Career 01 (Sep 08 - Mar 10)

[millionairemind]

I am not sure about working hard and having less time off (or paid vacation leave).

Especially, if SG wants to move towards R&D.

R&D has nothing to do with working hard or spending more money and hours on the research. Breakthroughs in such area generally mean challenging a norm in general perception. (<< think of the Sun revolving around the Earth etc)

Other areas could be "Work hard and SG will continue to be up there as No. 1"

Maybe, we ought to challenge that as well. Are we working hard but towards the wrong direction?

Just something to think about for the weekend.

Interesting point.

The only problem I see is how many ppe. can work in R&D?? 100,000 or 200,000?? So what happens to the rest of the 1.8MM working adults??

I am quite fortunate that I started work in US rather than in Singapore where they value contribution, efficiency and effectiveness over time.

Most of my friends who stayed back in Singapore complained that most bosses value time at work over contribution (asian mentality).

I got a friend who worked in a reputable oil refinery back in 97. He is a smart guy. He goes home straight at 5 cos' he got all his work done whereas all the other engineers stayed till 8-9pm.

After 3 months, his boss pulled him aside and asked him to "work longer hours cos' all the others are doing so and they are heard complaining about him behind his back "...

When the economy picked up in 99, he left that oil refinery.

With time at work is more valued over effectiveness, no wonder most executives here are stressed out..

[kennynah]

MM : u brought up also an interesting point about productivity at work, especially about the example of your friend who used to clock off exactly at 5pm... i am assuming that he is your age band and thus some 10 years ago, that means he was a young employee.

i share with you my views of young employees who leave work promptly (these always exclude sales people, whom i prefer never to see in the office at all, except for mandatory sales meeting)... no good...why? becos the attitude is wrong. even when he was able to complete his work productively, he should simply looked for other challenges to improve his overall value and contribution to the organization; such as asking for more roles/responsibilities...
of cos, such employees will be rewarded for what he contributes...but not any more... since he believes all he needs to do is to complete his assigned duties, then why should the company offer this person opportunities for advancement. it is very purely a quid pro quo relationship. so, it is sometimes an attitude issue and not so much a productivity issue when we view people working late...

however, it also does not mean that people who purposely work late, are any more valuable to the companies. if this is a consistent behaviour, then it could be a symptom of problems. either the employee is not skillful or too much work was assigned or perhaps, he is surfing porn using company broadband...

anyways...this last few discussions have been about working per se.... in this regard, i urge everyone who is employed currently, to first put yourself in the shoes of your boss/company .. this will ensure a much better chance of survival in that company... do not misunderstand me...this act is neither altruistic nor self-less...in fact, it is the contrary...it is the most self-fish act any smart employee must learn.... u see...when you do what boss needs you to do, without having to be told so, you exhibit an IQ far more superior than your other colleagues who leave at 5pm....
a) it shows you can empathize with what is required at the next level of responsibility
b) it shows you are willing to go the extra mile to contribute smartly
c) you know you will gain far more experiences than your other clock watching colleagues and that means $$ in the end
d) you will likely be seen by your boss and his/her peers as a very supportive subordinate...(which by the way, is the duty of every subordinate)
e) etc....etc...

good luck on working hard and smart...and if i were some one's employee...i certainly wont leave at 5pm...maybe 505pm...hahahaha

[millionairemind]

K - Agree with you on the "putting yourself in the employers shoes".

I have left the corporate world for a couple of years now. But when I was working, I was always on the look out to do more, be more, learn more.

When I was a younger man, I read something to the effect below and that has guided my philosophy on work.

1. You will be paid in proportion to what you can do in addition, AFTER you have completed what is expected of you.

2. There is no traffic jam on the highway of the EXTRA MILE. Always go the Extra Mile..

Cheers,
mm

[kennynah]

MM : your employer indeed has lost a valuable and visionary employee

[HengHeng]

hmmm ...

[kennynah]

I m curious, "hmmm" means what? Say lah, wat's on yor mind

[la papillion]

Interesting thread

Never had the opportunity to work for others. But i have a sinking feeling i'll be one of the ones who will leave at 5pm and kena backstabbed. I'll feel highly uncomfortable having to pretend to work after I've done mine. My gf always say I'm not a corporate rat, hoho!

[kennynah]

i am posting to check with you guys to see if my observation is synchronized with yours...

i have noticed that Philippines is a hotbed for outsourced Call Centres; ie many companies tap on Philippines companies to provide hotline contacts to their clients?

as a result, too many filipinos are rushing to singapore for technical jobs, but cant quite make the cut, as their skills are mostly in remote helpdesk support and tier1 phone support. the single largest employer here for these filipinos is AT&T Singapore helpdesk support.

do u have the similar observation ?

[la papillion]

I did receive a few calls from Philippino and fewer indians now though. Perhaps you're right

[kennynah]

india indians....hahahaha.....i dont know where to begin....and pls dont misunderstand this is not a racist attack...

tx