S2E12: Hitting the ground running for the first job
Season 2 · Episode 12
Sunday, February 16, 2025 • Duration 19:04
An expert shows how fresh entrants to the workforce can gain the prior experience employers increasingly seek.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
It seems paradoxical for prospective employers to seek prior experience even for entry-level roles.
This reflects the rising bar expected of fresh entrants to the job market.
However, employers are becoming more open-minded towards what constitutes relevant prior experience.
ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a seasoned career expert who has worked with tertiary students from different backgrounds, on the help at hand.
His guest is:
Ms Sarah Neo, head of the career development office at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:55 Why are employers increasingly seeking prior experience even for entry-level roles?
4:13 The forms such experience can take, from internships to hackathons
9:05 Is it realistic to expect ever more prior experience from students before graduation?
11:58 How can students who lack experience still land that first job?
14:15 What does Sarah recommend those who remain undecided about their future careers do?
Do your homework and hold for the long term - these are among expert tips for stock picking.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
There are so many different methods to invest these days - from buying roboportfolios, to exchange traded funds or index funds benchmarked to certain indices.
But there are also investors who wish to pick their own stocks because they are convinced of their increasing value.
This particularly occurs when it comes to tech stocks that might be rapidly rising, or when certain industries show strong potential for growth.
But how does someone go about stock picking and what are the risks involved?
In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can choose solid stocks in the volatile environment of 2025.
Her guests are young investor Troy Cheng and ex-ST journalist and veteran market watcher Ven Sreenivasan.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:42 What is stock picking and how to go about it?
6:00 How to decide if stocks are overvalued or undervalued?
8:10 Where do you get your stock picking recommendations from?
11:41 Which industries are promising in 2025?
15:47 What to know before jumping into overseas stock markets?
Salaries need to be structured more flexibly to reflect broader aspirations.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
Views on pay issues vary widely among young workers depending on their professional and life goals.
This was borne out in a survey of 1,000 young people commissioned by The Straits Times, carried out in May by market research firm Kantar and released in August.
In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi digs deeper into the implications of the results and underlying beliefs that give rise to different attitudes.
His guests are Dr Fermin Diez, a researcher on compensation issues with over 30 years of corporate experience, and young professional Jonathan Ng, who juggles being a business development manager with robotics company Otsaw while studying for a degree in marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:38 How has working and studying at the same time influenced Jonathan’s views on salary?
4:10 How have career norms shifted?
8:33 Are companies keeping up with these shifting norms in how pay is designed?
12:43 Why does satisfaction with one’s salary and work-life balance decline with age?
15:29 Disclosing salary details
22:14 How can employers deal with inter-generational differences on how pay is perceived?
Read the feature by Prisca Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/9aLR
S2E1: Investing with $100 a month as an undergrad? Why not!
Season 2 · Episode 1
Sunday, September 1, 2024 • Duration 31:50
Start early, compound your wealth, and try not to beat the market.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
Finance literacy experts always tell us to “start young” so we can make full use of the effect of compounding and grow our wealth from a young age.
But how early is early enough for first-time, young investors? Can an undergraduate without a full-time job start investing?
Crucially, if someone has just $100 a month to invest, what can they do with that amount?
In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan also looks at how university investing clubs help undergraduates to start growing their money, and the first investments that they can buy to begin.
Her guests are Associate Professor of Finance Matthew Dearth from NTU who brings 30 years of finance experience, and NTU undergraduate Victor Tan, who has invested since age 18.
The NTU Investment Interactive Club helps to link students to the finance community and hone their practical investing skills. It was founded in 1999 and now has over 5,000 members.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:30 How did Victor start investing at 18?
4:53 What’s the recommended age for people to start investing?
9:25 What products should people buy as a first investment?
12:17 Should we try to beat the market or do individual stock picking?
16:06 The biggest investment mistakes our guests have made
21:27 Where do you get your investing advice or knowledge from?
S1E1: Get a Headstart in your finances & career from our new ST podcast
Season 1 · Episode 1
Thursday, August 29, 2024 • Duration 01:40
New episodes from our rebranded podcast channel will drop here: https://str.sg/wB2m
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
Our previous Money and Career podcast channel is now rebranded Headstart on Record, taking on a fresher and sharper approach on how to chase your aspirations and grow your money.
Hosts Sue-Ann Tan and Tay Hong Yi will speak with guests on how to navigate jobs and finances in a daunting, complex world.
Hong Yi has been covering manpower and talent topics for ST, with a focus on careers, the job market and workforce trends.
Sue-Ann will look at how to invest your money and the delicate balancing act between saving and living. Sept 2 Monday sees her first episode dropping across our audio platforms and the ST app.
Stay tuned for more episodes on chewy topics like how far would you go for your pay cheque and how you can invest from age 18.
Produced by: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg), Tay Hong Yi (), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim
S1E17: The art of picking out a good job fast
Season 1 · Episode 17
Sunday, August 11, 2024 • Duration 30:27
A well-written job description helps employers and jobseekers find the right fit.
Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset.
The job search is never easy, with limited time and lots of ground to cover.
This means it is important to be able to suss out, with confidence, the likelihood a job opportunity is the right one to put your chips into, starting from understanding what job advertisements are saying.
Host Tay Hong Yi speaks with a seasoned headhunter who has helped plenty of clients through this process over nearly 20 years.
