Career 02 (Apr 10 - Apr 12)

[b0rderc0llie]

This piece of news caught my attention... quite amazing that fresh grads are paid up to $13,000/month..

That is cool!

[iam802]

if they are in the revenue generating department...highly possible.

Eg. the rookie trader who help the company make $10M...$13K a month will be small change

[winston]

Some justification for the politicians to pay themselves more, thinking that they have contributed a lot ..

Hong Kong Bonuses Jump 25% By Cathy Yan

It was a good year for bonuses in Hong Kong.

More than half of Hong Kong finance professionals received a larger bonus in 2010 than 2009, and the average bonus was 25% larger—nearly double the 13% average increases in Singapore and Australia, according to a survey by eFinancalCareers.

In the U.S., bonuses were down 5%.

Still, the survey found a third of Hong Kong finance professional were dissatisfied with the amount, and 45% are looking to change firms. (Another 13% are looking for new positions within their existing companies.)

“Widespread bonus dissatisfaction amongst Hong Kong professionals will likely fuel post-bonus turnover across the city’s finance industry,” said George McFerran, head of Asia Pacific for eFinancalCareers, a London-based job recruitment site. There’s major hiring across all business sectors within finance in the region, he said.

The big bonus winners in Hong Kong were on the sell side, where bonuses on average were 48% larger than on the buy side, and in the front office, where bonuses were five times those in middle or back offices.

The survey polled 6,364 finance professionals, including 1,016 in Hong Kong, with the rest in the U.S., UK, Australia and Singapore.

http://blogs.wsj.com/hong-kong/2011/03/ ... _news_blog

[winston]

TOL:-

For the younger members of the forum, who are just starting out your career, I have a small advice for you:-

Try not to offend anybody or burn your bridges with anyone.

Throughout my Career, some the people I knew, became my Competitors, Clients, Colleagues and even my Bosses.

You never know who will become your new boss or the decision-maker at your biggest account.

[winston]

People Who Will Help You See Career Success

If you want to reach your career's full potential, you're not going to do it alone.

Whether your career is flying high or you're struggling in a trough, the need for other people's support is a constant.

Here are eight people you need in your life to help you make the most of your career:


http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/People ... 0.html?x=0

[millionairemind]

Doesn't look too promising..... the starting pay barely moved 20% after 14 years... but housing prices have gone up 3 fold...

Graduate Employment Survey 2010 (published 2011)


By Average Gross Monthly Salaries (in brackets are the 75th-percentile salaries)

