Dear SilverHairs,
In response to various discussion topics that come up during club gatherings, I am inviting a few people from the SilverHairsClub to join this discussion. We do this discussion via email. I hope all whom I have invited can express and give some idea as to how to move in this direction. For this discussion, we need to be positive, as negatives are plentiful. We also need to respect others’ ideas.
Patricia has a point. Her viewpoint and interest are always in the minds of most Silverhairs. And I feel exactly the same as you, in that we are all experienced, but that sooner or later, in our environment, the situations change. We lose our jobs somehow, and then we have still all the committments in the world. Many of us need to work, even during retirement. Fact is we have the skills, but suddenly on retirement or losing our jobs, this demand is lost.
I have cc’d Andrew and others, because Andrew has also strong views on this, and let increase the list so that we can come up with something. Personally, I think MOM have been trying hard with our group, but due to supply and demand, jobs for upper level management are not always forthcoming. This explains why many SilverHairs have gone into direct selling.
If you ask me, I see a very small market for our group in Singapore. Why? We have become expensive, and employers do consider us a burden. Also, I believe the expectations between employers and our group do not align. One thinking the other is too expensive and the other thinking they will not pay for the services.
But, I do see that there is a group of people and companies who have a demand for people with experience. Singaporeans are in demand, but perception is we are not cheap. But, then we have the experience. I do see demands in the Asian region, particularly China and India, where Asian companies wanting to set up offices overseas want the expertise and experience.
Perhaps, this is the direction we can pursue.
Can each of you give your ideas on how to proceed from here. What can the SilverHairsClub members do, with reference to this topic?
SilverHairsClub – for the over 45s.
Terence Seah
+65 9489-4360
Patricia on Help Group for JOBS:
Hello Terence,
I wonder if the SilverHairs form a Support Group for the educated and experienced middle level or upper level management staff. I feel this group of employees are neglected by MOM or SHRI and whenever they are out of jobs for whatever reasons they have difficulties finding one later.
I am more interested for such kind of activities than those of joy and past time.
I am closing up to 50 years old, I have 2 daughters, one in the final year university and the other in secondary 4 this year. For as long as I have school going children I am dutiable to them and provide for them and hence need to continue to work. But the economic environment we are having now is not conductive for this group of employees. I am not sure if you have your members bringing this issue up to you. Employers – mostly – take advantage of situation because there is no particular legislation protecting this group of people, hence they take actions in their own hands.
In view of these facts, my husband of most of his peers have to work outside Singapore in order to earn a decent income. If remain in Singapore, of course this is the hope of every family members who do not want disunity, but the income given is not sufficient to cover financial commitments at all.
What is your particular opinion on this issue???
Patricia
Andrew:
I’ll like to join the discussion. I don’t have much ideas but I’ll like to hear the others and see whether can get some out during the discussion.
One point I disagreed with you – even we are not expensive, even we are willing to receive the pay as a new comer, the employer also don’t want to consider us due only to our age – my own experience. You see the government say they’re trying to solve the aging employment problem, ironically, they also don’t want aging employee.
Thanks to set up the discussion, it give our silver hairs a platform to discuss our future. I believe that if the intelligent silver hairs can come together should be a very big resources.
Andrew
Yeung Wing Chuen(Andrew)
Chow Weng:
Hi Terence, We all have to accept our age and our challenges. When people are young they discrimate the old for being old. We have come full circle and now we are the victims,so to speak. Yes we all have all sort of experiences but unable and no chnace to utilise them. For those who are working and in their “silverhairs” category, it is better to “tong” and not look around for opportunity.For many who are outside, we have to go into business. As For those who want to work, contract or partime job from agencies is the solution. We have heard of Silverhair people returning to well paying jobs. These are the exception rather than the rule.
Let me share with you my experiences. I left the financial industry long long ago. In fact long before any crisis or rececession. In 1997 – 2000 I know many people who found themselves out of job. Many of them in senior positions in the bank. They were hopeful to return to the industry one day. They wrote many letters and attended many interviews. After a few years, they accepted the fact.Time has caught up. Quite a number of them teach in private school-Undergraduate and MBA courses.They became self employ and be their own boss. One of my close friend went back to work as a FC .After a few months he left because the work place has changed.He went into business himself. Home tuition is another popular business. Another became a sport coach.
