In Due Course

You can pull off a bob really well! Is this your signature look?
Yes, I’ve pretty much had the same hairstyle for the last few years.

When my hair was longer, it got too hot and I couldn’t be bothered with styling, so I like the comfort and practicality of short hair. It’s really low maintenance, except for the fact that I have to get a haircut every few weeks (laughs).

Tell us what you do for work and how you got into this industry.
I’m a reporter for the energy and commodities market. Basically, I speak to industry insiders to understand the market and assess spot prices.

I got to know of this role through a friend and since I was looking for a change from my previous jobs in the government sector, I decided to give it a try. It’s only been 10 months, so I’m still relatively new.

I actually did economics in school but never pursued it after, so this job is probably the closest to what I studied—with more writing and less number crunching.

What was your experience transitioning from the government sector to a private one?
There’s definitely a big difference, and both sectors come with their own pros and cons. With the government sector, you always have the assurance of stability; even when the economy was bad, my pay was not affected.

One the other hand, the private sector will always be profit-driven and fast-paced, right? But there’s also much more freedom in how things can be done.

Work aside, how do you like to spend your free time?
I workout a lot. I actually went to the gym this morning, hence all the barang barang in my bag (laughs).

I also really like reading, my favourite being Niel Gaiman’s fantasy novels. I used to read a lot more but with social media nowadays, my attention span has shortened and reading has been confined mainly to short-form Instagram content.

How would you describe your style?
My dressing has gotten simpler with age. I used to go for louder styles and brighter colours, but now I prefer cleaner, achromatic looks. I guess my hairstyle is also the best accessory since it’s striking, and I don’t even need to style it!

Is there anything you’re hoping to achieve in the near future?
Well, I’ve changed a number of jobs in the past few years, so I’m hoping to finally settle down in this new role and really grow into it.

I had a lot of initial reservations when considering the job, and it was a big step out of my comfort zone as I’m not one to take risks, but seeing the progress I’ve made gives me the motivation to carry on.