Calvin Tan, the owner of a board game shop since 2017, found his business significantly affected during the pandemic. Recognising the lasting effects and prolonged challenges of global disruptions, he grew increasingly worried and began to consider his options, including the possibility of permanently closing his shop to seek out an alternative source of income.

Formerly a Project Management professional, he planned to return to the same profession However, he knew that he needed to update his skills to boost his employability and to keep up with the latest trends in Project Management. Due to his prior experience attending several courses offered by NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB), Calvin began to research on courses related to his desired profession. Subsequently, Calvin enrolled in courses related to agile and project management. Despite being unfamiliar with the Agile methodology, Calvin was eager to learn something new that would improve his job prospects.

With his newly acquired skills, Calvin landed an Assistant Project Manager role in the IT software development industry in 2021. He credits his continued success in his profession to the courses he took at NTUC LHUB which enabled him to contribute meaningfully at the workplace. In his present role, Calvin is involved in various projects that utilises a wide range of methodologies, namely Waterfall and Agile methodologies. Recognising that the Agile approach has yet to gain widespread adoption among companies in Singapore, he leverages his expertise to enlighten clients about its advantages. For instance, he explains to them how Agile’s iterative modifications can lead to results that better match their expectations. Even after securing employment, Calvin upskilled further by undergoing NTUC LHUB’s PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner course.

Now, determined to continuously upskill, Calvin sets himself yearly personal targets in his career with at least two on learning new skills. Calvin attributes his desire to continuously upgrade himself to being inspired by a fellow coursemate, a senior in his late 50s who embodies the “Never Stop Learning” attitude.

“Tech is an ever-evolving sector. What you learn today can become obsolete tomorrow. This is something I tell my friends – that I must know what is happening tomorrow, yesterday,” he shared. “The day you stop learning is the day you begin to fail”.