Qualifications prospect

[hays]

My husband is currently in a dilemma. He's 27 this year,working as a regular with a sergeant rank but because he dropped out of poly and took private diploma(they do not recognize private dip)is paid a rank lower,but does duty of a sergeant.

This frustrate him tremendously as his colleagues,who is much younger than he is,having a poly dip, have already been promoted to staff sergeant, yet he is doing more than what he is being paid for.
He realized those with poly diploma can easily get promoted and this was true for most of his colleagues(after 2 yrs promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant).

He intends to take up a part time business diploma from local poly so that he can get promoted easily(otherwise he can find jobs outside)however this will take him 4 yrs.

My take on this is for him to take up a business degree at a private institute instead since he already has a private dip(management).
I'd felt that it's a waste of time to go through the long route.He was very doubtful as previously when he tried to apply jobs at private company, most do not recognize his private dip and he got rejected.

Furthermore he's reluctant to waste more money and importantly, time and is focused on getting a local diploma.

He always felt incomplete without finishing his dip and wants to give it another try.
He has also expressed his desire to then continue onto doing part time studies at local Uni, but again this will take him at least 7 yrs before he finishes sch(Diploma+Uni).
And I've told him that he will be no better then a fresh grad but at age 34.

Do you guys think it's advisable to get a local diploma or am I right for him to get a private degree?Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[ariel84]

I would say go for the private degree. 4 years is too long to get a part time diploma, and by then he will be 30s already.

I don't think a local dip/deg makes a whole lot of difference in the long run, unless you are applying for govt jobs. At the end of the day, it's how well the person performs in the job.

I've a friend who did pte dip to degree all the way and is now doing well in her career, earning much more than me.

 

[miloice]

My take, go into sectors that do not rely so much on qualifications, say insurance or property while pursuing a degree. The sales experience will do him good.

 

[hays]

Ariel, thanks for your inputs. I felt that way too and have advise against taking a diploma.

Milo, my sentiments exactly.
I've told him to work as agent(Property or insurance) as he is very much a people person and capable to hone and enhance that soft skills.
Isn't that one of the best aspects in business?

But he is unsure as the unstable nature of an agent job and irregular remuneration has put him off.

To him a stable monthly job and being able to pay the bills on time is what he aspires for.

Is stability really all that important? I mean sure everyone wants a stable job, but if you put in at 110%, nobody will pay you an extra 10% of your effort?Unless it's a sales job..

 

[miloice]

Stability is good if the pay is decent. If you are consistently earning peanuts, who needs such stability??

 

[shirleypoise]

Between a local dip or private degree, I would say go for the private degree.

It's quite short sighted to want to get the local dip so that he could be on par with the new dip holders as it is, after all, still a diploma. You might want to remind him that all the local dip holders are now taking private degree courses, so end state it's still the degree that would be able to push himself up further.

However, if he's insisting on the local dip, then just go along with him ba. Perhaps he lack the confidence to pass the degree after having lost touch of the books?

As for the stability part, if he's not bringing back a stable income every month, assuming some months he's not earning anything at all, would it affect you and your lifestyle? Even to the extent of you being the breadwinner on a worst case scenerio?

I'm not against it but going into sales like insurance and property would also mean he has more flexible time. This might translate into him spending less time with you any time of the day/week (think: PH, evenings, nights and weekends might all b burnt). Oh, and it might also mean him spending more time at clubs, pubs, with girls, etc.. You ok with that?

I think you have to consider and be ok with the above points above before you encourage him further on the change of job.

 

[miloice]

Is the advise in the best interest of his career our simply personal comfort?

Why should his career aspirations be limited because of some insecurity of the partner?

 

[miloice]

In many careers, not just sales, there will be flexibility in the time. This is not the extreme cases where it exposes the person to extreme danger on the regular basis.

People can have a change in jobs, what kind of relationship is one that the partner is not supportive and understanding to that?

They rather them remain unmotivated in lousy careers.

