What’s the secret to surviving a tough jobs market in Singapore? It’s safe to say that after a rough 2020. Many organizations and businesses have changed their list of priorities in an effort to cut costs. One of the many cuts were made to employees across a number of staffing agencies. According to research conducted in 2020, 1 in 4 Singaporeans lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
As a recruitment agency in Singapore, we are interested in keeping both jobseekers and employees here happy. As such, we’ll be discussing the many ways you can survive Singapore’s tough job market. Let’s find out more information about how to survive the competitive job market out there, shall we?
1. Don’t Job Shop Like You Did Before
Pre-Covid Singapore was a different time. Younger Millennial and Gen Z employees used to spend less than five years on the job. Choosing to jump from one job to another instead as it provides them with easy access to better benefits (i.e. higher salaries and more holiday and medical leaves to name a few).
However, reports show that the longer your tenure is, the higher your chances of being retained are. Numbers don’t lie. In fact, more than 40% of employees who reported to be retrenched or displaced worked at their companies for less than a year.
2. Learn to Market Yourself (Just in Case)
Marketing is the key to success. Many of us mistake marketing ourselves or selling one’s skills to only be applicable during the job hunting process. However, this step is just as crucial when one is working in a position that’s at risk.
There are two ways to do this:
(A) Being a high performer at work
(B) Regularly communicating with your colleagues, bosses, and supervisors
It is no surprise that employees who fall under these two groups are also able to attain promotions, bonuses and a myriad of other benefits easily. Being memorable can be a great way to survive a tough job market.
Other ways to make yourself more appealing to your boss include:
(A) Becoming a team player: Pitch more in projects or reply to group emails. Showing your organization that you’re a team player can put you in a better light.
(B) Communicate and ask for feedback: Bosses like proactive employees. Communicating with them and asking them for feedback on some of the major projects that both you and your teammates have just completed puts you on the “good” list. This move lets them know that you’re both thoughtful and actionable.
(C) Teach your colleagues: Find ways to help your colleagues and teammates figure out everything that they need. Better still, explain to them your teachable thoughts during conferences and meetings. Of course not only will this put you in a good light in your bosses’ and supervisor’s eyes. Your colleagues might also find you to be a worthy mentor.
More information on how you can upsell yourself at a risky job.
3. Acquire Some Quarantine Work Skills
During the mass work-from-home movement, millions of employees around the world invested some of their time acquiring skills to help make themselves more marketable. But what are some skills that employers look out for? And how can you show them off? Well, we’re about to share what we know with you.
In this day and age, IT and Tech skills are always in high demand. Some interesting tech related skills to start out with include:
Programming: And why not? Even primary school students are learning it these days. Other than looking good on paper. Programming can also help boost other soft skills you may have such as logical thinking and problem solving.
Analytics skills: Whether or not you work with analytics and marketing. This is a growing skill that many organizations are on the lookout for. You may want to consider picking this skill up. Additionally, analytics can also help boost other soft skills that you may have. It may not sound like much, but soft skills can help you be more irreplaceable at work. Some highly sought after soft skills include confidence, time management, teamwork and leadership to name a few.
Digital skills: Working from home requires employees to utilise a myriad of digital skills. Improving on these digital skills can also lead to being more visible during this work from home season.
These articles might be helpful to you:
A. Top Essential Digital Skills That All Employers Need in Singapore
B. How To Be More Visible When Working From Home
4. Make the Switch to an Essential Job
Remember back in 2020 when Singaporeans found out what essential roles were during the COVID-19 period? In this case, an essential role does not only refer to the ones listed in the Straits Times article (e.g. nurse, doctor, hawker to name a few) above. Essential employees are ones in constant high demand and in need by a myriad of companies in Singapore.
Some industries in high demand in Singapore include:
Technology, IT, and Cybersecurity
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Finance
Human Resources
Now’s the time to ask yourself. Is your job currently an essential one? If so, what are some changes and skills that you can take up to make the job switch? You may find these articles useful:
Everything You Need to Consider for a Mid-Life Career Change
Want to Save the World? Here are the Top Singaporean Jobs in Demand Right Now
5. Just Switch
Sometimes, there is no way to save your job. Unfortunately, when your career is at risk, it would be best to just make the switch to a new position. The reason you’re not connected or perhaps underperforming at the job could be because you’re on the verge of a burnout. If this is the case, choosing a more suitable career or organization would be the best move.
Looking for more tips on how to survive Singapore’s tough job market? Share them with us in the comments section below!
Read More: Top Career Tips for Singaporean Employees in Their 20s, 30s and Beyond!