Hi Gilbert,
Thank you for the e-book. Just a bit on my background.
I graduated from NTU in 2008 with a second class lower in material science and engineering and was very active in school activity.
I started working in a MNC as a contract worker and later a permanent staff till I was retrenched in mid-2011.
Joined a start-up in hope of making it big immediately after retrenchment.
But business was deemed not viable and making losses after one year.
During my one month notice period given by the company, I went to serve NS – my eighth reservist cycle.
I had an interview at MOE to be a teacher immediately after my reservist duty and I thought I had a good chance to be a teacher.
It has been 45 days since I worked and I noticed changes in myself – changes that are not good to me and everyone around.
Getting a little depressed over the lack of interviews despite the amount of applications I sent out.
Becoming more moody and at the lowest point was the rejection from MOE to be a teacher three weeks after the interview.
I realise I am going to have to do something/anything to break the rut and I saw your name and website pop up several time at EDMW.
Finance wise, I have enough reserve to get through at least for one more year but emotionally I dont’ know really.
Its difficult to manage thsoe negative thoughts that assaulted the mind daily when you are jobless.
I am sorry that I am unable to go for the networking session today. I guess I can’t face up to the rest of the participants yet.
For a better tomorrow.
PS: Please hide my name and email iaddress f you are going to use any of the information above.
Sincerely,
Darren
Editor’s Note: We could not speak with the writer personally and can only request that he be positive and forward looking in all that he does. Unemployment can be destabilising and demoralising, seek support before you reach the end of the rope. We are here for you and you don’t have to walk this path alone by yourself.
Many people have been rejected by MOE many times before. Many people have also been in worse times than you. The first rejection is usually the hardest, but after a few more times, you will get immune to it. Life is tough all along for most of us. Treat it as a blessing in disguise.
You are feeling depressed because you have painted a very beautiful picture of your future. However, in reality, life is getting tougher as there are more FTs coming to Singapore and competing directly with you.
Teaching is not as good as you think. I did relief teaching a few years ago. The students nowadays are really mischevious and disrespectful. Even their parents are a headache.
The worst thing is that the P or VP will blame the teacher for students’ bad results or poor behaviour. The teacher is just the scapegoat for not putting the school in a higher ranking. Many teachers will inevitably feel disheartened after teaching for awhile no matter how dedicated they could be.
Nevertheless, I respected my teachers even more after that experience. Many students just don’t know the hard work of teachers. All they know is play.
The biggest mistake he made was to join the start up and waste 1 year there. Many employers will now view him as unemployed for more than a years since they will not take into account his experience there.
As many will know, it is not easy for someone unemployed for more than 6 months to get re-employed by big companies. Public sector also dont want to take him in as they consider him not committed and applying only out of desperation.
Darren, firstly face up to your situation ! The key is to keep yourself occupied by immediately taking up a sales or F&B job. Never mind if it’s not related to your work but at least it keeps you occupied mentally and physically. This is very important for the state of your mind
I know you don’t need the money. These are not ‘loose face’ jobs. Remember you do not live for your friends but you live for yourself. You will be surprised that a part time job may lead to something. Like I said you need to get out of the house, stop sitting behind the computer and FEEL ALIVE.
I look forward to read about your experience after you start doing something meaningful.
Cheers
Charmer
We only know that Darren graduated from NTU 2008 with a second class lower in material science and engineering. But what is he working as in the MNC & the start-up? My guess is the companies are also engineering firms.
If Darren is still keen in engineering field, he should try to look for another engineering job. It would be best if he can find a engineering PME position but he may have to take up a non-PME position if necessary. Don’t go take up any sales or F&B job just to keep occupied. That might spoilt his CV record. The nexttime when he went for interview, the interviewers will have doubts in whether is Darren still suitable for engineering job as he has move away from engineering to join sales or F&B sectors.
