New Job, New Beginning

Life really has it's own planning for you and it's quite surprising how life turns out.

Just a year ago, I was still complaining and grumbling about nasty bosses and now things made a big turn for me. I guess with the experiences that life has showered me so far, I began to have a clearer picture of the kind of ideal career that I must take and appreciate great working colleagues.

Finally I got myself myself a great ideal job and already I have made great plans to stay in this company for long. This is a world top 20 multi-national corporation and it is really coveted job for many - great benefits and rather generous salary. With such good payouts, no doubt they have the best person they can employ, which indirectly is giving me the recognition of my abilities.

On top of all these perks, you have great supportive colleagues who are more than willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone is so concern if you are coping well, though I do have some reserve over this - are they concern that I would not stay long as I can't cope?? Well that is too early to tell as I was like only 2 months old in this company. But generally speaking, the feeling given to me is very different from all the companies that I have worked with.

My boss is not easy to please and has high expectations & demands. In fact, too many colleagues have been overly zealous to make sure that I know this fact, which is good as I can make some mental preparation. Luckily so far so good, as most of the time he's travelling and I was told that he's been so far pleased with my work. Well at least I try my best to make sure that I'm useful and support him whenever possible with all the nitty-gritty administrative stuff.

Hope that I would be able to write the same in 4 months time when my contract is up for review before extension. Wish myself luck and hope that I can be more dilligent in my work in this new year 2010.

Job Prospects

Just like to ask this question. What would you do if you know that your progression in the company is limited, your pay increment is equal to zero due to bad business, your bonus nowhere to be found and your job is fire-fighting every day? Would most people decide to leave, just like what I have felt a few weeks ago? Or you stick around? Not that I have decided not to leave, just that I have not made the decision to leave yet.

Honestly speaking, I am really very very tired of going for interviews again, having to explain to people why you decide to leave, which you can't voice straight that you do not like the company, full-stop. You can't say that, because that will make you looks bad and they would be scared that you can't stay long with a company.

Many times I also wonder why I can't stay long with company. Is it really my problem? I wonder what is the problem. So many questions and no answer, and the thing is you do not know where to find the answer. Haiz :(

Many Resignations Again!!

I remember not too long ago I have wrote something about many resignations. I can't believe that at the new work place, I am seeing many resignations again. Even when the world is facing economic downturn but there is still many brave souls making the splurge.

I too am considering resigning also... yes... again... I hate to say this again, but then it's that kind of nagging feeling that this place do not suit me at all. Things start off well but lately I'm beginning to feel the tension within myself, as I battle the feeling of resigning.

Honestly speaking with so many resignations coming in, I must say I am really tempted to throw in the towel too. To date, I have seen about 6 people leaving for the past 2 months and I heard there will be another 4 more.

Though we are given assurance from the company that we will not be retrenched but the fact is all the cost cutting measures are almost exhausted and it is a matter of time that the company will consider retrenchment, especially when most of our customers have announced retrenchment. On top of that, the numbers of unpaid leaves that we have to take is also taking the toll on our pocket and it is indirectly cutting of pay. Yeah I know, we are already considered better, as I heard that one company has announced one month of unpaid leave.

Actually the other reason for me wanting to resign is the unfair workload given. I am giving two different job scopes to cover, which is equally time sensitive and I can no longer can handle the stress in coping with both. It is easy for my superiors and those managers to ask me to try and cope, but they are not the one doing it. They are usually the NATO (No Action Talk Only).

The question of leaving or not has really caused me many headaches and my health has started to show signs of distress. Unless I am given a different work scope, otherwise the only way for me is get out of the company and find new job. Unfortunately, my boss is already eyeing my performance, unless I buck up or get out.

I have been thinking what kind of job environment that I will thrive in - reasonable & understanding boss, friendly & cooperative colleagues and business culture that treasure people as assets of the company. Is this hard to get? I really dun think so, just that I have not found one for myself.

Office Reality - Bad Superiors Everywhere

Through my past work experience, I gather that you will never run out of terrible superiors who makes your already difficult workplace a living hell. So you can't escape one for long.

