By Yvonne Wong
“Life is short. I agree that people should try more when they are young,” said Tong Hoi Cheng, a 28-year-old construction subcontractor, also a member of the management board of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Macao (SME).
Tong Hoi Cheng
This is the 10th year since Tong started working at the age of 18. Having been working in eight different jobs and engaged in various fields of professions, it enriched his working experiences. “I was a car repairman, casino card dealer, construction site clerk, real estate agent, wine salesperson, land surveyor, taxi driver. Now I am a construction subcontractor,” Tong recalled.
Only after leaving school did he know the job market was the “the real world”. He considers that education limits one’s choices. Tong had only high-school qualification, so he could just find some elementary work or jobs with relatively lower requirements. “I knew that I was not ‘certified’ enough. Therefore, the jobs I worked in were easy to get in and required a low education profile,” Tong said frankly.
He tasted the sweet and bitter of working. In his very first job as a repairman he had an interesting experience. “I crawled and lay under cars, it was funny and exciting. I even broke dozens of screws,” Tong commented amusedly. Sometimes, accidents were inevitable, especially in the construction industry. “Once, I carelessly stepped on the bamboo scaffold. A bamboo was broken into two pieces suddenly. Crack! I fell off from the third floor to the second. I was like a roasted duck hanging on the bamboo. The bamboo was old and fragile, so it wasn’t able to support me,” Tong added with a chill.
Everything is difficult at the very beginning. Working in the construction industry as an apprentice, Tong put tremendous effort to master the skill. He commented that the construction industry prefers “self-learning” instead of “hands-on guidance”. They don’t like teaching others. Unlike studying theories from a book, construction work is all about practical experiences and operations. “No matter if you studied engineering or not, you need to devote time to learn it. The only way you can learn is by standing aside and observing how others do it. After you acquired the knowledge, you try to work it out by yourself,” said Tong.
Tong holds an unconventional view about changing jobs. “I am lucky to come from a relatively well-off family. Thus, I don’t have to worry too much about the salary. Without a life burden, I am able to try whatever I want to do,” Tong added. There is always a reason behind one’s decision. He considered “seeking for the sense of freshness” as the most important reason when he changed jobs. “Whenever I was bored with what I was doing or I felt lost in life direction. I knew that it was time for me to find another job. It is all because I want to learn and explore different aspects. Also, I want to experience how other people work,” Tong remarked. Moreover, he believes that changing jobs can help him know and understand better which job or field is most suitable for him.
After working for so many different jobs, Tong is satisfied with what he has done so far. “My working experience has widened and diversified my way of thinking, opened up my horizon. I have acquired more knowledge and gained more experience. Therefore, my analytical skill has been improved and I’ve learned to understand others,” Tong said delightedly.
TThe construction site of the public housing in Fai Chi Kei.
“Learn and grow as you work.” Tong mentioned that some youths regard themselves as the underachieved because of the insufficient time they spent working in the same industry. “In many industries, you need to devote time to learn. You will learn the basics. The more time you spend, the more solid basis you have. With a good foundation, you become capable of handling higher positions and it leads you to more opportunities,” Tong concluded.
“I consider my current job as my life-long career. I love my job. Therefore, I will devote myself heart and soul to my work,” Tong remarked determinedly.