From fresh grads to mid-career switchers: This app helps S’poreans simplify their job search
In 2020, unemployment and retrenchment rates ticked upwards as the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the labour market in Singapore.
Employment grew in the first quarter of 2021 for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, according to advance estimates released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
However, despite the improvements in employment rates, the job market has not returned to pre-Covid conditions, and many companies are still undergoing restructuring and reorganising.
According to former Manpower Minister Josephine Teo, there could still be “pockets of job displacements’ ‘, and both employers and job seekers are encouraged to keep an open mind as the profiles of job vacancies have changed.
The government has since rolled out the SGUnited suite of programmes and services which is aimed at providing some cushion for jobseekers and enterprises impacted by the pandemic.
To consolidate all the various services available, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) released new employment support modules on the LifeSG app for jobseekers.
Vulcan Post spoke to three Singaporean job seekers to understand how the new employment support modules on LifeSG helped them in their job search.
A more user-centric approach
The slew of different job search platforms — from Telegram channels to LinkedIn and JobStreet — might make the whole process of finding a job extremely tedious and complicated.
This is especially so if the job seeker is unsure of their career interests or particular industry that they would like to enter.
Siti Munirah Ezar, in particular, quit her job as a management support officer in August last year to focus on looking after her children full-time.
The Business Studies graduate is now looking to re-enter the workforce, but like many, she is unsure of what to pursue next. This is why she found the “Discover your interests” section under the “Support for your job search” guide particularly useful.
“I didn’t know what role is suitable for me, so the online assessment tools helped me to suss out some potential career paths that I can take on,” she told Vulcan Post after trying out the feature.
“By figuring out what I want, I can better apply for the relevant jobs, instead of casting my net too wide.”
On the other hand, fresh graduate Dylan Teo found that the “Find job opportunities” section was more useful for him as a new job seeker.
The 25-year-old has been searching for a job since February but has not received many favourable responses.
“The LifeSG app allowed me to easily explore job postings online with MyCareersFuture, which is useful as I do not need to spend my time scouring through various websites,” said the National University of Singapore graduate.
“Besides, there is also the option to attend career fairs and networking events, which I think is very important when looking for a job.”
It is evident that the LifeSG app caters to different types of job seekers, from those looking for their first job to those looking to re-enter the workforce after a period of time.
For example, fresh graduates would find the “Get career advice and coaching” and “find job opportunities” to be more useful, while mid-career individuals are likely to find more value in “make a career switch” and “upgrade your skills”.
Other services include getting financial support if you’re out of a job or got a paycut, and information on fair retrenchment practices.
According to data released by the MOM in September 2020, around 11,350 people lost their jobs in the first half of last year.
Retrenchments in the second quarter of 2020 were above the peak which happened during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak in 2003.
Furthermore, more businesses announced wage cuts or nudged employees to go on no-pay leave amid the pandemic and recession.
Even though the government has rolled out various financial schemes to help those affected, many might have previously been unaware due to the vast amount of information available online.
The LifeSG app will be useful in helping affected individuals understand what type of help is available to them, and the corresponding way to apply for such aid.
Upskilling and reskilling as a key way to progress
According to recruitment expert Hays’ Singapore regional director Grant Torrens, employers are beginning to hire based on “clusters of skills rather than a traditional on-paper perfect fit.”
Even before the pandemic struck, employers have already been moving towards a more skills-based approach of hiring, which has since been accelerated Covid-19.
The Singapore government has also encouraged Singaporeans to continue to acquire new skills and reskill, such that they would not be left behind in the race for employment.
With that, the programmes under SkillsFuture aim to help Singaporeans find a footing when reskilling and upskilling, as well as to support lifelong learning.
Samuel Lim, who is currently in-between jobs, felt that the LifeSG app was useful in helping him on his quest to learn new skills.
The 26-year-old is an Economics graduate who aims to take on a career in software development. Besides actively looking out for new opportunities in the field, he also puts in the additional effort to pick up new skills.
“The LifeSG app allows me to manage all my SkillsFuture credits easily. I can also browse through and apply for the courses available via the app, which is so much simpler than toggling between various web pages,” said Samuel.
