I was a little excited (just a little, nothing quite fazes me these days) when a friend told me she had a golden business opportunity for me. After I thought for about one minute, I replied.
"MLM ah?"
"ha
network marketing
i personally hate MLM too"
Damn.
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2258280
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Michael Jackson spoof by Weird Al - Eat It
The late Michael Jackson would have turned 51 on Saturday (29 August). Famed director Spike Lee organized the massive dance party in Prospect Park to remember the King of Pop. Thousands of one-gloved moonwalkers turned up for the event.
Read more here: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/08/29/2009-08-29_spike_lee_throws_michael_jackson_birthday_bash_in_brooklyn_.html#ixzz0PgUdo7Rj
Here is a comedic spoof video of Michael Jackson's Beat It, which I think MJ would have approved too.
Read more here: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/08/29/2009-08-29_spike_lee_throws_michael_jackson_birthday_bash_in_brooklyn_.html#ixzz0PgUdo7Rj
Here is a comedic spoof video of Michael Jackson's Beat It, which I think MJ would have approved too.
SG government and their campaigns
Many of us can still remember Courtesy, Keep Singapore Clean, Speak Mandarin, Speak Good English campaigns (amongst many others). It seemed that Singaporeans lack motivation to practice basic social etiquette and had to be reminded. While they were effective years ago, the new marketing-campaign/propaganda team seems to have lost their magic.
It all seemed like a simple commercial aimed at asking Singaporeans to be contented and have less misgivings. However, the people at the helm are not practicing what they preach. These million-dollar ministers probably have the faintest idea as to how the average Singaporean is coping in this bad economy.
Many new polytechnic and university graduates are finding it hard to land a job that meet their expectations. Instead of trying to improve the situation for these fresh graduates, the government's stance is to tell them to suck it all up. More foreigners are entering our job market and the government says this is to keep Singaporeans at their feet (improve productivity and increase competition so as to lure in more investors). It seems that Singaporeans are becoming more lazy, complacent and negative-thinking.
I will not sugar-coat my words - I blame our current leaders for our situation and cannot help but wonder why their salaries are pegged to the private sector if all they can think of is more stupid campaigns to further incense the average Singaporean. While I cannot say that I speak for every other Singaporean, Im quite sure that I am not alone. Look at this thread from hwz which spans nearly 10 pages (http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2481339)
It all seemed like a simple commercial aimed at asking Singaporeans to be contented and have less misgivings. However, the people at the helm are not practicing what they preach. These million-dollar ministers probably have the faintest idea as to how the average Singaporean is coping in this bad economy.
Many new polytechnic and university graduates are finding it hard to land a job that meet their expectations. Instead of trying to improve the situation for these fresh graduates, the government's stance is to tell them to suck it all up. More foreigners are entering our job market and the government says this is to keep Singaporeans at their feet (improve productivity and increase competition so as to lure in more investors). It seems that Singaporeans are becoming more lazy, complacent and negative-thinking.
I will not sugar-coat my words - I blame our current leaders for our situation and cannot help but wonder why their salaries are pegged to the private sector if all they can think of is more stupid campaigns to further incense the average Singaporean. While I cannot say that I speak for every other Singaporean, Im quite sure that I am not alone. Look at this thread from hwz which spans nearly 10 pages (http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2481339)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou criticized for slow rescue efforts
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has been criticized for his handling of government efforts to save storm victims and help the island's hard-hit south recover.
The criticism of Ma is reminiscent of the hostile reaction to former President George W. Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — criticism that played a major role in turning public opinion against the U.S. leader.
The worst storm to strike the island in over 50 years has claimed more than 500 lives. About 380 of about 600 people living in the mountainous village of Shiao Lin in southern Taiwan are believed to have perished when flash flooding unleashed calamitous mudslides that buried the community on August 9th 2009.
Apparently part of the reason was because he had displayed a lack of tact during the initial rescue efforts.
"They were not fully prepared. If they were, they should have been evacuated much earlier," Ma told an ITN reporter. "They didn't realize how serious the disaster was."
----------------------------------
As usual, the Taiwanese are quick to point fingers. While I sympathise with their loss, I feel that it is not right to blame Ma Ying-jeou for choosing to make some of these decisions. Would any leader have deployed the troops when the typhoon was still raging and there was a severe lack of necessary information?
It is afterall impossible to please everyone. However, Ma has since apologised for his actions.
