CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture Podcast

CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture

Welcome to CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture—your go-to podcast for navigating every stage of your career journey. Whether you’re just starting out, transitioning roles, or looking to grow in your current position, we provide expert advice, resources, and actionable tips to help you succeed. Tune in now and take the next step towards unlocking your full career potential!

  1. 9H AGO

    Budget 2026: What's There For Workers, Jobseekers and Employers? (Readiness)

    This episode unpacks Singapore's Budget 2026 delivered by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, focusing on preparing the workforce, boosting AI literacy, and supporting fair wages and job growth. Key measures annouced for workers, jobseekers and employers covered include: Practical AI training and tool access Higher local salary thresholds and progressive wage credits Expanded training allowances and senior/mid-career support Business relief measures like tax rebates, grants, and startup funding Some key takeaways: it's time to build practical AI skills, keep upgrading through modular learning, and for employers—transform your processes and job design so growth delivers better jobs for Singaporeans! This episode will be in our Listen and Learn format, which covers a selection of popular career-linked articles on our website. Keeping in the spirit of the times, you’ll be hearing from CareerCompass’ new AI colleagues, Aiden and Aileen, on what you should be aware about ahead of Budget Day. Key highlights to listen to: (2:44) How the Government will help AI learning pathways to be easier and clearer (7:30) What mid-careerists and senior workers have to look out for from Budget 2026 (10:29) What help do local employers have from Budget 2026 Have a job but want to level up? Achieve career excellence, develop your skills, and expand your knowledge with resources from Career GRIT. Check it out now! ----more---- Read the full article here: https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/budget-2026-singaporean-workers-employers/ 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

    17 min
  2. JAN 15

    Career Rizz: Dating Tips That Apply Well for Professional Networking (Insights)

    With Valentine’s Day not far off on the horizon, this episode is going to touch an interesting crossover topic: Are there similarities between modern dating and hiring? After all, these days the key catchphrase in workforce circles is “transferrable skills”, so what would count as such when comparing dating and networking skill sets? We speak to Ryan Lim, QED Changemakers, an Asian leadership platform, where he is its principal consultant and founding partner. He covers similarities and tips in terms of: Dating apps vs application tracking systems Communicating via text for a first date vs an interview First impressions on a first date vs an interview Dressing to impress for a first date vs an interview Small talk and conversation for a first date vs an interview Dealing with uncomfortable moments and conversational cul-de-sacs during a first date vs an interview Following up for a first date vs an interview Dealing with rejection Listen on for more tips and anecdotes that crossover from dating to professional networking for better “rizz” in both spaces! Key Highlights to Listen to: (1:55) Dealing with dating app algorithms is the same for employer application tracking systems (5:12) First date vs first interview: All about first impressions (6:46) Why using too much ChatGPT to communicate before a first date and interview will hurt your chances Listen and learn more here! (BONUS) Tips for Speed Networking at the upcoming Career XP event! Meet employers, attend expert workshops, participate in hands-on activities, and network with industry leaders through an interactive gaming experience. Earn XP (experience points) with every challenge. Build skills, make connections, and accelerate your career - whether it's your first job or next move. There’ll be networking opportunities with employers in the hospitality sector at the Link-up Challenge, which will allow young jobseekers to speak to employers and volunteer career advisors (VCAs) to uncover exciting opportunities and gain insider knowledge! When it comes to such events, Ryan has the following advice: Do your homework Do some homework of who are the potential people that you might be meeting in advance: who are the candidates or people that you are expecting to meet? Be interested, not interesting If you follow this adage, you can have a sustained conversation -- just remember it is a relational game, not a transactional game. It’s not about the number of name cards you garner, but the information and connections you truly acquire! Don’t “kancheong”, first impressions matter You will get to meet the same number of employers and VCAs as everyone else, so don’t rush. Take the time to make a good first impression, with how you carry yourself and what you’re wearing. Do a dry run Have a bit of a dry run with your best friend or even people that you tell them, say, I'm going to meet someone interesting or new. Practice making small talk, if that makes you nervous. Good luck, and see you there at the Career XP event! Learn more about it Event Details Date: 21 to 25th January 2026 Time: 11am to 9pm Venue: Suntec City, Level 1 Atrium (Tower 3 & 4) 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

    10 min
  3. 12/01/2025

    What Happens and What to Do When Your Employer Has a Retrenchment or M&A Exercise (Tenacity)

    Jamie Ong leads the People and Communication function for HAVI Southeast Asia cluster and Freight Management Asia business. But her two decades in the workforce has not always been so smooth sailing. In fact, Jamie revealed to us that in the course of her career, she’s experienced five merger and acquisitions (M&As)! These can be fraught with uncertainty, with outcomes ranging from an outright retrenchment by new company investors,  internal restructuring that leads to joining  a new department or team, to performing a completely different job role, she shared. In this episode, Jamie reveals more on the circumstances of these moments in her career, and puts on her HR director cap on to share tips on how to deal with such situations. She also talks about how to bounce back, whether it’s moving to a new job or staying in the organisation, and how to settle into the new reality fast. Key Highlights to Listen to: (2:45) To be retrenched, or reassigned to a new role during an M&A: Which is worse? (3:52) How to improve your chances being retained in such situations (5:23) If your career path changes, how can you settling into your next job fast? Listen and learn more 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

    7 min
  4. 10/29/2025

    Trying to Figure Out Gen Z and Younger Workers? Here’s Some Advice From an SME Boss (Insights)

