BRIAN

Hello.

Uh, could you introduce yourself and tell us what's your current job?

My name is Brian Bong. Uh, actually, I am, I was a recently graduated uh university student under FSKPM from psychology. Now, I am currently a, you call it, a client care executive for Soul Therapy.

Okay. How long have you been doing this?

Actually, I've started around just over a month ago.

Okay. Are you doing this full-time or just part-time?

Uh, my job is full-time. Yes.

Okay. Uh, do you think your job is safe for the long run or are you worried about things changing? For example, the company closing down or you losing your job.

Actually, this is a very interesting question because, actually, from day, not day one, day 10 or something, when during my uh, during my training, actually, they did say my job is actually very replaceable. Uh, they can use automated chatbots if they want to. But because Soul Therapy is a very humanistic kind of business, it's a mental health training, actually, alternatively, they want the human aspect when interacting with clients. That's why if you're asking whether am I afraid of AI taking over or not? My answer is not really because, well, the owners themselves don't really want AI. Even though yes, I do use AI in my daily task, but that's, I digress. Um, maybe one day when AI becomes really, really human, maybe then my job will be taken, but for now, there is no worry from me at all.

Okay. Just as for you. Okay. Um, B, sorry, beside the basic pay, do things like EPF, SOCSO, or bonuses really make you feel more satisfied with your job?

Um, actually, I would say that my uh, my job is very, what you call it, my job is kind of cheer. My, my uh, employer is actually very accommodating. For example, uh, she has prepared uh, teas and snacks in a pantry that is absolutely uh, complimentary for us uh, employees. She actually, my office, my boss prepared a bean bag for me to even sleep during lunch. I was, which is, I think is very, I mean, we are uh, very, we are a mental health clinic. Obviously, my, my employer is, she's a counselor psychologist there herself. So, she has these aspects of uh, accommodating us employees. She has this uh, we call it, she has a heart to do this kind of thing. Other than that, actually, I feel like moni, uh, monetarily wise, because it's actually, Soul Therapy is actually based in Singapore. If under my current contract now, actually, EPF, SOCSO isn't provided, but they somehow, they still would like to uh, fulfill that obligation. Even though they are still registered under a Singaporean entity, but yes, when I'm, when eventually they get the Malaysian license, yes, they will uh, fulfill my SOCSO.

Do you feel you need to keep learning new skills so you don't get left behind?

Uh, yes. Uh, for this job, no. I don't think I really need to. No, actually, this job is for me to learn. I, uh, I am learning on the job. But yes, do I think I need to learn still in the future? Yes. Because I actually don't plan to be permanent in this position. There's an ultimate goal for me, which is being a counselor psychologist in the mental health department. So, this is actually just a stepping stone for me to learn more about the mental health field.

Uh, what are your biggest challenges in balancing work and personal life? How do you handle them? For example, do you still have to answer messages or emails after work? How do you, how do you make time for yourself?

Uh, well, actually, it's very weird because even though I said my company, my work is very chill. The schedule is a bit weird. Uh, yes, it's from 10 to 7. So, meaning that this cuts off any uh, social, uh, it, it kind of limits my social activity in the evenings. And of course, be, uh, as it's being at 10:00, uh, I would always uh, sleep late before going to work. Um, I think work-life balance in my company is pretty good. I don't have to answer anything after work hours or, yeah. Um, compared to other Singapore, compared to other Singaporean companies, which they have to all, they have to do all this kind of uh, commitments, I think my, I, I'm quite appreciative for my company, uh, of my employers, uh, scheduling for me.

Okay. Um, okay. Are you worried that AI or robots may take over parts of your job one day, or do you see it as a help?

Uh, yep. AI. Yep. Like I said just now, um, AI will, uh, my job can be taken by by AI, but my employees choose not to because they want a human to do it, you know. Um, and, um, yep. I use AI every day in my work. Yeah. It's, it's not just me that wants to use AI. It's actually a profile to use AI.

Okay.

So, is that all?

Okay. Uh, that's all for the interview. Thank you so much for your time and your exper, and your experience will be very helpful for our assignment. Thanks again.

You're welcome.

Thank you.