The criticism of Ma is reminiscent of the hostile reaction to former President George W. Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — criticism that played a major role in turning public opinion against the U.S. leader.
The worst storm to strike the island in over 50 years has claimed more than 500 lives. About 380 of about 600 people living in the mountainous village of Shiao Lin in southern Taiwan are believed to have perished when flash flooding unleashed calamitous mudslides that buried the community on August 9th 2009.
Apparently part of the reason was because he had displayed a lack of tact during the initial rescue efforts.
"They were not fully prepared. If they were, they should have been evacuated much earlier," Ma told an ITN reporter. "They didn't realize how serious the disaster was."
----------------------------------
As usual, the Taiwanese are quick to point fingers. While I sympathise with their loss, I feel that it is not right to blame Ma Ying-jeou for choosing to make some of these decisions. Would any leader have deployed the troops when the typhoon was still raging and there was a severe lack of necessary information?
It is afterall impossible to please everyone. However, Ma has since apologised for his actions.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Google wants a slice of social-networking pie
They are adding Social Gadgets (widgets) to a list of growing Google services. Nowadays, search engine companies venture into other online services to entice both users and advertisers to use their services. Google seems to be on the way to becoming a full-fledged internet portal much like yahoo. Will the foray into social networking be worthwhile for Google? Yahoo seems to be dying a slow death on the other hand.
For more information - visit google.com/igsocial
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Darth Vader goes Pink
The dark lord has finally succumbed to his feminine side.
The Star Wars star-villain has reportedly checked into the Hello Kitty plastic surgery clinic for an appearance overhaul.
Emperor Sid could not be reached for comment at press time.
KAWAII NEH! So, how do you like it, Starwars fanboys?
Links: kittyhell.com
Monday, August 10, 2009
Singaporean Director Jack Neo Loses His Magic
Most of Jack Neo’s movies lack creativity but nevertheless manages to appeal to Singaporeans due to their local context which many can relate to. However, it seems that Jack Neo has finally lost his magic touch.
While he was perhaps once the most famous director from Singapore, his recent 7th month blockbuster “WHERE GOT GHOST” seems to be a real letdown with movie goers deterring everyone else from catching the movie.
HWZer “decibels” created a movie review thread and called it “1 of the worst movies of 2009”.
“Where got ghost” is the latest movie which tries to provide some comic relief and tasteless scares for people obsessed with the supernatural world.
Director Jack Neo tries to string 3 unrelated tales in the movie, but fails miserably in his cringe-worthy attempt.
For would-be movie-goers, I hereby offer an unofficial synopsis to what you can expect and would advise that you bring your cash elsewhere.
- The first story talks about spirits and offerings. It gives young people an idea of Hungry Ghost Festival and this is perhaps the best story of the 3.
- The second story talks about National Service. It started off well but the story was killed by an anti-climax.
- The 3rd story is the worst, if you had watched "Money No Enough 2", be prepared to go WTF as the ah ma returns to haunt her sons (and the audience).
I have to agree. The director seems to be running out of ideas and is more concerned about churning out new movies in time to milk the Singaporean audience with cheesy, repetitive themes. The movie is released to coincide with the coming lunisolar 7th month (Ghost Festival). In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month(鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. During the Qingming Festival the living descendants pay homage to their ancestors and on Ghost Day, the deceased visit the living.
Please, Director Neo, it is time to come up with more credible storylines. Playing with the movie title is no longer witty and telling a stale joke twice is no joke.
"Jack Neo Chee Keong, PBM (simplified Chinese: 梁智强; traditional Chinese: 梁智強; pinyin: Liáng Zhìqiáng), born January 24, 1960 is a Singaporean actor, host andfilm-maker, most notably known for his comedic acts and skits.
Career
Neo started his TV career in 1980 and has become one of the most successful TV celebrities in Singapore, well known especially for his comic cross-dressing roles, one as a feisty eighty-something granny (Liang Po Po), another as a fortyish woman homemaker (Liang Ximei) with two adolescent sons in the Comedy Night series.
In 1998, he received the Best Director Award at the Silver Screen Awards for his short film. He has also recorded and produced several albums.
He started directing features, although he had starred in a number of movies, in That One Not Enough (1999). He has also set up his own artiste management company J Team Productions which nurtures some of Singapore's better known comedians such as Mark Lee, Henry Thia and John Cheng.
