Run Of The Mill (Part 7)
After returning from Shanghai, Niv went full scale into landing a proper engineering job. While searching, he went back to the shipping firm to temp. The personnel in the firm were satisfied with his performance and wanted to keep him on a permanent basis but he declined their offer as it was too low. Also, he did not want to be seen as a job hopper and leave after just being in a job for less than 6 months.
He got a couple of interviews with some MNCs and while he made it to the final round of interview for 2 of them, his lack of an honors degree resulted in him being overlooked again. Time and again, companies in Singapore and their unhealthy obsession with the want of an honors degree has limited his chances of landing a job.
Among his many applications, one small local construction firm called him up for an interview. Maybe it was his performance at the interview or maybe it was due to the lack of applicants, he landed his first proper engineering job as a Project Engineer. He does not know the specifics of the job but was glad to finally be given an opportunity to prove his worth.
Life as a Project Engineer was not easy. Handling client documentation, corresponding with clients, maintaining project budget, arranging for office equipment, office administration, attending meetings, liaising with clients, coordinating with Human Resource for manpower, sending vehicles for servicing and lots more. It was not just a simple job. It had so many elements involved that one had to multi task and learn everything on the go. It was really great fun working there initially. He picked up really quickly and was given opportunity by his Project Manager to attend meetings meant only for Project Management Team. His rise was also noted by the Chairlady of the company, who has noted his work put in as well. The Project Manager even put him as in charge of the team should the Managers and Lead Engineer not be around. It was a great responsibility thrust upon someone just 4 months into the company and still new to the job. There were even times during meetings with clients that they had mistook him as the Project Manager due to his in depth knowledge of the project's ongoings. Wow!
However, the arrival of the assistant project manager later spelt his downfall in the company. The APM felt that Niv had his hand in too many important responsibilities and started to remove them from his charge. His reason to Niv was that as a Project Engineer, he should concentrate only on the engineering portion of the work. However, it was felt by most in the company that the APM never liked Niv and was not happy with Niv's quick rise among the ranks. He was especially not happy that Niv was given a company vehicle to use, albeit it being a lorry, outside of office hours.
While coordinating with HR on the manpower issues, Niv worked closely with the new HR Executive, Chang. Chang had graduated from a university in New Zealand and just returned to Singapore. They had many laughs when working together and was often seen together. Slowly, Niv started to take a liking for Chang and asked her out. He was afraid that Chang would turn her down but was pleasantly surprised that she had a passion for the arts. She readily agreed to go for the play with Niv and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Slowly, they started to go out for dinners, walks and movies. When Niv was away serving his yearly military service training, he chatted with Chang every night. He really liked her and found her special. Alas, it all started to come crashing down when he revealed his feelings to her. She started to avoid him and did not converse with him as often. They started to drift apart and he was sad to see that all along, he never stood a chance. After all, she was very pretty and he was just plain obese.
Together with his problems with Chang and the APM, Niv started to feel disheartened and requested to be posted as an on-site engineer. He wanted to leave the compound of the HQ, away from all the petty politics and to get his career back on track. Niv soon got his wish and he was posted on to the island. Every morning, he had to take a ferry to the island to work. It was a good experience for him as it was hands-on work and work never followed you home. He struck up a good rapport with the client, his colleagues and workers. Initially, he was assigned to oversee all paperwork in the site office and he put in his fair share of work. The clients were impressed with his attitude and even praised him to the MD. However, this brought his name to the attention of the APM and again the little bits of politics started. It was really frustrating for Niv as he was starting to show his potential again when along came the APM to put down all his hard work. Niv soon grew fed up with the APM and requested for a change of project team. He wanted out of the influence of the APM but he was so wrong. It seemed that the APM bore a grudge against him and influenced Niv's new manager and soon Niv was given very menial tasks to do. The clients' were outraged at the treatment of Niv and were questioning the company's management whether they knew how to nurture talent. It seemed that each and every time someone capable came along who is not a yes man, they get shipped off!
Niv's patience with the company finally snapped the day his new manager covered up a safety incident for his previous project team. When he was with the previous team, unsafe practices were few and far between. However, with the delay in schedule, unsafe practices just kept popping up. He worried for his workers and wished that they had better protection. Seeing that everyone on the site office kept covering up incident after incident, Niv could no longer stand the unsafe work environment and tendered his resignation.
