33 year old and helpless - Please advise

[chia188188]

Hello,

I am a 33 year old man that has been jobless for 5 years. I have been jobless as I had met with a serious car accident in Malaysia at the age of 28 and has lost my memory for more than 3 years. it was only till I was 31 y o that's when I started ton regain my memory and certain percentage of my cognitive skills ( which is still lacking now)

I can be perceived to be someone of above average high calibre. here is my brief background:

O levels - 9 GCE O level distinctions. graduated from SJI
A levels - 4 GCE A levels. Graduated from National Junior College
University - NTU, Bachelor in Marketing with 2nd lower honours.

Despite graduating in 2007, I have started working in 2005 due to poor family background.

2005-2007 : $3200/mth as a tuition centre teacher

2007 : Immediately after graduation, I landed myself with a tuition centre from Korea based in Singapore. My starting salary is $5000/mth. Yes I am not bragging, because I deliver results. I got exponential salary increments year by year as the enrolment of my students kept increasing.

2008 : $6,000/mth (age 25)
2009 : $6,000/ mth (age 26, no increment due to economic crisis)
2010 : $6,500/mth (age 27) - became Department Manager
2011 : $7,500/mth (age 28) - I switched job to Mavis Tutorial Centre and was leading the Chemistry department then.

then bam, came my accident and turned my world upside down. I was hospitalised for a year and completely lost my memory and I am unable to work between the age 28 to 31 years old. The only consolation was that I am still alive.

My cognition and memory started improving at age 32 years old and I struggled very hard. I started out as a dishwasher with RE&S ($1,300/mth), then a waiter at jumbo seafood restaurant($1600/mth), then a driver for a wholesaler($1600/mth) and finally towards the start of this year, I managed to pick up some assignments from tution referral agencies like starzest and trust tuition agency and currently I am averaging $1,700+ for the first half of this year.

$1,700 for a 33 year old. its pathetic right? enough of my sob story.

I want to fight hard and stand back up again.

My question is what would you do if you were me. I really wanted to earn more so that I could buy my much desired house and catch up with my peers.

I am thinking of being a kindergarten teacher and starting out from ground zero again. I understand they pay a very low salary. but I am looking for a job with stability and room for growth

Can anyone please advise me what will be the salary of a university educated kindergarten teacher?

Also what is the retirement age for a kindergarten teacher?

I sincerely look forward to your advises.

Hey there, thanks for sharing, seems like it's really bad luck for you.

I think to a large extent it really depends on how much cognitive capabilities you have managed to recover. Kindergarten teaching generally requires very minimal education qualifications compared to what you have, but the challenge is how to convince your employers you have the capability and sound mind post accident.

My suggestion would be for you to take up a recognized Dipolma in pre-school education and go for the teaching roles with basic kindergartens like PCF and My First Skool. The diploma is important not only because it's a requirement, but also I think it provides the clearest indication of whether your cognitive recovery is where you think it is now.

Before we get all rah rah, I also have to remind you that this is a female dominated industry and I'm not very sure how much of a handicap is as a guy. The second thing to take into account is teaching small kids is less academic and more ability and patience for you to connect with little ones, so you have to ask yourself whether you have the temperament for that even if brain power wise is no problem for you. This is a totally different ball game from teaching tuition.

If you are lucky enough to secure the role with these basic kindergartens and gain the necessary experience, you can move on to more prestigious, demanding and higher paying private kindergartens.

Alternatively, if you feel up to it, you might want to approach tuition agencies and start off by giving freelance tuition to lower primary school kids. Sort of give you a general feel on how much you can adapt and whether you can cope before taking the plunge on qualifications.

[chia188188]

Originally Posted by Jack_X

Hey there, thanks for sharing, seems like it's really bad luck for you.

I think to a large extent it really depends on how much cognitive capabilities you have managed to recover. Kindergarten teaching generally requires very minimal education qualifications compared to what you have, but the challenge is how to convince your employers you have the capability and sound mind post accident.

