LinkedIn - hints - it works even in Singapore

[kooltilldend]

So here's my 2 cents for the topic:

I got my first job here in SG via college career fair - sadly the department was laid off even before I signed my contract (only a verbal offer) so that never materialized

I found my next job via jobsdb but it was a fairly low base (high comms) job...I took it due to my previous circumstances

Since then I've worked for a couple of MNC's - one of whom headhunted me - all through LinkedIn (free subscription too as I never paid except a month's free trial which was offered to me)

And I have recently secured another job via LinkedIn which too I heard about from a recruiter who I connected with there...I had a casual chat with him and he mentioned the role to me...next day I had my 3 hour+ interview and was hired shortly thereafter

In short yes, LinkedIn does work - and frankly works better than any other source (Career fair aside perhaps but even that's more effective in USA than here imo)...having a premium account can certainly enhance the probabilities of getting a job but its not necessary (as my experiences suggest)

The bottomline is...if you are good at what you do, you can absolutely get a job via LinkedIn - if you are not, even LinkedIn can't help you

p.s. if you couldn't already tell, I work as a business development specialist

[Wd40]

May be some cheapo recruiters can't afford an account with monster and hence resort to linked in? I see some very small start up companies posting jobs in linked in. But they don't do it in monster. Big recruiters however all post jobs in monster.

[kooltilldend]

May be some cheapo recruiters can't afford an account with monster and hence resort to linked in? I see some very small start up companies posting jobs in linked in. But they don't do it in monster. Big recruiters however all post jobs in monster.

Cheap recruiters? You clearly don't know where you are looking then because recruiters for all big firms including the likes of Google, Microsoft, Facebook, SingTel and numerous others all use - and hire - via LinkedIn.

Monster's done me wonders while I was in USA (and to an extent even in Thailand) but its as good as useless here in Singapore

[sundaymorningstaple]

You are reaching. But I'm afraid you might be a bit short. As noted before, seems like you are the only one that has problems in LinkedIn. What does that indicate to you?

[morenangpinay]

thanks lynx! i will try to do your suggestion.

what i find helpful in linkedin is that when you apply for a job through the site, it shows you how many have applied.it gives you an idea of your competition.

[kooltilldend]

thanks lynx! i will try to do your suggestion.

what i find helpful in linkedin is that when you apply for a job through the site, it shows you how many have applied.it gives you an idea of your competition.

It will give you even more statistics if you are a premium member (things like last 10 - i think - viewers on your page)

Its well worth applying for a premium account imo if you are in that much desperation - otherwise just connect with recruiters and reach out to them with your needs...you'll be surprised at how many of them actually respond positively

Good luck!

[Wd40]

May be some cheapo recruiters can't afford an account with monster and hence resort to linked in? I see some very small start up companies posting jobs in linked in. But they don't do it in monster. Big recruiters however all post jobs in monster.

Cheap recruiters? You clearly don't know where you are looking then because recruiters for all big firms including the likes of Google, Microsoft, Facebook, SingTel and numerous others all use - and hire - via LinkedIn.

Monster's done me wonders while I was in USA (and to an extent even in Thailand) but its as good as useless here in Singapore

Yeah the high end jobs are advertised in linked in no doubt. What I meant is linked in works best where jobs sites don't work. That is, either senior roles where it's hard to find people actively looking for change or for roles that the recruiter/employer cannot afford the recruitment fees associated with monster.

A resume in monster means that person is actively looking for a change and recruiters would rather reach out to them instead.

[Wd40]

You are reaching. But I'm afraid you might be a bit short. As noted before, seems like you are the only one that has problems in LinkedIn. What does that indicate to you?

As I mentioned earlier I have got calls and emails from monster but not from linked in. So it's nothing to do with me. It's to do with my kinda role.

[kooltilldend]

May be some cheapo recruiters can't afford an account with monster and hence resort to linked in? I see some very small start up companies posting jobs in linked in. But they don't do it in monster. Big recruiters however all post jobs in monster.

