Should I continue studying or start working?

[ThuyChi]

Hi,

(Sorry mod, I am not very sure this is the right place to post the question. Please move it if you think it is better posted elsewhere in the forum )

I am wondering whether to continue my study or take up a job offer and start working. I used the forum search function but did not find much information regarding this issue so I decided to ask.

I am Vietnamese, will be 20 this December. I graduated a few months ago with a Diploma in Animation, majoring in Digital Visual Effects from a small, private local (Singapore) school. I took a rest, did a grad trip to Malaysia, did a few freelance projects. I originally wanted to start working right away and start saving to do a degree in CalArt. However, after 50 or more applications sent out, around 10 companies got back to interview me, I was rejected by all of them, no reasons given (I realized it is quite a common practice by HR here to say "We will contact you later" after an interview and simply disappear - never call back to reject people). It was pre-GE period so I was really confused: Is it my nationality or is it really my ability that can't match the hiring standard here? I freaked myself out and decided it was me who need to 'upgrade'. I went to register for a bachelor degree, get accepted and went back to Vietnam to break the news to my parents that I would have to study for one more year in the field that they have always question me when I chose it (VFX and Animation is nearly non-existence in Vietnam) about future job opportunity. Right before I came back, a few other companies call me up for interviews and I did go to the interviews (That was like a week after GE, don't know if anything related here . ). I came back, told my parents that they are going to pay a fortune (again) for their daughter to pursue another year in a industry both of them know nothing about. Then came the job offers. Out of the companies that interviewed me before I came back, one actually offered me a job. A few other companies that never got back to me emailed me and ask if I am still interested in the position. I am now really torn between continue studying or start working. I try my best to be around in Sg as I have personal commitment and I am not really willing to move away... Is it better if I continue studying, making my parents pay for my tuition fee (again), even if I can *illegally* freelance to cover my personal expenses? Is it worth it to accept the job offer then getting my S-pass rejected ($2200 and a diploma will never get me an E-pass, oh well...) and cannot go back to studying (by then the school term has already started - no time for Student pass, tuition payment ect)? I do want to work but I am scared of having my visa not approved and became jobless/having to move on to another country... I am open for comments and advice. Thank you very much for reading this and spending your time replying me

[JayCee]

Accept the job but keep the studying as the back up plan incase your employment visa gets rejected

[ThuyChi]

Accept the job but keep the studying as the back up plan incase your employment visa gets rejected

I would like to do so too but by the time I have my S-pass result the school term will have started. So far all the schools in Sg need a buffer time of 2 months to do all the student pass and all that

[ThuyChi]

Uhm any advice please?

[revhappy]

Uhm any advice please?

Do you know any of your colleagues who studied with you got their S pass approved? Try finding out from companies themselves who are applying regarding your chances of getting the pass. That should give you a clue as to how good your chances are.

Its a gamble. But you could take a calculated risk of waiting for the S Pass if you are able to evaluate your chances before hand.

[ThuyChi]

Uhm any advice please?

Do you know any of your colleagues who studied with you got their S pass approved? Try finding out from companies themselves who are applying regarding your chances of getting the pass. That should give you a clue as to how good your chances are.

Its a gamble. But you could take a calculated risk of waiting for the S Pass if you are able to evaluate your chances before hand.

Thank you for your advice

When I say I graduated from a small local school, it really means a small one Smile The majority of my cohort are Singaporeans, there's only one Malaysian and she gave up on looking for a job at the second month. So far my seniors are fine with getting passes, but they are either Malaysians or Indonesian. I'm Vietnamese. There's one Indonesian guy whose application did not get through, but it was due to him dropping out of his formal school before joining us... Oh, and none of my future colleagues is from my school. I am the only crazy girl who sent out 50 resume. The majority of them try 2 to 3 big VFX studios (You know, Double Negative and all that), and they either get it or drop the job search and go back to study

For the company's record, they said so far all their visa application are good. They have office in other countries too, so I guess the gahmen takes that into consideration?

Anyway, I've canceled my student pass application in order for my S-pass to be submitted. Praying hard... I do like the company a lot, the boss is nice and caring for a first timer like me

[NustarTimothy]

I say take the job first since an offer was made. Grab it before it's gone. Can always return to study or even get sponsored by Company if your performance is good. When you've worked in a company, you'll know really if what you had intended to study further on is really what you like. That was my personal experience - I worked 3.5 years b4 pursuing my study overseas and I know what I want compare to classmates who had been studying all the while with no working experience.

[revhappy]

That was my personal experience - I worked 3.5 years b4 pursuing my study overseas and I know what I want compare to classmates who had been studying all the while with no working experience.

There are positives and negatives. For stuff like MBA I agree, makes sense to have some work experience before. But thats because MBA involves a lot of group work, case studies etc.

But anything that require serious, hardcore and methodical "studying", its better to do it straight away instead of taking a break. A break for work will derail you from that discplined approach of concentrating continously and absorbing concepts.

Some can do it but most cant.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Serious, hardcore and methodical "studying"?

Yeah, but most just get on the web and plagiarize and copy & paste and forget it 3 hours after the exams. Absorbing concepts?

[NustarTimothy]

At the end of the day, ThuyChi needs to weigh the many implications/risks to the decision placed before her(?). Do consider also the financial strain on family resources as well.

We can't know what lies ahead. The universe always have a warp sense of humor that our plans never work out exactly the way we want it to be. Sometimes, we just have to make a decision, go with it and then adjust along the way instead of being paralyzed with too much analysis. Time and opportunity waits for no one.

[ThuyChi]

@Rev: Well I did take a gap year before taking my diploma to freelance and I manage to continue studying I guess I'm one of those who really need a break to evaluate what I would like to do in life rather than spend my life studying away... Thanks for advice, though. I know I'm still young and maybe immature, so ya...

@SMS: LOL That's so true. There are a few modules which I google and went to the library to write hundred pages for submission and forgot everything after that. But those practical ones I guess most people will remember as the knowledge is used for everyday work

@NustarTimothy: Thank you Oh yes I'm a 'her' I'm really torn because my family financial is good enough for me to just eat and sleep and study as long as I like But I prefer to save and pay for myself, so I can be independent and all that


I hope my S-pass go through .___. Praying hard...

[ausinsg]

Good luck with it. Working experience is always good to have. You learn not just about applying what you studied but many of the soft skills of dealing with colleagues and bosses.

Once you are settled down in work and comfortably handing the workload, you might want to talk to both your boss and the school about options you'd have to complete your last year of study.

I mainly suggest this, because in Singapore, you seem to have better options with regards to visas if you hold a bachelor's degree. So it is worth following up next time.

[ThuyChi]

Just received an email from the company. My S-pass was rejected and "thus we are unable to employ you". Should I ask the HR to file and appeal for me or leave it just that and try my best to find another job? I've already emailed the school to check if I can still enroll for this fall cohort but I am pretty sure I won't be able to...

BTW the reason for my rejection was "applicant does not meet criteria for approval e.g. Work experience and qualification" .__.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If it's a new application, you will be wasting your time trying to appeal it. It's almost impossible even with renewals after 2 or 3 renewals, we haven't been able to successfully appeal a rejection based on newer, stricter criteria.

[ThuyChi]

If it's a new application, you will be wasting your time trying to appeal it. It's almost impossible even with renewals after 2 or 3 renewals, we haven't been able to successfully appeal a rejection based on newer, stricter criteria.

Thank you for your advice SMS Yes this is the first time I ever apply for a working visa. Guess I do have to study some more... I just checked with the school and they say it is possible for me to enroll this fall semester. Well, I guess MOM deems 20 year old and a diploma is not enough