Navigating Challenges to Find a Suitable Career

By Foo Yee Ching (Althea Reese)

Chapter 1

Graduation 

Singapore, July 2012

Since young, her parents had ingrained in Sarah Tang the significance of a good education. It is a passport to a bright future, they say. 

Like several others in her cohort, Sarah had undergone the necessary rite of passage; a year in nursery, two years in kindergarten, six years in primary school, four years in secondary school. She also enrolled in a junior college for two years, and undergraduate studies for three years. 

Following an arduous 18-year educational journey, Sarah, 22, eventually graduated with an Honours degree in Business and Marketing from a reputable local university in Singapore.

It was a hard-earned degree as she had dedicated close to two decades of diligent learning, assimilation and review of her studies to achieve it. She felt her unwavering efforts over the past few years paid off. Sarah believed it would be a passport to bright career prospects.  

Chapter 2

Embarking on a Career as a Banker

Singapore, July 2012

At first glance, Sarah seemed to have fulfilled her aspiration. Having secured a coveted position as a Customer Service Officer in a prestigious local bank, Sarah’s career prospects looked promising.

With her income, Sarah felt optimistic that she could finally repay her parents for investing in her education over the past 18 years. 

An only child, Sarah hails from a modest, middle-income family. Her father works as a manager while her mother is a devoted homemaker. Sarah carries not only her own ambitions, but the hopes of two loving parents who had toiled through blood, sweat, and tears for her future.

Sarah bears a striking resemblance to her mother. They both have dark, thick eyebrows, large eyes, heart-shaped faces, sharp noses and are about 1.60 metres tall. Unlike her mother who has short hair and perceptive eyes, Sarah has long, black, wavy hair and compassionate eyes. Sarah’s father is a kindhearted, bespectacled man with an oval face and stands at 1.67 metres tall.

Sarah aspired to provide monthly allowance for her parents, treating them to sumptuous meals, and bringing them on long-awaited holidays.  

Chapter 3

Working at a Bank’s Call Centre

Singapore, August 2012

Following a one-month training alongside a cohort of 19 peers of similar ages, they took on customer calls at the bank’s call centre at Raffles Place, in the Central Business District, at the southern tip of Singapore. The call centre was lined with long gray tables with Customer Service Officers seated side by side. Each Customer Service Officer had a computer, a phone and ear phones. 

Most of the calls were simple and routine, primarily about existing products. 

Four months into the role, one call altered Sarah’s fate. 

During the call, the customer enquired about a new product she was not very familiar with. She put the caller on hold as she anxiously flipped through her notes for the appropriate response. In her anxiety, she failed to locate the new product in her notes. In her apprehension, she sought advice from her supervisor about the appropriate response. That single moment altered everything.

Following the phone call, the Malay manager had a one-to-one meeting with Sarah in a meeting room. The meeting room had a cabinet with open shelves lined with trophies, books. There was a painting on the wall, and a plant near the painting. They were seated perpendicular to each other at a brown desk. 

“You were flustered, anxious, and unprepared when the customer asked a question about the new product. As you failed to meet our expectations, you need not come to work again,” the manager said to Sarah, her tone distant and cold. 

Tears trickled down Sarah’s face. She was crushed. The dreams that she held close to her heart, of providing for her aged parents and improving their lives and her own, were shattered at that very moment. 

That was the last time she ever set foot in that office.

She mourned not just the loss of a job. Sarah grappled with the uncertainty of a future she had earlier envisioned. 

Chapter 4

Her First Healing Journey

In the privacy of her bedroom with her white window panes, white bed with lilac-coloured bedsheets, warm white lighting, and a white desk, Sarah grieved. Tears trickled down her face. She felt useless. Why was she such a failure? 

It took about two weeks for Sarah to heal from the devastating setback. But she did not give up.

She had to start all over again from scratch. Given her anxiety and inability to handle pressing situations, Sarah believed that customer service might not suit her temperament, as that role demanded calmness and composure to respond effectively. 

Sarah submitted her resume to recruitment agencies, job portals, and applied for marketing jobs on various websites, in her area of specialisation at the university.  

She applied, went for interviews, and was offered a role as a Marketing Executive in a translation firm.

Chapter 5

Working at a Translation Company

Singapore, September 2012

Relieved to have found a job, Sarah went to work with cautious optimism, in hopes that this might be a better fit for her. 

Located at Tanjong Pagar, at the central southern tip of Singapore, the translation company’s office desks were brown. White partitions segregated different rows. Most colleagues were working diligently at their laptops. The windows behind them overlooked some trees. 

With hope in her heart and quiet determination, she leveraged the knowledge she had gained from the university to conceive and craft marketing strategies to promote the services of the translation company. She poured creativity into her plans and submitted them with pride.

