Hired!~!

Finally found a job.. Haha..

With an insurance company as management intern...

Though it's not exactly what I am looking for, but I guess that this is a good position to be in..

Think that with experience in this field, I'll grow in value within a couple of years if I work hard enough.. Haha..

Well.. Onto the next phrase of life..

Oh yar.. Just after the interview, I went to buy the Samsung U700.. Wahaha.. The only things that are better than my last N73 are that (1) It doesn't hang (2) It looks stylish.. Haha..

Starting work next Wednesday.. A day just after my birthday.. Quite a coincidence.. Haha..

Anime War in SG..

Hmm.. Seems like the action taken by the company, Odex, to persecute anime downloaders is creating a very big hoo-ha among the anime lovers here..

Seems like they underestimated the passion the anime lovers possess... Well.. Let's see.. If I am in the shoes of the directors, what other actions can I take other than this legal action???

Change of business plan and structure.. Haha..

By making use of technology of course.. Let's explore some determining factors on why anime lovers here are downloading animes illegally instead of buying them from stores..

1) They are free of charge

2) They get the newest episodes rather than buying the DVDs..

I have looked around in video stores and to tell the truth, many are not up to date.. Most are like 30 to 50 episodes lagging behind.. It's a bit frustrated for anime lovers I guess when they read the latest updates on the animes and yet are so far lagging behind and the passion over-rides sanity to download them over the web..

3) Limited amount of animes offered here..

A lot of animes from Japan never reach the shores here in Singapore.. Only limited and selected ones are, like Bleach and Naruto.. TV always repeats the same animes.. I don't know how many times have I watched Shaman King on TV already... Some old Gundam shows like Gundam Z are not sold here.. Or rather, never seen on sale.. I have to borrow from friends who bought through japanese DVD websites to watch..

4) Ease of downloading Animes

Simply said, technology and the internet has made it easy to download animes without going out to shops to search with the chance of not finding the animes, which might be a waste of time..

Business Strategy

To consider the threat of piracy of fan-subs, why not think of it in a positive way? I mean, using legal means is the last resort that I might want to use.. Especially considering that the anime-lovers here might be young also where they are still schooling..

What's the point in persecuting them when they have no money on their own and the parents pay for them? They don't feel the pinch.

Besides, it might create a backlash for the companies also. Judging from how rich the kids are nowadays and people here in Singapore is getting more influential, anime-lovers might not even buy any animes from the stores here and would rather go online to get the latest anime DVDs straight from Japanese webstores.. Most will have credit cards to pay..

Worse still.. They can form a group, get one copy of anime DVDs, burn and distribute them among members, which is harder for the Odex to locate the mastermind and persecute them, and they end up paying more for the legal fees, employing of detective etc etc..

To me, Odex move is an unwise movement.. They didn't take account into several factors and the most important, being the social-cultural factor.. If according to business, they are not wrong in doing that.. But, they failed to see the effects and the risks involve.. Culture is always evolving and society changes and improves over time.. Strategies have to change too..

What's my business plan then?? It's a modification from Dell's business model..

1) Set up servers to cater to online downloads... Have them pay a low monthly or yearly subscription to download translated animes.. Or maybe a pay-per-episode of a few cents..

In this aspect, Odex can work out contractual deals with the different anime companies to distribute the animes exclusively to the Singaporeans and to increase significantly the amount of animes it carries...

I believe there are many fan-subbers out there and Odex can acquire them or work with them to do the translations..

Fan-subbing is a big business too and this provides another revenue income for Odex..

2) Set up E-stores for those who want to collect anime boxes..

Here, Odex can reduce inventory significantly and will order from the suppliers upon the receiving of orders.. This would aid a lot in reducing the costs of rental, especially in Singapore where land is super expensive...

The above are two suggestions from me... Which I believe will be a better way... Music companies are also offering to sell their music online for only a few cents per song.. So.. Why not animes? iPods can also play animes right???

Implications involve in the plan..

The change of business plan and structure will affect a lot of the employees in Odex.. In this aspect, to be more humane, the directors can use their influence and network to help redundant employees find new jobs in other places.. Some can be re-trained to fit in newly developed departments...

But I guess one of the major factor would be the cost.. Well, I am not an analyst or a finance person.. It's not up to me to calculate the set-up and running costs.. Haha..

Anyway, the above is just my personal comments lah... And I wonder who will read this post anyway.. Haha..

Endless Searching...

Hmmm... Damn... None of the analyst jobs that I've applied to responded to me.. And all the recruitment agencies that I've sent my resume to based on the openings found in JobsDB.com did not reply to me at all..

Sianz... Seems like it's tough competition from the local fresh graduates in which I am being over-powered just by the University difference..

Feeling a little frustrated, but I am still confident of my capabilities.. I still believe that in whatever company I am in, I will be able to contribute..

Well, for now, it's still searching around.. Haha..

And.. The dreaded IPPT is coming up.. Damn.. Last night, I timed my self and spent 14 minutes to finish my 2.4km run... How in the world am I going to pass??? Guess it's RT again... *Faintz*

Wooo.. Yar.. My brother's child is going to be a male.. He asked my dad to name his child last night...

Had a small joke on the naming.. My brother suggested a single name of "Bei" (North in Mandarin) and I laughed.. My parents were slow in response and had question marks all over their heads..

Out surname is Lim.. So, meaning, my nephew name will be Lim Bei.. Translated from Hokkien, it means "I'm your father".. Something like that.. Haha..

Ok... Going to be an uncle soon.. Gotta settle down in some job soon and be a good example.. Except for smoking and drinking.. Wahaha...

Tomorrow's the interview with UOB for the post of Senior Officer in a branch.. Gotta read up on the compliance things and the operations and the bank itself.. Sianz.. So much work..

