EBC In The News

Singapore Tonight: Singapore labour market remained tight with more vacancies than jobseekers

Vivian Tay, Director, Consumer Sales & Marketing

EBC’s Director of Consumer Sales & Marketing, Vivian Tay, joined Channel News Asia for a live interview to discuss insights from the latest Ministry of Manpower report, sharing perspectives on what employers value most in today’s fresh graduates. She highlighted how immediately transferable skills can give candidates a meaningful edge in a competitive job market.

Singapore Tonight: Job opportunities and challenges faced by recent graduates, insights from seasoned headhunters

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

EBC Asia's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Bradshaw, was invited to Channel News Asia's "Singapore Tonight" programme for a live interview.

During the interview, Richard discussed the topic of job opportunities for recent graduates and provided valuable advice for those facing difficulty securing employment in Singapore. 

While EBC's clientele typically consists of executives, it was exceptionally fulfilling to leverage our extensive expertise in headhunting to assist not only recent graduates but a wider demographic, including the younger population within the 15-24 age range.

Singapore's fresh graduates list salaries as top priority in job hunt: Survey

Shalynn Ler, General Manager, Singapore

EBC Singapore's General Manager, Shalynn Ler, was invited by CNA for a live interview on the latest poll from GTI Media on graduate sentiments. 

For the first time in 14 years, Singapore's fresh graduates have listed salaries as the top priority in their job hunts, with 69% believing that it will be tough to find a good job upon graduation. Shalynn shared her on-the-ground experience on the competitive talent landscape, insights on the fresh graduate perspective, and the significance of workplace experience. 

Employment rate for private university graduates falls but median salaries rise 

Claire Teo, Principal Consultant, Technology & Sales

EBC Asia's Technology expert, Claire Teo, was invited by CNA to share her insights and comments following the latest employment survey conducted by SkillsFuture SG.

Claire explained that this willingness to wait a tough market out in search of better opportunities, coupled with a mindset shift of not "settling" for the first job that lands in front of them, can account for the longer period of time it takes for today's fresh graduates to find a full-time job as compared to those from previous years. 

Healthcare, maritime sectors tackle local talent shortage by redesigning jobs, creating work stints for undergraduates

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Richard was invited by CNA to comment on Singapore's efforts to boost its talent market for in-demand skills. Many of these roles are relatively tougher to fill due to perspectives that may be outdated. How can we educate for higher job success and redesign roles to be more attractive? Some steps being taken include boosting job experience opportunities for pre-graduates in the health sector and redesigning jobs to be more decision making and management focused in the maritime sector.

Sustainable practices should be a priority for more local companies

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

There’s a need to get more SME’s to adopt greener operations as they make up for 99% of all enterprises in Singapore. About 70% of the country’s workforce were not just hoping for Singapore to become a green-friendly environment, but were concerned whether or not Singapore was doing enough to get to a position to call itself a leader in green and sustainable ways of operating.

More companies adopt flexible work arrangements amid mindset shift among job seekers

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Job seekers are not just looking for that single currency, again of dollars and cents. They want the whole package now and that whole package includes the flexible work arrangements, the CSR policy, the green collar policy and so on and so forth.

People that have bound commitments, maybe the category of job seeker who wants to travel in their career, these types of people will be looking at these roles nowadays while I am having to look outside of the country, or a different means of making money.

Niche skills required for roles in new digital banking industry

Shalynn Ler, General Manager, Singapore

We’re talking about competing with the big tech companies that came from the Silicon Valley. It’s not just about the base salary. We expect that if these digital banks are looking to compete for talent in those segments, they will need to consider some form of benefits in addition the base salary as well.

askST Jobs: Is meeting stated job requirements enough to clinch the role?

Cherrie Lim, Director, Banking & Financial Services

Meeting all the stated job requirements may not guarantee you the position. This is because, many aspects of a job are not, or cannot be, included in the (job) description, says Ms Cherrie Lim, a director at executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman.

These include cultural fit, the hiring manager's personal preferences, salary expectations, the urgency of the role or internal policies like nationality quotas, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, she notes. 

Oil traders, tech professionals among big earners: MOM salary data 

Jenny Su, Senior Director, Marketing

On the strong earnings that oil and bunker traders posted, Ms Jenny Su, senior director at executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman, said the occupation has historically commanded high salaries owning to the specialised knowledge and significant financial stakes involved. 

