KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi all,

i am not too sure if this is the right thread to post my posting.

Currently i am holding a fulltime job as a secretary, my department deal with security matters and i am expected to go for security aduits with my boss as and when required.

My boss will be retiring in 3 yrs times, and i am worried when he leaves, i will become a "nobody child", i've seen too many here, when the boss goes, the secy were being kick around. the luckier ones get to have a new boss, rest are wither being "demoted" or cold storage till you resign on your own. i do not wish to be in such a situation,thus i am planning ahead.

i thought of picking up a new skill and signing up for the CEA course and start out as a P/T property agent now. i can try put as a part-timer now and see how it goes. i cannot afford to quit my job now and go into full time agent, as i have 2 young kids at home. Another way is to see if i am cut out for this job.

any property agent mummies or daddies out there?
anyone can advise if this is feasible for me? i am in a dilemma

Looks like you are undergoing mid-life career change. DH ever tried P/T pty agt and his experience tells us:

1. It's tough job, either full-time or none at all if you wish to earn a decent income. There's too much on hand with keeping up with pty mkt, CEHA rules etc. And fast pace like immediate responses to clients etc...

2. Be prepared to sacrifice family time, as the job usually off-office or off-school hours. Without supportive spouse, you have problem dealing with kids (Like me lah..... Nag, grumble, sour-faced to DH.....)

3. Be prepared for dirty 'play field' of pty agts. Agts can even undercut each other, worst than normal office politics. And also dealing with various sellers or buyers, angels and devils alike....

Yes, we heard success cases of agts earning excellent income. In reality, the vast majority make enough to get by. Like DH observed during his 1 stinct as P/T agt, most gave up before the year up, the rest convert full-time. Of this full-time, more than half gave up in a few months....

Now maybe changed. There are more rules and regulations for agt compared to DH time. Good luck...

dicky wrote:Looks like you are undergoing mid-life career change. DH ever tried P/T pty agt and his experience tells us:

1. It's tough job, either full-time or none at all if you wish to earn a decent income. There's too much on hand with keeping up with pty mkt, CEHA rules etc. And fast pace like immediate responses to clients etc...

2. Be prepared to sacrifice family time, as the job usually off-office or off-school hours. Without supportive spouse, you have problem dealing with kids (Like me lah..... Nag, grumble, sour-faced to DH.....)

3. Be prepared for dirty 'play field' of pty agts. Agts can even undercut each other, worst than normal office politics. And also dealing with various sellers or buyers, angels and devils alike....

Yes, we heard success cases of agts earning excellent income. In reality, the vast majority make enough to get by. Like DH observed during his 1 stinct as P/T agt, most gave up before the year up, the rest convert full-time. Of this full-time, more than half gave up in a few months....

Now maybe changed. There are more rules and regulations for agt compared to DH time. Good luck...

hi dicky,

thank you for your invaluable advise.
i always knew it is tough being a property agent, but reading you post have further confirmed my thinking.
but other than this, i have no idea what i can do as a part timer to start with if i still want to hold on to my full-time job now.

well, i suppose it is not a good idea to step in now.

Not too sure about the secretary job... Though you can talk to your boss about life after his retirement, seek his help to get you a suitable posting within the same company if you dont wish to leave. He/She is likely to oblige as retiring soon.

If you wish to seek elsewhere, look around for next job. Leave before your boss does, again for same reason he/she wont deter you and likely support you with their strong recommendation or testimonals.

As for your description of 'cold storage' etc, unless you are ambitious in your career, you should be still "collecting" same pay.... Enough time to look for jobs within or elsewhere....

The way I see it, nothing to worry much unless you are not living within your means, no savings etc....

Being a property agent is one of those careers everyone thinks they want to try. Especially after hearing so-and-so made so much commissions in just a few months, and so-and-so sold a 20 million dollar bungalow. The truth is that most will end up trying to rent out HDB rooms to foreigners and doing other small deals. In boom times, everyone will give up their jobs and jump into real estate... and then jump out again when the market slumps. So think carefully... are you better than most other people at selling properties? Can you sacrifice more hours? Can you kowtow lower than other agents? Can you win against unscrupulous colleagues and competitors who steal your clients?

I know of a friend who did it full-time and didn't even close a deal in 6 months she went back to office job. You can make a lot of money in sales if you are the right kind of personality. You will be the best judge if the job fits your personality. All the best in your planning

you have to be thick skinned at all times, must talk and talk and talk. be prepared to take nonsense from sellers/buyers even fellow agents.

if you are one of those shy shy type, might be a tough road ahead of you. but 加油。

dicky wrote:Not too sure about the secretary job... Though you can talk to your boss about life after his retirement, seek his help to get you a suitable posting within the same company if you dont wish to leave. He/She is likely to oblige as retiring soon.

If you wish to seek elsewhere, look around for next job. Leave before your boss does, again for same reason he/she wont deter you and likely support you with their strong recommendation or testimonals.

As for your description of 'cold storage' etc, unless you are ambitious in your career, you should be still "collecting" same pay.... Enough time to look for jobs within or elsewhere....

The way I see it, nothing to worry much unless you are not living within your means, no savings etc....

my boss did try to plan for me, but some of the postings that he wants to send me to may not suit me.But nevertheless, i would love to give new posting a try and learn new things. just hope that people are willing to show me the rope..

Thks Dicky.
i have 3 more years to plan and also on the look out for new job here and there. i hope all will be smooth after he retires.

i guess i worry too much

Thank you all for you advise. Nothing venture nothing gain. if i really do not make it in this line, at least i had tried before. will seriously give it some thought about being an agent.

Just to add and just my 2 cents.

I agreed with others.
Being an property agent is not as easy as you see.

You will meet different type of people, foreigner, rich, not rich, young, old, family, single, couple, etc. You will meet the seller, buyer, tenant, landlord, etc.
You will meet rude people, nice people, etc.

Your communication play important role. You might need to have network with other property agents too. Keep update with new policy, rules, etc.
Perhaps you will face dillema to do the right things or wrong things. You must be able to decide.

And yes, as someone has mentioned, you may need to sacrifice your precious time with your family. When other family member at home, you need to be outside. When you are at home, actually they are outside (working, school, etc).

But if you are serious doing this job, yes, you will get what you want.

Btw, I am not property agent.

Just my 2 cents.