Are MNC companies any better for contract jobs? 🤔
Hi Zesties!
As you all know from my very first post that I have found a job! And now that 6 months have ended, here is my unfiltered and honest experience and review working for a huge MNC company like Grab!
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Onboarding:
* Missed the onboarding because I was waiting blindly at the HQ’s lobby expecting the manager to fetch me up since I do not have any access pass to enter and also because I did not went to the receptionist to communicate to them that it was my first day so I was the fool here at this point 🙃
* After 2 hours of waiting after the reporting time, I decided to leave. Agent called me four times because I was missing in action. I explained the situation and told my manager as well which they requested me to head back and get my work-related items to begin working.
* Had a zoom meeting with one of the in-charge including colleagues from the PH to go through the SOPs which felt rushed since I was 3-4 hours late.
* Everyone was basically annoyed at me for going missing way past reporting time and the onboarding including the help desk I had to collect the laptop from.
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On The Job Training:
* Not much in-person on the job training during my two days of onboarding except how to do web booking…
* Coordinated with colleagues from PH via zoom meeting where I had to share my screen and they guided me along till I got familiarized with the jobscope.
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Pros:
* Understanding the backend operations
* Nearby many eateries (kopitiam, ikea and giant)
* Work near home if you stay in the east
* Interesting experience and resume booster
* One of the departments that offers higher hourly pay rate (thats why more turnover rates too..)
* Most of the part timers are generally nice and is usually around the same age too
* No bookings = more chill
* Dream job for introverts = working alone (I mean you have to report to the upper-ups when needed or coordinate with other shifts so we don’t over-post nor over-assign)
* Able to ask any doubts to your upper-ups as they would be online ‘most of the time’ during the night shift operation (even if you sound dumb, just ask!) - subjected to the time as well their PERSONAL feelings. They may feel its a hassle that you are asking similar questions or dumb questions generally 😂
* Easygoing/casual outfit, no need office wear 🤩
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Cons:
* Requires shifts work which your body would have to get used to (8am-5pm | 2pm-11pm | 11pm-8am)
* Require to work from office regardless of shift timings
* As it is not a fixed shift, the schedule will be assigned by the manager which means crazy schedule with lack of sleep (a whole 360 degrees of body clock being f up)
* If you tend to fall sick easily, this job is not for you as you can fall sick due to the messed up schedule
* No personal workspace which is quite inconvenient to bring your laptop back and forth to work and home [though they have limited locker in the office]
* Get scolded/questioned by the drivers/higher ups due to human errors, suspensions or released jobs
* Have many SOPs to follow including updating multiple tabs in an excel spreadsheet and daily updates of what happened during your shift via work-related application
* Job is listed under agency and not direct hire (which means if you were to quit before the full 6 months, agent will come at you asking you to ‘pay up’ since they are unable to find people on the spot to replace)
* Jobscope is unmatched with what you are suppose to be doing. For example, I was told that I would be helping out at the information counter to sign up new grab drivers and getting paid to go on rides to compare with competitors but I did none of them except assigning advance bookings to drivers and going to booths to help out just because I am part of ops team
* If many jobs = deal with them ONE BY ONE till you are finished. If you are lucky, driver/s accepts quickly, if not you would have to wait till someone accepts
* Sometimes higher-ups can be really blatant, so deal with it professionally
* Covering shift for your colleague who applied for last minute leaves
* Working with colleagues that are like here to just clock in for the sake of the job and money (its pretty normal since most of them are waiting for university and is earning extra income but the attitude of selective learning or because certain person is here and will do all the job for you is real 😮💨…)
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Overall Experience:
Rating /⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 2.5/5 stars
📍Address: Tampines Industrial Crescent, #01 -12C Singapore 528605
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Working contract jobs at large multinational corporations (MNCs) can seem appealing, especially with the reputation these companies carry. However, based on my six-month stint at Grab as an operations coordinator, here are a few things I learned that others considering similar roles might find useful. Firstly, the notion that MNC contract jobs are automatically better isn’t always true. The onboarding experience was quite confusing for me—I missed crucial communications and felt the process was rushed due to my late start. This shows that sometimes these large firms assume you already know how to navigate their systems, which can be overwhelming for fresh hires. Another important point is the work schedule. Shift work particularly took a toll on me physically and mentally. The rotating hours (morning, afternoon, night) disrupted my body clock, resulting in sleep issues and increased susceptibility to illness. If you’re considering such roles, be prepared for this challenge. Despite the tough shifts, there were perks like flexible casual dress codes, higher hourly wages compared to other departments, and a generally chill atmosphere during slow periods. Plus, working close to home and having a diverse, mostly young team were definite upsides. For introverts, working independently with minimal social interaction suits well. However, one downside was the lack of direct hire status. Being employed via an agency means less job security, and the possibility of penalties if you leave early. Also, the actual job tasks sometimes didn’t match what I was initially told during recruitment—no involvement in ride comparisons or customer sign-ups as promised, but more administrative and booking assignments instead. From my experience, if you’re looking for contract roles, weigh the pros and cons carefully. MNC jobs are not inherently better; the experience depends heavily on the department, team, and your adaptability. If you value clear communication, consistent schedules, and job stability, you might want to negotiate or seek clarity upfront before accepting such offers. Lastly, network with current and former contract employees in MNCs—hearing real stories helps set realistic expectations. It can make your job search less stressful and guide you to roles that truly fit your lifestyle and career goals.
YOO atb