Job security, solid rice bowl??


Why look at job security.

You should be positive and look at job freedom..

Most important is yourself - make yourself relevant and not obsolete .. then you can move if there is a need to and not hold on to a iron rice bowl that may turn rusty
 
lots of my peers love JOB SECURITY even if it means low pay. They rather start at some low wages job (w/o much benefits, low ceiling, no specialization) thus they will be easily be reduntant when they retire. They stuck with their job

An ideal job = low starting wages its okay. But must have the ceiling for me to climb, experience and knowledge acquired are good in the future job(s) but also i must have job freedom and since its special i guess it wont be made obsolete in years to come.

- my ideal job, DOC , lawyers and accountants.
but need to constant upgrade and upgrade if not you will be CMI.

I guess i have a big tummy. An iron rice bowl can be small. too small to fill my stomach.
 
since we know tat Top lawyers, docs, architects, engineers, surveyors, consultants, agents are So in-demand that they have a long waiting list or are in positions to reject clients/biz...

wouldn't Being Amongst The Best... be the best form of security? u can carry it with u from company to company and even start your own biz with it. u will always be in-demand, no need to be worried here and there. financially u'll also be very strong.

in any case, it's a misconception that job security lies in the company or job. it actually lies in Ourselves.
 
Teachers
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Teachers also have to keep on upgrading and learn more stuffs in order to survive. If not might be laid off. My wife is a lecturer and her school actually laid off colleagues from other department due to age and downsizing.

If you do not have what they requires, then bye bye for you liao. Why should I keep someone who is drawing this much due to he/she is in the company for so many years ler than hiring someone fresh who is willing to settle for lower pay and provide even more?

Just like eating ba chor mee... we go to the stall that cooks the better ba chor mee than the one that has been around for the longest time.
 
Hmm... my share... Just happen to know couple of friends who sign on NS regular at their prime age didnt have much experience in the real world have to start all over again.
Imagine at the age of 33 with only diploma, 1 car 2 kids, 1 hdb flat and worst wife not working.. OMG..
Of course not the end of the world, but have to work for money and not family.
 
sorry to disappoint those who say TEACHERS.

now, teachers has the A, B, C, D and E grade.
if a teacher gets E, then will be monitored closely for about near to 2 years.
if still doesn't seem to 'buck up' as what the school feels, then will be asked to quit the job.
 
my friend business is fried carrot cakes. He got himself a degree but he choose to venture into FOOD industry and he is earning a decent salary. more than 7k. and with proper planning, he manage to save up to quite a sum. and within 3 years he got himself a CGU cash generating unit - condo to generate rental income. This is wonderful. With one financial tool helping him to earn more..now he is going for the 2nd property.
 
I think we shld all quit our jobs and venture into the food industry... haha >7k? i wonder when i can reach that lvl
 
the only thing tat's keeping anyone from >7k... is themselves.

start by exploring the way WE Think... let's just use nOsey's sentence to represent a typical comment. u know, in that 1 sentence i can find a few reasons why the sayer can't see that level yet.

1."I think we shld all quit our jobs"
- we live in ignorance that >7k is something uncommon. we also forget tat some pple here actually make more than that. much more. but becos we dun know, we think it's not possible... thus not within our realm.

2."venture into the food industry"
- Locals love 'security'. tat's why pple will venture into businesses only when they see the businesses Do Well. before that they will adopt a wait and see, after that they will copy and more and more copies will open... until the whole darn thing fails. pple dun realise tat success is not simply built on Industry, but the vision of individuals.

3. "haha" - we want something. but we immediately cover our backside and prevent ourselves from losing face by laughing things off. by pretending we dun want it. by pretending it's a light moment. when Actually - we'd REALLY Want It. we seldom admit things to ourselves and challenge ourselves to push beyond. we stick to security of Not-Failing, Not-Starving, Not-Losing Face. that's what security means to a majority of pple... something they can Dun put effort, yet reap rewards.

4. "i wonder when i can reach that lvl"
- wondering, hoping, wishing... are thoughts tat DO NOT encourage action. 7k is not difficult to achieve at all... especially in spore. Once we go beyond mere wondering, hoping, wishing... And we go into exploring, researching, checking... we will find the answers smiling at us.

So really, how many pple are actually Gamed to Win... or Primed to 'Not Lose'
 
Job security is now the main priority for everyone. Look at US now, there are so many people jobless and do you think they care for job freedom now? I guess they will take on any job thats available.
 
Harlow, the rate is 6.1%... besides tat's the USA. why not u look at ethiopia and live on eating potatoes once a day?

job security is a main priority for pple who dun know wat they're worth. if u're a Top consultant, will u just go for any job tat pays the bills?
 
