2016 has been a bad year for everyone, everywhere. Terrorists attacked, earthquakes struck Taiwan and Japan, and the world saw the rise of PPAP.
To top off the horror, 2016 also marked the decline of Singapore’s economy, with the slowdown already rearing its ugly head in sectors like manufacturing and finance. There is uncertainty in the air as to when the good times will return but for now, the decline is expected to continue into subsequent years.
With news this ominous, we would not be surprised if you’re panicking already.
Or will you?
Engineers And IT, Rejoice
The Straits Times just announced a boom in the job industry that is slated to start very soon. Next year, in fact.
While there is not much faith to be held in a turnaround for other industries, it seems that at least in these sectors we can look forward to a growing economy.
Amidst a stagnating economy, the startup industry and technological sectors are two major players still batting for the big leagues and creating tons of jobs along the way. Two other areas where people can look to seek a living is in early childhood education and healthcare.
Overall, it is estimated that a total of 68, 000 new jobs will be created to cater to these sectors. So why is it that we still hear people complaining about the lack of jobs?
Outdated Skills
One key problem faced by retrenched workers is that they no longer have the skills necessary to stay relevant to the 2016 job industry. The world is transitioning into global interconnectedness via the Internet of Things (IoT), and other sectors are starting to see increased tech disruption (Edtech).
Companies now expect employees to be team-players, as well as innovative and quick studies.
According to Acting Minister for Education, Ong Ye Kung, employees now have to be “multi-skilled”, with strong “learning agility, so that they “are willing to unlearn, learn and relearn.”
Likening the future economy of Singapore to a “runway economy“, Ong also stated that Singapore has to be where “ideas are conceived and plans are developed” so that “products and services can be launched to the region or to the world”.
No Way Out?
Not true.
In past reads, we introduced opportunities for people to pick up additional skills that may be necessary for their careers.
NTUC’s e2i is one-stop for you to receive guidance on what careers are best suited for your repertoire of talents.
With a mission to provide “career guidance, professional development, and job matching services”, e2i also connects you with the multiple job opportunities and fairs so that you devote more to networking rather than trawling Google.
Skillsfuture SG provides each Singaporean above 25 a $500 grant to subsidise self-improvement classes (subsidies will be topped up each year).
Institutes such as Kaplan offer Workplace Skills training for work productivity. The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) has workplace relations classes. And now, self-help groups like Mendaki and the CDAC are also jumping to help people re-engage themselves with the jobs available.
Take time to study the classes that you should be joining, because it’s really not as easy as it sounds. Because it’s not just about planning for the jobs you have now, but the jobs that will last you a lifetime.
So You’ve Re-trained Yourself…. Now What?
Well, it’s time to put yourself back out there.
And thanks to the exponential growth of technology, putting yourself on the radar of employers has never been easier. Amidst the rise of startups, there are those who aim to help connect people with their future careers.
#1 Glints
Tailored for students and graduates who lack experience, Glints streamlines the search for internships and jobs. In their Culture Archives, they also showcase quick reads for anyone who has ever been stumped by the term “Employee Stock Options“.
#2 StaffOnDemand
StaffonDemand is an online platform that allows job seekers to synchronise their job application across job websites.
Skip setting up multiple accounts, StaffonDemand will give you quick access to their 15 website partners which include JobsDB, JobsCentral, and STJobs.
#3 Enhancv
Enhancv is a online service that takes your plain text on text resume and transforms it into something eye-catching and interactive. Although the Internet is rife with free resume templates, some people continue to rely on the comfortable, but boring, tables of Microsoft Word.
Enhancv takes all of these techniques and flips it on its head to give you this.
Because honestly, which world dictator would not like someone with Vader’s experience on his panel of executives?
That’s not all.
Enhancv also pitted Darth Vader against himself as Anakin Skywalker, proving to you just how dynamic they can be.
So seize the moment now, and turn your CV in for vetting.
Who knows, maybe you’d end up being part of the Sith too.
Featured Image Credit: Awards.sg