Born in a family of 5, I’m the youngest child. A lot of expectation was placed on me since young.
In the year of 2008, I graduated with an honors degree with University of London (External Program).
That was also the year where I will be exposed to the “cruel” society that many of my elders had warned me even before I graduate. I started using the name Apple, as a nickname initially in 2003 when I was doing my volunteering work with Youth Challenge. Slowly, it has integrated to be a part of me, using it during my time with British Council and subsequently all my part time job.
On a faithful August night in 2005, I chanced upon this guy by the name, Vincent Lim. He was then a new adviser with Peter Tan Organisation (PTO®). He shared with me what he does and some philosophies that PTO® has. That was the first exposure I had to Peter Tan Organisation (PTO®). Three years later, during my final year, I visited the career fair held in school. We were asked to do surveys as part of the career fair at the entrance of the fair. Within a week, I received a call to go for an interview as a Management Associate Trainee, basic salary of $3000. Address, date and time of my interview were given too. At the back of my mind, I thought it sounds like a good deal, so I agreed to it. I also realised that the address was at Fuji Xerox. I suspected that it might be one of the organisations in Prudential and I was right. Throughout the whole interview, the manager asked for my dream car, house and lifestyle after which she shared with me that through this career, she’s able to achieve all those that she had dreamt of. She showed me her paycheck and some pictures of her oversea trips as well.
Immediately after leaving the office, I called Vincent and told him I went to an interview with the other organisation. i also ask him what is the difference between that agency and Peter Tan Organisation (PTO®). He then arranged a meet-up for me with his manager, Darren Tan. He was very straightforward in telling me the expectations of the career, unlike my previous experience that was so vague. Upon the second meet up with Darren on a Tuesday, I was invited to their agency outing held at his place on that Thursday and also the semi-annual goal setting that weekend. I thought, ‘Wow! I’m not even contracted and there are already so much lined up for me!’ During the agency outing, I was exposed to DTA-ians but still, they will find me sticking to Vincent most of the time. At the goal set in JB, I got to know more people in Peter Tan Organisation (PTO®). Being my first trip with a company, I was expecting a normal holiday kind of retreat. However, the committee members had really put in a lot of effort in doing up the whole event. The games we played, the campfire by the pool, those were one of the many memories I had during the short stay with them. Soon, I finish my 3 papers in about a month and was contracted in August 2008.
To me, everyone in Peter Tan Organisation (PTO®) is like a family member, always being there for you whenever you need help. The senior advisers are so selfless in sharing the experiences too. I remembered in late October last year when my dad called me and told me he was diagnosed with cancer, I was about to start SP in CCK. Immediately I started crying so badly that I think I scare my colleagues. Later at night when I got home, I gave boss a call and told him about it and I wept through the phone. He encouraged me to continue to be strong and even offered to help me in any ways in which I needed help. My other colleagues were also very concerned about me and my family especially my dad’s condition. That’s when I know that we are working together not only like colleagues but also a family. I like one of Peter Tan Organisation (PTO®) philosophies - Love, Trust, and Respect. With these qualities, it brought us to the close relationship we have with one another now. Visit me @ petertan.com.sg
Apple Kor
