Latest news with #referrals
Independent Singapore
10-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘Job portals are dead' — Retrenched Singaporean shares his "Actually Applicable" job hunting tips for others in the same boat
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean retrenched earlier this year took to Reddit's r/askSingapore to share job-hunting tips and seek advice from others in the same boat. He kicked off the thread by outlining what hasn't been working for him: mass applying through job portals. With the overwhelming number of applicants for each listing, he found himself getting little to no response and believes this approach no longer gives job seekers a fair shot. 'I think just applying via the job portals and hoping for the best is not viable anymore. This goes the same for any roles posted on LinkedIn,' he wrote. He then suggested a more refined strategy: to start with, going directly to the company career pages. While this method may be more time-consuming, he noted that it allows candidates to bypass the noise of crowded job portals and uncover opportunities that are less visible to the general public. He also encouraged job seekers to explore beyond the usual big-name firms, suggesting that smaller or lesser-known employers may attract fewer applicants and therefore offer a better chance of gaining visibility. Another important point he raised was the need to tailor each application. He shared, 'Every resume and cover letter of mine is tailored to the role and JD specifically. Resume must be ATS-friendly without a doubt.' Finally, he shared what's been most effective so far: tapping into personal networks. In his experience, referrals from friends or former colleagues have led to more opportunities than sending out cold applications. Reaching out to hiring managers or team members on LinkedIn has also resulted in more productive and engaging responses. Hoping to get insights from others, he posed several thoughtful questions to hiring managers, recruiters, recent hires, and fellow job seekers towards the end of his post: 'To hiring managers/recruiters/HRBPs of Reddit — any advice on what a candidate could do to stand out to you or get you to vouch for them? If they reached out to you on LinkedIn, what is something they should definitely say that will get you to consider them seriously? Any other ways to game referral/ATS systems? 'To recent employees — congrats, and any tips you felt were most helpful for you to get you through the door? To other job seekers — anything you found particularly helpful? Have you considered looking at other countries instead? I'm considering going to career fairs to actually meet humans and have a chance to speak to them.' 'Just keep applying and don't wait until the market turns good…' In the comments, one Singaporean Redditor said, 'Best advice is to ensure you are still in contact with people in the industry. You will be surprised how many of them are willing to help you. It is easier to get a job via internal referral.' Another shared a practical resume tip: 'The top section of your resume should summarize your experience, skills, and strengths. This section should be able to tell recruiters who you are, including the busy or lazy recruiters who only spend about 15 seconds on each resume. Also, I only apply to roles for which I meet at least 80% of the requirements. In an employer's market now, there's no point applying if you only meet half the requirements; there will be someone else more fitting who also applied, and the company will choose that person.' A third advised job seekers to stay calm and confident during interviews, saying, 'Treat interviews like a conversation between you and your friend. Do not be too nervous or desperate during the interview; the interviewer can tell and either skip you or try to lowball you. I have interviewed candidates before, and yes, I can tell who is desperate for a job and who is chill.' See also DBS Bank's Neal Cross steps down A fourth added, 'Tip from me – in my 20 years of working, I only heard once where sentiment is that the market is good. That was slightly after COVID, and it's only for a short while. So, the job market is always bad. Just keep applying and don't wait until the market turns good.' In other news, a 25-year-old accountant is thinking about leaving her job after just one year due to ongoing issues with her supervisor. Posting on r/askSingapore, she shared that although the job itself isn't terrible and comes with generous benefits like 20 days of annual leave, the daily interactions with her only direct supervisor have taken a toll on her mental well-being. 'My only and direct supervisor has been really hard to work with,' she wrote. 'An example being how she loves to accuse that it MUST be me messing up the printer settings when I don't receive it in my mail.' Read more: 'Just seeing her gives me cold sweat' — Accountant wants to quit her job after just one year because her supervisor blames her for everything that goes wrong Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Children in Sheffield face 'unacceptable waits' for SEND referral
Children are facing "unacceptably long" waits for neurodiversity services after the number of referrals increased threefold in five years in Sheffield, according to a new Dixon-Teasdale, Sheffield City Council's strategic director of children's services, said an overhaul of the existing system was needed to enable services to cope with the rising to the report neurodevelopment referrals have grown from approximately 1,500 in 2019-20 to 4,600 in the past 12 issue is due to be discussed by members of the council's education, children and families policy committee on 10 June. Ms Dixon-Teasdale said: "There is a shared view our children, young people and families are waiting for an unacceptably long time and service models that no longer meet need. "There is a shared view we need to work together to develop a radically different model of care and support across the city."She said improvement work had been taking place for three years with fortnightly city-wide meetings of directors from key organisations taking place since last summer. Learn Sheffield is also leading the development of a SEND Manifesto for the city, she Dixon-Teasdale said the education committee will get an update of the work taking place in September. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
CBC
30-05-2025
- General
- CBC
This downtown Windsor crisis centre has seen 150 first responder and ER referrals since going 24/7
The Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre says it's seen a big jump in referrals since expanding its services this spring. It has four stabilization beds that allow people to stay for up to 48 hours.
