The greater the challenge, the greater the reward
One of the biggest challenges Chee Leong faced was the sheer speed and intensity of his TFIP training. For two months, he attended full-day courses from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays to Friday.
“To be suitable for TFIP, you have to be willing to learn and adapt."
"Even for me, who came from an IT background, there was a significant difference and shift in environment when I moved to the financial services industry, for example, there were regulations and compliance guidelines to be familiarised with,” he reflects. “You also need to be able to pick up new skills within a short period of time and be prepared to accept challenges, learn more and learn fast.”
Luckily, he’s found valuable support in his fellow trainees. Even after leaving for their attachments at various Financial Institutions—Chee Leong is currently in OCBC, while his peers have been assigned to other banks and exchanges like SGX—they still meet up and exchange learnings. “I got to meet some great people through the programme, and there’s a lot I’m learning from them about their roles and the industry as a whole,” he shares.
Another challenge he faced was his family. As the sole breadwinner, Chee Leong carries a heavy responsibility. So when he first broke the news to his parents, he faced a lot of resistance; they were worried that if he failed to adjust to his new career, he would not be able to turn back.
But Chee Leong stuck to his guns and stayed committed to looking forward.
“I’m more concerned with the future,” he says.