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10 Ways to Keep Executives Focused on Performance Management

November 20, 2019 - 11:40:00 AM

Have you ever tried to launch a performance improvement plan, but didn’t have enough support from executive management? Chances are the initiative lacked focus, direction, and ultimately was unsuccessful. This is because executive management plays the biggest role in keeping leaders within the organization focused on what’s important…and that’s improving performance, increasing productivity, and sustaining growth. Truth is, all executives want these things, but often performance improvement is lost among the myriad of organizational objectives. This is why it’s important for performance management teams to learn effective techniques for keeping organizational performance on the forefront. This article focuses on techniques for getting support from senior executives and keeping leaders focused on organizational performance management. Keeping senior management and executives focused on performance management can prove to be extremely challenging, especially with their busy schedules. This can be accomplished by keeping

How To Conduct A Successful Job Search

November 20, 2019 - 09:55:00 AM

Starting a job search can often be a daunting experience, after all where do you start and which sources of information should you use? This article aims to examine in detail the elements of a successful job search, drawing upon my experience as a recruiter over a number of years. Step 1. Objective Setting It is impossible to decide whether something has been successful unless you define some basic objective in the first instance. Think about some of the following: a) Are you looking for an identical job in a different company? b) Are you looking for a career change into a specific industry? c) Or are you still undecided about what job you want, but intend to cast the net as wide as possible and see what happens? Once you have clarified your job search goals this will influence

Achieving Exceptional Productivity and Talent Retention by Boosting Your Employee Engagement

October 10, 2019 - 03:29:00 PM

It is now 3 months into Mandy’s new job as a senior manager. Mandy now reports directly to her General Manager, and is responsible to achieve very ambitious business and production targets. The company has got strong financial backing and governmental connections. On top of that, Mandy gets a fantastic pay package that is the envy of her peers. In the initial 3 months, Mandy went into her job with tremendous drive and enthusiasm, making as much effort as possible to learn the business and devising plans on how those ambitious targets can be achieved. She went down to the frontlines to be with her team to work on weekends and after office hours during the peak season. She took the initiative to bounce her ideas with her General Manager to get feedback and suggestions on how best to implement

Recognition Rules! A Talent Retention & Team Building Imperative For Uncertain Times

October 10, 2019 - 03:21:00 PM

Howard has just rejected a second offer from a former employer. When asked (off the record) what was missing in the offer, he responded bitterly, “there isn’t enough money in this world to get me back into a company that treats people like disposables. I put up with it as long as it took to pick up some skills I needed. Then, I was outta there.” The New Balance of Power Skill shortages have flipped the balance of power in the workplace, creating a new model where talented workers like Howard can call the shots. Particularly, in leading-edge organizations that need to continue relying on hot-skilled knowledge superstars who are usually quick to migrate to greener pastures. Understandably, organizations often assume that the best antidote for a talent retention problem is to throw more and more money at people. Of

Are We Realizing the Value Promise of Performance Management?

October 7, 2019 - 07:24:00 PM

Performance management is often portrayed as the most strategic of core talent management processes. It has captured the attention of C level leaders with the following value promises: Focus all employees on priorities and maximize individual productivity Provide a foundation and process for improving the overall capabilities of organizational talent Align individual efforts with the business unit and organizational goals to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of organizational execution Align rewards and recognition with performance outcomes to ensure retention of key performers However, the question needs to be asked, “How well has performance management delivered on these promises?” Survey data have not been encouraging. Consider the following findings: It is an inconsistently implemented process – A recent study by Mercer found that just one third of survey respondents said they had had a formal performance appraisal in the last year. It

Creating Culture of Accountability, Performance and Coaching – Lean Performance Management

October 7, 2019 - 07:22:00 PM

If there is ONE talk-show that is very scary and beat the shit out of everyone, right from the CEO of an organization to fresh-graduate Trainee is – Performance Management Talks. Why people are so scared to discuss their performance? There can be many reasons and few of them are – Format – Performance is considered as an event which is organized once in a year or at the best once in every SIX months. However, the fact remains that Performance Management is a continuous process. Poor alignment of performance scores and merit increase – No matter how much an individual score in his performance assessment, it is his reporting manager who decides his merit increase percentage and usually there is no correlation between the two. Hence, employees don’t believe in the process. Incompetent and untrained Assessors/Managers – Many managers