Cheap recruiters? You clearly don't know where you are looking then because recruiters for all big firms including the likes of Google, Microsoft, Facebook, SingTel and numerous others all use - and hire - via LinkedIn.

Monster's done me wonders while I was in USA (and to an extent even in Thailand) but its as good as useless here in Singapore

Yeah the high end jobs are advertised in linked in no doubt. What I meant is linked in works best where jobs sites don't work. That is, either senior roles where it's hard to find people actively looking for change or for roles that the recruiter/employer cannot afford the recruitment fees associated with monster.

A resume in monster means that person is actively looking for a change and recruiters would rather reach out to them instead.

I'm afraid you are still wrong

I am not experienced enough to look for middle or senior level roles nor am I looking for roles that "only" get listed on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn has all sets of roles (entry to VP) with all sets of companies (local to MNCs) and are largely connected with the original vacancy listed on the respective company websites.

As I said, Monster isn't half bad (abroad) but even then Monster is "nothing" in comparison to LinkedIn nowadays. Monster used to be among the best perhaps 5-7 years back but those days have long since gone

p.s. if Monster's leading to positive results for you then good for you...but is it going to work similarly for the majority of people here? absolutely no chance

Oh and one more thing...if you think posting a job vacancy on LinkedIn is "cheap" while Monster is "expensive or high end"...try posting ads on both and you'll have your answer (which I can tell you already is wrong)

[Wd40]

Well if you have created a thread specifically for linked in then of course you will have people who have had success with it, attracted to it. That's no indication that linked in is the best for everyone.

[kooltilldend]

The fact there is such a thread for LinkedIn yet absolutely nothing for Monster tells me everything I need to know

And if you disagree, feel free to create such a thread for Monster and see how many hits you get there - rest assured I won't be part of that conversation so you don't have to worry about my "negative" jury

p.s. Just to make things clear I'm not necessarily a fan of LinkedIn. Yes it works and its got me a number of jobs. But the conversations on that can be largely superficial esp. if you are only adding connections to your network with zero talks back and forth. Its all superfluous - BUT it works! and that's the main thing here

[Sergei82]

Continuously getting feedback on LinkedIn. You must put some effort into constructing ur profile for that to work.

Monster - nothing interesting, and when they started calling me from India asking to buy their resume "improving" services (550 sgd only if u buy right away - special offer!), I quit the site.

I have another question about LinkedIn: if I am working here, but want to find a job in another country, how can I make my profile pop up in recruiters' search for that country, not Singapore?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Sergei, wasn't there another thread by OSOD that covered that question at some point? Might try a search as it does ring a bell.

[Dr Fuzz]

Hi all,

I've found that recruiters in Singapore do use linkedin at least for my sector (life sciences and pharma). Over the last 12 months I wasn't actually looking for a job but I was contacted by at least 1-2 recruiters a month to see if I would be interested in applying for positions that they noticed fit my skills set. I up-graded my account to premium in Dec, I haven't noticed a major change in the number of recruiter contacting me but I do like being able to see who is reviewing my profile. From my perspective it has proven to be a useful conduit to finding new positions.

I don't know if there are any secrets to using linkedin, I'm guessing that having an updated detailed profile probably helps, and I am based in Singapore already with a PR.

[Wd40]

The problem with Linked in is there is no way to tell what your current mindset is; for eg, you are desperately looking for a job or you dont mind getting contacted if its an awesome role or that you just created a profile for networking with industry and not to look for jobs.

There is no way to indicate what industry you are interested in and what you are you are not interested in. What your salary is and what you are looking for.

To me linked in helps the recruiters more than the job seekers because people who would otherwise not create a profile in Monster, because they are not looking for a job, now suddenly are accessible to recruiters. Also I believe its quite expensive to get an account in monster as an employee seeker. Linked In is free! You can get 100 candidates in a search for free!

As a job seeker the best you can do is create as complete profile as possible and try adding as many recruiters to your network as possible and then leave the rest to GOD!