IS Connection - a place where talents meet

updated April 2018

- Started 2001, IS Connection (ISC) celebrated its 17 years anniversary recently. We remain in business despite some intense competitions over the years. Our license no is 01C2832 , issued by Ministry of Manpower (www.mom.gov.sg)

- Besides permanent and contract placement service, we also provide managed service to meet our customers' needs. Our hit rate is above 70% and have high successful placements in positions such as IT programming, Infrastructure, Audit & Security related roles , Risk & Compliance, Data Protection, Biz analyst, Sales, HR and PM & Team lead roles.


- Our Clients are established MNCs under Fortune 100 & 500 Companies, local-listed organization, Start ups, Technologies Principals, SI & Vendors etc. "

About the Founder

-Prior to IS Connection, Winson had a decade experience in IT engineering service sales and business development roles for enterprise software solutions with MNCs such as Sterling Software & CSC (now DXC) & start up NetCel360 in the early 90 to early 2000. During these period, he obtained consistent sales awards (for achieving more than 100% to 300% sales quota) and receiving good accounts management skills testimonials from major clients such as Singapore Airlines, British Petroleum, National Computer Board - All Schools and Agencies, and Keppel Tat Lee Bank etc A sole proprietor, Winson had grown his own business IS Connection from one person to more than 20 employees at one stage. After obtaining his Master degree(MBA), Winson started IS Connection in 2001 with great passion and expectation. On 19th May 2011, he also obtained a Certificate for Employment Intermediaries (CEI), a mandatory requirement by Ministry of Manpower.

With office located in the eastern part of Singapore,Winson worked almost 10hrs daily including weeekends when he first started off. It was a bad timing as many Dot.com companies started to crash in 2000 & 2001 and many other companies also started to downsize. With perseverance, creativity and some luck, IS Connection manages to stay afloat. We are thankful to our Clients who show great trusts and confidence in our services. We will also not forgetting our Candidates who give IS Connection a chance to service them pro-actively.

ISC remains a priority and great passion to Winson. He hopes to continue provide happiness to everyone he serves! Year 2011 was IS Connection 10years anniversay and looking forward to 20 years anniversary in April 2021!Winson will remain focus to make things better for IS Connection, Customers and Candidates!

Our Success Stories include some 'Love Letters' to Winson:

What other Candidates say:

“ISC knows clearly what we want in term of career choice, we will definitely refer others to the company” – by a Desktop Specialist in Natural Resources MNC

“They are prompt in salaries payment and constantly monitor our career interest. They also invite us to their company events, which made us feel welcomed and appreciated!” – by a Business Analyst in Energy MNC (employee of ISC)

“ I am amazed by their productivity though their setup is small. From setting expectation on career to assisting me landing a great job, I truly appreciated their no-nonsense approach and yet effective advice!” – by an Application Analyst in Foreign Bank“

I have not stopped referring candidates to ISC since 2004. ISC knows the market trend and the Client’s hiring managers well, this made them different from other agencies I worked with. More importantly, Winson bother to ask and keen to know more about my passion and forte before any referral of job etc. I still enjoy what's am doing after 7 years with current company” – by a PM, Deriviatives Trading Dept

“I truly appreciate the consultant’s advice in salaries negotiation and career advancement info with their Client. While I do not expect them to know all details about the Client, it helped when their consultant is honest and opened about it” – by a Senior System Administrator with a Manufacturing MNC

“I was discouraged after several unsuccessful interviews when I was retrenched by a Foreign Bank in late 2008. Via a friend’s referral, I was hired again by IS Connection on a contract basis for a program management roles with a local bank. I was converted to permanent employee after 1 year contract. ISC is a friend to me as they have helped to instill belief and confidence in myself when I need most!” by a VP,Bank


“Being small in office setup does not make IS Connection less professional, resourceful, competitive and efficient than other big and popular agencies. Their customers include MNCs, local listed companies, SMEs and other well-known technology leaders in the market. I am also impressed with their humble and personal approach and yet no-nonsense technical assessment. It shows they know their work and prepare us before each interview. They have given me and my group of friends a career, not a job!”…Local Fresh Graduate,Software Engineer.


“ My primary objective is to get recognized and learn the art of technologies and business practice in an organization, especially with reputable MNCs. IS Connection provides sound advice and sensible suggestion on my career move. This explains why I am here despite the fact I am contended in my ex-organization. I was headhunted by the IS Connection!”
…Foreign talent, Regional Project Manager.


