Planning a Mid-Career Switch? Here’s 6 Well-Paying Jobs In Singapore For A Mid-Career Change

Figuring out where to head next? Here are the industries you can explore for a mid-career switch this year.

A mid-career switch can be one of the best decisions in your professional career. Before embarking on it, you’ll need to decide where you want to head to. This will give you a better idea of the expectations, allowing you to plan your career goals for the switch.

According to Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore’s current inflation rate as of July 2022 sits at 4.4%, the highest we have received since November 2008 from the global financial crisis. Fast forward to 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have led to price increases in most aspects of our economy, from electricity and gas to food and services. Electricity and gas, in particular, are expected to only rise from here on out, as seen with a 19.9% inflation rate in May of this year before hitting 20% in June, based on the market offerings by the Open Electricity Market (OEM).

This news is undoubtedly alarming to many people as they have to make the appropriate lifestyle changes in order to continue putting food on the table and support their livelihoods. While some working professionals have turned to take up a side hustle, others may consider making a mid-career change, especially if they find their current jobs unfulfilling and are not meeting their career needs and expectations. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, then the latter option is a wise decision.

For those considering to change their careers this year, here are some industries you can dip your toes in

6 of the Most Well-Paying Jobs in Singapore

Even though we do not advocate choosing a job based solely on compensation, it can be good to understand what industries and their specific job positions fetch the highest salary ranges. This allows us to not only be aware of which skills and expertise are in-demand, but also make more informed decisions to better attain our career goals. As such, we have compiled a list of the highest-paying occupations in Singapore and possibly around the world.

1. CHRO, HR Director & HR Business Partner

Amid extreme social and business transformation, the CHRO is at the center of every organizational challenge: remote work culture, pandemic health, DEI and workplace wellness. It is understandable why HR directors and managers are one of the most well-paying jobs in Singapore, earning up to $240,000 to $310,000 per annum. For starters, HR directors need to be equipped with a wide variety of skills, from good and effective communication to analytical and leadership capabilities. The HR director is tasked with overseeing and managing the company’s hiring processes and relations with employees, which is why the HR director usually acts as the middleman between the company’s top management and the workforce. Therefore, the role of HR director is of huge importance to the company if it wishes for its internal operations to go as smoothly as possible and without any complications.

Be a respected CHRO and gain guidance from thought leaders on the key competencies that chief human resources officer (CHRO) required. For those with aspirations to become a HR director or manager, Aventis’ Master of Science in Global Human Resources Management from the University of Roehampton, London can help you in your career progression by assessing your HR competencies and ensuring that you are well-prepared for various HR tasks, such as managing financial performance, strategic marketing, and leading a team.

2. Cyber Security Specialist and CISO

Technology never stops evolving, and companies have to constantly look for new ways to stay on top of the game by embracing technological advancements. This is why it is no secret that the IT and tech fields produce considerably the most profitable careers that can remain in the future. One of these careers is IT cyber security specialist, whose main responsibility is to protect an organisation’s overall IT system.

The IT cyber security specialist sees that such an outcome does not occur by looking out for any vulnerabilities in the networks and software systems and taking the necessary actions to counter them if there are, as well as updating both hardware and software applications of the organisation. Top jobs in Cyber security includes Ethical Hacker, Penetration Tester, Cloud Security Specialist, Database Administrator, Network Security Administrator, Information Security Analyst, Cybersecurity Project Manager.

If you have plans on becoming an IT cyber security specialist, you can expect to earn an income of around $190,000 to $350,000 per annum. Take the first step by enrolling on one of Aventis’ cyber security courses. Our Graduate Diploma in Digital Forensics and Cyber Security or Master of Science in Cyber Security are sure to provide you with the skills to defend individuals and organisations from hackers, data theft, phishing scams, and other more sophisticated crimes.

3. Workplace Learning Specialist

Workplace Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills by formal or informal means that occurs in the workplace. – International Labour Organisation. These days, workplace learning comes in various approaches — this includes in-house training sessions, on-the-job coaching/mentoring and self-initiated learning, which is catalysed by digital/online learning. New learning partnership models have surfaced between open online course providers, Institutes of Higher Learning, and market leaders, “synergising their respective expertise in andragogy and industry domains to deliver industry-relevant programmes to adult learners.”

Among the trends observed, career/learning counselling and coaching-related skills have risen in significance and demand. Announced by Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Ms Gan Siow Huang, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) has released its first-ever Jobs-Skills Quarterly Insights. The insights will focus on a specific sector or job type in the economy that is “critical and/or high-growth”, according to SSG. Developed with input from the Institute for Adult Learning and OCBC, it also focuses on skills for professionals involved in the Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector.

