The key to an effective job search: Knowing your jobseeker profile

Tens of thousands of jobs have been shed in Singapore as Covid-19’s economic toll mounts. Jobseekers are likely to face more competition and a longer wait to find a new job, which can sometimes take more than six months.

In the first of a four-part series by Workforce Singapore (WSG), we look at three jobseeker profiles — sandwiched breadwinner, overseas returnees and PMETs in pandemic-hit sectors — to highlight their concerns, goals and game plans to overcome the situation and persevere through their job search process.

A job search is a very personal and tiring journey. Tailoring it to your needs is a crucial first step to getting you closer to where you want to be.

Map out your career goals, personal requirements and challenges, so you can pinpoint specific areas of improvement — whether it’s re-adjusting your lifestyle and making the necessary modifications, or figuring out alternative job roles to match your interests.

Find out which jobseeker profile you belong to and get advice from WSG’s team of career coaches to jumpstart your job search journey today.

Sole breadwinner seeking work to pay the bills

This sandwiched group is generally in their late 30s to late 40s. With children and elderly parents to care for, they are the hardest hit by long-term unemployment.

Career concerns:
Struggling to manage their work-life balance means they may not have had the means or the time to upskill themselves prior to becoming unemployed. As a result, they now find themselves unable to keep up with the competitive job market.

Overseas returnees seeking jobs back home

This group is generally in their mid-30s to early 40s. Some may be returning to a not-so-favourable job market, or are mid-careerists considering making a career switch.

Career concerns:
Those who've been based overseas for a while may face the problem of not having a strong local network. For mid-careerists, experience is often a point of contention for employers who are unable to meet their ideal salaries or are looking for mid-level candidates.

Professionals seeking new skills to make career switch

Generally in their mid-30s to early 50s, this group is particularly vulnerable to change. During the pandemic, some may have been let go and are facing the prospect of long-term unemployment.

Career concerns:
Taking a pay cut and starting from the ground up are some challenges they have to grapple with during their job search, as well as finding the time to obtain new skills (they may have financial commitments as well).

Want to create an actionable job search plan? Find out more by making an appointment with a WSG career coach here.

Stay tuned for more career advice and tips from WSG on increasing your employability next week.

Career goals: With extra financial responsibilities, they tend to look for a stable, long-term career that would offer financial security and allow them to start planning for retirement.

Game plan:
Step 1: Review your finances. Make a record of your debt and expenditure, and create a monthly budget to keep track of your cash flow and save what you can.

Step 2: Embark on your job search. If unsure of where to start, online resources such as WSG’s Career Guide offers online resources to help you draw up a career plan, learn how to build resilience and regain your confidence.

Step 3: Check out this self-assessment tool to give you valuable insight into your work values, interests, personality and skills. This could help determine what a good career fit might be for you when considering courses to upgrade yourself.

To alleviate the costs, the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy supports older workers with MOE-subsidised full- and part-time course fees of up to 90 per cent.

Career goals: They have had time to re-evaluate their priorities and are considering making a career switch that would hopefully open up more opportunities for growth.

Game plan:
Step 1: Take time to research your ideal job and seek advice from relevant industry veterans participating in the SkillsFuture Career Advisors Programme.

Step 2: List down two things that’ll improve your employability: your transferable skills, and possible skills gaps.

Step 3: Consider the Professional Conversion Programme, an initiative which works by either linking up a participating employer with a suitable jobseeker, who is then hired before undergoing training to take on the new role, or providing the jobseeker with training and work attachments ahead of a job placement via accredited industry partners.

Step 4: Grow your network by participating in WSG’s networking sessions, career workshops, job fairs and walk-in interviews. Find more information here.

Career goals: While you hope to be able to continue your career post-Covid-19, you understand the need to adapt and diversify your skills in order to gain employment.

Game plan:
Step 1: Consult a career coach if you need help taking the first step. Career coaches make a great good sounding board and source of support to help you transition to a new career.

Step 2: To find out if you are suitable for a particular job, consider taking up WSG’s Career Trial — short-term positions in which you can gain experience on the job, with the possibility of securing formal employment from a host company.

Step 3: If you prefer something more permanent, the P-Max is a place-and-train programme designed to match professionals, managers, executives and technicians to suitable positions in small and medium enterprises.

Step 4: If you can afford a short break, use the time to pick up new skills through a SkillsFuture course.

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