New NS cert helped me get
job
By Andre Yeo, 02 March
2008
LANCE Corporal Budiman Mohamad Som, 23, needed a job to help
support his single mother - a sales assistant - and his two younger
brothers.
Having just completed his national service (NS) in December, he
was not hopeful of getting a job immediately.
But thanks to a new enhanced certificate of service (COS) for
full-time national servicemen (NSF) who have just completed NS, he
managed to secure a job within a month.
Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, the Minister of State for
Defence, yesterday announced the introduction of the new
certificate, which gives a more detailed description of a
serviceman's contributions and achievements during NS.
Those who performed exceptionally well or who assumed positions
of responsibility will also get personal testimonials from their
unit's commanders.
NSmen can use this certificate to apply for jobs, scholarships
or places in tertiary institutions.
Previously, the certificate would only state whether the
performance was 'good' or 'outstanding'. It did not describe what a
person did - whether he was a team player or if he had good
organisational skills.
The first Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) unit to get the COS was
the 1st Battalion Singapore Guards in November 2007.
LCP Budiman was a light anti-tank weapon sharpshooter in the
unit. In his COS, he was commended for having good organisational
skills.
He organised company activities, took part in singing
competitions to boost morale, and was praised for being a team
player who carried out duties efficiently.
His performance and conduct were listed as 'outstanding'.
Using his COS, he applied for a job at Aetos, the auxiliary
police force, two weeks after completing his NS on 8 Dec. He got
the job during the interview and started work last month. He is now
based at the Woodlands Checkpoint, earning $1,000 a month.
MORE CREDIBILITY
LCP Budiman said the COS helped him during the interview. He
said: 'The certificate is from the Government, so it has more
credibility and is recognised.
'If I were the boss of a company, why would I not want to hire
someone who performed well in the army during stressful
situations?
'It will motivate NSFs to work harder during NS.'
LCP Budiman's younger brothers are aged 19 and 13. An older
sister, 24, who is married without kids, also lives in the family's
four-room flat in Teban Gardens.
Aetos' commanding officer (land checkpoints), Deputy
Superintendent (Auxiliary Police Force) Roland Wee, 47, is in
charge of the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. He interviewed LCP
Budiman for the job.
He said previous certificates did not contain enough details of
what an NSF did. The COS gives employers a better idea of whether
job applicants were suitable.
He added that
LCP Budiman's COS contributed to the decision to employ him.
He said: 'The COS was a good one, as it reflected his
contributions to the SAF. It has been accurate in describing his
character and abilities.'
Refer:
www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2008/feb/29feb08_nr/29feb08_speech3/29feb08_fs.html
