CareersCompass by MyCareersFuture Video Channel

Top 10 Articles

Top 10 Articles

From Conviction to Career: How this Singaporean Returned to the Workforce (Tenacity)

He always wanted to be a chef. That was Kurniawan (Wan) Bin Mohamed’s dream after spending his youth watching his mother whip up amazing dishes for the family..
But dreams can be derailed. For Wan he had a personal struggle with addiction, which led to two incarcerations, resulting in lost time and opportunities.
Beyond that, he missed out on a chance to care for his son, who was conceived in the four years between his incarcerations.
Thankfully, he received help from the Yellow Ribbon Programme, which afforded him ample opportunities to upgrade his skills.
He shares more with us in this video.
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!

Navigating the Maritime Industry: Skills that Help You Stay Afloat (Growth)

There’s an increased interest for employer in the maritime industry in taking on board mid-careerists looking to join their boat (all puns painfully intended).
In 2025, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), in partnership with the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU), NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), and supported by the Singapore Shipping Association, launched an enhanced Tripartite Maritime Training Award (TMTA).  
The award supports mid-career individuals to acquire the skills and certifications needed to serve as 3rd Officers and 5th Engineers.
The training duration was reduced from 31 months to 22 months,.The streamlined programme focuses on core maritime competencies that incorporates greater use of advanced ship simulators for  navigational and engineering training, and optimises onboard training to accelerate skills development.
Monthly training allowances were increased from S$1,200 to S$2,200, with co-funding by MPA, e2i, and SMOU.
As Mary Liew, General Secretary of SMOU, said in a press release on the award, “Seafaring is a demanding yet rewarding profession that plays a vital role in global trade.”
“The enhanced TMTA is a strong example of tripartism at work—where unions, industry, and government come together to equip mid-career individuals with the skills they need for a meaningful and sustainable career at sea.”
“It also provides a second chance for individuals looking to pivot into a new and fulfilling profession!” 
The interest in new talent extends beyondmid-careerists to include fresh grads and young workers too, according to a report by the Straits Times.
Companies like Singapore-listed Seatrium are actively seeking young talent as the industry grows more global and technologically demanding.
Seatrium chief executive Chris Ong said: “It is a very exciting time to be in this industry with the energy transition. You are not just dealing with oil and gas, you will be involved in pushing the boundaries of energy transition.”
“(Young) people think they’re joining the yard for construction work. I think that’s a very big misconception.”
Chris emphasised that Singapore needs highly capable and tech-savvy professionals to develop advanced technology and provide strategic foresight, ensuring the country remains competitive and attractive to global energy majors.
If you’re interested in the maritime industry and want to find out what skills are needed to join it, watch this video to learn more!
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!

The Surprising Reason Why Fresh Graduates are Finding it Harder to Get Hired for Their First Job (Readiness)

At Workforce Singapore’s Career Health Summit, keynote speaker Professor Joseph Fuller from Harvard Business School shared more insights into why breaking into entry-level jobs seems harder, and what local fresh graduates can do to improve their odds.
He also shared why local employers may have a blind spot when it comes to their hiring practices that’s linked to our Asian mindsets, and how changing this will be crucial in order for both employers and jobseekers to seize the best opportunities for themselves!
In addition, Prof. Fuller looks closer and why adopting a skills-first strategy when it comes to hiring and employment is crucial for employers, the future of management hierarchies, and how that will change with the advent of new technologies.
Looking to grow your team? Tap on our 500,000-strong talent pool of Singaporeans by posting your jobs on MyCareersFuture today.

Diploma vs Degree Holders: Could Your Hiring Policies Be Holding Your Business Back? (Insights)

Research shows employers are split roughly into thirds: some prefer degree-holders, some prefer diploma-holders, and some have no preference. 
Harvard Business School professor Joseph Fuller at Workforce Singapore’s Career Health Summit shares insights on why local employers are missing out on potential talent and revenue when their hiring policies don’t match with the skillsets needed for their job vacancies, and why local workers should trust in their skills – rather than just relying solely on their academic credentials – to enhance their employability!
Looking to grow your team? Tap on our 500,000-strong talent pool of Singaporeans by posting your jobs on MyCareersFuture today.

How SME Employers can Augment their Workforce and Business with Gen AI (Insights)

Speaking as guest of honour at the Tech3 Forum 2025, Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, shared her belief that artificial intelligence (AI) is a new “national language”. Becoming fluent in it will make local workers valued, whilst benefiting both SME and MNC companies in Singapore.
According to the Straits Times, she said: “We believe that such bilingual AI talents will be highly valued, and building them up represents a real opportunity for Singapore. They will be pathfinders and pacesetters for meaningful AI adoption everywhere.”
Minister Teo added that the Government plans to help enterprises -- including small and medium-sized companies -- adopt AI-enabled solutions and train more bilingual AI talent in their companies.
Professor Fuller explains at the Career Health Summit how generative AI helps small and medium enterprises become more efficient — enabling staff to create marketing materials, automate pricing and inventory tasks, and reduce the need for extra hires.
He highlights a future driven by entrepreneurs building specialized, agentic AI services (for example, drone-based roof inspections) that target specific business pain points, accelerate adoption through app-like offerings, and boost productivity and growth across Singapore.
Watch and learn more here!
Looking to grow your team? Tap on our 500,000-strong talent pool of Singaporeans by posting your jobs on MyCareersFuture today.

