Chief of Staff Asia

12/01/2026

🤖 Is the ATS really rejecting your resume before a human sees it?
According to Guest Contributor Volen Vulkov’s First Word piece, that widespread belief is mostly a myth. A study of recruiters using major ATS platforms found that 92 % said their system doesn’t auto-reject based on formatting, keywords or design — those decisions are still made by people.

So why do so many resumes disappear?
📍 Sheer volume of applications
📍 When you apply (early matters)
📍 Whether your experience clearly matches the role

Job seekers: focus on clarity, relevance and applying early.
Employers: transparency and candidate respect go a long way.

12/01/2026

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐑 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬

Dr. Koh Ngee Loke (高义陆博士), Human Resources Director at Ultra Clean Technology and judge for the HR Stars Awards Malaysia 2025–2026, brings a grounded and results-oriented view on HR leadership. His journey from operations into HR has shaped a perspective that values discipline, data, ethical leadership, and practical impact in people practices.

In this article, Dr. Koh explains how real-world experience and structured thinking help HR solve complex workforce challenges and deliver measurable value to organisations while still putting people first.

👉 Read the full story here: https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/dr-koh-ngee-loke-grounding-hr-in-reality-and-results/

You can still nominate for FREE in the HR Stars Awards Malaysia 2025–2026. Recognise the leaders, teams, and initiatives shaping the future of work.
👉 https://hrstarsawards.com/award/malaysia-national-awards-2025-2026/

Dr. Koh Ngee Loke’s HR journey did not begin in a traditional people role. It began on the factory floor, inside operations, materials, and production environments where safety, quality, delivery, and cost mattered every single day. That grounding shaped how he sees HR today, Reflecting on his ear...

06/01/2026

🌍 Gen Z faces a tougher job market than it looks.

Even where unemployment seems low, many young workers are underemployed or struggling to find roles that match their potential.

Forward-thinking organisations are responding by:
✨ Embracing Gen Z’s digital strengths
✨ Making workplaces more inclusive
✨ Giving clear growth and learning opportunities

Because when young talent thrives, the whole organisation does too. 💪

Tap to read more 👉 [link]

06/01/2026

📲 More HR tools ≠ better HR.
Organisations are learning that optimisation matters more than accumulation.

Here are 5 ways HR teams are tuning their tech stacks for impact:
✔ Audit existing tools
✔ Integrate systems for smooth workflows
✔ Match tech to real business outcomes
✔ Give teams the training they need
✔ Invest based on measurable ROI

Smarter stacks mean happier users, clearer data and more time for work that really matters.

Read: https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/five-ways-organisations-optimise-hr-tech-stacks/

06/01/2026

🌏 Global HR platforms aren’t automatically “local-ready.”

What works in New York or London needs adaptation to fit Jakarta, Manila or Bangkok — from payroll rules to cultural expectations.

Localising HR tech isn’t just about switching languages — it’s about building systems that feel intuitive, compliant and relevant to each market. When HR tech meets people where they are, adoption and experience improve.

Read: https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/hr-tech-update-localising-global-hr-platforms-for-southeast-asia/

06/01/2026

🌟 HR SUPERSTAR ALERT! 🌟
Malaysia’s best HR teams just raised the bar — from flexible work culture to innovative people practices! https://hrstarsawards.com/news-and-insights/will-you-be-the-next-hr-superstar-in-malaysia/

Want to see YOUR HR story here next? Your passion + purpose deserves recognition.

✨ Nominate your team today! https://hrstarsawards.com/nominate-here/nominate-here-malaysia/

Chief of Staff Asia's inaugural HR Stars Awards are seeking out the very best of HR professionals, practices, and cultures, from Singapore and throughout the Southeast Asia region.

17/12/2025

𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐑 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲
Vaclav Koranda, SHRM-SCP, HR leader and judge for the HR Stars Awards Malaysia 2025–2026, shares his perspective on how HR must face tough realities with clarity and courage in order to truly lead transformation and deliver value.

In the article, Vaclav explains why HR needs to move beyond comfort zones to become a strategic force that drives not only people impact but organisational performance as well.

👉 Read the full story: https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/vaclav-koranda-is-seeing-hr-clearly-not-comfortably/

✨ You can still nominate for FREE in the HR Stars Awards Malaysia 2025–2026. Recognise the leaders, teams, and initiatives building the future of work! 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐑 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲

Vaclav Koranda, SHRM-SCP, HR leader and judge for the HR Stars Awards Malaysia 2025–2026, shares his perspective on how HR must face tough realities with clarity and courage in order to truly lead transformation and deliver value.

In the article, Vaclav explains why HR needs to move beyond comfort zones to become a strategic force that drives not only people impact but organisational performance as well.

👉 Read the full story: https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/vaclav-koranda-is-seeing-hr-clearly-not-comfortably/

✨ You can still nominate for 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 in the HR Stars Awards Malaysia 2025–2026. Recognise the leaders, teams, and initiatives building the future of work!

👉 https://hrstarsawards.com/nominate-here/nominate-here-malaysia/

Long before digital transformation became a headline topic, Vaclav Koranda was already questioning how HR should truly work. Becoming an HR Director at just 27 years old forced him to grow fast, reflect deeply, and learn what leadership really means in practice. Looking back, he says, “it was a mi...

15/12/2025

Singapore’s low unemployment rate hides a big problem: a growing skills mismatch. Young workers are job-hunting in huge numbers, and fresh graduates are entering industries that feel unstable and unpredictable.

✨ Education needs more resilience, EQ and real-world skills
✨ Businesses must rebuild trust with fair pay, growth paths and job redesign that’s future-ready

Young talent aren’t afraid of hard work — they just want stability and meaning in return.

Tap to read more 👉 https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/the-first-word-closing-the-skills-mismatch-bridging-the-talent-gap/

15/12/2025

🌿 Employee wellbeing is more than yoga sessions — it’s about creating support that actually works.

Here are 5 strategies shaping better wellbeing programmes today:
✅ Focus on what employees really need
✅ Make mental-health support easy to access
✅ Use feedback & data to improve
✅ Equip managers to support wellbeing
✅ Bring in experts when needed

Stronger wellbeing = stronger teams.

Tap to read more 👉 https://chiefofstaff.asia/news-and-insights/five-strategies-for-employee-wellbeing-programmes/

15/12/2025

🌱 Tech can help make work greener.

HR technology is helping organisations in Southeast Asia cut paper, reduce travel, and embed sustainability into everyday workflows. By digitising HR processes from cloud-based records to mobile apps, companies are turning small changes into meaningful environmental impact.

Greener workplaces don’t just help the planet; they also attract talent who care about sustainability.

09/12/2025

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞!
Here are the finalists for 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 at the 𝐇𝐑 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓:
🌟 Reeracoen Singapore
🌟 Hepmil Media Group
🌟 Royal Kings Group
🌟 IBM

These organisations are creating inspiring work environments where employees thrive, collaboration flourishes, and company culture drives success.

Let’s celebrate their commitment to building workplaces that truly make a difference!

09/12/2025

Recognising excellence in workplace wellbeing, the 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 finalists at the 𝐇𝐑 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 are NPS International School, Singapore and FDM Group, two organisations championing meaningful programmes that elevate employee health, resilience, and overall wellbeing. Stay tuned as we celebrate the winner of this inspiring category!