Anyone jobless for a long time before?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Went for a job interview today and everything seems to go well. Both company and myself thinks it is a good fit until the interviewer shared with me that this role is meant to replace their staff who is underperforming. I.e. once they find someone suitable, they will sack the current staff lor.. i am not very comfortable with this. Although even if i don't take this job, they will be others who will. But I'm not sure if i should proceed. I just don't feel good about it.

Are you prepared to perform exceedingly well? It sounds like a highly pragmatic environment. Also, knowing what they did may keep you stressed up all year.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

All our ministers are Jack of all trades master of none. They are not master of all trades, they just happen to have a boss who quickly sweep all the dirt under the rug and glorify the end result. Yet if we are not heavily specialized, no interview. I guess this is called 'being groomed' in contrast to 'farmer'. Notice the work adapt grow thing... They didn't say branch out and get good skills to add to your portfolio ... They say switch field means from zero.

Branching out, is often seen as a problem especially deadweight senior HR. If I have 5 years as HR and 5 years as Finance, hiring manager looks at my profile like... "Why u cannot decide... Why u hop here n there... I can only pay u for relevant experience means.... 5 years worth instead of 10" . Severe tunnel vision. Branching is only ideal if u know, your boss likes you and ask you to consider picking relevant skills as a promise for promotion.

This is so true! I have many yrs of finance experience and abt 4 yrs HR experience in my last role cuz my ex-boss asked me to handle manpower related tasks. Then now recruiters feel i am not specialised and keep changing sides. if i want to continue HR jobs, not enough experience. If i want go back finance, there is a break and they will discount my experience in the last few yrs!

But this is so unfair and silly! Aren't we supposed to learn as much as possible in work and not draw lines? Isn't it better to hire someone who has knowledge outside their usual domain?!

End of Friday... Another work week ended quietly with no phone call and email.

To similar folks in here, let us all pray for better outcome next week.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

End of Friday... Another work week ended quietly with no phone call and email.

To similar folks in here, let us all pray for better outcome next week.

Hello, when you mention no phone calls nor email, i assume you only applied to perm jobs? What about contract roles? do you consider those? or is the market that bad

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello, when you mention no phone calls nor email, i assume you only applied to perm jobs? What about contract roles? do you consider those? or is the market that bad

Not the same person, for me my field (education) the job market is really soft for office jobs. Most people don't really apply selectively for contract or perm jobs. Jobs are mostly applied for based on interest or location. Most Singaporeans know the terms of employment only when we meet a human. We don't really mind because the benefits are likely the same, minus some security.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

This is so true! I have many yrs of finance experience and abt 4 yrs HR experience in my last role cuz my ex-boss asked me to handle manpower related tasks. Then now recruiters feel i am not specialised and keep changing sides. if i want to continue HR jobs, not enough experience. If i want go back finance, there is a break and they will discount my experience in the last few yrs!

But this is so unfair and silly! Aren't we supposed to learn as much as possible in work and not draw lines? Isn't it better to hire someone who has knowledge outside their usual domain?!

Therefore please don't believe all the nonsense spouted by our mass media. Specialization is crucial in the eyes of industry.

But on the flipside, in my industry I am paid for my ability to execute and problem solve, but I am respected for my other knowing of related areas (can't smoke me), so... Not everything can be monetised but it makes my life easier.

With specialization comes money. But with competencies comes respect. If you are a managerial position, respect is pretty important.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

This is so true! I have many yrs of finance experience and abt 4 yrs HR experience in my last role cuz my ex-boss asked me to handle manpower related tasks. Then now recruiters feel i am not specialised and keep changing sides. if i want to continue HR jobs, not enough experience. If i want go back finance, there is a break and they will discount my experience in the last few yrs!

But this is so unfair and silly! Aren't we supposed to learn as much as possible in work and not draw lines? Isn't it better to hire someone who has knowledge outside their usual domain?!

The same person you replied to.

Therefore please don't believe all the nonsense spouted by our mass media. Specialization is crucial in the eyes of industry.

on the flipside, in my industry I am paid for my ability to execute and problem solve, but I am respected for my other knowing of related areas (can't smoke me), so... Not everything can be monetised but it makes my life easier.

With specialization comes money. But with competencies comes respect. If you are a managerial position, respect is pretty important.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello, when you mention no phone calls nor email, i assume you only applied to perm jobs? What about contract roles? do you consider those? or is the market that bad

Hello, same person.
Most of the contract roles in my industry are either not in my line of experience or I'm over qualified.
Actually left my previous job last time for further studies.
But now after completing studies, really stressed by the state of the employment market.
Sometime I wondered if the media did mislead people to think there is better futures and hopes if they upskill. As what I'm experiencing now is the complete opposite.
Now can only be positive, continue to search and pray for miracles.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

But now after completing studies, really stressed by the state of the employment market.
Sometime I wondered if the media did mislead people to think there is better futures and hopes if they upskill. As what I'm experiencing now is the complete opposite.
Now can only be positive, continue to search and pray for miracles.

I think that it is very field specific.

Retail, hospitality, construction is desperate for help, and they pay decently for people with some experience. My friend in construction probation 3.6, upon confirmation 4k. Pte company. He shared his experience saying, a degree is enough, nobody pays for Masters. But they want professional engineer and other specialist cert like project management.

friends in Education, shared that education is flooded with MOE teachers either moonlighting or left service for shorter hours. However MOE seems to be the only employer who employs for office hours and pays well. If one still wants to work office hours, impossibly difficult to find work outside of MOE at their given salary. (think 5 - 6k) The problem is made worse if the Educator completed a higher degree and wants to be paid for it. It seems rarely in education beyond MOE is willing to pay in consideration of a higher degree. However due to industry requirement professional certs like Dace is sought after.

When I was looking for work, many friends who saw that I had a lot of trouble finding work suggested that I hide my Masters. My friends are doing well in private without any higher degree suggest that nobody outside of public service pays people for studying. People are only paid for specialized experience.

I think that our gahmen is panicking as industry 4.0 hit so much faster than anticipated. The only solution which is the problematic solution is to change field. My friends in education visited a career coach, and were advised to take up a job in kindergarten, salary from 5k drop to 2k. Salary aside, all the career coach knows is, it's still education, you should be grateful. Heck, even the career coach all are retirees desperate for a paycheck.

IMHO specialized skills is the way to go. If we are young, tech companies may like unique skills sets, but if nearing 40, tech companies won't look at us anyway, better to master of one.

Same person, replying to above...

Sigh, I also not too sure what went wrong, or maybe is bad timing or bad luck? Or perhaps is like what you have mentioned is field specific?

Some more I further studied to upgrade on new skills/knowledge that is in demand in my field. Not like adding on a 'master' to an existing knowledge that like what you mentioned a bachelor degree is sufficient to get the work done.
So now really kind of shock that things turned out this way.

It is Monday again, another week with new hopes...