“ This search firm (IS Connection) cares about my interest by asking several intelligent questions to understand more about my background before any recommendation of new opportunity. They position me in the present company and the culture here fits in very well...that’s important to me”
…Local candidate, IS Manager.

“ Particularly in sales, it is not what you know but who you know. However, IS Connection ensures one more thing from me, that is ‘who know you’. Their candid and yet effective approach stands out from the rest.”
…Regional Sales Director of CASE Software Company

“ I had several bad encounters with search firms in the past. In some cases, I was just called to attend interviews, with very minimum information about the job scope, the requirement and the hiring managers’ expectation. What I was told is that it will be a open discussion. It turns out both the hiring mgr and myself were unprepared and is a waste of everybody’s time. IS Connection set the expectation right from the beginning and I can feel the sincerity from Winson personally.”
…8 years IT veteran as Country Manager

What other Clients say:

“Competitive rates and fast service. ISC replied my email even when their assigned staff went on leaves. We were quite hesitant dealing with them initially as their setup is very small. Though a sole proprietor with little resources and marketing, ISC proved us wrong with their knowledge, efficiency and committed team work” by a Field Service Director, MNC Outsourced Company

“Our HRs used several search agencies and ISC stood up. They have HIGH HIT RATE in resolving our manpower needs. Particularly good in recommending experienced desktop and system administrators candidates in our demanding financial trading environment” by a Desktop/Operation Manager with Energy Trading MNC

“Besides prompt service to our hiring managers, we also find their administrative support staff patient and understanding!” Resource Executive from an established Japanese MNC

“They know our demands and expectation in our fast paced front office and back office support environment since 2004. Majority of our IT requirements were filled up via ISC despite competitions from other bigger agencies and executive search organization referred by our global HR offices..this explains their efficiency!” by Senior Director, IT with an European MNC

“It took them less than a week to find an SAP Basis engineer. Prior to ISC, it took us average 2-3months to find experienced SAP consultant…” a Consulting Manager from an established consulting SI

" Their unique way of conducting cross reference checks on candidates' backgrounds with various parties are impressive. They do not rely strictly on candidate's own referees" by a Head of IT, MNC

"I am confident with their technical & functional assessment on candidates' skills and experience. Since 2001, they had successfully placed candidates in IT Team Lead, Analysts, Programmers, Data management, DPO and IT Security & audit professionals to our company" by a Senior VP of Financial Organization

Top 9 reasons why a headhunter makes you a candidate:

Here are the likelyTop 9 reasons why a headhunter makes you a candidate.

• Reason 1 – Ability to get results

• Reason 2 – Well recommended by others

• Reason 3 – Ability to understand the headhunter’s intention and who they work for

• Reason 4 – Simply presentable and likeable by anyone

• Reason 5 – Think strategically with intelligent questions you ask

• Reason 6 – Great motivator with leadership qualities.
( A good leader inspires respect and not demand respect. Sad to say many managers have good managerial skills but not leadership skills.)

• Reason 7 – Possess key specific experiences that the job entails

• Reason 8 – Helpful, honest, a good source, and assist headhunter does their job even
when there is nothing in it for you

• Reason 9 – Focus and know who you are and what you want,eg explain to people clearly your passion and forte

7 Secrets for Surviving a Layoff in a Down Economy:

It's easy to view a layoff as an end-of-the-world situation, especially when the economy is bad. But a negative attitude will only hurt your chances of finding a new job. To help you mentally and emotionally, Winson consolidated some 2 cents thoughts and hope the following seven tips will help survive a layoff and finding a new job.

The fear and desperation that grip you after you've been laid off are destructive emotions. They distract you from doing the work you need to do to find a new job. That's why you can't let those emotions consume you, say some experienced Chief Executives and career coaches etc. Below thoughts are subjective and readers should exercise cautions and aware of the caveat as companies have different business situation, cultures and practices etc


1. Negotiate for the best possible severance package.
Don't think that you have to accept whatever severance package your manager or HR puts in front of you as is. Your severance package is negotiable, so don't feel pressured to immediately sign on the dotted line. Take the time to read the severance package, even if it's 20 pages long.
If your employer gives you a hard time, some insiders say to hold your ground and tell the manager that it's not reasonable for the employer to ask you to sign something without first reading it. "Sometimes employers will say, 'If you sign this right now, you'll get your best deal. If you don't sign it, you'll get a worse deal'," say some experienced stakeholders "I wouldn't buy into that. Tell them you have to sleep on it. There's nothing that should surprise them about you wanting to sleep on it."
To help you prepare for severance negotiations, one recommends consulting your HR manual for information about what kind of severance package you should expect from your employer. That way, you can plan ahead of time what other elements of a severance package (e.g., career counseling, health insurance) you might need


