Job Hustling: An Update

Remember I mentioned in my previous post that I managed to get an interview with a PR firm despite having absolutely no prior PR experiences?

Well, the interview was successful and I began work last Monday.

I'd love to tell more about how I managed to clinch my PR job, but that deserves a post of its own, so not today folks. For now, I'd just like to say that I am glad I took the courage to take the plunge into the world of PR. PR is no walk in the park, but I am enjoying it on the whole ;)

Looking back, I was unemployed for just a short period of time: a little more than 2 months. At that time, though, there was so much uncertainty and I wondered many times how long it would take before I'd find a job. Not just any job, but one that I am qualified for and that plays to my strengths, at the very least. Finding a job was so hard given the increased competition in the Singapore job market and the fact that I did not have much concrete work experiences as a recent graduate. It all seems like a different world now.

The hustle does not end though. This job is actually an internship, and if I am good enough, the firm would hire me as a full-time staff. So I am still hustling, albeit a different hustle, this time to prove myself in the world of PR. I do hope to forge a career in PR or PR-related fields so I am determined to overcome the learning curve that lies ahead of me.

Therefore, I will continue to blog about hustling. I still have some stories from my job hustling days that I want to share and I'd also love to talk about my ongoing experience in making the transition from civil service to PR. I believe hustling is an extremely crucial life skill that deserves a lot more attention. For now, I'd just like to let you guys out there know that I have finally gotten my unemployed ass out of my house and am working my ass off once again :P

Now, if you excuse me, I have media monitoring training early tomorrow morning that I need to prepare for!

Job Hustling: Don't be a Lone Wolf Hustler

Welcome to the second entry in my series on job hunting hustling. If you missed out on the first entry, here it is.

As I ponder over what to write for my second entry on job hustling, I am listening to the opening theme song of one of my favorite series ever: Game of Thrones.

(Pardon the digression, but I am really more into the book series than the TV series. The former is a lot richer in detail!)

Ah, Game of Thrones, the series that is essentially about hustle albeit hustle taken to extreme lengths. In the hopes of planting an arse on a spiky metal chair throne, all kinds of devious plots are hatched and copious amounts of blood are shed. "Trust no one" Littlefinger warned Ned Stark in book 1, before betraying Stark a few chapters later with an apologetic smile (and we know how that ended for Stark). Yet, despite the highly charged and extremely deadly political situation in the world of Westeros, genuine friendships do bloom (think Brienne and Jaime) and acts of kindness and love (think Jon and Ygritte) do happen.

Back to job hustling. The job market can feel a little like the battleground of Westeros, what with loads of candidates competing for coveted jobs and some people resorting to dubious tactics like lying, forgery and sleeping around to get ahead. It's hardly a level playing field either; people getting employed due to their familial ties is not something unheard of. All's fair in love, war and job hunting eh? I'm definitely thankful summoning monsters and dark sorcery do not come into the picture of the real world! Given the competitive job market, what is the best way to hustle and get ahead (without doing anything unethical of course)?

Network. Tap into your existing network and find ways to expand it. It may be a dog-eat-dog world out there, but you cannot be too proud to ask around for help when you need it and be ready to reciprocate to the people who helped you. Remember, friendships, love and kindness are not extinct even in the hostile world of Westeros. Heck, it is often what keeps many of the characters (still) alive!

Why is networking important? Because it is usually not just what you know that matters, but who you know as well. Did you know, for instance, that more than half of job vacancies are unadvertised? Would it not be great if you just happen to know someone in a particular field you are interested in who could give you a heads up on any opportunities and perhaps vouch for you as well? My own job hustle, while not successful yet, would never have come this far if not for the leads I received from folks I know who either happen to be in fields I am interested in or know other people in such fields. Knowing people is especially important if you are trying to break into a new field. For instance, one of the fields I am interested in is PR, but I do not know any PR professionals within my network. Recently, I did manage to get an interview with a PR firm (the story of how I managed to pull that off successfully despite no PR experiences whatsoever shall be shared another day ;) ). Through talking to the interviewers (PR professionals themselves who are enthusiastic about their field), as well as visiting the office, I gained loads of insight from people who lived and breathed the profession. I plan to meet more PR folks through an upcoming networking event this month. Even if there are no job opportunities available, I can still learn a lot about the industry: upcoming trends, skills in demand, what hiring managers look out for etc.

