Bank to also develop over 5,000 leaders and expand coverage of flexible work pathway
United Overseas Bank (UOB) in Singapore is opening its doors to 1,000 young professionals as part of a broader effort to invest in people amid the artificial intelligence (AI) transformation of workplaces.
UOB said it is also planning to develop 5,500 leaders and expand a pathway for seasoned professionals who are looking for flexible work.
"The future of work is not simply about adopting new technologies. It must come together with helping our people develop the capabilities that technology cannot replicate, such as judgement, empathy, resilience, leadership, and the ability to build trust," said Dean Tong, Head of Group Human Resources at UOB, in a statement.
Under its new investment efforts, UOB is planning to recruit 1,000 young graduates a year for roles in Personal Financial Services and Anti-Money Laundering, and roles in early-career programmes such as the Future Bankers Programme, Management Associate and internship programmes.
According to the bank, the initiative is also aimed at building a strong pipeline of future talent who are equipped with skills to meet the changing demands of the industry.
"We believe that creating opportunities for talent at every stage of life and career will be critical to strengthening our talent pipeline, enabling our people to grow with the Bank, and building a resilient workforce to thrive in an AI-enabled world," Tong said.
Upskilling managers for AI-enabled workplaces
Meanwhile, UOB is also launching a new Better Leader Programme that will equip 5,500 UOB managers by mid-2027 with the skills and mindset to lead effectively and build high-performing teams in an AI-enabled workplace.
The programme, which is accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance, will develop leaders through experiential learning, workplace application, and reflection, as well as give them personalised qualitative feedback with scores based on UOB's leadership competency framework.
The initiative aims to develop leaders across three areas – Leading Self, Leading Teams and Managing Stakeholders – allowing managers to practise workplace conversations involving career feedback, performance management, delegation, stakeholder engagement, and career development.
Expanding flexibility options
The bank will also expand its initiative that offers experienced UOB professionals the opportunity to contribute their expertise through part-time, flexible or fixed-term opportunities.
The Gig+U programme, launched in 2021, will expand to cover customer-facing and sales advisory roles by the first quarter of 2027.
The programme is targeted towards seasoned professionals who are approaching or beyond the retirement age, mothers who are returning to the workforce, and those who want to have flexible work options.
The Gig+U talent pool of 200 participants will receive a monthly retainer, insurance coverage, access to assignments, as well as compensation for the work they will provide.
"Gig+U reflects UOB's commitment to creating opportunities at every stage of life and career," the bank said.
"The programme allows experienced professionals to continue contributing in a flexible way, while giving the Bank access to a trusted pool of professionals with deep institutional knowledge, strong customer understanding and close alignment with UOB's values and culture."
The programmes at UOB come in the wake of growing adoption of AI tools in Singapore workplaces, prompting a massive call from the government to keep people in the loop amid the development.
