Managing a front desk; organising community events; and assisting various departments within a co-living property: A broad job scope like this may seem daunting to some but it is all in a day’s work for Mr Wilfred Yeong.
Mr Yeong is a lyf Guard but his job has no relation to swimming. He is a guest service and community manager at lyf one-north Singapore. As the main face of the co-living property by The Ascott Limited, he is no stranger to wearing many different hats when carrying out his day-to-day responsibilities. A role like Mr Yeong’s requires agility – a quality he attributes to the Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for Hotel Professionals he attended in 2020.
Organised by Workforce Singapore (WSG), the programme exposed Mr Yeong to different departments such as housekeeping and engineering, ultimately helping him gain a deeper insight into the hospitality industry.
“The programme gave me a better overview of the different operations aspects of running a property like lyf one-north Singapore,” says Mr Yeong. “And with this knowledge, I am now more equipped to take on greater responsibilities over a wider job scope.” For those thinking about joining the hotel industry or growing their careers in the field, the CCP for Hotel Professionals is a viable option, as seen in the comic below.
Whether you’re looking to join the hotel industry or upskill to advance your career, WSG’s Careers Connect and Career Conversion Programmes can help you to stay relevant in the workforce. Visit this page for more information.
Empowering oneself with skills and opportunities
Mr Yeong’s career in hospitality began 16 years ago, having first trained at the Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre (Shatec) before doing several stints at five-star hotels in Singapore. In 2020, two years into his role as an Ascott Host at Ascott Orchard Singapore, he decided it was time to expand his career options. The way forward? Upskilling.
His efforts paid off. Since completing the CCP, Mr Yeong has taken on the position of a lyf Guard, a new hospitality role in co-living communities at lyf. What he particularly appreciates is that “no two days are alike”. Everyday is an opportunity for him to flex his newly-honed hospitality skills and tackle different tasks – be it interacting with lyf residents or organising experiential programmes such as cooking workshops, group bike rides and pool parties.
Mr Yeong says the CCP has given him more confidence in his outlook for the future. “I believe the programme will continue to open more doors for me to explore added roles and functions within the property as I continue to pursue my career in hospitality.”
Get an early check-in into hotel industry
With Singapore’s tourism slowly rebounding post-pandemic, opportunities are ripe within the hotel industry. Jobseekers need to remain agile – be it by reskilling or exploring opportunities outside their comfort zone.
“The pandemic has sped up companies’ adoption of technology to digitalise and maximise productivity,” notes Ms Amanda Kong, senior career coach at WSG. “Therefore, it is important to broaden your skills beyond what is required in your current job to stay relevant for future career opportunities.”
Whether you’re looking to upskill yourself or enter the hospitality industry, you can turn to WSG to partner you in your job-seeking journey. WSG’s CCPs aim to reskill Singaporeans like Mr Yeong to develop new capabilities to take on jobs in growth areas or redesigned job roles, even with no prior experience.
Jobseekers can also approach WSG’s Careers Connect or SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres to access WSG’s suite of services, ranging from career workshops to networking sessions, industry talks and even dedicated one-to-one career coaching.
Ready, Reset, Go with WSG! Explore new opportunities and kickstart your new career today. Visit www.wsg.gov.sg/explorecareers-hotel to find out more.