The “government benefits” section on the LifeSG app allows users to check their SkillsFuture Credit balance, as well as access the SkillsFuture portal.
Besides SkillsFuture credit, there is a host of training funds and grants that Singaporeans can apply for, which Siti only found out about when using the LifeSG app.
“I thought that to upgrade my skills, I can only use SkillsFuture credits, but there are also workshops to help you with résumé writing, confidence and interview skills for your job search,” she said.
The 31-year-old shared that she was worried that her interview skills might be rusty, so the service would be very beneficial in helping her increase her chances of employability.
She also believes that enhancing and upgrading her skills also gives her a better fighting chance, or competitive edge, against younger job seekers.
A one-stop resource hub for Singaporeans
The LifeSG app acts very much like a one-stop platform to connect Singaporeans to various government services, from checking your CPF balance to renewing your season parking at HDB estates.
The newly added job support modules also greatly aids Singaporeans in all aspects of finding a job.
Searching for a job can be a very overwhelming process, but LifeSG will be able to provide job seekers with assistance from the start till the end — from brushing up on interview skills to attending virtual career fairs and taking part in courses to develop new skills
To get help in your job search at your fingertips, start here.
This article was written in collaboration with Workforce Singapore.
Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post
Also Read: If you’ve lost your job, here’s what you need to do to get back on the career track
If you’ve lost your job, here’s what you need to do to get back on the career track
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an economic downturn, which inadvertently affects the job market in Singapore.
According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s Q1 2021 labour report released on June 17, Singapore’s total employment grew for the first time since the past four quarters, pointing to signs of continued recovery from Covid-19.
The report showed that the total employment, excluding foreign domestic workers, rose by 12,200 in the first quarter — this exceeded the preliminary estimate of 4,800 released in April.
More retrenched Singapore residents have also found jobs within six months, while job vacancies have risen to nearly match the unemployed population, according to the report.
While these figures are indeed an optimistic sign, experts predict a slow recovery in the job market. For 2021, they expect retrenchments to continue, especially among hardest-hit industries.
MOM also cautioned that Singapore is not out of the woods yet as unemployment rates remain high.
Moreover, economic uncertainties and the recent tightened measures from Phase 3 (heightened alert) restrictions are expected to impact the labour market recovery in the second quarter.
What to do if you lost your job?
Despite the gloomy outlook, the government has stepped up job support to aid job-seekers such as the setting up of SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres and virtual career fairs.
The government has also created a Jobs Support Scheme coordinated through the National Jobs Council, which promises the creation of 100,000 jobs and training places.
So far, there has been a spate of news on job and training opportunities in sectors like manufacturing, information and communications technology (ICT), as well as healthcare.
With regards to the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Programme, the government and tripartite partners have helped 25,000 people link up with new opportunities as of July 2020. Of the remaining places available, there are over 47,000 jobs, 16,000 traineeships, and more than 10,000 training places.
For jobseekers who are unable to secure a job due to the weak labour market, attachments and training opportunities will be available for them to gain industry-relevant skills.
If you have been retrenched and need career assistance, you can register your interest in WSG’s Career Matching Services by filling in this online form.
WSG will then contact you to offer job assistance such as sending an online assistance package to help the retrenched get back into the workforce or arrange for a virtual career coaching session.
This infographic article is done in collaboration with Workforce Singapore.
Featured Image Credit: Wan Wei
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Age Is Just A Number: Here Are 7 S’pore Companies That Are Now Hiring Older Workers
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced that retrenchments in the first half of 2020 reached a whopping 11,350.
Older Singaporean workers tend to be the first to be laid off during an economic crisis, a ChannelNewsAsia article affirms.
Older workers tend to cost more due to their seniority, compared with their less experienced counterparts. This becomes an issue when companies tighten their belts during a pandemic.
However, six in 10 of Singapore’s workforce is over 40 years old. Older workers, far from being a “hindrance”, actually add immense value to organisations.
While younger workers bring ingenuity and creativity, older workers have decades worth of work experience that organisations can tap into.
According to Harvard Business Review, knowledge and expertise — the main predictors of job performance — continue to increase even beyond the age of 80.
