Hi people, this post will be rather nostalgic as i reminicise on my Army days, especially more so during my time at 1 Guards.
In a blink of an eye, it has been more than half a year since i ORD-ed from the force. I must admit that i miss those days of chionging with my men very much. I may sound crazy saying all this, but yes i seriously miss my army days very much. haha. The whole lifestyle then is something that i cannot find anymore, the espirit de corps, commaderie and brotherhood. Is something that i miss.
Not to mention the things i did during my time. Grooming and leading the recruits into operational soldiers. Right now, my men who were once recruits are already nearing their final phase in 1 Guards. Soon they will be fighting ATEC and i do hope they do well. =)
I came across a couple of videos that made me really think back on my Guards days, though they are not of my men's but they were filmed in Dieppe barracks of the 11th MONO (Mine's 12th Mono), where i spent a good 3-4 months there training to be a Guardsman and earning my Khaki Beret from. So i can relate to it. =)Those bittersweet memories of 02/05 Guards Conversion Course.
This video especially made me think back. The rappeling and the section and platoon training are all things i can relate to. =)
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Nothing beats the sensational of rapelling, the desperation you feel as you are in the L-Shape on the skid of the helicopter with the down-wash pushing you down, hanging on for dear life. The exhilaration of jumping off 80-Feet in the air with nothing but a rope seat harness you tied yourself.
With a clap, you push yourself off the skid and let go of the rope slidding down and seeing the helicopter move further away from you. That is of course if you oversome the initial vertigo you feel as the helicopter rises into the air and the people below get smaller and smaller.
Or that exhilaration when you do an Australian (Face-down, walking rappel) off a cliff edge. I did try the inverted once too. =)
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I might sound a little masochistic to say that i did enjoy all those outfield exercises and fighting alongside my section. Or those endless night marches that never seemed to end. The complete exhaustion one feels when you are bogged down my equipments and responsibility. But i always felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when i complete them and see my section intact. =) Those fierce firefights and quick-thinking moments. Shouting through the gunshots and advancing towards the enemies. It is a feeling that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
My Section that i left behind Top Row : Kalai (2nd SAW), JJ (1st M203) Bottom row : CPL Saiful (2nd M203, my capable Sect 2ic), LCP Fadli ( 2nd LAW, Sharpshooter), Andy (1st LAW) Missing : Raizahan (1st Saw)
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I always wore my uniform with pride and i miss that feeling. Of wearing something that you have earned and built over two years to reflect your efforts. The Guards Tab, the Khaki Beret, the CSB Badge, the Rank and the formation patch....Even till now, i always hang a ready set of #4 in my room as a testament to me as a Guardsman and a trained Soldier of the SAF. I may sound crazy, but this is how i want my NS to be. As one of proud moments and good memories, to say after so long that i did my best and i did it well. I do not want to remember my NS as one blur spot, but rather one in which i truly understood who i was and who i could be. I may just be one soldier in a vast sea of Servicemen, but my memories of my time as one will remain as something precious to me for a lifetime. I used to complain how sian i felt at times of NS, but in retrospec, i wish i could go back to myself then and tell me what i feel now. There were things i could have done better and things i could have done without, if only.
Rawdy Platoon 2, 12th Mono-Intake with Second Year Cmdrs. (I ORD-ed by then already)
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On a brighter note, today had dinner with Ms. S's mum and sister at Sakae Sushi. =) It was a simple dinner but a fun one at that. =)
Thank you for the dinner Dear. =) it was truly sweet of you to treat your mum and sister to such a feast =)
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It is late and tomorrow i'm going shopping for my very first pair of sneakers. =) Hopefully i get to find a cheap but good one! =)
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They were tough while they lasted, but thier impressions in my life lasts a lifetime.
In a blink of an eye, i have ended my stint at Recruit Express. To say the least, it has been a hectic and absolutely fulfilling 4.5 months there as a Recruitment Consultant. It has given me a taste of how a real corporate company works and defintiely opened my eyes to the world of businesses in Singapore.
In a nutshell, it was good that i took on his job as it has made me realise how hard it is sometimes for people to get a job in SIngapore. In singapore, many factors come into play when you wish to find a job.
Qualifications isn't the only factor. In fact to properly be recommended for a job, there are at least 5-6 contributing factors. For example, a person with 10 years of experience in 10 different companies will lose out to a guy who has 10 years experience in 1 company. Though i do not say this as one that is cast in stone, generally, companies prefer applicants who have solid experience rather than a smattering of experiences.
I would have never known things like if i had never joined RE. Bottomline? Find a job and stick with it no matter what. Employers see that and thye LOVE it. LOL
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Through my 4.5 months there, i have come across people from many backgrounds and people of many personalities....but more unforgetably, i came across the oddballs of which i will list down to give you people a taste of how they were like.
Names have been changed to protect the privacy of all candidates concerned
First up!
The Call-me-everyday-and-bug-me-till-i-get-scared- and-does-not-know-when-to-stop-doing-it candidate.
These candidates are DESPERATE and they want YOU TO KNOW IT.
