Engineering

Last Thursday, I had an opportunity to visit the Senoko Power Station as part of the professional activities organised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers' Singapore Branch. I am a full Corporate Member of the Institute, and am a registered Chartered Engineer, which unfortunately for me was not very well recognised in this country.

Anyway, enuf of self-pitying, it was an eye opener to see the massive infrastructure w/i the premises where we introduced to the various types of power generators and the various stages at work. One question i asked myself was whether i would fancy myself working there, in a location that's not accessible by bus, apart from a miserable SMRT shuttle bus that runs on peak hours. Needless to say, it appeares that the employess have to drive. I believe their hearing must have been affcted, cos we wore ear plugs while they din, though they had mufflers. Their ears must have been well seasoned.

Talking about adverse job conditions, i would quote you an example of someone i met on Wed - in the IMechE dinner. This chap works in the marine industry, company is the one which was featured in one of the mediacorp dramas which was shot in Brazil. How exotic! He did share that the company saw a surge in job applications after the drama was shown. Wow, many young ones must have been fascinated by the thought of being a Marine Engineer. Unfortunately, the truth was not made known - long working hours, workplace at the far west corner of this country. This chap told me his job never seemed to finish and the only way out was to either delegate or resign. Works starts at 7.30am, and typically it is a 12hr day. The amazing thing about this chap is that he stays at Sengkang (North East) and commutes to work by company bus. Easily more than an hours, and imagine waking up and waiting for bus at 6am in the morning! Even he is paid very well, he does not seem to have time to enjoy his monies.

I have ever comtemplating switching to a different industry. At some point in time, work would become stale, and this is compounded with a pay of astonishing increment. However, as one ages, many factors are not in one's favour. Common perception would be:

1. Lack of drive, cos you are old

2. Less conformant, cos you are an old hand and tend to question

3. Less flexible, cos you have familes and other commitments and cun travel o/s

4. Demand high salary, cos you have already been working for this long

So, unless one is willing to compromise on the above and demonstrate to a perspective employer that "you could see me as a young grad" it is rather difficult to go to do sth new. Of course, if one has an excellent track record and well recognised, it would not be a problem. Unfortunately for me, such does not happen to me.

So... i am stuck in this job, unless the six lucky numbers hit. I just learnt that no one won on Monday, so the amt snowball to 2.8M or more for Thur. On the issue of pay, have i not quited the Depot Road job but rather take up a scholarship and spend 1.5 wonderful R&R yr at California, perhaps i could have upgraded to a more fancyful house and owns a decent car.

Too late liow ... fate has been casted in concrete. Just have to make do. For the benefit of next gen, i would at least dissuade the daughter from doing engineering if she wants to do so. Though the career may be interesting, it pays so much less than a job in the finance industry.