My Learning Diaries: I left a stable finance job for a career in social work. Here’s how I made the switch

The fast-changing nature of work has prompted many Singaporeans to upgrade their skills to stay relevant. TODAY’s Voices section is publishing first-hand accounts of young Singaporeans who have recently done so to give their careers a boost, or even pursue new paths in life.

In this instalment, Mr Embleton Lian, 32, describes how a desire to make a difference in people’s lives prompted him to leave his finance job and pursue a career in social work. He made the switch with the help of a Workforce Singapore career conversion programme.

Growing up, I was passionate about the finance industry.

I graduated with a diploma in Banking and Financial Trading from Singapore Polytechnic in 2010. I later obtained a Bachelor of Science in Finance at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), then known as UniSim, in 2016.

In 2017, I took on an operations role in a financial firm, but after 1.5 years there, I felt that something was missing.

I wanted to make a difference in people's lives, and finance wasn't the right fit for me.

Having financial knowledge was helpful for my personal life, but not necessarily where I wanted my career to be.

I wanted to be able to contribute to people’s lives.

That's when I stumbled upon Workforce Singapore's Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for social workers, offered by SUSS and participating employers.

The programme required 1.5 years of part-time studies, along with three years’ employment at a social service agency.

It was challenging to get in at first as there weren't many vacancies available in the sector, but I successfully entered on my second try in 2018 and was hired by Lutheran Community Care Services (LCCS) as a social worker.

I was intrigued by what LCCS did, such as restorative practices — a way of working with conflict that puts the focus on repairing the harm that has been done between people.

I soon got a first-hand appreciation of how different social work is from finance.

In finance, we can apply a formula to derive an expected return. In social work, we can’t expect someone to respond in a certain way. There is a lot of critical thinking involved in how best to help people and understanding why an approach that works for one might not work for another.

Even though I had juggled work and studies in my finance degree course, one challenge I faced this time round was carving out time for my family. 

For example, as classes were usually held on Saturdays, it was difficult finding time for meals and outings with my wife and extended family

I am thankful that they supported me and encouraged me to pursue this path. With their support, I managed to make it work.

I completed my graduate diploma in Social Work at SUSS in 2020 and continued in my role at LCCS.

A typical day requires me to plan groupwork sessions at schools where we get participants to sit in a circle and talk. This helps children and youth build confidence in expressing themselves.

We conduct activities and games to help them improve their social and emotional skills. Occasionally we have to address conflicts that occur during the session through restorative interventions.

I’m also involved in other projects such as one called “My Journey”, where I worked with youth offenders to see how they could be successfully integrated back into society upon their release. 

Embarking on a career change was not an easy decision for me. It meant leaving behind a stable job in finance to pursue a completely different path.

I had to learn new skills, new ways of thinking and communicating with people.

The most significant thing I have learned from this experience is the power of resilience. It's okay to make mistakes and to stumble, but it's essential to get back up and keep going.

I still face challenges as a social worker now but I enjoy watching people develop and grow, and as part of the process I also learn and grow together with them.

I have no regrets making this career switch.

As for my next step, I want to learn how to adapt to the evolving digital landscape. I believe it's essential to continue to learn new skills to provide the best service possible. I’m also looking forward to welcoming my first child this year.  

To those who are considering embarking on a similar journey, my advice is to follow your passion, and don't be afraid to try something new.

Keep an open mind, be patient with yourself, and take it one step at a time. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Mr Embleton Lian, 32, formerly worked in finance and switched to being a social worker at Lutheran Community Care Services, with the help of Workforce Singapore's Career Conversion Programme.

If you have an experience to share or know someone who wishes to contribute to this series, write to voices [at] mediacorp.com.sg with your full name, address and phone number.