I am sure there are many opportunities for us work to together. I think it boils down to expectations.The present well paying jobswill favour the exceptions. For many have to seek and create our destiny. If we moderate our expectations, it is a starting point to help ourselves. We can seek MOM but they cannot forced employers to give usour oldcushy jobs. Lets think of small business first. Going back to work should be the last resort because the work place can be very shocking ,today. As we reached the silverhair catergory, our social and financialcommitments lessen.To receive help, we have to moderate all our expectations. Secondly we have to live for our self in these final moments. It is too late to worry what our friends and neighbours think. This is the starting point and we all should beable to integrate into the working wolrd, whether as an employees or employers. Lets be positive and move forward.
If you are concern about the future.Let me tell you this. For 13-14 years I witnessed and experienced so somy crisis not knowing whether I will be able to pay my bills. GOD brought me thru.My priority is to see my girls complete their tertieryeducation.I need another 2-3 years. Guys dont worry at the end of the day everuthing will fall into place. Nothing is impossible. It is in the mind.
Chow Weng
KC Lau:
If they cannot move the mountain to the Silverhairs then we have to move ourselves to the mountain, especially the mountainous Chiangmai/Chiangrai area in democratic Thailand.
If we all put our heads and resources together, we will have huge business resettling the rest of the unhappy silverhairs and goldenhairs to cheaper northern Thailand.
This is a win/win/win/win solution for everyone, definitely no loser at all.
Think about it, four birds with one stone.
KC.
Christina Chan,
I believe most of us in SHC have been thru and seen alot. I believe many of us have had lowered our expectations and still experienced tumbles… I have.
I truly emphasized with those who still needs to support their children in their education. As parents, this is our responsibility but remember, to live your own life too.
I have climbed the corporate ladder but unfortunately didnt go too far up as I was a little “too kind” and was cut-off… cut-down. I have lowered my expectations the last several years. I have signed up with NTUC and WDA. No calls at all from them. Almost 2 years later, WDA called, to offer me a “nanny” job which I did not apply. By then, I was working as an Accounts Exec. which I resigned after 6 months as my young assistant has the “work smart” attitude and backstabbing…. anywhere not to bore u guys! I chose not to look for jobs the last 6 months, might consider the search again. Trust I will be stronger to go thru the interviews which has been rather demeaning! hahahha
Otherwise, if I live frugally ie., not eat in restaurants weekly, I can still live life to the fullest. Be content… it is the Expectation factor.
Though one might have the qualification and experience, it is the employers’ market right now. Besides annually, we have young pple graduating and competing with us. We can’t blame the employers for taking in the young ones (if not, what will happen to our children when they graduate!)
Singapore market is small, but for us(silverhairs), do we truly have the ooomph to venture abroad?
Recently I was on holiday in Hongkong. The restaurants and shops we patronised, were all serviced by YOUNG people!
Be Blessed,
Christina Chan
I agree with some comments here e.g. KC Lau and Terence. It appears that local employers are not keen to retain experienced people in their late forties and early fifties. I think in the Western world, this period is considered one when a person is at the top of his/her powers/experience but alas these people are “shunned” here or so it seems.
I think as an unofficial group, we could pool our talents and explore the Asean/Asian region to market our experiences, either for short stints e.g. 3-6 months or as a contract project (this idea is not new, I have read about it from time to time, but worth considering). I think this ties in well with some members push to live for short periods in places like Thailand/China/Vietnam, etc. I am interested in this aspect.
Just my humble opinion.
sb
Terence:
In March this year, I was in Perth on a short holiday. I saw a number of elderly people working on charity or public activities. To my surprise, I found out that the SilverHairs services were free, and that these people do so on their own time, once or twice a week.
Then, I raise the next question, and that is “How and where do they get the money for transport, food and drinks, if their services are free.”
It seems they have a good pension or dole system, very dissimilar to ours.
In the absence of a steady income, when we reach our SilverHairs years, I see we have no choice but to still continue to sell our experience and knowledge. I do agree that competiting with our younger people is not desirable, as they too need a job. They need to start somewhere too.
If there is a way, I mean a way where corporations (domestic, domestic going overseas or foreign companies) need SilverHairs skills and experience and knowledge, this will obviously be a great step. Then, we need to balance what we get paid vs what corporations are prepared to pay.