A month into her role, her Indian boss summoned Sarah for a one-to-one chat in a meeting room. 

Her boss’s request to meet in his room filled her with dread. Recalling the past, the bank manager’s words that she failed to meet expectations echoed and lingered in her mind. Sarah recounted the pain and anguish that haunted her then. Her fear and apprehension returned, sending chills down her spine and a sinking sensation in her heart. 

“We need someone who can knock on doors to do cold sales, not someone who sits behind a desk crafting marketing plans. You need not come to work any more,” said the boss flatly. 

Another door slammed shut in her face. Once again, Sarah was left out in the streets. This time around, she bore the dejection and disappointment in her heart. She was determined not to let her tears fall in public. 

Chapter 6

Her Second Healing Journey

When she reached home, in the privacy of her own room, her tears gushed out in torrents. Another two weeks passed in quiet recovery.

As customer service and marketing roles were not suitable for her, Sarah contemplated that perhaps public relations might be a better fit. She went about sending in her resume to job portals again. 

She went for the interview and secured the job in a small boutique Public Relations firm. 

Chapter 7

Working at the Public Relations Firm

Singapore, October 2012

Nestled in the heart of Shenton Way, in the Central Business District at the southern tip of Singapore, the Public Relations office was hectic, dynamic, and fast-paced. The colleagues worked diligently at their computers on their white desks, dark gray chairs, with low gray partitions. Some desks were facing each other, to facilitate group discussions.

The working hours were long at the Public Relations firm. When events were approaching, they worked past midnight and returned to duty by dawn. She poured her heart and soul into the work, believing that her diligence would pay off. 

But that was not to be. Two months into the job, her boss summoned her to her room for a chat. The room was lined with certificates on the gray walls. Her boss, wearing a blue dress, sat at her gray desk. 

That seemed eerily familiar. As she recounted the two painful previous occasions when she was asked to leave the company she worked for, Sarah mentally braced for the dreaded news. 

“We have been evaluating your performance. But we realise that you lack attention to detail. We need the formatting to be justified, not left-aligned. The name tags you trimmed were crooked. I think you are not suitable for this role,” said the boss coldly. 

Sarah nodded. “I understand. I’ll submit my resignation.”

She typed her resignation letter with stoic hands, in attempts to conceal the pain and anguish in her heart.

Having been told to leave twice before, Sarah thought she would be inured to the pain. But her heart still ached. 

Chapter 8

Her Grief

When she reached home and was back in her room, her tears unleashed in torrents. It was cathartic. She poured in so much effort, gritting her teeth as she bore the long hours with tenacity. But her efforts and dedication were unappreciated. The boss only saw her flaws. The three career setbacks where she failed her probations made her feel like an utter failure. She had disappointed herself and her parents. 

Sarah wondered why her peers from university seemed to breeze through their careers? Why is her working life fraught with challenges? Why is life so unfair? 

Chapter 9

Confiding in Her Close Friend

Singapore, October 2012

Days later, Sarah confides in her closest friend, Irene Lim, about her setbacks at a restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant had brown round tables and chairs. Some abstract paintings lined the walls, with warm-white spotlights highlighting them. 

Irene was her primary school friend, a cherished confidant who is empathetic, compassionate, and understanding. Over the past 15 years, Irene has been offering Sarah a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on. 

“I feel like an utter failure in life. I don’t know what is wrong with me. I can’t seem to hold down a job. Maybe I am just not good at anything,” she said. 

“Come with me, let me show you something,” said Irene as they walked into a bookstore lined with brown bookshelves, and round tables and chairs too. 

“I have this book,” said Irene, as she picked up ‘The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down’ by Haemin Sunim, and turned to page 35.  

“Read this,” she urged.

“If something goes wrong, we often turn inward and blame ourselves. But is it really our fault? For example, if I were James Taylor, and someone were looking for Pavarotti, then naturally, I wouldn’t be chosen. But this does not mean I lack musical talent. It means only that I am not the right match. So be more confident, and please stop beating yourself up,” Sarah read aloud. 

“Maybe,” said Irene, “you just haven’t found something aligned with your passions, interests, and strengths. Do you know about the concept of Ikigai?”

“I’ve heard of it. But what does it really mean?” Sarah asked.” 

“Ikigai is the beautiful intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for,” explained Irene. 

Sarah thought for a moment. 

“Yes, you are right, I need to find my Ikigai. But how do I know what I am good at?” asked Sarah. 

“Have you taken the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)’s 16 Personality Test?” asked Irene.

“Yes,” Sarah replied. “I’m an INFJ.”

