It's been awhile since I take the effort and update about myself. Presently, I am clearing my leave before leaving service (Navy). My last day supposedly on 28 Feb 09, last working day 27 Feb 09. It's already mid Feb, why is it still supposedly shouldn't it be more firm? Precisely, thats what I had been rather unhappy about. In fact, this unhappiness had changed into undue stress for me now, let me elaborate...
I submitted my application to be release from regular service (aka resign) in mid Oct 08. The department that handles such application sent me an email informing me that they had received my application on 13 Nov 08. They had also stated in their email that they had started the processing. Though with that email, I am not confirmed that I will be leaving the service on the date I had stated in my application (1 Mar 09), it is still pending the approval from the respectives branches in my service. Upon approval, they will send me another email with the confirmation or the notification would come in the form of a posting directive.
Nevertheless, I went for an interview on 5 Dec 08 for my first choice second career, remember in my previous entry sometimes ago, I mentioned this but did not reveal what job it was. My application was for a position with PSA as a Harbour Pilot. The following week after the interview, the few others that went for the interview together with me received email stating that they weren't successful with their application. I did not received this email, and from friends who were already with them, I came to know that I stand a very high chance of securing myself the pilot job. However during the interview, the interviewer did informed me that as I am still in service, my application will not be processed until I provide them with the confirmation letter.
Time passed and I had yet to receive my confirmation, even till this very day. Since the start of Jan 09, I had been very proactive in checking with the respective units on the status of my application. Interestingly, none of them I spoke to was able to give me an answer. Most of them replied me that my application was in process. It was until I checked with my personnel branch that I realised that my application file had been lying in this officer desk since 4 Dec 08. I called my Head Personnel and informed him of the situation. The very next day, on 16 Jan 09, he went down to meet this officer and called me in the late morning informing me that application was with the officer and he had wanted to interview me and offer me with another appointment. At that point of time, I did not even bother to know what he had to offer, but I just thanked him for the offer and rejected whatever offer he was going to offer. Why would I need another offer that will not be able to match what I will be getting as a PSA pilot?
Having rejected the offer, the officer finally approved my application and submitted it to the service Head Personnel.
At this point, I would like to stress that the application had been in his office since 4 Dec 08, and it was approved only on the 16 Jan 09. During this period, most senior commanders were busy with workplan planning for the next workyear and was not in office. Nevertheless, my application was approved by my service Head Personnel on 21 Jan 09 (if I remember correctly). Now I need another signature, and thats from DMP, this was because I had been in service for more than 10 years and would need his approval to release a mere 5% of my retirement account fund (It's less than 3K). My appilcation wasn't signed immediately as it was already CNY period and most would be on leave. Hence, I have to wait till the week after CNY's week.
On 2 Feb 09, I called the branch to asked for my application status update again. I got the same reply, "still in process". I told the peron on the other end of the line that this was no laughing matters. I had informed them of my situation, requires the confirmation letter for application of my second career. I even had to speak to her superior and wasted another day as she was not in office that day. Hence on the 3 Feb 09, I called again and was told that my application had been send to MPPD and awaiting submission to DMP. I revert that I need the confirmation letter for my second career again. Thereafter I called PSA and check on my application status or rather to update them of my situation. To my dismay, I was told that due to the market change for the past 2 months, PSA management had ceased all recruitment. Even though my application was before the twist of event, it had been put on hold.
I wrote an email to MPPD informing them that I had lost my job due to the delay in getting my confirmation letter and all they did was apologise. What else can they do anyway... I just felt so unfairly treated and it was because of
ONE INCOMPETENT OFFICER that had sat on my application for so long. I called the pers hub and checked with the person I had been calling to checked on others personnel related stuff and told her that I wanted to complain this matter and to blow it out of proportion if need to. I related the entire matters to her and she managed to convince me that my application had been well on time and was considered fast. I had to agree with her to a certain extend but I am still unhappy with my experience. Hence, I told her to write a report to the service Head Personnel to provide my feedback. I would hope that action would be taken and better improve the system so that in future, other personnel would not experience such unduly delay again.
And so now I am officially going to be jobless by the end of Feb 09...
