Career Clinic – Thrive in Testing Times
by Gerald Tan, Avodah Solutions
How does one adapt and move towards new narratives against the backdrop of COVID-19, given its wide-ranging impact on jobs and the economy? On 28 April 2020, Gerald Tan, co-founder of Avodah Solutions, conducted a special run of the career clinic, Thrive in Testing Times, over Zoom for over 20 participants from COOS and 3:16 Church. It covered several issues, including how to leverage Government resources and services to give one's career a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Firstly, for someone whose job has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, a main concern would be to alleviate the immediate financial pressure. To this end, there are various financial schemes in the Budgets announced by the Government which we can tap on, such as the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme, which the self-employed can apply for, and the Solidarity Payment, which is given to Singaporean households. Knowing what schemes we are eligible for and how to apply for them can go some way in relieving the temporary loss of income.
The next step would be to reboot one’s career by utilising available resources. These include career coaching, job boards, skills upgrading funds and subsidies. There are also informal job boards on websites for gigs or freelancing, and channels on the messaging application Telegram that a job-seeker can join to seek job opportunities.
The third step is to realise and accept that bad things happen to good people. One has to make the best of the situation by taking this opportunity to reevaluate and consider options. Thereafter, push forward in their desired direction, and be ready to change direction when required. One also needs to be ready to challenge job stereotypes by adopting a value-adding and value-giving mindset.
Gerald went one step further and differentiated between jobs, careers and callings: different jobs make up a career, while the calling for Christians is a simple, two-tiered concept: first, to love God and be with God, then to go out and make disciples of nations. Our calling, crucially, needs to be applied to everything we do.
Excelling in our fields, redeeming broken areas of work and correcting bad practices are some ways we can be the salt and light at the marketplace.
The clinic ended with Gerald addressing questions from the participants and providing advice on how to make the most of career gaps, when to consider further education or upgrading, and how to secure jobs without the requisite amount of experience.
Yan Ling, a participant, commented, "I found the session helpful as Gerald listed various schemes and career resources, which were usually found on different websites. The non-linear career model is also eye-opening and challenges the traditional linear model."
The participants left the session with greater confidence to thrive in testing times. Thank you, Gerald, for this timely clinic.
