Culture

[Atu]

How a future employee should behave when talking to his future employer during interview? I know that Asian culture is very different from what we have in Europe, so what's are the DO's and DONT's?

[BillyB]

Getting the locals to actually turn up for an interview here is the first challenge - so turn up and be on time and you're half way there.

Don't lie on your CV - I received a pile of CV's a few weeks back. 3 of whom were top sales in the same company!! And also I experienced a few cases of multiple rugby captains at Uni......the normal exaggeration etc.

In my opinion, Interviews should be conducted in exactly the same way in any Country - be polite, courteous and have answers to the typical questions prepared. Also brush up on your understanding of the company, Asia and regional trends and business practices. Use LinkedIn to gain an understanding of the hiring Manager too.

Also, be prepared for the odd curveball and also the fact that some hiring managers like to try and get the moral high ground by appearing confrontational, and some like to ask irrelevant questions to try and make you feel like an idiot.

Interviews should be fun and remember its a two way process.

Good luck!!

[x9200]

and some like to ask irrelevant questions to try and make you feel like an idiot.

Not necessarily for that reason. A lot of things we see as private and inappropriate to be asked during the interview are not considered such in Singapore. So remember this is really a different culture and do not get it too personal.

[BillyB]

I'll rephrase - some do, maybe I was being unfair as I know there are some excellent senior managers in Asia.

One manager whom my girlfriend saw for an interview tried to make her look like an idiot........asking about gearing ratio's on a balance sheet for a SaaS sales position. And then asking her about Salesforce's cash flow and hedging strategy. My girlfriend used to be an accountant so when she replied to his question - he got personal and started saying that Malaysian's shouldn't be paid the same as Singaporeans as the Ringgit is weaker against the Sing dollar!!

And he was constantly on his Blackberry during the interview.

Needless to say the position is still advertised and the guy has a reputation for being pedantic for the sake of it and for an ego boost. Arrogance is not required especially when you are failing to keep staff and interviews are a two way process.

[Strong Eagle]

How a future employee should behave when talking to his future employer during interview? I know that Asian culture is very different from what we have in Europe, so what's are the DO's and DONT's?

Don't fart. Don't pick your nose. Don't take a call and talk on your hand phone. Don't say, "Wow, that's one hot b*tch" when looking at the picture of his wife and kids.

Asian culture isn't _that_ different. There are common threads of respect, friendliness, willingness to understand the other's point of view. You will run into individuals with different prejudices management styles... just like elsewhere.

You do it like you'd do it anywhere. You are respectful, especially to older people, without being subordinate. You listen, not only to the questions, but to what is being said... and how. You sell yourself.

[wwww]

I recently had a few interviews in Singapore and I agree that the Singaporean business environment is quite westernized, although it is more American than European.

Make sure you that hand over your business card with both hands, behave naturally, be open minded and you'll be fine.