A Graduate’s Journey from Uncertainty to New Opportunities in Tech
Noor Mustikha Binte Noor Khalid, now in her mid-20s, had a strong passion for integrating technology and engineering. This drive led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Aeronautical Engineering, with the vision of building a career in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. However, when she graduated in 2021, a year after the pandemic hit, the economy had yet to fully recover, and the job market remained cautious.
Facing difficulties in securing a role in her desired field, Mustikha eventually accepted a position as a management associate in the social service sector. While she appreciated the opportunity, she knew it was not the right fit for her career ambitions. Despite having just graduated, she actively sought opportunities to enhance her skills to help her pivot into new fields. It was during this time that Mustikha discovered NTUC LearningHub’s SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) Associate Data Analyst programme while browsing Instagram. Drawn by her interest in technology and the rising importance of data, she saw the programme as a valuable opportunity to pivot towards the tech industry.
While learning new skills like Structured Query Language (SQL) and Python presented its challenges, her background enabled her to grasp these skills more readily. Additionally, the collaborative learning environment and knowledge-sharing with her peers enriched her experience and boosted her confidence to push through. She also appreciated how the programme seamlessly combined theoretical knowledge with practical application through capstone projects, which gave her hands-on experience in applying her new skills to real-world scenarios. Beyond equipping me with the necessary competencies, the capstone projects provided tangible proof of my abilities, which is something highly valued by prospective employers,” says Mustikha.
She credits the programme for providing her with valuable skills and a strong portfolio from her capstone projects, which contributed to her securing a job as a Data and Knowledge Management Executive in the education sector. In this role, she applies the skills and tools she learned, including Power BI, to manage, analyse, and visualise data, delivering insights that support strategic decision-making.
Looking ahead, Mustikha is focused on expanding her expertise in data analytics and exploring new areas like robotic process automation, continuing to push the boundaries of her knowledge and career. To sceptics of lifelong learning, she uses the analogy of a smartphone: “Your phone software and apps require regular updates to fix bugs, and these updates protect your phone from malicious vulnerabilities in data privacy and security. Similarly, lifelong learning bridges gaps in skill sets and competencies and strengthens your personal well-being and your relevance in employment.”
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Brewing a New Chapter Through Lifelong Learning
Sheena brings more than a decade of experience in the retail and education sector, where she managed multiple retail outlets specialising in educational toys and oversaw day-to-day operations. Over time, she began to notice a shift. Customers were increasingly seeking more unique and experience-driven products, while the retail landscape itself was becoming more competitive and fast-changing. At the same time, Sheena observed a growing interest in more mindful and natural lifestyle products, which sparked her curiosity about opportunities within the Food & Beverages (F&B) space. With her experience largely rooted in traditional brick-and-mortar retail, Sheena made a deliberate decision to pursue her lifelong interest in F&B entrepreneurship. Inspired by her passion for floral and herbal infusions and her desire to create a brand of her own, she enrolled in the Flavourful Ventures: A Journey Into F&B Entrepreneurship course at NTUC LearningHub to turn her vision into a reality. Returning to the classroom was initially a challenge for Sheena, as she had not studied for a long time and found some of the learning processes unfamiliar. However, with guidance from her trainers and support from her classmates, she gradually adapted and grew more confident throughout the course. Throughout the programme, Sheena gained practical exposure to key aspects of building and managing an F&B business, including identifying business opportunities, product development, branding and bringing products into the market. The hands-on learning experience also gave her greater insight into creativity, innovation and customer engagement within the F&B industry. Beyond equipping her with practical entrepreneurial skills, the programme also broadened her perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a business in today’s competitive landscape. Sheena eventually went on to start her own tea brand, Tea Therapy Singapore, offering a distinct range of caffeine-free, unsweetened and 100% natural floral tea blooms. Through the course, she was able to turn a long-standing personal interest into something more tangible, gaining the confidence and practical knowledge needed to pursue her passion in the F&B space. The course also gave her a supportive space to experiment, learn from mistakes and grow her confidence as a first-time digital business owner. Today, she manages the business end-to-end, from sourcing raw materials to product design, branding and online sales, applying the skills and knowledge gained from the programme to shape and grow her business. Through the journey of building her brand, Sheena also came to appreciate the importance of lifelong learning, adaptability and continuously upgrading herself to stay relevant in an evolving business landscape. Looking ahead, Sheena remains committed to lifelong learning as she continues to grow both professionally and as a business owner, and plans to further develop her skills through NTUC LearningHub courses, including public speaking. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “Learning is a lifelong journey. When we continue upgrading ourselves and apply what we learn, we can turn our passion into new opportunities.”
Taking the Next Step: A Mid-Career Digital Journey
At 49, Farizan has built a steady career in the services industry where she has worked for the past four years as a Sales Admin Executive, overseeing sales coordination, purchasing, logistics and finance support. Working closely with multiple departments, she ensures smooth daily operations and keeps workflows running efficiently within her organisation. While working hard to establish herself as a dependable, meticulous and consistent teammate, she could never shake the persistent feeling that she could further streamline her work processes by expanding her skillsets. As businesses moved deeper into digital transformation, Farizan took a step back to reflect on how she could remain relevant in Singapore’s highly competitive and dynamic economy. Through her own research on social media, she began to see the potential of technology to enhance efficiency and productivity in her daily responsibilities. Determined not to let comfort and familiarity stagnate her professional development, she seized the opportunity and enrolled in the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) Digital Marketing Specialist course at NTUC LearningHub after chancing upon it online. The structured and industry-relevant curriculum gave Farizan clearer insight into how digital strategies translate into real business impact. It also helped her better understand how campaigns are planned, executed and measured in today’s digital landscape. Farizan gained practical knowledge in digital marketing strategies, search engine optimisation (SEO), online copywriting, campaign analytics and online campaign management, areas she had always been curious about but had not had the opportunity to explore in her previous scope of work. The guidance from experienced trainers and the unique insights shared by coursemates from diverse industries further enriched her learning experience. By embracing the intensity of the knowledge-filled course, she was able to bring together the different concepts she had learned through the programme’s capstone project and apply them in a practical digital marketing scenario. Building on what she learned from the course, Farizan now approaches her role with a broader perspective. While she continues her core operational responsibilities, she has also taken on expanded responsibilities at work, supporting digital marketing initiatives, assisting in online campaign coordination and contributing insights to enhance customer engagement. These opportunities to apply her new skills have not only allowed her to add greater value to her team but has also strengthened her confidence in navigating change. This step forward marks just one of many in her journey of self-improvement and lifelong learning. Shortly after completing the programme, she began exploring other courses to further develop her data analytics capabilities, such as the Retail (SF): Data Science Fundamentals course. Recognising that others may still be on the fence about taking the first step, she shares, a mindset she now carries beyond the workplace and even onto the stage as a performer, “Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Learning new skills may feel challenging at first, but it opens new opportunities and builds confidence.”