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Here’s how to quit your job properly

Leaving a company on shaky terms can have long-term consequences, such as being shunned by other firms in your field or harming your professional image.

In Singapore, many industries are pretty small. It can be damaging to your next application process if people realize that you left your last job badly and on a sour note, or that you are quitting a freshly obtained position.

Here’s how to quit your job properly.

Set a meeting

A courteous approach is to set up a meeting with your superior. Managers are frequently packed, so emailing them a well-crafted meeting request in advance will assist you in setting up a swift meeting. Request a time slot on their schedule so you may speak with them face-to-face. Instead of quitting over an email, it’s best to have an honest chat.

Have your speech ready

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Organize your thoughts, then make a list of whatever you need to say to your boss before reading them aloud. This gives you an indication of how much time you will need to chat, which you will need to know when scheduling your meeting’s duration. Having prepared your speech also aids you in determining whether you require the participation of a third person in your discussion, such as an HR manager to assist you with an assertion.

Serve your required notice

A month is the typical notice period you should give a company before leaving. If you’ve entered an employment agreement, though, be sure you’re following any notice requirements. You may be content to remain longer than the standard one-month timeframe, based on your availability, more so if your new work doesn’t commence immediately. Whatever amount of notice you give, make sure you notify your organization as quickly as feasible and include your last day in your letter of resignation.

Do a proper handover before you leave

two women talking while using the laptop

Image Credits: unsplash.com

After notifying your workplace of your departure, you will most likely have some time remaining in your position before you formally leave. You should finish existing work and assignments and discuss with your manager to identify who should take over your current projects.

Keep track of your daily routines, where you’ve stored records in a database, and other relevant details that will help the next person taking over. This will guarantee a seamless transition for the new hire that takes your place. Your coworkers will also appreciate your professionalism if they have to be the ones who will share your workload for the time being.

Your business connections may help you find new possibilities in the future, and the way you leave a company creates a lasting impact. On your exit, don’t say anything negative about your boss. Make an effort to leave a favorable lasting impression, not just because it’s the respectful thing to do, but also because it can lead to chances down the road. You could end up working for the same firm, with the same coworkers, or for the same employer next time, so leave on a good note.

Singapore Bids Farewell to Passport Stamps for Short-term Visitors

Passport stamps have long been regarded as a keepsake of your time abroad. It can function as a conversation starter to show off your adventures. However, many countries are ditching this practice to opt for alternative tracking methods.

A passport stamp is an inked impression found in a passport, which is a symbol given upon entering or exiting a territory. Authorities have used stickers apart from rubber stamps (e.g., entry stamps from Japan).

While most countries issue both entry and exit passport stamps, a few countries issue entry stamps alone. Other countries do not stamp passports upon entry nor exit. These countries include Hong Kong, Israel, Macau, and South Korea. These countries issue landing slips as documentation to travelers.

What about Singapore? The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) recently announced that all short-term visitors will no longer have their passports stamped. Instead, electronic visit passes (e-Pass) will be issued. This transition is a part of ICA’s efforts to provide a “more secure, safer, and more seamless immigration clearance” as Singapore gradually reopens its borders, according to the agency.

e-Pass Provides Seamless Immigration Clearance

e-Passes were first issued at Changi Airport in October 2021. Since then, its issuance has been progressively extended to all checkpoints.

Short-term travellers will now receive the electronic passes through the email addresses they provided in their arrival cards after clearing immigration. The email will contain details of the visit pass granted, such as the maximum days of stay and the last day of stay allowed in Singapore.

To support the travellers, ICA launched an enquiry portal where they can check their short-term visit pass records.

e-Pass Promotes Greater Convenience

The lack of pages in your passport is no longer an issue! ICA said: “With the full implementation of the e-Pass, all foreign visitors on short-term visit pass will no longer have to worry about the lack of pages in their passports to accommodate immigration stamps.”

Visitors just need to enter the Disembarkation/Embarkation (DE) number issued to them through the portal after they have submitted the SG Arrival Card application. They will have the convenience of retrieving their e-Pass information through the ICA’s e-Pass Enquiry Portal on the SG Arrival Card e-Service platform any time they want.

Visitors were reminded to provide an accurate and valid email address in the SG Arrival Card. This card should be submitted within three days before the date of arrival in Singapore.

How about for family members without personal email accounts? You can provide a proxy email address.

e-Pass Leverages Technology

The implementation of the e-Pass is an important part of its shift towards automated immigration clearance.

According to ICA: “The e-Pass is one of the building blocks for ICA’s New Clearance Concept (NCC). The NCC, which would be operationalised at our checkpoints from 2023, will automate immigration clearance for all travellers.”

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Governments and immigration authorities relied on passport stamps to monitor the travel movements of travellers. Due to technological advances, many countries including Singapore steered away from the old practice. Adapting to these new policies is essential to future automation.

Sources: 1, 2 & 3

Cultivate your artsy-fartsy side with these ongoing art exhibitions

Do you know that artists frequently employ common things around us to alter our perceptions of the physical realm? When you intentionally dwell upon what you’ve seen within the gallery, you will slowly notice that you start perceiving the outer world in a new light.

