Category: Job

Today, i should blog about my 2 days experience as a part time waiter at Marina Bay Sands. I was working at a very classy fine dining restaurant with my university friend. After the first day, we felt that this job was not for us. It is definitely not because we feel that we are above the job, instead, i have a deep respect for the many employees there. For example, there are Filipinos, China foreigners working 11 to 13 hours a day there and this job requires you to keep standing straight for hours without rest.

In my few conversations with the workers there, i find that most of them left their family behind to come to Singapore to work and they work more than 10 hours per day. Yet, these are the people pushing our economy forward. They do the same thing day in and day out, repeatedly without complain. Let me mention that this job is in no way easy though it doesn’t require a great deal of thinking. Imagine wiping glasses for hours and checking for finger prints against the light… and then doing it for 6 hours straight. Glass wiping is one of the most mundane jobs ever… There are some perks to this job, like a decent hourly pay of $9, with free food and transportation and these are the things that make me want to work on the second day.

Anyway, these 2 days of working at the restaurant has taught me a few things:

1. Study harder for a better career and thus, future
2. Always strive to your fullest and hardest like the workers there
3. Remain optimistic even when the whole world seems to be dropping down on you
4. Save your money and don’t splurge like the workers there and you will find yourself many times richer

They might not be as lucky as Singaporeans to be born here, but if they keep working hard like that, their future might be better. On the other hand, if a Singaporean work hard like them, we might see the first Lee Ka-shing of Singapore.

I have been working as a part time gems and diamond showroom salesman for around 3 to 4 months now. As i become more accustomed to the vast variety of stones, i become better at selling them. I try to practise active listening, while at the same time subliminal persuasion in order to increase my sales. Of course, you cannot sell meat to a vegetarian and i am still learning how to sweet talk the bird out of the sky.

Some basic information about my part time job as a gems and diamond salesman:

1. $9 per hour basic salary
2. A percentage of all sales amount, with incremental percentage as sales volume increase

This job is definitely fulfilling as i get to learn more about the different gems and jewelleries. I also enjoy talking to various customers from all over the world though i do wish to make an impact by using the shortest possible time to influence a customer and that is something i have to learn more. However, i sense the prospect of this job is limited as i am limited by my maximum 4 hours per day service. I did consider going up to the boss and suggesting viable avenues to increase traffic and in turn increase sales but decided against it. There are so much things to learn about gems and diamonds and i think by the time i get out of university, i basically will have a vast repository of knowledge about everything at my disposal. With that said, let me introduce some stones for you according to the birth month.

January: Garnet

February: Amethyst

March: Aquamarine

April: Diamond

May: Emerald

June: Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone

July: Ruby

August: Peridot

September: Sapphire

October: Tourmaline & Opal

November: Topaz

December: Lapiz Lazuli & Turquoise

Of all these stones, the 4 most precious stones are Emerald, Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire. I have only sold ruby earrings and diamond earrings before but not emerald and sapphire yet. I am waiting for the day where i have sold all 4 stones, something to tell myself i am no longer just a salesman who want to sell, without knowing what is it i am selling. Next time, i might update the blog with what kind of stones to get for wealth, career, love, friends, family and more. For now, this post is more about my job and the experience that i am getting.

Recently, i have started a new part-time job with a research company in Singapore. This job requires me to be extremely independent and vocal as i have to approach random strangers and ask them to spend 20 to 30 minutes of their time with me to do a survey. Currently, we are doing a survey for a local university which investigates racial harmony among the different social groups in Singapore.

As expected, this job is one of the toughest i have ever done. The amount of commitment you have to put in and the rejection you faced is something that will put off a weak-minded individual. This job does not pay me a basic salary though the incentives provided by completing one survey is quite attractive, in the $10+ region. However, the rejection is one that can get to you after a while. I went through some HDB flats today and managed to complete 6 surveys in around 3 hours. It was an incredibly mundane but interesting experience, the irony of this job.

I am constantly looking out for new opportunities due to my circumstances now. To be honest, sometimes, i just feel so tired but coming back home and realizing i have to work hard, i just keep on striving and striving and hopefully, one day will be able to reach the top of whatever industry i am going to venture into in the future.