Humans of Sunseap Part 6

By Jeff Selamutu & Shauna
September 7, 2021

Whether you're reading this while Working From Home, or on your smart device while taking a break from - yes - Working From Home, COVID-19 has transformed the way we work.

In this edition of our Humans of Sunseap series, we speak to 3 members of our team who tell us what WFH has been like for them.

Jerry Gui

Q: How long have you been with Sunseap?
A: I've been with the Sunseap team since December 2019, so it's been slightly more than one and a half years.

Q: Which department do you work in?
A: I am working in the Engineering department.

Q: Can you share what your first day at work was like?
A: My first day was great! I was greeted with a very warm welcome by my friendly colleagues.

Q: Outside of work, what do you do in your leisure time?
A: I normally spend my leisure time on sports and e-sports. I enjoy cycling, playing badminton and basketball! Sometimes my colleagues join in and that is a great bonding session for us.

Q: Before joining Sunseap, were you familiar with solar energy and its benefits?
A: Yes, I was. The benefits which resonated the most with me were how using solar energy releases almost zero pollutants in the air, which helps to reduce carbon dioxide, fight climate change and improve our environment.

Q. Are you able to work remotely? What are the best and worst things about working from home?
A: Yes, I am able to work from home but I need to travel to the office occasionally and head out for site visits.

In my opinion, the best part of working from home is being able to save up on travelling time, to get more rest and also to play a part in reducing the spread of Covid-19.

The downside is you can turn into a hermit where you won’t be stepping out of the house as much, especially since online ordering and delivery is so convenient nowadays.

Peggy Ng

Q: How long have you been with Sunseap?
A: I joined the Sunseap team on 5 April 2021, so it's only been a few months.

Q: Which department do you work in?
A: I'm part of the Marketing and Communications department, or Marcomms.

Q: Tell us about your first day at Sunseap.
A: I felt quite lost on my first day as this is my first office-based job. I worked with production companies previously, and whether it was on TV series or documentaries, I was usually on location, or on my way to another location.

The work was very hands-on and the routine was that there was no routine! With production, your shift hours are just a guide because between the director, the producer and the talent, everything is fluid and we wrap up only when we have all the shots that are needed.

I was slightly worried that I wouldn't be able to adapt to the office environment, but thankfully, my team has helped to make it easy for me. I'm settling in quite well. 😀

Q: What was the first project that you worked on?
A: I edited the video for Sunseap's OFPV project. The first few days were stressful, but I'm glad that the video has been viewed so many times! Haha.

Q: What do you do in your leisure time?
A: I love watching movies and I love to cook. I also enjoy cycling, playing badminton and swimming. I've also recently learned how to play mahjong so I've been spending time practising with friends!

Q: Before joining Sunseap, were you familiar with solar energy and its benefits?
A: To be honest, I did not know much about it. However, since I joined the team, I'm beginning to have a better understanding of solar energy and learning to use new terms like OFPV!

Q: Are you WFH? What do you think are the best and worst things about working remotely?
A: I am. The best things would be saving on travel time and waking up later than usual.

The worst would be having to think about what to cook for lunch daily and the rising electricity bills!

Sim Boon Jie

Q: How long have you been with the Sunseap family? Which department do you work in?
A: It will be 2 years in December since I joined the Engineering department!

Q: Tell us more about your first day with the team.
A: I felt really anxious on my first day as it was a bit of a career switch for me, and I was entering a new work environment.

But thanks to my friendly colleagues in Sunseap who helped me feel more at ease. That helped and I managed to settle in quickly. I'm beyond grateful to everyone!

Q: Tell us about the first project that you worked on.
A: It was for Jurong West MRT Station. It was the first time I had a hand in designing a photovoltaic system.

As a beginner, the project was challenging for me, as there was no site survey for the station. The MRT station was still undergoing construction, so I had to base the designs on the information which were made available to the team.

Thankfully I had help from my colleagues - they were more experienced and assisted me on this project!

Q: What do you do in your leisure time outside of work?
A: My favourite activity is to hit the gym and lift weights after office hours. Occasionally I also enjoy going for hikes and runs and I love cycling, too.

Q: Were you familiar with solar energy and its benefits before you joined the team?
A: Yes, I’ve had experience with solar energy since I was in secondary school. I participated in many exciting school competitions, including a DIY solar-powered car competition.

I also have a Diploma in Green Building and Sustainability from Temasek Polytechnic. We studied how the use of solar energy reduces the overall energy consumption of a building, among other things.

Q: Are you working remotely? What do you think are the best and worst things about WFH?
A: Yes, I am currently working from home, and the best part about it is the reduced travelling time! It takes me about an hour to get to the office. Haha!

The bad thing about WFH is that there are many distractions around. The TV is in front of me and my personal computer is beside me. But I try to stay focused by listening to music while I work.

As many of us are working long hours in one sitting, we tend to forgo breaks too. I'm trying to remind myself daily to get up and move about every once in a while, grab a cup of water or take a vision break!

A big thank you to Jerry, Peggy and Boon Jie!

Even with the challenges brought on by Covid-19, it is heart-warming to see our colleagues stay positive and just get on with it. This, too, shall pass, and we will come out of this stronger, together!