SINGAPORE: A recent job posting for a live-in English tutor has taken social media by storm, generating a whirlwind of reactions due to its enticing offer.

The family residing on Orchard Road advertised a staggering monthly salary of S$6,000, which includes meals and holidays. The job ad has since been removed from the Premium Tutors Assignments Telegram channel, but not before a TikTok user, @Linglingd0ng, captured a screenshot and shared it, sparking intrigue and debate online. The post has garnered over 313,000 views, igniting discussions on the competitive nature of Singaporean society.

The post revealed that the family is seeking a tutor to assist their eight-year-old child with English homework and specified that the tutor must be bilingual in English and Chinese. However, the vagueness of the job's security raises eyebrows, as the duration and timing section simply states “As required.” This potential lack of stability has led to speculation about the role’s demands.

TikTok users expressed eagerness to seize the opportunity, with some humorously declaring, “Sign me up.” Yet, a more skeptical comment raised concerns about possible high expectations from the parents. “The child might be struggling in English, but the parents could want the tutor to have a British accent and top-tier standards,” they suggested.

While many speculate that the family behind the ad is affluent, others have voiced suspicions of it being a scam. One commenter warned, “If it sounds too good to be true…” echoing the skepticism felt by some. A few netizens cautioned that the lucrative salary might come with hidden responsibilities, including childcare tasks like meal preparation, bathing, or even household chores.

Intriguingly, another TikTok user appealed for someone to apply for the position and report back on their experience. Further digging into the implications of “As required” led some commenters to fear that it could mean being on constant standby, potentially turning a well-paying job into an exhausting round-the-clock commitment. One user calculated that if the tutor was indeed on call continuously, their effective hourly wage would drop to a mere S$8.

The question also arises: how do tutoring salaries in Singapore compare? Private tutors typically charge between S$25 and S$120 per hour, which greatly varies based on qualifications and experience. It's worth noting that there is no official certification necessary to tutor in Singapore, leading many individuals from various professions to take on this role, in what appears to be an increasingly competitive environment.

As discussions continue to thrive around the advertisement, the ad serves as a striking reflection of the complex dynamics involved in the education sector in Singapore, where expectations run high and opportunities can sometimes lead to more questions than answers.

Will this tutor position turn out to be a dream job or a cautionary tale? Only time will tell.