His movies, especially Money No Enough and I Not Stupid are recognized for having touched an emotional chord in Singaporeans. In recognition of his achievements and contributions towards Singapore’s media industry, Film Director Jack Neo was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In 2004, he became the first local film-maker to be honored with a National Day Award, the Public Service Medal. On October 21,2005, Jack Neo was presented Singapore's Cultural Medallion, together with other talents like Dick Lee.
In 2008, Jack and Mark Lee bought the Singapore master franchise rights for OLDTOWN White Coffee, a coffee retail concept from Ipoh, Malaysia. The grand opening of their first store at Big Splash was on March 30 2008."
Source: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2460432
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2460432&page=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_Ghost_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Neo
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Singaporean Identity
A few days ago someone posted this thread in hardwarezone forums: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2458715&page=8
Which I concur - Why are we paying top dollar for ministers who have lost touch with the common ground? All they do is rule from their ivory towers with their own intentions and self-righteous convictions that many Singaporeans do not agree with?
Any minister in SG earns more than Barack Obama (the U.S. president earns $400,000 USD annually). Is this pay justified? Well, I only know that many of the policies are not created with true-blue Singaporeans in mind.
So what is a true-blue Singaporean - you might ask? By most Singaporeans’ definition, I would believe that this means born, educated and working in Singapore. This excludes many (if not most) first-generation immigrants.
It is unfathomable as to why we are “importing” so many foreigners with similar qualifications and skillsets when it is obvious that our economic infrastructure cannot support a bigger population.
I am pretty sure that most Singaporeans are fine with the hiring of true Foreign Talents (those this term has probably been overused and misused under too many circumstances that we are getting a little confused). It is important to hire and attract scientists, researchers, professors and other professionals/specialists that we lack in Singapore. Most people would also agree that we need foreigners to work in jobs (construction workers, cleaners) that Singaporeans shun. No doubt this can be seen as a selfish thought, however, as Singapore progresses into a more developed country with a “knowledge-based economy”, fewer youngsters would enjoy working in occupations which are seen as less glamorous and less well-paying.
Many Singaporeans are perturbed as to why we are funding foreigners with scholarships. We are also surprised at how our sovereign wealth fund is able to lose billions without the CEO (Ho Ching) batting an eyelid and nary an apology. I am hardly surprised at many of these moves but I am surprised at how the SG government is able to do so without much protest nor repercussion from the public. This goes to show how disunited and weak the Singaporean voice is. Singaporeans agree wholeheartedly on issues that need to be addressed but are too cowardly to speak up. That is truly and sadly the essence of the current Singaporean Identity.
Which I concur - Why are we paying top dollar for ministers who have lost touch with the common ground? All they do is rule from their ivory towers with their own intentions and self-righteous convictions that many Singaporeans do not agree with?
Any minister in SG earns more than Barack Obama (the U.S. president earns $400,000 USD annually). Is this pay justified? Well, I only know that many of the policies are not created with true-blue Singaporeans in mind.
So what is a true-blue Singaporean - you might ask? By most Singaporeans’ definition, I would believe that this means born, educated and working in Singapore. This excludes many (if not most) first-generation immigrants.
It is unfathomable as to why we are “importing” so many foreigners with similar qualifications and skillsets when it is obvious that our economic infrastructure cannot support a bigger population.
I am pretty sure that most Singaporeans are fine with the hiring of true Foreign Talents (those this term has probably been overused and misused under too many circumstances that we are getting a little confused). It is important to hire and attract scientists, researchers, professors and other professionals/specialists that we lack in Singapore. Most people would also agree that we need foreigners to work in jobs (construction workers, cleaners) that Singaporeans shun. No doubt this can be seen as a selfish thought, however, as Singapore progresses into a more developed country with a “knowledge-based economy”, fewer youngsters would enjoy working in occupations which are seen as less glamorous and less well-paying.
Many Singaporeans are perturbed as to why we are funding foreigners with scholarships. We are also surprised at how our sovereign wealth fund is able to lose billions without the CEO (Ho Ching) batting an eyelid and nary an apology. I am hardly surprised at many of these moves but I am surprised at how the SG government is able to do so without much protest nor repercussion from the public. This goes to show how disunited and weak the Singaporean voice is. Singaporeans agree wholeheartedly on issues that need to be addressed but are too cowardly to speak up. That is truly and sadly the essence of the current Singaporean Identity.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What I would avoid as a job seeker
For more than a year, financial consultancy firms have been flooding my inbox with "requests to view your full resume". You must be thinking, wow, this guy is a high-flier and I better start subscribing to his blog! The underachiever in me cant be further away from the truth.
