- \n
- Job seekers and career switchers ride the digitalisation wave to land
\nnew roles and more opportunities with acquired skills<\/li>\n - 58% increase in tech training places since the start of the pandemic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SINGAPORE
\n–\u00a0Media OutReach<\/a>\u00a0– 18
\nJune 2021 – <\/b>When the pandemic hit,
\n57-year old Muhamed Ibrahim Mohd Salleh found himself
\nunemployed and not being able secure a job. Having only offline sales
\nexperience and zero background in tech, he found himself facing unfamiliar
\nchanges. He realised that the ‘new norm’ would be more tech-driven, prompting
\nhim to take a leap of faith to enrol himself in the SG United Skills Digital
\nMarketing and E-Commerce Specialist Programme by NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB).<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/release.media-outreach.com\/release.php\/Images\/Thumb\/500x0\/157557\/AGILE.jpg#image-157557\")
<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nDespite the steep learning curve, he pressed on
\nand four months into the nine-month programme, he decided to set up his own
\nbarber shop with his son. Confident of his newly acquired tech skills and
\nknowledge, Ibrahim is now promoting his shop through social media marketing and
\nmanaging online appointment bookings.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nThe course is just one out
\nof many programmes under NTUC LHUB’s training offerings in Infocomm Technology
\n(ICT). The leading training provider saw a 58% increase<\/b> in training
\nplaces for ICT courses from 2019 to 2020[1]<\/a>. Workers
\nare now upskilling to ride the wave of digitalisation, which offers new jobs
\nand business opportunities. As
\nthe pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital transformation across
\nindustries, businesses are looking for workers to fill new tech roles. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nThe top
\ncourses include those in Agile Skills, Data Analytics and User Experience. NTUC
\nLHUB observes that many of its trainees are looking to either advance in their
\ncareers or make a career switch in the tech space.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nNTUC LHUB’s Head of ICT Isa
\nNasser says, “COVID-19
\nhas changed business needs and there is now a pressing demand for Singapore to
\nbuild a strong local talent pool in tech. The time to upskill in tech is now,
\neven for those who may have little to no knowledge in tech. Keen job seekers or
\neven entrepreneurs can start small, through bite-sized learning offered through
\nplatforms such as our LHUB GO Infinity online learning platform. Learners can
\nsearch for any tech topics they may be interested in and acquire the basics
\nthrough introductory videos as short as 10 minutes.”<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n“Learning
\ncan be done anytime, anywhere and at their own pace. They can then delve
\ndeeper, sharpen their skills and level up in areas where they want to
\nspecialise in. And after learning, they can join a community of practice to
\nkeep up to date with the ever-evolving tech landscape. This will ensure that
\nlearners remain employable,” Isa adds.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nUpskilling to progress into new roles\u00a0
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nAs a former wealth manager in the finance sector, NTUC LHUB trainee Kun
\nDa experienced a downturn in sales volume when the pandemic hit. The
\n25-year-old Singaporean knew that he needed to upskill to make a career switch.
\nTaking more than 20 courses at NTUC LHUB in 2020, he upskilled in areas such as
\nData Analytics Fundamentals using Microsoft Excel, Blockchain for Capital Markets,
\nand Machine Learning and Advanced Analytics. Kun Da’s efforts paid off as he
\nmanaged to secure a new job as an associate analyst at an international firm,
\nwhere he currently works on investment research and strategic consulting for
\nasset management across Asian markets.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nAnother trainee, Lim See Teo, returned from Hong Kong after stepping
\ndown from his job in the semi-conductor industry two years ago. He heard from
\nhis friends that opportunities abound in the Information Technology sector
\nwhich motivated him to take up the Digital Workplace and Microsoft Azure
\nFundamental courses. The 63-year-old is now a Digital Sales Coordinator in a
\nstart-up company. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nDespite not coming from a tech background
\nor having prior experience, these are examples of workers who have pivoted by
\nempowering themselves with new skills to enter the industry. Challenges due to
\na lack of experience, expertise or age have been overcome in the quest for
\nbetter opportunities.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n“I haven’t studied in ages, so it was a
\nchallenge for me to go back into that, and especially sitting in a virtual
\nclass now, instead of a physical classroom like how we all did in the past. But
\nthe engaging trainers have made it easier for me to adapt to this new mode of
\nlearning,” says Ibrahim.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nTo find out more
\nabout tech courses offered by NTUC LHUB, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com\/it-academy<\/a> or www.ntuclearninghub.com\/lhub-go<\/a>. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n