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/