Older workers want the same things as younger workers: a meaningful career that’s stimulating, age-inclusive and has opportunities for progression.
Because of their knowledge and expertise, older workers are also well-positioned to act as mentors.
That said, hiring older workers is crucial for a company’s performance. Increasing cognitive diversity improves the output of a firm, achieved only by hiring talented workers of different ages and experiences.
As a result, employers’ attitudes towards older workers in Singapore have gradually become more open, in no small part a result of the government’s active encouragement.
Government budgetary measures like the Senior Worker Support Package and Mid-Career Support Package have reduced the prejudice against hiring older workers.
Here are seven companies that are actively hiring older workers in Singapore:
Ninja Van
Ninja Van is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and fastest-growing startups, specialising in logistics and courier services.
The company has more than 6,000 merchants onboarded and delivers over two million parcels a month across six countries.
E-commerce is booming in Singapore as consumers move to online deliveries instead of shopping at retail outlets, so now is a great time to join the industry.
It is expected to grow by 12.1 per cent annually, hitting a projected market volume of US$3.8 billion by 2024.
Explore available roles at Ninja Van here.
Cross Border Logistics Specialist and Service Recovery Associate available.
Skyy Design Workshop
Explore available positions at Skyy Design here.
Sales Executive/Manager (Events and Exhibitions), Sales Executive/Manager (Interior Design) and Office Cum HR Manager positions available.
Hoow Foods
launched an ice cream named Callery’s that has a remarkably low-calorie count, tasting just as rich and decadent as premium ice cream.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is aiming to increase the percentage of locally grown food to 30 per cent by 2030, and the government will be investing S$144 million into research on food security.
Foodtech firms, like Hoow Foods, are among the frontliners developing food innovations in Singapore.
Explore available roles at Hoow Foods here.
Data Analyst and Associate Scientist positions available.
Pfizer
Pfizer is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York with branches in Singapore.
The firm is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and ranked 57 on the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. Its portfolio includes medicines, vaccines and consumer health care products.
It’s currently a good time to join pharmaceuticals as the industry is booming during COVID-19. The local biomedical industry employs more than 24,000 people, and accounted for 20 per cent of the manufacturing sector, around a fifth of the country’s GDP.
Singapore’s biomedical engineering grew by 19.4 per cent this year, and the country exported US$8.1 billion worth of medicine in 2019.
Explore available roles at Pfizer here.
Principal Engineering Research Scientist position available.
Maple Bear
Headed by Maple Bear Global Schools, this Canadian-based school offers education programs utilising Canadian methodology and curriculum.
Its mission is to deliver a student-focused learning system to prepare students for success.
Maple Bear is one of the fastest-growing international education brands in the world. It offers bilingual (immersion) education, and has over 447 schools located around the world.
On top of exploring the traditional education sector, jobseekers may want to consider looking into Singapore’s edtech industry. The Asia-Pacific region currently represents 46 per cent of the global edtech market, and is expected to grow 54 per cent in the coming years.
Explore available roles at Maple Bear here.
Preschool Chinese Teacher position available.
Mead Johnson
Mead Johnson is a leading manufacturer of infant formula with its flagship formula, Enfamil.
Enfamil’s full product portfolio includes Enfagrow, Enfakid and Enfapro, designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants and children.
The company has launched more than 70 products in over 50 countries, used by millions of parents and healthcare professionals worldwide.
Mead Johnson has a market cap of US$16.4 billion and US$3.7 billion in sales, employing over 7,600 workers worldwide. FMCG products that cater to infant care are a pandemic-proof industry, given that their goods will always be in-demand.
Explore available roles at Mead Johnsons here.
Product Development Manager position available.
Polar Puffs & Cakes
Polar Puffs is one of Singapore’s classic homegrown bakeries, serving halal certified pastries and cakes since 1926.
In the 1990s, the business expanded to multiple outlets and petrol stations islandwide and now boasts Singapore’s winning formula for curry puffs.
The company also gives second chances to former offenders, and has its pastry made by prison inmates since 2004.
SMEs like Polar Puffs account for over two-thirds of all employment in Singapore, contributing about S$200 billion to the economy. As of 2019, there were over 220,000 SMEs in Singapore.
