By Goh Chin Lian, Senior Political Correspondent

MIDWAY through telling a story on how to overcome setbacks, Mr Zainal Ramlan makes a surprising confession.

'I was there once,' the 40-year-old tells 42 executives attending his workshop on how to switch careers. Many of them were recently laid off.

Mr Zainal's business consultancy had collapsed within six months of its establishment and he lost more than $40,000.

The father of four became a trainer and work often took him to Vietnam, on occasion for up to two weeks.

'Everyone goes through challenges,' he declares, as he recounts his 2007 troubles.

But learn to get back on your feet, he says, adding: 'When you say I'm feeling down, who's making you feel down? You are.'

Mr Zainal sounds more like a motivational speaker than a career counsellor conducting the day-long workshop to help PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) in their job search.

His focus on changing their mindset first is perhaps inevitable, as more and more retrenched PMETs struggle to cope with being jobless after years of enjoying stable or high-flying careers.

There are others who do not even want to attend such classes, preferring to grapple with their grief in private.

Many feel down all day, waiting for an employer's e-mail or phone call, after sending out dozens of resumes.

It is especially hard for men - they outnumber the women by five to one in this class - who are the sole breadwinner and accustomed to the routine of being employed.

These PMETs also tend to have more to lose, than rank-and-file workers, in their status and sense of self-worth.

They form half of the 7,500 workers shed in the final three months of last year as Singapore faces its worst recession since independence.

Their needs have prompted Community Development Councils and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), which have been helping rank-and-file workers find jobs, to start workshops to address their problems.

e2i launched its PMET workshop last month and it is now held every Thursday on the institute's Bukit Merah premises.

It is telling that some have turned up dressed as if for work to the e2i's workshop, which The Straits Times attended recently. They wore suits and carried a briefcase with their resume.

Mr Zainal and his two assistants, in their long-sleeved shirts and ties, project an image of confidence and professionalism that is their mantra at the day-long workshop.

Repeatedly, they tell the participants: You have the means within yourselves to surmount your challenges.

To drive home his point, Mr Zainal asks them to find out about one another. 'You may find people from the industry you're interested in,' he cajoles.

Their shyness quickly gives way to enthusiasm as they jot down one another's names, years in an industry and pastimes.

But that is not good enough, says Mr Zainal. 'In a networking session, what's most important?'

As they stare blankly at him, he proclaims: 'Contact number!'

In tackling the barriers to change, he highlights how feeling discouraged and the fear of leaving one's comfort zone need to be overcome.

Mr Zainal starts by showing that the worth of a person goes beyond his job.

Flashing a $10 note, he crumples it and throws it on the floor. 'Is there a change in the value of the $10 note? No,' he declares.

Then, he asks who wants the $10 note. Several raise their hands, but only Mr Johnny Tan, 51, a retrenched accountant-turned-security guard moves to snatch it.

Fear, Mr Zainal surmises, kept the others from dashing for the money.

'Fear is false emotion appearing real,' he pronounces. 'Fear is good if you know how to use it to your advantage.'

The lights are dimmed and a video comes on, showing a man windsurfing and playing drums - even though he has no legs and arms. He is Australian Nick Vujicic, 25, a motivational speaker.

Lying on the floor, he tells a class of teenagers that 'sometimes in life when you fall down, you feel like you don't have the strength to get back up'.

'If I fail, I try again, again and again. But I want you to know it's not the end,' says Mr Vujicic, using his head to slowly prop himself up.

Role-playing the boss brings forth yet another lesson.

Most of the participants had blamed their age for their failure to get a job. But when asked to be a boss looking to hire, they cite experience, skills and efficiency as top attributes they would seek.

Mr Zainal corrects their perception: Bosses look for workers with knowledge, skills and a 'workable attitude' - a willingness to put aside differences and work with others.

And this attitude, he says, is also within their control: 'Don't give anyone permission to make your day,' he adds.

The remaining half of the day was devoted to giving the participants insights into the practical aspects of a job search.

Many have not been on a job hunt or ventured beyond their industry for a long time. Typically, they have worked 15 years in manufacturing, 20 years in logistics or 25 years in electronics.

The interview, they are told, is critical. They are given tips on how to size up the person conducting the interview and how to speak in appealing ways.

For instance, if the interviewer's eyeballs move sideways during a conversation, he responds best to sound. If his eyeballs move upwards, he is more of a visual person.

'If he's an audio person, use anchor words like how does it 'sound' to you. If he's visual, say: Are you able to 'see' or 'imagine',' says Mr Zainal.

In a role play, some participants show their nervousness by 'putting your hands under your thigh, fidgeting or sitting on the edge of the chair', he observes.

He suggests they bring a notebook and a pen to the interview, so they can at least pretend to take notes and stay calm.

Their queries on resume writing are sometimes very basic.

Must I state my academic grades? No, unless you are seeking a public sector job. What do I write if I took a few months' break? Just list the year of employment.

Mr Michael Chen, 45, who was laid off last November, says the workshop was a great morale booster.

A former IT manager in a bank, he is most intrigued by the tips on sizing up the interviewer.

He has also reworked his resume, highlighting his skills and strengths in bullet points, not paragraphs, to 'catch the recruiter's eye'.

'But, most importantly, the workshop reminds me to stay positive,' he adds.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

Read also:

» Recession survivors
» Worst of times is best for training
» Retrenched accountant sets his sights on IR and Macau
» Just 23, she's her family's sole breadwinner
» Making the switch from computer chips to french fries
» School dropout on the road to tourism diploma
» Government initiatives
» Where job-seekers can go to for help