The coming year will see Singapore rise further as a hub of multinational regional headquarters – a trend which will create a “substantial number” of new jobs for HR professionals, according to
Hays.
“We are seeing an influx of fresh investment in Singapore which is delivering a vote of confidence for the local recruitment market,” Lynne Roeder, managing director of Hays in Singapore, said.
“More companies are also moving their regional headquarters to Singapore, creating new jobs for HR professionals to manage their manpower.”
However, with more jobs available, the talent shortage currently crippling Singapore will be further exacerbated as high-skilled HR professionals will become more valuable over time.
This rush for recruitment is particularly strong due to the time of year, Roeder said.
“Normally, hiring of HR talent starts at the beginning of a new year when new headcount plans are put into place. It is going to be a frenetic start to the year for employers to secure HR talent amid an existing shortage of candidates.”
There may also be extra pressure to replace employees who have left after receiving their annual bonuses, she added.
When
HRD asked what HR should do to succeed in this competitive market, Roeder suggested focusing on more than just providing a better salary and benefits package.
“Thirty-six per cent of candidates cite the lack of career progression as a reason to look for a new role,” she said. “HR teams looking to attract the best talent should evaluate the career progression plans they have in place and look to promote them as part of their attraction strategy.”
The recruitment experience is also crucial, and will play a large part in whether a new HR candidate chooses to work for a company.
“Companies have realised that talent acquisition is not just about recruiting,” Roeder said. “It is about providing an experience for applicants to help them better understand their potential roles and responsibilities if they were to be hired.”
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