Additionally, art displays are powerful generators of new ideas. The more concepts you discover and the more you explore them in your head, the more probable it is that you will come up with your own. This is fantastic for anyone who works in the creative business or simply wishes to engage with their artistic side.

Continue reading for some of the fanciest ongoing art exhibitions running till selected dates in April on our little red dot.

Topic No. 6 Eat Read Use

Date: Till 5 April

Location: National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969

Topic No. 6 Eat Read Use, a compilation of eight surprise box sets, is presented by National Vending Gallery. Each box comprises an edible, a visual book, and a practical item, all of which are linked by a unique tale expressed in a catchphrase.

All things in the box sets are made on our sunny island by an artist, brand, writer, or designer. There will be new objects on display, as well as standouts from prior subjects that have been reintroduced.

Design Superposition

Date: Till 10 April

Location: National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969

Superposition is a term used in quantum physics to describe the combination of all conceivable states in a system. A similar phenomenon is happening in aesthetics and its various fields: design is nothing and everything. It makes us question the significance of the designing process. Is design beneficial to society, or is it just jargon for businesses and design enthusiasts?

The DesignSingapore Associates Network (DAN), which was founded by DesignSingapore Scholarship winners in 2017, investigates design’s schizophrenic character via self-reflection in Design Superposition. 10 participants look into their distinctive routines to elicit experiences that make them think about the significance of design for oneself and their community.

Good Design Research: The Local Tree Project by Roger&Sons

Date: Till 10 April

Location: National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969

The Local Tree Project by Roger&Sons exhibits thanks to Good Design Research. This exhibition combines technical requirements with an awareness of the many types of local wood to investigate more efficient resource utilization.

They study the procedures of developing better use of local wood where trees fallen in Singapore are repurposed into meaningful artifacts and furnishings as part of their attempt to restore them. You will see for yourself the process that occurs behind Singapore’s fallen trees and realize the value of employing resources in the great outdoors, as well as basic information on local timber.

Between the Silent Eyes

Date: Till 17 April

Location: Objectifs, Lower Gallery, 155 Middle Road, Singapore 188977

This display takes a look at the life of Máy, one of Nhàn Tran’s subjects. Máy’s tenacity and precarity as she copes with the trials of starting a family at 19 years old are captured in the form of photographs.

Many young Hmong women, who form one of Vietnam’s largest indigenous minority groups, face comparable challenges in reconciling traditional rituals with modern requirements, as well as their youthful spirit with household responsibilities. Beyond everything, this initiative emphasizes the significance of listening to and caring for underrepresented and disadvantaged populations as part of a larger push for social, economical, and sexual equality.

7 Financial Commandments for Your Thirties

Hitting your thirties signify that you are halfway to retirement. After establishing a financial foundation in your twenties, it is up to you to use the following decade of your life to build and protect your wealth.

Whether you want to purchase a flat or to travel the world, these seven financial commandments can help you stretch your dollar.

#1: YOU SHALL LEARN SELF-CONTROL

Throughout your childhood, your parents or teachers taught you to practice self-control. The sooner you learn the importance of delayed gratification, the better off you will be. Applying self-control makes it easier to stay on top of your finances.

Select consciously spending cash rather than swiping your credit cards. Credit cards are convenient, but you must pay your bills on tip to maintain a good credit score. Do you really want to pay interest on a pair of jeans or a box of cereal? Think about it.

#2: YOU SHALL GET YOUR INSURANCE IN ORDER

Let us face it! You are not getting any younger. You need to sort out your health insurance, life insurance, and other policies. Considering a life insurance is prudent, especially if you have people depending on you.

#3: KEEP ADVANCING IN YOUR CAREER PATH

Developing your skill set occurs in your twenties. In your thirties, you will need to apply these skills to increase your earnings. Start by researching potential career paths and identifying companies where you can fit in. If you have the resources, you can go back to school to further your studies. Alternatively, you can take free online courses to boost your career.

#4: YOU SHALL INCREASE YOUR EMERGENCY FUND

The pandemic highlighted the importance of keeping an emergency fund. Having an emergency fund can help cushion the financial blow of unexpected events. If you started an emergency fund in your twenties, you followed the standard rule of keeping at least six months’ worth of your expenses.

Image credits: unsplash.com

As your income increases in your thirties, you should also boost the balance in your emergency fund and take your family in consideration. Make it a habit to save money and to pay yourself first!

#5: HONOR YOUR PAYCHECK

Stop spending your entire paycheck in less than a month! Live within your means and do your best to save a portion of your paycheck to propel your future. Gradually increase the amount you save while decreasing the amount from which you live off.

Use the 60-80% of your income to fulfill your needs and allocate the remaining 20-40% of it to your savings and investments. Transferring the money automatically to your savings ensures that you will not be tempted to use it.

#6: YOU SHALL WRITE YOUR WILL

Do you still think that you are invincible? Try waking up in your thirties after a night of heavy partying! Protect the people you love by writing a will. Without one, others will have the power to decide how to split up your estate and how to raise your children.

