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What this PT foodpanda rider loves about her second job

She took it up when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

By Her World Team - 

Image: Jazlyn Chew
Image: Jazlyn Chew
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Jazlyn Chew became a mother to her stepchildren, then aged six and seven, when she was just 22. Because she needed to help out with the school fees and the family's living expense, she took on several part-time jobs over the years to make ends meet, so even though her stepchildren are now grown and the family has more financial stability, the 37-year-old did not hesitate taking on a part-time job as a foodpanda delivery rider on top of her day job as a student care manager in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

"It was clear to me that we needed to prepare for job instability and I felt that this is something I could do in my spare time. Plus, we still have quite a bit of expenses to cover. On top of funding the children's education costs, we also have a housing loan to pay off," she explains. She tells us more about what she loves about her second job and her experiences as a delivery rider.

She enjoys the flexibility the job offers

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Jazlyn is most thankful about not having to keep to a set timing at her second job.

"I get to choose my shifts and shift location and usually take the evening shift from 7:30pm to 10pm. I also like how I can choose not to schedule any shifts if I need a break or have a family outing planned," she says.

She adds that she is often mistaken for a student because of her petite stature and that most of her experiences have been positive.

"As a petite female rider, I feel that people are very kind to me. They will show concern if I’m facing difficulties and readily offer to help me carry heavy orders if I'm struggling."

Being a delivery rider has its perks

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That said, Jazlyn has had some unpleasant experiences even if few and far between.

"One time, I was not able to press the doorbell as the button was too high for me to reach and the customer scolded me for not following their instructions. Another time, I lost my balance on the bicycle and fell on the road but was stopped by the traffic police. That was really stressful for me, but I’m more experienced as a cyclist now so it has not happened again," she lets on.

She makes sure to not let them get to her and instead focuses on the perks of the job.

"The exercise is definitely a perk—it is a great way for me to destress and has helped my mental health. I treat every delivery shift like a mission and every order a step closer to completing the mission. This mindset motivates me to keep going."

She applies the principles of being a stepmother to both her jobs

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For Jazlyn, being a stepmother came "very naturally" to her and she treats her stepchildren like her own.

"The three key lessons I have learnt from being a mother are responsibility, integrity and ownership, and of the three, I feel ownership is crucial for fostering the bond with my stepchildren," she says.

And she makes sure to apply these three principles to both her jobs to ensure that she has rewarding experiences.

"As a student care manager, I make it a point to treat the children there like my own, and as a rider, I take responsibility and ownership for every order even if there are any mishaps like spills or delays. It is really rewarding when customers appreciate riders for our hard work."



 

 

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