ST Headstart: Staying relevant at work at any age
While mastering our current jobs may seem good enough, jobs change and the world of work is always evolving. In some cases, we may even have to consider entirely new jobs and upskill accordingly. On this week's Headstart On Record podcast, we explore how career coaching can help you to proactively plan your next steps and ensure your skills remain sharp and relevant in a dynamic job market.
If you're a fresh graduate struggling with the job hunt, you're not alone. Fresh grads here are facing a more challenging employment landscape due to factors like artificial intelligence and the trade war. Journalist Megan Wee shares the stories of recent grads navigating these challenges.
What are some other topics you'd like us to cover? Send us your thoughts at headstart@sph.com.sg
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Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Happy, healthy, home-ready: Sanctuary prepares rescued kitties for adoption
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Ms Eva Helina Irman, operations manager of Little Katpaws, keeping the cats at the animal shelter active. SINGAPORE – Ms Eva Helina Irman runs Little Katpaws, a cat shelter on the second floor of a shophouse in Aliwal Street. The cat sanctuary, about 2,000 sq ft, is designed like a home for felines to roam freely. This is to help the rescued cats 'acclimate to human homes should they get adopted', said Ms Eva, 28, who is the operations manager. Little Katpaws was started by her 48-year-old mother Katrina Shamsudin in 2016. 'It was a small place located at Ming Arcade in Cuscaden Road. We had only 10 cats then,' Ms Eva told The Straits Times. 'I was 13 when I pestered her into fostering some cats. Eventually, it became her pet project,' Ms Eva said of her mother. 'We moved to a much bigger place in North Bridge Road in 2020 and at one point, we even helped rescue 40 cats from a hoarder. We managed to find homes for 25 of them. A few of those cats are still with us,' she added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Group CEO Her mother used to run a boarding place for cats but called it quits after 'some owners stopped paying for the food and board, or simply became uncontactable when it was time for the cats to go home', according to Ms Eva, who previously worked for charities. 'The boarding provided income for the sanctuary. With that gone, we depend on donations from kind people and that makes up 30 per cent of our expenditure. The rest comes from our own pockets,' she said. Cats are allowed to roam the shelter, but those that are sick are confined in glass rooms. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO The largest portion of the expenses goes to veterinary care and food. On some months, the donations dipped so low that almost 90 per cent of the costs came out of their own pockets. Today, Little Katpaws houses a total of 30 cats. Ms Eva has capped the number at 40 to prevent overcrowding. She has also installed created rooms with glass doors to separate cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) so that the healthy ones are protected. FIV attacks a cat's immune system, leaving it vulnerable to infections. FeLV is a form of leukaemia that causes a variety of diseases as it invades cells in the immune system and blood-forming tissues. Segregating the sick kitties 'does not mean these cats do not get sun and exercise', Ms Eva said. Two of the 30 cats at the sanctuary. Operations manager Eva Helina Irman said many of the residents are ready for adoption. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO They are let out at different times of the day to roam some of the other rooms, which would be thoroughly cleaned after use. 'Cat shelters need to prioritise the well-being of their feline residents. Therefore, they need to provide adequate space, safe and clean environments, and proper healthcare,' she added. Currently, there are no common set of national guidelines to help shelters adopt best practices across the board. Ms Eva relies on what she has learnt online and through experiences to ensure her feline residents are 'happy, healthy and ready to be adopted'. 'Only when the new regulations come out will we see how we can tweak our current practices to ensure we toe the line,' she said.
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
'May you find rainbows in your skies': Outpouring of support for Jetstar Asia staff as closure looms, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - Soon after news broke in June about the closure of low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia, flight attendant Wayne Lee started receiving small gifts and notes from passengers. The in-flight customer service manager was so moved by this that he now keeps the notes with him at all times, tucked into his cabin bag. "It's a really warm gesture," Lee told The Straits Times. He said the kindness of passengers has helped him cope with an uncertain future. The Singapore-based airline announced on June 11 that it would cease operations on July 31 - more than 20 years after its maiden flight in December 2004. it would cease operations on July 31. The final flight - from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila - is scheduled to land at Changi Airport at 9.30pm. More than 500 employees will be laid off when the airline closes. "I had a sinking feeling," Lee said, describing how he felt when he heard about the airline's closure. "I'm thinking about my future," said the 42-year-old Malaysian, who has been a flight attendant since he joined Jetstar Asia in December 2011. When asked whether he intends to remain in the industry, his answer was unequivocal: "I will. I must". Lee said many Jetstar Asia employees have received an outpouring of support from passengers since June 11. "It's been really heart-warming." One note in particular, given to him by a family flying to Krabi, brought tears to his eyes, Lee said. His voice shook as he read the note aloud: "Thank you for showing up and serving us with a smile despite the heartbreaking and uncertain news. "We appreciate your dedication to ensuring our safety and comfort throughout the flight. The skies are blue and broad. May you always find rainbows in your skies." 