This is what Singapore’s ICT millennials look for in an employer

• Millennials a significant part of today’s labour market
• Eight in 10 survey respondents see mentorship as essential

 
RECEIVING guidance from peers to enhance personal growth (31%) and being rewarded for hard work (31%) are the top considerations Singapore millennials working in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry look for in their workplace, according to a small survey conducted by the Singapore Computer Society.
 
Almost half (47%) of millennials in the ICT sector say they are willing to attend specialised certification programmes organised by their peers to improve themselves.
 
In addition, a third of the respondents (30%) are actively seeking opportunities to upgrade their industry-related skillsets, the Singapore Computer Society said in a statement.
 
READ ALSO: The workplace of tomorrow: It’s about the millennials
 
The professional body polled 187 ICT professionals and students below the age of 35, between May and June 2016.
 
“Millennials represent a significant part of today’s labour market and are becoming the most influential segment in most organisations,” said Singapore Computer Society president Howie Lau (pic above).
 
“These tech natives are earnest, highly driven and are always on the lookout for opportunities to advance their skills and to grow both personally and professionally,” he added.
 
Need for mentorship
 
In the survey, 40% of millennials feel that there is a lack of opportunities to polish their skill sets and 18% feel there is insufficient support from the ICT industry.
 
Despite these limited opportunities, millennials are seeking alternative platforms for self-improvement.
 
“One-on-one mentorship is becoming a tool of choice for Singapore millennials to grow professionally,” said Lau.
 
“They no longer see mentorship as part of an HR (human resources) process, and instead see it as a platform to receive feedback and learn the ropes from more senior executives.
 
“Such a positive attitude truly stems from their desire to advance their career and improve their work quality,” he added.
 
Eighty-five percent of the millennials surveyed said they have has sought meaningful and time-efficient relationships with senior members in their industry.
 
“Connecting with industry seniors allows me to gain invaluable insights and tips of the trade,” said 29-year-old ICT professional Derek Loh.
 
“Such two-way relationships are hard to come by, and can help young professionals like myself gain more confidence,” he added (click infographic below to enlarge).
 

Industry outlook
 
More than half (54%) of the respondents said they are confident that they would be able to keep their current job and will not be made redundant in the next year.
 
In fact, more than a quarter (26%) of survey respondents chose to join the ICT industry because they feel there is abundant career growth opportunities, the Singapore Computer Society said.
 
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