S1E14: They quit school early and do blue-collar jobs; can they have hope in Singapore? - Work Talk

Ms Shobana Baskaram had no higher school qualifications but is now assistant manager at Marina Bay Sands. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. In this episode, host Krist Boo asks these questions: Can a room attendant who barely speaks or read English rise to become an assistant front-office manager? Does a restaurant manager really need a diploma or a degree? Can a secondary-school graduate manage a team of 44?  She and her guests talk about the plight of Singaporean workers who stop school at, or before completing their secondary education. They make up 27 per cent of our local workforce of 2.3 million. Many of them are doing blue-collar work, which comprise 20 per cent of our jobs.  The panel comprises: Ms Shobana Baskaram, an assistant manager at Marina Bay Sands Dr Laurel Teo, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies Ms Chloe Huang, strategic director of recruitment platform OppTy Mr Chow Keng Hai, senior hospitality executive and hospitality consultant And to celebrate the new Chinese Year of the Rabbit, we have a bonus extra after the podcast with fengshui master Ken Koh. Listen on to how the rat, ox, rooster, dog and tiger might fare this year.  And bosses, if you are still tussling with employees over the great return-to-office negotiation, Master Koh has advice for you.  Have a good work week! Highlights (click/tap above): 3:43 Will millennial managers change the game 4:09 My restaurant manager must have a diploma 5:11 A hotel room attendant who could hardly read nor write English 8:40 Why spend resources on them; time to do something 14:38 Huat ah!! A session with fengshui master Ken Koh Produced by: Krist Boo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's new Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wVpX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  Read Krist Boo's Column: https://str.sg/wB2P --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.