So what do you know? Our local students are losing their competitive edge against China students. To some, this is worrying or even alarming. I’m a little more complacent. I would only get worried our youngsters spend their days dozing off in hammocks or playing stupid computer games while their parents are running the mahjong marathon. Losing our competitive edge? That doesn’t sound good, but passing the crown for Kiasuism to our Chinese counterparts is definitely something I’ll drink to – provided the wine is not fake.
Let’s take a look at an article that appeared in Today newsPAPer just a couple of days ago. It seems that all of a sudden, we are not so concerned about balanced lifestyle and gracious living anymore. We need to be hungry, thick-skinned and don our gladiator gear to bludgeon our competitors to pulp. Now that’s fierce.
S’poreans must do more
To intern in China, local students first need to show they have drive
05:55 AM Dec 28, 2010
by Hazel Tan
THE alarming topic of local students losing their competitive edge against China students was brought up during an advertising conference in Fudan University, Shanghai.
Held in September, the one-day conference was attended by Fudan University media students, with 31 Ngee Ann Polytechnic film and media studies guests. The students from Ngee Ann were in Shanghai for a two-week study trip.
Speakers at the bilingual conference included Mr Peter Soh, former chief creative officer of Saatchi and Saatchi Greater China; Mr Norman Tan, chief creative officer of Lowe; Mr Yang Yeo, chief creative officer of JWT; Ms Christine Ng, managing director of BBH Shanghai; and others. All nine are Singaporeans who have been based in Shanghai at some point in their careers.
When asked about internship opportunities for Singaporean students in local advertising agencies, Mr Yeo said: “A few years ago, Singaporeans were valued for our English-speaking capability. But now, look at the Chinese; they are picking English up very quickly. We have lost our (bilingual) edge.”
Mr Soh shared similar sentiments, adding that Singaporean students are up against China’s one-child policy generation.
Using a Chinese analogy, he said: “Today’s generation of Chinese did not have a sibling to share their pear with, to them, ‘it’s my pear, don’t you dare touch it’ … plus they have to be very tough and very strong because they have to look after eight old people at home after marriage, and they will step over your dead body to get what they want.”
http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC101230-0000195/Was-villager-killed-deliberately?
When asked what was the distinct difference between Singaporean and Chinese students, Mr Norman Tan said that the latter are “hungrier, more thick-skinned, and crave for success”. Mr Tan has had a 14-year career in China. This makes it tougher for Singaporean students looking for an internship at an advertising agency in Shanghai.
Despite that, Mr Tan believes that there is an cosmopolitan quality that Singaporean students have, due to their multi-cultural heritage, and encourages students to exploit that advantage.
Mr Yeo believes that there is still a way for Singaporean students to still survive if they are looking for internship opportunities in China.
He highlighted the mindset that Singaporean students should adopt to succeed in stealing the chance. “You’ll have to think: What can you contribute to the company? You have to identify your value first, then outperform your other peers,” he advised.
Ms Christine Ng, who started out in media planning when she first joined the industry, agreed with Mr Yeo on the fact that enthusiastic and independent interns are a “breath of fresh air”.
She said: “It’s the same everywhere in the world, not just China. You have to be willing to do more than what you’re supposed to do. People will then be willing to involve you.”
URL http://www.todayonline.com/Business/Impact/EDC101228-0000083/Sporeans-must-do-more
Copyright 2010 MediaCorp Pte Ltd | All Rights Reserved
As people get hungrier and hungrier, I hope they start arresting those who got too hungry and give them a good dose of prison food. Otherwise, China’s own 包青天may turn in his grave.
