Career pivots don’t happen overnight – they take courage and persistence, along with the right timing and opportunities. It’s an experience that Kenneth Foo knows well after his successful move into the tech industry at the height of the pandemic.
After several years in marketing, Kenneth decided it was time for a change. “It was mid-2019 and the tech space was booming. I was eager to ride that wave and take my existing skillsets in field and digital marketing further,” he states. So, he applied for roles online, including one fronted by Robert Walters Singapore.
That was how Kenneth connected with consultant Anarane Thng. It soon became clear they had much in common. Like him, Anarane had marketing experience from a previous role, which gave her a deep understanding of Kenneth’s skillsets and potential. Anarane herself was also fresh into a career change into recruitment, so she could empathise with Kenneth’s aspirations for his career.
Determined to help him take the next step, Anarane found Kenneth a position with a world-renowned technology corporation. “It was a pleasant surprise when I heard I secured the job because it was such an amazing opportunity,” Kenneth recalls fondly.
“Although it was a contract role, the prospect of working at such a prominent company was too good to pass up. So, I took a leap of faith and left behind a stable, permanent position for this new opportunity.”
The time there turned out to be the breakthrough that Kenneth needed. After finishing up his contract, another contract position in the company came up, and Anarane put Kenneth forward again. This time, he was placed in a different department covering another segment of the business.
“Anarane was hugely supportive throughout my time there. While my marketing skillsets were transferrable, I needed to adapt to a new industry. The matrix organisation was highly complex and work could get fast-paced and intense,” Kenneth says. “I’m thankful she checked in frequently on my well-being and whether I could cope with the workload.”
In total, Kenneth spent two and a half years with the company, accruing valuable career capital that opened new doors for him in the tech industry. Since then, both he and Anarane have flourished in their new paths. Kenneth moved on to the tech giant Meta, before landing his current position as a marketing specialist at Google. Meanwhile, Anarane is still at Robert Walters Singapore, but is now Manager of the Commerce Contract division.
“Securing a job is a collaborative effort between the candidate and talent manager,” Kenneth reflects. “I know that if I ever want to take my career to the next level, Anarane is an excellent counsellor and advocate who can help get me there.”
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