I am in the teaching profession myself. I see colleagues who have been here for donkey years who cannot teach to save their life and are still here.

Not iron rice bowl, then what?
 
it's a paper plate to me, definitely not an iron rice bowl.

an iron rice bowl isn't just about stability, it's abt a Stable Good Pay... it's now just a Stable Pay, the 'Good' is gone liao. in the old days u can call teaching tat cos the pay is good and it is stable. in the current climate, i dun think the pay is having the same worth as the past.

anyway, holding on to a job u're not good at and getting paid is a lie tat will be exposed one day... so wat kind of security is that? btw, u dun need to be able to teach to be a teacher. it's just 'good if a teacher can teach'.

on tat same token, the army doesn't have alot of proven fighting soldiers, does it? there are alot of pple who are not good at what they are doing but doing something they supposed to be good at. And who hires? the not-so-good HR who has their own agenda.
 
> 7k is good and decent but is it a lot? Come on. Its really not so much.

When u r drawing 100k package, u would be targetting for 200k. Its never enough one.
 
I have to say, i thought there was job security. But there is no such thing. All it takes is a reshuffling, a new manager that does not like you and you are out of the door.
Re establish your contacts, get your networks back and always go for interviews as practice.
I was in the same co for 5 years, with a decent pay. Yet i was asked to go. Took me close to two months to get a new job.
 
Hi, Paul

Which industry and line you are in? 2 months to find a job is not so bad, I have people your age looking for more than half a year although the job market is quite good now. So do you take a pay cut or better salary?
 
Hi nichie, I was lucky so to speak, in the IT industry, marketing.
The pay was better, not what the 35% i was looking for but decent.
Going to settle down and work hard at this job, it is when you loose a job, that one wakes up and realises that what you have is quite valuable
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Paul has a gd point. Its hard to have job security cos things change w time. U may have a gd boss who is willing to share his knowledge n appraises his staff fairly. U may like ur job scope n have friendly colleagues. But ur job scope can change. Ur colleagues will leave. Ur boss will be transferred to another dept or poached to a rival company. Then the whole dynamics of the team will change. Nothing is 4eva in the world.

Powder: I like ur point. Though I sometimes find u a tad too direct for my taste, but I like ur straight-forwardness. In a way, u remind me abit of LKY but w less diplomacy. =>

My dream job is to join the prisons service cos its been my passion since i was 12yrs old i think. But the time isnt right yet or maybe its just not meant to be. I nva stopped believing or applying in the last 8yrs but no luck. Next best option is to relax n stay home, do freelance work or have a small homebased biz. If i have the funds, I wld think of opening a kindergarden, hire gd staff to work for me while I spend my time meeting frens n doing volunteer work. But no funds, so not gona happen in the near future.
 
there's no such thing as job security in 21st century and beyond. Make sure you have transferable skills and stay employable. Transferable skills is what's going to make u flexible.

I have moved from logistic -> IT -> business controlling within 6 years.

If you grow and maintain your transferable skills, u will find something.
 
Stanzza: How do u go from logistics to IT to biz controlling? Arent they very different industries? Unless u are saying ur job relevance is the same, as in IT or HR but just tat u change industry?
 
yes. They r quite different.

I do many IT projects, co-ordinating from the biz side while i was in logistic. That's how i ended up in IT.

I was doing sap finance in IT. so after sometime I got into biz controlling.

I switched functions.
 
evon,

i dun cater to your taste, just as your company doesn't cater to your whims n fancies... it's how u adapt and re-align yourself to the world and your wor environment. u know wat i mean?

ya i know very direct, my approach is very 'In-Your-Face'... there's no diplomacy required in this becos life isn't diplomatic at all... i've learnt many things the hard way, and for me to filter out the harshness - is for me to lie and cushion pple before they've even tasted any hardships.

the reality u r gonna face is far greater than harsh words on this forum... to have lived your life and realize nothing came about and your best asset (youth) is now your worst enemy (age) is something that isn't gonna come diplomatically.

i hope everyone lives the happiest fullest life they can.
 
Ever since SAF (mindef) revised their salary scheme from my time in year 2000, I think no more so-called iron bowl liao. Same goes to the Japanese companies.

I always believe contacts (关系) are very important, even if you being treated to "a plate of fried cuttlefish", others maybe ready to receive you at the other end.
 
pension scheme was still offered for some positions within SAF. I was invited for some classified position back in 2003 and I had successfully cleared 3 interviews with the last one done in Mindef. According to them, it was down to last 3 of 4. I wasn't selected. The reason was not made known to me. Which I suspect has to do with my family history.

