Job with travel opportunities and decent work life balance?

[verselines]

Hi all,

I graduated in 2013 with a second upper honours in mass comm. I just left a journalism contract job of less than 1 year because the industry is sinking and they were not hiring permanent staff.

Am hoping to get a new job where the work life balance is decent (no crazy OTs and burning weekends), there's possibility of travelling overseas for work, and where image/appearance and socialising is not crucial to the job (so no public relations or corp comms).

Salary, bonuses and corporate ladder climbing are not the most important factors as I don't need much to get by.

I know I'm asking a lot for a general degree holder with limited experience but I guess that's what this forum is for right? To get answers.

So far I'm thinking of applying for SIA's AO scheme, based on what friends have told me, but do you guys know of any other jobs which fit the bill of what I'm looking for?

[aspenx]

I have no idea about the SIA AO scheme but I just wanted to say that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Travel opportunities and worklife balance VERY RARELY go together.

The only people in my circle who have them both are product engineers that go on training often.

For my case however, the responsibilities are more than doubled when overseas, other projects (in other time zones) have to be attended to also, facing the customer the whole day every day takes a toll, having to socialise when all I want/need to do is go back to your room and settle issues from other projects, having to face colleague(s) (if they travel with me) even after work may not be so appealing...

This is not a PR or corp comms job.

I honestly can't think of any jobs you can apply to with your qualifications and expectations. Sorry. Better luck with the next reply you get.

Originally Posted by verselines

Hi all,

I graduated in 2013 with a second upper honours in mass comm. I just left a journalism contract job of less than 1 year because the industry is sinking and they were not hiring permanent staff.

Am hoping to get a new job where the work life balance is decent (no crazy OTs and burning weekends), there's possibility of travelling overseas for work, and where image/appearance and socialising is not crucial to the job (so no public relations or corp comms).

Salary, bonuses and corporate ladder climbing are not the most important factors as I don't need much to get by.

I know I'm asking a lot for a general degree holder with limited experience but I guess that's what this forum is for right? To get answers.

So far I'm thinking of applying for SIA's AO scheme, based on what friends have told me, but do you guys know of any other jobs which fit the bill of what I'm looking for?

SIA's AO scheme is just a management executive position. u will get rotated around ANY exec position. as a generalist AO u manage the "graded staff", many of them with 20-40 years experience and earning more than u with lousy work attitude. they are unionised and one of the stronger unions in Singapore.

it is not an easy job and pay is not fantastic. there are chances for travel if u are in certain positions and it may be gratifying but thankless at other times.

choose wisely.

[warning]

Originally Posted by verselines

and where image/appearance and socialising is not crucial to the job (so no public relations or corp comms).

this is the number 1 reason why singaporeans lose out to FTs when it comes to jobs. in the real world, it is WHO you know, not WHAT you know that matters. yes, even for non-PR/corpcomms jobs.

some company policy very cb, purposely ask you travel on weekend so you can work for the full weekdays. your weekend burnt.

working in sia doesn't mean travel around. usually the staff are stationed permanently.

only job that can travel around freely is doing sales-related jobs.
or, target global mncs. sometimes when there's critical assignments you might get to travel for a short period.

[warning]

If you think corporate travelling is fun - think again.

You'll live in this strange bubble of just seeing the airport, taxi (or company car), hotel, taxi, office and the same routine repeats itself everyday. You won't see anything else. Most of the times you'll be so busy you don't have time to get a proper meal and you'll just be eating at your desk (or ordering room service at your hotel) - that's assuming you even have time to eat. Any nice meals are with your clients/big bosses so it wouldn't be fun.

You'll be so busy with your projects you won't have time to take extra days of leave to tour the city because your boss/clients want your back in singapore NOW.

[warning]

maybe this is what you're looking for
CABIN CREW Job - Customer Service Jobs in Singapore, Aerospace / Airlines Jobs, BRITISH AIRWAYS PLC, Singapore Job Search - STJobs

Originally Posted by warning

If you think corporate travelling is fun - think again.

You'll live in this strange bubble of just seeing the airport, taxi (or company car), hotel, taxi, office and the same routine repeats itself everyday. You won't see anything else. Most of the times you'll be so busy you don't have time to get a proper meal and you'll just be eating at your desk (or ordering room service at your hotel) - that's assuming you even have time to eat. Any nice meals are with your clients/big bosses so it wouldn't be fun.

You'll be so busy with your projects you won't have time to take extra days of leave to tour the city because your boss/clients want your back in singapore NOW.

i mostly agree with this. at my peak period i can be flying off somewhere every week at months at a time. my wife thinks i'm having a ball of a time but no. even if i travel alone a lot of time is spent in transit, thinking about the meeting before and after the meeting, formulating reports and strategy, etc.

of course there are exceptions, especially when u attend trade shows which u can sneak in a tour of the city if u do not have to meet people on the side or deal with your daily day-to-day issues.

i would say traveling once in 3-6 months can break the monotony of sitting in the office. but at an entry level position, u won't enjoy any trip if u are with your bosses.

[terminator]

Hello, so I will be starting my first Sales job. Ok, I admit that I was ignorant of some aspects of compensation during the interview process so did not clarify. Basic pay is ok. My questions to fellow contributors:

A) Travel allowance/expenses: This job would require international travel. Flight and hotel booking will supposedly be done by the company so let's not consider these in expenses discussion here. P.S.: I do not own a personal credit card.
A1) Should company pay for my meals expenses during travel?
A2) If the answer to above is yes, besides meals, taxi fare, laundry, what other expenses should I be prepared for or expect the company to cover?
A3) For international travel is it normal for employee to pay first for necessary expenses during travel like taxi, meals, laundry, etc and then get reimbursed after submitting the receipts? Or should the company give advance before each travel? What should I expect and what is the acceptable way for such regular expenses: Advance or Reimbursement?
A4) How about medical insurance while overseas? What is going on in the industry for Sales-related employees?

B) Commission: Commission structure etc will be decided after probation or responsibility given.
B1) Which commission structure should I expect and which are better?

Question A3 is most important to me and kind of bothering me, because I don't want to end up paying huge bills during my trip, as I am no manager or high earner yet, so few hundred dollars per month matter to me as well.

Any help appreciated. Tks

Somewhere in Eastern Europe, you will be torn off with your hands only for a Western-style honours lol