Upskilling and reskilling to remain viably employed 

Upskilling and reskilling are key discussion topics across multiple industries and sectors, especially with regards to helping job applicants become viable for employment. For those who are looking to explore different ideas, skills and opportunities, many employers are now providing opportunities for their employees to attend new courses, especially for those who are looking to make a career switch or are exploring their options for the future 

One such employer is GoGoX, an Asian-based on-demand platform for transporting freight and goods, operates in 360 cities across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and India. With over six million registered drivers, much of the appeal of the firm relies on the delivery drivers, or ‘partner-drivers’, and their exemplary work. As such, the logistics platform does much to encourage and work with their partner-drivers, incentivising them to take up courses should they decide to do so. 

In Singapore, for example, the platform announced its partnership with the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) – an NTUC-affiliated organisation. This has been a point of interest for partner-drivers like Raymond Kang and Jeremy Ooi, two middle-aged employees who have been with GoGoX for many years and have taken the opportunities offered by NDCA and GoGoX to upskill and improve themselves.

 “With more opportunities for individuals to upskill these days, I was curious about what courses might be available for my self-improvement, specifically in matters related to the industry that I am in,” Kang shared with HRM Asia.

 Kang, who has been with GoGoX for nearly a decade, had been a small business owner running a retail shop in Queensway for more than 12 years, and became a driver due to being unable to compete with digitalisation and e-commerce websites. With help from the upskilling opportunities from GoGoX and NDCA, Kang has managed to understand more about digitalisation and tech, something which he has attributed to helping him become better at his job. 

“Logistics has been marked by a rapid pace of innovation across the entire supply chain and I want to be equipped and updated with the necessary skills to stay relevant,” Kang explained. “These days, our job includes accessing and updating delivery platforms. For instance, whenever the platform is updated with new functionalities and capabilities, we need to know how to use them, not only to be more efficient and productive, but also to make sure that customers are happy with our service.” He is currently exploring generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT to improve his grammar proficiency and communication skills with clients and other employees. 

In our line of work, having a deep understanding of the customer’s needs helps improve our ability to meet their expectations. It helps us to best navigate tasks, changes, and challenges at hand. – Raymond Kang, Partner-Driver.

Ooi’s goals are like Kang in that his decision to take on courses to improve himself stemmed from wanting to advance his career, especially in the logistics industry. Ooi, who was working in the automobile industry before becoming a partner-driver, believes that the continuous personal development would be helpful for future promotion opportunities and higher pay. “I’ve been participating in various courses offered by NTUC LearningHub, GoGoX, and the NDCA – from basic communication skills to dealing with customers in the field,” said Ooi, who hopes to be able to take greater responsibility and receive better remuneration after taking these courses.

READ MORE: AI training revolution: Upskilling for a new era

Both partner-drivers are very aware of the importance of learning and development, regardless of the industry, but also about the importance of staying competitive for the sake of personal growth and development, especially with regards to their ages, and the families they have to support. For Kang, the partner-driver referenced the importance of a positive approach, with constant self-reflection and taking steps to address weaknesses, as well as employing empathy to understand clients’ needs. “In our line of work, having a deep understanding of the customer’s needs helps improve our ability to meet their expectations,” Kang shared. “It helps us to best navigate tasks, changes, and challenges at hand.”

Be proactive when it comes to your professional development and pursue relevant avenues (workshops, courses, certifications) to upgrade yourself. Think of this as an investment in your future. I believe continuous self-improvement helps unlock new opportunities for career advancement. – Jeremy Ooi, Partner-Driver.

Ooi himself intends to seize any chance possible for him to enhance his skills and bolster his capabilities, and encourages others to do the same. “Be proactive when it comes to your professional development and pursue relevant avenues (workshops, courses, certifications) to upgrade yourself,” he shared. “Think of this as an investment in your future. I believe continuous self-improvement helps unlock new opportunities for career advancement.”