You may not always get the leads you want from within your network (you might have to expand your network to get those leads). Don't let that stop you from even trying though, as awkward as it may be to ask for help. Pretty much everyone I turned to for help has offered support and advice in one way or another. One friend, a Japanese gal I have known since my first semester in university, tried to help me land a job in PriceWaterhouseCoopers 's Singapore office. She got her current role in PWC's Japan office through a referral from a friend, so she offered to help me out by asking her Japanese colleague based in PWC's Singapore office to forward my CV and interest to the Singapore hiring managers. Unfortunately, her colleague was unable to help as she did not know the relevant hiring managers. Nevertheless, I'm grateful to my buddy in Japan for trying to help me out by asking on my behalf, all the way from Japan. It's support and encouragement like this that keeps me going through my darkest hustling days. Remember, though, that while people usually like to help, they don't like to be used! I make it a point to thank every one who has helped me so far, and when I finally get a job, I'd thank them again!

Don't be a lone wolf hustler. Trust me, it is not productive and if things do not work in your favor for a long time, you will end up with this bitter me-against-the-world feeling that can turn you into a soddy douchebag. Kind of like Viserys Targaryen. And we know what happened to Viserys Targaryen in the end. So, don't be too shy or too proud, seek help from your network and be kind in turn!

Image by BeAware8 from here

Job Hustling: The Hustle

So, it has been more than 2 months since I left my job in the civil service. 

I am still unemployed.

Oh, I've applied to many jobs, even before the day I officially left. I never heard back from most of the places I applied to. Some have progressed to the next stage of the hiring process, and have resulted in either rejections or are still pending. I actually did manage to clinch a contract job, only to have to leave in about a week because it turned out to be a big mistake.

I could turn this post (or subsequent posts) into a rant about how the competition for jobs is tougher these days, the sting of being rejected or the disorienting feeling of being unemployed. All of which are pretty legit. Some days, I just want to throw my hands in the air, yell "fuck it!" and just give up.

Yet, somehow, in the end, I just soldier on.

I decided that I'd rather talk about the things I have learnt while job hunting. One of the most important things I have come to realize is that the job hunting process is essentially a journey of self-discovery. It is a search for one's professional identity, one's place in the working world. I also find myself having to be brave and step out of my comfort zone, because job hunting involves putting myself out there to compete with other similarly (or even better) qualified candidates for those coveted jobs.

That brings me to the title I used for this post: job hustling. As opposed to job hunting.

The first time I came across the concept of hustling was when I watched the movie American Hustle a few years back. Though I did enjoy the hilarious parts, I did not really get the whole point of the movie or why so many reviewers were making a big deal out of it. Fast forward to 2015. I visited a couple of friends, who are older and wiser than I, and told them I left my old organization. They were surprised, and somewhere further down the conversation, they brought up American Hustle. I said I did not really get the movie. They incredulously  exclaimed that the movie was popular because it was essentially about the art of hustling. People in real life hustle to survive and chase their dreams, and the movie explores the motivations and desires that drive people to hustle in various ways. "Errr, I thought hustling meant to do things illegally?" I asked. Nay, according to my friends. There is a more essential meaning to the word "hustle", one that my friends struggled to pin down exactly so they described it simply as being "able to get things done". I was still bemused and asked for an example. "Say, you are an event organizer who wants to pull off a successful event. Your rival has invited a few celebrities to turn up at their event. Despite knowing that these celebrities have been invited already, how do you convince them to come to your event instead?" I didn't really know what to say to that. Before I left, they emphasized that the secret to a successful job hunt (and any endeavor in life) is to know how to hustle. I spent my journey back home Googling American Hustle reviews to find out more.

I understand a lot better now. Hustling really is about the ability to get things done. It is about the desire and motivation to chase dreams. It is about being bold enough to step outside one's comfort zone. It is about survival in a tough world where working hard alone, contrary to conventional wisdom, actually does not always get you very far.

So, while I am still unemployed and have quite a bit of free time on my hands, I figured I'd share more on my hustle to seek my professional identity. See, loads of job search advice out there come from the pros: career coaches, counselors, recruiters, HR managers etc. How often do you hear from the job hunter himself/ herself? Well, this job hunter hustler has about 8 months (from before I clinched my first job out of university) plus the current 2 months of experience, and I have learnt a lot along the way. Some lessons were learnt the hard way, while others were gained through talking to lots of people. I don't have all the answers to help or advise people (hey, I haven't even found a job yet!) but at least I can share my learning experiences.

