Sun, Jul 15, 2007
The Sunday Times

Q: I AM 36 and hold a degree in electronic and electrical engineering, and an advanced diploma in business studies. I am also a registered workplace safety and health officer, and certified fire safety manager.

I have had working experience in facilities management in various industries since the beginning of my career. I am planning to further my studies and wonder what I should pursue.

Do you think I should pursue a master's in facilities management or a related course, a general MBA, or something specialised like a master's in environmental engineering?

I really hope the course I take would enhance my career in pay and position, and also provide better development and opportunities for me.

Should I consider a career change at this age? Is it necessary to further my studies in order to enhance my career?

What other factors do you think could enhance my career? What do you think are my prospects if I remain in this line?

A: WE WILL explore different ways of developing your career: first, with your current employer, and second, with another organisation. Third, we will go further afield and explore opportunities that might come along with the graduate programmes you are thinking of pursuing.

While we consider the possibilities for career development, you will have to evaluate your own motivation.

Consider the factors that have prompted you to consider your career progression at this point in time. If these reasons are negative or even just border on negativity, address these issues first and move forward on a positive note.

You should begin with a career plan that details the stages of progress.

At each stage, write down your desired job scope, responsibilities and remuneration based on research and factoring in inflation and timeframe.

Also identify how you can arrive at each stage with work experience and academic or professional qualifications. This will act as a map that keeps you focused on the road ahead. You should modify the map as new experiences or opportunities come your way.

With the experience you have acquired in facilities management, you may choose to develop the dimension of your current job with your employer.

Talk to your boss about your career path and personal development opportunities. Evaluate the various areas of further development such as taking on additional responsibilities, or expanding your scope for a larger facility or additional facilities; you may even consider taking on a regional post.

You may look for opportunities to lead in projects, or to develop and execute policies and measures relating to your scope of work. Such initiative would make you a valuable staff member, which would prompt any reasonable leader to provide the career development needed to retain and motivate you.

You may also take stock of your own transferable knowledge and skills and consider if you can move into another function, and explore this with your boss.

With a proven track record and familiarity with the systems, process and company culture, most people are able to develop their careers with their current employer.

However, in situations where the opportunity is simply not available, you will have to explore opportunities with other organisations.

To move to another organisation effectively, you should prepare a curriculum vitae (CV) detailing your track record, accomplishments and achievements, transferable knowledge and skills as well as your aspirations.

With this CV, you may apply for jobs directly with advertisers or you may work with search or recruitment consultants of reputable firms, and have them present your CV to their clients.

To decide on the postgraduate programme, you should review the career plan charted out, and how this programme will bring you to the next stage.

Two of the programmes you are contemplating would apparently lead you on divergent paths. An MBA programme would expose you to the world of business while a postgraduate programme in environmental engineering would tend to lead you into another field of engineering.

Perhaps the postgraduate programme in facilities management would enhance your existing skill sets as a facilities manager and give you credibility when dealing with people outside your organisation or across the region.

There are numerous opportunities for facilities managers as facilities are continuously being built. And with the high demand for local workers in the region, there are numerous opportunities for Singaporeans to take our expertise abroad.

Furthermore, facilities managers with your credentials would be considered favourably as organisations strive to provide a safe environment for people to live and work in.

When planning your own career, think of yourself as an individual with a value proposition and a unique selling proposition. Most of the time, it is the candidate's individual attitude that distinguishes him or her from other job applicants.

While it is an employee's market in Singapore today as unemployment is low, it is the employee with the right unique selling proposition that has a sustainable career in the longer term.

John Dave Ng
Team Leader
PeopleSearch

Advice provided in this column is not meant as a substitute for comprehensive professional advice