SMEs tend to face high frequency and turnover rate exiting and entering the market due to the difficulty of adapting to new customer demands, but Polar Puff’s longevity is testament to its adaptability.
Currently, F&Bs are making the leap to online-based sales as lockdown measures shut down retail outlets. Helping an SME transit and flourish could pave the way for career progression opportunities, and potential overseas expansions.
Explore available roles at Polar Puffs here.
Warehouse Supervisor position available.
There’s Always Time For A Mid-Career Switch
While new career opportunities are available, retrenchment can still be a deeply troubling and difficult experience for older workers.
In order to relieve the difficulties of retrenched workers, the government has launched several initiatives to aid mid-career workers.
From career guidance, planning for a career transition to searching for a job, Workforce Singapore (WSG) has rolled out plenty of initiatives to help with your career journey.
For mid-career workers, they can take advantage of SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme to gain access to training opportunities at companies and public sector agencies.
Under the program, they can take on a company attachment and receive a training allowance of up to S$3,000.
Alternatively, mid-career workers can attend full-time training ranging from six to 12 months in sectors that can provide job opportunities as the economy recovers.
Trainees will receive a monthly training allowance of S$1,500 for the duration of the training, as well as career advisory and employment assistance as they search for relevant jobs that utilise their newly-acquired skills.
Additionally, other schemes are also available under a SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package.
This includes the increased capacity of reskilling programs, hiring incentive to employers who hire local job-seekers aged 40 and above through a reskilling programme, and an additional $500 SkillsFuture credit.
If you are struggling to find a job, you can register your interest in WSG’s Career Matching Services by filling in this online form.
WSG will then contact you to offer job assistance such as sending an online assistance package to help the retrenched get back into the workforce or arrange for a virtual career coaching session.
This article is written in collaboration with Workforce Singapore.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
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S’pore’s Unemployment Rate Hits Record High But Here’s What Job Seekers Can Look Forward To
Amid this economic downturn, job security is a top-of-mind issue for most Singaporeans. Afterall, the pandemic has badly impacted the labour market, causing pay cuts, hiring freezes and retrenchments.
Singapore’s unemployment rate is the highest it has ever been in 10 years. According to the latest preliminary data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), unemployment rose from 2.4 per cent in the first quarter to 2.9 per cent in the second quarter this year.
Retrenchments also more than doubled in the second quarter, with over 6,700 workers laid off — this is almost double from 3,220 in the first quarter.
However, there are silver linings observed. While unemployment rate crept up, it did not spike with support such as the COVID-19 support package under the supplementary Fortitude Budget announced by DPM Heng Swee Keat.
Although retrenchments increased, both the government and union have also urged companies to explore alternatives like shorter work weeks, redeployment or pay cuts before considering retrenchment as a last resort.
The Government has also pushed out various schemes and grants to help Singaporeans stay employable in this challenging economy.
It promised that 100,000 jobs and training places will be created, and a National Jobs Council has already been set up to coordinate these efforts.
Senior Minister Tharman Shamugaratnam, who chairs the council, stressed that supporting mid-career and mature workers is a key focus of the National Jobs Council.
“No Singaporean who is willing to learn should be too ‘too old’ to hire. And no one who is willing to adapt should be viewed as ‘overqualified’,” he said.
Towards this end, the government will work closely with the business associations to bring all employers into this national effort. The Ministry of Manpower will also watch companies’ hiring practices to ensure that they comply with the Fair Consideration Framework.
The framework requires employers to consider the local workforce fairly, and not discriminate on factors such as age, gender or race.
The National Jobs Council also oversees the design and implementation of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.
It’s imperative that those who cannot get a job are given the chance for other work opportunities such as temporary jobs, internships and other forms of training. This helps them gain skills, exposure and experience, which they can carry with them into longer-term career opportunities eventually.
New Jobs In New Industries
Although the economy has been put to a halt due to COVID-19, Singaporeans can be assured that we will emerge from this pandemic stronger as the government looks to rebuild our economy with the creation of new jobs.
We have identified three high-growth sectors that will likely see a strong investment amidst these tough times:
1. Medical Technology
The medical technology (MedTech) market in Asia is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 per cent and is projected to overtake the EU as the second largest market globally by 2020.
