This told essay is based on a conversation with. Tan Zhenhui. Mr Tan served in the Singapore Armed Forces for 10 years before switching to the private sector in 2021. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has confirmed his employment history.
My parents were surprised when I told them that I wanted to pursue a career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) after completing my National Service.
To be honest, no one expected me to make such a decision as a teenager. As a child, I was quite mischievous and didn't seem to fit into the regimental culture of the military.
However, my time in National Service was a transformative experience. As a military officer, I trained new conscripts during basic military training.
I also found purpose and meaning in my military role and wanted to remain in the military.
One of the things that kept me going was the friendships and camaraderie I built with my bosses, co-workers, and subordinates. I felt that the strong bond between soldiers cannot be seen anywhere else.
make the difficult decision to leave
Tan (far right) decided to pursue a career in the SAF because he enjoyed national service.
Tan Zhenhui
That being said, priorities change. After about 10 years in SAF, I got a wake-up call when my aunt passed away.
I realized I wasn't spending enough time with my family. I worked very long hours and stayed in camp most of the time.
My family supported my decision, but warned me that life in the corporate world would be very different from the military. Both my current and former bosses discouraged me from leaving, saying that I could expect significant career advancement if I stayed.
But I kept pushing anyway.
Changing jobs was difficult and stressful.
Tan (centre) retired from the SAF in 2021. He spent about six months taking courses and job hunting before landing the job at Euromonitor.
Tan Zhenhui
I left SAF without any job offers and the job search was stressful. I had no idea when I would find a job. It also meant no income while job hunting.
While looking for a job, I relied on my savings to take a course for about 6 months to gain a new qualification.
My last role in the military had a lot to do with project management, so I took courses to improve my skills in that area. I also dabbled in a business intelligence course because I like working with numbers. This course gave me a glimpse of what different industries are like.
But breaking into the private sector was difficult. I didn't know how to build a resume based on my military experience. Some could not be included for security reasons.
Another challenge was getting noticed by hiring managers. Even when I was fortunate enough to be called up, I had to contend with the stereotypes some people have about military personnel. Some employers had the mistaken preconception that ex-combatants lacked relevant experience or were more likely to be rigid in their ways.
Eventually, I landed a job as a business development account manager at market research company Euromonitor. I was lucky to find a recruiter who believed my past experience would be helpful and decided to take a chance on me.
Get used to the corporate world
One of the biggest differences between the military and the civilian sector was culture. There was a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie in the military, and we were driven by a collective sense of purpose.
This was not the case in the corporate world, where organizational bonds are not as strong as in the military. It took me some time to get used to the new work culture.
Entering a new industry meant having to overcome a steep learning curve. During his first month on the job, he had to learn a lot of new things.
And of course, since I'm no longer in military uniform, I had to start thinking about what to wear to work.
The transition was difficult, but he used what he learned in the military to meet the new challenges he faced.
One of the important things I learned in the military was how to effectively communicate and persuade people.
As an officer, I had to lead and influence some of the conscripts. I had to convince people to do things they didn't want to do. Although conscripts had to follow orders under military law, he believed it was also important to win their trust.
Being in the military had its own challenges, but it made me stronger and honed my resilience. That's why I don't hesitate to take on new challenges that come my way.
Looking back, I have no regrets about starting my career in the SAF. My time as a soldier made me a stronger and better person.