He got a couple of interviews with some MNCs and while he made it to the final round of interview for 2 of them, his lack of an honors degree resulted in him being overlooked again. Time and again, companies in Singapore and their unhealthy obsession with the want of an honors degree has limited his chances of landing a job.
Among his many applications, one small local construction firm called him up for an interview. Maybe it was his performance at the interview or maybe it was due to the lack of applicants, he landed his first proper engineering job as a Project Engineer. He does not know the specifics of the job but was glad to finally be given an opportunity to prove his worth.
Life as a Project Engineer was not easy. Handling client documentation, corresponding with clients, maintaining project budget, arranging for office equipment, office administration, attending meetings, liaising with clients, coordinating with Human Resource for manpower, sending vehicles for servicing and lots more. It was not just a simple job. It had so many elements involved that one had to multi task and learn everything on the go. It was really great fun working there initially. He picked up really quickly and was given opportunity by his Project Manager to attend meetings meant only for Project Management Team. His rise was also noted by the Chairlady of the company, who has noted his work put in as well. The Project Manager even put him as in charge of the team should the Managers and Lead Engineer not be around. It was a great responsibility thrust upon someone just 4 months into the company and still new to the job. There were even times during meetings with clients that they had mistook him as the Project Manager due to his in depth knowledge of the project's ongoings. Wow!
However, the arrival of the assistant project manager later spelt his downfall in the company. The APM felt that Niv had his hand in too many important responsibilities and started to remove them from his charge. His reason to Niv was that as a Project Engineer, he should concentrate only on the engineering portion of the work. However, it was felt by most in the company that the APM never liked Niv and was not happy with Niv's quick rise among the ranks. He was especially not happy that Niv was given a company vehicle to use, albeit it being a lorry, outside of office hours.
While coordinating with HR on the manpower issues, Niv worked closely with the new HR Executive, Chang. Chang had graduated from a university in New Zealand and just returned to Singapore. They had many laughs when working together and was often seen together. Slowly, Niv started to take a liking for Chang and asked her out. He was afraid that Chang would turn her down but was pleasantly surprised that she had a passion for the arts. She readily agreed to go for the play with Niv and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Slowly, they started to go out for dinners, walks and movies. When Niv was away serving his yearly military service training, he chatted with Chang every night. He really liked her and found her special. Alas, it all started to come crashing down when he revealed his feelings to her. She started to avoid him and did not converse with him as often. They started to drift apart and he was sad to see that all along, he never stood a chance. After all, she was very pretty and he was just plain obese.
Together with his problems with Chang and the APM, Niv started to feel disheartened and requested to be posted as an on-site engineer. He wanted to leave the compound of the HQ, away from all the petty politics and to get his career back on track. Niv soon got his wish and he was posted on to the island. Every morning, he had to take a ferry to the island to work. It was a good experience for him as it was hands-on work and work never followed you home. He struck up a good rapport with the client, his colleagues and workers. Initially, he was assigned to oversee all paperwork in the site office and he put in his fair share of work. The clients were impressed with his attitude and even praised him to the MD. However, this brought his name to the attention of the APM and again the little bits of politics started. It was really frustrating for Niv as he was starting to show his potential again when along came the APM to put down all his hard work. Niv soon grew fed up with the APM and requested for a change of project team. He wanted out of the influence of the APM but he was so wrong. It seemed that the APM bore a grudge against him and influenced Niv's new manager and soon Niv was given very menial tasks to do. The clients' were outraged at the treatment of Niv and were questioning the company's management whether they knew how to nurture talent. It seemed that each and every time someone capable came along who is not a yes man, they get shipped off!
Niv's patience with the company finally snapped the day his new manager covered up a safety incident for his previous project team. When he was with the previous team, unsafe practices were few and far between. However, with the delay in schedule, unsafe practices just kept popping up. He worried for his workers and wished that they had better protection. Seeing that everyone on the site office kept covering up incident after incident, Niv could no longer stand the unsafe work environment and tendered his resignation.
posted by Prosage at 11:14 pm
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