Centre for Career Excellence

Do watch this sharing by Minister Lawrence Wong in parliament.

What do you think about what the government do less or more, and what we ourselves must do to be relevant in the required workforce?

Employment and foreign manpower debate: Closing remarks The Government will continue to balance different interests and make difficult policy decisions concerning jobs and foreigners, especially when the good of a...

This is a quote I adapted from football.

“I am not interested in being the best coach in the world. I want to be the coach of the person who is the best in the world at what they set out to do.”

So for those out there aspiring to be a life or career coach, don’t be the best. Be the coach of someone who becomes the best.

Happy Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all.

Management & staff wish our Muslim friends a joyous celebration of Hari Raya Adilfitri with forgiveness, fellowship and food.

Please stay safe and look after each other.

Centre for Career Excellence would like to wish our dear Muslim friends and community a joyful and prosperous Eid celebration! ⭐🥳

We wish everyone good health and to stay safe during this festive period. 🎊

Here's a sombre note to all aspiring coaches out there.

You do not become a professional coach by getting a certificate.

You become one by doing.

Networking has become a buzzword and like many others, it is often not done effectively.

Over the past two months, I have been busy catching up with friends and associates, and talking to new acquaintances on football and business.

There is this emphasis on self branding through networking. I find greater value in knowing people who are wonderful human beings. People who can make my life a better one just by having a connection to good people.

Don’t try too hard to promote yourself in networking. You will miss the goodness at the other end when you are more interested in talking about yourself.

When you listen and ask about the other person, something magical happens - you are more noticeable when people find you noticing them.

I seldom advocate myself when networking. I share my mission and my vulnerabilities. When you do that the dot that you want to connect with lights up together with you. That’s when the group of dots become brighter and more vibrant.

I speak to at least five persons a day on the phone. Not via zoom or WhatsApp.

In the past, I was in my comfort zone using texting or other virtual platforms. I learn to communicate better when I have to rely on my voice and spoken words to convey my thoughts. On the phone it is also easier to pause in allowing the other person to complete what they want to say.

When you can’t show, you learn to say. And to listen.

Happy networking!

“Bringing coaching to more people.”

That was my reply when asked what I do for work. I told them it is not just work but my mission.

I must have spoken to more than a hundred people over the last two months. They came to Centre for Career Excellence to ask about coaching as a profession. Many people feel lost and some have doubts about themselves. They all want a better life and a good career.

The job market is not what it used to be when we have an abundance of work that we can choose. Now many jobs are no more. They are being replaced with new jobs that some of us are not confident of doing or even think we are suitable for the job.

Coaching is the key to the future of work in the new economy. It aims to empower people to increase their performance through self awareness, goal setting, having a development plan and following through by taking actions.

Coaching is not teaching. Coaches do not teach but use teachable moments to support self awareness and accountability.

If we do not take responsibility for our dreams and aspirations, can we expect others to care?

Coaches must first care about people before they do anything else.

That is why I say to people who bother to listen - coaching is always about what is good for the person being coached to address solving a problem or achieving a goal. It is not just listening or helping people know themselves better. It is not coaching when there is no outcome - a problem solved or a goal achieved.

Everyone should have a coach.

Every top athlete has a coach. Why shouldn’t you if you want to achieve excellence in your work or life.

Bringing coaching to more people is a meaningful mission.

I want to say this to people who will bother to listen:

“Get a coach. You will achieve living your dreams earlier.

And one day pay it forward by being a coach. Help others achieve their dreams earlier like you.”

I am happy to share that I hired an executive coach just a few days before my 56th birthday this year. I want to achieve business success earlier.

And I made a promise that I will pay it forward when I become a community coach or even an executive coach to aspiring entrepreneurs one day not too far into the future.

It Is Never Too Late to Have a Career

This is a true story that some trainers here know me and actually helped me to recruit this group of job seekers.

I was doing sales training for elderly Singaporeans at my previous workplace. They came to us through the employability courses that we were offering with WSQ programs. Many completed the courses and had difficulty getting a job. I am not even sure if they were expecting any real employment prospect.

These were some feedbacks.

“Are you sure anyone would give us a job. We are old already.”

“Ah Boy, I am 60 years old.”

“I don’t know computers.”

“Past 50 years old already, people want younger workers.”

“I apply for so many jobs. No one give chance.”

I was the General Manager then. It was disheartening to know that our older Singaporeans were so discouraged and had given up on ever finding work. And many of them also had chronic illnesses. Perhaps, some of them really believed that they were too old and also, they were somehow condemned by their illnesses. I wanted to do something. I approached my CEO and convinced him to allow me to recruit and manage the sales department.

For two years, I recruited sales people from those attending our employability courses. I literally conducted weekly career talks and sales training spending one and a half day empowering new recruits by enabling them to change their mindset about age and illness, guiding them in using their smart phones and helping them to learn sales techniques.

In every class, I would write in big letters on the white board “Survive and Prosper”. I would make them do an exercise that goes like this.

“I want all of you to make a list of all your monthly expense item and write down the amount that they are spending on each item.”

“Now total that amount. It’s for one month of expenses. Now write down what you want to save each month. Also think of one thing you love to do this year. How much would it cost?”

“Add the three amounts together. That is what you want to earn monthly.”

“The average Singaporean is expected to live to 85 years. Minus your current age from 65. That is how long you will need to have money.”

“Take the number and multiply that with your monthly expenses. What is the number?”

One common example is a 65-year-old man with the amount of $1,500. So, it’s 20 years x 12 months x $1,500 per month. The number comes up to $360,000.

“Do you have $360,000 in savings?”

I have trained about 800 recruits in two years. Only one person said yes to the question.

Most of them joined our sales team. Some did not stay long but were gainfully employed as full-time sales staff or on part-time basis. I left the company a year ago and there were more than one hundred of them still working there. A few of them became sales leaders and others transferred to the administration department.

There was one uncle who stayed till age 85 and I was sad that he passed away last year. He was healthy and fit despite the age.

Survive & Prosper means knowing your career priorities, and for some it is to earn income first (get a job) and then to pursue career excellence.

Career Excellence = Good Income, Meaningful Work and Professional Growth. A client of mine requested to add “Happy Workplace” to the formula.

If it not too late for those 60 years and above to start a sales career, it is never too late for anyone to plan for an excellent career.

“Ah Boy, I am 60 years old.”

To that I replied - “You must stay healthy and fit. I am going to hire you.”

It is never too late.

We want to thank all the people who have contacted us with regards to their interest in coaching as a leadership skill. And some of them have asked about seeking help on the SGUnited Jobs & Skills schemes.

Please find attached the flyer with useful information or contacts for further assistance, and also a table created to explain the difference between SGUnited Skills and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways programmes.

The "How to Apply" information in the table may come in handy for those who find it difficult to navigate the web of information in the internet.

The SGUnited schemes do not guarantee job placement. So you will still have to do your own job search or career plan. This is where Centre for Career Excellence can support your career journey.

Achieving career excellence means having:
1) Good income
2) Meaningful work
3) Professional growth opportunities.

Success does not come easy. For some of us, it may mean having to survive first, and then doing the necessary to prosper.

Feel free to use this link to arrange for the career advisory session.
https://calendly.com/cce-career-advisory/60min?month=2021-01

Wishing everyone a wonderful TGIF.

Yes, it is Friday.