Everyday when I check my email, I get quite irritated with fake job offers on top of lottery/nigerian scams and useless newsletters from websites of which the content are of little interest to me.
Not that they have been particularly intruding on my privacy, but I think that these can be considered as a type of spam. Which is why after taking a really long thought, I decided to expose these financial companies' gimmicks.
1. Many of the insurance companies and MLM companies advertise under "The Advertiser", which I assume is a default name for those who do not want to list their company name on jobscentral/jobsdb. Therefore, I do not bother even clicking on the job description links.
2. Then there are those job listings which boast that you can become a management trainee. While some of these are true positions for banks to recruit fresh graduates, some of them are posted by financial firms/MLMs in disguise. Unless your CV/Resume is really impressive (such as hailing from one of the Ivies) and you are really sure of the source (employer), do yourself a favour by ignoring these posts.
3. Look at the job description carefully, whether if it fits the bill if they are hiring for a certain position. If it either sounds too simple, too common yet they state that you can POSSIBLY earn more than $2,500 (and some even say up to $4,000 per month! Which we all know that no Singaporean employers are willing to pay that much when they can hire Foreign Labour for much less.
Foreign Talents, are a different matter altogether - Singaporean employers seem to be infatuated with these FTs and are willing to shell out top dollars just to attract them. As they say - Ang Mors ideas are always very good (Excerpt from I Not Stupid). Well, God knows.
4. Job titles are worthless if they do not command the industry standard's remuneration. However, I would not be too over-zealous at bashing this. Well give and take a little, since Singaporean employers are more than well-known for their thriftiness, they would certainly want more bangs for bucks. So you are expected to be a jack of all trades and master in 1. Or in the local context (ai pi ai qi ai dua liap ni).
5. Look for jobs with a decent basic pay. In these pretty tough times, most Singaporean employers go all out to undercut salaries, reduce benefits and all forms of compensation. If the job is fully commission based, you better pray hard that the good is like an FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), or that you can take them home for dinner. (This is another reason why I avoid insurance and MLM companies because the agents are not usually paid a basic and therefore they are only concerned with selling their products and in the process, knowingly or unknowingly hoodwink consumers into buying risky/unnecessary/useless products) of which the agents probably have no idea too. Well there would of course be arguments that insurance agents have to take CMFAS exams. But as someone who has taken countless exams I can safely say that most people forget whatever they have studied or mugged over just to get past the exams. Unless the person is really responsible, trustworthy and so enthusiastic about his products..... which is rarely the case.
Everyday when I check my email, I get quite irritated with fake job offers on top of lottery/nigerian scams and useless newsletters from websites of which the content are of little interest to me.
Not that they have been particularly intruding on my privacy, but I think that these can be considered as a type of spam. Which is why after taking a really long thought, I decided to expose these financial companies' gimmicks.
1. Many of the insurance companies and MLM companies advertise under "The Advertiser", which I assume is a default name for those who do not want to list their company name on jobscentral/jobsdb. Therefore, I do not bother even clicking on the job description links.
2. Then there are those job listings which boast that you can become a management trainee. While some of these are true positions for banks to recruit fresh graduates, some of them are posted by financial firms/MLMs in disguise. Unless your CV/Resume is really impressive (such as hailing from one of the Ivies) and you are really sure of the source (employer), do yourself a favour by ignoring these posts.
3. Look at the job description carefully, whether if it fits the bill if they are hiring for a certain position. If it either sounds too simple, too common yet they state that you can POSSIBLY earn more than $2,500 (and some even say up to $4,000 per month! Which we all know that no Singaporean employers are willing to pay that much when they can hire Foreign Labour for much less.
Foreign Talents, are a different matter altogether - Singaporean employers seem to be infatuated with these FTs and are willing to shell out top dollars just to attract them. As they say - Ang Mors ideas are always very good (Excerpt from I Not Stupid). Well, God knows.
4. Job titles are worthless if they do not command the industry standard's remuneration. However, I would not be too over-zealous at bashing this. Well give and take a little, since Singaporean employers are more than well-known for their thriftiness, they would certainly want more bangs for bucks. So you are expected to be a jack of all trades and master in 1. Or in the local context (ai pi ai qi ai dua liap ni).
