The Straits Times has recently reported that the coming months will see bigger bonuses and pay rises announced by companies. As the market looks set to pick up pace, how may you as a potential candidate strategically position yourself to your prospective employer?

“We have tried looking online or browsing through interview guidebooks but the information all seem too much to handle. If there was a summarized step-by-step process to guide us on preparing for an interview or writing our resume, that will be great.” laments Yi Xiu, a fresh graduate from Nanyang Technology University.

Recruit Strategy Pte Ltd, a Made-in-Singapore recruitment agency, uses her proprietary talent search process that crystallizes the identification of potential candidates for their clients into 5 Fundamentals: the candidate’s Moral; Climate; Terrain; Leadership; Discipline.

“In the same token, candidates are also able to strategically position themselves using the 5 Fundamentals”, comments Christie Khoo, Managing Director of Recruit Strategy Pte Ltd, and the creator of Recruit Strategy’s proprietary talent search process in collaboration with Sun Tzu Art of War Institute, a Strategic Leadership Centre of Aventis School of Management.

“We have modeled our search process after the Sun Tzu Art of War strategies. This 2,500 years old treasure teaches one how to strategize and be successful in our endeavours if we are able to execute the strategies. Thus we have summarized it into 5 Fundamentals, for an efficient and effective career analysis.”

Moral:

• Select 3 words or phrases that you want to describe yourself as. Cite an anecdote that illustrates the word you have chosen.
• For example, instead of simply saying you are hardworking; go further by sharing an example of the time that you had stayed up doing extra research to ensure that you will be able to present the best information for that all-important project presentation.

Climate:

• Share one or two memorable learning experiences during the time spent within the various academic institutions that you had previously attended.
• Describe how those experiences you had either with your peers and teachers, within the classroom or during your co-curricular engagements, had influenced and shaped you to be who you are today.

Terrain:

• Give an account of the key achievements you have had from your past working experiences and how you intend to translate those learning into the current job you are interviewing for.
• For example, if you had previously been in the frontline service or sales positions, share your discoveries on the importance of customer service standards and interpersonal communication skills and how you are keen to be utilizing these learning in the Personal Banker position that you are applying for.

Leadership:

• Think about a hobby or hidden talents that you feel you possess and share this with your interviewer.
• For example, if you had always been learning the piano and enjoy music, speak about this and how you see that this passion of yours is the same passion that you are able to bring into your job – where you see yourself stepping up and bringing people together for respective causes; taking the initiative basically.

Discipline:

• This refers to the motivating factors that will keep you going at the job.
• For example, if your vision for yourself is to be a private banker, then share with the interviewer or write it in your resume citing joining and pursuing a banking career as the motivating factor for yourself.

Always remember, words left unspoken and unsaid will never be known. However, for those that is to be said either in your resume or during that all-important face-to-face interview, keep your points succinct and brief as your cater it to the 5 Fundamentals as described above.

For more information , you can visit suntzuartofwar.org or recruitstrategy.com.sg

Written and contributed by Christie Khoo, Managing Director, Recruit Strategy Pte Ltd

Tags: Career coaching and placement opportunities, effective career analysis, interviewing skills, resume writing, talent management, talent search process