Monday (Jan 3) marks the first weekday of 2022 back in the office for employees who are now allowed to return.

UPTICK IN BUSINESS FOR F&B, TRANSPORT

When CNA visited hawker centres in the CBD at lunchtime on Monday, several stalls had queues that stretched beyond 10 people. Small restaurants and cafes were also packed.

Read about local Singaporeans stories about their working from home experience and how the covid/omicron virus spread affected them or influence their work in other ways @ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/crowds-office-areas-return-end-work-home-default-singapore-2412181

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/wfh-return-office-default-working-home-companies-2383286

Get the latest advisories and updates on COVID-19.

Read the new requirements for Safe Management Measures at the workplace, FAQs and actions to be taken by business employers, employment agencies and employers for FDWs and confinement nannies.


Employers can check if they are able to resume operations at https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/permittedlist.


FAQs on salary and leave arrangements during Circuit Breaker

Employers and employees can find out more about your salary and leave arrangement during the Circuit Breaker period.

https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19

https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/frequently-asked-questions/salary-and-leave-arrangements


FAQs on Leave of Absence (LOA) / Stay-Home Notice (SHN) Support Programme

For employers and SEPs, find out more about the LOA/SHN Support Programme.


https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/frequently-asked-questions/loa-shn-support-programme

Thank you.

In Singapore, there's been a lot of chatter about cybersecurity since SingHealth's leaked data.

Much of Smart Nation's initiative has been centred around data protection.

The notion of Smart Nation needs to be centred around creating a sustainable future for both humans and animals that live on Earth.

Pollution needs to be addressed quickly in the next few years to mitigate the effects of global warming.

Instead, people are told to put up with a "warmer" Earth - akin to hiding the problem under the carpet.

The problems of global warming have already been highlighted since the early 1960s and is getting worse in many parts of Asia due to increase in shipping activity as a direct result of the movement and production of goods.

Economic competition have led to forces which harm the environment. Transport infrastructure is "stuck" in the past.

The Smart Nation initiative has to encompass a paradigm shift in thinking and thought patterns.

Living in luxury while the rest of the creatures of the Earth suffers is no longer favoured.

Lot of people are rendered Unemployed now due to some world crisis which have already happened or about to happen...

Everyone has been affected in some way or another...

However its TGIF ! ~ Have a Laugh...

It's Friday. Keep Calm and Carry on...

Wonder how many job seekers feel the same way during interview...

Regardless, do keep up the spirit, take the weekend to recharge and continue when next week comes around...

Always have the belief that somewhere out there exists a company looking for a candidate that fits your profile.

Recruiters these days don’t really care about your resume (just a formality) or your video resume. Recruiters today investigate your online activity (Facebook, linked or Twitter) as well as your online portfolio to get a glimpse of what you really are like in person and the quality of your work. Having a strong online presence will help you get that dream job of yours. Want to work at Facebook? Contribute to projects at Github. Your personal portfolio of work and impact on the world is so much more important than a fancy resume.

Averbook said that in this world, switching jobs is front and center of people’s minds and there’s a major reason for that: technology.

“We see opportunities better than we’ve ever seen them before,” he said. “If you think about it, not that long ago the main way that people found out about new job openings was by reading the newspaper.”

“These days the world has visibility to new jobs and new opportunities every day. The barriers of entry to trying new things are completely different.”

“We are going to increasingly break down how work gets done into tasks and we already live in a world where contractors are common.”

Averbook said that the second key challenge is dealing with the fact that every employee is “dying for attention”.

Here are 3 tips to get your career super-charged.
1. Connect on Social Media - Facebook & Linked-in are great resources
2. Start a Blog - Blogging your interests as a person makes you think and reflect about the issues in the world and knowledge you can share with the rest of the world.
3. Constantly update your Facebook profile with new posts and insights about what you are doing with your life. Share your life with the world. This will inspire people around you to try things they have never thought of doing!

High turnover rates and work stress continue to plaque the banking sector in Vietnam.

On the one hand, "Factfulness" objectively shows that the world has improved tremendously over the long run. On the other hand, increased demand for goods and services have lead to environmental problems in many parts of the world - some irreversible. While infant mortality is very low due to medical advancements and the amount of marine sanctuaries have increased over the years - does not discount the fact that heavy fuel powered trading vessels and cargo ships continue to add immense noise and air pollution to the environment as trade opens up. In Sri Lanka, the construction of mega sea-port disrupts and destroys natural coastlines. The environment is sacrificed for economic growth. The growing tourism industry continues to stress the fragile environment. Air travel continually adds noise and air pollution to the skies. Many birds have lost their lives as a result of being sucked into airplane engines. While being optimistic is good, humans cannot remain ignorant that much of today's economy only serves to degrade the natural environment further.

Both Jennifer Chong and Roman Khan were frustrated with the watch market which either went towards disposable fast fashion products or overpriced luxury items. Linjer - which means "lines" in Norwegian aims to change that. The startup produces watches and leather goods at costs two to three times lower than high end brands without compromising on quality. To accomplish this, the startup relies on staying lean including selling to customers online directly.

