Laidback, not lazy?

I am not sure why, during such terrible economic climate like this would financial planners be actively employing. I mean who is really gonna spend money on investments products at this climate? Many of those who has got buckets of cash to burn might, but ordinary folks are definitely spending much more time thinking about how wisely to spend their money. And I think unless you have a keen interest in educating the public on financial planning and not purely interested in the amount of wealth it can bring to yourself, it is an avenue to explore. Otherwise, I think its just going to be a really demoralizing and time-wasting experience – as a career path.

Personally, I am a believer of insurance and financial planning. I am keen to know how my money can grow at supernormal rates that can compensate me for the inflation that makes me poorer as time goes by. I want to be like Robert Kiyosaki, to have money working for me instead of me working for money. I want to be secure and have a comfortable retirement after 30 years of working. Who doesn’t want them, anyway.

But I simply cannot bring myself to listen on to what financial planners has to offer me. Its such a turn off most of the times. While they take pains to explain to you what their plan A and plan B can do for you, the bottomline is still – they are merely salesmen. To my dear financial planners out there, to really be a good one, I honestly think you should know how to draw the line between good marketing and hard selling. Its such a turn off when its all written from your words and actions that all you want is for me to sign on that freaking dotted lines and get myself committed for the next 25 years of my life. And I’ve grown to believe that hardselling is the reason why when Lehman collapse, so many people who could retire rich found themselves poorer by half.

I know some of my friends who are doing really fantastic as financial planners. I really have no prejudice against the proffesion. I once was inspired to be one, to share knowledge on how to plan one’s finances and how different instruments (of course with varying level of risk) can be balanced and make your money grow. But at the end of the day, I am not a sales person material. I am not one who loves working towards quota and statistics… I believe in being nice and let people have things their way. Thats why I prefer being in the service sector than the sales proffession anytime!

***

Recently since my graduation, I have had several offers from financial institutions. One of my friends were doing pretty well, he has went on to set up his own agency and training his agents. He did approach me to join him but I politely declined. Which he respected and have never bugged me again. See, how nice things can be when we respect what each other wants!

One company called me up for an interview once. The position was “Business Development Manager”. So I thought I could give it a try. BUt the catch was this – the company was really dubious. They made no mention of the company’s name when they called me for an interview. Then they do not want to reveal their company’s location to me. They told me their company is at Fuji Xerox Tower and I can call them when I reach the lobby. What nonsense? After a long hesitation, I called the company and the poor HR girl reluctantly revealed that yeah, it is a financial planning position. I pulled out from the interview 10 minutes before the apppointment was up. You see, I was really afraid, once I enter the office, I couldn’t make it out alive!

At the education fair, I met this guy. He probably owns an agnecy himself and was out on prowl for new agents. He started his blah blah blahs on me and asked for my contacts to go to some seminar. Fortunately for me, before the seminar was up I already found a job. But he was not very polite after that I feel. While he did not blow up at me (and he has no rights to), his words were peppered with sarcasms. I told him I am now very pre-occupied with my present commitments to think too far ahead and will be giving this seminar a miss. He went on blabbering that I should have some dreams and what nots. Then I said, I am a very laid back person by nature. And he freaking retorted “You sure you are laid-back, not lazy?” WALAU EH!! Angry leh! Lesson: Some people just don’t deserve to be treated nicely. You got to yell at them sometimes!

***

Seriously after writing so much, I am still positive about financial planning. The product is good, but the planner really need to have the customers’ interest at heart and not the dollars and sense that he/she can get out of it.This is one reason why I would really stick to one whom I am most comfortable with.

Hardselling is so passe. Don’t let it eat into your character. It pisses people off – in EVERY way! From being a potential customer, to being a potential employee; I just think this industry has so much spring cleaning to be done about its projected image.

At the end of the day, its a long term commitment.

The customer has to wait some years before he break even. And the shorter the term to achieve higher returns, the higher the risk. And before future returns become a reality, he is gonna make an immediate loss (due to all the admin fee) once he sign on the dotted line.

Other than harping on the posibility of financial freedom to every potential agents out there, kindly find some kindness in your heart to understand that the new agent is going to eat grass for the first few months. The going is be damn freaking tough and there’s no freaking guarantee on financial freedom – so don’t harp on it. Respect the fact that even in financial planning, there’s this thing called JOB FIT. Oh I forgot, seriously even if the agent is gonna eat grass for the first few months doesn’t really matter to the management. The poor agent with no basic pay gets by with little commission in his initial years, but the sales that he gather benefits the agency no matter what. -DUH!-

Redefining My Path

How was the IT show over the weekends? It was madness! The craziest thing of it all, was dearest Suety was there for all 4 days! She went through the maddening crowd four times over, as if she loved swimming in the sea of human beings.

