To those who leave family behind to work overseas....

[Mazdaowner]

Surprise turn of event..... I was offered a job in government linked agency with salary that could match my current salary, which is beyond my expectation due to lack of paper qualification. They accepted me because the one who appraise me knows me way back and he was the one who chio me to join. However, it is contract based (2 years). I was assured that ALL staff nowadays are on contract basis. Even my wife who is a nurse says so, though she is not in such scheme.... What do you guys think of contract basis? First time embarking on such scheme.... The word "contract" don't dwell in me at all. Feel insecure.

 

Never dwell well with CONTRACT, suggest you go careful on the T&C, specially if the renewal is pegged to performance which is appraised.

[VellfireS]

I had to spend about 250 SGD oneway taxi to Narita Airport (of course company reimbursed every time). Tokyo is damn expensive lah...Be careful with your numbers!

 

Haha.. Their train also not bad.. I took the Narita Express.. Wow.. [thumbsup]

 

[Sosaria]

Surprise turn of event..... I was offered a job in government linked agency with salary that could match my current salary, which is beyond my expectation due to lack of paper qualification. They accepted me because the one who appraise me knows me way back and he was the one who chio me to join. However, it is contract based (2 years). I was assured that ALL staff nowadays are on contract basis. Even my wife who is a nurse says so, though she is not in such scheme.... What do you guys think of contract basis? First time embarking on such scheme.... The word "contract" don't dwell in me at all. Feel insecure.

 

Civil or public service? Their contract is more secure than private companies. In fact, you should ask, after the first contract, will the second contract be for a longer period?

 

Their HR will always say that the "contract" is just like permanent job, except you have to renew as it comes up!

 

And it's true - in both good and bad ways. In private sector, if you serve out your contract term, you may get some form of gratuity or lump-sum payment (?), and the benefits are better to compensate for the risks. Not so in the civil or public service sector. Your salary, benefits, etc. continue as per normal progression in a permanent job.

 

For civil or public service, contract benefits are not really that much different from those offered for permanent (in those days)..... you sign and sign multiple renewals, but always on the same terms, in continuation. It's not like, for example, pro footballer, before you sign a new contract, you can "bang table" and negotiate for better terms on the new agreement!! The so-called "contract" for renewal is, often times, just a couple of lines, where you agree to "continue" for a period of X years. That's it.

Edited September 22, 2012 by Sosaria

[Sosaria]

Never dwell well with CONTRACT, suggest you go careful on the T&C, specially if the renewal is pegged to performance which is appraised.

 

The performance appraisal is very wayang, wayang lah... Everybody, superiors included, are too busy, to conduct proper appraisal.

 

Just make sure you take up at least one or two ongoing large projects so you have something important and notable to write in your own appraisal. Be on the good books of the superiors by not refusing any assignment - regardless of how well you do it (or not!), your good attitude in accepting cheerfully is deemed more important!

 

Appraisal sure okay one...

[Tjkbeluga]

Civil or public service? Their contract is more secure than private companies. In fact, you should ask, after the first contract, will the second contract be for a longer period?

 

Their HR will always say that the "contract" is just like permanent job, except you have to renew as it comes up!

 

And it's true - in both good and bad ways. In private sector, if you serve out your contract term, you may get some form of gratuity or lump-sum payment (?), and the benefits are better to compensate for the risks. Not so in the civil or public service sector. Your salary, benefits, etc. continue as per normal progression in a permanent job.

 

For civil or public service, contract benefits are not really that much different from those offered for permanent (in those days)..... you sign and sign multiple renewals, but always on the same terms, in continuation. It's not like, for example, pro footballer, before you sign a new contract, you can "bang table" and negotiate for better terms on the new agreement!! The so-called "contract" for renewal is, often times, just a couple of lines, where you agree to "continue" for a period of X years. That's it.

 

It's a stat board funded research institute...

Other than stated that it is on 2 years renewal, all the benefits, promotion, appraisal, increment looks just like a perm staff. HR said that best case for super performing staff will get oen ended contract, which means contract with no expiry. Also, the is no graduity at the end of contract.

[Canceria]

Have been reading your posts. My guess is that u will have huge culture shock if u move from private to public sector. To the extreme end, this may be the worst decision u have made in life. No matter GLC, stat boards or agencies, scholars come first. The rest of the people are just there to support their decision, be it good or bad ones. The only upside I can think of is the stability. Just my opinion. All the best.

[Tjkbeluga]

Have been reading your posts. My guess is that u will have huge culture shock if u move from private to public sector. To the extreme end, this may be the worst decision u have made in life. No matter GLC, stat boards or agencies, scholars come first. The rest of the people are just there to support their decision, be it good or bad ones. The only upside I can think of is the stability. Just my opinion. All the best.

