Singapore’s aviation and aerospace industry has rebounded and is on its path towards recovery. The nation prides itself as one of the most impressive aerospace sectors in Asia. With over 130 companies and a growing satellite industry, it is no wonder Singapore is titled the “Aerospace City of the Future”. Envisioning the road ahead, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) expects air traffic in the Asia-Pacific region to triple by 2030, creating avenues for Singapore to develop and expand as a global air hub. For many, this in-demand space presents exciting job opportunities.

Taking into account the extensive career possibilities in these sectors, the OneAviation Careers Hub (OACH) is Singapore’s first tripartite partnership amongst National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). It is formed to empower Aviation and Aerospace job seekers with the employability tools to soar in their roles, while providing support to employers looking to hire top talent for the industry. Read on to find out how jobseekers, Nur Hidayu Binte Zulkifi and Mohamed Negamath Ali S/O Jainulabdeen, landed their dream aviation and aerospace jobs with OACH.

The Hurdles Of Joining The Aviation & Aerospace Industry

A lot of us dream to travel the world and Hidayu was no exception. Growing up, Hidayu knew that becoming a cabin crew was her long-term career goal. She fondly recalls how she always admired the “elegance and beauty” of flight attendants air stewardesses but never found the courage to explore the career.

The 24-year-old worked in the hotel industry before setting out upon her journey to becoming a cabin crew. Hidayu completed her studies in Travel and Tourism at the Institute of Technical Education, and thereafter commenced a Work-Study Diploma at Republic Polytechnic. In her time there, she studied Hospitality Management and was employed as a Guests Services Executive. During a mid-career hiatus, Hidayu finally felt that it was the right time to explore a cabin crew career with Scoot, but lacked clarity on the specific steps to take and how to begin.

Similar to Hidayu, Ali had a fascination for aircrafts in his adolescence and has since desired to work in the Aerospace sector. Taking the first steps to achieving his goals, the 25-year-old studied Mechatronics in ITE, attained a private diploma in Aerospace Maintenance and enrolled in several WSQ courses. Unfortunately, as he began job hunting, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and he faced challenges in securing a role in Aerospace.

Exploring Career Support Options

Despite facing obstacles, both Hidayu and Ali shared aspirations of pursuing careers in the Aerospace and Aviation industry. Driven by a strong determination to turn their dreams into reality, they sought assistance from e2i to receive valuable career support.

Hidayu: Taking Flight Into A New Career

Knowing that the journey to becoming a cabin crew would be challenging, Hidayu attended a Customised Career Preparatory Talk conducted by e2i to gain insights and tips on the hiring process. At the talk, she was provided with key interview techniques that prepared cabin crew candidates for an on-site assessment and a five-round interview by Scoot.

Recounting her experience at the Career Preparatory Talk, Hidayu recalled “I remember feeling very anxious and overwhelmed about the cabin crew interviews – I have never attended a five-round hiring process before! Attending the talk helped me calm my nerves. I was given an overview of what to expect on the interview day and tips on how to answer certain interview questions”.

Hidayu added that despite conducting her own research about the cabin crew interview process, she still felt nervous. It was the career coach’s words of encouragement and advice that gave her the extra boost of confidence to take on the interview. Hidayu managed to ace the interview and is now cruising endless skies with Scoot.

Thriving in the fast-paced lifestyle of a cabin crew, Hidayu looks forward to meeting passengers from all walks of life each time she dons her uniform. While the odd-hour flights get draining at times, she still often finds herself anticipating the next flight.

Ali: The Sky’s The Limit

Ali, who had his eyes set on the Aerospace sector, attended an Aerospace Industry Career Fair hosted by e2i. Ali shared that he was keen on visiting the career fair as he was interested in securing a role in GE Aerospace and wished to speak with their representatives.

“I managed to find out about the job openings that GE Aerospace had, along with the qualifications needed for the roles I was interested in. I expressed my interest in joining the company and even handed my resume to them!” Ali, on his experience at the career fair.

Within two days of attending the career fair, Ali received a callback from GE Aerospace about a job opportunity. He attended the interview but ultimately declined the role because it did not align with his interests. However, GE Aerospace later reached out to him again, this time regarding a position as a Component Repair Lean Technician, which proved to be a better fit for Ali’s needs. Consequently, he was successfully hired for this role.

In his role as a Component Repair Lean Technician, Ali encounters various situations that can be potentially hazardous, thus emphasising the importance of safety. His job scope also relies heavily on his responsibility to guide and ensure the safety of his colleagues in their tasks. Not only did Ali successfully secure employment at his desired company, but he also fulfilled his childhood dream of working in the Aerospace industry.

How can you break into the Aviation and Aerospace industry?

If you are facing a situation similar to Hidayu and Ali, where you are uncertain about how to initiate your career in Aviation or Aerospace, tap into rewarding job opportunities, career advisory services and more at OneAviation Careers Hub now!