How a ‘Crimewatch’ fan, now 26, became an ICA officer

Pursuing his tertiary studies at a polytechnic close to 10 years ago was a rite of passage into semi-adulthood for Shthesd Kanan, 26, in more ways than one.

It was then that the concept of finances and financial responsibility hit him, said Shthesd, now a staff officer at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Scrolling through his email one day, Shthesd saw a mailer advertising the Home Team Diploma sponsorship.

“Crimewatch” fan

It was a turning point for the 17-year-old “Crimewatch” fanatic, as joining the Home Team was something that was always at the back of his mind.

Shthesd admitted to being a fan of such crime documentaries and crime-related TV series since he was a child, particularly enjoying the critical thinking aspect of such shows and the appeal of apprehending bad guys for work.

Not only that, he realised he could help alleviate the financial load of his mother, who was supporting him as the family’s sole breadwinner.

Shthesd ended up applying and successfully securing the sponsorship, eventually joining ICA in 2020.

But why ICA instead of other Home Team agencies?

Shthesd shared that in the course of his research, he had discovered that there were “actually many agencies” within the Home Team.

The work of ICA officers in particular, drew him in as he fondly recounts past experiences at ICA Building and at checkpoints.

An unexpected connection

One childhood memory which sticks out in Shthesd’s mind is that of accompanying his mother to the ICA Building and seeing uniformed officers there. 

He remembers having a keen interest in their work and wondered if they were different from police officers who donned similar blue uniforms.

On his trips to Johor Bahru during the school holidays, Shthesd would also be intrigued by the roles that ICA officers at the checkpoints in Singapore and across the border played.

Further research informed him that jobs in ICA extends beyond immigration duties,  as the organisation comprised several operational and staff departments, such as the Intelligence Division and Enforcement Division, which piqued his interest.

"I’m someone who wants to try out different things and not just be a subject matter expert in one thing.”

Shthesd’s unique journey as an ICA officer began in 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the globe and here in Singapore.

It was an unusual time, work-wise, due to border restrictions, but the re-opening of the land checkpoints between Singapore and Malaysia in 2021 made for a unique experience.

“To be honest there was a lot of anxiety as the newer officers like me didn’t know what to expect,” said Shthesd.

He was glad however, that despite the marked increase in traffic and steep learning curve that first day, everyone came together for the shift and took care of each other.

Abundant opportunities for growth

Currently in his fourth year as a staff officer stationed at Woodlands Checkpoint, Shthesd is heartened by the broad-based training and opportunities he’s gotten so far in his career.

Through it, he has gleaned a deeper understanding of Singapore’s border security, which involves not just enforcement but also facilitating trade and safe travels.

The work is ever-evolving, said Shthesd, as he notes that technology has also played an increasingly important role in the job.

“The transformative journey of ICA is something exciting to be part of, as the initiatives directly impact the public,” said Shthesd.

While Shthesd was initially deployed to perform immigration duties at Woodlands Checkpoint, he was eventually offered a job rotation into the Woodlands Operations Team.

It is a testament to his potential, in the eyes of his superiors.

In the past two years, Shthesd has been involved in providing solutions to smoothen checkpoint processes, onboarding as a senior assistant executive. 

The work he has done has been impactful as well. 

With the new rotation, Shthesd has been exposed to other areas of work in his department, such as analysing and presenting data behind each new implementation.

“Being involved in such projects gave me exposure (to higher-level decision-making processes). And it has taught me how to properly plan and execute a project within ICA.”

Looking back at his journey in ICA so far, Shthesd is grateful whenever he is sent for courses by ICA, on topics such as systems thinking and systems analysis.

For Shthesd, this signifies the department’s interest in his development to become a better officer.

Advice for those keen on a career in ICA

Shthesd assures those who are considering joining the ICA or the Home Team need not be worried about being pigeonholed in terms of their career.

Even though the Home Team may be deemed as frontline officers, there are still plenty of units within the departments that involve finance, logistics, technology to name a few. 

One skill in particular, which he is thankful to have picked up, is that of stakeholder management – a key leadership capability.

“I’ve learned that what I say doesn’t just affect me but also reflects on the team,” said Shthesd, who has learned to be more considerate and meticulous in his work.

Shthesd is also glad for like-minded teammates whom he gets along with and who are always ready to chip in to help ease the workload of others.

And his learning journey hasn’t stopped there. 

Shthesd has been inspired to pick up the books once again, by pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in information technology offered by the National University of Singapore. 

The part-time degree course is also sponsored by the Home Team.

“One of the reasons why I chose to join the Home Team was because there were endless opportunities for serving officers to upskill themselves.”

For Shthesd, he has always had the intention to pursue his undergraduate studies with ICA from the day he joined.

While it can be tough, Shthesd is grateful for his family and supervisors who are very supportive of him. 

Shthesd acknowledges that achieving his dream of earning a degree might have been less feasible had he taken a different route in life. 

He is also in a position where he’s able to go on overseas travels with his wife and help cover some of his mum’s living expenses.

“At the end of the day, (supporting my family) was what I was trying to achieve for the past 10 years,” said Shthesd.

Applications for the MHA Home Team Diploma Sponsorship will open in Oct. 2024. 

Find out more about the sponsorship and/or scholarship programmes here. 

*Quotes edited for clarity. 

This is a sponsored article by ICA. 

Top photo via ICA.