Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently acknowledged many younger workers and fresh graduates are worried about jobs and employment, because of the current uncertain economic outlook. He then revealed the launch of a new and similar traineeship programme, called the GRaduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) Programme. It aims to offer traineeship opportunities for a period of 3 to 6 months across various sectors, with these key benefits: Gain valuable industry experience through structured on-the-job training; Boost employability by preparing for full-time job transition; and Receive a traineeship allowance co-funded by the Government and the host organisation. While GRIT will help young workers get a foot in the door, there also needs to be a mindset change for them to start building career health as early on as possible. Key highlights to listen to:  We spoke to two young workers, Li Jiayue and Xiao Yi Xuan, who share their take on: (1:30) Being open to job market changes, and needing to pivot quickly (2:12) Career health is not about having good mental health at the workplace (4:56) There are no fixed ways for career success (7:00) The kind of skills you’ll need to learn after you enter the workforce For those interested in GRIT, traineeship opportunities will be available from October 2025 when the GRIT programme is launched. Fresh graduates are encouraged to register their interest  to be among the first to know when the programme is launched and opportunities become available. Looking for career guidance? If you are exploring career changes and need professional advice, register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Polaris Career Coaching today. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Speaking at Workforce Singapore’s Career Health Summit, Joseph Fuller, Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, was unequivocal about how important managing the career health of employees. That, as well as adopting a skills-based approach to hiring, was at a crucial turning point for Singapore employers. Professor Fuller began his opening keynote on Career Health as Business Strategy: Building an Agile Workforce to Navigate Economic Uncertainty, saying: “The paradigm of work that evolved in the industrial era is over, and the system of learning and training that evolved in support of it, obsolete.” To Singapore employers, he revealed that systems to develop and sustain talent in an era of unparalleled disruption will be essential to raise the prospect of workers and their families, as well the competitiveness of local employers. He then concluded by saying he was immensely impressed with the vision embodied in Singapore’s Career Health initiative, and excited to contribute to its launch. We spoke to him after his keynote on Day One of the Summit, and he shared further on: Why employers can’t afford to hire workers who provide maximum output only with careful supervision, and cannot deviate What kind of workers and roles will come to the fore when it comes to skills-based hiring How to go about a skills-based hiring strategy that is effective in Singapore Listen to the podcast below and find out more! Key highlights to listen to:  (1:59) Why Singapore employers need workers with skills and flexibility to use them, not "robots" (3:44) Is the culture you've set at your company to be career health-friendly? (4:28) If you aren't hiring with a skills-based focus, your company is in trouble   Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you, as an employer, invest in your workforce and boost business outcomes:https://www.wsg.gov.sg/home/campaigns/career-health-employers Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Dr Christopher Fong, Managing Partner and Lead Consultant at Psych.line Consultants, shares some better ways to better mental health hygiene. Key highlights to listen to:  (0:36) How's the current state of your mental health? (0:45) What are the benefits of building resilience?  To listen to the full podcast, head here. Looking for career guidance? If you are exploring career changes and need professional advice, register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Polaris Career Coaching today. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Is skills-based hiring happening in the Singapore job market, you ask? According to Nilay Khandelwal, Senior Managing Director, Michael Page Singapore and India, the straight answer is “yes”. In our podcast, he shares that: Skills-based hiring is gaining traction, especially in sectors like tech, logistics, and sustainability. Employers are rethinking job descriptions and introducing skills-based assessments in hiring. Listen to learn more about how hiring and jobs are changing in this new skills-based culture! Key highlights to listen to: (01:13) How are Singaporean employers moving towards skills-based hiring? (01:39): And how should Singaporean workers and jobseekers put themselves in the best position for jobs they want? (2:20) The value of lived experience when it comes to jobs and careers (3:06) What are the emerging market trends when it comes to job descriptions and CVs for skills-based hiring? Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

