6 steps to maximise your career options in Singapore
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If you're a professional seeking a career in Singapore, you couldn't have picked a better place to find a job.
Named the world’s easiest place to do business by the World Bank for the past 10 years, it comes across as no surprise that professionals worldwide seek career opportunities in Singapore.
Singapore has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as one of the world's most competitive economies, and while the pandemic had a negative impact on Singapore's economy, the Ministry of Trade and Industry forecast GDP growth for the coming year between 4% and 6%.
Related: 10 tips for career development in Singapore
As Singapore embarks on recovery comes the need for skilled talent to support growth initiatives. So if making your mark is your career goal, here are six ways to land the best career options in Singapore.
1. Do your research for skills currently in demand
Identifying the necessary skills for your industry or the skills that are currently in demand is a great way to jumpstart your career in Singapore.
Take a look at job postings in your field to explore what are the most trending skills in demand. Specialist recruitment sites are a superb way to gain better insight. For a more deeper insight, consult the Robert Half Singapore Salary Guide which offers detailed insight into the current hiring market in Singapore, including top positions on offer and top skills in demand.
While unemployment rates are elevated as a result of COVID-19, competition for top talent remains tough as uncertainty encourages more workers to stay with their existing employer. Talent shortages are especially prevalent within finance and technology as companies seek more professionals with in-demand niche skills, such as financial analysis and cyber-security.
After identifying the necessary skills, there are two approaches you can take: If you already possess these skills, review your resume to make sure you have highlighted these specialties (including updating your LinkedIn profile) to catch the attention of potential employers. If you don’t have these skills, make an effort to build up those areas to position yourself more competitively among your peers.
2. Use SkillsFuture to expand your skills
The Singapore government actively encourages training amongst its citizens to improve job prospects. Building your skills by taking up courses for those in-demand roles is an effective way to take your career options in Singapore up a notch as businesses undergo rapid digital transformation.
One learning scheme you can invest in is SkillsFuture, which provides learning and development opportunities for local professionals aged 25 and up. Offered by Singapore’s Council for Skills, Innovation and Productivity, SkillsFuture offers courses across 58 industries, which are administered by institutions of higher learning, training providers and public agencies. In response to COVID-19, the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package will support close to 100,000 jobseekers through job, traineeship, and skills training opportunities.
Investing in courses offered by the SkillsFuture scheme can boost your employability, opening the door to opportunities to either specialise or expand your responsibilities in career opportunities.
Related: 15 soft skills to improve on
3. Make a lateral move into another industry
If you’re a mid-career professional hoping to spark some career momentum, making a lateral move might be just what you need.
A career change can offer new skills, networks and opportunities increasing your marketability and helping you stay relevant in an ever-changing job market.
Related: Time for a career change?
To help you change industries, Singapore’s Work Development Agency offers short-term courses in 11 industries, which are known as Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs).
PCPs offer both classroom and on-the-job training to immerse participants in their field of choice. This allows mid-career executives to move across industries with the appropriate training and support.
A lateral move can be a great way to expand your horizons and open new doors for your career. Take advantage of improving your skills through programs such as the PCPs to help develop your professional exposure to new industries and clients.
4. Regional roles offer broad exposure
Singapore enjoys a solid reputation as a regional hub for a number of industries, such as financial services and information technology (IT).
Applying for regional roles provides you with career options in Singapore to collaborate with colleagues and clients from different backgrounds across the region.
The ability to communicate across cultural lines is highly sought-after in Singaporean firms with a regional presence – which traditionally enjoy more stable economic growth as compared to domestic firms.
This opportunity also offers other advantages for candidates including the chance to learn new languages, expand their network with international clients, and actively collaborate with global companies – an added bonus to your career portfolio.
5. Take a leap into a sunrise industry in Singapore
Besides being the epicentre of several global industry sectors, a unique path for career opportunities in Singapore can also be found in ‘sunrise’ industries. These industries refer to sectors that are relatively new in the country’s history, but experience rapid growth due to globalisation and technological progress.
Careers in sunrise industries are highly supported by the Singaporean government in its effort to position the country as a global innovation hub.
One example is Singapore’s financial technology (or fintech) sector, which is currently experiencing high growth. High digital penetration rates in the country have positioned Singapore as a testbed for new technology in the finance industry.
Sunrise industries are also worthwhile options for executives (who may be re-entering the workforce) from traditional backgrounds, but with transferable skills such as finance, project management and logistics.
6. Consider joining a small business
If you’re not keen on joining a big company but still want to jumpstart your career in Singapore, look to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Joining an SME means exposing your career to a much broader level of experience than if you were to join a larger company that is more likely to have specialised roles. This expands your skill-sets, and subsequently, employability.
Plenty of jobs are available in local SMEs, which according to the Department of Statistics Singapore make up 99% of Singapore’s enterprises and whom hire 65% of the countries’ workforce.
Related: 5 tips for starting a new job in Singapore
Your career options in Singapore awaits
Remember to keep you career goals in mind when you're on the job hunt.
With various career opportunities across many sectors, as well as robust government support, Singapore is the perfect place for professionals to launch and expand their careers.
Are you looking to grow your career in Singapore? Contact us and one of our expert recruitment consultants will help you find the right role for you.
