1 00:00:01,889 --> 00:00:05,130 Speaker 1: Welcome back to our Ask Me Anything segment where Gerald 2 00:00:05,130 --> 00:00:08,449 Speaker 1: and I take on a work-related question that you have 3 00:00:08,449 --> 00:00:11,609 Speaker 1: sent to us. Now today's question was sent in by 4 00:00:11,609 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: a listener who I'll call Xavier. He says he's in 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,209 Speaker 1: his twenties and has just resigned from a job. Now, 6 00:00:19,250 --> 00:00:22,049 Speaker 1: initially he thought he was not the right person for 7 00:00:22,049 --> 00:00:24,930 Speaker 1: the job, but after stating his intention to leave, 8 00:00:25,055 --> 00:00:29,055 Speaker 1: And he told his manager the interactions were a bit disappointing. Now, 9 00:00:29,094 --> 00:00:31,485 Speaker 1: it sounded like Xavier was not sure whether he was 10 00:00:31,485 --> 00:00:34,444 Speaker 1: set up for success in the first place. OK, let 11 00:00:34,444 --> 00:00:36,525 Speaker 1: me give you an example of what he said. I 12 00:00:36,525 --> 00:00:39,834 Speaker 1: knew that I was the first official hire for the position, 13 00:00:39,965 --> 00:00:42,165 Speaker 1: but I was also saddened to hear from my manager 14 00:00:42,165 --> 00:00:45,514 Speaker 1: that they knew from the start that having a less 15 00:00:45,514 --> 00:00:48,244 Speaker 1: experienced individual like myself was not going to work out. 16 00:00:48,540 --> 00:00:51,299 Speaker 1: And that the higher ups wanted someone like myself on 17 00:00:51,299 --> 00:00:55,250 Speaker 1: board because I was much less experienced and therefore would 18 00:00:55,250 --> 00:00:58,569 Speaker 1: not command as high a salary. Yeah, so Xavier is 19 00:00:58,569 --> 00:01:01,500 Speaker 1: now searching for jobs, OK, and he wonders if he 20 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:05,099 Speaker 1: should disclose what he went through in his next job interview. 21 00:01:05,447 --> 00:01:08,259 Speaker 1: If asked for his reasons for leaving, should he say 22 00:01:08,259 --> 00:01:10,738 Speaker 1: what he went through? Will it hurt his chances of 23 00:01:10,738 --> 00:01:11,697 Speaker 1: getting a job? Wow. 24 00:01:13,259 --> 00:01:15,388 Speaker 2: So sounds like there's actually a few things happening here, right? 25 00:01:15,619 --> 00:01:19,219 Speaker 2: The first one is, of course, Xavier and his feelings 26 00:01:19,219 --> 00:01:22,539 Speaker 2: about how he has departed from the last job, and 27 00:01:22,539 --> 00:01:24,499 Speaker 2: this has a lot to do with how he feels 28 00:01:24,499 --> 00:01:24,848 Speaker 2: that 29 00:01:25,190 --> 00:01:27,889 Speaker 2: He was set up for failure, right? I think it's 30 00:01:27,889 --> 00:01:30,559 Speaker 2: probably quite confusing for Xavier because when you get into 31 00:01:30,559 --> 00:01:32,610 Speaker 2: a job first and then you thought that you're the 32 00:01:32,610 --> 00:01:36,650 Speaker 2: best person hired, and in Xavier's case, he probably thought 33 00:01:36,650 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: there was a case and then when things didn't work 34 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,949 Speaker 2: out and he wanted to resign and the boss told him, uh, 35 00:01:41,010 --> 00:01:42,849 Speaker 2: actually we kind of know that you're going to fail. Yeah, 36 00:01:43,050 --> 00:01:43,169 Speaker 1: can 37 00:01:43,169 --> 00:01:43,650 Speaker 1: you imagine. 38 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:43,819 Speaker 1: Yeah, and 39 00:01:44,889 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 2: and then we only got you in because you know 40 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,940 Speaker 2: you were cheaper. OK, OK, so I can imagine Xavier 41 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:53,809 Speaker 2: and we can imagine how it's very confusing for him, right? 