It is not normal for Singaporeans to be jobless. However, times have changed, and many businesses needed to adjust because of this pandemic. Small or large companies have retrenched their personnel because of the economic crisis that we are experiencing. Despite being the most stable country economically, Singapore had laid-off around 9000 individuals.
Uncertain times like this can trigger anxiety. Thinking of how to sustain a living without a stable source of income is very difficult, especially if you have a family to feed. But here are some suggestions on what you can do while you are looking for a job.
Take this time to evaluate your career plans and goals.
Since you have a lot of time at hand, you can make use of this time to re-plan and re-align your goals about your career. Maybe it is now the right time to explore a new career. Discover the things that you may be good at. Take this time or break to check about the other options available for you.
Career guidance courses can be a great help.
Singapore has numerous programs and seminars about career guidance. Some institutes offer courses with experts from different fields. From these seminars and courses, you can gather knowledge about the updates on a certain field. They will also tell you about the necessary skills that you need to have so that you can apply for jobs in that particular industry.
Look for a career guidance mentor.
From a career guidance seminar, you can meet a mentor that would be willing to coach you and guide you while you are still looking for a new career. These mentors can give you advice and tell you their perspectives specifically in their fields.
Create a wider network.
By attending all these career guidance seminars and coaching, you can start growing your network by meeting people from different industries. Having a wider connection professionally can help you get insights from these other professionals in various fields. Take those insights to help you in finding a new career.
Improve your skills.
It is never too late to learn a new skill. Especially if you are planning to change your career path. With all the knowledge that you gathered from the career guidance coaching and mentorship programs, you would be able to identify the suitable skills that are essential for the industry that you want to enter. And if you are looking for a big transition or a drastic change of career, it is important to know if you have that skill set. If you don’t, then take this time to learn the necessary skills. There are many courses available online for free. You can check them out and enrol for the ones that are most suitable for you.
During these trying times, it is very difficult to not have a stable job. But you have to keep your focus on the things that can help you improve, rather than focusing on the thought of being jobless in Singapore. It will be difficult at first, but you’ll get there.