Today, Singapore is home to more than 60 multinational MedTech companies.
One of the key drivers of Singapore’s MedTech industry is mobile health. Also known as mHealth, the use of mobile technology to monitor and share health information is seeing increased adoption worldwide. According to a market research report, the value of the global mHealth solutions market is expected to leap from US$21.3 billion in 2017 to US$160.5 billion by 2024.
We are also seeing increased investor willingness to support early-stage startups in the industry, including overseas companies looking to expand to Asia. In April last year, SGInnovate named five co-investors to focus on early-stage deep tech startups in various fields, including MedTech.
Check out 868 healthcare roles (as of 4 August 2020) on MyCareersFuture.sg here.
2. Information And Communications Technology
As the digital capital of Asia, Singapore is the preferred base for Information & Communications Technology (ICT) firms.
Ranked as the here featuring ICT job vacancies.
3. Urban Solutions and Sustainability
Smart Sustainable Cities is Singapore’s effort to harness solutions across industries to ultimately create green, digital and efficient urban spaces. Singapore is well-placed to realise this after having successfully exported urban solutions in areas like built environment and city management, urban mobility, energy, safety and security, and environment and water.
As an urban living laboratory, companies are testing and developing smart city technologies in Singapore that will serve to boost the efficiencies and comfort of the lives of millions in the region.
For instance, as a small and densely populated country, Singapore depends on efficient and effective transportation solutions to overcome land and manpower constraints.
It presents real and challenging use-cases, making Singapore an attractive lead market and location for companies to develop, test and commercialise smart mobility technologies and solutions that can be exported to the global market.
How To Fast-Track Your Career Search
While the above-mentioned emerging industries will definitely give rise to more job opportunities, some Singaporeans are currently having a hard time landing new jobs.
When the going gets tough, it’s best to seek help from professionals.
Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) Careers Connect in particular, offers complimentary career guidance for Singapore citizens and PRs to help ease the path of job seekers, especially those who are stressed and unsure of what to do after losing their jobs, or have been unsuccessful after submitting numerous job applications.
Career officers will guide and advise job seekers in their job search, and those who require more hand-holding can meet with a certified career coach who will work with job seekers in their career planning so they can make informed career choices and realise their job goals.
In the first session, a career coach will seek to understand your employment situation, identify your career goals, values, interests and skills to align them with the job opportunities available. During this difficult period, job seekers are also encouraged to consider contract or short-term jobs to gain relevant experience for the upturn.
From there, the career coach will help to map out an action plan, outlining the steps needed to achieve your goals.
By working with career coaches, you can personalise your career plan, get unbiased feedback to uncover your blind spots, acquire job-search skills to stand out from other candidates, and receive emotional support and build confidence in difficult times.
Are you unemployed or have been retrenched? Or do you know someone who needs career assistance?
Register your interest in WSG’s Career Matching Services by filling in this online form. WSG will then contact you to offer job assistance such as sending an online assistance package to help the retrenched get back into the workforce or arrange for a virtual career coaching session.
If you are retrenched or job-seeking, there are also employment support guides available that lists out retrenchment benefits and measures, as well as job search support available which you can check out here.
We’ve made good progress so far in fighting this crisis, and despite what lies ahead, we are definitely prepared to deal with the challenges of the future.
As long as we move forward with fortitude, stay united as one people, and remain resilient in the face of adversity, we will definitely overcome this crisis together and emerge stronger as a nation.
This article was written in collaboration with Workforce Singapore.
Featured Image Credit: Maverick Asio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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When One Door Closes, Another Opens: 5 Industries For Job Opportunities During COVID-19
As Singapore extends the ‘circuit breaker’ period, many sectors have been badly impacted, such as hospitality, travel and tourism, retail, as well as F&B.
In a bid to cut costs, many companies have
even imposed pay cuts as well as salary and hiring freezes. The National Wages
Council has advised that retrenchment should be a “last resort”, but
there are still many who have lost their jobs in this Covid-19 climate.
However, the unexpected silver lining here is
the discovery of new opportunities in this period of uncertainty.
