Transition of career

WTF?

You actually quit airforce without even getting a job interview or know what to do? Even if there is a job that pay well + work life balance + good prospect, you also cannot get in. Bro, you are in serious trouble…

Originally Posted by ZoOq

Yes, AFE. Anyway, too late. Its my last day since 3rd May. Lol. Yup I do agree I made a very daring move. But no choice, when u know very well you can't see yourself staying in SAF in 10-20 yrs time. So its better to move out of the industry fast before I am tied down with more commitments and afterall this vocation is a diploma job. The only way to get your degree be part of my salary component is to be emplace to officer (ME4). However, the criteria of getting one emplaced for the log career path to be a ME4 is unless you are the top 5% of top performer in the sqn and the degree is local recognized uni with relevant field which means somehow you need to be "eyeball". If not, the nature progression of career path for AFE can be quite slow if you are a average player. I am just a average player with a overseas uni degree.

Hence, back to work in SAF is definitely irreversible for my current situation. To be frank, I am ok to start off as a fresh grad. As normal degree fresh grad is ard age 24 for JC path, age 25 or 26 for poly path. Becoz I choose to settle down my marriage before I leave SAF, thats y ended up at age 28 now. So just take it as I am 2 - 3 yrs behind a normal fresh grad. However, I need more expertise and opinions from you guys that you all have accumulated throughout urs career which you best fit my situation and I can explore into. something to do with soft skills or sales that you guys out there are having gd prospect and gd job nature. Keen to share?

[hopeful]

61K PA package based on a 15mth package works out to over 4k per month. Im surprised that the airforce have adjusted its pay package to be so good for MDES specialist scheme (ME3 and below).

During my time its was called the PP1 and PP2 scheme where the salary is way too low which cause a serious outflow of regulars to take a chance in the private sector, Im one of them.

To be honest, I really struggle for sometime and quite depressed seeing all my friends doing quite well compared to me. If I have 61k pay package last time, I would definately stay on and think twice before leaving.

ME4 is where everybody is aiming to be but it's super competitive due to the current poor job market.

Originally Posted by hopeful

61K PA package based on a 15mth package works out to over 4k per month. Im surprised that the airforce have adjusted its pay package to be so good for MDES specialist scheme (ME3 and below).

During my time its was called the PP1 and PP2 scheme where the salary is way too low which cause a serious outflow of regulars to take a chance in the private sector, Im one of them.

To be honest, I really struggle for sometime and quite depressed seeing all my friends doing quite well compared to me. If I have 61k pay package last time, I would definately stay on and think twice before leaving.

ME4 is where everybody is aiming to be but it's super competitive due to the current poor job market.

Yar I also think the pay for ME is very good nowadays. But our TS here want to get a job that is good for him to start family, got very good future prospect and yet pay him close to 61k. I really cant think of any company that will pay this sort of money to someone no relevant experience and spend 8 years in RSAF as specialist.

[haiz1234]

Congrats to you TS.. Really a wrong move...

Actually u can try taking up contract jobs in banks back office
Those like 3mths to 1 year kind. They pay quite well as they don't give u benefits that perm staff are entitled to.

Got a friend no banking experience. Change from marine industry, currently getting 3.5k pm.
But job stability might be an issue la. U got to start from these little opportunities.

All is not lost. I think working as sales is exchanging your time for money. You see what kind of life u wan to lead then you decide for yourself. Sometimes if u divide the dollar per hour earned you might have a better picture how much u are actually paid.

@ZoOq : You screwed up big time resigning without back up, no questions about it. But what is done is done, time to move on.

For a start if you are into banking sales, join as a contractor doing sales on credit cards, insurance, personal credit etc. These low level jobs are outsourced by the banks, so don't waste your time applying under each individual bank website. Instead go register and upload your CV to a few big recruitment agents who can contract you to the banks.

Some big names you can google yourself:
1. Addecco
2. Talent2
3. Kelly Commercial
4. Recruit Express
5. Achieve
6. Manpower
7. GMP

As for prospect, the contract job itself has limited development or advancement opportunity, but if you are good there is always a chance after a few years the banks themselves are willing to offer you employment instead of working under the agent.

On pay matters, 61k is a big no no, but with luck maybe you can get a package that is 35k – 40k inclusive of basic and all bonuses/incentives. But as contractors of course the benefit like insurance, medical, leave etc will be pathetic compared to what RSAF can offer.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Fundx

On pay matters, 61k is a big no no, but with luck maybe you can get a package that is 35k – 40k inclusive of basic and all bonuses/incentives. But as contractors of course the benefit like insurance, medical, leave etc will be pathetic compared to what RSAF can offer.

Now pay so good?

When I join DBS 2 years ago on contract doing branch sales pay was not that good - got a pte degree from Curtin and joined them on contract. Basic pay only 2.2k and quarterly incentive 1.5 to 2k, annual all-in confirm below 35k.

if the money is no good no matter what you choose, do what you love since you got nothing to lose.

hey it rhymes - it must be good advice!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Now pay so good?

When I join DBS 2 years ago on contract doing branch sales pay was not that good - got a pte degree from Curtin and joined them on contract. Basic pay only 2.2k and quarterly incentive 1.5 to 2k, annual all-in confirm below 35k.

2k incentive quarterly? meaning u got around 8k of incentive annually right?
after few years the basic pay should be much better?

While reading some of the threads here, I realised that there is this misconception that private sector pays better if you work hard. This is not true because

1) You don't necessary earn much more in private sector if you calculate by per hour.

2) It is NOT TRUE that you can succeed in private sector even with lousy results. Whether you are in the private or public sector, the keyword is network.

3) Private sector generally don't pay well unless you are talking about banking, sales & marketing or oil&gas. Otherwise your salary progression is more or less same as public sector and the overall package evens out in the long run.

4) Some skills are more worthless than the others. For logistics, no matter where you go, it is hard to break the 10K mark unless you go into management, which then leads to point 2 - network.

5) It is not easy to jump in the private sector too. If you are lousy, it is obvious.