BLOGStreet, from JobStreet.com

More Filipinos interested in working abroad

Filipino jobseekers have said that they are interested in working abroad, if given an opportunity to do so, according to a recent survey done by JobStreet.com. An overwhelming 82% have said that they want to work abroad if given the chance, in contrast to just 7% who expressed no interest in doing so.

When asked about how serious they are in working abroad, 39% said they are actively looking for such opportunities, while another 22% said they are passively seeking such opportunities. Another 27% said they are still contemplating the pros and cons of doing so, while another 12% said they are not serious, or not interested at all in doing so. 

Of those who are not interested in working abroad, 48% cited family as the primary reason for not wanting to work abroad, while another 22% said that there are good career prospects here. Another 11% mentioned that they prefer to remain in their comfort zones, and 13% mentioned other factors.

On the other hand, of those who want to work abroad, 60% mentioned better financial remuneration as the main driving factor, while 15% cited career growth. Another 10% would do so for the sake of their children’s education, 8% said that the chance to travel as an influential factor, and only 1% would do so because they want to follow their spouses to that particular country.

When queried about which country of preference they want to work in, 23% have indicated that they want to work in America, 21% chose Canada as their main destination, and 18% prefer Australia. Another 9% opted for Britain, while 7% wanted to go to New Zealand.

On another matter, about 48% of jobseekers surveyed said that they will look for jobs abroad through recruitment firms or headhunting agencies, while another 22% would do so through newspaper or online advertisements. Another 19% said they would look for such jobs through referrals.

About 500 managers, senior executives and executives in the Philippines participated in the survey in May 2011.

Most Singaporeans prefer to work abroad

Singaporean jobseekers have indicated that they are interested in working abroad, if given a chance to do so, according to a recent survey done by JobStreet.com. An overwhelming 85% have said that they want to work abroad if given the chance, in contrast to just 5% who expressed no interest in doing so.

When asked about their level of seriousness in working abroad, 33% said they are passively looking for such opportunities, while another 32% said they are actively seeking such opportunities. Another 29% said they are still considering the pros and cons of doing so, while only 6% said they are not serious, or not interested at all in doing so.

Of those who have expressed disinterest in working abroad, 65% cited family as the primary reason for not wanting to work abroad, while another 11% mentioned that they prefer to remain in their comfort zones. Another 6% said that there are good career prospects here, and 17% mentioned other factors.

On the other hand, of those who want to work abroad, 38% cited career growth as the main driving factor, while 24% mentioned better financial remuneration. Another 19% said that the chance to travel as the compelling factor, 5% would do so for the sake of their children’s education, and 2% would do so because they want to follow their spouses to that particular country.

When queried about which country of preference they want to work in, 23% have indicated that they prefer to work in China, Japan or Korea, as opposed to 22% who want to work in Australia. Another 14% favor America, while 9% want to make a living in Britain. 

On a final note, about 56% of jobseekers surveyed said that they will look for jobs abroad through recruitment firms or headhunting agencies, while another 20% would do so through referrals. Another 16% said they would look for such jobs through newspaper or online advertisements.

About 600 managers, senior executives and executives in Singapore participated in the survey in May 2011.

Indonesian working women value family above career

Indonesian working women have said that they put more importance on their families rather than their careers, according to a recent survey done by JobStreet.com. About 54% of respondents said their career objectives will change when they have children, as opposed to 35% who said their professional goals will remain unchanged.

About 56% of respondents said that flexible working hours is the main priority after they have children, while 25% said that a higher salary is most desired. Elsewhere, about 53% said that they will remain working as usual after having children, as opposed to 26% who said that they will resume work on a part-time or freelance basis.

When asked about how long they plan to stop working, about 49% said that they will stop working for less than a year, while 26% said that they will stop working for one to two years. About 54% of respondents said they wanted to continue their career climb, when asked about why they resumed working, while 28% said that they enjoyed their jobs.

Elsewhere, around 54% of respondents said that their companies do not provide flexible or part-time working hours for mothers, with only 22% saying that their companies do provide such flexibility. About 32% said that their companies are not sensitive to the needs of working mothers, with another 43% saying that their companies are considerate to working mothers.

On a final note, about 91% of working women surveyed said that their companies do not provide childcare facilities, in contrast to only 2% who said their companies do provide such facilities.