 

[shirleypoise]

I am not discouraging a change of job. People can change their jobs, and when they so choose, the partner ought to be supportive.

I am also not saying that going into sales where it exposes the person to "extreme danger" would mean the person would stray. But I do know that some ladies are discomforted by that thus am merely reminding her in case she did not think of it.

However in this case, it appears that TS is the one who is wanting that change in career for her husband and not himself. From what I've read abouve, he is only complaining about the lack of qualification such that the newer staffs with the qualification are climbing much faster than him.

So in this case, is TS trying to align her wants with her husband's career instead of letting him decide what he wants for a career??

 

[miloice]

Its naive of ts partner to assume qualifications at his age would help much. likewise his idea of stability. The army need to keep the force young and renewed .how long more can he remain active in service. There is a need to look beyond his short and limited career in the force.

What he needs now isn't a pre selected menu to choose from.he needs to find his goals and where he wants to head.then the options will naturally be much more focused and objective.

The pre selection in a way is thinking for him.as long as he doesn't think for himself. He is likely to blame the ts.

 

[miloice]

I understand where you are approaching the issue. Indeed, a very true concern. However, its really more something ts should manage rather restrict and impose on her partner.

 

[simpleman]

First things first.

Qualification should not be "restricted by age". I mean in this age of continuous training and upgrade - we don't stop learning. So age per se should not be a limiting factor in trying to improve upon one's qualification. But as to whether which "paper" is better - there should be room for discussion.

But now qualification and paper is ONLY one aspect. There are many other factors like experiences and working attitude. These are important. And also other soft skills like communication, negotiation and so on.

As to SP regarding sales people. On the contrary I think sales people have more flexible time schedule - meaning they could spend more time with wife and not always the other way round. And what is there to remind. If she is the type that will mind hubby having a "sales" job, she would already know.. if she is not, 100 reminders also won't change a bit.

 

[miloice]

The age restriction comes from the career. It is not logical to pursue a 4 yr diploma course at 27 to enhance one's prospects in the force. Its too late. 18 yr olds are signing on getting scholarships for degree. He will continue to face with the same issue with a local diploma. His younger colleagues would be already degree holders and going for officer conversion. He will be retired from the force soon after. What's next? Where is the stability that he relies on then?

 

[simpleman]

Milo,

I can understand the logic of getting a degree vs diploma if it is going to take the same amount of time. But age itself should not be a constraint. I have seen non-comm officer conversion to officers when they are in their late 30s. It is NEVER too late.. you can't compare with fresh grad. Non-comms officer if they are specialists have valuable knowledge and experiences.. they are highly qualified, experienced and knowledgeable but they need to convert to officers in order for them to have better pay/prospect and later retirement.

Secondly, if they quit the armed forces - still can make use of their diploma/degree.. at any age.

I just find it a bit surprise when people think it is too old to get diploma/degree in their 30s. It is NEVER to late when it comes to training. And we should not compare with fresh grads.. cos in your 30s you would have accumulated experiences that fresh grad would not have. At whatever age, we should continue to learn and upgrade ourselves - and get whatever certification and training we need for our jobs. And just because fresh grad would have that qualification, we should not shy away from it if we need them.

 

[miloice]

sm, if you look at the entire rationale and motivation TS's partner has for the local diploma, is he looking beyond his service? He just wants stability in a monthly job to pay bills. The frustrations non-comission officers have over comparisons with the officers doesn't end. To me, he is only getting out of one pothole into another.

For his pursue to further studies and upgrade, he needs to plan beyond the short career in the force. He is being limited by his qualifications right now, which prevents him from getting the needed experiences in key appointments. What valuable experiences will he have in his portfolio, when he is finally a graduate at 34? We have all seen low ranking regulars taking unchallenging and unfulfilling roles. It sure doesn't value add to their careers. I'm puzzled over why one assumes regulars to all be having lots of wonderful exposure and experiences. Who takes on the mandane boring tasks?