We all assume we know what our professional skills and strengths are – but what if there's a mismatch with our innate personality? Here’s how Polaris helped this mid-life, mid-career Singaporean.  In this episode of our Listen and Learn series, which covers the most popular content on CareersCompass, Workforce Singapore Principal Manager Kelvin Tan shares his second session with Polaris, a suite of personalised career guidance programmes delivered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and its appointed providers, Ingeus and AKG. If you haven’t heard about Polaris, here’s a quick rundown: It’s a suite of personalised career guidance programmes delivered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and its appointed providers, Ingeus and AKG. It is designed for those who are: Exploring career opportunities; Seeking clarity before making crucial career decisions; Looking to move up in their career; and Contemplating to hone their expertise in a specific role. Listen here for some key takeaways that he learnt from his career coach, Joey Kang on his work-related behaviour, linked to his communication style and approach to work, as well as preferences and energy for specific roles and tasks! You can also read and listen to how his three Polaris sessions went: (Session 1) Career Guidance for the Middle-Aged: How This Singaporean Got Started on Polaris by WSG (Session 2) Career Growth for the Middle-Aged: How Polaris by WSG Helped This Singaporean Discover His Real Competencies (Session 3) Career Guidance for the Middle-Aged: Why Coaching Helps With Motivation Key highlights to listen to: (2:00) What is the Workplace Big Five, and how does it help with your career? (2:41) Why personality is linked to professional success (3:23) Job security: have we been defining it incorrectly? (4:29) Your industry and your job function are two separate things! Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

In this podcast, we speak with Malcolm Chen, who recently attended a career guidance programme called Polaris by Workforce Singapore. If you haven’t heard about Polaris, here’s a quick rundown: It’s a suite of personalised career guidance programmes delivered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and its appointed providers, Ingeus and AKG. It is designed for those who are: Exploring career opportunities; Seeking clarity before making crucial career decisions; Looking to move up in their career; and Contemplating to hone their expertise in a specific role. He shares more about his career journey, how he found value in speaking with a career coach to uncover his workplace personality, and gain clarity on actionable steps for his long-term career health. Learn more about his experience here! Key highlights to listen to: (2:00) While it’s surprising that Polaris is for those who currently have jobs, rather than the unemployed, here’s the reason why. (4:41) What exactly goes on in Polaris, and why Malcolm found it helpful. (6:13) Understanding what we can do better in our jobs and planning our career are the key parts of Polaris (9:29) Malcolm: “Our focus on comparing each other on salaries and career achievements is hurting us more than we realise.” Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

In this podcast, we round up the key highlights from the Committee of Supply (COS) 2025: What do Singaporean workers and employers have to look forward to and benefit from? There’s much to unpack, such as the below and more: Career Health SG, a new nationwide initiative to empower Singaporeans to develop meaningful and resilient careers; The introduction of a new SkillsFuture Workforce Development grant, which provides funding support of up to 70% (with the current cap at $30,000 to be reviewed and raised) for companies to engage pre-approved consultants on job redesign. It's clear that helping Singaporean employees and their employers start to build career health strategies is a big priority of COS 2025, and this podcast covers some of the programmes and schemes towards that end, and what employers and workers need to take note of to get the best use of them. We speak with Adrian Choo, CEO/Founder of Career Agility International. Formerly from Shell and GE Plastics, and with more than a decade in C-suite headhunting, he shares on how all these goodies can help employers and workers meet halfway in building greater career health and longevity, in terms of skillset and competitivity for our local workforce! Key highlights to listen to: (2:25) Figuring out exactly what new skills are needed is something both employers and workers need to align on (4:38) If employers can offer gym access to improve employees' physical health, what can they do to improve their career thealth? (6:25) Career health and upskilling needs to be more than a top down initiative, with leaders leading by example (8:43) Job redesign: whose jobs need to change, and quickly? Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

For many of the industries that we work in, the economic and technological changes in the business landscape will definitely impact our career outlooks. As such, it is important to roadmap our future career progression, keeping in mind our personal and professional aspirations. But of course, as the saying goes: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. In this episode of our Listen and Learn series, which covers the most popular content on CareersCompass, Workforce Singapore Principal Manager Kelvin Tan shares his personal experience with Polaris, a suite of personalised career guidance programmes delivered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and its appointed providers, Ingeus and AKG. It is designed for those who are: Exploring career opportunities; Seeking clarity before making crucial career decisions; Looking to move up in their career; and Contemplating to hone their expertise in a specific role. Learn about about his experience here, and read how his three Polaris sessions went: (Session 1) Career Guidance for the Middle-Aged: How This Singaporean Got Started on Polaris by WSG (Session 2) Career Growth for the Middle-Aged: How Polaris by WSG Helped This Singaporean Discover His Real Competencies (Session 3) Career Guidance for the Middle-Aged: Why Coaching Helps With Motivation Key highlights to listen to: (2:45) Why inertia and complacency can hit us all with in mid-life and mid-career  (5:21) Why Polaris by WSG is a good way to audit your career so far (7:10) What can career coaching do to help with the insights you've gleaned for a bigger and better career after Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

