Retrenched and Unemployable

I was retrenched last year, and I have been looking for a job since.

Since my retrenchment, I have sent an average of 5 resumes a day. This works out to more than 250 job applications in the past 10 months. Sadly, I have not succeeded in getting a single interview.

I am not a young PMET and I am considered senior with a wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry. Puzzled, and desperate, as to why I have not been getting interviews, I spoke with friends in the HR industry.

Here is what they told me …. “your job prospects are not good. The industry is not expected to recover for several years and hiring will be slow. And, because companies would rather hire younger (and cheaper) employees, or promote from within to fill the senior positions, it will be near impossible for someone like me to find a job.”

To be honest, I knew this was coming. I knew that with the push towards renewables, oil and gas as an industry would be under pressure. COVID only accelerated the disruption. Unfortunately, like many Singaporeans, I was lazy and did not take action to re-tool and re-skill. What hurts me most, is that my family is paying the price for my inaction.

I have since learned my lesson and decided to make a career pivot. Noting that COVID has forced…