I came from software engineer background. When i came to this company, the offer me to be project management and software engineering because what i did in the past job have both of these experience and i'm unsure what to do, thus accepted it to experience what the job is all about. Working in this small company around 12 ppl for 6 months+ but i feel insignificant. I'm have been browsing forum most of the time while others busy working. Doesn't there would be any growth working here. They said like have things for me in the future but don't know when.... Feel like wasting my life and didn't upskills. I actually plan to continue working in sg. I could apply pr because worked at least 6 months even after changing company. There are also a lot unsatisfaction like... can't sleep when nothing to do, can't watch youtube, can't listen music, can't both of my ears with headphone, colleague always ot even tho no ot pay(i always leave on time), also must eat with them else you got the pressure...., very outdated company culture (maybe 10-20 years ago) and working policy. It's true that i miss my old job in kl but... it's about survival, gotta to do what work best for me. Do you think i should try apply different job in sg or continue throwing my life here. I'm also planning to apply my pr this oct or earlier because i didn't want them to see me taking this epass just to be pr

This is so rare in SG that its almost unheard of. I'll suggest you try to find ways to do some learning during this free time that you've got. Whether upskilling or ask your manager/ supervisor to pass you some work for learning purposes.

If it still doesn't work for you, then probably look for a different job in SG (as you're quite sure about applying for PR there).

As for the work culture, it can't be helped. I suggest join them for lunch occasionally - ie. 2x a week or so and the rest of the days just eat on your own. It's simple, just let them know you wanted to explore the place (or surrounding) since you're still new, or that you needed to buy something elsewhere or meeting someone over lunch.

Thanks, meeting someone for lunch could work!! It's really mental exhausting for not having personal space... I will endure this lifestyle first because finding different job at the moment too much hassle... I did learn stuff but only just for the first few months and without certification, you're nobody here because they don't prioritized paper too much. Most of the singaporean i saw finished polytechnic diploma and able get a job and of course degree would be better. The salary will be mainly affected by their experience and professional cert

sorry I don't get you.

you mean to say you moved to Sg software co you got this kind of issue or you have this issue in Msia software co but plan to work in SG ?

moved to sg and have this kind of issue. Malaysia is good less stress and more freedom

your co so rich, hire you and yet not give you any job to do?
or maybe they are belittling your capabilities, they think you are not capable enough to handle their bigger jobs?
maybe they asked you to do one or two basic assignment and they are not impress.
So they only entrusted the big assignments to those they trusted.
are you still under probation? it may be sign that they may be going to get rid of you, since you are doing nothing, that is a big red flag. Be careful when you reach your probation period end.

mixing with people for lunch is all part and parcel of socialising and giving a good impression. This actually helps you in your future career. Why you avoid mixing with them? is it because they speak mandarin to each other and you don't understand? if this is so, just explain and excuse yourself that you prefer to eat alone due to the language barrier.

perhaps you should try one or two more singkie companies, if you still face this situation, it is time to come back and work in msia, because most important is you are happy at where you are working.

This post has been edited by mezanny: Apr 27 2023, 03:34 PM

Is a sme company (project management/middle-man), my pay was also below market rate (should be 3k+ but mine close to 3k) but still ok because don't plan staying long too. I'm not sure they don't know what to assign me or what. For the first few months, they have 2 migration tool which developed by another developer company but a lot bugs. Purpose is basically reading from excel then creating something something in web application. They ask me to reverse engineer it, took me 2months+ which definitely less bugs than the original and better performance. Then didn't touch anymore... the codes and program was collecting dust in git, now ask me study deployment tools like websphere, jmeter, docker... Not even sure what was my position anymore. Is like software engineering + devops + support. I'm fine doing more job that's unrelated to title but all was just studying the basic and didn't actually use it for job. Not sure i'm overqualified or under-qualified or just a bad time for me that they don't know what task assign to me

I already passed my probation, probation is just 3 months. This is my 6th months working. I don't like mixing with them because... i enjoy being alone most of the time. There is also a person that works there more than 10 years so there's a lot restriction during conversation. There's no issue in communication because mainly communication in chinese, if english i may have some issue speaking but no problem when listening

maybe you just try to put on some years of experience. Try like another year and see how.

if you still feeling lost, then is time to look for a new role with the exposure you want.

in mean time, check the internet, and find out what you really want to do in your career. Use the waiting time, to decide what you want.

u may even want to propose to your superiors what u really want to do.

you should expand more than just what you are good at.

for eg, if you improve on your communications skills, you can expand in other roles.

who knows, maybe you go into project mgmt, you need to coordinate and talk to other specialist.