Although the job market is facing some challenges right now, some companies are still hiring. Here are five industries that have been staying strong amid this global pandemic should you decide to make a mid-career switch.
1. E-commerce
As retail stores are forced to close as part
of ‘circuit breaker’ measures, consumers are increasingly turning to online
shopping as well as food and grocery deliveries.
According to a Nielsen study, the penetration of Singapore
users venturing into e-commerce will continue to rise. This is backed by the
finding that 69 per cent of people surveyed who bought household goods online
for the first time during Covid-19, claim that they will do so again in the
next 12 months.
Similarly, statistics portal Statista reported that Singaporeans are spending more on online grocery shopping (14% increase), other online shopping excluding groceries (6% increase) and food delivery services (10% increase) as of March 2020.
If you are worried that the uplift in
e-commerce is only temporary and will slow down once the pandemic ends,
e-commerce revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate of 9.1 per cent,
resulting in a market volume of US$3,939m by 2024.
Moreover, it’s also possible that after this situation ceases, people will continue to purchase online due to its convenience and ease of use and replace shop visits with online purchases.
Check out e-commerce roles here.
2. Digital Media And Entertainment
With the social distancing measures in place,
this has led to a spike in at-home media consumption.
Hand-in-hand with this, there has been a growing demand for digital media and entertainment according to Nielsen. Two in five consumers (44%) are playing more online games, followed by social network activities (38%) and online video streaming (36%) as people seek to relieve boredom and replace face-to-face interaction.
Similarly, consulting firm Kantar reported that media consumption increased across all in-home channels – web browsing increasing by 70%, followed by (traditional) TV viewing increasing by 63% and social media engagement increasing by 61% over normal usage rates.
Comscore’s report on Covid-19’s impact of digital media consumption showed that Singaporeans have been keeping themselves updated on the pandemic with digital news. There has been growth across digital news categories as people visit news apps and information sites for timely and trusted information on the Covid-19 crisis while they are staying at home.
What’s more, as staying in becomes the new going out, we
are turning to augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to replace
physical visits to concerts, museums
and events.
We can enjoy these never-before experiences safely from the comforts of our
homes.
Check out digital media roles here.
3. Health And Wellness
Health has become a priority now more than
ever, and our local pharmacies are far from closing their doors. Demand for
health and wellness products have been growing rapidly since the Covid-19
outbreak.
There was already a long-term shift towards healthier products and categories
before the virus outbreak.
Singapore’s telehealth app Doctor Anywhere said that “products such as sanitisers and disinfectants are flying off the shelf, as are immunity boosting supplements and vitamins” in the health and wellness marketplace on its app.
Even after Covid-19, consumers are expected to
continue to look after their health and wellbeing. More than four in five consumers in Singapore
are likely to buy health supplements again in the next 12 months, and 58 per
cent of consumers will continue buying hand sanitisers.
Check out pharmacy-related roles here.
4. Grocery Retail
Unless you have been living under a rock, you
would have seen news of Singaporeans rushing to the supermarkets to stock up
their pantries in fear of a ‘lockdown’.
According to DBS Group Research, retail demand has turned to supermarkets as grocery sales followed the same boost seen during SARS in 2003.
Amongst supermarket giants, Sheng Shiong is
projected to see a 3-11 per cent growth in its FY2020 earnings. Meanwhile,
Dairy Farm is expecting its FY2020 earnings to increase by 3 per cent, thanks
to increased food consumption at home and healthcare products, as well as to
random panic-buying locals.
On the online side, Covid-19 has driven higher penetration of online shopping for FMCG
products (personal care, home care, beverages, packaged food) as seven in 10
consumers are shopping online to stock their pantry, and this behaviour is
likely to continue even when the pandemic ends.
FairPrice, RedMart and foodpanda’s grocery
delivery service have reported a surge
in sales when Singapore raised its Disease Outbreak Response System
Condition (DORSCON) level from Yellow to Orange.
With one in two consumers cooking or eating more often at
home now, this will lead to an increase in grocery purchases for home-cooked
meals.
People still go to physical stores to
pantry-stock, so grocery goods retailers and supermarkets should be focusing on
catering to both online and offline customers.
Check out grocery retail roles here.
