Deciding Between Choosing JC Or Poly Education
Junior college (JC) or polytechnic (poly)? The JC or poly decision is a constant debate that the graduating students of secondary schools have to address. Not only are the students themselves involved, so too are parents, teachers and friends. Having had the privilege to engage thousands of students from the secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics and universities through my workshops over the years, let me share my thoughts on this perennial topic. After all, I was also a product of Singapore’s education system. In my opinion, there are 5 considering factors one should bear in mind before making that sacred …
3 Things To Look Out For When Shopping Online
It is an open secret that the retail business scene is getting increasingly crowded. In fact, the brick and mortar stores are not doing so well…all thanks to the rise of online shopping portals. While shopping online seems to be the cooler and cheaper option for many nowadays, there are things you need to look out for before making that purchase. As a savvy customer, you must be diligent and do your checks first. #1: Check The Delivery Terms And Conditions Prices may appear cheaper on first sight. But this is before the freight charges. If you are buying from …
3 Good Personal Hygiene Tips For Body Care
Let’s face it, school is not always the most favourite event in some teenagers’ lives, especially when poor hygiene influences their self-esteem and subjects them to ridicule by their peers. Hygiene matters. A great deal. After all, good hygiene is essential for promoting good health. So it was a great idea to kickstart the year with a personal hygiene talk for the students – sharing with them the whys, the whats and the hows. If you too want to be a good role model to the rest of your peers, then you should read on and remember to put the …
3 Tips To Negotiate Your Salary
I always ask this question in class. “What are some of the reasons why you want to find a job?” And one answer is almost always a given. “Because I want to earn money.” Most, if not all of us work because there is some form of salary, stipend or monetary reward we can look forward to. However meagre or generous the pay package is, negotiating your salary is always a sensitive topic most people avoid. This is because they do not know how to approach it and are afraid to open their mouths to ask. In this blog post, …
5 Must-Have Essentials For A Successful School Graduation Party
It’s that time of the year again where the air lingers with mixed feelings of happiness and sadness. There is happiness as it’s time for celebration for both a job well done and a journey well undertaken. Yet there is sadness as this is the very end of it all. Students will be going their separate ways – either to pursue further studies or start working. Welcome to the annual graduation party for school leavers. Today we commemorate this occasion with the Secondary 4 and 5 students from Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School…not forgetting the teachers as well. Organizing any …
3 Proven Ways To Handle Criticism
I get asked this many times from my students. “Mr Lionel, how should I answer this question – how do you handle criticism?” There’s no escaping from it. After all, as long as we are surrounded by people, we will be subjected to criticism. This is not surprising as all of us come with our preconceived notions and judgmental values on what is good and what is not. If things don’t go our way, the first thing most, if not all of us will do, is to assign blame or find fault with others. It’s always someone else’s fault for …
Radio 938 Interview Live A Slice of Life With Lionel Lim
Thank you Radio 938 Live for the invitation. Despite this being my third time on national radio, I’m still excited for a few reasons. Naturally, it’s a different feeling as I’m visiting the brand new Mediacorp campus at Stars Avenue. Looking at the swanky silvery metallic façade and comparing it to the old premises at Caldecott Hill, I’m fortunate to have memories of both places as each exudes a different vibe. Secondly, of course, I’ll be on air with radio host Eugene Loh of “A Slice of Life” fame, the popular motivational radio programme in Singapore. It’s always fun to …
3 Ways To Initiate Small Talk In Conversation
I used to be an introvert back then. I disliked having to turn up for meetings or gatherings as I hated the small talk. Come on – I’m sure you will agree with me that it is uncomfortable to pretend you know the person standing in front of you well when you are meeting him or her for the first time. It was tiring having to put on an act. And knowing my character, I can’t tell a lie. What’s worse was to act as if I was the pro in the room. When in reality, I was the misfit …
3 Ways To Increase Your Likeability Factor
It’s interesting how when we like someone, we always have him or her in our thoughts and also say kind words of that person. Wait…stop. You are not alone. This happens because of one word – likeability. How do you make others like you? Now that is the question. Many a times in life, when you increase your likability factor in someone’s mind or heart, your chances at both professional and personal success will increase significantly. In this blog post, let’s discuss the 3 practical ways on how you can increase your likeability factor and be everyone’s favourite go-to person. …
The 3 Untold Truths About The Job Interview
People always lament that interview is a tough act to crack. Well, not necessarily so. Instead of fretting over the interview and the interviewers who are supposedly hell-bent on making your 15 to 20 minutes a living misery, think otherwise. Pause and take a step back. With greater clarity, you will realise the interview is actually a culmination of 3 factors. I call them the 3 untold truths. If you are able to master these 3 untold truths, then you will be smiling your way to the employment contract letter. Truth #1: You Are Giving A Presentation With A Clear …