About 430 working women in Indonesia participated in the survey in April 2011.

Filipino working women prioritize family over career

Filipino working women have indicated that they place more importance on their families rather than their careers, according to a recent survey done by JobStreet.com. About 73% opined that their career objectives will change when they have children, in contrast with a mere 18% who said their professional goals will remain unchanged.

About 48% of respondents said that flexible working hours is the main priority after they have children, while 36% said that higher salaries are most preferred. Elsewhere, about 47% said that they will remain working as usual after having children, as opposed to 29% who said that they will resume later after a brief period of non-work.

When asked about how long their non-work period is, about 50% said that they will stop working for less than a year, while 21% said that they will stop working for one to two years. About 40% of respondents said they cannot afford to stop working, when asked about why they resumed working, while only 15% cited the continuation of their career climb as their reason.

On another note, about 68% of respondents said that their companies do not provide flexible or part-time working hours for mothers, with only 24% saying that their companies do provide such flexibility. About 36% said that their companies are not sensitive to the needs of working mothers, but an optimistic 40% saying that their companies are considerate to working mothers.

On a final note, about 65% of working women surveyed opined that their companies should be thoughtful enough to provide childcare facilities, in contrast to only 22% who do not think so.

About 300 working women in the Philippines participated in the survey in April 2011.

Singaporean working women value family over career

Singaporean working women have indicated that they place more emphasis on their families rather than their careers, according to a recent survey done by JobStreet.com. About 65% opined that their career objectives will change when they have children, in contrast with about 20% who said their professional goals will remain unchanged.

About 55% of respondents said that flexible working hours is the main priority after they have children, while 26% said that shorter and more stable working hours are most desired. Elsewhere, about 51% said that they will remain working as usual after having children, as opposed to 26% who said that they will resume later after a brief period of non-work.

When asked about how long their non-work period is, about 31% said that they will stop working for less than a year, while 27% said that they will stop working for one to two years. About 54% of respondents said they cannot afford to stop working, when asked about why they resumed working, while only 11% cited the continuation of their career climb as their reason.

On another note, about 67% of respondents said that their companies do not provide flexible or part-time working hours for mothers, with only 19% saying that their companies do provide such flexibility. About 39% said that their companies are not sensitive to the needs of working mothers, with only 22% saying that their companies are considerate to working mothers.

On a final note, about 59% of working women surveyed opined that their companies should be thoughtful enough to provide childcare facilities, in contrast to only 21% who do not think so.

About 500 working women in Singapore participated in the survey in April 2011.

Malaysian women willing to forego career for children

Most working women today place more emphasis on their family lives once they have children, according to a survey conducted by JobStreet.com.  About 64% expect their career goals to change after having children. When asked what their career priority would be if it changes, over 61% cite more flexible working hours as their top priority. Another 16% want shorter and fixed working hours while 7% want less traveling. The remaining 15% list a higher salary as a goal.

According to the rest of the survey, Malaysian women are going back to time honoured, homemaker values. About 44% plan to stop working after having children.The most popular options are working part time, flexible hours or freelance, and taking a break from the workforce before resuming again later.  When asked for the ideal duration if they were to stop working, 38% said less than one year is sufficient. Based on the survey results, Malaysian mothers’ employment trend is expected to shift in the future towards more flexible jobs.

But of the married women with children polled, over 80% did not quit their jobs after having kids. Almost half of the respondents cite not being able to afford to stop working whileonly 20% cite continuing career climb as the reason to continue working. This shows a conflict between what mothers aspire for and what they can actually have.

When it comes to their employers, there is also a gap between what employers provide and what women want. 51% felt that their employers is not sensitive to working mothers’ needs and 74% noted that their employers do not provide flexible or part time working hours option. Finally, 66% of the women polled think their company should provide childcare facilities.

About 550 women participated in the survey, of which 42% are single and 41% are married with children. Of this, 76% are between 18 and 35. The survey was carried out in April 2011 to seek the view of women on work after motherhood.

Employment adjusting to new market dynamics

The latest Hays Asia annual salary survey says that employers and employees in Singapore who had grown accustomed to the broader candidate short market are now adjusting to a new market dynamic in which some sectors are experiencing a reverse scenario where there is a slowdown in jobs and an increase in available candidates.

