CAREER SKILLS WORKSHOP TO HELP NSFS

Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) can now get help in their job search with the launch of the Career Skills Workshop (CWS).

Open to those with three months or fewer of National Service (NS) left, the one-day workshop covers resume writing, interviews, as well as job search skills.

About 40 NSFs from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Home Team attended the inaugural session held at the Lifelong Learning Institute on 15 Aug.

The workshop came about from a recommendation put up by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) to help NSFs transit smoothly into the work force after NS.

Minister of State for Defence Dr Maliki Osman, who sat in at the workshop, noted that feedback from the public consultation last year showed that NSFs need to better understand their educational, training and career pathways after NS.

"The Career Skills Workshop has been developed to cater to their needs...and reflects the Ministry of Defence's and Ministry of Home Affairs' commitment to preparing our NSFs for their next phase in life," he said.

"Our NSFs have acquired skills during NS which may be relevant to their future jobs, and the workshop is specially designed to help them understand the employment landscape and opportunities, and to draw on, maximise and showcase these skills during interviews or career fairs."

Conducted by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the workshop provides insights on the employment trends and opportunities in Singapore.

It also provides information on job search resources such as Jobs Bank, a public job-matching portal, and career coaching provided by the WDA's career centres.

"This would benefit NSFs who are entering the workforce upon completing their NS", said Mr Francis Lee, WDA's Director of Career Services Division.

A participant at today's workshop, Private Nur Syarifuddin agreed, saying it would not only be useful in his job search, but will help him to prepare for working life.

"I can use these skills to prepare myself when I finish NS; I need to know what are the things to look out for in the work force because the environment is different from the army," said the guardsman from 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards who plans to work as a technician in the chemical engineering industry.