Headhunters asking curent salary

[kilfer]

Asking for past salary and photos are the norm in Singapore.

If an applicant has trouble performing these two simple tasks to simplify/satisfy the hiring process of the employer, how much confidence can you inspire in your future employers that you can perform other tasks well?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Asking for past salary and photos are the norm in Singapore.

If an applicant has trouble performing these two simple tasks to simplify/satisfy the hiring process of the employer, how much confidence can you inspire in your future employers that you can perform other tasks well?

Sorry if I sound blunt, but that got to be the silliest statements I've heard here. Granted that's the norm here and in Asia in general. However, that doesn't necessarily make it right. How much confidence can you, as an employee have in the company if it is run by employers with racist overtones that they need to see a photo in order to determine if they can do a job or not? (assuming it's not in a front line service industry) What does a photo have to do with getting a job done? Especially in a country where Racism is instilled by the Government (HDB's racial policy - for whatever reason, is still racism - look it up). Or how much confidence can be instilled when the HR department doesn't have a clue of the market value for a given position? Employers should be colour blind don't you think? Your race? Probably not one of the minorities who are affected, I'll warrant.

[kilfer]

Asking for past salary and photos are the norm in Singapore.

If an applicant has trouble performing these two simple tasks to simplify/satisfy the hiring process of the employer, how much confidence can you inspire in your future employers that you can perform other tasks well?

Sorry if I sound blunt, but that got to be the silliest statements I've heard here. Granted that's the norm here and in Asia in general. However, that doesn't necessarily make it right. How much confidence can you, as an employee have in the company if it is run by employers with racist overtones that they need to see a photo in order to determine if they can do a job or not? (assuming it's not in a front line service industry) What does a photo have to do with getting a job done? Especially in a country where Racism is instilled by the Government (HDB's racial policy - for whatever reason, is still racism - look it up). Or how much confidence can be instilled when the HR department doesn't have a clue of the market value for a given position? Employers should be colour blind don't you think? Your race? Probably not one of the minorities who are affected, I'll warrant.

It's ok. I welcome your sincere and honest reply.

A resume w/o photo/age/race information does not prevent discrimination. The hiring party will still be able to gather all these information from you during the interview.

For the hirer, the photo helps to simplify the hiring process as follows:
- Get a 1st impression of the effort the job applicant made in creating the resume (neat photo vs hastily taken/found photo from somewhere)
- Whether the job applicant is a suitable fit for the company culture. (fresh graduate punk vs stiff upper lipped kind of culture...etc)
- And like what another forumer posted... to put a face to the name, and to help the interviewer in recalling the good candidates.

It's an employer's market now, so the hiring party can easily receive hundreds to thousands of job applications. Having a photo may seem like a small thing, but it is an additional criteria that can greatly reduce the number of potential interviewees that the hirer has to evaluate.
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And the salary can vary greatly for the same job in different companies. Let's just say that HR is trying to find someone who offers the best value for money.

[Splatted]

Korean companies tend to hire secretaries based entirely on looks here in Singapore! At least some that I've recruited for years ago.

sms

Not just secretaries.

I had applied for (and was offered) a job with one Korean company.

It was their policy to ask all applicants for a photo, both male and female.

[Splatted]

However. here in Singapore, they all insist I must tell them as it is "mandaotry" to present my current salary to HR.

I see it as their way of measuring what sort of caliber employee you are.

I don't think there's anything wrong with over-embellishing these sorts of details by 10k+/annum or so. Then see how close they can match it

[Pumpkin2010]

would not recommend bumping up your current salary in the hope of 'encouraging' the potential employer to offer a bigger salary. Don't forget that on the EP application form you have to provide details of your previous employment and salary so you will be caught out or end up making a false declaration with the MOM.

Assume if you have PR or local, you will not have this issue to worry about.

[sundaymorningstaple]

would not recommend bumping up your current salary in the hope of 'encouraging' the potential employer to offer a bigger salary. Don't forget that on the EP application form you have to provide details of your previous employment and salary so you will be caught out or end up making a false declaration with the MOM.

Assume if you have PR or local, you will not have this issue to worry about.

If you were interviewed by me you would as I would call your last two employers as a matter of course to ascertain your actual basic salary. I was/am a headhunter in the business since 92 and am an HR & Finance Mgr for the past 5 years as well. But, while I am in Singapore I'm not a Singaporean, and if I find any embellishments in the interview, that as far as you get. Every time.

[JakeF]

would not recommend bumping up your current salary in the hope of 'encouraging' the potential employer to offer a bigger salary. Don't forget that on the EP application form you have to provide details of your previous employment and salary so you will be caught out or end up making a false declaration with the MOM.

Assume if you have PR or local, you will not have this issue to worry about.

If you were interviewed by me you would as I would call your last two employers as a matter of course to ascertain your actual basic salary. I was/am a headhunter in the business since 92 and am an HR & Finance Mgr for the past 5 years as well. But, while I am in Singapore I'm not a Singaporean, and if I find any embellishments in the interview, that as far as you get. Every time.

Totally echo this. Whilst i obviously dont have the experience you do in seeing the applications, from my side of the fence (22yr Investment Banking grad), ive done numerous applications and interviews, and it just isnt worth embellishing anything AT ALL on your CV/application or at interview. You will always get caught out.

[morenangpinay]

speaking of embellishing, my friend told me they had an employee who applied for the competing company. It just so happened that she knew the people working there and they verified the guy's resume and found out that the guy wasn't in a senior position and was lying on his accomplishments.

[JayCee]

Pretty much every recruitment agent that I ever spoke with in London always asked my current salary

[therat]

I come across a guy came lie on his resume.
He claim he work in this company "A" for 2 yrs plus.
And happen the interviewer was from company "A" and don't remember meet him before.
Check with company "A" HR.
Realize this guy never been in company "A" payroll at all.

[sundaymorningstaple]

This happens a lot here in Singapore. Especially due to the large numbers of contract staffing. I've had data programmers tell me they worked for a BANK (take your pick) for a couple of years as programmers. End of the day, yeah, they worked AT the bank but not FOR the bank. Happens all the time. They also forget that temp/contract staffing usually does not imbibe the normal corporate "family" traits and work ethics either.