5. Look for jobs with a decent basic pay. In these pretty tough times, most Singaporean employers go all out to undercut salaries, reduce benefits and all forms of compensation. If the job is fully commission based, you better pray hard that the good is like an FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), or that you can take them home for dinner. (This is another reason why I avoid insurance and MLM companies because the agents are not usually paid a basic and therefore they are only concerned with selling their products and in the process, knowingly or unknowingly hoodwink consumers into buying risky/unnecessary/useless products) of which the agents probably have no idea too. Well there would of course be arguments that insurance agents have to take CMFAS exams. But as someone who has taken countless exams I can safely say that most people forget whatever they have studied or mugged over just to get past the exams. Unless the person is really responsible, trustworthy and so enthusiastic about his products..... which is rarely the case.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Insurance and MLM companies ought to be taken to task
For a long time, I have been receiving emails from employers wanting to view my resume. You may think that I may be a high-flier with many big corporations out to headhunt me. This is certainly not the case. My inbox is always flooded with "financial" companies. some shamelessly market themselves as MNCs simply because they sell financial products such as insurance from big companies like AXA and AIG.
Insurance and MLM companies ought to be taken to task for irresponsible advertising and shady practices in recruitment processes. This includes posting on websites such as jobsdb and jobscentral but sometimes omitimportant information on purpose so as to lure unsuspecting potential job applicants (often fresh graduates) to join their companies.
MLM, especially, is an evil business practice and does nothing to improve the lives of the average wage earner, neither does it value-add to the economy. Prices of products such as that of magnetic mattresses, air purifiers and magnetic bracelets have no scientific basis and at best, serve as ornaments and accessories for gullible people.
Yet, these MLM companies blatantly claim their therapeuticand healing effects for chronic ailments and even terminal illnesses. While some MLM companies sell health
supplements which serve more than the placebo effect, these supplements are often overpriced and the quality equally dubious. There is also no scientific proof as to whether detoxification is beneficial for humans.
The more famous variants of supplements today are based on anti-oxidants such as those of tea extracts, mangosteen extracts and herbs with alleged properties of improving overall health. Not everyone is suited for these supplements and most, if not all MLM companies do not practice much corporate responsibility. They do not engage doctors to assess the health of their "clients" (which are also their employees) before proceeding with such treatments and medications.
Granted, MLM is good if the product is useful and of low cost. It could also serve as a sideline for people who wish to supplement their paltry income. However, the prices of these products are grossly inflated through direct selling/marketing (which was the original intent of MLM preachers), instead of being cost effective (low cost). Therefore, the purpose is defeated and the despicable top management (upline) of the pyramid scheme profiteer from the unscrupulous inflation of prices of useless goods to naive consumers (downlines who are coerced into joining as "associates" and "managers" after paying a huge sum of money to the company to join as a member) while giving empty promises of profit-sharing. The members are then encouraged to con their own families and friends into joining the MLM company as members. This rampant recruitment is hardly monitored by government even though many of these are unfair and illegal business practices.
While Im on this topic, I guess the insurance sector deserves a notable mention too. The insurance sector had been dealt with crushing blows to its confidence after AIG was in trouble due to the mortgage/leveraging crisis in U.S. early this year. Things did not improve as more stocks crashed, companies merged in a bid to merely save the businesses, work-force/production was cut due to the lack of demands and many companies went bust/insolvent or at least cash-strapped. The final straw came when the Maddoff Ponzi scheme saga was uncovered and many prominent investors were left high and dry. Both Wall Street and Main Street were in a terrible mess which many likened to the Great Depression (only now to be known as the Great Recession)
A few months later, the insurance sector is still struggling to restore their reputation and improve on the impression still fresh in people's minds. How many people truly believe the claims of insurance companies now? Especially when these insurers and mega-corporations invested our money in dubious and risky products and eventually had to be bailed out by governments around the world? While when we sometimes defaulted on premiums, these companies chased us for payment and threatened to void the policies.
So, they started recruiting more people recently in an attempt to restore investors' confidence and also to hopefully bring in more contracts. On a side note, insurance is rather similar to MLM (with the promises that are not always fulfilled and a somewhat "intangible" product) and not everyone knows the contracts' terms and conditions and the policy's liability under all conditions. Insurance companies now peddle a range of financial products for investment purposes.