Tune in again soon, folks, for more job hustling stories. Peace out!

Image from EPIC Inspirational Quotes

Happy birthday :D

EIGHT YEAR OLD ME IS SO CUTE AND SWEET !!!

Still am :P

Happy birthday kid, keep smiling that goofy megawatt smile. Years later, people will tell you that they remember you for it. So stay smiley :D

Goodbye (for now), civil service

Okay, this may come as a big surprise, but I'm no longer with the civil service.

Yep, that was a pretty short stint, considering that I got the job just about a year ago.

I'm not going to explain in detail why I left as it's a long and fairly complicated story. Let's just put it this way: while there were some issues, I left the organization on a good note and I enjoyed my time there on the whole. I would have stayed on a little longer if I could, the folks there were generally nice and I did learn a lot, but it was time for me to move on. So, I left.

Leaving wasn't easy though. I think the hardest part was giving up my public service card on my last day. I had been a civil servant for about year and had gotten used to thinking of myself as one, so to have to give up this symbol of the civil/ public service felt like having to let go of a particular aspect of my identity. Ah well. I can be sentimental like that.

I wouldn't rule out returning to the civil service again. I like its ethos of "service, integrity and excellence" and having worked there for a year, I have gained a greater appreciation for the thousands of men and women who help to keep the country running. But now that I am about to embark on a new start in life, I'd like to explore other industries and professions too. Perhaps do a career switch. It's a vast unknown out there, but full of possibilities too. I am young. I am not married yet. I have no major commitments holding me back. There's no better time to climb the rope from the well to the stars than now.

A short tribute to Coke, the good bloke

Our Mini Schnauzer, Coke, passed away peacefully this evening.

He was 14.5 years old.

This photo, taken by my best mate, shows Coke as how I want to remember him: a happy and mild-mannered bloke. He was like that most of his long life (Mini Schnauzers generally have a life span of 12 to 14 years), until recently when old age and illness weakened him. He took a sudden turn for the worse a week ago. I was there till the end.

Rest in peace, my good bloke Coke, you are free from pain and in a better place now.

We love you.

When Mr Lee passed away

Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's First Prime Minister, passed away at about 3 am on Monday morning.

I received the news of his passing about 5 hours after it happened, while getting ready to go to work. It was not entirely surprising. Mr Lee was already very old and had been ill for some time; recent news on his condition had seemed more and more dire. Still, it was a shock to know that the man who had been such an integral figure in Singapore's modern history, is truly gone.

The atmosphere that morning in the civil service organization where I work was quieter and heavier than usual. I deliberately wore black to work as I was in no mood to dress colorfully that morning, and noticed quite a few of the ladies at work in black too. A fellow public servant from a statutory board that my department worked closely with emailed me to comment that the atmosphere at her office was somber too. The whole nation, in fact, was in mourning. I checked the news online regularly and there was a constant outpouring of tributes, grief and condolences from within and outside Singapore. The state broadcaster had changed its red and white corporate colors to white and black. Mainstream television featured a continuous stream of documentaries commemorating Mr Lee and his significant contributions to Singapore. This was the beginning of the official one week of national mourning that our Prime Minister (who is also Mr Lee's eldest son) declared.

Life had to go on however. At work, it was the usual emails, case investigations, meetings and engagements. Come lunchtime, though, my colleagues and I would talk about Mr Lee, the tributes and commemorations happening all over Singapore. A topic that was frequently discussed was the queue of colossal proportions formed by Singaporeans wanting to pay their last respects to Mr Lee after he was brought to the Parliament House to lie in state. Nothing like it had ever been seen in Singapore before. The queue was several kilometers long and waiting could be up to about 8 hours long depending on what time you arrived to queue. Tens of thousands of Singaporeans remained undaunted though and were willing to brave the queue just to pay their last respects to our major founding father. When they finally reached Mr Lee, people were told to bow and then file past quickly so as to make way for the tens and thousands of others queuing behind. But there were folks who lingered a little longer to kowtow, salute, cry and pray. It was amazing.

