Hi all,
I see that this forum has many successful individuals and a more mature crowd, so I thought it good to ask here for advice.
I'm trying desperately to find ways to increase my salary dramatically as my parents are retiring soon and the like.
I'm 29 this year. Below is my salary history:
1) When I
ORD-ed from army, I got a job as admin asst ($1100). I had only O' levels back then.
2) Later, I switched company and salary went up to $1400.
3) Switched company after some time and salary went up to $1650 at new company (still admin asst).
4) After that, I realized admin job = no future, so I pursued private Diploma in art and now working as commercial artist in local game startup. Salary $2000.
It's well-known that the creative industry has among the lowest payscale. Some of my friends are even earning less than 2k.
I did some research and realized that being a teacher in Singapore can net you $4k - $6k after teaching 5 years. For new teachers, if you've degree and you get into their GEO 1 scale, starting pay is $3000+ according to
MOE website. In terms of salary, it's an iron rice bowl and no need to worry.
However, to even stand a chance of getting that, I need to first get a degree from NAFA / Lasaelle, and their course and misc fees is approx $40000+.
Take into consideration the food / transport expenses during these 3 - 4 years of study, I figured I need around $52000+ (living with parents now).
Which means based on my current salary, I need to save up $1000 over 2+ years to get that amount, and that's excluding the
NIE assuming I get accepted as teacher.
If I can become a teacher, my financial issues would be gone.
The problem is: if I pay $52000+ for a degree and MOE reject me as a teacher, then I'm totally screwed right?
I know being a teacher = love for teaching, but in this practical world, how is that really true? Teachers are like 90% admin + 10% teaching, based on the forum here (I don't mind stress as long as I get to teach art, which is my passion).
I can't study those management courses (business admin, marketing etc.) because I really can't take it. Tried it in the past but even flipping open the textbooks is a real torture to me. But with art (drawing etc.), I can do it from morning to night non-stop and still want to do more.
Seems that the average salary is like $4.5 - $6k among the hip and young adults here. I feel like a low-caste member of society when compared with these guys. In fact, I definitely belong in the same category as the toilet cleaners and construction workers.
Still single now; the major dating agencies reject me cos' of low salary! LOL
Dating nowadays seems more about comparing financial data and $$$ statistics before couples hook up.
If any kind souls here who has seen the world and experienced life can show me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
Rodon