Work It

Heavy workloads, tight deadlines and potentially life-threatening outcomes – these are hallmarks of a high-pressure job. People in these jobs face consequences of prolonged stress. CNA TODAY journalist Loraine Lee shares what she learnt in writing her report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are working in a toxic work environment, and you are frustrated. When you quit, should you be honest with your reasons? How do you leave a job without burning bridges? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mentorship in the office can shape careers in unexpected ways – but only if it’s done well. From navigating soft skills to managing mentor-mentee tensions, Teoh Mei Ting and her mentor Irene Yong, both from engineering consultancy firm Beca, share tips on how to make the most out of this workplace relationship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A good reference check can make or break your job application. From ex-bosses to colleagues and family members, who should be on your list? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is never a good time to be retrenched. But what happens when it strikes at the worst possible time? Luke Jau shares how he navigated a sudden job loss with a baby on the way on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giving up your needs for others in the office may be detrimental if you are constantly seeking their validation and not drawing clear boundaries. What can people pleasers do to protect themselves? CNA TODAY reporter Eunice Sng talks through some of the points she gleaned from the experts she spoke to on the subject.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You have several employees who keep asking for more work-life balance and they won't take on extra tasks. How do you manage them? Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and Minister of State for Education and Manpower Gan Siow Huang take on the role of career advisers for our Ask Me Anything segment this week. Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More government money is being pumped into helping mid-career workers upskill - with increased grants and allowances. But how can employees cope with conflicting demands of family needs and retrenchment fears? Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and Minister of State for Education and Manpower Gan Siow Huang sit down with Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan to explain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a colleague who has been going around borrowing money in the office. At which point does this become a HR issue? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve passed the interview and there’s an offer on the table. How do you negotiate for the best terms? Rohan Sylvester, talent strategy adviser from Indeed, talks about how you can ask for more than a salary increase. This episode was recorded live at the Career Forward 2025 event in Singapore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an opportunity on the table to leave with a group of colleagues to join another company. What are some risks to this mass exodus that you should be aware of? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years into being a flight attendant, Jane Tan switched career tracks to become a software engineer. She found herself struggling in the beginning, but failure was not an option. Jane shares how she leverages transferable skills, deals with imposter syndrome and thrives in the tech sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the flexible work arrangements (FWA) guidelines kicked in last December, there have been ongoing conversations on what are reasonable requests. What can employees do if their appeals are rejected? Executive leadership coach and founder of Leadershift Inc Dr Tanvi Gautam shares how you can approach your supervisor to ask for FWA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re feeling burnt out from taking on more than one job role at work. How should you approach your boss to ask for less work or should you just quit? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional networking may often feel transactional, but it doesn’t have to be. Through her interviews with career coaches, CNA TODAY journalist Gwenneth Teo shares with Tiffany Ang her journey in finding out how to excel in the world of networking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You suspect that your colleague is about to throw in his resignation letter and this will impact your work. What are the signs so that you can be mentally prepared for his departure? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We want our individual style to shine in our dressing but when it comes to the workplace, what we wear may influence how colleagues and superiors perceive us. Career development specialist Yvonne Kong-Ho shares advice on how to dress for success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You have put in a request for flexible work arrangement under the new guidelines, but your company has rejected it. What are your options now? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is the buzzword in town after China’s DeepSeek upstaged OpenAI recently. Many companies are also upskilling their employees with AI skills. But what types of AI skills do you need to do your job – and stay employed? Koo Sengmeng, head of LearnAI at AI Singapore breaks it down for Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new couple in the office and team dynamics will likely change. What are some boundaries that should be kept? If professional lines are blurred, how do you deal with it? Kelvin Kao, founder of social media agency PROTOCOL and CNA TODAY columnist, shares his advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You just started a new role and see that your work buddy is not helpful and possibly “useless”. Should you call them out or find other help? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latest data from LinkedIn shows that it is getting harder for job seekers and hirers to find the perfect match. What’s causing the frustration on both sides? Sumita Tandon, HR director of APAC at LinkedIn gives Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan her analysis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I invited everyone at work to my wedding except a particular colleague and he is offended. He went as far as to block me on social media. Will my decision result in a disastrous working relationship? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s normal to feel emotional and at a loss after being retrenched. But after taking a break to recover, it’s now time to start looking for a job. Sean Tong, head of Asia for Frazer Jones, tells Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan what immediate steps to take to bounce back from retrenchment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your colleagues are all asking for a promotion but if you are older and want to pursue other interests, should you ask your boss for less work? And would this be considered a demotion? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2025, salary increments of between 2 to 5 per cent are expected for all workers but some sectors and jobs may get higher increases. Kirsty Poltock, director at Robert Walters Singapore, shares her salary predictions and her view on how workers can move into these roles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From auto-rejection emails to doing an interview with the help of artificial intelligence, how do you get better at finding a job in the age of AI? 27-year-old Jia Hui Ong, who found herself struggling to land a permanent position, seeks advice from career counsellor Gerald Tan.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.

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.

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.

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 renumeration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are the target of gossip at work, and it is starting to feel you're being bullied. How should you handle the situation?   Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts@mediacorp.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every job interview is an opportunity to put your best professional foot forward - but it's also a high-stakes game of tricky questions and unspoken cues. Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan share tips and real-life lessons to help you stand out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a change in management, and you now feel sidelined and overlooked. How can you connect with your new bosses?  Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workplace conflict can be a minefield, but when handled right, it sparks growth and resilience within teams. How should you navigate conflicts at the workplace and what are some healthy coping strategies? Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan speak with Professor Sam Garg from the ESSEC Business School, Asia Pacific.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You hired your friend but now his unprofessional conduct is disrupting the team. Management has decided to part ways with him, but the friendship is in jeopardy. How can you handle this sensitive situation professionally? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workplace discrimination can be one of the thorniest issues to navigate because it isn't always clear cut. Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan sit down with Alvin Goh, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, to unpack the grey areas, and the steps to take when something happens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For anyone looking for work, ageism may be a growing concern during their job search. How can you effectively highlight your qualifications while ensuring age doesn't become a barrier?  Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.