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Meet Adrian Siow, an enthusiastic and driven Accountant (CPA) with his whole life ahead of him! I had the pleasure to sit down with Adrian to understand how he sees the world from a candidate perspective. Let’s get started!

Adrian, what does ‘Happiness at work’ mean to you?

“For me, happiness at work is more about the culture and people I work with. It’s important to me to have a great relationship with my colleagues so we can talk, get to know each other and turn them into friends as opposed to just colleagues. When considering work itself, I am someone that really likes to be able to plan my day and ensure I attend of all my tasks. This is a sense of accomplishment knowing I’ve done what I needed to.”

Interesting….

When considering a new opportunity, what are the most important factors you look for in a business and/or a role?

“This is a great question, something that I don’t usually think too much about, but I really should! It’s really about the role. It is important that I am in a role where I can use all of my knowledge and put all of my experience into practice. Development opportunities are definitely a must. I continuously want to learn and grow in my field but also learn new things.”

Everyone has settled at some point in their life. Why have you ‘settled’ for a role that is less than what you deserve?

“For me in terms of settling, it’s more about setting my own expectations. For example, I compare the title and responsibilities for a role than assessing the salary. I then compare other roles with similar responsibilities with the same job title to get an idea as to what the average salary is. If it within the average ballpark, I’m happy”

That’s an interesting way to look at it. Let me ask you this: do you ever think about the salary that is being offered vs the value you believe you can add?

“Honestly, not really but I certainly should. I think it helps me evaluate my worth and what I can bring to a business. I need to get better at selling myself and what I can contribute instead of just settling for the average.”

I think that’s a great idea! Never forget your worth. Let’s move on…

How long would you spend researching a business before applying for a position?

“To put a time frame on it, literally 5-10 minutes. I will do research about the company and the team via their website which generally has the businesses values and mission. Come to think about it, I should probably do more research”

Let’s dig a bit deeper. Do you ever look at company reviews?

“Actually, I never do… (laugh).”

Interesting… so let’s look at an example. What if you applied for a job that had negative reviews?

“I’d be in trouble because I’d be there for at least 2-3 years. I don’t want to be seen as a job hopper so even if the experience is terrible, I will still stay there. But while we’re talking about this, it has me thinking, if I had known that the business had terrible reviews, I would not have applied in the first place. A clear example that I really should start doing more research about businesses before committing. Everyone should.”

I’m very glad we got to that conclusion! Speaking of businesses…

Do business’s values impact your decision to join them?

“In all honesty, it feels as though all businesses have the same values that don’t mean anything. It’s more of a PR stunt than anything.”

Dream job or dream company?

“Dream job. With the job, you’re doing the day to day things. To me, that is more fulfilling than going to the dream company that gives you free lunches or any incentives.”

Pay or Culture?

“Interesting question. There is certainly a threshold where I could go either way – it’s about finding the equilibrium. My priority is definitely culture, but money talks. With the right amount of money, I’d change my priorities.”

I didn’t take you for a man that could be bought! Ahem… Cough… 😉

What does your ideal leader look like?

“One of the main traits I look for in a leader is someone who takes an interest in my development and career progression. I feel more valued when you know your leader is looking out for your best interests. And to achieve this you certainly need to have a good relationship. Open and honest conversations that follow with actions.”

This has been a great conversation thus far! Let’s finish up on a question I love asking people….

Have you ever had a deep and meaningful conversation with a recruiter with regards to your values and beliefs when looking for a new opportunity?

“No, not really. All the conversations I have with recruitment agencies are the general questions around my experience and what I want out of my future role in terms of responsibilities and specific job titles as opposed to anything else. I have not really been asked what matters to me if I’m honest.”

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We’re bringing you a different perspective the way people see opportunity and what happiness really means. The journey is different for everyone. We’re excited to bring you more insights and discussions with candidates & hirers from various industries and roles.

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