Ok, so I worked in Apple for a grand total of 2 days and I quit on the morning of the 3rd. It was way too tough and the returns were terrible. Imagine starting work at 11am and you have to stand all the way from then to 930pm, repeating the same information over and over again until your jaws hurt. There was not really a lunch break. Well, if you consider sitting on cardboard boxes in the storeroom eating packed lunch a break..
There was no fixed time for lunch. I had lunch at 4.30pm on the 2nd day and worked throughout dinner time all the way to 9 plus 10..in fact, I don't think they had dinner breaks at all. After that, you still had to do area cleaning. By the time I got home it was almost 11pm.
There was also no guarantee that you would sell anything (but of course!) and I sold nothing on the 2nd day, so I probably earned the base pay of $40. <--- what?!
I had actually intended to work until the end of December, then go for my relief teaching job, but I realised it was way too ridiculous to work all the way like that for 30 plus days..it was pure torture. C'mon, if at least the pay was higher or the welfare more humane I would have considered staying on.
I know money is hard to earn..but.. :(
It was tough for me calling the boss on the 3rd morning, although I wasn't bonded to any contract whatsoever(thank goodness), but I was still feeling a little guilty I hadn't lived up to my initial enthusiasm. I don't think I'll call back and ask for my pay...it's kinda awkward.
Anyways, I've been given a book to read for I'll be teaching literature next year for a semester. It's called 'The Outsiders'.. I haven't touched a book in ages..and now I'm barely past the 2nd chapter..Oops. Gotta hurry and make notes too.
Oh well. Nothing more to rant about for now, better do some reading before i go to sleep.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
a big change in situation
Just 1 week ago I was slacking around the house, with nothing to do in particular, besides surfing car forums and randomly applying for different jobs, wondering why time appeared to pass soo slowly.
Tomorrow, I will be reporting to Apple at Parkway Parade as a sales staff. Well, I may end up not working there at all, considering the sudden change of plans which I only found out this afternoon.
It all started on Sunday, where I saw the recruitment ad outside the yet to be opened Apple store at Parkway. I figured, hey wouldn't it be cool to be selling ipods and imacs..The next day I called the number and was told to go down to the Apple store at Funan to fill up an application form. That very day I made a trip down to fill up the form, and was told the interview was on the day itself.
I was not really mentally prepared, and definitely not dressed for the occasion (bermudas and army sandals) but decided to go for it anyway. The interview turned out pretty fine, although I was clearly stumbled when he asked me if I had any experience in sales or any tech knowledge in computers and such.
I had never touched an apple computer in my life nor used an Ipod mp3. I wasn't exactly a gadget geek either and all I could rely on was 'how i was willing to learn'..I was quite surprised the interview went positively went he told me he could give me a basic pay of $1000 (I quoted $700 based on my lack of experience and skill) and said he wanted me to work at Funan first to gain experience before sending me to Parkway.
The next day I received a phone call saying I could report to work as early as yesterday. I initially agreed but realised I still had other stuff to settle so I requested the change to Friday. And I was told to report to the new Parkway outlet directly. All the while I actually thought I had to work in Funan for about a month or so before going over. Apparently, it was 2 days not a month.
It seemed rather exciting to be working in the place I'm so familiar with. But subsequently doubt set in. I had no knowlege at all on Apple products and I knew that I would make a terrible salesman. In fact I applied for this position as a form of 'training' on my communication skills and also to boost my confidence. These 2 days I convinced myself that I'm going in for the training and it'll be cool to work for the company which produces the world's best selling mp3s and funky looking computers. But the uncertainty and lack of knowlege of what would happen on the actual day itself sometimes made me think twice.
Well. This afternoon I received an email from the English head of CCHSM asking me to give her a call. She told me she had a vacancy for an english teacher and was keen on letting me fill the role. I agreed on the phone. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Although I was thoroughly trying to convince myself on the Apple job all along, this job was way better in terms of too many aspects. In fact, relief teaching was the first thought on my mind when I was thinking of a job.
The apple job came way too fast and I realised I had rushed into it without knowing what I really wanted. True, it would be good training since I'll be plunged into a totally new environment and situation altogether, but I just couldn't convince myself that I will be totally comfortable in such a role. This teaching job came along as somewhat of a helpline.
So it's up to me tomorrow to find out more about the terms and conditions of the sales job. If they required a one month advance notice on resignation and there was no such thing as working 1 month part time, then bye bye Apple.
