A Career in Data Protection - What is the Career Roadmap?

In this digital age, where it is commonplace to use mobile devices and mobile apps in our everyday lives, we see news about data breaches and data privacy concerns on a regular basis.

In Singapore, most people would be aware of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which was passed in 2012, and the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, the provisions of which came into force in 2014.

The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), the data protection authority here, was established in 2013 to administer and enforce the PDPA. 

For those of you who are aware of the PDPA’s requirement for organisations, including non-profits and even small or one-person businesses, to appoint a data protection officer, you may be wondering: is a career in data protection for me - and how can I get started?

What could career progression in Data Protection look like?

In a three-part video series, Samantha Ng, a career consultant and founder of an education and career empowerment initiative, Project Jobless, speaks with Loke Qian Li, a data protection professional, about why data protection is relevant to both individuals and businesses.

In Part 2 of this series, Samantha and Qian Li discuss the following questions:

• What is a typical day like for a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?
• What are the key skills / attributes someone must possess to excel as a DPO?

To read more about finding the right data privacy career for you, visit our guide on following a suitable data protection learning roadmap.

“A DPO does not have to do everything by himself or herself”

Some of the highlights in Part 2 include debunking how a DPO's role is misunderstood (2:35), sharing what are the job trends in this sector, including salary trends (9:25), and the types of skills and certifications that are sought-after for organisations hiring DPOs and DP professionals (11:26). 

To watch the other parts of this series, please click on the following links:

Part 1: An Introduction to Data Protection
Part 3: Tips on Data Protection for everyone – how to protect yourself and your loved ones

Article by: Yong Shu Chiang

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official view or position of DPEX Network.