When will I get an Analyst job???????

To Employers,

I am a all-rounder in the field of business with working experiences in different roles before in part-time jobs. I have done engineering jobs, administrative jobs, data-entries , sales jobs, systems registration job and dealt with MRP before...

During my work, I interact and learn from managers and learnt the skills and knowledge necessary for a leadership role..

I learnt the foundations of being a business analyst during my degree course, of which, I am the top student in class and the top 5% performers in my faculty..

Armed with all-round business knowledge, good working attitude with an engineering and business background, I am confident of delivering results for the organization... Hire me for who I will become, not just what I am now...

Any offers, please email to michaellim80@hotmail.com..

Haha.. I don't think I'll get any offers here...

Pissed Off

These few days, someone pissed me off totally...

On Friday night, I received a call from a friend asking me if I want to tutor two primary school kids.. I thought for a while and said SHOULD'T be a problem, but ask how much the person is willing to pay and where he's staying FIRST..

Then, after a few minutes, she called back and I decided to reject the offer.. And don't know why she got mad and started to scold me saying I am not matured in handling things etc etc..

I didn't want to quarrel and waited for her to finish off before hanging up the phone after saying my goodbye..

I was a bit pissed off already.. To me, it's a simple affair.. Why did she say I was giving her trouble in terms of finding a reason to explain to his friend why I reject...

In the first place, I didn't agree to anything.. I just asked her to find out more.. Secondly, since I have not agreed to anything, I have the right to reject..

Kaoz.. Scold me??? My parents and elder brothers do not dare to scold me anymore and she scolded me for being immatured in handling things???

Judging from her character, she must have assumed that I agreed and she told the person I agreed to the terms and conditions..

Really.. I cannot tahan this character flaw of her.. She only listens to what she wants to hear and assumes too much things.. This is not the first time already...

Then, just now, she was on MSN and messaged me to ask me how I was.. I said I was not happy because she scolded me..

Then I explained my point to her.. But she just went didn't reply and after a while, went offline and never came on again..

WTF!~! This gal is basically super rude... Totally pissed off at her now...

And two friends of mine asked me to make her mine and marry her.. Please spare me!~! Edward knows me best when the first time he met her, he knows that she does not suit me..

The above situation is already one example how she can totally pissed me off at her immaturity.. Imagine.. A 28 year old woman with the mind of a 16 year old.. Who can tahan? If I didn't know her better, I would have thought that she might be autistic...

She always assumes things and alway never listens to my advice, so why bother? Due this characteristic of her, I have on quite a few occasions went into arguments with her.. Already told her of this character-flaw...

I mean.. We are supposed to be tactful right? So I always make a point to select my words carefully.. But, she is one who never listens..

Another point is that, whenever I talk, she'll interupt with something totally irrelevant.. I am not one who likes to be interupted.. So.. Another minus point..

Lastly but not least, friends who know her knows that she is too-open.. Going beyond even what the Westerners can accept.. It's something that exceeds my moral limits and open-mindedness... Haha...

So.. All these majors points are real detering factors for me... I did not include age as I have no problems with that.. More concern with maturity and morality.. Haha..

Ok.. Feel much better after venting my anger on the keyboard in here.. Haha..

Still trying to find a job.. Sianz..

In Search Of....

Still searching for a new job...

Have an average of 2 interviews per week.. Got a job offer, but rejected it.. Haha..

The job offer was for HR Executive.. But the compensation package sucks big time..

Initially, I was willing to just work for just $1,800 per month.. After after looking at the contract, I nearly fainted...

It was like giving me only 15 days of annual paid leave.. Then I need to submit 2 months in advance for resignation...

The thing really looks like a pay package for diploma holders rather than a degree holder.. Besides, the 2 months thingy is going to lock me in..

With the experience of the HR manager (well, he talked for hours), I thought that he should know better.. Or maybe he just wants to those fresh graduates who doesn't know the market and doesn't know how to think for themselves..

Kaoz.. I have been working for years and I think that package is the lousiest... Besides, I have some knowledge that that industry is almost a sunset industry in Singapore liaoz.. Because it is in the manufacturing industry, it's bound to move out to cheaper countries within the next few days... If it doesn't, it will lose its competitive edge in terms of cost and pricing over the short to middle term...

After rejecting, I went back home for a nap.. Then I checked the JobsDB website for new openings.. I saw a familiar advertisement..

Same company, same email, same post.. Offering $2,200 for the same position.. I was really cursing and swearing... Kaoz.. I guess on the external, I look like an idiot to people... Freak..

Well, I am moving on... Got interviews next week with a local bank and a marketing position with a Taiwanese-based computer and electronics giant.. Haha..

Initially, I was so blur.. The PC company emailed me asking me to go for an interview on the Aug, 9... Getting excited, I just immediately responded, agreeing to the time and date given..

I told my parents about the interview on the 9th Aug.. Then... After a few hours, my dad asked me.. "9th Aug is national day leh.. Public holiday leh.. Got interview meh???"

I was like.. -__-"

I immediately sent another email asking them about it and requesting a change of dates.. Haha.. Still waiting for replies...

But the two openings for next week is something that I think I really want.. To be an assistant branch manager or to be a marketer.. Haha..

Think I'm more interested in being a marketer for the PC market.. Cause I have a lot of interest in the PC market mah.. Then hor.. Dunno leh.. But I like the idea of being a marketer.. Maybe because in events, can employ chio models and then... Muahaha.. Ok.. It's crap.. I just have a genuine interest in marketing, expecially in the area of computers...

Well, I am really rotting at home now.. Going through newpapers, job websites and company websites in search of a job...

Don't know when will I stop rotting.. Haha... Can't stand being home and doing nothing..