Tomorrow, I will be reporting to Apple at Parkway Parade as a sales staff. Well, I may end up not working there at all, considering the sudden change of plans which I only found out this afternoon.
It all started on Sunday, where I saw the recruitment ad outside the yet to be opened Apple store at Parkway. I figured, hey wouldn't it be cool to be selling ipods and imacs..The next day I called the number and was told to go down to the Apple store at Funan to fill up an application form. That very day I made a trip down to fill up the form, and was told the interview was on the day itself.
I was not really mentally prepared, and definitely not dressed for the occasion (bermudas and army sandals) but decided to go for it anyway. The interview turned out pretty fine, although I was clearly stumbled when he asked me if I had any experience in sales or any tech knowledge in computers and such.
I had never touched an apple computer in my life nor used an Ipod mp3. I wasn't exactly a gadget geek either and all I could rely on was 'how i was willing to learn'..I was quite surprised the interview went positively went he told me he could give me a basic pay of $1000 (I quoted $700 based on my lack of experience and skill) and said he wanted me to work at Funan first to gain experience before sending me to Parkway.
The next day I received a phone call saying I could report to work as early as yesterday. I initially agreed but realised I still had other stuff to settle so I requested the change to Friday. And I was told to report to the new Parkway outlet directly. All the while I actually thought I had to work in Funan for about a month or so before going over. Apparently, it was 2 days not a month.
It seemed rather exciting to be working in the place I'm so familiar with. But subsequently doubt set in. I had no knowlege at all on Apple products and I knew that I would make a terrible salesman. In fact I applied for this position as a form of 'training' on my communication skills and also to boost my confidence. These 2 days I convinced myself that I'm going in for the training and it'll be cool to work for the company which produces the world's best selling mp3s and funky looking computers. But the uncertainty and lack of knowlege of what would happen on the actual day itself sometimes made me think twice.
Well. This afternoon I received an email from the English head of CCHSM asking me to give her a call. She told me she had a vacancy for an english teacher and was keen on letting me fill the role. I agreed on the phone. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Although I was thoroughly trying to convince myself on the Apple job all along, this job was way better in terms of too many aspects. In fact, relief teaching was the first thought on my mind when I was thinking of a job.
The apple job came way too fast and I realised I had rushed into it without knowing what I really wanted. True, it would be good training since I'll be plunged into a totally new environment and situation altogether, but I just couldn't convince myself that I will be totally comfortable in such a role. This teaching job came along as somewhat of a helpline.
So it's up to me tomorrow to find out more about the terms and conditions of the sales job. If they required a one month advance notice on resignation and there was no such thing as working 1 month part time, then bye bye Apple.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
don't be tempted to spend
I haven't blogged in ages..
And so it's like 1 week after my ord..but it seems like time is crawling by ever so slowly. I think it's partly because I haven't found a job and for the past week I've been lazing around. I suddenly feel so useless. :(
I am always so tempted to spend on my car. This is so bad. I really should be watching my spending, especially when now cash flow in my family wasn't as much as about a month ago. And I haven't got a stable salary yet.
Hence I promise myself that the last mod I'm ever going to do is the arb. After that, that's all. No more car modding. I've spent too much. I really really got to appreciate what I have. Because it's a privilege, not a necessity. I believe I have said something like this before.
Will place less emphasis on cars from now on and concentrate on getting a job then doing well in the job.
These few days I have been staying up real late. No particular reason to. I just stay up to use the internet, which means that I've been sacrificing sleep doing nothing important in particular. With my TV now at the repair centre, I probably have no reason to sleep late.
Quite the mindless surfing and go sleep. My left eye is red. :(
And so it's like 1 week after my ord..but it seems like time is crawling by ever so slowly. I think it's partly because I haven't found a job and for the past week I've been lazing around. I suddenly feel so useless. :(
I am always so tempted to spend on my car. This is so bad. I really should be watching my spending, especially when now cash flow in my family wasn't as much as about a month ago. And I haven't got a stable salary yet.
Hence I promise myself that the last mod I'm ever going to do is the arb. After that, that's all. No more car modding. I've spent too much. I really really got to appreciate what I have. Because it's a privilege, not a necessity. I believe I have said something like this before.
Will place less emphasis on cars from now on and concentrate on getting a job then doing well in the job.
These few days I have been staying up real late. No particular reason to. I just stay up to use the internet, which means that I've been sacrificing sleep doing nothing important in particular. With my TV now at the repair centre, I probably have no reason to sleep late.
Quite the mindless surfing and go sleep. My left eye is red. :(
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