Had I been successful, I would be waiting for my pension at the end of the contract.
 
Bro Milo, I don't think is pension scheme, as pension scheme is already been removed and replaced by SAVER scheme in Apr 1998.
 
agree with Roft, contacts very impt... not the hi-bye groupie but real solid networking types... it is hard to imagine quitting and then there's just a blank.

when u work, u should always network, when u quit, u should Always have offers regardless of pay-package... pple should wanna take u into their team/company... that will be our testament to our employability.
 
Something to ponder about changing jobs, except for those special circumstances like sudden retrenchment or dismissal due to violating of company regulations etc...

Do you think you should secure a job first before you quit your current job? Or take a break while finding looking for one?

Below is a case study for you to read on.

He sent 100 applications, but can't find a job
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/news/news/460738/Degree_holder_can_t_find_job_after_sending_out_100_applications.html

Regards.
 
Few points.

1. It is always better to have a job in hand. Helps in negotiation for better package. Also u never know when u'll get the job.

2. Unfortunately, this is now an era where as a young fresh grad, you'll have high difficulty in finding an entry level job. There's totally no bargaining power. Young fresh grad should abandon their fantasy that they r gg to land a cosy job upon graduation.

3. If you have a harvard tier degree. Great. If you have good university degree like NUS, good. If you have other tier, then it would be much tougher.

4. At age 41, ppl are not interested in knowing what you can learn or whether you will learn. They are more interested to know what you can contribute. Unfortunately, company does not recognise all work exp attain before your degree as it is a different ball game.

5. $3000/mth starting pay is way to high for a fresh IT degree grad.

6. Soft skill, intelligence and good attitude is most important for a fresh grad. Fresh grad should be humble as they have NO PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.

7. IT is a v skill based industry. Tougher for fresh ppl.
 
I think this guy fall into the trap, just like many youngster these days, thinking that jobs would come knocking on their doors upon graduation. It simply doesn't happen anymore unless u have at least 3 solid years of professional exp/skill.

Always hold on current job unless u have good experience (3years minimum) of in demand professional skills.

That would be how I see it.
 
Powder: U are not v old. Dun make it sound as though u no longer have ur youth. Plus u are a guy, so ur 'shelf life' is longer. I think guy's prime age is 35-45. Gals much tougher i feel.

Stanzaa: Good points. U are realistically right in ur points. For some, its luck, opportunity n family biz. But for most of us, its really starting out from the bottom. Some may work super hard but ur boss doesnt recognize ur efforts n favouritize others n promote them to ur surprise, then u mite think abt leaving since no future. Others slack slack but got special yuan fen w boss, so they do well in the company n refuse to leave cos cant survive elsewhere.

I've been asking myself a qn recently after hearing about a fren's death. We work everyday for $ to bring back home to support our family n pay bills. But is there a meaning in work? Maybe sometimes we shd take a plunge n go into smthg we are passionate or comf w, struggle abit b4 succeeding finally n even if we were to die, we wldnt feel like we wasted so much time being unhapi or stressed over work. Dun know, just thinking. (Dun mean to dampen anyone's mood ok)
 
Basically Mr Zeng's experience will be zero if he is using his degree to apply for jobs. It will be very challenging to compete with young local grads and foreign talents for the same job. Being a computer technician, he should have set up a computer repair shop rather than "investing 6.5 years to get his degree from a private university in Singapore."

I think he pretty screwed himself up by studying 6.5 years for his degree.

Quitting his former job while looking for one is also one of his mistake.

My pov.
 
Hi evon, this is one of my successful frd with nose cancer, who is married with kids, told me this. "You can earn tons of $$$, seeing lotsa of zeros in your bank account and your portfolio. But if you don't enjoy life before you are dead, your $$$ won't follow you. Your $$$ will be passed down to your surviving members. and so forth."

What I'm trying to say is to enjoy and treasure yourself meaningfully, money means nothing if you don't use them. Don't regret not using money if required, to do something that you ever wanted.

I think that's make sense, even though I do not have many zeros in my account, but I will make sure that I will fulfill some meaningful tasks every year that I can be happy about doing it without any regrets.
 
His assumption that he can leverage on a private degree to justify a higher pay backs fire. In fact, it demostrates how out of touch he is about the market. He would be better off getting Microsoft Professional certification if he is serious about technical line in IT. Such recognition would probably allow him to pursue a career in server or IT support.
 
