As jobs are a top concern for Singaporeans in the Covid-19 crisis, TODAY’s Voices section is publishing first-hand accounts from jobseekers in which they reflect on their experiences and what keeps them going.

In this instalment of Jobseekers’ Diaries, Ms Joanna Wu, 53, writes about how the pandemic disrupted her work going door-to-door to interview people. But Covid-19 also opened a new door for her to pursue her childhood dream to work in healthcare, even though she had no experience in the sector.

“When one door closes another opens.”

This quote sums up how the pandemic has turned into a life-changing chance for me to pursue my childhood dream to be a nurse.

I worked as a part-time door-to-door surveyor for 12 years conducting surveys for different companies.

I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life. Some respondents even invited me into their homes and offered me a drink while we chatted.

Then Covid-19 started to rear its ugly head.

Soon after the outbreak started here last year, significantly fewer people were willing to open their doors for fear of contracting the coronavirus.

Donning a mask in the heat, knocking on countless unanswered doors, was tiring and demoralising.

As the number of infected cases climbed, my superior said that there would be no projects from April to June 2020. I knew that I could no longer return to my work and the normal life that we knew.

As a mother to seven children aged 17 to 31, I spent a huge chunk of my time caring for them during their developmental years.

I had wanted to be a nurse since I was a child, but was dissuaded from doing so by my parents, who deemed it a menial job. 

The pandemic gave me my chance.

With my family's support, I took a leap of faith and quit my surveyor job in April 2020 and started looking for a new job.

I applied to be a retail assistant and temperature screener, but nothing materialised.

It was quite stressful as I was worried about not being able to secure a job and help support the family.

After chancing upon a dialysis care associate job opening at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), I applied for it in July 2020. 

Armed with a secondary school education and with no healthcare experience, I would be lying if I said I was confident about securing the role, even though it does not require clinical experience.

In August 2020, four months into my job search, I received a call to attend an interview with NKF. 

Imagine my joy when I got the job.

I later learnt that I got it because of my willingness to learn, patience and passion to care for patients.

I am not tech-savvy and, as a healthcare industry newbie, it was challenging to familiarise myself with medical jargon, the usage of medical equipment and procedures. 

However, after undergoing a training programme lasting about six to seven weeks and, with the help of my colleagues, I have slowly settled into my role.

My daily tasks include checking the water quality, replenishing the tubes that connect dialysis machines to patients, cleaning the machines and chairs, priming the machines, assisting patients in weight-taking and so on. I also enjoy striking up conversations with patients.

I am very thankful for my colleagues’ guidance and it has been a joy working alongside them as we ensure a safe environment and provide quality treatment and care for our patients.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Joanna Wu, 53, worked as a door-to-door surveyor for 12 years. She quit during the circuit breaker in 2020 and set her sights on fulfilling her dreams to work in nursing. After a four-month search, she secured a job as a dialysis care associate with NKF in September 2020.

If you are a jobseeker with 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.