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how to get a big 4 law internship / training contract in singapore

27/9/2018

1. Grades
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, with hundreds of law students flooding the market, grades are usually the first indicator that law firms use to shortlist their candidates.

Adopting smart study habits is very important. Ask your seniors for advice. Often, it is about having the correct mindset and determination to stick to a study schedule. Learn to understand (not just memorize or regurgitate), and enjoy the process. If you have a process-oriented mindset, results will follow.

life-changing advice from top ceos in singapore

27/9/2018

1. Know what you are good at and don’t give up

Mr Ang Chin Koon is the CEO of myCK, a budget-friendly retail outlet chain around Singapore with 19+ outlets. His story in business is one full of roller-coasters, from reaching incredible heights with an almost IPO, to a nasty fall-out with family members in their family business, personal bankruptcy and an incredible rise from the ashes (a real fire was involved).

After a drawn-out family feud and bankruptcy, Mr Ang has this to say:

"I decided to go back to what I'm good at, which is to sell things. It was the only skill I had." - Mr Ang Chin Koon, CEO of myCK

From there, he re-built his retail roots and created myCK, which is doing better than ever. What we can learn from this? Even the biggest setback should never get you down. Being self-aware of your own strengths and weaknesses is important. Stay positive and re-build from the ground up by focusing on your strengths. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

how to side hustle (best ideas to make cash on the side)

27/9/2018

It seems that every millennial nowadays has a side hustle, and wisely so! Beyond the obvious internships and accreditations, a side hustle is an excellent way to show your passion and develop skill-sets that will make you a valuable asset to any company.

1. Start a blog or freelance writing
Think of what you are absolutely passionate about and start a blog recording your observations and thoughts. Once you have taken a few baby steps of getting your blog running, go ahead and look at freelance writing opportunities. There are websites on every imaginable topic possible online, and many of them accept submissions from newbie authors.
This is a wonderful resume builder, you can link your blog and/or published articles in your resume which demonstrates your writing abilities, knowledge and savvy on the subject matter.

how to get a law firm internship (singapore, uk & hk)

8/6/2018

LAW FIRMS	Singapore	UNITED KINGDOM	HONG KONG
BENEFITS	Big 4 takes into account internship performance in evaluating TC applications. You can also form valuable contacts and get a feel of firm culture. For TC purposes, it is always helpful to have interned at the firm.	For UK undergrads, you may wish to consider a London internship at the start of summer break, and a second internship in Singapore after. This allows you to have the best of both worlds and gain a competitive edge.	There is a diverse array of law firms in Hong Kong giving much wider opportunity to cast your net and to expand your horizons.
HOW TO APPLY	Be sure to adhere to the application format (e.g. forms / documents to upload etc) and timelines. This is also a good chance to read up on the firm and department and to demonstrate this in your applications (i.e., that you have researched the firm and you are sincere about applying).	For Magic Circle firms, be fully prepared for your interview. London firms (and international firms in general, including those in Singapore and HK) are interested in candidates who demonstrate commercial awareness. Be sure to read up on financial news and economic developments globally. Understand what you can bring to the table. Practically, most of us would be expected to work on Asia-centric deals and clients.	Hong Kong has a diverse range of firms. You will get great exposure. Do your research and find the specific area of practice that you wish to gain experience in and make sure you can demonstrate persuasively why you are interested in the field and how you can add-value to the team.
WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR	For Big 4, primary focus is on grades. Offshore firms have limited places. Having a good attitude is key. Testimonials are very helpful and can be appended to you application.	You must be able to demonstrate your competitive advantage. The way you present yourself and culture fit (specific to each firm) is important.	Read up on the nature of the work and any significant deals or cases of the particular practice group / firm. Look at the type and background of candidates they generally hire.
COST & EXPENSES	You may get a modest stipend but don’t expect much.	International firms (especially US firms) provide generous stipends.	Depends on type of firm (international, boutique etc.)
OTHERS	A genuine interest in legal practice and a humble attitude will go a long way. Be aware that as an intern, you can only offer modest help to the team but take everything as a learning experience and do your best at any small task assigned.	There may be internal quotas regarding foreign nationals.	Candidates should demonstrate proficient Mandarin. Bonus if you are able to speak Cantonese.

If you have any questions about law firm internships, please email us at info@successgogo.com

4 must-dos when interviewing for a job out of your league

26/2/2018

Shoot for the moon and you will reach for the stars. In the ever-evolving job market today, it is more important than ever before to challenge yourself and go out of your comfort zone. In many instances, you may find yourself applying for a job that may seem like a “stretch” or “out of your league”. Here are 4 ways that can help you rise to the occasion!

1. Focus on transferable skills and being adaptable
Study the job description carefully. Write down the list of skills and qualifications that they are looking for. Compare this list to your resume and make linkages wherever possible. This will form as an excellent base for talking points during your interview.

More often than not, there are a lot of transferable skills that you possess than what is immediately obvious. Managerial experience and sales skills can be demonstrated in a variety of ways and you shouldn’t be shy in speaking up for yourself.

8 Ways to make the most of your career

16/1/2018

If you need any career guidance, please do not hesitate to email us at info@successgogo.com

5 keys to success no one tells you about

12/1/2018

1. 5% Rule
The key to success and getting promoted in the workplace is often dependent on 5% of your visible and most important work rather than 95% of the work you accomplish in your day-to-day.

Volunteer and challenge yourself to take up visible projects and tasks. Place yourself in projects that put you in sight of upper management. A great article on the 5% rule is linked here.

how to deal with competitive and jealous coworkers

12/1/2018

The workplace can be full of sharks and snakes. Survival is a matter of training, perseverance and rising above the situation. These are 5 suggestions to think about if you find yourself in an unpleasant situation.

1. Dealing with sabotage
This is a tricky situation and should be dealt with carefully. Do not stoop to the level of your co-worker and engage in an emotional or confrontational manner. Poor reactions will only look bad on you and not your co-worker.

Think of how you can avoid further traps instead. If a co-worker stole your credit, make sure that next time you have to work with them, demonstrate your contributions in a more visible way, and perhaps on a timely basis so that everyone knows the process involved and not just the end-result.

Workplace sabotage sometimes stem from a toxic work environment that goes beyond just 1 – 2 nasty individuals. If it is truly a workplace culture that you cannot adjust to, it may be better to formulate an exit plan.

5 Fabulous benefits you should look out for

12/1/2018

1. Types and Number of Leave
Leave days are possibly one of the main benefits that potential employees look out for. Taking a closer look at your overall leave days, you should also look into the types of leave that your company offers and make sure you use them. For instance, family and childcare leave are in addition to standard leave days and can be really helpful for parents.

are you productive at work?

12/1/2018

1. Urgency Matrix

To make the best use of your time, you should set time-limits for your tasks and group similar or related tasks together. It is better to finish one task completely before moving on to the next. It is tempting to jump from one task to another, as and when they come in but this creates a lot of inefficiency.

The Eisenhower Matrix above is a useful starting point to batch tasks and prioritize.

Important > Urgent. Try to focus on important tasks rather than urgent tasks and you will find that you will get much more done rather than just getting bogged down with minutiae. You may also start to realize that many “urgent” tasks resolve themselves without you.

Research shows that only around 17 percent of people are able to accurately estimate the passage of time. Start tracking time spent, and then use this knowledge to set reasonable time-limits for each task. This will allow you to organize your day much more effectively.