“Let’s see,” said Irene. “INFJs thrive as counsellors, therapists, social workers, teachers, writers, artists, or non-profit workers. They will flourish in a role that gives them the intrinsic fulfilment of helping people.”  

“Have you heard of the Life Path number?” asked Irene.

“No, what is a Life Path number?” asked Sarah.

“It is your life destiny, calling, or life purpose. You can calculate your Life Path Number by adding the digits of your birth month, day, and year separately to get single-digit numbers,” explained Irene.

“Let me try to add it now based on my birth date. I am Life Path 11,” Sarah said, as she added the birth details into her phone’s calculator.

“Let me Google suitable careers for Life Path 11. You can be a writer, musician, designer, intuitive reader, actor, counsellor, social worker, therapist, caregiver, spiritual coach, teacher, negotiator, diplomat, politician, mentor or psychologist,” recited Irene. 

“Besides that, you can also take the RIASEC test which unravels your personality type: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or Conventional, and your work preferences,” Irene pointed out.

A spark flickered in Sarah’s eyes. “Maybe I’ve been chasing the wrong paths. Maybe I need to follow what truly aligns with who I am.”

“It is natural to feel lost about which career is suitable or unsuitable for us, particularly when we have just graduated from a tertiary institution. It is through discovering what does not work that we find out what does,” explained Irene.

“You may feel disillusioned or disheartened that the career you are in is not suitable for you or does not resonate with you. But do not give up on life. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “When it is darkest, you can see the stars.” Don’t let the setback erode or undermine your self-confidence,” Irene affirmed.

Chapter 10

Failures Are Stepping Stones to Success

“Filmmaker Hwang Dong Hyuk crafted a script that was rejected for 10 years. He was destitute. But eventually, his Squid Game became Netflix’s number 1,” pointed out Irene.

“Jack Ma encountered rejections from numerous jobs, including KFC. Subsequently, he established Alibaba. Now, his net worth is $29 billion, and Alibaba is valued at $500 billion,” Irene said.

“Twitter and Facebook rejected Brian Acton when he applied to work in their companies. Brian and his partner launched WhatsApp. Facebook subsequently offered $19 billion for his creation. Ironically, Facebook was the company that rejected him years ago,” shared Irene.

“Jeffrey Katzenberg was dismissed from Disney. He co-founded Dreamworks SKG with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. He subsequently sold Dreamworks Animation to NBC Universal for $3.8 billion,” said Irene.

“Charles Schulz aspired to be a cartoonist. High school shattered his dreams. Disney told him he did not qualify as an animator. In 1947, he created Li’l Folks, which was subsequently rebranded ‘Peanuts’. Following his demise in 2000, Peanuts earned over $1 billion,” added Irene. 

“Yuko Shimizu sketched a little white cat, which was rejected 47 times. In March 1975, Sanrio approved a small test, a vinyl coin purse featuring Hello Kitty’s face. It was sold out within weeks. In the 1980s, Hello Kitty was depicted on stationery, school bags, toys, and clothing. Then it ventured all over the world. Now, Hello Kitty’s revenue is $80 billion,” pointed out Irene. 

“These examples underscore that rejections can be perceived as divine interventions. They redirect you to where you are meant to be. Perhaps, you are meant to make a positive impact on the lives of millions,” Irene encouraged. 

“Never stop searching for your Ikigai, which interweaves the fabric of your strengths, passions, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Find out about the careers suited for you based on your MBTI personality type, the RIASEC scoring, and your life path number. Eventually, you will unravel your purpose or calling in life,” Irene accentuated. 

“Thank you so much for being there to provide a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and for your pearls of wisdom, I appreciate it,” Sarah acknowledged, with a smile.

“No problem, that’s what friends are for,” Irene replied, beaming.

Chapter 11

Healing in Nature

Sarah embarks on a journey back to self love, to love herself again, and regain her self confidence. She takes walks in nature as it soothes her pain. Nature heals. The rays of sunlight peering through the shades of trees bring warmth, hope, and joy into her life.

The vast expanse of the clear, blue sky reminds her of how minuscule her problems are.

The beauty of the vibrantly coloured flowers uplifts her spirits. 

The alluring sunrises and mesmerising sunsets captivate Sarah’s attention. 

Sarah enjoys relaxing at the beach. It is a great way to unwind and destress from the pressures of daily life, to rejuvenate, and re-energise. The waves crashing against the breakwaters sound like an orchestra to her ears. 

The chirping of the birds sounds like music to her ears. 

Chapter 12

Engaging In Her Favourite Pastimes

She listens to her favourite instrumental music pieces by Kevin Kern, Jeffrey Michael, and Yiruma, which soothe the depths of her heart.  

