Due to the pandemic and other related challenges, many individuals chose to take on contract and temporary roles. As the situation evolves, it is important for these individuals to plan on securing a permanent job.

During a July 2021 parliamentary session, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng shared that there are more than 15,000 workers placed in public sector or government-funded short-term roles since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Many of them “…support Covid-19 operations such as swabbing or quarantine procedures, implementing safe management measures and providing patient services.”

Beyond this group, there are also those employees that were retrenched or resigned from their roles. Although the employment situation is looking up with increasing total employment figures, retrenchment is still taking place due to companies re-organising, restructuring or experiencing business downturn.

For many of these workers, it is critical for them to have a game plan ready for when they are ready to start their job search. This will help them put together their action plan and contribute to their future job security. 

We walk through three steps jobseekers can take to structure their process using services and tools available from e2i. 

Have a conversation with your current employer

Before expending time and energy searching for a role, it can be practical to have a conversation with your current employer. The discussion can focus around whether there is an opportunity to convert to a permanent role or extend the contract for a longer period of time.

This is a win-win for both parties especially if the jobseeker enjoys the contract/temporary role. The employer can save on resources to hire and train a new employee. 

In a previous article, we shared about Daniel and his job seeking journey. An organisation change in a company that Daniel was working a ‘bridge job’ at needed a role that he had expertise in. A conversation with his employer led to a job offer. 

Inform and engage with your network as much as possible

Inform your friends and network about your job search and the roles you are looking for. Additionally, start engaging with them in a deeper manner by offering to help them with their professional needs, or produce content that positions you as a specialist in your field. 

While no one advocates being paid for with ‘exposure’, it is a different calculation if the action provides recruiters and employers with a sense of your range of expertise, or your values. Updating your CV and online profile with these activities or outcomes can also increase the chances of being selected for an interview.

Consider attending networking sessions, job opportunity briefings and career fairs organised by e2i. These events can provide you with an overview of the industry, hiring trends as well as sharing by current employees who have been involved with upskilling or training. 

Make use of job placement tools to automate receiving job opportunities 

There are many tools available that can provide accessibility and information about opportunities. These include tools such as job matching and career fairs found on the e2i website. Follow e2i’s social media pages such as Facebook for up to date information. For more convenience, subscribe to the Job Security Council’s Jobs Alert Telegram channels. These channels send out job alerts for PMETs and non-PMETs. 

By tapping on the steps shared earlier, temporary workers and contractors can start putting together their game plan towards securing a permanent job. In order to secure future job security, it is important to structure the process and commit to the game plan.  

If you are currently holding a temporary job and are looking for career guidance services, make an appointment to meet an e2i career coach now.

Find out how e2i empowers individuals through career guidance, skills upgrading or job matching services.