Over the years, learning design has evolved beyond formal in-person learning and qualification to include different modalities, with a focus on direct relevance and application to work. In turn, the hiring demand for workplace learning roles such as learning performance consultants has more than doubled between Q2 2021 to Q1 2022. Top skills in demand for these roles include:

project management
learning and development
learning mode design

Check out Aventis Graduate Diploma in Workplace Learning Design & Solutions. This program is IHRP (Singapore) accredited and will equip you with key competencies in job redesign, workplace learning, curriculum development, and instructional design. Students will learn how to conduct learning needs analysis, design a blended curriculum, and develop learning resources, and assessments while actively practising self-reflection for constant self-improvement.

4. Business Sustainability & Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Specialist

Globally, businesses are recognizing the opportunities and benefits of adopting corporate sustainability. The emerging green sector is poised for growth in years to come and is increasingly being regarded as a sector with job opportunities in

areas such as renewable energy. To take on jobs in this sector, equip yourself with the right skills to take advantage of career opportunities in the green sector.

According to an article by Singapore Business Review, ESG jobs demand up 257% in the last 3 years This comes as climate change becomes included in most agendas of businesses. Jobs in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sector in Singapore increased 257% in the last three years between April 2019 to April 2022 as climate change becomes part of the agenda by companies and businesses.

In a statement, global jobs portal Indeed said the most significant jump in demand occurred between April 2021 and April 2022, with job postings increasing 95%, compared to the 75% increase in the previous year.

The rise in job offers partially coincided with the launch of Singapore’s Green Plan in February 2021 which outlines the initiatives to make the economy more environmentally friendly, invest in green energy, and grow the number of green jobs.

Aventis’ Graduate Diploma In Business Sustainability & Environment, Social And Governance (ESG) and MBA in Sustainable Business Strategy from Roehampton University London is amongst the most popular choices for professionals seeking credentials and skills in the rapidly growing ESG and Sustainability roles

5. Project Manager

Consider yourself an organised person? If so, project manager is the role in which you can shine. Regardless of which industry or department you belong in, there is always a need for a project manager in order to ensure any projects and tasks taken up by the team are completed on time, within budget, and meet the client’s requirements. However, not every day is smooth sailing as disputes among employees, and other difficulties are sure to arise. In such cases, the project manager has to step in and come up with solutions to push the project forward. As the project manager is involved in each and every stage of a project, from procuring and planning to execution and evaluation, it is no wonder that the role is one of the highest-paid in Singapore, with professionals earning from $48,000 to $108,000 annually.

Aventis’ Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and Graduate Diploma in Organizational Psychology will enable you to better assess a team’s dynamic and workplace psychology so that you can improve on employees’ experiences yet produce effective results each time.

6. Data Analyst

In today’s data-driven world, data analysts are highly needed by modern businesses. As there is currently a shortage of data analysts to meet the increasing demands, this means that present data analysts fetch incredibly high salaries, ranging from $48,000 to $120,000 per annum. Data analysts essentially collect and review data and analyse key performance metrics to formulate a strategy to optimise the company’s performance. The organisation can also use relevant and accurate data obtained by data analysts to make more functional decisions, reach a better target audience, cut operation costs, and create new innovations.

If these responsibilities and tasks are up your alley, a career as a data analyst will no doubt be exciting. Allow Aventis to assist you in your career journey with our Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics and Data Storytelling or the Master of Science in Data Analytics from London Metropolitan University.

Conclusion

What’s in it for you?

Stability in our careers is a factor that we should all aim to achieve. However, at times, making a mid-career switch can be necessary and may even improve our lives, despite being a daunting life-changing decision. Remember, even though you have to face a steeper learning curve and unfamiliar challenges in your career change, there are many benefits you can seek to gain, like a bigger pay cheque, a broader network, and a more comprehensive skill set.

Plan a successful mid-career switch today

A mid-career switch can be daunting. There are so many things to consider before changing your career. Once you have identified your area of focus, the next step in this journey is to upskill. Knowing where you are now and where you want to be lets you plan your progression path better. This will also allow you to better prepare for interview questions around your mid-career switch.

At Aventis, we believe that learning has no age limits. Whether you are an entry-level employee or an executive in an organisation, everyone should have access and opportunities to improve themselves and continue remaining employable in the competitive rat race of the working world. From a variety of Master Degree courses in Singapore to part-time MBAs in Singapore, all our courses are arranged and conducted by esteemed universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. To find out more, you can check out our website here.