I started my career in Jan 1980 as a technician and slowly moved up the corporate ladder, having a few job switches along the way. Eventually I became a manager in June 1991. I was very happy but before long, in March 1999, I was retrenched. I was told to pack and leave the company immediately. I have never tasted recession prior to this and I was totally lost and depressed.

Upon reaching home, I did not tell my wife and presumed my normal work routine the next workday. I woke up early, dressed up and left for "work". I sat at a fast food restaurant with a set of newspaper, browsing through the Straits Times Recruit section. Days passed by and I still could not find a job. I remembered looking forward to the weekend because there would be a "thicker" recruit section. However, I often found nothing suitable and was left disappointed and demoralised.

Another "work week" ahead was a scary thought.

One day, my hand phone rang and an old friend called and said he found out of my retrenchment. He offered me a job but with a starting pay of 50% cut from my last drawn. That day I went home and told my wife, I am leaving my "current" job for a better prospect. My wife supported this decision and I happily started with the "new" job. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, the company winded up just after one year due to financial difficulties, owing me six months of wages. I told my wife and she said it was just a case of bad luck and asked me to consider returning to the previous company. Little did she know, that I have been retrenched from the previous company.

Well at least for this time, I did not need to pretend to go to work but I was faced with another social problem. Each time my neighbours saw me at home, they would ask "on leave today?" I had no choice but to dress in my work attire but went to my mum’s place instead.

After two weeks, my hand phone rang and another old friend called to say that he learnt of my retrenchment. He recommended me to a local company, with wages equalled to 50% of my last retrenched job. One day while at work, I overheard the top management mentioning that retrenched workers do not have bargaining power in terms of benefits and wages. I was shocked to hear that but continued to work hard, hoping for better opportunities to come by. In the meantime, I also upgraded myself, by enrolling myself in the Fire Safety Manager programme, Six Sigma Green Belt programme and also completed my MBA. I did not gave up and continued to look at the bright side of life.

There is light at the end of the tunnel.

On July 2007, an interesting advertisement looking for a particular managerial position and with at least 10 years of similar experiences caught my attention. I tried and I got the job but it was on a two-year contract basis. However, after just six months into the job, my boss mentioned that he was very pleased with my performance and confirmed me, even converting me to a permanent staff coupled with a good wage adjustment. My wage is now is 130% of my last retrenched salary.

From 1999 to 2007, it took me in total eight years to see the light at the end of the tunnel. How many can endure this? However I am glad that I did not allow emotion to get into my way and invested much in upgrading myself, keeping the bad news away from my love ones and moved on.

My first retrenchment experience will be forever a kept secret; at least from my wife.