I've been only at this place for about close to 3 months. They are a marketing unit for a 'multinational' liquor company. The word multinational has been overused as usual ... just because you have a corporate office in US doesn't make you a MNC. This place is simply a SME local singapore company. The way it does things, the culture, the people, the processes, all of it points to a small local outfit.
It doesn't work for me. Alarm bells should have sounded when my Director is also in the role for 2 months before I joined. It wouldn't have been bad if he wasn't so impatient and had been accommodating with the information he wanted. He expects that I would have every info at the tip of my fingers. Hey ... you know fully what the problem is with this place. There is high attrition, record keeping is wanting, the business is highly leveraged on external bank loans, going-concern is questionable, etc. A whole suite of issues and you expect me to have empirical data references for your forecasting and reporting needs immediately the day I join. He is the first male boss I've worked with and I suppose it is a simple case of a clash of egos.
The first task when I joined what to deal with a FCPA audit from Corporate. The marketing and sales folks have been spending indiscriminately, bringing dealers and clients to KTV lounges. And every entertainment session runs into the tens of thousands. Why? Because they bring hostess out for supper and extra activities as well. And these lounges know to build the prices into the official receipts so their customers can claim for these. Seriously ... can't you tell why you are not making a profit? Hello? Are you blind? No amount of cost savings, identification of sales drivers, etc is going to save the company if you do not control your spending. But who is going to tell the Managing Director that he can no longer spend extravagantly? Time for you to face the music from Corporate.
Many of the staff have been here for ages and they don't seem to be the least bit concerned with the profitability of the company. They seem to be more concerned with lining their pockets. That's what you get when half your staff are the Ah Beng Ah Lian sorts and the other half are the 打死不走 type who have been in the company for 20-30 years.
The only interesting part of the job was the induction course where you are required to drink. Yes, you have to drink on the job ... It's a compulsory session. They try to introduce all staff to the products they sell. I must say it's a good way for the non-sales staff to get a feel of the products they see as numbers and codes. Imagine downing several pints of whisky, vodka, tequilas ... everyone was tipsy after it. :-) license to drink at work ... This is a first for me.
Many of the staff have been here for ages and they don't seem to be the least bit concerned with the profitability of the company. They seem to be more concerned with lining their pockets. That's what you get when half your staff are the Ah Beng Ah Lian sorts and the other half are the 打死不走 type who have been in the company for 20-30 years.
The only interesting part of the job was the induction course where you are required to drink. Yes, you have to drink on the job ... It's a compulsory session. They try to introduce all staff to the products they sell. I must say it's a good way for the non-sales staff to get a feel of the products they see as numbers and codes. Imagine downing several pints of whisky, vodka, tequilas ... everyone was tipsy after it. :-) license to drink at work ... This is a first for me.
