Emerge stronger into economic recovery with these five tech opportunities

By Kami Navarro

COVID-19 has ushered in a new age of digitalisation. Remote work has become a new norm, as have contact tracing apps and temperature scanning systems. In spite of the current economic uncertainty, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector has flourished. 

Digital and tech roles are in demand—and not just in the ICT sector. With every sector now seeking digital solutions, openings can also be found in the rest of the economy.  In fact, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Economic Survey, the Information & Communications sector expanded by 3.5% in the first quarter of the year, with an additional 1,100 employees hired in the same sector.  

According to 2020 data from tech website Dice and job analytics company Burning Glass Technologies, some of the most in-demand tech jobs include software engineer/developer, network engineer, system analyst, data analyst/scientist and cybersecurity specialists.

To support Singaporeans with opportunities in tech jobs, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has partnered leading companies in various sectors through the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) Company Led Training Programme (CLT) and the TeSA Mid-Career Advance Programme. Over the next three years, there will be up to 5,500 job placement opportunities for Singaporeans.

So if you’re looking to ride the digital wave, here are a few interesting tech jobs you may want to keep an eye on.

1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Developer

   Despite its name, being an RPA developer doesn’t have anything to do with physical robots. RPA development instead involves automating mundane, highly-repetitive tasks like inventory management or invoice generation using AI and machine learning. When such tasks are automated, employees are freed to focus on more meaningful and higher-value activities. 

   As such, RPA developers require not only deep technical knowledge on software development and programming languages, but also familiarity with methodologies like Agile, Lean and Six Sigma. Should you decide to dive into a career as an RPA developer, you can begin by tapping onto several partners of the TeSA CLT. For instance, ThoughtWorks offers the twelve-month Data Guild training programme meant to build a specialisation in big data, AI and machine learning.
   

2. Business Analyst

   If you have an enviable flair for both business and tech, then the role of business analyst could be perfect for you. In the tech context, business analysts bridge the gap between the business and technical teams by translating business requirements into understandable product development tasks. On a wider scale, they also help make the company’s processes and products more efficient by actively identifying areas of improvement.

   Unsurprisingly, excellent communication skills are a must for this role. In addition, business analysts working in tech should be familiar or experienced in dealing with tech concepts like database management and even programming languages such as Java and Python. As a testament to the crucial role performed by business analysts, companies ranging from consulting firm ABeam Consulting to ICT solutions provider NCS are respectively offering training opportunities through the TeSA CLT and TeSA Mid-Career Advance programmes.
   

3. Network Engineer

   Network engineers play a crucial role in day-to-day business operations as the “architects” responsible for the computer infrastructure that companies use. By designing, building, implementing and maintaining network systems ranging from local area networks to intranets and extranets, network engineers ensure that their fellow employees and customers can go online. 

   Beyond design and maintenance, the duties of network engineers include installing regular updates to the network, managing security configurations to safeguard their systems, and even performing backups of company data. Accordingly, network engineers should have experience in network architecture and design, as well as exposure to network security systems. 

   Through the TeSA Mid-Career Advance programme, Singaporeans aged 40 years old and above can develop the skills needed to become a network engineer—all while receiving a salary. Companies like Singtel, for instance, are offering to train potential network engineers. With the combination of in-depth industry exposure and gainful employment, the TeSA Mid-Career Advance programme is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
   

4. User experience (UX) Engineer

   As more aspects of our lives shift online, digital platforms face increasing pressure to make their users’ online experiences go as smoothly as possible. For instance, research by Google’s DoubleClick found that 53% of mobile site visits were abandoned if a page took over three seconds to load.

   This is where user experience (UX) engineers come in: by using programming languages like HTML and JavaScript, UX engineers ensure that websites and apps are easy to use while possessing all the necessary features. Hence, they need to balance technical knowledge with marketing savvy and even graphic design skills!

   General Assembly, under the Tech Immersion and Placement Programme (TIPP), offers a 10-week immersive training course and placement in User Experience Design, where students gain the core skills needed to successfully solve UX problems. These range from research and ideation to prototyping and testing. To make things even better, Singapore citizens qualified for this programme are eligible for a subsidised fee. At the end of the programme, trainees are required to find placements in tech job roles.
   

5. Cyber Risk Analyst

   By 2021, cybercrime is predicted to cost the world $6 trillion annually—an unsurprising estimate given the amount of sensitive data we divulge to the websites and apps we use daily. In charge of defending us from threats like viruses and data breaches are cyber risk analysts, who implement security systems to safeguard our IT infrastructure and data.

   Elizabeth Han, a security analyst at consulting firm Deloitte, is a shining example of Singapore’s growing pool of cyber security talent. Initially graduating with a chemistry degree, she took a leap of faith and decided to dive into a completely different field: cyber security. To kickstart her new career path, Elizabeth signed up for the Cyber Security Associates and Technologists (CSAT) programme, a joint initiative by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and IMDA.

   The CSAT’s Associates track, which trains and upskills fresh ICT professionals, led Elizabeth to commence a nine-month on-the-job training journey with Deloitte.

The CLT is also open to young professionals starting out in their careers. Meanwhile, for those who’d like to pick up tech skills in their current jobs, the TeSA Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme PLUS (CITREP+) can provide up to 70%-90% of nett payable fees for a variety of short-form courses in relevant tech areas.

Regardless of which option you choose, there’s a bright future ahead for those equipped with tech skills in this day and age. The choice is yours.