My suggestion would be for you to take up a recognized Dipolma in pre-school education and go for the teaching roles with basic kindergartens like PCF and My First Skool. The diploma is important not only because it's a requirement, but also I think it provides the clearest indication of whether your cognitive recovery is where you think it is now.

Before we get all rah rah, I also have to remind you that this is a female dominated industry and I'm not very sure how much of a handicap is as a guy. The second thing to take into account is teaching small kids is less academic and more ability and patience for you to connect with little ones, so you have to ask yourself whether you have the temperament for that even if brain power wise is no problem for you. This is a totally different ball game from teaching tuition.

If you are lucky enough to secure the role with these basic kindergartens and gain the necessary experience, you can move on to more prestigious, demanding and higher paying private kindergartens.

Alternatively, if you feel up to it, you might want to approach tuition agencies and start off by giving freelance tuition to lower primary school kids. Sort of give you a general feel on how much you can adapt and whether you can cope before taking the plunge on qualifications.

thanks jack,

could you please provide some answers to my questions:

1. what will be the salary for a kindergarten teacher

2. you mentioned that this is a female dominated industry. I am a guy, so will they like discriminate against a guy in applying for this job

3. could you let me know what are the career progression like for this career? like annual salary increments and also how long to become a senior teacher and then to a principal for e.g

many thanks1

Originally Posted by chia188188

thanks jack,

could you please provide some answers to my questions:

1. what will be the salary for a kindergarten teacher

2. you mentioned that this is a female dominated industry. I am a guy, so will they like discriminate against a guy in applying for this job

3. could you let me know what are the career progression like for this career? like annual salary increments and also how long to become a senior teacher and then to a principal for e.g

many thanks1

I am a MOE teacher, not a kindergarten one, so what I know is what I hear around, so just take it as reference and not 100% accurate.

1. I believe it's around 2.2k for starters

2. I honestly don't know, it's hard to say how much of it is discrimination and how much is due to the fact childhood studies tend to attract females. When dealing with young kids, it is only natural for parents to be more comfortable with ladies then guys.

3. Increments really depend, can be erratic and not every year have. If you want me to estimate a number, it probably works out to 3% a year. Principals make about 3.6-4k, but you got to have at least 10-12 years experience I think.

Bottom line is this - unless you are a hotshot specialized educator engaged by elite private schools or enrichment centres, don't be a kindergarten teacher hoping to get a great pay. It will not be remotely close to what you were getting in the past. Choose wisely.

Why don't you try MOE instead?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Why don't you try MOE instead?

Not realistic. Very little intake now and too many applicants even w/o considering TS medical condition. Besides he only start to recover memory last year, I dun think going for a highly stress long work hour job now is a good idea even if he can get. I think he should just continue his freelancing and slowly increase work load for a few more years until he fully recover.

jus continue being a private tutor... slowly build up your reputation and expand your class.

Originally Posted by chia188188

thanks jack,

could you please provide some answers to my questions:

1. what will be the salary for a kindergarten teacher

2. you mentioned that this is a female dominated industry. I am a guy, so will they like discriminate against a guy in applying for this job

3. could you let me know what are the career progression like for this career? like annual salary increments and also how long to become a senior teacher and then to a principal for e.g

many thanks1

There are some issues you need to resolve:

1) You need to stop comparing yourself with the you 5 years ago.

2) You need to stop comparing yourself with the rest of your cohort.

3) You need to make a completely new start.

Given your current unknown mental state and intelligence level, nobody will hire you to be either a kindergarden teacher or a tuition teacher.

Who will dare to hire someone with brain injury to be a kindergarden teacher? There will always be a worry that you will forget some stuff due to your injury and concerns about your possible behavioural issues.

Given the way your questions always seem to point towards pay and progress, you are completely unsuitable to be a kindergarden teacher.

The best solution is to go take a postgraduate diploma in Education in NIE. Your results will prove conclusively what your level is at now, and reflect on how fit you are to teach.

If you cannot get in, you will need to find some other education course.

The main issue you have is managing your own expectations.

The job market last time is much better than now. A fresh NTU grad with Bachelor in Marketing with 2nd lower honours will have a starting pay of less than $3000 today.