How much is revealed to the potential investor is dependent on each agents' conscientiousness and personal morals. More often than not, hard-selling tactics conveniently leave out the necessary issues that investors have to take note of (such as risks and implications). These products are packaged into seemingly risk-less investments though the truth is far from it. Thanks to a certain lack of protection and transparency for both investors and policy holders in Singapore. Which is why, some consider Singapore is a safe haven for employers and errant/irresponsible/profiteering businesses.
Insurance and MLM companies ought to be taken to task for irresponsible advertising and shady practices in recruitment processes. This includes posting on websites such as jobsdb and jobscentral but sometimes omitimportant information on purpose so as to lure unsuspecting potential job applicants (often fresh graduates) to join their companies.
MLM, especially, is an evil business practice and does nothing to improve the lives of the average wage earner, neither does it value-add to the economy. Prices of products such as that of magnetic mattresses, air purifiers and magnetic bracelets have no scientific basis and at best, serve as ornaments and accessories for gullible people.
Yet, these MLM companies blatantly claim their therapeuticand healing effects for chronic ailments and even terminal illnesses. While some MLM companies sell health
supplements which serve more than the placebo effect, these supplements are often overpriced and the quality equally dubious. There is also no scientific proof as to whether detoxification is beneficial for humans.
The more famous variants of supplements today are based on anti-oxidants such as those of tea extracts, mangosteen extracts and herbs with alleged properties of improving overall health. Not everyone is suited for these supplements and most, if not all MLM companies do not practice much corporate responsibility. They do not engage doctors to assess the health of their "clients" (which are also their employees) before proceeding with such treatments and medications.
Granted, MLM is good if the product is useful and of low cost. It could also serve as a sideline for people who wish to supplement their paltry income. However, the prices of these products are grossly inflated through direct selling/marketing (which was the original intent of MLM preachers), instead of being cost effective (low cost). Therefore, the purpose is defeated and the despicable top management (upline) of the pyramid scheme profiteer from the unscrupulous inflation of prices of useless goods to naive consumers (downlines who are coerced into joining as "associates" and "managers" after paying a huge sum of money to the company to join as a member) while giving empty promises of profit-sharing. The members are then encouraged to con their own families and friends into joining the MLM company as members. This rampant recruitment is hardly monitored by government even though many of these are unfair and illegal business practices.
While Im on this topic, I guess the insurance sector deserves a notable mention too. The insurance sector had been dealt with crushing blows to its confidence after AIG was in trouble due to the mortgage/leveraging crisis in U.S. early this year. Things did not improve as more stocks crashed, companies merged in a bid to merely save the businesses, work-force/production was cut due to the lack of demands and many companies went bust/insolvent or at least cash-strapped. The final straw came when the Maddoff Ponzi scheme saga was uncovered and many prominent investors were left high and dry. Both Wall Street and Main Street were in a terrible mess which many likened to the Great Depression (only now to be known as the Great Recession)
A few months later, the insurance sector is still struggling to restore their reputation and improve on the impression still fresh in people's minds. How many people truly believe the claims of insurance companies now? Especially when these insurers and mega-corporations invested our money in dubious and risky products and eventually had to be bailed out by governments around the world? While when we sometimes defaulted on premiums, these companies chased us for payment and threatened to void the policies.
So, they started recruiting more people recently in an attempt to restore investors' confidence and also to hopefully bring in more contracts. On a side note, insurance is rather similar to MLM (with the promises that are not always fulfilled and a somewhat "intangible" product) and not everyone knows the contracts' terms and conditions and the policy's liability under all conditions. Insurance companies now peddle a range of financial products for investment purposes.
How much is revealed to the potential investor is dependent on each agents' conscientiousness and personal morals. More often than not, hard-selling tactics conveniently leave out the necessary issues that investors have to take note of (such as risks and implications). These products are packaged into seemingly risk-less investments though the truth is far from it. Thanks to a certain lack of protection and transparency for both investors and policy holders in Singapore. Which is why, some consider Singapore is a safe haven for employers and errant/irresponsible/profiteering businesses.
Sham marketing companies
A couple of years ago I applied for a job with a company at Mosque Street. So I went down in my neatest office wear arriving much earlier than the stated time for the interview. I was greeted by a young and rather pretty receptionist. Although it was not a prime location for businesses, the office was professionally furnished and had an impressive decor. While all the interviewees filled up their personal particulars, TV commercials were played and replayed on a big LCD screen. I was quite surprised to see that the place was swarming (ok a little too exaggerated, but nonetheless quite crowded) with young people dressed in office attire and looking really confident. There were also a few caucasians but all looked to be below 30. Then of course there were the misfits like me who looked so out of place even in my most expensive shirt and pants.
