Top FREE Online Courses To Learn During This Pandemic (Given Out By Harvard, Google, Etc.) With Actual Certifications

While Singapore has managed to stabilize the COVID-19 situation, other countries across the world are still seeing a surge in cases with slow signs of improvement. As most of us are probably still working from home, or attending lessons via Zoom, this gives us a pretty decent amount of time to do some self-upgrading! The best way to do so is through the plethora of free online courses, especially so when they’re given out by world renowned Universities such as Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). So, why do people constantly wish to self-upgrade themselves? Here’s why: The school of the past didn’t prepare you for the work of the present or the future. The emergence of AI and new technologies increase the array of jobs and skills you need. That means your job can become obsolete quickly unless you keep up with the latest trends and upgrade your skills regularly. Don’t know what to choose yet? We’ve evaluated the pros and cons of the most popular free courses below. Plus, we’ll give you a list of top platforms if you have a small budget for self-upgrading. Best Courses Available Read on to find the best available courses and what you can learn from these: 1. Improve Your Soft Skills With LinkedIn Online Courses Soft skills are essential to the jobs of the present and the future. As AI learns how to do more jobs, including writing articles about not destroying humanity, humans have to rethink their strong points. While most people tend to focus on self-upgrading in terms of hard skills, soft skills are extremely important as well. The current world makes it impossible to learn everything you need for your working years from college. However, companies need resilient, adaptable employees that know how to manage conflict and have high EQs. You probably didn’t learn all that in school, right? Here’s where LinkedIn comes in, with its vast array of soft skills courses. The expert instructors include: Gemma Leigh Roberts, a famous author, psychologist, and career coach Dave Crenshaw, a USA Today-featured leadership coach Fred Kofman, advisor

7 Types Of Difficult Clients And How To Handle Them Professionally

Every industry has its challenges. The most common problem is how to go about handling difficult clients that engage in your services. There are different types of clients with varying types of personalities. While the business’ central interest is getting more sales from clients, some of them are intolerable. You will meet bad, kind, and ugly clients in your line of business, but you must know how to deal with all of them. An experienced entrepreneur should be equipped with the right skills to handle every customer that comes their way. The first step to treating every customer is understanding them. After acknowledging the kind of customer you are dealing with, it is advisable to apply the different tips, given in this article, to deal with each of them separately. Be composed and focused on delivering your best no matter the situation your clients put you. The customer is always right! Every customer brings a different experience to the business, and you must look forward to maintaining him or her for the benefit of the business. Here are the tips for dealing with different types of clients. 1. Undecided Clients In many cases, you may have come across clients who cannot choose the product or service they want from your business. They come smiling at you but spend a lot of time in your shop before they decide to buy. The best way of handling these clients is to provide them more than enough information regarding your products and services so that they make the right choice personally. Do not be pushy or rude to such clients. Help this customer to find what they want. Put yourself in their shoes to understand what they need. This way you are creating some of the most loyal clients for your business. 2. Critical Clients Clients come with a critical mind. They will criticize the information you provide them. They are most challenging to the business because they believe their opinion regarding your products and services is right no matter what you say. The best approach to such clients is being patient and

What Is Remote Work And Should You Hire Remote Employees?

Ever heard of working remotely? In recent years, coupled with the rise of the gig economy, working remotely has become very popular in Singapore. It is a convenient arrangement for both the employer and the employee. A remote employee is one who works outside of the office premises of the organisation. If you choose to work remotely, you can work from home or any other suitable location and only go to the office for official meetings or updates. Research has shown that 11% of employees prefer to work in the office full-time, while 17% prefer to work remotely. However, 29% of employees prefer to spend time working in both locations, which is half in the office and half remotely. They like having some flexibility. There are different locations where you can choose to work from remotely. Here are some of them. You can work from home, from a café or even a library. The essential point is that you choose a location that is comfortable and convenient for you to work effectively. You can also work in a co-working space where you will share the working space with others who are involved with other companies. This is a hub that will have technology and connectivity within the premises. You will have the benefit of having an informal environment as well as some office amenities in this coworking space. A third option is that you could choose to work remotely in a different country. The advantage of this different environment is that you may get new ideas and concepts which could be useful in your work. There are several sources in Singapore where you can find remote work. Some of these are given below. AngelList is a website where you can apply to get a remote job opportunity. On this website, you can choose whether you want to work remotely on a part-time or full-time basis. We Work Remotely is a network that has many users. Many employers look for people to work remotely from this platform. Other job sites where you can get remote work are Jobspresso, Hubstaff, Remotive and

