As an oversea graduate, there is a lot expected from me. To say the least, I have to honour the contract commitment from my sponsor. I will be an English teacher in a MARA school, probably in some off-the-radar region unknown to most people.
Frankly speaking, I don't mind teaching. From my brief experience in PH, I love the job. There are special treatments you wouldn't get working in corporate - the respect from students, the fringe benefits of getting small presents every now and then, and probably the everlasting teacher-student bond.
But because I am a guy with that kind of qualification, it seems that society expects more from the likes of me. I'm bummed of people asking me to find a more high-end job in place of this one. Education industry is expanding by scale due to more demands for English-speaking teachers, so seize the chance and don't let it slip away. So I thought, maybe, just maybe, I could be paid a fortune just to teach in a local affluent area.
Sure money issue really gets to me. Looking for a job these days aren't easy as 20 years ago. There aren't many jobs left and companies aren't hiring new people, preferring the old, experienced ones stay in business. I'm pretty sure these people have made enough money to last a lifetime, so why bother making more? And there's us, the fresh graduates who can't get any decent jobs due to this availability issues.
Government has renewed the law on employments- people can remain in their respective job until they turn sixty. Unlike last time, it was at 55 years old to be granted pension.
Now that employment period has extended, it takes a toll on the younger generations- the people like me. How can we get a job if the old ones haven't left the system?
Even an oversea graduate will have a hard time getting employed. The only job security I have is the teaching job. Sure it doesn't pay much, but it helps to make ends meet. But I can't compare myself to my friends with glamorous professions- the doctor, engineers, accountants, lawyers, dentists and so on. Meeting these bunch of blessed people would be a living hell to me.
But in my defence, I got a lot going in my personal time- perfecting my skills and enhancing my CV. Just in case I would be offered a great job while waiting to serve the contract. Who knows?
