meandering paths to the same destination

I believe the interview process that *** went through is also relevant as you will be applying for a job soon. One reason I like the *** case is because each time I read the case, I am reminded of my own journey. Each of us have our own story about how we end up in real estate. You may view it as luck (or lack of luck), fate or destiny. This is my story....

Ignorance - How I Got into RE: In my case, it was my good fortune or ignorance that I ended up in NUS doing a degree in B.Sc. (Estate Management). After we received our A-level results, a classmate in Kuala Lumpur mentioned that he is applying for "Estate Management" in NUS. I thought the option sounded good - career prospect seems good as there are many estates (rubber plantation etc.) to manage in Malaysia. My friend corrected me that the course is about real estate. Nevertheless, I followed my friend to apply for EM as my first choice. Eventually, I had three choices: (1) stay in Malaysia and read biz ad in the local uni, (2) come down to Singapore for the EM degree, or (3) continue working as an apprentice in an accounting firm and study part-time for ACCA. My heart was inclined towards option 3, because I like accounting and also, I didn't want to impose additional financial burden on my parents. But like JK, I had the good fortune of many senior colleagues in the accounting firm who pulled me aside and encouraged me to go to university as I may regret giving up the change to enter the university. So, I ended up in Singapore studying real estate.

Closed Door - Why I am Still in RE: If I was granted my wish when I was in my final year, I would have ended up in a career outside of real estate. In the late 1980s, one of the most glamorous companies for a fresh graduate to join was SIA as a management trainee (probably like investment banking or fund management industry in today's context). The competition to get into the company was stiff. I remember going for the career talk hosted by SIA and the very large lecture room in FASS was filled to the brim with students for all faculties. I applied, survived several rounds of interviews and written tests until there were only 17 of us left! The HR manager arranged a special meeting for us and I recall what he said (not in exact words), "As far as the HR is concerned, you have made it through our stringent interview process. However, there is still one more round to go, that is meeting the SIA Management Team. But don't worry, in the history of SIA, no one has ever dropped out at this stage of the interview. So, you can count youself as 99.999% an employee of SIA. Congratulations!"

You don't have to guess what happened. Unfortunately, the 0.001% came true.It was a huge dissappointment... I made a terrible blunder during the interview process. and learnt a painful lesson... I may have won an argument with the MD but I lost (my dream job)!

Destiny - One Door Closed, Another Open: It took me sometime to recover from the SIA dissapointment. I KIV all my applications and only decided to send out my cv to Colliers a few weeks before my final exam. I sat for the last paper, interview with Colliers the following day, was offered the job immediately, and started work the following week. Although the market was recovering from a recession, it was easy to secure the position because not many of my classmates considered taking a job in property management.

Calling - Why I am still in NUS: Within the first few weeks of working, I quickly realized what I was supposed to be doing with my life.... my calling is to stay in the real estate industry, gain the necessary work experience, and go back to teach in NUS!

p/s - God was gracious to allow me a 2nd chance. I joined SIA two years later, not as a generalist (management trainee) but as a real estate specialist! I had 4 wonderful years in SIA and at the right (ripe) time, the door opened for me to join the university. Time flies... I have now been with NUS for 17 years, firmly believing that the grass is greener on my side!