Recently,
I watched Iron Lady and this brought me back to 1979, the year I graduated.
After going through multiple loops of IQ tests, interviews I was offered a job
with ICL (Intl Computers Ltd), UK. My thoughts back then was to work in London
for a few years. I remembered the offer came by telegram. I was all excited,
shipped my things to London and was ready to head home for a break before
returning to work. Within 2 weeks of my offer, ICL withdrew, thanks to Margaret Thatcher. I must add ICL was gracious to compensate me 1 month salary. Welcome to citizens
first!
Margaret Thatcher came into power at about the most turbulent time post WWII, having to fight militant unions, unemployment and the IRA. As a student, I remembered bizarre strikes such as bakery, rail, postmen, policemen, firemen, buses, coal miners. She fought tooth and nail in many quarters and subsequently brought on a much stronger UK. During her watch, she was almost killed by a bomb plot on the last night at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton. She fought a principled, but expensive, war with the Argentineans over Falkland, thousands of miles away from home.
At home in late Apr12, a well respected don, Dr Tan Khee Giap suggested giving Singaporeans "first bite of the cherry" in jobs. The resounding message from the Government right now is Singaporeans come first.
I continue to cheer her on knowing "what don't kill you makes for a better man, woman included". Presently, it may be easier to strike lottery than landing a job in the UK. Understandably, locals come first again!
We are a migrant society, highly tolerant and conditioned to accept and embrace change. All things equal, we need to take care and grow our own timber as well. We owe no apologies.
Margaret Thatcher came into power at about the most turbulent time post WWII, having to fight militant unions, unemployment and the IRA. As a student, I remembered bizarre strikes such as bakery, rail, postmen, policemen, firemen, buses, coal miners. She fought tooth and nail in many quarters and subsequently brought on a much stronger UK. During her watch, she was almost killed by a bomb plot on the last night at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton. She fought a principled, but expensive, war with the Argentineans over Falkland, thousands of miles away from home.
At home in late Apr12, a well respected don, Dr Tan Khee Giap suggested giving Singaporeans "first bite of the cherry" in jobs. The resounding message from the Government right now is Singaporeans come first.
Let me
relate 3 stories I heard in the past 16 months. Story 1 was related to me by an ICT
Singaporean honcho early last year. This person lamented that for a huge ICT
project in SG, the person taking notes (minutes of meetings) is a foreigner. So
I asked, "don't you have a say?" Unfortunately not, my HQ is in the West.
I subsequently gathered their project director went through several iterations of
Westerner, ABC, then Westerner and last I heard a local. I am not sure if the foreign
scriber is still there.
Story 2 smacks
colonialism. This person I chatted with worked for a
smallish European company specialising in ERP domain. He is the only Singaporean
director amongst a dozen European directors. He is the company's "poster
boy", propped upwards whenever there is a large Government project.
According
to him, his fellow European directors simply do not have a clue on how business
is conducted here; have no local network or ground information. Furthermore,
all were on expat terms. How they continue to remain business viable is
questionable. His own boss apparently instructed not to be "disturbed" whenever
he goes on leave. On the other hand, this local chap is required to be
"voice contactable" on his vacation days. Last I heard, he held his
own, moved on to a more level playing field; good for him.
Story 3
involves a large French company. Within weeks of hiring this local person at
management level, his foreign boss forwarded some CVs of fresh graduates from
France with a "highly recommended" rating. So what would you do if
you were in his shoes? To keep his job, he had no choice but to do the “politically
right thing”, hire a few foreign talents.
A recent story is one of a German ICT management staff, seconded to Singapore, trying to help
bring across a secretary support person. I don’t know if his barber is coming
too!
Based
on these anecdotal cases, I am not entirely surprise such practice takes place in
the ICT segment. Unlike professionals such as doctors, lawyers or finance with
unique skills, ICT has hardly any entry barrier. Anyone with some resemblance
of ICT related training can land on our shores, stay to work, subject to basic
scrutiny.
Fast
forward 33 years and history repeats itself in the UK. It is in technical
recession, exchange rate at the lowest for decades and Europe is groping in the
dark, reluctant to take the austerity route. Meanwhile, my kid, followed my footsteps,
is bent on seeking for a job in London upon graduation this year. It's humbling
when you send out hundreds of emails and a handful replied. However, the
rigour of going through tests, case studies, interviews is still invaluable.
I continue to cheer her on knowing "what don't kill you makes for a better man, woman included". Presently, it may be easier to strike lottery than landing a job in the UK. Understandably, locals come first again!
We are a migrant society, highly tolerant and conditioned to accept and embrace change. All things equal, we need to take care and grow our own timber as well. We owe no apologies.
FTR: I am
"colour agnostic", having 8 nationalities in my work team, including
Singaporeans.