Gone are the days of monthly salaries, or long term employment. Short term contracts and amicable service fees are the direction.
Your thoughts. Let’s discuss further. There may be a way out for all of us.
Terence Seah
Chow Weng:
HI it is me again. There is one issue we all must address now. That is health. At some point we have RUN OUT DATE. That day no employer will even consider looking at our resume. We must begin to take care of our health now. it is better to be late than never. With first world livestyle many have to renew COE. To live up to 90s is not impossible now. I have seen many in nursing home who live beyond meaningful live. It is a reality we have to face. Mr terence I think we should address this issue now and not later. I have attended a few meetings and please to note that many are financial capable.
Chow Weng
Hi Terence and All Silverhairs Members,
Indeed Life is getting sour with aging, especially for those of us who are still struggling to make ends meet. There are the Health Factors and Money Factors to take care of and not forgetting our responsibilities for our dear ones in our Family Circles.
We as Silverhairs members must move on in our life as there is no time to reflect or to recall our past — no one will appreciate what we have achieved or contributed in our younger days.
We must find jobs that can last for as long as we live. But that again many of our Singaporeans are endeavouring into the career of Taxi Drivers, Tourist Guidings, Cleaners, Painters, etc… and this make it more competitive to survive in this service oriented market.
We need to find an alternative way out of this dilemma.
If any of our Silverhairs members have connection with overseas investors, or can advertise in foreign countries, for those who need experience partners or staffs and would like to invest in our City in Trading, Banking, Tourism, Hotels, Properties Management,etc… please open up this opportunity to our members for further discussions. Hopefully we can be of service in these Industries and prove our worth even we are getting older each day.
We must believe in ourselves that nothing is impossible to achieve if we have the WILL to do it.
Looking forward to your comments and advise.
Have a Nice Day
Patrick Yeo
Till to the present day many of us in this age group still find it very difucult to land ourselves a job. However those belong to this age group that are still under employment do at times find themselves victim of circumstances. Silverhair people also need regular income to support their families and schooling children!
Dear kf & others,
It is not just this age group that finds difficulty in landing a job. Many young people out there also faced similar problems too! That is why the Ministry concerned is always flooded with incessant complainants.
However, this situation is not peculiar to our island nation. If you look at the larger countries around us, you will find similar situations. It is almost like a modern sickness of sorts.
Studies by various government bodies both local and abroad have concluded that the phenomenon could generally be narrowed down to the mind set of the people.
In China, they experienced a great exodus of farmers from the remote areas to the city to look for jobs leaving behind them unattended or badly cultivated plantations.
Naturally, it also becomes a serious shortage of food supply situation. Many of these uprooted farmers are also unskilled. Hence, jobs for them are remote. On the same note, plantations left behind by them brought in poor harvest, their family and the nation suffered. A sad cycle of woes!
In the case of little Singapore, the incoming flock of “foreign talents” is very necessary to stay compeititive with our neighbours and the Ministries concerned have been regulating this influx as “best” they could. This area needs further elaboration.
In a nutshell, job seekers like myself have to constantly re-examine ourselves and ask what can we offer the would be employer. We cannot blame anyone if we stood out to be a sore thumb or disastrously unemployable!
Example, my family folks has a laundry chain (at its peak we had 1 factory and 12 centres). My younger brother handles the HR, he experienced such a rediculous turnover of the run-of-the mill local staff that we have to wind up several centres. He found that most local employees work like they are the bosses. In interviews, they will tell you what time they can work, break time, over time, smoking time, annual/sick leave days, how much money can they get …bla bla bla.. and yet not one word is mentioned on how he/she could work to improve or bring up the business and prosper together!
A rather odd but familiar situation involves a lady job applicant. She responded to an advertisement for an “experienced ironing person”. We gave her the job because she had good references. First day of work, she burnt a client’s blouse. When others finish 3 shirts, she is still on one. By noon, we had no choice but moved her to the dry cleaning section. Showed her the works, mixing of chemicals etc.she appeared to gel in. Next day, she did not turn up for work. Story ends.
In my view, I think it is all within us and how we intend to offer our services. The potential employer has a business to run and to be profitable he has to work out his sums professionally and diligently. We must
always remember to consider whether we are an asset or are we going to be a liability to the enterprise that signs us up.
