Oral Answer by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on Possibility of Published Guides from Information in National Jobs Bank

1. We thank Professor Tan for his helpful suggestion that we make use of the information from the Jobs Bank to help jobseekers find jobs successfully. We intend to look into how data from the Jobs Bank can be used, to supplement other available data to help job seekers.
2. Having said that, we should bear in mind that the success of an individual’s job search is affected by many factors, such as the economic situation, hiring needs of employers, and whether the individual’s skills match what is required by employers. During interviews, employers evaluate candidates based on criteria that might not be directly observable and captured in databases. Thus, the information from the Jobs Bank does not fully encompass an employer’s hiring considerations or factors which contribute to a successful placement.
3. We encourage individuals who wish to have a better understanding of the factors contributing to successful placement to access resources such as labour market information and job search guides available on the Singapore Workforce Development Agency’s websites. Job seekers who require more in-depth or personalised assistance can approach WDA Career Centres or the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to access a range of services and programmes. These range from Career Skills Workshops to equip job seekers with skills in resume writing, grooming, and interviews, to personal or group coaching services for those who require more intensive career review and advice.