Improving Performance Management: 8 Factors to Consider

October 7, 2019 - 07:21:00 PM

It’s not surprising that many organizations are continually updating and revising their performance management systems in an effort to achieve better results and improve fairness and accuracy. However, many of you who work in the public or private sector are most likely painfully aware that these efforts do not have the desired impact. We’ve identified eight of the most common changes and enhancements and why each may-or may not-add value. 1. Web-Based Systems Web-based systems facilitate the collection of data which, in turn, facilitates cascading goals. It also provides a common framework for managers and employees and prompts for participating in the various components of performance management, thereby increasing consistency in application. A well-developed Web-based performance management system will help improve consistency of application across the organization, and it will likely enhance perceptions of fairness and accuracy. However, technology does

Ace Your Consulting Interview

October 7, 2019 - 07:17:00 PM

Our topic for today is focused on what it takes to face a consulting interview and ace it. We will split the topic into areas of generic interview and preparation and at a bird’s-eye view touch upon specifics of understanding what technology related interview versus process related interview. So do you have what it takes to ace a consulting interview? While you spend time analyzing whether you are ready for a consulting interview, let us look at what it takes to prepare for the interview.While a consulting interview in many ways may be similar to a regular job interview, there are areas of the interview that grossly differs from any other job interviews. As is the case with every other interview, this interview would start with the interviewer asking you to explain something about yourself, your experience in the consulting

Consulting Readiness Program – What You Need to Know

October 7, 2019 - 07:16:00 PM

Consulting readiness programs are most favored amongst consulting analysts and entry-level consultants. So if you are an aspiring consultant, this article might be of good value to you. Every consultant would have gone through this training program at some point in time early during their career. Large consulting organizations invest heavily in their resources. The commitment that consulting organizations show towards training and continuous learning is truly inspiring. One such effort is the consulting readiness program. What do they teach at consulting readiness program? While a consulting profile requires many attributes, the consulting readiness program focuses on specific training areas that are considered key for consulting. Do keep in mind, that consulting readiness programs are not focused on grooming you into a consultant from scratch. These programs are meant for individuals who already have some industry experience and knowledge and

Ethics in the Consulting Industry: Reality or Illusion?

October 7, 2019 - 07:15:00 PM

In the years following the 2008 recession, businesses are regaining their momentum, and the economy has begun flourishing again. In the wake of the most ferocious financial earthquake of the last 80 years, society continues to feel its tremors. Is this a sign of evolvement and growth? Or is it a warning of a more catastrophic phenomenon on the horizon? Unemployment is down and a majority of economists are optimistic about the future. Organizations are expanding globally, and leaders are striving to attach their names to their companies’ successes. But is this enough? Is success and welfare the only measures of success? Do leaders of organizations decide in favor of the well-being of their enterprises, or do they follow their own narrow ambitions? The pursuit of personal interests is the initiator of a capitalist economy, but that does not justify

Executive Search Firms at The Intersection of Human Capital & Investment Capital

October 7, 2019 - 07:12:00 PM

The venture capital industry competes in a volatile marketplace typified by high risk and high reward. Venture firms invest millions of dollars on seasoned executives and entrepreneurs who present great promise of creating significant shareholder value with the identification of the next big idea or innovation that will revolutionize an industry. Whether an investment yields financial rewards depends on the delicate balance of innovation, market conditions, leadership strategy and countless other uncertainties. In making the complex calculation of whether to invest in a promising new venture, many venture capitalists often overlook one critical factor – the human capital component. After an investor invests capital behind a concept, it takes the right management team to get a company off the ground and execute the company’s strategy. Raj Pai, a principal at CID Capital, a 26 year old Midwest based venture investment

