Does NS count, other than a liability in the private sector?

last SG · 2007-06-14T16:30:17+00:00

Are you serious? I mean how to manage someone who at year end performance review did not add bonus?

_Aaron_ SG

Hi guys,

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but i just came back from an interview. Basically, What the interviewer said, was that since i'm a fresh graduate from poly, they're just going to pay me 1.5k, which is what my female coursemate got 2 years ago.

When i asked whether they are going to consider my 2 years of National service to calculate my pay, he just smiled and say most private companies do not recognise this, and they go 'according to the law'.

What he means is that he understands reservice, because its statute-dictated, but not this "2 years of NS service = extra money when starting up" issue.

Here in SG, where men are expected to pay virtually everything for their partners, owe a car, have a credit card, and earn more than their wife, how is this supposed to help us in any way? (I don't even want to start on this issue.)

I suppose my 2 years of NS can only count as 'personal experience' then. And that i'll forever be lagging 2 years behind my female compatriates.

Why doesn't someone propose a bill, that we get a mandatory $100 increase because we have served our country, and make us feel better in the process, as compared to making us feel that we've wasted 2 years serving?

Or has this even been raised before?

Aaron

Yuna SG

Only in government sector. Private is based on your real work experience. How does NS contribute to your value to the commercial company?

Kuali Baba SG

Chin up, my friend. You might rise through the ranks faster - as long as reservist duties don't get in the way of you completing your work.

Patrik SG

Most companies would rather hire ‘foreign talent’ cos they are Cheaper No reservist.

_Aaron_ SG

Coincidentally the new guy from HR wasn't Singaporean.

will4 SG

It depend on the vocation u served in NS n if ur vocation is a clerk, storeman, driver or best technician, u can get this counted as work experience.

Patrik SG

Laughing

LazerLordz SG

Depends on what you did in the Army and what you are applying for.

My friend who did some work for the SAF in enterprise resource planning and MIS systems management didn't have a tough time getting a top internship during his uni days.

will4 SG

The toughest art is for those servicemen serving in combat vocation esecialy it is not related as art of the working experience sought by the potential

emloyers.

Jontst78 SG

Your friend is indeed one of the more fortunate ones, good for him. Then there is the large majority of combat vocations to consider.... Sad

will4 SG

Admin suervisor n supply suervisor easy for them to blend into office environent.

_Aaron_ SG

If you're a technician and you come to work in the engineering community, its not that bad.

But how many technician jobs are there, as compared to the combat vocations(infantry, arti, scout,divers,etc), the non-combat ones(medics, drivers, clerks).

Depressing figure of jobs that are really linked i guess.

LazerLordz SG

That's sadly true. Especially for combatants.. it's not a fair playing field at all.

But look on the bright side, what you learnt in the Army can be applied to office politics once u get in.

Jontst78 SG

I did joke about it once, can go and sell yourselves as mercenaries to the african diamond cartels. Soldier of Fortunes, can make a fortune, if you live to spend it Very Happy

will4 SG

I once aplied for a office work in Australia n put my NS working experience as a clerk n they sent an application form to my address.

Jontst78 SG

That bad man, I once worked in a company that had HR/management polices that made me feel like I was back in the army.

will4 SG

How long u work in this company? Some boss talked to their subordianates as if they CSM or RSM.

Jontst78 SG

That what I heard in other countries, that our time in NS actually counts as work experience "non related discipline". But only really useful if they job requirements state something like "XX working years experience" not specifying a field.

LazerLordz SG

Yes. Our NS is considered work experience under "Government/Military" even in work visa applications. Usually classified as non-related though. But it IS counted at the very least.

Talk about our 2 years being valued by others more than our own people.

red_amoeba SG

sorry man, NS does not count in private sector - only in gahmen do they recognise & pay you more for NS.

To private companies (or MNC), NS is nothing, its assumed you start late - hence you are 'disadvantaged' bcos u spend two years of your prime life protecting FTs...haha