10 Steps To Creating The Perfect Resume – What To Include & Not To Include In Your Resume

You’ve probably heard or already know the importance of a good resume. However, all talk and no action is not going to get you anywhere. Want to improve your chances to land your dream job? You can with your perfect resume! Here are 10 ways for you to create your perfect resume! 1. Choose the Format There are various formats in which you can structure your resume: Reverse-chronological Starts from the current experience and goes to past jobs in reverse order. Underlines your duties and experience at past jobs. It’s familiar to your employers. It’s easy to browse through. Not very creative. Skill-based Focuses on specific skills and particular experiences you have that will play a huge role in the job that you are applying for. A more comprehensive view of your abilities. Combo Excellent for experienced individuals. Not for entry-level. 2. Fill in Your Contact Info You shouldn’t include all personal details on your contact info. Stick to your: Name: First and last names. Phone number: It’s better to give your personal handphone number. E-mail address: Ensure it looks professional – not something like [email protected] Instead, use a email like [email protected] LinkedIn profile: The URL to your profile allows employers to look for additional info regarding your work experience. If you want your resume to look better, consider including the following info: A catchy title before your name, like “Coffee aficionado and content writer extraordinaire.” Social media accounts that are related to your job, especially if you’re a photographer or designer. Link to your blog, website or portfolio that are relevant to your skills and experience. 3. Resume Summary You need a catchy statement or inspiring image to attract your potential employer’s attention. Consider that employers spend just a few seconds browsing resumes and don’t pay attention to everything. A professional heading statement attracts their interest and makes you look like an attractive, witty candidate. This statement should summarize your resume, so include your work experience, objective and measurable results in three sentences or less. Focus on major accomplishments and skills, not your everyday duties. Example: Web designer with

Entrepreneur’s Guide: How To Become A Successful E-commerce Seller On Qoo10 In Singapore

A close study of Southeast Asian e-commerce market places, which include Qoo10, reveals that there has been a significant increase in online shoppers. What this means is the buyers and profits have increased substantially. In the same regard, online sellers have also multiplied exponentially. What is the net effect of all that? Increased competition and possibly lower earnings. For this reason, effective strategies are necessary to overcome the competition while getting more sales. In this guide, you will learn the tips and tricks essential for standing out and succeeding on Qoo10. 1. Perform Competitor Research Your competitors can teach you many things you didn’t know. For this reason, study the market and the strategies your competition relies on to develop new ideas. Start by buying what your competitors produce. This way, you interact with the product directly, thereby learning its quality as well as the steps competitors follow to sell and deliver. On top of that, familiarize yourself with the product descriptions to improve your understanding of the strategies implemented to attract new clients. You can also analyse your competitor’s after-sale customer service. 2. Have Impeccable Product Descriptions All power sellers feature their products with relevant, fresh, and accurate product descriptions. Without convincing descriptions, you’ll not receive as many orders as you would like. Remember that online shoppers cannot touch, smell, and hold your products before buying. They base their purchase decisions solely on the product descriptions and images. Therefore, ensure the pictures and descriptions are of the highest quality. 3. Fully Comply with the Marketplace SLAs In all marketplaces, including Qoo10, online sellers must abide by the conditions set up in Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Mostly, the SLAs tackle issues related to shipping. Power sellers can only thrive by adhering to SLAs at all times. Impress your customers by processing and shipping all orders in the shortest time possible. Ensure that the SLA compliance results are top-notch to enhance your products’ visibility while making yourself eligible for incentives. 4. Personalize Your Online Store Online marketplaces typically offer space for creating your homepage, which you can use for interacting with

Rise Of The Gig Economy In Singapore – What It Is All About?

You’ve probably heard the people around you mention the term ‘Gig Economy’ a couple of times. So what exactly is it? To put it simply, the Gig Economy is a term used to refer to a labor market distinguished by a prevalence of contract work or freelance work instead of permanent jobs. In times past, the labor market was characterized by job opportunities that were stable and permanent. Today, however, things have changed. Short-term opportunities or opportunities whose duration is not certain seem more readily available. Freelancers are on the rise and on-demand positions are more readily available. Implications Of A Gig Economy This has called for a workforce that is more flexible around the world as the trend seems to be on the rise in Asia, Europe and America. There are different reasons given for this shift, including a rising need to balance the needs of the family and one’s career. With the benefits availed by the Gig economy come some of the concerns that have been raised by the older generation that held, and continues to value traditional jobs. Some of their concerns include: Fluctuating income: When you have a gig, there is money to be made, but when gigs dry up, even temporarily, finances become tight. This calls for better personal financial planning. Lack of benefits: Most of the older generation held on to their jobs not just for the steady paycheck, but for the benefits as well. They were permanent and pensionable and enjoyed other benefits including medical insurance. However, the Gig economy does not offer these perks. This is all considered instability by the older generation, while Generation Xers and Millennials would rather see the cup as half full, focusing on the other advantages they enjoy. Jobs Commonly Found In the Gig Economy Caregiver jobs: These jobs are ideal for people who enjoy helping others. The options are endless, so you simply pick the job they are most comfortable in. Some of the positions available are pet-sitting positions, babysitting, elderly care and home care positions. Delivery gigs: Most businesses have had to go the extra