What To Do When Executive Search Firms Don’t Contact You

October 7, 2019 - 07:11:00 PM

During the years, I’ve had many good professionals asking me “How come no executive search firm contacted me about a job?” and these weren’t complaints coming only from middle management, but GM level too, who, ironically, when looking to fill a management position within their company, immediately became visible and were assaulted by executive search firms promising to find them the best candidates on the market. “How can I trust these firms that look so good on paper and have such smart presentations, when, in reality, none of them contacted me as a potential candidate in one of their projects? And I have success written all over my career.” “Because there are so many good professionals on the market it makes it difficult to reach everybody” – would be a poor answer. My advice is to stay away from any

Five Overlooked Questions to Ask Executive Search Firms

October 7, 2019 - 07:10:00 PM

When hiring an executive search firms everyone always focuses on the recruiter’s background and experience. While these are important topics many people overlook some basic questions that can reveal potential issues. Here are five areas that you should explore when deciding on which executive search firm is right for your organization. First, ask about how the firm reaches potential applicants. Executive search firms should be able to explain how they attract a diverse but highly qualified applicant pool. Look for firms that mention that they exploit the latest technologic gains in the job search industry enabling them to both broadly advertise your opening cheaply while focusing the majority of the advertising budget on niche markets that are directly related to the opening. Additionally, executive search firms should be actively identifying and reaching out to passive candidates. However, outreach to passive

A Headhunter With Many Meanings

October 7, 2019 - 07:07:00 PM

What is a headhunter? Well, it can be any one of three things, a pitcher in baseball, a savage, or an executive recruiter. But when you get right down to it what does the word headhunter really mean? Definition of a Headhunter There are three main definitions of a headhunter: (1) a pitcher in baseball who intentionally seeks to harm an opponent (2) a member of any tribe or race of savages who have the custom of decapitating human beings and preserving their heads as trophies (3) a person whose profession is to find executives to fill open positions in corporations The Baseball Headhunter In baseball, a beanball is a pitch which is intentionally thrown at a batter’s head. Pitchers who are know to throw beanballs are know as Headhunters. A headhunter who throws a beanball rarely uses it as

On Becoming a Corporate Headhunter – Part II

October 7, 2019 - 07:05:00 PM

Third-party recruiters have a huge competitive advantage over their corporate recruiter rivals. For one thing, they can cherry-pick their assignments and thus don’t have nearly as many assignments to work on. For another, they can market their best candidates to multiple clients. In many cases this allows them to present high potential candidates with comparable, but not identical, experience. Retained recruiters also have open access to their hiring managers, spend a great deal of time understanding real job needs up front, and 100% of their candidates are interviewed. Of course, since there’s a fee involved, their candidates are put under the microscope, and repeat business is a function of how well their candidates perform on the job. This actually is a good thing, since candidate performance is how external recruiters are evaluated, not cost per hire. Despite the fee, if

How To Respond When Corporate Headhunters Call

October 7, 2019 - 07:02:00 PM

It’s always flattering to hear from someone who is interested in you, but some people aren’t sure how to respond when the interested parties are headhunters. If you’re currently happy, or at least satisfied, with your current job and your employer, you’ll be tempted to tell recruiters you aren’t interested, but that may not be the best approach. You never know what will happen six months or a year down the road, when you may discover that the services of corporate recruiters are suddenly just what you need. There are several basic steps you should take if you’re approached by recruiters in order to keep your options open: Listen With An Open Mind You don’t have to give corporate headhunters an hour of your time, but giving them a few minutes is always a good idea. Listen carefully as they

Writing The Winning Executive Summary I-What Do The Judges Want?

October 7, 2019 - 06:46:00 PM

As the deadline for the 8th Start-Up@Singapore business plan competition is looming near, it will be good to offer some tips for our readers on the first round of the competition. As a former participant, organizer of the Cambridge business plan competition and also a judge/educator now, I have developed the science and art in writing business plans for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to take part in this type of competitions in my own capacity. Some of these thoughts came about by my actual engagement with the investors. By no means is my advice meant to be the be-all and end-all standard for the judges, but most people could use it as a guideline in writing their summaries for the competition. What kind of entries go into my rubbish bin? It’s always intuitive to tell people what cannot work in

