During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dylan decided to broaden his knowledge and pick up some new skills in programming and data analytics. Through his journey, he has discovered a passion for the data industry.
Dylan de Souza and Sami Mahmal (Trainee Manager)
The SGUnited Skills (SGUS) programme as delivered by NUS-ISS is a full-time train & place national programme of 6 months duration where trainees acquired in-demand and emerging skills and applied them to opportunities like workplace immersions and industry projects. The trainees would also benefit from employment facilitation efforts from NUS-ISS.
Find out how the SGUS programme has helped Dylan change his career goals and boosted his self-confidence for his new path in Data Science.
1. Why did you choose to join the NUS-ISS SGUnited Skills (SGUS) programme?
Dylan: I was unemployed for most of 2020 and decided to pick up some new skills on my own, namely programming and data analytics. After a friend introduced me to the SGUS Programme, it made sense for me to embark on the programme as it aligned with my career interests.
2. How was your personal experience with the programme?
Dylan: I enjoyed the lessons in NUS. The topics covered, combined with my own studies as well as help and guidance from my teammates at the AXA Data team, were sufficient as a crash course for me to begin work on my project dealing with customer data quality analysis.
3. How has the programme benefitted you, especially in this time of a global crisis?
Dylan: The programme really did change my career goals and especially my self-confidence in my career prospects to a very large extent. I entered the programme without very high expectations and just wanted to see what working in the data industry was like. However, I currently feel that I have found an industry that I wish to stay in.
4. Share an example of how the skills and knowledge gained during your learning journey was applied to deliver the industry project for your sponsored company?
Dylan: For the hard skills taught in the programme such as Data Storytelling and Managing Business Analytics Projects, the skill transfer was relatively seamless. The project felt like a natural next step to gain a practical understanding of the lessons.
As for the career planning skills, I think their benefits were not necessarily apparent during my project but more so in my efforts to attain my current position and in the future as I further my career.
5. What is your one biggest key takeaway from this programme?
Dylan: To always work on acquiring new skills to update myself and continue to be relevant to industry trends.
6. How do you view NUS-ISS's role in your future training and development?
Dylan: I know that when I am ready to bring my knowledge and skills in Data Science to another level, NUS-ISS will be the place to do so.
Dylan's managers at the workplace had also found the experience to be encouraging and enriching on both sides.
"SGUnited Skills Programme is a great opportunity to participate in the national effort during this COVID-19 crisis. It's also a great human experience to actively accompany our trainee in an important moment that is the mid-career change."
Sami Mahmal, Trainee Manager
"I have observed the SGUnited Skills Programme participants are rolling up their sleeves to learn and pick up new skillsets with a positive attitude and some of them has decided to make AXA their home, a win-win for AXA and Singapore.”
Bryan Lee, Chief Data Officer