Worried about A.I Taking Your Job? Here’s How Transferrable Skills Can Help (Growth)

If we’re being candid, when it comes to raw knowledge, it’s hard for human workers to beat artificial intelligence (AI).
After all, AI is tapping on giant databases to formulate its answers, while most of us will have problems remembering what our secondary school textbooks taught us on any given day.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll lose out to AI when it comes to the job market, because ultimately, employers want well-rounded employees.
The fact is, knowledge is merely the acquisition of facts and information, but wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge and experience to make sound judgements.
Ko Hui Yun, Chief Operating Officer at All Saints Home, believes that transferable skills have changed with the advent of AI, and broadened the definition of such skills as well.
“Traditional strengths such as communication, teamwork, and leadership remain foundational, but the digital age demands more,” she said.
Companies now look for adaptability, digital fluency, and critical thinking in how people engage with technology, she believes.
“It’s not simply about using AI tools, but about applying them responsibly, interpreting outputs with discernment, and integrating them with human creativity and empathy — qualities that remain uniquely human.”
Watch this video to learn more from Hui Yun to keep yourself competitive in the job market, and plan for better career health!
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!

Skills-first Management and Hiring: How to Do it Right in Singapore (Insights)

At Workforce Singapore’s recent Career Health Summit, keynote speaker Professor Joseph Fuller from Harvard Business School shared how talent is becoming more important than ever, and how the future needs a skill-based management mindset.
Yet, as Professor Fuller shares, our Asian culture leads us to have “a great respect for distinguished institutions”, and about “stature and face”.
This can be a big hindrance to skills-first management and hiring, simply because the process needs leaders to start leaving out traits and credentials that aren’t relevant to jobs and the positions they are hiring for!
Nilay Khandelwal, Senior Managing Director, Michael Page Singapore and India, recently shared that “new collar jobs” have emerged in response to rapid technological advancements, automation, and industry shifts.
“Employers are realising that formal education is not always the best indicator of capability—what truly matters is whether a candidate has the right skills and mindset to perform in a fast-evolving workplace.”
“Industries like tech, fintech, and advanced manufacturing are leading the shift.”
“Healthcare, particularly in areas like medical technology and telehealth, is increasingly hiring based on skills rather than degrees,” he added.
Ultimately, change needs to be led from the top, and if leaders don’t change themselves, employees and workers may not believe they have opportunities themselves for professional development and growth.
In fact, this very aspect is the single top factor for Asian employee satisfaction and belonging, according to research.
This can hurt employers’ bottom lines, according to a Gallup finding that disengagement in employees can cost up the 34% of their annual salary. 
Watch this video to learn how to lead from the front when it comes to skills-first management!
Looking to grow your team? Tap on our 500,000-strong talent pool of Singaporeans by posting your jobs on MyCareersFuture today.

Permanent Vs Contract Jobs; Being Ghosted by Recruiters: Advice for Fresh Grads (Growth)

The struggle is real, and we get it. On one hand, you’ve spent your years of education for this moment — getting your first job, and adulting in all the ways you’ve been seeing friends and family members doing.
But on the other hand, you’ve been to several interviews, and none of the jobs seem quite the perfect fit.
One job has the right location, but the salary seems a bit low; another is a contract role, but is in a field you enjoy. Choices, choices: How do you prioritise and strategise so you’re happy with your decision down the road, and also pick the option that will give you the best career health?
We spoke to Anthony Chon Lane, founder of Ignition, a B2B marketing advisory firm dedicated to accelerating growth. In his 15 years of experiences, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies like Schneider Electric and Rio Tinto, as well as with global startups.
Watch this video to learn more from Anthony on how to pick between an SME or MNC job role for your first job!
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!

Can Singapore Bosses Less Impacted by AI Actually Lead On Using It at Work? (Readiness)

At Workforce Singapore's recent Career Health Summit, keynote speaker Professor Joseph Fuller from Harvard Business School shared how AI is rapidly affecting workers from all walks of life, at all seniority levels... except leaders, it seems.
This episode explores how generative AI affects different organizational levels unequally, highlighting that leaders often feel less impact yet must drive adoption.
Local bosses and managers need to stay humble, visibly learn, encourage experimentation, and partner with legal and IT teams to enable responsible, practical AI use—showcasing early successes to reassure employees and accelerate adoption.
Watch this video to learn how to lead from the front when it comes to skills-first management, and AI adoption at the workplace. 
Looking to grow your team? Tap on our 500,000-strong talent pool of Singaporeans by posting your jobs on MyCareersFuture today.