It was 6pm on 18 August 2020, and Arulnathan John was about to sigh with huge relief. That could have been his ninth time being unscathed from a retrenchment exercise at Singapore Press Holdings, the company he was working for.
While still in the thick of a pandemic, a virtual town hall was held that morning where senior management had announced yet another wave of retrenchment. Employees were informed that those affected would receive a call before the end of the day.
But for him, the much-dreaded call came at 6.15pm, leaving Arulnathan feeling numb for a few minutes. Feeling lost, he called his sister to convey the news to her. And what she said stays with him. “When a door closes, another will surely open, she said. And that consoled me to some extent,” he shared.
The next day, Arulnathan, then a copywriter, was called into the office for the formalities. Seeing CMPU’s (Creative Media and Publishing Union) officials present was undoubtedly comforting. He was offered to take up other positions in the organisation. But none of them were in his area of interest or specialisation. So, he braced himself and accepted the retrenchment deal. Union members like him were assured that their retrenchment packages had been carefully negotiated for and that they were not alone in moving on to the next steps in their careers.
“The union representatives highlighted that finding a new job would be more challenging in the current climate than when I landed my previous job in the early 2000s. They said that a career consultant would help orientate me with the new job application environment and keep me up to speed so that I would not lose out on getting a job,” said Arulnathan, who was then linked up with a Career Coach, Herjeet from NTUC U PME.
Finding that Door of Opportunity
Having been rooted in the field of journalism for close to 20 years, Arulnathan quickly realised that the rules of the job application game have evolved significantly. And Herjeet’s coaching inevitably made a difference in his job-hunting journey.
“Herjeet helped put me at ease from our first meeting. He patiently reviewed my previous job applications, explained the shortcomings and guided me in turning them into strengths. He even helped tailor my resume, CV and other essential documents for the new playing field. He also put me through mock interviews to help me understand what current employers were looking for. From there, he worked with me to highlight my experience and unique selling points to stand out among the other job applicants,” Arulnathan said.
Herjeet also advised him to be selective with employers who would value his skill sets, which enabled Arulnathan to focus on sending out job applications. When there were some rejections from initial job applications, Herjeet was supportive and encouraged him to keep going with the ‘fight’.
Over some 22 months, Herjeet constantly kept in touch with Arulnathan. He further urged him to upgrade himself through courses on business communication, videography, new media platforms such as podcasts and broadcasts, and using online media channels like Instagram and TikTok.
And we asked Herjeet his thoughts on hand-holding union members and workers in such moments of distress. He said, “Supporting members who are navigating the challenges of job loss due to retrenchment or unfair dismissal requires a thoughtful and empathetic approach. I customise my approach to every individual’s needs and concerns. Regular check-ins and ongoing support can make a meaningful impact on their overall welfare as they emerge stronger from the transition.”
While keeping himself busy with some freelance projects all this time, Arulnathan’s hard work paid off with a new job in the education sector last year. Today, at 58, he works as a corporate communications professional.
“This is a new chapter in my career, and my job experiences have enabled me to value-add in this role. I am glad that Herjeet’s and NTUC’s assistance have equipped me with skills to tap on this opportunity.”