Fancy an overseas posting?

It was a long, grueling six-month wait to finally land that ideal overseas job, this writer recounts his experience after trying his luck in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

By Jason Tan

Three months ago, I had finally landed in Macao, so-called “Las Vegas of the east” – a gambling enclave I had never set foot on, let alone thought of leading a career life.

The story began in last October, when I decided to put my three-year career in Taipei to a full stop. I have lived in the blessed island for seven years and it was time to move on.

The urge to discover the other parts of the Greater China region was so strong in the last few months in Taipei.

So jaws of my Taiwanese friends were dropped when I told them I wanted to start all over in a place totally out of my league – and bid goodbye to the comfortable paycheck and great job in Taipei.

It was a natural move considering that after all those years of work experience, chances of meeting the Perfect Job became scarce. So scarce that firms in my industry are cutting costs and cautious in adding new blood as the industry is no longer on the boom side.

So I didn't think twice to fly to Hong Kong after hooking up with a prospectus firm.

I have always dreamed of being a part of Hong Kong's hustle-and-bustle workforce, thanks to the influence of Canto pop songs and TVB series.

This was my second visit to the firm within a year; and this time, I went with the hope of signing on the dotted line.

But leaving the skyscrapers in Central only made the fact sink in faster: There were just too limited rice bowls -- especially gold-plated ones -- to jostle for.

While they gave me the diplomatic reply of "Thanks for coming and we will get back to you soon", I knew the underlying message was "Why bother the hassle to apply you work permit? What could you offer us that locals couldn't?"

It was then I decided to detour to Shanghai, a city where millions of mainlanders are hoping to make it big some where, some time.

While I spent the afternoon soaking in the culture of the Shanghai Bund, the evening was a routine of firing off resumes to employers -- mostly to no avail.

After spending nearly three months staying in a city where outsiders were welcomed by hostility instead of hospitality, and discovered that shoving and yanking were the ways to board a public transport, it was obvious I wasn't cut out for the city, after all.

I then packed up for home when New Year's festivities neared.

After a few-year hiatus, it was the time to be with family members and meet good friends before jetting off again, I reckoned.

My job hunt didn't stop as Beijing and Macao were the newly added targets.

With Olympic Games buzzing up the Chinese capital and huge tourist dollars being rolled into Macao thanks to the booming casino scene, it was now or never.

So, when a big Macao firm pronounced "Welcome on board!" in March, I was still in shock wondering if the agonizing job search was finally over.

For the first time, I was lavished by an expat package, and the chance to delve into an area I have always wanted to try.

It was indeed an opportunity of a grueling six-month wait. It turned up precisely at the time I was going broke and started to doubt my own capability.

During those days when I didn’t need to rush to work, I had a lot of time to reflect.

This was despite I already signed up for ballroom dance, went to swim classes, attended seminars, and even tried my hands in the kitchen exploring new dishes.

I couldn't stop thinking that what if retrenchment unexpectedly sets in one day? Or when the retirement bell rings?

Would I be financially, mentally and physically prepared to waking up each morning, realizing that I have another 15 hours to kill?

What other skills do I have to bring back the bacon if paycheck were to stop abruptly? How could I prove my worth to the society and continue to lead a fulfilling lifestyle when my hair turns silver?

These questions followed me to Macao, and I am still looking for answers.

But now, I am so looking forward to clocking in for work every day!