As an adventure photo journalist, you get to travel around the world with your trusty camera, writing stories with unforetold impact. It's the dream job for many people and one that is fulfilling to the soul's desire for adventures. If you enjoy blogging, Face-booking or Instagraming - this might be the career for you. While the pay isn't lofty (averaging around $45K per annum for starters), it is one of the more meaningful careers out there in the market today amidst the number of soul-sucking jobs.

The combination of a swelling population, constant usage of electrical appliances, 24-hr eateries and vehicles have driven up ambient temperatures. Nights in Singapore are now noticeably warmer than it were decades ago. Night temperatures of above 30 degree celcius are now much more a common occurrence. The sweltering heat, when combined with high humidity can make life unbearable for those without air-conditioning. But assuming everyone turned on their AC's, the ambient temperature will rise further as all electrical appliances generate heat.

The GDP today is somewhat of a misnomer. Governments today tie the notion of national progress to the GDP - using it as an indicator for growth and thus "progress". Unfortunately, this discounts the impact of urbanisation, industrialisation and agriculture. As humans continue to shape the land for "economical" purposes, natural habitats and coasts will be lost and permanently altered. As long as nations continue to avert the question of ecological damage in the name of economic growth, the natural environment will continue to degrade.

The best way of improving the quality of life for many people today is to remove air pollution. Access to fresh air is one of the most basic human right and does wonders to one's health. Despite the large amount of incentives given by the government, improvements to air quality moves at a snail's pace. Sometimes the air quality appears to be worsening due to intense urbanisation and industrial activities around the island nation. The nation often relies on rain and wind to reduce pollutants in the air. The good thing though is that air quality in Singapore is not as bad as cities like Jakarta and Beijing - if that's any consolation.

What Singapore needs today are eco-champions willing to step up in the fight against pollution. Pumping more resources into cybersecurity and big data is good but is only a fraction of the importance of what truly matters in improving the quality of lives for people both locally and globally.

Big Data has been touted as the game changing solution in the fight against climate change. Unfortunately, the truth is that this isn't the case. Already we have the knowledge that large cargo ships pollute the environment due to the use of heavy fuel oils. Already we know how much plastics are being produced, incinerated and sometimes dumped into the oceans. Yet so much more can be done in protecting the environment. Big Data certainly doesn't stop engineers from re-shaping natural coastlines through destructive dredging. Poaching remains a big issue today due to the lack of manpower. The lack of action is due to the lack of financial incentives to do so. Heavy fuels oils remain cheap and economically viable compared with electrical engines. Plastics remains a cheap and convenient option of packaging goods. Governments rarely set aside budgets for wildlife conservation - often leaving to public donations. What's needed today is more than just pretty infographics and statistics. We need leaders who are able to embrace the spirit of redemption, to walk the talk, to evangelise, to preach what they believe in and to set exemplary role models for people to follow and aspire to become. We certainly do not need more politicians to set agendas for us.

Good morning Singapore. Step outside the house today and breathe in deeply. You will notice that familiar choking stench in the air.

Who’s responsible for all this pollution? The shipping industry, construction industry or manufacturing industry or vehicle owners? Why should citizens be denied the access to breathe fresh air? At the moment, fresh air is available only at 3 am in the morning. Pollution is everyone's business. Air pollution get's blown around by the wind. It doesn't simply disappear into the air. Like volcanic ash, the particulate matter has to settle somewhere. In Korea, air quality is directly related to China's industrial activities.

In the worst case scenario, people may accept air pollution as the new normal just like melting glaciers attributed to climate change - which I hope isn’t going to be the case. Would you allow your children to swim in sea water knowing it is polluted with harmful chemicals? Are people too helpless or is it simply a matter of apathy?

The repercussions of air pollution is very real. Millions of people inhale polluted air (sometimes over 3 times WHO recommended levels) resulting in short term lung irritation to shortening life spans and degrading quality of life over a period of time. Unfortunately, the push for economic development has lead to the construction of many luxury resorts, high rise apartments and road infrastructure. This creates multitude of problems from dust, noise and water pollution.

Solutions are readily available in 2018. Instead of commuting to work, people can choose to work from the home. After all, communication is easily done with computers. Smart phones today serves as mobile offices as much as it is a communication device.

We can continue living in our man-made air-conditioned bubble or we can step out and make a lasting impact on the Earth through education, ethical investments and focusing on real progress - one that is measured in terms of the quality of life and not mere monetary wealth.

An awesome article written by Anita Sanchez in 2017 succinctly provides a real insight about climate change and the spiritual truths surrounding the issue.

"It is time to wake up and end the destructive illusion that we are not connected to this planet or to each other. We are hurting ourselves, we are hurting nature and the earth, and we are hurting the spirit that nourishes our world and us."

Do read the article for a better understanding of the issue.

Even more important than climate change is the spiritual climate of your home and workplace. Take your time to examine your workplace and type of interactions between bosses and employees. Are people fulfilled in their current roles? Is there constant tension in your workplace? Do you work with edgy and angsty colleagues? Are people fire fighting most of the time instead of doing real work? Are people growing spiritually in their lives or merely working for monetary profit? By taking an objective view of the spiritual climate, you will be in a better position to make life changing decisions on whether to stay in your present company or to move on to greater heights.

