had wins, work out ways to scale up the process and make it work faster.

Find opportunities to develop your own skills. In a survey done by Michael Page of recent job applicants, 65% of respondents expected to develop new skills in the next 12 months. As digital transformation changes the workplace, the opportunity to upskill can be invaluable.

Essential 90 Day Action: Look back to what you’ve accomplished and ahead to the actions plans you’ve put into place. Assign dates, deadlines and key performance indicators (KPIs) to your work.

Beyond 90 days

Once you have passed the 90-day mark, it’s time to move into full action. Be sure to keep gathering feedback on what’s working. With your understanding of the organisation, now is the time to create change and deliver results. Never stop learning though - top performers are always on the lookout for learning opportunities.

Set realistic goals and tick them off as you achieve them. Make necessary adjustments to goals as you go along. Keep seeking feedback from your team, managers and other stakeholders. And finally, gain a greater understanding of what’s going on around you, and how your expanding role contributes to the overall output of the team.

Looking for a career change? Browse current job opportunities, submit your CV or get in touch with one of our consultants to find out how we can assist and support your job search process.

Michael Page

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5 tips for dealing with early career setbacks

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 06:50:33 +0000

5 tips for dealing with early career setbacks Anonymous (not verified)

Bill Gates. George Lucas. Oprah Winfrey. Jack Ma. These are some of the most successful names in their fields, but have you also heard about their early career failures?

Bill Gates’ first business folded. The first commercial film by George Lucas was a flop. Oprah Winfrey was dropped from her first stint as an anchorwoman after only a few episodes. Jack Ma was rejected from 30 jobs, but later co-founded Alibaba Group – and today he’s worth US$48.7 billion.

These are not unique stories – all the world’s most successful people have at least one or two epic failures in their past. However, they all found ways to overcome these setbacks and returned stronger and better prepared.

When faced with failure, it’s important to keep looking forward. Carol Cai, Associate Director, Manufacturing and Engineering at Michael Page China says, “Focus on the learnings instead of the failure. No one can change what has already happened – how you use it for a better future is the key.”

Keeping that advice in mind – what’s the best way to handle these setbacks? Here are some tips for not only making it through challenging times but coming out on the other side in a stronger, more knowledgeable place than before.

1. Don’t let setbacks define you

Especially early on in your career, be sure not to let setbacks get into your head. It’s normal to internalise events, convincing yourself that you are could be the problem. However, in many cases, other contributing factors have nothing to do with your own efforts or knowledge.

No one can change what has already happened – how you use it for a better future is the key

Being retrenched or furloughed can feel very personal, but you have the power to turn it around by being open and honest in your job search. Govil Aggarwal, Associate Director, Marketing at Michael Page India advises, “If fired or laid off from a previous role, job seekers should be upfront and honest about what happened. There is no shame in admitting a role was retrenched and some companies actually prefer candidates who are immediately available.”

Even more, avoid labelling yourself as a failure. In fact, one study conducted by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management found that current failure can actually spark later success. The study analysed data from scientists who had applied for grants early in their careers and split them into two groups – those who succeeded and those who failed.

Later, they tracked how many papers those same scientists published over the next decade and found that those in the failure group were 6.1% more likely to publish a high-impact paper than those in the success group. In other words, failure might be a catalyst for working harder to be successful the next time around.

Bottom line: Don’t let external factors doubt your knowledge and belief in your own capabilities.

2. Take the lessons, leave the judgement

It sounds like a platitude, but it really is true – there’s more to be learnt from challenging situations than easy ones. With that in mind, focus on what lessons can be learned.

If you’ve been fired or laid off, seek out feedback from someone in the organisation that you trust. From there, see what you can fix for the next time around. It’s not easy to turn a critical eye inwards but doing so will allow you to improve.

When starting the job search again, it’s important to be honest and open with prospective employers. Emma Parnwell, Associate Director at Michael Page Australia says, “At the interview stage, be honest, but stick to the facts and leave out emotion. Quite often, job seekers fall into the trap of over-justifying and giving too much detail. This can lead to them providing an emotional narrative that will raise more questions.”

Bottom line: Own the situation, learn what you can from it, but then set your sights on your next opportunity.

How to handle setbacks and failures

1) Use your failure as motivation to work harder at the next opportunity
2) At job interviews, own the situation, rather than over-justify
3) Take on a growth mindset to enable better learning, adapting and persistence
4) Understand that small, steady wins can lead to transformational power

3. Keep trying, as long as necessary

Sometimes, success will only come on the 10th attempt, or with the 15th job application. It does not matter when exactly that success comes, it only matters that you persist.

In this time of lay-offs and hiring freezes due to COVID-19, persistence is even more important, as this situation may continue for some time. While you are waiting, make sure you have everything in place to succeed, then wait until the time is right.

