Hit hard by the pandemic in 2020, Lilik Mariyatin, in her mid-40s, found herself at a loss after being compelled to close her salad bar business, which she had ran for seven years. "Closing my business left me worried about my family's finances, especially since I was supporting my son's education. But I was also concerned about how the closure would impact my staff, who are like family to me," she said.

To cope with these worries, Lilik channelled her focus into volunteering by distributing food to low-income families with her newfound time, which she has actively been involved in since the start of the pandemic. After spending the bulk of her time on volunteer work, she developed a passion for helping others and became eager to pursue a career in the healthcare industry despite her lack of experience. “Pivoting into a new field can be intimidating, but it is often necessary to advance one’s career and reach their full potential,” she remarked. Thus, Lilik adopted a growth mindset and took the leap of faith to acquire a new set of skills as she embarked on a career switch.

After being recommended by her friend to explore the various courses offered by NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB), she signed up for the Healthcare Assistant Course. Besides the comprehensive and industry-relevant curriculum, Lilik was particularly grateful for her experienced trainer, who delivered engaging lessons, and for the chance to connect with coursemates from diverse backgrounds. This reassured her that she was not alone in her career transition, which made the process less daunting.

Upon completing the course, Lilik secured a role as a healthcare assistant in a hospital. Her duties include patient nutrition and fluids management, mobility assistance, and patient care delivery which she mastered through the course. “The course was a blessing in disguise as it came at the right time and opened a door for me to turn my passion into reality. I entered a new career that sustains comfortable living while allowing me to positively impact the lives of others,” she beamed.