In short, Asia is a polluted mess. In China and India, the average air quality and environment is poor. Poorly governed cities have allowed pollution levels to escalate to levels which are harmful to personal well-being. This in effect has lead to many expats leaving countries like Hong Kong to protect their families from the ill effects of pollution linked to heavy industrial and urban development. The truth is, many people who live in Asia aspire to live and play in countries like the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia where the air is remarkably fresher in contrast to the chaotic cities in Asia. Unfortunately, only a few are talented or privileged enough to move out of their countries. As a result, millions of people today are denied of fresh air and are forced to put up with pollution even today in 2018 despite advances in technology.

These gentle giants have always been an easy target for poachers due to its large size and slow mobility. As human beings, surely we have failed in looking after these gentle creatures. When will poachers ever realise that these animals are worth more in the wild than for their horns?

It's too easy to compare yourself to someone more "successful" especially with so much media influence today. If that makes you miserable, you are probably believing a lie about yourself. Your worth isn't defined by your career or job or how successful you are in the world (the media just loves to give the limelight to the rich and famous). Take a trip outside the city. You will realise that jobs are hard to come by in less populated areas, yet their enterprising spirit stays strong. It is about understanding yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and applying what you already know (to make the world a better place). If you feel overwhelmed and anxious about your situation in life, don't be! Your creator understands you more than anyone else and He gives grace to the weak and weary. Take a breather and relax in His presence today. His grace will surely come! Let every anxious thought be redirected towards Him.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), only 12% of the people living in cities breathe fresh air. Many urban dwellers are exposed to air pollution above WHO recommendations making them vulnerable to long term health problems. Today's megapolis have skyscrapers representing concentrations of monetary wealth often at the expense of the environment. Air pollution is getting worse in many regions due to increasing reliance on fossil fuels. In Hong Kong, air pollution is getting worse, driving many expats away from the region. In Seoul, the megacity is choking under intense smog. Singapore's air quality isn't fairing much better. Despite the apparent prosperity of megacities, the environmental cost of heavy industrialisation and urbanisation far outweighs the benefits of convenience. Increasing air traffic exacerbates the problem across the globe. The rising demand for goods and services is disrupting Earth's natural ecosystem. Transportation systems of major cities (Silicon Valley for example) are constantly overwhelmed with traffic and are expensive to maintain. Rising production of goods consequently lead to higher consumption with most products ending up incinerated or in land fills. Recycling is often seen as expensive option as it is labour intensive. Perhaps it is time to learn from the Amish people.

Air quality in many cities in South East Asia is declining as a result of environmental impact from factories, ships, planes and cars. The growing airlines industry, rapid urbanisation, growing maritime industries all impact the environment negatively. Governments around the world need to step up to tackle widespread pollution in the ASEAN region.

Facebook is looking to hire two editors, one focused on managing technology-related stories and the other working with the company's Creative Shop for brand campaigns.

The recent job descriptions align with Facebook's efforts to be more transparent and to provide meaningful interactions. The majority of stories about Facebook for the last year were and still are focused on its ongoing problem with fake news. In 2018, it appears Facebook wants more content on what the company does well from its own corporate blogs.

Up for the job anyone?

All too often we meet a colleague who disdains her job so much, she starts complaining the moment she starts on her work. The lack of passion in her job is evident as well. Such working colleagues indulge in malicious gossips lending to an atmosphere of un-productivity instead of a culture of innovation. Such colleagues often form cliques which in time every member of her clique act and behave in the same way. Her time is usually spent creating drama instead of getting real work done and growing as a person. Have you ever had an immature colleague like that?

Too little is being done locally and abroad to curb the harmful effects of pollutants. Too many studies are being conducted and time wasted debating about the solutions instead of implementation. There's so much talk about technology and eco-friendliness yet so little is being done on the ground to curb widespread pollution in many parts of the world. The harmful effects of air pollution are already well documented. It is high time to have carbon based fuel engines replaced with electric ones. Environmental protection officers need to be empowered to do more today than ever before.

Millions of people today live exposed to air and noise pollution. Marine creatures are not spared either from land reclamations, pollutants from large shipping vessels, surface runoff and improper waste disposal. So far, economic growth is mostly measured based on manufacturing output which forms the GDP. The more stuff is manufacturing the better it is for the economy but the worse off it is for the Earth. Only by taking into account our roles of stewards of the Earth can real progress be made. The technology and knowledge already exists for clean energy and sustainable living. Without keeping pollution and urbanisation in check, life will only get miserable for every creature on the Earth.

Everyone has probably had the experience of working with colleagues who complain a lot. People usually complain out of frustration. Left unchecked, prolonged frustration can lead to depression. This is why it is important to tackle the root source of frustration. In the workplace, frustration can build up in large organisations due to red tape, inter-department politics, communication breakdown, lack of mentorship. This can ruin the experience of the day. There are people out there who have mood swings and hanging around such people can surely bring your day down as well. Immature people handle frustration by complaining. This is why it is important for a mature person to guide the immature through times of frustration. Framing the problem as a learning experience is a good way to move forward on frustrating issues arising in the workplace.

Working with a deadly combination of tight inflexible deadlines and pushy people is surely a recipe for frustration. Most people simply cannot thrive in such harsh circumstances. Rather it is recommended to find jobs that allow greater flexibility and freedom to make choices. To avoid frustration, always work within your limits. Know when to take a step back to gain perspective on the issue or bottleneck.