I once had this candidate who would not stop calling me at 9am and 5pm EVERY SINGLE FRIKIN day for two frikin weeks. She would have this slur to her speech and speak in a manner that makes you wanna cringe. The conversation will go something like this..
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Me : Hi! Good Morning! Recruit Express, Alan speaking!
Her : Err..Alan..........***** ah......how..........got......job? at this point in time, i would be cringng and grimacing and banging my fist.....no...my HEAD on the table
Me : Oh Hi *****! I'm still on the lookout for you. When i do have a job for you (which i often do not have as her resume would not even pass shortlisting) i will definitely call you!
Her : Er........ok.......*Hangs up phone*
Me : ..............................
I'm not trying to be mean, but if you really want a job, you have to expand your chances and not just rely on one source. Contrary to popular belief, calling up your agent every single day will nto speed up your job-seekign process, it will only make your agent scared of you and think you're weird...so lesson learnt, leave your agent at peace and he will find a job for you!
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The i-have-no-experience-and-i-die-die-want-a-high-paying-job
I did come across one such candidate before...fresh Dip ORD guy. ZERO Experience and looked like a Clubbing chiongster...
During the interview....
Me : So Mr. *** how much are you expecting?
Him : Hmm....$8.50 and above...
Me : Ok...but for your duration and experience....i can only offer you, at best $6.
Him : I don't care, i know it is possible wan......
Me : You really want a $8.50 job? It will take a long time you know?
Him : I know...i will wait lor...
Me : You sure you won't even consider a $6 dollar job?
Him : No...nothing less than $8.50
Me : Ok.....Have a nice day, i will contact you if i do find a job that suits your requirements...
Obviously, his profile began to collect dust and was never seen again....Lesson learnt? No point trying to demand higher than the market rate, chances are, you will find it harder to get a job. Be easy going and flexible, always leave your pay negotiable. You are just there to fill time, not to pay for a family or buy a diamond ring (applicable only to students) so don't go expecting to be able to buy a car the moment your contract ends. It just does not work that way. Want a job ASAP? Tell the recruiter that you'll be willing to take any salary as long as the job justifies the pay. I GUARANTEE YOU, you will get a job offer the moment you leave the office. Demand for a certain pay? You will never hear from your agent again...Its cruel, but its a fact!
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I once had this candidate, a lady in her 40s, loud-mouthed and unkempt to say the least. I filled her into two jobs, one that was only in the morning and one that only began in the afternoon. Both at the same location too...But within two weeks.
She got fired from both jobs.
So she was desperate and upset. Would call me everyday and chase me to help her find a job and would complain and complain about her she feels mistreated and misunderstood. I tried explaining to her and calming her down. But she would persist and call me almost every week. Until one day... Just when i was about to go for lunch.
i got the SHOCK OF MY LIFE. One of my colleague pointed out
"Alan...your Auntie Ho is here again"
To my horrors, there she was in my office receptionist area....WITH AN OLD AND WORN DOWN SUPERMARKET TROLLEY!! She was here to "pay me a visit" and kept asking me to help here. But all i could think of at that time was
"How the HELL did she bring this trollery through Takashimaya, into the lift lobby....up the lift and into my office!?!?!?!"
She told me she was deliverying veggies in the morning that was why she had this trolley with her...but still...Takashimaya is in ORCHARD ROAD...Don't tell me she rode the MRT with this as well!?!?!
I quickly spoke to her with the eyes of a bewildered lady waiting to be interviewed looking at me and my candidate. Luckily none of my colleagues saw what was happening...if not i will be reprimanded for sure.
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In this line, i've come across many situations and episodes that just defines my time there..but its late now...and i want to sleep....
Lol....no formal goodbyes...cause i'll continue this again some time soon...=)
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Have a nice day and thank you for calling Recruit Express!
Much has happened and i will soon end my stint at Recruit Express...my job for the past 4 months. But i doubt it will be the end of the road for me in recruitment as i'm seriously considering this path as my future career path.
It pays well if you place in effort and it is definitely not a boring job. You meet people from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Really makes you open your eyes and view the world and society especially in a different light.
But see how...i still have 4 years to go in NTU before i make a decision, who knows...things might change!
= Alan a.k.a Scionfire =
= 21 yr old M =
= Was from CJC =
= Ex-29th CJC SC Councillor =
= Hails from Pioneer and Proud of it =
= Enjoys Jazz, Zen and Gregorian =
= Jay Chou RAWKS =
= Loves living the simple life =
= Operationally Ready NS-MAN and Proud of it =
= Guards Specialist : Ready to Strike! =
= Has a wonderful Girlfriend =
= Struggling undergrad in NTU =
Nothing beats the sensational of rapelling, the desperation you feel as you are in the L-Shape on the skid of the helicopter with the down-wash pushing you down, hanging on for dear life. The exhilaration of jumping off 80-Feet in the air with nothing but a rope seat harness you tied yourself. 
With a clap, you push yourself off the skid and let go of the rope slidding down and seeing the helicopter move further away from you. That is of course if you oversome the initial vertigo you feel as the helicopter rises into the air and the people below get smaller and smaller. 