2. Don't second-guess yourself.
After you've been laid off, you feel vulnerable. When you feel vulnerable, it's easy to second-guess yourself and to sink into depression. What's difficult is resisting those negative thoughts. But for your own well-being and the success of your job search, you have to.
Instead of dwelling on all the reasons why your employer might have selected you for a pink slip, remember that the fundamental reason you lost your job was because your employer was having trouble competing during this economic downturn, not because you're a bad worker. We have to keep in mind that lots of other talented, hard-working professionals are getting laid off and that you can still be a valuable employee at another company. "There are still plenty of companies that are in desperate need of quality employees," some senior executives advised. "There is something else out there for you, and chances are, it's a great opportunity that will improve your future."

3. Examine your finances.
Take a close look at your expenses and your savings to determine how much money you'll need to cover your expenses during the time you're unemployed, says a sales director who was retrenched during bad times. He recommends planning for an extended period of time—e.g., more than three months.
Knowing how much money you have on hand could put some of your anxiety about having lost your job to rest. If instead the exercise of managing your money sends your blood pressure through the roof, you've got new motivation to find a new job.

4. Make job-hunting your new job.
Another way to prevent getting depressed about your circumstances is to stay active, says a retired IT consulting director. That's why it's so important to devote the time you previously spent at your old job to looking for a new job. "Your new job is 40 hours a week looking for employment," says the director. "Keep busy at it and don't let yourself get down. Try to keep a routine." By working toward getting a new job, you bring structure and discipline to your life and you'll feel better about yourself because you're taking control of your situation. "If you do this, you'll find that you have less time to lament your recent layoff and less time to sink into the negative thought patterns that are associated with it," he says.

5. Expand your search.
we recommend making a long list of industries and organizations in those industries where you could put your skills and experience to use. "Don't worry too much about who might be hiring," he says. "Just develop a long list even containing companies you don't want to work for."
The reason to include less desirable companies in your search is to put yourself in a stronger negotiating position in the event one of those firms suddenly wants you.


6. Approach online applications and search firms with caution.
Though the Web is an invaluable resource for researching companies, it may not be the best medium for submitting job applications and résumés. "If you can do it, about a million other people can do it, too," one retired principal consultant says. "I've talked to companies who get hundreds, even thousands, of résumés for one posting. That is not the way to get a job." Instead, he recommends using your network to make contact with hiring managers inside the companies where you're interested in working. Nevertheless, we could not underestimate the effectiveness and productivity of internet strategy when one can write well and clearly state their value adds in the job applied, advised IS Connection
Search firms may yield little help in connecting you with a new job at times, says IS Connection. "Most search firms work best in an up economy, when there's competition for labor or a unique requirement when only specific skills are required" Winson says . "Right now, there's a lot of competition for skilled labor. There's nothing wrong with going to search firms. Whether your skills are in demand or whether they just don't have the contacts or right jobs for you now etc are factors to consider. Executive search firm needs to be pro-active and know how best to represent their candidate's strengths to employers! Some consultants do not even know well on the hiring managers' need and less talks about serving both the client and candidate well". It does not help further when turnover of recruitment consultant is high in this industry
Instead of spending a day at search firms, attend a conference or networking event, says senior executives in Banking, where you have the opportunity to make personal connections.


7. Stop reading about the economy.
we caution job seekers against paying too much attention to news about the economy because the news is so bad. "It makes people discouraged when they need to stay optimistic," a career coach says . "Discouragement is the biggest obstacle to finding a new job." What's more, prospective employers can sense discouragement and negativity in candidates, he says, and it turns them off. "If they sense that you're negative or in a panic, they're much less likely to think that you're a good candidate," says a HR director in Fund Management industry. "They want someone who's resilient. They don't want an employee who's discouraged and negative and who will hurt morale."

HOME OFFICE:

Winson operates his business from home office. His current place allows him to have some fun too such as rooftop swimming, mini gardening and events get together etc Health is wealth, Winson believes in good health, work life balance.

For Companies who are hiring

If you want to know more details about our business approach/proposal, pls do not hesitate to contact our General Manager,Winson at email resumetoisc@gmail.com or winsonisc@gmail.com More info about IS Connection and Winson at Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/is-connection-34b29330/

For Candidates applying for jobs

Email your CV in MSWORD format at email: resumetoisc@gmail.com or careerisc@gmail.com indicating clearly you get to know ISC via this website if you are a first-time applicant.

Winson is at Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/is-connection-34b29330/