It is a well known fact that many people who live in dense cities suffer from all kinds of mental ailments. This is can be due to long term exposure to air pollution, noise pollution. overcrowded and expensive living conditions which can make life miserable unless you were a millionaire (or billionaire). Being stuck in the office all day (or doing repetitive work) makes life miserable as well.

Looking to doctors isn't effective as the problem is rooted in both the environment and the person. Our immediate environment impacts our lives as much as our response to it. Drug prescriptions merely alleviate the symptoms but do not tackle the underlying stresses of living in a city. Unfortunately, many doctors themselves are not in a position to tackle the deep rooted issues of dense city dwelling. The stresses of dense urban living today are very real and not to be taken lightly.

While our immediate environment is not always in our control, we can choose to respond to it with the right attitude. To tackle such deep rooted problems, we need to humble ourselves and be honest with who we are as individuals. We need to understand what makes us tick, what drives us, where our strengths and passion lie, what gives us joy and more importantly, to actually spend time doing things that we love while cultivating good habits in whatever we choose to do. Pay attention to the atmosphere of your thoughts. Don't let guilt overwhelm you.

Practical measures such as drinking enough water, getting quality sleep, spending less time indoors and more time exploring the wilderness will help. In a connected world today, there's no excuse to remain stuck in your situation.

Dense cities of today have become wearisome places to live. This is evident from the stressed and worn out faces as you walk in the streets.
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- Work obsessed culture. Some people are still obsessed with clocking hours.
- Peer pressure at work with the idea of looking good in-front of authoritarian bosses.
- Hyper-competition in schools and society which breeds a 'kiasu' mentality.
- Shopping malls and train stations are seriously packed. There's hardly any room to breathe. Most time is spent dodging people.
- Constant noise from vehicles, buses and construction impacts sleep quality.
- Poor air quality resulting from carbon emissions.
- The constant striving to be the best in everything.

As a result, less populated cities such as Melbourne have become attractive destinations for Singaporeans to live and work.

Some news agencies around the world have portrayed climate change as an enemy. Yet, it is we human beings who have become enemies to the Earth with our unnatural desires leading to high consumption of oil, plastics and heavy metals. The mining, marine, and oil & gas industry have always been a huge contributor to air and water pollution. Clearly it is human activities which have affected virgin forests, altered pristine coastlines and damage coral reefs. We need to assess the ways which we live with the knowledge of how our lifestyles (especially in cities) disrupt the Earth. Our hectic lifestyles centred around economic growth and national security have disrupted the planet. Are so many vehicles really necessary on the roads (posing a threat to animals crossing it)? Is the presence of a military base really worth the destruction of coral reefs which have taken centuries to grow? Fortunately all this is changing with more attention being paid to clean energy, bio-degradable plastics and electric vehicles. However, more needs to be done. Talents need to be honed and leaders groomed towards everlasting change required by mankind to live in sync with nature.

Quantity surveying (QS) is one of the most sought after skills in the construction industry. It's a career which is easy to pick up yet hard to master - like many other professions. The value offered by the quantity surveyor is in cost management. Construction projects can quickly scale up in cost depending on the material and labour costs involved. The role of the quantity surveyor requires a balance of skills between negotiation, project management, documentation and procurement. It takes a lot of patience to work with project managers and suppliers. As the go to person for the procurement of materials, he must be knowledgeable about the value and availability of construction materials in the market, be able to negotiate and maintain working ties with suppliers. He must be able to read and understand construction drawings and the cost implications. The learning curve is steep as it often depends on the nature of the project. Therefore it is recommended better to start a QS career with a small company at first before tackling larger projects. During your job interview, It is advisable to ask for a mentor and to meet the people you will be working with.

One of the most interesting problems of today is the availability of jobs. The explosive growth of the internet and job searching tools have led to expansive opportunities across the globe. The diversity of jobs is ever increasing due to the rising complexities involved in the way the economic engine runs. Social media jobs now exist side by side jobs in the print press. The internet has not eliminated jobs in the printing press as foretold by many. Legacy businesses still require manpower to operate. As infrastructure grows, even more maintenance work is required. In the technology industry, the skill gap is ever widening especially in the AI field. The end result is an open market that demands more and more from people.

The first thing you would notice when stepping into any subway around the world are the strained, unhappy and morose looking faces. It seems as if almost everyone who takes the train appear stoic, edgy and on the verge of blowing up. This is even more apparent in crowded metropolises. Why are there so many unhappy people in the world today? Life is meant to be enjoyed and to live to our fullest means to live above our circumstances no matter how dire it may be. We need to live with the expectant faith of the joy that God will bring into our life if we trust in Him. There is never a dull moment with the Lord!

2018 is finally here! What do you hope to achieve this year? Take the time to reflect and assess your life. Are you on track to achieving fulfilment? Are you putting in the effort to bring yourself to the next level? Be enthusiastic about life no matter the circumstance!

Social workers seem to take the brunt of societies problems. Most of these workers work in non-profit organisations and government organisations, sometimes even taking low pay despite the emotional toll due to the nature of the work. Imagine dealing with case after case of abusive parenting, childhood trauma and violence under tight constraints and strict protocols on how to respond. The job seems wearisome in nature and takes a toll on employees who selflessly put themselves in the frontline. Afterall, who looks forward to working at a call center all day taking call after call? The work seems more overbearing than rewarding. Perhaps it is time to re-assess and re-implement the idea of social work (within a social network).

