Mid Life Crisis

CK

Totally agree with you.

I started off not knowing what to do as well. I moved from a technical job to finance to civil service. For first 6 to 7 years of my career, I was totally lost, being in 4 jobs in different industries and felt hopeless (I was in my early 30s then). By through trial and error, I learned too. I picked up the right knowledge to set myself onto where I am now (of course with a bit of luck in between).

I managed to get into a job that I can demontrate the knowledge and skill and of course, there must be hard work from my part as well. Today, I am considerably well regarded in my company and in the industry as well.

In the years in this company, I worked hard and continued to invest in myself by getting an MBA. My hardwork pays off as I was promoted a few times, given exptratiate assignments and headhunters are still knocking on my doors.

So for those who are feeling lost and hopeless, don't give up. Like the saying goes: All successes start with with failures.

This thread sums it all up. Feeling lost/depressed and been actively trying to switch industries for past couple of years. Tons of resumes with only a couple of unsuccessful interviews. headhunting co even told me no point sending to them as they have to find a good fit and thus hard to justify or promote to clients ppl looking for a career switch. Chances are extremely slim and the headhunters only earn comms on successful candidates so no one will risk it. Fellow peers are earning at least twice/thrice as much and yes i know one shouldnt compare but u would feel really small during gatherings. To think all graduated same time with similar qualifications and one wrong move to wrong industry/Co...... almost cast in stone liao... Sad man..

[aimless74]

hi ck,

thanks for sharing as well as suggestion.

however there is always some elements which varies from people such as burden of family, opportunity and ecomonic situition in sgp.

your career path or switching between jobs is better u can switch from BD to senior officer. i dont know how. i did tried this path 2 years ago but i failed did not manage to get it. i had completed my MBA 5 yrs ago and had a engineering degree.

i agreed with u if a good job prospect, 5-6 yrs can set to retirement. however
i would be questioning myself if i found that job, can this job sustain for the next 5-6 yrs.

i am currently based in china and my 1 yr contract is up soon (this nov).
I am getting desperate finding a job anywhere basically i got to support my family.
i also know the current job is not suitable to be classify as a career prospect job and is not suitable to plan for retirement.


Regards n Thanks!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

just some sharing which I hope could be of use in your next steps.
I graduated in 93 with a science degree. Pretty useless degree unless you want to be a teacher. nonetheless, at that point Singapore was facing shortage of semiconductor engineers and IT people. All my friends went to either teaching, semiconductor engineers, or switch to IT. I didn't know what I wanted but was sure I did not want to pick those three sectors above. I tried different jobs from BD job in some ulu manufacturing company in Jurong, Senior Officer in statutory board helping SMEs in assistance programmes, etc. Along the way, I did a distance learning MBA. When I was 29 I realized that VC/PE was an interesting sector, and paid my way to attend a module in MBA program to learn as much as I can in this area. When I was 30, I took an entry level job in an investment firm looking at private equity in Asia. I had 8000 SGD in savings as was paid 3200SGD/month. in 2005, I took another MBA (with firm's partial sponsorship) at IMD and switched to another firm in HK after graduation. I am now based in China (over 42 now) and looking to work for another 3 years before taking things slow and retire. Lessons I learnt:

a) it is okay to be lost, if you don't know what you want to do next, you need to at least know what you do NOT want to do.
b) if you get it right, 5-10 good years can set you to retirement if you hit on the right job or prospects.
c) don't use your friends as benchmark or models, find your own path and try to focus on what you really want (even if you find out through trial and error).
d) not every one can be an entrepreneur to start businesses, but you can learn from them and have an entrepreneurial approach/mindset to your career. ie take risks, make small bets, invest in yourself, learn new things, keep thinking forward on what's next, who will hire you, which market is best for you etc.
e) there is always something positive in every situation.

all the best!

CK

Originally Posted by Unregistered

This thread sums it all up. Feeling lost/depressed and been actively trying to switch industries for past couple of years. Tons of resumes with only a couple of unsuccessful interviews. headhunting co even told me no point sending to them as they have to find a good fit and thus hard to justify or promote to clients ppl looking for a career switch. Chances are extremely slim and the headhunters only earn comms on successful candidates so no one will risk it. Fellow peers are earning at least twice/thrice as much and yes i know one shouldnt compare but u would feel really small during gatherings. To think all graduated same time with similar qualifications and one wrong move to wrong industry/Co...... almost cast in stone liao... Sad man..

Hey

Don't give up. I am an engineer. Started in engineering for 4 years. Switch to finance for 2 years. Didn't work out. Move back to engineering with the same pay. Now, after 8 years, I am in a general management position.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hey

Don't give up. I am an engineer. Started in engineering for 4 years. Switch to finance for 2 years. Didn't work out. Move back to engineering with the same pay. Now, after 8 years, I am in a general management position.

Thanks for the encouragement and looks like things did work out for you. Hopefully for me sooner than later......

[bioman]

I have gone to the franchising show at MBS last weekend. The investment for franchisees can be huge and of course no guarantee of success. With no such prior experience, I feel it is too risky for me. Nevertheless, I'm still thinking how to say goodbye to the rat race.

For a change, I may like to work overseas, any advice on how to look for one? I'm in the training profession, by the way.

Originally Posted by Hermit

bioman....

It is good that you are already looking around.

MLM and franchising is an ok way to start. The downside of these avenues is that you build your principal's brand and not your own brand.

I have friends who are franchisees and they are neither unhappy nor very happy with their businesses. But they can survive. On the other hand, they are still looking for other kinds of opportunities.

If you can start something of your own, you will channel more energy and effort into it. But the reward is that people will recognise you and your brand. That goes a long way in future.

Originally Posted by Hermit

Better to follow traditional wisdom.

成家立業 - start your family. mature. then strike out.

In modern Singapore, in order to start family, you must have cash, house and career. Otherwise, no Singapore gals will want to marry you. Only end up with non Sg wives.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In modern Singapore, in order to start family, you must have cash, house and career. Otherwise, no Singapore gals will want to marry you. Only end up with non Sg wives.

I used to think this way. But I know many gal frens who married to partners who are not sucessful, not earning much and not ambitous.

Myself I will never accept it as I am ambitous myself. I will expect my partner to earn more or at least equal to me, esle I will not respect him.

But there are many girls out there who believe in true love and lower their expectations. So don't rule out. If you do find someone like this, treasure her well..

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I used to think this way. But I know many gal frens who married to partners who are not sucessful, not earning much and not ambitous.

Myself I will never accept it as I am ambitous myself. I will expect my partner to earn more or at least equal to me, esle I will not respect him.

But there are many girls out there who believe in true love and lower their expectations. So don't rule out. If you do find someone like this, treasure her well..

For you, marriage is like a transaction. Sad.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

For you, marriage is like a transaction. Sad.

I like transaction, I pay money..i get satisfaction and stress "release". haha