Middle management

This week has been stressful on the workfront. Being in middle management sucks. I apologize for pushing you guys hard, but I hope you will understand my position too.

How to get to know Singaporeans (if any) in the Company

1. Get lost amongst the maze-like workspaces. (Trust me, losing your way here is common.)
2. Look at the name tags identifying the occupant on the front of the cubicles.
3. Chance upon a name that sounds Singaporean/Malaysian.
4. Act on a hunch and email that person, if he/she is not at his/her desk.
5. It doesn't matter whether you are right or wrong. Either way, you will make a new friend.
6. Confirm via IM (which goes like this):

Me: "Excuse me, are you Singaporean? Or Malaysian?

He:"Yup to the first one."

M: "Cool! Your name sounds like you were originally from either country."

H: "How did you get my contact?"

M: "oh, I got lost earlier, then i saw your tag. Your name sounds Sporean or Malaysian. Either one."

H: "ok.. it's interesting that you found me."

M: "Yeah, serendipity."

H: "There are only 2 other compatriots here. I hang out with this other guy most of the time. Both of us graduated from MIT."

(I wanted to shout out: "Quitters!", but decided not to as I will be expecting a response in kind. All in good jest of course.)

Again, another small (JC) circle. Again, all guys too. Jialat man!!!

Monastery then, monastery now. Can go bang balls liao

Deemed Exports in Universities, Government Laboratories and Industry

My supervisor has rejected my recommendation for an opening in the group. My friend has an impeccable academic record and excellent research credentials which are very much related to this technology sector.

He was frank with me.

"starting this year, the new policy is not to hire candidates from 'controlled countries...'

I assume that he's from China and on student visa? The key is China, there are many good candidates from china...But there are the US government regulations."

Imagine getting your resume trashed because of your nationality. Situations like this make you thankful (ironically, it applies only outside of the little red dot) for your pink IC, given the USSFTA and our close strategic relationship with Uncle Sam.

On my first day of work, I had to sign an "Export Compliance Agreement for Foreign Hires" to certify that an export license is not required based on my country of citizenship. That also explains why there aren't that many mainlanders here (and they are mostly green card holders).

Are we what we are?

Sorry for being M.I.A. I have been pretty busy at work, and I am trying to make the best out of my weekends.

Anway, this post is about what all fellow scholars (scholars who are receiving the same scholarship as me) have to go through after they return from their studies, before they start work. I was on an 'open' scholarship, so I don't think I can speak for those who are/were not.

For 'open' scholars like me, we can choose to work in any ministry we want (based on our qualifications), as long as those minisitries have vacancies and we perform well during the interviews. However, another key factor that determines where we go lies in the series of psychometric tests and interviews with psychologists. Therefore, even if candidate A indicates Ministry A as his first choice, and Ministry A finds candidate A suitable for the job, candidate A may not be able to go to Ministry A if the psychometric tests and psycholology interviews find candidate A more suitable for other jobs.

Frankly speaking, I don't see how these tests can tell which ministries we will be suitable for. Are these tests fair indicators of what we are able to do? Do they already pre-determine our career paths in the civil service, even before we start work? I shudder to think.

About ScHoLaR

I, ScHoLaR, as my nick suggests, am a returned scholar from overseas. I received the prestigious (debatable) government scholarship some years ago, and I am presently working towards the goal of finishing my bond. I usually don't like people to call me a scholar, but thought that this nick was probably most suitable for this blog, where I could share with others about my experiences (interviews, work, etc). Therefore, for convenience, I shall use the word 'scholar' to describe all scholarship recipients.

I decided to contribute to this blog mainly because Takchek asked me to, but I also thought that it might be interesting for the blogosphere, if bloggers could take a peek at how interviews at various ministries/organs of state were actually conducted, the pressure scholars feel at work, etc.

I'm still thinking about what I could write for the next post. Perhaps something about the first interview I had after I returned to Singapore, or it could be about what I was required to do before my interviews. Any suggestions would be welcomed!

BeforeI pen my future posts, I hope that my readers can excuse me for my grammar and spelling mistakes. I am expected to write in perfect English at work (or risk getting a scolding from my superior), and thus hope that my readers in the blogosphere can give me a break. Also, as I'm constantly being overworked on weekdays (especially after the 5-day-week system started), I probably won't be able to blog that often.

OK, that's about it for my first post. Look out for my next post!

- ScHoLaR