    Let’s face it — there’s a big disconnect between younger workers and employers these days. How bad can this gap be, you ask? Well, a recent study by Becoming You Labs , an academic research organisation in New York, asked 2,100 hiring managers to understand what they looked for in candidates. They also reached out to Gen Z employees to learn about their professional priorities. And here’s what hiring managers prioritised in what they wanted in candidates and workers: Achievement (30%) Learning (22.8%) Hard work (22.4%) However, only 2% of the Gen Z employees surveyed ranked all three of these values among their top priorities. Instead, they preferred: Well-being and self-care Authenticity and expression Helping people Even though this survey was done overseas, these sentiments aren’t too far off touch from Singaporean’s Gen Z’s and younger workers. In a recent survey conducted by CNA’s Money Mind among youth aged 21 to 28, 53% of Singaporean respondents in viewed flexible work arrangements as their top priority when it came to choosing an employer.  “Gen Zs in general just want to feel like their boundaries are respected and their work is being valued,” fresh graduate Charlotte Ang said to CNA. “That’s why I think to a lot of Gen Z, a work-from-office mandatory arrangement might not make sense because you feel very controlled. It seems to convey a lack of trust.” In this podcast, we speak with Andy Poh, managing director at PAL Line, a global shipping and logistics company in Singapore. He spoke at a recent Workforce Singapore Employers Connect event on managing the needs of Singapore’s Gen Z employees. In this podcast, he shares with us more tips to help both local employers and younger employees bridge their differences. Learn more here! Key Highlights to Listen to (2:50) Understanding the psyche of Gen Z workers (3:49) "If the company isn't loyal to me, why should I be loyal to them?" (4:21) Why Gen Z workers are different, and how to manage them to success (6:53) What these younger workers can bring to the table, and why it's your loss not to use them 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

    10 min
  5. 10/28/2025

    New Collar Jobs: Why Skills-Based Assessments Are So Important (Readiness)

    “A quiet revolution is reshaping the global workplace”, according to recent industry reports. It was only apt that industry leaders at the recent Economic Times Future Forward Singapore Chapter 2025 discussed the rise of new-collar jobs, which emphasises skill over traditional qualifications. Panellists at the event shared the following: Employers need to move towards a more “purposeful agenda”, looking beyond simple profit margins; and Employees need to build their ability to “unlearn and relearn” continuously, given the pace of tech changes in all industries. A McKinsey study cited also showed that hiring for skills is five times more predictive of job performance, compared to hiring based on traditional qualifications. Christina Lu Maxwell, Head of HR, APAC at Neste Asia Pacific, added: “The more skills each one of us have, the easier we can pivot (to a changing employment market).” The big question Which industries are employers adjusting hiring requirements and introducing skills-based assessments for jobs available, then? Nilay Khandelwal, Senior Managing Director, Michael Page Singapore, talks of which ones are doing so. He also shares how jobseekers can adjust their CVs and resumes to showcase their demonstrable skills, not simply showcase job titles. He also mentions the mindset changes that Singaporean workers need to make to nab new collar roles, particularly in terms of Attitude and willingness to learn; Staying connected and networking; Aptitude-building to show problem skills; and Adaptability to market shifts. Of course, potential employers may compare you with other candidates that follow a more traditional path. The trick is to show how your commitment to lifelong learning has made you a worker who matches genuine interest in the industry with skill. In this new job market, he adds, the bottom line for talent is the marketplace is tight. As such, workers must show they’re continually updating their “software”, and showcasing how those skills can add value to current and future employers. Key Highlights to Listen To: (1:06) Are Employers Really Hiring Based on Skills Yet? (2:36) And for Singapore Workers- Are their CVs and Expectations Reflective of Their True Skills? (3:53) Which Industries Are Hiring for New Collar Jobs, and What are Skills-Based Assessments Focused On? Listen to this podcast and learn more! 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. ----more---- Read the full article here: https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/new-collar-roles-skills-based-assessments 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

    5 min
  6. 09/24/2025

    Bridging the Talent Gap in Singapore: What's the HR Leader's Gameplan? (Insights)

    In this day and age, internal mobility matters — employees want the chance to learn new skills and a fresh change of job scope. Because without that, greener pastures and the possibility of a pay bump are very powerful push factors. Companies that successfully ensure employees can move to different roles within the same organisation, but still maintain promotion and growth prospects, enjoy benefits such as reduced hiring costs, increased retention, and a more adaptable workforce. That’s why there was quite a gasp in the room when Kritvi Kedia, an associate partner at global management consultants McKinsey & Company, shared at Workforce Singapore’s Career Health Summit, that her firm had managed to achieve 21% internal mobility, which was high compared to other peers in their industry. In this podcast, she shares the following: How McKinsey achieved their internal mobility rate; McKinsey’s playbook that HR leaders can use to improve their in-company talent; and How a structured framework like the SkillsFuture taxonomy can help Singapore companies learn flexibly, and evolve their workforce to market demands. Listen to this podcast to learn more! Key highlights to listen to:  (1:43) The mindset of Singaporean workers when it comes to change can be a challenge for Singapore HR leaders (2:57) Good frameworks to organise change at your organisation for its business strategy (6:15) If leaders don't mirror the change they want in their organisation... (8:55) Understanding skills-based hiring and learning journeys for workers in the age of career health 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

    10 min
  7. 08/29/2025

    Hard Truths for Young Workers Trying to Get Their First Job (Readiness)

    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 YiXuan, 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

    10 min

About

Welcome to CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture—your go-to podcast for navigating every stage of your career journey. Whether you’re just starting out, transitioning roles, or looking to grow in your current position, we provide expert advice, resources, and actionable tips to help you succeed. Tune in now and take the next step towards unlocking your full career potential!