She also listens to positive affirmations by Lavendaire on YouTube.

Sarah watches movies she loves, ‘Persuasion’ by Jane Austen, ‘Little Women’, ‘Miss Potter’, ‘The Secret Garden’, ‘Beauty & the Beast’, ‘The BFG’, ‘Dumbo’, ‘Ah Boys to Men 3 Frogmen’, and Long Long Time Ago 2.

She reads self-help books. Some of her favourites include ‘1000+ Little Things that Happy People Do’ by Marc & Angel Chernoff, ‘May the Thoughts be With You’ by Charlotte Reed, ‘Drop the Rocks’ and ‘A Firefly’s Guide to Enlightenment by Sketches in Stillness, Franc̦ois Lange, ‘When Things Don’t Go Your Way’ and ‘Things You Can See When You Slow Down’ by Haemin Sunim, and ‘Self Love’ by Devi B. Dilliard-Wright. 

Sarah meditates for about 5 to 10 minutes daily to still her mind and bring calmness and composure to her life.

Sarah jogs in parks to improve her physical and mental well-being.  

Playing the piano enables Sarah to unwind and relax, as it takes her mind off daily matters. 

Sarah was beaten but not broken. She remains undeterred. Despite her setbacks, she does not dwell in her sorrows. She could not let her parents or herself down. 

Cognisant of her Ikigai, her personality and work preferences based on her INFJ personality type, RIASEC scoring, and her life path number, Sarah shortlisted careers that were suitable for her. She also consulted a Career Advisor with WorkForce Singapore. Undaunted, she attended interviews in hopes of finding a suitable career.

Chapter 13

Embarking on a Career with a Charitable Organisation

Three months later, Sarah secured the position of an Executive in a charitable organisation at Dhoby Ghaut, in the central area of Singapore. She leveraged her flair for writing to garner support and uplift the lives of the vulnerable. 

Sarah felt welcome in the new environment with brown wooden desks and computers. The colleagues were friendly, helpful, and patient, teaching her the ropes at the company. Her bosses were patient, kindhearted, empathetic, and understanding. It felt like a family.  

15 years later, Sarah, 37, collected her long-service certificate for being with the company for 15 years. She had risen through the ranks to become a senior manager in the non-profit organisation. 

Sarah fulfilled her dream of bringing her parents out for sumptuous cuisines, and holidays overseas. 

Chapter 14

Quiet Reflections

Sarah’s working experience was fraught with numerous stumbling blocks. Her tears spoke volumes of her despair. She wondered why the cruel hand of fate seemed merciless to her innermost aspirations.

It takes time to heal from every heartbreak. Through her healing, Sarah regained her self confidence while building her inner strength, fortitude, and resilience. Every setback put Sarah through a crucible of fire, testing her strength of character. Through every tribulation, she emerged stronger and mentally tougher than before. She had proven her mettle, that she would not succumb and yield to failure. 

Through her heart-wrenching experience, Sarah awakened to the truth that shattered dreams and rejections are new chapters in disguise. Rejections can be perceived as divine interventions that re-direct individuals to where they are meant to be, paving the way for a new, and brighter future. Adversity shaped her into the person she became. Sarah learnt that success is not found in diligence, but in alignment with one’s soul through authenticity, personality, passions, strengths, and the inner calling.

Now, when Sarah strolls along the same beaches that once comforted her sorrow, she smiles at the crests and troughs of the tidal waves, reflecting her life journey. Life, like the tide, has its ebbs and flows, but every retreat is only the prelude to a return.

When the sun sets, painting the sky in golden and purplish hues, Sarah’s heart whispers gratitude. Through her experience, Sarah realised that she is the architect of her own destiny and holds the steering wheel to her own fate. She had navigated life’s adversities with her unyielding, and indomitable spirit. 

Through this poignant and heartfelt narrative, Sarah hopes to inspire others who have encountered setbacks in their career to persevere with resilience, and fortitude. One day, she hopes, they too, will find their true calling in life.

The End.

About the Author

This story was conceived, meticulously crafted, and penned by Althea Reese.

Passionate about writing, playing the piano, and appreciating the beauty of nature (skies and flowers), Althea Reese hopes to inspire readers with the inner strength, confidence, and courage to persevere and navigate challenges with an indomitable spirit, resilience, and fortitude. 

She encourages individuals to cherish their lives and perceive each day as a miracle and a present, with the reminder to focus on the present, as it is indeed a gift. Althea motivates individuals to pursue their passions, fulfil their innermost aspirations, optimise their potential to the fullest, and make a positive impact in this world. 

Althea also hopes her readers will embrace happiness, love, inner peace, joy, and gratitude in their lives.

By Foo Yee Ching (Althea Reese)