Entrepreneur
27-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Your Resume Might Be Great, But This Is What Makes People Say 'Hire Them'
Discover the power of high-engagement job referrals and why this could be a game-changer for your career Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In today's unpredictable, hyper-competitive job market, resumes often disappear into a sea of sameness. Even highly qualified candidates struggle to stand out when their accomplishments echo those of countless others. What sets someone apart isn't always what's written on paper, but who's willing to speak up for them. That's why your professional network is more valuable than ever. Relationships you've cultivated since undergrad, grad school, internships, previous roles, volunteer work and industry groups hold untapped potential. But it's not as simple as asking a friend for a favor. To truly leverage your network, you need to understand how to earn and give high-engagement referrals — the kind that open doors and drive real results. Related: You Won't Find What Makes a Hire 'Special' on Their Resume What is a high-engagement referral? A high-engagement referral isn't just a polite nod or a casual mention. It's a personal, proactive endorsement. It signals a high level of trust and alignment between the recommender, the candidate and the opportunity. When someone offers a high-engagement referral, they're essentially saying, "I know this person well. I've worked with them. I believe in their abilities and character so strongly that I'm willing to put my own reputation on the line." This type of referral typically goes beyond a LinkedIn endorsement. It may involve crafting a thoughtful introduction tailored to a specific role, reaching out to a hiring manager directly or guiding the candidate through interview preparation. Some advocates even go as far as recommending the candidate across multiple platforms and internal channels. These extra steps show intention and investment, and hiring teams take notice. Why these referrals matter for leaders For business leaders, high-engagement referrals can be transformative. Whether you're building a startup, leading a team or mentoring rising talent, referrals help you attract and retain high-performing individuals. Candidates who come recommended through trusted sources often prove to be stronger performers and cultural fits. The impact goes beyond recruitment. A culture where referrals are encouraged tends to be one where employees are engaged, invested and proud to bring others into the fold. It also elevates your brand as a place where talent thrives and relationships matter. So why do high-engagement referrals work so well? First, they cut through the noise. In a landscape where hundreds of resumes might flood a hiring manager's inbox, a trusted referral can bring a candidate straight to the top of the pile. Second, they offer a signal of trustworthiness, adaptability and cultural fit — qualities that are hard to gauge on paper. And finally, they set a positive tone. Walking into an interview knowing someone has already championed your abilities can create instant rapport, boost your confidence, and even influence the outcome. Of course, earning such a referral doesn't happen overnight. It begins with clarity. When you ask for a referral, be specific. Tell your contact what job you're pursuing, why you're a strong fit and how they can help. Make their job easier by offering a brief message they can tailor or highlighting shared experiences that make your ask feel relevant and authentic. Even more important is the groundwork you lay before you need the referral. Stay in touch with mentors, colleagues and collaborators. Check in periodically. Share updates on your work. Offer support when they're navigating changes. The strongest referrals come from relationships that have been nurtured, not neglected until a favor is needed. Related: 5 Steps to Hiring the Right People for Your Business How to earn one Just as you want to receive high-engagement referrals, you should also look for opportunities to offer them. If a former coworker is job hunting and you can genuinely speak to their strengths, take the time to advocate for them. Write the email. Make the call. The value you offer someone else could have a lasting impact — and it positions you as someone who lifts others as you rise. At the heart of it all is trust. In today's evolving professional landscape, trust is the currency of opportunity. It's not just about credentials or connections. It's about who will speak up for you with conviction — and who you're willing to stand behind in return. Build that kind of network. Invest in it. And when the time comes, you'll have more than a resume — you'll have real advocates in your corner.
Entrepreneur
20-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Instagram Is Paying Creators Up to $20,000 for Referrals
Instagram is paying creators tens of thousands of dollars to bring new users to the platform. The tech giant has been quietly running a program called "Referrals," which compensates U.S.-based creators when new users visit Instagram through links shared by creators, Business Insider confirmed with Meta. Related: Instagram Is Offering TikTok Creators Up to $50,000 Per Month For Exclusive Content The invite-only, limited test allows creators to earn a maximum of $20,000 in two ways: Earning $100 for every new user who makes an Instagram account through their links or receiving $100 each time 1,000 new users navigate to Instagram via their links. Instagram creator Courtney Canfield, who runs an Instagram page with over 36,000 followers for her dog Rambo, told BI that she was offered the second option and could be compensated based on the number of new users who visit Instagram through her profile, posts, stories, or other links. According to the report, the referral program runs for six weeks from May to June. Instagram is instructing creators to share links to their Instagram profiles and posts on other platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Discord to drive new users to the site. This isn't Meta's first effort to lure users away from other platforms and get them scrolling on Instagram instead. According to a January report, Meta offered some creators up to $300,000 to exclusively post short-form content to Instagram Reels, Meta's take on TikTok. Meta wanted creator audiences to migrate to Instagram from TikTok or other platforms to watch the exclusive content. The contracts Meta offered creators then had exclusivity agreements that ranged from posting a certain number of Reels only on Instagram to keeping videos only on the platform for at least three months. Payouts ranged from $2,500 per month to $50,000 per month for six months. Related: Meta Is Testing AI That Can Catch Teenagers Trying to Get Around Age Rules on Instagram Meta launched a separate "Breakthrough Bonus" program in January to pay TikTok creators up to $5,000 within three months if they posted content to Instagram Reels. In an earnings call last April, Meta's Chief Financial Officer, Susan Li, said that Instagram users spent about half of their time on Reels, emphasizing the popularity of short-form content. Instagram is expected to generate $32 billion in U.S. advertising revenue this year, accounting for half of the company's total U.S. ad revenue, according to Bloomberg. Instagram has 169 million users in the U.S., per Statista estimates, making it the country with the second-largest Instagram audience after India. In comparison, competitor TikTok has 170 million U.S. users, and rival YouTube has around 253 million.
