Civil Svc/ Statboard - Typical Timeline for making a Hiring Decision

Originally Posted by Unregistered

go for the CPF job and pass the exams

stay on at CPF for 3 to 6 months at least (cause sales related job during COVID is a nightmare)

financial advisor jobs are 'always' there, can literally join anytime

Good call, I might do just that. I'll update here if anything new happens.

Thanks for your advice

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for the replies guys! I'm currently thinking of taking up the offer while completing the courses because the CPF job will only start in July.

My main concern is potentially turning down the CPF job before I start work if I pass the exams/ better offers come in before then because I'm afraid that pulling a stunt like that might lead to my being blacklisted on the stat board, which might harm my chances of working in the gov sector again.

What exactly happens when you turn down a job after signing the contract but haven't started your first day?

Thanks for all the help!

You will probably be blacklisted by HR if you do that, frankly speaking. Just do the CPF job first and then tender your notice once it's time to move on to greener pastures. Good luck!

Originally Posted by sinkingfeeling

I was fired from my last job due to incompetence

I only have a private degree with 3rd class hons

Like that I might as well not apply to gov jobs?

Just try your luck and spam applications, my friend. As mentioned, it really depends. Some HR may check some may not (but expect ministries to be super stringent). Finding a gov job w your qualifications is not entirely impossible, but with private 3rd class you usually have to settle for lower starting pay in gov jobs, based on the pegged rates.

Don't be disheartened, yeah. Just apply and see where it gets you. Even if you have to start at a lower tier just take the job, as a start somewhere is always better than going nowhere.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Eh, it really depends on how thorough HR wants to be. My sis-in-law is in HR in pte firm, she says usually they do reference checks w your prev employers to assess your aptitude and attitude. Just to ensure you're a good fit and they have a better idea of your character as a worker and individual. Don't have to be worried about ref checks unless you f-ed up big time and left on a sour note w your prev employer lol. W intern experience, they probably can call your prev internship employer / prev lecturers to find out more abt you as well (if you provided them as reference contacts).

Hey thanks for responding! Kinda worried my intern boss may not give a good reference cus I turned down an offer to join them full time... She is quite petty one so if HR calls her, I think I shld be no chance liao sian...any advices on how to handle?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hey thanks for responding! Kinda worried my intern boss may not give a good reference cus I turned down an offer to join them full time... She is quite petty one so if HR calls her, I think I shld be no chance liao sian...any advices on how to handle?

Don't list her as reference lor.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

go for the CPF job and pass the exams

stay on at CPF for 3 to 6 months at least (cause sales related job during COVID is a nightmare)

financial advisor jobs are 'always' there, can literally join anytime

Financial advisor jobs may not be there anymore, or at the very least they will be severely affected. Short-term, covid has big impact, because they cannot meet clients and generate sales. Even with video-conferencing, it's just not the same, no personal touch. And these advisors don't actually earn by giving advice, rather they earn by sweet-talk and charisma. These moves are much more effective in the real world than over the phone or through a screen. Long-run, financial advisors face poor prospects as well. There are all kinds of digital banking solutions and even roboadvisors that can replace them, and they're getting better and better. Long story short, don't be a financial advisor.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Guys can I just ask:

I got an offer from CPF as a 2019 social science NUS grad for a customer service role. They are offering mid 2k before CPF with a $250 allowance a month, and I'll get promoted to an exec role if I stay for a year if they renew the contract.

I am honestly so very tired of job hunting (been doing it for a year) so I want to take up this job, but my main conflict is how I will be able to build a career outside of the organization with just CPF product knowledge as well as experience handling inbound calls.

I am just unsure of where I can go to next after I spend a year with CPF. Was wondering if anyone here can help shed some light on if my experience at the job will be helpful in any other career paths going forward.

Hello, may I know your class of honors or degree type?

2k+ for a fresh grad is really low.

I have been job-hunting for sometime now and despite sending out more than 150 job applications, it hasn't been very promising. But I have a fulltime job now lah. Its just that its super unbearable with frequent clashes with my boss.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hey thanks for responding! Kinda worried my intern boss may not give a good reference cus I turned down an offer to join them full time... She is quite petty one so if HR calls her, I think I shld be no chance liao sian...any advices on how to handle?

My experience with reference checks is that HR probably will only check with the people you have listed as your reference, so if you are worried about your intern boss, don't list her and maybe list a colleague instead. You may also want to inform your reference beforehand and check on what they might say about you.

Hi, recently accepted an offer with a stat board (contract) so thought I might share my experience in the timeline.

-applied around mid-april
-HR calls me for an interview 2 weeks later for the same week
-Virtual interview with only 1 round as HR and hiring manager were all there in the interview, I asked HR how long before I can hear an answer, she said up to 2 weeks but I could check in with her again after 1 week
-HR emails a few days later to say they are doing reference checks
-My references are quite fast, submitted after a few days, a day after they submitted, HR calls up with verbal offer
-HR informs drawing up the contract will take around 2 weeks
-Signed contract after 2 weeks

my process was quite fast relative to others' experiences I've read here, not sure if it's bc its contract.

What is the working culture like at MFA for those in the political and economic track? Apart from long working hours, what's the relationship like between management and subordinates? Reviews on Glassdoor seem to paint a particularly negative picture.