"The volatility in global energy markets has intensified the need for expert traders, contributing to the recent wage surge" she said, citing geopolitical tensions and fluctuating oil prices as some causes of the volatility. 

askST Jobs: How do I deal with multiple bosses at once?

Linus Choo, Regional Executive Director, Legal & Governance

Mr Linus Choo, regional executive director of executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman, notes that in a system where an individual has to report to multiple leaders at work, the employee has to be comfortable with each boss having different expectations, communication styles and timelines, which need to be prioritised.

Such a set-up enables quicker decision-making, especially in dynamic situations, Mr Choo notes, adding: "Employees are able to see the bigger picture instead of operating in silos." 

Foreign work pass changes pose interim challenges, but could yield opportunities

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Mr Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive for Asia at executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman, said the increased qualifying salary will likely squeeze smaller enterprises. 



"We advise such clients to think outside the box with remuneration packages, start searches earlier, and predict as best they can roles that may require to be filled by EP holders, to give finding Singaporean candidates a bigger chance." 

'Chaotic working' tops S'pore workplace trends in 2023, survey finds

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

On the desire of job seekers to join larger organisations, Mr Bradshaw said organisations that provide the access such employees crave tend to be robust, forward-thinking medium-sized organisations. The largest firms may have more opportunities, but there is also greater competition. 

“Larger companies are flush with a wide gamut of supporting acts, resources and prospects, but there is an army of employees looking to take advantage of as many of these as possible," he added.

Librarians, creative ad professionals among S'pore jobs with over 50% median wage growth in 2022

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

On the sterling wage growth among creative advertising professionals, Mr Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer of executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman Asia, said it is becoming harder to suss out clients' and audiences' requirements, cues and interests.

"As a result, innovative thinkers driving branding and narrative have become prized assets," he said. He also said these professionals must be able to help companies quickly evolve advertising strategies in tandem with rapidly changing social media platforms, highlighting concepts like inclusivity and sustainability while using methodologies, partnerships and collaborations for the ad to go viral online.

Could Al be the comeback break for experienced workers?

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Younger workers have better digital skills and are more willing to explore new technologies. Older workers are better at aligning firms' implementation of AI with organisational goals, given their better understanding of industry challenges.



“(Mature workers) can identify patterns, make connections and provide insights that might not be immediately apparent to Al systems," he said. "Additionally, the interpersonal skills are difficult for Al to replicate.”

Credit Suisse still hiring in S'pore ahead of UBS takeover

Christopher Poh, Associate Director, Banking & Financial Services 

Credit Suisse is having a tough time attracting top talent. However, there are also opportunistic candidates open to exploring a career with the bank as it restructures and focuses on core areas like wealth management.



Given the exodus of bankers and product specialists, Credit Suisse has to hire replacements for core roles within the bank for it to continue functioning. There have been ongoing departures from Credit Suisse since its instability emerged and those remaining were largely ‘core staff’ by the time the merger was announced.

Al scientists, nurses among 27 occupations that will get bonus points for employment pass approvals

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Despite the improvements that Compass brings to the application process, recent waves of firms' cost-cutting and hiring freezes may not help Singapore's quest for top foreign talent.

In the broader picture, an overseas candidate considering a move to Singapore will factor in real-life challenges like increasing rental, high living costs, distance from home, macro economy and stabilities."

With current market uncertainties, he said, "It might still be a slow uptake for existing EP holders who are yet to renew."

“There's a human cost”: Bumpy road ahead for UBS-Credit Suisse marriage in S'pore

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

"So it might be the case where only core members of Credit Suisse will partake in the merger, with no additional cuts from the Credit Suisse side post-merger."



"What we could see is perhaps the internal movement of employees from the investment bank to the private wealth business, given that these banks have been pushing for a one-stop solution for their clients."

Deloitte to add 3,000 new hires in S'pore within five years to boost accountancy sector

Shalynn Ler, General Manager, Singapore

Companies struggle to fill roles at the assistant manager and manager levels, and some are turning to neighbouring countries.



Having gone through the tech crisis, candidates who are now still studying may start to view accounting as an attractive proposition for a career again. As a technology and finance hub, Singapore will have a guaranteed flow of jobs for accounting and finance professionals.