"The people who are able to work from home (or wherever they want to work) most successfully are people who work for themselves. When you consult in an area of expertise that companies need, they don't care where you work. They can't afford to care, because they have pain and you have the pain relief.

It's hard to find a regular full-time job that lets you work from home. It has gotten harder over the years. Companies that used to let all or nearly all their employees work from home have become more conservative. They've called their employees back into the office. Why did they do it? The answer is managerial fear, plain and simple."

- Liz Ryan, a Forbes contributor

At Cushiejobs, we whole heartedly agree with the points mentioned in the article. Fear holds managers and management back from allowing employees to work from home. In today's digital age where smartphones are effectively smart offices with full suite features. There's no excuse not to be spending more time with family and less time in the office.

A very well written article about what time management is really about in a society where we are being told to do more and more for less and less.

In summary:
“The best companies I visited, all through the years, were never very hurried,” DeMarco said. “Maybe they used pressure from time to time, as a sort of amusing side-effect. But it was never a constant. Because you don’t get creativity for free. You need people to be able to sit back, put their feet up, and think.” Manual work can be speeded up, at least to a certain extent, by increasing the time pressure on workers. But good ideas do not emerge more rapidly when people feel under the gun – if anything, the good ideas dry up.

Our team at Cushiejobs is heartened by Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources commitment towards a pollution free world. Cities today need to model after Estonia, one of the upcoming nations boasting excellent air quality on Earth. With a population of around 1.5 million, Estonia is great place to live and work and a great travel destination as well. The air is clean and the people friendly. On the hand, Mongolia with a population of around 3 million is choking under pollution.

Today in Singapore, air pollution from a combination of vehicle emissions, dirty industries and urbanisation is visible right outside your window. The hazy appearance is a result of the sun's reflection off tiny particles in the polluted air. These particles cause irritation to the lungs and throat. As an added bonus, the cumulative effects of long term exposure shortens your life span.

Moreover, the presence of many hi rise buildings reduce wind speeds inside the country exacerbates the situation. Inter-boundary air pollution from heavy industrial and shipping activity from neighbouring countries does not help either.

Three prong approach to reduce pollution:
1) Less fossil fuel based vehicles on the road, use electric vehicles.
2) Less hi-rise buildings.
3) Less reliance on heavy industries and manufacturing plants as economic drivers.

Learn about the difference between mist and haze at Knowledgenuts.

1) In big cities, you are anonymous and can get lost in the crowd easily. Each day you see a new face. Relationships are transient.
2) Air, noise and light pollution. You can hardly get proper rest when exposed to pollution. It has a cumulative impact on health.
3) The fast pace of life wears on you. The constant hustle and bustle of cities distracts people from the natural beauty around us.
4) People who live in dense cities tend to be a lot more sensitive, this is due to the high stress of dense urban living.

The increasing use of fossil fuels and burning of plastics across the world has led to more polluted air. In cities around the world, the effects of air pollution is being felt by everyone especially in children. To get a better idea of the quality of air you are breathing in, do pre-order Flow - The Smart Air Quality Tracker. We don't have to be helpless in the fight against pollution. Be part of the community that maps out air quality in your locality. Take action today.

All of us hope to make our mark on this planet and we do this through taking on meaningful work that create impact and touches lives. Jobs such as a technician, security guard or waiter usually face high turn over rates and as such, companies are constantly looking for people to fill these positions. Fortunately, jobseekers have realised these jobs are unfulfilling due to their routine and transactional nature. We are all stewards and ministers to the earth and to the lives of others and certainly would not want to box ourselves into marginalised job roles.

Build up, right? To a certain extent yes, but not above the fifth floor, says world-renown architect Jan Gehl. "I would say that anybody living over the fifth floor ought generally to be referring to the airspace authorities. You're not part of the earth anymore, because you can't see what's going on on the ground and the people on the ground can't see where you are," he warns.

We are living in the age of mobility (since the advent of smart mobile phones), yet more people than ever find themselves stuck in low paying jobs and barely able to make end meet. These people sometimes even take on two or three jobs. The problem extends to many other countries as well. As former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn puts it, “Britain has an endemic low pay problem. While record numbers of people are in employment, too many jobs are low skill and low paid.”

Living in a dense or expensive country can feel a lot like a pressure cooker. Many have been burnt out by their jobs and their company. Sometimes the shame hits us. The lies come to us - "we have let the people around us down". You know thats a lie. In Japan and many asian countries, people are taught to put their companies first above themselves. You know thats not true. You need to take care of yourself first. Theres only one of you in the world - beautifully and wonderfully made.

This informative article highlights some important points before diving into your world changing adventure.

Top tips from Grace Chiong about being productivity at work. These include cutting out distractions and knowing the most productive hours of your day.

With so many options these days (SMCs, MNCs, NGOs, GOVs, Startups, Freelancing),
it is daunting for any fresh graduate to step out into the open market.

Even some adults get lost along the way in a marketplace rife with barriers of entries and redtape.

