Life has a way of testing even the most resilient of people.
Just ask Nurhani Shatifan, 51, a travel manager who was retrenched during the peak of COVID-19 in 2020.
“I was feeling very upset and devastated because I was looking after my parents, both of whom were bedridden due to stroke. I was very worried about [the situation] financially because I was their main caregiver,” she said.
While she struggled to find a new job, she focused on caring for her elderly parents and spending more time with her husband and five children.
The family also had to downgrade from an HDB executive apartment to a four-room flat in 2020.
Fate would soon deal another cruel hand.
“My mum passed away that same year. In 2021, my baby brother also passed away suddenly due to cardiac arrest. He left behind four very young children.
“Then in 2022, my dad passed away. It was then I decided to go back to work,” Hani said.
Although Hani had 30 years of working experience, the start of the job search proved to be really tough.
“I had thrown in more than 50 resumes to 50 different employers, but none of them came back to me with an interview, or even to say, ‘I’m sorry you’re not shortlisted.’
“I was upset. I was thinking to myself, ‘What did I do wrong? I have 30 years of experience. They should be able to see something in me.’
“But I was wrong, and that is when I told myself that I needed help,” Hani shared.
Desperate to find new job opportunities, Hani registered for Yayasan MENDAKI’s Women @ Work (W@W) Programme in 2022.
Through MENDAKI, she was connected to the NTUC Women and Family’s (U WAF) Women Supporting Women Mentorship (WSW) programme.
The six-month mentorship programme pairs female NTUC leaders with professional experience across various industries with women seeking to re-enter the workforce.
At the time, Hani had secured an interview with INSEAD Asia Campus, the Asian campus of the world’s leading graduate business school located in Singapore.
However, after two-and-a-half years out of the workforce, the jobseeker needed more confidence in her ability to handle the job.
All that changed when she met Noorfarahin Ahmad, the mentor who would turn her life around.
Hani and Noor immediately hit it off, bonding over shared trauma and other similarities.
Noor shared: “The first impression I had of Hani was that ‘Eh…this one can become my buddy. We got the same pattern, same tudong style.’ She mentioned that she’s been in the tourism industry, like me, and we talked about it quite a lot.
“When my husband was around — he passed on two years ago — we went through several losses, like nine of our children through miscarriages. And I think Hani has also gone through some losses in her life, and we went through this phase of sharing.”
Noor recognised that Hani needed emotional and psychological support in her new job as a development co-ordinator.
The role requires Hani to organise events for the school’s students and alumni.
“I think when Hani came in around 2022, she already secured her position in INSEAD.
“However, there’s a lot of self-motivation and confidence that we needed to help build. [There was also] the mindset shifts of herself as she stepped out into the new workforce and new environment,” explained Noor, who is also a longtime tourism employee.
With Noor’s help, Hani thrived in her new role.
Hani said: “I find that the benefit of mentoring is more on us being a network. We support each other, and give each other confidence, especially in terms of advice. Noor has also been able to guide me towards my career goals and help me achieve the next level.
“Another benefit I find with career mentorship is the resources I have, especially with the mentors. For example, if I have a question about skills development, she [Noor] will tell me, ‘Probably you should look up this particular resource,’ and things like that.”
The pair have also become firm friends, continuing to see each other socially after Hani’s programme ended.
Two years later, Hani is loving her job and achieving more than ever.
“What I like most about my job is the collaboration between teams not just in Singapore, but with staff and colleagues in Fontainebleau, in Paris, and also Abu Dhabi,” she said.
Inspired by her good friend Noor, the INSEAD employee is now a mentor for the same NTUC mentoring programme.
“Having been a mentee myself, I know first-hand the positive impact of a mentor’s support, which has greatly benefited my own journey. I can share my journey, provide resources, and support women as they navigate life challenges,” Hani shared.
You can also contact NTUC Women and Family at womenandfamily@ntuc.org.sg or connect with them through Facebook @NTUCUWomenandFamily.