42 00:01:53,870 --> 00:01:57,809 Speaker 2: And this definitely would um dent his confidence for the 43 00:01:57,809 --> 00:02:01,129 Speaker 2: future job interviews, especially if he has to ask, he 44 00:02:01,129 --> 00:02:03,690 Speaker 2: has to tell people like why he he wanted to 45 00:02:03,690 --> 00:02:06,930 Speaker 2: resign without a job. Yeah, yeah. So I think this 46 00:02:06,930 --> 00:02:09,570 Speaker 2: being a very confusing time for Xavier. Xavier would probably 47 00:02:09,570 --> 00:02:10,020 Speaker 2: need to 48 00:02:10,369 --> 00:02:13,169 Speaker 2: Find some closure or some way of thinking or reframing 49 00:02:13,169 --> 00:02:15,649 Speaker 2: this situation so that it doesn't get carried forward to 50 00:02:15,649 --> 00:02:17,889 Speaker 2: the future. I think there can be a lot of resentment, 51 00:02:17,970 --> 00:02:21,009 Speaker 2: a lot of disappointment, help with the previous job, and 52 00:02:21,008 --> 00:02:24,009 Speaker 2: this can actually easily show in the next job. During 53 00:02:24,008 --> 00:02:27,570 Speaker 2: the interview when employers, the HR, they are sniffing for 54 00:02:27,570 --> 00:02:28,419 Speaker 2: anything that is not. 55 00:02:28,820 --> 00:02:30,750 Speaker 2: Proper, they were probe a little bit more, a little 56 00:02:30,750 --> 00:02:32,699 Speaker 2: bit more, and then it gets out. So Xavier has 57 00:02:32,699 --> 00:02:35,690 Speaker 2: to really come to terms with this situation first. If 58 00:02:35,690 --> 00:02:36,660 Speaker 2: you were in Xavier's suit, what 59 00:02:36,660 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: would you do? 60 00:02:37,179 --> 00:02:39,779 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know what, it's true, the psychological part is 61 00:02:39,779 --> 00:02:42,178 Speaker 1: going to be very difficult, but also at the same time, OK, 62 00:02:42,220 --> 00:02:44,380 Speaker 1: I'm a very half glass full kind of person. 63 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,669 Speaker 1: So I think the first thing I would do after 64 00:02:46,669 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: I have licked my wounds and tell myself it's not me, 65 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:50,020 Speaker 1: it's them. 66 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,589 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think that's not me, 67 00:02:52,630 --> 00:02:54,270 Speaker 1: it's them. I think it would be to also see 68 00:02:54,270 --> 00:02:57,669 Speaker 1: that actually, even if I was the only person for 69 00:02:57,669 --> 00:03:01,110 Speaker 1: that role, even though less experienced, cheap, but you know what, 70 00:03:01,190 --> 00:03:04,139 Speaker 1: there must be something in me that the employer found 71 00:03:04,139 --> 00:03:06,830 Speaker 1: that I was hireable. Otherwise they could have just kept 72 00:03:06,830 --> 00:03:07,710 Speaker 1: the position open. 73 00:03:08,089 --> 00:03:10,570 Speaker 1: So maybe I will need to reflect back on all 74 00:03:10,570 --> 00:03:13,309 Speaker 1: the things that I've done and ask myself, what is 75 00:03:13,309 --> 00:03:15,619 Speaker 1: it that I can bring to the next job role? 76 00:03:16,250 --> 00:03:18,809 Speaker 1: Are there transferable skills? Are there things that I would 77 00:03:18,809 --> 00:03:19,770 Speaker 1: consider my strengths. 78 00:03:19,809 --> 00:03:19,970 Speaker 2: You 79 00:03:19,970 --> 00:03:22,758 Speaker 2: brought up a really important point, right, that it's it's them, 80 00:03:23,250 --> 00:03:23,839 Speaker 2: not you. 81 00:03:24,089 --> 00:03:27,259 Speaker 2: And you were picked for the job as the best 82 00:03:27,258 --> 00:03:30,649 Speaker 2: possible hire at that price at that point of time. 83 00:03:30,899 --> 00:03:33,418 Speaker 2: So I think these are positives, the silver linings that 84 00:03:33,419 --> 00:03:36,220 Speaker 2: Xavier can take along with him. I think Xavier has 85 00:03:36,220 --> 00:03:38,779 Speaker 2: to remember that he was doing a job that was 86 00:03:38,779 --> 00:03:42,259 Speaker 2: scoped to a higher level, more experienced. He was trusted 87 00:03:42,259 --> 00:03:43,619 Speaker 2: with kind of responsibility. 