My current starts well till my new job scope kicks in and I have to report to a superior who is not making life very easy for me. How professional is a manager if he/she makes damaging comments in front of your colleagues behind your back in a meeting? Not too professional I gather... haiz.... think I just have to live with it and deal with this manager's demand.

Luckily I have a trump card - our division boss, who is a good boss to work with and listens to his staff. So I think I will survive and I am not going to throw in my white towel soon. I will stick around longer that she is. I believe the sweetest revenge is to work happy, disregard his/her unreasonable demands and not let him/her gets their way.

Rather than to be sulky about it, fight back when necessary and be on the happy side. The more happy you are, the more upset they will be. One day they would just back off and leave you alone. The trick is strike back when necessary and strike where it really hurts. It works for me before and it will continue to work.

Get Paid & Not Working???

Is it really a bliss to have nothing to do at work? I bet many of you will be glad to be paid for not doing much. Hey I won't mind if I get to do things like surfing internet or watching some online movies. But nope, one usually dun have this luxury unless you are Paris Hilton - heiress to great fortune in family business. Usually one have to have their work performance appraised by their superiors. So to not to do anything is really not a wise thing to do.

Therefore what do you do? You try to make yourself look busy, by walking here and there, poking your nose into colleagues cubicles or instead of calling, you just drop by to your colleagues cubicles only to find them not around. Or you have to busy typing away on god knows what, which is exactly what I am doing now and yes I am really bored to death with not much work to do.

Maybe I am still in honeymoon period, where my workload will slowly catch up. So I guess I have to savour this while it is still available. But nonetheless I still have to make myself busy, otherwise I would have doze off in front of my desktop now. Opps… I just dozed off. I can't believe myself dozing off like this.

I sure hope that tomorrow will be a busier day. Ciao…. back to pretending to have lots of work to do.

A Brand New Beginning

Finally I got a new job and this time I will want to make sure that I will work here long. After so many years of trial and error, I think I have finally settled down and decided what I really one.

Gee... it's been like 2 weeks without work and it really feel like months have gone by. So I am kind of nervous to start work next week. But at the same time, I can't wait to start work and get back my daily routine.

All of the sudden, I feel all rejuvenated, like having a new life. Why am I feeling this? I do not know, but nonetheless it feels good and I hope to keep this feeling going on for a long long time.

On top of this, I got a new direction. I want to set up my own online shop. I know this is going to be tough but at least this is my dream all these while - to be my own boss, to have a business in my name. When I was young, I still remember myself drawing a building where my relatives each have a flat to stay in. So to get there, I have to be very very rich to be able to achieve that and having business is what I see as the solution.

Anyway here it goes. Just work hard towards the goal and see what life brings.

Shame or Pride??

LOL!! I just can't stop laughing when I saw this article from RECRUIT in THE STRAITS TIMES (I dun know which date but I will paste a picture of it, hopefully you can read the article too). I got this from a colleague who like me is going to leave this company.

As I read the article, I can't help but laughed and nodded my head in agreement at the familiarity of the example of SHAME MANAGEMENT with my current company. Luckily I decided to leave for greener pasture... LOL!!!

The article listed 5 areas to cultivate pride-based management, which is the better management that will help to boost the company performance. But this company has done the opposite of it.

1) If you don't trust your people, they don't trust you.

My example is very much linked to the second point, so I will elaborate below.

2) Never give responsbilities without authority.

I can't agree more with what the article says and it is precisely the case with this company that they are not able to give the staff the authority to make decision. Even like the purchase of fruit trees and plants also has to be finalised by the bosses. My colleague has been questioned over the expenditure made and the S$2,000 in excess (which they decide is uncalled for) has to be compensated by my colleague. If this is the case, who would want to make any decision.

I believe they do this to make the staff to enquire them on all decisions and in turn make themselves feel important that the staff can not do without them... :(

3) You get the behaviour you reward.

Needless to say those who always seeked their opinion on all matters would be rewarded with friendlier treatment and obtain protection even when they have made a mistake. Nonetheless, that colleague of mine also left the company, cos he made such a big mistake that he's scared to stay on, before the matter got blowed up.

4) Delegate outcomes, not methods.

