Work It

Working for a start-up may bring different benefits compared with being an employee of a big company. For fresh graduates and those contemplating a mid-career switch, which is the better option? Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan chat with Jeraldine Phneah, enterprise lead of AlphaSense, to unpack the pros and cons of each career path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You want to excel in your career but fear setting the bar too high may rile your colleagues. How can you pursue your ambitions while appearing less of a threat? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you an individualist or a peacemaker? Perhaps you thrive in motivating people. Experts say understanding personality traits makes a big difference in work relationships. Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan find out more by taking a test. Take the Big 5 Personality Test or RIASEC profiling tool if you want to know more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve recently stepped into a leadership role, but your new team members are bypassing you and going directly to your boss with their questions. How can you establish your authority while building respect and rapport with your team? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Balancing multiple jobs might seem overwhelming, but for some, side hustles offer autonomy and freedom a traditional 9-to-5 job cannot. Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan speak with 40-year-old Alvin Ong, who has four side gigs, for his advice on what to consider before embracing this career path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've just started at a new job, but your boss is already making you work overtime and it’s affecting your health. How do you communicate that you’ve hit your limit with the workload? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dyson employees were recently “surprised” by a layoff announcement. But are there visible signals that a retrenchment exercise is coming? How can you tell if your name is next on the chopping block? Francis Chan, employment lawyer and executive director at Titanium Law Chambers, lets us in on the signs to watch out for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your team consistently outperforms at work. Yet you are not getting the same bonuses and promotions others are getting. What can you do if you suspect there’s favouritism? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diagnosed with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, it took Edwin Chaw months before he felt ready to disclose his condition to his colleagues. Now a compliance officer with abrdn and an ambassador with Beyond the Label, he gives advice on how to navigate work relationships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re due to start a new job in weeks and your future boss has already begun sending you emails and calling for meetings. Here’s how you can set clear boundaries with your future boss. Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Networking plays a vital role in the professional world, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations. But for introverts, nothing is more daunting than standing in the spotlight. Jenny Toh, founder of River Life Coaching and a self-identified introvert, shares her top tips. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve been at your company for years and happy with the work-life balance, but some of your colleagues are advancing elsewhere. Is staying put equivalent to career suicide? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wage transparency is all the rage on TikTok, where people talk about how much they earn. But for most of us, discussing salary publicly is still taboo. How do bosses decide who gets a higher salary, especially when two people are doing the same job? Skills, impact and size of company are some key factors, says Lionel Low, senior client solutions principal of ASEAN at Mercer. He explains all there is to know about rewards and remuneration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are taking on more projects every year, yet the career jump remains out of reach. What’s holding your boss back from promoting you and what can you do to break this cycle? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your manager consistently dominates meetings, dismisses ideas and is convinced they are always right, you might be dealing with a narcissistic leader. Associate Professor Amy Ou of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Business School explains how to navigate such managers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one wants to be put on a performance improvement plan (PIP) because it indicates that you haven’t been meeting your work goals. But if you are on it, what does it mean for your career, and can you bounce back? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With more shared parental leave and mandatory paternity leave on the horizon, employers need to re-design the way they operate. Otherwise they risk losing good staff, says Minister Indranee Rajah. She tells Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan why the government is committed to helping everyone reach a win-win situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of anticipation, you finally hear back from HR only to learn that the indicative job offer has been withdrawn. What might cause such a u-turn and could you have done anything different? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a growing trend of university students juggling multiple internships, even taking time off school to get valuable experience and a foot in the door of industries. Undergraduates Syauqina Amalyn and Toh Yan Yun explain their hustle mentality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some notice periods are as long as three months but if you have a job offer and want to start earlier, should you bite the bullet and fork up that salary in lieu of notice? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you worry about being shut down or humiliated for your ideas or opinions at work, you may have a problem with psychological safety. Jasmine Liew, founder of organisational development consultancy firm Breakthrough Catalyst, explains how to build a psychologically safe workplace for everyone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve gone through several jobs in recent times, some of them contract roles, and they each last less than a year. How do you show the next hiring manager that you are ready to stay for the long haul? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not sleeping well? Loss of appetite? Feeling anxious thinking about work? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be facing burnout. Gerald Tan and Tiffany Ang talk through what job burnout looks like and how to address it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are gunning for a promotion and you have asked your manager for more opportunities. But the response is lukewarm. What should you do? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has been providing parental benefits to encourage people to have more children. But what do these increased benefits mean for companies and their bottom line? Will taking more childcare leave affect promotion prospects? Derrick Teo, CEO of human resource firm Elitez Group and senior professional at the Institute for Human Resource Professionals, explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dozing off at a meeting that’s going in circles and doesn’t seem to have a concrete agenda? Here’s how you can bring focus to these unproductive discussions. Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In some employment contracts, there is a non-compete clause that limits an employee moving to a competitor. How does this impact your career? Jonathan Yuen, head of Commercial Litigation and Employment (Disputes) at Rajah & Tann Asia, breaks it down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the annual feedback time and you must rate your boss and co-workers. Is the 360 feedback worth the effort? How can you ensure it leads to real change, and what should you do if it doesn't? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your boss is not giving you clear development targets or excluding you from key meetings, you may be at risk of being quietly fired. How should you respond? Peter Hamilton, vice president and managing director (APAC) at KellyOCG, delves into the tactics employers use and offers crucial advice on how to protect your career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you waited for a call after a job interview but never heard back from the company? How long should you wait before sending the HR person a nudge? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good grades and a fancy degree may not be enough to get you that dream job or sustain a successful career. Asher Ling, Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director, Singapore at Princeton Digital Group, and SGTech’s Talent Steering Committee member explains what and why skills-based hiring is on the rise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a high stakes conversation and you don’t see eye to eye with your manager. How do you disagree constructively without burning bridges? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have a diagnosed mental health condition and you’re thinking of disclosing it to your workplace, what should you be aware of? How can your performance at work be rated with this consideration? Khairil Baharudin, senior HR business partner at a tech firm and certified professional with the Institute for HR Professionals, lays out the pros and cons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You want to give effective feedback to a colleague or employee. But this person is likely going to be sensitive or defensive about it. How should you approach this situation? Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Career planning can help people commit to their goals and desires. But what if the best laid plans are derailed by changes in your life? Chris Lau, principal career coach from Workforce Singapore shares his personal journey about his career plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your boss is asking subordinates to communicate with senior management. If you feel uncomfortable, how should you broach the topic? Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEOs may occupy an exclusive rank, but their decisions have a profound impact on many lives. What is the first order of business for new CEOs transiting into a company? “CEO whisperer” Dr Ty Wiggins from Russell Reynolds Associates shares his observations with Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan after having built a career advising top business leaders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do I know if my manager is bullying me or just has high standards for my work? Here are some signs to look out for before you lodge a formal complaint. Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers will soon be expected to consider staff requests around flexible work arrangements. But what are reasonable requests and can managers avoid bias in decision-making? Mukul Anand, head of HR in HSBC Singapore, talks about how companies can better serve their staff’s needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you sat in a job interview and was asked to produce your last drawn payslip? Here are steps you can follow if you are not comfortable to reveal it. Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every department in a company - from legal to finance and HR - can use a basic AI tool to solve problems or work better. Agoda’s chief technology officer Idan Zalzberg explains why AI knowledge and tools do not have to be complicated and hard to implement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congratulations on your promotion. But you can’t shake the feeling that it didn’t sit well with your peers at work. How should you manage them? Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being partners in both work and life may not be for every couple. But if you choose to work with your spouse, what boundaries should you have and how do you stay together through thick and thin? Christel Goh, chief executive officer at Grow Public Relations, joins the Work It podcast with her husband Kelvin Teo, the chief operating officer at the same company. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls and messages to check if you are on schedule and constantly watching over your work. What can you do if you have a boss who micromanages you? Here are some tips. Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tight schedules, endless tasks and demanding expectations – these are the daily realities for many working professionals. Emergency medicine physicians and authors Dr Adaira Landry and Dr Resa Lewiss share practical strategies on how to stay well despite busy lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is common to hear people coming back from maternity leave, parental leave or a long sabbatical and being passed on for a promotion. Gerald Tan explains why that happens and offers tips on how to avoid feeling bitter. Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. How do you create one for your career so that others will notice you? Joy Seow, executive director and head of consumer practice at Kerry Consulting gives some tips.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you struggling with a tough work situation that is affecting your mental health? If so, should you reach out to a career coach or a therapist for help? Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Gen Zs are making public videos of themselves getting fired or resigning, inspiring a phenomenon called Quit-Tok. What's driving them and how can companies better manage a younger generation that thrives on authenticity? Rachele Focardi, founder and CEO of XYZ@Work, shares her findings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You could be in between jobs or considering your next career move. So taking on a contract role might be an option for you. But how do you negotiate for more money if the company refuses to give you a permanent position? Have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.