Welcome to the latest edition of ST HeadSTart, bringing you the best of The Straits Times’ career and personal finance coverage every Tuesday noon. Sign up here to get weekly tips right into your inbox.
Choosing a good career coach and AI-related layoffs are among the other topics we look at this week.
Hi there! It’s Prisca again. I hope you enjoyed the long weekend – I’m feeling some guilt from eating too many pineapple tarts.
I often hear that the best time to start looking for a job is around this time of the year, as vacancies tend to open up when people resign after collecting their bonuses. I’ve seen more acquaintances dress up their professional networking site photos with an #OpenToWork filter. It’s encouraging to see others take charge of their job hunts. However, I sometimes wonder if that is a good idea.
Some employers might perceive a status like that as a sign of ingratitude, a recruitment expert tells my colleague Tay Hong Yi. This could potentially sour the work relationship and make it difficult to tap your current network for new connections, or return to the company in future. In his latest askST Jobs column, Hong Yi discusses some things to consider before indicating on a professional networking platform that you’re open to new jobs, if you are still in your current role.
It’s not all doom and gloom – there are situations where it’s helpful to say you’re open to work. For example, there is less stigma around taking on multiple jobs in creative industries such as advertising, design, film or publishing. This also applies to some technology specialists, such as software developers and cyber-security professionals, who have highly sought-after technical skills.
Would you say you’re open to a new job on a professional networking site? Tell me more at headstart@sph.com.sg
I hope you enjoy the rest of the stories in today’s HeadSTart newsletter. Cheers to the short work week!
Podcast: How to choose a good career coach
What goes on during a career coaching session, and what types of issues can coaching help you with? Listen to the latest episode of Career Talk for insights.
More travellers paying for packages with customised trips
These personalised services offer the freedom to travel at your own pace, without the stress of trip planning.
AI driving more layoffs than companies want to admit
Many of these kinds of cuts will happen quietly as companies try to avoid being the subject of headlines, say experts.
The pain and pleasure of selling used things on Carousell
We sometimes get immediate gratification from throwing unwanted items away, but there is a deeper sense of satisfaction that comes from being a part of the “circular commerce” cycle, says the writer.
How companies say ‘layoffs’ without saying ‘layoffs’
Companies seem to believe that if they use language that is more vague, people won’t get as upset, said a professor, adding that such language has the opposite effect instead.
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