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During those Circuit Breaker months, my husband who is in F&B had to stay home while the restaurant he works at was temporarily closed. But he made full use of this downtime to upskill as his boss agreed to send him for online learning courses.
Fast forward to today, he is still taking up courses and honing his skills over a wide variety of areas — customer service, teamwork, menu planning, wines and beverages, starting a restaurant business, digital marketing and more.
Upskilling is important, and it could open up more career opportunities or even pave the way for a mid-career switch, especially in sectors that matter in the future and where there is demand.
According to this news report, there’s a huge shortage of infocomm professionals in Singapore — and individuals who are prepared to train and reskill can secure these well-paying jobs. Industry 4.0, with technology leading the charge, has also been a buzzword in Singapore in recent years.
Even prior to Circuit Breaker, the demand for tech jobs has grown by 20% in the time period of 2018 to 2019. Some of these key functions include digital marketing, where there is a high demand but a shortage of supply.
Here’s a look at these 3 popular tech skills Singaporeans took up during Circuit Breaker:
Digital marketing
According to recruitment agency Robert Walters, one of the key hiring areas is in digital marketing, especially as businesses go digital and embrace opportunities brought about by technology, data and e-commerce.
This has become even more pertinent in this time of Covid-19, where businesses are urged to digitalise and go online due to reduced physical interactions. Government grants were also announced to help SMEs use digital technologies to leverage digital opportunities in this space.
It’s also important to note that in the sphere of digital marketing, one also needs to develop soft skills such as flexibility and adaptability, in order to keep up with the shifting demands of the industry and stay ahead of the curve.
User experience design
Those keen on becoming a UX designer need not limit their future career options to tech companies — there’s high demand worldwide and UX designers are also sought after by any companies whose products or services warrant good design sensibilities (such as banking portals). Here’s a nice explanation on what UX designers do.
That seamless interface on your favourite app? That’s only possible with the unseen work of a team of UX designers. That easy-to-navigate website that just got a revamp and is even more user-friendly? Also the work of your friendly neighbourhood UX designer. Oh and that intuitive login screen or work tool has had much user experience research behind it.
UX design will prove only more important in the future, as we spend more and more of our waking moments interacting with what’s on the screen. There’s a whole science behind it, from user research methodologies, affinity mapping, user personas, prototyping, usability testing and more.
Web app development
By learning the skills of web app development, you will gain a foundation in software engineering. According to PayScale, a software engineer in Singapore could earn a median annual salary of $56,000, and up to $90,000.
Granted, not everyone has what it takes to master this skill. Developing web apps can get pretty technical, with digital languages to learn, master and apply, such as HyperText Markup Language 5, Cascading Style Sheets, ES6 JavaScript, Application Programming Interface and database fundamentals.
But those with a head for code could continue to upgrade their skills beyond just web app development, and venture into the realm of software engineering. They could even go on to build mobile applications for everyday tasks such as banking, gaming, fitness tracking and more.
Moving ahead with Smartcademy
Training institutions such as Smartcademy regularly update their course offerings in line with Singapore’s industry needs. Sure enough, there has been a spike in the uptake of Smartcademy’s infocomm related courses, namely digital marketing, user experience design, and web app development.
Smartcademy also prides itself on its industry-vetted curriculum, as well as access to its exclusive alumni network and experienced trainers who have a wealth of knowledge. By acquiring these skills, trainees can pick up skills that can help them stand out in the competitive job market.
Participants keen to undertake a Smartcademy course need not have prior knowledge or experience. They will undergo training with a final project to work on.
Eligible Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can apply for funding support of up to 90 per cent (terms and conditions apply).
Singapore-based Smartcademy focuses on in-demand and industry relevant tech skills that have the potential to supercharge one’s career — especially on courses that support the infocomm job shortage.
Find out more about Smartcademy and its courses here.
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