Top 7 Fast-Growing Industries In Singapore For Fresh Graduates / Final Year Students

Now that you’re a fresh graduate or in your final year of polytechnic or university, you might be thinking about your future job. What are the most profitable industries? The grass is greener for some on-the-rise industries in Singapore, where you can get good pay, fast promotions and advance quickly on your career ladder. If you choose a stagnating industry, you might need to consider professional job change in a few years. The alternative is to find yourself in a stalemate, working at a job with no advancement opportunities. So make the right choice. Read the article below and go for a job you like in one of the industries below: 1. Fintech Sector Singapore is a fintech Mecca. The fast advancement of technology has given rise to digital marketing and online product management, so the financial and technological sectors are intertwined. Singapore saw a growing number of fintech startups during the last years, and these companies continue to spread. There is a stark need for people who are literate in the world of financial products but also have good technical know-how. Flywire, TradeHero, and MoneySmart are just a few of these prodigies in a continuous expansion. These sites offer lots of helpful advice on financial matter and have been growing in popularity over the years. They provide cost guides, reviews of credit cards, loans and financial policies for readers of all ages. The truth is that many local merchants, including hotels, restaurants, amusement parks or banks, have adapted their businesses according to innovative fintech ideas. These businesses are looking for people who know the ins and outs of customer needs and marketing, but who can also devise easy-to-use apps. 2. Start-up Sector The number of start-ups is growing on the island of Singapore. This sector is a good choice for fresh graduates as well as people who want to swap careers, provided you go for the right industry. That’s why tech start-ups are the best choice. These companies are extremely innovative and receive a lot of media support, which makes them extremely successful. The Singaporean market isn’t saturated with tech

5 Best Ways To Earn Passive Income In Singapore (2020 Update)

You might currently be holding a full time job and drawing a stable monthly salary. But what if you are able to earn passive income without actually having to forsake your full time job? Passive income is income earned without necessarily having to put in the effort of normal working hours. It is usually additional to any income earned on a full time job. In Singapore, those who seek to earn passive income usually do it for some of the following reasons: It gives a good accumulation of wealth which can be used during retirement: Many Singaporeans struggle with financial difficulty during their retirement years. The money received on pension is rarely enough, therefore, earning some passive income over the productive years becomes very useful during sunset years. Can go a very long way in helping to pay off debts: This is can a great relief, especially where there are default fees being charged. The passive income will help to reduce the pressure that comes with debt repayments and also help to improve the credit rating of the borrower. Generating a passive income is a way of growing financially: It is actually one route to financial stability in the long run. Many Singaporeans would love to reach a state where they have enough financial investments to actually retire early. Having a passive income can provide this opportunity. There are some popular ways of earning a passive income in Singapore. Five of these ways are given below: 1. Investment In Real Estate Investing in real estate is one way of earning some extra income. It should be noted that this particular source of income will require plenty of patience. You will first need to source for the initial capital to purchase the property. This could easily be a very costly affair. However, the property should be put up for rent immediately so as to generate sufficient funds to cover the repayments required for the initial capital as well as generate a profit. There will be other costs incurred such as agent fees and maintenance costs of the property. The rental income should

Skills Upgrading – The Importance Of Self-Upgrading And Being Responsible To Yourself

What do Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet and Oprah Winfrey have in common? Apart from the fact that they are amongst the richest people on the planet, they are also known for spending at least 5 hours a week learning new skills. You can learn a lot from the most successful people in the world, like how to be successful yourself. One thing that stands out is that these people never stop learning. Learning is one of the best investments that you can make in your life, and luckily, it doesn’t have to be in a school environment. The Importance Of Learning New Skills 1. You’ll Stay Relevant We live in a fast-paced era. There are new things being released into the market almost daily, and it can be dizzying trying to keep up. It doesn’t matter whether you’re already working or are currently looking for a job; adding new skills to your skill set will make you more knowledgeable and ensure that you remain relevant in this fast-paced world. Otherwise, you will lose out to your peers who may be more updated on the latest trends. 2. You’ll Increase Your Income Who doesn’t want to have more income? Learning a new skill is important if you want to advance your career and improve your income. Your new skill can easily propel you into a better position with better pay. 3. You’ll Open New Doors Feeling stuck in your career? You don’t have to remain in a dead-end job or a career you hate, forever. You can make changes by learning new skills that can help you secure a different job. Your new skills will help you open doors that you may never have had the opportunity to previously. 4. You’ll Stand Out From The Crowd The competition in the job market is high. Everyone has the qualifications, and many have the experience for any available position. It can thus be hard securing a position. However, if you have some extra skills that are relevant to the job, you will have a significant advantage over the other candidates.

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