Retrenchment gave her a new lease of life in a sunrise industry

Getting retrenched at age 40 after 21 years in the videotape industry may be unnerving for many but not gutsy Azizah. In fact, she used it as an opportunity to kickstart a second career in the high-growth wafer fabrication industry.With NTUC’s help, she landed a job as a quality specialist with ST Microelectronics. She knew it would not be an easy switch as the job required a higher skill-set to operate in a Clean Room environment. But the feisty lady did not let her fears stop her. She went back to school full-time for six months to get the right skills. When she started work, she got herself accustomed to the work environment quickly.

Her determination paid off. In just 18 months, she was promoted to a Quality Control Supervisor. She was glad for the switch as she now has a higher level of skills and greater job stability. Says the mother of two, “Age is not a barrier. Be determined, positive and most importantly, believe that you can do it.” To perform better in her new role, she’s attending training in areas like public presentation and managing staff.