Published by: SkillsFuture Singapore
There is no doubt that COVID-19 has changed the employment landscape in Singapore. A rapid shift towards digitalisation of businesses amidst a recession means that Singaporeans have to keep pace with the change in order to remain competitive at work. So whether you are a fresh graduate looking for your first job, or a seasoned middle manager — Here are five crucial skills you need to stay employable.
Digital Savviness With brick-and-mortar retail stores embracing eCommerce, and remote work becoming the new normal, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, artificial intelligence and digital automation are the new skills in demand for the workforce of the future. Having these relevant skill sets in your arsenal will become extremely important to stay competitive, no matter what career stage you are in. Be sure to check out these SGUS digital courses too! [Ready to take the first step? Put your SkillsFuture Credit to good use and discover these skills-in-demand digital courses now!]
Readiness to Adapt With the rapid digitalisation of work in the wake of COVID-19, it is important that employees have a flexible mindset in order to adapt to change. As businesses make the shift online, new digital tools and processes essential for work will be introduced to optimise daily tasks. To thrive in a new normal, workers will have to be ready to continuously upskill in order to stay relevant and competitive within their company, and the industry at large. [How digitally-savvy are you? Take our Digital Skills Check to find out if you are equipped with the basic digital skills required at work!] Adaptive learning is one important key to staying relevant. Learning and working in a post-pandemic world will mean that workers have to learn, work, un-learn, change, relearn and work continuously as a learning cycle as opposed to the traditional model of learn, work and retire. Change may be constant, but it gives us opportunities to grow and adapt. Here's how you can get started.
Willingness to Upskill
A consistent effort to upskill is a big part of staying employable, particularly so in a COVID-19 impacted workforce. With a large proportion of Singaporeans working from home now, large pockets of time that are reserved for transport can now be put to good use to expand your current skill sets. More importantly, workers need to be able to close the skill gap at the same pace the company is transforming in order to not be left behind.
Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence is an evergreen trait that is even more important now. With the speed at which Singapore’s working landscape is changing to adapt to the impact of COVID-19, having emotional intelligence (EQ) in the workplace will be highly valued by organisations and employees. Being aware of your colleagues’ emotions, and connecting with them in a level-headed manner is key to making crucial business decisions, and ensuring that tasks are optimised and completed smoothly. Individuals who possess high EQ are also in a better position for career progression and staying employable.
Being Creative A big part of staying agile is to find creative solutions to unprecedented challenges. The pandemic may be challenging, but it has also brought about a new wave of innovation into the landscape. From the launch of mobile delivery apps to help hawkers stay afloat, to the organising of virtual events — Singaporeans have found creative ways to navigate a COVID-19 impacted market. Employees who have creative traits in them to troubleshoot will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to any company.