Regardless of which organisation you choose to work for or to lead, stay focus on developing your key gifts and talents.

Take your time to discover your own unique skillset and interests, then contribute to industry & society! Don't be discouraged.

One of Ontario's independent Workforce Development Board has published a list of the region’s top 75 in-demand jobs, categorized using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code system. Knowing what skills are in demand and how to tailor your resume to meet the region's need will be essential if you plan to stay in Canada.

Its all about engagement today. How are people talking to you? Do people constantly come to you asking you about creating the next mobile app for them? Are they asking you to help out in their next project or business venture? How would you position yourself in the market?

Many jobs which are publicised in the market today are effectively "dead end" jobs. Have you ever been in a dead end career or job? Then maybe the job isn't the right fit. When you are in the right job and taking good care of yourself, you will find yourself looking forward to the future and caring about new developments in the industry - along the lines of an industry leader.

Today, many new technologies especially in the area of software development are being developed and refined.

University graduates and working adults should take greater interests in these technologies firstly due to the fact
that technological development is often progressive and forward looking.

Moreover, working with emerging technologies often gives people the freedom to explore, tinker and execute
without the burden and bloat found on legacy systems. This makes work more pleasant and exciting.

Software frameworks often have limitless applications from space, travel, education and healthcare.

Too many HR practitioners these days post ridiculous requirements for job postings.

It doesn't have to be complicated.

Some tips on a creating good job postings :

- Broaden your eligible candidate pool by reducing requirements.
- Put creativity into your job postings to attract candidates.
- Match salary with market rates in top tier countries.

With these tips, you can attract the right talent for any given position.

On one hand businesses ask, "why would I invest in people if they are going to quit?

On the other hand, new joiners tend to quit their jobs because of a lack of training.

Businesses need to attract the right talent otherwise, time will be wasted training and re-training people.

Why do some jobs have a high turn over rate?

Perhaps, from a start, the work flow and processes are not clearly defined to the employee, causing ambiguity
and doubts to surface, leading to work frustrations and end up giving the resignation letter to the boss.

One good boss makes a large impact and difference to the lives of the employees.

How do we calculate the intrinsic value of our daily work done? Are we really underpaid?

"..economists assert that the weak growth in wages is an indicator of a new economic order in which working people
are at the mercy of their employers. Unions have lost clout.

Companies are relying on temporary and part-time workers while deploying robots and other forms of automation
in ways that allow them to produce more without paying extra to human beings. Globalization has intensified competitive pressures,
connecting factories in Asia and Latin America to customers in Europe and North America."

“Generally, people have very little leverage to get a good deal from their bosses, individually and collectively,” says Lawrence Mishel,
president of the Economic Policy Institute, a labor-oriented research organization in Washington. “People who have a decent job
are happy just to hold on to what they have.”

There are two issues facing the world today that must be addressed.

Firstly, most money is earned through sales of goods and services.

Secondly, two industries stand to gain from the former point - namely manufacturing (including pharmaceuticals) and software. These industries are easily scalable and can be fully automated, reducing the need for manpower yet generating a lot of profit from scaling. This has also led to income inequality where the owners of manufacturing and software giants stand to earn a lot by capitalising on scalability.

Contrast this with a Grab Taxi driver - said driver has to fetch 10 passengers a day in SG to earn at least 3K, not to mention fatigue from driving all day.

Therefore what is expected are increases in GDP from technology while seeing salary stagnation in the broader public.

The lack of unions has also exacerbated the effect.

There are no unions to enable Grab Taxi Drivers to earn a decent living wage without exhausting himself.

If everyone were to be equal participants in the global economy, then we would need more people to work in jobs with scalable pay.

You Don't Have to Settle! How to Find Work That Inspires You...

So you’re about to graduate (or you did recently), and you know that you want to find work that inspires you. But you’re not exactly sure how to do that, and that’s nerve-wracking. And to make matters worse, people are telling you that you’re being “perhaps a little idealistic” and that you “would be lucky to find any job in this economy!” Not the most encouraging situation.

At Cushiejobs , we’ve talked with thousands of young professionals who feel similarly and who are now charting their course. And I am here to tell you that, while it’s not always easy, it is possible. Here are the things to keep in mind if you don’t want to settle.

1. Prioritize Exploration

Before you can realistically find work that you love, you need to know what you love. For most people, this isn’t easy .

If you don’t yet have a fully developed sense of what you love, prioritize exploration. Prioritize learning. Prioritize putting yourself in new contexts, in new work environments, with new sorts of goals, challenges, and resources to work with. Not only will you get to try all sorts of things out, you’ll prove to your future employers that you are versatile, adaptable, and have a range of experiences to draw on when solving problems.

And you don’t have to job-hop to do this. Contrary to what most believe, you can do this in the context of a corporate job, if you think ahead and be proactive with taking on side projects and new initiatives at the company. Or, if you’re okay with high levels of uncertainty, you can certainly move around from job to job or project to project at different companies.

Once you've had a chance to explore for a while, you will likely notice a pattern beginning to form—both in terms of the skills that you love using and the passions that have emerged from your experiences. You can then use this pattern to choose next steps, build your confidence, and demonstrate to employers that you know why you’re a good fit for their company .

