Mid-Life Crisis

Yes, I don't care that I am a decade early, I am having one. Whoop de doo da dey. I have been staying up and analysing this new job opportunity because my ego is crap and there is no way I deserve Zurich. It turns out I will be a glorified salesperson. So comes the point whether I can live with myself doing that sort of work. Sure, I can. I know it takes a certain personality to do it, not many can and those that do fit are naturals and very very good at it. At the blue chip I worked for it was a glorified sales job as well, with the dangerous sheen of being credible. None of the information produced was actually of any use you know. A lot of times, lacking in common sense.

Maybe its because I have always thought a proper job was like my dad's. Always hired, what he did was actually useful, keeping the same position and getting promoted every 3-4 years. MY DAD IS ACTUALLY A MINORITY. He is one of the few guys who can keep a job, and thats not easy. Since I am now exposed to the nasty adult world, it turns out that even a good degree with a Masters is not enough to guarantee a job. OK, I knew that, but not the extent of it. Just think about it and follow my train of thought.

SO.... you have a degree and expect a high starting salary, pension, medical and possibly a free blackberry. Now consider how many blue chip companies are out there, and the proportion of those to smaller firms. 1 out of .... 4000 maybe. I am being kind. Now consider how many places are open a year at university. In Singapore alone, its 50 000 students a year assuming it follows birth rate provided by the CIA. Now, 20% of them progressing to degrees. So 10 000 new graduates come out each year. What are the odds that you get a job in a blue chip? Also, I have worked in one. People come and go all the time, it doesn't matter where the hell you work, people come as fast as they leave. 6 new hires, maybe 7 per department a year.

Assume 10 departments, also being kind... so 70 new jobs a year per blue chip company. How many does SG have ? 60. So where the heck does everyone else go ? Why, they go to the forces, become teachers, go into arts, or sales, or become a reasonably paid clerk. All those mentioned save an average of $100 sgd a month, some even go into debt. It would take one of them 35 years to have a million, also assuming they are savvy investors. That means only at 60 will SOME people have enough for retirement if they start saving at 25.