22-04-2012 01:16 AM | ||
blackdragon |
Depends on the environment, but don't get too 'eco-friendly' else: Unemployed 53-year-old Singaporean wtih NUS engineering honours degree turns to scavenging trash to feed his family Unemployed NUS graduate decides to become “Karung guni” man Editorial TR EMERITUS An engineer who was retrenched in 2007 had to resort to scavenging for rubbish to make a living and support his family of 7. 53-year-old Mr Koh is an engineering graduate from NUS with honours. After working for some years, he finally landed himself a top job in a big company in 1993. Subsequently, he worked there for the next 14 years till 2007 when he was laid off. Although the company wrote him a good testimonial, it wasn’t easy for him to find another job. After he was laid off, there was a change in his outlook and he began to centre his life around his family more than his work. He has 4 daughters, ages from 5 to 9. His mother lives with him. Together with his wife and himself, he has to support a family of 7. So, why did Mr Koh decide to get into rag and bone (“karung guni”) business after he was laid off? As jobs were hard to come by especially for people at his age, he said that he wanted to get into eco-friendly business. “Some of the thrown-away electrical appliances only have minor problems. It’s a waste to see them being thrown away. After I repair them and clean them up, they are as good as new.” In fact, the fridge, kettle, fan, etc in his house were all salvaged from the rubbish dumps. He has been picking rubbish for the last 3 years. Every morning, he will get up before the sun is up. Wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, he will be the first to go to the dump sites to look for good items to pick. “I start work at 5am every morning. I will go to the rubbish chutes and HDB corridors to look for discarded items. I have to often endure cold stares from some of the residents.” He recounted that sometimes, some people who saw him pushing a cart of discarded items would immediately cover their noses and avoid him. Others would throw sarcastic remarks at him. “They thought I’m an illiterate who goes around picking disused items. I’m a university graduate!” As to how much Mr Koh is earning from his rag and bone trade, he declined to say. He only said that he makes enough to support his family. Before Mr Koh was retrenched, he disclosed that he was making $8,000 a month with bonus up to 5 months. He said that few months before he was being laid off, he whistle-blew on certain procedures in the company for being not proper. He felt that this might be the reason he was laid off. “On the day I was laid off, it was raining and only 1 person from the company came out to see me off. It was pretty gloomy.” Mr Koh recounted another incident. On one of the mornings, he was pushing his cart of loaded “junks” in a HDB estate at Toh Guan Rd. He stepped away to get his bike for a moment. When he returned, the whole cart and “junks” disappeared. At the time, there was a Bangla cleaner around. Mr Koh saw the Bangla cleaner came out from the utility room. The Bangla denied seeing his cart. When Mr Koh wanted to enter the utility room to check, the Bangla told him there was no key. So, Mr Koh had no choice but to call the police. The police came and asked to see the supervisor. The supervisor came and opened the door to the utility room. Mr Koh’s “missing” cart together with the items were found inside the room. The supervisor after questioning the Bangla cleaner, took out $100 and gave it to Mr Koh, hoping that Mr Koh would let things rest. Mr Koh said, “After being busy for one whole morning, I was insulted by this. I feel very frustrated.” |
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29-03-2012 08:20 PM | ||
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My job isn't too finance centric as back office has non finance function. That's when you be the best at what you do and demand for such pay. |
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29-03-2012 06:31 PM | ||
Unregistered |
Wah... May i know you qualifications? Were you a first class honors engineering graduate.. then you went for finance masters degree?? or you got CFA? Quote:
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29-03-2012 05:56 PM | ||
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28-03-2012 09:40 AM | ||
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I really wonder why there are still sillly engineers standing along production lines in the factories for 2k a month... Work like "s.h.i.t"... Salary also like "s.h.i.t"....... Hope they see the light soon.... |
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28-03-2012 12:11 AM | ||
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28-03-2012 12:09 AM | ||
Unregistered |
I am in the general insurance segment of the Financial service sector. Every project requires insurance coverage. Underwriters are needed to underwriter the risk. Claim handlers are required to handle any loss claim. There is a huge demand for engineering claim and underwriting personnel. Just see how much construction, power plant, infrastructure work, manufacturing plant, factory project in the region esp with rebuilding work in Thailand (flood), Japan (natural diaster) , Malaysia and Vietnam(construction boom and industrial development) Construction underwriter and claim handler require the technical knowledge which is lacking from a non-engineering graduate. Who knows technical engineering stuff better than an engineer himself? Started with a course in diploma in general insurnce from SCI, ANZCII or ACII, or look out for opening such as loss prevention engineer, loss adjustor, risk engineer, engineering underwriting, etc. |
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27-03-2012 10:31 PM | ||
Unregistered |
Wow!! How did you switch field from engineering into finance??!!! Unless you mean you became an financial planner.. then for that anybody can switch.... Or do you really mean that you manage to hop into a bank?? Pls share with us how you managed to find your way... Thks.. Quote:
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27-03-2012 08:52 PM | ||
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26-03-2012 09:01 PM | ||
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Am an civil enginnering graduate and had worked 2 years as an site enginner. Currently in the financial service sector. The trick here is to work a couple of years as an engineer, learn as much as can, ask as many question from the old bird as possible, network with other trades in the course of work, and switch line - either new industry or vertical up. Be mobile and take up new challenges. Most friends continued to work hard in site and earned less than $5k a month. Some moved up to project managers and earning $5-7k a month Some took courses and become lawyer dealing with engineering law suits(Shortage of engineering background legal professional!!!). Some switch to engineering consultancy and earn reasonably good money. Some like me joined the finanical services, enjoyed good work life balance , and earned as much as the business and account graduates rumoured to have long working hours... ... |
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