![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
23-07-2021, 09:12 AM
Chee Hong Tat: Hurtful for S'porean man to be asked 'What is SAF?' by foreign HR manager during interview
A Singaporean who attended a job interview at a multinational corporation was once asked about his two years of national service with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
The question of the foreign human resources manager was: "You wrote in your curriculum vitae that you spent two years with the SAF; what is SAF?"
This story was related by NTUC deputy secretary-general Chee Hong Tat, who spoke on Thursday (July 22) at a virtual masterclass event by Human Capital Singapore on key trends impacting Singapore's economy.
Mr Chee said an important factor that affects the "lived experiences" of local workers is how their employers and HR managers treat them at work.
"These experiences are powerful in shaping perceptions, more so than our policy explanations and statistics. When the emotions in our hearts feel different from the logic in our heads, most people will follow their hearts. It is what makes us human," he added.
"As a proud NSman who had served and defended his country, it was hurtful for him to be asked 'What is SAF?'."
The anecdote illustrates the limitations of a foreign HR manager who is not familiar with Singapore, he said.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/j...ntage-chee
A Singaporean who attended a job interview at a multinational corporation was once asked about his two years of national service with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
The question of the foreign human resources manager was: "You wrote in your curriculum vitae that you spent two years with the SAF; what is SAF?"
This story was related by NTUC deputy secretary-general Chee Hong Tat, who spoke on Thursday (July 22) at a virtual masterclass event by Human Capital Singapore on key trends impacting Singapore's economy.
Mr Chee said an important factor that affects the "lived experiences" of local workers is how their employers and HR managers treat them at work.
"These experiences are powerful in shaping perceptions, more so than our policy explanations and statistics. When the emotions in our hearts feel different from the logic in our heads, most people will follow their hearts. It is what makes us human," he added.
"As a proud NSman who had served and defended his country, it was hurtful for him to be asked 'What is SAF?'."
The anecdote illustrates the limitations of a foreign HR manager who is not familiar with Singapore, he said.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/j...ntage-chee