But luckily, it was for good reason. On Day One, she has not planned to go there. But since she had dinner at Marina Square, might as well ‘drop by’ and see what good stuff there are in the IT show. On Day Two, she was there to get research materials – grabbing all brochures she can find to compare specs and prices. On Day Three, she was all ready to grab all that she has planned to grab! But time was too tight, therefore on Day Four, she has to make an extra trip there to settle the final item.

So loot items consist of 1) Dell 17″ laptop at $1,700; 2) Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS at $319; 3) SingNet Mobile Broadband for $xx (I totally have no idea how much was paid, coz it wasn’t me who paid!!); 4) Canon Pixma MX700 Printer; 5) Free dining vouchers at Fish and Co; 6) A whole lot of freebies from Canon.

Seriously, I didn’t pay for all the items there, but I did queue up to get them! And dammit, I realised none of the items are for myself!! WTH!! (I hereby declare myself insane!) The queuing process has been so exhausting. You practically queue to get the goods, queue to pay for the goods, queue to get from level 1 to level 2 to level 3 to level 4 and then to level 6. Recession? Who says there’s recession? Singaporeans just need a good reason/excuse/sale to get the cash out of their wallets!

***
A good news to share, everybody.

Suety’s job hunt is over! Got a job in a small local co, doing admistrative duties. Today is my first day.

It all started with a very embarassing interview session. The interviewer offered me a handshake. As I was reaching out to shake his hands and standing up from the sofa, my heels got caught on the carpet and I almost fell flat back on the sofa! Luckily the handshake saved me from further disgrace.

But the interview went well also because the bosses were really friendly. They were warm and not intimidating. So I guess it was easier to speak in that kind of situation.

The first day has been great! Lots to catch up in terms of system, processes and procedures. I hope I get the hang of it soon. The first few days of work at anywhere usually make me feel like I am an old fart – terrible slow in catching the flow, blur, bountiful errors and utterly useless. But so far, I sure hope I catch up well. Its the first day after all, right?

So hell yea, I am employed and I am counting down to pay day!

p/s: I realise I don’t know when’s pay day! LOL!

Its already March, huh?

So time flies. We usually say this when we have accomplished too little for a particular timeframe. Its already March, darlings! Whats your plans for the Summer season of 2009? Its still raining sometimes and scorching hot at other days. So I guess its important to have some rainy day plans even if you’ve scheduled for a sun-tanning session.

So whats Suety up these days? nothing much really. well, my blog sorta explains it right? Although there were days when some really intriguing thoughts fill my head when I was ’stoned’ at the cafe waiting for time to pass. But alas, when great thoughts fill my head, I am always lacking my laptop or my notepad. So I think the Nobel Prize is destined to elude me. LOL!

I’ve been quite a homebody of late. Finally completed my assignment at Tuas. So no more Tuas for me! Yeay! Although this really means a total lacking of income for me, I was glad to say goodbye to Tuas. I will miss the people there for sure, but I think thats about it. Sad huh.

My mum was going about saying that people these days are pampered. We are really choosy these days because we are not desperate enough. and blah blah blah .. – Well, she is really hinting something la! hahah! But well, I think there’s much more to her superficial theory. Decision making is sometimes not as straightforward as that. But then I can’t deny, sometimes it is really shitty because IT IS AS STRAIGHTFORWARD as that… So I can only count my lucky stars and pray hard the heavenly ones to shower more blessings unto me. Well, lucky stars are needed, becuase I believe if there’s a hotline 1800-Heaven, its gonna be damn hot! especially after the collapse of Lehman.

So its gonna be Monday tomorrow. Lets all hope for more good news to come!!

1600, 1 year and 3 months

As a student who graduated from the …  errmmm …. 4th university of Singapore, I am proud to have done my course there. Yes, I agree that doing a offshore degree programme might probably not add much value into my resume, especially in such trying times like this. Its a employers market these days, they say. Where employers have a no short of candidates for positions available. And every year there are hordes of fresh graduates from the public and private education sectors.

