It is such a pain trying to find a job now. Well it has always been a pain all this while but the current economic slump has just thrown a spanner in the works. For as far as I am concerned, i have been regularly working since i commenced my tertiary education, hunkering down for summer jobs whenever holidays hit me. Working when my peers are often dropping a gear or two, having a siesta of sorts. Not that i minded it actually. I do find the thought of transforming into a couch potato rather revolting though hence i rather subject myself to the grind of resume spamming and job seeking each time semester breaks arrive.
Now people who are familiar with finding jobs on a temporary basis or working part time would have long known that it is the norm to be paid by the hour. Sadly, modern Singapore lacks the implementation of a minimum wage law, a situation which i interpret loosely as easy grounds for employers to exploit employees. I am sure you know what is my opinion of the Singapore labour market now. First World living standards, Third World wages. What a joke, hahaha. I have friends who are easily earning 20 bucks/quids by the hour and they were nearly tearing their ears off in exasperation when i told them that i was harvesting dollars, 6 or 8 (if i was lucky) by the hour for my job assignment.
If the remuneration is that absymal, why do i still bother looking then? Frankly, it is more of a matter of choice rather than necessity. But i have always prided myself on having worked in a variety of job assignments in some of the most far flung places in Singapore. This is something which many of my still school going peers cannot compare. I learn more than my remuneration expect you to believe. Money wise, tuition is almost always a better deal so a temporary job is simply supplementary. More paramount is my concern that i should remain productive even in holidays. I believe that a person need a sense of purpose in life all the time, even in holidays.
Lets take a look at the job assignments that i have undertaken since i left Army.
I have worked as a Customer Service Officer in Sim Lim Square, taking care of RMA matters. The second one that followed up is the position of HR Assistant which was in no man's land, Loyang. These 2 jobs were done in the period preceding my departure from the Army while University was pending. Then my first winter holiday job was as a Mailroom operative in Shenton Way. The following summer holidays, i cameo-ed as a Adminstrative executive in dingy Pulau Bukom. This job assignment had the dubious need for me to train, walk and take a ferry just to get to work and vice versa.
My most recent winter holiday assignment involved me working as a Chauffeur which was quite fun. I nearly did forget to mention that all these while, i have been working as a tuition teacher and also moonlighting as a service staff in a coffeehouse. Of the latter, I never did expect it but i ended up working there for nearly 2 years. Working in the F&B industry was something i never thought i would have done in the past but after this stint, my outlook in life and perspectives took a radical change, shaping to what is me today.
Well well... But i did most enjoy being a tuition teacher thus far. I am most certainly opposed to considering a career in teaching but I do like tutoring. It forces me to refine my thinking process, condense my thoughts and be quick in thinking. I have almost certainly been shaped by the course of working a tutor to better sharpen my speaking skills. All those twisting and turnings and verbal joustings is becoming familiar fair grounds, something i oddly recount as being relishing. I somewhat have always been patronising in speaking particularly, prone to going at lengths in my elaboration and whats not. Indeed some have described me as a lawyer or a tuition teacher in their oratorical encounters with me. Amusing.
Now, if you happen to be in HR and you are kind enough to offer me a summer job or something, do drop me an email at
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