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Engineering in Spore is in bad situation..but consider working in other cities that need your skills…..get out from your comfort zone in Spore, sometimes a change is good in someone life..give it a try, with the budget airline its very easy to fly in/out from Spore….goodluck
It always hurts and sadden me to see our young having no jobs or struggling to find jobs in their birth land.Our govt had failed greatly in its duty to protect its citizens’ basic livelihoods.
MOM and e2i should immediately work together a nationalised government employment agency like in 1970 Ministry of Manpower Employment Agency registering all its jobless citizens (Sg 1st)and match to a job.Setting up our nationalised job agency ensure its true blue citizens are not deprived,displaced and disadvantaged in its land.
Current e2i function is shallow,it organised recruitment fairs but did not follow through and most jobless are left dishearten.Private employment agencies are worst you may keep sending resume but negative response-age discrimation?
I would like to see all govt/stat board contract/sub contract jobs retract from pte employment agencies and be given as full time job to our jobless citizens.All our young be it ite,n or o standard are all capable workforce in our land,so dont throw our young chances away and make them disillusion in their own homeland.
I am always thankful that gilbet and all our Sg citizens are fighting for our Sg rights-no country disparage its own citizens.
There are many young Singaporeans like Darren being jobless or underemployed out there. There are also many old Singaporeans who are in their 40s – 60s being jobless or under-employed out there too.
There will more Singaporeans being jobless or under-employed in the future as nowadays more youths or middle aged Singaporeans are taking up diploma/degree courses, and later find themselves in a dire situation in finding suitable jobs in accord to what they have studied & their past working experience.
Many graduates in Europe, PRC, ROC, USA, Japan, Korea, Middle East, Philippines & India etc are jobless. For survival, many are working as hawkers, waiters, security guards, supermarket assistants, cab drivers or other laborious jobs. You don’t need a diploma or degree for these jobs. So all the money & time they invested in those dip/deg courses are more or less gone to waste. This is actually happening now here in Singapore.
You got to be kidding me. Just 45 days without a job and you are already depressed. Grow up kid. How to face life’s challenges with a weak mind like yours?
Searching for a job & waiting for a reply could be a frustrating & depressing thing. You will start wondering when will all these stop.
So? This is part and parcel of life.
When is the last time you are out of job? For how long?
How many interviews have you attended before you are landed with a job?
Jobless & feel depressed over either 45days or 90days or more, the feeling is still lousy. There is no competition over who can withstand longer jobless period & still strong minded.
This sort of defeatist attitude is what will turn employers off. They can sense it a mile away. I wouldn’t want to hire someone who turn depressed at the first sign of trouble.
There is also no competition here to see who wallow in the most sorrow.
We need to teach our kids to be mentally strong with the current situations. Especially in schools, its not about As or no #1 but to bounce back from failure and also the life skills. Most of Sporean kids grow up with maid and money from parents compared to those kids from India, china or phillipines.
WDA, CDC and e2i will be telling him to become taxi driver. Can earn $7K monthly, according to the PAP’s propaganda machine Straits Times. The hidden message is that PAPies are governing SG so well that even taxi drivers are earning managerial salary.
Unfortunately, SPH and the ST reporter and editors never cover their asses tight enough. The story was a bullshit fairy-tale to give people the impression that it is easy to earn good money in S’pore.
The taxi man has clarified that he doesn’t really earn $7K monthly. So it was a mis-representation by ST.
http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/10/31/cabby-i-dont-make-7k-every-month/
Working 14hrs/day 6days/week..and earning $7k/month..do you think this is worklife balance. Do these guys have a life…therss 24 hrs in a day, 8hrs work/ 8hrs rest n play/ 8hrs sleep. Theres no cpf, no leave, n when you grow old your money will end up paying for hospital bills due to work hazard driving a taxi. Why cant a taxi driver in Spore drive same as other cities?…to earn decently n lead comfortable life.
@Tim
Are you a hound dog?
It’s not abnormal for one to turn depressed at the first sign of trouble. Who likes trouble? Many showed great self confidence during interviews. Many also said they can withstand stress & handle problems in work. You really believe them?