So, this is the reality of the ‘knowledge based’ economy in a way. We all own some kind of paper, but we do not have any specialty skills to save our lives in desperate times like this. Upon graduation, graduates are not surprisingly looking for jobs which ’suit’ their qualifications. But this is not wrong, because I don’t see why one would want to invest so much studying just to get a job which pays much lower than their contemporaries. We all want to strive towards better living, don’t we? Of course, being practical and feeding ourselves is another story altogether.

Back to me being proud of coming from SIM. There’s no end if one starts comparing NUS. NTU. SMU, SIM, MDIS, MIS, etc etc etc…. The course structure, emphasis, delivery, environment differs from one place to another. So why compare? Whether the degree works for you, really depends on whether you make it work for yourself. You show people what you are made of. While an impression is formed after they see the label ‘SIM’, you prove to them whether you are worthy of an oppurtunity.*So sorry to deviate, this point reminds me of a classmate of mine who used to complain incessantly bout how inferior SIM is compared to xxxx..*

I went to this educational institution for an interview last couple of days. Upon stepping into the building, I am really happier to be in SIM. There’s a more “corporate” feel to SIM – one where I would be proud to be associated with for ‘professional upgrading’ espeically if i am working. This place I been to offer degree courses for working adults as well, but the bright and colourful environment, brings me back to a very ‘children’ sort of environment.

But its ok. I did not let that affect me a lot. Becuase a building is but a building. Its the people you work with that will determine whether your life will be good or suck there. Haha!

So I was there waiting and waiting, filling up tons of forms till my right hand wanna cramp. Finally, Miss HR came to meet me. She was warm and friendly and I liked her immediately. So we chatted. She asked if I would love to try working in the HR field, starting from an entry level as a HR assistant. I responded enthusiastically.

Almost immediately, her manager came out to interview me. (errmm.. I suppose that was called 2nd interview?) She was a very warm and cheerful person. She briefly mentioned the job scope to me, and shared with me the magic number – 1600 Singapore Dollars per month. I would be required to work from like 845am to 630pm everyday and alternate Saturdays. Well, personally I can imagine why that pay for that position, but I couldn’t accept it. Its like a HUGE pay cut from my previous job and the working hours is so damn long! OMG! She ask if I needed time to think, I said that would be great. So off I went and seriously think bout this job. I was really on the verge of saying yes out of desperation for a pay cheque.

It was about 2 days later that the agent (whom I got this job from) spoke to me and shared with me that there was a 1 year contract. I was so shocked. I mean, after talking to 3 nice ladies, how could anyone not tell me such an important TnC? That means I cannot accept this job just for the sake of keeping myself from being hungry. I MUST STAY FOR A YEAR. If not I gotto pay x months of salary.

Then that night, I happened to know a friend who was working there. (I bumped into him at that place, therefore had a short chat with him on Facebook.) He shared with me bout the 1 year contract and a minimum requirement of 3 MTHS notice period to be served in event of resignation. I almost faint!! Who in the world plans to quit 3 months ahead? The only people I know are those who belonged to the higher managements – people who are way above my level in an organization.

Honestly, I may have expected a little too much for a entry level job like this. And its always a good policy to accept the job only when you are committed to delivering your best for the organisation and path a routh for your personal growth. But I did not like that way this whole thing was being handled.

The agent went back and forth between me and the company. I asked if the pay could be negotiated. The final answer was the pay stays at 1600 but the company decide to waive the contract. But I was quite decided on not accepting this position, therefore i declined this offer, telling her that I appreciate her help and that I do not wish to waste everybody’s time and effort since I am not committed. Then, she asked me to reconsider. One thing she said kind of ‘hooked’ me. She said, since the company is willing to waive the contract, I should give it some thoughts. plus ecomomy bad, not easy to find a job of this offer these days… etc etc… If I don’t stay for 1 year, its ok. Stay at least 3 months…. and the rest of what she said sort of trailed off…

Suddenly it dawned upon me that she is not working for my interest AT ALL … Even though she knows I bring with me some years of work experience and is a graduate. If you don’t get the drift, let me explain. In some recruitment assignments, agents only get to earn the commission if the candidate stay on with the co for 3 mths or when they are confirmed. I feel as an agent, she could probably find me some other jobs she have which might suit me better? or find someone else who suit this position better? Not just pushing a square block into a round hole, trying to close the deal and get her dollars!!

OMG… I am so curious bout what the HR is thinking. Did they really expect me to stay loyal with them with such amount? And they really think the 1 year contract is a good way to retain staffs? And the 3 mths notice period is really ridiculous for an entry level position! And to think they are a learning centre for Management studies and quite an established one as well.

