NTUC has just launched the U Career Network, backed by industry professionals to provide peer support and valuable intel to Singaporean workers amid a fast-changing economic climate.
It leverages the extensive Labour Movement network to gather four groups of enablers – full-time employability coaches, part-time associate coaches, employability ambassadors and industry mentors. Various sources include community partners and Institutes of Higher Learning as well as NTUC-affiliated unions, professional networks, communities and events.
Joining the Network
Employability and associate coaches who are required to attain a complimentary Practicing Employability Coach (PEC) certification from NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) lie at the heart of the U Career Network.
Besides being paired up with certified career coaches to observe employability workshops during the training, they will also be equipped with the necessary coaching methodologies, tools and resources.
Volunteers who join as employability ambassadors and industry mentors do not need to be certified. However, they will still receive an orientation on career services and basic training on coaching.
Mentors contribute by sharing their deep industry knowledge through small group mentoring sessions or talks.
“The identification and development of key talents are imperative to the demands and challenges of a business environment that gets more competitive and demanding by the day. Therefore, finding the right people for the right job is essential for every company in any industry.
“I hope many other industry leaders will join in to help identify and nurture new talents that are needed to lead Singapore to the next level of world-class economic development,” said Vice President & General Manager of Manufacturing, Edwards Lifesciences (Singapore) Rainer Wolf, a mentor.
Ambassadors, on the other hand, will spread awareness about available resources on the ground and refer those in need to the right channels. e2i hopes to have a few thousand ambassadors by the end of 2017.
Practicing Employability Coach Framework
Under the PEC framework, there are four credential levels to be attained, starting from Certified PEC to Senior PEC, Professional PEC and lastly, Master PEC. Entrants will be assessed by the PEC council under e2i made up of seven certified coaches, of which two are currently at the Professional level.
Entrants are evaluated using a tiered point system. They have to produce proof of competency across six areas to gain and accumulate the points needed to reach each credential level. The six areas are: 1-to-1 coaching, professional self-development, experience with different client profiles, industry knowledge, group coaching and facilitation, and developing and mentoring others.
It takes a year on average to complete one level, depending on the amount of time and effort committed by the individual. Certified coaches will be awarded and recognised with a badge.
There are currently some 200 employability coaches in Singapore. About 50 of them are hired by e2i, including over 30 who have recently been certified under the new PEC framework.
Interested parties can submit an enquiry at e2i’s website.