Bottom line: Let small wins keep you going and keep trying as long as necessary.

4. Adopt a growth mindset

A growth mindset (versus a fixed one) is the belief that a person can always learn, improve and develop the necessary skills and abilities. A growth mindset is essential in recovering from a career setback, as it allows you to learn, adapt and keep going.

This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

As Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, outlines in her book, “The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”

In the job search, Aggarwal echoes this call to be flexible, “Be open-minded about new opportunities, as long as your skillset is put to good use. This is a time to be flexible on titles and team structure, as long as the company is ready to invest in your future growth.”

Bottom line: A growth mindset also allows you to reframe your loss as an opportunity: to learn, to grow and to do things better the next time around.

5. Take Action

After a setback, it can be hard to find the motivation to get going again. This is where it’s important to take the situation into your own hands, find out what you can control and take action steps to get back up on top.

Even if you were retrenched, be picky and do not apply to all the jobs that you see, but instead focus on those that are the best fit.

In the case of losing a job, those action steps include getting back into the job search. Imeiniar Chandra, Director at Michael Page Indonesia advises, “Build your own personal brand, get in touch with a recruitment agency to assist you in a job search or reach out directly to companies you want to work for. Even if you were retrenched, be picky and do not apply to all the jobs that you see, but instead focus on those that are the best fit.”

Related: How to make a career change

Parnwell also advises taking stock of what your strengths are, and find ways to highlight them as you move forward. “Remember, you are not alone, it’s a competitive market and this means that companies can be selective about what they are looking for. What are your tangible and transferable achievements and skills? Focus on the positives of your skillset. Not every role will be right for you, so instead of emotionally investing into a position that is a 60% fit, focus on the positions that are the right fit and spend time tailoring your application to the position deliverables.”

Bottom line: If you take the chance to learn, finding a job is still possible. It may not look like it at first.

Growth from failure

Experiencing a setback early in your career is hard and discouraging in the short term. But in the long term, it can turn out to be a great opportunity to learn more about yourself as a professional, find new sources of motivation and acquire additional knowledge for the future.

Looking for a career change? Browse current job opportunities, submit your CV or get in touch with one of our consultants to find out how we can assist and support your job search process.

Michael Page

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How to navigate the job search of the future

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 06:21:56 +0000

How to navigate the job search of the future Anonymous (not verified)

At various times throughout your career, you will be going through a job search, whether by choice or unexpectedly.

As we move into the future of work, the job search itself is going through a transformation. In addition, the global pandemic is presenting a distinct set of challenges for job seekers now, as employers adjust hiring needs in response to the economic downturn. However, companies still need talented professionals in challenging times, so jobs are out there.

As a job seeker, you must adapt your strategy to find a job in these times. Certain elements will remain essential: an impressive CV, a compelling cover letter and great interview skills. However, others are changing: expected skills sets, required background and experience and employer expectations.

On top of this, employers need to know: how can you contribute to business recovery and continuity during this period of disruption? Here is a guide to help job seekers navigate this new hiring landscape.

Making the job search work for you

Your CV – the first point of contact

Review your CV to make it succinct and ensure that it highlights the right parts of your experience and skills. Use terminology from the job description to describe your relevant experience. Hiring managers of today have even less time for reviewing your CV, so make yours count.

Pro tip: Eugenia Ng, Associate Director, Finance at Michael Page Singapore advises, “CVs that stand out have a good, concise structure. Hiring managers hardly have time to plough through a long CV, so key highlights and career achievements should be well captured in the first section of the CV, and repetitive job scopes should be summarised into one section.”

Your Cover Letter – selling your skills and experience

Being unique and direct are keys to getting noticed. Avoid simply repeating information in your CV and use the chance to elaborate on your experience. The cover letter can also include reasons why you want to work for that company, your motivation, and explanations for any ambiguous parts of your CV.

Pro tip: Personalise the cover letter for each job you apply to, let your personality come through. Use it as your chance to sell your skills and expertise to the hiring manager. Think of the cover letter as your sales pitch for why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Think of the cover letter as your sales pitch for why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Interviewing

Preparation is key, whether your interview is in person or virtual. Prepare your answers for common interview questions, and think about job-specific questions they may ask. If you’re interviewing for a technical role, be prepared for a test or problem-solving assignment as a way of proving that you know your stuff. Additionally, research the company to give context to your responses.

Pro tip: “Do not give textbook answers, as hiring managers these days are looking for the right culture fit with 80% of the key skills. Always highlight your achievements and how you have demonstrated good learning agility instead of sharing your experience monotonously,” Ng says.

Skills sets: what you need and how to showcase them as part of your personal brand

The required skillsets of the future are varied, but one common skill across the board is agility – the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances and situations. Additionally, companies are increasingly hiring for the potential they see in professionals to grow within the company.

