As workers in Singapore return to the office, many of us are taking the chance to re-examine our careers. After all, working from home has likely shifted certain priorities and expectations – especially for working women, who often have to juggle work with taking care of the family, raising kids or looking after elderly family members. Perhaps it’s not surprising that many surveys find men have enjoyed WFH far more than women.
“Working mothers are looking for flexible work arrangements to have better work-life balance,” says Antoinette Patterson, the co-founder and CEO of digital mental healthcare provider Safe Space in Singapore. This is reflected in a survey, which shows that 4 in 10 workers in Singapore would sacrifice a bigger bonus in order to continue working remotely.
“People are also looking for workplaces that are aligned with their personal goals, such as women’s empowerment and mental health support. And we’re gradually becoming more open to asking for career advancement and leadership opportunities,” Antoinette adds.
To help you reflect on your career path thus far and determine where you want to go from here, here are pointers on how to be your own career coach, with insights from Antoinette.