5. Video-conferencing Services
As the ‘circuit breaker’ took
place and we started working from home, companies have transitioned fully to
remote work and video conferences, online meetings and chat services.
As companies rapidly — and in some cases also permanently
— move towards remote working, the market for digital collaboration tools such
as Google Hangouts and Zoom
is likely to grow quickly. Zoom has already experienced a 72 per cent increase in its share price on its first day of trading alone.
Microsoft has reported that their video conferencing service Microsoft Teams recorded a new daily record of 2.7 billion meeting minutes in one day, a 200 per cent increase from 900 million on March 16, as students and teachers turn to Teams for home-based learning. Teams currently has 183,000 tenants in 175 countries using Teams for education.
Market intelligence firm IDC confirmed that in their
Future of Work Employee Survey 2020, countries with considerable organisations working
from home such as Singapore have already seen an uptake of
video meetings, audio conference calls, and collaboration platforms.
Video conferencing usage extends beyond business
meetings. It has also become a social platform for self-isolated individuals to
connect with family and friends to make up for the lost face-to-face
interaction we used to have before Covid-19.
Competition in this industry is set to intensify as
Tencent Holdings recently launched VooV Meeting, which has already been rolled out in over 100 countries
and regions, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan.
It will be competing with the likes of Alibaba’s DingTalk and
ByteDance’s Lark, which is a sure indication that the demand for digital
collaboration tools would stay after Covid-19.
Check out digital collaboration roles here.
Lost Your Job Due To Covid-19? Here’s How You Can Get Help
While recovery of the economy and
the Covid-19 situation remain bleak, we should stay positive in this tough period
of time.
If you have been retrenched due to
cost-cutting measures, forced to go on no-pay leave, or lost your job because
your company has folded, take this opportunity to reconsider your career path
and future-proof your career.
Workforce Singapore (WSG) is helping affected individuals make a mid-career switch through the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), where PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) will undergo skills conversion and move into new occupations or sectors that have good prospects and opportunities for progression.
WSG also has a team of Career Coaches
who are ready to offer professional advice on how to help you get back on your
feet and emerge stronger after your job loss.
A career coaching session will help you personalise your career plan to achieve your goals, get unbiased feedback to uncover your blind spots, acquire job-search skills to stand out from other candidates and receive support when the going gets tough. Through the session, the Career Coach can help you better understand your strengths and aspirations, craft your CV, match your skills with opportunities in the labour market, improve your job search strategy and so on.
Sign up now for an appointment with one of WSG’s career coaches.
WSG has also curated the Career Restarter Virtual Toolkit, a library of online video resources for jobseekers to find out how they can go about their job search and increase their chances of getting hired, from pitching their CV to scoring a job interview.
Also, check out Workforce Singapore’s Virtual Career Fairs for thematic virtual
career fairs for you to apply to hiring employers. The SGUnited Jobs Virtual
Career Fairs (VCF) running currently aims to provide job opportunities for
jobseekers and workers affected by the current COVID-19 situation, as well as
match them to jobs available, including new jobs created as a result of COVID-19.
You may also visit MyCareersFuture.sg for a wider range of other positions. Whether you are a fresh graduate looking for an entry-level job or an experienced individual considering a career switch, MyCareersFuture.sg provides jobseekers with everything they need to know about the job hunting process and nature of the various industries based on tips and tricks from experts in related fields in Singapore and abroad.
Additionally, you may also follow SGUnited Telegram channel for regular updates
on job vacancies.
Most importantly, you do not have to feel
dejected about losing your job or being retrenched. Help yourself get through
this difficult but temporary period of time. Search for tips to help you regain control of your life
and get back on your feet. Always remind yourself to have a positive mindset
and work towards the goal of finding another job.
While you work towards scoring another job, be
proactive about taking ownership in advancing your career and getting job
search assistance through WSG, which has self-help resources at your fingertips
as well as professional career coaches to offer you advice as you find your
career path again.
Keep in mind that retrenchment is not the end
of the world and you can pick yourself up again.
Kick-start your job search by setting up an appointment with a Career Coach today!
This article is written in collaboration with Workforce Singapore.
Featured Image Credit: NUS / Begenki Shop
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