5 Reasons Why People Prefer HR Advisory Services

October 7, 2019 - 06:37:00 PM

Banking and Financial services are two of the most important verticals that contribute to the GDP growth of a nation. Recruiting the right candidates and counselling them on an individual basis for their career in one these fields, is a hectic task for sure. Impartially, anyone can ask HR Advisory service providers who sweat it out to manage client retention & compete as the best ‘Advisory’ for candidates at the same time, how do they manage? Industrial practices show that there are 5 reasons why business owners prefer HR Advisory services. Primarily, HR Advisory service providers aim to deliver effective solutions to HR department of hiring companies. They assist companies to revamp HR management systems and practices; maintain consistency with both the company’s requirements and its international partners. Now, coming back to the 5 most essential facts that lead to

Top 3 Interview Strategies

October 7, 2019 - 03:51:00 PM

According to the reports of the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore total employment in the country increased by 112,500 during 2010. Furthermore, the total employment level till December 2010 was estimated to be 3,102,500, out of which 1,990,700 were locals and the rest 1,111,800 were foreigners. With the increased competition in the current job market, following some successful interview strategies can prove to be a boon. Interview Strategies: Your Gateway to Success Here are the top three interview strategies that can set you apart from the other job seekers: Do Your Homework: Once you receive an interview call from a company, research and collect some information about it. Going to an interview being well informed about the company will give you an extra edge over the other candidates. Learn about the company’s mission, vision, past performance, current status, future plans, the

5 Tips to Jumpstart Your Career in Recruitment

October 7, 2019 - 03:46:00 PM

Are you planning to pursue a career in recruitment? Well, it’s not as easy as you think. With so many recruiters and headhunters out there, you have to be able to establish yourself above them, if not at least at par with them. It’s best to get yourself ready and have a strategy in mind. To help you, here are 5 great tips that will help you get started. 1. Shadow a recruiter. No successful recruiter has it overnight. It comes with a lot of experiences, hard falls and triumphs. Even if you’re thinking of flying solo, it’s best to learn the basics first. You can start your own after that stint. You’ll learn so much – screening candidates, rifling through resumes, phone interviews, client and candidate interviews. You’ll pick up hints and telltale signs of what’s to come. There

Advantages of Using Employment Agencies for Young Job Seekers

October 7, 2019 - 03:29:00 PM

The first thing that most young men and women do after completing a graduation course is search for a job. As a young man or woman, you have unfettered freedom unless your family is placing restrictions on you. That means you get the freedom to work anywhere around the world. Countries like Singapore, the middle-east, and Abu Dhabi offer immense opportunities you may never have known. This freedom is not yours after you marry – your commitments and responsibilities multiply by that time, because you will have to consider your spouse’s inclinations, his/her career and your kids’ education as well. This is potentially restricting. Flexibility a Major Advantage when You are Young Most education is suited to multiple options when you are young. The advantages are- Employers prefer young men and women working for them You can easily adapt to

Singapore: Relocating and Finding Your Dream Job

October 7, 2019 - 03:25:00 PM

Singapore is one of the most preferred destinations around the world for seeking employment, and that is the reason why you will see so many people of different nationalities working here. People of other nationalities in Singapore include Indians, Chinese, Malaysians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. There are also substantial number of people from Europe and the Americas working here, making it the meeting point of western and eastern cultures. Unity in Diversity At least 20% of Singapore’s residents are believed to be foreigners. The population of Singapore is under 5 million and includes ethnic groups from India and China, and Malays. What makes Singapore most livable is its unity in spite of its diversity. It has a sound governance system and it citizens are law abiding. Literacy rate is 100% in Singapore. The working population is recognized for its high level

Things To Know: Executive Headhunter, Singapore

October 7, 2019 - 02:59:00 PM

Singapore’s low employment rate and its high living standard reflect the high quality working conditions prevalent in the island nation. Salaries in Singapore for top and middle level executives are among the most competitive salaries offered in Asia. According to HSBC reports, the average salary in 2008 for any executive working in the software industry sector was somewhere between S$56,058 and S$91,784. These figures illustrate the amazing job opportunities in Singapore. If you are looking for a job in Singapore, it makes perfect sense to register with an executive headhunter in Singapore. A good executive headhunter in Singapore can help you land your dream job. Executive Headhunter, Singapore: Preparing and Presenting Your CV Your CV or curriculum vitae must include all the relevant details for the job position you are considering. The CV should be presented in a professional and

