Part of my job involves giving a 1hr 20min presentation on written communication to fresh grads who have just joined the company. Each time I have to face about 65 of them at a go. *gulp* I have done five sessions so far and but I still feel nervous each time. Public speaking really isn’t my thing.
\nLooking at these fresh grads reminds me of when I first graduated. All of the kids in the classes I take aren’t even accountancy graduates (some are even English majors). But lured by a prestigious brand name, they have all decided to become auditors. I asked an English major what she was doing in the company, and she said “It’s a prestigious name.”
\nOK, practical answer. Typical of Asians. Tread the safe path. If I had my way, I would be telling these kids how they shouldn’t be here listening to me but instead be going on working holidays to other countries while they still can. Travel, see the world on a shoestring budget, meet people, see that there are other options and that there’s more to life than the usual path of getting a “good” job straight after university.
\nI found out that Hong Kong citizens have many options when it comes to working holidays. Young people can choose to go to countries such as Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Singapore? Only the UK. So pathetic. But at least I took the opportunity when I could. I think it’s the Singapore’s government ploy in trying to keep young Singaporeans from flying the coop.
\nIf I could go back in time, I would get a job as a flight attendant with Singapore Airlines or whatever international airline straight after finishing my A-levels at 18. That’s a great way to see the world and get paid while at it. And while one’s young, it’s alright to take on such a job which really, when you strip it down to its basics, it’s really just a well-paid waitress and cleaner. I’d have done that for two years and then return back to the books, finish university and then go off on a working holiday to some other country. Better to do all that when one’s young as there are too many opportunity costs as one gets older.
\nBut alas, I’m no spring chicken now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Part of my job involves giving a 1hr 20min presentation on written communication to fresh grads who have just joined the company. Each time I have to face about 65 of them at a go. *gulp* I have done five … Continue reading