Improve Your Job-hunting Style By Unlearning Common Recruitment Myths

Job hunting takes a lot of hard work. Individuals looking for new work need to polish their CVs, apply to and connect with different companies and make the best first impression several times over. Sometimes, we get so caught up in presenting our best selves that we forget that the employers must also convince us to join them.

Just as the interview is a conversation between employer and potential employee, recruitment is a two-way street. The idea that only employers need to be impressed during the recruitment process is a myth.

JobStreet by SEEK’s What Jobseekers Wish Employers Knew: Unlocking the Future of Recruitment report found that most Singaporean jobseekers would reject a good offer if they had a negative experience during the recruitment process. The report surveyed nearly 7,000 Singaporeans of varying ages, work experiences, industries and employment status to uncover their recruitment preferences.

Jobseekers Have Power in the Labour Market

In an interview with The Edge Singapore, Seek Asia CEO Peter Bithos said that despite hiring growth slowing, the labour landscape is still very much favourable towards jobseekers. An EY study in 2022 found that employees now have greater influence over employment terms.

For example, flexible working arrangements are now less of a driver for employee motivation compared to the year before. EY attributes this to the fact that most companies already offer flexibility in some form. Because employees needed and demanded such methods of working, it has become the new norm and not the exception.

However, according to the Future of Recruitment report, only eight per cent of Singaporean respondents are fully confident that they have a strong negotiation position in the labour market. It is low compared to the 19 per cent of global respondents and 16 per cent of Southeast Asian respondents who felt the same way. 

You could view this as an indication of Singaporean culture influencing the workplace. Singaporeans are known to be non-confrontational, and speaking up in situations such as salary negotiations might prove difficult. 

Negotiation is a key part of the recruitment process and jobseekers should not be afraid to do so. Jobseekers would do well to #SEEKBetter, know their worth and leverage that to find the best job offer that meets their needs.  

In finding their dream role, jobseekers would benefit from knowing what to expect throughout the recruitment process. Debunking common recruitment myths can help empower jobseekers during the job hunt because they will know what to do in common situations throughout the recruitment process. Knowing what an employer should and should not do during recruitment can also enable them to better assess their potential employer accordingly.

Common Recruitment Myths

If the offer is attractive, the recruitment process doesn’t matter. 

It’s easy to think that a great job offer solves everything. But for most of us, the ends do not justify the means. Fifty-five per cent of Singaporean respondents in the Future of Recruitment report would refuse an attractive job offer if they had a negative experience during recruitment.

Furthermore, a smooth, timely process is the number one way for an employer to stand out during recruitment, according to 67 per cent of respondents. Furthermore, the recruitment process, including job interviews, are a good way to discern a company’s culture. If a jobseeker felt uncomfortable or inconvenienced while being recruited, they might think that this is indicative of the company’s organisational culture and would rather not be part of it.

What jobseekers can do: If you’re unsure about the company you’re applying to, reach out to people who know about the firm, such as former or current employees, and ask about what the organisation is really like. JobStreet’s Company Reviews section is a good place to start.

Discussing salary during a job interview is taboo. 

Our Asian culture is still navigating the pros and cons of discussing salary freely. However, according to the Future of Recruitment report, financial compensation is one of the top few  deal breakers for most Singaporeans. The survey found that salary range is the first detail candidates will look at in a job ad, indicating strong interest.

What jobseekers can do: Ask about the salary range the employer is willing to offer. Talking about salary during the job interview is crucial to help manage expectations between employer and jobseeker.

People prefer to use one channel throughout their recruitment journey.

As convenient as it is to use one channel, people these days have so many options at their fingertips that they can’t just have one. According to the Future of Recruitment report, the top channel used by individuals actively looking for a job are recruitment platforms/job boards. However, those who aren’t actively looking will be more interested in a recommendation by a friend or outreach by a headhunter. Once they are interested, most people will look for further information through social media and company websites.

What jobseekers can do: Look up information on the company you’re applying to. You’ll find that knowing about the firm beforehand would be very helpful to your job application. You can then use this information during the interview to ask the company more thorough questions about the organisation.

“Digital natives” prefer not to interact with humans at all.

Building relationships are necessary. Having a face-to-face conversation can help establish a connection even though you’ve just met. According to the Future of Recruitment report, employers that show interest in their interviewees as a person and establish a good personal connection stand out the most to jobseekers. The survey also found that most preferred methods and channels, such as personal interviews, phone interviews, and brief chats still involve personal interaction. Advanced digital tools (e.g., AI chatbots, AI-led interviews, preparing a video demo…) are only favoured by a small percentage of respondents, even among the younger generation.

What jobseekers can do: Make sure you have a job interview set up with an interested company. If there’s nothing planned, ask for one. Be wary of job offers that were given without a job interview beforehand, as these might just be a scam.

Recruiters should promote the company as much as they can to the point of overselling. 

Jobseekers appreciate honesty from their potential employer. A good interview is one where both parties are clear and transparent with each other. In the report, 69 per cent of Singaporean respondents answered that honest conversations during the interview would make an employer stand out.

What jobseekers can do: If you feel that an employer is overselling their company to you, ask straightforward questions to get the information you need – what’s a regular day at work like? What opportunities are available for career growth? They should be able to answer these with hard facts and fewer buzzwords. Otherwise, perhaps it’s best to move to the next application.

Once the offer is sent to the candidate, the employer just needs to wait.

While some jobseekers appreciate being given space and time to decide, most Singaporean respondents answered “being open to negotiation” when asked what would motivate them to take a job offer. This is in line with their need for honest conversations with the employer, as well as their appreciation for good personal connections. Individuals like to feel that their employers show interest in them as a person and that they’re more than their skills and capabilities.

What jobseekers can do: If you have questions about your job application or the job offer, feel free to reach out to the HR rep. They will be able to clarify things for you, or at least serve as a liaison between you and your potential boss.

The recruitment process should be a conversation between two parties to help them figure out if they’re the right fit for each other. Recruitment myths arise when we assume things about the process when there really shouldn’t be. So whenever you’re in doubt, simply ask. It never hurts to ask potential employers and find clarity on whatever it is you’re confused about. 

Learn more about acing the recruitment process by checking out JobStreet’s Career Resources page for some vital career insights. Or #SEEKBetter jobs on JobStreet now to achieve your career goals.