Back to business?

I was at a job interview today. It was fun! Nerveracking, quite naturally, but the interviewer was such a nice chap I really enjoyed our talk. As part of the interview I had to give a 10 minute presentation on a topic I was given beforehand. I have never done that at an interview, so despite of my experience in giving presentations and my timely preparation for it, I was nervous. I thought it went well.. But we'll see. The position I applied for is a corporate communication role, so there was also a written excercise to do. Although that was familiar stuff too, it felt a bit like a test! Ha, I have never been very good with them..

I have now applied for a few different jobs here in Singapore. Why? Well, I keep busy as a lady of leisure too, and I would not say my life is boring, but I have started to miss the professional challenges. I just did not act on the feeling until two important men in my life asked me about looking for a job in the same week - that's a bit of a kick in the butt, isn't it? Perhaps ladies of leisure sometimes need them :).

The interview was at a European company. The other jobs I have applied for have been at local higher education institutions. No word from them.. not even a reply to my e-mails. Hmmhph. Is it because they are actually looking for locals but not stating it in the ad because it's not politically correct? Naturally one would think I'm not qualified for the jobs I applied for, but I actually am, so that's not it. Am I asking for too much salary? I know local education institutions would not pay much, but then again I'm not sure I would return to work for the sake of the job experience if the pay was e.g. 600 euros (the salary of a job in animal welfare organisation I would have applied for if I was Singaporean and spoke Mandarin.. so depends on the job).

So, must be that I do not have the connections? A fellow Finn said she has applied for around 60 vacancies with no luck - because it's all about connections here. And, if you do not state it clearly, they think you are a lady of leisure with a return ticket home in a year or two, so no use hiring..

Turning the next page

It's already the last day of the year. How..? Who fast forwarded the time..? One year ago, moving to Singapore was nothing but a big bunch of maybe's. Later on in the spring it became a reality and the planning started. First I thought I will start looking for a job in Singapore immediately. BUT I was working, so I had no time. Then I thought I will wait until I visit the place - do a bit of research there and then look for a job during the summer. BUT I was busy with moving, hobbies, work.. Then I thought I will look for a job while Rekku's in quarantine (I'll have plenty of time then, won't I?). BUT I had so many other things to do, and besides, it had become clear that it is not easy for a non-Singaporean, non-Permanent Resident to get a job and the wages are generally low (1200 SGD, about 600 EUR per month seems to be quite standard) and quite a few job advertisements mentioned 'minimum for two years'.. Then I thought I'll give myself this autumn, do a bit of work online to Finland and concentrate on my volunteering jobs - and just enjoy life. By this time, end of the year - my latest deadline - I have realised it is quite a lot of fun not working. The time flies, I have so many things to do (a long, long list of things yet to do..) and working full time seems impossible, I mean, how would I then have time to do everything else? (How did I manage before, whan i worked and did everything else too..?)

I sometimes miss work; the challenges, the social scene, the problem solving, developing, professionalism.. meetings, team work, satisfaction of succesfully getting something done. Cleaning the house just does not come close. I would also like to find out about the Singaporean working culture, get a deeper look into the society. (Really trying not to live in an 'expat bubble'.) So now, I don't know. We have visitors from Finland all January, going to Bali in February.. Does not sound like a good time to try to find a job, eh? So I guess I'll simply try to get organised with all the other things I want to do and really try to have less BUTs and more satisfying moments of being able the tick away tasks on my 'to do' list. It does not sound like a big new year's resolution, especially since it is the same I always make(together with living a heathier and a more sustainable lifestyle). But, hey, recycling is very much the in-thing in Singapore :)

There's always the first time..

I have officially started looking for a job in Singapore. I sent out the first application yesterday. It was the first time I wrote the titles of my closest relatives on a job application form.. and the first time I wrote down my current salaray on a job application. Interesting. Do they matter? Well, according to the books I have been reading on Asian culture, titles are everything. So I hope the impressive titles my fabulous relatives have achieved in their careers will be of help :D

I have not looked for a job in years (yes, completely happy with the current one!), and it's hard to get started. Just trying to describe what I do now and what skills I have.. huh. But, now that I've started I should keep it up!

Which applies to jogging as well.. did well today, the dog was reluctant to keep up! I shall get up early for a morning run tomorrow..