Improving Performance Management: 8 Factors to Consider

October 7, 2019 - 02:13:00 PM

It’s not surprising that many organizations are continually updating and revising their performance management systems in an effort to achieve better results and improve fairness and accuracy. However, many of you who work in the public or private sector are most likely painfully aware that these efforts do not have the desired impact. We’ve identified eight of the most common changes and enhancements and why each may-or may not-add value. 1. Web-Based Systems Web-based systems facilitate the collection of data which, in turn, facilitates cascading goals. It also provides a common framework for managers and employees and prompts for participating in the various components of performance management, thereby increasing consistency in application. A well-developed Web-based performance management system will help improve consistency of application across the organization, and it will likely enhance perceptions of fairness and accuracy. However, technology does

How Does an Executive Search Firm Work?

October 6, 2019 - 05:03:00 PM

Executive search is a recruitment service that is used to hire the candidates for the position of executives in various organizations. Executives are required in every organization from low to high-level in many departments. Companies who need executives may either hire them directly or can hire a third party firm to hire such executives for them. It’s not easy to hire a suitable candidate for executive position especially if you do not have many contact and ways. There are firms out there known as executive search firms. These firms work as a third party for your company’s recruitment. There are many benefit of hiring such companies for the recruitment. They have good experience in finding and hiring executives, so they can do the task for you in lesser time. As you are running a business, you may not get sufficient

Benefits Of Using An Executive Search Firm

October 6, 2019 - 05:02:00 PM

The name as it indicates is an agency which helps companies to find suitable candidates for position of executives. Every year there are lots of requirements for executives, in various organizations. But the task of hiring becomes more difficult if the company directly tries to search for candidates through a traditional advertisement medium. The executive position is a highly responsible position, which cannot be risked with incompetent people. Executive search firms are recruitment services that are well known for expertise in finding executives. They take all your headaches of recruitment and provide the best person for the vacant place. Since, they are professionally trained and already equipped with the skills, so they can save lots of time for your company. The whole cumbersome task of short listing candidates, arranging the venue for the interview and selecting right candidates are taken

What To Do When Executive Search Firms Don’t Contact You

October 6, 2019 - 05:00:00 PM

During the years, I’ve had many good professionals asking me “How come no executive search firm contacted me about a job?” and these weren’t complaints coming only from middle management, but GM level too, who, ironically, when looking to fill a management position within their company, immediately became visible and were assaulted by executive search firms promising to find them the best candidates on the market. “How can I trust these firms that look so good on paper and have such smart presentations, when, in reality, none of them contacted me as a potential candidate in one of their projects? And I have success written all over my career.” “Because there are so many good professionals on the market it makes it difficult to reach everybody” – would be a poor answer. My advice is to stay away from any

EPL’s lessons for Singapore Managers

August 28, 2019 - 12:26:00 PM

I just had a drink with a local friend in a pub. He lamented that as a boss, he took so good care of a female employee to the extent that his wife who worked in the same company suspected that the female staff might be his mistress. Yet, the “mistress” recently jumped ship to a competitor and in the off boarding process, badmouthed the company and even tried to poach another staff away. Knowing that he is a fan of Arsenal Football Club, I comforted him that he was not alone as in the world of English football, there are many such cases including Robin Van Persie last season. Arsenal stood by RVP for more than 4 seasons when he was injured more than over of each seasons but the moment he had one successful injury-free season, he departed

THIS IS HOW YOU GET ON A HEADHUNTER’S RADAR

August 28, 2019 - 12:25:00 PM

One of the most common question we get when we are headhunting candidates is “How did you get my contact?” Well, the information do come from somewhere and chances are these candidates have done something right to raise their exposure level despite them not knowing about it. For the rest who are still waiting for that call from headhunters, here are the things you NEED to do to be on their radar. Be prominent in online searches. Some very senior managers I spoke with do not even know what LinkedIN is all about. And monster.com? Do they sell monsters? These 2 (and all prominent job boards’ databases) are where you should be featured prominently. And creation of an account per se is not the end of it. You need to fill it up with content and keywords that you would