BLOGStreet, from JobStreet.com

Regional JECIs hold steady in May despite uncertainties

Here are the latest graphs for the JobStreet Employment Confidence Index (JECI) in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and India, as at the end of May 2008.

The JECI in Malaysia held steady in May 2008, dipping just 0.5 index points from Apr 2008.

In Singapore, the JECI has been in slow decline since Feb 2008 but in May, it improved slightly over the Apr data.

The JECI in the Philippines has been showing some volatility in recent months as it hovers between a tight range of 3.0 index points since the beginning of the year.

And in India, employment confidence remains high despite the slight monthly fluctuations.

JobStreet Select readies itself to service more BPO requirements

Crystal Urdaneta and Anni Basinga’s typical day at the office is a blur of activity from the time they punch in to the time they leave. Processing more than 100 applicants a day for various positions in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies they service, the office hours of these JobStreet Select consultants are packed with phone calls, resume evaluations and interviews.

With the new batch of college graduates joining the ranks of jobhunters, and the continued expansion of JobStreet Select’s BPO clients, their days are about to get busier.

Cybil Gadugdug, JobStreet Select Business Development Manager, considers this as a rewarding opportunity to expand its business, saying, “It’s great to note that while JobStreet Select’s BPO business started as a one-person operation in 2005, it has now grown to an organization of competent employees, distributed among two offices – one in Mandaluyong and one in Makati – to service the growing number of BPO firms establishing their operations in those districts.”

Now servicing the recruitment needs of 14 BPO companies, from entry-level openings to managerial and top-level management requirements, JobStreet Select has earned accolades from its clients. In 2006, it placed second as Excellent Endorser in 2006 Headhunter Grand Convention held by eTelecare Global Solutions. In 2007, it was 4^th Place Top Vendor for Convergys Corporation.

To further enhance its advantages, JobStreet Select partners with various training agencies to provide its near-hire BPO applicants with free pre-employment training for intensive communication skills, computer literacy and personality development to help prepare them for the BPO work environment.

“For the rest of 2008, JobStreet Select aims to continuously be the preferred partner of top BPO companies in the country,” shares Cybil Gadugdug.

JobStreet.com employment confidence index - Nov 2007

Every month, JobStreet.com carries out an online poll of jobseekers in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and India to ask them how they feel about the employment market in their countries. Here are the charts updated until November this year:

The JobStreet.com Employment Confidence Index for Malaysia has settled around 49.0 after touching a seven-year high of 52.7 in February this year.

Singapore's JobStreet.com Employment Confidence Index continues to grow. The Index stood at 57.3 which is the highest attained since we started tracking it in Year 2000.

In the Philippines, workers are also showing more confidence in their ability to find jobs. The JobStreet.com Employment Confidence Index there stood at 59.6 in November, just a bit off its high the month earlier.

And in India, the job market has been very bouyant since Year 2005 as the JobStreet.com Employment Confidence Index moves within a narrow band of between 69.0 and 71.5.

Philippines: the 6th most woman-friendly country in the world

I found myself in a crowded elevator going to the top floor of a building for my client meeting (a BPO) last night. I noticed that we were all female. And I find myself smiling at my reflection when the elevator door closed. There use to be a time where women are discriminated at work the work place  and are not given any recognition or opportunities to move up the corporate ladder.

Nowadays, more and more countries around the world realizes that the female population can contribute a lot in the success of their organizations. The Philippines is actually ranked as the sixth most woman-friendly country in the world, the latest study by Switzerland-based World Economic Forum (WEF) showed. The Philippines was the only Asian country included in the study's top 10, which was dominated by European countries. The poll's criteria includes outcomes on representation in decision-making structures; outcomes on salaries, participation levels and access to high-skilled employment; among others.

I'm glad to be part of the new generation where men and women are given equal opportunities and recognitions in our chosen field.

Read more about the report here.

Yet another staff is leaving? Flexibility is key for maximum retention

Hey everyone! I am new on this blog. Let me introduce myself - my name is Razlan and I am a key account manager with JobStreet Singapore :)

Singapore is facing the crunch for talent in recent months. With staff turnover of 15% - 25%, competition for staff is heating up, and salary packages are skyrocketing.

Yada, yada, yada... so what gives? According to this survey of HR trend in Singapore, providing flexible work arrangements to attract, accommodate, and retain workers is an emerging strategy in tight talent markets. Read more on the report. Perhaps having your staff work from home half of the week may not be that bad an idea, if he is bringing in the dough for your company.

JobStreet employee confidence index - Aug 2007

For a long while already, JobStreet.com have had a monthly poll conducted throughout Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and India to ask members what they think of the employment climate in their respective countries. This is what we call our JobStreet Employee Confidence Index.

At the close of our last poll in August, we have charted the results as shown below:

The indices for Malaysia, Singapore and India held steady in August when compared with the previous month while the index for the Philippines showed a slight dip.

Nevertheless, we expect the trend to continue as positive in the months ahead. Employees are continuing to show an optimism in the employment market which should be good news for the region's economy.