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[TD="class: msgtxt"][h=2]Email Interview with a 30-Year-Old Ex-teacher[/h]Hi Gilbert,
http://www.transitioning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/teacher-21.jpgI chanced upon your website helping fellow Singaporeans to overcome their unemployment issues. I have been seeking job opportunities after leaving the educational sector 1.5 years ago but so far nothing has being fruitful. I have taught primary school students for a short season but left the profession as I could not manage the stifling expectations.
It seems that we ex-teachers are only relevant in the educational sector. We are not given much opportunity for jobs that lie out of that industry.
I wondered if I could arrange an appointment with your volunteer career counsellor to have a better understanding of my current employability status? I am rather lost now and do need someone to point me the right direction. Thanks alot.
Jenny
****************
We have conducted an email interview with Jenny (not her real name):-
1. Why are you currently unemployed? Is it because of a retrenchment or resignation?
With good intention of carving a niche in the educational sector, I joined MOE in the hope of educating students after doing tuition for a number of years. However, the heavy workload and the frantic lifestyle of a school teacher made me wondered if I am suitable to carry on this career. My fellow colleagues and Principal also agreed that I should reconsider my option of enrolling into NIE training. I gladly accept their advice.
As I move on from teaching, I encountered various rejections. I have tried sending resumes for any possible positions that match my qualification. I have a bachelor of art degree from a local university. It’s mainly for administrative positions and teaching positions in tuition centres. There’s no reply for administrative positions, instead I only get several interviews as a tutor. This was often for the position of a freelancer with no promise of a stable income and prospect.
2. How long are you jobless and how many interviews did you attend during this period?
I have been out of the work force for 1.5 years and that actually makes me worried as the longer it is the more redundant I might become.. I did not have much interview sessions - less than ten in the span of 1.5 years. Rather discouraging and depressing.
3. Do your family or friends support you while you are looking for work? Are you married or single?
Glad that my family is rather forgiving at times, even though they are very anxious for me.
Though sometimes they would blame me..as they believe I have created my pitfall by quitting the teaching profession midway…
I think they are really stressed to see me clueless. I’m planning to get married and hope that I be less of a financial burden. As I decide to set up a family, guess its also good for me to be more financially stable. Currently, I support myself by giving home tuition. Fortunately, they do pay for my daily expenses which meant alot to me.
My friends, on the other hand, are giving me a hard time as they are all happily working away and do not really understand my current situation. You will be surprised how good friends can literally jeer at you and wondered why you can stay jobless for so long in a buoyant economy. That is why I have shy away from meeting them up recently.
Some friends have also obstracised me by avoiding my company as now I don’t have much purchasing power. It really opens my eyes wide as to who are my true friends now.
4. What are several obstacles that you face while job searching?
There’s no reply from my applications – deafening silence – thats the most frightening. Rather lost also on how to keep myself relevant to the current market demand. Clueless is the word.
5. How are you coping during this period? What are some of the things that you do to ensure that you are thriving during this period?
Can’t deny the fact that at times I would feel very blue…with the sign of hopelessness creeping in.
I try to stay upbeat by listening to my favourite songs and reading. I guess it’s the listlessness that can be unbearable at times…I intent to take up a hobby soon, but worry about the expenses though.
6. Do you think that the influx of foreigners are currently affecting your job search?
Well, I think that the influx of foreigners, to some extent, will heighten the level of competition among jobseekers. As the labour market reaches a global stage, the boundaries are removed and there will be better candidates presented to employers. As an employer, they will want the best candidate even if the person is from another country. Singaporeans might need to push themselves to be more marketable or else anyone could be easily replaced these days. That’s my opinion. I do not have any statistics backing me up though.
PS: We have linked Jenny up with our volunteer career coach Helen – Gilbert
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[TD="class: msgtxt"][h=2]Email Interview with a 30-Year-Old Ex-teacher[/h]Hi Gilbert,
http://www.transitioning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/teacher-21.jpgI chanced upon your website helping fellow Singaporeans to overcome their unemployment issues. I have been seeking job opportunities after leaving the educational sector 1.5 years ago but so far nothing has being fruitful. I have taught primary school students for a short season but left the profession as I could not manage the stifling expectations.
It seems that we ex-teachers are only relevant in the educational sector. We are not given much opportunity for jobs that lie out of that industry.
I wondered if I could arrange an appointment with your volunteer career counsellor to have a better understanding of my current employability status? I am rather lost now and do need someone to point me the right direction. Thanks alot.
Jenny
****************
We have conducted an email interview with Jenny (not her real name):-
1. Why are you currently unemployed? Is it because of a retrenchment or resignation?
With good intention of carving a niche in the educational sector, I joined MOE in the hope of educating students after doing tuition for a number of years. However, the heavy workload and the frantic lifestyle of a school teacher made me wondered if I am suitable to carry on this career. My fellow colleagues and Principal also agreed that I should reconsider my option of enrolling into NIE training. I gladly accept their advice.
As I move on from teaching, I encountered various rejections. I have tried sending resumes for any possible positions that match my qualification. I have a bachelor of art degree from a local university. It’s mainly for administrative positions and teaching positions in tuition centres. There’s no reply for administrative positions, instead I only get several interviews as a tutor. This was often for the position of a freelancer with no promise of a stable income and prospect.
2. How long are you jobless and how many interviews did you attend during this period?
I have been out of the work force for 1.5 years and that actually makes me worried as the longer it is the more redundant I might become.. I did not have much interview sessions - less than ten in the span of 1.5 years. Rather discouraging and depressing.
3. Do your family or friends support you while you are looking for work? Are you married or single?
Glad that my family is rather forgiving at times, even though they are very anxious for me.
Though sometimes they would blame me..as they believe I have created my pitfall by quitting the teaching profession midway…
I think they are really stressed to see me clueless. I’m planning to get married and hope that I be less of a financial burden. As I decide to set up a family, guess its also good for me to be more financially stable. Currently, I support myself by giving home tuition. Fortunately, they do pay for my daily expenses which meant alot to me.
My friends, on the other hand, are giving me a hard time as they are all happily working away and do not really understand my current situation. You will be surprised how good friends can literally jeer at you and wondered why you can stay jobless for so long in a buoyant economy. That is why I have shy away from meeting them up recently.
Some friends have also obstracised me by avoiding my company as now I don’t have much purchasing power. It really opens my eyes wide as to who are my true friends now.
4. What are several obstacles that you face while job searching?
There’s no reply from my applications – deafening silence – thats the most frightening. Rather lost also on how to keep myself relevant to the current market demand. Clueless is the word.
5. How are you coping during this period? What are some of the things that you do to ensure that you are thriving during this period?
Can’t deny the fact that at times I would feel very blue…with the sign of hopelessness creeping in.
I try to stay upbeat by listening to my favourite songs and reading. I guess it’s the listlessness that can be unbearable at times…I intent to take up a hobby soon, but worry about the expenses though.
6. Do you think that the influx of foreigners are currently affecting your job search?
Well, I think that the influx of foreigners, to some extent, will heighten the level of competition among jobseekers. As the labour market reaches a global stage, the boundaries are removed and there will be better candidates presented to employers. As an employer, they will want the best candidate even if the person is from another country. Singaporeans might need to push themselves to be more marketable or else anyone could be easily replaced these days. That’s my opinion. I do not have any statistics backing me up though.
PS: We have linked Jenny up with our volunteer career coach Helen – Gilbert
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