He is a polytechnic graduate with a diploma in engineering, but Mr Liang Zhi Ren, 30, chose to become a hawker.
Mr Liang wakes up at 4am every morning to help his father run a food stall selling Hokkien prawn noodles.
The stall, located in Joo Chiat, was passed down from Mr Liang's grandfather, and has been in business for more than 50 years.
Mr Liang's daily routine from the time he wakes up includes preparing the ingredients, boiling the stock, and getting everything ready for when they open for business at 6am.
Both father and son's work day ends when everything is sold out, which is usually by 2pm.
Mr Liang works approximately 10 hours each day. Mr Liang says his grandfather started the business in 1958, going around the neighbourhood in his trishaw. His prawn noodles was popular even then, and drew a loyal crowd. As business grew, they began operating from coffeeshop stalls.
Now, Mr Liang and his father manage the stall in Joo Chiat. His mother helps out as well.
Mr Liang's father, Mr Liang Zhao Yu, 62, said he has worked at the stall since he graduated from secondary school. His friends used to look down on him, but he perservered as he hoped to continue his father's legacy and pass down his famous recipe.
Now, his son feels the same way as well.
Mr Liang says he enjoys being a hawker. "It is a skill that my grandfather has passed down to us after all, we should try to pass preserve it."
"I enjoy the work, too. There is flexibility of time, and the job is rewarding. When I know customers come from all across the island just to patronise our stall, or call to place an order, I feel a sense of achievement," said Mr Liang.
Mr Liang says there are long-time customers who have patronised the stall since they were kids. Now that they are grandparents, they bring their whole family with them when they come.
Graduates with unconventional jobs
Are graduates willing to forgo cushy office jobs these days for unconventional jobs that are less than glamorous?
In an article on STOMP, a contributor to the site was shocked when she found out that the 'sampan man' at Marina Bay Sands resort, is a degree holder.
» Unconventional jobs of Singapore grads
The boat ride is one of the attractions at the shopping arcade of the resort.
One reader asked if it was because he just couldn't take the stress of a regular job, or if the job market was really that bad.
Another contributor who wrote in expressed his surprise that a nasi lemak hawker at popular Newton Hawker Centre is a UK business graduate.
Nicknamed the 'graduate hawker' by other stall holders, he is another example of one who decided to give up a white collar job in an air-conditioned environment for a life as a hawker.
Edvantage - Poly grad gives up engineering career to sell prawn noodles
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