My family and I did not queue up. We were willing to pay our last respects and queue for a few hours, but 8 hours was just too daunting. I paid tribute in my own small ways. At work, I wrote a simple tribute in the condolences book and attended an internal reflections session to commemorate Mr Lee. I recall a male colleague sitting next to me at the session who burst into tears when talking about Mr Lee's contributions and I awkwardly reached out to pat him on the shoulder. It was my first time seeing a man cry in front of me. At home, my Ma and I visited the nearest community tribute center to pay our respects. It was quite crowded with people of all ages. There was a corner where an immense pile of cards, flowers and condolences messages were piled up in front of portraits of Mr Lee. I bowed three times along with others, uttered a quiet thank you to Mr Lee and wrote a couple of tributes.

Today is the last day of national mourning. It rained heavily just before the state funeral procession began at 12.30 pm. That still did not stop the procession from embarking on a long and wet travel from the Parliament House to the University Cultural Center. Nor did it stop thousands of Singaporeans who turned up along the route to wave Singapore flags, cheer "Lee Kuan Yew!" and throw flowers at the cortege. We watched the procession and the funeral service live on TV. Eulogies were delivered before guests from Singapore and about 20 other nations. The most poignant moment for me was when the lone bugler played "The Last Post" towards the end of the service. A very fitting tribute to the man who worked so hard for his country for most of his life. The service ended with the national pledge and anthem.

My family and I were not done with saying our goodbyes yet though. Upper Thomson Road, which was the road the cortege would use to travel to Mandai Crematorium, happened to be near our house. Many others were there as well to say their final goodbyes to Mr Lee. The roads were slowly cleared by the police until only police cars, police motorbikes and other authorized vehicles remained. When the cortege finally arrived, there were cheers of "Lee Kuan Yew!", flags waving and camera phones whipped out. I wanted to be fully present in that moment so I simply waved my Singapore flag and kept an eye out for the gun carriage carrying Mr Lee. Soon enough, for a few seconds, it was right before me. Mr Lee's coffin, draped with the Singapore flag, in a glass case at the back of the gun carriage. I may not have queued with the tens and thousands of others but I did see Mr Lee in the end. I said a quiet thank you and good bye as he went right by. Then, just as quickly as he arrived, he was gone. I am very glad I got to say a final thank you and goodbye to Mr Lee.

I am writing this to remember a somber moment in Singapore's modern history, from my own point of view. I am sad about Mr Lee's passing. He is, after all, an integral architect in the development of modern Singapore. However, I cannot say that I grieve for him, because I have never known him deeply and personally enough to mourn. I was not of the generation that lived through the same tumultuous years after the war and post-independence as Mr Lee. Nor did I grow up along with Singapore as it transformed from a third world country to the glittering modern metropolis it is today. Mr Lee was the significant founding father who I learnt about in history classes, read about in various media and saw on television. Mr Lee therefore did not mean as deeply and personally to me as some of the older folks who went to great lengths just to be able to pay their respects to "Old Lee".

What is Mr Lee to me then? An inspiration. From what I have learnt about him via secondary sources and the parts of his memoir I have read, Mr Lee is a visionary leader who fought long and hard for all that he believed in. I respect his and his colleagues' tenacity and grit in building a nation from scratch against all odds. I am touched by the stories I heard of his dedication to his country. Most of all, I admire his eloquence and his ability to speak with such conviction. While I do not agree with everything he said or did, I do like the way he stands by his beliefs and puts them across with such passion. I do wish I could have met him while he was still alive and hear him speak with his characteristic fieriness, there is a lot that I could learn from him about the art of persuasion.

I think the best way to remember Mr Lee is to embody his forward looking, never-say-die fighting spirit. Mr Lee did in fact have some words of wisdom for young people like me. Among the many inspirational quotes attributed to him that have been shared all over the media, this one spoke most directly to me: 

“Thirty years ago, my colleagues, younger and more dreamy eyed, settled the words of our pledge. We did not focus our minds on our navels or we would have missed the rainbow in the sky. We pursued that rainbow and that was how we came to build today’s Singapore ... For the young, let me tell you the sky has turned brighter. There’s a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not-so-old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it." 

Rest in peace, Mr Lee. I know I've said this many times already, but thank you. I am going to go forth and chase after some rainbows.