‘Upskilling gives me confidence to thrive in my new career'

Straits Times

6 days ago

Once faced with burnout, this media personality and influencer levelled up her skills to shift gears and build her business, while supporting her family's needs
After leaving her corporate job, content creator Charlene Huang upskilled and built new networks before starting her own media company.
You may know her as the popular content creator @aizaiaisteady and movie actress. But Ms Charlene Huang spent the bulk of her 20s building up her corporate career.
At 31, long working hours led to burnout and insomnia, prompting her to take a break from full-time work. While considering her next step, she hosted roadshows and worked as a speech and drama trainer at preschools.
Two years later, she welcomed her son – navigating the uncertainties of new motherhood and a freelance career at the same time.
On her career transition, the jovial 40-year-old recalls: 'I enjoyed a lot of freedom but there was definitely guilt. It's not like you can simply decide to quit and become a famous influencer. Thankfully, I had enough savings to last me a few years while I tried out something new. But you can't do this if you can't even cover your family expenses.'
More on this topic 'Switching careers just as I became a dad was risky, but I had to do it for my family'
Even then, Ms Huang's previous corporate work experience showed her that upskilling was crucial, especially for those pivoting to a new career in novel, ever-evolving industries like content creation and technology.
Before her son was born, she had used her SkillsFuture Credit to complete a WSQ Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment. The certification is now known as the WSQ Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance.
'This really helped a lot professionally as certification helps prove credentials,' she explains, adding that it gave her an edge in the competitive entertainment industry especially when building trust with clients.
In 2017, Ms Huang (in striped tee) joined a WSQ course in Training and Assessment – a step that helped shape her career switch.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHARLENE HUANG
Ms Huang shares that attending courses also expanded her networking opportunities – allowing her to build up her portfolio further.
Ever the lifelong learner, she also took up an eight-month lyrics writing course funded by the National Arts Council in 2018. With the Capability Development Grant, she only had to pay about 50 per cent of the fees for her weekly classes.
This was where she got to know fellow content creator Kelvin Tan, more popularly known as Mayiduo.
When they realised that there was a dearth of Mandarin content creation in Singapore besides what was shown on mainstream television, the duo started media company Double Up in 2019.
Now a team of 12, the company specialises in video production, screenplay consultancy and talent management. Mr Tan also recently directed his debut movie Follow Aunty La, which stars Ms Huang as a fishball seller-turned-influencer.
Although her real-life mid-career switch was not as dramatic as what her character undergoes in the movie, she says that anyone considering one should try to upskill.
Says Ms Huang: 'In your 20s and 30s, you may be comfortable with your job and salary but upskilling may make you realise you can do something else, discover what you really want and open your eyes to new ways of working that can make you more productive.'
Key support for career switchers
From career planning and coaching to training subsidies and job attachments, here's how mid-careerists can make a smoother transition into your next step
Beyond individual courses, other avenues available for mid-careerists who hope to explore new careers or need help in their career planning include
comprehensive support schemes from Workforce Singapore (WSG). Through
Polaris by WSG , employed individuals can create personalised career development plans to inform their next career move and identify opportunities for professional growth.
There are also initiatives like the
SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme which provides support for Singaporeans aged 40 and above through a $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) top-up and subsidies that fund up to 90 per cent of course fees for eligible courses. In addition, they can apply to receive a training allowance for eligible full-time, long-form programmes.
For those wishing to reskill and transition into new roles with strong growth potential, the
WSG Career Conversion Programmes offer on-the-job training, company attachments and opportunities for full-time placements in about 30 sectors.
Behind the laughs of her popular 'aunty' character is Ms Huang's real mission – to build a sustainable media company and upskill further as a certified trainer for budding creators.
PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
Balancing work, caregiving and future worries
Being a business owner also means it takes more effort to maintain work-life balance. So Ms Huang is grateful for her supportive parents whom she lives with, together with her husband Alan Chew, an engineer, and their seven-year old son.
Her mum, who is in her 70s, helps care for her son when she is at work or away on business trips.
When her son was around five years old, he was diagnosed with a speech delay at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. After several follow-up sessions, the specialist made a referral to enrol him in an Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) centre.
This programme helps young children grow and develop better, prevents further disabilities and supports their integration into mainstream school settings. To join EIPIC, a child must first be assessed and referred by a medical professional.
Children under seven with developmental needs can get early intervention through government-funded programmes. Families with lower incomes pay as little as $5 a month. To give parents more options, the Early Childhood Development Agency also works with private centres to offer the EIPIC-P programme at subsidised rates.
'Without such subsidies, it would be a heavy burden for the average family,' she says.
Like many in the sandwiched generation, Ms Huang leans on family support as she raises her son and builds her business.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHARLENE HUANG
Ms Huang signed her son up for the EIPIC-P programme at Sail Playhouse, a centre near their home.
With this arrangement, he would attend childcare in the morning before heading to the centre in the afternoon, where play-based learning is focused on interactive and speech-related activities. Her son, who is now in Primary One, made steady progress after enrolling and has since graduated from the programme.
Ms Huang also received additional support with the $500 Child LifeSG Credits. The credits, a one-off distribution for each Singaporean child aged 12 and below in 2025, are disbursed directly to the LifeSG Mobile App of the Child Development Account trustee.
Still, she admits there's always a niggling worry in the back of her mind: 'My parents are still healthy, but they are ageing. I want to make sure that if anyone in the family falls sick, we have enough to cover medical bills. That's why I try to be careful with spending and ensure insurance coverage, just in case we need it for an emergency.'
To ease some of that concern, seniors like her parents may receive support such as MediSave top-ups under the
Majulah Package , which is eligible for Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier.
Even as she looks out for her family's future, Ms Huang continues building her own, and is constantly seeking more opportunities to upgrade and future-proof herself.
As she and Mr Tan are often invited to give talks at companies, they see potential in offering classes for budding content creators at Double Up to make it sustainable over time.
This is why she has her eye on courses that will allow them to provide certified training, such as the WSQ Diploma in Design and Development of Learning for Performance 2.0.
She explains: 'Content creation can be authentic, but a lot of people don't know how to manage their accounts and branding. By becoming a certified trainer, I can help them craft their niche and career route as well as train them to pitch to clients and monetise themselves.
'Upskilling is for everyone in every industry. You cannot stop learning.'
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