Ken Chan, Director at Page Personnel Hong Kong explains, “Organic, internal growth is becoming a key part of HR strategy in many companies, so high-quality entry to mid-level candidates are in high demand in the market. Be proactive and participate in company projects that enrich your profile and anything related to digital, project management and crisis management will be useful.”

Here are four other skills sets to focus on in the job search of the future:

1. Digital skills

It’s no longer a bonus to know how to use technology, it’s an essential part of doing your job. Research the technology skills that are relevant to your career, and seek out training in these programs. Even better, obtain certifications that show your level of expertise. Most companies offer certifications for their own software – for example, Microsoft has various certification programs for the Office Suite.

Within the job search, digital skills are important as companies are increasingly using AI and automation to save time. From writing AI friendly CVs to taking online skills tests, professionals must have a fundamental understanding and comfort level in digital skills to navigate the process.

As roles expand and become more multi-faceted, a relationship management skillset means you are able to communicate your ideas, influence others and liaise with different teams.

2. Strong relationship management skills

This broad skills set refers to being able to effectively manage various relationships within the organisation and out. This includes stakeholder management, the ability to work in cross-functional teams and effective communication skills. As roles expand and become more multi-faceted, this skills set means you can communicate your ideas, influence others and liaise with different teams.

3. Critical thinking

How well are you able to think outside of the box when coming up with solutions? The idea of innovative thinking isn’t just for leaders – every professional should learn how to:

Think up new ideas,
Know their long-term implications, and
Understand how to apply those innovations to their processes and responsibilities.

4. Customer-centric thinking

There is a strong shift happening in which companies are focusing on what value they bring to their customers. Develop the skills to approach every issue or problem from the perspective of the “customer” (Read: the customer can be an internal stakeholder if you don’t deal directly with external customers), anticipate their needs and come up with solutions to meet those needs. In many jobs, User Experience (UX), business acumen and an understanding of the user journey are key.

Think of these skillsets as the foundation to building up your personal brand. That is, above your technical qualifications, what is your unique professional story. Developing this personal brand through social media activity, networking and external interactions is often overlooked, but a strong personal brand will give you the competitive advantage in a job search.

It’s not easy out there right now for those looking for a job, but this does not mean that your value or ability to choose, negotiate and improve circumstances for yourself are diminished.

The future job search landscape: an empowered candidate

It’s not easy out there right now for those looking for a job, but this does not mean that your value or ability to choose, negotiate and improve circumstances for yourself are diminished. Candidates are still empowered to look beyond simple remuneration and include factors such as company values, vision and ethos into your job search process.

As Anthony Thompson, Regional Managing Director of PageGroup Asia says, “In times of a recession when many people are looking for a job, it’s simply not true that companies can expect to hire amazing talent at discount rates. As soon as the hiring market picks up again, the war for talent will be back on and the best professionals can continue to command commensurate salaries and have their choice of companies.”

Related: How to make a career change

Surviving the job search of the future

In many ways, the future of searching for a job is already here. Professionals looking for their next opportunity should believe in their abilities, learn how to negotiate the salary they deserve and work towards landing the job of their dreams – or at least their next great opportunity along the way.

Looking for a career change? Browse current job opportunities, submit your CV or get in touch with one of our consultants to find out how we can assist and support your job search process.

Michael Page

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How recruitment agencies work

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How to succeed at a new job

1. Let everyone know who you are

2. Ask plenty of questions

3. Get to know your colleagues better

4. Learn about your surroundings

5. Look for some quick wins

6. Find out about your personal goals

7. Maintain an open-minded approach

8. Know where the boundaries are

9. Three months in, are you achieving those quarterly goals?

10. You will inevitably face frustrations and mistakes in the first 90 days in your new job.

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How you can be highly effective in a role from day 1

Week 1: How will I fit into the culture?

Month 1: Listen and learn

Month 2: Plan and apply

To 90 Days: Consolidate your actions

Beyond 90 days

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5 tips for dealing with early career setbacks

1. Don’t let setbacks define you

No one can change what has already happened – how you use it for a better future is the key

2. Take the lessons, leave the judgement

How to handle setbacks and failures

3. Keep trying, as long as necessary

Bottom line: Let small wins keep you going and keep trying as long as necessary.

4. Adopt a growth mindset

5. Take Action

Growth from failure

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How to navigate the job search of the future

Making the job search work for you

Your CV – the first point of contact

Your Cover Letter – selling your skills and experience

Think of the cover letter as your sales pitch for why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Interviewing

Skills sets: what you need and how to showcase them as part of your personal brand

1. Digital skills

2. Strong relationship management skills

3. Critical thinking

4. Customer-centric thinking

The future job search landscape: an empowered candidate

Surviving the job search of the future

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