At age 56, Arnold Lim defies stereotypes in many ways.

For one, even as a retiree, he’s still eagerly learning and upskilling. His latest endeavour? To be certified as a fitness coach under the National Registry of Coaches.

Secondly, he’s more physically active than the average Singaporean, and has even appeared in The Straits Times’ Hot Bods feature, a lifestyle section that spotlights fit individuals and their exercise regimens.

Thirdly, he made a later-than-usual career switch from banking to IT, at the age of 50. 

With an unwavering enthusiasm for learning and personal growth, Arnold consistently proves that age is no barrier to achieving his goals.

A Thirst for Knowledge

Coming from a low-income family, Arnold recounts living in rented flats and being constantly on the move. "I had to leave school after ‘O' levels. I gave tuition, distributed newspapers and worked whatever odd jobs there were, " he said. This early experience shaped his initial career choice in banking, which seemed secure and lucrative.

With ambitious goals of advancing in his career, and a role demanding speedy mastery of diverse skills and knowledge, he cultivated an inherent curiosity for learning and a lifelong habit of continuous self-improvement.

As such, when he was made redundant from his job as assistant general manager at a large Japanese bank in 2017, his decision to pivot to IT was fueled by a genuine interest in the industry.

"I wanted to learn more about the digital space, such as how the internet and websites function,” he said. This curiosity led him to upskill rigorously and complete five IT certifications in three years, as well as a SkillsFuture-funded cybersecurity diploma at Nanyang Polytechnic.

It was a logical switch too, as he considered the growth opportunities and long-term prospects of an IT career, eventually spending five years in the IT industry.

Overcoming Age-Old Stereotypes

Entering an industry typically dominated by younger professionals, Arnold faced scepticism from clients and colleagues alike. "I had to start from scratch, compared to my younger peers who were way ahead in education and experience, " Arnold admits. There was also a stereotype that older employees would be difficult to train, so his colleagues were initially reluctant to share their knowledge.

However, he proactively connected with his colleagues and clients, successfully integrating into the workplace and learning firsthand from them. His resourcefulness also shone through as he leveraged online resources to deepen his understanding of technical topics.

Navigating Mid-Career switches

Drawing from his experience, Arnold emphasises the importance of financial planning for those considering a career switch. "Many people are unable to do mid-career switches because they can't afford to, especially if you have a family to support," he notes. He advises that career transitions can take anywhere from one to five years, factoring in potential pay cuts and the time needed to pursue academic qualifications, technical certifications and establish oneself in a brand new industry.

For career switches that arise out of necessity, such as through retrenchment, he recommends adopting a more frugal lifestyle to sustain the switch financially. On the regular, one should also have at least one year of savings to cushion against unexpected circumstances.

To better support upskilling, Singaporeans aged 40 years and above considering mid-career switches can tap on the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme and receive a monthly training allowance of up to S$3,000, for up to 24 months, starting in early 2025.

Embracing Well-Being and Personal Growth

Although he has chosen to retire from his IT role to focus more on his health, Arnold reflects on his achievements with satisfaction, particularly his successful career switch that established him as an IT security professional. For his next step in personal growth, he intends to enrol in Republic Polytechnic’s Basic Exercise Science course.

“I have proven to myself that I can accomplish whatever I set out to do. Now, it’s time for me to prioritise my health and fitness,” he said.