 

[powder]

hays,

i think u and hubby need to break it down further to basics.

1) academic/paper-chase - Immediate Purpose? Actual Purpose? Longterm benefits are definite but how likely will u be reaping?

2) at current age - how soon and at what age will u complete the chase. what will be the entry level? who will your competitors be and their likely average age? Entry-level is VERY IMPT consideration becos that is exactly where he is likely to be with most jobs in spore.

3) If your immediate purpose is Finances/Money and not becos u are chasing enrichment... then Dun U think it is Way more effective to start with the Incomes of various fields and the way the Income is earned? AND THEN u work Backwards to where u are NOW. instead of getting a degree/diploma, and working Forward where most of it is Hope and Wishes.

4) what challenges and plans do u have ahead? Have u considered them based on what u want to do now? ie if u plan to upgrade from 3rm to 5rm HDB in another 6yrs when your 2 kids will be in primary school etc etc... Have u considered your family needs? ...if 1 or both sets of your parents will be hitting the age of retirement in another 5-6 yrs.

5) Where do u see Employment/Market changes in another 10yrs? have u Considered if What u're studying will be relevant OR will it be replaced by Machinery+Cheap Labour? or is are Countries like China/India churning out Alot of professionals in this particular field?

6) Have u looked at yourselves? are u lazy? hardworking? smart etc etc... how fitting would u be in the industry of your choice? i mean if u are a private loner and like your life - can u be in marketingor PR-intensive roles?


Lastly, u really need to know your motivation in life. u need to chart where u think the future will be, and how u intend to tackle it. Definitely with paper qualifications and academics to backup - u will go futher than most pple... But that's an average.

personally i dun believe in averages nor comparing with averages, instead i look for viable shortcuts - by trying to establish early - what the world needs and Will Pay For. as long as i'm not in an industry where i have more foreign colleagues than local one, as long as i'm not in an industry that can move its whole operations to India/China... i think i'll be fine. of cos, there's more...

But i think u guys are ill-prepared at the moment from the way u are asking your questions... i believe it is abit on the shallow end. u Have To go further and deeper in your thoughts than simply asking a few rounds of questions. when it comes to your Life and Future - dun be lazy nor easy, and dun throw caution to the wind with assumptions.

every now and then, u will hear abt pple whose degrees/diplomas are not recognised. what this tells me is - the person DID NOT EVEN BOTHER to do their checks before enrolment, it tells me how reckless some of them are - as an employer... there must be Due Diligience Exercised. we cannot simply go on the "i was told that they are recognised" and expect to be forgiven and excused for a fcuked up decision. Life doesn't work that way.

 

[hays]

Morning everyone.

Thank you for all your valuable inputs.
For me, I do not impose on my partner to go and 'die die' find a sales job. He has not made up his mind yet and we are laying out the possible scenarios of where he would like to be in the next 5 yrs.Hence I'd asked to look at options other than a 9-5 job such as agents.

Likewise I am not too bothered on sales as every kind of jobs have it's merits and also demerits.
I wouldn't be surprise if I'd even encourage him to be a pilot and someone out there starts mentioning stories of pilots sleeping with their cabin crews.Unless you are a disgruntled jealous wife who's purpose in life is to lock up your husband.You just cant please everyone isn't it?
So I don't really have any qualms on him working as sales.

Powder, you've brought out very gd points which definitely makes me step out and look at things from a bigger picture rather then just place my bets on short term plan and hope they will reap.

I agree we have to re-look on things before deciding against just what everyone is looking for in general. If the masses are doing it, getting a dip/degree, going through the notion, chances are likely he will not only have to compete with younger grads but foreign talents too.

 

[powder]

yup, since this is the next stage of his career and he's no bachelor... careful planning and execution is needed. and before all that, alot of exposure and speaking to pple of your age or older to seek some insight.

just dun throw caution to the wind and make assumptions on something so integral.