Since my youth I have a dream of being a teacher and had been in this industry for a decade or so. I weaved in an out of jobs suited for my idealistic self post university and been in positions to effect real changes to the community from serving the poorest to being there for the medically ill. Still, I felt that my calling is to be a teacher for a long period of time and thought that is the best job out there.
In the midst of the pandemic, I felt that I have been staying in my comfort zone for a long season where I felt no growth and have existential questions like do I see myself being a teacher for another few decades or so. I often question if I should even think of changing careers when I had the most packed schedule with good rates due to quality clients coming in 2021.
Nevertheless, I felt that precisely because I was doing well on my own as a freelancer I should prepare for the inevitable switch in season instead of waiting for a downturn. 2021 had been the year I thought I would act on finding dedicated and passionate career counselors during this never before pandemic in a tough labour climate. Never before had I felt that lost about what I want to do if I don’t build my identity on being a teacher.
It is a dark hole where I sink further and further into fearing that I will make wrong choices as I had a past of committing to wrong course of study and work. Amidst the roller coaster ride, I felt that I have been blessed with three career counselors from the Workforce Singapore who dared to take on a very challenging counselee to which I am glad to actively participate in a peer support programme in December to ride out the rollercoaster emotions of finding clarity about what I want to pursue.
I was fortunate to meet one who reciprocated my interest by going through a very professional platform like understanding personality fit to giving us the hard task of figuring out what are the in demand skills of the industry. I believe that I even have to put in more work in helping myself gain clarity by going for the tough homework. This where I diligently followed up with a comprehensive industry analysis by predicting what job roles are available for the next three to five years. This is by far the most difficult homework as I have to pore through data after data from Ministry of Manpower to Workforce Singapore’s skills mapping section.
Alongside going for career counselling, I felt that I wanted to go back to school and signed up for 6 courses with NTUC Learning Hub in the last quarter of last year. November 2021 was the month that I felt had been different from the past two years. I dared to dream of doing something else and had zero salary as I was focused on career redirection.
I am glad to end the season with strong affirmation from encouraging course mates and trainer. With that I thought I closed a chapter of training as I used up all my skillsfuture credit. I was glad November 2021 is different as I thoroughly enjoyed myself and wanted the training sessions to actually continue (given more skills future credit)
For three months thereafter, NTUC had been giving course previews for more training programmes. I had been attending a few course previews where they have comprehensive briefing for the 6 months of structured training and subsistence allowance given for all trainees. I did not dare to hastily apply for any programmes as I thought it might be too good to be true. This is because you get “paid” to study and I wanted to be very certain that the course is cut out for me.
Still, I continued to sign up for course previews after previews and have a better understanding of the nature of the programmes and scrutinize all the terms and conditions every time they have the session. Through it all, I felt that the training school is putting workers welfare at heart precisely because of the pandemic. Furthermore, with the labour climate being volatile I could see that they are giving all the financial and skills support they can to workers who want to “help” themselves upskill for 6 months.
I felt that I should make the decision to pursue something that will really get me excited and want to wake with passion again everyday instead of settling for the most pragmatic course. With that, I had to turn down a course in digital health and safety as that did not get me excited. I wanted to wait to choose something that I could pursue due to interest and person fit.
Finally, I attended a session closer to what I thought was my aligned to my idealistic self. What got me at the edge of my seat was the course called “Virtual events and production”. The course is so cool and cutting edge and it ignited my interest. When the showed the preview of the training studio with augmented reality and virtual reality I just knew that it was “the one”. That course just felt like the exact fit I was searching for. What got me to take action was that it was having it’s last batch of intake and its slated to be running on the 8th of March.
I was contacted by a consultant a few days after I applied and would have to go for an interview before being enrolled in the course. I decided to get back to NTUC learning hub with an interview scheduled last Thursday as this was the first choice and the one and only programme that I will consider for the next six months. I was glad that I had events experience managing community programmes in the past and conveyed that to the interviewers.
It was good news to finally confirm my training place where they put me on waiting list after receiving an email on Friday. Two days of waiting later, they finally confirmed the last spot. It was a Sunday when I heard a confirmation that I was on the programme and need to register immediately. I was excited to be living again as I was looking forward to pivoting to something new. This is unprecedented as I wanted to take a step into the unknown which will shake up my routines that I have been so used to for the last few years.
I felt that they had good mix of learning hybrid event management with new technologies on top of people skills. That will be an all inclusive course to strengthen my interest in helping people through knowledge of technical skills. This is something that I can understand and see the relevance of due to my previous work in the area of events.
Lastly, to bring a closure I would like to recount my Linkedin post on 27 February to which I have unprecedented number of visitors appearing on my posts. Never before did I have such support and encouragement when I have to make the transitions.
I have great news to share. I am removing my Linkedin profile “open to work” because I found a place I love after orientation. I didn’t know that I could like a work environment so much and calling a few people potential colleagues as I felt that my presence was welcomed there. This is after taking a step of faith by texting “I am happy about this arrangement” to a CEO and decided to show up for orientation. Now I am contemplating changing my self-employment freelance status to worker of an education institute.
I am thinking of updating my profile picture only as I would like to keep the company’s name confidential. This is because I am in the midst of sorting out my arrangements with my school as I may not want to put my decision to further my studies on hold. I have been selected to be on the waiting list for the programme to study. I am immensely grateful to those who walked with me on this journey especially the one who connected me with the job opportunity. I am thankful to those who have met me this season who have to put up with my bundle of nerves recounting the difficult decision making processes.
I am also sorry to not select certain outstanding educational institutes who have approached me on my Linkedin. When you have selected me and made an effort to invite me to interviews I really appreciate the effort whether Human resources or Centre directors. I have immense respect for the patience and dedication shown in arranging the interview sessions and I am thoroughly impressed by the meticulous effort made to sieve out my profile.
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