I promptly filled up my form and passed my IC to the receptionist for photocopying. After a wait of about 15 minutes, the interviewer came and greeted us. She looked to be in her early 30s and I was led to a small meeting room along with a female job applicant. The interviewer sat us down and began asking the standard questions (what type of job are we looking for, do we know whats this job about, what did we previously work as). I am a self-professed good speaker and I never had problems interacting in others even in formal settings but the other job applicant hardly muttered coherently. So after a short interview of about 20 minutes we were all out.
As we were walking out, I overheard crazy shoutings from one of the bigger meeting rooms. The interviewer explained that those people were there for training. My previous experiences with normal companies who were really interested in hiring never resorted to such crazy training rituals comparable to exorcism of Emily Rose. So while Im making my way down the stairs, I was fully convinced that I have wasted my time attending this interview. Before long, the interviewer called up and said I was selected for a second interview (and Im pretty much sure that the girl who could hardly converse would have gotten this "job" as well). I politely declined while cursing softly under my bated breath.
I promptly filled up my form and passed my IC to the receptionist for photocopying. After a wait of about 15 minutes, the interviewer came and greeted us. She looked to be in her early 30s and I was led to a small meeting room along with a female job applicant. The interviewer sat us down and began asking the standard questions (what type of job are we looking for, do we know whats this job about, what did we previously work as). I am a self-professed good speaker and I never had problems interacting in others even in formal settings but the other job applicant hardly muttered coherently. So after a short interview of about 20 minutes we were all out.
As we were walking out, I overheard crazy shoutings from one of the bigger meeting rooms. The interviewer explained that those people were there for training. My previous experiences with normal companies who were really interested in hiring never resorted to such crazy training rituals comparable to exorcism of Emily Rose. So while Im making my way down the stairs, I was fully convinced that I have wasted my time attending this interview. Before long, the interviewer called up and said I was selected for a second interview (and Im pretty much sure that the girl who could hardly converse would have gotten this "job" as well). I politely declined while cursing softly under my bated breath.
Its in times like these when such companies start their unethical and shameless preying on the jobless to work for them for free. Which really makes any desperate job seeker really pissed. I also wonder why our beloved government is doing nothing to stop these scammers while at the same time complaining that Singaporeans are lazy and turn down jobs. I dont consider these no-cpf no benefits, fully commission based, no insurance and no meal allowance exploitation sessions as jobs.
A google of the company name shows the following companies appear to be related -
1) Dreamworkz Pte Ltd.
9B Mosque Street 3rd Floor.
Tel: 63254208
Caller said, find the person Maz, when you appear for interview.
2) Redwoods Advance Pte Ltd
33 Jalan Afifi
Etonhouse #06-01
Tel: 68460623
These are some other firms I got off the blog site.
3) Clover Advertising
Website: http://www.cloveradvertising.co.uk //http://www.cloveradvertising.com
4) Dirad Pte Ltd (Same address as #1)
5) Appco Pte Ltd
6) Ascentia Group Marketing (Same address as #2)
7) Red Planet Marketing
Website : http://www.redplanetmarketing.co.uk
Last but not least.
The website of this Cobra Group : http://www.cobragroup.com
For a more complete "review" of the notorious group, please look here - http://elefanie.blogspot.com/2009/04/cobra-group-is-it-scam.html
A google of the company name shows the following companies appear to be related -
1) Dreamworkz Pte Ltd.
9B Mosque Street 3rd Floor.
Tel: 63254208
Caller said, find the person Maz, when you appear for interview.
2) Redwoods Advance Pte Ltd
33 Jalan Afifi
Etonhouse #06-01
Tel: 68460623
These are some other firms I got off the blog site.
3) Clover Advertising
Website: http://www.cloveradvertising.co.uk //http://www.cloveradvertising.com
4) Dirad Pte Ltd (Same address as #1)
5) Appco Pte Ltd
6) Ascentia Group Marketing (Same address as #2)
7) Red Planet Marketing
Website : http://www.redplanetmarketing.co.uk
Last but not least.
The website of this Cobra Group : http://www.cobragroup.com
For a more complete "review" of the notorious group, please look here - http://elefanie.blogspot.com/2009/04/cobra-group-is-it-scam.html
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