NUS Laws – $4,770 ($5,000)
SMU Information Systems Management (4-yr programme) Cum Laude and above – $4,547 ($4,950)
NUS Medicine and Surgery – $3,852 ($4,000)
SMU Business Management (4-yr programme) Cum Laude and above – $3,750 ($4,000)
SMU Accountancy Cum Laude and above – $3,625 ($3,800)
SMU Economics (4-yr programme) Cum Laude and above – $3,579 ($3,700)
SMU Social Sciences (4-yr programme) Cum Laude and above – $3,479 ($3,875)
SMU Information Systems Management (4-yr programme) – $3,474 ($4,000)
NUS Architecture – $3,445 ($3,700)
SMU Economics (4-yr programme) – $3,429 ($3,700)
NTU Computer Science – $3,385 ($3,700)
NUS Information Systems – $3,384 ($3,700)
NUS Industrial & Systems Engineering – $3,357 ($3,750)
NTU Aerospace Engineering – $3,344 ($3,800)
NUS Pharmacy – $3,298 ($3,300)
SMU Business Management (4-yr programme) – $3,292 ($3,500)
NUS Computer Science – $3,289 ($3,400)
NTU Arts (with Education) – $3,281 ($3,400)
NTU Computer Engineering – $3,272 ($3,600)
NUS Chemical Engineering – $3,259 ($3,500)
NUS Electrical Engineering – $3,235 ($3,500)
NUS Business Administration (Honours) – $3,232 ($3,600)
NTU Science (with Education) – $3,199 ($3,300)
NTU Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering – $3,182 ($3,525)
NUS Computer Engineering – $3,163 ($3,700)
SMU Accountancy (4-yr programme) – $3,162 ($3,500)
NTU Bioengineering – $3,160 ($3,800)
NTU Mathematics & Economics – $3,147 ($3,450)
NUS Computer Engineering – $3,140 ($3,500)
NTU Chinese – $3,118 ($3,400)
NUS Dental Surgery – $3,116 ($3,400)
NTU Electrical & Electronic Engineering – $3,110 ($3,400)
NUS Material Science and Engineering – $3,107 ($3,200)
NUS Business Administration (Accountancy)(Honours) – $3,081 ($3,375)
NTU Materials Engineering – $3,079 ($3,300)
NUS Mechanical Engineering – $3,067 ($3,200)
NTU Mechanical Engineering – $3,064 ($3,400)
NUS Social Sciences (Honours) – $3,062 ($3,335)
NUS Science (Honours) – $3,049 ($3,300)
NUS E.Commerce – $3,049 ($3,500)
NTU Mathematical Sciences – $3,022 ($3,100)
NUS Arts (Honours) – $3,021 ($3,200)
NUS Business Administration (3-yr programme) – $3,008 ($3,000)
NTU Economics – $2,995 ($3,200)
NUS Communication and Media – $2,993 ($3,494)
NTU Environmental Engineering – $2,982 ($3,200)
NTU Chemistry & Biological Chemistry – $2,981 ($3,300)
NTU Biological Sciences – $2,952 ($3,200)
NTU Biomedical Sciences – $2,950 ($3,175)
NTU Sociology – $2,950 ($3,200)
NUS Applied Science (Honours) – $2,944 ($3,100)
NUS Computing – $2,935 ($3,200)
NTU Business (3-yr direct Honours programme) – $2,933 ($3,200)
NTU Psychology – $2,932 ($3,300)
NTU Civil Engineering – $2,911 ($3,100)
NUS Environmental Engineering – $2,895 ($3,200)
NTU Physics – $2,862 ($3,250)
NTU Maritime Studies – $2,857 ($3,125)
NTU Communication Studies – $2,836 ($3,200)
SMU Social Sciences (4-yr programme) – $2,824 ($3,200)
NUS Bioengineering – $2,804 ($3,000)
NTU Accountancy (3-yr direct Honours programme) – $2,778 ($2,775)
NUS Real Estate – $2,762 ($3,000)
NUS Civil Engineering – $2,757 ($2,800)
NUS Business Administration (Accountancy) – $2,692 ($2,600)
NUS Project and Facilities Management – $2,657 ($2,800)
NUS Nursing – $2,655 ($2,800)
NUS Science – $2,653 ($2,900)
NUS Arts – $2,627 ($2,900)
NTU English Literature – $2,603 ($3,050)
NTU Art, Design & Media – $2,600 ($3,150)
NUS Engineering Science – $2,571 ($3,000)
NUS Applied Science – $2,427 ($2,800)

[winston]

10 Mistakes You're Making on Your Resume by Alison Green

Chances are good that you're making a few of these common mistakes on your resume. How many are you guilty of?


1. Relying on outdated sources of advice. Resume conventions have changed dramatically in the last 20 years. If you're reading a book that insists you use an objective on your resume or that you can't exceed one page, chances are good that you're reading something outdated (or listening to someone who hasn't hired recently).


2. Including every job you've ever had, no matter how irrelevant or long ago. A resume isn't meant to be an exhaustive accounting of every job you've ever held. It's a marketing document designed to present you in the strongest, most compelling light.

That means you don't need to include every job you've ever had, or the part-time work you did on top of your regular job last year, or even your degree in an irrelevant field if you don't want to. You get to decide what you do and don't include. The only rule is that you can't make things up.


3. Listing only job duties, rather than accomplishments. Resumes that really stand out go beyond what your job description was and instead answer this question: What did you accomplish in this job that someone else might not have?


4. Including subjective descriptions. Your resume is for experience and accomplishments only. It's not the place for subjective traits, like "great leadership skills" or "creative innovator." Hiring managers generally ignore anything subjective that an applicant writes about herself, because so many people's self-assessments are wildly inaccurate; they're looking for facts.


5. Leaving out volunteer work. Sometimes during the course of an interview, I discover someone has highly relevant experience they didn't include on their resume because it was volunteer work and they thought it "didn't count." It counts! Your accomplishments are your accomplishments, even if you did the work "pro bono" rather than for pay.

[See 9 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out.]


6. Including inappropriate information. Information about your spouse or children, your height or weight, or your salary history doesn't belong on your resume. (And yes, people really do include these things.)


7. Getting creative at the expense of clarity. If you're thinking of trying something "creative" with your resume, like unusual colors or a non-traditional design, make sure your desire to stand out isn't getting in the way of the whole point of resume design.