We're starting another new year, and the key buzzword professionally is career health. It's about being on track for a sustainable career, while also staying relevant and fulfilled in Singapore's fast changing job market.  With industries changing fast from digitalisation, green goals, and global competition, employers' needs are changing, and in this podcast episode we explain a few key aspects to stay on top of it all: What is skills-first hiring, and why does it matter to you? How to audit your career path and whether its truly got the legs to last you your professional lifespan No one builds a career in isolation- how to get help if you need it! Key highlights to listen to: (1:20) What are employers focused on when it comes to hiring? (3:10) A tool that can help you figure it all out (4:30) For those who are employed- where does your employer factor into your career health? Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Whether you’re younger, middle-aged, or senior, career and skills planning to remain competitive to employers is growing in importance, particularly to maintain employability past 50. As such, our guest for today’s podcast is Simon Siah, an advisor with Courage Chapter, an organisation founded with a mission on changing the narrative around aging in the Singapore workforce.   We’ll discuss how to your average Singapore worker can use design thinking – a popular buzzwork at workplaces these days - for better career health even into their later years! Key highlights to listen to: (1:20) Why are Singaporeans unprepared when there’s a sudden change in job status? (5:00) Reinventing oneself career-wise. (8:29) Design-thinking: what is it, and how does it help map out your career? (9:00) Skills for the future to learn today Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Here’s a term you might not have heard of, whether you’re an employer or worker: fractional roles. To explain simply, they are job positions that aren’t quite full-time positions, but not quite part-time either. According to Kai Ning, the co-founder of Courage Chapter, an organisation founded with a mission on changing the narrative around aging in the Singapore workforce, some Singaporean companies are actually making changes to their employment structure to hire in this manner. She’s on our podcast to share further on fractional roles, and how older or senior workers fit better into such positions, compared to younger workers who might prefer traditionally full-time positions for several reasons. Key highlights to listen to: (1:20) What exactly are fractional roles, and why employers are starting to hire for them? (5:00) What kind of positions do fractional roles tend to be hired for? (8:29) Senior and older workers considering fractional roles - here’s why they work for you. (9:00) The pros and cons of fractional roles, and who they’re best suited for. Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

At an event presented by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and Jobstreet, which was packed with fresh insights, career opportunities, and of course, plenty of chances to network with local hospitality pros, CareersCompass by Workforce Singapore had the opportunity to speak to these veterans on new workplace trends. We spoke to Jessie Lim, Director of Guest Experience and Sustainability, Pullman Singapore Orchard, Alice Lee, Complex Director of Human Resources, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach and The St. Regis Singapore, and Syed Musaddiq, Chef Concierge, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore. They shared how the hospitality industry has changed in the aftermath of Covid-19, and how new tech and working systems are helping to provide more cost-efficient services and solutions. Nonetheless, these changes will require the workforce to gain new skills and mindsets. For employers, they also shared thoughts on why reskilling and upskilling, as well as an emphasis on the career health for their workers, is ultimately a win-win proposition, and some examples of how their companies are working towards that end. Key highlights to listen to: (1:20) Expectations from customers means that nothing should be “tak jadi” (missing the mark in Malay). (5:00) How stickers are helping one employer to aid their employees in reskilling and upskilling. (8:29) Mindsets for workers in the hospitality industry have to change to learn new skills. (9:00) Why career health is a win-win for employers, workers and jobseekers in the industry. Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

It's that time of the year for appraisals. Are you ready? In this episode of our Listen and Learn series, which covers the most popular content on CareersCompass, Workforce Singapore Principal Manager Kelvin Tan shares practical tips to prepare for your review, avoid common pitfalls, and engage effectively with your supervisor. Discover how documenting accomplishments, asking the right questions, and setting mutual goals can enhance your career advancement. Equip yourself with the knowledge to approach your review as a constructive dialogue for growth and success! And of course, nab the bonus you're hoping for. Good luck!  Key highlights to listen to: (2:31) What to prepare for before the appraisal (4:50) Secrets to having a good appraisal (7:10) What to do after the appraisal Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

