What if you could change careers without ever quitting?

Every few years, Marine Generalists at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have the opportunity to rotate across ten different agencies, ranging from policy to operations to strategic communications, all while remaining employed by the same organisation. At 36 years old, Yuslina Abdul Aziz reflects on her career as though she had just begun a new job every time she transitions into a new posting.

She has spent time in communications, policy, and international relations at the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and at MHA Headquarters. This rotating system has given her a fresh perspective each time, making every few years feel like the start of a new job. Her family is unaware that she has taken on different roles within the same organisation for the past 13 years.

Yuslina began her career in the Communications Division at CNB, one of the Home Team departments under MHA. Today, she serves as an assistant director in the International Organisations and Security Directorate within the Home Affairs ministry's International Cooperation and Partnerships Division. Each rotation broadens her understanding of the Home Team and allows her to develop new skills and take on fresh responsibilities.

Unlike many people who may assume she has been in the same role for 13 years, Yuslina's career path is made possible by the MHA's Civilian Generalist track. She chose this path because it offered flexibility and the chance to try various roles early in her career. What sets the Generalist track apart is that it does not require a specific degree or background – what matters is one's ability to think, write, analyze, and communicate effectively.

Yuslina's sociology degree has been particularly useful, as it has taught her to consider different viewpoints and understand how policies impact various groups. Her work on private security industry policies involved engaging a wide range of stakeholders, all with differing perspectives, and she learned to balance their needs and priorities.

In her current role, she works on financial crime matters and collaborates with professionals from various backgrounds, including legal and finance. This inter-agency experience has allowed her to gain a broader perspective and continuously hone her skills, never feeling stagnant. Each rotation brings new challenges and perspectives, giving Yuslina a sense of purpose and excitement, even after more than a decade with MHA.

Her supervisors, who are also her friends, serve as mentors, both at work and in life. The strong, consistent culture at MHA and the Home Team ensures that Yuslina feels comfortable transitioning between agencies, experiencing a fresh new job each time without the awkwardness of being entirely new to the organization.