His guest is Ms Agnes Yee, executive director for interim solutions and legal practice at Kerry Consulting.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:27 What does the way a job opening is described say about employers?
6:58 Why a less specific description may not always be a bad thing
15:20 Why is meeting all stated job requirements not always enough?
S1E32: Can mid-lifers use social media to boost dormant careers?
Season 1 · Episode 32
Sunday, August 4, 2024 • Duration 20:51
Can mid-lifers breathe new life into stale careers with social media?
Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life.
Will a leap into social media rain new work opportunities for a stale middle-age career? Will being on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and more show the boss that mid-lifers are still in tune with technology and on-trend?
Join me and my special co-host, senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe in this episode of Work Talk. We will explore the potential of social media for mature careers that need a second wind.
Our guests are Mr Walter Lim, founder of marketing agency Cooler Insights, and Ms Jessly Chew, an associate director at recruitment agency Michael Page.
Together, we will delve into the possibilities, pitfalls and planning for mid-lifers who are curious about putting out their first TikTok or YouTube video, Instagram or LinkedIn post.
Listen and get started!
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:50 What a strong social media presence does for job seekers.
5:45 Enhancing the perception of being tech-savvy and adaptable.
9:45 The importance of authenticity and pitfalls of oversharing.
11:44 Leveraging different platforms to showcase skills and interests.
14:08 Tips for a content strategy, and the importance of planning and interaction on social media.
Produced by: Krist Boo (kristb@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim
Edited by: Amirul Karim
Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here:
S1E26: Analysing Catalist: A segment of the Singapore market
Season 1 · Episode 26
Sunday, July 14, 2024 • Duration 13:03
What are the strengths and weaknesses as of today, since the Catalist board was set up in 2007?
Synopsis: Senior columnist Ven Sreenivasan offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money.
In this episode, Ven hosts Ong Hwee Li, the chief executive officer of SAC Capital. SAC specialises in areas like investment banking, corporate mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and equities research.
They look at the profile of a segment of the Singapore market, Catalist. Sometimes referred to as the “junior board”, the Catalist board was set up in 2007 to cater for companies which do not meet the full earnings track record or compliance requirement for mainboard listing.
Today, there are about 207 Catalist companies listed on the Singapore Exchange, whose total market cap is about S$642 billion. Catalist companies account for S$8.5 billion of this.
SAC Capital is particularly known as a sponsor of companies which come to market via Catalist listings.
Does Mr Ong see non-sponsor activities being a conflict for such sponsors? How can such sponsors help Catalist companies to become better, improve their reputation and standing on the SGX?
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:40 Stagnant Singapore equities market? Delistings overtaking new listings, and is there a lack of communications between listed companies and the markets?
3:30 On 'hidden gem' Catalist stocks; what is the role of a Catalist sponsor?
5:16 How SAC Capital prevents breaches from happening; what happens if Catalist sponsors are removed?
7:13 Are non-sponsor activities a conflict for sponsors?
8:20 How can sponsors help Catalist companies to become better, and improve their reputation and standing on the SGX?
Produced by: Ven Sreenivasan (ven@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong Kai
S1E16: Would you be an intern for 2 years?
Season 1 · Episode 16
Sunday, July 7, 2024 • Duration 28:26
Long internships are just one form of the many talent schemes that are accepted by employers.
Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset.
The job search is getting increasingly complex as the range of options broaden.
Employers are also placing increasing focus on grooming talent in a more structured way to let them learn more and perform better.
Host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on the bevy of talent schemes companies have developed to fill their talent needs, including a two-year rotational internship in the case of German enterprise software giant SAP.
His guests are:
Ms Betul Genc, senior vice-president and head of Asean at Adecco
Ms Jean Ooi, Student Training and Rotation (Star) programme manager at SAP
Mr Choy Zhan Hao, a recent Star alum and business development executive at SAP
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:45 Why employers create the various forms of talent schemes
4:50 Why take interns in for two-year stints?
10:20 How do firms cater to graduates and students for talent schemes?
12:56 How to balance work and studies while working as an intern for two years?
15:45 Spot the signs of a good talent scheme that is worth joining
23:20 Does it ever feel weird to be an intern for two years?
Produced by: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, and Hadyu Rahim
S1E31: Who wants to be a public servant? We ask Chan Chun Sing
Season 1 · Episode 31
Sunday, June 30, 2024 • Duration 24:50
The iron rice bowl is still sturdy, but demands on Singapore's public service have changed.
Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life.
With 152,000 employees across 16 ministries and more than 40 agencies, the public service is the biggest department in town.
It reports to the government, but has a higher boss - Singaporeans who scrutinise its performance and spending. Why would somebody want to be a public servant? Can you have a good public service career without a degree? Will the public service ever lay off workers in this era of AI disruption?
We take on these questions, and take a look at its bigger challenges and mission.
Join host Krist Boo and the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service - Chan Chun Sing - for this 31st episode of Work Talk.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:43 What has changed for the public service in recent years?
7:13 Can a rank-and-file public servant make a difference?
10:11 Is joining the public service without a degree a career non-starter?
11:12 Will we ever see layoffs in the public service?
17:27 Can a mid-career jobseeker find success in the public sector?
Produced by: Krist Boo (kristb@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim
Edited by: Amirul Karim
Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here:
Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties.
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