Ask A Headhunter!

[Ask A Headhunter]

Hi HH,

I have been reading this thread since it got started and in a dilemma.

I am working in an MNC ( Junior Exec role ) and got headhunt by one of the competitors from SME. Am currently in my comfort zone I would say and work is pretty much stagnant and repetitive. The offer from SME is at least 20% of increment. Job scope wise is something which I really want. The only downside I can see, there is not much room for growth or to climb up the corporate ladder in any SME.

Will there be a problem for me to jump back from SME to MNC in the future considering my 1.5 years of experience in MNC?

Do you think its viable to jump and does it justify the pros and cons?

There is often no issue jumping back from SME to MNC.

Biggest issue many employers see is

1) your job history (how long you managed to stay at the SME and prior to that, the MNC, are you a job hopper?)

2) what skills you bring to the table.

Of cos if you work 1 year in MNC, then 6 months in SME, automatically there will be warning signs to the employer not to even consider hiring you, and even if he hires you, it will be on the same salary you are on with zero increment

 

[aarongsp89]

There is often no issue jumping back from SME to MNC.

Biggest issue many employers see is

1) your job history (how long you managed to stay at the SME and prior to that, the MNC, are you a job hopper?)

2) what skills you bring to the table.

Of cos if you work 1 year in MNC, then 6 months in SME, automatically there will be warning signs to the employer not to even consider hiring you, and even if he hires you, it will be on the same salary you are on with zero increment

Hi HH,

Thanks for the advise.

In fact, this is my first job after graduation.
I'm hitting my 2 years mark in my current MNC employment by end of this year. Does it really matter if my work experience is just 1 year 7 months in contrary to 2 years?

The pull factor is just too significant in terms of monetary.

 

[Ask A Headhunter]

Hi HH,

Thanks for the advise.

In fact, this is my first job after graduation.
I'm hitting my 2 years mark in my current MNC employment by end of this year. Does it really matter if my work experience is just 1 year 7 months in contrary to 2 years?

The pull factor is just too significant in terms of monetary.

If it is your first job, then it really depends on how long you stay in the SME.

Interviewers don't often look at "one offs"

For example, you join one company, stay for 6 months, then another stay for 6 years, then third company stay for 2 years.

Most likely you won't be labelled a job hopper

Compared to another person who leaves each company after 1.5 years each time.

 

[bosssaizo]

Moving thread to go under Employment Office.

New Link:http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/employment-office-22/ask-headhunter-4870250.html

Thanks.

 

[RannToral]

With regards to AML courses, ACAMS was mentioned to be better than ICTA?
Only ICTA is accredited by IBF though.
ACAMS seems abit like a cert factory to me as it's basically online materials + study and mcq exam at the end. Every 3 years renew with membership plus seminars to keep your cert relevant.

I've been advised to go for FICS and risk management programs under nus instead.

 

[foo9883]

Is AML Compliance a good career to venture into for fresh grads?

 

[Ask A Headhunter]

Is AML Compliance a good career to venture into for fresh grads?

It is not bad, but depending on which area some people might find it very boring.

AML compliance falls into 3 types, monitoring, KYC and filtering.

The one that usually gives fastest career advancement is filtering, but it is also the most stressful (there are known cases of people leaving their jobs/companies because cannot take the stress)

 

[Ask A Headhunter]

With regards to AML courses, ACAMS was mentioned to be better than ICTA?
Only ICTA is accredited by IBF though.
ACAMS seems abit like a cert factory to me as it's basically online materials + study and mcq exam at the end. Every 3 years renew with membership plus seminars to keep your cert relevant.

I've been advised to go for FICS and risk management programs under nus instead.

I am not 100% sure on certifications, but i heard other people often say that ACAMS is more useful in terms of career progression.

 

[koolaid]

TS, so sorry to hijack your thread, my apologies.
one of my principles in life is never forget the people who have helped you out before, no matter how big or small the help was. i now have an opportunity to return a favor to a friend who has extended unconditional help to me 6 years ago when i was struggling to survive in my business. he has been in banking for more than 12 years, i think, but quit the company early in the year (i think it was due to office politics or something), took a break and would like to go back to wealth management in pte banks. i offered to link her up with my own contacts in pte banks and corporate banks but she said she prefers to go to a headhunter. i am not sure why.

does anyone here know of any senior headhunter specializing in wealth management? would truly appreciate if you could pm the contact to me so that i can forward it to her for follow up. would also be great if you have any other advice or ideas to share too. many thanks.