As of December 2024, employers in Singapore must have a process in place for workers to make formal requests for flexi-work. As such, many employers are making pivots in terms of how employees work schedules are being managed. In this podcast, CareersCompass speaks to have Sui Huangbo, the Deputy Director of Nursing at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, to share how flexible work arrangements and scheduling are being implemented for nurses at her organization.  We discuss what this means for those keen in the healthcare industry, as well as what learnings the hospital obtained in flexi-work arrangements that are useful for employers and employees alike. Key highlights to listen to: (2:31) How workforce scheduling can be designed for both workers and employers (4:50) Who are the types of employees that flexi-work works best for, and how does this help the workplace? (7:10) How better workforce scheduling also helps in taking in mid-careerists, and reskilling and upskilling for workers to improve their career health Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Older workers are a crucial solution to the increasing strain that Singapore employers will face in our labour supply, and a shift towards a more inclusive workforce that recognises intergenerational teams is the new norm is happening. We speak to Kai Ning, the co-founder of Courage Chapter, an organisation founded with a mission on changing the narrative around aging in the Singapore workforce, to share how to work in them, whether you're a Boomer or Gen Z worker, manager or employer! Key Highlights to listen to: (1:40) Which employers and sectors are starting to appreciate the value of intergenerational teams? (6:47) What's the best way to manage and work within intergenerational teams? (8:50) Managing communication: for both younger and older workers Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

Zarina Bakar, senior career coach with Workforce Singapore (WSG), shares more about how to prepare your resume when applying for jobs. Key highlights to listen to:  (1:30) Why fancy email names are a turn-off, not a turn-on (1:55) Sharing your work experience: what to include and omit Use these resume tips in your next job application! We have over 100,000 job opportunities on MyCareersFuture for you. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

In this podcast, Chay, a Singaporean who was recently retrenched from her role as a marketing executive, shares with us how career coaching is helping her find her next job. She believes that the new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support (JS) scheme  will be good for those who face sudden news of retrenchment and unemployment, as the financial support alleviates the impact from temporary employment loss while the individual actively looks for the next job. Listen to the podcast to learn more! Key highlights to listen to:  (2:05) How career advisory has helped Chay (3:05) The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme: How does it really help Chay? (3:35) “Everyone wakes up in the morning and think their career is fine…” Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

In the latest edition of our Listen and Learn format, WSG Principal Manager Kelvin Tan shares a selection of a popular piece on CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture with tips on how artificial-intelligence (AI) tools can give you a competitive edge, helping you craft tailored applications that stand out, and get the job and salary you want. Key highlights to listen to:  (1:33) What are the latest AI tools to help with your resume and CV? (2:10) The pros and cons of using AI tools as part of your resume-building (4:30) Ethical factors to consider when using AI tools Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

In the latest edition of our Listen and Learn format, WSG senior manager Nur Ilham Ismail shares a selection of a popular piece on CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture with tips for mature workers to take the next step in their careers, or shift into an entirely new field. Key highlights to listen to:  (1:17) When is the best time to ask for a salary raise (6:50) The key factors in negotiating for that increment (9:35) How to plan ahead for the conversation Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf 

The two buzzwords in the finance and asset management industry in Singapore these days: sustainability and digitalisation. But these two forefronts also need new skills, and some in the industry, or those looking to join it, may find it hard to figure out what's the best way forward in terms of reskilling and upskilling, to stay relevant and employable Some key questions Singaporean workers have asked include: What are the new skillsets and mindsets that matter for those working in the finance industry? "Sustainable Finance"- what's the 101? Digitalisation and artificial intelligence in the finance industry- are our jobs in peril? Mid-career switcher- how to get a foothold into the finance industry? To find out more, CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture spoke to Chiew Chun Wee, the regional head of policy at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), who shared why upskilling and reskilling matters for long-term planning in the finance industry, and some key things to understand on key topics such as sustainable finance and digitalisation. Key highlights to listen to:  (1:20) How technological change affects everyone in the finance industry, and why fighting it leads to "dinosaurs" (5:00) Generative artificial intelligence will be a game-changer for the finance industry at all levels (8:29) Quantifying sustainability has to go beyond greenwashing (9:00) Why Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) will help mid-careerists who are keen to join the finance industry Need personalised guidance in your job search? Register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Matching Services today and get the support you need. Find out more about WSG's programmes and services to help you in your career:https://www.wsg.gov.sg Read about the latest career tips and advice | Apply for Jobs | Register for events here:https://go.gov.sg/podcast-careerscompassbymcf