Q I AM a 47-year-old woman doing temporary assignments but I want to go back to working full time.

I did not complete my secondary school education but have more than 20 years of experience in areas such as being a telephone operator, data entry clerk, general clerk, administrative assistant and a secretary. I worked as an administrative assistant in a leading bank for more than 10 years before being retrenched.

I have sent out many resumes but have not even been called up for a single interview. I am desperate for a permanent job as my husband has been retrenched recently.

Where can I go for help, and is there a way I can upgrade myself?

I do not have any paper qualifications. What are my chances of finding a good job?

I am also considering part-time jobs that begin after 6pm as a typist, data entry clerk or a telephone operator to supplement my income. Do you have any ideas where I can apply for these jobs?

A TO ENHANCE your employability, you must have an optimistic mindset, demonstrate willingness to learn and show the capability to adjust and assimilate to new environments. You must show potential employers that you have the ambition, energy and eagerness to take up new challenges.

First, improve and boost the essence of your resume so that it appeals and entices employers. Focus on your core competencies and personal attributes to exemplify your values and morals.

You possess an extensive set of administrative and front-line experiences, so you can beef up your resume to address your excellent organisational, planning and interpersonal skills.

Next, you must keep sending your resumes to recruitment firms and look out for opportunities published in the newspapers.

This is also the time to tap into your social network and tell all your friends, relatives and perhaps ex-colleagues that you are looking for a job.

Be open to accept any contractual, part-time, temporary or even home assignments such as telemarketing and conducting phone surveys.

The Government has always encouraged people to develop and take initiatives to upgrade their portfolio.

You can register through the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) as they work with various industry entrepreneurs, labour unions, employers, economic agencies, professional bureaus and training organisations.

You can also visit the Distributed CareerLink Network centres that are listed on the WDA website. These provide free employment, training and counselling assistance services.

Or you can try searching for jobs at JobsLite, a free 24-hour interactive Internet portal which links employers and job seekers directly based on the contact details provided in the vacancy listings.

Jaime Lim
Consulting Manager
PeopleSearch

Advice provided in this column is not meant as a substitute for comprehensive professional advice. E-mail questions to a1admin@sph.com.sg.

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