Wether you are looking for hotel gm jobs in China, or chef jobs in Abu Dhabi its important you plan and target your approach in order to get the best jobs in the hospitality field in Asia.

Job seeking advice

Seeking a new job is always a challenge and, given your investment in time, it is well worthwhile formulating a coordinated plan. It's important to be very focused on exactly what role you want to obtain and in what timescale you want to achieve this. The added complication that jobs are spread across a number of countries making it even more vital that you give yourself the best possible chance of securing a perfect role.

Make A Plan
The first step is to be very clear on what you want to achieve in terms of the role you are looking for, and then set fixed times solely devoted to realising your goal. The key to a successful plan is commitment, dedication, time investment and lots of research.

A good plan would look like this-

• Identify the sort of job you want and determine whether you possess the relevant qualifications
• Consider and research the geographical locations you would like to target
• Take a close look at advertisements that reflect your choices
• Register for Jobs by Email in order to consider new opportunities
• Prepare an excellent CV
• Plan and prepare for the interview

It's important to be realistic in terms of the type of role that lends itself to your experience and to formulate a CV that reflects this in a clear, concise and accurate format. The CV is the first point of contact with a client and the objective is to secure an interview. Our section on CV presentation should help you in producing a winning document.

Investing time in producing a quality CV will likely lead to you winning interviews with clients. The interview may be an initial telephone discussion or it may be a face-to-face interview in your home country, or in the country where the role is based. It is imperative however that, whatever format the interview takes, you invest considerable time in preparation and planning. Remember, you are in serious competition for the role, clients will typically interview three to six candidates for each role, sometimes more; this is your chance to shine.

CV Presentation

Your CV is the tool that a client will use in order to ascertain whether or not to grant an interview, the next logical step in the recruitment process. A good CV does not guarantee you an interview, but a bad one does guarantee you will not be considered. Try to think like a client who may have to review numerous applicants and plan the content and layout accordingly.

Clients tend to prepare CVs that follow clean and conventional formats for a resume so steer away from coloured paper screen backgrounds, elaborate, large and flowery fonts, overuse of bold highlights and ensure the document is kept to two or three pages maximum. A good tip is to use standard CV templates and fonts as suggested by most commonly used software packages. Save your CV in a commonly used format such as a Word or .pdf document. Some Job Seekers like to include a photograph and others choose not to; this is down to personal choice unless the client stipulates that a photograph must be included. This is a reasonably common request in Asia.

CV Content

For the reasons outlined above, your CV should follow a conventional format as suggested below-

Profile - Many Job Seekers like to start off with a short profile outlining career history, achievements and key personal strengths. Some clients will ignore a profile as the decision to interview will usually be based on the factual aspects of current and previous experience. There is no harm in doing a profile but keep it direct, succinct and ensure it represents you accurately and positively.

Personal Details - Different countries require different information to be disclosed but Asia employer's would usually require full personal details, name, gender, age, marital status, religion, address and contact telephone numbers. You can list hobbies and pastimes here if you feel they reflect the sort of person you are; but be cautious about how you represent yourself and do not list anything that could be considered to be frivolous.

Education Qualifications - Include here full details of educational qualifications achieved and from which institution. Feel free to add additional qualifications and achievements if you believe they are reflective of your character and abilities. This is the ideal place to outline your IT courses and remember to list all languages you speak and itemize written, spoken and understanding skill levels.

Employment History - List your employment history starting with the most recent role and working backwards. List every role title and provide a brief synopsis or your responsibilities. Provide accurate dates of employment and explain any gaps. Gaps are not a problem in themselves, you may have been ill or attending a course, but do provide employers with all they need to make the right assessment. It's a good idea to provide the month and year in the dates of employment history. This is the perfect opportunity to highlight your achievements in each of the roles so detail your key strengths and skills.

References - Listing around three references of individuals of experience, seniority and stature can often be an added positive element to a CV. Finally, it is a good idea to constantly question the performance of your CV and don't be nervous in requesting feedback of your CV from friends, family and mentors. Most importantly, always ensue that your CV is factually accurate, to the point, and up-to-date. Many Job Seekers in Asia have English as a second language and as a general rule clients want English language CVs, so always ensure the CV has no spelling or grammatical errors.

Interview Preparation

As a result of your CV you are now beginning to be shortlisted for interviews with clients. Very few people, however senior, would say that they don't get even a little nervous before an interview, and the more you want to land the role the more nervous you might be. The key to managing your nerves is research and preparation.

Company Research
Prior to the interview do as much research as possible about the client you are going to meet. The internet is the first and best port of call as it costs little or nothing to research a client. Take a look at the client's website and get information about the operation type and size and then do some research within online newspapers and magazines to find out the issues being discussed regarding the client's operation.

It is a good idea to print off articles and website pages as they can work as great prompters for questions and it shows the client that you have made the effort to prepare; ultimately, it shows that you care and that you are interested. Use every opportunity in an interview to sell and promote yourself; remember you are in competition with other applicants for this role and show you are different and better qualified than other candidates?

Question Preparation
When you have done your research on the client you can formulate questions regarding the organization and the role. It is a very good idea to physically type and print off the questions, and then have this in front of you when you meet the client.

Presentation & First Impressions
Dress requirements do vary considerably but a good rule of thumb is to opt for a smart business suit or national dress as appropriate; it is better to dress formally and meet a client in casual attire than the other way around. Try to stay away from casual attire unless the client specifically gives you the instructions to the contrary.

Upon arriving at the premises ensure you acknowledge support and reception staff in a professional, polite and upbeat manner. When you meet the client step forward and offer a firm handshake and throughout the process make sure you allow yourself to relax and smile; the personality fit is as important as the skills fit. Try to relax and enjoy the meeting.

The Interview
Interviews vary considerably but it is a fair expectation that you will be initially responding to questions asked by a client. Always ensure that you have memorized the facts in your CV and this prevents you having to look down to refer to your CV when asked information about dates, and lengths of employment periods.

When responding to questions always make sure that you are straightforward, honest and dont be shy to sell yourself, and what you have achieved. Try to use real examples when demonstrating your experience and give examples when asked if you have specific experience and skills.

Listen to questions closely, provide succinct answers and try to control responses by talking in a steady clear tone; try not to talk too much and watch closely the reaction of the interviewer. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification or feedback if a question is not clear or does not make sense. Make sure you listen carefully, it's not a competition and you don't have to jump on every question asked. Keep the responses relevant and always focus your answers on the role you are being interviewed for. Bear in mind the client cares mostly about what you are able to contribute to the organization first and foremost.

Your Questions
When it's your turn to ask questions then this is your cue to ensure the client can see your printed website research and your pre-planned interview questions. If indeed all of your questions have been answered then it's a good idea to reconfirm this by referring to your questions. In the first interview and the earlier stages in the selection process try not to bring up questions regarding the salary and benefits package. It's a good rule to let the client bring up the issue of money first but always have your response planned. You should have a clear picture of your current package and of what your expectation is of the new role and package should you accept.

Concluding The Meeting
When the interview is coming to a conclusion it's a very good idea to reconfirm your thoughts and interest in the role and the company. If you felt the meeting went well and that you like the sound of the organization, the client and the role then it is a very good idea to state this fact when finalizing the conversation; enthusiasm and interest will always count towards you.