Commentary

Doing business in Korea

South Korea is one of Asia’s dark horses, often overshadowed by India and China, yet its GDP is on target to reach US$1 trillion, making it the 13th largest economy in the world.

Doing business in Korea

South Korea is one of Asia’s dark horses, often overshadowed by India and China, yet its GDP is on target to reach US$1 trillion, making it the 13th largest economy in the world.

How to resign gracefully

In a survey of 98 Singapore-based professionals conducted by Randstad in September, 39% intend to switch jobs in the next 12 months to capitalise the economic recovery.

An Expert's Guide to Interview Success

How you perform in interviews is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not you secure the job you want. But these days it’s not just interviewees who need to impress; interviewers need to be conscious of how they represent the role and the company too.

Opportunities for real estate investors in North Asia

Asia, the world’s largest continent with 47 countries and approximately four billion people, has emerged as a major real estate investment destination in recent years. From a strategic standpoint, Asia provides higher long-term returns, diversification and unique opportunities driven by strong long-term demand, which is fuelled by fast growing economies, rapid urbanization, and increasing personal income.

Post-retirement products: the next big challenge for retirement funds

“Ultimately, members will look to their pension fund to provide the strategies and products they need for a secure and enjoyable retirement lifestyle. So it’s up to the industry in every market to think about the best way to deliver that, through whole-of-life strategies that respond to individual needs and situations.”

Making mature age employment work

The fact that we have an ageing population is well known. According to the Committee on Ageing Issues Report on the Ageing Population, between now and 2030, Singapore will witness an unprecedented and profound age shift. It is estimated that the number of residents aged 65 years or older will multiply threefold from 300,000 in 2005 to 900,000 in 2030. By then, one in five residents will be a senior, compared with one in 12 residents in 2005.

New York v Singapore Airport: what do they say about their respective country brands

Singapore recently won the Best Airport In The World honour at the international Skytrax World Airport Awards in the passenger category. If there was an award for worst airport it would have to be New York. What Singapore does understand and New York does not understand is that an airport is like a brand’s packaging and design. The first impression of a country is its airport. It’s the gateway to all the other brand values of that country.

Has your brand got a conscience?

Increasingly, brands point to their environmental and social conscience as part of their brand values. Will this be an ongoing trend?

The truth behind attaining work/life balance

So is work/life balance really attainable?

Carbon reduction – can it be that simple?

Buildings responsible for at least 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions can implement some simple tried-and-tested actions—some costing less than SG$170,000—to reduce their carbon footprint.

Good to Great Business – What differentiates the Employer of Choice?

Companies today dangle all sorts of unique ‘carrots’ in a bid to attract the best and brightest. All the more so as the Gen Y workforce grows. These high-performance and high-maintenance multi-taskers increasingly eschew monetary incentives for better Work-Life balance. Employers are realizing that you can’t just make the employee work; they have to want to work.

What Makes Singaporean Social Network Users Tick?

UM is a global media communications agency.Part of the Interpublic Group of companies,UM works with the world’s leading marketers and strategic thinkers through its 151 offices in 130 countries. In Singapore, UM actively collaborates with clients that include MasterCard, Sony Pictures, AIA, offering a full spectrum of media services.

Overseas Job Seekers Revive their Career in Asia

As frustration over unemployment remains high after 18 months, a recruitment specialist is advising job seekers, to look for greener pastures outside their home countries and set their sights on Asia.

Is the global labour market freeing up again and are people still as keen to move abroad for work?

As the world emerges from the GFC it is clear that people have very different attitudes to work and their employment situations. Stabilityand security are now far bigger priorities than ever before which has had a knock-on affect to the liquidity of global labour markets.

How to Reduce Risk in Infrastructure Project Finance

The global financial crisis has impacted on the margins and risk profile on which many infrastructure project finance business plans were based.

Acing the interview

Consultant Aimee Young says you can ensure that you ace your next interview by following just a few simple tips.

What's in a name?

If a nation’s brand values can be summed up by how it names its shopping centres, what does this say about the UK versus Singapore? Chris Reed tells us.