From S$10,000 salary to hawker stall: This 30-year-old chooses Hokkien mee over tech job
Alvin Tan left the technology sector before retrenchment could reach him. He now works longer hours, earns much less but has greater control over his future. Was it worth it, Money Mind asks.
Alvin Tan left his tech job before a company-wide layoff could affect him. Now working in the food industry, he earns less but has more control over his future. Money Mind interviewed Tan, asking whether his decision was worth it. Retrenchment is a concern for many, with a Money Mind survey showing 30 percent of young workers in Singapore fear job loss due to AI.
Tan walked away from his S$10,000 tech salary when his Meta contract ended, opting to earn up to S$4,000 a month selling Hokkien mee, a prawn noodle dish. He began by cooking at home and giving away free samples, then moved on to food events before opening his stall, Umami, in Geylang last July. Balancing ingredient costs with customer willingness to pay, Tan's stall brings in up to S$19,000 a month, but 45 percent goes to ingredients.
He estimates he needs to sell 45 plates a day to start earning for himself, but currently sells fewer than half that number. Despite rising costs, Tan plans to hire a full-time worker if demand grows. While his new business requires long hours and financial risk, Tan values the flexibility and control it provides over salaried employment.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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