Steady interest in Singapore's One Pass, Global Investor Programme

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Singapore's emphasis on formal employment or major investment differs from regional neighbours, such as Indonesia, that seek to tap the consumer spending power of digital nomads or retirees.

Although Singapore has slightly more fixed rules than other destinations... it would be a huge shame to risk sacrificing the strengths of its economy to appeal to every niche of talent out there.

askST Jobs: How to prepare for your first work trip abroad

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

"Take the opportunity to observe how it affects you personally too: Write down problems you face,” he adds. You can also volunteer to do work that you would not usually be able to do back home, such as connecting with industry experts there, or kick-starting international collaboration that remain on the drawing board, such as workshops with your overseas peers.

5 Tips for S'poreans gunning for top jobs overseas 

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

"One of the fundamental things about expatriate packages is that they are made possible by a lower wage bill for the people they manage compared with where they come from.” He said such a cost advantage is unlikely to exist in developed economies that are likely more popular with Singaporeans.

Yet, he said, Singaporean talents still commonly insist on such packages, typically to offset higher taxes than they pay locally. This comes at a
long-term cost to career development. He said: "You almost shoot yourself in the foot, and exclude yourself from the viable candidate pool."

S'pore employers' attitudes to job hoppers changing amid rising trend

Rob Wisdom, Director, Supply Chain & Procurement

Long working hours and lack of work-life balance were exacerbated by the pandemic. Anxiety related to layoffs and company stability were also reasons why candidates look to jump ship.



Many also took the pandemic as a signal to explore opportunities in industries that were ‘the future’ or more ‘pandemic proof’.

MAS calling for study on jobs, skills needed for green practices in finance sector

Cherrie Lim, Director, Banking & Financial Services

Usually, such roles would encompass working closely with internal or external stakeholders to drive the sustainability agenda of the firm and promoting best-practice environmental, social and governance (ESG), and sustainability assessments through their processes and deals.



From my experience, most clients created a new business area or team with dedicated sustainability roles as it reflects a more focused approach in seriously growing this space.

Acing the exit interview, and why you shouldn’t use it to let loose

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Richard Bradshaw, Asia Chief Executive of recruitment firm Ethos BeathChapman, said you should prepare to answer 2 questions that will almost definitely be asked.

1. Why are you leaving?
2. Where are you going?

He describes these as “big potential banana skins” and strongly advises that the answers are rehearsed ahead of time.

Bradshaw advocates speaking honestly in the exit interview too, but advises being “economical and pragmatic" with what you share.“ Stick to the facts and only the facts you are comfortable sharing, and also speak generally, not personally." This, he says, will help you keep things professional.

“Be grateful, not hateful," said Bradshaw. Before anything else, thank your employers for their time, express appreciation for the opportunity, and acknowledge the learnings gained during your tenure.

Burning Questions: Tech layoffs and joining the tech sector

Claire Teo, Principal Consultant, Singapore

Claire Teo, Principle Consultant of Technology from Ethos BeathChapman, shared her ideas addressing the burning question, "With tech companies laying off workers, is there any chance for them to join the sector? Is it still worth it to learn tech skills?”

As Claire suggests, although companies are cutting headcounts, there is still demand. Companies that have been quite conservative in hiring over the past years are still growing their teams. However, to stand out from the crowd, it is quite necessary to learn some tech skills.

Making friends at work: how close is too close?

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

"Following your gut and learning to use your intuition (comes in handy) in these situations,” he says. “Ultimately, it is important to maintain your personal boundaries, and be cautious around those who do not respect them, or tend to be unnecessarily judgmental."

“(It is definitely important to) be part of the business and not appear separate or fragmented,” says Bradshaw, adding that being approachable and open to others at the workplace is one of the key hallmarks to establishing healthy work relationships.

Burning Question: Job interviews are so nerve-racking! How can I become more confident and conquer it better?

Jenny Su, Head of Marketing, Senior Director, Asia

While job interviews are always nerve-racking, Jenny Su, Head of Marketing from Ethos BeathChapman shared some tips to help ease pre-interview jitters:

• Being nervous is natural
• Research the company and the people
• Critical questions to ask yourself
• Practice, practice and practice
• Create optimal circumstances

1 in 3 S'pore workers expect 4-day work weeks to be a norm, but experts think there's still a long way to go

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

A new norm? Maybe not so soon, experts say. Mr Richard Bradshaw, Asia chief executive officer of headhunting boutique Ethos BeathChapman, said that not only is it difficult to predict how plausible such a reality can be, but there are also hurdles to overcome before Singapore gets there. 