Some of Hays Asia’s findings:

• Salary rises for accountancy and finance professionals continue at a rate of around 10 to 15 per cent.
• In the banking sector, while financially stable companies are still looking to secure top talent, salaries are expected to remain stable over the next 12 months. Salaries for experienced candidates in the insurance sector will continue to rise moderately particularly for those with strong business development skills
• Finance technology leads the way in utilizing contract staff to provide adequate support for projects nearing completion. Higher rates of pay are still available in pockets of the sector, particularly where specific skills are required on a short-term basis.
• Solid hiring in the IT sector is expected to continue into 2009 with the biggest salary winners being the technically skilled senior sales executives and managers with salary increases of 15 to 20 per cent over the last year.
• The effect of the economic downturn on salaries in almost every sector this year has been a stabilizing one. Dramatic salary increases have largely been replaced by modest salary increases, with very few instances to date of salary reductions in the Asia market.

As for demand, the human resources sector is looking at diversity in candidates with experience across a range of functions. However, strong demand is not expected to return until the second half of 2009. Sales and marketing candidates will find their skills to be in continuing demand. The IT&T sector is pushing demand and candidates with experience in product development and marketing communications will find opportunities.

New projects are uncertain in the construction and property sector. As for the oil and gas sector, companies are cutting allowances and emphasizing more on recruiting local staff. This is creating the dual effect of reducing salaries for expatriates while inflating locally trained remuneration.

Finally, Hays Asia has some advice for candidates looking to secure work such as:

• Be more flexible and prepare for a competitive recruitment process;
• Be mindful of cultural and job fit before accepting a role;
• Look towards long-term objectives such as career progression, job security and learning and development opportunities rather than short-term financial gain;
• Accept contracting and temporary jobs as an alternative to permanent jobs;
• Skills that will always be in demand, even in this current climate, are those of true specialists; Bilingual and multilingual candidates are best placed to compete in the current market.

Coping with Recession

For many, 2009 is approached with much caution and apprehension. A reminder of the worsening economic situation is always around the corner, with news splashed across the papers, blasted over the radio and discussed over meals. In fact, the government has just announced that Singapore is facing its worst-ever recession.

For the luckier ones who are employed, they are clinging on to their jobs with uncertainty for everyone knows the cruel reality that restructuring and downsizing exercises are inevitable occurrences during times of recession.

With that, JobStreet would like to share true life accounts contributed by some fellow Jobseekers on how they coped with recession and retrenchment...we are certain that they are stories many can identify with.

If you have been affected too by the current recession, or would like to share on your experiences, please leave a comment! Remember, you don’t have to be alone in this.

Best Regards,
JobStreet.com Singapore

 

Spotted the JOBSTREET TEDDY?

17 Jan 2009, Saturday

Sunny skies, gentle breeze, a perfect day indeed! Armed with excitement, we sprinted down to Orchard Road where the rest of the team had gathered. After a few fusses over the nitty gritty, finally, JobStreet Teddy was ready to make its first appearance.

“Mummy, LOOK!!! It’s a TEDDY BEAR!” a little girl squealed excitedly, as she ran towards Teddy for a big bear hug and a firm hand shake. In fact, she happily posed for her mother, as she whipped out a camera and clicked away.

Little did we realise that this would set the trend for the rest of the day. It seemed that Teddy’s appeal was not restricted to children alone. Teenagers, adults and tourists alike swarmed to snap a quick picture with our friendly bear. Even the drivers on the road stole a second look!

 
      

It was really heartwarming to see how Teddy magically inflicted people with smiles, laughter and childlike excitement with ease. Considering the current climate of our economy, coupled with depressing news that is splashed across the papers day after day, it was refreshing to notice the wide grins on everyone’s faces that day.

We wrapped up the day feeling exhausted yet extremely fulfilling. It was tremendous fun making new friends and inflicting loads of laughter among the crowd. This had indeed been an eventful day for all of us.

 

Did you witness this event? Let us know your thoughts!

Meanwhile, Teddy will be taking a well deserved break before revealing itself again. Check out this space for upcoming activities!

Till then,
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR
JobStreet.com Singapore

Be surveyed: How much time do you spend looking for a job?

We are running a new quick survey here. Please try it out. Thanks!