Working mom quits job to sell luxury condos, take care of kids
Singapore Property Launch
17 September 2016

Lynn Er quit her demanding job seven years ago to become a successful property agent

Property agent Lynn Er is a married mother of two boys who quit the rat race more than seven years ago to become a property agent, so that she could spend more time with her family.

When Er was younger, she followed the path of scaling the career ladder to find success. She worked as an auditor at KPMG before joining Yum! Brands (the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell) as an account manager.

Basically, my life revolved around work

But this meant working very long hours to meet deadlines. "Basically, my life revolved around work so much that I didn't have time for other things," said Er, who is in her 40s.

"It was normal for us to work till midnight. I remember a few projects where we had to work till 3 to 4 am in the morning. Then I would have to go back home to freshen up and return to the office again."

She soon found it difficult to provide her family with the attention they needed.

Cases such as Er's are not uncommon in Singapore. In fact, a recentjobStreet.com survey revealed that 75 percent of working mothers here spend less than 10 hours with their children during a work week. The study involved 480 female respondents.

"According to our survey, work-life balance is the top challenge faced by women in the workplace. However, most of them have no choice but to earn a living," said Chook Yuh Yng, Country Manager of jobStreet.com Singapore.

"Our survey found that 69 percent of these females are working for the need to support their families, the need to plan for retirement, and the need to be financially independent."
 
As for Er, she decided to refocus her life and work by joining ERA Realty, and now handles local and foreign clients. She has closed sales at numerous luxury projects in the prime districts of 9, 10 and 11, including QUE Twin Peaks, Ardmore Park and Scotts 28.

she enjoys flexible work hours

Er's job as a property agent means she enjoys flexible work hours and can plan her time better. Still, working as an agent has its challenges, especially with the current slowdown in the housing market.

"Previously, we could close sales after 10 viewings, but nowadays we need to conduct about 30 viewings," she said.

Er relies a lot on the support of her existing clients, who provide her with referrals.

However, the career change has made her home life more fulfilling, as she's able to make her family a priority. Er now spends much of her time bonding with her children.

Her daily routine includes sending her seven-year-old son to school. She also tries to communicate more with him, to understand what he's going through at school and whether he needs help with his studies.

"I will spend time with him to go through his homework everyday. After sending the older boy to school, Iwill spend time with my seven-month-old baby, teach him new things and prepare food for him," she said.

Dare to dream and do what you like.

Er has this advice for other working mums struggling to strike a work-life balance. "Dare to dream and do what you like. There are many opportunities that allow you to fulfil your career goals and take care of your kids.

1 think as a modern woman, being financially independent is important, as you can always afford to pursue things you like," she said.

Awards:
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of May 2015 (Position 8)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of April 2015 (Position 3)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of March 2015 (Position 6)
ERA Top Transactor for the month of January 2015
ERA Top 50 Achievers for 1st Quarter 2015 (Position 20)
ERA Top 10 Asia Pacific Agents (Commission) for the year of 2014 (Position 7)
ERA Top 50 Achievers for the year of 2014 (Position 3)
ERA Asia Pacific Elite Award 2014
ERA Top 50 Achievers for 3rd Quarter 2014 (Position 2)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of September 2014 (Position 13)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of August 2014 (Position 3)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of July 2014 (Position 3)
ERA Top 50 Achievers for 2nd Quarter 2014 (Position 4)
ERA Top 50 Achievers for 1st Quarter 2014 (Position 17)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of April 2014 (Position 2)
ERA Top Transactor for the month of March 2014
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of March 2014 (Position 9)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of February 2014 (Position 6)
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of January 2014 (Position 3)
ERA Top Transactor for the month of January 2014
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of Jan 2014 (Position 3)
ERA Top 50 Achievers for the year of 2013 (Position 28)
ERA Asia Pacific Elite Award 2013
ERA Top 20 Achievers for the month of Nov 2013 (Position 8)
ERA Top 50 Achievers for 3rd Quarter 2013 (Position 20)
ERA Top 50 Achievers 2nd quarter 2013 (Position 39)
ERA Asia Pacific Elite Award 2012
ERA Top 50 Achievers 2012 (Position 18)
ERA Top 20 Achievers October 2012(Position 11)
ERA Top 20 Achievers July 2012(Position 5)
ERA Top 20 Achievers May 2012(Position 3)
ERA Top 20 Achievers January 2012 (Position 4)
ERA Asia Pacific Elite Award 2011
ERA Top 50 Achievers 2011 (Position 22)
ERA Top 20 Achievers October 2011 (Position 16)
ERA Top 5 Managers June 2011 (Position 4)
ERA Top 20 Achievers August 2011 (Position 19)
ERA Top 20 Achievers January 2011 (Position 12)
ERA Top Achiever November 2010 (Position 1)
ERA Top 3 Achievers October 2010 (Position 2)
ERA Million Dollar Club

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