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Sun, Mar 29, 2009
The New Paper
Taking this course changed my life

A TWO-DAY training course changed her life. After being a salesperson in an electronics company for 15 comfortable years, Madam Yeow Wai Hun (right), craved change.

And the 45-year-old got her wish.

The Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) course transformed her career, motivating her to become a trainer.

Last October, in a bid to upgrade herself, Madam Yeow took up a two-day Personal Effectiveness course.

Although taking up the course meant sacrificing her precious weekends, Madam Yeow, who already has a diploma in Business Administration, has no regrets doing it.

Not only did the trainer give her tips on managing time better and working more efficiently, he also inspired her.

She recalled: 'He engaged us with real-life experiences and role-playing; it made learning much more interesting.'

It might have been just two days, but Madam Yeow bonded so well with her 14 classmates that they took up more WSQ courses together.

They signed up for three more two-day modules under the Singapore Employability Skills System (ESS), a system of foundational skills aimed at raising a worker's effectiveness across all industries.

The modules were Communication and Relationship Management, Problem Solving and Decision Making, and Initiatives and Enterprise.

Apart from enhancing her employability, the courses also drove her to become a trainer to help others.

The mother of three said: 'Training was something that had never crossed my mind till then, as it was something totally out of my industry.'

What made it easier for her to embark on a mid-career change was her retrenchment last December.

She said: 'I decided to use the opportunity to do something that I really have a passion for.'

She enrolled in a WSQ course for trainers. The Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment, which she is currently undergoing, teaches her how to present and deliver content and achieve learning outcomes.

Madam Yeow found another job within a month. She now works at SSA Consulting Group, a training service provider, and has two roles' promoting its courses and as a trainer.

She said: 'I find my job very fulfilling, I like to engage participants and make the lesson interesting. It's very exciting and I'm truly motivated.'

This article was first published in The New Paper.

 
 
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