COVID-19 has affected many industries and even resulted in unfortunate retrenchment and unemployment for some of us. Being hit with unemployment is never easy regardless of the life stage you are in as you are faced with the decision of finding a new job. Some might even look for a good part time job to tide through these times.ย
While the pandemic has undeniably contributed significantly to the ailing economy, things may not necessarily return back to the way it was after the pandemic is over. The market is constantly changing and evolving, and it will do you well to make the necessary arrangements to upgrade and upskill your capabilities to remain attractive to employers.
A recent survey of 200 employers in Singapore revealed several insights to their employment decisions, which will come in handy if you are still undecided when it comes to the areas you wish to seek improvement in.
Rising Demand for Information Communications Technology (ICT) Skills
The pandemic has forced many of us to work in remote settings and reduce reliance on physical settings when it comes to staff meetings or making the transaction. It is within the past several months that businesses realized the indispensable nature of the internet come several years if they have not already had that revelation.
With new disruptive technologies emerging left and right every day, the demand for ICT skills to tap into these technologies is becoming rampant across industries. Hence it is unsurprising that 58% of employers surveyed wished for their workforce to come equipped with more tech-related know-how and skills. The most sought after ICT related skills include project management, digital marketing, data analysis, and basic IT Support, which should not come at anyoneโs surprise given the obvious trends and shift towards digital since years ago.
Having said that, we do not recommend making a drastic career change to become a digital marketer or data analyst and abandoning all the skills and insights you have accumulated in your own area of expertise. What we do suggest is to consider what related tech skills you can pick up to further accentuate your general utility in your desired or current career.
Additionally, the ICT skills favored by employers vary from industry to industry. While the construction and architecture industry highly value project management, the lifestyle industry favors skills relating to digital marketing the most in contrast. The takeaway is to be discerning regarding the ICT skills you may wish to explore and be realistic about what you can possibly master under the least amount of time and resources.
Soft Skills
Soft skills can be defined as โadaptability and resilienceโ, which are traits becoming more relevant given the unprecedented times we live in right now. A substantial 65% of employers regard soft skills as a top priority for their employees, making it the most coveted quality they are seeking in their current and prospective employees. There is bound to be uncertainty in the future, and it is no wonder why employees with a can-do attitude and an ability to work independently when left to their own devices are becoming increasingly attractive.
Other important soft skills such as teamwork, innovation, and excellent communication abilities are also being evaluated when it comes to hiring new recruits. Having diverse work experience and skillsets which showcase your collaborative side will be extremely useful. Especially in these times, showing that you have experience working remotely and leading digital teams is going to be a huge plus as many teams struggle to work efficiently given current remote working circumstances. As such, it is recommended to take courses that involve communication and teamwork abilities, as well as leadership and management skills for those in more senior positions.
Tech jobs boon
In a bid to counter the loss of jobs due to the pandemic, the government is planning to create 5,500 slots in tech-related jobs over the coming years through the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSa) and TeSa Mid-Career Advance Programme. The program will reportedly place and train citizens in tech-related jobs such as software engineering and digital marketing.
For any young adult who is undecided on their career path may want to consider the rising tech sector. This also applies to anyone else who wishes to make a sound and safe career switch after much consideration.
Below are some courses that you may use your SkillsFuture credits to equip yourself with skills that will be a great boost to your resume.
Digital Marketing Courses
The Digital Marketing Masterclass (Udemy) is a great introduction to digital marketing and goes extensively into social media. The modules cover Search Engine Optimization, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, which are going to be extremely helpful.
The WSQ Digital Marketing Strategy Certification Course (Equinet Academy) is another popular course that covers digital marketing, social marketing and analytics, and others. You will not go wrong with enrolling in this insightful course.
While the Advanced Marketing Strategies (Marketing Institute of Singapore) is not technically a marketing course, it has been highly useful for marketing professionals in devising more effective marketing strategies.
Project Management and Data Analytics Courses
The Certified Agile Project Management (NUS) has been said to help project managers get a better understanding of the Lean and Agile methodologies, which will be indispensable to their career.
Those who wish to learn how to data-mine and analyze information from various websites can consider NICF โ New Media & Sentiment Mining (NUS) as it will be a good introductory course to data analyzing.
The Fundamentals of Data Analytics (Republic Polytechnic) is another popular introductory course for anyone interested to learn more about data analytics. It also delves into the application of the analytical techniques which will prove to be useful in the near future.
Soft Skills Courses
The NTUC Learning Hub offers Accelerating Teamwork which is developed to help mold participants into an effective team player and collaborating in groups.
The Successful Communication & Relationship Management (Aces Learning Hub) explores diffusing difficult situations, approaches to solving problems on the fly, which is essential for a team player in todayโs working conditions.
The Facilitating Innovation and Leading Change (SMU) encourages participants to be innovative across various situations and opportunities in a bid to contribute to the creation of a more innovative and inspiring work environment.
Conclusion
In life, learning never truly ends. Instead of living life in fear, one would be better off channeling their energies and effort to polish their abilities so that they can perform regardless of the situation.
