Latest news with #CCAs
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Beyond internships and CCAs: Students ‘stack' certs to stand out
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The TL;DR: For many tertiary students, internships and school activities don't feel like enough to secure a job. Online courses and certifications, from platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning, are the new credentials they stack to climb ahead in the job race. Miss Kelly Kwok, 21, has completed more than 10 certifications on programming and business skills. After six months at his internship, polytechnic graduate Alden Chia, 20, earned $6,000. But of this income, he spent close to $4,500 getting certified in cybersecurity. Coming home from his internship as an associate system engineer, he would crack open his laptop, watch online modules and sharpen his hacking skills in the courses' programming labs. On weekends, he studied seven to eight hours a day. Over nine months from September 2024, he pursued the 'grind' of completing six professional certifications in hopes of a career in offensive security, or ethical hacking. For Mr Chia and many other students aspiring towards a career in tech, 'stacking' multiple online certifications is increasingly becoming a norm. On top of internships and co-curricular activities (CCAs), these courses are another way to stand out in a competitive job market, they said. Many students highlight the skills they pick up through CCAs, such as leadership and event planning, during the hiring process. In July, Singapore Management University's graduating class of 2025 became the first to receive transcripts listing the skills they honed in CCAs. Mr Alden Chia (back row, centre) with his final year project group mates. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALDEN CHIA 'If it's a workout day, I work out and rest. If not, I'll go home, eat and turn on my laptop until I sleep,' said Mr Chia, who exercised at the gym or went rock climbing to get his mind off work. 'Climbing thrice a week was my only social life.' Mr Chia graduated from Singapore Polytechnic in April this year with a diploma in infocomm security management. After more than 600 hours of online courses, he is taking a break before starting a cybersecurity work-study programme as part of his national service. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Keppel to sell M1 unit's telco business to Simba for $1.43 billion Business Nvidia, AMD agree to pay 15% of China chip sale revenues to US: Sources Singapore Healthy lifestyle changes could save Singapore $650 million in healthcare costs by 2050: Study Singapore BTO income ceiling, age floor for singles being reviewed: Chee Hong Tat World Netanyahu says Israel's new Gaza offensive will start soon Opinion Anwar's government: Full house but plenty of empty offices Singapore Man's claim amid divorce that his mother is true owner of 3 properties cuts no ice with judge Business Singapore can deliver and thrive in a fragmented global economy: Morgan Stanley analysts These courses certify him in red teaming and penetration testing, which involve simulating cyberattacks to detect vulnerabilities in computer systems. 'I have six, but my peers probably have two digits,' he said, referring to the number of certifications. 'Compared to them, it's nothing.' Mr Alden Chia made a blog post to review all the certifications he has earned. ST PHOTO: ALEXA DENISE UY Tough times for tech grads The trend to 'stack certs' comes amid the lower proportion of fresh university graduates who landed full-time jobs in 2024 (less than 80 per cent) compared to previous years, based on the latest graduate employment survey from February 2025. Dr Kelvin Seah, associate professor in economics at the National University of Singapore (NUS), said employers are cautious about hiring fresh graduates due to economic uncertainty. 'Students and fresh graduates are understandably anxious and would like to beef up their credentials to make themselves more attractive to prospective employers,' he added. Applicants with internships and online courses under their belt may look more employable, as they come partially trained. 'However, at the end of the day, employers are ultimately looking for people who will be the most productive at their jobs and roles, so if a person can demonstrate aptitude and competence in his or her job applications and interviews, there is still a good chance of being hired,' said Dr Seah. Students often get online certifications on websites like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and Udemy. PHOTO: PIXABAY Beyond tech: Other students stepping up to get certified Some students who are not in tech courses, like NUS business administration student Kelly Kwok, 21, are also collecting certificates through courses outside of school. Miss Kwok has amassed more than 10 online certifications in coding and business skills since she left junior college. These include courses in Excel, and programming languages Python and R. What started as a way to pass the time before entering university became a way to gain an edge over schoolmates ahead of classes, transition into new internship roles and pad her resume with proof of technical skills. 'Having the certification name (on your CV or LinkedIn profile) just feels better, because you have a physical manifestation of what you did in uni,' said Miss Kwok. 'It gives me confidence in a certain skill set.' Unlike Mr Chia, she accessed most of these courses for free, thanks to school or employer benefits during her internship. Many undergraduate students pursue certifications to get a glimpse into different careers before graduating. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO For Nanyang Technological University (NTU) communication studies major Mandy Wong, 20, getting online certifications in graphic design, UX design and project management has helped with figuring out her career options. She said: 'I've definitely been able to explore career possibilities that I wasn't sure if I wanted to dedicate an entire internship to.' Fellow NTU undergraduate Teresa Ng, 21, did certifications to make use of free resources. She picked up data analytics skills one semester through a Google certificate scholarship offered by her school. Although the electrical and electronic engineering student has a second major in data analytics and has learnt Python, she spent 12 hours a week learning to code in SQL and R. 'A lot of my course is very theory-based, but sometimes you don't really see how it's practically deployed,' said Miss Ng. 'Doing certifications makes you career-ready and shows you how these things are done (in the working world).' There is also the Fomo (fear of missing out) factor. Said Miss Ng: 'You scroll through LinkedIn and see a lot of people stacking certs, posting career updates. Then you think, 'If I don't do that, then I might be losing out.'' Many students upload their completed certifications on professional networking site LinkedIn. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA LIMITED Not all created equal However, more certifications are not always better as the quality of the certifications is what makes the difference, say experts. Ms Linda Teo, country manager at recruitment agency ManpowerGroup Singapore, said recruiters look out for 'strategically chosen' qualifications that are relevant to the role. 'For example, certifications in Excel or Python can be a strong advantage for data-centric roles,' she said. More jobseekers are also gaining certifications in emerging fields such as generative AI and data ethics, said Ms Teo. These signal that the candidate keeps pace with evolving technologies. However, she said that certifications are most impactful to hirers when they complement hands-on experience or formal education and are not a replacement for them. 'It's not just about listing a course, it's about demonstrating how the knowledge gained has been applied,' she said. 'Candidates who can showcase this through projects, internships, or portfolios tend to make a stronger impression.' Ultimately, she said that employers look at the full picture, not just technical qualifications. Other factors such as how candidates fare in interviews and whether they fit into the workplace culture matter too. Mr Chia, the aspiring cybersecurity professional, said students need to approach certificates with the right mindset. 'Anyone can learn how to code. But when it comes to coding, it's your skill that matters. 'You need to be genuinely interested, then it's worth it.'
