INAUGURAL CAREER FAIR FOR SAF, HOME TEAM NSFS OPENS

Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) who are soon completing their two years of National Service (NS) now have more help in transiting to the work force or higher education.

At the first Enhanced Career Fair, held from 18 to 19 Nov at Lifelong Learning Institute, a total of 77 multinational and local companies as well as educational and training institutes offered a wide range of job opportunities and courses for NSFs.

The Enhanced Career Fair is one of 30 recommendations put up by the Committee to Strengthen National Service. It also includes a Career Skills Workshop, where NSFs can hone their communication skills and learn how to prepare for job interviews.

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), and the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD), the two-day event is expected to see more than 4,000 NSFs from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team in attendance.

Director of MINDEF's NS Affairs, Brigadier-General (BG) (NS) Tung Yui Fai, who visited the career fair on 18 Nov, highlighted that the career fair was a deliberate effort to provide more options for NSFs.

"Through ACCORD and WDA, we are able to tap onto a larger network of employers and educational institutions across different industries and sectors so that our servicemen can find a career or field of study that is relevant and of interest to them."

One NSF who stands to benefit is Private (PTE) Mohd Hairie, a trooper from 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards who will be completing his full-time NS in three weeks' time.

He hopes to work in the petroleum industry, and through the career fair, has found out more about the job opportunities available at Shell, one of the largest oil companies in the world.

"The career fair is useful as I am going to finish my NS soon, and I was able to speak to the staff at Shell to find out more about the industry," said the 21-year-old who is applying for a technician position there.

Highly sought-after by employers

The career fair not only allowed NSFs to find out more about the various hiring sectors and job requirements, but also enabled employers to tap on this source of manpower, said Mr Francis Lee, Director, Career Services Division, WDA.

NSFs like PTE Hairie are sought after by companies for their maturity and experience working in a team.

For instance, Micron, a multinational-company that produces semiconductors, is targeting to hire NSFs because of their strong sense of responsibility which has been honed from military training.

"Micron needs people with a deep sense of responsibility and accountability. We believe that NS training helps to build up these soft skills," explained Mr Sunny Yau, a senior recruiter. The firm is aiming to hire a few hundred engineers and technicians.

Similarly, Ms Juliana Ang, Gain City's director of Human Resource and Administration, noted that NSFs are trained to be disciplined and to work as a unit - traits that make them conscientious workers and team players.

"Other technical or leadership skills (that they have acquired during NS) will be a good value-add," she said.

The home-grown home appliances and electronics retailer is offering a wide range of jobs from technicians to frontline managers.

Servicemen who require further assistance on employment and training services can contact WDA Career Centres at 6883 5885 for an appointment.