Paving Singapore’s digital future with a career in tech

By Gina Peh

Today, a few taps on our smartphones unlock a plethora of day-to-day activities—from booking rides and making online purchases to connecting digitally with our loved ones.

While Singapore’s digital push began long before the COVID-19 pandemic, the past year has propelled us into a new digital normal. To support the rapid growth of the country’s digital ecosystem, a ready pool of talent is needed to drive new frontiers. Accordingly, in recent months, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has introduced various initiatives to attract, train and develop a strong pipeline of tech professionals along with its industry partners.

Looking to take your first steps in our new digital world? These five opportunities may just be what you need!

1. Grab: Riding on R&D to better millions of lives

Together with IMDA and Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), ride-hailing giant Grab will utilise tech development programmes like IMDA’s TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) to support its tech talent and R&D capabilities in Singapore. Committed to strengthening the local tech ecosystem, Grab will push the boundaries of innovation at its strategic base in the Republic to support the company’s growth plans across the region. 

This year, about 350 new jobs will be created in fields like software engineering and artificial intelligence (AI). New talents can look forward to being part of building products and services that will impact millions across Southeast Asia.

2. Singtel: Realising a hyperconnected digital future

Whether it’s discovering new worlds through augmented reality, or strengthening human-machine partnerships with Internet of Things (IoT) and autonomous vehicles, a hyperconnected digital future may become a reality sooner than we think. Singtel is working hard to make this happen, by building Singapore’s 5G ecosystem and training its workforce to pivot with this transformation.

Under Singtel’s recently inked partnership with IMDA, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Singtel will hire over 500 people in the next two years, blending 5G-related academic programmes with on-the-job training. With a mission to deploy breakthrough technologies at scale, these programmes are dedicated to nurturing a future-ready workforce.

3. Microsoft and Generation: Decoding your future tech career

As part of their #GetReadySG initiative, Microsoft and global non-profit organisation Generation have partnered with agencies including IMDA and DISG to unlock a gateway to tech careers across multiple industries.  Targeted towards fresh graduates and mid-career Singaporeans, the two-year initiative will equip participants with in-demand tech skills including Java and the Python programming language.

Among #GetReadySG’s two programmes is TeSA’s Company-Led Training (CLT), where up to 300 Singaporeans will gain industry-recognised Microsoft certifications and work opportunities with at least 20 of Microsoft’s hiring partners. These will include IT solution providers like AsiaPac, alongside service and end-user companies like Certis and ComfortDelGro.

4. IBM: Redesigning skillsets for the future economy

In today’s workplace, emerging technologies like AI and IoT are transforming business processes and customer experiences. Global tech company IBM’s ‘Future-Ready Intelligent Digital Workforce Programme’, in partnership with IMDA, seeks to hire and train Singaporean professionals in these fields to meet the demand for deep digital and technical expertise across a myriad of industries.

300 professionals, from fresh graduates to mid-career professionals, will train for in-demand roles like Digital Consultants and Cloud Architects. The programme welcomes a diversity of talents, who will not only hone their skills through immersive exposure to technologies like advanced analytics and blockchain, but also apply these skills to real-world scenarios for smarter work outcomes.

5. Sea: ‘Tis the season to go digital

Homegrown consumer internet company Sea Limited (Sea) has been a driving force in Singapore’s digital shift over the past few years. E-commerce, digital payments, gaming and esports are just some of the areas that Sea leads the market in, presenting the perfect opportunity for the local workforce to learn from a company deeply embedded in the tech landscape.

In the largest TeSA CLT programme to date, Sea’s partnership with IMDA will see 500 Singaporeans acquire essential skills to leverage on these opportunities and build long-term careers in these fields. Upon completion, trainees will be poised to take on roles like Data Analysts and UI/UX Designers in business entities under Sea, including Shopee and Garena.

We’re all in this together

A vibrant tech industry thrives not just on the wealth of opportunities, but also through the diversity of voices and ideas. While the tech industry has long been dominated by males, recent years have seen a growing movement to change the status quo. 

Coinciding with International Women’s Day on 8 March, SG Women in Tech (SGWiT), launched the SGWiT Corporate Pledge. The pledge aims to create a conducive environment for female talents in the tech industry, by taking into account their unique challenges and strengths. To date, close to 50 companies including Singtel and Microsoft have joined this initiative as a testament to their commitment to reshaping the tech workplace for good.