National Post
29-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
100% of Cumberland County Home Support Workers Vote to Strike
Article content HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Home support workers represented by CUPE 3953 from the Victorian Order of Nurses of Cumberland County voted in favour of a strike mandate, with 100% of those who voted authorizing a strike. Article content Article content 'We're proud to join the rest of the CUPE home support workers by voting in favour of the strike, but we're disappointed it's come to this,' said CUPE 3953 President Kelly Forbes-Leblanc. 'We've been fighting since 2023 for a fair deal, for acknowledgment of our pivotal place in the health care system, but government and our employer continue to ignore us.' Article content Home support is a vital part of the health care system, allowing seniors to stay in their home longer before moving to long term care, and those in acute care to return home without fear that they will lose out on the care they need. The work of these Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) eases the strain on both long term and acute care. They are fighting for fair wages, scheduling based on geography and improved sick time. Article content 'Our home support workers, like so many across the province, service a large geographical area and that means we spend hours a day in our vehicles, travelling between clients,' explained Forbes-LeBlanc. 'We want scheduling to be based on geography, so we're not driving from one side of our service area to the other between clients.' Article content CCAs are often given as little as 30 minutes between clients, during which time they are expected to submit their reports and travel to their next client. Since they service all of Cumberland County, that means CCAs are often travelling from Malagash to Amherst but could be scheduled to travel from Malagash to Advocate Harbour if scheduling isn't done with geography in mind. Article content 'Home support, as a sector, is struggling. We're all short staffed, we're overworked, and the waitlist for home care is only growing,' said Forbes-Leblanc. 'This problem is only going to get worse if the government doesn't prioritize the workers in the sector. They can't keep ignoring us for two years, or in the case of our fellow CUPE home support, four years, and expect people to join the sector. Premier Houston said health care was a priority. Well, we're still waiting for that to mean us too.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Kelly Forbes-Leblanc CUPE 3953 President (902) 254-4451 Article content Article content
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Home support workers in Baddeck, N.S., vote in favour of strike
Workers at Victoria County Home Support Service (VCHSS) in Baddeck, N.S., voted 100 per cent in favour of a strike late last week. The local union that represents the workers cites lack of guaranteed hours, wages, and wear and tear on personal vehicles for the decision. 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, in a Tuesday news release. Lewis-Pierrard said the service provider only had one new hire last year. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages,' she said. CUPE home support sector coordinator Kathy MacLeod added it is difficult for workers to make long term plans due to fluctuating hours. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day,' she said in the release. The union is also asking for improved workplace safety language and better protections for CCAs working in the field. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike
Article content VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia — Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues. Article content Article content 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS. Article content Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client's needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration. Article content 'We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,' said Lewis-Pierrard. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.' Article content 'It's impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,' said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.' Article content Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field. Article content 'None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that's what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,' finished Lewis-Pierrard. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information, please contact: Kathy MacLeod CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator (902) 578-3304 Article content Trish Lewis-Pierrard CUPE 4354 President (902) 317-0136 Article content Article content
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike
VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2025-- Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues. 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS. Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client's needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration. 'We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,' said Lewis-Pierrard. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.' 'It's impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,' said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.' Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field. 'None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that's what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,' finished Lewis-Pierrard. CUPE 4354 is the third CUPE Home Support local to take a positive strike vote. :so/cope491 View source version on CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Kathy MacLeod CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator (902) 578-3304 Trish Lewis-Pierrard CUPE 4354 President (902) 317-0136 Taylor Johnston CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative [email protected] KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANAGED CARE PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT LABOR HEALTH SOURCE: CUPE Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/27/2025 09:35 AM/DISC: 05/27/2025 09:34 AM
