Note for Retrenched PMETs – Learn Self Reliance
Written by: Gilbert Goh
I find that it is timely PMETs be resourceful and creative to find their own employment. The government can only do so much and we need to take charge of our own situation here. This may sound harsh but the reality is that we can’t wholly depend on the government to provide us jobs. The best that we can do is just to tap on them for their retraining courses and motivational workshops.
I know that e2i provides a one-day executive professional workshop that aspires alot of participants. Many have reported that they felt recharged after attending the session. I also know Helen of Silver Spring and she is a top notch motivational trainer for one of the workshops there. Though she is 63 years old, she works tirelessly and have being an isnpiration to me to carry on my volunteering work here.
It is a fact now in this turbulent economic time that one can get retrenched easily. A friend I knew was retrenched three times in a span of a 10-year-old career and decided to do his own business. In a way, he is the master of his destiny now and he can’t go out of job unless he refuses to carry on his business activities.
Though his business is small, he gets by but more importantly he is his own boss and he is on top of his situation even though there is a looming recession. He can never fire himself unless he has never try hard enough in his business. His income has no limit though on the flip side, he may not have any income at all when he is down. He is thus the one who will decide his own pay check.
Being in the insurance sales business before for 5 years, I found that when you are on your own, you tend to be more resourceful and self reliant. There is also the creativity to bring home that next pay check as you have no one to depend on but yourself. The income also has no limit but of course they are days that I make zero income for a bad month. The same can be said for property agents who depend on their marketing and sales skills to survive.
My survival skills geared from the insurance sales business allowed me to stay nimble during this trying period and now I am a teacher with a private school. As the contract is very short term ranging from 3 to 6 months at a stretch, I have to constantly search out new contracts fromother sources. Networking took on a more important role for me as I depend on their referrals to land that next teaching contract.
Though working for others may be stable and safe, during this down period, I realise that no job is reliable. Bosses retrench staff to cut bottomline and the wait could be anytime between six to nine months to land that next job. Some even wait for a year or longer if age and experiences are against him.
I am not advocating that all of us should switch to business to make ends meet. Some may not have the stomach for volitality as income fluctuates like the waves in the sea. Nevertheless, in this down time and without a job available anytime soon, it may be good to consider what you can do to start a business. Anything that does not pay you an income is a business to me. Your pay check is determined by how hard you work.
Weigh and consider what are your expertise and strength. If you can teach and like to impart knowledge, you can try to apply with the many private schools here to try out teaching. Though the contract is short term, at least you have an income for that period. If you teach for at least 5 to 6 hours daily, an income of more than $3000 is not unachievable.
If you are good in sales and marketing, you can take up proeprty or insurance sales which reward people who are hardworking and enterprising. I have friends who bring home more than $10,000 a month depending on their sales and networking abilities.
The key here is not to sit at home and lament over your situation but to explore all ways to stay on top of your situation. There is no loss to you if you try out certain careers here that you may not have done if you are gamefully employed. Anyway, staying unemployed at home is also unhealthy for the mind if it is for a prolonged period
Do take some calculated risks in life especially in this down time. There is no gain without any risk first.
Carve out your own pie for survival. Who knows, you may be the next millionaire once you take the plunge.
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