2. Focus on Values

Here’s the truth about meaningful work: It’s entirely subjective. For the most part, fulfillment boils down to three things: feeling aligned with the company's mission, enjoying your day-to-day work, and feeling like a valuable member of the team you’re working with. It has less to do with what products the company sells, or the exact nature of its environmental footprint, or the robustness of its corporate responsibility programs. You will find talented, smart, caring people working at companies that run the entire spectrum of these things. It’s a matter of who fits where.

What’s consistent among people who feel inspired by their work is an alignment of values. “Values” is a vague term, but we view this as a feeling that what someone does is consistent with who he or she is .

If you’re trying to choose between two very different opportunities (for example, a well-respected job at a marketing agency vs. a role at an interesting but unknown social enterprise), try not to base the decision on salary or resume or the expectations of friends and family. Make the decision based on this question: Where can I most effectively live my values while learning the most ?

3. Get Comfortable With (Calculated) Risks

Almost everyone who finds his or her way into a career he or she truly loves will face, at one point or another, a leap of faith or a calculated risk. Whether it's quitting a comfortable job, starting a project that has a high likelihood of failure, or breaking the news to your parents that you're not going to law school after all , these sorts of scary decisions tend to be par for the course in charting your unique career path.

If you have trouble taking risks (and who doesn’t at first?), practice by doing small things to test your tolerance for uncertainty and failure. Get in touch with people you don’t know who seem like they are doing cool things, and ask them about their story. Plan events that have a purpose and see if you can pull them off. Fundraise for a cause that you care about and see how successful you are. Set professional goals that seem scary at first, and measure your progress towards them.

4. Don't Be a Martyr

Many people think that they need to make a statement by rejecting traditional career paths as a show of how much they care about finding the perfect job, even turning down (or quitting) good options because they aren’t perfect. But really, you don’t have to put yourself into borderline poverty in order to make a statement about your long-term career goals. In fact, making extreme financial sacrifices early in your career may force you into a situation where you have to compromise more on your values later, when factors like a spouse, kids, and a mortgage enter the picture.

Though we never advise compromising your values for higher pay, we do advise being realistic and understanding that life is a marathon, not a sprint. You have decades to move toward the life that you want (of which meaningful work is just one part). If you need to take a less satisfying job while you make plans, save money for a big idea, or build critical skills, then do it—and own up to the fact that you’re doing it for a good reason.

5. But Don't Get Stuck, Either

That said, the pitfall of taking a job "just for now" is that for many people, that turns into "how the hell did I get here?" five or 10 or 20 years down the road. If meaningful work is a priority to you, don't talk yourself into complacency in a setting that isn't making you happy. If a stepping-stone job is a means to an end, don't let it slowly turn into your status quo. That's how you get stuck.

But remember that stepping stones can be interesting themselves in many ways. They can sometimes help you earn money for relatively easy work, introduce you to smart people (even if they don’t share your career goals), and in some cases even shed light on new paths that you hadn't thought about before. For example, you might find your calling in intrapreneurship —and realize that you can make positive change in a setting you originally saw as a stepping-stone to something different.

At the end of the day, with good, old-fashioned hard work and determination, finding that right job is possible. Think ahead, be strategic, and most importantly, don’t give up until you’ve found what you’re looking for.

Want to find work that inspires you? Check out these companies that are hiring on Cushiejobs now!

"When you offer a secure base, you begin to manifest trust and safety. When a person feels safe in her environment, she can transition from basic survival mode thinking to a more complex outlook, looking for opportunities and chances to thrive." - George Kohlrieser
Yet, many startups today are simply in survival mode, relying solely on external funding instead of becoming profitable from day one. Innovation rarely takes place when an organisation or country is run like "Survivor" where only the fittest survive as this leads to cut throat competition and animosity.

The best organisations are often the ones with as little managing as possible and more freedom within the organisation. Here are 12 awesome tips to know before you starting your hiring spree.

"The workforce has changed a lot," said Restaurant Operations consultant Alex Kaulbach of U.S. Foods. "The younger mindset wants to have more than a transactional experience in their employment. They want to feel like they're contributing to something."

Kaulbach said there is a high employee turnover rate in the restaurant industry - more than 65 percent nationally after a year - and said the problem lies with both the employee and the employer. According to Kaulbach, employers have to build communication and make their business a place where employees want to be. When a worker leaves, they leave because they can get the same job somewhere else and are not attached to the business, he said. Kaulbach's solution is for employers to hire employees who want to be there and make an effort to discuss the importance of serving the customer, no matter the industry.

"It's not good enough to just go through the motions," Kaulbach said. "Sixty-eight percent of people said they wouldn't go back to a restaurant because of a bad service experience."

Economic growth today continues to impact the environment in harmful ways from population growth, species extinction, desertification, pollution, resource depletion and environmental damage. As one commentator put it plainly, "Everything must be sacrificed to grow our GDP. The environment, ownership of our assets, our open spaces, our sense of fairness, our health and mental wellbeing, the poor and vulnerable. Why? Because increasing GDP will mean we have the wealth to fix all the things we sacrificed in the first place!"

"...there’s a difference between a job and some work. Most people want a job. What the landscaper, and too many employers in the U.S. today, are offering is simply some work. If you don’t offer loyalty or the promise of a future to a potential employee at a time of 2.4 percent unemployment, why should people come flocking to your door?"

