First Odyssey of a Singaporean in COVID-19

Some said the first is always the hardest but once you set out the first step, there will be no stopping it onward.

This article is more for local Singaporean to have some info and help due to COVID-19 pandemic that affecting the world.

Currently, I am blessed with a career counsel offered FOC from the Workforce Singapore (WSG www.wsg.gov.sg), is a statutory board under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)

Let's backtrack a little on how I got there? The banner ads that appeared on my Yahoo email portal is where I have started. Also a visitation to the Social Security Office (SSO) and filling forms for help/support will also initiates the contact from the WSG office. The Singapore Government is really making an effort and paying for tje online ads to hunt for job seekers like myself out there in the cyberspace.

Though the appointment date to actually speak with a counsel is long but once contacted, I was quite amazed by the efficient and professionalism that I was firstly opened and presented to me simply via the phone calls.

My counsel, Mr. AT (name kept anonymously to protect his privacy), first called and contacted me via WhatsApp. He also particularly advised local Singaporean to apply job via the portal mycareersfuture.sg where Government subsidies are given to the organization that hires locals. 

Mr. AT gave and provided very professional advises, tools for revising my resume and cover letter formats, vetted and reinforced the revised copies, the mechanics are bountiful if one is not from a human resource/counsel field.

The mechanism to modernize my resume format that was used back in 1993 when I first graduated in the U.S. is especially useful in the local format/new age/COVID-19 era.

It seems I am getting my money worth for the service (but wait, it's FOC service!) as I do not get it from say couples of professional China/Singapore headhunters that I have been working with since last year.

Mr. AT, didn't stop there with the hardware, the midnight messages push to get my LinkedIn setup and to post article using the platform, the encouragement that religiously sounded like a preacher, the babysitter or parental eagerness to get and groom the baby in me to find that MONSTROUS next job...

Yes, I am trying at a very trying time... with help and support beside from your own family, the Government is assisting Singaporeans with the COVID-19 relief packages, there is also someone out there is truly and willingly to help us land that next BIG one.

Have Faith, Be Persevere, God Blessed!