Haiz.... This company also commit this same mistake. They only want things to be done the way that they are familiar with and not the professional way. They are not willing to engage professionals to conduct market research or to do due diligence, everything is based on what the bosses gather from their friends (who may not be in the same business or know much of the business) and their intended partners.

5) The job of the manager is to create the right motivational climate.

Well they are extremely good with the use of threats or fear and they dun give out incentives.

So in conclusion, I seriously dun think this company will go far, at least I dun think it would grow any bigger and they will be lucky if they still stay afloat. Many of my colleagues echoed the same.

Life after Resignation

Yeah yeah I promise myself not to mention anything about resignation when I last wrote my article. But I can't help it cos I'm still serving my notice here so there is plenty to talk about until I start work with a new company.

Nowadays, I have to be extra careful with what I said or do, if not I can get sued from company one, you know.... like badmouth the company or divulge company P&C information to 3rd parties. The last thing in the world that I want to do is to have any more connections with this company after my last day of service.

By the way, this company breaks world record (I think, if you dun count massive retrenchment) or at least my friend's company record by having at least 10 resignations in a month. This is by far the most in any of my working experience or shared experience from my friends. LOL! I guess this goes to show how bad the company is.

Also beware of bosses who suddenly becomes very nice and courteous with you, cos dun know what they are up to.

My Resignation Confirmation

Finally this will be the last episode of my series of resignation topics as I have gotten my resignation confirmation and my last day with the company will be next month.

Many colleagues who had done the same as me (I mean tendering resignation) are all anxious to have that last day arriving soon and very excited to hand over our work stuff to others. We can't wait to start our life afresh and forget the terrible time that we have had here in this company.... LOL!!

For a change, we are finally able to really let our hairs down to enjoy our happy hours after work. We are lining up many activities after work to have fun.

I hope my new job will allow me to work long enough till my retirement. :D

My resignation

My company HR spoke to me privately before lunch and asked if I have found a job before tendering my resignation. I just smiled and not replied anything. But deep in my heart, I felt like replying angrily to her that even if I dun have a job, I also dun want to work in this company anymore. It has all possible combination of bad elements of the worst employer in the world... (LOL!! This is the best comment that I can have for this company.)

She followed on to ask that she hopes my resignation is not a rash decision and I replied flatly that I have long consider this options for many months.

If only this company has exit interviews, otherwise I would have given the most nasty remarks. In the past, I would have never consider to give bad review during exit interview and this is the company that I dun mind doing it. Anyway there is no chance to do so, cos this company dun have exit interview. Maybe they know that they will have very bad comments which they refused to heed and can't be bothered with.

Types of Boss you should never work for

Gathering from my work experiences as well as exchange of ideas with fellow colleagues & friends, the following are just some characteristics of bosses that one should avoid.

1) Boss who does not plan - can you imagine what kind of repercussions that this can have on the department or the company, depending on how significant his position is? If there is no planning, there is no sense of direction and hence how to do work with. Some subordinates will love this kind of bosses, cos dun have to think much lor... just follow instructions lah, cos you won't know next steps what he wants to do.

2) Boss who is insecured - meaning that he has low self-esteem and low self confidence. If he is just a middle or top management level manager, then he would definitely makes things difficult for you if you unintentionally makes him feels in-adequate. He would also bad-mouth you in front of higher management people, so that you won't be in the good book of the big boss.

If he's the owner of the company, then good luck to you. He would make unrealistic demands and if you can't accomplish it, he would verbally insult your intelligence just to make himself looks better.

3) Boss who is petty - this kind of people will always remember you for stepping onto his foot and make you pays in many ways, even if you have leave the company for many years.

4) Boss who claims all credits - even if the tasks are not done by him, he would claim all credits whenever possible, and some case also involves pushing blame on others. I had this boss (i.e. owner of the company) who will make all decisions on investment and override decisions by the HOD and when there is problems arose, he would question the HOD for not doing the right decision. Usually this kind of people is also very insecured with low self-confidence.

The above lists are not exhaustive but the tip of iceberg. To be continued.....

Many resignations!!!

Many resignations.... Many of my dear colleagues have resigned including myself... hahahah!!! Because we all can't stand the bosses and we are scared to get into trouble. In fact, my position has turnover 3 staff liao (including me) in just 8 months.

