Local vs FT IT Diploma holders
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Only few days ago, my colleague Train Officer Arasu was relating his personal story to me. TO Arasu has been with us for about 5 years. Before that, he tried a few other non IT related jobs before landed here with us.
TO Arasu has got a diploma in computer science which he took more than 10 years ago in year 2000 and subsequently the same higher diploma two years later in year 2002. His good friend Param also took both courses conducted by TMC endorsed by Staffordshire University in UK. TO Arasu spent more than $20,000 for the course.
TO Arasu was then working in SATs. It was not recognized by that company. Param, on the other hand was working as a factory operator in a manufacturing firm. Even though Param was a Malaysian, he was immediately recommended by a Malaysian IT manager in the same company to take on an IT job in the same firm.After few years of IT work in the company, Param went on to another company doing the same IT related job. He remains in the IT industry earning about $4,000 a month.
TO Arasu did not manage to land any IT related job. After a few other jobs, he found his way to this present company. His IT higher diploma is still not recognized.
TO Arasu and his good friend Param still stay in touch. Param is working the 5-day week earning about $4,000 in the IT industry. He used to call TO Arasu whenever he goes back to JB. Param lives in JB but commutes daily on weekdays to work here.
Train Officer Arasu told me that they both had the same qualification and about the same age in their mid 30s yet he earns only $1,400 a month and has to struggle on shift work with rotating off days!
When TO Arasu saw me few days ago, he told me that his friend Param just called him. Again, his friend Param who is a Malaysian teased TO Arasu that as a ‘Singaporean’, working as a Train Officer is earning so much less than him. He is enjoying every weekend with his family in JB whereas TO Arasu is working on shift with rotating off days like a “Baduah!”
As a Singaporean, his life is no better than a Malaysian even though they possess the same qualifications. It must be his bad karma or rather the Malaysian IT manager that opened up a valuable career path for his friend Param? Life is really full of little ironies as far as Train Officer Arasu is concerned. It appears that it’s better to be a Malaysian like his friend Param than a Singaporean. Really langgar!
DISCLAIMER
“The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the official policies, practices or opinions of SMRT or any organisation with which I may be affiliated”.Extracted from: http://gintai.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/local-it-vs-ft-diploma-holder/
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The way I look at it, Arasu is a gong kia. He has two private certs but works for a stat board. So of course they are not recognised! Param is luckier and smarter in that sense.
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I am also waiting for some boss or manager to recognize me and give a better job. LOL.
