I have recently been turned down twice on the spot during job
interviews, out of nine such interviews, these two were in my top 3
list of companies I would like to work.
Though I have found a position, I was still bewildred and called
the interviewer up a week later to ask if he'd remember me.
Fortunately, he did and I boldly asked why as to I was turned down
since I thought I met their companies requirements and more.
This was what he told me, "I'm really sorry Mr. Tao but we
need people who can be dedicated to this job around the year.
We cannot pay you 2 months salary every year for nothing
la."
I was shocked, as if I had a choice to choose whether I needed
to re service or not? If you want to blame, don't blame me, blame
my country. Not only was I infuriated but saw how NS was in fact a
disadvantage so large yet unavoidable to Singaporean men, I shared
and would like to know if anyone else has experienced this?
I really want this to end, how am I supposed to help Singapore
grow as a nation when it itself is the thing holding me back? I go
in, 2 months, come out bald, get lesser pay, find lousier job.
Waste my life, cannot even work overseas full-time. What's the
point of NS really?
Secondly, if anyone has words of advice to our younger
generation on how to avoid re servicing or making sure NS doesn't
screw up your life, share it with us. Not to sound unloyal or
ungrateful but there are sometimes I wish I was not born
Singaporean, much as I like the country itself I can't stand that
simply being a citizen here means you are shackled for life.
Like everyone else, I smell bullsh*t. Either from you or the
company.
I suspect you because any full-blooded local male who has done
reservist would know that the correct term is 'reservist' and not
're service', and that by law you can be called up for up to 40
days, not two months.
Also, any established local company who hires local males would
know that the reservists take no-pay leave during their ICT stints
and claim for loss of pay from the government. It does not cost the
company a single cent. I doubt that the HR department of the
company would be so stupid to not know that (though there are
enough idiots out there, of course.....)
So I suspect that the bullsh*t comes mainly from you. After all,
if we were to believe you, then following the company's logic, they
would have NO local males working for them, period.
Either that, or they were just trying to get rid of you with a
lame excuse. Live with it.