We are working in a public listed company but many times, we felt that there is quite alot of corporate governances issue here. Anyway, I'm leaving my job liao, so I dun have to worry anymore.

I should have heed my friend's advice not to join this company. He told me this company has very bad reputation in the market. If I have heed his advice, I would have save myself 5 months of insult and agony here :(

Sad or Happy for 4 mths Maternity Leave?!

I do not know if I should be happy or to be sad for 4 mths maternity leave. I mean who would not be happy to be able to get salary and dun have to work. But being able to take maternaity leave, means that you have a baby and it means that you are not really able to enjoy life also.... :(

On the other hand, I am feeling sad as I am currently looking for a new job and most jobs interview that I have been to, the interviewers are very concerned if I am planning to have kids or not.

So how? Dun work, no money to raise babies.... dun give birth now, after a few years it may be difficult to have kids liao... how? What should I do?

Boss who is always right...

Why is there so many bosses who want to act as if they know everything and everything they say is always right? Even if the truth is right in front, they still will not accept it? I know one may argue that it would cost them the respects from their subordinates, but humans are not infallible and from times to times do make mistake, so it no big deal.

I guess some are 死鸭子嘴硬(which means dead duck with hard mouth - meaning even till dead, also will argue that one's right).

Office Politics - Petty Boss

Never trust your superior who ask you not to write down in b&w what has been transpired cos he is not up to any good. This comes from my personal experience, which happened just recently.

Just a few weeks back, my superior tells me that I should report to him verbally and not bother to send in email cos he has not time for the email. I thought since he gave such instruction, I just followed lor...

But yesterday, some problem cropped up as some goods that we intended to import in was being held up at the customs due to lack of some import certificates. I was being held in charge to transmit the information to our trading counterparts from overseas of the requirement of import certificate before sending the goods over, which I completed as required and even report verbally to my superior.

So when the problem crops up, naturally all fingers are pointed at me. As there is no b&w and my superior does not say anything, naturally all mistake seems to be made by me. Luckily I have a colleague, who is there when I have completed the task, spoke up for me. Otherwise I dun know how bad this will looks on me.

No wonder none of the other colleagues likes this superior who likes to think oneself as the right hand person of the boss and never hesitate to step down on others when the chances arises. Our previous CEO left due to this superior.

Work life is already tough liao... still have to work under such person (i.e. if I may, I would rather not refer that superior as person, instead as a animal who has no kind feelings, only hunger for power).... Life is too short to be bothered by such person. So I will forgive but I will not forget and take this as a learning experience.

Nomination for Worst Boss

What is most sickening than a boss who is petty, stingy, always picking on other's fault and mix up personal and work stuff?!

If there is ever any competition for the worst boss in the world, I would surely send in my entry of this particular director.

Crime scenes:-
1) How much does a water dispenser cost or a large tin of biscuits cost? In the name of cost saving, this little basic benefits has to be forfeited. But my question is how much can one save on this when the big boss flies on business class SQ airplane for 1-2 hours flight journey?

2) All managers out there, may I ask this question - would you let your subordinate to go ask for replacement of your spoilt automatic toothbrush, especially when you did not even bother to send out the warranty card? Would this be consider personal stuff or work related? Unless you are chairman, then probably your PA should do it... but a top management director asking his boss' PA to do this?

3) How embarrassing it would be for a top management director to be always late on credit cards payment and always asking for waiver of late charges and interest charged, till bank has to warn that it is the last waiver that they can give. Not to mention that this director is not without money to make payment in full.

A Slow Monday

Today is really a slow Monday and I'm feeling so tired that I nearly dozed off at my office table.

I wondered how I can get through with this for the rest of my working career, which is why I do not see myself staying long with this company. No doubt that I have people telling me to stay on for the good pay and easy work, but I really can not see myself rotting away in this job.

But job market is really bad as I dun have much responses from the numbers of job applications that I have send out. I am getting a bit frustrated and getting desperate. To comfort myself, I have started to day-dream of the illusive windfall in the form of the S$8 million TOTO. All things will end well if I strike TOTO top prize... heehee...