Tim, if you don’t like to know about other’s sorrow stories. Then why are you here?
It is a matter of outlook to life. You prefer to indulge in depression and self pity, and I prefer not to. The way I see it, it is certainly not normal and healthy to be depressed just because he is jobless for 45 days and faced a few rejections.
There is no need to turn personal here because I don’t share your negativity.
Since it’s matter of outlook of life then what rights do you have to lookdown on others for feeling depressed over rejections & jobless?
I say it as I see it. How would mollycoddling someone help?
Too bad the truth hurts for you, but don’t expect me to sugar coat it for you.
Mollycoddling what & who?
You said it as you see it but you didn’t use your brain.
Poor Darren lost 2 jobs within 4yrs & he could still be paying his studyloan. How would he not felt worried & depressed?
I don’t need you to sugar coat anything for me.
By the way, you still haven’t disclose the company’s name and biz registration number which hire the China national as a plasterer & paying him $10k a month. Pls tell us the truth on this matter.
Fact is all the major electronic firms are retrenching. I have been retrenched twice before, but luckily have managed to find jobs of equivalent or better salary through contacts n job agencies, both times within 3months. As someone who is used to working, I agree it is hard not to feel depressed n a loss of identity once we lose our jobs. Just make sure that you get in touch with your contacts, hound your agents, n also look through job ads whether on papers or online. Sending out at least 1 cv a day will keep u occupied n yr hopes up. In the mean time, go for gym, spend time with family, and enjoy a few gd shows. As a graduate, u shd be able to give tuition. For moe interviews, I failed the interview once, but passed on subsequent tries. What the panel is looking for is your interest n passion in teaching. Justify why u r qualified to teach, show examples of yr achievement through teaching (eg. Like tutoring a kid, n grades go from f to b as an example), show that u like kids, n keen to add value to the kids. There is a constant shortage of teachers, so if u try again in 3 to 6 mths again, u might get another interview. However, be wary of the bond. Moe counts even those who fail practicum as breaking a bond. As someone making a mid career switch, yr bond may be are 70 or 80k…sign the bond with your eyes wide open pls
Hang in there… I interviewed 4 times on 4 separate occasions for the same job then got employed. In any case, it is normal to get moody but do persevere. Only the tough survive here in Singapore.
‘Bad.Companies.Collection.Sg.Failures’ in Facebook! 1st created in Singapore! No more quiet for Bad Companies! Click ‘Like’ if you’re not well-fed! Else, stop complaining!
https://www.facebook.com/Bad.Companies.Collection.Sg.Failures
The Spore world….”The strongest survive”. Mentally you need to be strong in Spore, especially from the day you are born. Life is about competition…your sibling,relative,neighbour,classmate,schoolmate,colleague,inlaw….until you die the coffin,cemetery
referring specifically to taxi driving vocation. i am given to understand many managers have one as a “just-in-case” emergency. at least there is some money, not zero.
be positive, i can’t emphasise this enough. any temp or short term job which can help cover some expenses should be looked at. is being a taxi driver that bad? comfortdelgro pays for bulk of costs to get taxi vocational licence. just look up their website, and check websites for other taxi companies also. it’s a survival skill.
u never know, driving people around is also an avenue for networking. maybe some of your passengers may turn out to be helpful in getting a job, whether with their companies or others? if u land a sales job, your knowledge of roads (from taxi driving) will be very useful if u need to move around meeting clients.
another suggestion: work at McDonalds. Yes, i know some people will look down on it. I myself was a NTU grad and I have ever considered working at Mcs. Why? To learn their management system! Macs has a well established global business model. everywhere u go, u can see Macs. U order a Big Mac at any Macs restaurant around the world, u know exactly what to expect. No surprises. No wonder some people find it a comfort food.