Well folks, i got advanced warning that i need to resign sometime in May.
But one of my senior, told me not to worry, as he is making a recommendation for me and I just need to stay put and relax.
Well the weeks rolled past and past, and it was already end September and still no news.
So if i had just been complacent, i would have been bankrupt soon. Yes my financial position sucks.
In the interim, i interviewed with 4 companies.
#1 Passed 2 waiting for final.
#2 Passed 1 round, shortlisted Salary asking too high.
#3 I signed and going to start work soon phew phew.
#4 still waiting for that.....
My mistake was that being being so comfortable in the present company and was convinced that i had a good pay
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(

It was only when i went out and start interviewing, that i got my energy back again and haha the market was not bad.
It reinvigorates you and show that you are still desirable
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to other companies.
The most funny and interesting thing was that, they were not interested in my technical skillsets.
They wanted to hear stories of how i negotiated, collaborated, compromised and solved shitty problems and how was i in terms of EQ, leadership qualities et al.
All 3 companies MNCS all have horrendous processes and inertia and silos.
So take pride in your ability to clear shit
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, and move on after a while.
A prophet is not valued in own block.
Now the funny thing was the co i left wanted me back in a separate dept, but they wanted me back at my last drawn pay,
So i said not for the same pay.
...
 
I feel sorry for Mr Zeng, it is admirable to pursue a further degree. But i suspected he made many a sacrifice to pay for the degree financially and in terms of time.

His wife is a saintly goddess, å¯é‡ä¸å¯æ±‚。
Times have changed and we are developed, in the sense that, uni grads are not guaranteed a job, and that the paper is not a path to wealth and fortune.

Seriously, if i had to start over 10 years ago, i would not have pursued a uni degrees, i would have taken the money and set up a business.

One needs to have balance in life, work and personal. Its easy to feel uncomfort with present and long for change. But take a look into your financials first.

Are you a salary addict, that means you are addicted to the monthly salary, and how long can you survive without the monthly fix.

For me i can say, i am living from paycheck to paycheck.
...
 
well evon,

i always considered life in 3 parts... 1-20 - education, 21-40 - work, 41 onwards - spiritual + semi-retire work... so i'm old by personal standard. i had these ideals way back in my teens, i still sorta stand by it except maybe i'll stretch the working life to 45 since costs have gone up so much!
 
stanzza made some very good points, functional applicable and very realistic...

Honestly at age 41, IF u still think pple are looking at your degree, then something is wrong with u... as my poly lecturer used to say - "whole life wasted!"

seriously if a good 10-15yrs of working life has not taught u that the paper only gets u IN THRU THE DOOR for most jobs, then i wonder what else u could have missed out in life.

i'm sad for Zeng, but that is a reality... if he had met me and spoken to me, i am pretty sure his life would have been different. Not becos i am a guru, but becos time and again i have warned other forummers against dishing out generally-acceptable ways of increasing one's income - most times pple keep talking abt upgrading and taking on more profound academics.

that's DUMB unless your job requires u to research extensively into new things. else u will be doing the same job, and getting paid for better qualifications?

realistically as an semi-employer, i dun really look at qualifications as long as the attitude is right, the person speaks well and can answer fluently without getting stuck. i've met academically more qualified pple who speak so-so english, poor diction n limited vocab, so i dun really trust the paper as much as most pple. i've been in the system to know that u can get away with good grades in some papers. Reality calls for something entirely different... OF COS, if we're talking IT, Med, Dental, Law... what i say should not apply. it shouldn't - Logically. (if anyone still have some common sense)

i do believe that mr. zeng did not pro-actively network and check around with frens, but just sends out resumes. this is like the pastime of locals... they can't get past sending out resumes and hoping for replies... i've stated in another of my past post that by Simply networking, u can increase your chances by a good triple... but who cares, just send resume from the comfort of own home. everyone hang up and sell, but they need the fcuking money...
 


Powder: I think i have a fren whom u might share v similar ideals w. He's an ABC who's now a s'porean PR. He has 2 degrees - engineering n accounting. He set out after his studies w 1 goal in mind - to retire b4 age 50. I think his parents passed away when he was in his teens n his sisters brought him up. He became a v successful civil engineer cum architect n was sought after by various companies. Thus, he had the fortune to see various ctys n he has more than enough savings after putting in 16hrs of work daily during the early yrs. At age 40, he went into semi-retirement n only took up contract work. He wld work in Dubai for eg for 2yrs n then backpack ard for 1yr etc. At age 48, he decided to settle down in sg, rent an apartment till he sees a ppty he really likes n he's taking up some computer art class now to do the things he really enjoys. Its real cool tat he worked hard to achieve his goal n he's now enjoying the fruits of his labour.

For me, I'm in the work part n a tad confused as to wat i want in life cos there's so much noise ard me. I'll try to find my path within the next few yrs n be stable w it.
 
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