Having a four-day work week as a norm across Singapore would hinge on a trigger or turning point, such as how Covid-19 spurred the uptake of flexible work arrangements, he said, referring to the pandemic as a "catalysing incident".

Adulting 101: People around me are job hopping. Am I missing out by not doing the same? 

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Mr Richard Bradshaw, the chief executive of recruitment consultancy Ethos BeathChapman Asia, said job-hopping can be unavoidable when some seemingly well-informed decisions turn sour. 



This should not affect the hiring process as long as candidates are transparent about their work history, he added. 

The Big Read: Generous SkillsFuture carrots for Singaporeans to get serious about lifelong learning, but will they bite? 

Jenny Su, Senior Regional Director, Marketing

Senior director of executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman Jenny Su said: "In today's fast-paced world, the skills we impart in courses must resonate deeply with the pulse of our industries." 

"Everything's going digital, AI and Generative AI is becoming a household name, and sustainability isn't just a buzzword anymore - it's a way of life." She added that it is crucial these courses are not treated like checkboxes to be ticked, but rather as a means of developing skills that workers can use to adapt to the ever-changing work landscape. 

Explainer: Moonlighting not illegal for most Singapore workers, but watch for potential breach of contract terms 

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Mr Richard Bradshaw, Ethos BeathChapman Asia chief executive officer, said companies should make an effort to differentiate between moonlighting, which refers to the "shadowy" and unsubstantiated version of a second job where one's employer is unaware, and having an above-board second job the employer knows of.

“Appropriately communicated second roles that hit key stipulated criteria, such as not affecting the primary job and aligning with ethical considerations, should be included in any large company's employee handbook or out-of-work covenants," he told TODAY. 

Moonlighting, quiet quitting, rage applying trends set to continue in 2024, survey finds

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

While some might favour rage applying as casting a wide net, Mr Richard Bradshaw, Asia chief executive of Ethos BeathChapman, an executive search firm, said: “Applying in a state of frustration can lead to hastily prepared applications lacking essential customisation and attention to detail.

“It is recommended to approach job applications with a calm and focused mindset, allocating time to comprehend the job requirements and align one’s qualifications accordingly.” 

“Rage applying can backfire — receiving rejection emails can erode your self-assurance, and most may discontinue this mode of applying if this happens a lot” said Mr Bradshaw. 

Look ahead 2024: Amid job disruptions due to AI, remote work and tech retrenchments, youth urged to stay agile by upskilling

Shalynn Ler, General Manager, Singapore

Ms Shalynn Ler, general manager at HR firm Ethos BeathChapman, said that industries heavily affected by global uncertainties such as oil prices, supply chain disruptions and political tensions may also struggle. 

These include those in the manufacturing and oil industry, where labour demand might be low and some companies may look at reducing their headcount.

As for the retail sector, there are mixed views on what lies ahead, with some experts sensing that inflation has left many shoppers tightening their wallets, while others are saying that a tourism boom would see the sector expand.

S’pore workers in demand internationally, but parents fear overseas postings will impact children’s education

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

“As a head-hunter, our interest is often piqued when we see a Singaporean candidate ‘back in town’ or looking to come back,” said Mr Richard Bradshaw, the chief executive of recruitment consultancy Ethos BeathChapman Asia. 

“‘Returning Singaporean’ is a phrase often used by head-hunters again to denote that extra dimension to their profile in a positive fashion.” 

TODAY Youth Survey: Large majority say having a degree is still necessary to succeed in S'pore, expect their children to attain it 

Shalynn Ler, General Manager, Singapore

Ms Shalynn Ler, Singapore general manager of executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman, added: “From a cultural perspective too, in Asia, while values are shifting slowly to focus on other aspects of success in addition to academic results, most youths themselves would have grown up in an environment where academic results are still tied to success. Hence, it will be hard to totally shift away from this.”

She acknowledged that while Singapore may be moving towards a skills-first approach, the trend remains more prominent among “seasoned professionals with rich achievements”.

In the absence of relevant work experience, fresh graduates would often still have to emphasise their education levels and cover letters to distinguish themselves, she said.

