That awkward foreign-local paradigm...

Since returning to Singapore, I have been applying for jobs, and I have tried to hold my hypothesis about what is working for me and not.

I have filled in countless applications, stating 'Singaporean' as part of my work rights. That is easy. I thought I have breezed through the first round of filters.

Then I read the news about foreign PMETs, and that is quite a bummer. According to what is reported, the foreign PMETs demand relatively lesser money than their local counterparts for the same role. That immediately squared off my advantage.

Most Singaporeans are under the impression that there is a foreign quota in the number of employees a company can employ. Most Singaporeans also do not comprehend that there is no set quota if the foreign employee is earning above 3k (with a recognised qualification) and is on a Employment Pass. These are your foreign PMETs. EP holders can also bring their family over to Singapore on a long term visit or dependent pass. Should they work in Singapore, they are also not included in the quota.

I was starting to feel less and less Singaporean.

I am no foreign talent even though I spent more of my working life in Australia than in Singapore. It is still a culture shock when I walk into an interview and there are 'aunties' trying to suss out everything from your current and potential future marital status, to wanting to put you through endless rounds of interviews like a large Chinese 'meet the parents, brothers, grandparents' session. There were recruiters who spent 80% of the time trying to gauge if I have been previously fired versus talking through the many years of previous working experience.

Instead of finding out what I could have positively contributed, some were already calculating my potential liability.

I understand, Singaporeans employers are a careful lot. I am not complaining, but I can certainly feel a difference with the 'kiasee' motivation.

I found myself leaning towards applying to the australian companies and other MNCs. I missed the multicultural feeling. I had the best interviews in roles that I did not eventually get, but the mature discussion of the job fit was mind blowing. I actually do not think employers in Singapore viewed my australian work experience favourably, though I feel that the australian workplace has taught me a lot about the importance of good communication skills, stakeholders management and the importance of 'fitting in'. I played down a lot of the soft skills, highlighting the technical ones instead.

It is therefore of no surprise that my resume appealed a lot more to the 'ang mohs'. Today I just received a phone call from an foreign recruiter in Singapore. I recognised the familiar aussie accent. The phone screen felt smoother than the ones that goes 'So why did you come back to Singapore', Are you PR in Australia? type questions. There wasn't an awkward pause after I said the ubiquitous "How are you?".

I did thought to myself, do I really feel very local at the end of the day? I certainly did 'think' very local initially, but find myself veering into a very 'un-local' mindset. Yet I am certain that I will have no issues wearing my sleeveless dress walking with a group of colleagues to the char kuey teow stall when I start work.

I call that my awkward foreign-local paradigm.

The Plight of the HDB Patient (or Doctor)

I am not an avid fan of clinics. That has worked very well when I was in Australia. I did not need to see a doctor for a cold just to get an MC. I only go to the clinic when I know that something is getting serious, such as a fracture after my heroic attempt at the ice skating rink.

Recently, I had to go to the clinic here. It was high time I looked for a GP whom I can visit for some continuity of care. I decided to select a clinic in the nearby HDB shops, thinking that proximity will help when I am really sick. Besides, I felt strongly that HDB doctors should be of similar standards to 'posh-ier' ones who charge you more for the soft lighting and plush sofas that I do not need.

The doctors I went to were late both times. On one occasion, the doctor was a locum but I still saw her. The wait was 1.5 hours long on a Friday evening, and there is no 'appointment' system other than getting a number when the clinic opens. On the Monday morning I went, there were 40 patients in the queue by 9am. Is it too hard to book patients by appointment slots? Or is it because people only fall sick on the day and they just need to see one asap? In Melbourne, only Saturdays are meant for 'walk ins', people do make appointments for their visits. Perhaps I should analyse which system makes more operational efficiency. As a patient, I just know a 1.5-3 hours wait is not a situation I would like to be caught in. (I do suspect that most people send a family member to 'take a number'). I do admit, I felt caught between the kerfuffle of whether a popular restaurant should allow reservations, or do it ala Chin Chin who only takes walk ins. While Chin Chin has a bar to sit and sip an aperitif while waiting, I had the option of aimless circles in a small local supermarket before checking in again.

Anyhow, I know I should be glad that I get to see a doctor on the day itself, which is in some way, a rarity in Australia.

The other observation was how much scribbling a doctor does here. There is no computerised software, and hence I spent about 40% of the short consultation time watching her do copious amount of scribbling, in silence, trying to peer over became a the futile attempt of deciphering bad doctor's handwriting.

Talk to me doctor.. talk to me! It would be really nice to have a real face-to-face consultation and not a Masterchef 'guess the ingredients in the soup' challenge, where the contestants takes a sip of the soup, pauses thoughtfully, leaving the audience to momentarily read between the lines of 'was that barley or quinoa?'.. and then pronounces a verdict.

Maybe the GP clinics can take try to apply for a similar technology grant for a clinic software as our car-number plate maker interviewed by the Economist.
http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21577108-manufacturers-struggle-city-state-changes-its-economic-model-bashing-metal-bashers

(Ironically I have been advised by my local friends to go to 'posh-ier' clinics to get a better patient experience)

Green green grass of home

I passed by a large empty field today. There were children playing frisbee and teen girls having a game of volleyball. Someone was jogging around the perimeter. It is such a rare sight to have empty vacant and useable land for recreation. In Australia, we call that an 'oval', where you can bring your dog to play, throw a few balls, jog, push a pram or let your kids run amok without worrying.

I realised I have not deliberately made an effort to go to the shopping centres just for shopping. I know in my past life, shopping centres are good for that 1km slow walk after a meal while I walk from shop to shop, sometimes fairly aimless, most times just window shopping. Now that shopping centres are crammed with people, I avoid them unless I need to buy something.

With online shopping so accessible these days, I was wondering if we can build less shopping centres? It feels like a repeat of chain stores and restaurants that makes one mall similar to another. Can we have a supermarket and some basic shops like post office, and reserve the rest of the land for a good spot of space where the community can come to do something recreational? I do like those purpose build public sports and recreational centres, but if you do not swim, play badminton, ping pong or use the gym, what can you do? How about something like an oval? We might just know our community better that way.

Since I have been back, I have been eyeing that open staircase landing on my floor. It is a fairly big and protruded one, with nothing over it till 5 storeys later. I wanted to set up the BBQ, invite my friends and neighbours, and just enjoy our surroundings. Oh, I also spotted a nice spot to sit and read a book outdoors in a shelter when it is not so hot out there.

Now I just need to find a way to lower the horrendous arvo heat.