Diong Hui Yee graduated from the SMU School of Social Sciences in July 2016 with a Bachelor of Social Science in Psychology. We managed to get a chance to ask Hui Yee a few questions about her career and her experience as an SOSS undergraduate.
1. Where are you working at right now? Could you briefly describe your current role and responsibilities?
I am working as a Social Assistance Officer at one of the Social Service Offices (SSOs) under the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). My role is to help needy clients improve their circumstances by assessing their eligibility for ComCare (financial assistance schemes). I also interact with various other government and social agencies to provide referral services for my clients.
2. What made you decide to apply for this job? What part of it do you find particularly meaningful or satisfying?
I applied for the job because I was interested in a job where I can help the needy, and being in a government agency particularly enabled me to do so in a tangible way.
The most meaningful part of the job is the interaction with needy clients. When clients approach the SSO, they are usually at their wits’ end. Many of them have been through unfortunate circumstances and may have tried but failed to improve their financial situation. Being able to share with them the necessary resources to help them get out of their circumstances and become self-reliant again is what makes the job satisfying for me.
Of course, not all of them can improve their situation within a short period, because their financial situation may be complex and may consist of several underlying issues. However, it is important to work together with the clients to address one issue at a time, and to take baby steps towards improving their situation. And more often than not, a lot of them are just relieved to be able to have a listening ear and let out all the stress and emotions they have been through. I think that being in such a unique position has forced me to grow a lot as a person – being more patient and resilient, as well as balancing empathy with professionalism – so that I can better assist clients. It is not an easy process, but a satisfying one at the end of the day.
3. What were some of the beneficial courses you took or experiences you had in SMU that eventually came in useful for your current career?
I think the best way to learn about what a career entails and to gain useful experience is to get out of the classroom and to try it out for yourself. Therefore, one of the most important experiences I had in SMU was my internship experience. I did an internship at a government-linked social agency, which I felt was very close to what I was interested in career wise. Through the internship, I certainly gained a clearer idea about what I was looking for in my future career. In particular, I found out that I wanted to work in a job that is front facing and which allows me to interact with others, rather than a desk-bound job.
Another experience in SMU that I benefitted from was the Public Policy Task Force. As an SMU-X module, we were tasked to conduct field work in a cluster of rental flats. Our aim was to find out the challenges that needy Singaporeans faced and to analyze the reasons why it may be difficult to break out of the poverty cycle, despite the many social organizations that exist to help the needy. The experience that I have gained while interacting with the needy as well as different social agencies on the ground (including the SSO) definitely came in useful for my career and had an influence on my career choice.
4. What advice do you have for your SOSS juniors who may be contemplating a similar career?
It is important to find out from more from seniors who are currently working to gain a more realistic understanding of the job. If possible, it would be even better if you can experience the job for yourself, perhaps through an internship. There are many different aspects to consider when making a career choice such as your personal interest, salary, work-life balance, company culture, relationships with colleagues, and there are pros and cons for each job. I would encourage you to follow your interest because, in the long term, that is what will keep you in the job and motivate you when you are facing challenges.