Still, she said this might shift as more millennials become hiring managers themselves and see the value in a skills-first hiring approach."

The Big Read: Young, retrenched and ready to start over — a new norm for workers in a more volatile economy?

Linus Choo, Executive Director, Singapore

Mr Linus Choo, executive director of recruitment firm Ethos BeathChapman Asia, said that the high rate of retrenchment in late 2020 was “largely due to cost pressures brought on by Covid-19’s disruption to businesses” he said.

“(Retrenchments from the) second quarter of 2022 onwards may squarely be pinned to the past quarter of interest rate hikes by the United States Federal Reserve, knock-on effect brought about by failures of some large financial institutions, and the war in Ukraine that has driven the cost of raw materials and commodities up.”

Employers and HR experts say academic qualifications shouldn't be totally done away with, as survey shows changing attitudes

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

"With tight talent pools, Singapore has had to focus more on transferable skills... At EBC, we've noticed a sharp increase of our (clients) being more comfortable to progress applications with solely relevant skill sets but missing industry experience, for example."

"Skills-based hiring should not be seen as a complete dismissal of formal education but, rather, as a complementary approach that acknowledges the importance of practical skills alongside qualifications."

Expats baulk at rising rents, as some think twice about staying in Singapore amid intensifying global talent war

Linus Choo, Executive Director, Singapore

Richard said that his company has not seen cases of expats leaving Singapore, or a decline in interest to come here.



"Yes, home rental prices in Singapore have gone up, but rental prices in other countries have not dropped either," he said. "Expats have a choice and they have mostly chosen to change their lifestyle. For example, to no longer live in expensive areas such as on Orchard Road or River Valley Road," he added.

Explainer: Is unemployment insurance on the cards in Singapore, and for what worker types?

Richard Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Supporting workers in reskilling or upgrading efforts and helping them to find new jobs were still the Government’s long-standing preferred “modus operandi”. Unemployed workers were the “most prime targets for upskilling and reskilling”, he added. And given their small numbers, he “does not expect more direct financial support to be discussed during the Budget”.

The Big Read: Amid intensifying global talent war, Singapore faces juggling act in hunt for world's best and brightest

Ankit Kochar, Senior Director, Technology

For candidates having trouble finding the right fit, they should do their due diligence in learning about the role, company business expectations when evaluating jobs. This can be achieved through research, speaking with industry contacts and headhunters, and returning questions to the interviewer - interviews are a two-way process.

State of the market: Singapore - the more the merrier? 

Linus Choo, Regional Executive Director, Head of Regional Governance & Industrial

"Certain international law firms are intensifying their focus on energy and infrastructure projects partners with the aim of capitalising on the surge in work in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region. They are counting on this practice to bolster the firm financially as they navigate through challenging times. 

Because apart from transactional commercial work on a retained basis, there hasn't been as much work from maybe June onwards," says Linus Choo, regional executive director at Ethos BeathChapman, an executive recruitment agency. 

Choo thinks the exodus will likely continue, and more new firms could be in the offing. "If a big firm had lost a big rainmaking partner - like in Chuah's case, himself a construction partner who attracts good work from international clients as well as the SMEs - there's greater threat coming down to the remaining partners to deliver. I may be wrong, but the knock-on effect to this could be the uncertainty to some of the mid-level associates, leading to some movement next year," says Choo. 

Taking the plunge

Linus Choo, Executive Director, Singapore

Brian Chan, Head of Legal, Hong Kong

Winnie Wei, Head of Legal, China

Amid the pandemic, the Singapore market also saw a higher volume of mid-level associates leave their practices. This void in mid-level senior associates placed greater strain on very junior lawyers, who had to directly interact with partners, says Linus Choo, Singapore executive director at global executive search firm Ethos BeathChapman.

Perhaps understandably, litigation or arbitration have more stable teams than other practice areas, says Brian Chan, head of the Hong Kong legal practice at Ethos BeathChapman. There has not been a lot of movement in these teams, not even among law firms, because "lawyers engaged in dispute resolution have to attend court or arbitral proceedings that could take a year or two for trials to end".



Quite a few firms tried to scale down their teams, especially among transactional lawyers, due to the quiet capital market and cross-border M&A activity, impacted by border restrictions and cross-border tensions between China and the US, says Winnie Wei, head of China legal practice at Ethos BeathChapman in Shanghai.