I have moved several steps down from my previous ivory tower and using my hobby, playing music, to pay my bills.
Cheers, be happy and God bless,
Edwin Chen
Hi All,
After reading everyone’s share of experience and woes of getting into the employment market for some, I can’t agree more that we definitely have to lower our expectations and most importantly, not to give up trying.
To share my personal experience, I was out of a job when my only son was still in Sec 1 with 2 invalids (in-laws) who obviously needed maid care, thus we had to pull our resources tog. with the other siblings to care for them while gainfully employed.
To cut my story short, I never gave up networking and attended heavily funded courses by WDA or NTUC as well as participating in charity work. To this day, I’m glad to say that I’m still working and it’s thru a charity work that I got to meet my current employer. Prior to that, no job was too low for me to accept if you have commitments & I fully comprehend with those who are in this predicament.
So do not despair and I’d like to call on all working SHC members to help in some way by introducing or referring them to any part-time or contract work in your office for a start, no matter how short the duration is. I currently have a SHC member at my office on a part-time basis.
Chin up everyone, if not today, tomorrow will be a better day! Regards, Lisa
SHC has three platforms to address the financial needs of seniors
(a) Blue helmet – the re-training and recruitment centre.
(b) SHC Investment Club – financial education with hand-on workshop on trading two broad classes of equities and forex/derivatives.
(c) IT – training for network marketing and e-biz.
So we’re covered in theory. But the organisers enthusiasm has not been quite match by participation and ground swell.
Are we just talking or doing something about it?
Kf, you’re right, absolutely.
Lisa, thanks for sharing, and that we shd hold our chins up & heads high even as we ride thru adversities and seek the light out of the tunnel.
And KT has accurately summarised what SHC has to offer on its 3 platforms.
To me, the platforms are good only bcos they prepare & equip SHCians in a state to take on opportunities, but only if opportunities beckon.
These opportunities will have to come in the form of either an offer of employment or if one decides to start his own business with enough capital to lose in the fledgling days.
So until either situation arises, the waiting by those who hv taken off from the 3 platforms & are ready for a job, continues.
Dear SHC members,
So, in a nutshell, the 3 looking good platforms are purely academic. Meanwhile, the elder folks jobless situation is still not addressed but kept in abeyance. Why? Simple, SHC really has no definitive or immediate answers to the problems on hand. But it is alright gentlemen, afterall the Ministry concerned is also wallowing!
Someone mentioned, just talking only, sad but yes maybe that is the truth! Can talk about it only!
Regards, Edwin Chen
What I see is this.
Until the day when a SHCian (or a few SHCians pooling their financial resources together) start a biz with the employment of silverhairs in mind (and therefore cleverly craft jobs to match this purpose), seniors are at the mercy of the times, and the dictates of men of the times.
Meanwhile, like the scouts say but seldom do, be prepared.
So learn as much, be agile & nimble, be flexible and stretch every dollar that we hv.
Grateful that among us, we hv folks in the know sharing their knowledge. Thanks, butties. It helps.
Dear Tim & all,
Frankly, unless we have a state owned enterprise taking the first step and willingly and aptly providing seniors with jobs thereby creating a stable path for other GROs to follow through, we will have to really stretch our necks, waiting for snow to fall!
Philanthropists are not a rare commodity in Singapore, therefore, it is really a waiting game situation, the Ministry must make the first move to initiate with a heart, either logistically or otherwise. Like maybe further additional corporate/ personal tax incentives offered to the job providers. There are certainly many other available avenues to ride over this grey storm. It will surely surface if and when the master of money traffic relaxes further some of its overpowering monetary controls.
Our creator knows all, hears all,be happy.
Edwin Chen
I know that I am a nag. My excuse, age.
The problem with the 3 platforms is execution, We have pretty good plans laid out. They are ready to run. But we need a corporate culture to execute. This is still somewhat alien to SHC.
Eg the Blue Helmet has stalled for months simply because we can’t find a volunteer for CFO to finish off the budget projections in our bsuiness plan for funding. We have difficulty even in getting namecards printed.
The solution is simple under normal circumstances
Typically,
(a) We get a rich sponsor or
(b) We get corporate investors
We have to shake off the state of denial. A decision has to be made if we are to go forward.