PROFESSIONALS, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) may be vulnerable to job losses in a tough economic climate, but there is much they can do to remain attractive to employers.
Bosses say that performing beyond their job scope will be key to their employability. In the first quarter of this year, 12,760 workers were made redundant. The proportion of PMETs among those made redundant is 37 per cent.
Jurong Polyclinic's senior operations manager, Mr James How, volunteered for a diploma course in service leadership because he felt traditional service methods were lacking. In the process, he also increased his marketability.
He said: 'Previously, people would apologise and say 'that is the way things are done' if they're unable to address a complaint.'
But the 41-year-old felt that more could be done. He said: 'Now, it's about changing the environment to suit the patient's needs.'
To him, that meant taking the initiative to implement new procedures, even if it was not part of his duties.
Human-resource experts say that such a shift in mindset is needed.
Executive director of Singapore Human Resources Institute David Ang told my paper: 'Now, people can't just do what is expected. They have to ask themselves what more they can do to help the company.'
Calling them 'an additional line of reporting' between bosses and workers, Mr Ang said PMETs are likely to face the axe when companies merge departments and staff portfolios.
This is because they risk being retrenched as businesses downsize and trim costs during the current downturn.
However, employees with the right attitude - like motivated team players who seek lifelong learning - are always in demand, said Mr Tan Lai Hong, deputy director of operations at National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.
The key lies in how they go beyond their job scope, whether it is helping to improve a company's work-flow process or identifying areas for future development.
Mr How, for example, boosted his CV by graduating with the Singapore Institute of Management- University of Warwick diploma in service leadership last year.
He was part of the team that oversaw the polyclinic's revamp, which helped Jurong leapfrog to third place in the Ministry of Health's patient-satisfaction survey of 17 polyclinics last year. It was not among the top five previously.
