After working in a bank for seven years, Ms Vathsala Muthu decided to leave her job in May this year without another one in hand.
The mother of two toddlers had for a while planned to switch careers to become a property agent. But until a year ago, she thought she would make the switch while remaining employed.
“While being employed, I have to focus on family, career and my skills upgrade,” said the 31-year-old. “By taking a break, I am now enjoying the benefits of focusing on my sole interest.”
Anticipating the strain this would put on her media professional husband, Ms Vathsala cut down her expenses and saved for a year. She already had a good bank balance, which helped her avoid anxiety and worry.
The break also came in handy, as the Singaporean was able to travel to India for her grandmother’s funeral.
Ms Vathsala is among several young people in Singapore who have dared to give up their steady jobs to pursue a different interest.
Then there are those like Mr Selvam Ramanathan, who overcame his disappointment at being laid off by his IT company by climbing the 6,250-metre Kang Yatse II in Ladakh, India, early this month.
“Mountains have always allowed me to challenge myself and push my boundaries, and this one was really tough,” said the 34-year-old. “I met some like-minded people on the trip and had wonderful conversations and built friendships.”
The Singaporean, who lost his job last month, has updated his LinkedIn profile and regularly submits job applications. He has also reached out to friends, asking about available jobs.
“I am confident that I will eventually land a job that suits me,” he said. “Even though sometimes I feel lost, I keep reminding myself that this phase will pass soon.”
A similar fate befell Mr P. Ravi in July 2021, when he was retrenched by his company. But the employment-pass holder found a job within eight months in the technology sector.
He said the break allowed him to reassess his priorities as he used to put in long hours at work.
The 33-year-old, who lived alone in a rented apartment with his family in India, began to exercise and run regularly and watched more television. These helped him to de-stress.
He also learnt online stock trading and managed to earn some money.
According to Mr Vivek Iyyani, founder of Millennial Minds, a leadership training organisation with a focus on employee engagement, millennials are not afraid of being unemployed these days, because they have the option of earning via social media. “Compared with previous generations, young people want their jobs to be meaningful and good for their mental health,” he said.
