To think back when i first started working logistics field two years back..
Everyday's work is all about moving heavy things around, frustrating at our supervisor, hiding from customer, sweating profusely in the insanely hot warehouse, scanning all sorts of products while chatting with the person in front of you.. everyday we leave house before the sun is up and go home hours after the sun set. Months of working without seeing the sun, without having a day to rest. Constantly complaining the steel toe boots is too heavy, walking and dragging our feet around..
Everything seemed interesting there.. big machines that carry people so high up, loud beeping sound when the machines reverse, small machines that can run like f1, using honks to make melody and getting scolded for it.
Graveyard 12hours shift with no extra allowances, drinking redbull, hourly smoking session at the loading bay, using cardboard to make ourselves a bed to lie down and rest like a boss. The first night of graveyard shift was the time i met Ling, the supply chain manager handling my dept. She offered me a full time position as a team leader after knowing that i intend to leave in 2 weeks time.
All part time and full time staff will sit together and gossip about this and that, sharing of their past working experience during breaks.
Things started to change and needed to change after i took up the full time position.
I unknowingly signed myself in as an officer, assuming that was the 'team leader' they offered verbally. Assuming black coloured shirt was for female and orange for male, not knowing that the colours actually meant diff positions. I signed myself into a whole new world.
I did not know i was supposed to have my office table, my locker, my name stamp, company stamp, name card and etc.. i knew nothing. Nobody was there to guide me.
During the first month of full time, i had a very supportive colleague who would always teach me this and that and explain to me about these logistics stuff. He left shortly later and i got transferred to another dept.
In the new dept, i got to know a new colleague who kept emphasing that i am no longer a student nor a trainer and i need to step up as an officer. Things were alright, he was a humourous guy. Days were enjoyable.
Things started going downstream when days became bearable. Staff started to show their true colour. I knew i was in deep trouble. I could expect what kind of issue i am facing. Yet, i could do nothing.
When i could not take the stress, i finally spoke out. All he could do was to talk to the staff. But isnt it too late..
Later, i found a way to handle the issue. It wasnt too long before i realised im not catching up fast enough with my colleague. After a year in work, i started to doubt my capability and my purpose in the dept.
Was my job in this dept to constantly work like a warehouse assistant, warehouse coordinator and supervisor while taking on tasks of an executive? What am I? What is an officer role? What is the purpose of my existence.
That was the first time i gave serious thought to leaving the company. I called Ling and told her what i thought. The main issue i had there was lack of staff. Since the company wasnt supportive, i didnt see a point of me staying as well. Knowing my absense would cause even bigger issue to the dept, i did not bother at all.
I decided to leave the company although i did not secure any jobs. I texted my colleague that i wanted to talk to him the following day after work. I wanted to tell him that i've decided to leave. Who would have expected the same morning, he told me that a new staff would be transferred over the following month. If that's the case, then maybe i wouldnt have decided to leave.
My job scope changed when the new staff came in. My role is to monitor the dept order progress and to check their work for any or potential mistakes. Constantly keeping a close track on all inbound, outbound, admin matters and customer's request or enquiries. Things got much better.
However, i realised my job had much more severe consequence than what i was tasked. I admit i have to oversee everyone but this doesnt mean every single little thing must be observed by me. How would i know which order is the picker picking now? How would i know how secure every goods are packed in? How would i know whether all the inbound are correctly received in system and correctly putaaway? How do you expect me to follow on everyone's every single action?
Whenever someone did a mistake during the process, i am the one at fault. I am the one to get questioned first. Months after my job scope changed, i started to doubt my capability again. Was it really me or are they using me to push blame to? Did i really do something or was my colleague trying to vend his external anger to me? Sometimes.. it's really a trivial matter but he scolded me until i commited a grave mistake.
Beginning of this year, i realised i couldnt take the work stress and school stress together. I realised people changed as well, bad changes. I stopped having small chats. I stopped communicating with my colleague. I stopped putting in so much effort. I started to find a job.
It wasnt long before i started attending interviews. On my third interview, i immediately got an offer. This was my chance to escape. So, i did it. I printed my resignation letter that i drafted a month ago. I signed it and chose a timing to submit. I tendered on 5th May.
While serving my one month of notice, i thought about alot. What would have made my experience better here? Staff attitude, customer's existence, management, pay.
Because keppel is my first job, i am aware i am here to learn. I did not mind about the pay. Management was the biggest issue.
I left on 3rd jun. Leaving with a heavy heart. I do not regret my choice but i will definitely miss the place and the people. I hate goodbyes.
I visited Ling before i did my clearance. We chatted alot. She also answered the question i had in me for the whole one year plus.. quite happy to see that she really liked the terrarium i gave her.
After my clearance, i went to chat with our receptionist. Talked about alot of irrelevant stuff before i went to join the supply chain guys and clarence from security dept at the smoking area. We stayed there till slightly before knock off time. And i guess.. that's the end of my life in keppel.
01082014-03062016