In all honesty, I may have agreed to this job really. but one shocker after another just didn’t help. Thats why, I loved SIM to bits after this incident!

Good things, Bad things and nothings

Funny title I thought of. I was reading a report from MSN about S’pore Grand Prix hiking the price of the corporate tickets this year. Per corporate tickets are going to cost between SGD 5,000 to 8,000. Not like it will affect me really, but a sentence caught my attention:

The worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s has accelerated since late last year, leaving the city-state and other key global economies in recession.

Sigh.

This is not news already I know. But its kinda affecting my life slowly and surely. But just like how my grandparents are proud to have stories bout how they survive the great depression in the 30s, I am at least going to have a story to tell my grandchildren about how I (am going to) survive a depression greater than my grandparents! LOL! *smug*

Its leaving me in a vacation which is longer than expected now. The question remains – is accounting for me? Haha! Yes, since long ago I have been thinking through this question. I have come to a conclusion. I dread balancing the sheet and adjusting the journals. After doing bookkeeping for some time, I have learnt to appreciate the importance of accounting but not developed a passion for it. So much being said bout passion and what not, it seems to be possibly the most practical route currently to earn some savings and get on with life. Passion, in times of war, is a luxury that not many can afford.

I have learnt one thing about where my passion lies though. I think I belong to the service industry. Yes, i will curse and swear at the demanding and unreasonable ones, but I love making life nice for others, seeing them smile and leave satisfied. – Sigh – the only draw back, the pay is really shitty in that sector.

Anyway, today I spent my day shopping! It really feels so good to buy nice things, bring them home and continue admiring them! Pretty pretty stuff I got! But just too bad, they are not mine to keep. Thats why I can’t divulge too much here. I went to a shop I would not really go in usually and the place wow me! The things wow me even more!! Ok, thats as much as I can say now.

But alas, life goes on. We strive to make everyday a better one than yesterday. As we grow older, we learnt to take a step at a time but look 3 steps and plan 5 steps ahead. We cry to appreciate laughter. We laugh to celebrate surviving tearful moments. We grow along the way. Becuase if we do not grow, we die.

Job Hunting has been Fun… LOL!

I guess its only recently that I started to do some serious job hunting. LOL! With the Recruit section getting more and more boring each week, I’ve been spending more time searching on the web.

I think I highly recommend – Jobstreet.com. All you got to do is to fill up your resume and you can send out to various companies. Of coz if you can amend the details of the resume and tailor it according to the prospective company. Upon applying successfully, some statistics will be presented to you – like how many pple applied for the same job; how many are higher qualified than yourself and how many lower.

They will also show you the status of the job – whether is it vacant or filled. Also, they will alert you if you have been invited for an interview. Finally they will update the status of the interview on your portal, whether it has been successful, or a better candidate has been chosen. But also take caution that failure to turn up for interview might get yourself blacklisted!

Such a cool portal right!! I guess why it appeals to me is becuase it is not a recruitment agency’s website. When you click on ‘Apply’, you are actually applying directly to the advertiser / company. I felt that this seems to be more transparent, compared to applying via agencies and waiting and waiting and waiting…..

After a long while, I got an alert today for an interview!! Yeay!! Good luck to me huh! But I shan’t disclose too much of the company. I am just hoping to keep my fingers crossed and you’ll know when time comes.

Anyway, this interview oppurtunity came from Jobstreet. When a prospective employer invites a applicant for an interview, an SMS will sent to alert the applicant. Details will be sent to the email address. Then the applicant can reply via the email or logon to the portal to confirm the appointment date or time, or request for a change of date/time. How cool is that, man!!

Oh… I am so amazed that the portal is making use of such intelligence!! So impressed! LOL!

***

Speaking of all this applying for jobs, I think it is actually quite a hassle to log in every other companies website and type in the same thing every time. The lengthy filling in of details is not very productive hor… -sigh- but can’t be help if you want a job la.

Thats why (I am gonna praise Jobstreet again) its so nice when you have a single portal that allows you to use the ’saved’ resume and just click on ‘apply’ when you see something that interest you!!

Whats the most interesting thing I came across so far? One company actually requires me to answer an essay question (within 2000 characters) in order to complete the application. Interesting huh! And its quite challenging writing within 2000 characters, coz anything more, I will not be able to submit my application.

Job hunting these days really take on a different dimension!