<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>10 jobs that S'poreans tend to shun
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Teo Wan Gek & Estelle Low
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Surely a job paying more than $1,000 will find ready takers, especially in these difficult times? Not always true - Singaporeans are shunning certain jobs. A Sunday Times check found 10 jobs that pay more than $1,000 which locals, even jobless ones, are reluctant to take up.
1 Bus driver
Singaporeans tend not to be attracted to jobs with long and irregular working hours, such as that of a bus driver. Other downsides include putting up with difficult commuters. -- ST FILE PHOTO
Salary: $1,700 to $3,500
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Long and irregular hours, dealing with difficult commuters
Said Ms Tammy Tan, spokesman for SBS Transit: 'It is a challenge attracting Singaporeans to join us as Bus Captains. This is despite our various efforts over the years to promote the profession.'
2 Telemarketer
The job of telemarketer demands lots of patience and perseverance. -- BERITA HARIAN FILE PHOTO
Salary: $800 to $1,000 plus commissions
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Lots of patience and perseverance required
Said Ms Jessica Goh, project manager of Plugworkz, a call centre: 'It is tough to get locals. Not all can take the hardship. Some even go missing after we have trained them.'
3 Customer service officer
Salary: $1,000 to $2,000
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires dealing with rude and angry customers on a daily basis; night shift too
Said Mr Adrian Tan, managing director of HR consultancy Recruit Plus: 'This has always been one of the harder positions to fill. Nobody wants to be a punching bag.'
4 Security guard
Security guards may need to work 12-hour shifts, and this is a turn-off for job seekers. -- ST FILE PHOTO
Salary: $1,200 to $1,300
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires 12-hour shifts
Said Mr Raja Muthi, executive officer at King's Security: 'Some quit after one day because they can't take the long working hours.
'There's an image problem too. People think it's for the uneducated, and that we are just watchdogs. It's not a glamorous job.'
5 Retail assistant
Salary: $1,000 to $1,800
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Being constantly on one's feet
Said Ms Mary Lin, director of Glitter Glam: 'It is still hard to recruit, but the recession has made people less fussy. Before, we had people who fixed the interview but did not turn up.'
6 Warehouse assistant
Salary: $900 to $1,400
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Warehouses are often in outlying areas, such as Tuas. Many locals are picky about location and working hours
Said Ms C. Loh, manager at a recruitment agency: 'Locals shun such jobs because the warehouse is located, say, at Jurong East or they have to work 12-hour shifts.'
7 Delivery driver
Salary: $1,400 to $1,600
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Dislike carrying heavy loads
Said Ms Shandy Tan, manager at Sim Lian Construction: 'We have labourers who are supposed to carry the material, but if the driver can help to carry some, it would make the work faster. We get many calls asking if they have to carry the stuff.'
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</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Teo Wan Gek & Estelle Low
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Surely a job paying more than $1,000 will find ready takers, especially in these difficult times? Not always true - Singaporeans are shunning certain jobs. A Sunday Times check found 10 jobs that pay more than $1,000 which locals, even jobless ones, are reluctant to take up.
1 Bus driver
Singaporeans tend not to be attracted to jobs with long and irregular working hours, such as that of a bus driver. Other downsides include putting up with difficult commuters. -- ST FILE PHOTO
Salary: $1,700 to $3,500
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Long and irregular hours, dealing with difficult commuters
Said Ms Tammy Tan, spokesman for SBS Transit: 'It is a challenge attracting Singaporeans to join us as Bus Captains. This is despite our various efforts over the years to promote the profession.'
2 Telemarketer
The job of telemarketer demands lots of patience and perseverance. -- BERITA HARIAN FILE PHOTO
Salary: $800 to $1,000 plus commissions
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Lots of patience and perseverance required
Said Ms Jessica Goh, project manager of Plugworkz, a call centre: 'It is tough to get locals. Not all can take the hardship. Some even go missing after we have trained them.'
3 Customer service officer
Salary: $1,000 to $2,000
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires dealing with rude and angry customers on a daily basis; night shift too
Said Mr Adrian Tan, managing director of HR consultancy Recruit Plus: 'This has always been one of the harder positions to fill. Nobody wants to be a punching bag.'
4 Security guard
Security guards may need to work 12-hour shifts, and this is a turn-off for job seekers. -- ST FILE PHOTO
Salary: $1,200 to $1,300
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires 12-hour shifts
Said Mr Raja Muthi, executive officer at King's Security: 'Some quit after one day because they can't take the long working hours.
'There's an image problem too. People think it's for the uneducated, and that we are just watchdogs. It's not a glamorous job.'
5 Retail assistant
Salary: $1,000 to $1,800
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Being constantly on one's feet
Said Ms Mary Lin, director of Glitter Glam: 'It is still hard to recruit, but the recession has made people less fussy. Before, we had people who fixed the interview but did not turn up.'
6 Warehouse assistant
Salary: $900 to $1,400
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Warehouses are often in outlying areas, such as Tuas. Many locals are picky about location and working hours
Said Ms C. Loh, manager at a recruitment agency: 'Locals shun such jobs because the warehouse is located, say, at Jurong East or they have to work 12-hour shifts.'
7 Delivery driver
Salary: $1,400 to $1,600
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Dislike carrying heavy loads
Said Ms Shandy Tan, manager at Sim Lian Construction: 'We have labourers who are supposed to carry the material, but if the driver can help to carry some, it would make the work faster. We get many calls asking if they have to carry the stuff.'
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