anyone who has worked in a company with business outside of Singapore will know how difficult it is to ensure consistency and quality. McDonalds’ is able to replicate their success globally. How did they do that? Now this is valuable knowledge! I quoted McDonalds but one can also join KFC. Plus Mcs, and most fastfood restaurant chains actually, do sponsor their staff for further studies or learning at their own campus.
there is a saying “Knowledge is power.” Indeed! you’re still young, can still afford to take some risks, this is an advantage which older people with family to support will find difficult to match. This is your advantage, if you don’t realise.
keep your head up. it’s not the end of the world. Open your mind to possibilities. Be positive but not in a “hope will strike lottery way.” Whatever job u do is a opportunity for learning, see the positives in all possible jobs which you can do; don’t see it as “this is beneath me”, or “this is going nowhere.” not being employed IS really going nowhere.
let me recount this MIT admission exercise which I read in the straits times many years ago. note that MIT applicants are all top SATS scorers/ straight A students so MIT can afford to be very picky about who they admit.
One applicant was rejected on his first attempt. undeterred, he performed magic on the streets while waiting to try again the following year. he got in on his second attempt. Why? A panelist on the MIT admission board told this to the reporter: someone who can earn a living by performing magic for a year must have a special drive which would make for an interesting addition to the MIT family and alumni.
there will be detractors who will scorn at what i wrote above and say “but this is not US, this is Singapore, unadventurous, kiasu, kiasi etc.”. I can only repeat this: be positive about your work opportunities and examine carefully what you can learn. Scour Singapore SMEs for job openings; SMEs typically advertise through recruiting firms which in turn utilise job portals like jobstreet.com.sg, or ST Jobs.
the next job you do may not be what you truly want but it should have the potential to lead u somewhere. where this leads depends on you. Life has set backs, even if u got a cushy MNC job does not mean u get to realise your dream career. take this to learn life lessons and emerge stronger for it.
I started applying for jobs myself at the start of my final semester in 2003. remember that 2000 has dot.com bust which affected global economy, 2001 had Sep 11 attacks and 2002-2003 had SARS. it was at least as bad a time to be a fresh grad as it is now. and i do not have a 2nd Upper or 1st Class Hons.
after graduation in June i spent another 4 months job hunting before i got an offer. and get this, the offer did not come from any of the companies I applied, but through a stranger (to me) who was a friend of my friend.
i would say my sharing above is borne out of my own experience and not some woolly “textbook” advice.
i would also like to add that singapore being a small country, our economy needs to be open and competition will come whether foreigners land on our shores or not. perhaps we have heard this too many times and does not realise the implications of a small country.
i can only say, take out a world map, any scale and look for Singapore. it’s such a tiny dot. how many tiny dot countries are there in the world which can reach our level of development now? how did we achieve this? the answer in short is we created a business environment which is the closest to textbook ideal. negligible corruption, efficiency, etc. yes, some of us may feel that things are not as good as before BUT remember that things here are still better than many other places. we must remember “good/bad” is always a relative comparison, never objective.
in creating this “ideal textbook” environment, many of us are not conditioned to how business affairs are conducted outside of Singapore. remember our small size, and one can conclude that the “Singapore” way of doing things, compared with the rest of the world, is NOT the norm. Globally, it IS the norm to offer/accept bribes, to cajole politicians to grant special favours, to have poor infrastructure, to have govt flip-flopping over decisions and policies, to have unfair playing field and so on.
to survive and flourish, we need to be aware of these things and gear ourselves up to meet these challenges, because people all over the world are present in Singapore and they find it much easier to work here than us, plus they have advantage of experiencing the “unfair” systems outside of Singapore. if these people can succeed elsewhere, they definitely have higher chances of success in Singapore because it is relatively an “easy” environment. But Singaporeans, if we are successful locally, does not put us at any advantage to succeed overseas where the environment is tougher.
we need to prove that we are just as hardy and robust as people from other countries.
How i envy the citizens living in Bhutan, San Marino. They survived and flourished not by GDP growth but by their simple lifestyles & happiness index. These are what we are lack of.