Here is a summary of what I was able to find out about the selection procedure:

1. The first round of selection is made on the basis of what can be gathered from the resume and application . The criteria that go into the making of a shortlist are:

1. The quality of writing : Candidates whose resumé and applications do not exhibit a reasonable standard of writing are eliminated. The aspects of writing that the employer is particular about are: clarity, precision, brevity, relevance, grammar, and spelling.

2. Educational Institutions : Graduates from ill-known overseas universities are considered less preferable to local graduates and graduates from well known overseas universities. The rationale is that many people go overseas for a degree because they were unable to get into a university in Singapore .

3. Grades : There is very little correlation between the grades that students get and their subsequent success in their career. Hence no distinction is made between high grades and medium grades. However, poor grades are warning signals, as applicants with consistent D's and C's are unlikely to perform well in their jobs. ²

2 . The final selection is made on the basis of interviews .

1. Personal grooming and appearance : A candidate who projects a good appearance has an edge over the others. Candidates who are inappropriately dressed are eliminated. Both flashy and sloppy clothing would be considered inappropriate.

2. Responding to questions : (i) Candidates must be able to understand the questions clearly. (ii) They must be able to respond to them fairly quickly and effectively, since there is very little time. Hence the speed in comprehension, thinking and formulation is very important. (iii) The positive qualities that the employer looks for in a response are clarity, pointedness, brevity, and relevance. They should be able to speak the language that communicates to the employer. Candidates who come across as direct and honest are preferred. Candidates who are vague, and tend to beat around the bush are eliminated.

3. Flexibility and range : The positions that employees are allocated to may often change, both horizontally and vertically. Hence it is crucial that candidates indicate sufficient flexibility and a wide range of abilities and interests. Candidates with extracurricular activities such as participation/membership in various societies are therefore preferred to those whose interests are restricted to what they have to study.

4. Adaptability and ability to learn : Candidates should not be afraid of doing new things. They should also exhibit the ability to learn new things.

Footnote

The people that I talked to belong to the private sector. Needless to say, this observation may not apply to government jobs where grades may play a more important role.