88 00:03:43,929 --> 00:03:46,029 Speaker 2: And this is something that Xaia can probably take forward 89 00:03:46,029 --> 00:03:48,259 Speaker 2: to the next employer to share that, you know what, 90 00:03:48,470 --> 00:03:50,949 Speaker 2: I was doing a job that was for someone that 91 00:03:50,949 --> 00:03:53,419 Speaker 2: was a lot more experienced. I learned a lot from it. 92 00:03:53,619 --> 00:03:55,740 Speaker 2: I realized that I needed to find something else. 93 00:03:56,059 --> 00:03:57,949 Speaker 1: Yeah and I can take on more. I have proven 94 00:03:57,949 --> 00:04:00,070 Speaker 1: that I can take on more, so that's why I'm 95 00:04:00,070 --> 00:04:00,789 Speaker 1: applying for this job. 96 00:04:01,550 --> 00:04:03,990 Speaker 2: I also like to think that from Xavier's perspective, why 97 00:04:03,990 --> 00:04:06,389 Speaker 2: would the boss tell Xavier, you know, this, 98 00:04:07,389 --> 00:04:08,809 Speaker 1: that is such a low. 99 00:04:09,615 --> 00:04:11,324 Speaker 2: Whether it low move or is it, could it be 100 00:04:11,324 --> 00:04:14,835 Speaker 2: because they actually have quite an open relationship, like good communication, 101 00:04:15,404 --> 00:04:16,644 Speaker 2: they trust each other to say the 102 00:04:16,644 --> 00:04:18,243 Speaker 1: boss trust him I don't know Xavier, 103 00:04:19,665 --> 00:04:23,325 Speaker 2: could be that the supervisor really said that to maybe 104 00:04:23,325 --> 00:04:26,114 Speaker 2: make Xavier feel that it's not you, it's actually us. 105 00:04:26,285 --> 00:04:29,005 Speaker 2: We did a mistake, so I'm I'm trying to do 106 00:04:29,005 --> 00:04:30,725 Speaker 2: something good by telling you that, but of course it 107 00:04:30,725 --> 00:04:33,934 Speaker 2: has that the other unintended effect on Xavier, which is 108 00:04:33,934 --> 00:04:35,065 Speaker 2: why why Xavier wrote in. 109 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,350 Speaker 2: So I do think that open communication could be something 110 00:04:38,350 --> 00:04:40,559 Speaker 2: that's also of a silver lining to show that you 111 00:04:40,559 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: know what those things didn't work out, you still could 112 00:04:43,359 --> 00:04:44,808 Speaker 2: get along with the people in your company. 113 00:04:45,959 --> 00:04:48,790 Speaker 1: Well, Xavier, I I hope that your situation becomes better 114 00:04:48,790 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: and both of us are really sorry that you were 115 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,238 Speaker 1: put in this position, but like we have been talking 116 00:04:53,238 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: about here, I think there are silver linings in this situation. 117 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,010 Speaker 1: You can use some of these as you approach your 118 00:04:59,010 --> 00:05:02,959 Speaker 1: next job interview. Don't let this one setback affect you. 119 00:05:03,130 --> 00:05:06,169 Speaker 1: So if like Xavier, you have a work-related question, do 120 00:05:06,170 --> 00:05:10,738 Speaker 1: write into us. We are at CNA podcasts at Mediacorp.com.sg. 121 00:05:11,130 --> 00:05:15,049 Speaker 1: We're also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, me, Listen, and YouTube 122 00:05:15,049 --> 00:05:15,789 Speaker 1: where a video 123 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,790 Speaker 1: Version of this is at. The team behind the Work 124 00:05:18,790 --> 00:05:23,940 Speaker 1: It podcast is Janaini Johari, Joanne Chan, Saya Win, Alison Jenner, 125 00:05:24,269 --> 00:05:28,308 Speaker 1: Shahzad Dalilia and Christina Robert. Video by Hanida Amin. I'm 126 00:05:28,309 --> 00:05:31,849 Speaker 1: Gerald and I'm Tiffany. Have a great work week ahead 127 00:05:31,850 --> 00:05:35,100 Speaker 1: and don't let anybody tell you you are not good enough.