#7: YOU SHALL NOT COVET THEY NEIGHBOR’S THINGS

As you reach your thirties, you may find yourself in a place where you tend to compare your accomplishments to your peers. Scrolling through your feed can highlight the milestones that your friends have reached such as purchasing a flat or getting married. You can admire your neighbors’ new car or new job. However, you do not need to stretch your budget to keep up with them. Doing so will ruin your finances.

Focus on your financial goals, live within your means, increase your savings, and do your best to be content. Acknowledge your inner strengths and use it to succeed!

Sources: 1 & 2

Make full use of the rest of March school holidays with these family-friendly activities

It’s mid-week and this means the March school holidays are approaching an end.

Whether you’re secretly cheering inside for your kids to return to school or upset that you haven’t been able to spend enough time with the kiddos, we want to help you make full use of the rest of the school holidays. Read on for some family-friendly activities you can participate in with your children before they return to being grumpy students again.

OddSocks

Date & Cost: 17 to 20 March, S$30

OddSocks is a wacky and enjoyable theatre piece celebrating the value of individuality. It examines what it feels to be the oddball in a society of uniformity with lots of socks, a sprinkle of fantasy, and a touch of comedy. This show will inspire kids to be bold and accept their distinct personalities, no matter how challenging they are.

Changi’s Sweetest Treat

Date & Cost: Till 3 May, from S$33

Head on down to Changi’s Sweetest Treat and sign your kids up for a variety of engaging and interactive S.M.A.R.T workshops:

Storytelling with Neil Humphreys: With 27 books under his belt, Neil Humphreys is Singapore’s best-selling writer. His works have routinely topped The Straits Times Bestsellers chart, and his novels have also gained widespread acclaim in the United Kingdom.
Magic discovery with Max Ling: Max Ling has been conducting magic publicly for over 10 years at live shows and events. He has worked as a director, theatre performer, and drama arts instructor since graduating from LASALLE SIA. Since 2005, his job as an educator has allowed him to interact with kids of all ages.
Arts & Crafts: Learn how to make small souvenirs out of polymer clay and other craft supplies. Kids will be taught about the many different methods to work with polymer clay in this session, as well as fundamental designing and shaping skills. Gift your kids the chance to produce their personalized wearable pieces, from little popsicles to cupcake keychains and donut pendants.
Robotics and Technology: Your kiddos will be able to have fun and acquire useful knowledge through experiential learning. Robotics and programming may be an excellent learning opportunity for piquing your children’s interest in the world of tech and laying the foundation with a practical session on programming a gadget.

The World Of Nickelodeon

Date & Cost: Till 17 April, from S$32

Fans of PAW Patrol, Bubble Guppies, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, don’t miss out on the first-ever Nickelodeon-themed entertainment center on our sunny island. Fans of all ages will certainly enjoy The World Of Nickelodeon.

Embark on a journey of interactive games with your child; join on a Jellyfish Hunt, assist the Adventure Bay Fire Rescue, take on The Ninja Vertical Challenge, and bounce to your heart’s content at the Jungle Jump-a-thon. Before tackling your last Mutant Mission or the Bikini Bottom Bubble Bash, rest at the one-of-a-kind Slime Lounge. Set up your cameras for the settings from your child’s favorite Nickelodeon shows, and keep an eye out for possibilities to meet the most well-loved Nickelodeon characters.

National Museum of Singapore

Date & Cost: Till 18 March for drop-in activity spaces, S$0

Don’t miss the museum’s two free drop-in activity zones, where families will feel encouraged to start family dialogues as they take a closer look at intergenerational exhibits and interactions.

Stories of You & Me: Explore the intergenerational exhibit, which includes little HDB flat dioramas, queries given by children to their elderly pen pals, and a collection of treasured school mementos. Use the discussion cue cards on each table to spend some quality time with your child discussing schooling experiences. To redeem an HDB apartment diorama template, create a picture of your own contemporary home and show it to the crew on-site.
Not Just an Otah Sticker: Do your little ones like collecting stickers? DIY stickers based on the museum’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings and characters from Otah & Friends in this self-guided activity! An A4 sticker sheet with innovative suggestions and characters will be given to each individual. Your kid can personalize their stickers or make them as gifts for their classmates.

There are also various paid on-site programs if you don’t mind spending out of your pocket for some meaningful experiences. Prices start from S$6.

Artifact Hunts with Dennis and Family (till 18 March): Join Dennis, Mama Binturong, and Papa Sunbear on two fun Artefact Hunts! Tour the exhibitions, answer riddles to learn little-known information about the intriguing relics and finish the search to get a Plano gift.

Going Camping with Otah & Friends Picture Book Workshop (17 March): Create your picture book with characters from “Otah & Friends: Camp Stardust” and creatures from the museum’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings! Attendees will be taken through the principles of figure design and innovative narrative, followed by sketching, coloring, and language arts, all led by Khor Ke Xin, Creative Director of El Masnou, the company that produced Otah & Friends. Each participant will receive a one-of-a-kind picture book as well as a souvenir keychain.

Set a meeting

Have your speech ready

Serve your required notice

Do a proper handover before you leave

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