Jennifer Dulski, former COO of change.org has landed a job as Product Leader of Facebook Groups. Community development has always been part of Facebook's efforts to connect the world through local and online communities. However, every community needs a steward. This is where community managers come in. Being a good community manager can make all the difference in whether a group is useful or not. The community manager plays the role in conflict management, recognising interests in the community, and developing the voices of the people in the community.

Job simulator is a highly rated VR game for Occulus Touch, HTC Vive and Playstation VR. The game lends a humorous view to 9 to 5 jobs. Juggling and grabbing objects in virtual reality is quite fun too!

Potato Pirates is an upcoming educational card game which teaches simple programming concepts in a fun and engaging way. The product is created by Codomo and features cute illustrations making it perfect for the whole family.

Retailers try self-checkout, QR codes, data and more as labor costs soar...

Why people change jobs apart from higher salary gains :
- The need to be challenged
- The need for clear career path
- The ability to make an impact

What do data scientists do in the business world? Well, the main role played by data scientists is to provide analysis and insights into the business and industry. Working with business developers and owners as part of business intelligence, the findings published by data scientists help steer the company in the right direction in response to business goals & market trends.

Skills you will need:
1) Familiarity with data visualisation tools like Tableau
2) Working knowledge of programming languages like R or Python
3) Working knowledge of database queries like SQL

Like all other technology careers, it is ever changing and the knowledge acquired can be applied across various industries.

Find out more about data scientist jobs with Cushiejobs!

A new AI lab is to be opened in Montréal - the second to be opened outside of the United States as part of efforts to grow a stronger Canadian technology ecosystem. "The researchers will develop new ways of teaching machines the complex relationship between actions and results, known as reinforcement learning. They will also develop dialog systems for machines and computers that enable them to speak with users in a natural and easily understandable way."

Did you know NTUC has started offering educational courses across various industries in Singapore? Find out more on their website.

The following do not require an EA licence:

Wholly web-based job portals.
Organisations and individuals who maintain and operate any job bulletin board and who do not otherwise carry out any matching or placement.
Organisations who submit work pass applications and who do not otherwise carry out any matching or placement.
Recognised universities or educational institutions.
Community Development Councils.
Employment and Employability Institute Pte Ltd.
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG)
To find out more about licence exemptions, refer to the:

Employment Agencies (Exemption) Order 2011
Employment Agencies (Exemption) Order 2014

Organisations today need to adopt a friendly working policy to attract talent. For example, in the case of MTR, "..the company offered more employee-friendly work hours, in a bid to attract more workers, giving drivers two weeks off after every eight weeks of work. The strategy appeared to have paid off, Lee said, as the company got 21,000 applications for 400 driver positions." Such a policy definitely goes toward a more sustainable working environment as millennials love to travel.

The traditional insurance industry is disrupted with the advent of new technology. Find out how you can get participate in Insurtech.

Working in an office has its perks like air-conditioning yet being stuck in the office can also be soul destroying. It just might be the right time to go beyond desk jobs for something more adventurous!

If you have a desk bound job, chances are you will hate it. Although there is nothing fundamentally wrong with having a desk bound job, being stuck to a desk all day isn’t exactly fun nor inspiring. I doubt anyone would look forward to spending all day indoors. The next time someone offers you a desk bound job ( or one with corporate rules and obligations ), say “no thanks, there’s something better planned for me”.

If you dread waking up in the mornings, you are not alone. Many people today disdain their jobs mainly due to the fact that much of the work that is done is routine and uninspiring. If you find yourself entrenched in a routine or find your work tedious and overly repetitive, by all means, spend every effort you can to get out of it! It is more harmful to your well being than you think despite the false sense of security stemming from predictability. Make it an aim to wake up excited each day!

1) Launch a startup in Singapore - get a UEN number.
2) Invite people who are willing to make your idea a reality.
3) Gain momentum and grow.

Tips:
1) Don't expect overnight success.
2) Be prepared to swallow your pride.
3) Surround yourself with people who can encourage or guide you.
4) Don't do it for the sake of money alone.
5) Don't try to do it all alone. Invite talents to join you on your mission.

Are demands constantly placed on you? Is your work life giving or life sapping? How "breathable" is your work environment? Take your time to ask yourself these questions to enable yourself to make better choices in life. You won't regret it.

Here is a list of skilled occupations in demand compiled by the Australian Government. Knowing what skills you have and what you can do will help you in your journey.

"Whether you are a Christian or not, you must never think that simply believing in something is enough. You can believe in your dreams, but you have to take action to make them happen. You can believe in your talents and have faith in your abilities, but if you don't develop them and put them to use, what good are they? You can believe that you are a good and caring person, but if you don't treat others with goodness and care, where is the proof?" - Excerpt from Nick Vujicic's Life Without Limits

Having a career and staying engaged in it is just like being in a relationship - you need to have an open mind towards discovering new developments and new ways of doing things. Unfortunately, in today's era of rapid progress, distractions have multiplied as well. Many end up distracted by the gritty details and routines thus losing precious sight of the sometimes amazing developments in the chosen career and industry. Pay attention today to the obstacles and challenges and make your career great again.