 

[vbhelper]

Have u seen the trend that big MNC are now focusing on hiring Singaporean now for mid and top mgmt positions?

 

[cow240]

Dear HH,

I have been offered a contract role with a firm, but will be signing the employment contract with the recruitment agency instead. May I know if there is a difference between direct and indirect contracts and will that affect my prospects ?

Thank you in advance.

 

[eriksurya]

Thank you for the great information. God bless you. What is the current job market now? Economy has gone down.

 

[simon_84]

It is not bad, but depending on which area some people might find it very boring.

AML compliance falls into 3 types, monitoring, KYC and filtering.

are KYC and AML roles open for fresh grads ?

cause currently actively searching for this role plus underwriting assistant (since jobless now), was thinking if i need to study for additional professional certs on top of my unisim degree in finance.

 

[foo9883]

Headhunter please open a new thread in EDMW
Heck care the mods

 

[Ask A Headhunter]

Have u seen the trend that big MNC are now focusing on hiring Singaporean now for mid and top mgmt positions?

Depends on position, for certain roles where technical knowledge is not available in Singapore they will still get foreigners (especially in certain areas like Anti bribery or anti corruption legislation where people in Europe have infinitely more knowledge of this area)

But yes i have noticed a trend that a lot more companies are hiring or at least considering Singaporeans for senior management (at least in the last 2 to 3 years)

Another reason is because, these companies do't want to give expat package to their employees to minimize costs.

Dear HH,

I have been offered a contract role with a firm, but will be signing the employment contract with the recruitment agency instead. May I know if there is a difference between direct and indirect contracts and will that affect my prospects ?

Thank you in advance.

Benefits are different.

Bonuses are different.

Overall job scope no difference. The main reason is because some companies do not have the capability to hire people on contract on their payroll.

Thank you for the great information. God bless you. What is the current job market now? Economy has gone down.

Job market is good, especially in areas regarding regulations across all industries

are KYC and AML roles open for fresh grads ?

cause currently actively searching for this role plus underwriting assistant (since jobless now), was thinking if i need to study for additional professional certs on top of my unisim degree in finance.

For fresh grads if you are aiming for AML/KYC roles, then no certification is required, it should be easy to find but must be prepared to work as a contract staff to start off with and prove your capabilities.

Certification is usually only for experienced staff.

 

[Dryden28]

Do headhunter do background checking when sourcing for candidate?

 

[mooncake01]

Job hopping

I read in this thread that you mentioned if you had worked for 5 years in one job, and then work a year each in other jobs, it is not considered job hopping. But when HR asks during interview, how should one answer properly to ensure no impression of job hopping is perceived?

 

[de5ert]

I am not 100% sure on certifications, but i heard other people often say that ACAMS is more useful in terms of career progression.

Hi hh,
I'm now in a compliance dept, doing general work. My job scope include kyc aml anf regulations fatca rtc. I intend to take icta course for grc. Would this course be better for me than acams?
I used to think aml compliance pay scale may not be higher as it's too specialised

Sent from Samsung SM-G900F using GAGT

 

[Xlandergugo]

Hi hh,

I'm going to graduate June next year with a local degree 2nd lower in Economics, and I am interested in the banking industry,in particular SME banking or credit risk. Assuming that I am unable to get into any graduate programs, what are the other alternative routes that I can take? Please advise, thank you!!!

 

[myename]

Hello, would like to ask how long should one wait for a reply from the interviewer? My current contract is ending this month, I got offerred to extend a couple more months, but I have yet to get a reply from the co I interviewed at (which I think I will prefer for the exposure available).

Last week they replied my query saying they were still interviewing candidates, earliest can get back to me on Friday. E-mailed them on Monday, until now no reply.

Am I right to assume that no reply means there's still hope? It's a bank btw, do they take longer to select?

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