Quiting my current company is not the matter of if, rather, it's the matter of when. I've been rotting there for over a year. You may be right about making the wrong decision of not joining the Japanese company though. Had I been single, it would have been a no brained.... I would have undoubtedly gone to Japan. Another reason for me to station is so that I could take up some easy part time degree just to get the paper qualification. I don't think I'd want to compete with the scholars.... I know my limit.... I just hope I can have my development space and a boss that don't breath down my neck...

[Tjkbeluga]

Have been reading your posts. My guess is that u will have huge culture shock if u move from private to public sector. To the extreme end, this may be the worst decision u have made in life. No matter GLC, stat boards or agencies, scholars come first. The rest of the people are just there to support their decision, be it good or bad ones. The only upside I can think of is the stability. Just my opinion. All the best.

I had my culture shock 5 years ago when I came back from Japan. Back in Japan, work is like family, pace is fast and I get a lot of exposure. Coming back here, pace is slow and people here just treat job like a 9 to 5 job, totally switch off and none-of-my-business attitude. That's why I yearn to rejoin all these while. However, going back to Japan has it's downside too. Besides family commitment issue, my health fondled in just one year of my stay there 5 years ago. Work there is really cheong all the way. I really don't know how much more I can cheong there.

 

All I can say is that I'm choosing the lesser of the 2 evil for now....

[Jchuacl]

If you like hectic life ,then you should have tried the IT banking sector,pay will be better with opportunities for lateral moves as well.

 

Government sector may piss you off as you have been in the private sector.

 

I had my culture shock 5 years ago when I came back from Japan. Back in Japan, work is like family, pace is fast and I get a lot of exposure. Coming back here, pace is slow and people here just treat job like a 9 to 5 job, totally switch off and none-of-my-business attitude. That's why I yearn to rejoin all these while. However, going back to Japan has it's downside too. Besides family commitment issue, my health fondled in just one year of my stay there 5 years ago. Work there is really cheong all the way. I really don't know how much more I can cheong there.

 

All I can say is that I'm choosing the lesser of the 2 evil for now....

 

[Mazdaowner]

Eyh, can you stop moving or not, damn irritating leh. STOP CAN OR NOT!!

[Tjkbeluga]

IT scope very wide le.... Banking/enterprise IT is the most lucrative, its not my cup of tea...

[Adrianlim13]

u wanna quit becos ur are damn lobo now

[Tjkbeluga]

simi lobo... are you a 13 year old?

[Jchuacl]

I know it's wide,otherwise I won't mention abt lateral movement.

Kind of strange that you are not willing to consider local positions that offers more pay but is willing to consider overseas posting.

 

IT scope very wide le.... Banking/enterprise IT is the most lucrative, its not my cup of tea...

 

[Gendut]

I know it's wide,otherwise I won't mention abt lateral movement.

Kind of strange that you are not willing to consider local positions that offers more pay but is willing to consider overseas posting.

 

Typical SInkie thinking. Everything revovles around $$.

[Tjkbeluga]

I know it's wide,otherwise I won't mention abt lateral movement.

Kind of strange that you are not willing to consider local positions that offers more pay but is willing to consider overseas posting.

To me, yes, money is important but also the area of my interest is equally important. Some of you may ask, "yea, as if joining gov will be any good to my passion.". Thing is, it so happen this job position is in my area of expertise and interest, which is very rare in Singapore. That's why I made the tough choice of giving up the Japan offer.

[Jchuacl]

May I know what area is that? intrusion detection or other security related stuffs ?

 

To me, yes, money is important but also the area of my interest is equally important. Some of you may ask, "yea, as if joining gov will be any good to my passion.". Thing is, it so happen this job position is in my area of expertise and interest, which is very rare in Singapore. That's why I made the tough choice of giving up the Japan offer.

 

[Tjkbeluga]

In a way yes.... Anyway, I have decided to stay put in Singapore for now. Told my Japan boss to let me have a try here and he was so mad at me that he refuse to talk to me now.... Understandably, he felt betrayed. It's a hard time for them at the moment.

1) Product not selling well due to bad economy and expensive yen

2) Supporting industry also either consolidating, died or changed focus. As such, it is to tough to make new products at the moment.

 

Anyway, it's my 3rd day here. Work scope is fine and manageable but then feels like Neo before unplugged.... Huge office and everyone don't really interact with each other and just do their own things.... I was talking to my preceptors and I could see a guy cleaning the window outside, really reminds me of a scene in Matrix...

 

Anyway, luckily I decided to leave my previous company. Just 3 weeks ago, major software vendor has announced EOL for one of the bread and butter product. This will affect 30 - 40% of their sales...

Edited October 4, 2012 by Tjkbeluga