Changing gears: The mid-career workers finding purpose through new skills

Straits Times

2 days ago

Singapore's mid-career professionals are reinventing their careers, but the transition often involves trade-offs. PHOTO: GETTY
BRANDED CONTENT Changing gears: The mid-career workers finding purpose through new skills Meet the professionals who are reinventing their careers amid a shifting landscape, driven by their personal goals
Would you trade job security for passion, just as you're figuring out sleepless nights and toddler tantrums?
Mr Darren Yong, 35, did exactly that. When his son turned two in 2023, the first-time parent quit his job as a general manager in a healthcare technology company. He was earning a five-figure monthly salary.
'(I decided to) drop everything to do what I loved,' Mr Yong shares.
He packed up his life in Singapore and moved to Wellington, New Zealand, with his homemaker wife and toddler in tow. The goal: To pursue a master's degree in climate science and policy.
This huge leap of faith was far from easy.
He funded his own tuition, which cost $50,000 over 18 months, while the family went without income for the duration of Mr Yong's studies.
'We consciously set aside savings for up to an 18-month stay abroad, knowing that neither of us would have paid work during the entire period,' says Mr Yong.
Despite careful planning, financial stress crept in. The family encountered unexpected rental hurdles, forcing them to move thrice during their stay in New Zealand.
'It would have been better if we had increased our budget buffer by another 20 per cent,' Mr Yong admits.
Both short- and longer-term cost pressures make changing careers as a young parent 'mentally exhausting at times', says Mr Yong. 'Especially with the worry of getting paid work that resonates with my passions.'
Making the leap easier
For individuals like Mr Yong, who left a stable job and funded his own career switch, job transitions can be daunting and costly.
But there is support available. One example is the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, announced in Budget 2024.
Under this scheme, all Singaporeans aged 40 and above will be eligible for up to $3,000 in monthly training allowance for selected full-time courses, capped at $72,000 a year.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in Budget 2025 that the scheme would be extended to include part-time training. Those who work and learn part-time can receive a training allowance of $300 per month, starting in early 2026.
It's crucial to upskill to stay relevant and adaptable, says Mr Dean Tong, head of Group Human Resources at UOB, especially as technologies like artificial intelligence rapidly reshape industries and displace traditional roles.
Some companies are also stepping up to ease this transition. UOB, for one, is helping its employees adapt to new workplace demands and achieve their long-term career goals.
In 2019, the bank launched its flagship 12-week Better U learning programme to equip its workers with future-ready skills.
Better U comprises short, bite-sized modules lasting two to three hours each. Nearly all of these courses are conducted online, allowing employees to learn at their own pace and convenience, Mr Tong says.
The modules focus on soft skills such as having a growth mindset, digital innovation and data storytelling. These are taught through gamification or interactive team-based formats to make the learning experience engaging, he adds.
It's crucial to upskill to stay relevant and adaptable, says Mr Dean Tong, head of Group Human Resources at UOB. UOB offers support programmes to ease career transitions for its staff.
PHOTO: UOB
Building a future-ready workforce
A key challenge that UOB faced was supporting its employees amid constant change.
'It was unclear what skills would be most needed in the future,' says Mr Dean Tong, UOB's head of Group Human Resources.
The bank decided to focus on developing core competencies: Soft skills that provide a strong foundation for continuous learning.
UOB's flagship learning and development initiative Better U, launched in 2019, focuses on skills like growth mindset, problem-solving and digital innovation.
'These soft skills are particularly suited for adult learners, as they are practical, accessible, and help ease the return to structured learning,' Mr Tong explains. 'They are (also) transferable across roles, equipping employees to navigate uncertainty with confidence, regardless of how the future of work evolves.'
In 2024, the bank launched the 12-month Better U Pivot Programme to help selected employees reskill into new or evolving roles within UOB.
Employees are paid a full-time salary while undergoing this place-and-train programme. They also receive ongoing support through regular check-ins and guidance from trained coaches.
'Reskilling cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach,' says Mr Tong.
Rather than generic training, the Better U Pivot Programme starts with 'identifying high-demand roles, pinpointing individual skill gaps, and then providing customised training to bridge those gaps', he explains.
UOB expects to create up to 500 opportunities over two years for employees in operations and administrative roles. These reflect changing business needs, including growing demand in areas such as financial crime prevention.
Mr Tong adds that the bank is evolving its training and development programmes to help employees build critical thinking, problem framing and digital fluency. The aim: To ensure employees can use tools like generative AI effectively and responsibly.
'We've already begun rolling out training programmes that empower our people to experiment with generative AI, understand its potential, and apply it meaningfully in their work,' says Mr Tong.
UOB employee Ms Rebecca Yip, 46, spent 18 years in largely customer-facing jobs before pivoting to her new role at the bank's Corporate Sustainability Office.
PHOTO: UOB
Path to purpose
So far, close to 12,000 UOB employees across the region have gone through Better U, with many using it as a springboard to chart new career paths within the bank.
One of them is Ms Rebecca Yip, 46, who's currently a vice-president at UOB's Corporate Sustainability Office.
She joined UOB as a branch officer in 2004, accumulating diverse experiences across departments including operations, training and employee development.
After spending 18 years in largely customer-facing roles, Ms Yip found herself yearning for deeper purpose and a chance to make a positive impact.
Her opportunity came in 2022, when she was chosen to be part of UOB's talent development initiative, Leadership Acceleration Programme (LAP).
The programme provides mentorship, leadership development courses, and the opportunity to take part in strategic projects. Mentors would also help participants craft customised career journeys and identify goals to work towards.
Reflecting on her experience, Ms Yip says she appreciated the personalised approach. '(LAP) allowed us to participate and grow at our own pace.'
With the guidance and support from LAP, Ms Yip successfully transitioned into a new role in UOB's Corporate Sustainability Office in 2023.
She was responsible for launching and leading the bank's in-house Sustainability Academy, a training programme designed to deepen employees' sustainability knowledge.
To help her transition into her new role, UOB also sponsored Ms Yip's year-long Advanced Certificate in Sustainability & Sustainable Businesses course at Singapore Management University in 2023.
'Sustainability is definitely an area where I can make a more positive and meaningful impact through my work,' she says.
For those intimidated by the idea of upskilling mid-career, Ms Yip offers a simple piece of advice: Take it one step at a time.
She practises what she calls 'micromastery' by breaking big goals into small, manageable steps.
'(It's) like learning (to play the) piano,' she says. 'If your goal is to play a Beethoven piece, start with just three notes a day.'
'This will help to build confidence, keep you motivated and ensure steady progress.'
This is the last of a six-part series titled 'Right by you', in partnership with
'Right by you' is a series that explores how organisations drive meaningful impact for communities, customers and employees.
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