Bananation

The Importance of Being Highly Educated

Everywhere I go, I see foreigners. The most distinctive group being Caucasians. Once spotted mostly in financial and tourists districts, angmohs* are invading our neighborhood today. Every other day, I meet Koreans and Caucasians at my neighborhood's supermarket. 20 years from now, it will not be surprising to see other nationalities living among our community when the population of Singapore is projected to grow from 4 million to 6.4 million.

In the recent Budget Debate 2007, the Ministry of Manpower is allowing companies greater access to skilled foreigners on the S-Pass scheme. S-Pass holders are foreign mid-level workers who earn at least $1,800 a month for their professional, specialist or technical skills. I hope the US will practise the same for its H-1B Visa holders but I don't see it quite possible in the near future. Singapore, however, has several valid reasons to do so. Singapore is ranked one of the lowest in the world in Total Fertility Rate (TFR). With a greying population and less babies produced, more job openings will be left unfilled. Over the next 5 years, more than 450,000 new jobs will be created but there are not enough locals to fill them. Beside encouraging workers to retire later and women to return to workforce, the next plausible solution is importing talents from overseas.

I welcome foreigners to my country because I like a rich blend of cultures and languages. I am not worried that having more S-Pass holders will threaten the job of PMETS (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) like myself. I hope Americans too will embrace foreigners into the US workforce without fear of being replaced. The key, whether as an American or a Singaporean, is to stay employable.

My job hunting last summer in the US received luke warm response. I am a Diploma holder and used to earn more than $1,800 per month. By Singapore standard, I should quality for a S-Pass work permit; by the US standard, I need a Degree or some special skills such as nursing. I used to think that with a Diploma and a skill in web design, it isn't necessary for me to pursue a Degree. After out of job for 4 months, I see it otherwise. Although I am surviving on freelance design projects, I don't see myself becoming a web designer in the US like Annabel Chong. Mind you, she has a Degree too. At 34, I am now planning to do a part time Degree course to compete locally and internationally.

When I went for interviews in the past, some employers asked me what were my strengths and weaknesses. In restropect, those were just routine questions without any impact on their decision to recruit me eventually. The minute I was shortlisted for the interviews, my qualification and work experience would have already impressed them. If you read recruitment ads that say 'Management Trainees needed. Degree in any discipline. No experience required', they are saying that education is more important than experience, not discounting the fact that trainees are assumed to be greenhorns. Ever wonder why some big, established organizations require a Diploma graduate to be an Administrative Assistant? They are saying that the candidate must have a qualification that matches their corporate image. The same goes for Statutory Boards which only recruit Degree holders as office executives, whereas private sectors deem Diploma holders as sufficient. This is a micro-view of our soceity at large where education means an entry qualification rather than a performance-based qualification. Potential employers won't even consider our strengths as valuable unless they see that we have the right educational level to perform the job. On the same note, employers won't consider an over-qualified candidate, stereotyping such group as desperate job seekers who will leave for greener pastures when available.

I am glad that the Parliament has indentified that it is not just the low-level workers who have survival problems, mid-level workers are also in peril. After 11 years in the entertainment industry, I got sick of the circle and decided to walk out of my comfort zone. Initially, I applied for senior positions in various industries but none responded. Then I downgraded to junior positions with a pay cut in mind. None responded too. The Government advises Singaporeans not to be choosy about jobs, but employers are choosy too. When I put myself on lelong*, it doesn't mean I will get a buyer. Employers want a candidate that is neither under nor over qualified.

I have made up my mind to take up a part-time Degree course and at the same time, find a full time job to accumulate work experience. Maybe a MBA and a PhD later, even if it means that I will be 45-year old by then. Meanwhile, I continue my job hunting. Wish me good luck. Ciao.

*Angmoh - a colloquial referring to Caucasians
*Lelong - a Malay word meaning 'sale'.