8. Having tiny inconsistencies. If you want to come across as someone who takes care in your work and is attentive to detail, pay attention to the small things: Do you have periods after some bullet points but not after others? Do you use consistent verb tenses throughout? Do you randomly start using a different font or type size? These things seem nitpicky, but even small inconsistencies can jump out to an attentive reader.


9. Sending your resume without a cover letter. If you're applying for jobs without including a compelling cover letter--customized to the specific opportunity--you're missing out on one of the most effective ways to grab an employer's attention.


10. Believing every piece of resume advice anyone gives you. Yes, it may sound funny coming from me, but the reality is that you can give your resume to 10 different people who are all qualified to give resume advice, and you'll get 10 different sets of recommendations: Use this font, use that font, don't go over one page, two pages are fine, objectives are required, objectives are silly--it can be enough to drive you crazy.


http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/10-Mis ... 0.html?x=0

[winston]

Knowing the Characteristics of Your Ideal Employee By MaryEllen Tribby

Regardless of the actual position you're filling or the skill set the employee needs to have, everyone you hire should have three important traits:

A strong sense of urgency. A good employee is someone who understands that deadlines are made to be met and that speed is money. They also understand that business is business... and it is serious.

You can have a lot of fun at work. But every employee needs to be well aware that your customers invest their time and money with you. That means your primary mission is for your customers to reach their goals, whatever their goals may be.


A great work ethic. You want someone who shows up early and is ready to go, someone who is on time for meetings and appointments. A pattern of showing up late for anything is a sign of not caring.

When I explain this to job candidates, they often ask, "What if I am just not a morning person? Couldn't I come in late and stay later in the evening?" My answer is "Absolutely not." Showing up early indicates eagerness. Staying late indicates disorganization.


Intellect. Your ideal employee is someone with great ideas. Equally important is that the employee is not afraid to express those ideas.

People are often surprised to hear that I require intellect in employees at every level of the company, not just management. Don't forget that every single employee you have is an "ambassador" for you, a direct reflection of you. And at some time or another, they will speak to your customers, your competitors, and your industry associates.


Source: ETR

[winston]

How to fail

Two habits that don't help:
• Getting good at avoiding blame and casting doubt
• Not signing up for visible and important projects


Here are six random ideas that will help you fail better, more often and with an inevitably positive upside:

1. Whenever possible, take on specific projects.

2. Make detailed promises about what success looks like and when it will occur.

3. Engage others in your projects. If you fail, they should be involved and know that they will fail with you.

4. Be really clear about what the true risks are. Ignore the vivid, unlikely and ultimately non-fatal risks that take so much of our focus away.

5. Concentrate your energy and will on the elements of the project that you have influence on, ignore external events that you can't avoid or change.

6. When you fail (and you will) be clear about it, call it by name and outline specifically what you learned so you won't make the same mistake twice.

People who blame others for failure will never be good at failing, because they've never done it.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog ... o-fai.html

[winston]

Are You Great at What You Do... or Could You Be Greater? By Peter Fogel


Here are five quick tips to successfully reinvent yourself in the your present career.

1. Stay focused on what's going on in your own company and in your industry in general. Is the marketplace changing? Where will your company be in five, 10 years? And where will your industry be?

2. Nurture the passions you have that can be transferred to new skills that can boost your company's profits. Plain and simple - discover new revenue streams or cost reductions that can add to your company's bottom line and you can write your own ticket to earning gobs more money!

3. Regardless of your age (and how set you are in your ways), find yourself a mentor who has "been there, done that." You might not need 10,000 hours of practice time to reach your version of elite status. But you will need a watchful eye to guide you and help you strengthen your weaknesses.

4. Join a mastermind group. Make sure these folks are at or above your level. You want to UP your game and learn from them.

5. Discover what your "USP" (unique selling proposition) is at work. What makes you different than every other employee? What specialty, skill, or innate talent do you have that can help you leap over your competition and stand out from the crowd? Reveal it, develop it - and you can easily become the "Go To" person in your department or division.

Finally, never rest on your laurels or be satisfied with where you are. Change is inevitable. And because it is, reinventing yourself does NOT have to be a scary experience. On the contrary, it can be quite exhilarating as you take control of your future.

The rules have changed! You don't want to just survive in today's economy, you want to thrive. Reinventing yourself makes that possible.


Source: ETR