'I love you, bro!' Captain Roy Espinosa Agarrado, 57, has been a pilot for 35 years, including 18 with Jetstar Asia. The affable aviator told ST that on a recent flight to Bali, a passenger shouted: "I love you, bro!" This was after Capt Agarrado had made an announcement thanking passengers for supporting Jetstar Asia. His response? "Bro, I love you too!" This lightened the mood and put passengers at ease, Capt Agarrado said. It is his habit to banter with passengers and to make announcements from outside the cockpit, preferring to use the PA system that the crew uses. On a recent flight, he told passengers: "Do you have your boarding passes? Can you just wave it in the air? Save them - in 10 years, you can sell that." Capt Agarrado, a Filipino, started his career in 1990, flying in the Philippine Air Force for a decade. He then joined two commercial airlines before moving to Jetstar Asia in 2007. On June 10, Capt Agarrado said his pilot chat group on WhatsApp lit up with messages discussing scheduling changes the next day. Jetstar Asia had cancelled seven flights from Changi Airport on June 11 and re-timed another seven. When his First Officer asked his thoughts, Captain Agarrado told him not to worry. "I'm pretty sure the company is stable," he recalls saying. He was woken up by his wife the next morning. She was in tears, having seen the airline's closure on the news. "Shivers went down my spine," said Capt Agarrado, a father of three. Jetstar Asia shared with ST pictures of the small gifts and many notes - and even a drawing from young passengers - its flight and cabin crew have received, including biscuits, chocolates, pastries and sweets. "Wishing all of you strength," one note read. "This may be a difficult time for you, but every cloud has a silver lining... Thank you for your service and hospitality," another said. Yet another note said: "Wherever life takes you next, I hope it's first class." This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction. [[nid:718999]]
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
‘May you find rainbows in your skies': Outpouring of support for Jetstar Asia staff as closure looms
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Many Jetstar Asia employees have received an outpouring of support from passengers since June 11. SINGAPORE – Soon after news broke in June about the closure of low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia, flight attendant Wayne Lee started receiving small gifts and notes from passengers. The in-flight customer service manager was so moved by this that he now keeps the notes with him at all times, tucked into his cabin bag. 'It's a really warm gesture,' Mr Lee told The Straits Times. He said the kindness of passengers has helped him cope with an uncertain future. The Singapore-based airline announced on June 11 that it would cease operations on July 31 – more than 20 years after its maiden flight in December 2004. The final flight – from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila – is scheduled to land at Changi Airport at 9.30pm. More than 500 employees will be laid off when the airline closes. 'I had a sinking feeling,' Mr Lee said, describing how he felt when he heard about the airline's closure. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died World Trump administration moves to release Epstein case transcripts amid public scrutiny Singapore New auto pet wash service in Buona Vista draws flak, but firm stands by its safety Asia 'Guardian angels': Taiwan's dementia-friendly village promotes ageing in place Singapore 314 suicides reported in Singapore in 2024, remains leading cause of youth deaths Life US tech firm launches probe into Coldplay 'kiss cam' couple after clip goes viral Opinion A modern interpretation of Islam in Indonesia fuels a push for 'global Muslims' 'I'm thinking about my future,' said the 42-year-old Malaysian, who has been a flight attendant since he joined Jetstar Asia in December 2011. When asked whether he intends to remain in the industry, his answer was unequivocal: 'I will. I must'. Mr Lee said many Jetstar Asia employees have received an outpouring of support from passengers since June 11. 'It's been really heart-warming.' One note in particular, given to him by a family flying to Krabi, brought tears to his eyes, Mr Lee said. His voice shook as he read the note aloud: 'Thank you for showing up and serving us with a smile despite the heartbreaking and uncertain news. 'We appreciate your dedication to ensuring our safety and comfort throughout the flight. The skies are blue and broad. May you always find rainbows in your skies.' Mr Wayne Lee, 42, an in-flight customer service manager with Jetstar Asia, shows the note a passenger left for him. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR 'I love you, bro!' Captain Roy Espinosa Agarrado, 57, has been a pilot for 35 years, including 18 with Jetstar Asia. The affable aviator told ST that on a recent flight to Bali, a passenger shouted: 'I love you, bro!' This was after Capt Agarrado had made an announcement thanking passengers for supporting Jetstar Asia. His response? 'Bro, I love you too!' This lightened the mood and put passengers at ease, Capt Agarrado said. It is his habit to banter with passengers and to make announcements from outside the cockpit, preferring to use the PA system that the crew uses. On a recent flight, he told passengers: 'Do you have your boarding passes? Can you just wave it in the air? Save them – in 10 years, you can sell that.' Capt Agarrado, a Filipino, started his career in 1990, flying in the Philippine Air Force for a decade. He then joined two commercial airlines before moving to Jetstar Asia in 2007. Captain Roy Agarrado, 57, has been a pilot at Jetstar Asia for 18 years. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR On June 10, Capt Agarrado said his pilot chat group on WhatsApp lit up with messages discussing scheduling changes the next day. Jetstar Asia had cancelled seven flights from Changi Airport on June 11 and re-timed another seven. When his First Officer asked his thoughts, Captain Agarrado told him not to worry. 'I'm pretty sure the company is stable,' he recalls saying. He was woken up by his wife the next morning. She was in tears, having seen the airline's closure on the news. 'Shivers went down my spine,' said Capt Agarrado, a father of three. Jetstar Asia shared with ST pictures of the small gifts and many notes – and even a drawing from young passengers – its flight and cabin crew have received, including biscuits, chocolates, pastries and sweets. Jetstar Asia shared pictures of the small gifts and many notes its flight and cabin crew have received. PHOTO: JETSTAR ASIA 'Wishing all of you strength,' one note read. 'This may be a difficult time for you, but every cloud has a silver lining... Thank you for your service and hospitality,' another said. Yet another note said: 'Wherever life takes you next, I hope it's first class.' Jetstar Asia staff have received an outpouring of support from passengers as its closure looms. PHOTO: JETSTAR ASIA