If you are aiming to earn back you $7500 pay, you need to give it at least 10 years.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

There are some issues you need to resolve:

1) You need to stop comparing yourself with the you 5 years ago.

2) You need to stop comparing yourself with the rest of your cohort.

3) You need to make a completely new start.

Given your current unknown mental state and intelligence level, nobody will hire you to be either a kindergarden teacher or a tuition teacher.

Who will dare to hire someone with brain injury to be a kindergarden teacher? There will always be a worry that you will forget some stuff due to your injury and concerns about your possible behavioural issues.

Given the way your questions always seem to point towards pay and progress, you are completely unsuitable to be a kindergarden teacher.

The best solution is to go take a postgraduate diploma in Education in NIE. Your results will prove conclusively what your level is at now, and reflect on how fit you are to teach.

If you cannot get in, you will need to find some other education course.

The main issue you have is managing your own expectations.

The job market last time is much better than now. A fresh NTU grad with Bachelor in Marketing with 2nd lower honours will have a starting pay of less than $3000 today.

If you are aiming to earn back you $7500 pay, you need to give it at least 10 years.

Gotta agree with above. Teaching kindergarten needs passion, talking about salary increase, money as a principal etc. right at the start is not a good sign.

Must take things easy, no point keep thinking about going to glory days... I think just continue with the tuition and try applying with MOE as trainee, but also must be realistic chances very low as the no. of applicants >>> no. of openings in such a bad job market.

Originally Posted by chia188188

Hello,

I am a 33 year old man that has been jobless for 5 years. I have been jobless as I had met with a serious car accident in Malaysia at the age of 28 and has lost my memory for more than 3 years. it was only till I was 31 y o that's when I started ton regain my memory and certain percentage of my cognitive skills ( which is still lacking now)

I can be perceived to be someone of above average high calibre. here is my brief background:

O levels - 9 GCE O level distinctions. graduated from SJI
A levels - 4 GCE A levels. Graduated from National Junior College
University - NTU, Bachelor in Marketing with 2nd lower honours.

Despite graduating in 2007, I have started working in 2005 due to poor family background.

2005-2007 : $3200/mth as a tuition centre teacher

2007 : Immediately after graduation, I landed myself with a tuition centre from Korea based in Singapore. My starting salary is $5000/mth. Yes I am not bragging, because I deliver results. I got exponential salary increments year by year as the enrolment of my students kept increasing.

2008 : $6,000/mth (age 25)
2009 : $6,000/ mth (age 26, no increment due to economic crisis)
2010 : $6,500/mth (age 27) - became Department Manager
2011 : $7,500/mth (age 28) - I switched job to Mavis Tutorial Centre and was leading the Chemistry department then.

then bam, came my accident and turned my world upside down. I was hospitalised for a year and completely lost my memory and I am unable to work between the age 28 to 31 years old. The only consolation was that I am still alive.

My cognition and memory started improving at age 32 years old and I struggled very hard. I started out as a dishwasher with RE&S ($1,300/mth), then a waiter at jumbo seafood restaurant($1600/mth), then a driver for a wholesaler($1600/mth) and finally towards the start of this year, I managed to pick up some assignments from tution referral agencies like starzest and trust tuition agency and currently I am averaging $1,700+ for the first half of this year.

$1,700 for a 33 year old. its pathetic right? enough of my sob story.

I want to fight hard and stand back up again.

My question is what would you do if you were me. I really wanted to earn more so that I could buy my much desired house and catch up with my peers.

I am thinking of being a kindergarten teacher and starting out from ground zero again. I understand they pay a very low salary. but I am looking for a job with stability and room for growth

Can anyone please advise me what will be the salary of a university educated kindergarten teacher?

Also what is the retirement age for a kindergarten teacher?

I sincerely look forward to your advises.

Just continue doing tuition lah, what's the point? You obviously no interest in kindergarten teaching since all your questions is about money. Haven't even send in 1 teaching assistant application and you want to know how long and how much you can make as a principal?

Be realistic and just do things 1 step at 1 time. If you take up a few more assignments, pay should easily exceed 2k which is a good start.